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 Trinity Beer Co.'s IPA.
Huggs and the WVU men are back in action tonight after a short break (no, I'm not mentioning that word I talked about yesterday). We've got plenty of previews inside for you, as well as a couple features. I've also got some decent recruiting news to share today. WVU may have gotten an absolute steal the last few days.
If you have any tips, suggestions or requests for content that you think is worth sharing, you can send them to me by email or Twitter and don't forget to "LIKE" the Smoking Musket MAIN PAGE on Facebook (follow this link, then hit "LIKE"). If any of you didn't realize, clicking on "LIKE" on the individual articles just likes that particular article, but doesn't "LIKE" our main page. Many thanks to those who "LIKE" us already. We now stand at 598 (almost there). We're still a long way from the 17000+ for our old page, but we're working on it. Our next goal is 600. Please, spread the word!! It's jump time...
Let's GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Providence Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
Article and video interview with Huggs
Bob Huggins' Wednesday Press Conference - WVMetroNews.com
WVU Men's Basketball Game Preview: WVU vs. Providence - WVillustrated.com
VIDEO: WVU Men's Basketball Team Previews Providence - WVillustrated.com
Huggs, Truck and Casey
Kevin Noreen Sidelined for Remainder of Season - WVillustrated.com
Football: Pair Added to Team Roster - MSNsportsNET.Com
The Roberts brothers are now officially enrolled
Football: Three Players Selected For All-Star Game - MSNsportsNET.Com
Scooter, Jock and Glover
WVU's First Compliance Director Jeffries Dies - MSNsportsNET.Com
Former WVU star Da'Sean Butler a champ on the court, class act off it - Yahoo! Sports
College football's Way-Too-Early 2011 Top 25 - ESPN
#25
Loaded Oklahoma, Oregon top early 2011 Top 25 Power Rankings - Andy Staples - SI.com
#20
News of Note:
Show up and contribute to our program’s success - Daily Athenaeum
by Coach Carey
Fans stay devoted to WVU women’s basketball despite crowd struggles - Daily Athenaeum
For Joe Mazzulla, Providence is Just Another Game - WVillustrated.com
WVU welcomes Providence to Coliseum - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
WVU hosts Providence tonight - Times West Virginian
WVU focuses on stopping Providence’s top scorers - Daily Athenaeum
Bryant must do more than attack the rim - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Huggins not looking past Friars - Charleston Gazette
WVU coach impressed with Friars - Register-Herald
Numbers belie Thoroughman's contribution - Charleston Gazette
"Coach Beilein told me I was going to be Joe Herber,'' Thoroughman recalled.
Quizzes have helped WVU prepare - Charleston Daily Mail
The Big East looks west - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Mostly the same as Hertzel wrote yesterday
WVU football: Mumme says Holgorsen brings different air - Charleston Daily Mail
Recruiting:
Re: What do you guys want to know about Paul Millard? - WVSports.com
Scroll down and read the post from FMJags490 (11th post from the top) for information on the QB who could be a hidden gem and absolute steal.
Matthews, Garrison Santos Top Area Team - Scout.com
RB Garrison seems to be a new WVU target
New Commit For West Virginia - WVMETRONEWS.COM
LB Isaiah Bruce from Jacksonville, includes audio from his HS coach
Linebacker Isaiah Bruce Commits to WVU for 2011 - WVillustrated.com
Read paragraph #4, if nothing else. He may not have been a good OL coach while here, but he's a stand up guy.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big East's top three rise to the occasion - ESPN
Season On The Brink: Georgetown Embarrassed At Home By Pittsburgh, Lose 72-57 - Casual Hoya
Too bad they both couldn't be embarrassed in the same game
Pitt dominates Georgetown, 72-57 - PPG
Game 15: Syracuse Orange dumps the St. John's Red Storm 76-59 - Rumble In The Garden
Syracuse 76 - St. John's 59: Kings Of New York - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
postGame: Villanova 88 Louisville 74 - The Nova Blog
Cards Rebounding, Defending Unwell Proves To Be Downfall - Card Chronicle
Kilpatrick sparks Bearcats to win over South Florida - Cincinnati Enquirer
USF-Cincinnati Postgame Thoughts - Voodoo Five
On The Fly: Whipple A Safe Choice For UConn - Hartford Courant
Les Miles Agrees to 7-Year Extension - NCAAFB FanHouse
But we all know how binding these really are, don't we?
College Basketball Mailbag - Seth Davis - SI.com
What's On Tap:
Providence Friars vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
7:00 tonight from the Coliseum on ESPN2
Video of Interest:
Parts 1 & 2 were posted here the last two days, now here's Part 3 (of 8). The rest can be found over at WVillustrated.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
I had a video of other European tour guys trying to skip a ball across a lake to hit a gong in this spot before. I think this one may be more impressive.
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Vegas model Ieva Verkelyte. You might be able to catch her at the Bellagio if you're out there (and lucky), but you can catch her gallery here today by clicking on her picture.