For the third straight season, West Virginia unveils a new coach unburdened by high expectations.

The Ross Hodge era begins with the Mountaineers picked 11th in the Big 12's preseason poll. The faithful get their first chance to decide whether that looks accurate when West Virginia hosts Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday in Morgantown, W.Va.

After Bob Huggins resigned in June 2023 following 16 seasons, interim coach Josh Eilert went 9-23 for the program's worst winning percentage since 1917-18. Eilert was replaced by Darian DeVries, who won 19 games and challenged for an NCAA Tournament at-large berth before bolting for Indiana.

The latest coaching search resulted in landing the 45-year-old Hodge from North Texas, where he posted a 46-24 record in two seasons. He immediately rebuilt West Virg

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