Basketball

Colorado and Connecticut have reportedly been evaluated by the Big 12 Conference.   Arlington, TX - After months of speculation, it now appears that two schools are on the fast track to be considered for expansion of the Big 12 Conference. According to Farouk Yusuf of Sports Keeda, the Big 12 has completed evaluations of both Connecticut and Colorado, and conversations between all parties have continued for several months. There has been no indication as to when these schools could officially be added as members of the Big 12 Conference. However, Commissioner Brett Yorkmark did confirm that the league has a “plan for expansion” at Big 12 Media Days. Stay tuned to The Voice of Motown for updates. (Photo by UConn Athletics) 

Country Roads Trust should hold an NIL benefit concert at Milan Puskar Stadium.   Morgantown, WV - Country Roads Trust has quickly become one of the best NIL collectives in the nation. The West Virginia University Athletics based fund for athletes has achieved many incredible feats so far, including Million Dollar May. Now, one former WVU athlete has come up with an incredible idea for Country Roads Trust to raise even more money for the athletes. Hold a benefit concert featuring West Virginia’s very own Charles Wesley Godwin and Brad Paisley. https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1679665859613147136?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw https://twitter.com/aruoff/status/1679532019724738566?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw With both being Mountaineer fans, Wesley Godwin and Paisley would certainly be a major attraction for individuals all across the Mountain State. Holding the concert in Milan Puskar Stadium while setting the price at $20 a ticket would bring in “mountains” of money for WVU to use to attract high-level talent to Morgantown. However, this would also only work if a portion of the proceeds go to another worthy cause - WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. https://twitter.com/_jamesclark3_/status/1679671427241320448?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw There is a massive opportunity here to take the next step in the NIL game. It all rests in the hands of Brad Paisley and Charles Wesley Godwin.

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — According to Hoppy Kercheval of MetroNews, Bob Huggins has sent his former employer, West Virginia University, a letter, demanding that he be reinstated or he will sue the school! In the letter, Huggins claims that he never resigned. Huggins, 69, was reportedly forced to resign from his position as the head coach of the Mountaineers following his DUI arrest in Pittsburgh. Stay tuned to The Voice of Morgantown for more on this developing story!  https://twitter.com/hoppykercheval/status/1677853009496113152?s=46&t=USDKe35TLtcCPitgUlQ1PA

WVU’s Country Roads Trust has been recognized as one of the most ambitious NIL programs in the nation.   Morgantown, WV - The West Virginia University Athletic Department has been on a tear as of late when it comes to NIL. Country Roads Trust is off to a hot start, and is setting up the Mountaineers for success in the future. The media outlet On3 recently revealed the top 10 MOST AMBITIOUS NIL programs in the nation, and Country Roads Trust was included on the list. https://twitter.com/on3nil/status/1674431624883363843?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw WVU’s NIL program came in at 10th. Here are the NIL collectives recognized by On3. 1. Tennessee 2. Texas A&M 3. Oregon 4. Texas 5. Miami 6. Florida State 7. USC 8. Arkansas 9. Ole Miss 10 WVU (Photo by WVU Athletics) 

According to the criminal complaint against Bob Huggins, he blew a 0.21 on the breathalyzer and didn't know what city he was in.   MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Bob Huggins was arrested for drinking and driving in Pittsburgh last night and the scary details of the arrest are now starting to surface. According to the criminal complaint filed against him, Huggins blew a 0.21 on the breathalyzer, which is almost 3 times the legal limit of 0.08. He was also unable to pass the field sobriety test and didn't even know what city he was in. The arresting officer had the following to say in his report about Huggins: "Huggins was unable to explain how his tire got shredded or how he was going to fix it by turning around in the middle of the street. He was unable to say where he was. He stated he was watching basketball with his brother at a basketball camp. When asked where the camp was, Huggins stated "Sherrodsville." Huggins could not tell us how he got to Pittsburgh. Huggins told the officer that he remembered stopping at a Burger King and had a receipt. The Burger King was located in Washington, PA, and Huggins could not explain how he was in Pittsburgh." When the officer asked him to step out of his vehicle, Huggins was "swaying backwards into the vehicle almost falling back into the driver's seat. The officer also observed empty beer cans in a white garbage bag on the front, passenger floorboard of Huggins' vehicle. In the trunk of the vehicle was another white garbage bag of empty metal beer bottles." https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1670093222809423879?s=20 https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1670103757395222529?s=20 Stay tuned to The Voice of Morgantown for more information as it becomes available. 

