Team Spotlight

Andrew Pistone

Some of college football’s most daunting homefield advantages come to mind
pretty quickly. The Big House at the University of Michigan. Happy Valley at
Penn State. Owen Field at the University of Oklahoma. Visiting any of these
venues, and many others across the nation is no easy task. The sheer decibel
level of fan support for these schools is enough to make opposing offenses
quiver at the thought of going into a silent count.

But perhaps the most unique home-field advantage literally has to do with the
playing surface itself. The Boise State Broncos play their games at Albertsons
Stadium, on a blue field. According to its website
[https://www.boisestate.edu/licensing/trademarks/blue-turf-blog/], they were the
first school to have a field that was not green in the country—they made the
switch in 1986.

> Help us create 𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔 to finish the season! There’s only 24 hours
left to purchase a ticket for any of the remaining home games for just $27.16! 

🎟 https://t.co/CEN6XOBfPN pic.twitter.com/QkKDNlBvkT [https://t.co/QkKDNlBvkT]

— Boise State Broncos (@BroncoSports) October 13, 2021
[https://twitter.com/BroncoSports/status/1448424564707381251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Whose idea was it to do something that no one had ever thought of before? Gene
Bleymaier, who was Boise State’s athletic director in 1986, didn’t want his
school to follow in the footsteps of every other program, and came
[https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/mwest/2021/09/18/boise-state-blue-turf-genius-idea-schools-brand-oklahoma-state/8397377002/]
up with the novel concept of a blue field.

> “I was just thinking everybody knows that it’s artificial turf; there’s nobody
that thinks it’s grass,” Bleymaier reasoned. “They know it’s not grass, so
there’s really no reason it needs to be green. Why not do it on our school
colors?” Via Coloradoan.com
[https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/csu/football/2016/12/21/story-behind-boise-states-blue-football-field/95712824/]
Despite his confidence that this would be a great idea, Bleymaier was a little
nervous about how such an idea would be received by the general public. The
decision was kept under wraps until the timing was right to tell the world.

> “I knew people would think it was crazy and there’ll be a lot of critics. I
wanted to call a press conference quickly and announce it and make it clear the
decision had been made and there wasn’t going to be a debate,” Bleymaier
revealed. Via Idahopress.com
[https://www.idahopress.com/blueturfsports/blue-turf-creator-gene-bleymaier-headlines-2020-boise-state-hall-of-fame-class/article_39e629ef-792e-5777-985b-8ec85c7f23ac.html]
As it turns out, Bleymaier was set to be inducted into Boise State’s Athletics
Hall of Fame this month, but the ceremony was postponed, to be rescheduled for a
later date. His claim to fame is a special one, and will be linked with the
program for generations to come.

> Gameday @BroncoSportsFB [https://twitter.com/BroncoSportsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
. I’ll be watching CFB 11a-1p at Twisted District. Come join the party. Then
heading over to the stadium to tailgate after that. Night kickoff on the Smurf
Turf. We ready, Pokes! Look out! pic.twitter.com/XOYtVQY9O3
[https://t.co/XOYtVQY9O3]

— Damon Amendolara (@DAonCBS) September 18, 2021
[https://twitter.com/DAonCBS/status/1439244141636902918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

Why Is Boise State’s Football Field Blue?

The reigning NCAA Division I women’s soccer champions appear to be getting all
of the perks associated with being on top. The Santa Clara Broncos, in a
partnership with ChiliSleep, will presumably be getting an upgrade on their
level of comfort when they sleep. The Cube with Chilipad, which is the signature
offering from Chilipad, will be used by the entire women’s soccer team and
staff. In addition to the larger team collaboration, Broncos forward Kelsey
Turnbow has agreed to an NIL agreement with the company. She’s a popular draw
for the team, considering her selection in the NWSL Draft by the Chicago Red
Stars.

> We've partnered with @ChiliSleep
[https://twitter.com/ChiliSleep?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] to bring the power of
temperature-regulated sleep technology to the defending National Champions.

