West Virginia
Mountaineers look to continue winning ways at home in matchup with Kansas State – WV MetroNews
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Following a two-game road trip that spanned five days, West Virginia returns to the friendly confines of Hope Coliseum to welcome Kansas State at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Mountaineers (13-7, 4-3) notched their first victory outside of Morgantown last Wednesday by defeating Arizona State, 75-63. WVU then suffered its third lopsided loss at a top 10 opponent in Big 12 play, falling 88-53 at No. 1 Arizona on Saturday.
Now comes the first of two regular season contests against Kansas State, which has struggled this season, in particularly in league play. The Wildcats (10-10, 1-6) have allowed at least 78 points in every Big 12 game and are surrendering an average of 85.9 points to conference foes.
On the flip side, Kansas State leads the league with an average of 18.7 assists and ranks in the top half of the Big 12 with an average of 84.1 points.
“We need to be efficient offensively, regardless of the raw number,” WVU first-year head coach Ross Hodge said. ”You look at our Arizona State game, we were incredibly efficient with points per possession and we were able to hold them to under a point per possession, which is what you want to do. I don’t think it’s to our benefit to get into an up-and-down, high possession and high-scoring game against a team like Kansas State. I feel like that’s when they’re at their best. But we also have to able to take advantage when we do have opportunities in transition. We need to be opportunistic and can’t turn it into a complete half court game only, because it’s hard to score in the half court.”
The Mountaineers were held to fewer than 60 points for the third time in Big 12 play against unbeaten Arizona and shot a season-worst 34 percent from the field in the setback (22 for 64), which followed two straight games with better than 50 percent shooting in victories over Colorado and the Sun Devils.
In four Big 12 road contests to this point, the Mountaineers are shooting 41 percent from the field, whereas they’re converting at a 48.7 percent clip in three league games at home.
While that at least partially can be attributed to varying levels of competition, WVU is 1-3 on the road, 0-4 in neutral site games and 12-0 at home.
“You have to protect home floor. There has to be a certain level of urgency to protecting that, because it’s hard to win on the road and hard to win on the road in this league in particular,” Hodge said. “You look at the start we had and three of your first four road games are against top 10 teams in the country. There needs to be a heightened sense of awareness to protecting home court, and I’ve told our guys they need to take pride in it. But just because we’ve been good at home to this point doesn’t mean we’re going to go win tomorrow.”
To give itself the best opportunity at another home triumph, the Mountaineers will look to slow down the Big 12’s leading scorer in 6-foot-4 guard P.J. Haggerty.
Haggerty is averaging 23.4 points and has scored more than 20 in 15 games, while reaching double figures in all 20 contests. He shoots almost 49 percent from the field and is second in the Big 12 with 152 free-throw attempts and third with 110 made foul shots.
From his time as coach at North Texas, Hodge is familiar with opposing Haggerty, who played at Tulsa and then Memphis while averaging north of 20 points each of the last two seasons.
“He’s an incredible individual talent. He does such a good job of drawing fouls,” Hodge said. “They do a good job of putting the ball in his hands in space and he has shooting around him. He’s an extremely tough cover. He has great touch in the midrange. He puts so much pressure on your defense. You have to have really good discipline to make sure you’re showing your hands and not picking up cheap fouls.”
KSU head coach Jerome Tang may be forced to rely on Haggerty even more as the Wildcats have been short-handed of late and will continue to play without their second-leading scorer in swingman Abdi Bashi Jr.
Bashi averages 13.2 points and leads the squad by a wide margin with 67 three-pointers, but recently underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot and has missed the last two games.
Forward Khamari McGriff has also missed the last two games, though he was labeled questionable for last Saturday’s 24-point home loss to Kansas. McGriff averages 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds and shoots 74 percent from the field. In the two most recent games he played, the 6-9 McGriff scored 29 points and made 14-of-16 field-goal attempts.
“McGriff is day to day and one you won’t really know about until you show up that night,” Hodge said. “Coach Tang does a great job of giving all those guys confidence, so you know if they’re on the floor, they’re going to be playing with a certain level of confidence. They’re playing with a level of freedom that maybe they weren’t playing with when they had certain substitution patterns. They can put a lot of pressure on you in a lot of different ways.”
WVU remains the lowest-scoring team in the Big 12 at 72.3 points, but is second to Houston in the conference in scoring defense by allowing 64.3 points.
While Treysean Eaglestaff has increased his production from non-conference play to become the Mountaineers’ second-leading scorer at 10.6 points, the team’s top scorer, guard Honor Huff, has struggled of late.
Huff is averaging 16.3 points, but across seven Big 12 games, he’s shooting 34.2 percent (27 for 79) and 30.6 percent from long range (19 for 62). In the most recent two-game road trip out west, Huff was held to 18 points on 6 for 24 shooting, including 4 of 17 from deep.
