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 Niagara Spray Beer, in honor of today's tournament location.
Today marks the 2nd game for the men as they take on the #10 seed Missouri Tigers for a birth into the Sweet Sixteen. One of the 2 big questions is how we handle their pressure. The other is the Big 12 vs. Big East story. That one kind of became moot last night, thanks to the Jayhawks. Also, the women begin their NCAA Tournament journey this evening against Lamar. Everybody seems to be under the impression that it's a given that UConn will walk away with this one. We'll just have to see. Plenty inside to prepare you for all of today's action. Your tips, suggestions and requests are a big help. Don't forget to vote in OUR bracket . The Sweetest Sixteen will be up sometime late Monday night. Here it comes...
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Missouri Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
Lamar Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
NCAA Tourney 2nd Round Press Conference Photos - WVIllustrated.com
NCAA College Basketball Scores (3/20) - ESPN
Yesterday's results
Toto, We're not in the Tourney anymore - With Leather
WVU women ready for Lamar - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Women's Basketball Notebook - MSNsportsNET.Com
Women's Basketball: Coach Mike Carey Quotes - MSNsportsNET.Com
Yes, it's seriously a NCAA Women's Tournament preview - The UConn Blog
Plumley's perimeter game is test for WVU women - Bluefield Daily Telegraph (AP)
Surprising WVU to open tourney against Lamar - Charleston Gazette
News of Note:
Mountaineers Proud To Carry Big East Banner - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Missouri's pressure ousts Clemson, concerns Huggins - Charleston Daily Mail
Huggins: Mountaineers ready to handle Missouri's pressure - Charleston Gazette
WVU-Missouri a Contrast in Styles - EerSports
Huggins: We're ready for Missouri press - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pressing issue: tempo - Charleston Gazette
Calm and collected - Register-Herald (AP)
Pressing issue - Times West Virginian
Loss of size brought a Missouri retooling for NCAA - Charleston Daily Mail
Missouri primer: Elite Eight last year, fifth in Big 12 this year - Charleston Gazette
Momentum stops for WVU or Missouri today - Charleston Daily Mail
Battle of the Bigs - Charleston Gazette
Key matchup: Ebanks vs. Tiller - Charleston Gazette
Big East, Big 12 battle in Buffalo - Charleston Daily Mail
NCAA notebook
The most tired storyline in Buffalo has been ... - 'Eers to the Ground/PPG
WVU's Jones has made a difference from one NCAA to next - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU players motivated by last season's early tournament exit - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's Notebook
After brief slumber, along came Jones - Charleston Gazette
No Sophomore Slump - WVIllustrated.com
...well, except for Truck
Once again, spotlight on Truck - Charleston Gazette
Ebanks loves defense? - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Ebanks' defense shows NBA potential - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mature, reliable Ebanks an easy player to read - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
The Dance Begins - WVIllustrated.com
Big East tourney too much - Martinsburg Journal
Another WTF article from our WTF writer
Around the League (and Beyond):
Day Nine of the continuing saga of Arinze Onuaku and his sore quadriceps - Post Standard
Panthers, Xavier play for second year in row - PPG
The Season Ends The Only Way It Could - Card Chronicle
Was Scottie hurt? - Philadelphia Inquirer
UC, Dayton to play next season, too - Cincinnati Enquirer
Mother of former Seton Hall player Kelly Whitney says son not involved in alleged kidnapping, robbery - Star Ledger
Breaking news: Moms love their sons
Rutgers indoor bubble practice facility collapses due to "malfunction" - Star Ledger
USF's Miller glad to have a fresh slate - Tampa Tribune
Oregon's Mike Bellotti resigns as AD; will join ESPN - ESPN
Getting out while the getting is still kinda good.
What's On Tap:
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on CBS
Missouri Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
2:40 pm EDT from HSBC Arena in Buffalo. WVU is giving 5.
Programming note for those of you in the Eastern Panhandle/Washington DC viewing area: WUSA Ch. 9 will be showing the Maryland game, but the WVU game will air on their secondary/weather channel (over the air digital on 9.2 or Comcast on 203, Cox on 805 or Verizon Fios on 461).
NCAA College Basketball Scores (3/21) - ESPN
Today's full slate
NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Lamar Cardinals vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
9:30 pm tonight from the Frank Erwin Special Events Center in Austin on ESPN2.
Video of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
I thought this one was appropriate (some NSFW language):
Hooters Girls Gallery of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Swedish born, Canadian film actress best known for her roles in Watchmen, The Heartbreak Kid and Couples Retreat as well as a memorable guest appearance on Entourage (the threesome). This woman is so hot, it hurts. Here's Malin Akerman.
image via farm3.static.flickr.com