Jones Named 3rd-Team All America

Some actual good news regarding Kevin Jones. The Sporting News named Jones to its All American Third Team. The Wooden Award finalist certainly deserves this recognition after a fantastic final season in Morgantown.

Jones led the Big East with 20 points per-game, and rebounding at 11 boards per-game. He also finished the regular season with 20 double-doubles. More importantly, Jones helped guide his team to a .500 record in the Big East, and an 8th seed in the conference tournament. Jones will more than likely finish second in Player of the Year voting in the Big East to Marquette's Jae Crowder.

The Mountaineers face the Connecticut/DePaul tomorrow at Noon, with the winner getting Syracuse on Thursday.

Here is the complete All American list from Sporting News.

Kevin Jones Gets Screwed...Also, Water is Wet

I imagine that somewhere Geno Smith is shaking his head. Smith understands exactly what Kevin Jones is about to go through. Just like Smith, Jones is about to get completely screwed by the very conference he tore his heart out playing in over the last few months. Will it matter? No. Should it matter? Oh, yes.

For Smith, it was Isaiah Pead who would be Offensive Player of the Year. Was it a good year for Pead? Yes. He rushed for over 1,000 yards, and accounted for 11 touchdowns. However, that was dwarfed by the year Smith had...the best a WVU quarterback has ever have. Smith entered the bowl season with over 3,900 yards passing and 26 touchdowns. He also guided his team to a win over Pead's on their way to the Orange Bowl. Not only were his numbers more impressive, but he was also much more valuable to his team. Cincinnati slid when they lost quarterback, Zach Collaros, not Pead.

Needless to say, Smith losing was surprising, but doesn't compare to what is about to happen to Kevin Jones. If the reports are true, and Jae Crowder is the Big East Player of the Year, then it's a smack in the face. Jones has the better numbers, and is so much more valuable to his team...and I'm not sure it's even close.

Don't get me wrong, I like Crowder. He is a fun basketball player to watch. He can go inside and outside. His energy level is outstanding. He has a high basketball IQ, but isn't the Big East Player of the Year. Hell, I'm not even sure if he is the best player on his team. Darius Jonson-Odom may have something to say about that. But, even if the argument is made that he is a more versatile player than Jones, there is absolutely no way anyone can say he is more valuable.

Marquette is still a tournament team without Crowder. Johnson-Odom, Vander Blue, Todd Mayo, Davante Gardner and company would still be a Top-6 team in the Big East. Meanwhile, WVU without Kevin Jones is DePaul. I'm not even sure the Mountaineers would be NIT-bound. Truck Bryant, Denis Kilicli, and a mound of freshmen is a recipe for disaster.

Even if you want to give the edge to Crowder due to the record, statistics would push the argument back to Jones. Points per game? Jones (20 to 17). Rebounds per game? Jones (11 to 8). Field Goal Percentage? Jones (.515 to .512). Free Throw Percentage? Jones (.77 to .74). To Crowder's credit he does have more steals and assists, but Jones also dropped 20 Double-Doubles. Crowder had 11.

The value argument and stat argument side with Jones. The record sides with Crowder. Is that enough to tilt the argument towards the Marquette man? It shouldn't, but it sounds like that is the case.

Should this be surprising? No. Jones was already not a unanimous selection for Big East First Team. How ridiculous is that? The man who led the league in scoring and rebounding (by the way, the only other two to do that won POY) wasn't a first teamer in some coach's eyes. It obviously shows that bias has certainly reared its ugly head in these selections.

Again, should this be surprising? A school that sued the league to get out early, which already had a quarterback get completely jacked out of an award? I think you all can put it together.

So, in the immortal words of Jake Taylor from Major League...there's only one thing left to do..."win the whole f***ing thing". Maybe then Kevin Jones would get some respect. Doubtful in this league, though.

WVU Announces Coaching Assignments

WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen announced the official coaching staff positions for the upcoming season. The announcement was held today, as the media finally had an opportunity to speak with some of the new staff members. The shifting included both the new and current coaches, as Holgorsen and company gets ready from Spring practices. Here is a look at the coaching staff, and their 2012 duties.