“The game always opens up for good players,” Hodge said. “Don’t feel like you have to press to get the look and then when you get the look, you kind of press and rush a little bit because you anticipate I may not get this again, so I need to make this one.”
— — — — —
For the majority of Big 12 play thus far, Hodge has elected to utilize an eight-man rotation. He’s gone with a starting lineup of Jasper Floyd, Huff, Eaglestaff, Brenen Lorient and Harlan Obioha, while regularly utilizing Amir Jenkins, DJ Thomas and Chance Moore in a reserve role.
With the outcome all but decided last Saturday, Hodge inserted Morris Ugusuk for 11 minutes at Arizona, most of which came in the second half.
He did not, however, make it a 10-man rotation and count on Jackson Fields, a 6-8 Troy transfer who has played in nine games, including three within the Big 12.
Fields, who did not make his WVU debut until November 30 against Mercyhurst as a result of offseason wrist surgery, has not seen action in three straight games. He last played 10 minutes in a loss at Houston on January 13.
Hodge provided an update Monday on Fields and indicated options are being weighed for what’s to come in the near future.
“No setbacks or nothing wrong with him, per se,” Hodge said. “It’s been a combination of Harlan has played really well in Big 12 play and Lorient has been good in certain situations. Because of who we’ve played, we’ve decided to play Chance at the [power forward] more. He gave us a big thrust early. He missed a lot of time and he still is trying to get all the way back from the surgery that he had. Some of it is just trying to continue to get his grip strength back in his arm. There were no restrictions from a basketball standpoint, but he was still dealing with limitations in the weight room.
“We’re trying to work him back into it, while being mindful that he probably is at the threshold of playing in too many games to receive a medical redshirt. We haven’t made any decisions on that. There are no finalities, but there is an awareness that if he plays in a few more games, then that option is completely off the table. We are being cautious with that decision right now. If he were to play in a couple more games, that’s out the window. Just trying to see where his minutes could come, where he can help us, can he get 100 percent comfortable and if it’s 2 or 3 minutes a night, is that worth him burning a year of eligibility? That’s kind of where we are weighing everything with him right now.”
Fields is averaging 4.3 points and 3.4 rebounds across 14.2 minutes.
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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West Virginia offers deep river gorges, Appalachian mountain trails, and museums covering several layers of regional history. Day trips can lead to quirky stops like the legends at the Mothman Museum or haunting tours through a historic asylum. Other stops highlight art and science, with hands-on exhibits at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences and wide-ranging collections at the West Virginia State Museum. Places like Beech Fork State Park and Babcock State Park show off the landscapes that make West Virginia a rewarding place to drive through. Below are 12 day trips worth the drive, starting from Charleston and Huntington.
Starting City: Charleston
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences (Within the City)
This 240,000-square-foot facility opened in 2003 and combines art exhibits with STEM experiences across multiple museums and theaters. The Avampato Discovery Museum is the child-facing centerpiece, with climbing sculptures, a music studio, a Space Lab for designing rockets, and a Wild Kratts Ocean Adventure covering various ocean ecosystems. The Caperton Planetarium & Theater handles night-sky programming. The other two anchors are the Juliet Art Museum with its Interactive Art Space and the Maier Performance Hall, which hosts performances from the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and visiting jazz ensembles.
West Virginia State Museum (Within the City)
The state museum dates to 1890 and was previously known as the West Virginia Science and Culture Center. It covers history, art, culture, paleontology, and archaeology across its galleries. The Discovery Rooms walk visitors through the prehistory of West Virginia, life on the Appalachian frontier, and John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, which helped ignite the American Civil War. Additional rooms cover West Virginia’s 1863 statehood (the state was carved from Virginia during the war) and its long heritage as a coal-mining state. Interpretive reconstructions throughout the museum recreate West Virginia landmarks including a classic soda shop, Harpers Ferry, and a coal mine.
Capitol Market (Within the City)
The Capitol Market in the heart of Charleston has been widely recognized as one of the best local shopping centers in the state. Set in a historic train depot, it houses produce merchants both indoors and outdoors. Inside, Johnnie’s Fresh Meat Market handles meat, Mea Cuppa Coffeebar pours coffee, and Bogey’s serves BBQ, fire-roasted corn, and homemade coleslaw. The outdoor section is where shoppers find flowers and greens from greenhouses like Bostic and Evans, along with fresh fruit and vegetables from Robbie’s Produce out of Sissonville, West Virginia.
Kanawha State Forest (15 Minutes)
West Virginia is one of the most heavily forested states in the country, with forest covering roughly 79% of its total land area. That reality is easy to experience 15 minutes south of Charleston at Kanawha State Forest. At 9,300 acres, the forest was once a logging and mining site before the West Virginia Conservation Commission purchased it and converted it to public land. There are more than 60 miles of hiking and biking trails, with strong wildflower viewing in spring and reliable bird sightings, including 19 species of wood warblers during migration. Davis Creek offers fishing opportunities with wheelchair-accessible piers.
