Latest news with #Hodge
Dominion Post
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Roster overhauls are nothing new for WVU men's hoops coach Ross Hodge
MORGANTOWN — There was a time in college basketball when junior college coaches were sort of like being the kid down the block. There's nothing wrong with that kid. It's perfectly fine to hang out with him after school. It's just when it comes time for the birthday parties, the kid down the block rarely gets an invite. That was, at one time, the perception of a junior college hoops coach, the life once had by WVU men's coach Ross Hodge. 'They only have guys for a year, or two,' Hodge said in elaborating on the perception. 'Can they really take four-year guys and develop them?' Division I coaches have always recruited the heck out of JUCO players, but when it came time to hire a new coach, guys like Hodge rarely got that invite. Except now the college sports landscape has completely changed. Every school, no matter if it's a Power Five school or otherwise, is basically a junior college (a two-year school). Players come and go. They hit the transfer portal after one season and rosters have to be retooled on a yearly basis. 'Now, it's flipped, where every year you're going to have high-roster turnover,' Hodge continued. 'You're going to be merging a group of guys together and how quickly can you get them to come together and play for one purpose?' Hodge is the fourth WVU head coach in four years. That's created a sort of revolving door when it's come to the Mountaineers' roster. From 2023-25, the WVU men's program had a combined 39 scholarship players. Only nine of those 39 had returned to WVU from the previous season. Add in Hodge's first roster — currently at 12 scholarship players — that number is 10 out of 51. WVU's current roster — Hodge said he's currently looking at who is still remaining in the portal for a possible addition — is eight transfers, three incoming freshmen and one holdover in redshirt freshman center Abraham Oyeadier. WVU fans will likely need more than a roster to keep everyone straight. Name tags might not even do the trick. The players come from all walks of life. All four time zones in the U.S. are covered in their previous college stops and the majority of them have already experienced some level of success. Honor Huff is the nation's leading returner with 131 3-pointers after guiding Chattanooga to the NIT championship last season. Treysen Eaglestaff was the only player in the NCAA last season to have multiple 40-point games. Brenen Lorient was the American Athletic Conference's Sixth man of the Year last season. 'They have an experience with winning,' is the way Hodge explains it. 'They understand that part of it and what it takes. You're just trying to get them to understand how are we going to win together.' From 2006-11, that was the question Hodge asked himself on a yearly basis. As the head coach at Paris Junior College and Midland (Texas) College, Hodge's rosters were built from scratch year after year. What he's doing now at WVU, it's not exactly a new experience. Hodge won 85% of his games at the JUCO level, including one season at Midland where the Chaps finished as the national runner-up. Hodge had eight players on that roster who moved up to Division I, including Guy Edi, who played at Gonzaga, Ty Nurse (Texas Tech), Dwight Miller (Tennessee) and Jamaal Trice (UConn). The question now: Can Hodge find that same type of success with a rebuilt roster at the major Division I level? That's what he's been trying to figure out during the team's summer workouts. 'It's kind of like you're running marathons at sprinters' paces,' he said. 'Efficient is a good word. You have to be efficient with your time. You have to be purposeful. 'Our senior class, we only have them for a very short amount of time.' WVU forward Jackson Fields announced on social media Tuesday he will undergo surgery. He was with his WVU teammates at the Best Virginia game in Charleston on Monday with a brace on his left wrist. Fields did not say how much time, if any, he was expected to miss this season. Fields transferred to WVU this season from Troy, where he averaged 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season.