Dana Holgorsen: Head Coach

Shannon Dawson: Offensive Coordinator, Wide Receivers

Jake Spivital: Quarterbacks

Robert Gillespie: Running Backs

Bill Bedenbaugh: Offensive Line

Joe DeForest: Co-Defensive Coordinator, Safeties

Keith Patterson: Co-Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers

Daron Roberts: Cornerbacks

Erik Slaughter: Defensive Line

Steve Dunlap: Assistant Head Coach, Special Teams

Notes:

-Dawson now coaches all receivers.

-Holgorsen will still have final say on offensive calls.

-Roberts moves from receivers to cornerbacks. He coached corners in the NFL.

-Dunlap gets Asst HC title, and completely takes over Special Teams

-Ryan Dorchester becomes the new Recruiting Coordinator

Evaluating The Players

It's been a long, frustrating year for the Men's basketball team. I guess that's to be expected when Bob Huggins has to rely on so many new players. And the kids did pretty well...at times. The Mountaineers did manage to get to .500 in Big East play, and seem to have snuck into a Tournament birth (I'll feel a lot better with at least one win in New York). So, before March gets Mad, let's evaluate everybody's contribution this year.

Kevin Jones, F, SR: What can be said that hasn't already? Jones led the Big East in both scoring (19) and rebounding (11). He was named to the Big East First Team, and may end up being Player of the Year. This is quite a story for a player who seemed out of place as a leader in his last season. Jones was such a pleasure to watch this year, as he completely took over...and really had to take take over. Without Jones, WVU would be lucky to make the NIT.

Darryl "Truck" Bryant, G, SR: Truck had a solid final season in Morgantown. The most polarizing player possibly in WVU history hit a lot of big shots and played very good defense throughout the year. He was the most consistent shooter for a team that struggled to score. He also played much better off the ball. Granted, he did lead the team in turnovers, but also led the team in clutch shots.

Deniz Kilicli, F, JR: The "Turk" had an inconsistent season. His rebounding was adequate, not great. His scoring was solid at times, though had the propensity to disappear. And, I'm not sure there is another player in the nation that missed more four-footers than Kilicli. His free-throw shooting still needs a lot of work...well, really his whole game still needs work. The numbers did improve from last season, but still needs more consistency.

Kevin Noreen, F, r-FR: Another tough season for Noreen, whose season was cut short due to injury. Seemed to be turning into the new Cam Thoroughman...just a big annoyance for other teams. He can take a charge, foul hard, and make a fantastic pass. Struggled shooting, but that's not his game. Hoping he can come back next year and finally stay healthy.

Jabarie Hinds, G, FR: Truly a learning experience for Hinds. I can't even imagine playing PG as a freshman in the Big East, and Hinds battled throughout. He led the team in assists and steals, though both numbers slowed down throughout the year. His defensive intensity needs to improve, especially when adverse conditions set in. Hinds also needs to stay focused. Certainly a learning experience, but a lot of promise with this kid.

Gary Browne, G, FR: The other Frosh PG was all over the map this year. He hit a few huge 3-pointers, showed us that he can get to the hoop, and has a great compete level. Though, like Hinds, needs some work. Browne was simply careless with the ball too much this season, and needs to improve his shooting. What did improve was his defense and foul shooting. And, his leadership was very solid for someone in their first year. It will be fun to watch Browne mature.

Aaron Brown, G, FR: I think it's safe to say that the legs just got tired. Brown, who is one of WVU's best shooters really hit a wall late. Yet, he still shot over 40% from 3-point land. Brown needs to work on his defense if he wants to stay on the floor, as well as creating his own shot. Another freshman with plenty of promise, though.

Keaton Miles, F, FR: He started nearly every game, though only averaged marginal minutes. The reason he started? Defense, defense, defense. Why the low minutes? Offense, offense, offense. An outstanding defender, who simply needs to improve offensively to stay on the court. He did look more comfortable late in the season, but only shot 33%. He is also very shaky from the free-throw line. He is an athletic specimen, who could turn into a nice specialist for this program.

