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 Sun King Brewery, in honor of our host site of Indianapolis.
Gameday has finally reached us. We all know what's at stake. The story-lines have been beaten to death, ad hoc infinitum (including many inside today). To quote part of the Herm Edwards rant, "You play to WIN the game!!" We didn't come this far for the experience. 40 minutes for 40 more. We do what we do. Simple, yet it's the truth. Tips, suggestions and requests are always great and don't forget to VOTE. Everything you need to prepare yourself is after the jump...
To mix a couple quotes from Tony Caridi and Craig Ferguson:
"It's a great day for the Mountaineers, everybody!!!"
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
NCAA Final Four Preview - Duke - BGN
Today’s the day for WVU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Only Thing Left Now is to Play the Game - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
80 Minutes of Greatness - WVIllustrated.com
WVU, Duke set for Final Four showdown - Times West Virginian
Final Four Countdown - West Virginia's Eyewitness Sports
Several stories and links on this one....Thanks Dave!!!
Game watches around the country - WVU Alumni Assn.
Who is The Public Betting in the 2010 Final Four? WVU 54%, Duke 46% - The Spread
Already on high alert, West Virginia police gather reinforcements for Saturday night - USA TODAY
NCAA Basketball 2010: The BCS Version - Rush The Court
...and yes we'd get screwed here
WVUSportsBuzz - Twitpic
Several pics from the last couple days
DO WHAT WE DO - Spreadshirt
Get your copies of the "motto" T's here
AP Video: Duke, WVU, MSU Arrive at Final 4 - YouTube
WVU Basketball Photos - WVIllustrated.com
Photos from yesterday's shoot-around session
Huge Turnout At Lucas Oil Just For Practice - WVMetroNews
Photo Gallery
Final Four Photo Gallery V - BGN
Friday At The Final Four - BGN
Dunking session video link
News of Note:
Duke, WVU do what they do - Charleston Daily Mail
NCAA notebook: WVU, Duke talk gets 'slappy' - Charleston Daily Mail
Rare Final Four classic could be on deck - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
The intangibles behind Duke, W. Virginia, Butler, Michigan St. - Seth Davis - SI.com
Need I say it? I'll just abbreviate it...IS.
Duke vs. West Virginia - Andy Glockner - SI.com
and another: IS
Four different Final Four storylines - ESPN
West Virginia-Duke Timeline - MSNsportsNET.Com
Some memorable encounters from the series through the years are documented here.
Mountaineers-Blue Devils a clash of cultures - Times West Virginian
Mountaineer Fever Is Upon Us - WVIllustrated.com
Deployed state GIs rooting for WVU from afar - Charleston Gazette
West Virginians' love affair with Mountaineers runs deep - Charleston Gazette
WVU can expect fundraising boost from Final Four run - Charleston Gazette
All parties benefit from Final Four trip - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Huggins is a master at flipping script - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Group Huggs - Charleston Gazette
Holding Huggs to a promise - Register-Herald
Bob Huggins' 'Black Hat' image going gray - Cincinnati Enquirer
Elder Huggins hard influence - PPG
Huggins, Krzyzewski back at Final Four - Parkersburg News and Sentinel (AP)
Huggins planted Final Four seed on recruiting trail - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia not yet among elite - PPG
WVU, Duke look in mirror in Final Four semifinal - Charleston Daily Mail
Opposites Attract With West Virginia, Duke - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
The Same Role For The Mountaineers - WVMetroNews
Play like West Virginia to win - Beyond the Arc/MSNBC
Battle of the boards - Charleston Gazette
Defense paves way to Indy for West Virginia - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mountaineers Behind The Scenes - MSNsportsNET.Com
A Common Bond - MSNsportsNET.Com
N.J. college basketball never should have let Da'Sean Butler, Lance Thomas get away - Star Ledger
Butler 'way up there' on all-time list - Charleston Daily Mail
