Ethan Bock (@ethanbock_) from WV Sports Now and The Portal Report returns to the podcast to discuss the craziness that is the 2024 D1 Basketball Transfer Portal, what he's learned about new WVU Head Coach Darian DeVries in his three weeks on the job, and what the Mountaineers could have in store this offseason. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay ca…

Smoking Musket Contributor Andy Facemire (@StatsBoyAndi) returns to the podcast to give some final thoughts about the 2023-24 season, discuss the hire of Darian DeVries, and compare what's transpired in the last 11 months to the hypothetical timeline where the events of last May and June don't happen. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on…

Darian DeVries has been officially announced as the Non-Interm Head Coach for WVU Men's Basketball! What are the parallels between this hire and the hire for this job in 2002? How many times has Drake made the NCAA Tournament in 118 years? How is this hire being received by WVU fans and nationwide? Let's react in an Emergency (good kind for a chang…

How do you treat the schools coached by the potential next Mountaineer coach in your brackets? Will there be more WVU wins this season or attempted 2-point shots by Jack Gohlke? If you're not winning the tournament, do you at least want to play against the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history? Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay cau…

Wren Baker wished Coach Eilert and staff the best in their future endeavors as soon as they got to Morgantown early Wednesday morning. Now WVU is looking for their 5th non-interim head coach since 1978. Wren says he's got a giant spreadsheet. I've put together a spreadsheet as well, but way smaller, way dumber, and with shakier math. Who does my sp…

Should a Kobe snarl really change the momentum of a game that much? Can you thank everyone involved with the program after a 9-23 season? (Spoiler Alert: You absolutely can) Which season is definitively the worst WVU basketball season of the 21st Century? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's season ending loss to Cincinnati in Kansas C…

With a season like this, is it impressive that the 1st time you noticed the team check out of a game was in the regular season finale? Who has finished last the most times in the Big 12 since WVU joined the conference? What do the individual stats say at the end of this season?Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's blowout loss to Cincin…

Are you tired of former Mountaineers coming back to the Coliseum and leaving victorious? If the only thing I told you was that a basketball team shot 62% from the field in a half and they were winning, how big of a lead would you think that team had? Did a post-game press conference interaction define the 2023-24 season? Let's answer these question…

Was the 1st half of this game the 1st half you expected in the Iowa State game? Would Raequan have been able to make his 2nd half dunk on an 11 foot rim? How does Trusting the Climb fit in with the search for the permanent head coach? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's Overtime loss at Kansas State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay…

Did you think this game was going to follow the script of WVU's last road trip? Do we know the 4 teams that will be playing in the 1st Round games in Kansas City? What if this was a podcast about WVU Women's Basketball? Lets answer these questions and more after WVU's loss at Iowa State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. …

Does WVU have a better chance of beating Central Florida if Jesse Edwards is available and Raequan Battle doesn't get ejected and the game in is Morgantown instead of Orlando? Should Central Florida make any decision other than letting Johnny Dawkins be their head coach for the long term? Wren should WVU fans be worried about the AD opening in Miss…

After giving a status update on the season following a home loss to Baylor, ChatGPT (@ChatGPTapp on X) joins the podcast to give its thoughts on the worst WVU basketball season in my lifetime, how to overcome a lack of offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers, and its choice on who would win a basketball coaching competition based on their name a…

With seven games left, Coach Eilert needs to pull everything out of the file cabinet. Let's get weird. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com and join the free Discord (https://discord.com/invite/2KBEVkpppa). If you’re interested in sponsoring Unreasonable D…

WVU lost to Texas by 36 points. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com and join the free Discord (https://discord.com/invite/2KBEVkpppa). If you’re interested in sponsoring Unreasonable Doubt, please reach out to us at contact@thesmokingmusket.com. We apprec…

What are your chances of winning if one guy on the other team has a career night scoring and another guy on the other team has a career high in assists? Is it a good thing when there are multiple similarities to your program and DePaul? If you have one winning season at Mississippi Valley State, are you a top coaching candidate in the country? Let'…

What did you think was going to happen when the 7-13 team was down 10 with 6 minutes left? What were the 3 plays in a row late for WVU that broke their way? What does Jonathan Hargett do when WVU gets their 8th win in a season? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's win over Cincinnati. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay…

Should your point guards have double the rebounds of the centers? What should the goals be for WVU with 11 games left? Can you take pride in being someone's "Bad Loss" on their NCAA Tournament Bid Resume? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's loss to Oklahoma State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's…

