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WVU men's basketball (un)officially gets competition underway with an exhibition tonight against Northern Kentucky. Like most coaches near the end of preseason, Huggs and the men are anxious just to play somebody other than themselves for a change. Both soccer teams have Big East tournament games this weekend with the women taking on Georgetown in the semis tonight and the men take on St. John's in the quarters on Sunday.
There is more Big 12 reaction and analysis (as usual, lately) and the requisite smattering of Louisville game previews, along with coaches interviews and player features. See ya at the game tomorrow!! Have a great weekend everybody!!
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Coach Talk With Dana Holgorsen - WVMETRONEWS.COM
In episode nine of "Coach Talk" WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen goes over what it was like to play and coach in the type of conditions they faced in Rutgers and what to expect from the Louisville Cardinals
Gold And Blue Now: Friday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Louisville head coach Charlie Strong talks about why his defense has been so successful this season and Kevin Jones and Truck Bryant explain what they expect from the freshmen in their exhibition game against Northern Kentucky.
Fanspeak's Super Fan - Fanspeak
Our Mountaineer, Brock Burwell is this month's honoree
Week Ten F/+ Picks - Football Study Hall
Has WVU winning but not covering
WVU to Sell Student Tickets to General Fans - WVillustrated
They were warned...
Big 12:
Huggins, Holgorsen Well Versed - MSNsportsNET.Com
While the rest of us are still getting our arms around West Virginia’s move to the Big 12 Conference, learning new teams and new places, coaches Dana Holgorsen and Bob Huggins are well versed in the Big 12, Holgorsen having coached at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State and Huggins once working at Kansas State.
Life in Big 12 won’t be as easy for WVU - Charleston Daily Mail
Including Saturday's game with Louisville (4-4, 2-1), the Mountaineers have been the wagering favorite in 40 of 46 Big East dates since 2005.
Missouri stays in Big 12 until WVU exits Big East - Charleston Daily Mail
Bogaczyk's Notebook
New Day Rising - mountainerd
A look at the Big 12 move from another blog
News of Note:
Basketball
Mountaineers Prepare For First Exhibition - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Article and video with Huggs
Huggins ready for his next challenge - Charleston Gazette
"We're fine," Huggins said Thursday. "When we start going up and down [the court], we go a little crazy. But as long as we're in a controlled situation, we're OK."
Lack of experience will be challenge for Huggins, Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
Yet when the Mountaineers open the 2011-12 season with tonight's exhibition against Division II Northern Kentucky, not even Huggins can say what will happen.
New-look Mountaineers begin season tonight - Charleston Gazette
On Thursday, Huggins said two of those new faces - point guard Jabarie Hinds of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and forward Keaton Miles of Dallas - will probably start against the Norse.
Huggins, Mountaineers searching for clarity - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"You get to a point where you need to play someone else," Huggins said. "We're tired of playing against the same people all the time, but we really need to practice. We really need to get better."
Deniz Kilicli is letting himself go and it’s rather awesome - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
It was then when I could no longer resist discussing the beard and the hair. The plan is to showcase both in tomorrow night’s exhibition game, though it could change.
Forward Kevin Jones - Mountaineer TV
Senior forward Kevin Jones talks about Friday's exhibition game against Northern Kentucky.
Football
Video: Big East Game of the Week - Big East Blog - ESPN
Andrea Adelson previews the Big East game of the week between Louisville and West Virginia and what it means for the conference standings.
Louisville Preview - MSNsportsNET.Com
WVU's ability to stop the run is a concern
Another stern test for WVU - Inter-Mountain
"The Cardinals are big and they're strong," Holgorsen noted. "They're talented, athletic and they'll come in here ready to go."
No. 24 West Virginia ready for tough challenge against Louisville - Daily Athenaeum
The matchup during Saturday’s game between West Virginia and Louisville almost reads like a heavyweight title fight.
Blitzing, 13 sacks don’t worry WVU’s Smith - Register-Herald
Smith has seen a bunch of blitzing in the first eight games — and has survived 13 sacks. But he remains both confident and fearless.
Career-best day has Alston hungry for more - Bluefield Daily Telegraph/AP
“I’ve been waiting for a day like that for a while,” Alston said.
Speed is not Alston's forte - Charleston Gazette
"They just said it was the longest 50-yard run they'd ever seen,'' Alston said. "Tavon [Austin], Coach [Robert] Gillespie, Ryan Clarke, Bruce, everybody.''
