You’ve seen the posts on social media. Someone is always complaining about a Tuesday night tip-off or a random neutral-site game in a city that barely has a direct flight from Pittsburgh. But here’s the thing: the wvu mens basketball schedule isn't just a list of dates. It is a gauntlet designed to test whether this newly-formed Ross Hodge squad can actually survive the Big 12.
Honestly, looking at the January slate is enough to give any fan a mild heart attack. We aren't just talking about playing good teams; we are talking about playing them in places where the air is thin or the fans are basically on top of the court.
Surviving the Big 12 Gauntlet
The league didn't do any favors for Ross Hodge in his first year. After a non-conference run that felt like a roller coaster—seriously, that double-overtime loss to Ohio State in Cleveland still stings—the Mountaineers were thrown straight into the fire.
The schedule makers decided to start things off at Iowa State on January 2nd. If you know anything about Hilton Coliseum, you know it's where dreams go to die. WVU dropped that one 80-59, but they didn't fold. They came back home and gutted out a win against Cincinnati, and then followed it up with a massive upset of No. 22 Kansas on January 10th.
👉 See also: Why Celta de Vigo x Barcelona Always Feels Like a Fever Dream
That Kansas win changed the vibe. It went from "can we make the NIT?" to "wait, are we actually a tournament team?"
The Mid-Season Road Trip from Hell
Right now, the team is in the thick of a nasty stretch. They just beat Colorado at home 72-61 on January 17th, which moved them to 12-6 overall. But look what's coming up on the wvu mens basketball schedule:
- January 21: At Arizona State (9:00 PM). A late-night desert tip that usually messes with everyone's internal clock.
- January 24: At Arizona (2:00 PM). Facing the Wildcats in Tucson is arguably the hardest road game in the conference this year.
- January 27: Home vs. Kansas State (8:30 PM). A quick turnaround against a team that plays a very similar physical style to Hodge's defensive scheme.
- January 31: Home vs. Baylor (4:00 PM). This will be a Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum that should be absolutely rocking.
It is a "one-step-forward, two-steps-back" kind of month. If they can come out of this four-game stretch with a 2-2 record, they are in a great spot. If they go 0-4? The panic button will be smashed by everyone on the message boards.
The Ross Hodge Identity Shift
Most people don't realize how much the style of play has changed. Under previous regimes, we saw a lot of "Press Virginia" or high-octane offense. Hodge is different. He's a defensive mastermind.
Before coming to Morgantown, his North Texas teams were consistently top-five in the country in points allowed. We are seeing that now. WVU is holding opponents to around 63 points per game. That’s top-10 territory nationally.
✨ Don't miss: LeBron James Powder Throw: What Most People Get Wrong
The roster is basically a group of "house-flippers." Honor Huff and Treysen Eaglestaff are the engines. Huff, the transfer from Chattanooga, is a bucket. Eaglestaff brings that North Dakota toughness. But it's Brenen Lorient and Jasper Floyd—guys who played for Hodge at UNT—who really understand the defensive rotations.
What’s Left on the Horizon?
February is where the wvu mens basketball schedule gets weirdly spread out. You have the return trip to Cincinnati on February 5th, then a home game against Texas Tech on the 8th.
Then comes the travel. A trip to Orlando to face UCF on Valentine’s Day (romantic, right?) followed by a midweek home game against Utah on February 18th.
The season ends with a gauntlet:
- TCU on the road (Feb 21)
- Oklahoma State on the road (Feb 24)
- BYU at home (Feb 28)
- Kansas State on the road (March 3)
- UCF at home for the finale (March 6)
The Big 12 Championship in Kansas City starts March 10th. If WVU can get to 18 or 19 wins before heading to T-Mobile Center, they are likely safe for a bid.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you are planning to follow the rest of the season, don't just check the score on your phone. To really understand if this team is "real," watch the first five minutes of the second half during these road games. That is where Hodge's defensive adjustments either lock a team down or let them slip away.
Check your tickets: If you're heading to the Coliseum for the Baylor or BYU games, get there early. The university is doing a "True Blue" promotion for Baylor and a "Gold Rush" style atmosphere for the late-season games.
💡 You might also like: Why the Steph Curry Shot Meme Still Matters in 2026
Watch the NET Rankings: Since the non-conference SOS (Strength of Schedule) wasn't elite, every Big 12 win is worth its weight in gold. Keep an eye on how Ohio State and Pitt do—since WVU played them, their success directly helps the Mountaineers' tournament resume.