West Virginia President Gee Says Big 12 Expansion To 12 Schools Is 'Most Likely'

Less than a week after Oklahoma president David Boren said that he hopes the Big 12 expands, another Big 12 president is on board with expansion, too, and it appears they aren't alone.

By Michael Miller@michaelmillerWV Jan 20, 2016, 10:50am EST

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.

Football:

West Virginia president says Big 12 expansion to 12 schools is 'most likely' | SBNation
He joins Oklahoma's president in favoring expansion.

Details on Wickline’s 2-year contract, Caponi’s 1-year deal | WV MetroNews
Offensive coordinator Joe Wickline will earn $425,000 next season and would owe WVU a buyout equal to the full remaining value of his contract should he leave for another job in the Big 12.

Basketball:

Gee says play Marshall game in Morgantown | WV MetroNews
WVU president Gordon Gee favors continuing the WVU-Marshall basketball series continuing but wants the games played in Morgantown, not rooted in Charleston.

Success of substitutes key for No. 6 WVU | Charleston Gazette-Mail
No. 6 West Virginia’s bench has outscored the opposition’s 15 times this season, and the Mountaineers are 13-2 when that happens. It’s an illustration of the team’s success, the essence of what it does by rolling in waves of fresh players to wear down opponents.

WVU returns home to face Longhorns | Beckley Register-Herald
Focus, motivation and intensity weren’t a problem for the West Virginia basketball team last week. When the schedule includes the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, most everybody is going to come to the gym ready to play.

WVU set to host Longhorns | The Exponent Telegram
If West Virginia is going to begin another winning streak after having its nine-game streak broken on a last-second tip-in at then-No. 2 Oklahoma on Saturday, it is going to have to make a point of handling Texas’ point guard tonight.

No. 6 West Virginia looks to bounce back tonight against Smart, Texas | The Daily Athenaeum
Holding their highest national ranking since the 2009-10 season, the No. 6 Mountaineers (15-2, 4-1 Big 12) face off against the Texas Longhorns (11-6, 3-2 Big 12) at 7 p.m. tonight at the WVU Coliseum, in a bid to regain momentum after a tough loss Saturday to then-No. 2 Oklahoma.

Mountaineers, Longhorns to Hook Up Tonight | WVU Athletics
The Texas basketball team Shaka Smart is bringing into the WVU Coliseum on Wednesday night might not be the one we’ve become familiar with through the years, but that doesn’t mean the Longhorns are lacking talent.

Mountaineers executed Smart plan to knock off Terps in NCAAs | WV MetroNews
Bob Huggins endorses Kevin Mackey as "the master" of full-court pressure and frequently discusses nuances for generating new, trickier nightmares for dribblers. They shared a phone call just Monday, in fact.

Williams trying to adjust to officiating | The Exponent Telegram
This is about the game within the game that is college basketball. It isn’t about Xs and Os, jump shots and layups or zones and pressure defenses. It isn’t about the people who give a hoot about the game, but it is about the people who give a "toot" about the game. The zebras — the men in striped shirts.

Huggins contends Williams being treated rough in post: ‘Watch the film’ | WV MetroNews
It’s rare that No. 6 West Virginia finds itself outrebounded, as it did Saturday at Oklahoma. To which Bob Huggins retorts: It’s rare that Devin Williams plays only 15 minutes.

West Virginia Athletics:

WVU continues to dominate despite lack of attention | The Daily Athenaeum
In a year where West Virginia sports have excelled, one Mountaineer team has continued to prove they are the most dominant program at West Virginia University.

Hard road ahead for Mountaineers after early losses | The Daily Athenaeum
In West Virginia’s first Big 12 matches of the season, the Mountaineers lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners. The two home losses dropped the Mountaineers’ record to 5-4.

Around The Big XII:

Top Big 12 players: Nos. 21-25 | ESPN
With the 2015 season in the books, and after careful consideration, we’ve ranked the top 25 players of 2015 in the Big 12.

Top Big 12 players: Nos. 16-20 | ESPN
With the 2015 season in the books, and after careful consideration, we've ranked the top 25 players of 2015 in the Big 12. Here are Nos. 16-20.

Top Big 12 players: Nos. 11-15 | ESPN
With the 2015 season in the books, we've ranked the top 25 players of 2015 in the Big 12. Today's reveal: players 11-15.

Around The NCAA:

These 6 teams could end Alabama's streak of No. 1 recruiting classes | SBNation
Then again, the Tide are right in the mix to make it six years in a row.

Why ESPN is smart to rate only a few college football recruits as 5-stars | SBNation
Should college football recruiting rating outlets use quotas?

Deshaun Watson is the 2016 Heisman favorite, with Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey close behind | SBNation
Two of the three favorites were finalists this year.

WVU-bound Harler a special talent — and person | Charleston Gazette-Mail
When you walk into Central Catholic High School, aka Wheeling Central, you’ll see Miss Beatty’s World History Classes’ Wall of Fame pinned up near the main office. Included are pictures of famous figures from President Jimmy Carter and astronaut John Glenn to announcer Dick Vitale. In these parts, however, it’s hard to find anyone as popular or respected as Chase Harler, who easily moves through the halls.

Texas Longhorns vs (6) West Virginia Mountaineers
Tonight at 7PM on ESPNU from Morgantown. The Mountaineers look to bounce back against Shaka Smart's Longhorns. West Virginia is currently 12.5 point favorites.