The Shotgun/Throwdown: Thursday (3/1/12) Edition

by WVUIE97 on Mar 1, 2012 9:37 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 Firehouse One Ton Imperial Stout.

Today we have some clarification on new football defensive coach Erik Slaughter's "incident." AD Luck stopped by and read to some youngsters yesterday (the picture is worth the click). Huggs thinks that WVU is in the dance, but would obviously feel better with a couple more wins. Has Truck gotten back on track? We also have an update on signee Elijah Macon and I'm trying to get more and more Big 12 news to eventually make the full switch after the end of the Big East Basketball Tournament in the next week or so.

Did you Vote for Huggs today? He's in the Final Four. Make sure you vote once a day, every day for the next week and get $100,000 for the Norma Mae Huggins Fund for cancer research in WV.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold And Blue Now: Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
some bracketology, hear from the coach of a future Mountaineer and Kevin Jones receives another mid-season honor.

A Morning Reading - MSNsportsNET.Com
No, John did not photoshop this

Luck has made impact felt in short time as WVU’s AD - Daily Athenaeum
It's been less than two years since West Virginia University hired Oliver Luck as its Athletics Director. And not only has Luck accomplished a handful of things in just 20 months, but he's been spot on with almost every major decision he's made.

Slaughter's misstep was decades ago - Charleston Gazette
But there's also the possibility that Slaughter's "serious error in judgment'' was just that some 22 years ago, which may or may not qualify as a bad thing (albeit by his own hand) happening to a good person.

Womens Basketball Playbook - Mountaineer TV
This week's Women's Basketball Playbook with Coach Mike Carey, presented by Northside Automotive.

WVU’s Walthall was great - Martinsburg Journal
James "Jimmy" Walthall, who died on Feb. 22 in Lafayette, Ga., was a three-sport standout of the 1940s at West Virginia University.

News of Note:

Huggins Thinks WVU Is in NCAA Tourney - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
''I think we're in pretty good shape. I'd feel a whole lot better with a couple more.''

WVU Will Earn 8,9 or 10 Seed in Big East Tourney - WVillustrated
The WVU men's basketball team will find out Saturday which seed it has in next week's Big East Tournament.

Gaining Confidence For The End Of The Season - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Are the Mountaineers (18-12, 8-9) really back on track and can they make the NCAA Tournament?

West Virginia’s Bryant getting back on right track at right time - Daily Athenaeum
Now, as the Mountaineers head toward the end of the regular season and into March, it looks like Bryant is starting to return to form following two solid efforts.

HERTZEL COLUMN: Huggins’ charity closing in on national title - Times West Virginian
Make sure you vote once a day, every day for the next week

Men's Basketball: Jones on Naismith List - MSNsportsNET.Com
He made the 30 man cut list

Recruiting:

Macon Expects To Arrive In The Early Summer - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Elijah Macon is having a phenomenal season with the Huntington Prep Express and will be heading to Morgantown over the summer

Around the League (and Beyond):

Big 12 2012 spring football preview: Newcomers TCU and West Virginia could contend with league powers - Sporting News

Big 12 spring preview gallery - Sporting News

Open Mike: Big 12 football podcast with Sports Editor Mike Sherman and Columnist Berry Tramel - Berry Tramel's Blog
Berry Tramel and Mike Sherman were in the podcast studio at The Oklahoman this week to talk Big 12 football scheduling, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State’s 2012 schedules, conference realignment, the future of TCU football, and which Big 12 conference games could be moved to a Thursday night.

After exits, Big 12 bylaws need an upgrade - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Before a couple years ago, few had much intimate knowledge of the Big 12 bylaws.

The Big 12 guide to Baylor's home turf - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
He's running a series to help us all get to know our new conference

The Big 12 guide to TCU's home turf - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

USF 58, Louisville 51: Flipping The Script - Voodoo Five

Cincinnati Bearcats Avenge Loss, Beat Marquette 72-61 - Down The Drive

St. John's burned by Pitt's hot shooting, 89-69 - Rumble In The Garden

Syracuse vs. Louisville: It Goin' Be Loud - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

UConn fans aren't the first people to be frustrated by George Blaney - The UConn Blog

Rutgers vs. Villanova: Big East Basketball Preview - On the Banks