Dominique Rutledge, F, JR: The transfer really improved throughout the year. Rutledge couldn't even get on the court early-on, now looks very strong in his reserve roll. He has good rebounding skills, and is deceptively quick with the ball. He certainly needs to work on being a more consistent basketball player, and tends to get a head of himself. Should contribute the rest of this year, and could fill a nice roll in 2013.

Paul Williamson, Tommy McCune, Pat Forsythe: None played enough or healthy enough to make a serious contribution this season.

WVU's New Football Foes

Now that it looks like WVU is heading to the Big 12 in 2012, what is the team's chances of second straight year to a BCS game? The Mountaineers should be able to integrate right in, and be competitive. But, where exactly do they stand? Let's take a quick look at the conference for 2012.

Baylor: No Robert Griffin III, not a lot of defense equals a rebuilding year for the Bears.

Iowa State: A bowl team from a year ago, questions at quarterback and defense will keep them midpack.

Kansas: Transition year for the Jayhawks as Charlie Weiss takes over the team. It will be interesting to see what he does at the quarterback position.

Kansas State: Quarterback Collin Klein is back, and so is much of the defense. Another solid season for the Wildcats is in the cards.

Oklahoma: Landry Jones and most of the offensive line are back, so scoring won't be a problem. Defensive needs to catch up.

Oklahoma State: Lost major keys parts on offense and defense, but should remain competitive with younger guys stepping in.

Texas: Too many questions for the offense entering the Spring to make them a true contender. Defense did step up last year, and helped the team stay in games.

TCU: The newcomer will have an explosive offense if the young line gives Casey Pachall time to throw. Will be a very competitive team right away.

Texas Tech: Plenty of talent, just a lack of execution over the last few years. Crucial year for Tommy Tuberville to get team to buy into system.

Yes, I'll miss the Big East...and I won't miss the Big East

What I'll Miss...Big East Championship at the Garden.

What I Won't Miss...The terrible yearly ESPN theme song for the Big East Championship.

What I'll Miss...Trips to New England, so I am within driving distance to see WVU.

What I Won't Miss...Trips to New England, so I don't have to see them lose some terrible game to UConn.

What I'll Miss...Beating Rutgers in football, every year.

What I Won't Miss...Losing to Syracuse in basketball, every year.

What I'll Miss...Being the perennial BCS favorite.

What I won't Miss...Failing to reach expectations nearly every year.

What I'll Miss...Skip Holtz in white.

What I won't Miss...Rick Pitino in white.

What I'll Miss...The Backyard Brawl.

What I Won't Miss...Playing DePaul in anything.

What I'll Miss...The Husband/Wife Rivalry (WVU/Cuse)

What I Won't Miss...The Husband/Wife Rivalry.

In all seriousness, the Big East was good to West Virginia. There are a lot of great memories...really too many to choose from. But, it's time to take the next step. Big 12, here we come.

Embrace Your New Big 12 Overlords!

A new chapter in WVU sports will start this fall. The school is on the way to the Big 12, following the news of an agreement made with the Big East to leave early.

From the Charleston Daily Mail...

The Big East will make about $20 million from the resolution, with WVU paying $11 million.

The source said the Big 12 would handle the remaining amount and the Mountaineers will enjoy full membership in that conference beginning July 1.

The source said WVU's early exit from the Big East is no longer conditional upon Boise State joining the Big East as a replacement in 2012.

So, as one chapter closes, another begins for WVU...a chapter that will take them west. Trips to the Northeast will be replaced with trips to Texas and the heartland of America. And, anyone not excited has something wrong with them.

The new rivals will be some of the most tradition-rich teams in college sports. Kansas is a basketball Mecca, Oklahoma is 8th all-time in football victories, Texas is 2nd all-time, and Oklahoma State ranks 4th all-time in National Championships for all sports.

That's just a little example of the tradition of winning the Big 12 has. WVU will jump in with every sport they have, and should be competitive in most. There is also word that Oliver Luck is looking to bring back a Men's Golf team. As for Men's Soccer (which the Big 12 doesn't have) look for a new home in Conference USA or the MAC. Rifle will also stay put.

These are exciting times for Mountaineer fans. The school is coming off an Orange Bowl win, both basketball teams are competitive, both soccer teams are strong, and the remaining Olympic sports should only get better with the move to the Big 12.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the transition to the big, bad Big 12.

