West Virginia

Frazier finds the right mix of factors at West Virginia

Published

1 year ago

December 26, 2024

Frazier finds the right mix of factors at West Virginia

Chester Frazier was appreciative of his time spent coaching at his alma mater Illinois. And the success that came with it with two championships in three years and an Elite 8 run in the tournament.

But Frazier wanted an opportunity to further grow in his role in order to prepare him for his next step up the coaching ladder and West Virginia provided that.

“It just needed something that I thought fit me a little bit more. And again, as I continue my journey to be a head coach, I wanted to learn something different,” he said.

It was a chance for Frazier to get back to his East Coast roots considering he’s from Baltimore and as well as work with a head coach in Darian DeVries that he had often watched from afar given how the pair aligned offensively and defensively.

The two had not met each other, but Frazier had done his homework watching Drake games as well as talking to others in the industry.

“He’s a winner, does things the right way. And I heard nothing but glowing remarks from my peers on his coaching style. So it drew me here,” he said.

Combine those two factors and it made the job an attractive position for him when it came open.

“It made a lot of sense when the job came open to make the move,” he said.

On the offensive end, West Virginia will continue to use a lot of ball movement with good sets and actions. Overall, it will be selfless basketball and they want to get out and play in the open court with the ability to slow it down when they need to. On the defensive end, the Mountaineers will be tough and stingy with a physical and connected brand of basketball which they’ve shown to date.

Some of the identity of this current team is still developing but the team is competing at a higher level than when the team first arrived and roles are starting to be established.

“I think connectivity has been the biggest piece. They’re getting along, they love each other and they’re playing hard. And that’s the only thing you can ask as a new group with so many new guys,” he said.

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West Virginia

Weir High senior Hailey Hans named 2026 West Virginia student journalist of the year

Published

11 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Weir High senior Hailey Hans named 2026 West Virginia student journalist of the year

Hancock County, WV — A Weir High School senior has been recognized as the 2026 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year.

Hailey Hans was selected for the statewide honor after building a journalism portfolio since her freshman year. She also serves as the staff manager of Weir Student Media, where she oversees articles and is in charge of deadlines.

“When I was a freshman I was placed in the journalism one class, and I actually tried to get pulled from the class. But, then after I sat in the class and I learned a little bit, that’s where my love grew and then from there I continued to take classes, I helped pass a law, and I got to these national conventions. Where it just lit a fire inside me,” Hans said.

Hans is planning to attend West Liberty University in the fall to study education with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a journalism teacher. She will now submit her portfolio for the national-level contest.

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West Virginia

Big 12 Conference Bracket Matchups, Dates, and Start Times

Published

23 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Big 12 Conference Bracket Matchups, Dates, and Start Times

The regular season is now behind us, and we are moving on to the next chapter of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, the week of conference tournaments.

With their win on Friday over UCF and thanks to TCU taking care of business against Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon, the West Virginia Mountaineers have locked up the No. 7 seed in the Big 12 tournament, meaning they will receive a first-round bye. Ross Hodge’s squad will await the winner of No. 10 BYU and No. 15 Kansas State.

While most may think it’s best to pull for K-State to spring the upset, it’s actually probably better if BYU wins. Why? Well, simply because beating Kansas State isn’t going to boost your resume. If there’s any chance at an at-large bid for the Mountaineers, they need to beat more quality teams. Beating BYU a second time would go a long way, and then springing the upset against Houston in the quarterfinals would really open some eyes.

Anyways, here is a look at all of the matchups and the entire bracket.

First round byes: Iowa State, TCU, West Virginia, UCF

Double byes: Arizona, Houston, Kansas, Texas Tech

Tuesday (First Round)

Game 1: No. 12 Arizona State vs. No. 13 Baylor, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN+

Game 2: No. 9 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Utah, 3 p.m. on ESPN+

Game 3: No. 10 BYU vs. No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Game 4: No. 11 Colorado vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+

Wednesday (Second Round)

Game 5: No. 5 Iowa State vs. winner of No. 12 Arizona State/No. 13 Baylor, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 6: No. 8 UCF vs. winner of No. 9 Cincinnati/No. 16 Utah, 3 p.m. on ESPNU

Game 7: No. 7 West Virginia vs. winner of No. 10 BYU/No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m. on ESPNU

Game 8: No. 6 TCU vs. winner of No. 11 Colorado/No. 14 Oklahoma State, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2/U

Thursday (Quarterfinals)

Game 9: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Game 5 winner, 12:30 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 10: No. 1 Arizona vs. Game 6 winner, 3 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 11: No. 2 Houston vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 12: No. 3 Kansas vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN/2

Friday (Semifinals)

Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m. on ESPN/2

Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN/2

Saturday (Championship)

Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN

Full Bracket

Big 12

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West Virginia

Gia Cooke hits clutch 3-pointer and No. 15 West Virginia women land in Big 12 Tournament title game

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Gia Cooke hits clutch 3-pointer and No. 15 West Virginia women land in Big 12 Tournament title game

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gia Cooke scored 14 points and her go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute helped No. 15 West Virginia escape with a 48-47 victory over Colorado in a Big 12 Tournament semifinal on Saturday night.

A 3-pointer by Desiree Wooten gave sixth-seeded Colorado a 45-43 lead with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. On West Virginia’s next possession, Cooke’s offensive rebound led to her clutch 3-pointer that gave the second-seeded Mountaineers a 46-45 lead with 38 seconds remaining.

After a miss by Colorado, Jordan Harrison made two free throws for a three-point West Virginia lead at 16 seconds. Wooten was then fouled on a 3-point try with two seconds left but made only two free throws. Cooke was fouled immediately but missed both free throws, leaving Colorado one last chance. Instead, a steal by Harrison preserved the win for West Virginia.

The sluggish performance was not indicative of two teams that came into the matchup on a roll. Colorado had won seven of nine games and the Mountaineers had won eight of nine.

Harrison led West Virginia (26-6) with 15 points and Kierra Wheeler contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Zyanna Walker scored 16 points and Wooten 12 off the bench for Colorado (22-11).

West Virginia led 13-12 after one quarter, then neither team made a shot in the final six minutes of a dismal second quarter. The Mountaineers missed their last 10 attempts, the Buffaloes their last six, and the score was 17-17 at halftime.

West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison chases after the ball after knocking the ball away from Colorado’s Jade Masogayo during second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. Credit: AP/Charlie Riedel

The Mountaineers opened up a 12-point lead in the third quarter, but missed their last nine shots. Still, they took a 34-30 lead to the fourth quarter.