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 Salopian Brewery's Firkin Freezin'.
That's a hard one to lose. Honestly, with only 8 guys available, I was impressed with the fight this team put up against a good team on the road. But, moral victories count for squat and that was a winnable game. All the coverage you're used to is inside. I've also got some Senior Bowl updates to share and lot's of good stuff from around the league.
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" at the top of the page). 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 already "LIKE" us. We are now at 629. Let's see how fast we can get to 700. Please, spread the word!! Green light for the jump...
What You May Have Missed:
Bob Huggins Post Game MSN Interview (audio) - WVMetroNews.com
WVU offers new program for athletes - Martinsburg Journal
Mickey's Column
Nobody asked me, but ... - Daily Athenaeum
Mountaineers are coming to the 15th Annual Steak and Burger Dinner - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
West Liberty coach: Cottrill, Jennings haven't come to see him - Charleston Daily Mail
Evidently, that was the rumor floating around (I hadn't heard it)
Jennings still in Morgantown, but leaves farewell message - Charleston Daily Mail
Casazza's Notebook
Repella Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Finalist - MSNsportsNET.Com
Liz Repella | Women’s Basketball 2010-11 - Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Vote for Liz Repella here
WVU's Neild Trying to Impress - MSNsportsNET.Com
Devine struggling, and other All-Star news - Big East Blog - ESPN
Senior Bowl: Stock Up, Stock Down - ESPN Video
Todd McShay looks at Cameron Jordan, DeMarco Murray, Allen Bailey and Noel Devine
Hangover:
Peyton Siva's layup helps Louisville tip West Virginia - ESPN
Recap, stats, photos and video
Siva's Shot Lifts Louisville - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU comes up short - Charleston Gazette
Siva's last-second scoop shot helps Cardinals avoid upset
WVU men lose tough one at Louisville - Charleston Daily Mail
Siva's Circus Shot Drops WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Recap and gallery
WVU Men's Basketball Game Recap: Louisville 55 WVU 54 - WVillustrated.com
Louisville hits layup in final seconds to defeat Mountaineers, 55-54 - Daily Athenaeum
Mountaineers go cold; Louisville charges back to claim 55-54 victory - Times West Virginian
Tough way to take loss - Times West Virginian
Hertzel Column
Mazzulla, Mountaineers struggled in second half - Charleston Gazette
If ever there was a captain obvious headline...
Just Like We Drew It Up: Cards Win 55-54 - Card Chronicle
Peyton Siva's scoop lifts Louisville over West Virginia 55-54 - Courier-Journal
Recap includes several video links
Joe Mazzulla's Big Night Ruined By Cold Second Half - WVillustrated.com
Kilicli, Thoroughman play more significant minutes - Daily Athenaeum
VIDEO: Postgame Reaction to WVU's Loss to Louisville - WVillustrated.com
Huggs, Mazz, Truck, Cam and Pepp
Sights And Sounds: The Cardinals Fly At The Buzzer - WVMetroNews.com
Mountaineers stay in the game at Louisville despite a long offensive dry spell.
Bob Huggins: Postgame Press Conference - WVMetroNews.com
Huggins talks about his team not making shots in the second half, Joe Mazzulla's performance and the tough loss.
Cam Thoroughman: Louisville Postgame - WVMetroNews.com
Thoroughman talks about the second half for the Mountaineers and losing in the final seconds.
Dalton Pepper: Louisville Postgame - WVMetroNews.com
Pepper talks about the tough loss and what is next for this team.
Darryl "Truck" Bryant: Louisville Postgame - WVMetroNews.com
Truck talks about the free throws he missed in the final minute of play and losing a close game to one of the best teams in the conference.
WVU Basketball Photos: WVU vs Louisville - WVillustrated.com
Photo Gallery II: WVU vs Louisville - BGN
Recruiting:
Chestnut and Buie Choose West Virginia - Gold and Blue Zone
Jarmal Reid still weighing options - Daily Athenaeum
Big East recruiting scorecard - Big East Blog - ESPN
C.J. Johnson latest elite recruit to meet trouble on Facebook - Andy Staples - SI.com
Around the League (and Beyond):
Marinatto's State of the Big East, Part I - Big East Blog - ESPN
Marinatto's State of the Big East, Part II - Big East Blog - ESPN
UCF Knights have potential to become elite program - ESPN
BE expansion anyone?
Big East Expansion: Villanova Moving Closer, USF Hates UCF - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Big East football secession not so farfetched - Charleston Daily Mail
What Does a Donor's Money Buy at UConn? - NY Times
Video: UConn's booster mess - Big East Blog - ESPN
Robert Burton Writes Jim Boeheim A Letter - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
After the letter to UConn from their booster, THIS was inevitable...and delicious
postGame: Providence 83 Villanova 68 - The Nova Blog
Don't look now, but Providence is on a roll. Glad we played 'em when we did.
Game 18: Hoya-Smacka - St. John's blown out by Georgetown, 77-52 - Rumble In The Garden
And We're Back In The Game! Georgetown Defeats St. John's 77-52 - Casual Hoya
UC Bearcats smother Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Cincinnati Enquirer
Rutgers men fall to Cincinnati, 72-56, in Big East road test - Star Ledger
Is it time to hit the panic button for Syracuse University basketball? - Post Standard
They've lost 3 in a row and want to hit the panic button. Try having a non-existent Freshman class and down to 8 scholarship players.
TheBracketWatch: One seed? Yes please - The UConn Blog
Turnovers continuing to hurt USF - Tampa Tribune
On Coach Al: Ten Years Gone, But Not Forgotten - Anonymous Eagle
Pitt Football Recruiting: Todd Graham Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon - Cardiac Hill
Pitt releases non-conference football schedule - PPG
Eight....EIGHT home games
Hoop Thoughts - Seth Davis - SI.com
Iowa Hospitalizations Caused by Exertional Rhabdomyolysis - NCAAFB FanHouse
Rich Rodriguez joining CBS for Signing Day coverage - SI.com
Who's laying odds on Lion King references and crocodile tears?
What's On Tap:
DePaul Blue Demons vs. South Florida Bulls - ESPN
9:00 tonight from the Sun Dome on ESPNU
Video of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
If anything ever deserved the slow clap, it's this mini-golf shot.
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a former hostess of G4's Attack of the Show, current contributor to The Daily Show and star of the new sitcom Perfect Couples. Here's five pages of every geek's dream girl, Olivia Munn (as always, the pic links to gallery).
Salopian Brewery's Firkin Freezin' image via www.salopianbrewery.co.uk