(New York City) -- It had been 40 years since a West Virginia University basketball player was chosen in the first round of NBA draft. That streak of first-round futility ended Thursday night at Madison Square Garden when forward Joe Alexander was chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks with the eighth overall pick of the 2008 draft.

Alexander becomes the highest Mountaineer draft pick since Rod Thorn was picked second overall in the 1963 draft. Alexander, a junior who blossomed under in his one and only season with Bob Huggins as coach, exchanged hugs with family members and Huggins upon hearing his name called by league commissioner David Stern.

“This is a great night for Joe Alexander and for the Mountaineer basketball family,” Huggins said. “Joe has worked extremely hard to put himself in this position to be selected as the 8th pick in the draft. He’s got talent, and I think he will do well at the NBA level. The entire Mountaineer basketball family is happy for Joe.”

The Mount Airy, MD resident averaged 16.9 pts and 6.4 rebounds in earning first team all Big East honors last season. Behind Alexander the Mountaineers reached the semifinal round of the Big East Championship tournament and the NCAA’s Sweet-16.

As the eighth selection Alexander will sign a guaranteed contract that will pay him over 4.1 million dollars in the next two years with the Bucks. Alexander’s draft stock skyrocketed over the last six weeks when he impressed NBA scouts with his athleticism, strength, and passion for the game.

Huntington native OJ Mayo was the third overall selection of the draft. Mayo, who played one season at USC, was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves.  He was promptly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Chicago Bulls used the first overall pick of the draft to select Memphis guard Derrick Rose. Michael Beasley, who was recruited to Kansas State by Huggins, was selected second by Miami.  

(Morgantown) -- The West Virginia Sports Communications Office is launching the official Pat White Web Site, patwhiteplayshere.com on Friday, June 27.

The site is an inclusive venue that gives fans, alumni, media and Heisman voters all the up-to-date information about the two-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, two-time bowl MVP and two-time team MVP.

The site offers the entire playing history of White, in video, pictures and biography. There are videos from his early days of pee-wee football, to High SchoolDaphne to the past three years as a Mountaineer. There are quotes from a who’s-who of national media about White’s leadership and ability on the field.

The site also has his iPod playlist, things you need to know about him, wallpaper that can be downloaded and a schedule when White can be seen on television this season. There is also the ability for fans to ask him questions during the season.

The WVU Sports Communication staff handled the site concept, while BlaineTurner Advertising, Inc., in developed its design and production.Morgantown

White has led the Mountaineers to three straight 11-win seasons, two BIG EAST Conference titles, three straight New Year’s bowl game victories and three straight Associated Press Top-10 finishes.

Last year, White rushed for 1,335 yards and 14 touchdowns and completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,724 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the Mountaineers to an 11-2 record, the BIG EAST Championship and a 48-28 victory over No. 3 Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. He was named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the second-straight year, was named the bowl’s offensive MVP for the second-straight year and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting for national player of the year.

For his career, the 2008 preseason All-American and one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy has rushed for 3,506 yards and 39 touchdowns, and completed 64 percent of his passes for 4,207 yards and 35 touchdowns. Already the career BIG EAST leader, he needs 784 more yards to become the all-time rushing quarterback in NCAA Division I-A history. He lacks 115 yards to become WVU’s all-time leader in total offense.

The Mountaineers open their season on August 30 against Villanova at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Berry Hills Country Club’s Professional Barry Evans held onto his opening round lead in the 75^th West Virginia Open Championship but was caught at the top of the leader board on the second day by two-time defending champion David Bradshaw of Harpers Ferry. 

Evans, the tournament’s host pro carded an even par 70 but was matched for the lead at 4 under par 136 by Bradshaw’s second day three-under par 67.  Sixty one golfers made the cut and will be playing in the championship’s final round on Friday. 

Joining Evans and Bradshaw in the final threesome on Friday will be Craig Berner of Scott Depot, who followed up an opening round one over par 71 with an impressive three under par 67 on Thursday.

Other golfers within striking distance are Tim Fisher of Ripley at even par 140, five-time winner Brad Westfall of Grafton and Darcy Donaldson of Athens enter the final round at one over par 141.   

The par-70, 6,400-yard championship Berry Hills course last played host to the West Virginia Open in 2001.

West Virginia University Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong has announced the 2008-09 men’s basketball non-conference schedule.

The Mountaineers will play 13 non-conference contests, including four games in the Las Vegas Invitational. As part of the Las Vegas Invitational, West Virginia will play Longwood at home and Delaware State in Charleston before traveling to Las Vegas to play two games against either Iowa, Kansas State or Kentucky.

West Virginia will open the regular season Nov. 15 at home against Elon and will also play Longwood, Cleveland State, Miami University and Radford at the WVU Coliseum.

WVU will play road games at Mississippi, Duquesne and Ohio State. The Mountaineers will play two games in Charleston – Delaware State and Marshall. One additional non-conference game will be confirmed at a later date.

In 2009-10, Mississippi and Ohio State will return the games to Morgantown.

“We are striving for a more competitive non-conference schedule,” says head coach Bob Huggins. “We believe our schedule has enough balance to prepare us for a tough BIG EAST schedule.”

The BIG EAST portion of the schedule will be announced in September. The WVU men’s basketball non-conference schedule:

Saturday           Nov. 8              Mountain State (Exhibition)                     Morgantown

Saturday           Nov. 15             Elon                                                     Morgantown

Thursday           Nov. 20             Longwood ^                                          Morgantown

Tuesday            Nov. 25             vs. Delaware State ^                              Charleston

Friday               Nov. 28             vs. Iowa, Kansas State or Kentucky ^     Las Vegas, Nev.

