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What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Thursday, May 15 - WV MetroNews
class of 2015 commit, James Bolden shares his excitement level following his pledge to WVU. We also hear from Wendell Barnhouse, a writer for Big12Sports.com as Barnhouse looks at the strength of the conference overall with the NCAA Tournament only days away.
Six Mountaineers Earn Academic Honor - WVU Athletics
Six members of the West Virginia University rifle team were named to the College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Academic Team.
Track Earns All-Academic Honors - WVU Athletics
Eleven Mountaineers were named to the Academic All-Big 12 team.
NCAA Releases APR Data - WVU Athletics
All 17 teams exceeded the 930 four-year score, and no WVU team will receive APR academic penalties from the NCAA.
All 17 WVU teams above NCAA’s academic penalty line - WV MetroNews
The Mountaineers' men's and women's basketball teams ranked at or near the top of the Big 12 in APR, while football fell to eighth in the conference.
WVU, Marshall clear academic hurdle - Charleston Gazette
"I’m pleased that our teams continue to make good academic progress,’’ athletic director Oliver Luck said. "Overall our APR score is strong.’’
All 245 2012-2013 NCAA football APR scores ranked: 12 teams penalized - SBNation.com
The NCAA released its annual academic progress rate (APR) scores Wednesday, with severe competitive penalties on the way for 12 football teams, including the FBS' Idaho, Oklahoma State and UNLV.
WVU APR.pdf
Here is a pdf breaking down all of WVU's scores
Jerry West helps WVU beat Pitt 71-74 in 1958 - WVU Pros
The victory tied a consecutive win record for West Virginia teams. The 1946 WVU squad, on which the Mountaineers present coach Fred Schaus was a star, also won 13 in a row.
Furfari: Kevin Koken was leader of great 1988 O-line at WVU - Register-Herald
Kevin Koken, who just turned 48, was an outstanding center on West Virginia University’s football teams from 1985-88.
News of Note:
Baseball
WVU baseball needs strong finish to secure NCAA berth - Times West Virginian
The Mountaineers travel to Texas Tech for the final Big 12 three-game series of the year today, Friday and Saturday and common sense tells you they need to finish with a flourish, then make a little noise in the Big 12 Tournament to solidify themselves as an NCAA team.
Mazey vows confidence as WVU heads to Lubbock on NCAA bubble - WV MetroNews
NCAA projections by Baseball America and Perfect Game still have West Virginia in the field of 64 despite four-game slide.
Hoops
Huggins lobbies for Coliseum upgrades - Charleston Daily Mail
"I hear the term ‘arms race’ and I don’t like the term," Huggins said, "but the reality is the Coliseum is 44 years old and it’s never really had a makeover."
Dave Hickman: Huggins expands wish list - Charleston Gazette
All one has to do is look around the country at what is happening in what amounts to a facilities arms race. West Virginia is merely trying to keep pace and for the most part has managed to — or has plans to do so with $106 million in improvements budgeted — given its resources.
Football
Q&A: West Virginia Mountaineers running backs coach JaJuan Seider - ESPN
With a meeting room full of talented running backs set to battle for carries, West Virginia could have the deepest position group in the Big 12 this fall.
Mail Bonding: Jump to Big 12 has been tough on Dana Holgorsen, WVU - Sporting News
It also didn’t help that he won the Big East in Year 1 at WVU, and then scored 70 points on Clemson in the Orange Bowl . Expectations built from that one season have overshadowed the difficulty of the conference move.
Recruiting:
Bolden To WVU - BGN
"I thought long and hard out of Butler and WVU but I loved both coaching staffs I just felt like I was at home when I went to WVU," Bolden said. "I love the fans and how they do it big for every sport.
Bolden selects WVU - WVSports.com
"It was hard because the others were nice too but West Virginia just seemed like the best fit," he said.
Bolden: "I'm Willing to Do Anything for" Huggins - EerSports
"When I went on a visit, it just felt like I was at home," he said.
WVU picks up 2015 hoops commitment - Charleston Gazette
Levi Cook finally has some company.
2015 Kentucky point guard commits to WVU over Butler, Xavier - WV MetroNews
West Virginia garnered a point guard commitment for 2015 on Wednesday when three-star prospect James "Beetle" Bolden of Covington, Ky., chose the Mountaineers over offers from Xavier, Butler, Purdue and Ohio.
Huggins lands guard Bolden - Times West Virginian
Once upon a time nothing meant more to Bob Huggins than beating Xavier and it’s no different today as he landed a point guard from just outside his old Cincinnati stomping grounds for the 2015 season, beating out Xavier for his services.
4-star Christian Ready To Decide - BGN
Four-star receiver Jalen Christian of Damascus (Md.) High will end his recruiting during a ceremony at his school Thursday. He is set to make his decision public at 2 p.m. ...Christian will chose from Maryland, South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
Pro News:
Four Sign Free Agent Deals So Far - WVU Athletics
Another player could sign in the coming days.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Wednesday Poll Question: Should Baylor try to schedule Alabama? - Our Daily Bears
Cyclone Tailgate Tour: Hoiberg speaks to fans in Paton - Des Moines Register (autoplay)
Strong and weak: Kansas Jayhawks - ESPN
Kansas State grants Daniel Sams conditional release from scholarship - Wichita Eagle
APR to force Oklahoma State to miss day of football practice per week - Cowboys Ride For Free
Is Texas backing away from USC transfer QB Max Wittek? - Burnt Orange Nation
TCU baseball decides it’s not ready to go home early - Dallas-Fort Worth Star Telegram
Tech football notebook: Speedsters headed to Lubbock - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
What's On Tap:
WVU Closes Out Regular Season at Texas Tech - WVU Athletics
Thursday’s opener will begin at 7:30 p.m., Friday’s game is set for 7:30 p.m. and Saturday’s finale will be at 3 p.m.
Video of Interest:
On this week's show, WVU head baseball coach Randy Mazey talks with Jeff Culhane about the Mountaineers mid-week loss to Maryland and the final regular season conference series against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
SPOILERS
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is another lovely from down under. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Ashleigh Munro-Smith.