Welcome to The Shotgun/Throwdown, your daily West Virginia sports roundup (that we didn’t already talk about in another article) with some sophomoric humor and daily distractions thrown in for good measure. And if there’s something we missed, be sure to talk about it in the comments.
MOUNTAINEERS ABROAD
Several West Virginia basketball alums are making their presence felt early in pro leagues around the world as the new seasons get underway.
RaeQuan Battle helped lead Leicester to a 91–77 win over Newcastle on Sunday
with 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the British Basketball League. U.K. outlets called it a breakout game as the Riders found some rhythm after a shaky start to the year.
Jesse Edwards followed with five points and ten rebounds for Melbourne United against the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL on Sunday. Edwards has earned early praise for his defense and rebounding as United continues to roll through the opening stretch of its season.
In Japan, Volodymyr Gerun scored 24 points on 9‑of‑12 shooting for Osaka Evessa against the Shiga Lakes, while Kevin Jones added 13 points and six rebounds for Levanga Hokkaido later that day. Both have been key interior pieces in Japan’s B.League, which is now three weeks into its regular season.
Erik Stevenson posted ten points off the bench for Casademont Zaragoza in Spain’s ACB play against Río Breogán. In Greece, Pauly Paulicap chipped in four points and three rebounds for Promitheas Patras in their 75-73 loss to PAOK mateco on Saturday. Tarik Phillip went scoreless in London’s domestic league win over Caledonia Gladiators on Sunday but shined in EuroCup action last Thursday, scoring 15 points with two rebounds and seven assists in the Lions’ 87–71 victory over Dolomiti Energia Trentino.
Teyvon Myers appeared in two games for Split — one in Croatia’s Premijer Liga and another in the Adriatic ABA League, a regional competition that features top clubs from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, and other Balkan nations. He scored five points in the Adriatic contest on Sunday after playing in the domestic league on Friday.
Dalton Pepper stayed hot in Italy’s Serie B, dropping 22 points and nine rebounds in a 90–84 win over Cassino on Sunday.
Eduardo Andre hasn’t played since October 1 after Prievidza was eliminated from FIBA Europe Cup qualifying. He appeared in all three qualifying games and isn’t currently listed on the team’s active roster
MOUNTAINEER ROUNDUP
- WVU’s “Beauty and the Beast” meet returns Jan. 24 as wrestling and gymnastics both host Big 12 opponents (Wyoming for wrestling, Denver for gymnastics). One ticket will get you into both meets ($14 presale / $16 gameday). Wrestling opens Nov. 2 at the Southeast Open, while gymnastics begins Jan. 9 at Florida.
- The Big 12 will use a six-day window before announcing kickoff time and TV details for WVU’s Nov. 1 trip to Houston.
- Rich Rod said QB Khalil Wilkins and DB Fred Perry are questionable after the UCF loss, with veteran Scott Kean and freshman Max Anderson potentially taking reps under center this week. He expects more snaps for linemen Donovan Haslam and Malik Agbo against TCU, noting the group knows who to block but isn’t finishing plays.
- Harlan Obioha entered college basketball weighing around 350 pounds and was listed at 294 when he arrived at WVU. Since then, he’s dropped another 25 pounds and now sits around 270. He says WVU strength coach Jason Martinez changed his life. The UNC-Wilmington transfer impressed in the Maryland scrimmage with 14 rebounds. Ross Hodge praised his hands, footwork, and passing, adding the weight loss should allow longer stretches on the floor.
- Bob Hertzel captured fan frustration after WVU’s 45–13 loss at UCF, noting a mix of anger, fatigue, and cautious patience within the fan base. Some pointed to NIL realities and roster turnover, while others emphasized the need for time and stability under Rodriguez.
AROUND THE LEAGUE (AND BEYOND)
- After repeated penalties and Big 12 warnings, Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt says fans must end the decades-old tortilla toss tradition. The conference will now issue a 15-yard penalty and $100,000 fine after one warning.
- Texas Tech QB Behren Morton is day-to-day with a knee injury after missing the loss to Arizona State. He first hurt it in the opener and re-aggravated it against Kansas. The No. 14 Red Raiders (6–1, 3–1) host Oklahoma State on Saturday.
- NCAA president Charlie Baker cautioned schools and conferences Monday about rushing into private equity partnerships, saying they should be really careful about long-term consequences. The remarks came amid growing talks of investment deals to help fund player compensation.
- An Ohio judge granted a temporary order allowing high school athletes to profit from NIL deals, potentially unlocking opportunities for 800+ schools statewide. The ruling follows a lawsuit from the family of Ohio State commit Jamier Brown, whose mother said he’s already missed out on six-figure offers. A follow-up hearing is set for Dec. 15.
CAROUSEL SZN
- Florida State AD Michael Alford said a full review of the program will come after the season following a ninth straight ACC loss. The Seminoles are 3–4 and owe Norvell $54 million if fired. Despite fan unrest, Alford said the school is “fully committed” to helping the staff rebound down the stretch.
VIDEOS OF INTEREST
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