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 #'s Ale, in honor of everybody's brackets.
Let the Madness begin!!! WVU has to wait another day, but first round fun starts today around lunchtime. I've got plenty of coverage to get you ready. Keep the tips, suggestions and requests coming and don't forget to cast your first round votes in the Hump Day Bracket, if you haven't done so already. First Round voting ends tonight at 8 pm EDT. Here's the tip...
What You May Have Missed:
Sharp Loses Long Battle With Cancer - MSNsportsNET.Com
May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. He was responsible for managing the facility upgrades over the years, as well as a myriad of other things.
Rolling Out The Gold and Blue Carpet - WVMetroNews
Another travel guide for Buffalo, includes links and audio link.
Dara Torres - Celebrity Picks For The NCAA Tournament - SI.com
West Virginia!!
Women's Basketball: Pack the House Winners - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU Wrestling Ready for NCAAs - MSNsportsNET.Com
A Mountaineer's Story - Fairfax Station/Clifton Connection
Mountaineer wrestler Mickey Bennett is profiled.
Scouting report: West Virginia vs. Morgan State - Buffalo News
News of Note:
Best case/worst case scenarios for 64 teams - ESPN
Women's NCAA tournament: Memphis' best-, worst-case scenarios - ESPN
Dana O'Neil: Da'Sean Butler is a coach's dream for West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
"For all of Da'Sean Butler's heroics on the court, the West Virginia star's attitude sets him apart from the rest. In other words, he's a coach's dream."
Da'Sean Butler - MSNsportsNET.Com
Video
Finding Butler's position for WVU is as easy as 1-2-3 - Buffalo News
Butler Has Become College Hoops A-Lister - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Newark's Da’Sean Butler enjoys last laugh over Jersey doubters - NorthJersey.com
The Beginning of the End - WVIllustrated.com
Focus on the future - Charleston Gazette
Huggins brings home Big East crown - Rivals.com
The article is a few days old, but a very good read.
Huggins Knows 'Eers Aren't Flawless - EerSports
Late game struggles - Times West Virginian
Beilein influence still there - Times West Virginian
The Luck O' the Mountaineers - WVIllustrated.com
Morgan State coach rejuvenated, set for WVU - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
A 1-65 look at the NCAA tournament - ESPN
"NCAA tournament: By the numbers"
NCAA Tournament selections can't be made on whims - Charleston Daily Mail
Bogaczyk's notebook
Basketball Notebook - MSNsportsNET.Com
2010 NCAA Tournament Preview - WhatIfSports.com
2010 NCAA Basketball Tournament Preview. Results of 2000 simulations of 2010 NCAA Tournament.
WhatIfSports.com Bracket Preview - 2010 March Madness
The actual bracket simulation results, click on each region for results.
Cliff’s Notes: Its a proud day to be a Mountaineer - Williamson Daily News
College Basketball Tournament Pick'em - Yahoo! Sports - Group Invitation
The Lost Letterman's bracket group...play against the likes of "Ed O'Bannon, Jeff Sheppard, Trajan Langdon, Jerome Williams, Mike Gansey, and other NCAA legends" for some decent prizes. It's free to join.
Spring Preview 2010: The Big East - Scout.com
Expect live updates from Buffalo - 'Eers to the Ground/PPG
Recruiting:
Macon Opens It Up - Scout.com
"A sophomore standout at Columbus (Ohio) Marion-Franklin, Macon originally made a verbal commitment to West Virginia, but this week he opted to back off of that pledge."
Around the League (and Beyond):
Former Vermont coach Tom Brennan relives upset of Syracuse in 2005 NCAA Tournament - Post Standard
Not that it has any bearing on this year's game.
Oakland gets Pitt's respect - PPG
Cardinals must get Samuels involved - Courier-Journal
Cal starter Omondi Amoke suspended for Louisville game - Card Chronicle
Unheralded trio key to length of Irish tourney run - South Bend Tribune
Bobby Gonzalez's Seton Hall tenure was fraught with controversy on and off the court - Star Ledger
Bearcats begin NIT with win over Weber St. - Cincinnati Enquirer
The leprechaun's team won on St. Patrick's Day, 76 - 62. Imagine that.
This loss will linger all summer for Bulls - Tampa Tribune
Fred Hill will return as Rutgers men's basketball coach - Star Ledger
Great news for the rest of the teams in the league.
What's On Tap:
NCAA College Basketball Tournament Scores - ESPN
Here's your complete first day, opening round slate.
Videos of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
St. Patrick's Day Aftermath Gallery of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is best known as a former Playboy Playmate and current WAG to (former?) NFL Safety Adam Archuleta. Here's Jennifer Walcott.
#'s image via www.bruguru.com
