West Virginia Hopeful For Defensive Coup On Signing Day

With nine starters gone from last season's unit, West Virginia has had a specific focus in recruiting the Class of 2016.

By Michael Miller@uncle_drank Feb 3, 2016, 8:30am EST

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

Football:

West Virginia hopeful for defensive coup on signing day | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
With nine starters gone from last season's unit, West Virginia has had a specific focus in recruiting the Class of 2016.

WVU looks to close strong on signing day | The Exponent Telegram
The future is now for West Virginia football. Signing day arrives early with the Mountaineers waiting to learn if they get an early morning commitment from their top target, inside linebacker Brendan Ferns.

White recalls his signing day | The Exponent Telegram
It’s a well-known story, though one worth not only repeating but expanding upon on this national signing day, of why Pat White elected to come to West Virginia, even after he had committed to LSU.

Basketball:

Road rally keeps Mountaineers atop Big 12 at the turn | WV MetroNews
Jaysean Paige scored 23 points including the go-ahead 3 with 1:05 left and Devin Williams was a monster on the boards as No. 14 West Virginia rallied from 15 down to stun No. 13 Iowa State 81-76.

‘Mess Virginia’ headline has Huggs making copies, WVU making a stand | WV MetroNews
Allan Taylor's column from Ames, where West Virginia rebounded to earn its most significant Big 12 win to date.

Paige, Williams lead WVU past Iowa State | The Exponent Telegram
No. 14 West Virginia overcame a 15-point first half deficit, rode 23 points by Jaysean Paige and a career-high 18 rebounds from Devin Williams to upset No. 13 Iowa State, 81-76, a rare victory by the visiting team in the Hilton Coliseum.

WVU proves they can still win it their way in Ames | The Daily Athenaeum
Not many teams can withstand Hilton Magic and win in Ames, Iowa. But despite lacking one of their most important players, the West Virginia Mountaineers muscled out the most important win of the season Tuesday night.

Huggins: Bounce-back win in Ames shows his players ‘don’t ever give in’ | WV MetroNews
Listen as West Virginia coach Bob Huggins talks with the media following the No. 14 Mountaineers’ 81-76 win over No. 13 Iowa State on Tuesday night.

Williams’ big night pushes WVU to vital win over Iowa State | The Daily Athenaeum
Without Jonathan Holton, the Mountaineers silenced the doubters. Behind stellar second-half efforts from Jaysean Paige and Devin Williams, the Mountaineers remained atop the Big 12 standings with a huge 81-76 victory at No. 13 Iowa State.

No. 14 WVU pulls out win at No. 13 Iowa State | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Far from expected, No. 14 West Virginia won in one of the toughest venues out there, beating No. 13 Iowa State with shooting and without its trademark defense.

Mountaineers Top No. 13 Iowa State in Ames | WVU Athletics
Bob Huggins has been waiting for Devin Williams to play like a man the way he did in last year’s NCAA tournament victories over Buffalo and Maryland. Wednesday night he not only played like a man, he was the man.

Photo gallery: West Virginia defeats Iowa State, 81-76 | WV MetroNews
Photo coverage from the No. 14 Mountaineers’ 81-76 road win against No. 13 Iowa State on Tuesday.

Mountaineers Roll Past TTU for Sweep | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University women’s basketball team used a strong 24-4 first quarter performance to collect the regular-season series sweep over Texas Tech with a 69-42 victory on Tuesday evening at the United Supermarkets Arena.

West Virginia bounces back with big win in Lubbock | The Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia University women’s basketball team ended a two-game losing streak Tuesday night, defeating Texas Tech in Lubbock with a final score of 69-42.

West Virginia Athletics:

WVU’s Kadeisha Buchanan wins College Boot Award | The Daily Athenaeum
Buchanan, along with teammate Ashley Lawrence, was a member of team Canada in the 2015 World Cup last summer. Buchanan started every game of the tournament for Canada on the backline and eventually won the award for best young player. The duo will again be representing Canada this summer in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Around The NCAA:

The 21 wildest National Signing Day stories, from Willie Williams to Landon Collins | SBNation
Who'll be added to the halls of recruiting greatness this year? Updated for 2016!

2016 National Signing Day results: The full schedule, all the big commits and more | SBNation
This is your one-stop Signing Day shop, with everything to know about college football recruiting's biggest day.

How Oregon became the Final Four contender no one saw coming | SBNation
The Ducks' patchwork roster is flying high in the Pac-12.

Bracketology: Maryland, Oregon are pushing their way up the NCAA Tournament bracket | SBNation
The Ducks and Terps join the two seeds in Chris Dobbertean's Tuesday bracket, while Florida and Washington improved their position relative to the cut line.

Missouri native blazes own trail to sign with WVU | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Back in July, Chase Behrndt ventured from his home in Wildwood, Missouri, to West Virginia University, following through on an invitation he’d earned a month earlier at the Sound Mind, Sound Body Football Academy in Detroit.

Capital’s Pratt will not sign with WVU | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Capital senior quarterback TyRhee Pratt won’t be signing with West Virginia University’s football program Wednesday. Pratt, the Kennedy Award winner as the state’s top player last season, has opened his recruiting options on the eve of National Signing Day.