The Shotgun/Throwdown: Backyard Brawl (1/30/12) Edition

by WVUIE97 on Jan 30, 2012 9:46 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 Eat Shit Pitt Premium Lager.

No more time to dwell on the Cuse loss anymore (yet, we will here, a bit) as the suddenly resurgent Panthers come to town tonight. With the last 2 losses in a row, WVU has dropped from tied for 2nd to tied for 7th in the Big East. To say a win tonight is paramount is an understatement. Previews have begun to trickle out (ours will come later today) and we have more recruiting news on both fronts. We also have a couple of interviews with interim Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas.

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What You May Have Missed:

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas - WVillustrated
Big 12 Interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas spoke with WVi's Scott Grayson during a visit to Morgantown

Neinas Confident In WVU Move To Big 12 - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and "interrogation" video with Hoppy

Big 12 "Comfortable" With 10 Teams - WVillustrated
Big 12 Interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas discussed a number of topics from potential expansion in the Big 12 to West Virginia's ongoing lawsuit with the Big East.

Big 12, Big East battling for West Virginia - Fox Sports SW
"We didn't solicit West Virginia; West Virginia solicited us — as did other Big East schools. It seems to me the Big East has a double standard. And the Big East was talking about [automatic qualifying status to the BCS]. There's not going to be AQs in the near future."

From the Cheap Seats: Mountaineers & Fans Should Look in the Mirror - WVillustrated
The officials blew a big call at the end of the Mountaineers' loss to Syracuse, but they weren't the only reasons for the "L."

Bad calls are a part of the game - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Yet, you never want to put the game in the hands of the officials.

In an alternate universe, Syracuse should have shown better sportsmanship - Searching for Billy Edelin
Have you seen that public service announcement currently running on good sportsmanship?

Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Fund and WVU Student Section Competing - WVillustrated
In a field of 64 coaches, the winner of the online tournament with Bob Huggins gets $100,000 to support their foundation. The WVU student section was also nominated for an award that can be voted for towards $5,000 that goes to its athletic association.

10 Moments - 10 Players - 10 Teams - Big East
Vote for Da`Sean and the 2010 WVU team here

West Virginia - 2010 - Classic Photos of the Big East Tournament - Photos - SI.com
There's another WVU photo if you click back a couple

A midseason update to SI.com's college hoops style archive - Luke Winn - SI.com
Turk and Truck make the list

2012 NFL Draft: Kashif Moore, Antwuan Reed, Tyler Urban Among Selections For Players All-Star Classic - Big East Coast Bias
Tyler Urban is projected as a 6th or 7th round pick by NFL Draft Scout.com.

Julian Miller, Keith Tandy, and Najee Goode Helped Themselves at the Shrine Game - WVU Pros
A look at Julian Miller, Keith Tandy, and Najee Goode's performances at the 2012 East/West Shrine Game.

John Flowers Returns To Japan - WVU Pros
Recapping John Flowers first game back in Japan after a mid-season break.

News of Note:

From blown call to the Backyard Brawl - Charleston Gazette
Still stinging from loss at Syracuse, WVU welcomes Pitt tonight

Big Monday Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
Losses at St. John’s and Syracuse have put West Virginia in a precarious situation when it plays host to resurgent Pitt on Monday night.

A Big Brawl On Big Monday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
The Pitt Panthers (13-9, 2-7) are one of the streakiest teams in the nation. They won nine games in a row, then they lost eight games in a row, now they will try and extend their current winning streak to three games against the West Virginia Mountaineers (15-7, 5-4).

West Virginia looks to end losing ways in Backyard Brawl - Daily Athenaeum
In their losses to the Orange and St. John's, the Mountaineers turned the ball over 17 and 14 times, respectively.

Tough loss puts WVU in foreign territory - Charleston Daily Mail
"I told them because they didn't come to play Wednesday, they've put themselves in a heck of a hole," Huggins said.

Different directions - Times West Virginian
Pitt surging, WVU cold going into rivalry game

As Pitt attempts to revive its season, West Virginia falters - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The season's first Backyard Brawl between Pitt and West Virginia on the hardwood would have been a completely different story a week ago.

Pitt forward Robinson's defense will be put to test at WVU - PPG
Robinson will be matched up against Kevin Jones, the Big East Conference's leading scorer and top rebounder.

Pitt Vs. West Virginia: Both Teams Hoping To Win Backyard Brawl - SB Nation Pittsburgh
Here's your "DUH" headline of the week

Recruiting:

No. 1 Center in Class of 2013 Considering WVU - WVillustrated
West Virginia is looking at one of the top prospects in the class of 2013

2013 Recruit Goodluck Okonoboh Likes WVU - WVillustrated
One of the top players in the class of 2013 recently visited Morgantown and West Virginia University. Goodluck Okonoboh says he liked what he saw.

Selden Looking At WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Selden is ranked as the one of the top shooting guards in the class of 2014. The 6-foot-5 prospect plays for The Tilton School and was recently in Morgantown competing in the Remember The Miners Mountaineer Showcase.

Frazzle time for WVU recruiting - Charleston Gazette
When Dana Holgorsen names his final defensive assistant, the tag of recruiting coordinator might be attached. The West Virginia head coach might assign the task to one of those already on board.

National Signing Day 2012: Top 25 Uncommitted Football Recruits - SBNation.com
WVU target WR Caleb is on the list

How-To Signing Day, Part Three: The Recruiting Cycle of Emotion (But Mostly Angst) - SBNation.com
Prepare your emotions for Feb. 1, when your college football fandom and very humanity will be put to the test by National Signing Day.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti speaks with Mario Cristobal as search narrows - Star Ledger

Ryan Boatright Cleared By NCAA, Eligible To Play Immediately - Big East Coast Bias

Final: Villanova-Marquette & The Worst Referee Ever - The Nova Blog
Yeah...NO

Pitt Vs. Georgetown: Panthers Grab Big Win, Season Back On Track? - Cardiac Hill

Cards Win Third Straight With 60-51 Victory At Seton Hall - Card Chronicle

Rutgers Hellish Defense Beats Cincinnati 61-54 - On the Banks

Moe Harkless' coming out party not enough, St. John's falls 83-76 at Duke - Rumble In The Garden

What's On Tap:

Pittsburgh Panthers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
7 pm tonight from the Coliseum on ESPN

Weekly Watch: Week 8 - ESPN

Video of Interest:

It's round one of the "Backyard Brawl", Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas is confident WVU will be in their conference this season and National Signing Day inches closer.