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West Virginia’s remarkable comeback could be defining moment of the season

Good morning! This is the Shotgun Throwdown, your daily West Virginia sports roundup.

NCAA Basketball: West Virginia at Oklahoma State Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports

Football

Three Guys Before The Game – Liberty Bowl Champions) Episode 257

On this episode of “Three Guys Before The Game,” the guys dissect the AutoZone Liberty Bowl win and what it means to the West Virginia football program now and in the future. Quarterback Austin Kendall successfully led two touchdown drives, while WVU’s defense held Army’s vaunted running game to 100-yards below its season average.

Bowl notebook: Simmons exits with top honors, Brown eyes next step

With just one game remaining in the college football season, West Virginia will likely finish in the top five in the FBS in total defense. The Mountaineers are currently fourth in the nation, allowing 291.4 yards per game.

Mountaineers crowned AutoZone Liberty Bowl champs

West Virginia came back from a double-digit second half deficit to beat the Army Black Knights, 24-21, in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, on New Year’s Eve.

Basketball

Remarkable comeback could be season-defining moment | WV News
The remarkable 87-84 come-from-behind victory by the West Virginia basketball team at Oklahoma State Monday night was key for so many reasons.

WVU’s Jalen Bridges shines in first collegiate start

Bob Huggins had some flattering words for his prized freshman, who earned his first career start at Oklahoma on Saturday. The West Virginia head coach said that “Jalen Bridges was one of our top three or four guys in practice a year ago,” Huggins believes that Bridges can be a great player if he can play the way he did at the end a year ago.

WVU hoops falls out of top 10 in latest AP poll

After a road loss to Oklahoma, the West Virginia men’s basketball team checks in at #14 in the latest AP Top 25. The Mountaineers dropped five spots this week, down from #9. Their highest ranking this season is #7.

Gondrezick leads Mountaineers to first Big 12 victory

After a long two-week break over the holiday season, the West Virginia women’s basketball team started the new year with a solid Big 12 win over the Oklahoma Sooners, 90-72, on Sunday evening. Star guard Kysre Gondrezick was in absolute control on both ends of the court, leading the Mountaineers in scoring with 27 points.

Game time announced for WVU vs. Texas

A game time for #14 West Virginia men’s basketball team’s next home game has been announced. The Mountaineers will host Texas on Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

Oklahoma Outlasts West Virginia Saturday in Norman

The Mountaineers lost a Big 12 road game to Oklahoma, 75-71, on Saturday. Freshman Jalen Bridges made his first career start and was the only West Virginia player who could consistently score, tallying 11 of his season-high 19 points in the first half.

Tshiebwe ‘will not return’, Huggins says

Following the departure of sophomore forward Oscar Tshiebwe from the West Virginia basketball program, head coach Bob Huggins expressed that he was not surprised and that the underachieving big man will not return to WVU.

Around the Big 12

Big 12 Final Snapshot: What did we learn?

The Big 12 Conference ended this football season as the only Power 5 conference to go undefeated in bowl games, going 5-0. The strong bowl showing by the Big 12 comes a year after the conference was just 1-5 in bowl games.

No. 8 Texas tops No. 3 KU 84-59 to tie record margin at Phog

Courtney Ramey scored 18 points to lead five players in double-figures scoring, and Texas beat the Jayhawks 84-59 to match the most lopsided win by an opponent in the 65-year history of Allen Fieldhouse.

TCU beats Kansas State 67-60 for fifth straight win

RJ Nembhard scored 21 points and TCU held on for a 67-60 victory over Kansas State on Saturday for the Horned Frogs’ fifth straight victory. TCU is now 2-1 in conference play, while the Wildcats fall to 1-2.

Texas Longhorns hire Alabama Crimson Tide OC Steve Sarkisian as new head coach

Texas did not wait long to hire Tom Herman’s replacement, as the Longhorns announced Saturday that they have agreed to a deal with Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.

No. 6 Kansas looks to extend streak vs TCU

#6 Kansas looks for its seventh straight win in the head-to-head series over TCU. The Jayhawks have won by an average of eight points in its last six wins over the Horned Frogs.

No. 18 Texas Tech looks for home win vs Kansas State

#18 Texas Tech looks for its seventh straight home win over Kansas State.

Around the NCAA

NCAA announces details for relocation of men’s basketball tournament to Indiana

All 67 games in the 2021 NCAA Tournament will take place in Indiana, with the majority set to be played in Indianapolis. Games will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington.

Podlesny’s FG lifts Georgia past Cincinnati in Peach Bowl

Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny made a 53-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to help the #11 Bulldogs give #6 Cincinnati its only loss of the season with a dramatic 24-21 victory in the Peach Bowl.

Texas A&M runs past North Carolina in Orange Bowl, 41-27

Quarterback Kellen Mond led #5 Texas A&M to a 41-27 win over #14 North Carolina on Saturday night in the Orange Bowl, which completed a winless bowl season for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Kentucky runs for 281, beats NC State 23-21 in chippy Gator Bowl

Kentucky held off #24 North Carolina State, 23-21, on Saturday in a chippy Gator Bowl. UK’s A.J. Rose ran for a career-high 148 yards, while Chris Rodriguez added 84 yards and two scores.

2021 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round

With the regular season complete, many teams will now turn their attention to the NFL Draft. There is still a lot unknown about the format it will take or how the scouting combine will proceed, but the draft order of the non-playoff teams is set and here is a complete first-round mock draft.

The Eagles suspicious loss sends Washington to the playoffs

Did the Philadelphia Eagles tank? Head coach Doug Pederson can deny it all he likes, but it certainly looked like it on Sunday night.

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