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 Thunder and Son Brown Ale, in preparation for tonight's opponent.
It's game-day in the Capital City and there are plenty of previews for what has become an annual battle of late. Personally, I'm placing the over/under on fouls called at 55. Place your bets. Last night, the WVU women took care of their version of the Classic; we have a recap and some interviews. There's also a couple of items where Paul Williamson and Huggs are noted for their charitable efforts. Football recruiting is rolling along and there's some more early 2012 lists to check out. All of this and much more in today's edition.
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Gold And Blue Now: Wednesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU takes on a very good Marshall team in the Capital Classic, Kevin Jones continues to earn recognition for his play on the court and the football team picks up another commitment.
Luck Impressed With Bowl Win - MSNsportsNET.Com
There were times this year when Holgorsen’s offense wasn’t clicking on all cylinders for one reason or another, but Luck knew it was just a matter of time before everything came together.
2012 Top 25: LSU, Southern Cal, Alabama lead way - Sporting News
WVU checks in at #10
2012 Pre-Preseason Rankings: Big 12 - College Football Talk
They rank WVU at #3 (if we play a B12 schedule)
Huggins Part of Coaches' Charity Challenge - MSNsportsNET.Com
As part of its ongoing corporate partnership with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the NCAA® and ESPN, Infiniti has announced an expanded "Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge" with a $100,000 donation to the winning coach's designated charity.
A Gift To Remember - BGN
Paul Williamson gets it. The state native grew up admiring his Mountaineer basketball heroes. So when he got the chance to make a young boy’s birthday extra special, he made it happen.
West Virginia Downs Marshall - MSNsportsNET.Com
Led by sophomore MVP Taylor Palmer, the West Virginia University women’s basketball team defeated Marshall, 69-57, at the Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic on Tuesday night at the Charleston Civic Center.
Video: WVU vs Marshall Postgame - BGN
West Virginia guards Taylor Palmer and Brooke Hampton showed visible signs of wear after West Virginia's rugged 69-57 win over Marshall.
Women's Basketball Interviews Following Win Over Marshall - WVillustrated
Brooke Hampton and Taylor Palmer, following their win over Marshall in the Capital Classic.
Bubble Watch - Andy Glockner - SI.com
"Should Be In"
News of Note:
WVU Battles Marshall Wednesday - MSNsportsNET.Com
Keeping Marshall off the glass will be West Virginia’s No. 1 objective when the two teams are reunited Wednesday night in Charleston for the annual Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic at the Charleston Civic Center.
Marshall has Huggins’ attention - Register-Herald
“They’re a great rebounding team,” Huggins said. “They’re probably the best that we’ve seen to this point.”
WVU-MU is a game of emotion - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
To the other, the mid-January game represents its Super Bowl - a chance to show the rest of the state that it is on a par with its "bigger brother".
WVU Prepares For Capital Classic - WVMETRONEWS.COM
West Virginia (13-5, 4-2) is going to take a break from the conference portion of its schedule to take on the Marshall Thundering Herd (13-4, 4-0) in the annual Capital Classic.
West Virginia men are seeking revenge versus Marshall - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
There is no love lost between West Virginia and Conference USA frontrunner Marshall, who meet for their annual Capital Classic clash.
Mountaineers not taking Marshall lightly this season in Capital Classic - Daily Athenaeum
West Virginia senior Kevin Jones said the Mountaineers took Marshall lightly in last year’s Capital Classic.
Matchups and a call on the Classic - Charleston Gazette
Quite simply, this should be the best game in recent memory in regard to talent on display.
Capital Classic: Huggins expects another close game - Charleston Daily Mail
"It's hard," said WVU Coach Bob Huggins, who is 4-1 against Marshall with a 3-1 record with the Mountaineers. "It's hard when you have that much emotion involved, and honestly, when you have (210) fouls called in four years, it's hard to get in any flow."
Herd’s experience will be tested by WVU - Charleston Gazette
With its nation-leading rebounding game, Marshall's inside men have gotten two healthy samples of Big East basketball, preparing them to a large extent for West Virginia.
Boards and whistles - Charleston Gazette
Rebounds, fouls could decide Capital Classic
Capital Classic: Herd has edge if recent trends continue - Charleston Daily Mail
With the 40th West Virginia-Marshall men's basketball game tonight, the series has morphed into a sold-out atmosphere in the 12,360 Charleston Civic Center seats and a foul atmosphere on the floor.
WVU-MU series has produced interesting results - Times West Virginian
Indications are that this year’s Capital Classic between instate rivals West Virginia University and Marshall could be the best yet, and this is a series that generally has produced close, tense games with great performances.
HERTZEL COLUMN: Herd-WVU a rivalry, not a war - Times West Virginian
“It isn’t anything like (Cincinnati vs. Xavier),” Huggins said. “It’s just as well that it isn’t.”
Hinds holding his own - Martinsburg Journal
"We all recognize his tremendous improvement learning the point guard position because of his work ethic," Huggins said.
WVU Player Interviews - Mountaineer TV
West Virginia players Truck Bryant and Kevin Jones talk about Wednesday's game against Marshall in Charleston.
Men's Basketball Interviews Prior to Game Against Marshall - WVillustrated
Huggs, Truck, KJ and Paul Williamson
Video: Basketball Interviews 1/17 - BGN
Huggs, KJ and Truck
Recruiting:
Florida RB Commits To WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
West Virginia picked up another football verbal commitment on Tuesday afternoon -- running back Torry Clayton out of South Dade High School in Florida gave his commitment to the Mountaineers.
Davis Still Committed To WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
It appears all of the rumors and reports going around on the internet about Calvert Hall cornerback Da'Quan Davis de-committing from WVU aren’t true. Davis is still committed to WVU, according to his mother Shantel Davis.
New NCAA rules may send Alabama recruit Justin Taylor elsewhere - Andy Staples - SI.com
Around the League (and Beyond):
King's Court hails Syracuse Orange coach Jim Boeheim while North Carolina Tar Heels fail - ESPN
WVU is "In a zone" in this week's feature
John Wooden player of the year nominees - ESPN
See what he has to say about KJ
Rakeem Buckles Tears ACL In Other Knee, Will Miss This Season And Next - Card Chronicle
What UConn will miss from Ryan Boatright - The UConn Blog
UC set for another shot at UConn - Cincinnati Enquirer
Jardine becomes a leader - Rochester Homepage
Game 18: St. John's at South Florida Bulls - Rumble In The Garden
What's On Tap:
Marshall Thundering Herd vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
7:30 pm tonight from the Triple C on various WV tv stations, WJAL 68 in Chambersburg, PA (for those of us in the EP, Central PA and Western MD), along with ESPN3
Video of Interest:
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins talks about West Virginia's game against Marshall in the Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic to be played Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 at the Charleston Civic Center.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
The classic schmaltz song using a mash-up of movie lines for lyrics/vocals:
Hump Day Video of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Australian Victoria's Secret Angel, Miranda Kerr. Enjoy her video below and click on her picture for today's gallery.
via nextround.net
Thunder and Son Brown Ale image via halfacrebeer.com
