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West Virginia climbs in the national polls

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

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

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Basketball

WVU climbs to No. 6 in AP poll, hosts No. 3 Baylor Tuesday

A 2-0 week with wins over TCU and Kansas State allowed West Virginia to climb four spots in the week’s Associated Press poll to #6. The Mountaineers also moved up eight spots in the coaches’ poll to #5. WVU is currently projected as a #2 seed for the NCAA Tournament in Joe Lunardi’s ESPN Bracketology and with as many as six games to possibly play before selection Sunday, there is potential for the team to jump even higher.

Two Top Six Teams Hook Up Tuesday in Morgantown

West Virginia has a history of defeating highly ranked Baylor teams in Morgantown. Last year, the #4 Bears came to the WVU Coliseum to conclude the regular season and the Mountaineers came away with a surprisingly easy 76-64 victory. And WVU’s 21-point victory over #1 BU at the Coliseum in January of 2017 was the largest margin of defeat a #1 ranked team has ever absorbed in AP poll history.

AP poll roundup: WVU hoops climbs in ranking again

The West Virginia men’s basketball team begins the final week of the regular season just outside the top five in the Associated Press poll. The Mountaineers check in at #6 this week, up four spots from the previous week and marking their highest ranking of the season in this poll. WVU is the second highest ranking Big 12 team in the poll behind Baylor, which fell to #3 after suffering its first loss of the season.

No. 6 West Virginia awaits No. 3 Baylor on Tuesday night

After multiple postponements, the #6 West Virginia men’s basketball team will host #3 Baylor at the WVU Coliseum on Tuesday night in a pivotal top 10 matchup in the Big 12. On the year, the Mountaineers have had a 37% average from three-point range, which is second best in the conference behind the Bears.

Three Guys Before The Game – Baylor Preview (Episode 274)

On this episode of “Three Guys Before The Game,” Tony Caridi, Brad Howe, and Hoppy Kercheval review #10 West Virginia’s win over Kansas State and analyze the matchup with #3 Baylor. The guys also discuss tournament seeding and defensive efficiency.

WVU women’s basketball loses ground in AP Top 25

After making a steady climb in the national rankings during the latter part of this season, the West Virginia women’s basketball team has taken a step back. Following another 1-1 week, the Mountaineers have fallen to #20 in the Associated Press Top 25, down two spots from a week ago.

West Virginia Athletics

Mountaineers Win GARC Championships

The #4 West Virginia rifle team won its 11th straight Great America Rifle Conference tournament title over the weekend. Junior Jarred Eddy finished the weekend with the championship’s second-best combined score, earning an aggregate score of 1186.This tournament championship is WVU’s 14th GARC title, which is the most championships in conference history.

Collegiate Baseball honors WVU’s Brophy as team remains ranked

Fifth-year senior infielder Kevin Brophy of the #23 West Virginia baseball team was named one of the National Players of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, after hitting three home runs and driving in seven RBIs at the CCU Baseball Tournament this past weekend. Brophy was one of nine players selected for the weekly list, including the only player from the Big 12.

Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium to welcome fans for spring home games

West Virginia will welcome fans to Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium for the men’s and women’s soccer teams’ upcoming spring seasons. Single match tickets will be sold on a game-by-game basis, with tickets available for purchase seven days prior to the match, and the stadium will operate at 25% capacity.

Jackson, Constantine, McCabe and Keane Named WVU Student-Athletes of the Week

Following a school-best distance medley relay first place finish, junior Tessa Constantine, redshirt junior Hayley Jackson, redshirt freshman Ceili McCabe, and freshman Jo-Lauren Keane of the West Virginia track and field team have been named the WVU Student-Athletes of the Week.

Pre-seeds announced for Big 12 Wrestling Championship

Pre-seeds for the 2021 Big 12 Wrestling Championship have been announced. The Mountaineers, who finished 10th at the 2020 Big 12 Championship, have five wrestlers seeded inside the top six of their respective weight classes.

Tennis Adds Match at Youngstown State

The undefeated West Virginia tennis team has announced that it has added a match against Youngstown State on Wednesday, March 3rd.

Around the Big 12

Cunningham Sweeps Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors

After leading Oklahoma State to wins over ranked opponents, Cade Cunningham swept both Big 12 Men’s Basketball Player and Newcomer of the Week. Cunningham has won eight awards this season and earned both honors for the second consecutive week.

Around the NCAA

Hauser helps No. 21 Virginia end skid, beat Miami 62-51

Sam Hauser scored 18 points to help #21 Virginia end its three-game losing streak by handing Miami its sixth loss in a row, 62-51, on Monday night. Trey Murphy III also added 12 points for the Cavaliers.

J.J. Watt agrees to two-year contract with Arizona Cardinals

Free-agent pass-rusher J.J. Watt has agreed to a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. Terms were not disclosed, but a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the deal is worth $31 million and includes $23 million guaranteed.

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