Baylor previews, more signing day analysis, WVUPros update, Big 12 viewing guide & roundup, plus more.
Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Smoky Mountain Brewery's Black Bear Ale, in preparation for tomorrow's opponent.
What You May Have Missed:
Gold & Blue Now: Friday, Feb. 6 - WV MetroNews
John Morris, the play-by-play voice of Baylor basketball, breaks down the Bears’ season. Ryan Dorchester, WVU’s director of player personnel, discusses the 2015 recruiting class for the Mountaineers.
WVU looks for third straight Big 12 win at Iowa State - Daily Athenaeum
After a nightmarish start to the Big 12 season, the West Virginia University women’s basketball team seems to have finally gotten on track. As the Mountaineers fight to get back into the NCAA picture, they’ll try to keep their momentum going on the road Saturday when they head to Ames, Iowa, to take on the Iowa State Cyclones.
Women's Basketball Playbook: Iowa State - WVU Athletics
Host Jeff Culhane speaks with head coach Mike Carey about this weekend's road contest against Iowa State and the team's recent successes.
WVUsportsBuzz Presented by U.S. Cellular - WVU Athletics
The women's basketball team takes a road trip Ames, Iowa, to face the Cyclones while track standout Marsielle McBeam discusses her interesting background.
WVU's Morales is Bull-Trained - WVU Athletics
Mike Morales is looking to end WVU's All-America drought.
WVU Baseball Assistants Detail Development - BGN
West Virginia's baseball team would seem to have tempered expectations - to everyone but themselves. Here, assistants Steven Trout and Derek Matlock discuss developments in the field, behind the plate and on the mound and what they hope to achieve in the final week before the opener as well as through the first few nonconference series.
Baseball Picked Sixth in Big 12 Poll - WVU Athletics
TCU has been selected as the unanimous preseason favorite to win the Big 12 baseball regular season title in a vote by the Conference’s head coaches.
News of Note:
Baylor’s Chery at full strength against WVU this time - Charleston Daily Mail
In short, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Chery started where he finished last season, when the Bears were ferocious and the point guard was a major reason why.
Huggins' fault-finding in radio talk after loss - Beckley Register-Herald
Bob Huggins was not a happy head basketball coach Tuesday night after West Virginia’s men’s team fell to Oklahoma 71-52 in Norman, Okla.
No. 15 West Virginia returns home to take on No. 19 Baylor following 19-point loss - Daily Athenaeum
No. 15 West Virginia is looking to regroup following a double-digit loss on the road against No. 24 Oklahoma. The Mountaineers will hope to bounce back versus No. 19 Baylor Saturday afternoon in Morgantown.
Mountaineer Insider - WVU Athletics
This week's inside look at Mountaineer sports features exclusive interviews with West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen and new athletic director Shane Lyons.
Big 12 Mid-Year Awards and Review - Wide Right & Natty Lite
Now that every team in the Big 12 has played half of their conference schedule, this would seem to be the perfect time to step back and take a look at what we've learned to date, prognosticate...
Power Rankings - SI.com
20. West Virginia
Recruiting:
Recruiting trail a place to grow bonds and waistlines - Charleston Daily Mail
The stops at schools early in the day are followed by the home visits at night, and coaches in big cities with a handful of targets try to squeeze in multiple stops.
The big story - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
WVU took some big shots, won some big names and had some big misses.
What we learned: Big 12 signing day - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
3. Volatile day, valuable wins for West Virginia
Dorchester praises Jennings for withholding pledge until he finished visits - WV MetroNews
West Virginia's director of player personnel discusses patient process needed to land the three-star receiver.
WVU gets its guy late on Signing Day - BGN
As National Signing Day was winding down Wednesday afternoon, Dana Holgorsen and the rest of the West Virginia coaching staff looked down through their list of the newest member of the WVU football program and were pretty pleased with what they saw.
WVU, MU recruiting; hoops and lips - Charleston Gazette
The views from here
Texas sits atop Big 12 recruiting rankings - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
No. 36 West Virginia
Another Frantic February? - EerSports
Over the last three years, the days after National Signing Day have been just as hectic as the day itself, if not more so. From 2012 to 2014, 120 prospects for the next year (or year after that) have claimed new West Virginia offers. That's an average of forty new offers each February, or more than one a day.
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU dials in on familiar recruiting area - Times West Virginian
If this year’s West Virginia University recruiting class showed one thing it is that the Mountaineers’ assistant coaches can pack up their chaps and string ties, put the cowboy boots into the back of the closet and trade in those 10-gallon hats.
Ear to 'Eer: 2015 WVU Football Recruiting Class - WVillustrated
WVi's Geoff Coyle and Matt Hauswirth offer an assessment of West Virginia's 2015 football recruiting class on National Signing Day.
Holgorsen confident about giant roster size - Times West Virginian
They say there’s safety in numbers.
Can Ka'Raun White be as good as older brother Kevin for WVU? - WVUPros
As Kevin White awaits the 2015 NFL Draft, can Ka’Raun White fill his brother’s footsteps and be just as good for Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia
How has Big 12 recruiting translated to wins the past five seasons? - WV MetroNews
It's in vogue to mock class rankings but there's evidence to support both sides.
Pro News:
NFL Draft 2015: ESPN's McShay Releases 2.0 - EerSports
One other player to keep an eye on is wide receiver Kevin White out of West Virginia. McShay gave him a huge bump, moving him from middle of the first round to top ten.
Around the League (and Beyond):
Big 12 full of parity and postseason-worthy teams - FOX Sports
Video: Art Briles National Signing Day Press Conference - Our Daily Bears
Cyclones look to improve 3-point defense - Ames Tribune
Experts say KU Final 4 shoo-in - Lawrence Journal World
Kansas State's Marcus Foster getting what he wanted - Bring On The Cats
Mike Leach Confirms Dennis Simmons To Become Oklahoma Sooners WR Coach - Crimson And Cream Machine
How Phil Forte found his happy place to carry OSU past Texas - Oklahoman (autoplay)
Rick Barnes' Texas tenure should come to an end - Barking Carnival
TCU’s Trey Zeigler living up to being ‘a coach’s son’ - Star Telegram
Red Raiders release Justin Jamison from basketball team - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
What's On Tap:
(19) Baylor Bears vs. (15) West Virginia Mountaineers - ESPN
Noon Saturday from the Lyons Den on ESPNU/3
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Iowa State Cyclones - ESPN
NCAA Women's Basketball 7 pm Saturday from the Hilt
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. (11) Iowa State Cyclones - ESPN
2 pm Saturday from the Hilt on ESPNU/3
(8) Kansas Jayhawks vs. Oklahoma St Cowboys - ESPN
2 pm Saturday from Gallagher-Iba on ESPN/ESPN3
(21) Oklahoma Sooners vs. TCU Horned Frogs - ESPN
3 pm Saturday from WGAC on ESPNN/3
(25) Texas Longhorns vs. Kansas St Wildcats - ESPN
4 pm Saturday from the Octagon of Doom on ESPN/ESPN3
Video of Interest:
Bob Huggins United Bank Playbook for February 6th, 2015
Video of (Dis)Interest:
I need one of these:
Miss Throwdown:
Today's Miss Throwdown is an American actress from Florida. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Genesis Rodriguez.