Kobe Johnson, Ross Hodge and the Mountaineers Trying to Reverse Curse on Men’s Basketball Team…

Kobe Johnson, Ross Hodge and the Mountaineers Trying to Reverse Curse on Men’s Basketball Team

 

Boone, NC — July 25, 2025 — For too long, the story of the Mountaineer men’s basketball program has followed a familiar and frustrating script: slow starts, midseason slumps, and heartbreak finishes. But with new head coach Ross Hodge and senior leader Kobe Johnson now at the helm, Appalachian State is out to rewrite that narrative — and reverse what many fans have started calling a “curse” on the program.

The Mountaineers haven’t danced in March since 2000, and recent seasons have been marred by inconsistency, untimely injuries, and lost momentum in key games. But with Hodge’s arrival this offseason and a clear culture shift underway, the buzz around the Holmes Convocation Center is hard to ignore.

“This team has been through a lot — some of it’s mental, some of it’s just the bounce of the ball,” Hodge said at a recent media day. “But we’re not cursed. We’re changing the mindset. We’re changing the habits. And we’re doing it one day at a time.”

Leading that shift on the court is none other than Kobe Johnson, the veteran point guard who has seen both the lows and the flickers of promise in his four years with the program. Now a senior, Johnson is embracing his role as both a playmaker and a tone-setter for a team determined to defy its past.

“We hear what people say — the ‘curse,’ the letdowns, the blown leads,” Johnson said. “But we’ve got a new voice in Coach Hodge and a locker room that’s tired of being overlooked. We’re not scared of history. We’re trying to make our own.”

Hodge, known for his defensive schemes and no-nonsense approach, has already made an impression in practice. His sessions are high-energy, physical, and focused on execution — especially in late-game situations where the Mountaineers have often come up short.

“This program has lost a lot of games by five points or less,” Hodge noted. “That’s not about talent. That’s about decision-making, discipline, and trust. We’re attacking that head-on.”

The Mountaineers’ offseason has included a revamped strength and conditioning program, individual development sessions, and leadership workshops aimed at building both toughness and chemistry. Transfers and underclassmen have responded to the challenge, while returning players like Johnson, Malik Simons, and big man Carter Blackwell are embracing expanded roles.

While preseason rankings still place Appalachian State in the middle of the Sun Belt pack, internally, the goals are higher — and the belief is real.

“This isn’t about proving doubters wrong,” Johnson said. “It’s about proving ourselves right.”

The road to redemption won’t be easy, and the ghosts of past seasons still linger. But with a new voice on the sidelines and a fearless leader on the court, the Mountaineers are no longer content to be part of the problem. They’re aiming to be the solution.

And if this team has anything to say about it, the so-called “curse” might just be broken for good.