Two Representing WVU at the NFL Combine

West Virginia will be represented by two former standouts at this year's NFL Combine. Najee Goode and Bruce Irvin will be in Indianapolis for the week-long scouting event. Both players join an impressive list of players looking to impress all 32 teams before the NFL Draft in April.

Goode had a solid final season at the inside linebacker position. He finished with 87 total tackles to lead the team. Goode also had five sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble. He has decent size, very good awareness, and solid tackling ability. He will certainly be looking to improve his speed, and show he can play in a base defense. CBS has him listed as a 7th round prospect.

Irvin is the sack specialist, who had his numbers drop a bit in his final season. However, most scouts will understand that he saw many more double teams this season than last. He still finished with 8.5 sacks and forced three fumbles. He also played many more snaps this season, totaling 40 tackles. Irvin has pure rushing ability, tremendous speed, and technique. Can he play DE in the league? Or is outside linebacker in his future? Look for Irvin to destroy some of the speed drills at the combine. CBS has Irvin as a 3rd-4th round prospect. If he has a good combine and pro day, he will go higher than that.

Snubs: Julian Miller and Keith Tandy both should have been invited. Miller had a productive career at DE for WVU. He is also projected to be a late-rounder. Meanwhile, Tandy didn't have the strongest final season, but does have a very good skill-set at CB, and is projected to be a mid-round pick.

Orange Bowl Final Thoughts

Well, that was easy...and AMAZING! Just an unbelievable night for the Mountaineers, as they end up pounding Clemson. This was the kind of game you can only dream about. They never really come true. Well, it became reality as WVU performed well in all facets of the game, and now can celebrate another BCS win.

Most Valuable: Tavon Austin and Geno Smith. The two men that simply couldn't be stopped. These two were simply magical for four quarters last night. Geno accounted for seven touchdowns, four of them going to Tavon. The offense was simply amazing, and Smith showed incredible composure while ripping Clemson's heart out. Don't be surprised if both of these guys get thrown into the preseason Heisman talk.

Least Valuable: None. Everyone had an impact.

Most Surprising: Dropping a 70 bomb on the ACC champ, perhaps? Winning wasn't surprising. But 70 points? Ouch.

Least Surprising: Pregame Disrespect. WVU has now been significant underdogs in all three BCS games. They have now won all three BCS bowl games...two in convincing fashion. You would think someone would learn...guess not.

Play of the Game: Darwin Cook 99-yard Fumble Recovery TD

Grades: Ahhh, the hell with it. A for everyone!

Orange Bowl Preview

It's finally time for the Orange Bowl, and Clemson and West Virginia are ready to light up the South Beach Sky.

Offense:

West Virginia: The Mountaineers will spread it right out and go to the air early. With Dustin Garrison out for the game, even more attention will be paid to Geno Smith and the passing game. Smith should continue to have success, as he looks to become the most prolific passing quarterback in WVU history. Look for Smith to be asked to make all the throws in this game, as he goes for big numbers. Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin will be his main targets as usual. The big question is, who else will step up? J.D. Woods and Ivan McCartney will probably share a bit of time, and Devon Brown plays his final game. And, look out for Tyler Urban, who tends to get lost in the middle of the field. With Shawne Alston starting at running back, the ground game becomes more of ground and pound than speed. Alston should help a lot in short yardage and in the redzone. Also, watch for Andrew Buie to get plenty of reps as well. Buie brings the speed. It will be a very difficult offense to slow down.

Clemson: Speaking of hard to slow down, the Tigers will be right on pace with WVU. Tajh Boyd broke out this season to show he is one of the better young quarterbacks in the nation. Boyd finished with 31 touchdowns, and will certainly be looking to add to that total tonight. He is a bit more susceptible to the interception, but should have plenty of opportunities against the banged up WVU secondary. Sammy Watkins will be his top target. Watkins was fantastic in his first season. The frosh ended up with 77 receptions and 11 touchdowns. He will be keyed on all night, which should open things up for the res of the crew, including tight end, Dwayne Allen. WVU has struggled against tight ends this year, so look for Allen to be involved early. Clemson is more balanced than the Mountaineers Andre Ellington has had a solid year, rushing for over 1,000 yards. There is no doubt this will be an offensive showcase tonight.

