WVU men’s basketball head coach Ross Hodge, pictured during practice with the Mountaineers.

It wasn’t so much an idea that was planted in Ross Hodge’s head as it simply was a way of life.

It’s why the moniker Hodge wears as a defensive-first basketball coach is one he wears proudly.

“I wasn’t the most talented player,” the first-year WVU head coach said. “If I was going to play, I had to compete and scrap and fight and claw.”

It’s the type of personality Hodge tries to instill into his players, and it’s come with a certain level of success.

North Texas was third in the nation in points allowed last season. The Mean Green were 45th in the country in defensive efficiency, according to the Ken Pomeroy ratings.

It all goes back to Hodge’s high school days in Dallas and then into his junior college days at Paris (Texas) Junior College.

His coach there was Bill Foy, an Indiana man through and through.

“Coach Foy, he was a graduate of Indiana when Bob Knight was there,” Hodge explained. “To him, the word ‘zone’ (defense) was a four-word expletive.”

It just might be to Hodge, too.

As he takes his first stab at rebuilding the Mountaineers in what has been a three-year process of rebuilds since former head coach Bob Huggins was forced to resign in 2023, Hodge is all-in on making WVU one of the tougher defensive teams in the Big 12.

Why?

“Historically, the team that has the best defense in this league, typically wins this league,” he quickly points out.

Emotion, but not emotional

Hodge is still two weeks away from coaching WVU in its exhibition game against Wheeling University.

To this point, any sight of him in action with the Mountaineers has come from short clips posted on social media.

So, the coach is asked if he considers himself a fiery personality on the sidelines?

“I can be,” Hodge replied. “I try my best to reflect what you want from your team, which is a next-play mentality, but that can be hard.

“It’s very easy for coaches to preach to their players to move on to the next play, but sometimes coaches aren’t the best examples of following that model.”

WVU forward Brenen Lorient, who played for Hodge at North Texas last season, concurred that notion.

“Oh, man, you’re in for a lot,” Lorient says with a smile. “I’m not saying I like confrontation. I’m a guy, if I’m doing bad, just yell at me. That’s exactly who he is.

“At the end of the day, he always lets you know that he loves you and he cares for you and he wants you to succeed. There are going to be moments where he’s not happy, but he always had a good heart about what he does.”

By his own accord, Hodge thinks of himself as a chess player, of sorts, on the court.

Being able to thrive when surrounded by chaos is what he strives for.

“Trying to think as clearly as you can in chaotic moments is very important,” Hodge said. “There’s an emotion component to the game. It is an emotional game. I think you have to embody that part, too. You tell your teams that you want them to play with emotion, but don’t be emotional.”

What about the refs?

Chances are there will be moments where a whistle, or two, doesn’t go WVU’s way.

Hodge does not consider himself one who is constantly working the referees, but he also won’t shy away from making his point.

“I would certainly hope that if I am having a negative reaction in a game, the official, in their mind, would maybe think maybe I did miss one, because he’s not someone who is over here berating us on every play and complaining about every foul,” Hodge said. “That’s kind of what I hope. You don’t want to overreact to every call that doesn’t go your way.”

Same five

The other thing to know about Hodge’s coaching style is he may not be afraid of change, but doesn’t exactly wrap his arms around and embrace it, either.

That’s evident in his starting lineups. Outside of injuries, they rarely change.

“I like to keep the same group starting if possible,” Hodge said. “When I was an assistant at North Texas, two years in a row we had the same starting five from start to finish.

“I do think there is something from a continuity and a rhythm standpoint.”

WVU’s starting five may not be Hodge’s reflection of who is WVU’s top five players. A season ago, Lorient averaged 11.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest while not starting a single game all season.

“We haven’t always started our so-called best players,” Hodge said. “It is important to get off to good starts, but it’s a 40-minute game and you know you’re going to sub.

“To me, I know players like to start. Parents love to see their kid’s name called and do the hi-fives. In reality, it’s not that important to me personally. There are so many other factors involved.”

Notes

— WVU will play Maryland in a closed-door scrimmage next weekend.

— WVU guard Chance Moore, who has to sit out the first five games of this season, will be eligible to play in the scrimmage, as well as the team’s exhibition game against Wheeling on Oct. 26.