Tomorrow afternoon, Ross Hodge will get a shot at his mentor, Grant McCasland, as the Texas Tech Raiders come to Morgantown ranked 13th in the country.
Here are our picks for tomorrow’s game.
This is a massive opportunity for the Mountaineers to pick up another signature win and potentially move into fifth place in the Big 12 standings. Hope Coliseum is going to be rocking for the annual Coal Rush, so that, combined with the debut of the new uniforms, should give WVU a chance to open the game much better than what we’ve seen over the majority of league play.
The high-powered duo of Christian Anderson and JT Toppin is just going to be too much for West Virginia to handle. Ross Hodge will find ways to slow them down here and there, but the Mountaineers just won’t have the shotmaking or offensive efficiency to keep up with them.
For the first time in a while, the script will flip. WVU comes out swinging and plays well for much of the first half before slipping into some sloppy play in the final minutes, which will then spill into the second half. Texas Tech hands WVU its second home loss this season.
WVU had its 16-game home winning streak snapped last weekend against Baylor and now faces the possibility of dropping back-to-back games in Morgantown for the first time since last season.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, is coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season, including its first defeat to an unranked opponent, dropping to UCF and falling at home by three to red-hot Kansas, a team that hasn’t lost since it left Morgantown with an L.
While the Knights were ranked earlier in the year following a win over Kansas, the loss still exposed some vulnerability for the Red Raiders. Tech now finds itself staring at its first losing streak in nearly two years, a situation reminiscent of a stretch that featured a home game sandwiched between two road contests.
With a top-four seed in the Big 12 standings slipping out of reach, Texas Tech should enter with a heightened sense of urgency. That urgency could be problematic for a West Virginia team that has endured some sluggish starts, especially against a Red Raiders squad capable of heating up quickly from the perimeter. JT Toppin is one of the best scorers in this league and presents another challenge with his ability to finish and facilitate around the rim, which can make mounting a comeback difficult once Texas Tech establishes momentum.
Ross Hodge is well acquainted with Red Raiders head coach Grant McCasland, having spent eight seasons on his staff. While familiarity cuts both ways, Hodge’s intimate knowledge of McCasland’s system could provide a subtle edge in preparation. Even with Texas Tech looking to bounce back from one of its least efficient offensive outings of the season, the Mountaineers are positioned to limit one of the league’s top offenses and grind out another upset at home, 67-65.
WVU Bubble Watch: Tracking Results as Mountaineers Re-Emerge in Bracketology
CBS Sports Projects Another Bottom of the Barrel Finish for WVU in 2026
West Virginia Makes Top Six for Bone-Crushing 2027 Linebacker Broncs Baker
Major Harris Accepts Coaching Job with Pro Team in West Virginia
WVU in the NBA: Jevon Carter Finds a New Home, Miles McBride Suffers Serious Injury
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia healthcare facilities continue to demonstrate strong progress in protecting patients from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), according to the 2024 Healthcare-Associated Infections Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“These reductions reflect years of intentional work by infection preventionists, healthcare providers, and public health partners across the state,” said State Epidemiologist Shannon McBee. “West Virginia’s progress shows that focused prevention efforts and strong facility-level practices can make a measurable difference in patient outcomes.”
The CDC report shows significant national declines in most HAIs, with West Virginia also reporting notable reductions when compared to both the national baseline and 2023 data. In particular, West Virginia saw substantial decreases in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), two serious infections closely tied to patient safety practices.
The report also highlights antibiotic stewardship efforts across healthcare settings. Of the 58 acute care hospitals reporting in West Virginia, 98 percent have implemented all seven CDC-recommended core elements for antibiotic stewardship programs. Among long-term care facilities, West Virginia achieved 100 percent implementation in four of the seven core elements, demonstrating meaningful progress in facilities serving older adults and individuals with complex medical needs.
“Antibiotic stewardship is a cornerstone of infection prevention,” said Acting Health Officer Dr. Mark McDaniel. “The high level of implementation across West Virginia hospitals speaks to the commitment of our healthcare system to using antibiotics responsibly and safeguarding their effectiveness for future generations.”
Despite improvements in outpatient antibiotic prescribing rates, West Virginia’s average remains above the national average. This signals an ongoing need and opportunity for continued collaboration with healthcare providers and communities to encourage appropriate antibiotic use.
Graphs summarizing West Virginia’s performance are available for review, and the full CDC report can be accessed at arpsp.cdc.gov.
The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health remains committed to partnering with healthcare facilities, providers and communities to further reduce healthcare-associated infections, strengthen antibiotic stewardship and improve health outcomes for all West Virginians, according to the press release.
Today on MetroNews This Morning:
–President Trump hosts West Virginia coal miners for a major announcement about coal fired power plants at the White House
–A new member of the state Board of Education is an advocate for Charter Schools
–Governor Morrisey is asked about legislation to revamp the state school aid formula
–In Sports: The Mountaineer women hit triple digits and Marshall’s men win in a big comeback
Listen to “MetroNews This Morning 2-12-26” on Spreaker.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – At a press conference Wednesday morning, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a new appointment to the state Board of Education.
Morrisey pointed to statistics he said shows the state’s education system isn’t delivering proper results.
West Virginia ranks 27th nationally in per-pupil spending and spends slightly above the national average when adjusted regionally.
“Over the last five years, the Legislature has increased education funding by more than $270 million,” Morrisey said. “It’s just important for people to know that. Yet, our results are some of the worst in the country.”
Some of the education statistics Morrisey cited include:
Morrisey said the problem isn’t spending.
It’s how the system is structured and managed.
He said one of the challenges is the state school board.
Morrisey said it is unelected, independent from the rest of government and has long term limits of nine years.
He also said there is a need for better communication and transparency.
He announced the appointment of Dr. James Paul to the West Virginia Board of Education.
Morrisey said he will bring a focus on accountability.
“I believe that the Legislature and the state board don’t need to be at odds with each other either,” Dr. Paul said. “In fact, that shouldn’t be the case. And if we’re going to serve West Virginia families well, the state board and the Legislature are going to have to work together.”
Dr. Paul has been involved in launching the state’s first public charter schools.
Paul serves as the director of state education opportunity at America First Policy Institute.
Morrisey said this is the first of a number of board picks.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
White House says murder rate plummeted to lowest level since 1900 under Trump administration
Geneva’s Kiera Howell, 16, auditions for ‘American Idol’ season 24
Trump unveils new rendering of sprawling White House ballroom project
Exclusive | Super Bowl 2026: Guide to the hottest events, concerts and parties happening in San Francisco
Ohio town launching treasure hunt for $10K worth of gold, jewelry
Video: Is Ikea Cookware As Good As All-Clad?
Annotating the Judge’s Decision in the Case of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-Year-Old Detained by ICE
Is Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ Actually the Greatest Love Story of All Time?
