Deuce McBride declares for NBA Draft & West Virginia adds rim-defending transfer from FIU

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

Football

Despite 1,000-Yard 2020, WVU’s Leddie Brown Seeking More in 2021

Running back Leddie Brown believes there is still plenty of room for improvement in 2021. That is one of the big reasons why he chose to return for his senior season at West Virginia. Brown became just the fourth WVU runner since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 in 2012 to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season, but his 1,000 yards came in only 10 games.

Addae & Brown embracing roles as elder statesmen on WVU roster

Safety Alonzo Addae and running back Leddie Brown could very well be West Virginia’s most productive returning players on their respective sides of the ball. As Brown enters his fourth season in the WVU program and Addae begins his third, both are taking on added responsibilities as mentors to younger players on the roster.

Men’s Basketball

Miles McBride becomes third Mountaineer to enter NBA Draft process

West Virginia’s Miles “Deuce” McBride announced Friday evening that he will declaring himself eligible for the 2021 NBA draft. Deuce can receive evaluation from NBA personnel while retaining the right to return to WVU for his junior season. He led the Mountaineers in scoring at 15.9 points per game, three-point shooting percentage at 41.4%, and minutes per game with 34.1. McBride was also named a second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection. He is the #35 prospect in the ESPN 100 NBA Draft rankings and joins fellow guards Sean McNeil and Taz Sherman as Mountaineers to declare themselves eligible for this year’s draft.

FIU shot blocker Carrigan commits to WVU hoops

A transfer is on his way to Morgantown to bolster Bob Huggins’ roster. Dimon Carrigan, a 6-9 forward who has played the last two seasons at Florida International, announced on social media that he has committed to West Virginia. As a senior this season, Carrigan ranked in the top 20 in the nation in blocks per game with 2.5. He also made 21 starts for FIU, while averaging 6.8 points per game. It appears that Carrigan will join the Mountaineers as a graduate transfer, using his free year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to compete in a fifth season.

Women’s Basketball

WVU women’s basketball earns ranking in final USA Today Coaches Poll

The West Virginia women’s basketball team checked in at #24 in the final edition of this year’s USA Today Coaches Poll. The Mountaineers, who finished 22-7 this season, are one of two Big 12 teams featured in the final rankings, with Baylor ranking #5.

Gondrezick Named All-America Honorable Mention by WBCA

Redshirt senior guard Kysre Gondrezick of the West Virginia women’s basketball team has earned Honorable Mention status on this year’s Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s All-America team.

Women’s Soccer

Sibley’s Late Goal Lifts WVU Over Virginia

Junior midfielder Isabella Sibley found the back of the net in the 86th minute to help the #4 West Virginia women’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over #10 Virginia on Saturday afternoon in Morgantown. With the win, WVU recorded its second straight victory over a top-10 opponent and extended its streak of 10-win seasons to 21 consecutive years.

WVU women’s soccer’s McCarthy named Big 12 Freshman of the Week

Freshman midfielder Lilly McCarthy of the #4 West Virginia women’s soccer team has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week. McCarthy made the game-winning assist in the Mountaineers’ 1-0 win over #10 Virginia on Saturday, helping junior midfielder Isabella Sibley score in the 86th minute.

Sibley Named WVU Student-Athlete of the Week

After scoring the game-winning goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win over #10 Virginia, junior midfielder Isabella Sibley of the #4 West Virginia women’s soccer team has been named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week.

Baseball

WVU, Pitt to renew rivalry on diamond Tuesday

The West Virginia baseball team continues its seven-game road trip by traveling to face #24 Pitt for the latest edition of the Backyard Brawl today at 3 p.m. ET. Freshman right-handed pitcher Carlson Reed takes the ball for the Mountaineers, while Pitt counters with senior right-hander Chris Gomez. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.

West Virginia Drops Series Finale to Oklahoma State

The West Virginia baseball team dropped the series finale to #16 Oklahoma State, 21-11, in eight innings on Saturday afternoon in Stillwater. The Mountaineers scored runs in seven different innings, but allowed a 10-run third to the Cowboys to create a deficit that they could not overcome.

Gymnastics

WVU places third in second round of NCAA Regionals

The West Virginia gymnastics team hosted Michigan, UCLA, and Kent State on Friday for the NCAA Regional Second Round competition at the WVU Coliseum. Michigan took first place, with UCLA following in second. The Mountaineers took third and Kent State earned fourth place.

Around the Big 12

SEE YOU IN FORT WORTH: OU ADVANCES TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

For the 17th straight season, the #1 Oklahoma gymnastics team is headed to the NCAA Championship. A perfect score from Olivia Trautman helped the Sooners notch a 198.175 score to take home their 11th straight regional title.

TCU Rolls to Victory Over #15 OSU

A three-goal outburst in the first half, including a pair of set piece goals, helped #3 TCU defeat #15 Oklahoma State, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon. Yazmeen Ryan had a hand in all four goals for the Horned Frogs, scoring twice and assisting on the other two. Emily Alvarado made six saves to register her eighth shutout of the season.

TCU Powers Past Oklahoma; Sweeps Series

#11 TCU scored seven unanswered runs in a come-from-behind 7-3 victory over Oklahoma Sunday afternoon. The win is the ninth straight for the Horned Frogs, as they wrapped up their second Big 12 series sweep.

Around the NCAA

Stanford holds off Arizona for first NCAA women’s basketball championship since 1992

Stanford was able to hold off Arizona, 54-53, to win the 2021 NCAA women’s basketball title on Sunday in San Antonio, Texas. Sophomore guard Haley Jones led the Cardinal with 17 points. This was the third championship for Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer, adding to the program’s titles in 1990 and 1992.

North Carolina Tar Heels hire Hubert Davis as new basketball coach, replacing retired Roy Williams

The North Carolina men’s basketball program has promoted longtime assistant Hubert Davis to replace Roy Williams as the Tar Heels’ new head coach. Davis has been an assistant coach under Williams for the past nine seasons in Chapel Hill and was one of the favorites as soon as the job opened.

Texas Rangers host sellout crowd for 2021 home opener with no COVID-19 attendance restrictions

The Texas Rangers held the first full-capacity professional sports event of the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday. It was the first home game for the team with fans at the new Globe Life Field and it was also the first game where attendance restrictions were not in effect for any major sporting event in the United States. The game was declared a sellout, with 38,238 people in the stands.

New York Jets trade QB Sam Darnold to Carolina Panthers for 3 draft picks

Just three years after hailing him as a franchise savior, the New York Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers on Monday, ending months of intense speculation about the team’s quarterback plans.

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