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 Russian Bear Beer in preparation for tonight's opponent.
Orange Bowl prep is in full swing now and we have Holgs' presser from yesterday and several player interviews. There are 3 players that the football team will have to do without for the bowl, find out inside who they are. Back on the hoops side, the men shoot for history for Huggs tonight. We have several previews (our own will be later today).
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Gold And Blue Now: Thursday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Mountaineer basketball players talk about what it means for them to be apart of Bob Huggins making history, WVU prepares to take on Missouri State and WVU running back Shawne Alston talks about his former high school teammate in Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd.
Huggins: Wins Equals More Stories - MSNsportsNET.Com
The one constant with Huggs has always been the stories - rarely about himself - but always entertaining nonetheless.
Desert or mountains for Casteel? - Charleston Gazette
It's one of the most-asked questions in two states, but the only guy who knows the answer isn't giving it up.
Stormin' Around the Big XII: Bowl Edition - Wide Right & Natty Lite
How will the past, present and future Big XII members do during bowl season and why the Sugar Bowl still sucks. (includes some notes on the plagiarism by the Orange Bowl organization of 5YS's Orange Bowl preview that focuses on Holgorsen)
News of Note:
Hoops
Closing in on 700 - MSNsportsNET.Com
Caridi's blog
Huggins goes for milestone win No. 700 - Times West Virginian
Only 18 major college coaches have compiled more victories and only three are active — Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, Jim Boeheim at Syracuse and Jim Calhoun at Connecticut.
Huggins eyes lucky 700 in Vegas - Charleston Gazette
As far as both the tangible and intangible are concerned, West Virginia's basketball team has a lot more at stake in the next two days than mere personal milestones.
WVU hopes to get Huggins his 700th win tonight - Register-Herald
“All of us want to win No. 700 Thursday,” said captain Kevin Jones. “I think it’s great."
Preview: WVU vs Missouri State - BGN
The quality of competition has steadily increased for West Virginia in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic, and it's another step up as the Mountaineers meet Missouri State on Thursday evening.
Men’s Basketball: WVU vs. Missouri State Preview - WVillustrated
The Bears may come from a mid-major conference (Missouri Valley), and the Mountaineers will be favored to come away victorious, but Missouri State won't be an easy out for WVU.
Las Vegas Trip Could Be Memorable for WVU - WVillustrated
The WVU men's basketball team is heading to Las Vegas looking to make history and much more.
Orange Bowl
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU prepares to break before Orange Bowl - Times West Virginian
That Holgorsen held it together, that his players accepted the changes and did their best to learn the new system — and that is new system on the field and in the locker room — says something about the resiliency of this team.
Mountaineers Solely Focused On The Tigers - WVMETRONEWS.COM
There is no class, all of the students are home for the break and their only job is to play football. All of the distractions that are there during the season are gone and the players can focus all of their energy on the Clemson Tigers.
Football Notebook - MSNsportsNET.Com
Following Wednesday’s practice, Holgorsen revealed during a regularly scheduled news conference that starting strong safety Terence Garvin and backup nose tackle Josh Taylor have knee injuries and will not be available for the bowl game.
WVU football: Surgery sidelines Garvin for Orange Bowl - Charleston Daily Mail
West Virginia will be without three contributors in next month's Orange Bowl against No. 14 Clemson.
WVU Football Player Interviews: 12/21/11 - WVillustrated
Geno, Tavon, Alston, Bruce, Najee and Coach Casteel
Geno Smith Talks Orange Bowl Prep - Mountaineer TV
Quarterback Geno Smith talks about WVU's date at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4.
Orange Bowl Head2Head: Running Backs - OrangeBowl.org
Around the League (and Beyond):
Of Course Big East Basketball-Only Schools Should Start Their Own Conference - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Brad Wolverton over at Chronicle.com is reporting that two two Big East members have discussed leaving the conference to start a new league built around traditional basketball powers.
Pitt Reportedly Gets Their Man With Paul Chryst - Cardiac Hill
Orange Scouting Report: Tulane at Syracuse - Post Standard
Andre Drummond is paying his own way, making him the best walk-on of all time - The UConn Blog
Louisville basketball a final four team indeed - Courier-Journal
Why Villanova has recruiting edge over Philly rivals - Philadelphia Daily News
Cincinnati Bearcats 101 Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions 53: Post Game Reaction - Down The Drive
Poland stands out in return as Bulls win - Tampa Tribune
St. John's slips by UTPA, 66-61, in Amir Garrett's debut - Rumble In The Garden
What's On Tap:
Missouri State Bears vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
8 pm tonight from the Orleans Arena in Sin City on ESPN3
Video of Interest:
Courtesy of BlueGoldNews.com:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Christmas rap (see what I did there?) lyrics as emoticons? Yes, please:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is British model, Rhian Sugden. Click on her picture for today's gallery.
Russian Bear Beer image via www.ratebeer.com
