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Bob Huggins Named USBWA District II Coach of the Year

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

NCAA Basketball: Oklahoma State at West Virginia Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

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

Men’s Basketball

Huggins named USBWA District II Coach of the Year

West Virginia men’s basketball head coach Bob Huggins has been named the 2020-21 U.S. Basketball Writers Association District II Coach of the Year. Along with Huggins, sophomore guard Miles “Deuce” McBride and junior forward Derek Culver were named to the District II All-District Team.

Mountaineers Experiencing Life in an NCAA Bubble in Indianapolis

The West Virginia men’s basketball players were struggling during their first couple of days in Indianapolis for the NCAA Tournament, when they were confined to their rooms until COVID-related testing was completed. Some of the Mountaineers even voiced their frustrations on social media.

Three Guys Before The Game – Morehead State Preview (Episode 279)

On this episode of “Three Guys Before The Game,” the guys take a very deep dive into the key statistics and storylines that will ultimately decide whether West Virginia advances past Morehead State into Sunday’s second round of the NCAA Tournament. The group also answers listener questions.

Mountaineers, Eagles trying to make the most of experience in Indianapolis

For three-seed West Virginia, which is preparing for Friday’s 9:50 p.m. first-round matchup with 14-seed Morehead State, the NCAA Tournament itself is an entirely new experience save for the Mountaineers’ coaching staff.

Eagles’ boisterous bench awaits WVU in first-round matchup

While it remains to be seen how #14 seed Morehead State handles its matchup with third-seeded West Virginia, MSU coach Preston Spradlin is sure that his enthusiastic and boisterous bench awaits any Eagles’ opponent.

Women’s Basketball

Gondrezick named All-America Honorable Mention by AP

Redshirt senior guard Kysre Gondrezick of the #17 West Virginia women’s basketball team has been named to the Associated Press’ All-American as an Honorable Mention. Gondrezick has led WVU in scoring in 16 out of 26 games this season and is averaging 19.9 points per game. She was also a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection.

After a season where WVU could have hosted NCAA games, the Mountaineers head to Texas

This year, the West Virginia women’s basketball team earned a #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and would have been hosting first and second round games, if the pandemic did not force all of the tournament games to be held in the Greater San Antonio area.

West Virginia Athletics

Mountaineer rifle earns 22 All-America honors

Nine shooters from the West Virginia rifle team earned a combined 22 College Rifle Coaches Association All-America honors following the 2021 NCAA National Championships. The First Team honors include junior Jared Eddy on the Aggregate First Team and Smallbore First Team, and Air Rifle First Team honors for senior Sarah Osborn, sophomore Akihito Shimizu, sophomore Calista Smoyer, and freshman Molly McGhin.

Mountaineer gymnastics ranks No. 24 on floor exercise

The West Virginia gymnastics team ranks #24 on floor exercise in this week’s Road to Nationals Rankings. Individually, junior Kendra Combs is the lone Mountaineer to rank inside the top 65 in all four events. WVU’s postseason competition starts with the 2021 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship on March 20th at the WVU Coliseum.

WVU volleyball adds match at Delaware

The West Virginia volleyball team will face Delaware on Friday at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark. WVU is 8-9 after opening its spring portion of the season with a 3-1 loss at #21 Western Kentucky.

WVU golf struggles late at George Hannon Invitational

The West Virginia golf team teed off at the George Hannon Invitational in Austin, Texas, on Monday and Tuesday. The Mountaineers ended the tournament tied for ninth place with fellow Big 12 programs Baylor and Kansas State at 25-over-par.

Around the Big 12

No. 4 Oklahoma St. vs. No. 13 Liberty preview, picks for first round of 2021 NCAA Tournament

Four-seed Oklahoma State and 13-seed Liberty will meet at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Here is everything that you need to know about both teams ahead of the game.

No. 3 Kansas vs. No. No. 14 Eastern Washington preview, picks for first round of 2021 NCAA Tournament

Three-seed Kansas and 14-seed Eastern Washington will also meet at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Check out a preview of the matchup here.

Around the NCAA

Final Four, March Madness predictions — ESPN college basketball experts’ tournament picks

ESPN’s group of men’s college basketball commentators, analysts, and writers made their own predictions soon after the bracket for the NCAA Tournament was announced on Selection Sunday.

NCAA Tournament 2021 bracket: Computer simulation makes surprising March Madness upsets

SportsLine’s computer model called 15 of the 26 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds in the last four tournaments. See what the model came up with for this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Lillard scores 50, Blazers rally past Pelicans 125-124

Damian had 50 points and 10 assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers came from behind to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-124 on Tuesday night. Lillard finished with six three-pointers and scored 20 of his points in the final quarter.

NHL Power Rankings: 1-31 poll, plus the midseason MVP for every team

For this week’s ESPN NHL Power Rankings, the MVP of every team is identified at the midseason point.

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