Are there levels to a basketball player having an "off-night"? Have you been able to pinpoint why the Big 12 Men's Basketball commercial bothers you? Will there be a better chance for a road win than the next game? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's loss to Central Florida. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught u…

Can you start talking about this game before talking about what the WVU Women's Basketball team is doing (Spoiler Alert: I cannot)? How did we get to this version of Pat Suemnick in 18 games? What does the rest of WVU's schedule have to do with Chuck Woolery? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's upset win over Kansas. …

How do teams go into the intimidating environment that is the Noble Center and win? When's the last time WVU Men's Basketball has went this late into the season without winning two games in a row? Can WVU win two games in a row this season? Let's try to answer those questions and more after West Virginia's loss to Oklahoma. Follow us on Twitter aka…

Who did you say led WVU in scoring? Who did you say led WVU in rebounding? Who did you say led WVU in steals? Let's talk about the recipe for WVU's win over Texas. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com and join the free Discord (https://discord.com/invite/2…

I can confirm that I sounded crazy laying out a highly optimistic path to 9-9 in conference play. This game tried to break my optimism, but it only changed from short-term optimism to long-term optimism. Let's talk about the mindset change and more after WVU's loss at home to Kansas State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next…

Is knowing what the score of the game is a big ask for an ESPN+ broadcast? Was there anything of redeeming value that you can take from the game if you're WVU? Do you sound crazy, especially after that game, when you lay out a highly optimistic path to 9-9 in conference play? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's blowout loss at Houston…

Did I have to eat my words about Pat Suemnick? Is getting more time with the referees during a game broadcast enhance your viewing experience? With the Big 12 schedule approaching, what is the good news and bad news about WVU's draw? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's overtime loss to Ohio State in Cleveland. Follow us on Twitter aka…

After channeling Tim Tebow, I make statements regarding the prospects for the rest of the season after WVU falls to Radford at home. These statements were made with my actual feelings on a 4-7 start and where WVU finds themselves and in no way can be used as a reverse jinx. Reverse jinxs are not a thing, just like basketball curses are not a thing.…

What did WVU accomplish in their 10th game that they've never done in my lifetime? Does the NCAA think of the move that looks the worst for them and absolutely commit to that move? What does the intro of the new guys mean for the rotation moving forward? Let's answer those questions and more after WVU's loss to Umass in Springfield, MA. Follow us o…

After a quick breakdown of the Drexel win, College Basketball coaching search expert/UMass diehard fan Curry Hicks Sage (@CurryHicksSage on X) joins the podcast to discuss Year 2 of the Frank Martin experience at UMass, his assessment of how WVU's coaching search went in the summer, and who he thinks will be in the mix for the head coaching job aft…

Could you tell a difference in confidence between the two teams? How does the return of Akok Akok and Kerr Krissa affect the playing time for other players? Is the computer being reasonable with WVU's Big 12 record prediction? Let's answer those questions and more after WVU's blowout loss to pittsburgh. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up …

Did Rick Pitino use the Huggins playbook against Coach Eilert and West Virginia? Were you ready for Kobe Johnson demanding a double-team in the post? Is Depaul always there for you? Let's answer those questions and more after WVU's home loss to St. John's. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt …

After six games, are WVU's offensive metrics in uncharted territory? Should Josiah Harris be on the floor, even if he doesn't score? Will this episode's Q&A include scamming emails? Let's answer those questions and more after WVU's close win over Bellarmine. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhit…

Is it refreshing to judge the result of a game without thinking about fatigue? What do we know about WVU after 5 games? Is there a worse decision than a grave decision? Let's answer those questions and more after WVU's loss to Virginia in Fort Myers. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read t…

WVU's tank was as full as it was going to be at the beginning of this basketball game. The tank was empty before the game was over. How does WVU get to the end of basketball games with gas in the tank? Let's attempt gas in the tank analytics after WVU's loss to SMU in Fort Myers. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smoking…

What have we learned about Coach Eilert after 3 games? Is the world ready for Aggressive Kobe Johnson? What's the relationship of losing two buy games in a row with dividing a number by zero? Let's answer these questions and more after WVU's win over Jacksonville State. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and…

Can you be upset at the result if there are no expectations? Can you be upset with the players and coaches when that offseason happens and they're still here? How will Rich Rod affect WVU's next game? Let's answer those questions and more after watching Coach Josh Eilert lose his 1st game as a D1 Basketball Coach. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay…

Was the 1st half a tribute to the previous head coach? Is there a life lesson in shooting 4 for 32 in a half? Was Jesse Edwards always guarded by 2-5 guys? Let's answer those questions and more after watching Coach Josh Eilert win his 1st game as a D1 Basketball Coach. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and …

