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Welcome, By-Godders, to The Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU’s best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor, and daily distractions.
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Men’s Basketball
McBride Named Big 12 Player of the Week
West Virginia guard Miles “Deuce” McBride won his first Big 12 Men’s Basketball Player of the Week award this week. Deuce scored a career high 31 points, along with seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in WVU’s win over Kansas on Saturday. The sophomore guard averaged 20 points in a 2-0 week for the Mountaineers, while shooting 48.1 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from three, and 83.3 percent from the foul line. This was Deuce’s third career weekly Big 12 award.
Three Guys Before The Game – Kansas Review and Texas Tech Preview (Episode 268)
On this episode of “Three Guys Before The Game,” Tony Caridi, Brad Howe, and Hoppy Kercheval discuss the significance of West Virginia’s win over the Kansas on Saturday and they preview tonight’s game at Texas Tech. The guys also discuss WVU’s chances of being able to play all 18 of its Big 12 games.
Top-15 showdown set between WVU and Texas Tech
The #14 West Virginia men’s basketball team will use its triumphant victory against Kansas on Saturday to gear itself up for #7 Texas Tech tonight. WVU had one of its most thorough wins of the season when it defeated the Jayhawks 91-79. And in the first meeting between the Mountaineers and Red Raiders, WVU needed a last-second layup from Deuce McBride to overcome TTU, 88-87.
WVU hoops climbs in latest AP poll
The West Virginia men’s basketball has climbed three spots to #14 this week in the Associated Press Top 25. After falling to #17, the Mountaineers won a pair of games last week against Iowa State and Kansas to jump back up in the national rankings. There are six Big 12 teams are ranked in the latest poll.
No. 14 West Virginia Travels to No. 7 Texas Tech for a Tuesday Night Clash
#14 West Virginia’s Big 12 gauntlet continues tonight when the Mountaineers take on #7 Texas Tech in Lubbock. In the first game between the two teams, Red Raider Mac McClung scored a game-high 30 points, but missed what could have been a game-winning shot at the buzzer.
West Virginia’s games versus Baylor postponed
The #14 West Virginia men’s basketball team’s two games against #2 Baylor on February 15th and 18th have been postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the BU program. The Big 12 announced that it will work with both WVU and BU to reschedule the meetings.
Wheeling University hires former Mountaineer Butler as assistant coach
Division II Wheeling University announced Monday that it has hired Da’Sean Butler as an assistant men’s basketball coach. Butler was a star on West Virginia’s Final Four team in 2010.
Women’s Basketball
Carey on WVU win streak: ‘I have no problem getting them in focus.’
On Saturday night, the West Virginia women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to 10 games, defeating Texas on the road, 81-75. After the game, WVU head coach Mike Carey discussed how his team has been able to stay focused on their own during this streak, and how the Mountaineers have great leadership within the locker room.
WVU women continue ascent in AP Top 25
The West Virginia women’s basketball team is continuing to climb in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. After boasting their winning streak to 10 games this week, the Mountaineers moved up two spots to #19 ahead of their meeting with Kansas on Wednesday.
Deans Named WVU Student-Athlete of the Week
After scoring a career-high 30 points at Texas and helping #19 West Virginia extend its win streak to 10 games, sophomore guard Kirsten Deans of the women’s basketball team has been named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week.
Gymnastics
Mountaineers score season-high in loss to Iowa State
The West Virginia gymnastics team lost to #17 Iowa State on Sunday, 195.125- 195.175, in a competitive matchup. Despite the loss, the Mountaineers were able to come out on top in two events. Sophomore Kianna Yancey won the balance beam with a 9.85 and junior Kendra Combs scored the Mountaineers’ first 9.9 of the season by matching her career-high in the floor exercise.
Butts on WVU gymnastics: ‘I told them, we’re Mountaineers, we always climb.’
Despite a recent loss to gymnastics powerhouse Oklahoma, West Virginia head coach Jason Butts reflected that he is confident and proud of his team. WVU’s progress and ability to stay competitive has shown that Butts’ program is continuing to improve.
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Around the Big 12
McBride, Cunningham Collect Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors
West Virginia’s Deuce McBride won his first Big 12 Men’s Basketball Player of the Week award, and third career weekly honor, while Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham was named Newcomer of the Week for the fourth time this season. Cunningham led the Cowboys to an upset win over #6 Texas with a 19-point, eight-rebound performance.
Harkless scores 19; No. 9 Oklahoma holds off Iowa St. 79-72
Oklahoma’s Austin Reaves had 16 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists as the Sooners held off Iowa State 79-72 on Saturday for the Cyclones’ seventh straight loss. OU’s Brady Manek had nine points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
McClung scores 23 to carry Texas Tech past Kansas State
Mac McClung scored 23 points to help Texas Tech beat Kansas State 73-62 on Saturday. McClung is the Big 12’s leading scorer and averaged 25 points per contest in his last four road games.
Around the NCAA
Franklin’s final shot sends Indiana past No. 8 Iowa 67-65
Indiana’s Armaan Franklin hit a 15-foot, tiebreaking jumper with 1.8 seconds left to cap off a late rally that gave the Hoosiers a 67-65 upset win over Iowa. Joe Wieskamp led the Hawkeyes with 18 points and eight rebounds.
No. 18 Missouri holds off frantic rally, tops No. 10 Alabama
Dru Smith and Missouri built a 22-point lead in the second half, then held off a frantic rally by Alabama for a 68-65 victory on Saturday. Smith led the Tigers with 16 points and four assists.
Cockburn, Dosunmu lead No. 12 Illinois past No. 19 Wisconsin
Kofi Cockburn scored 23 points, while Ayo Dosunmu added 21, and Illinois beat Wisconsin 75-60 on Saturday in a key Big Ten Conference matchup.
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Early NFL Power Rankings for 2021: Where do the Super Bowl champion Bucs and Chiefs rank?
Now that Super Bowl LV is in the books and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the champions, we can move on from a challenging 2020 season and look forward to 2021. That is exactly what we are doing with these way-too-early NFL Power Rankings.
NBA Power Rankings: Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are figuring things out
The Milwaukee Bucks have won four straight games. Meanwhile, the top two teams in the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers, are on four-game win streaks of their own.
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