MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia coach Mark Kellogg has made a huge impression in his first three seasons at a major college. All that’s missing is a deep run in the women’s NCAA Tournament.
No. 4 seed West Virginia (27-6) is a tournament host for the first time since 1992. A win over No. 13 seed Miami (Ohio ) (28-6) in the first round on Saturday night would tie the Mountaineers’ best three-year stretch in program history with 78 wins.
Since Kellogg arrived from Stephen F. Austin in 2023, West Virginia has lost only five times at home.
“I think our kids, to their credit, have earned the right to play here,” Kellogg said. “Super excited about that.”
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The hard part will be moving on. In 16 previous NCAA appearances, the Mountaineers have never won more than once, bowing out in the second round under Kellogg the past two seasons.
West Virginia comes in on a six-game winning streak, taking down TCU to win the Big 12 Tournament for the first time since 2017.
“Our best basketball is yet to come,” West Virginia guard Sydney Shaw said.
TCU guard Veronica Sheffey (2) shoots under pressure from West Virginia guard Sydney Shaw (5) during second half of the NCAA college basketball championship game at the Big 12 Conference tournament Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. Credit: AP/Charlie Riedel
The opener of the Morgantown region Saturday pits No. 5 seed Kentucky (23-10) against No. 12 James Madison (26-8). The first-round winners will meet on Monday.
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‘Sleep in your own bed’
Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks, whose team hosted the first two rounds in the NCAAs last year, said there’s some added stress of being a host school because of expectations to win, while visiting teams can play freely because “they have nothing to lose.”
Kellogg wasn’t taking the bait, saying he hasn’t felt the pressure.
“That’s a veteran coach, I think, just trying to plant a seed, potentially,“ Kellogg said.
Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks reacts during second half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. Credit: AP/Chris Carlson
Shaw sees it differently, too.
“Every time I put my head on my pillow, I go to sleep with a smile on my face, giggling myself to sleep because I’m so excited,” Shaw said. “It’s a big deal to not have to pack your bags, honestly. You get to sleep in your own bed. So I’m grateful for that.”
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Brooks vs. former school
Brooks graduated from James Madison in 1992. He went 337-122 and led the Dukes to six NCAA berths over 14 seasons, leaving in 2016 as the school’s winningest coach. He’ll watch his former school from the other sideline on Saturday.
“It’s 10 years removed and I’m obviously proud as an alum of everything that’s happened to James Madison,” Brooks said. “But tomorrow it will be another game.”
Before coming to Kentucky two years ago, Brooks spent eight seasons at Virginia Tech. The Hokies lost to James Madison in the 2019 National Invitation Tournament. Brooks led Virginia Tech to the Final Four in 2023 before losing to eventual national champion LSU.
Sean O’Regan was Brooks’ longtime assistant at James Madison and took over for his former boss in 2016. The Dukes won the Sun Belt Conference tournament and are in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four seasons.
A sweet reward awaits
Miami’s men’s basketball team captured most of the attention on campus back in Oxford, Ohio, finishing as the nation’s only unbeaten team during the regular season at 31-0, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament and winning its First Four game over SMU on Wednesday.
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Not to be outdone, the women’s team set a program record for wins that included their first Mid-American Conference tournament title since 2008.
If the RedHawks leave Morgantown with a trip secured to the Sweet 16, they’ll likely stop somewhere for ice cream — a road-trip tradition under third-year coach Glenn Box, who like Kellogg is in his first major-college head coaching job.
“I’m willing to give them whatever they want after they win,” Box said. “Winning should be fun.”
Defensive Mountaineers
West Virginia isn’t known for putting on shooting clinics, instead relying on its full-court pressure defense to create scoring opportunities.
The Mountaineers force 22 turnovers per game, led by Big 12 steals leader and defensive player of the year Jordan Harrison. West Virginia’s 18.2-point scoring margin is the 13th highest among teams in the NCAA field. In three meetings with TCU this season, West Virginia held the Horned Frogs to their two lowest point totals of the season.
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Shaw remembers when she arrived at West Virginia a year ago and learned the rigors of playing against her own defense.
“It was rough. I was struggling out there,” Shaw said. “So I can only imagine (the challenge for) a team that’s never seen it.”
Miami averages nearly 16 turnovers but has its own defensive prowess. Both teams are limiting opponents to under 59 points per game.
It’s do-or-die time for West Virginia and Wake Forest as they face off in an elimination game this afternoon in the Morgantown regional.
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If you can’t watch or listen to the game or you just want to keep up with everything that’s happened in today’s game, we’ve got you covered. Below, we will provide live updates and have the starting lineups posted for you.
GAME THREAD
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TOP 1 (WF)
Three up, three down for the Deacs. Dawson Montesa records two punch outs on 13 pitches.
BOT 1 (WVU)
Troy Dressler tops Montesa’s first trip to the mound by getting three outs on just seven pitches. Hard contact by Armani Guzman and Paul Schoenfeld, just at ’em balls.
TOP 2 (WF)
West Virginia’s starting lineup
1. RF Armani Guzman — .301 2. 2B Gavin Kelly —.379 3. CF Paul Schoenfeld — .344 4. DH Sean Smith — .315 5. C Matthew Graveline — .286 6. SS Matt Ineich — .299 7. 1B Brodie Kresser — .287 8. LF Ben Lumsden — .241 9. 3B Tyrus Hall – .275
SP Dawson Montesa
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Wake Forest’s starting lineup
1. CF Javar Williams — .343 2. RF Luke Costello — .309 3. 1B Kade Lewis — .361 4. 3B Dalton Wentz — .306 5. C Matt Conte — .275 6. LF Boston Torres — .312 7. DH Andrew Costello — .244 8. 2B Matt Schaaf — .325 9. SS JD Stein — .270
CHELYAN, W.Va. — A West Virginia Turnpike worker was injured Saturday after falling out of a tollbooth that was hit by a truck.
State police said it happened Saturday morning at about 9:16 when a truck carrying steel I beams, driven by Cameron Huntington, 28, of Colorado hit a southbound tollbooth near Chelyan.
John Terry, 61, of Gallagher, was working the tollbooth and fell out the window after contact from an I beam caused the booth to rock.
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The tollbooth fell to the right striking a vehicle in the next lane.
Troopers said there were no serious injuries.
Huntington was ticketed for failure to maintain control of his truck.
PENNSBORO, W.Va (WDTV) – Racing enthusiasts around the state had the chance to see vintage race cars and motorcycles at the annual West Virginia Racing Heritage Festival Saturday.
The festival teaches attendants about West Virginia’s history in dirt track racing with both cars and motorcycles.
The festival was held at Pennsboro Speedway, which opened in 1887 and hosted some of the nation’s top racing talent on its tracks.
“We’ve got so many national champions here,” WV Racing Heritage Festival President Ashley Ness said. “This racetrack has seen all these national champions. We’ve had the best in the United States, including Australia and New Zealand, come here and race at Pennsboro Speedway. It’s time to get them all back again.”
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Racing legends who come from the Mountain State attended the festival to speak about their experience on the tracks.
One panel included six women who competed in flat-track motorcycle racing at a time when it was mostly dominated by men.
“We have six of the lady flat-track racers that were pioneers in the 60s and 70s,” Ness said. “It’s so important to get this documented, and that’s what the Heritage Festival is all about, documenting the history of dirt track racing, whether it be motorcycles or race cars.”
Vintage cars and motorcycles also got back in action with a parade lap on the tracks of Pennsboro Speedway.
The festival began in 2015 and will continue next year on June 5.
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Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video.
