Bob Huggins adds second transfer player with former Old Dominion star Malik Curry

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

Football

As West Virginia’s only Stills, Dante looking to improve production and leadership

When the 2020 college football season began, Dante Stills had it in his mind that would be his final run in a West Virginia uniform. With his brother Darius Stills currently preparing for the NFL Draft, the younger Stills thought and hoped he would be in a similar position. But now, Dante is readying for his first season at WVU without his brother as a teammate.

As Mountaineers search for tailback depth, Mathis praised for performance

As the West Virginia football team continues its search to build depth behind tailback Leddie Brown, head coach Neal Brown sang the praises of sophomore Tony Mathis following Saturday’s practice. With top tailback Leddie Brown being held out of most full tackle events by design, the coaching staff has been afforded a closer look at both Mathis and A’Varius Sparrow.

Alabama WR Jarel Williams joins WVU Class of 2022

Wide receiver Jarel Williams has announced his intention to join the West Virginia recruiting Class of 2022. Williams is listed as a three-star recruit by 247sports.com. He caught 46 passes for 802 yards and 10 touchdowns in his junior season at Saraland High School in Saraland, Alabama.

Mountaineer Insider Podcast – ShaDon Brown and Andrew Jackson

On this episode of “Mountaineer Insider Podcast,” Dan Zangrilli catches up with West Virginia co-defensive coordinator ShaDon Brown and defensive line coach A.J. Jackson to get their takes on spring football practice.

Basketball

WVU men’s basketball adds second transfer

Malik Curry, who played the last two years at Old Dominion, has signed a grant-in-aid to attend and play basketball for West Virginia during the 2021-22 academic year. Curry, a 6-foot-1 guard from Wilmington, Delaware, will be a graduate transfer and have one year of eligibility remaining. Last season, he started 20 of 20 games for the Monarchs, leading the team in scoring at 15.7 points per game. He was also named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.

WVU Adds Samuel to 2021-22 Roster

West Virginia women’s basketball coach Mike Carey has announced that guard Savannah Samuel will join the Mountaineers for the 2021-22 season. She comes to Morgantown after spending last season at Oregon State and has four years of eligibility remaining. As a freshman in 2020-21, Samuel averaged 11.5 minutes and 3.4 points per game.

Soccer

West Virginia men’s soccer completes season sweep over Northern Illinois

A pair of first-half goals lifted the West Virginia men’s soccer team over Northern Illinois, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon. The Mountaineers got on the board midway through the first half with a goal from junior forward Tony Pineda in the 25th minute. Just 15 minutes later, junior midfielder Ike Swiger added on the insurance goal to give WVU the two-score advantage and eventual victory.

WVU goalkeeper Kayza Massey makes SportsCenter Top 10 for reaching save vs. Virginia

The #5 West Virginia women’s soccer team may have left Charlottesville without a season-ending win against #12 Virginia, but Mountaineer goalkeeper Kayza Massey caught national attention after stealing that same potential victory from the Cavaliers. The game was tied at one goal in double overtime with just two minutes left, but Massey extended and made a fingertip save to keep the game level and save the draw.

West Virginia and Virginia draw in the final game of the regular season

On Saturday afternoon, the #5 West Virginia women’s soccer team faced off against #12 Virginia, which ended in a draw. This marked the second match in seven days between WVU and UVA, as the two squared off on April 3rd, with the Mountaineers winning 1-0.

Massey Named WVU Student-Athlete of the Week

After tallying a career-high five saves in a 1-1 draw at #12 Virginia on Saturday, sophomore goalkeeper Kayza Massey of the #5 West Virginia women’s soccer team has been named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week.

Baseball

Randy Mazey reached milestone in comeback win

The West Virginia baseball team took down Baylor, 8-4, on Sunday afternoon in Waco, Texas. The Mountaineers took the series finale over the Bears with a come-from-behind effort, highlighted by three runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In all, WVU finished with 10 hits with no errors, while BU tallied six hits with two errors. With the victory, head coach Randy Mazey earned his 250th career win at WVU.

Brophy’s play vs. Baylor earns spot in SportsCenter Top 10

Another day, another Mountaineer featured on SportsCenter Top 10. West Virginia baseball third baseman Kevin Brophy produced a spectacular defensive highlight in Sunday’s 8-4 win over Baylor, which earned him the fourth spot among the top 10 plays of the day. WVU baseball returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Marshall.

