West Virginia is only ten days from opening the season against Niagara, but the status of Brenen Lorient and Javan Buchanan is still hanging in the balance for the Mountaineers.
The two forwards received a preliminary injunction last month that cleared the way for a fifth year of eligibility. A few days later, the NCAA requested an appeal of that ruling, which was expected.
For now, both players are eligible to take the floor, and if the decision is later reversed, West Virginia would handle it the same way it would an injury. Neither the players nor the program would be punished for their participation.
At Big 12 media days, coach Ross Hodge was asked about the broader issue of players pursuing a fifth year, and he made his stance clear.
“On my end, it’s pretty simple. If it’s in that clean fifth-year window that we have already stated that this would be afforded to really basically anyone not in the 2022 class, that’s where it gets hard to fit and hard to explain to their teammates.
Like, you’re in the same locker room, and this guy is going to get the fifth year, but you won’t. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense.
I think most people would agree with that. In particular, what’s at stake associated with college athletics: you’re talking about life-changing money potentially and opportunity that could shape different generations of these young guys’ lives and their kids and their kids’ kids.”
When the conversation turned specifically to Lorient and Buchanan, Hodge said he sees their cases as straightforward.
“Javan Buchanan played a couple years of NAIA basketball, where the precedent has been set that through previous legislation that if you had a couple of non-NCAA years, then the waivers were available for people in his situation. Brenen Lorient played 73 minutes as a freshman only, and both those guys are in their fourth-year window.
So again, it’s those it’s like a no-brainer to me. Outside of that, I don’t have a strong opinion on some of the other stuff because it just doesn’t impact me.
But at this point in time, it makes the most sense to allow the class of 2022 to play.”
In Other News...
WVU Faces A Real Test In A Road Game Built For Fireworks
West Virginia heads to Amon G. Carter Stadium for a road matchup that carries plenty of intrigue and not much margin for error. The Mountaineers are coming in as a double-digit underdog, which says plenty about the challenge in front of them and the kind of environment they are about to walk into against TCU.
The setup also points to a game that could tilt quickly if West Virginia cannot keep pace with quarterback Mike Hawkins and receiver DJ Epps. The numbers and recent form around both teams suggest a meeting with real fireworks, and the historical backdrop only adds to the sense that this is one of those Saturdays where the Mountaineers will have to prove they can hang early and still be standing late. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Secondary Suddenly Faces A Bigger TCU Test Than Expected
West Virginias secondary suddenly has a little less margin for error going into the TCU matchup, with cornerback Jason Chambers moving from questionable to doubtful. For a defense that was already bracing for a tough Big 12 test, that kind of late-week change can reshape how the Mountaineers line up on the back end and how much they have to lean on their depth at corner.
TCU is dealing with its own availability issues, but the important pieces on offense still appear set to go. Third-string back Landon Walker is out and reserve safety Ryan Yaites is doubtful, yet lead running back Jeremy Payne and tight end Kari Ashley are expected to play, which keeps the Horned Frogs attack from losing much of its punch. For West Virginia, the concern is less about what TCU is missing and more about whether the Mountaineers can hold up against the players the Horned Frogs can still put on the field. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia TCU Has All The Signs Of A Wild Shootout
Phil Steeles read on the upcoming West Virginia-TCU matchup points to the kind of game Mountaineer fans have learned to expect when these two line up: plenty of offense, plenty of stress, and not much margin for error. On the In the Gun Podcast, Steele broke down both teams work on offense and defense this season and came away believing the matchup has the ingredients for a high-scoring night, with West Virginia at least having a path to a surprise result.
For bettors, the number to watch is 57.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook, and Steeles lean is the over. Even without a final answer on whether West Virginia can fully cash in on that upset opportunity, the setup alone suggests a game that could turn into a track meet, which is exactly the sort of thing that makes this one worth circling on the Mountaineers calendar. [Read more 🡒]