West Australian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Romance comes of age, with portrait of fashion pioneers
A massive artwork marking 20 years of the Australian fashion label Romance Was Born has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery. Designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales chose their longtime friend and collaborator Samuel Hodge to create a portrait of them to mark the occasion - and the resulting collage is as extravagant as one of their label's runway shows. "When you take as many photographs as I have, it's really difficult to make sense of it all - so one way to do this is just put it all together," Hodge said. The artist has combined hundreds of images of the designers taken over decades, incorporating brushstrokes of colour across four framed panels, all mounted over a specially made wallpaper. The artwork, which measures 4.5 metres across, was unveiled at the gallery in Canberra Friday night. It's the biggest framed work Hodge has ever created, and reminds him of the over-the-top approach that Plunkett and Sales' take to their runway shows, which have been known to feature everything from snow machines to giant lunar sculptures. "It's so much more than they even need to do, but they can't help themselves, and I think weirdly that's washed off on me, especially with the production of this work," he said. As well as being coveted fashion items, Romance Was Born designs are held in the collections of prestigious art institutions, and have been shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Plunkett and Sales have dressed the likes of Bjork, Caroline Kennedy, Cate Blanchett, Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus, and collaborated with artists such as Linda Jackson, Jenny Kee, Del Kathryn Barton and Ken Done. Standing in front of the portrait for the first time, the renowned designers both seem a little overwhelmed, partly due to its proximity to famous portraits of household names, such as Howard Arkley's painting of singer Nick Cave. "It feels like a very iconic moment for us to be put next to these people who we really admire and have always looked up to," Plunkett said. "When you're just young and starting out making stuff, I never thought that in 20 years I'd have a portrait at the gallery next to Nick Cave." For Sales, who says the artwork is "awesome", each of the snapshots in the collage brings back forgotten memories of designs, collections, models, photo shoots and runway shows. "It's very nostalgic and it's been emotional and overwhelming, I'm still kind of processing what it all means," he said. Hodge received the portrait commission in January, and spent months selecting photographs, painting onto them, scanning, reprinting, hand-cutting and gluing them. His printer was shocked when he turned up wanting to print about 1000 images for the artwork, requiring about 30 square metres of paper. Despite his experimental methodology, Hodge was always confident the finished product would work - after so many years collaborating with the designers, he knows what they like. The portrait will be on view at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra from Saturday.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Romance comes of age, with portrait of fashion pioneers
A massive artwork marking 20 years of the Australian fashion label Romance Was Born has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery. Designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales chose their longtime friend and collaborator Samuel Hodge to create a portrait of them to mark the occasion - and the resulting collage is as extravagant as one of their label's runway shows. "When you take as many photographs as I have, it's really difficult to make sense of it all - so one way to do this is just put it all together," Hodge said. The artist has combined hundreds of images of the designers taken over decades, incorporating brushstrokes of colour across four framed panels, all mounted over a specially made wallpaper. The artwork, which measures 4.5 metres across, was unveiled at the gallery in Canberra Friday night. It's the biggest framed work Hodge has ever created, and reminds him of the over-the-top approach that Plunkett and Sales' take to their runway shows, which have been known to feature everything from snow machines to giant lunar sculptures. "It's so much more than they even need to do, but they can't help themselves, and I think weirdly that's washed off on me, especially with the production of this work," he said. As well as being coveted fashion items, Romance Was Born designs are held in the collections of prestigious art institutions, and have been shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Plunkett and Sales have dressed the likes of Bjork, Caroline Kennedy, Cate Blanchett, Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus, and collaborated with artists such as Linda Jackson, Jenny Kee, Del Kathryn Barton and Ken Done. Standing in front of the portrait for the first time, the renowned designers both seem a little overwhelmed, partly due to its proximity to famous portraits of household names, such as Howard Arkley's painting of singer Nick Cave. "It feels like a very iconic moment for us to be put next to these people who we really admire and have always looked up to," Plunkett said. "When you're just young and starting out making stuff, I never thought that in 20 years I'd have a portrait at the gallery next to Nick Cave." For Sales, who says the artwork is "awesome", each of the snapshots in the collage brings back forgotten memories of designs, collections, models, photo shoots and runway shows. "It's very nostalgic and it's been emotional and overwhelming, I'm still kind of processing what it all means," he said. Hodge received the portrait commission in January, and spent months selecting photographs, painting onto them, scanning, reprinting, hand-cutting and gluing them. His printer was shocked when he turned up wanting to print about 1000 images for the artwork, requiring about 30 square metres of paper. Despite his experimental methodology, Hodge was always confident the finished product would work - after so many years collaborating with the designers, he knows what they like. The portrait will be on view at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra from Saturday.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a maths whizz - the winning formula to bag whole £119m EuroMillions prize'
