Big 12 Presidents Not Rushing Into A Decision About Expansion, Believe Conference Is In A Strong Position

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

Football:

Former West Virginia Mountaineer D'Vante Henry was sentenced to one to five years in prison for conspiracy in connection to a robbery in Monongalia County on Thursday. Henry was already serving on home confinement for a sex abuse conviction, and has requested to serve his time in his home state of Oklahoma.

Basketball:

West Virginia University women's basketball coach Mike Carey announced the signing of junior college All-American Aisha Edwards to a National Letter of Intent for the 2016-17 season. Edwards, a native of Boca Raton, Florida, originally signed with the University of Miami (FL). Edwards redshirted during the 2014-15 season due to a knee injury and then transferred to Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Florida.

West Virginia Athletics:

Five with ties to the West Virginia University rifle team will compete at the United States Olympic Team Trials for Airgun June 3-5, at Camp Perry, Ohio. Rising Mountaineer junior Elizabeth Gratz will compete in women's air rifle, while three former Mountaineer shooters - 2016 graduate Garrett Spurgeon, 2015 graduate Thomas Kyanko and 2010 graduate Bryant Wallizer - and graduate assistant Dan Hermsmeier will shoot in the men's air rifle competition. One women's roster spot and two men's roster spots are up for grabs this weekend.

Those West Virginia fans heading to Morgantown for football or basketball can expect to see improvements in the facilities this season. Since taking over as athletic director in January 2015, Shane Lyons has has made facilities improvements a point of focus.

Around The Big XII:

If you're in favor of the Big 12 expanding, you may be a little disappointed right now. Big 12 presidents aren't rushing into a decision about expansion, saying they view expansion as an option but not an urgent action to sustain the league's long-term future. Oklahoma president David Boren, who has previously been very vocal about expansion, has seemingly softened his tone and says the Big 12 is in a strong position.

Regardless of what is coming out of the Big 12 meetings, everyone on the Internet is still talking about Big 12 expansion. Bring On The Cats is continuing their EXPANSIONPALOOZA series by weighing the pros and cons of virtually every potential expansion candidate. Jon from BOTC decided to go back to being somewhat serious for a day and made the case for adding the Clemson Tigers, to which Gracey Terrill argued against.

The Hartford Courant seems to be getting a little antsy about the University of Connecticut's chances of joining the Big 12, and have called out David Boren and other conference leaders.

In non-expansion related news, the Baylor scandal now includes 2016 players who want out, but whose family members say they're unable to even get their calls returned. Things aren't looking too great in Waco.

Around The NCAA:

Bill Connelly has moved on to the ACC for his 2016 team previews and breakdowns. First on his list are the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who he thinks are one season away from winning seven or eight games.

Spencer, Jason and Ryan of the SHUTDOWN FULLCAST and EDSBS are continuing their weekly previews of random batches of five power-conference teams for the 2016 season, including a predicted win-loss record for each. This week may be the worst episode ever recorded, as they take a look at the worst group imaginable: Boston College, Iowa State, Purdue, Syracuse and Wake Forest. Ryan swears these were random.

This is so stupid that it's brilliant. Give this guy his own show in Las Vegas immediately.

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Cuban-American model and former Maxim Miss Hometown Hotties finalist. CLICK HERE for Cindy Prado's Instagram.