I can't keep track of how many more we need. Are we getting close to being above water on incoming?

My Fiver on WVU's win over Oklahoma State in Morgantown on Saturday afternoon...

1. DEFENSE. Following the game, Darian DeVries made an interesting comment that he is playing a modified Pack Line D this season, where he is challenging WVU's players to not only shut off "lanes" using the Pack Line philosophy, but to also "get into passing lanes as well". This, in my opinion, is the Perfect Defense...and I've never thought it possible. I can recall a possession at Kansas where we switched on a screen, and Eduardo Andre was stuck on Dejuan Harris, while KJ Tenner was on Hunter Dickinson. Andre took a step toward Harris and forced him off the line, then sprinted back to Dickinson on the block, while Sincere Harris slid over to body up Harris while Tenner ran to Harris's former Jayhawk. It was beautiful connection, very heady stuff. It takes a tremendous amount of concentration and most significantly, effort to play defense this way. But, we are doing it. And the results speak for themselves. Saturday, we tormented Oklahoma State into 17 turnovers, 33.3% shooting from the field, 14% from "3". Only one team has scored more than 70 points against us in regulation this year - Gonzaga with 71. This sort of defense will not only win games...this sort of D will cut down nets.

2. I'm not expecting to see Tucker DeVries to play again this season. And ipso facto, we badly need Jonathan Powell, and Josef Yesufu to a lesser extent, to fill that void. Powell has been answering the bell, hitting for a very tidy 17 points Saturday on 6-10 shooting (5-7 from "3"). I really love how Powell catches the ball ready to go up. No hesitation. What Tucker DeVries was very adept at doing, and where Powell needs to grow, is defensively creating turnovers and crashing glass. Powell needs to fill up the other areas of the stat sheet beyond the scoring column as he continues to grow.

3. For the 2nd straight game, as a second half adjustment our opponent has blitzed our high screens for Javon Small - and we have not had a response. I have full confidence that DD is going to have this fixed before Tuesday. That's about all I have to say about that second half.

4. Really love having Sencire Harris and Toby Okani as role players on this team. They can switch onto a point guard, they can guard a shooter, they can shut down a power forward, and Okani can even switch onto a "5" and give them fits. Sencire is always looking for the steal, like a ball hawk corner in football. These two give our defense a ton of flexibility, and look out - Sencire is now raining treys from the heavens, so he may even give us a boost on offense.

5. 11-2, 2-0 in Big 12 play. We have a long way to go, but raise your hand if you had WVU as 11-2 at this juncture. This has been masterclass art by Darian DeVries, from the 4-out and 5-out offense which has been a breath of fresh air, to the defense which has been nothing short of suffocating. WVU is 18th nationally (out of 355) in scoring defense (62.5 ppg - Houston #1 at 54.6ppg), WVU is 7th nationally in field goal % Defense (37.135% - Houston is #1 at 33.681%), WVU is 8th nationally in 3pt % defense (27.4%), WVU is 11th nationally in blocks per game (5.7). We have a very good Arizona team coming into Morgantown Tuesday night. They just snagged a big win at Cincy, holding off a big 2nd half rally. I do think we are catching them at a good time on a long road trip, but they are going to be ready to avenge the Atlantis loss. But, a big win Tuesday night puts WVU at 3-0 in Big 12 play in the early going, and looking damn good.

This is more a WVU post than football, but both our hoops teams are nationally ranked, baseball sitting at 21 on Perfect Game ranking, momentum around the football program now. We are finally climbing ladies and gents!!

It seems we have been picking up the diamond in the rough, smaller school level players and a few P4. If we’re at 77 of 85 scholarships, could we be saving cash for a few high dollar players with the last few spots? Thx

Just entered. Was a scholarship OT for WVU 6-7 270

West Virginia has offered Justin Harrington.

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AT WASHINGTON

2024: Played in eight games ... saw first UW action vs. Eastern Michigan ... one tackle vs. Washington State ... had one tackle at Iowa ... also had one stop at Indiana.


at OKLAHOMA & HIGH SCHOOL

Spent the 2020 through 2023 seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to UW in the summer of 2024 … earned his degree in multidisciplinary studies from OU in summer, 2023 … started the first two games of the 2023 season for the Sooners, at the “Cheetah” position, before suffering a season-ending injury … had six tackles and an interception in those two games … in 2022, played in all 13 games, notching 23 tackles and an INT … career-high eight tackles vs. TCU … first career interception vs. Kent State … saw action in four games in 2021, and redshirted … didn’t see any game action in 2020 … spent two seasons at Bakersfield Calif. (College) … 97 tackles and seven interceptions over two seasons at Bakersfield … played wide receiver and defensive back at Raleigh Southeast High in North Carolina, earning all-conference at wide receiver as a senior … also a sprinter on his high school track team, taking fourth in the state in the 4x100m.

They just said if Geno gets to 185 passing (he is at 105 now and 2TDs) he gets $2M and if they win another $2M

• Completion% (69.755% or higher): $2 million
• Yards (4,282+ yards): $2 million
• 10 wins: $2 million

We need to sign 3 or 4 O lineman

I didn't vote for that.

Is he still looking to transfer?

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Just read that Preston Fox has decided to forgo his last season of football. As a lifelong WVU fan I just wanted to recognize him for his grit, determination and success as a Mountaineer!! He should be an inspiration for the NIL, jump into the portal athletes to rethink the qualities of commitment, loyalty and/or finishing what they start. Adherence to the "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" philosophy has all but disappeared in today's society. Seeking what seems to be the path of least resistance being the easier road to take. We have lost to WV players who have recently left for different reason completely. One for money (can't blame him, hard to argue with the choice, it's the new reality) and the other, I assume to start a new episode in his life. Good luck to both and thanks for your efforts!
We understand that the money is a factor of NIL etc. and that should tell us that the direction of college football is headed in a very precarious direction. The " hundred-dollar handshake", or should we adjust for today's dollars, make that $1000 dollar at least, is now legal. Does anyone out there think that this a good thing for the future of college football or any college athletics? On the current course in 5 years, we will not recognize the game. Remember the PAC 8, then the PAC 10, now the non-existent Pac 12 or now PAC 2 (regression)? Stand bye!!! It is only going to get worse. My guess is we will eventually have a Super 15/20 team league, or the Premier League, like soccer and the rest of us. WVU and other teams that are unable to raise the kind of money to compete will play at the sub-division league.
Hope I'm wrong!
Happy New Year! I Hope!!!

Birds fed and wood stacked and ready. Hit a few miller lites and mixing a pour of calumet 17 yr and 7 yr blended bourbon. It better than I thought it would be. Ready for the snow. Pepperoni rolls getting made and ready to be snowed in.

Working harder than ugly strippers right now

Says he has us in top 10 in next poll. He’s a good listener.