The Shotgun/Throwdown (12/17/18): The Increasing Normalization of Top Prospects Skipping Bowl Games

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

READ THIS

The Increasing Normalization of Top Prospects Skipping Bowl Games | The Ringer
As recently as 2016, elite players were decried for sitting out the final matchups of their college careers. But as the muted reactions to Nick Bosa and Will Grier show, there’s a sea change afoot in the public sentiment toward those decisions.

Football

WVU Recruiting Roundup: Countdown To Signing Day | WV News
With college football’s early signing period (Dec. 19-21) quickly approaching, West Virginia is putting together some of the final pieces for its class of 2019 puzzle.

WVU recruiting: Mountaineers expect numerous signings on Wednesday | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The early signing period is upon us. On Wednesday morning, Letters of Intent will be coming in from all over the country, solidifying verbal commitments as future Mountaineers in the Class of 2019.

Will Grier, Yodny Cajuste made the best decision for themselves | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Don’t let anyone fool you. College athletics is a business. A massive, lucrative business.

Basketball

Huggins: Sagaba Konate’s return ‘up to him and his brother’ | WV MetroNews
Sagaba Konate walked quietly out of the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday armed with two doggy bag containers of food and a bottle of ketchup. He said nothing, except to ask a local sports TV reporter a question about pictures, before walking out to the team bus with teammate Jermaine Haley.

Shooting Woes Doom WVU in Hall of Fame Classic | West Virginia Athletics
Rhode Island took advantage of West Virginia's poor shooting to run away with an 83-70 victory over the Mountaineers in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, Sunday afternoon.

Mountaineers fall to Rhode Island in Hall of Fame Showcase | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The West Virginia University basketball team’s performance Sunday in an 83-70 loss to Rhode Island at the Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase was a tough one in which to find positives.

S-O-F-T: Mountaineers struggle in loss to Rhode Island | WV News
Before they tipped off at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut for the Holiday Basketball Hall of Fame Festival game between West Virginia and Rhode Island, Bob Huggins made a proclamation. "I can't stand to lose," he said as he discussed the slow start his West Virginia basketball team had gotten off to this season. "It just eats me up, especially when you are not sure how to fix it."

Niblack Has Career Day in Win Over EKU | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University women's basketball team scored 20 of the game's first 22 points and never looked back in a 78-29 win over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston, West Virginia.

West Virginia Athletics

WVU Falls at No. 24 Pitt | West Virginia Athletics
Redshirt senior Christian Monserrat remains undefeated in dual action, as the West Virginia University wrestling team suffered a 37-3 loss at the hands of No. 24 Pitt on Saturday, at the Fitzgerald Field House, in Pittsburgh.

Around the NCAA

The Miami Hurricanes have a better class of decommits than actual commits, for now | SBNation
The Early Signing Period starts Wednesday.

The first Saturday of bowl season proved every game matters | SBNation
When the winning head coach is on the turf in tears, you’re watching something special.

Former No. 1 recruit Jaelan Phillips reportedly left UCLA, and it’s not clear what’s next | SBNation
Phillips, an outside linebacker with defensive end skills, was the class of 2017’s highest rated player. (Editors Note: COME TO PAPA DANA'S TRANSFER HUT AND BAIL BONDS EMPORIUM)

This was the Mountain West’s best season since realignment tore it apart | SBNation
The conference that lost three of its most prominent teams might have four of 2018’s 40 best.

The DII championship was played at the world’s most absurd high school football stadium | SBNation
Valdosta State beat Ferris State at a high school field that’s nicer (and pricier) than most college fields.

2019 NFL mock draft: Defense will dominate the 1st round | SBNation
Teams will get new quarterbacks, but defenders will own the first round.

NFL Week 15 recap: The Steelers FINALLY beat the Patriots | SBNation
The Monday Morning Pleighbook is a collection of the best things in the NFL from week to week.

The Winners and Losers of NFL Week 15 | The Ringer
The legend of Nick Foles grows, while the legend of Tom Brady shrinks, even if for just one afternoon. Plus: John DeFilippo’s very bad week, Vance Joseph’s fourth-down call, and a rare moment of glory for NFL butts.

Alright fine, I’ll admit it: the Kings are good | SBNation
It only took a 13-year rebuild.

Nike’s War on Christmas (NBA jerseys) must end | SBNation
Give us our special-edition NBA Christmas jerseys back, you fools.

---

Have any tips, suggestions or requests for what you want to see in The Shotgun/Throwdown? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or contact us on social media.

Follow us!
Twitter: @smokingmusket
Facebook:The Smoking Musket