#10: Feast your eye-tongues on the bleacher pops of Boone Pickens Stadium, where Oklahoma State is making progress on a $55M upgrade to the seating on the north side. Improvements include four more inches of legroom in the 200 level, the replacement of old benches with new concave benches and permanent chairbacks in some places. Fans interested in seeing their season ticket seats installed or a crane fit through a tunnel can watch via the live Stadium Construction Camera on the OSU website. (link)
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#9: Duke WBB HC Lawson says the teams played with a men’s basketball in the first half of the Blue Devils game at Florida State on Sunday. The men’s ball runs about an inch larger in circumference than a women’s basketball and is roughly two ounces lighter. Lawson: “This would never happen in a men's game. This would never happen. It's embarrassing for our sport.. … To have a game that, at the end of the season, could be the difference between a seed, between a title, my players don't deserve that and neither do their players. It's a complete failure. And you can figure out who the people I'm talking about that failed the sport and our players and both teams. … Let me be clear: Florida State beat us. They beat us playing with a men's ball in the first half and a women's ball in the second half. But I can't say if we'd have played with a women's ball in the first half and the second half that we would have won. But they can't say that, either.” (link)
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#8: Check out the new ‘This Is SportsCenter’ spot which debuted during last night’s Duke vs. North Carolina MBB game. Longtime ESPN announcer Storm and USA Track & Field Olympic Gold Medalist/former Kentucky student-athlete McLaughlin are featured. (link)
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#7: Eastern Washington AD Hickey announces she will retire when her contract ends on April 30. Hickey: “I am incredibly passionate about intercollegiate athletics and will miss the interaction and competition, but it is time for me to prioritize my family. I will forever cherish my Eagle experience due to the wonderful student-athletes, staff, and fans that I have been fortunate to work with and who epitomize our values of grit, grace and gratitude." (link)
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#6: The NCAA has unveiled the 2024 WBB Final Four logo. Check it out. (link) |
#5: Follow all this week's administrative moves, including transitions at Cincinnati, App State, Towson, the Southland Conference, Michigan State, Cal, Seattle U., Arizona, Missouri, Auburn, Taymar Sales U (Robert Morris), Oklahoma, UMass Lowell, The Citadel & UTEP. (link)
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#4: The MAAC names OVC Asst. Commissioner for Football, Basketball and Officiating Tellitocci as its next commissioner. Niagara President/MAAC President Maher: “Throughout the search process, Travis demonstrated that he is an emerging leader in college athletics, and is well-suited to build on the incredible success of Rich Ensor. The MAAC has never been stronger, and Travis’ breadth of experience will be critical as we face the challenges of Division I athletics, strengthen our focus on the well-being of the student-athletes, grow the inclusivity of their experiences, and build on the storied legacy of the conference.” (link)
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#3: Kansas State football recently moved into the new $32.5M Shamrock Practice Facility and held the official ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday. Big 12 Commissioner Yormark was in attendance for the event, which was open to the public. The new building allows for players to walk there from the locker room, has an improved artificial turf and a separate outdoor practice field. Plenty of photos in the first link and the second link is a video tour of the new digs. (link, link)
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#2: Hampton taps Yale Deputy AD Henderson to be its next AD, effective February 27. Henderson, who was a FB student-athlete for the Pirates: “To return as the leader of this department is surreal and an auspicious honor. I look forward to continuing the legacy of producing championships and creating transformational opportunities for our student-athletes, inside and outside of the classroom.” (link)
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#1: Ball State selects Southern Miss Deputy AD Mitchell as the Cardinals’ next AD. BSU Chief Strategy Officer Alexander, who chaired the search committee: “Throughout the hiring process, Jeff displayed a genuine sense of passion and creativity that will be an asset to our athletics department—and to our University. Jeff’s emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and community engagement aligns with our University’s values and will serve him well in this role.” (link)
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