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Andre, Harris buying into key roles for West Virginia basketball

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Andre, Harris buying into key roles for West Virginia basketball


Not all impacts are felt in the scoring column in the game of basketball.

And that was certainly the case with what Eduardo Andre and Sencire Harris brought to the table in the 73-60 win over Georgetown.

Andre scored four points and three rebound but was a difference maker on the defensive end of the floor with four blocks including several where it led to the Mountaineers getting out in transition.

In a game where West Virginia struggled in the half court in the first half, but Andre’s three blocks in the second half especially a sequence where he got two blocks within three trips down the floor when the Mountaineers were trailing 43-41 with just over 12-minutes left.

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“I really felt that Eduardo really ignited some of that for us. Blocked a couple of shots which led us to getting out in transition. We were able to get a couple open looks that we weren’t getting in some of the half court stuff, and I thought it freed us up a little bit,” head coach Darian DeVries said.

The senior five man is the best shot blocker on the roster for the Mountaineers and made the most of his 16 minutes playing his role on the team to perfection.

“It was good to have him back in the lineup for the reason that presence defensively,” DeVries said.

Harris scored just 6 points on 2-7 shooting but contributed across the board with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a pair of blocks all while playing relentless defense on the other end of the floor. He also helped to lead the break for West Virginia in their second half comeback.

Georgetown guard Jayden Epps was just 1-8 from the field in the second half of the game and was largely the assignment of Harris who was able to force him into contested shots. Compared to the first half where Epps was 5-6 from the field and had 13 points as Georgetown held a narrow halftime lead.

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What type of impact did Harris have on the result? West Virginia was +19 with him on the floor, the highest mark of anybody on the roster.

“Sometimes people get so caught up in the scoring and I get it but Buck’s impact on winning with what he did tonight defensively that’s hard to do. To control a guy like Epps and hold him to two points in the second half and go get nine rebounds and lead the break in transition. There’s a lot of things that guys do that impact winning besides scoring and he’s certainly one of them,” DeVries said.

That’s where West Virginia has shown the most growth is that players are starting to understand and embrace their roles in order to be a better overall team. That isn’t easy with a collection of new players coming together, but they’re started to understand their individual efforts combine collectively to give the Mountaineers their best chance against any team on the schedule.

“I feel like that role acceptance on teams is a huge part of winning. And that’s what keeps some teams from winning is the inability for teams to do that and I feel like our guys are completely bought into whatever I’ve got to do to help the team and they’re growing into that now. And that’s fun to see as a coach,” DeVries said.

And the approach of Harris and Andre certainly fit that mold.

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Why is Popular Bracketologist Still Considering West Virginia for NCAA Tournament?

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Why is Popular Bracketologist Still Considering West Virginia for NCAA Tournament?


Losing to Kansas State wiped away all hope for West Virginia to make the NCAA Tournament. That seems to be the clear consensus in the Mountain State, but is there actually still a chance? Well, I guess so.

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ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi still has West Virginia listed as a team to consider, the second team outside of the “next four out” grouping.

Lunardi’s current NCAA Tournament bubble

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Feb 28, 2026; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Honor Huff (3) shoots a three point shot over BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) during the second half at Hope Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

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Last Four Byes: Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas, Ohio State

Last Four In: SMU, Santa Clara, New Mexico, Indiana

First Four Out: VCU, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati

Next Four Out: San Diego State, USC, California, Seton Hall

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Next: Stanford, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona State

How is this even possible?

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Feb 28, 2026; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Ross Hodge watched a play from the sideline during the first half against the BYU Cougars at Hope Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

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Short answer? I don’t really know.

My best guess as to why? Two things: the respect for the Big 12 and the opportunities left on the table, and two, an incredibly weak bubble.

Should West Virginia beat UCF on Friday, it will give the Mountaineers a 9-9 record in Big 12 play. That’s not as much of a guarantee to make the dance as having a winning record, but still, it’s an impressive mark, especially when, in this instance, they would have wins over Kansas, BYU, and sweeps over Cincinnati and UCF.

If you ask me, they still have too many bad losses for it to matter. I mean, even if they got red-hot out of nowhere and made it to the Big 12 championship game next week, is that enough? Potentially, but that’s a big IF.

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The one thing WVU does have on its side is the number of Quad 1 wins, which they have five of. Virtually every other team in college basketball that has a minimum of five Quad 1 victories is expected to make the tournament. In that previously mentioned scenario, they would add at least one more Quad 1 win in the conference tournament, giving the committee something to think about.

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The bubble is just incredibly weak, though. Like, how in the world is Auburn, who is 16-14 currently, the second team out of the field? Cincinnati, which WVU swept and has the same record as, is the fourth team in the “first four out” grouping.

At this point, the only path I see is for the Mountaineers to cut down the nets in Kansas City — good luck with that. We could be having a very different conversation if they didn’t lallygag their way through the first 30 minutes of the games against Utah and Kansas State.



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Buckle up: West Virginia launching seatbelt enforcement campaign Friday

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Buckle up: West Virginia launching seatbelt enforcement campaign Friday


Buckle up, Upshur County. Starting Friday, March 6, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will step up seatbelt enforcement as part of a statewide Click It or Ticket campaign running through March 23.

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) announced the high-visibility mobilization as a warm-up to the national seatbelt campaign in May. The goal is to ensure every occupant — front seat or back, driver or passenger — is buckled on every trip.

“During this mobilization, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will be out in full force. They will be strictly ticketing drivers who are unbuckled or who are transporting children not properly restrained in car seats,” said Jack McNeely, Director of the GHSP.

The numbers behind the campaign are sobering. In 2023, 40% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in West Virginia crashes were unrestrained. The state’s seatbelt usage rate has also slipped — from 91.9% in 2024 to 91.6% in 2025.

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Rural drivers face elevated risk despite a common assumption that country roads are safer. In 2023, 65% of the state’s traffic fatalities occurred in rural areas, compared to 35% in urban centers.

Under West Virginia law, wearing a seatbelt is required. A citation carries a $25 fine, though McNeely says the real point isn’t the penalty.

“Click It or Ticket isn’t about the citations; it’s about saving lives,” he said. “A ticket is a wake-up call. It is far less expensive than the alternative — paying with your life or the lives of your family and friends.”

For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.



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West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted

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West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted


A West Virginia man accused of threatening to attack President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workers was federally indicted this week.

Cody Lee Smith, 20, of Clarksburg was indicted on two counts of threats to murder the president, one count of influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder and one count of influencing a federal official by threat of murder, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Smith is accused of making a series of public posts on Instagram encouraging and threatening the murder of Trump, those who support him, Israelis and “all government officials,” the news release said.

The indictment also alleges that Smith sent a direct message via Instagram to Donald J. Trump, Jr., stating he would kill his father by cutting his “jugular.”

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In a phone call with the ICE tip line, Smith also threatened to kill ICE agents in Clarksburg and employees staffing the tip line.

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Smith faces up to 5 years for each of the presidential threat charges and faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.



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