➡️ https://t.co/EVBLmhMGG5#StampedeTogether
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/StampedeTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/9L2lb0zsPJ [https://t.co/9L2lb0zsPJ]

— Santa Clara Women's Soccer (@SCUWomensSoccer) October 7, 2021
[https://twitter.com/SCUWomensSoccer/status/1446146246616485909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
It's not unheard of for brands to be closely associated with programs, or even
specific teams within a university. This partnership straddles an interesting
line which shines a light on resources certain programs have that others may
not. Programs certainly have different spending thresholds and priorities within
their departments for training and player well-being. At the end of the day,
will higher tech mattresses lead Santa Clara to a second consecutive NCAA title?
Probably not on its own, but senior Athletic Director Ryan Holleman is excited
to have ChiliSleep as an ally.

> “We’ve long focused on on-field performance tech, but with ChiliSleep, we are
now incorporating off-field tech to boost player recovery,” he said. Via 
Santaclarabroncos.com
[https://santaclarabroncos.com/sports/w-soccer/2021-22/releases/20211007i32iy5]
Financial terms of the partnership are not immediately known. It’s not uncommon
for mattress brands to align themselves closely with athletes, as we’ve seen
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott appear in many Sleep Number commercials
over the years. Turnbow released a statement stating that the new bed has helped
her feel refreshed this season.

> “With juggling rigorous academics and the pressure of repeating as national
champions, the Cube is definitely helping to improve how well I feel each day,”
she said. Via Santaclarabroncos.com
[https://santaclarabroncos.com/sports/w-soccer/2021-22/releases/20211007i32iy5]
As the lines between commercial relationships and amateurism in college athletes
continue to blur and dissolve, we will likely see more publicized deals with
companies that market themselves as performance enhancers for players.

> Did you hear? ChiliSleep & Santa Clara Athletics are collaborating this season!
Our bed cooling products help improve sleep dramatically. This is going to be
huge for the women’s soccer team’s off-field recovery! Help us celebrate by
retweeting. Go Broncos! 🎉⚽️@SCUWomensSoccer
[https://twitter.com/SCUWomensSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/vUMwOQIvac [https://t.co/vUMwOQIvac]

— ChiliSleep (@ChiliSleep) October 7, 2021
[https://twitter.com/ChiliSleep/status/1446178949084626956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

Santa Clara Women’s Soccer Begins Partnership With ChiliSleep

Over and above the benefits sports provides on the field—-teamwork, persistence,
discipline, among others—are other positives that make the experience a
rewarding one. These end up looming larger than the games, and come into play
when dealing with real life events. Sports teams provide a camaraderie and
support system for student-athletes, and which unfortunately, Ferrum College has
had to lean on heavily within the last month or so.

Tragically, the Panthers’ men’s soccer team has had to deal with the loss of
goalkeeper Cole Lipinski, who died on September 19th. There aren’t many ways to
prepare for something like this, especially the loss of a teammate who was so
young and had so many years ahead of him. Lipinski was also a lacrosse player
for Ferrum, and had intended to continue playing this spring.

The weekend after Lipinski’s death, the program honored his memory in their game
against Virginia Wesleyan with a touching tribute
[https://cable12ynn.com/2021/09/23/ferrum-college-mourns-the-loss-of-cole-lipinski/]
. He wore number 99 for Ferrum, and the Panthers’ goal was left unguarded for 99
seconds at the beginning of the match.

Lipinski had dreams
[https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/fredericksburg/name/cole-lipinski-obituary?id=21878636]
of becoming a physical therapist. He was no stranger to knee injuries throughout
the course of his athletic career, and wanted to help others recover and get
back on the field. He interned at a PT clinic this summer, and was more excited
than ever to embark on that path in college and beyond.

A vigil
[https://cable12ynn.com/2021/09/23/ferrum-college-mourns-the-loss-of-cole-lipinski/]
was held on September 24th for Lipinski on the school’s campus.

Somehow, the Ferrum college soccer program will continue to forge on after such
a traumatic event. It won’t be easy, and head coach Matt Cureton will have his
work cut out for him in an unexpectedly trying season. At the end of the day
though, it’s a good thing that the Panthers’ players and coaching staff have one
another to speak to and reminisce with.

Ferrum College Soccer Grieves After Loss Of Teammate

Corey Ghee

The South Dakota Coyotes will travel to Cedar Falls and take on the Northern
Iowa Panthers. The Coyotes were about to pick up their first meaningful victory
over rival North Dakota, while the Panthers lost a tough road game to North
Dakota State. 

HISTORY: These two FCS powers first met in every season from 1947-1982, before
resuming their series in 2008. Northern Iowa leads the head-to-head series
27-17, and they've won the last three meetings.

