Basketball Flu

Greetings from The Booth!

Whew! Saved by the running gods and Old Man Winter. This past Saturday was to have been the running of the Edward Jones 5k Race For Education, and in last week’s VFB, I wrote about my commitment to running/walking the race. On Friday I received an email that the event was going to happen rain or shine. The weather forecast for race time Saturday wasn’t promising. Blizzard conditions were predicted for the Northern Shenandoah Valley, and Kemp Miller was right on the money, as I woke to blowing snow, and icy roads, not ideal conditions for running a 5k race. Reluctantly, race director Bret Hrbek had to pivot and make the race virtual instead of in-person. I felt like the kid who didn’t do his homework the night before and prayed for a snowstorm to cancel school. That being said, I will be running a 5k on my own and sending the time to Bret sometime in the next few weeks…

Well, there’s a pandemic sweeping through the nation this week, and I’m not talking about COVID or some mutated variant. It’s Basketball Flu. You know, the ailment that sends millions away from the office and into local watering holes all over the USA. March Madness is here as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament begins in earnest this Thursday and Friday with first round games (let’s not have the tired old debate as to whether the First Four is part of the tournament). From noon until midnight it’s wall-to-wall basketball, and a steady menu of buzzer-beaters and upsets (watch those 12 versus 5 games!) as the pupils in your eyes turn to roundballs. You’ll find the games on multiple channels these days, but back in the day, CBS was the sole network showing games, as they took you in rapid-fire succession around the tournament.

This year, I don’t have a horse in the race, as the only playing my WVU Mountaineers will be doing is foozeball in the student union. The Mounties started 13-2 and finished 16-17. Bob Huggins lobbied strongly for an NIT bid, but he was living in a fantasy world. West Virginia won’t even be playing in the iconic CBI, where they were waxed several years ago by Coastal Carolina. I begrudgingly have adopted rival Virginia Tech in this years dance, because of their improbable run in the ACC Tournament which took them from a bubble team to an 11-seed. This Hokie team could be this year’s Jimmy V NC State squad from ’83-’84,  My feelings for Tech have mellowed over the years, I guess.

That being said, I really really really don’t care much for Duke, but they are the team I have going all the way. Yes, they have flaws, but I think the NCAA wants a going-away title for Coach K, and until a potential matchup against Gonzaga in the regional finals, they don’t have the toughest road to the Final Four. If you’re a conspiracy theorist, you might think the NCAA is setting up the Blue Devils for the National Championship.

Unlike chicken wings and cheap gas, the truth is out there! (Cue the theme from the X-Files)

Enjoy the hoop, good luck with your bracket, and until the next visit from The Booth…GO HORNETS!

RW

 

Sports Dogs Podcast: Bracket Bustin’ With Coach C

In this edition of the SDPC, we chat with Mike Costello, aka Coach C, former Virginia Tech grad assistant under Frank Beamer, and we break down our NCAA Basketball brackets. Let the Madness begin!

 

Sports Dogs Podcast
Sports Dogs Podcast
Sports Dogs Podcast: Bracket Bustin' With Coach C
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Sports: Friday, March 12, 2021

Caps Down Flyers, Hokies Eliminated While UVA Survives In ACC, SU Schedule

The Washington Capitals continued their winning ways with a 5-3 win over Philadelphia last night. Nic Dowd scored twice for the Caps, while John Carlson reached the 500-point plateau with a goal, as Washington improved to 16-6-4. The Capitals host the Flyers again tomorrow night at 7. Air time is 6:45 on The River 95-3.

In the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, Reece Beekman’s 3-point buzzer beater propelled UVA into the semifinals with a 72-69 win over Syracuse. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech was eliminated by North Carolina 81-73. The Cavaliers will take on Georgia Tech tonight at 6:30, while the Hokies will await their fate on Selection Sunday.

The big news at the ACC Tournament yesterday was Duke dropping out of the tournament because of coronavirus issues. The Blue Devils had won their first two games of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the Big 12 Tournament, WVU fell to Oklahoma State 72-69. The 18-9 Mounties will now see where they are seeded in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

And on the Shenandoah University scoreboard, undefeated Bridgewater blanked Women’s Soccer 2-0. Today, Men’s Tennis plays at Shepherd, Field Hockey hosts Ferrum, and Baseball entertains Guilford. A full slate of events are scheduled tomorrow.

