Oklahoma hoops preview, recruiting notes, varsity updates, Randy Mazey is AMAZING, Big 12 roundup & more
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What You May Have Missed:
Gold and Blue Now: Wednesday, Feb. 5 - WV MetroNews
Kevin Kinder of BlueGoldNews.com discusses a possible hidden gem in Jaleel Fields and John Shinn of the Norman Transcript gives his input on the Oklahoma Sooners fast start to Big 12 play.
Holmes’ leadership helping WVU in 2013-14 season - Daily Athenaeum
Sophomore guard Bria Holmes is a physical presence for the No. 17 West Virginia women’s basketball team. At 6-foot-2, Holmes’ height allows her to score around the block while her touch on the basketball makes her a shooting threat.
Baseball Picked Seventh in Big 12 Poll - WVU Athletics
Defending Big 12 champion Kansas State has been selected as the coaches’ preseason favorite to repeat as the regular season title
WVU performing strong in crucial moments - Daily Athenaeum
The No. 1 West Virginia University rifle team (8-0, 6-0 GARC) is shooting its best marks of the season when it counts most.
Sloanhoffer Named Athlete of the Week - WVU Athletics
Varsity Sports Report
Wolf's Huddle: My Recruiting Story - WVU Athletics
Dale Wolfley's recruiting story.
Big 12's best losses in 2013: West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
Best loss: 37-0 loss to Maryland on Sept. 21 in a shocking result that left WVU coach Dana Holgorsen looking for answers.
News of Note:
West Virginia to Battle Oklahoma - WVU Athletics
Mountaineers, Sooners to hook up Wednesday night.
Defense a issue with Oklahoma in town - Charleston Daily Mail
There isn't a strong case to be made about West Virginia playing good defense this season. The Mountaineers are eighth in the 10-team Big 12 in scoring defense and last in field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage defense.
Preview: WVU vs OU - BGN
It's yet another rung up the competition ladder for West Virginia as it hosts Oklahoma on Wednesday evening at the Coliseum.
Huggins Previews Oklahoma - EerSports
With the Mountaineers coming off a two game winning streak, Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma will provide another true test.
GAME PREVIEW: The Oklahoma Sooners Travel to Morgantown - WVillustrated
The 21st ranked Oklahoma Sooners (17-5, 6-3 in Big 12) will play the West Virginia Mountaineers (13-9,5-4 in Big 12) Wednesday night in Morgantown in a heated Big 12 matchup.
WVU needs scoring help for Staten - Charleston Gazette
Mountaineers host Oklahoma tonight
Balanced Sooners try to quiet Staten - WV MetroNews
Statistics say to expect points aplenty Wednesday night.
WVU looking to make a statement against Oklahoma - Times West Virginian
No. 21/23 Oklahoma comes to the Coliseum for a 7 p.m. game today that is being carried on ESPNU, and to beat the Sooners you have to outscore them … and that means that Eron Harris and Terry Henderson have to come with their guns loaded.
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU-Oklahoma could be biggest game of season - Times West Virginian
All of a sudden, West Virginia University is playing important basketball games again, and the one they play tonight at the Coliseum, facing Oklahoma, may be the most important game they will play all season.
Mountaineers get another shot to knock off a ranked opponent - Register-Herald
WVU (13-9, 5-4 Big 12), has played four ranked opponents — Wisconsin, Gonzaga and Oklahoma State (twice) — and come within seven points in each of those contests. In fact, the margin in the four games has been 18 total points.
West Virginia looks to extend winning streak, takes on No. 21 Oklahoma tonight - Daily Athenaeum
The West Virginia men’s basketball team has a chance to match its longest conference winning streak since officially joining the Big 12 with a victory over visiting No. 21 Oklahoma tonight at the WVU Coliseum.
WVU showing vast improvement - Daily Athenaeum
A year ago, watching a WVU men’s basketball game from start to finish had become fairly difficult to bear.
Furfari: Mountaineer legend West sees WVU getting better - Register-Herald
"I understand they have some problems—real problems—at times. But I think they have some good young players there and I see they’re improving."
Recruiting:
Tony's Take: Stargazing - WVU Athletics
Our Tony Caridi does a little stargazing on the eve of signing day.
Cajuste puts hoop dreams aside for West Virginia - Charleston Daily Mail
Yodny Cajuste will sign a national letter of intent today to play college football at West Virginia University, a pretty remarkable achievement for someone who didn't even have an offer from the Mountaineers until just 10 days ago.
Recruiting game's dirty little secret - Charleston Gazette
"I've told our coaches if they really feel compelled [to give out multi-year scholarships] they can," said WVU athletic director Oliver Luck. "The reality, though, is it's so rare for kids' scholarships not to be renewed. Usually, if they aren't, it's because of academic or off-the-field problems. I think most kids and parents understand if the kids do the right things all will be fine."
Mountaineers hoping to catch a few surprises - Charleston Gazette
Today is National Signing Day, and by the time you read this story with your morning coffee, fax machines will be revving up across the country for senior recruits to send in their letters of intent.
Signing Day ‘always brings surprises’ - WV MetroNews
West Virginia heads into National Signing Day with 20 players committed, but several more 11th-hour targets could boost the class into the top 30.
Candidates Loom For Mountaineers - BGN
With Signing Day upon it, West Virginia finds itself in hot pursuit of a handful of top prospects who are still uncommitted. BlueGoldNews.com examines those players and breaks down the likelihood of landing their commitments.
Pro News:
A review of the defensive linemen the Eagles spoke with at the Senior Bowl - Philly.com
In Part V of this series, we'll look at the defensive linemen the Eagles spoke with after Senior Bowl practices (includes Will Clarke)
Around the League (and Beyond):
Baylor Falls at Home Again to Kansas 69-52 - Our Daily Bears
Notebook: Kane-Smart matchup lives up to hype - Ames Tribune
Kansas defeats Baylor: 5 Observations - Rock Chalk Talk
John Currie explains why K-State benefits from occasional Thursday football games - Wichita Eagle
Oklahoma basketball: Frank Booker isn't discouraged by his shooting numbers - Oklahoman
Oklahoma State football: Houston pipeline keeps producing - Oklahoman
Texas Survives TCU, Moves to 7-2 in Conference Play - Burnt Orange Nation
TCU Falls to Texas, 59-54 - Frogs O' War
Operation Sellout - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
What's On Tap:
(21) Oklahoma Sooners vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
7 pm tonight from the Oliver Garden/Huggstown on ESPNU/3
Video of Interest:
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins previews Wednesday night's game against Oklahoma at the WVU Coliseum.
Sean Patterson, a 10-year old native of Bridgeport, signed his NLI with the WVU baseball team. Patterson has been partnered with the Mountaineers through Team IMPACT, an organization that has set out to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening illnesses by partnering them with college athletic teams.
Video of (Dis)Interest:
Hump Day Video of the Week:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is an all American beauty. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Amber Lancaster.
More from The Smoking Musket
Follow @SmokingMusket Follow @SBNationCFB
West Virginia Mountaineers National Signing Day Updates
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2014 West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule: Oklahoma Game In Morgantown Has Date Changed
Mountaineer Morning Links: Monday (2/3/14) Edition
Mountaineer Sunday Post-Game Roundup: Kansas State (2/2/14) Edition