The Shotgun/Throwdown (5/21/18): Is A West Virginia/Big East Series On The Horizon?

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

Football

WVU football takes field trip with great expectations afoot | Charleston Gazette-Mail
College football followers will be subjected to more projections the rest of this spring and summer than Wall Street brokers at a convention. Preseason rankings are pouring forth. Preseason all-league teams are being pieced together. But also 2019 NFL mock drafts are populating the Internet.

WVU football coaches hot on trail of top RB recruits | Charleston Gazette-Mail
After plenty of discussion of the West Virginia University football team’s search for quarterback prospects for the next three recruiting classes, what about the guys who will run the ball? The Mountaineers have cast a wide net at running back for 2019, with a pair of young assistant coaches — Doug Belk and Marquel Blackwell — making a major impact on some top targets.

Basketball

Big 12/Big East series remains in ‘conceptual’ stage: Lyons | WV MetroNews
West Virginia could be on the verge of basketball throwback games against Villanova, Georgetown, St, John’s and Providence, though athletics director Shane Lyons tells MetroNews a Big 12/Big East basketball series is “still conceptual.”

Experts: Jevon Carter's Stock Rising After Combine Performance | EerSports
West Virginia point guard Jevon Carter put on an impressive performance at the NBA Draft Combine, leading his team to wins in both scrimmages, and showing that his defensive ability can translate even against the best players in the country.

Baseball

Mountaineers Drop Regular-Season Finale | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University baseball team lost its regular-season finale, 6-2, to Baylor on Saturday afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Big 12 Championship Seeds, Schedule Announced | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University baseball team has earned the No. 7 seed at the 2018 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship and will begin postseason play against second-seeded Oklahoma State in the opening round on Wednesday, May 23, at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT, in Oklahoma City.

After home finale fizzles, WVU settles for No. 7 seed in Big 12 tourney | WV MetroNews
When an unsatisfying regular season fizzled out with a 6-2 loss to Baylor on Saturday afternoon, West Virginia turned its focus to next week’s Big 12 tournament and the long odds of reaching an NCAA regional.

Around the NCAA

Betting on college sports: The mayhem you’ll have to accept if you do it | SBNation
A quick field guide to risking your money on the athletic performance of teenagers.

UCF ‘national championship’ brings out Alabama hypocrisy, Scott Frost notes | SBNation
Nick Saban says UCF didn’t "earn" it. OK, but ...

The new FSU is exciting, but Virginia Tech might be catching it at the right time | SBNation
Willie Taggart’s overhaul at Florida State offers big potential, but the experienced Hokies are a lot for Week 1 of Year 1.

Joe Burrow, 2018’s next highly sought transfer QB, is reportedly heading to LSU | SBNation
The grad transfer can play immediately, and it looks like it’ll be in Baton Rouge.

TODAY’S FBS TEAM PREVIEW 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.

Cal has been playing catch-up all decade, but Justin Wilcox seems to know what he’s doing | SBNation
The 2010s haven’t been kind to Cal. Can Wilcox get the Bears bowling again?

Johnny Manziel says he’s signing a CFL contract after 2 years out of football | SBNation
Johnny Manziel will make his return to football this summer more than two years after his last game with the Browns.

LeBron and the Cavaliers woke up | SBNation
Game 3 showed how quickly a series in the NBA Playoffs can change.

Stephen Curry is back and the Warriors are at full strength. Take cover. | SBNation
Curry exploded for 35 points in Golden State’s Game 3 beatdown of Houston. If he’s back for real, the Rockets (and everyone else) should be on alert.

Luka Doncic could fall out of NBA draft’s top 3 if he’s not No. 1 overall pick, per report | SBNation
The Kings and Hawks may prefer American big men over Doncic, according to a new report.

Vegas Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final in their first season | SBNation
Golden Knights will face either Tampa Bay or Washington in the Stanley Cup Final

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