Bigger, Badder West Virginia Must Prove It Against Stephen F. Austin

All season long, the West Virginia University men’s basketball team has talked about feeling disrespected, but the NCAA Tournament is finally here, and the Mountaineers have the chance to seize the respect they feel they deserve.

By Michael Miller@uncle_drank Mar 18, 2016, 8:20am EDT

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

Football:

Big 12 roundtable: West Virginia storylines | ESPN
In this week's Big 12 roundtable, the crew breaks down West Virginia spring ball storylines as they kick off camp, other notables.

Basketball:

Bigger, badder West Virginia must prove it against SFA | WV MetroNews
Allan Taylor previews Friday night's NCAA first-round game between the Mountaineers and Lumberjacks and offers a prediction.

West Virginia tips off tournament against SFA in battle of presses | The Daily Athenaeum
All season long, the West Virginia University men’s basketball team has talked about feeling disrespected, but the NCAA Tournament is finally here, and the Mountaineers have the chance to seize the respect they feel they deserve.

Mountaineers, Lumberjacks to Battle in Brooklyn | WVU Athletics
West Virginia to meet Southland Conference champs Friday night in Brooklyn.

Friendly coaches become adversaries today | Charleston Gazette-Mail
At 7:10 p.m. Friday, when WVU and Stephen F. Austin meet in the NCAA Tournament, there will be much intensity between the respective coaches, Bob Huggins and Brad Underwood. It hasn’t always been like that though.

WVU/NCAA notebook: WVU, SFA like to press, but in different ways | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Stephen F. Austin leads the nation in forced turnovers per game. West Virginia ranks second. Observers of Friday night’s NCAA Tournament game at the Barclays Center will watch those two use a press to oppose each other, but the defenses have little in common outside of what you’d call them.

Numbers game: WVU is 24-1 in games with leads of 10-plus points | Charleston Gazette-Mail
There are no magic numbers in the ever-unpredictable NCAA Tournament.

Tarik Phillip’s offense measuring up to his toughness | WV MetroNews
Back in Brooklyn, the Mountaineers' hard-nosed point guard eager for Friday's NCAA opener.

After ‘thinking too much’ in Big 12 tourney, Paige primed for NCAAs | WV MetroNews
Jaysean Paige left his problems in Kansas City, or so goes the story as he turns the page from Big 12 tournament to NCAA pressure pit.

Where a pair of Mountaineers first flourished | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Teyvon Myers and Tarik Phillip have been to many schools in their journeys. Ditto Jaysean Paige. The trio has been around the proverbial block. And, these days, they globetrot the Big 12 as members of the West Virginia University men's basketball team.

Williams worked his way through slump | Exponent Telegram
The junior scored 31 points with half the Kansas team hanging on him, tossing in 10 rebounds, and a couple of assists and steals. He was awesome and he does it not with finesse, but with muscle and determination.

WVU women face Princeton Friday in NCAA tournament opener | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The NCAA women’s basketball tournament begins Friday and West Virginia University will be one of the first teams to take the floor.

WVU’s seniors hoping to start a real tourney run against Princeton | The Daily Athenaeum
The small group of seniors on the West Virginia University basketball team is taking a "do or die" approach to its first round matchup against the Princeton Tigers.

Baseball:

WVU Begins Big 12 Play at No. 7 TCU | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University baseball team begins Big 12 Conference play at No. 7 TCU on March 18-20 in Fort Worth, Texas.

West Virginia prepared for Big 12 play, travels to No. 8 TCU | The Daily Athenaeum
Following a three-of-four showing during the latest home stand, the Mountaineers (10-4) are eager to take the next step heading into conference play Friday.

Around The Big XII:

NCAA Tournament 2016: 12-seed Yale Sends Baylor to Another Crushing First Round Exit | Our Daily Bears
The Ivy League Champions dominated most of the second half en route to dealing Baylor another shocking first round defeat in the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA Tournament 2016 Recap: Iowa State Defeats Iona 94-81 in First Round | Wide Right & Natty Lite
Iowa State defeated Iona 94-81 on Thursday afternoon to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas - Austin Peay Recap, Final Score, Stats | Rock Chalk Talk
Kansas whizzes past Austin Peay to advance to the Second Round.

Texas Tech Ousted by Butler, 71-61 | Viva The Matadors
The Red Raiders improbable season is over. Congratulations to Tubby Smith and his players on a wonderful year.

Around The NCAA:

At Rich Rodriguez's Arizona, challenging yourself can mean letting fans call plays | SBNation
The Arizona head coach is challenging everything about the Wildcats program, including the level of fun to be had in spring ball.

Everything went wrong for Purdue down the stretch against Little Rock | SBNation
Purdue blew a huge lead against Little Rock, thanks to poor late game management, thanks to ridiculous plays by Little Rock, and, yes, thanks in part to fate.

It's never pretty, but UConn just might be going on another NCAA Tournament run | SBNation
All the ingredients are right for the Huskies to stun Kansas in Des Moines.

The Greatest Living Americans Bracket | SB Nation
America is home to more than 100 people. These are the 64 greatest

#14 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs. #3 West Virginia Mountaineers
Tonight at 7:10PM ET on CBS from Brooklyn. The Mountaineers are 8 point favorites as they start the journey to a Final Four.

#15 CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners vs. #2 Oklahoma Sooners
Today at 4:00PM ET on TNT from Oklahoma City. The Sooners are favored big here by 15 points.

#11 Northern Iowa Panthers vs #6 Texas Longhorns
Tonight at 9:50PM ET on TBS from Oklahoma City. The Longhorns are 5 point favorites.

2016 NCAA Tournament TV Schedule For Thursday & Friday Games: Times, TV Coverage & Broadcast Teams | The Smoking Musket
Here's the full rundown of games on Thursday and Friday, including TV coverage and the announcing team.

New Raider Bruce Irvin believes Seahawks' Legion of Boom held him back | FOX Sports
New Raider Bruce Irvin believes Seahawks' Legion of Boom held him back

Bruce Irvin: I couldn't reach my potential in Seattle | NFL.com
Newly signed Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin felt the only way he could reach his potential was to leave the Seattle Seahawks and one of the greatest defenses in recent memory.

Bruce Irvin ready to reach full potential after feeling limited | EerSports
When Bruce Irvin officially signed with the Oakland Raiders last week, he cited defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. as one of the primary reasons he chose the Silver and Black over other destinations.