Cook starting to make difference for No. 24 WVU - Charleston Daily Mail
Cook is but a safety for the Mountaineers, and his presence in a place the opposition has visited far, far too frequently lately is as big a problem as it sounds. Yet Cook being in the end zone ended up being the difference in the 41-31 win against the Scarlet Knights.
West Virginia plans for another freshman QB - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
For the third time this season, the Mountaineers will try to slow a true freshman quarterback Saturday, when they meet Louisville, led by Teddy Bridgewater.
Rivalry has changed for Cardinals, Mountaineers - Charleston Daily Mail
Things have changed for both teams.
Notes from WVU football - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Here are a few tidbits from this week's contest with unranked Louisville.
No-Huddle Numerology: Inside the Numbers of WVU vs. Louisville - Hail WV
Video: Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong Discusses WVU - WVillustrated
Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong met with the Louisville media earlier this week. During that weekly news conference he discussed the upcoming game at West Virginia plus several other topics.
Recruiting:
Recruiting Update - WVMETRONEWS.COM
stats from the past week from several football commitments in the Mountaineers' 2012 recruiting class
Around the League (and Beyond):
Preston Brown's mom must be proud: The Cardinals' linebacker is blossoming quickly - Courier-Journal
Syracuse vs. UConn: Coach P Or Not Coach P? - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
UConn Football: Offense Slow To Get Going - Hartford Courant
Bearcat linemen cook up a winner - Cincinnati Enquirer
Pitt Vs. Cincinnati: Cardiac Hill Game Preview - Cardiac Hill
USF notes: Rutgers defense forces mistakes - Tampa Tribune
College GameDay Kickoff: Week 10 preview - ESPN
What's On Tap:
Men's Basketball: Exhibition Game Friday - MSNsportsNET.Com
The West Virginia University men’s basketball team will play its only exhibition game of the 2011-12 season on Friday, Nov. 4 against Northern Kentucky at the WVU Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Reserved tickets are priced at $19, while WVU students will be admitted free with a valid ID.
No. 11 WVU Set For BIG EAST Semifinals - MSNsportsNET.Com
The No. 11 West Virginia women’s soccer team will play host to Georgetown on Friday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 p.m., in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Coliseum Parking for Friday, Nov. 4 - MSNsportsNET.Com
With three games taking place on Friday, Nov. 4, at the Coliseum sports complex, the following information will assist WVU students, staff, faculty and the general public with parking arrangements at the Coliseum that day.
Louisville Cardinals vs. (24) West Virginia Mountaineers - Preview - ESPN
Noon Saturday from MIlan Puskar Stadium on ROOT, MASN, SNY, ESPN Gameplan and ESPN3. WVU is giving 13.
Syracuse Orange vs. Connecticut Huskies - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Rent on ESPNU. Huskies are giving 2.
South Florida Bulls vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights - ESPN
7 pm Saturday from HPSS on ESPN3. Bulls are giving 2.5.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Pittsburgh Panthers - Preview - ESPN
7 pm Saturday from the Ketchup Pit on ESPNU. Cinci is giving 3.5.
Mountaineers take on St. John’s at home in Big East quarterfinals - Daily Athenaeum
The No. 12 West Virginia men’s soccer team returns to action Sunday after earning a first-round bye in the Big East tournament.
Video of Interest:
MSN's Tony Caridi sits down with WVU Head Coach Dana Holgorsen and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Casteel to discuss the Rutgers victory and what the Mountaineers can expect from Louisville this Saturday.
Tailgate Recipe of the Week:
D.T.’s Crab Gumbo
Ingredients
- 4 medium crabs
- 1 cup rice
- 1 pound link sausage (pork smoked or Italian)
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 2 cans chicken broth
- 1 package frozen okra
- hot sauce to taste, the hotter the better
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined, tail on
Reprinted from The Quad.
- Steam crabs, open, clean, break in half and set aside.
- Cook rice and set aside.
- Pierce the sausages and cook in a frying pan until brown (don’t burn), then slice into quarters.
- Heat large pot and pour half of the sausage oil in the pot (add the vegetable oil as needed).
- Add the flour and cook until brown (don’t burn).
- Add celery, onion and green pepper. Cook about 10 minutes. Stir regularly.
- Add chicken broth, okra, hot sauce, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, 1/2 cup water and sausages.
- Bring the mix to a boil; then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add crabs. Cook 5 more minutes.
- Add shrimp, cooking until shrimp turn pink.
- Serve gumbo over rice.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Florida native and model for Guess, Vicky's and the SI Swimsuit issue. Click on the picture for today's gallery and the source link for more wonderful animated gifs. And don't forget the video below of the lovely Miss Kate Upton.
Coors Light image via surfcorps.com
