The Shotgun/Throwdown (10/24/18): ‘Lack of Talent’ Won’t Be An Excuse For West Virginia Basketball

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

Football

West Virginia’s defense has 31 reasons to get better against Baylor | WV MetroNews
When you mention the number 31 to a member of the West Virginia defense, they know you’re not asking them out for ice cream.

Mountaineers aim to correct ‘ridiculous’ tackling woes | Times West Virginian
There were any number of startling statistics on the offensive side of the ball when West Virginia lost, 30-14, to Iowa State last time out but perhaps the most startling and frightening statistic to come out of the first loss of the season was the one defensive coordinator Tony Gibson revealed on Monday.

Basketball

If West Virginia doesn’t win the Big 12 basketball title, it won’t be for lack of talent | WV MetroNews
It won’t be a matter of physical talent, West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins said when it comes to his group of Mountaineers this season.

Jermaine Haley’s size huge for West Virginia | WV MetroNews
One of West Virginia’s new players is 6-foot-7 point guard Jermaine Haley, who Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins said could be a nice addition to the team’s trapping defense, because of his size and length.

West Virginia Athletics

Abraham Honored, WVU Ranks No. 13 | West Virginia Athletics
Senior forward Hannah Abraham of the West Virginia University women's soccer team has been named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Additionally, the Mountaineers (11-3-3, 7-1) moved up three spots to No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's National Poll.

Mountaineers Beat Pitt, 2-1 | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University men's soccer team beat Pitt, 2-1, to extend its win streak to three matches on Tuesday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

Sear Fifth, WVU Seventh at Tavistock | West Virginia Athletics
Senior Max Sear posted his second consecutive top-five finish, leading the way for the West Virginia University golf team at the 2018 Tavistock Collegiate Invitational, hosted by the Mountaineers and UCF at Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Windermere, Florida, on Tuesday.

Mountaineers in the Pros: Week Seven | West Virginia Athletics
In this week's report, Nick Kwiatkoski forces a fumble, Kevin White catches a Hail Mary, and three Mountaineers lead their teams to victory.

Around the Big 12

Rhule, Baylor pointed in right direction after lean times | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Matt Rhule inherited a bad situation at Baylor. Rhule’s first Baylor team hit some bumps in the road, finishing 2017 with a 1-11 record. In Year Two, his Bears — even with some losses along the way — appear to be in a much better place.

Kansas Football: It’s Time for A Change | Heartland College Sports
With Kansas stumbling to a 2-5 record and an 0-4 record in Big 12 play after Saturday's loss to Texas Tech, it's finally time to make a change atop the program.

Around the NCAA

The best bets for Week 9 of college football, including Clemson | SBNation
The early betting lines often allow for the most value.

If College Football Playoff rankings arrived 1 week early, they’d look like this | SBNation
The committee’s first top-25 will release Oct. 30, but we have a pretty good idea how they’d look right now and who’d be maddest about them.

We might already know 3 Playoff teams. Who do the numbers see at No. 4? | SBNation
Who’s got the inside track at the fourth spot, as well as the rest of the New Year’s Six games?

This stat shows Nebraska is a lot closer to a turnaround than it looks | SBNation
Here’s why the numbers view the Huskers as a team good enough to have a winning record right now.

Can Georgia enjoy ‘third-and-Grantham’ for a change? | SBNation
New Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s aggression is paying off so far, but UGA fans are hoping for a relapse.

Iowa’s too clutch on offense now, depriving Kirk Ferentz of his beloved punts | SBNation
The Hawkeyes are really good at throwing on third downs and extending drives into the red zone.

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