Penny Hardaway Praises Ross Hodge as Rising Star in College Basketball
Memphis, TN – Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway has offered high praise for Ross Hodge, the newly appointed head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, calling him one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the nation. Hardaway’s endorsement comes as Hodge prepares to take over the storied program, aiming to return WVU to national prominence.
Having faced Hodge’s North Texas team twice over the past two seasons, Hardaway spoke highly of his counterpart’s coaching ability. “Ross is definitely one of my favorite coaches in the country,” Hardaway stated. “He is the next big-time coach to take West Virginia back to the glory days of winning and playing in NCAA Tournaments.”
A key component of Hodge’s success has been his defensive philosophy. Hardaway acknowledged this strength, emphasizing the difficulties his teams encountered when facing North Texas. “His teams are arguably one of the best in the country defensively,” Hardaway noted. “They are relentless in their efforts for 40 minutes. It’s one of the hardest teams that I have ever had to coach against because they are so tough.”
The coaching battle between Hardaway and Hodge has been closely contested, with each securing a victory in their matchups. Hodge’s Mean Green claimed a 76-66 victory last season, while Hardaway’s Tigers responded with a 68-64 win this year.
Hardaway is not alone in his admiration for Hodge. The West Virginia coach has earned widespread recognition from several prominent figures in college basketball, including Michigan’s Dusty May, Baylor’s Scott Drew, and Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland. With this level of respect from his peers, Hodge’s tenure at West Virginia is being met with high expectations.
As Hodge takes on his new role in Morgantown, the Mountaineers faithful hope his defensive mindset and leadership will help guide WVU back to national relevance and continued success in the highly competitive Big 12 Conference.