Defense:

West Virginia: The front is going to need to show up. Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller have come on strong lately, and will pose a tough matchup for the Clemson line. The big question will be how the front six slows the running game. The WVU linebacking unit has been hit and miss all year. However, Najee Goode and company played very well down the stretch. First step will be to stop the run, then it's all about slowing down Dwayne Allen. The secondary will be in for a treat. Already missing Terrence Garvin (injury), the young secondary will struggle to slow down Watkins and company. They will have to play more soft zone early on to get a sense of where Clemson will be attacking the most. Bottom-line is WVU needs to get to Boyd. If not, it could be a long night for this crew.

Clemson: It's not a bad unit either, but will struggle (like WVU) to sow down the offense they are facing. The Tigers best shot will also be to try and get to the quarterback. Andre Branch will anchor the front that could make things interesting. Branch, along with Brandon Thompson, and the linebacking crew should be able to slow down the WVU rush. However, slowing down the pass is another story. Clemson will have to bring in extra defensive backs to guard the pass, which could in turn open the rush back up for WVU. It will be a bit of a cat and mouse game early on, but it will be tough to shut down the Mountaineers.

Special Teams:

West Virginia: WVU has one of the best return guys in the nation in Tavon Austin. He has returned to kicks all the way, and also is very difficult to bring down. He does tend to drop the ball on punts, so we'll see if someone else gets that gig. Tyler Bitancurt doesn't have huge numbers, but the kid has been clutch. He has some big kicks under his belt. Corey Smith has improved his punting. Kick coverage has been inconsistent this season.

Clemson: Sammy Watkins can also return a kick like a badass, so WVU would be wise to kick it far away from him. Chandler Catanzaro has good range, hitting seven kicks from 40+. Dawson Zimmerman is a solid punter, averaging over 42 yards a kick. Clemson has also struggled with kick coverage this year.

Overall:

This just feels like a game where both teams are going to put a number on the board. Both offenses have been prolific this season, and it's hard to believe that changes tonight. Expect a close game, with both teams trading scores early on. The defense that can force a mistake or two will probably be the difference. Also, special teams could play a significant role, especially with playmakers on both sides. WVU may have the advantage with the more experienced quarterback. And look for that to pay off in the long run.

Prediction: 38-35 WVU

It's Gameweek! Orange Bowl Primer

Matchup:  WVU v Clemson


When:  Wed, 8:30p, ESPN


Line:  -3 Clemson


West Virginia Players to Watch:
Geno Smith, QB:  3,978 yards, 25 TD, 7 INT
Shawne Alston, RB:  354 yards, 10 TD
Tavon Austin, WR:  2,294 all-purpose yards, 7 total touchdowns 
Stedman Bailey, WR:  67 rec, 1,197 yards, 11 TD


Clemson Players to Watch:
Tajh Boyd, QB:  3,578 yards, 31 TD, 10 INT
Andre Ellington, RB:  1,062 yards, 10 TD
Sammy Watkins, WR:  77 rec, 1,153 yards, 11 TD
Andre Branch, DE:  78 total tackles, 16 TFL, 10.5 sacks


Storylines:


Welcome to the BCS, Dana.  You'll love it here...and the fans will love you even more if this becomes a constant.  Of course, it will be much more difficult when WVU moves to the Big 12, but for now the Mountaineers will be a force every year in the weak Big East.  Holgorsen did well to silence critics in year one, but by his own admission he'd tell you the team needs to get better.  There were certainly some inconsistencies in all facets of the game, but a strong finish propelled WVU into the Orange Bowl.  Now, how do Holgy's boys close out the season.


Shawne Alston, it's your time to shine.  Especially with the injury to Dustin Garrison.  Alston won't be the fastest guy out there, but the junior has been a very solid piece to Holgorsen's offense.  Alston does have 10 touchdowns this year, and is very effective on short-yardage.  Now they will look for Alston to hopefully break a few tackles and help WVU control the clock...and the scoreboard.


