The Shotgun Throwdown: Syracuse Pre-Game (1/27/12) Edition

by WVUIE97 on Jan 27, 2012 9:44 AM EST in Shotgun/Throwdown

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 Hangar 24 Brewery's Orange Wheat beer.

Today we have a couple more looks back at the Garden debacle. Cuse previews haven't been as forthcoming as I had hoped (I guess they'll be posted throughout the day...along with ours). We have some more on the hoops recruiting front to go along with some power rankings and your Big East weekend hoops viewing guide. We will have plenty more football recruiting news next week as signing day comes and goes next Wednesday. All of this and more...

Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What You May Have Missed:

Gold And Blue Now: Friday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Mountaineers prepare to take on the top team in the Big East and West Virginia is looking at another shooting guard for the 2012 recruiting class.

Preview of The Bob Huggins Show - WVillustrated
he will discuss the big win over Cincinnati as well as the heartbreaking loss to St. John's on the road. Huggs will also look ahead to upcoming games against Pitt and Syracuse and discuss his expectations of both.

College Hoops Power Rankings - Luke Winn - SI.com
Still in the "Next 16" but farther down this week than last

NCAA College Basketball Power Rankings - ESPN
Juuuussst a bit outside

THE VERY REASONABLY TIMED TOP 25 FOR 2031 - Every Day Should Be Saturday
WVU is on the list at #8, sorta

Sophomore Caldwell sparkling for WVU women - Register-Herald
5-foot-9 guard from Charlotte, N.C., is averaging 11.2 points per game — third on the team. Despite her small size, she also is the second leading rebounder with 6.0 per game.

Women's Basketball Playbook - MSNsportsNET.Com
Video

News of Note:

No Energy In Loss - BGN
Bob Huggins had hoped the chance to play inside Madison Square Garden would serve as enough motivation for his team on Wednesday night against St. John’s. It wasn’t.

Garden debacle needs to be quickly forgotten - Charleston Gazette
It was one lousy night in a 31-game season. There haven't been that many.

WVU basketball: Jones, Mountaineers move on after setback - Charleston Daily Mail
"But when you spend the whole timeout going over where everyone is supposed to be and then three guys are in the 1-3-1 and two of them aren't, they're not really into what you're doing. Know what I mean?"

HERTZEL COLUMN: Bottom teams getting better in Big East - Times West Virginian
But this is a new season in the Big East — be it West Virginia’s last or next to last in the conference — and it is not the Big East of old.

Recruiting:

Mountaineers On Morris' List - WVMETRONEWS.COM
One of the nation’s top shooting guards is still on the market in the 2012 recruiting class and he has the Mountaineers on his list.

Tilton prospects enjoy trip to Morgantown - Daily Athenaeum
When the Tilton School (N.H.) made the trip down to Morgantown, some of the players didn’t really know what to expect.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Big East Midterm Report - Card Chronicle

The Unthinkable Happens: Greg Schiano leaves Rutgers for the NFL - On the Banks
Unthinkable because he left or unthinkable because the NFL would take him?

Greg Schiano's exit could be devastating to Rutgers recruiting - SI.com

Signing Day Nears For The Cincinnati Bearcats; This Is The Least You Should Know - Down The Drive

The Fab Melo News Update Apocalypse - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Steve Lavin on his recovery and recruiting - Rumble In The Garden

Woodall's return a shot in the arm - PPG

What's On Tap:

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (4) Syracuse Orange - ESPN
1 pm Saturday from the Dome on ESPNU

Marquette Golden Eagles vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
Women's Basketball - 7 pm Saturday from the Coliseum on WVPBS

(18) Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Villanova Wildcats - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Pavilion on ESPN2

(10) Georgetown Hoyas vs. Pittsburgh Panthers - ESPN
4 pm Saturday from the Pete on ESPN

(25) Louisville Cardinals vs. Seton Hall Pirates - ESPN
8 pm Saturday from the Pru on MASN, SNY and ESPN3

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. (19) Connecticut Huskies - ESPN
Noon Sunday from the XLC on MASN, SNY and ESPN3

Video of Interest:

West Virginia University's 2012 Discover Orange Bowl trophy makes an appearance at the MountainLair on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 for WVU students to enjoy.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is the gorgeous Ukrainian Bond girl Olga Kurylenko. Enjoy her video below, a 5 page mega-gallery by clicking on the picture and a bonus gallery by clicking on the source link.