Mothman Museum (1 Hour)
West Virginia has its share of cryptid legends, and the state’s most famous is Mothman, first sighted around Point Pleasant in November 1966 and described as a winged figure with glowing red eyes. The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant calls itself the world’s only museum dedicated to Mothman, with collected newspaper clippings, eyewitness accounts, and props from the 2002 film The Mothman Prophecies. Visitors can take pictures next to the nearby Mothman Statue or pick up Mothman-inspired shirts and souvenirs. The museum also runs the Mothman ’66 Escape Room and a Mothman Blacklight Mini-Golf course, both fit for families willing to lean into the spookier side of the legend.
Hawks Nest State Park (1 Hour)
Hawks Nest State Park covers 270 acres along the cliffs above the New River. The water below produces fast rapids popular with experienced whitewater rafters. Away from the rapids, the park offers a scenic overlook down to the New River Gorge Bridge and 8 miles of hiking trails climbing up into the mountains. Hawks Nest Lake holds bass for anglers, though swimming is not allowed in the lake (the park has a separate pool and splash pad). Like many West Virginia parks, it was initially developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and the Hawks Nest Park Museum covers that history.
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (1 Hour, 15 Minutes)
A few more minutes’ drive from Charleston takes you down into the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The gorge was carved by the New River, which, despite its name, is actually one of the oldest rivers in North America at roughly 260 million years old. The gorge is the deepest in the Appalachian Mountains, with 1,000 feet of exposed sandstone and shale cliffs. Those cliffs support more than 1,600 established climbing routes, drawing climbers year-round. Hikers have nearly 100 miles of trails to choose from, along with scenic drives, whitewater rafting, and fishing access.
Babcock State Park (1 Hour, 30 Minutes)
Babcock State Park’s signature landmark is the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a working mill built in 1976 from parts of three historic West Virginia mills, most notably Cooper’s Mill, which had been destroyed by fire decades earlier. The mill is one of the most-photographed spots in the state. Beyond the mill, the park has more than 20 miles of hiking trails winding up into the Appalachian hills, and Boley Lake offers paddle boat, rowboat, and canoe rentals at the marina. Geocachers have left trinkets throughout the park, especially near Glade Creek Waterfall.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (1 Hour, 45 Minutes)
Construction on the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum began in 1858, and it opened in 1864 during the Civil War to house psychiatric patients. At 1,300 feet long, it remains one of the largest hand-cut stone masonry buildings in the United States. Originally designed to hold up to 250 patients under the 19th-century Kirkbride Plan, which emphasized natural light, air, and space, the asylum eventually housed as many as 2,400 patients at a time, with the crowding leading to documented abuses. It also housed Union and Confederate troops during various Civil War raids. The asylum closed in 1994 and now offers historical tours Tuesday through Sunday, with separate ghost tours available in the evening.
Starting City: Huntington
Huntington Museum of Art (Within the City)
At nearly 60,000 square feet, the Huntington Museum of Art is the largest art museum in West Virginia. The collection is eclectic, spanning fine paintings alongside decorative crafts. The Touma Gallery displays Middle Eastern pottery, metalwork, and woodwork including pieces from Damascus, Syria. The Herman P. Deans Firearms Collection covers early firearms and crossbows as examples of historic craftsmanship. On the grounds, West Virginia’s only plant conservatory showcases tropical and subtropical species, and 6 miles of hiking trails run through forested hills.
Heritage Farm Museum & Village (Within the City)
The Heritage Farm Museum & Village was the first Smithsonian Affiliate in West Virginia, recognized for its hands-on approach to Appalachian pioneer history. A former farmhouse converted into a multi-museum pioneer village, it covers specific aspects of Appalachian life across several buildings. The Progress Museum focuses on 1850s Appalachian settler life, while the Transportation Museum covers the railroad and frontier wagons. The Country Store Museum recreates a 19th-century general store, and the Children’s Hands-On Activity Center lets kids try 19th-century chores. A Treehouse Trek trail on canopy bridges rises 60 feet above the forest and ends at a large treehouse.
Beech Fork State Park (30 Minutes)
Less than half an hour from Huntington, the 3,000-acre Beech Fork State Park sits on Beech Fork Lake, a reservoir built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control on Twelvepole Creek. The park’s 31 miles of shoreline support canoes, kayaks, johnboats, and paddle boards, rentable at the dock. Fishing includes largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, catfish, and bluegill, with a valid West Virginia fishing license required. Hiking trails wind around the lake and up to overlooks.
There’s A Lot To See On These Country Roads
John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is still the most familiar song about West Virginia’s winding mountain roads, and along those roads are picturesque stops ranging from the Clay Center in Charleston to the Heritage Farm Village near Huntington. For travelers drawn to darker history, the Mothman Museum and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum preserve the stranger and more haunting side of the state. All of these sites sit within an easy day-trip radius of Charleston or Huntington, so the drive itself becomes part of the experience.
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