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 Silva beer, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.
Today we have more analysis on WVU's East Region matchup with Gonzaga and complete region breakdowns. Pittsburgh is hopefully going to be overrun with WVU fans for this game, but will be crazy anyway due to the St.Patrick's Day festivities. Coach Huggins explains the McCune situation a bit further and his dad provided some insight on the WVU coach. The women have a matchup with future conference foe Texas to look forward to in their NCAA Tournament on Saturday. Back on the football side of things, there are several features on Coaches Holgorsen, Roberts and Dunlap along with a few spring previews. Also, WVU legend Sam Huff was honored by the NFL Hall of Fame in his hometown last evening. All of this and more...
What You May Have Missed:
Gold And Blue Now: Tuesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Mountaineer men's basketball team continue to prepare for its NCAA Tournament game in Pittsburgh, the women's basketball team earns an eight seed in the NCAA Tournament, Sam Huff is honored for his legendary career and football practice continues for the football team
Huggins Talks About McCune Departure - WVMETRONEWS.COM
"Just frustration level," said Mountaineer head coach Bob Huggins. "When you bring in as many freshmen as we brought in, some will play and some won't play. Tommie was very frustrated in his playing time -- I didn't think in a bad way. But, he's going to concentrate on making sure he's in great shape academically and look to go somewhere where he can play."
Great Moments On The Huggins Show - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Throughout the season, Huggins along with Sportsline host Tony Caridi and MSN analyst Jay Jacobs told some memorable stories that engaged the audience and made the show as entertaining as it has been all season.
WVU Women to Face Texas - MSNsportsNET.Com
The West Virginia University women’s basketball team will face Texas on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Va. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:10 a.m.
Mountaineers Prepare for Tough Road Through Tournament - WVillustrated
The WVU women's basketball team must put Big East Tournament in the rearview and turn focus to a weekend in Norfolk.
WVU Women's Basketball Selection Monday Interviews - WVillustrated
Coach Carey, Asya Bussie, Ayana Dunning and Linda Stepney
Rifle: NRA Names Six All-Americans - MSNsportsNET.Com
The Mountaineers concluded the 2011-12 season with a 12-2 record and a sixth place showing at the NCAA Rifle Championships on March 10. The squad finished second in air rifle and eighth in smallbore. Prior to the championships, WVU earned its third consecutive GARC championship.
Huff comes home: SLIDESHOW AND VIDEO - Times West Virginian
WVU, NFL legend a role model for area athletes
News of Note:
Hoops
Viewing Huggins through his father's eyes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"Bobby is more intense now than he's ever been," said Charlie Huggins
Coach Huggins tight-lipped about NCAA bid - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
"Hopefully they (the fans) are on the phone now trying to get tickets because we are only going to get our allotment. Hopefully they find ways to get there, because I know they did when we played in Washington, D.C.''
WVU men in overdrive for NCAA Tournament - Charleston Daily Mail
"We came into the gym and tried to put in a couple of sets, some different things teams never see us do so they don't know how to guard us," Bryant said.
NCAA Tournament breakdown: East Region - Sporting News
Guess who's the "Upset Special"
East Region breakdown - 2012 NCAA tournament - ESPN
KJ headlines the players to watch and the Gonzaga matchup leads off the games to watch
Country Roads, Take Me Home To... Pittsburgh? - WVillustrated
Mountaineers find home court advantage in city that houses their biggest sports rival.
Who do you think ’Burghers will cheer for? - Charleston Gazette
Hickman's Notebook
Fans should embrace games in Pittsburgh - Daily Athenaeum
Despite the fact the Mountaineers have struggled mightily this season, especially as of late, the selection committee has provided them with a great opportunity to use geography to their advantage.
Mountaineer faithful make plans for Steel City visit - Charleston Daily Mail
"St. Patrick's Day is always phenomenally high-demand," said Tom Hardy, general manager at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel. "We sell out with or without the NCAA Tournament."
WVU gets break with short NCAA trip - Register-Herald
It is, for all intents and purposes, a glorified home game, just 70 minutes from Morgantown.
Gonzaga players: Bring it on - Charleston Gazette
WVU opponent doesn't mind its tourney draw
VIDEO: Gonzaga Reacts to Pairing With WVU In NCAA Tournament - WVillustrated
Watch what some of the Gonzaga players and Head Coach Mark Few had to say about playing the West Virginia Mountaineers in the NCAA Tournament.
Initial Thoughts On Zags Vs. West Virginia - The Slipper Still Fits
From the Gonzaga blog
Football
Q&A: West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
West Virginia are the new guys on the block in the Big 12, but its coach has been around the Big 12 block plenty.
Spring Practice Primer: West Virginia - CBSSports.com
Spring football is in the air, and with our Spring Practice Primers the Eye On College Football Blog gets you up to speed on what to look for on campuses around the country this spring. Today we look at West Virginia.
Spring camp breakdown: West Virginia - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
West Virginia opened camp on Sunday and will continue through the next six weeks. Here's what to expect.
Roberts to use time on offense to help him coach Mountaineer corners - Daily Athenaeum
After primarily coaching cornerbacks with the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions of the NFL, the switch to offense came with some time to adjust to life on the other side of the ball.
Dunlap is most experienced coach on WVU staff - Register-Herald
“I’m too young to retire,” he declared. “I just look old.”
No. 1 in the Big East in 2011: Geno Smith - Big East Blog - ESPN
Likely my final clipping regarding the Big East for the foreseeable future
Photos from WVU Football's Spring Practice - WVillustrated
Around the League (and Beyond):
What separates the Big 12 and the SEC? - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
The discussion comes up every year, especially in years like 2008, 2009 and 2011 when the Big 12 mounts a serious threat at toppling the SEC's run of national title wins.
Roundup: Tech trouble, TCU D, commish - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Here's a look at what you missed over the weekend.
The Big 12 guide to Oklahoma's home turf - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
We're back again with the next installment of the Home Turf series introducing fans across the Big 12 to all the cities in the conference.
Spring Football: What To Watch - Cowboys Ride For Free
Spring Fling: A Snapshot of Texas Football 3-12-12 - Defense/Special Teams - Barking Carnival
North Carolina Tar Heels handed postseason ban for 2012 by NCAA - ESPN
The NCAA has placed North Carolina's football program on three years' probation and banned it from the 2012 postseason, the governing body announced Monday.
What's On Tap:
Bracket Madness - make sure to get your bracket filled out in our contest
Video of Interest:
This is sort of awesome (h/t to Central PA Alumni Chapter's Facebook folks):
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is Romanian model Catrinel Menghia. Click on her picture for a wow gallery of her in Lise Charmel lingerie.
via www.brobible.com
Silva image via www.beer-coasters.eu
