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 Barclay's No. 1 Southwarke Ale.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Wednesday, March 26 - WV MetroNews
Mike Carey discusses the disappointment after his team was upset by LSU 76-69 in the second round of the NCAA tournament. We also hear from baseball coach Randy Mazey following the Mountaineers’ 6-3 win over rival Pittsburgh.
Bargeron Earns Win Against Pitt in Home Opener - WVU Athletics
WVU baseball team defeated Pitt, 6-3
Home at Hawley: Two-out runs add up to win over Pitt - WV MetroNews
West Virginia rides timely hitting and Zach Bargeron's solid five innings to victory in home opener.
Pitching Leads WVU to 6-3 Win Over Pitt - BGN
Just two days after exiting Sunday's game against UNC Wilmington after just 1.2 innings, redshirt senior Zach Bargeron was ready for redemption.
WVU Beats Pitt in Backyard Brawl Home Opener - WVillustrated
The WVU baseball team opened up the home season on Tuesday vs. the Pitt Panthers in a non-conference matchup.
BGN Video: Baseball vs. Pitt - BGN
One start after struggling through just 1.2 innings, Zach Bargeron went five full, allowing just one earned run in a 6-3 win over rival Pitt. Here, head coach Randy Mazey, Bargeron and fellow hurler Michael Bennett dissect the victory and the upcoming Big 12 opening series with Baylor this weekend.
WATCH: WVU Baseball Postgame Interviews - WVillustrated
Watch full video interviews with WVU Baseball Head Coach Randy Mazey and his players following their win over Pitt.
Bussie Named WBCA All-Region Nominee - WVU Athletics
Bussie is one of 52 candidates and one of seven total players from the Big 12 Conference in competition for the All-America honor
Hammond Earns Coaching Honor - WVU Athletics
"It’s always nice to earn any recognition," says Hammond. "I think this award is a really good reflection of the overall year we had as a team. It’s nice when these things come at the end of a season."
FURFARI COLUMN: Sonny Moran recalls WVU basketball’s ‘greatest tragedy’ - Times West Virginian
Sonny Moran, undoubtedly the unluckiest head coach in West Virginia University men’s basketball history, resides at the age of 88 in Alabama
Women's NCAA Tournament Hangover:
LSU upsets WVU in NCAA 2nd round, 76-67 - ESPN
Recap, stats, etc
WVU Eliminated by LSU in NCAA Second Round - WVU Athletics
No. 2-seeded West Virginia women’s basketball team fell to No. 7-seeded LSU, 76-67
LSU women storm back to knock off West Virginia - Charleston Daily Mail
"Nothing against LSU because they deserve a lot of credit," WVU coach Mike Carey said. "But I feel we gave one away."
WVU women fall to LSU in NCAA tournament - Charleston Gazette
The loss for the No. 2 seed Mountaineers once again prevents them from advancing to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16.
Mike Carey laments late-game mistakes: ‘I felt we gave one away’ - WV MetroNews
After West Virginia's season was derailed by a 76-67 upset loss to LSU, the No. 2-seeded Mountaineers were shell-shocked.
Sour finish cancels West Virginia’s plans for Sweet 16 - WV MetroNews
The second-round jinx appeared to be over, until the WVU women hit a season-ending tailspin.
Red Stick Stunner - BGN
The wall between West Virginia and a Sweet 16 berth held fast on Tuesday evening as the Mountaineers were upset by LSU in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament
Mountaineer women fall in second round, 76-67 - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
West Virginia University's women's basketball team appeared to have LSU right where the Mountaineers wanted them -down six points with five minutes to play.
No. 7 LSU upsets No. 2 WVU, 76-67 - Times West Virginian
They call it the Sweet 16 but for West Virginia it remains the Sour 16.
No. 2 West Virginia Falls to No. 7 LSU in Second Round of NCAA Tournament - WVU Pros
Asya Bussie scored a team-high 21 points in her final game as a Mountaineer, while Bria Holmes added 12 points and Christal Caldwell chipped in with 10.
WATCH: WVU Women's Basketball Postgame Interviews - WVillustrated
Watch West Virginia Women's Basketball Head Coach Mike Carey and his players address the media following their loss to LSU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Photo Gallery: WVU vs LSU - BGN
Images from West Virginia's 76-67 loss to LSU in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament
News of Note:
Football
Wolf's Huddle: Offensive Outlook - WVU Athletics
Dale Wolfley's inside look at Mountaineer football.
WVU coordinators still learning - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Offense and defense being installed for ’Eers
Depth could make Mountaineer defense better in 2014 - Register-Herald
The numbers are enough to make babies cry and grown men scream. West Virginia University’s football team’s defense gave up 472.5 yards and 38 points per game in 2012 and only showed incremental improvement last fall, allowing 455 yards and 33.3 points per outing.
HERTZEL COLUMN: Mountaineers still looking for an answer at QB - Times West Virginian
West Virginia had just finished its Saturday practice in Wheeling and someone asked Shannon Dawson, the Mountaineers’ offensive coordinator, what he had just witnessed as his offense scrimmaged against Tony Gibson’s defense.
Long Road Back for Brown - EerSports
With the starting job on the line, Brown is just now getting back into the mix of things, needing plenty of time to get his ankle right.
WVU linebacker Kwiatkoski shows adapability - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Nick Kwiatkoski's football career at West Virginia remains a period of adjustment.
Hoops
Mike Casazza: Lack of continuity has hurt WVU since Final Four appearance - Charleston Daily Mail
There was an NCAA tournament game on television Sunday, the sort of thing that used to be common around here and the sort of thing that, given what we learned Monday and what we might learn in a few days about players and their future plans, might not be common for a while longer.
Eron Harris, the system and WVU - Charleston Gazette
Kids will be kids. And basketball kids will transfer.
Attrition becoming a concern for West Virginia basketball - Register-Herald
I’ve often been criticized for being too soft when it comes to my evaluation of the West Virginia University basketball program and too negative when it comes to the football team.
Pro News:
Kevin Jones doing well overseas while Devin Ebanks season may be over - WVU Pros
A few weeks ago, Kevin Jones and Devin Ebanks changed teams.
Around the League (and Beyond):
NCAA Tournament 2014 | Baylor to the Sweet Sixteen, in .GIFs! - Our Daily Bears
Wayne Selden Returning To Kansas For Sophomore Season - Rock Chalk Talk
Blue Springs’ Jeff Mittie confident he can turn around K-State women’s basketball - Kansas City Star
Oklahoma football notebook: Taylor McNamara excited for OU tight ends' future - Oklahoman
OSU football notebook: Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich fired up - Oklahoman (autoplay)
The moving pieces of the quarterback position at Texas - Burnt Orange Nation
High Expectations for Texas Tech's Dylan Cantrell (video) - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
Video of Interest:
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Hump Day Video of the Week
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a rookie in this year's SI Swimsuit issue. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Lauren Mellor.