West Virginia's defense will be in a battle to try to slow down the tiger attack.  Clemson is more balanced than possibly any team WVU has faced this season, with elite plamakers at all the skilled positions.  Sammy Watkins might be the best receiver in college football, and he's a freshman.  Andre Ellington rushed for over a 1,000 yards this season.  Meanwhile, former WVU commit, Tajh Boyd has had a breakout year throwing for 31 touchdowns.  The Mountaineers may have to sacrifice some aggression if things are slipping early.  If this is Jeff Casteel's final game has DC, let's hope it's his finest hour.  


What if we're all wrong?  What if neither offense shows up, and the game ends 10-6?  Or both defenses just dominate, and neither team scores 20.  That would be epic.  Hell, even Dabo Swinney thinks it's going to be a shootout.  So, whats the possibility of the unexpected?  Slim to none.  Don't be crazy, take the over.  

WVU-Villanova Final Thoughts

A strong finish helped WVU pick up their first Big East win of the year.  The Mountaineers were paced by their upperclassman, once again, but the youngsters came on at the end to help WVU close it out.  The Mountaineers now have 10 wins on the season, essentially halfway to making postseason play.


Player of the Game:  Truck Bryant.  The most polarizing player on the team had a career day, finishing with 34 points, including many big buckets down the stretch.  Truck also played very good defense late, disrupting many plays.  Overall, a solid start to Big East play for Truck.


Play of the Game:  Kevin Jones Returning.  The team looked completely lost when KJ had to get stitches early in the second half.  Villanova took complete control of the game when KJ was out, and could have really built a lead.  Fortunately, the medical staff got KJ back to the floor as soon as possible.


Other Thoughts:


I loved the three guard set late.  The freshmen PG's matched up well together, and really opened things up for the Mountaineers.  The rebounding was a bit week, but overall it was a big hit.


Dominic Rutledge continues to improve.  Yes, he didn't play a whole lot last night, but the kid is starting to get it, and has shown flashes of what kind of offensive game he can bring.  


Kevin Noreen is like watching Cam Thoroughman on PCP...and I'm not sure that's a bad thing.


Seton Hall will be a true test tomorrow night.  They got embarrassed last night, and will be looking to avoid an 0-2 start in conference by any means necessary.  The first five mins is going to be a major factor for the Mountaineers.

Flying Dub-V's Plays of the Year

Time to take a look back at a year full of fantastic performances and plays on the gridiron for West Virginia.

Game 1. WVU v Marshall: Tavon Austin's Kick Return. With a lightning storm nearing, Austin's kick return gave WVU some breathing room. After the delay, WVU would score again to make it an insurmountable lead and the game would eventually be called. It was a very timley score for WVU.

Game 2. WVU v Norfolk St: Ivan McCartney's 39 yard TD catch. Early in the fourth quarter, Sticks got loose. Geno was able to throw a perfect dart to Sticks in the end zone for the score. It was a beautiful pitch-and-catch

Game 3. WVU at Maryland: Eain Smith's Interception. Maryland was driving late in the fourth quarter, with a chance to win the game. The Terps were in Mountaineer territory, and the defense desperately needed to make a play. Enter Smith, who read Danny O'Brien perfectly, stepped into a throw, and picked the ball off on the six.

Game 4. WVU v LSU: Geno Smith's Perfect Pass to Tavon. This play shows the outstanding accuracy Geno can display. This ball is perfectly thrown to Austin, who nearly takes it to the house.

Game 5. WVU v Bowling Green: Dustin Garrison's Entire Performance. 291 yards says it all. An outstanding day for the kid.

Game 6. WVU v UConn: The Fumble Return. Halfway through the 3rd quarter UConn was driving deep into WVU territory, when Pat Miller stripped Johnny McEntee of the ball. Juwone Snow recovered it to go 84 yards. That set up a Tavon Austin TD catch, and it was smooth sailing after that. Just a huge play by Miller and Snow.

Game 7. WVU at Syracuse: Stedman Bailey's Acrobatic Catch and Score. It was an awful game, but at least Bailey gave WVU one thing to cheer about.

Game 8. WVU at Rutgers: Tavon Austin's 80-yard Reverse TD. While Geno Smith's TD late was the most important play, Austin showing off his speed on a frozen tundra was the sexier play to put on the list.

