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 Aguila beer, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown. All I'm gonna say is, "Where and why has this beer been hiding from me?" More reasons for my pondering inside.
I got another big edition for you today. We've got plenty of coverage and, as you can tell from our sponsor, somewhat of a Hump Day preview (with less coverage being better in this case). Keep the tips, suggestions and requests coming and don't forget to VOTE. Time to get after it...
What You May Have Missed:
WVU loss in 1959 title game still haunts West - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The most celebrated moment in West Virginia basketball history happened 51 years ago, and it still resonates with Jerry West. Painfully.
Indy readies for influx of Mountaineers - Charleston Gazette
Jay's Final Four Tips - MSNsportsNET.Com
Final Four Alumni and Fan Events - West Virginia University Alumni Assn.
Road to the Final Four - West Virginia University
slide show
Rick Reilly: Joe Mazzulla reveals a huggable Bob Huggins - ESPN
In case you missed the link yesterday in the comments. Thanks to WVUDDS08 and Cheryl.
Need a Final Four rooting interest? Use Pat Forde's likability index - ESPN
Forde is the queen of the Ignorant Sluts to Reilly's king.
Why too many upsets make for a bad Final Four - Paul Daugherty - SI.com
If you don't like it, GTFO. The ignorant slut list is growing by the second, it seems.
Hoppy's Commentary on Bob Huggins - WVMetroNews
In response to Reilly's column
Police, firefighters brace for blazes in wake of WVU win - Charleston Daily Mail
News of Note:
Seizing the Moment - WVIllustrated.com
Common man Bob Huggins, state of West Virginia and Mountaineers fans share love affair - ESPN
Hey, Reilly..(and you too Forde, for that matter), this is how an article on OUR coach should be written.
NCAA Final Four appearance highlights West Virginia's love affair with Mountaineers - Washington Post
Thanks for the tip, Dad.
West Virginia's Huggins sells program, himself - PPG
Harris: WVU, Huggins a perfect match - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Hoops Hysteria: Final Four preview - ZoomTown
I couldn't get it to load, but here's the link anyway
Bob Huggins on West Virginia's title chances - Dan Patrick Show
Video, if you can get it to load
Mountaineers are 'West Virginia's team' - PPG
Don’t mess with West Virginia - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
"This is special because it's West Virginia,'' Huggins said.
Don’t ever pick up a happy baby - Cumberland Times-News
WVU Wants Nothing But Nets - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Duke, Michigan St., Butler, West Virginia ride heart to Indy - Michael Rosenberg - SI.com
Final Four Roundtable: Closing Arguments - NCAABB FanHouse
An in-depth look at the Final Four teams on their way to Indianapolis - Sporting News
Breaking down Final Four teams - FOX Sports on MSN
Don't crown Duke or WVU the champ yet - FOX Sports on MSN
West Virginia's Huggins says rebounding key against Duke - Dan Patrick.com
Final Four preview: West Virginia's perimeter defense key vs. Duke - The Dagger - Rivals
Huggins meshes players to roles- Charleston Gazette
Oddsbeater Mazzulla Rising to the Occasion, Ready to Rematch Duke - EerSports
West Virginia's Mazzulla making progress - Martinsburg Journal (AP)
Bad practices helped shape Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
Where was turning point? - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
WVU trying to avoid distractions in time off - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
WVU has matured since last meeting with Duke - Charleston Daily Mail
West Virginia is more like Big East Virginia - LA Times
From Big Apple to Mountain Roads - NCAABB FanHouse
West Virginia's Butler is Final Four's most important player - Sporting News
Also has a video in the margin
Mountaineers’ Butler has big heart - Register-Herald
WVU guard gets help from Duke doc - Raleigh News & Observer
Obama favors Mountaineers for title game (as long as they beat Duke) - Charleston Daily Mail
"So Icy" Keeps Team Loose - WVIllustrated.com
No offense Geoff, but it's "Icey"
Oh, to be youthful in school - Martinsburg Journal
I wish I was still a student for this run
Perennial Power Meets Underdog - WVIllustrated.com
WVU faces Duke and its legacy - Times West Virginian
Merchandise Madness - WVMetroNews
Send us your WVU fan photos - Charleston Gazette
Around the League (and Beyond):
The Butler bonus: compatibility - ESPN
A Final Four appearance matters more to the Bulldogs than it would to, say, Kentucky
Butler Tickets Cause Craze, Controversy - NCAABB FanHouse
Hinkle Fieldhouse, Before The Madness – SI.com
Hometown team in Final Four could limit economic impact - Tampa Tribune (AP)
Steve Lavin agrees to become coach at St. John's - SI.com (AP)
Steven Lavin Named Head Coach of St. John's - Casual Hoya
New Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard showed early on he'd be a coach someday - Star Ledger
Pittsburgh: Oregon Ducks hasn't asked to speak to Jamie Dixon - SI.com (AP)
It doesn't mean they haven't talked to him, just that they didn't ask
Coaching Carousel in Full Swing - The Nova Blog
Pitino to get 4-year contract extension - Card Chronicle
Pitt's Wannnstedt gets two-year extension - PPG
Syracuse Football Practice: First Blood - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Head coaches among 50 NFL scouts at USF's Pro Day - Tampa Tribune
Defeat left sour taste in UC's mouth - Cincinnati Enquirer
What's On Tap:
Final Four Send Off - MSNsportsNET.Com
The West Virginia University community is invited to a send-off rally for the WVU men’s basketball team as the Mountaineers depart for the Final Four in Indianapolis. The send-off rally will take place at 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 31, inside the WVU Coliseum.
Specifics developing on WVU sendoff for Final Four - Charleston Daily Mail
Videos of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
And now some words from our sponsor...(my words Da-Um!!!)
Cheerleaders Gallery of the Week:
Get in and vote our girls to the top!!!
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Colombian model...and that's good enough for me. Here's a nice Paola Corvea gallery. Also, I couldn't decide which video to use, so I used all of them...it is Hump Day after all.
Aguila image via www.bigtravelweb.com