The Shotgun/Throwdown: Friday (11/5/10) Edition

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.  We're being brought to you today by Green King IPA, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.

Basketball gets underway this evening, so the "News of Note" section is completely dedicated to round-ball today, including the highly ranked women's team.  If you're heading out to the game, make sure you check out the updated parking guidelines inside as well.  In case you haven't noticed, both soccer teams are in the midst of their respective Big East tournaments and have their second games this weekend (unfortunately, both on the road).  There's only one Big East football game tomorrow, but it ought to be a decent one, all things considered.  If you have any tips, suggestions or requests for content that you think is worth sharing, you can send them to me by email or Twitter and don't forget to "LIKE" the Smoking Musket MAIN PAGE on Facebook (follow this link, then hit "LIKE"; the Like button right here just "Likes" the article, we're looking for more followers on Facebook).   Have a great weekend and I'll meet you on the other side...

What You May Have Missed:

Bob Huggins: Pre-Exhibition Presser (audio) - WVMetroNews.com
Huggins talks about where his team is at and Friday's exhibition against UNC Pembroke.

Huggins Only Sure of One Starter - WVillustrated.com

Bill Stewart will not cash in the towel - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza

Football: Jobe Receives ESPN/CoSIDA Honors - MSNsportsNET.Com

Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown - Mountaineer TV

Campus Connection - MSNsportsNET.Com

Is Michigan's good news good for WVU? - ESPN
See "Around the League (and Beyond)" below

Same Pat, Same Determination - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Pat White, if you didn't realize

News of Note:

UNC Pembroke Preview - Mountaineer TV
Bob Huggins, Joe Mazzulla and Truck Bryant talk about Friday's exhibition game against UNC Pembroke.

Game Preview: WVU vs. UNC Pembroke - WVillustrated.com

Bob Huggins Seeks National Respect for WVU in 2010-11 - WVillustrated.com

Here We Go Again - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Men's Basketball Interviews - WVillustrated.com
Huggs, Flowers, Truck and Mazz

Joe Mazzulla: Back On The Court (audio) - WVMetroNews.com
Mazzulla talks about getting the upcoming season underway.

WVU men's basketball: West is back in the mix - Charleston Daily Mail

Return To Action - BGN
Video interview with Jonnie West

What for an encore? - Charleston Gazette

WVU men to rely on veterans - Times West Virginian

#32 West Virginia: 2010-11 Basketball Preview - Collegehoops.net

Big East Primer: Pittsburgh, Villanova and Syracuse look to lead Big East - SI.com
Missed this the other day

2010-2011 College Basketball: Dick Vitale's conference by conference breakdown - ESPN

‘Bigs’ will help WVU women - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

WVU women try to stay grounded - Times West Virginian
They're heading into the season with their highest preseason ranking ever

VIDEO: WVU Women's Basketball Interviews - WVillustrated.com
Coach Carey, Liz Repella, Asya Bussie and Brooke Hampton

Around the League (and Beyond):

Big East expansion: A look at the contenders, starting with Villanova - Post Standard
He looks at Nova, TCU, UCF, Houston and ECU

Gorman: Big East expansion makes it look small - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

John Marinatto, Big East Commissioner, Discusses Expansion - NCAAFB FanHouse

The Latest On The Big East - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Andy Katz's Daily Word: Will Big East hoops soon reach 17? 18? - ESPN

What to watch in the Big East: Week 10 - ESPN

Syracuse University passing game takes a back seat but remains part of the big picture - Post Standard

Louisville football's Adam Froman, Bilial Powell won't play against Syracuse - Courier-Journal
Uncle Abe is disappointed

Pitt: Offense, Sunseri improve - PPG

Bulls seniors lead resurgence - Bulls Report/Tampa Tribune

Rutgers' chance at first Big East title fading away - Star Ledger
Puh-LEAZ

Edsall Has A Good Day At Clark Elementary School In Hartford - Hartford Courant

Cam Newton-related allegations could be huge blow to BCS, Auburn - SI.com

NCAA adds third probation year for Michigan - ESPN

College GameDay Kickoff: Week 10 preview - ESPN

Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson dead at 76 - SI.com
R.I.P. Spark, you were one of the all time greats

What's On Tap:

Men's Basketball: Exhibition Set for Tonight - MSNsportsNET.Com
The West Virginia University men’s basketball team will play its first exhibition game of the 2010-11 season on Friday, Nov. 5 against UNC Pembroke at the WVU Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Reserved tickets are priced at $17, while WVU students will be admitted free with a valid ID.

Men's Basketball: Parking Updates Announced - MSNsportsNET.Com
With the start of basketball season on Friday, Nov. 5, WVU students, faculty, staff and the general public should be aware of changes that impact normal parking use at the Coliseum.

Women's Soccer: BIG EAST Semifinal Awaits - MSNsportsNET.Com
The No. 16 West Virginia women’s soccer team continues its quest for a BIG EAST Championship with a semifinal match against Connecticut on Friday, Nov. 5, in Piscataway, N.J. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Rutgers' Yurcak Field and will be televised live on the CBS College Sports Network.

Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia will travel to No. 1 Louisville for a BET quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Syracuse Orange - ESPN
Noon tomorrow from the Dome on MASN, SNY and ESPN3. Cuse is giving 6.

College Football TV Schedule: Week 10 - NCAAFB FanHouse

Videos of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Shatner on Cee-Lo*?  Yes, please!!!  May I have another?  (*yes, it's been bleeped)

Miss Throwdown:

We're going out with a bang this week.  Today's Miss Throwdown is the girl that got RichRN all worked up from Wednesday's Hump Day post.  It's British tabloid model Rosie Jones.  Click on the pic for Gallery I and HERE for Gallery II (both are SFW, btw).

Green King IPA image via www.thepublican.com