Game 9. WVU v Louisville: Stedman Bailey's One-handed Catch. This play was incredible, and it did keep WVU's hopes alive of a comeback. Sadly, they didn't have any Tim Tebow luck.

Game 10. WVU at Cincinnati: The Block. In the final seconds the Bearcats were trying to force overtime with a tying field goal. That's when Eain Smith and just about everyone else blew through the Cincy line to block it. It was nice to see WVU actually get the break in the kicking game for once.

Game 11. WVU v Pitt: The Stedman Bailey Stiff Arm. This needs no explanation.

Game 12. WVU at South Florida: Stedman's Diving Catch. Maybe the bigger play was Shawne Alston getting a woozy Bailey lined-up for the spike.

Quick Look at Former Mountaineers with NBA Connections

Da'Sean Butler: Opened camp with the San Antonio Spurs, but was waived yesterday. FUTURE: Could easily find a place overseas to play, but could elect to play in the D-League to stay close to the NBA.

Devin Ebanks: Starts his second year with the Los Angeles Lakers. FUTURE: The team exercised his contract, and Ebanks will likely get a chance for some more playing time if he can adjust to playing more shooting guard and small forward.

Casey Mitchell: Was invited to attend camp in Houston. Mitchell was then waived earlier this week. FUTURE: Will be headed back to Sioux Falls in the D-League, where he has had a nice start to the season.

Joe Alexander: Currently playing in Russia for BC Krasnye Krylia. FUTURE: Tough to say at this point, but might be overseas for the foreseeable future. He had an outstanding season in the D-League last year and never got a sniff.

Former Mountaineers in the NFL, Week 14

Anthony Becht, TE, Chiefs: Didn't register any stats for in a loss to the Steelers.

Brandon Hogan: Was inactive for the Panthers. Yet to play this year.

Mortty Ivy, LB, Steelers: Resigned by the Steelers las week, and had one tackle in win over the Browns.

PacMan Jones, CB, Bengals: Registered four tackles and had two passes defensed in loss to Steelers.

Ellis Lankster, CB, Jets: Was inactive for the Jets this week.

Pat McAfee, P, Colts: Had six punts, with an average of 44 in a loss to Baltimore.

Corey McIntyre, FB, Bills: Started, but didn't register any stats in Buffalo's loss to the Chargers.

Ryan Mundy, FS, Steelers: Didn't register any stats in win over the Browns.

Chris Neild, NT, Redskins: Didn't register any stats in loss to the Redskins.

Robert Sands, FS, Bengals: Back to the inactive list.

Owen Schmitt, FB, Eagles: Didn't register any stats in win pver the Dolphins.

Steve Slaton, RB, Dolphins: Was inactive this week for the Dolphins.

Injuries:

J.T. Thomas: Injured Reserve

Flying Dub-V Postseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia. It was an epic season for Geno, as he broke nearly every single-season passing record in Morgantown. He was 7th in the nation in passing yardage, and finished first in the conference in passing efficiency, completions, and touchdowns.

Honorable Mention: Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati and Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Defensive Player of the Year: Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati. It was an outstanding season for Wolfe, who led the Bearcat's defense that played exceptionally well. Wolfe finished with 9.5 sacks, 19.5 TFL, and three forced fumbles. More importantly he anchored an offensive line that was very god against the run.

Honorable Mention: Khasseem Greene, LB, Rutgers and Kendall Reyes, DL, UConn

Coach of the Year: Butch Jones, Cincinnati. There are great arguments for both Louisville's Charlie Strong and Greg Schiano of Rutgers, but Jones led a fantastic turnaround that nearly ended in a BCS bid. He also had to deal with losing his star quarterback and still found a way to win a share of the conference. From 4-8 to 9-3 in just one year...not bad, Butch.

Honorable Mention: Strong and Schiano

First Year Player of the Year: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville. It was a completely different team after Bridgewater took over for the Cardinals. Yes, it too a few weeks, but once the kid was comfortable, Louisville took off and nearly get a BCS-bid. He had respectable numbers as a freshman, finishing with 12 touchdown passes and a completion percentage of 66. More importantly, he proved he can lead this team to potentially big things.