According to reports, two Pac-12 schools will officially become Big 12 members in the near future. Boulder, CO - The Big 12 has been hot on the expansion trail. With the conference expected to add members in the near future, reports have surfaced as to who we can expect those schools to be. According to Greg Swaim of the Swaim Show, Colorado and Arizona will be the first two schools to make the move to the Big 12. However, it will not become official until the Pac-12’s television deal is finalized. https://twitter.com/GSwaim/status/1665199083579928576?s=20 Swaim also revealed that while Utah and Arizona State will be considered, the conference may settle for only two Pac-12 schools. Instead, the Big 12 would then look to the ACC to add any future members. Recent reports have indicated that the ACC is on the verge of collapse, so teams jumping ship would come to no surprise to many. Stay tuned to The Voice of Motown for updates on the Big 12’s expansion situation. (Photo by Arizona Athletics) 

Morgantown, West Virginia - The West Virginia Mountaineers have officially landed one of the top players in the transfer portal! Jesse Edwards, a 6'11 center from Syracuse, is a five star transfer and the #5 overall player in the transfer portal. Edwards averaged 14.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game for the Orange last season. He also shot 59.2% from the floor and 72.9% from the free throw line. Edwards entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, set up his first (and only) visit to West Virginia, visited Morgantown and has now committed to play for the Mountaineers! https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1647636597125390338?s=46&t=USDKe35TLtcCPitgUlQ1PA https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1647633856520912901?s=46&t=USDKe35TLtcCPitgUlQ1PA https://twitter.com/jonrothstein/status/1647634299812732930?s=46&t=USDKe35TLtcCPitgUlQ1PA      

Morgantown, West Virginia - Earlier today, Arizona transfer point guard Kerr Kriisa decided to continue his career at West Virginia University by committing to play for the Mountaineers. Although Kriisa likely had many different options where he could play, he ultimately decided that West Virginia was the best fit. Kriisa said the following today to ESPN's Jonathan Givony: "I wanted to start from zero,” Kriisa said to Givony. “I didn’t want to go anywhere where I had pre-existing relationships. I need to challenge myself. I really liked how they recruited me. Jay Kuntz and the entire staff. When I saw the old truck that Bob Huggins is driving, I knew that guy was loyal. Now I need to start playing some defense.” Kriisa averaged 9.9 points and PAC 12-best 5.1 assists last season for Arizona, but his defense reportedly needs a lot of work. Playing for Bob Huggins, he will practice under one of the best defensive coaches of all time. https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1643720710773252096?s=20

Bob Huggins continues to prove that the game has not passed him by. In fact, Huggins is succeeding masterfully in today's game and under the new rules of college athletics. If/when Huggins gets the final remaining pieces to round out his team, West Virginia could potentially be favorites to win the Big 12 Championship and compete for the national championship next March.

Morgantown, West Virginia - At no point in the history of West Virginia athletics has the football and basketball programs collectively been in such bad shape at the same time. The numbers don't lie and unfortunately West Virginia has been the worst program in the Big 12 Conference over the last 5 years. It's never been easy to be a West Virginia fan. There has been plenty of heartache and frustration over the years, but at this point we're approaching complete, widespread apathy. In football, West Virginia is 14-21 in conference play since Neal Brown has been the head coach of the Mountaineers. Only Texas Tech (13-23) and Kansas (5-30) have been worse. Overall, Brown is 22-25, West Virginia has not been in the Top 25 since 2018, there have been zero program-defining wins, no progress on the field, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for the Mountaineers. West Virginia was 5-7 last season. While the fanbase will be told to trust the people in charge, it's difficult to see any reason for hope in 2023. West Virginia has lost numerous quality, proven players to the transfer portal and graduation and have gained mostly players who have performed well at the Group of 5 level. Adding players from Kent State, Middle Tennessee State, Towson, etc., will never be adequate enough to improve a failing Power 5 team like the Mountaineers. Yes, West Virginia also added a tight end from LSU (Kole Taylor - 5 catches, 55 yards last season), a wide receiver from NC State (25 receptions, 406 yards, 2 touchdowns in 2022) and a solid defensive lineman from Penn State (Fatorma Mulbah - no stats in 2022), but no one Neal Brown and his staff have added this offseason can come close to replacing players like Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Charles Woods, Kaden Prather, Jordan Jefferson, Mumu Bin-Wahad, JT Daniels, among many others. So the question begging to be asked is, if West Virginia was bad last year, how are they going to be better next season by downgrading their talent? A few of the new players may certainly be quality additions who could help the team, but it's simply impossible to argue that the Mountaineers have upgraded in any way heading into 2023. With a legendary, Hall of Fame head coach, you'd expect the basketball program to be in better shape, but that simply isn't the case. Over the past 5 years, West Virginia is 28-48 in Big 12 Conference play, which is 9th out of 10 teams, ahead of only Iowa State (25-51). The Mountaineers are 0-5 this season in conference play and have lost five consecutive games. West Virginia is currently 10-7 overall and although they can still be found on NCAA Tournament projections, their upcoming schedule suggests that it's going to be difficult to find another win for a really long time. West Virginia plays #17 TCU on Wednesday night, then #10 Texas, at Texas Tech, against #21 Auburn and then on the road at #17 TCU again. The Mountaineers could potentially win one or two of those games, but the team needs at least nine more wins this season to get to nineteen wins and only have fourteen games remaining. While Bob Huggins has promised that the Mountaineers are going to be better and that they are going to turn this season around, winning 9 out of 14 games to end the season seems like an impossibility at this point. Following this season, the Mountaineers lose starters Jimmy Bell, Jr., Emmitt Matthews, Jr., Kedrian Johnson and Erik Stevenson, as well as talented point guard Joe Toussaint off the bench, and West Virginia simply does not have much to get excited about left on the 2023-2024 roster. In addition, West Virginia currently has no recruits committed to play for the team and so Huggins - if he continues to coach the team next season - will once again have to rely on the transfer portal. Huggins and staff were successful in the portal this last year, but most of the players available will be one-and-done players and the whole cycle will start all over again next year. With that all said, it's hard to see any reason to be hopeful or positive about the football or basketball programs for the foreseeable future. It's truly the Dark Days of West Virginia Sports and although fans of the Mountaineers are some of the most loyal, passionate in the entire country, the product on the field and court has given West Virginia fans nothing to cheer about. https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1614425924807655428?s=20&t=b9hGnzIwJITBPJeqG6_-1Q

