3 Guys Before The Game - WVU Basketball - Ross Hodge Visits (Episode 707)

It’s not over yet. The first season under head coach Ross Hodge gets a second life next week as West Virginia heads to Las Vegas for the Crown Basketball Championship. The extended break between the regular season and postseason has given the Mountaineers a rare chance to reset—mentally and physically—after a demanding 32-game slate. In this episode, the “Guys” are joined by Coach Hodge to reflect on a rollercoaster debut season that ended with a seventh-place finish in the Big 12, but just short of an NCAA Tournament bid. What worked, what didn’t, and what comes next? Brad breaks down the numbers with Spreads on Stats, while Hoppy puts the coach on the spot with a series of True or False questions. 

A historic run comes to a heartbreaking end. West Virginia’s season closes with a one-point loss to Kentucky, capping a record-setting year that included a Big 12 Tournament championship and a near miss at the program’s single-season wins mark. In this episode, the “Guys” break down the final moments against the Wildcats and examine what this season means for the future of WVU women’s basketball. Attention quickly turns to Las Vegas, where WVU will face Stanford in the quarterfinal round of the College Basketball Crown. Hoppy delivers his Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments complete the show with Textual Healing.

It’s a busy and exciting stretch across the world of WVU athletics. The Mountaineer women’s basketball team prepares for the NCAA Tournament, the nationally ranked baseball team returns home for a key weekend series, and spring football is set to ramp back up in Morgantown. In this episode, the “Guys” break down what’s ahead, what to watch, and what it all means for WVU fans. Listener questions and comments close the show with another edition of Textual Healing.

Monday was a record-setting day for the WVU women’s basketball program—and the Mountaineers didn’t even step on the court. More than 11,000 tickets were sold for West Virginia’s opening round NCAA Tournament game at Hope Coliseum, forcing the athletic department to temporarily pause sales. A sellout for Saturday’s matchup with Miami (Ohio) is now within reach. In this episode, the “Guys” welcome two key members of the Mountaineers into the studio. Senior standouts Jordan Harrison and Sydney Shaw reflect on their season, their careers in Morgantown, and what it means to host NCAA Tournament basketball at home. The talented tandem also answers a series of fun and insightful questions that reveal a side of the players Mountaineer fans don’t always get to see. 3 Guys returns Thursday with a full preview of Saturday’s NCAA Tournament game and a look ahead to the upcoming College Basketball Crown tournament involving the WVU men’s team.

The bracket is set. It’s tournament time. The West Virginia men’s basketball team enters the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 7 seed, earning a coveted first-round bye after closing the regular season with a win over UCF and getting a help from TCU’s victory over Cincinnati. For a team projected to finish 11th in the preseason, the Mountaineers have positioned themselves for a meaningful week in Kansas City. Their tournament run begins Wednesday against the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between Kansas State and BYU. In this episode, the “Guys” recap the regular-season finale against the Knights and examine what lies ahead in the conference tournament. They also preview the WVU women’s appearance in the Big 12 Championship game against TCU. As always, Hoppy delivers his Obvious Observations, and Brad dives into the numbers with Spreads on Stats to set the statistical stage for the Mountaineers’ postseason path.

The final game of the regular season will have a significant impact on what lies ahead for the WVU basketball team. A win on Friday against UCF will give the Mountaineers an opening round bye in next week’s Big 12 Championship in Kansas City. A victory would also give the Mountaineers the school’s second non-losing Big 12 record in the last five years. In this episode, the “Guys” recap Tuesday’s loss at Kansas State and preview the second regular season encounter with UCF. Hoppy Kercheval presents his Obvious Observations and listeners contribute with Textual Healing. 

Momentum matters this time of year, and the Mountaineer basketball team suddenly has it. Fresh off Saturday’s upset victory over No. 19 BYU, West Virginia enters the final week of the regular season with an opportunity to build postseason positioning. The Mountaineers travel to Kansas State on Tuesday before closing the regular season Friday night at home against UCF. In this episode, the “Guys” break down what fueled WVU’s win over the Cougars and preview the critical matchup with the Wildcats. Hoppy Kercheval delivers his Obvious Observations, Brad Howe dives into Spreads on Stats, and listener questions and comments complete the episode with Textual Healing.

The Mountaineers return home searching for traction.West Virginia hosts No. 19 BYU on Saturday inside Hope Coliseum in a matchup between two programs trying to steady themselves in the rugged Big 12. WVU has dropped three straight, while the Cougars have lost six of their last nine.Even with an injury to standout Richie Saunders, BYU arrives with likely No. 1 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa, who’s pouring in more than 25 points per game. The Cougars rank second in the league in scoring.Can West Virginia slow the tempo, defend at a high level, and protect home court?In this episode, the “Guys” preview the matchup and break down what went wrong on the recent road swing through TCU and Oklahoma State.Hoppy delivers Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments close the show with Textual Healing

OUCH.That one stung.West Virginia’s shocking home loss to Utah delivered a painful hit to the Mountaineers’ postseason hopes.With five regular-season games remaining — including three on the road — WVU now faces a steep climb to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation.In this episode, the “Guys” dissect what went wrong against the Utes and preview Saturday’s road test at TCU.Hoppy provides Obvious Observations with a football update, and listener questions and comments wrap up the show with Textual Healing.

The bubble talk is no longer hypothetical. With six Big 12 games remaining, West Virginia has officially entered the NCAA Tournament at-large conversation. The path is there — but so is the pressure. Saturday’s gritty, come-from-behind win at UCF may have changed the tone of the season. The Mountaineers showed toughness, late-game execution and the kind of resilience that the selection committee notices. Now comes another opportunity Wednesday night against Utah. In this episode, the “Guys” break down what flipped the switch in Orlando, analyze the remaining schedule and explain exactly what WVU must do to secure its postseason fate. Hoppy returns to the studio with a fresh batch of Obvious Observations, and listener questions and comments close the show with Textual Healing. The stretch run is here.