Mountaineer Morning Links: Wednesday (1/8/14) Edition

Hoops notes, women face Baylor tonight, recruiting update, WVU Pros hoops update, Big 12 roundup & more.

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Jan 8, 2014, 9:00am EST

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 Fort George Vortex IPA.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Now: Wednesday, Jan. 8 - WV MetroNews
Juwan Staten discusses his technical foul against Texas Tech and former Mountaineer Jedd Gyorko talks about life in the major leagues with the San Diego Padres.

WVU women host star-studded Baylor - Times West Virginian
A year ago, when Baylor’s women’s team came into the Coliseum, it was the basketball event of the year.

Women's Basketball Playbook - WVU Athletics
This week's Women's Basketball Playbook, with Jeff Culhane and Coach Mike Carey, reviews last Saturday's upset win at No. 11 Oklahoma State and previews Wednesday night's game against Baylor at the WVU Coliseum.

Mountaineers, Carey off to memorable start in 2013-14 - Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia women’s basketball team is off to one of their greatest starts in team history. The Mountaineers (13-1, 2-0) will look to extend their win streak to 14 Wednesday at home against Baylor.

Big 12 Honors Silva, Martinelli - WVU Athletics
Frances Silva and Sarah Martinelli were honored for academics today.

Show School Pride In NCAA 6th Fan Contest - WVU Athletics
National Competition Gives West Virginia University A Chance to Win Over $100,000

Way-Too-Early Big 12 power poll for 2014 - ESPN
This could change between now and the end of the spring. In fact, it probably will. But this is a first look at how the Big 12 teams stack up against one another for 2014:

HERTZEL COLUMN: West Virginia breeds blue- collar coaches » WVU Sports » The Times West Virginian
Why? That sounds like such a simple question, but it is not, not when you are using it to try to understand why the state of West Virginia has been able to produce so many successful coaches over the years, first in football but also in basketball.

FURFARI COLUMN: Dr. Carl Cather fixed West’s first two nose breaks - Times West Virginian
“He (West) did it again, and I fixed it a second time,” both times at the original Morgantown Ear, Nose, Throat Clinic, of which he was the father.

News of Note:

Williams, Watkins 'worlds better' - Charleston Daily Mail
The West Virginia men's basketball team that just won two games away in three days is much different from the team that only played two games in the two weeks before the TCU-Texas Tech road trip.

Watkins emerging in role since Capital Classic - Daily Athenaeum
Sooner or later it was bound to matter. The young West Virginia men’s basketball team, held together by juniors and sophomores, appears to have grown up.

Staten seized control after 'the look' from Huggins - Charleston Gazette
"I knew when I looked over at Coach Huggs and he was giving me that look,'' Staten said.

Staten's Guidance Big Part of Mountaineer Success - WVillustrated
Junior point guard continues strong start to season, pushing his teammates to play to their potential in Big 12 action.

WVU off to fast start in Big 12 - Times West Virginian
There are two ways to look at West Virginia University’s sweep of a pair of road games in Texas to open the Big 12 season.

West Virginia learns how to close games out down the stretch, wins first two Big 12 contests - Daily Athenaeum
Despite dropping five of its first 13 games this season, the West Virginia men’s basketball team has had a chance to win nearly every single contest it’s played this year.

Recruiting:

Will Mountaineers cash in on 'poaching season?' - Charleston Gazette
This time of year, college coaches are getting hired, getting fired or "resigning" (ahem, Mack Brown). With all of the upheaval and only four weeks until National Signing Day, this leaves recruits around the country with second thoughts, and advantageous coaches prepared to offer new opportunities.

Pro News:

Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones clash and other WVUPros on the Hardwood notes - Pros Report
Around the world, many of our favorite WVUPros are currently enjoying some great success. Here’s an update on how they are playing with links to vote for John Flowers and Truck Bryant for different honors as well as video of a Deniz Kilicli dunk in Turkey.