The EuroMillions jackpot has hit a staggering £119 million, and while winning is largely down to luck, one expert says there are several ways to boost your odds With a staggering £119 million up for grabs in tonight's EuroMillions draw, turning your fantasy into reality might be closer than you think. While luck is the biggest factor, one probability expert says there are several smart ways to boost your odds— and possibly walk away with the whole jackpot. Millions of people buy EuroMillions tickets every week, and with jackpots recently reaching record-breaking highs (like last month's £208 million win by a lucky Irish player), competition is fierce. To play, you select five numbers between 1 and 50 and two Lucky Stars between 1 and 12. You can also opt for a Lucky Dip, which randomly generates your numbers. Win tonight, and you'd instantly be wealthier than celebrities such as Dua Lipa or Harry Kane. 'My dad won EuroMillions jackpot but it ripped family apart and led to horror showdown' Family win HUGE £216million Euromillions jackpot making national history According to mathematician Dr. David Hodge, while no number is more 'lucky' than another, how you pick your numbers can make a big difference - especially when it comes to avoiding a shared jackpot. 'Any prize can be shared, so you want to be the only one who wins if you do win,' he told The Sun. He suggests that you avoid common number patterns and choose 'boring' numbers. Popular numbers like 21, 23, 42, 29, and 17 are drawn frequently - but that's exactly why you should steer clear. People tend to choose these thinking they're lucky, increasing the chances of splitting the prize. Instead, aim for numbers with average draw rates, such as 13, 24, 32, and 37, which have each appeared around 90–91 times. It's tempting to pick numbers that haven't come up in a while, assuming they're 'due.' But Dr. Hodge says this is a myth. 'Past draws don't affect future outcomes,' he warned. So skip the least-drawn numbers — like 1, 4, 18, 40, and 43 — and focus on randomness, not superstition. You might think quirky combinations like 1-2-3-4-5 or evenly spaced numbers like 5-10-15-20-25 make you unique. But in reality, lots of people think the same way. 'Our brains love patterns,' said Hodge. 'If you think a sequence is unusual, chances are others do too.' Humans are notoriously bad at picking truly random numbers, which is why Dr. Hodge recommends using a Lucky Dip. This not only generates a random selection but also prevents you from becoming emotionally attached to a specific set of numbers. 'The key is to avoid bias,' he explained. 'Let the computer do the work.' While it's exciting to dream big, always gamble responsibly. Set a spending limit and only use money you can afford to lose. For support, visit or
Dominion Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- Dominion Post
COLUMN: Apologies, an update and some insight on WVU men's hoops coach Ross Hodge
CHARLESTON — Ladies and gentlemen, I am a terrible writer. That was never more evident than Tuesday night inside the Charleston Coliseum. Best Virginia had just advanced to the TBT national quarterfinals with a 79-68 victory against Elite Nation and head coach Jarrod West was giving his summation of the game to the media. The victory kept Best Virginia alive for the $1 million winner-take-all prize money. A member of WVU athletic royalty with his game-winning shot against Cincinnati in the 1998 NCAA tournament, as well as a state championship hoops coach at Clarksburg Notre Dame, West was asked where any sort of TBT accomplishment would rank. His answer was an all-timer. 'I got married. I've had two kids,' he began. 'I hit a famous shot in college and won a state championship. 'I've already told my family that if we win $1 million, someone is getting bumped.' It's probably the quote of the year and I could just not find a way to fit it into the game story. My apologies, but coach West, that was one heck of a quote. *** Had an opportunity to catch up with former WVU assistant hoops coach Ron Everhart, who is assisting West during the TBT run. Now, the details of the conversation were strictly off the record, but what I can tell you is he's having a blast working with Best Virginia and he's doing just fine. Since making his transition away from WVU, he recently signed on to become a fundraiser for Fairmont State. *** Time for some insight, which leads us to first-year WVU men's basketball coach Ross Hodge. Not much has been heard from Hodge since his opening press conference back in April, but that hasn't stopped him from making some pretty good first impressions. That notion was relayed to me recently after a conversation with former WVU point guard Truck Bryant. 'Coach Hodge has reached out to the WVU basketball alumni many times and welcomed us with open arms,' Bryant said. 'He's invited us in. He wants all of us to be a part of the program. He's really a good guy who understands what it means to be part of the WVU family.' Best Virginia guard James Reese played at North Texas from 2019-21, when Hodge was an assistant coach there under Grant McCasland. 'I'm 100% not surprised to hear he's making a good early impression,' Reese said. 'I think as more people in the WVU community get to know who he is, they'll like him even more.' Reese did not hold back in the amount of love and respect he had built for Hodge in the short time they worked together. 'He's literally one of the few college coaches that I still talk with,' Reese said. 'I'm pretty sure when I get back to the locker room and check my phone, there'll be some type of message on it from him.' The two seasons Reese spent with the Mean Green came during COVID-19. The pandemic cut his sophomore season short and his junior season was muddled with eight regular-season games that were either postponed or canceled. North Texas still went on to win the Conference USA tournament his junior season and the Mean Green upset fourth-seeded Purdue in the first round of the 2021 NCAA tournament. 'Two reasons come to mind on why he earns the respect of his players,' Reese continued. 'One, he's not going to sit there and talk to you about stuff you already know and he's not going to tell you things you want to hear. He's very real and honest. 'The other thing is it's not always about basketball with him. I've probably had more conversations about life with coach than I've had about basketball. He goes out of his way to talk about life off the court.' That included when Reese wanted to transfer to South Carolina for his final season of eligibility. Reese is a South Carolina native and wanted to be closer to home, but that did not make the conversation any easier with Hodge. 'Yeah, that was tough when I had to tell him I was transferring,' he said. 'We sat down and talked and he understood I wanted to go home. 'We ended up having a great conversation and hugged it out. We won a lot together. We made some history together at North Texas and I left feeling a lot of love from coach Hodge. I think that's what the people at WVU are going to feel about him.'
