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 Barley Island Brewing Company, in honor of our host state of Indiana.
Coverage is getting heavier and my heart and stomach are having harder times dealing with this wait. You can say I'm a bit uptight at the moment. Keep the tips, suggestions and requests coming and don't forget to VOTE. Also, if you're going to the games this weekend, send in pics of the experience, we may use them in a post (but we're not promising). I'll be back tomorrow with a game day edition, as usual. One more day...
What You May Have Missed:
Final Four Report - MSNsportsNET.Com
MSN's Tony Caridi and Jay Jacobs file their first (video) report from Lucas Oil Arena
Final Four Practice Presser Videos - WVIllustrated.com
Friday's Gold And Blue Report - WVMetroNews
Audio
FanHouse TV: Duke-West Virginia - NCAABB FanHouse
Video
Mountaineers nearing the summit - Rivals.com
In case you missed Oregon Mountaineer's Fan Shot
Indianapolis offers plenty to do for Final Four fans - Charleston Daily Mail
Full Throttle In Indianapolis - WVMetroNews
Day 1 Press conference Photos - WVIllustrated.com
Final Four Photo Gallery I - BGN
Final Four Photo Gallery II - BGN
Butler 3rd Team All-American - MSNsportsNET.Com
Butler Named to Wooden Team - MSNsportsNET.Com
Mountaineers Behind The Scenes - MSNsportsNET.Com
Video
Going to the Final Four? We'd like your photos - Charleston Daily Mail
SI.com's experts make picks for Saturday night's Final Four games - SI.com
Searching for WVU AD, Herd and UC hoops coaches - Charleston Gazette
WVU so close in 1959 - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column
Morgantown Cautions Fans The World Is Watching - NCAABB FanHouse
News of Note:
Don't disregard these Final Four players - Sporting News
Final Four 3 Reasons: Duke vs. West Virginia - Sporting News
Same Teams, No Similarities - WVMetroNews
A coaching view of the Final Four - ESPN
Scouting the Final Four: Coaches’ Takes – SI.com
Final Four lacks top NBA talent - PPG
Final Four Notebook - MSNsportsNET.Com
Underdog role suits West Virginia just fine - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Report: WVU lagging behind in academics - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Taking both figures into account "indicates that West Virginia has had a low graduation rate, but the current team is going to improve that significantly," Institute director Rich Lapchick said.
Doing What They Do - WVIllustrated.com
WVU's Final Four motto reflects team's approach - Charleston Gazette
‘We do what we do’ - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins driven by hard work, winning - Joe Posnanski - SI.com
Best article I've read on Huggs to date. This was sent to me by several of you readers, Thanks.
West Virginia's Huggins is as huggable as a porcupine - Bellingham Herald
I would hope this is what Reilly was trying to do.
Huggins bringing intensity to West Virginia - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Love Him or Hate Him, WVU's Huggins Isn't Changing - WHSV
Bob Huggins Quiz - Cincinnati Enquirer
Huggins' former teammates proud of his accomplishments - Charleston Gazette
Men who brought Huggs back to WVU aren't surprised by his success - Charleston Gazette
WVa's Huggins isn't about to change for anyone - Martinsburg Journal (AP)
Fashion police weighing in on Huggins' attire - ESPN
At Final Four, experience wins out over one-and-done - Charleston Gazette
Team breakdown: West Virginia - Beyond the Arc - msnbc.com
Rebounding key as WVU prepares to face Duke - Times West Virginian
Final Four teams make it to Indy with defense - Register-Herald (AP)
Reminiscing - Bluefield Daily Telegraph
WVU Has Found Balance Between Work and Play - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Bob Huggins: Darryl Bryant 'highly unlikely' to play - ESPN (AP)
Jones getting down to business at hand - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
WVU notebook -- Bryant unlikely to play - Charleston Gazette
Test Against The Best - BGN
Video interview with Wells
One more net in mind for WVU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
'Eers Eyeing Blue Devils ... and Beyond - EerSports
Jerry West talks losing - Dan Patrick Show
Video
Hoppy's Commentary from Indianapolis - WVMetroNews
West Virginia University Sports News - WVMetroNews
Too many links from here to clip today...feel free to browse here and the MetroNews homepage.