Honorable Mention: Lyle McCombs, RB UConn and Michaelee Harris, WR, Louisville

Special Teams Player of the Year: Tavon Austin, RS, WVU. The all-purpose beast for the Mountaineers had a very solid season returning kicks for WVU, including two touchdowns. He was also one of the leaders in punt return yardage, which included a long of 64. The triple-threat player seems to have a bright future in front of him.

Honorable Mention: Dave Teggart, K, UConn and Jeremy Deering, RS, Rutgers

Orange Bowl Updates

Every few days we will try to provide you with stories and tidbits surrounding the Orange Bowl that will tide you over till gameday in early January.

The Miami Herald has run a nice profile on the matchup, specifically the two offenses.

Let the Florida recruiting continue!

Right now, BetUS has the total points at 60. Ummmm, take the over?

WVU fans are already booking their trips.

WVU-Kansas State Final Thoughts

As Kevin Jones goes, this team goes. At least at this point. Fortunately for Mountaineer fans, Jones is having an exceptional start to the year. He is averaging a double-double (20 pts and 11 reb) and last night finished with a career high 30, with 12 boards. Jones also hit the 3-pointer to send it to overtime, had the winning bucket in double OT, and buried two free throws to ice it. He seems a lot more comfortable in the leader role this year, and could be really special.

Aaron Brown gives us a preview of what he can do. Yes, the 3-pointer late in OT was all class, but he did much more than that. Brown also showed some versatility on the court, even creating his own shot from the corner. Brown grabbed a few rebounds and actually hit some free throws. Brown was also active on top of the 1-3-1. The freshmen have all stepped up at certain times this year. Now it's time for them all to take that next step.

Deniz Kilicli did something rare last night, and he did it twice. Seriously, who travels after getting a rebound? And, who does twice in one game? Well, the Turk did. Call it a lack of toughness or a lack of concentration. Whatever it was it can't happen again. And, I have a feeling Huggs will make sure it doesn't happen again. It's too bad it did occur last night. It overshadowed what was a very nice half of basketball for Kilicli.

Frank Martin scares the hell out of me. Huggs may yell and look pissed, but Martin takes it to another level. He is like a nuclear explosion combined with a hurricane...just straight demonic rage. Seems like a good coach though. Kansas State has played well under him. On a side note, why do college football coaches get chastised for yelling at kids, but never college hoops coaches?

Big East Power Rankings, End of Regular Season

1. West Virginia (9-3, 5-2 in conference): After another close win, things fall into place for the Mountaineers to get the BCS tiebreaker. Next Step...Taking on Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

2. Cincinnati (9-3, 5-2): Outstanding turnaround this season for the Bearcats. Probably BCS-bound if Zach Collaros stayed healthy. Next Step...Facing Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl.

3. Louisville (7-5, 5-2): From 2-4 to nearly reaching the Orange Bowl, 2011 was a wild one for the Cards. Next Step...a tri to Charlotte for the Belk Bowl against NC State.

4. Rutgers (8-4, 4-3): The Knights proved the critics wrong this year, fighting for the championship and reaching a bowl. Next Step...Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl against Iowa State.

5. Pittsburgh (6-6, 4-3): Not a true season to remember for the Panthers, who sputttered all year. Next Step...Compass Bowl, again, facing SMU.

6. Connecticut (5-7, 3-4): The Huskies struggled to find consistency all year on offense. Having the one of the worst secondaries in the nation didn't help either. Next Step...Basketball season.

7. South Florida (5-7, 1-6): Started 4-0, finished 1-7. The Bulls just completely fell off the horse. Next Step...Beach season.

8. Syracuse (5-7, 1-6): Successfully lost five straight to end the season. What looked promising, turned to hell. Next Step...Basketball season

Orange Bowl Updates

Every few days we will try to provide you with stories and tidbits surrounding the Orange Bowl that will tide you over till gameday in early January.

No worries Mountaineer fans, Flipper the Dolphin picked WVU to win!

ESPN will send Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden to Miami for the call of the game.

This is the ugliest coat of all-time.

Over 2,000 tickets of WVU's allotment sold on first day.

WVU stresses to buy tickets through the school.