Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Oklahoma Suks Beer, in preparation for tonight's opponent.
What You May Have Missed:
Emergence of bench redirecting WVU - Daily Athenaeum
The main reason for West Virginia’s conference woes was a major lack of depth – but with the emergence of Lanay Montgomery, Bre McDonald and Jessica Morton, the Mountaineers are suddenly looking like a team with multiple options.
Idell Named Athlete of the Week - WVU Athletics
Varsity Sports Report
Wearing the Jersey: Jaida Lawrence - WVU Athletics
Jaida Lawrence's gymnastics career has taken her to Jamaica, Japan and now Morgantown. Watch her story on this week's Wearing the Jersey,
DeForest back at a cheaper rate; Irvin assues apology - Exponent Telegram
Hertzel's notebook
WVU Baseball Coach Mazey Discusses New Ballpark, Expectations - WVillustrated
WVU Baseball head coach Randy Mazey met with WVi's Matt Hauswirth prior to Saturday's Lead-Off Dinner held at the Morgantown Event Center
News of Note:
WVU, OU Hook up in Norman Tuesday - WVU Athletics
West Virginia looks for season sweep at Oklahoma.
How WVU grabs the plug and pulls - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Trent Johnson, Bruce Weber, Norense Odiase and Aaron Ross, who have in the past three games combined for two technical fouls, a flagrant foul and a temper tantrum that resulted in a public reprimand from the Big 12 commissioner, are illustrating what it’s like to play against and fall victim to the Mountaineers.
Devin Williams on the rise - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
The issue for him has been his shooting percentage, and his finishing around the rim, to be precise, but he’s 39 for 71 (54.9 percent) in Big 12 play — and he’s taking a lot of jumpers.
WVU’s road success will be tested at Oklahoma - Charleston Daily Mail
Oklahoma plays better at home than it does on the road, though an exception might be on the way to town.
Sooners get home rematch tonight vs. Mountaineers - Charleston Gazette
When last West Virginia and Oklahoma met, the Sooners were ill-prepared for West Virginia’s pressure. Lon Kruger admitted as much afterward and he hasn’t changed his tune since.
How will WVU’s press play the 2nd time around? - Charleston Gazette
As West Virginia heads into the final 10 games of what so far has been an exceptionally successful season, the dynamic is about to change in more than one way.
Daunting 10-game stretch begins tonight in Norman - WV MetroNews
No. 15 West Virginia hits the midway point in contention for a title, but a brutal string of games await.
Gold & Blue Now: Tuesday, Feb. 3 - WV MetroNews
Garrett Cullen and Brad Howe take a look at tonight’s matchup against No. 21 Oklahoma.
WVU looks to keep pace in the Big 12 race - Beckley Register-Herald
Winners of three straight and 11 of the last 13, West Virginia’s men’s basketball team rose to No. 15 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll released Monday.
Preview: WVU vs Oklahoma - BGN
West Virginia hits the road for the first of ten rugged Big 12 conference games, and faces an Oklahoma team primed to build its own momentum for the postseason.
No. 15 West Virginia travels to Oklahoma to take on the No. 21 Sooners - Daily Athenaeum
No. 15 West Virginia will continue conference play tonight as the Mountaineers travel to Norman, Okla., to face the No. 21 Oklahoma Sooners.
No. 15 Mountaineers travel to Norman for another mid-week showdown with the Sooners - WVUPros
After cruising past a struggling Texas Tech side Saturday afternoon, the Mountaineers jump back into action tonight in Norman as they battle a tough Oklahoma
WVU's pressure no fun to play against - Exponent Telegram
Mountaineers out for season sweep of Sooners
Huggins: WVU back to loving to play - BGN
Following West Virginia's win against Texas Tech this weekend, Mountaineer head coach Bob Huggins discussed the leadership on this year's version of the WVU basketball team.
Huggins: Effort and Attitude Lifting WVU - EerSports
West Virginia Head Coach Bob Huggins has made it no secret that this year’s basketball team has been more enjoyable to coach than the previous couple of seasons in Morgantown.
Huggins Happy with Team Effort - WVSports.com
For West Virginia Head Coach Bob Huggins, he and his program's first two seasons in the Big 12 were anything but a success
WVU youth showing signs of hope for years to come - Daily Athenaeum
One thing the Mountaineers have had this year that has made the difference in several of their wins is the production from their younger players.
Bracketology - ESPN
#4 West
NCAA tournament bracket watch - SI.com
#5 South
Recruiting:
Several WVU recruits on the fence on Signing Day eve - Charleston Gazette
West Virginia’s Class of 2015 has been quite the ride.
3-star Howard decommits from WVU; reportedly considering Marshall - WV MetroNews
The 5-foot-10 speedster from Hialeah, Fla., had pledged to West Virginia in August but reportedly put himself on shaky ground by visiting other schools recently.
Quarterback Sills highlight of West Virginia recruiting list - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
His father said last week, “He's as happy as I've ever seen.”
WVU Recruiting: Junior Day Notebook - BGN
BlueGoldNews.com looks at a number of junior day visitors from last weekend and gets their reactions to the on-campus visit.
Big 12 recruiting scorecard - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
We have officially entered the final countdown. Here is how each Big 12 program is poised to close out its recruiting class
Pro News:
Hardwood Report: Alexander contributes to a big win for Tel-Aviv, Dan Jennings dominates - WVUPros
The WVUPros Hardwood Report for the first week of February features Joe Alexander and Maccabi Electra Tel-Aviv picking up a huge win over Real Madrid, and Dan Jennings filling up box scores in Mexico.
Seattle Seahawks' Bruce Irvin apologizes for end-of-game fight, ejection - ESPN
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin apologized Monday after he was ejected following a fight in the closing seconds of Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday night.
Bruce Irvin on play call ending in pick: "We were on the half-yard line, and we throw a slant" - ProFootballTalk
"I was protecting a teammate. Emotions flew," Irvin said.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Monday Shootaround: We Got Chery Bombs - Our Daily Bears
Kansas Runs Off Iowa State 89-76 - Rock Chalk Talk
Lost in the Phog: Kansas 89 - Iowa State 76 - Wide Right & Natty Lite
K-State basketball is what it is: A 5-4 team - Topeka Capital Journal
OU basketball: Khadeem Lattin just keeps his game simple - Oklahoman (autoplay)
Oklahoma State Basketball Bracketology - Cowboys Ride For Free
Texas' Frontcourt Continues To Disappoint As Losses Pile Up - Burnt Orange Nation
TCU men try to get past disappointment of 1-7 start in Big 12 - Star Telegram
Blackout planned for game against Wildcats - Daily Toreador
What's On Tap:
(15) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (21) Oklahoma Sooners - ESPN
8 pm tonight from the Lloyd Noble Center on ESPN2/3
WVU Football Signing Day Coverage - WVU Athletics
West Virginia University will reveal its newest class of Mountaineers on Wednesday, Feb. 4, and WVUsports.com once again will be inside the Milan Puskar Center to provide live exclusive coverage.
Video of Interest:
Video shown at Liberty Bowl Banquet
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is a Latina from Florida. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Lisa Morales.