Sports: Thursday, March 11, 2021

Cavs & Hokies In ACC Action Today, SU Scoreboard, Caps-Flyers Tonight

In the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament yesterday in Greensboro, Syracuse routed NC State 89-68, Miami upset 5th-seed Clemson 67-64, Duke advanced by beating Clemson 70-56, and North Carolina rolled over Notre Dame 101-59. Among the games today, top-seed UVA takes on Syracuse at noon, while Virginia Tech plays North Carolina tonight at 9.

WVU opens Big-12 Tournament play against Oklahoma state this morning at 11:30.

On the Shenandoah University scoreboard, nationally ranked Hornet Baseball swept a twinbill from Mary Washington yesterday. In the opener, Michael Prosperi tossed a complete game shutout in a 7-0 SU win, followed by a 16-2 rout in the nightcap.

SU Men’s Tennis won it’s opener over St. Marys of Maryland 5-4. It was the first career Men’s victory for Head Coach Jason Cole.

Today, Women’s Soccer plays at Bridgewater.

And, the Washington Capitals entertain the Philadelphia Flyers tonight in NHL action. The Caps are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, and currently in second place in the Eastern Division. Air time is 6:45 on The River 95-3.

Sports: Friday, March 5, 2021

SU Football Plays Tonight, WVU Takes Down TCU, Caps-Bruins Tonight

Shenandoah University Football plays it’s home opener tonight as they take on Hampden-Sydney in an ODAC matchup. The Hornets are coming off a 27-21 loss at Bridgewater last weekend, while the Tigers shut out Southern Virginia 21-0. Air time is 6:30 on The River 95-3.

On the SU weekend docket: Women’s Basketball plays at Roanoke tonight at 5 in the ODAC Tournament, while Field Hockey plays at Lynchburg. Tomorrow’s events include Men’s Basketball at Ferrum in the ODAC Tournament. Tip off is at 4. Sunday’s action features Men and Women’s Soccer.

In college hoop, number-6 WVU built a 14-point lead on the way to a76-67 win over TCU. The Mounties host Oklahoma State in the regular season finale tomorrow at 2. Virginia Tech remains in quarantine, while number-21 Virginia play at Louisville tomorrow at 4. The major conference tournaments begin next week on the way to Selection Sunday.

And, the Capitals play at Boston again tonight at 7. The Caps are 13-5-4, and tied with the New York Islanders for first place in the NHL’s Eastern Division with 30 points. The Capitals wrap up their 5-game road trip Sunday at 7 against the Flyers. You can hear that one on The River 95-3.

Sports: Wednesday, March 3, 2021

SU Update, WVU Falls To Baylor In OT, Caps-Bruins Tonight

On the Shenandoah University scoreboard, Men’s Golf finished third, while Women’s Golf finished sixth at the Pfiffer Invitational in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Today, Women’s Tennis plays at W&L, Women’s Soccer hosts Randolph-Macon, and Women’s Volleyball entertains Potomac State.

In college hoop, number-6 WVU fell to 3rd-ranked Baylor in overtime 94-89. The Mountaineers rallied from 12 points down to take a 7-point second half lead, but were outscored by the Bears 13-8 in the extra period.

Last night’s game between Virginia Tech and Louisville was canceled due to coronavirus issues on the Hokies’ squad.

And, the Washington Capitals continue their five-game road trip tonight against the Boston Bruins. Air time is 6:45 on The River 95-3. The Caps sit in a first-place tie atop the NHL’s Eastern Division with 28 points.

Sports: Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Cavs End 3-Game Slide, WVU Takes Big Jump, SU Update

Virginia ended a 3-game losing streak last night with a 62-51 win against Miami. The number-21 Cavaliers got a combined 30 points from the duo of Sam Hauser and Trey Murphy, as they improved to 16-6 on the season.

In the latest AP College Basketball Poll, WVU sits just outside the top 5 at number 6 after a 4-point jump this week. Aforementioned UVA fell to number 21, while Virginia Tech dropped to number 22. The Mountaineers have a 5pm tip this afternoon against 3rd-ranked Baylor in Morgantown.

On the Shenandoah University sports scene, Men’s Golf sits in 4th, while Women’s Golf is in 6th place after day one of the Pfeiffer Invitational in Hilton Head, South Carolina. That tournament continues today. And the seedings of the ODAC Basketball Tournament were announced yesterday, with the 5th-seeded Women travelling to 4th-seed Roanoke Friday at 5. The 7th-seeded Men will travel to number-2 Ferrum on Saturday. game time TBA.

And, in Spring Traing baseball yesterday, the Houston Astros scored 5 in the 9th to beat the Washington Nationals 7-6. Your radio home for the Nats again this year is CBS Sports Radio 1450.