The Shotgun/Throwdown (4/5/18): WVU Men’s Basketball Opens With 11th Best Odds To Win 2019 National Championship

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

Football

White’s path to the NFL Combine was a long one | The Times WV
Ka’Raun White did not follow the typical route to the NFL Combine. The West Virginia standout had to spend some time off the field before he could prove himself. Now he is trying to follow his brother to the NFL, just as he did when he followed him to WVU.

Brendan Ferns injury another hit to WVU defense | Charleston Gazette-Mail
The Mountaineers add another name to the list of injuries this offseason, most of which have been on the defensive side.

Stewart Mandel analyzes Will Grier's Heisman hopes, expects Big 12 downturn in 2018 | Diehards
Will Grier's chances of contending for the Heisman Trophy and the Mountaineers' Big 12 title hopes are analyzed by a leading national college football pundit.

Basketball

West Virginia opens with 11th-best odds to win 2019 NCAA Tournament | Diehards
Despite losing a pair of key contributors in Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr., West Virginia is expected to be back in 2018-19.

Fourth Straight Year WVU Finishes in USA Today Poll | West Virginia Athletics
The Press Virginia concept has provided consistent success for Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers. Check out where WVU finished in the final USA Today Poll of the season.

New Hundley Documentary a Slam Dunk | West Virginia Athletics
“Hot Rod” is a huge hit. Check out when, and on what networks, the documentary will be showing again, if you haven’t gotten the chance to see it yet.

Baseball

Series Finale vs. UNLV Set for Noon First Pitch | West Virginia Athletics
Mountaineer fans coming to Morgantown this weekend for the annual Gold-Blue game may also want to make their way over to Monongalia County Ballpark to see the WVU baseball team take on UNLV.

WVU Athletics

Lyons Reveals 2018 Women’s Soccer Schedule | West Virginia Athletics
The 2018 women’s soccer schedule was released Wednesday. Check out who the Mountaineers will be taking on this season.

Rekindling the Passion | West Virginia Athletics
Jaquie Tun’s hard work has led to her success as a WVU gymnast, despite an injury early in her college career. She now looks to lead the Mountaineers in the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday.

Around the Big 12

Amaad Wainright charged with 2 felonies, K-State basketball | The Wichita Eagle
Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball player Amaad Wainright was arrested Tuesday in Kansas City by U.S. marshals and has been charged in Johnson County, Kansas with two felonies: fleeing and eluding and obstruction.

TTU Basketball player Zhaire Smith enters name into NBA Draft | KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Sagaba Konate isn’t the only Big 12 player testing the NBA waters. Zhaire Smith, a freshman at Texas Tech, has entered his name in the NBA Draft without an agent.

K-State's Barry Brown declares for NBA Draft without agent | The Wichita Eagle
Barry Brown is also ready to test the NBA Draft waters, but the Kansas State guard isn't ready to say goodbye to the Wildcats. Brown, a junior, announced Monday he will declare for the 2018 NBA Draft without hiring an agent.

Around the NCAA

Villanova’s national championship season was almost torn apart by a beach football game | SBNation
This is the story of how a beach football game clouded by a controversial ending nearly fractured Villanova’s national championship run before it started.

LeBron James’ media channel accuses Alabama of copying barbershop video | SBNation
James’ media company accused the Tide of copying.

TODAY’S FBS TEAM PREVIEWS BY BILL C

As always, SB Nation’s Bill Connelly is working his way through every Division I FBS football team, from Georgia State to Alabama. Check out the teams Bill has already previewed by clicking HERE.

UNLV football has grown steadily under Tony Sanchez. Time for a 2018 bowl breakthrough.| SBNation
UNLV has improved by one win in each of Sanchez’s three years. Can a dynamic offense and semi-competent defense continue that trend?

Robert Griffin III signs with Ravens after a year out of the NFL | SBNation
RGIII is trying to revive his career yet again. This time the former Baylor Bear is heading to Baltimore.

NBA playoff picture: What a grand mess! | SBNation
We’re a week away from the season’s end and everything is in chaos. Take a look at the current NBA playoff picture.

I trained to be a pro wrestler with a Hall-of-Fame WWE Superstar | SBNation
SB Nation sent Charlotte “Aunt Char” Wilder to Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, where Johnny Rodz forms the next generation of your favorite wrestling stars.

The ‘WrestleMania 34’ Breakdown | The Ringer
From Lesnar to Reigns to Rousey to Bryan (and maybe, possibly Undertaker), we break down each match and hedge our bets

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