The Shotgun/Throwdown (3/19/18): D’Antoni Still Beating The Scheduling Drum After West Virginia’s Dismantling Of The Herd

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

We’re back. Again. Clearly my attempt to keep the Throwdown going every week day fell flat on its face. But fear not, By-Godders, help is on the way. Starting next week, Nick Shoemaker is going to be handling the Throwdown a couple times a week, while I fill in the other days. This will break the monotony of doing a link dump every day - seriously y’all, this is tedious stuff - and it’ll also give the Throwdown a second voice. It should be fun.

Football:

WVU football keeping an eye toward the future | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The turn of the calendar saw West Virginia turn its football recruiting focus to 2019, extending dozens of new offers since the start of the new year. Just as it did in every year prior, though, it also means the staff looks another year further down the road — spying rising juniors that are too good to be ignored until the next cycle. That’s resulted in several new 2020 offers being extended in recent weeks.

Basketball:

D’Antoni wants series vs. WVU restarted: ‘We’re a legit program’ | WV MetroNews
A blowout loss to West Virginia in the NCAA tournament didn’t change the stance of Marshall coach Dan D’Antoni: He wants to schedule the Mountaineers every year.

In full denial, WVU defense gave Elmore the Trae Young treatment | WV MetroNews
Jon Elmore received the star treatment from Press Virginia, and at times it made Marshall’s star point guard vanish.Reviving the defensive game plan it used versus Oklahoma’s Trae Young in the regular season, West Virginia emphasized denying the ball to Elmore.

WVU's defense continues to stop top offenses | The DA
West Virginia’s defense showed it is equipped to stop just about anyone.Again.

Looking ahead, WVU assistant calls Villanova ‘best team in the tournament’ | WV MetroNews
On Jan. 8, Villanova and West Virginia were ranked 1-2 in the AP poll. Now they’re colliding in the Sweet 16.

West Virginia trounces St. Joe's 79-51 in WNIT 2nd Round | The DA
The West Virginia University women's basketball team made light work of Saint Joseph's in a 79-51 to advance to the third round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

Baseball:

WVU Walks Off in Home Opener, Again | West Virginia Athletics
Sophomore left fielder Isaiah Kearns singled home the game-winning run in the ninth inning as the West Virginia University baseball team walked off against Canisius, 10-9, in the team's home opener at Monongalia County Ballpark on Friday afternoon.

Mountaineers Shut Out Canisius to Win Series | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University baseball team shut out its first opponent of the season in a 2-0 victory against Canisius on Saturday afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark.

WVU rallies but can’t complete sweep of Canisius | The Times WV
The West Virginia University baseball team rallied with a two-out run in the bottom of the ninth, but stranded runners on the corners in a 4-3 loss to Canisius in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark. The Mountaineers (9-9) secured the series win Saturday, but could not complete the sweep against the Golden Griffins (11-6). The loss was WVU’s first at home this season.

West Virginia Athletics:

WVU 12th After Two Rounds at the Hayt | West Virginia Athletics
With winds gusting at more than 20 miles per hour, the West Virginia golf team struggled to finish the first day of play on Sunday at The Hayt Invitational and is in 12th place with one round remaining at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

WR Tavon Austin will remain a Los Angeles Ram after restructuring his contract | Turf Show Times
After thinking it over, Tavon Austin decided to restructure his contract with the Rams and will remain in Los Angeles.

Why did Tavon Austin agree to stay with the Los Angeles Rams? | Turf Show Times
The dimming star agreed to shred his contract for, essentially, a discounted franchise tag to try and revive his sagging NFL career in LA in 2018. Why?

Five observations from news Raiders will be moving Bruce Irvin to defensive end | Silver And Black Pride
Raiders plan to move Bruce Irvin to defensive end. Even though Irvin was a pass rusher already, him moving back to DE is not a small thing.

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