What WVU’s opener revealed about its starting lineup and rotation

DAMAKORONKOWA - The West Virginia men's basketball team experienced a rocky start to their season opener on Monday night against Niagara, initially falling behind by as many as 10 points. However, any early anxieties were quickly put to rest as the Mountaineers completely locked things down on the defensive end of the floor. By increasing their intensity, applying relentless pressure at the rim, and executing crisp offensive sets, West Virginia turned the game into a completely one-sided affair, ultimately cruising to a dominant 91-46 victory over the Purple Eagles.

Despite the lopsided final score, there is still a significant amount to discover about this roster as the season progresses. Head coach Ross Hodge and his coaching staff are still evaluating what they have in this group. The starting lineup and overall player rotation are far from set in stone at this early stage. As the team navigates deeper into the non-conference portion of their schedule, adjustments and alterations are bound to happen. While the coaching staff had a relatively clear vision of how things might unfold thanks to three competitive exhibition games, having an official, regular-season contest in the books provides a much truer baseline for evaluation.

Examining the opening night performance offers a clearer picture of how the starting five and the broader rotation might function moving forward.

The Starting Lineup

The initial five players sent to the floor by Coach Hodge for the season opener featured: * Guard Miles Sadler * Guard Finley Bizjack * Forward Seydou Traore * Forward Brenen Lorient * Center Mouhamed Sylla

Keeping an Eye on the Traore and Sanon Situation

One of the most intriguing roster dynamics to monitor moving back and forth is the ongoing battle between Seydou Traore and Joson Sanon. While Sanon earned the starting nod in the team's first exhibition matchup against Maryland, Hodge ultimately opted to go with Traore at the three-spot for the third consecutive game, a trend that began during the exhibition slate.

During the opener, Traore logged 15 minutes of action, while Sanon saw slightly more floor time, finishing with 20 minutes. It is a well-known tendency for coaches like Hodge to stick with a winning starting five if things are running smoothly. Even so, it would hardly come as a surprise if these two players continue to flip-flop throughout the course of the season depending heavily on the specific opponent and the tactical needs of the matchup. Ultimately, starting the game holds limited weight in the grand scheme, especially considering both athletes are expected to log heavy minutes. When the coaching staff feels an immediate need for an aggressive defensive punch right out of the gate, Traore will likely receive the nod.

Impact from Across the Board

While a single game against Niagara should be taken with a grain of salt, Monday night marked the first time this specific group of five players all made a profound individual impact in the exact same contest. * Miles Sadler orchestrated the offense brilliantly, falling just one assist shy of a stellar double-double. * Finley Bizjack struggled to find his rhythm from the field, but he excelled at utilizing his athleticism to attack the basket and earn trips to the foul line. * Seydou Traore anchored the defensive unit with his usual high-level intensity and IQ. * Brenen Lorient efficiently knocked down open shots when called upon. * Mo Sylla was virtually flawless, turning in a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance from the floor while pulling down seven crucial rebounds.

The Rest of the Rotation

Beyond the opening five, the depth pieces who stepped onto the court formed a formidable second wave: * Guard Martin Somerville * Guard Joson Sanon * Forward Javan Buchanan * Center Amadou Seini

Multiple Potential Sixth Man of the Year Candidates

Given the opponent, it is important not to overreact to every single positive flash witnessed on opening night. Even so, the undeniable talent and past production speak volumes for the first three players listed in the reserve unit.

Martin Somerville might not be a household name on a national scale yet, but he possesses the rare ability to drastically alter the momentum of a game the moment he steps onto the floor. Joson Sanon remains a constant offensive threat who can heat up from the perimeter in a hurry, capable of pouring in double figures on any given night. Then there is Javan Buchanan, whose deceptive ball-handling and elite pump fake are already turning heads. That particular pump fake is quickly shaping up to be a signature move that opponents will struggle to defend and fans will talk about all season long.

Rolling Nine-Deep For Now

Heading into the season, there were questions regarding where the rotation would draw the line, though many anticipated it would settle around nine players. One lingering question following the exhibition game against Wheeling involved freshman Keonte Greybear and where he would fit into the immediate plans.

Greybear is firmly positioned as the 10th man on the roster, but his status as an active rotation piece remains fluid. The talented freshman certainly flashed moments of exceptional basketball during the preseason, and there is little doubt he has a very bright career ahead of him in a West Virginia uniform. However, unless the team encounters unforeseen injury trouble, Greybear will likely utilize this redshirt-style freshman campaign to sit back, absorb the system, learn the collegiate pace, and focus heavily on his overall development for the future.