WVU Hoops: Familiar Opponents for the 2025-26 Season
- Olly Reed
- Sep 26, 2025
- 3 min read
Now that the Big 12 has officially released their Conference schedule, the West Virginia Men’s Basketball program has a full regular season slate ahead of them in 2025-26.
Here are some notable players and coaches that are connected with the state of West Virginia or WVU that the Mountaineers will face off against this year.
West Virginia vs Campbell
Thursday, November 6th
The Mountaineers host the Campbell Fighting Camels as part of their non-conference schedule, and there is a familiar face from the WVU program that will be on the sidelines for the opposing team. Former Mountaineer guard Joseph Yesufu joined Campbell’s staff as an assistant coach back in June. Yesufu played one season for the Mountaineers in 2024-25, averaging 6.4 points and 2 rebounds per game.
West Virginia vs Pitt
Thursday, November 13th
The Backyard Brawl has made its return for the 2025-26 season. The Mountaineers will look to avenge last year’s loss to the Panthers at the Coliseum in early November. Jay Kuntz will make his return to Morgantown as the General Manager for Pittsburgh’s Men’s Basketball program. Kuntz was a part of Bob Huggins’ staff for 15 years at WVU as the Director of Player Personnel & Recruiting, Assistant to the Head Coach, and Coordinator of Player Development.
West Virginia vs Mercyhurst
Sunday, November 30th
The Mountaineers host Mercyhurst once again after defeating the Lakers at home last season. Shepherdstown, WV native and former Jefferson High School standout Cameron Johnson joins Mercyhurst after playing at the D2 level (Lake Erie College and the former Notre Dame College). The 6’5 Junior is expected to come in and contribute for the Lakers at a high level this year.
West Virginia vs Coppin State
Wednesday, December 3rd
Kicking things off in the month of December is a date with the Coppin State Eagles and former Mountaineer Taj Thweatt will make his return to the Coliseum after having a successful year at nearby Fairmont State last season. The 6’7 Senior started his collegiate career for former Head Coach Bob Huggins from 2020-2022, only averaging nearly 1.5 points through two seasons. He then transferred to Temple where he sat out during the 2022-23 season due to transfer rules but averaged 0.7 points and 1.5 rebounds for the Owls in 2023-24.
West Virginia vs Little Rock
Tuesday, December 9th
WVU will host the Little Rock Trojans in early December, and one former student manager for the Mountaineer program will be making his return to Morgantown in 2025-26. Tyler Milchman has been the Assistant Coach/Director of Basketball Operations for the Trojans since 2023. Milchman was a part of the West Virginia University Men’s Basketball team for 5 years as the head student-manager and graduate assistant.
West Virginia vs Cincinnati
Tuesday, January 6th at Home & Thursday, February 5th at Cincy
Two familiar faces that played for different coaching staff’s at WVU are on the Bearcats roster in Kerr Kriisa and Sencire Harris. Kriisa played for the Mountaineers for one season under Interim Head Coach Josh Eilert in 2023-24, while Harris played for Head Coach Darian DeVries (now the Head Coach at Indiana) in 2024-25. Both players were starters at their time in Morgantown, with Kriisa being more of a pass-first guard and Harris being an All-Defense player in the Big 12. It will be interesting to see how these games pan out in 2026. Kriisa began his college career at Arizona before landing in Morgantown, then transferred to Kentucky the following year, while Harris started his college career at Illinois.
West Virginia vs Utah
Wednesday, February 18th
Another former Mountaineer that played under Bob Huggins will make his return to the Coliseum in 2026 as West Virginia faces off against James Okonkwo and the Utah Utes in mid-February. The 6’8 Fifth-Year Senior is back in the Big 12 after playing for the MAC Champion Akron Zips last season, averaging 6.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Okonkwo started his college career at West Virginia from 2021-2023, then transferred to North Carolina in 2023-24.
