— It is snowing here in upstate New York as I type this; it was 85 degrees in Florida for the Mets’ first spring training game Friday. This winter can’t end soon enough.
— Spring training games are popular; Cubs drew a total of 27,000 fans for their first two games in Arizona this week. This is one thing I’ve never done, spring training games, partially because it is during the busy time for college basketball, but it seems like it would be fun.
— Colorado Rockies have 12 of their player headed to the World Baseball Classic, representing 10 different countries. Baseball’s regular season starts 12-14 days after the WBC winds down, I’m wondering if it is disruptive to teams getting ready for the major league season.
— Baltimore Orioles 3B Jordan Westburg is out until at least May with an elbow injury; he has a partial ligament tear in his throwing arm. Westburg hit .265 with 17 HR’s, 41 RBI in 85 games last year; he missed two months last year with a broken hand.
— I have a pretty good hat collection, was looking at the spring training hats online, but good grief, they’re $55 apiece on Fanatics. No thank you!!! Hats for teams in the World Baseball Classic are anywhere from $45-52, but they all have flags of the country on the right side of the hat, and the flags are kind of big, so once again, no thanks.
— Am watching a few fantasy baseball drafts on YouTube; it is interesting to hear what other people think about players. Some of these guys are obsessed with younger players, trying to tout players who break through and become a star, so they can pat themselves on the back.
Some of these guys are also in a lot of leagues, like 12-14 leagues. Not sure how you keep track of all of that, without having a nervous breakdown. I’m in one league, a 14-team keeper league, and I’m pretty sure I spend too much time running that team.
— RIP to Hall of Fame 2B Bill Mazeroski, who passed away this week at age 89. Mazeroski was an excellent fielder (8 Gold Gloves) who became famous for hitting a walk-off home run that ended the 1960 World Series. He played 17 years in the major leagues, all for the Pirates.
RIP, sir.
— Famous birthdays, February 23rd:
Jackie Smith, 86
Fred Biletnikoff, 83
Jim Youngblood, 76
Ed (Too Tall) Jones, 75
Paul McDonald, 68
Bobby Bonilla, 63
Jerod Mayo, 40
Jamal Murray, 29
— Virginia Commonwealth/Utah State are two college basketball programs that win a lot, but also change coaches a decent amount.
VCU:
2025-26- Phil Martelli Jr, 21-7
2023-25- Ryan Odom, 52-21 (left for Virginia)
2017-23- Mike Rhoades, 129-61 (left for Penn State)
2015-17- Will Wade, 51-20 (left for LSU)
2009-2015- Shaka Smart, 163-56 (left for Texas)
2006-09- Anthony Grant, 76-25 (left for Alabama)
2002-2006- Jeff Capel, 79-41 (left for Oklahoma)
Utah State
2024-26- Jerrod Calhoun, 49-12
2023-24- Danny Sprinkle, 28-7 (left for Washington)
2021-23- Ryan Odom, 44-25 (left for VCU)
2018-21- Craig Smith, 64-24 (left for Utah)
— Aidan Mahaney is a senior guard for Cal-Santa Barbara who has had an interesting journey:
2022-24- Two years at Saint Mary’s, where the Gaels went 53-16, 29-3 in WCC games, but only 1-2 in NCAA games. He played roughly 32:00/game there, was a big star
2024-25- Transferred to UConn, which had just won back/back national titles. He only started five games, played roughly 12 mpg for a 24-11 UConn team that lost in the second round of the NCAA’s, as a #8-seed.
20-25-26- Transferred to Cal-Santa Barbara, which 17-11, 10-7 in the Big West; they’ve got the #41 eFG% in the country, but they’re not good on defense. Mahaney is playing 33 mpg, I’ll be curious to see him at the NBA Summer League in July.
— Sunday is March 1st, so it is getting to be that time of year; here is some Bracketology stuff:
Four of the top eight seeds in the country lost Saturday.
Last four teams in Field of 68: Missouri, Ohio State, TCU, Santa Clara
First four teams out of Field of 68: USC, New Mexico, California, Virginia Tech
NCAA Tournament teams by conference:
11- SEC
10- Big 18
8- Big X, ACC
3- Big East, West Coast
— Merrimack 88, Iona 86, 2OT
Merrimack is 16-2 in MAAC, has won eight in a row, the last two in OT.
Unusual for a 20-9 team to be the worst team in country on defensive boards.
Merrimack played two guys all 50:00 in this game, two others 46:00 each.
Am I wrong to think that it might be tough to win a conference tournament if you play your bench a total of 18:00 in a double OT game?
— Robert Morris 81, Wright State 68
Robert Morris has won five in row, improves to 11-7 in Horizon.
Wright State split its last six games, after a 10-1 streak.
Wright State is going be the #1 seed in Horizon tourney, but they lost twice to Robert Morris this season.
— Wisconsin 84, Iowa 71
Hawkeyes led 41-40 at halftime.
Senior G Boyd had 27 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds for the Badgers.
Iowa has lost three of its last four games.
— Michigan State 66, Ohio State 60
Buckeyes led by 6, early in second half.
Spartans had a 43-26 edge on the boards.
Ohio State is 17-10, but 0-9 vs Quad 1 teams (the best teams)
