Best Virginia wins final exhibition before TBT

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

Football

Veteran Addae Now One of the Leaders of the Mountaineer Defense

West Virginia’s Alonzo Addae started 10 games last year at free safety and finished second on the team with 66 total tackles, while his 6.6 tackles-per-game average ranked 12th in the Big 12. Now Addae is one of the older players on a Mountaineer defense and the team will need him to step up as a leader.

A piece of Alonzo Addae’s past is now present in Morgantown

When Alonzo Addae joined the Mountaineers in 2019, his older cousin Jahmile Addae was on the defensive staff. Although Jahmile is now coaching at Georgia, Alonzo still has someone he considers family on the team and that is WVU’s new linebacker Deshawn Stevens.

Former Gridder Named Assistant Director of Player Relations/Transition Coordinator

Former Mountaineer Osman Kamara has joined the West Virginia football program’s administrative staff as the assistant director of player relations/transition coordinator.

Brown announces staff addition

West Virginia head football coach Neal Brown has announced that David Faulkner has joined the Mountaineer coaching staff as the special assistant to the head coach.

Mahone named to CoSIDA’s Academic All-America Football Team

West Virginia senior safety Sean Mahone has been named Academic All-America second team presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Basketball

Huggins Facing College Basketball’s Challenging New Reality

West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins has seen quite a bit of changes since his college basketball coaching career began in 1981. One of the biggest changes Huggins is now facing is the mentality of young players transferring when things don’t go their way and the dwindling attitude of winning games for the fans and the team.

Best Virginia overcomes sluggish start, defeats Underground Kings 77-63 in final exhibition

While West Virginia’s men’s basketball alumni team rolled by Southern Elite in Beckley, Friday’s game against the Underground Kings played out in far different fashion. Underground Kings jumped out to an 11-0 lead and led by eight points after the first quarter, before Best Virginia’s defense turned the game in its favor, allowing it to pull away for a 77-63 victory.

Manoah fans nine in 8th MLB start

Former West Virginia pitcher Alek Manoah started in his eighth game for the Blue Jays on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Toronto rookie struck out nine batters and only gave up three hits in 3.2 innings. He now has a total of 52 strikeouts in 40.1 innings pitched this season, with an ERA of 2.9.

Mountaineers in the WNBA: July 12th Update

Former West Virginia women’s basketball player Bria Holmes has started in five of 17 games for the Los Angeles Sparks this season and is currently averaging 4.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Former Mountaineer Kysre Gondrezick is averaging 1.9 points per game for the Indiana Fever.

Payne invited to World Cup qualifier training camp with Nigeria

Sophomore Nicole Payne of the West Virginia women’s soccer team has been invited to join the Nigeria Women’s National Team when it participates in a World Cup qualifier training camp.

Around the Big 12

Former Kansas football player says school did little to address harassment, offered him $50K in benefits to leave and stay quiet

A former Kansas football player says the university offered him more than $50,000 in benefits if he left the program and stayed quiet about harassment he experienced from four other players on the team.

Sooners Picked First in Football Preseason Poll for Sixth Straight Year

The Oklahoma football team was chosen to win the conference title in the Big 12 Football Preseason Poll for the sixth straight year.

K-State’s Wicks and UT’s Madden Selected in MLB Draft First Round

Kansas State’s Jordan Wicks and Texas’ Ty Madden were taken in the opening round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

Around the NCAA

Offensive lineman Dare Rosenthal transfers from LSU Tigers to Kentucky Wildcats

Former LSU left tackle Dare Rosenthal has announced that he will transfer to play football at Kentucky.

Five-star DE Jeremiah Alexander commits to Alabama football team over Clemson

Alabama beat Clemson on the recruiting trail for five-star defensive end Jeremiah Alexander.

Former Georgia Bulldogs receiver Demetris Robertson transferring to SEC rival Auburn Tigers

Former Georgia receiver Demetris Robertson has announced that he will transfer to Auburn.

Bucks blowout: Giannis has 41, Suns’ NBA Finals lead now 2-1

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 41 points and 13 rebounds in Milwaukee’s 120-100 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Antetokounmpo’s back-to-back 40-point, 10-rebound games put him with Shaquille O’Neal as the only two players in NBA history to achieve that stat line in The Finals.

Stanley Cup dented amid Tampa Bay Lightning’s second boat parade in 10 months

The Stanley Cup was dented during the Tampa Bay Lightning’s championship celebration.

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