Saturday           Nov. 29             vs. Iowa, Kansas State or Kentucky ^     Las Vegas, Nev.

Wednesday       Dec. 3              at Mississippi                                       Oxford, Miss.

Saturday           Dec. 6              Cleveland State                                     Morgantown

Saturday           Dec. 13             at Duquesne                                         Pittsburgh, Pa.

Saturday           Dec. 20             Miami University (Ohio)                         Morgantown

Tuesday            Dec. 23             Radford                                               Morgantown

Saturday           Dec. 27             at Ohio State                                       Columbus, Ohio

Tues./Wed.       Jan. 13 or 14     vs. Marshall                                          Charleston

^ Las Vegas Invitational

Huntington, W.Va. –Marshall University Director of Athletics Bob Marcum announced the Thundering Herd’s 2008 football schedule Tuesday, which includes six home games and contests against nine opponents who appeared in bowl games a year ago. In addition, two Marshall home games are already scheduled to be broadcast nationally by ESPN.

“We have six home games and for the first time we have five opponents coming to Huntington who played in bowl games a year ago. I think that is exciting for not only our fans, but our program as a whole,” Marcum said. “The overall strength of this schedule also leads to national television opportunities for our program at home and that exposure is a big plus.”

Five teams that appeared in bowls a year ago will travel to Huntington this season and two of those home games are already slated for national television. Games with Big East member Cincinnati on Friday, October 4^th and a Tuesday, October 28 meeting with Houston will be televised by ESPN. The Thundering Herd’s home schedule also includes dates with Memphis on Sept. 13, defending C-USA Champion UCF on Nov. 15 and Tulsa on Nov. 29. All three advanced to bowls last season.

The Thundering Herd will open the season at home with Illinois State on Saturday, August 30, before traveling to Big 10 power Wisconsin on September 6^th. Marshall will face 2008 Fiesta Bowl Champion West Virginia in the latest edition of the Friends of Coal Bowl in Morgantown on Saturday, September 27, following the home contest with Memphis on the 13th and a C-USA road test at Southern Miss on Sept 20th. Marshall will also travel to UAB on Oct. 18, East Carolina on Nov. 8 and to Rice on Nov. 22 in conference play.

“This is a challenging schedule from top to bottom, with that said, I like the way the games fall,” Marshall Head Coach Mark Snyder. “We are going to have to be ready to play every week and improve each week as a team.”

Additional games are expected to be televised and those contests will be announced at a later date.

Season ticket renewal forms for the 2008 football season will be mailed out from the Marshall Athletics Ticket Office later this week.

The 2008 Marshall Football Schedule

Saturday, Aug. 30        ILLINOIS STATE

Saturday, Sept. 6         at Wisconsin

Saturday, Sept. 13       MEMPHIS*

Saturday, Sept. 20       at Southern Miss*

Saturday, Sept. 27       at West Virginia

Friday, Oct. 3              CINCINNATI (ESPN)

Saturday, Oct. 18        at UAB

Tuesday, Oct. 28         HOUSTON* (ESPN)

Saturday, Nov. 8          at East Carolina*

Saturday, Nov. 15        UCF*

Saturday, Nov. 22        at Rice*

Saturday, Nov. 29        TULSA*

Home Games in CAPS.

*- Denotes Conference USA game.

Dates and times are subject to change.

(Morgantown) -- West Virginia University has released its 2008 football schedule with the home opener August 30th against Bowl Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) Villanova. There are seven home games on the slate including non-conference games against Villanova Marshall and Auburn and Big East games against Rutgers, Syracuse, Cincinnati and South Florida. Road games are set at East Carolina, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisville and Pitt.

"I am excited about this year's schedule," said Athletic Director Ed Pastilong in a press release announcing the schedule. "We have seven home games, which always is good for our fan base. It is a very challenging non-conference schedule but unique in that we have games against various conferences. Auburn from the SEC, Colorado fromthe Big 12 and East Carolina from Conference USA."

Four games will be on national television--Auburn, Pitt, South Florida and a Thursday night road game against Colorado. Both the Colorado and Auburn games will be on Thursday nights and the Pitt game will be on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The rest will be on Saturdays.

"Our schedule, once again, is not only attractive but tough, featuring onference rivals and outstanding non-conference opponents," said new head coach Bill Stewart. "The overall schedule will provide many cahllange, and I think our fans and supports will enjoy it."

The Mountaineers will once again have a long stretch with no home games. While West Virginia will be home for four straight games between Sept. 27 and Oct. 23 it goes on the road for three of the next four and only plays one home game between Oct. 23 and Dec. 6 when it wraps up the season at home against South Florida.

Homecoming will be Oct. 11 against Syracuse and Mountaineer Week will be Nov. 8 against Cincinnati.

Sat. Aug. 30--Villanova
Sat. Sept. 6--at East Carolina
Thurs. Sept. 18--at Colorado (ESPN)
Sat. Sept. 27--Marshall
Sat. Oct. 4--Rutgers
Sat. Oct. 11--Syracuse (Homecoming)
Thurs. Oct. 23--Auburn (ESPN)
Sat. Nov. 1--at Connecticut
Sat. Nov. 8--Cincinnati (Mountaineer Week)
Sat. Nov. 22--at Louisville
Fri. Nov. 28--at Pitt (ABC)
Sat. Dec. 6--USF (ESPN or ESPN2)