WVU’s rolling offense and Hampton’s career day lift Mountaineers over Baylor

The West Virginia baseball team’s bats were going on Sunday, as the Mountaineers snapped its five-game skid with an 8-4 victory over Baylor. The Mountaineers stormed in front in the fifth and sixth innings, putting up six runs on six hits in that span before adding a pair of insurance runs.

West Virginia Athletics

WVU track and field finishes with two victories

The West Virginia track and field team earned two first-place finishes at the Mason Spring Invitational on Sunday at George Mason Stadium, in Fairfax, Virginia. Junior Myesha Nott placed first in the triple jump with a distance of 12.06 meters, while redshirt junior Hayley Jackson placed first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:08.87.

Lynch, Zerwas Earn Big 12 Honors

Senior middle blocker Briana Lynch and junior setter Lacey Zerwas of the West Virginia volleyball team earned a pair of Big 12 postseason awards. Lynch made her first career appearance on the all-conference first team. Zerwas landed on the second team to collect her first career All-Big 12 honor.

Best Virginia staff set, James Long to lead WVU alumni team in TBT

WVU-Tech head coach James Long will lead the West Virginia alumni squad Best Virginia in this summer’s The Basketball Tournament (TBT). Dates and locations for the 2021 TBT are expected to be revealed soon. Nathan Adrian, Kevin Jones, John Flowers, and Devin Ebanks are among the former Mountaineers to commit to play for Best Virginia this summer.

WVU Hall of Famer Gyorko to serve as Black Bears manager during 2021 season

The West Virginia Black Bears announced that Jedd Gyorko has been appointed manager for the 2021 in the team’s inaugural season in the MLB Draft League. The Morgantown native, WVU Hall of Fame player, and eight-year Major League infielder is the fifth manager in the Black Bears history.

Three Guys Before The Game – A Visit With Anthony Becht (Episode 282)

Former Mountaineer, and NFL veteran, Anthony Becht catches up with Tony Caridi and Brad Howe on this episode of “Three Guys Before The Game.” Becht, who is currently preparing for NFL draft coverage, is also guiding his son through the college football recruiting process.

Around the Big 12

Texas Tech star Mac McClung enters transfer portal while prioritizing focus on 2021 NBA Draft

Texas Tech star guard Mac McClung simultaneously entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2021 NBA Draft on Sunday, opening up the possibility for him to land at his third school in three seasons. McClung, who began his career at Georgetown, emphasized his priority right now is on the NBA Draft. The Gate City, Virginia, native was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and a second-team All-Big 12 honoree.

Volleyball All-Big 12 Awards Released

The 2020-21 All-Big 12 Volleyball awards have been announced. Texas claimed three honors, as Logan Eggleston was named Big 12 Player of the Year, Jhenna Gabriel was selected Setter of the Year, and Jerritt Elliott was voted Coach of the Year. Baylor’s Shanel Bramschreiber earned Libero of the Year and Kansas State’s Aliyah Carter was named Freshman of the Year.

Texas Sweeps Swimming & Diving Of the Year Awards

Representatives from the Texas men’s and women’s programs have swept the 2020-21 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Of the Year Awards. For the Longhorn men it was their seventh consecutive sweep of the awards and 15th in program history, while the women accomplished the feat for the fifth straight year and sixth time in school history.

Around the NCAA

Indiana Hoosiers add Xavier Johnson after playing at Pittsburgh

New Indiana coach Mike Woodson spent most of last week trying to persuade his players to stick around. On Monday, he added a new name: Xavier Johnson. The guard is a transfer from Pitt who could provide the consistent perimeter scoring threat the Hoosiers have lacked for years. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

East Carolina transfer Jayden Gardner, AAC’s second-leading scorer, commits to Virginia

East Carolina transfer Jayden Gardner, a first-team all-conference selection, committed to Virginia on Monday. Gardner chose the Cavaliers over a final five that also included NC State, Miami, LSU, and Arkansas.

Worries mount that A-Rod could move Timberwolves to another city

News that Glen Taylor could sell the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx to former MLB superstar Alex Rodriguez and billionaire Marc Lore has fans worried the teams could end up in Seattle or Las Vegas.

Star receiver Julian Edelman, 34, retires, ending 12-year career with New England Patriots

New England Patriots star receiver Julian Edelman, who helped the team win three championships and was the MVP of Super Bowl LIII, announced his retirement on Monday.

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