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 Spitfire Ale.
There's not a whole lot of news today, but the biggest news is the unconfirmed reports of Roberts Sands entering the NFL draft. That will hurt the Mountaineer D, no doubt, if true. Back on the basketball front, Huggs takes the men to D.C. tomorrow for another early tip-off (11 am EST) against the Hoyas and the women look to continue their roll against Cincinnati at the Coliseum in the afternoon.
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"). If any of you didn't realize, clicking on "LIKE" on the individual articles just likes that particular article, but doesn't "LIKE" our main page. Many thanks to those who "LIKE" us already. We now stand at 587 (a little progress each day, but at least it's progress). We're still a long way from the 17000+ for our old page, but we're working on it. Our next goal is 600. Please, spread the word!! Enjoy your weekend!! Your weekend BB primer and all of your daily links are after the jump.
What You May Have Missed:
@Shawn Zobel - Twitter
I was told tonight that West Virginia safety Robert Sands WILL DECLARE for the 2011 NFL Draft. He has already chosen an agent [Ed. Note - This guy doesn't have a ton of followers, but he accurately reported a few other players leaving too.]
@WVU_Sandman - Twitter
Never again in the Old Gold & Blue Mike n Mike better freeze!!!! Dat, Robert "The Sandman" AKA "The Predator" [Ed. Note - This has two possible meanings. He is either staying or going. Glad we cleared that up...]
WVU basketball: Visit to Georgetown comes at bad time - Charleston Daily Mail
On The Road Again - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Georgetown's John Thompson III Discusses WVU - WVillustrated.com
Dollars adding up at WVU - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
WVU women hoped to snap UConn streak - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Former Mountaineer Jarrett Brown Signs with Browns - WVillustrated.com
Ironic, isn't it?
News of Note:
Campus Connection - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU's hot team, sax appeal, SC Hall, and maybe a White-out - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's Notebook
WVU AD's son to Put the NFL on Hold - WVillustrated.com
Recruiting:
Meet WVU Football Commits Vance and Vernard Roberts - WVillustrated.com
Includes article and video interviews
Recruiting: Early Arrivals, Denials and Tricksters - WVillustrated.com
Becoming A Mountaineer - WVMETRONEWS.COM
JUCO transfer Josh Francis
Around the League (and Beyond):
Xavier no match for Cincinnati in Crosstown Shootout - Cincinnati Enquirer
66-46
postGame: Villanova 83 vs. South Florida 71 - The Nova Blog
Bulls' slide hits five with loss to Villanova - Tampa Tribune
Big East might mean big roles for Louisville's big men - Courier-Journal
The "can Steve Lavin coach?" question - Rumble In The Garden
Seton Hall's Jeremy Hazell healing from gunshot, injury - ESPN New York
Syracuse's Rick Jackson is about to join some exclusive company - Post Standard
Wallace is one of just five players to finish their careers with at least 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 200 blocks. The other four are Roosevelt Bouie, Rony Seikaly, Derrick Coleman and Etan Thomas. - wow, but I've only heard of 2 of those guys
UConn Will Face An Improved Jordan Hamilton Of Texas - Hartford Courant
Anonymous Eagle Scouting Report: Pitt Panthers - Anonymous Eagle
Pitt, Marquette take different paths to consistency - PPG
Pitt's Pederson tackles coaching issues - PPG
Paralyzed Rutgers lineman Eric LeGrand has movement in shoulders, full sensation throughout body - Star Ledger
Great, GREAT news
Five-Step Drop: JoePa Traps Bolden - NCAAFB FanHouse
Michigan and Rich Rodriguez: Inside the Tragicomedy - Wall Street Journal
Very good read, and not necessarily for the RR angle...just a glimpse inside a major FB program
Why the Georgia Bulldogs Will Win the 2011 SEC Football Championship - Dawg Sports
Interesting correlation he's got here
Auburn's Gus Malzahn has football roots in Arkansas high school - SI.com
NCAA College Basketball Power Rankings - NCAA Basketball - ESPN
College Basketball Power Rankings - Luke Winn - SI.com
What's On Tap:
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (13) Georgetown Hoyas - ESPN
11:00 tomorrow morning from the Phone Booth on ESPN2
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. (7) West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
4:00 Saturday from the Coliseum on WVPBS
(4) Syracuse Orange vs. Seton Hall Pirates - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Prudential Center on CBS College Sports and MASN
Marquette Golden Eagles vs. (5) Pittsburgh Panthers - ESPN
2:00 Saturday from the Pete on MASN and ESPN3
(9) Connecticut Huskies vs. (12) Texas Longhorns - ESPN
3:30 Saturday from the FESEC (is it just me or does that almost look like feces?) on ESPN
St. John's Red Storm vs. (15) Notre Dame Fighting Irish - ESPN
8:00 Saturday from the Joyce on ESPNU
(25) Cincinnati Bearcats vs. (7) Villanova Wildcats - ESPN
Noon Sunday from the Pavilion on MASN and ESPN3
(23) Louisville Cardinals vs. South Florida Bulls - ESPN
Noon Sunday from the Sun Dome on ESPN3 (live) and MASN (tape delay at 2 pm)
Video of Interest:
Yes, I realize that it's actually audio
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Warning: Bad Words
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste. Here's a 5 page mega-gallery and a couple videos to hold you over through the weekend.
Spitfire Ale image via duxford.iwm.org.uk