Mountaineer Morning Links: Kansas Pre-Game (3/1/13) Edition

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 Tailgate Brewing's Jay's Blacktop Blonde, in preparation for tomorrow's opponent.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Now Friday, March 1 - WV MetroNews
Bob Huggins his team’s trip to Kansas, Matt Wells talks about tickets and promotions for the WVU women’s basketball game versus Baylor this Saturday, and Mike Carey says Brittney Griner does not strike fear in his team.

Men’s Soccer Releases Spring Slate - WVU Athletics
The WVU men's soccer team will play six spring games.

Women's Basketball Playbook - WVU Athletics
Travis Jones and Coach Mike Carey preview West Virginia's game against No. 1-ranked Baylor at the WVU Coliseum on Saturday.

Mountaineers welcome top-ranked Baylor - Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia women’s basketball team will have its second opportunity to shock the nation on Saturday night when No. 1 Baylor comes to town for Senior Night.

Home away from home - Daily Athenaeum
On the road, though, the Mountaineers have exceeded expectations – Big 12 travel problems be darned.

Baseball Travels to Myrtle Beach - WVU Athletics
The WVU baseball team will play three games in Myrtle Beach.

Travel-tested Mountaineers hit the road again - Daily Athenaeum
The three-game series will be the last of a ten-game road stretch before the Mountaineers play their first game at Hawley Field Mar. 5 against Eastern Kentucky.

Former Packer Antonio Freeman Prepares Tavon Austin Among Trio of Receivers for the NFL Draft - Cheesehead TV
The Packers Hall of Fame receiver is working with Tavon Austin, Corey Fuller and Marcus Davis as they prepare for the NFL Draft in April.

Kevin Jones scores 24 in return to the Canton Charge - WVU Pros
The Cleveland Cavs re-assigned rookie forward Kevin Jones to the Canton Charge today just in time for an 11 a.m. tip-off. He started and led the team in scoring on the way to a win.

News of Note:

West Virginia takes three-game losing streak to Kansas to face No. 6 Jayhawks - Daily Athenaeum
Life’s not getting any easier for the West Virginia men’s basketball team.

Huggins still trying to turn WVU into a winner - Charleston Daily Mail
"He's a coach who's won all his life and I'm sure he's never had a season like this in his whole career. He's trying to find stuff for us."

Harris Remains A Bright Spot For WVU - WVillustrated
Eron Harris has scored 10 or more points in 10 of West Virginia's last 13 games including a career-high 25 points against Baylor Wednesday night.

HERTZEL COLUMN: Shooting has held WVU back - Times West Virginian
“We played hard. If there’s such a thing as feeling better, I feel better because we did play hard,’’ Huggins said.

Big 12 could ease WVU's frequent flyer miles - Charleston Gazette
"It would have been nice to have had a few of those road games scheduled before we go back to school in January,'' he said at the time. "And making all of those trips separately isn't ideal, either.''

Video: X factor -- West Virginia - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
David Ubben says Dana Holgorsen's need to find a definitive answer at quarterback is an underrated X factor for West Virginia this spring.

Georgia, LSU among teams with holes to fill in spring practice - SI.com
key players to replace entering 2013 spring practice.

Crook: West Virginia ‘perfect’ fit - WV MetroNews
New offensive line coach said Tony Gibson's return emphasized

Around the League (and Beyond):

Big Ten Expansion: Who Else and How Many More? - Corn Nation
Let's assume that the Big Ten is looking to expand beyond 14. What's the target?

Adidas doubles down with zubaz and sleeves for post-season NCAA uniforms - Our Daily Bears

Infidel Cyclones Declare Holy War - Wide Right & Natty Lite

The Jeff Withey Effect - Rock Chalk Talk

Weber, Lowery form effective 1-2 coaching punch for Kansas State - Wichita Eagle

OU Men's Basketball | The 'Horns Down' Heard Round The World (Or Just Austin/Norman) - Crimson And Cream Machine

Oklahoma State basketball notebook: Travis Ford kept KU reminders coming - Oklahoman

Second-half life for Kabongo, Longhorns - San Antonio Express-News

Baseball Set For Series At Jacksonville - Frogs O' War

Texas Tech Red Raiders Weekly Basketball Trending - Viva The Matadors

What's On Tap:

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (6) Kansas Jayhawks - ESPN
2 pm Saturday from Phog Allen on CBS

(1) Baylor Lady Bears vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
Women's basketball, 7 pm Saturday from the Oliver Garden on Fox Sports Network

Iowa State Cyclones vs. Oklahoma Sooners - ESPN
1:30 pm Saturday from Lloyd Noble Center on Altitude & ESPN3

Texas Longhorns vs. (15) Oklahoma State Cowboys - ESPN
4 pm Saturday from Gallagher-Iba Arena on ESPN & ESPN3

TCU Horned Frogs vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders - ESPN
4 pm Saturday from United Spirit Arena on Altitude & ESPN3

(13) Kansas State Wildcats vs. Baylor Bears - ESPN
7 pm Saturday from Ferrell Center on ESPN2/3

Videos of Interest:

On this week's edition of the Bob Huggins United Bank Playbook, the coach talks with Tony about the tough loss to Baylor and looks ahead to Saturday's matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Jeff Braun's pre-draft promotional video

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is one of the best follows on Twitter and a SI Swimsuit model. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Chrissy Teigen and HERE for her BONUS bodypainting gallery.