Mountaineer Morning Links: Wednesday (10/23/13) Edition

Holgorsen presser, Kansas St. previews, WVU at Big 12 Media Day, recruiting updates, WVU Pros "Where are they now?", Big 12 roundup & more

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Oct 23, 2013, 9:34am EDT

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 Red Brick Oktoberfest.

What You May Have Missed:

Men’s Soccer Draws at American - WVU Athletics
The tie brings WVU’s overall record to 6-6-3 as the Mountaineers outshot the Eagles, 16-14.

Rifle Sits at No. 5 - WVU Athletics
Today’s rankings are based on the team’s last score shot. The Mountaineers (2-0, 1-0 GARC) shot 4656 in their win at Nebraska (4650) on Oct. 13.

Rifle Alumni List - WVU Athletics
The WVU rifle program is compiling an alumni list - can you spot your name?

News of Note:

Football

Dana Holgorsen News Conference - WVU Athletics
Transcript here, video embedded below

West Virginia notebook: Kansas State saddled with similar issues - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen described a team battling through a sub-.500 season and still searching for an offensive identity after losing its elite quarterback. Sound familiar?

Holgorsen not buying Wildcats’ record - Register-Herald
On paper, Kansas State is the perfect medicine for a struggling West Virginia football team.

Mountaineers face dynamic special teams duo - Charleston Daily Mail
Lockett, Thompson give WVU a new challenge

Mountaineers get a break from passing QB this week - Charleston Daily Mail
WVU football Notebook

Kansas State offers WVU a chance - Charleston Gazette
On Tuesday, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen had his usual game-week press conference.

WVU football coach refuses to look past Kansas State - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“It's Kansas State right now,” he said. “A bowl game is important, but a fourth win is more important right now.”

WVU looking to improve execution against Wildcats - Daily Athenaeum
The Mountaineers, who are now 1-3 in the conference, have lost their last two games after giving up a combined 110 points on defense.

Wearing the Jersey: Kyle Rose - WVU Athletics
A feature on R-So defensive lineman Kyle Rose.

Kwiatkoski battles back from injury for Mountaineers - Times West Virginian
Being injured carries a double penalty. There is the pain of the injury, yes, but there is a different kind of pain.

Football Player Quotes: Kansas State - WVU Athletics
WVU football assistant coaches and players addressed members of the media Tuesday night.

WATCH: WVU Football Assistant Coach and Player Interviews - WVIllustrated
Trickett, Kwiatkoski, Coach Dawson & Coach Patterson

BGN Video: Defense - BGN
Coach Dawson, Coach Gibson, Bruce & Barber

Basketball/Big 12 Media Day

WATCH: WVU Coach Huggins Addresses Media at Big 12 Media Day - WVillustrated
West Virginia Men's Basketball Coach Bob Huggins talks to the media at 2013 Big 12 Basketball Media Day.

2013 BIG 12 CONFERENCE MEN'S MEDIA DAY, October 22: Bob Huggins - ASAP Sports Transcripts

Huggins adjusting to Big 12 - Register-Herald
Now, looking back at the Mountaineers’ first season in the Big 12, it’s clear Huggins was basically just as unprepared as everybody else.

Big 12 basketball notebook - Charleston Gazette
KU, OSU expected to reign over Big 12

You can't touch this - Charleston Gazette
New rules will significantly alter college basketball

WVU basketball: Rule changes could extend games - Charleston Daily Mail
Everything about college basketball's new rules to penalize and ideally eliminate contact on the perimeter suggests it's going to be hard to take to start the 2013-14 season.

Better flow or fouls aplenty? Defensive crackdown will carry big impact - WV MetroNews
Defenders like West Virginia guard Juwan Staten must be cautious about laying hands on dribblers as officials crack down on grabbing.

Harris, Henderson will carry scoring load - Charleston Daily Mail
"We've gone from, I think, trying to ineffectively throw it inside to where we're going to be more of a perimeter team," said Huggins

Henderson: ‘I’ve got some stepping up to do’ - WV MetroNews
The Big 12 coaches picked West Virginia seventh out of 10 teams in the preseason poll.

WVU to Rely on Youth This Season - WVU Athletics
Huggins looking to leadership from sophomore duo.

MEN'S HOOP BLOG - WVU Athletics
Our Big 12 men's basketball media day correspondent Eron Harris catches up with ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla for a quick one-on-one interview earlier today.

Harris: Media Day perfect place to make media connections - WV MetroNews
"I’m making connections," said Harris, a sophomore who has plenty of playing days ahead of him in college and possibly beyond.

HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU’s Huggins steals the show at Media Day - Times West Virginian
Normally not known for his sartorial splendor, West Virginia University’s Huggins pulled off the fashion statement of the day when he showed up wearing a cardigan letter sweater, in this case the letters being fittingly enough a flying WV.

WATCH: Juwan Staten Takes the Mic at Big 12 Media Day - WVillustrated
Junior guard talks to Holly Rowe, Tubby Smith and others and asks Huggins if the cardigan will replace the pullover.

WVU Basketball Player Facing Disorderly Conduct Charge After Court Appearance - WVillustrated
West Virginia University men's basketball player Elijah Macon is facing a disorderly conduct charge after an outburst in Monongalia County Magistrate Court.

Recruiting:

Big 12 Recruiting Roundup: WVU must recruit far and wide - EerSports
Not only does West Virginia have to go out of state but there isn’t a natural recruiting footprint in neighboring states either.

West Virginia football recruiting 2014 updates - SBNation.com
The Mountaineers are trying to build upon a solid 2013 recruiting class.

Pro News:

Where Are They Now Wednesday: Rico Tyler - ProsReport
Rico Tyler was a bruising fullback from Pittsburgh from 1987-1990, who gained nearly 1,000 yards for the Mountaineers in his career and was a member of the 1988 unbeaten team.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Grantland on Art Briles as "The Architect" of Baylor Football - Our Daily Bears

ISU looking to bounce back after Baylor loss - Ames Tribune

Kansas Football Defensive Numbers: Beyond the Basics - Rock Chalk Talk

Kansas State looking for confidence-boosting win vs. West Virginia - Kansas City Star

Sooners' run defense can't afford slow start against Texas Tech - Oklahoma (autoplay)

Same Issues Linger for Oklahoma State with Chelf as QB - Cowboys Ride For Free

Texas relishes underdog role in matchup against TCU - Dallas-Fort Worth Star Telegram

TCU QB Casey Pachall could return against Texas - Burnt Orange Nation

Red Raider Football notebook for Oct. 22 - Lubbock Avalanche Journal

What's On Tap:

Volleyball Set for Top-Ranked Texas - WVU Athletics
The West Virginia volleyball team welcomes No. 1 Texas, the defending National Champions, to the WVU Coliseum on Wednesday night at 8 p.m.

Haunted Hoops Set for Nov. 1 - WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University women’s basketball team will tipoff the 2013-14 season with Haunted Hoops presented by Coke Zero, an exhibition game against Concord at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, at the WVU Coliseum.

Videos of Interest:

West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen previews Saturday's Kansas State game.

WVU Head Coach Bob Huggins along with players Juwan Staten, Terry Henderson, and Eron Harris attended the Big 12 Basketball Media Day held in Kansas City, Missouri. Take a look at what happened behind the scenes.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Hump Day Video of the Week:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a former Playboy Playmate of the Month, July 2011. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Jessa Hinton.