Ready to Roll - MSNsportsNET.Com
Video interviews with Flowers and Ebanks
Player Comments - MSNsportsNET.Com
Video of Wells and KJ answering press questions
Bryant clings to hope of playing in Final Four - ESPN Chicago
Injured Bryant looks like a no-go for WVU - Charleston Gazette
WVU reminisces with Beilein - Charleston Daily Mail
Da'Sean Butler is Awesome, Call's John Beilein's System "the best I've ever been a part of" - Maize n Brew
We at Maize n Brew are now Mountaineer fans. Go get 'em Da'Sean. - We've (WVU) got some new fans....from an unlikely place
For Jones, It’s All About Winning - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Mazzulla key for WVU vs. Duke - Charleston Gazette
Healthy Mazzulla boosts West Virginia - PPG
Joe Mazzulla’s diary: We have to ‘do what we do’ - Providence Journal
WVU fans flocking to Flowers' Twitter page - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
West Seeks Redemption - WVIllustrated.com
WVU's West makes rare distinction with dad at Final Four - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU frosh hit first-year jackpot - Charleston Gazette
Fulford pulling for Kilicli - Register-Herald
A Final Four devoid of superstars - ESPN
WVU-Duke has star power - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Southern W.Va. a part of Mountaineer tradition - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
WVU Sports - WVMetroNews
again...too much to clip, peruse at your leisure and their HOMEPAGE
Jerry West sees alma mater cutting down nets - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column
Morgantown, Durham mayors wager: a letter to Google - Charleston Gazette (AP)
Hank Jr. Pays Tribute to Mountaineers - WVMetroNews
News of the Enemy:
So Many Reasons To Root Against Duke - NCAABB FanHouse
I only need one...they're in our way right now
Indianapolis Star apologizes for Mike Krzyzewski illustration - SI.com (AP)
AWWWWWW, poor wittle guy
Final Four notebook: Krzyzewski calls paper's jabs 'juvenile' - Charleston Gazette
Duke wants to be aggressive against Mountaineers' 1-3-1 zone - Charleston Gazette
Blue Devils haven't forgotten Mazzulla's slap two years ago - Charleston Gazette
Duke's Smith on quest to honor his father - Courier-Journal
Drawing draws the ire of Coach K - Times West Virginian
Hertzel's Notebook
Coach K's Still Got His Touch - NCAABB FanHouse
Around the League (and Beyond):
NCAA tournament Notebook: Legends fail to faze Butler's young coach - PPG
Final Four Tourism: A Butler Campus Visit – SI.com
Jim Boeheim is the AP Coach of the Year - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Calipari talks to Elisha Justice - Card Chronicle
Calipari prepared for mass exodus; Wall says decision to go pro not made - Courier-Journal
Lawrence Academy Coach On Shabazz Napier, Who Committed To UConn - Hartford Courant
Your Holtzism of the Week - Voodoo Five
Falling just short of 1,000-yard season is all motivation Rutgers' Joe Martinek needs - Star Ledger
Irish recruit Matt James killed in spring break accident - South Bend Tribune
Alabama football: Nick Saban statue to be unveiled in August - Ledger-Enquirer
What's On Tap:
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Semi-Finals on CBS
#5 Butler Bulldogs vs. #5 Michigan State Spartans - ESPN
6:07 pm EDT from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Spartans are giving 3.
#2 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. #1 Duke Blue Devils - ESPN
Approx. 8:47 pm EDT from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Duke is giving 1.
Videos of Interest:
Videos of (Dis)Interest:
Sticking with the quasi-music theme I started back during the BET...he's a native Indianan and the song fits most of us native West Virginians.
This was too good not to post:
Car Show Babes Gallery of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is another gorgeous SI swimsuit model. She's from Russia and her full name is Anne Vyalitsyna, but she's better known as Anne V.
As a bonus, we get Irina Shayk in this one too:
Sun King Brewery image via www.brewersofindianaguild.com