Cover Photo: WVU Athletics Morgantown, West Virginia - The West Virginia Mountaineers moved to 8-2 this season with an impressive 81-70 victory over the UAB Blazers (7-2) on Saturday and now the Mountaineers are starting to get some respect nationally! In the latest CBS Sports College Basketball Rankings, the Mountaineers actually made the Top 25! West Virginia came in ranked at #25 this week. CBS Sports had the following to say about West Virginia's last game: "Emmitt Matthews finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in Saturday's 81-70 win over UAB. The Mountaineers' next game is Dec. 18 against Buffalo." West Virginia has not been ranked in the Top 25 for a couple of years so getting some national recognition, even this early in the season, is huge for the program!  

Cover Photo: WVU Athletics Morgantown, West Virginia - The West Virginia Mountaineers moved to 7-2 and 4-0 at home, beating the Navy Midshipmen, 85-64. West Virginia was led by senior forward Tre Mitchell, who had his best game for the Mountaineers, finishing with 19 points (8-12 FG, 3-4 3PT), 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Senior guard Erik Stevenson shot the ball extremely well, particularly in the 1st half, and had 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Starting point guard Kedrian Johnson had 11 points and  7 assists, and Joe Toussaint added 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists off the bench. https://twitter.com/WVUhoops/status/1600646049059807232?s=20&t=fBrjo9D69FNawS1UruNuRw The Mountaineers are back in action on Saturday, December 10 at home against the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers at 6:00PM. The game will be televised live on ESPN+.

Cover Photo: AP  Cincinnati, Ohio - The West Virginia Mountaineers (6-2) fell apart late to lose to Xavier (6-3), 84-74 in the Big East/Big 12 Challenge. Following the game, head coach Bob Huggins was clearly unhappy with his team's performance, particularly late in the second half. Here's what Coach Huggins had to say after the loss: "We didn't guard and we didn't make shots in the second half. We had a chance to stay in the game and we missed consecutive shots. They went on the other end and they made consecutive shots. We didn't play defense. They played defense. It's all about attitude. We were a totally different team in the second half. We got in foul trouble. We didn't come back and respond in the way that you would hope that they would. We missed so many layups. We missed so many second-chance points. We missed wide open jump shots. We didn't capitalize on what we should have. The reality is, we gave them obviously too many second shots. We got second shots and we didn't finish them. We missed way too many free throws. They made shots at the end and we didn't. I hope our guys learned that I'm not going to put the West Virginia fans through what they went through last year. These guys have maybe one more chance and then we'll find guys that do what is asked of them. We'll clean it up."

Pat White, a legend in his own right in Morgantown, is very vocal when it comes to WVU Athletics. With the firing of athletic director Shane Lyons, White hasn’t been shy to chime in with his opinion on the matter. Earlier today, White even shared his choice of replacement for Lyons in the Athletic Director role. Matt Borman - President of LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation   https://twitter.com/ucpatwhite/status/1592914852405616640?s=46&t=PRVhwWJRozOXLxdbudCIzg For those of you who haven’t heard of Borman before, he brings with him a tremendous background. Not to mention he also has strong connections to WVU. For starters, Borman is a West Virginia University graduate. He received his masters degree in sports management in Morgantown. Borman also spent time as the executive director of the Mountaineer Athletic Club. Leading fundraisers, he was able to help garner record-setting donations for West Virginia University Athletics. White has certainly done his research on this candidate. It’s hard to argue this, as well. Borman certainly deserves a look from the Mountaineers.

(Photo by WVU Athletics)   West Virginia Athletic Director Shane Lyons was forced to resign yesterday, according to a story first broke by Hoppy Kerchival of MetroNews. Lyons, who has been WVU’s athletic director since 2015, was let go mostly due to his extension of Neal Brown that will ultimately cost the university nearly $20 million. Now, the university could also owe Lyons a large amount of cash. With his firing unlikely being due to something unlawful, the university will owe Lyons his remaining contract, totaling roughly $3.724 million, according to a report by WVNews. Lyons was contracted through 2026, with a salary of $895,000 in 2023 and $931,000 for the remaining years. WVU is expected to “act quickly” hiring a replacement for Lyons.