Just 11 days ago, West Virginia took down BYU with a 79-71 victory, securing a higher seed in the Big 12 tournament. Fast forward to the tournament's second round in Kansas City, and it was a whole new ball game. BYU turned the tables with a commanding 68-48 win over the Mountaineers.
West Virginia's head coach, Ross Hodge, acknowledged the shift in momentum. “Credit to Coach Kevin Young and his team,” Hodge said. “They were more physical today... we just didn’t play well enough against a quality opponent.”
BYU's win was fueled by a stifling defensive performance. West Virginia was held to just 48 points, averaging a mere 0.8 points per possession, and they coughed up the ball 22 times, leading to 17 points for BYU.
“Turning the ball over too much was a killer,” Hodge admitted. “Their physicality and intensity made it tough for us to move the ball.”
In their previous matchup, Khadim Mboup and Dominique Diomande played limited roles. This time, they were defensive standouts, using their length and athleticism to disrupt West Virginia’s flow.
“They mixed up their lineup and played more athletically and physically,” Hodge noted. “Diomande didn’t play much before, but this time they were disruptive, getting hands on the ball and taking us out of our rhythm.”
With this loss, West Virginia exited the Big 12 tournament early, ending the season at 18-14 under Hodge's first-year leadership. Their NCAA tournament hopes are slim, but there’s a foundation being built in Morgantown.
“West Virginia plays hard,” BYU’s Young said. “Coach Hodge has done a great job in his first year in a tough league.”
Hodge and his team have shown promise, and despite the setback, there's optimism for what lies ahead.