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 Brooklyn Lager, in honor of the Big East Tournament.
It's BET day two and the Mountaineers will be in action at noon today against UConn. We have plenty of previews to get you prepared. Of course, the other focus of the day is the reactions to KJ not getting Big East Player Of the Year. Outrage, shock and dismay are just a few of the words to describe what many people are thinking and feeling. If you don't read any of the other reaction articles, make sure you read the first one from BGN ("Shameful"). Caleb gives us an update on Bruce and Metronews looks at Coach Roberts heading over to coach defense. Lot's of videos today too.
Did you Vote for Huggs today? He's in the Final Four. Make sure you vote once a day, every day through March 8 and help Huggs win $100,000 for the Norma Mae Huggins Fund for cancer research in WV.
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What You May Have Missed:
Gold And Blue Now: Wednesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Tony Caridi has an update on the Mountaineers from New York, Kevin Jones receives an All-American honor and cornerbacks coach Daron Roberts is preparing to switch back to the defensive side of the ball.
Jones Third Team All-America - MSNsportsNET.Com
West Virginia University senior forward Kevin Jones was named to the Sporting News All-America basketball third team, announced
More Interviews with WVU Football Assistants - WVillustrated
Dawson, Dunlap and Spavital
Podcast: Previewing the Big 12 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
The boys at the Solid Verbal podcast are new members to the Grantland network, and I jumped on with Ty and Dan this week to preview the Big 12's first season in its third configuration in three years.
What the Pundits Have To Say About Bruce Irvin Following the NFL Combine - WVU Pros
We check in with what the Draft experts have to say about Bruce Irvin following his Combine performance.
News of Note:
Shameful - BGN
Let’s just call this most recent railing of West Virginia University, via the exclusion of Kevin Jones as the Big East Player of the Year, what it is: A sham. - The best of these reaction articles, IMO
Jones Snubbed, Huggins Hopes WVU Rallies Together - WVillustrated
WVU head coach expresses displeasure in decision to deny Jones top individual honor, but believes his team will respond positively as tournament gets underway.
Jones will use Player of the Year snub as motivation - Daily Athenaeum
He's put together one of the most impressive seasons in program— and conference – history. Yet, in terms of winning the coveted Player of the Year award, it didn't matter.
Conference honors fire up WVU heading into Big East Tournament - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"Honestly," the West Virginia coach said. "I think everybody, at this time of the year, tries to rally around something."
In sum, WVU's Jones wuz robbed - Charleston Gazette
And it's a damn shame Jones did not win the honor.
HERTZEL COLUMN: Award or not, Jones was BE’s best player - Times West Virginian
Bob Huggins, who has coached Jones since he walked on campus at WVU, was perplexed by the injustice.
Huggins baffled over Jones snub - Charleston Daily Mail
"It doesn't bother me as much as whoever it was that didn't deem him as first-team," Huggins said. "I mean, how could he not be a unanimous pick for the first team? Who can name six players in this league who are better than he is?
Mountaineers, Huskies to Meet - MSNsportsNET.Com
Preview includes United Bank Playbook feature video with Huggs
West Virginia to take on Connecticut in second round of the Big East tournament - Daily Athenaeum
"You have mixed feelings about it," said West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins. "Sometimes you get the jitters out the first game. But (the bye) helps you in the long run if you can beat UConn and Syracuse."
Men’s Basketball: WVU vs. Connecticut Preview - WVillustrated
West Virginia and Connecticut each appeared to be in good position in terms of the NCAA Tournament in the middle of January.
Preview: WVU vs UConn - BGN
There probably wouldn't be a much sweeter memory for West Virginia in its departure from the Big East conference than a win over Connecticut.
Moutaineers open BE tourney against UConn - Times West Virginian
The Mountaineers play their first game in the tournament at noon today in Madison Square Garden, and the opponent is simply the defending national champion Connecticut Huskies, coached by a Hall of Fame coach in Jim Calhoun.
WVU takes on UConn today - Register-Herald
Huskies defeated DePaul in opening round of league tournament
Lamb and Drummond Present Challenges for WVU - WVillustrated
The Mountaineers will have their hands full with a pair of Huskies
Once committed to Mountaineers, Boatright starts to bloom for UConn - Charleston Daily Mail
"When you think about it, there really was no point going somewhere you've got to fight with other players at your position," Boatright said, adding that senior Truck Bryant would also be on the team and in the backcourt. "There were too many people in one position. I felt like UConn was a better system for me." - Sounds to me like he's still afraid of competition
WVU takes wrong turn - Charleston Gazette
Detour precedes Big East battle with UConn
Can Connecticut catch fire again? - Charleston Gazette
"That was a better team,'' the UConn coach said rather succinctly.
Around the League (and Beyond):
The All-Big East Fear Monger Team - NYTimes.com
The Turk made this list
What we learned: Villanova knows how to finish - Sporting News
What we learned while watching Day One of the Big East Tournament
UConn 81, DePaul 67: What a difference a Hall of Fame coach makes - The UConn Blog
St. John's season ends as Red Storm lose, 73-59, to Pittsburgh - Rumble In The Garden
What's On Tap:
2012 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament from Madison Square Garden
(9) Connecticut Huskies vs. (8) West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
Noon today on ESPN
(13) Pittsburgh Panthers vs. (5) Georgetown Hoyas - Preview - ESPN
Approx. 2 pm today on ESPN
(10) Seton Hall Pirates vs. (7) Louisville Cardinals - ESPN
7 pm tonight on ESPN
(14) Villanova Wildcats vs. (6) South Florida Bulls - ESPN
Approx. 9 pm tonight on ESPN
Videos of Interest:
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins talks about Kevin Jones failing to make Big East player of the year despite leading the conference in scoring and rebounding.
Behind the scenes with the Mountaineers at the Big East tournament:
This week's Wearing the Jersey feature profiles West Virginia University freshman guard Jabarie Hinds, who has played a key role for the Mountaineers as a starter in the backcourt. March 6, 2012.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
BET time means it's time to break out the NYC songs:
Miss Throwdown/Humpday Video of the Week:
Sticking with the NYC theme, today's Miss Throwdown is the always ravishing Brooklyn Decker. Check out the gallery (click on the picture) and video below:
Brooklyn Lager image via winetopiatx.com
