West Virginia Looking for More Scoring Help as Big 12 Play Looms
With Big 12 play just around the corner, West Virginia is still searching for a consistent second scoring option to complement the red-hot Honor Huff. Monday’s matchup against Mississippi Valley State offers one final tune-up-and a prime opportunity for someone else in the Mountaineers’ rotation to step into a bigger role.
At 8-4, West Virginia has leaned heavily on Huff to carry the offensive load. The sharpshooting guard has been electric, averaging 17.8 points per game and leading the nation in made three-pointers with 117. He’s knocking down over four triples a game, and his 24-point outburst in a double-overtime thriller against Ohio State earlier this month was a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when he gets rolling.
But as head coach Ross Hodge knows, one-man shows don’t tend to last long in the Big 12.
“We need to get to a place where we can consistently anticipate what we’re going to get from each guy,” Hodge said. “Then depending on the matchup, maybe things fluctuate a little. But we need that baseline reliability.”
So far, that second option has been more of a revolving door than a fixed presence. Reserve guard Chance Moore has shown potential in his seven appearances, averaging 12.3 points and providing a scoring punch off the bench. Meanwhile, starting forward Brenen Lorient has chipped in 10.9 points per game and flashed some intriguing versatility with his ability to stretch the floor and finish inside.
Still, consistency has been the missing piece.
The recent break for finals gave the Mountaineers a rare stretch of uninterrupted practice time-something Hodge believes was crucial for the development of key rotation players like Moore, Jackson Fields, and Amir Jenkins.
“We got some much-needed mental and physical rest coming off Saturday’s game,” Hodge said. “It also gave us the ability to focus on ourselves and do a lot of what we didn’t get to do in the fall, which is practice with the whole team.”
That extra time could pay dividends as West Virginia looks to solidify its identity before conference play begins. Monday’s game against Mississippi Valley State isn’t just another non-conference matchup-it’s a final dress rehearsal.
The Delta Devils come in with a 1-11 record and riding a 10-game losing streak. Their lone win came back on Nov. 5 in a blowout against Mississippi University for Women. But even in a tough season, they’ve found a bright spot in junior guard Michael James, who’s averaging 20.6 points per game and has emerged as a go-to scorer.
“Michael has been a revelation for us on both ends of the floor,” said Delta Devils head coach George Ivory. “He’s stepped into a leadership role right away, scoring in bunches and attacking the game with confidence we knew he had coming in.”
For West Virginia, the goal is clear: build momentum, find that reliable second scorer, and head into Big 12 play with a more balanced attack. Huff has proven he can carry the load-but if the Mountaineers want to make noise in one of the toughest conferences in the country, someone else needs to rise with him. Monday night could be the perfect time for that to happen.