The Shotgun/Throwdown (3/21/19): WVU Women’s Basketball Team Begins WNIT Tonight

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

Football

Spring Football Practice Underway - West Virginia University Athletics
Neal Brown said he liked the enthusiasm and the effort from his WVU football team on the first practice of the spring Tuesday afternoon.

WVU football: Spring football the 'favorite' time of year for new coach Neal Brown | WVU Gameday | wvgazettemail.com
First-year West Virginia football coach Neal Brown got his first look at a real Mountaineer practice Tuesday as WVU opened its annual spring practice period.

WV MetroNews Seiler put in charge of collaborative effort for West Virginia's special teams - WV MetroNews
On his first day of practice as West Virginia’s head coach, Neal Brown made official one final tweak to his coaching staff. Inside linebackers coach Blake Seiler will also hold the title of special teams coordinator for the Mountaineers, but he will not be alone.

Men’s Basketball

Harler's All-Around Play Keys CBI Win Over Grand Canyon - West Virginia University Athletics
Jermaine Haley scored a game-high 24 points, but it was Chase Harler's all-around play in the second half that helped West Virginia to a 77-63 victory over Grand Canyon in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational Tournament at the WVU Coliseum last night.

West Virginia downs Grand Canyon in CBI opener, advances to quarterfinals - The Smoking Musket
The Mountaineers will move on to face Coastal Carolina next Monday, after a strong second-half showing lifted West Virginia over the Grand Canyon Antelopes tonight in the WVU Coliseum.

Women’s Basketball

Tip time set for WNIT game vs. Rider
Tipoff for the WVU women’s basketball team’s WNIT first-round game against Rider has been set for 7 p.m. tonight at the WVU Coliseum.

WV MetroNews Mike Carey decries NCAA snub as 'a joke'; WVU accepts WNIT bid - WV MetroNews
Despite their 20-10 record and 11-7 showing in the Big 12, the Mountaineers are not in the 64-team field for the NCAA tournament, and head coach Mike Carey is not happy.

WVU’s Season Continues in WNIT - West Virginia University Athletics
The WVU women’s basketball team will start postseason play tonight when the Mountaineers host Rider in the first round of the 2019 Postseason WNIT.

Wrestling

Mountaineers Prep for Nationals in Pittsburgh - West Virginia University Athletics
For the first time since 2014, five members of the West Virginia wrestling team compete at the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, at nearby PPG Paints Arena, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Redshirt senior Christian Monserrat, junior Brandon Ngati, redshirt sophomore Matthew Schmitt, and redshirt freshman Noah Adams each earned automatic bids based on their performances at the 2019 Big 12 Wrestling Championship. Sophomore Nick Kiussis received an at-large bid.

WVU wrestling: Coal City's Noah Adams among five Mountaineers bound for NCAAs | WVU Gameday | wvgazettemail.com
West Virginia redshirt freshman wrestler Noah Adams has accomplished a lot on the mat going back to his days growing up in Coal City and competing for powerhouse Independence High teams. This weekend he will get to check off a first for his career when he competes in the NCAA Wrestling Championship tournament.

Five Mountaineer Grapplers Ready to Eat at NCAA Championships - West Virginia University Athletics
WVU head coach Tim Flynn is preparing five of his Mountaineers for the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Pittsburgh.

West Virginia Athletics

Bullock Travels to NCAA Women’s Championships - West Virginia University Athletics
Junior Morgan Bullock of the West Virginia women's swimming and diving team competes at the 2019 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, from March 21-23, in Austin, Texas. Bullock qualified to compete in the 200 butterfly and will also compete in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley. Live coverage for Friday and Saturday's finals sessions will be on ESPNU.

Koshinski Earns All-Big 12 Honor - West Virginia University Athletics
West Virginia senior Kirah Koshinski was named to the 2019 All-Big 12 Gymnastics Vault Team. She is the only Mountaineer gymnast to earn more than one career All-Big 12 honor.

Big 12 Honors Jackson - West Virginia University Athletics
Redshirt freshman Hayley Jackson of the West Virginia track and field team has been named the Big 12 Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Week. Jackson won the women's 1,500 meters at the 49er Classic, on March 15, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

WVU Cruises to Victory Over Lowly Youngstown State - The Smoking Musket
The West Virginia Mountaineers scored early and often to propel themselves to their 13th win of the season.

Gordon Signs with FC Metz - West Virginia University Athletics
Four-year starter Sh'Nia Gordon of the West Virginia women's soccer team has signed a contract to play professionally with FC Metz, a member of Ligue 1, the top level of French professional soccer.

Back on the Water - West Virginia University Athletics
Spring is upon us, and for the West Virginia rowing team, that means it is time to get back on the water. The Mountaineers are scheduled to open their season this Sunday.

Around the Big 12

March Madness 2019: Bruce Weber won over Kansas State, now his seniors hope to make him proud - CBSSports.com
With a Big 12 title and sudden love from the Wildcats faithful, Bruce Weber and Kansas State want to make a run.

At Kansas, a No. 4 Seed Just Doesn’t Feel the Same - The New York Times
The Jayhawks’ 14-year run of Big 12 championships ended this season, but a depleted roster is a bigger concern as the NCAA tournament opens.

College Sports: Baylor NCAA tournament first-round prediction: Which Makai Mason Bears get could determine fate vs. Syracuse | SportsDay
After a one-year hiatus from the NCAA tournament, Baylor is back for the fifth time in the last six seasons. However, in two of their last three tries, the Bears were knocked out in the first round.

Around the NCAA

March Madness 2019: Top 50 players in the NCAA tournament - SBNation.com
These are the players in the 2019 NCAA tournament you need to know.

Dick Vitale interview: It’s time college athletes get paid, says Dickie V - SBNation.com
Dick Vitale didn’t even need to be prompted to bring up the hypocrisy that underscores college sports in the middle of a conversation about the NCAA tournament last week.

Zion Williamson’s legacy at Duke will be defined at the NCAA tournament - SBNation.com
The 2018-19 Duke Blue Devils are a team that’s going to be remembered for a long time. Even so, what they do in the NCAA tournament will go a long way towards determining their legacy.

NCAA basketball tournament odds 2019: 14 ways you can bet on Duke, Zion Williamson - SBNation.com
The Duke Blue Devils are heavy favorites to cut down the nets on April 8, when the 2019 NCAA men’s basketball tournament wraps up in Minneapolis. Zion Williamson is back in action, and when a team like Duke has the clear-cut best player in the tournament, the odds will be heavily in their favor.

March Madness 2019: Markus Howard is ready to be an NCAA tournament hero - SBNation.com
Marquette’s star point guard Markus Howard has topped 40 points three times this year. If he is locked in, the Golden Eagles can beat up on weaker opponents and shock a higher seed.

NFL odds 2019: A favorite and a sleeper in each division after the start of free agency - SBNation.com
The big names have found new homes after one week of NFL free agency. Plenty more players will change teams, and we still have the 2019 NFL Draft to come, but a sizable chunk of rosters are settling into place.

Who is the NBA’s best at 1-on-1? Fill out this 64-player bracket to decide - SBNation.com
Wouldn’t it be great if we could figure out the best one-on-one player in the world? Now you can!

Can Antonio Brown, Vontaze Burfict REALLY put bad blood aside as Raiders? - SBNation.com
The history of both players suggests their newfound friendship as Raiders teammates could easily fall apart.

NFL Draft 2019: Florida OT Jawann Taylor is bear who will maul defenders - SBNation.com
Retired defensive end Stephen White says any NFL team in need of a right tackle should run, not walk, to draft the Florida offensive lineman.

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