MountaineerBob’s KDKA Morning Show Interview - WV Mountaineer Sports
WVU pep band splits up for tournament trip - Charleston Daily Mail
Kanawha couple splits loyalties over Final Four - Charleston Daily Mail
Blue & Gold Fever - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Friendly City in a Frenzy for Game - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Fans line up for gold and blue gear - Charleston Daily Mail
Final Four Gear - Football Fanatics
In case you were looking for some...(I'm hoping/holding out for another kind, personally)
News of the Enemy:
Vitale: Duke to top off turbulent tourney with NCAA title in hand - USA Today
Does Duke's success lead to resentment? - Charleston Daily Mail
Blue Devils know they are a target - Register-Herald (AP)
March Mastery More Than Just Magic for Izzo, Krzyzewski - NCAABB FanHouse
Around the League (and Beyond):
Butler Coach Brad Stevens Mistaken for Player by Security Guard - NCAABB FanHouse (AP)
Recruiting turned Tom Izzo into Mr. March - Detroit News
NCAA: 'Bigger Field Won't Mean More Missed Classes ... We Think' - NCAABB FanHouse
Dayton wins [final? ed.] NIT with 79-68 victory over North Carolina - Star Ledger
20 years after title run, Runnin' Rebels still indignant - ESPN
Don't Shoot The Messenger: Greg Monroe As Good As Gone - Casual Hoya
Rick Pitino isn't done making his mark in Louisville - Courier-Journal
Big-time runner ready to bring out the best in Syracuse University ball carriers - Post Standard
Redshirting seems to have worked for Rutgers DB Logan Ryan - Star Ledger
Pitt's Graham's 'the star of spring practice' - PPG
Will Vidal Hazelton be the next great University of Cincinnati wide receiver? - Cincinnati Enquirer
What's On Tap:
Friday Shoot Around - MSNsportsNET.Com
Be sure to catch Metro News' special one-hour broadcast of West Virginia's Final Four shoot-around at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Friday, April 2, 2010, at 1 p.m. MSN's Tony Caridi, Jay Jacobs and Kyle Wiggs will describe the action and will be joined by special guests throughout the hour-long show. The Final Four shoot around show can be accessed at the following link: mms://mediaserver.citynet.net/wvmetro
Sweepstakes for 2011 Final Four:
I'm not a shill, but if it's a chance for our people to win or enjoy something...
Mr. Peanut’s Road to the Final Four® Sweepstakes
TWO WAYS TO ENTER: From March 12, 2010 through April 6, 2010
- Visit www.facebook.com/MrPeanut, click on the “NCAA Sweeps” tab, and then follow the instructions to enter
- Visit http://links.promotions.com/
links/link.do?pid=4835&lid= 21694 and follow the instructions to enter THE STAKES: Trip for four (4) to the 2011 NCAA® Men’s Final Four®
Trip includes coach class air transportation for four (4) from major airport nearest winner’s residence to Houston, TX; 5 days/4 nights hotel accommodations (one room; quad occupancy); four tickets to each of the National Semifinals on April 2, 2011 and four tickets to the National Championship Final on April 4, 2011; rental car for five (5) days (subject to rental car company’s standard restrictions); and $2,000 in spending money.
Video of Interest:
Videos of (Dis)Interest:
Here's a song that, after reading all of the stories about him this week and then hearing this, kind of reminded me of Huggs...kind of. Thanks for drifting back home Huggs. We love ya.
Ring Girls Gallery of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is definitely a sexy Australian. Here's Lara Bingle.
Barley Island image via www.brewersofindianaguild.com