Holgorsen Looking To Keep Mountaineers Fresh For Cactus Bowl

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Football:

Holgorsen looking to keep Mountaineers fresh for Cactus Bowl | Beckley Register-Herald
If Dana Holgorsen so desired, he could drill his West Virginia football team endlessly in preparation for the Jan. 2 Cactus Bowl matchup against Arizona State.

Holgorsen: ‘No report’ on potential Cactus Bowl academic casualties | WV MetroNews
Five days after West Virginia University finals concluded, coach Dana Holgorsen offered a brief, two-word response as to whether any Mountaineers failed to make the grade during fall semester.

Big 12, WVU looking for bowl beauty | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Much of the water-cooler banter Monday surrounded the Miss Universe Pageant and the mistake of Mountain State native Steve Harvey. (Let’s face it, the mistake was indeed a beaut.) Yet another type of beauty contest is beginning in college football: the bowl season.

WVU removes ‘Holgorsen clause’ from Gibson’s contract, guarantees deal for 2017 | WV MetroNews
West Virginia has agreed to guarantee the final year of defensive coordinator Tony Gibson’s contract regardless of whether Dana Holgorsen remains head coach.

Gibson has contract amended | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Four days after West Virginia’s athletic director announced Dana Holgorsen would remain the football coach for the 2016 season, Shane Lyons addressed another part of the staff.

Draft decisions loom for handful of Mountaineers | The Exponent Telegram
West Virginia loses a treasure trove of players from this year’s team through graduation, but there is a chance that the losses could even be worse should three undergraduates who are asking the NFL to evaluate their draft chances opt to leave.

Some WVU players have eyes on NFL draft | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Even with one game remaining this season, some West Virginia players and their coaches have an eye on the future beyond their Jan. 2 meeting against Arizona State in the Cactus Bowl — namely, a potential future that involves the NFL.

QB transfer market deeper than ever in college football | The Exponent Telegram
Recruiting has always been a game of chance. Grab an 18-year-old kid, bring him into school, then cross your fingers and hope you right. It was a crap shoot, a game of Russian roulette with teenaged prodigies as the bullets. Times have changed.

Basketball:

WVU gets hot in win over Eastern Kentucky | The Exponent Telegram
Eastern Kentucky came into the Coliseum on Monday night with a reputation for shooting, and making, 3s.

Huggins picks his spots to criticize after 84-59 romp | WV MetroNews
With ugly Christmas sweaters in abundance, No. 19 West Virginia continued feasting on the hors-d’oeuvres of the nonconference schedule. This time the sub-200 RPI opposition was Eastern Kentucky, and the runaway final score 84-59.

Paige’s hot shooting helps bury Eastern Kentucky in first half | WV MetroNews
With Jaysean Paige nearly matching his career high by halftime, Eastern Kentucky was no match for No. 19 West Virginia.

WVU’s first-half run decides 84-59 win over Eastern Kentucky | Charleston Gazette-Mail
West Virginia started the holiday break a little early Monday, the first time on accident, the second time with a purpose.

WVU Collects 10th Victory of the Season | WVU Athletics
These 25-point victories are starting to become a habit for West Virginia at the WVU Coliseum.

Photo gallery: WVU wins big over EKU | WV MetroNews
Check out photo coverage from the Mountaineers win over Eastern Kentucky on Monday at the WVU Coliseum.

Three-Point Barrage Lifts WVU over Indiana | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University women’s basketball team used a barrage of three-pointers to knock off Indiana, 75-64, on Monday evening at Warden Arena on the campus of Rollins College.

Around The Big XII:

From The Mag: Don't count out OU's Baker Mayfield | ESPN
Tennessee's public-adress announcer has just declared that a decibel record has been set at Neyland Stadium, which makes sense because Baker Mayfield and his Oklahoma Sooners can't hear a damn thing.

Big 12's most effecient offenses: Oklahoma, Texas Tech stand out | ESPN
Though total points tells you a lot about an offense, it doesn't tell you everything. Breaking down the Big 12's best offenses beyond total points.

2015 Big 12 true freshman rankings | ESPN
The future looks bright indeed for Texas, which has a strong presence on this year's list, and even lowly Kansas has reason for hope at quarterback.

Baylor Bears seek out-of-conference respect in Russell Athletic Bowl | ESPN
The season didn't end how Baylor was hoping, but playing UNC in the Russell Athletic Bowl gives the Bears a chance for a signature nonconference win.

Around The NCAA:

No beer, just loathing, in Las Vegas: At the BYU-Utah Holy War in Sin City | SBNation
The rivalry that divides a state and heavily involves a major church asks you to pick a side, but it's not quite so simple.

This is how Michigan State will try to stop Heisman winner Derrick Henry | SBNation
The Spartans will try to force the Tide to make throws ... or run against a stacked Michigan State front seven.

I went to the Cure Bowl and found out even college football's worst bowl games are amazing | SBNation
A lot of people say bowl games like the Cure Bowl are a problem. Those people should've gone to the Cure Bowl.

Western Kentucky might've been the country's best non-power team in 2015 | SBNation
After a slow start to both the season and the Miami Beach Bowl, Western Kentucky found a gear perhaps no other group-of-five college football team could match.

Western Kentucky beat USF in an awesome, points-filled Miami Beach Bowl | SBNation
If you tried to watch this one at work, your productivity may have taken a hit.

Today's Miss Throwdown is another social media and YouTube star, who happens to be a little controversial. CLICK HERE for Jaclyn Glenn's Instagram.