After a quick processing of more bad news with news of Kerr Kriisa's 9-game suspension, Mike Casazza (@mikecasazza on Twitter) from EersSports.com makes his annual appearance on the podcast to preview the 2023-24 WVU Basketball Season. What vibes are Coach Huggins bringing with his presence in the Coliseum this season? What's a reasonable W/L for W…

Let's wish a speedy recovery to Akok Akok. Let's also make some observations after one game that doesn't count. Let's also discuss the NCAA's deinal of Raequan Battle's waiver. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com If you’re interested in sponsoring Unreaso…

The computer preseason rankings are coming out. The Big 12 Coaches have given their preseason rankings. The NCAA has not given their decision on Raequan Battle's waiver. Let's discuss all of this. Follow us on Twitter aka X to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Read the blog at thesmokingmusket.com If you’re interested i…

This is a basketball podcast, but I start with my reaction to the WVU/Houston football game. What a crazy game. For basketball, a spreadsheet in Connecticut has determined that WVU's 2023-24 season will mostly be experienced on ESPN+. The early computer rankings have WVU in the bottom half of the Big 12. Is that going to make the 2023-24 WVU Basket…

Another change has happened to the WVU Men's Basketball Roster. This change, along with many other events in the last 12 months, could only happen with one coaching change in the Bronx two weeks before the start of the 2022-23 basketball season. How does this change affect the remaining roster? Listen as I try to figure it out. Follow us on Twitter…

The preseason is here! Let's celebrate by digging in on the four players on this season's roster that played on last season's team. After that, Patrick Oliverio (hail_eers_brand on Instagram; @PatrickO9WV on Twitter aka X) joins the podcast to talk about his now famous EERS hat and his thoughts on the upcoming WVU Basketball season! Follow us on Tw…

After some quick thoughts on Josh Eilert's interview on Three Guys Before the Game, Chad Kultgen (Dudesy Podcast, Game of Roses Podcast, Author, Screenwriter) joins the podcast to talk about being creative in Los Angeles, the future of AI with entertainment and sports, and gives an outside perspective on Josh Eilert's prospects this coming season. …

Isn't it nice to have some peace and quiet with Mountaineer Men's Basketball after a loud offseason? Is there a recent college head coaching switch we can look at to help figure out how Josh Eilert will do in his Interim Coach season? What stat can we look at this year to determine Coach Eilert's success? Let's answer these questions and more on a …

Dominos are falling that get us closer to WVU Basketball. College Football starting. A full roster with two new additions. The fall semester starting. The biggest domino that has to fall for WVU with many possible ramificiatons is the approval or denial of Raequan Battle's waiver. What's the best way to determine the liklihood of Battle's (and Farr…

Smoking Musket Contributor Andy Facemire (@StatsBoyAndi on Twitter aka X) joins to podcast to discuss the 4 schools that will be joining the Big 12 in 2024. How does this affect WVU's standing on the basketball side? Does expanding west get WVU off a travel nightmare island? Does these additions keep the Big 12 as the best college basketball confer…

The 30-Day Transfer Portal closed. The Big 12 Schedule Matrix was favorable to WVU. WVU picked up a big man from the portal. Jose Perez returned. Best Virginia won their 1st Round TBT. I'm filing all of these events as...GOOD NEWS! Also, I share my attempt at recording a podcast when the bad news was happening earlier this month. Follow us on Twitt…

If there were only 6 guys on the roster in a home game, would you let the bench guy run out on the carpet in the Coliseum? Is losing 5 guys (currently) to the portal actually the best case scenario for roster retention? Does it matter to you that the blue heart comes before the gold heart in the transfer portal thank yous? Follow us on Twitter to s…

A lot has happened in the two weeks since Bob Huggins was fired. There was a coaching search. There was an interim Head Coach named. Also, a transfer portal opened. Players entered. One returned. One left. Some are still in the portal. Some may still enter. We've got some answers, but there are still a lot of questions. Let's talk about the hiring …

On Friday night, Bob Huggins was arrested for a DUI in Pittsburgh. On Saturday night, Bob Huggins resigned his position of head coach at West Virginia University. I recorded this a few minutes after the news came out while walking the streets of Nitro, West Virginia. Follow us on Twitter to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshw…

How did the 2022-23 NBA season go for Deuce, Jevon, and Coach Mazzulla? What does the future hold for Deuce, Jevon, and Coach Mazzulla? Do you take pride in conference realignment talks happening at The Greenbrier? Follow us on Twitter to stay caught up on what's next. @smokingmusket and @imjoshwhitt Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/bra…