West Virginia basketball is about to step back into the spotlight, and fans won’t have to wait for the season opener to get their first peek. Ballin’ at Woodburn is set for Thursday, Oct. 15 at Woodburn Circle, giving supporters an early look at both WVU teams before things officially tip off.
The event begins at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Both the men’s and women’s squads will be introduced, and the night should offer the first real glimpse of the new faces WVU brought in over the offseason. It’s less about X’s and O’s and more about putting the roster in front of the crowd, but that’s part of the appeal after a long wait.
The evening will have more than just player introductions. Fans can expect a DJ, food trucks, competitions involving players and fans, interviews, and performances from the WVU cheer and dance teams. Afterward, players will take part in a 30-minute autograph session.
On the men’s side, this will be the first look at Ross Hodge’s second WVU team. The Mountaineers have retooled with several transfers, including Joson Sanon, Martin Somerville, Seydou Traore, Finley Bizjack and Javan Buchanan.
WVU also brought in freshmen Amadou Seini, a 7-foot-1 center, and guard Miles Sadler. For plenty of fans, this will be the first chance to see that group together in one place.
The women’s team has its own batch of new additions. Alexis Bordas is a name many West Virginia fans already know; the Wheeling native transferred from Duquesne and now gets the chance to play college basketball in her home state. WVU also added transfers Skylar Forbes, Marya Hudgins and Zahirah Walton.
Ballin’ at Woodburn won’t answer every question about either roster, and it’s not meant to. What it will do is bring the players and the fans together and make the start of the season feel a lot closer. After a long offseason, WVU basketball is almost back.
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