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 Smithwick's, in honor of St. Patrick's Day tomorrow.
Today we have the usual game recaps, features and interviews to go through and with this time of year, summaries of the season. Needless to say, Huggs didn't hold back on his assessment of this team. On a positive note, the WVU women begin their NCAA Tournament journey tomorrow morning. The third day of spring football drills allowed for full pads and contact. We have several practice reports and a couple of features with Geno, Josh Jenkins and several assistant coaches. All of this and more...
Zags Hangover:
Gonzaga 77, WVU 54 - MSNsportsNET.Com
West Virginia dug itself a big first half hole it couldn’t climb out of and lost 77-54 to seventh-seeded Gonzaga in an NCAA tournament second round game in Pittsburgh Thursday night.
Gonzaga routs West Virginia, advances to NCAA third round - ESPN
Recap, stats, photos, video, etc
Ugly finish for WVU - Charleston Gazette
Gonzaga in control from start to finish in 77-52 romp
Season Ends For WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Recap and gallery
Gonzaga too much for WVU, advances - Charleston Daily Mail
Gonzaga's early 3-point marksmanship set the tone, but that and much more sent the Mountaineers packing quickly for a 2011-12 season-ending trip home down I-79.
Meltdown in the Steel City - Charleston Gazette
"It was a microcosm of our season," said WVU coach Bob Huggins.
Season of Disappointments Comes to Crashing Conclusion for WVU - WVillustrated
Emotions, energy drained, Mountaineers close out tournament with arguably the worst performance all year.
WVU's blowout loss could be bad sign for future - Charleston Daily Mail
What Coach Bob Huggins needs are some players. If his freshmen don't grow up in the offseason after a last seven weeks of seemingly going in circles in trying to figure out how to play the motion offense and defend to Huggins' tough satisfaction, a Big 12 Conference debut could be testy.
WVU vs. Gonzaga Game Recap - WVillustrated
West Virginia struggled to find consistency all season. And in its first game of the NCAA tournament, nothing changed.
Gonzaga frustrates WVU, 77-54 - Times West Virginian
Mountaineers take fourth-worst NCAA loss in school history
West Virginia struggles shooting, falls to Gonzaga 77-54 in second round of NCAA tournament - Daily Athenaeum
Nothing went right for the West Virginia men’s basketball team Thursday night in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Rapid Reaction: Gonzaga 77, W. Virginia 54 - College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN
Quick thoughts on Gonzaga's 77-54 victory over West Virginia on Thursday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
WVU goes cold in Consol - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
It was the guys from the West Coast who played the best Big East-style basketball.
Gonzaga Takes It To WVU - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
"They came out tougher, more aggressive, more energized than we were," said West Virginia's Kevin Jones, who was held to 13 points and a season-low four rebounds.
Ugly Loss Ends Season - BGN
West Virginia’s season of struggles ended with a whimper.
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU dies an ugly death - Times West Virginian
But it was a slow death, one that started many months ago.
Video: Gonzaga Postgame - BGN
KJ, Truck, Turk, Hinds and Browne
WVU Men's Basketball Interviews Following Gonzaga Loss - WVillustrated
KJ, Truck, Turk, Noreen, Browne, Rutledge and Hinds
Video: Breaking down Gonzaga's win - ESPN
Jimmy Dykes on Gonzaga rolling to a 77-54 victory over West Virginia.
What You May Have Missed:
Luck says move to Big 12 about sustaining national profile - Charleston Daily Mail
"Will we be able to replicate that kind of success over the next 10 years in the Big 12? We'll try. Clearly, our goal will be to try and maintain that success and compete for national championships."
Jones wraps career as No. 5 scorer in Mountaineer history - Charleston Gazette
Vingle's Notebook
KJ and Truck close final chapter of WVU careers - Daily Athenaeum
As the final seconds ticked off the clock in West Virginia’s 77-54 loss to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA tournament, seniors Kevin Jones and Truck Bryant shared a moment at midcourt.
Huggins: 'My worst defensive team ever' - Charleston Gazette
"A lot of it is because we're so inept offensively,'' Huggins said. "They get breakouts. We throw the ball around, throw the ball to them. That adds to it.''
WVU Pros NFL Free Agency Update: 3/16/12 - WVU Pros
Here is your daily update on Mountaineer free-agents in the NFL for Friday, March 16, 2012.
News of Note:
Mountaineers able to work out with pads as spring practices continue - Daily Athenaeum
For first-year defensive coordinator Joe DeForest, today was the first time he was able to see his new unit go full-speed – something he admitted was very impressive to see.
Second spring with Holgorsen easier on WVU offense - Charleston Gazette
"I feel much more seasoned," Smith said. "I'm not trying to figure things out like I was last spring. I have a better understanding of the offense and I can teach the younger guys a little bit more than I was able to in the past."
WVU’s newest coaches don’t think the transition to a new style will be an issue - Inter-Mountain
Keith Patterson, who serves as a co-coordinator with Joe DeForest, said the experience of the players on that side of the football is helping to ease the transition.
Smith off to fast start - Martinsburg Journal
The Mountaineers feel they will be able to do more things earlier this spring than they did a year ago. Smith said, "The guys we had come in as freshmen did a good job (getting) at it.
WVU lineman finally healthy - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Despite a lack of answers, Jenkins is grateful to be healthy for his senior season at West Virginia and is slated to start at left guard this season.
Football: Assistant Coaches on Practice No. 3 - MSNsportsNET.Com
West Virginia University assistant football coaches discuss 2012 spring practice
Quick Hits: Spring Practice Day 3 - WVillustrated
Get the scoop on what happened at WVU Football's third day of Spring Practice.
Recruiting:
WVU recruit has surgery - Times West Virginian
Elijah Macon, one of West Virginia’s top recruits for next season, underwent surgery on Thursday morning to repair a broken arm
Around the League (and Beyond):
The Big 12 guide to K-State's home turf - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
New names, same goals on TCU pyramid - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
OSU Football: Center of Attention - Oklahoman
Spring superlatives: Kansas State - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Incoming Red Raider fighting eye disorder - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
What's On Tap:
2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
(9) Texas Longhorns vs. (8) West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
11:10 am Saturday from Norfolk, VA, on ESPN2/3
Video of Interest:
Tony Caridi wraps up West Virginia's 77-54 loss to Gonzaga Thursday night in Pittsburgh
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Forget the R/C helicopter I have, I want one of these to fly around my warehouse:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is American Victoria's Secret Angel Lily Aldridge. Here's today's gallery (click on the picture) and video to help you deal with last night's loss.
Smithwick's image via www.beeroftheday.com
