The Shotgun/Throwdown: 2011 NCAA Tournament Round of 32 (3/19/11) Edition

Welcome, By-Godders, to a special weekend edition of 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 Horse Piss Beer, because, well...

The Sweet Sixteen is on the line today when WVU takes on Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year for the right to advance.  Different year, different teams and a somewhat different prize to the victor.  Just because the prize won't be the Final Four won't make today's contest any less intense.  I expect a battle.  All of the usual is inside.

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What You May Have Missed:

2011 NCAA Tournament Bracket - ESPN
Up to date bracket following Friday's games

Friday's Press Conferences - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Photo gallery and videos

Mountaineers to Face Houston - MSNsportsNET.Com
This year, the team earned a placement as the No. 9 seed in the Dallas Region, where they’ll play a first round game against No. 8-seed Houston in Waco on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 5:10 p.m.

WVU Men's Basketball Team Report 3/18 - WVillustrated.com

From the Cheap Seats 3/18 - WVillustrated.com

'Eer to Ear: Looking Ahead to WVU vs. Kentucky - WVillustrated.com

WVU's John Flowers and Headband Reunite Saturday - WVillustrated.com
This may be the biggest development heading into today's game

NFL Pro Day - Mountaineer TV
Mountaineer football held its annual Pro Day inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility on Thursday.

News of Note:

Kentucky Preview - Mountaineer TV
MSN's Tony Caridi and Jay Jacobs preview Saturday's West Virginia-Kentucky game at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.

WVU Men's Basketball Game Preview: WVU vs. Kentucky - WVillustrated.com

West Virginia Mountaineers (5) @ Kentucky Wildcats (4): Game Preview - A Sea Of Blue
From the enemy blog

WVU-Kentucky NCAA Preview - WVMETRONEWS.COM

NCAA Tournament Preview: Kentucky - BGN

Kentucky Seeking Revenge - MSNsportsNET.Com

WVU, Kentucky set for rematch - Charleston Daily Mail

Border Battle II - Charleston Gazette
Mountaineers face Kentucky again, this time for spot in Sweet 16

Different teams meet again - Charleston Daily Mail

Rematch? Well, not exactly - Charleston Gazette

West Virginia, Kentucky meet in tourney play - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Second straight year teams square off

For WVU, it's a rematch...kind of - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Huggins and Calipari agree to disagree - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza

Huggins vs. Calipari: Close friends in search of first national title - Times West Virginian

Calipari, Huggins can laugh about scary moment - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register (AP)

West Virgina hopes zone works against Kentucky - PPG

Bryant gets his chance against UK - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column

Head Coach Bob Huggins - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins' news conference Friday afternoon at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.

Thoroughman picks his spots - Charleston Daily Mail
Casazza's Notebook

Thoroughman no fan of Kentucky - Charleston Gazette
Hickman's Notebook

Senior Cam Thoroughman - Mountaineer TV
Senior Cam Thoroughman talks about Thursday's win over Clemson and a Saturday matchup against Kentucky.

Assistant Coach Erik Martin - Mountaineer TV
Assistant coach Erik Martin talks about the adjustments the coaching staff made to stop Clemson's inside scoring.

VIDEO: WVU NCAA Third Round Interviews - WVillustrated.com
Huggs, Calipari, JFlow, Jonnie, Casey, Noreen, Cam, Deniz, Pepps, KJ and Joe

Around the League (and Beyond):

VCU ends Georgetown's season with convincing win - Washington Post
74-56

Syracuse gets past Indiana State in second round of NCAA Tournament - Post Standard
77-60

6 In A Row: The Wrong Way... - The Nova Blog
...after dropping yesterday's game to George Mason 61-57

VICTORY BOURBON EDITION! #11 MARQUETTE 66, #6 XAVIER 55 - Anonymous Eagle

Notre Dame 69, Akron 56: Survive and Advance - Rakes Of Mallow

Back To The Big East As UConn Plays Cincinnati - Hartford Courant

Cronin, Calhoun make nice - Cincinnati Enquirer

Pitt's McGhee renews rivalry with Butler's Howard - PPG

What's On Tap:

2011 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament (all times listed are EDT)

(5) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (4) Kentucky Wildcats - Preview - ESPN
12:15 from Tampa on CBS

(7) UCLA Bruins vs. (2) Florida Gators - Preview - ESPN
2:45 from Tampa on CBS

(13) Morehead State Eagles vs. (12) Richmond Spiders - Preview - ESPN
5:15 from Denver on CBS

(7) Temple Owls vs. (2) San Diego State Aztecs - Preview - ESPN
6:10 from Tucson on TNT

(8) Butler Bulldogs vs. (1) Pittsburgh Panthers - Preview - ESPN
7:10 from the Phone Booth on TBS

(11) Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. (3) Brigham Young Cougars - Preview - ESPN
7:45 from Denver on CBS

(5) Kansas State Wildcats vs. (4) Wisconsin Badgers - Preview - ESPN
8:40 from Tucson on TNT

(6) Cincinnati Bearcats vs. (3) Connecticut Huskies - Preview - ESPN
9:40 from the Phone Booth on TBS

2011 NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament

(9) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (8) Houston Cougars - ESPN
5:10 EDT Sunday from Waco on ESPN2

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is this year's SI Swimsuit Edition cover girl.  Hailing from Russia, please welcome back Irina Shayk.  Here's a 168 photo gallery (click on the pic) and a couple videos to get you through the weekend.

Horse Piss Beer image via i244.photobucket.com