South Dakota Coyotes

21)South Dakota was able to defend the border and bring home the Sitting Bull
trophy after defeating North Dakota at home. The Coyotes took a three-point lead
into halftime and held off the Fighting Hawks for the 20-13 win.

Carson Camp appears to be the real deal behind center. The freshman quarterback
performed well in his second border war with North Dakota, going 16-23 for 179
yards and two scores. Camp is up to 1,147 passing yards with nine touchdowns to
two interceptions.

Redshirt freshman Travis Theis is coming off of the best game of his career.
Despite not scoring for the first time this season, Theis ran for a career-high
138 rushing yards, bringing his season total to a team-leading 380 yards and
five touchdowns.

Leading receiver Carter Bell had a quiet game last week, but he leads SD with 23
catches and 371 receiving yards. Senior wideout Caleb Vander Esch caught a
season-high eight passes for 92 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown in the win
over North Dakota.

Northern Iowa Panthers 

17)Northern Iowa suffered their second loss of the season last weekend to North
Dakota State. The Panthers kept things close early, but the Bison broke away in
the third and cruised to victory, handing UNI the 34-20 loss.

Theo Day replaced two-year starter Will McElvain in Week 2 and had looked solid
prior to last weekend. The MSU transfer had a rough day, going 12-31 for 257
passing yards, with a touchdown. He didn't turn the ball over, but he was
harassed by the Bison defense, and taken down five times.

Day will look to rebound here, and so will the run game. No back gained over 40
yards last weekend, but KU transfer Dom Williams leads the team with 367 rushing
yards, and he scored for third straight game in a row against ND.

Isaiah Weston and Quan Hampton give the Panthers solid options on the outside.
Weston is one of the best deep threats in the FCS, and he leads UNI with 415
receiving yards and four touchdowns. Hampton has caught four passes in four of
five games and he leads the team with 24 catches.

Predicted Winner: Northern Iowa

The Panthers really need to get back on track here, and with their schedule only
revving up even more, look for them to get back in the win column here.

FCS Game Of The Week: South Dakota Coyotes vs. Northern Iowa Panthers

The Richmond Spiders will host the James Madison Dukes this weekend. These two
Virginia FCS powers have met in every season since 1983, forming one of the
fiercest rivalries in the state. 

HISTORY: JMU leads the all-time series 20-18, and they've won the last five
meetings. Richmond's last win came when these two schools became the first
FCS-pairing to host College Gameday in 2015 in Harrisonburg.

James Madison Dukes (4-1)
8) James Madison enters on the heels of a tough loss to fellow powerhouse
Villanova. The Dukes took an eleven-point lead into the locker room, but they
couldn't score after the break and the Wildcats would go on to pick up the win,
28-27.

Cole Johnson has played well through the first half of the season, but he had a
tough time last weekend. Against Villanova, Johnson went 24-40 for 174 passing
yards, and he didn't throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The
redshirt senior brings a ton of experience to the position, and he'll look to
bounce back this weekend in the state capital. Johnson has thrown for 1,301
passing yards with an impressive 14:1 touchdown-interception ratio.

The Dukes are one of the best rushing teams in the FCS, and their led a nice
solid in the backfield in Latrele Palmer and Percy Agyei-Obese. Palmer has been
their most consistent rusher, leading the team with 303 rushing yards.
Aygei-Obese led the team in rushing in 2019, and he returned last week to rush
for 83 yards and two scores against Villanova.

Antwane Wells Jr. and Kris Thornton have been reliable pass catchers thus far
for JMU. Wells Jr. leads the team with 397 receiving yards, and five touchdowns,
while Thornton leads the team with 38 catches out of the slot.

Richmond Spiders

The Richmond Spiders are in a bit of a funk. The Spiders played Villanova and
Virginia Tech admirably on the road, but an injury to four-year starter Joe
Mancuso led to a third straight loss last weekend to Elon, 20-7. 

When Mancuso went down on the first drive against Virginia Tech, it thrusted
senior quarterback Beau English into the spotlight. English was solid against
Elon, going 21-42 for 193 passing yards and a touchdown, but the offense
faltered on third down often. He'll have his work cut out for him this week with
the Dukes.

Savon Smith and Aaron Dykes have split the workload again this season, and have
yielded decent results against tough competition. Smith leads the team with 275
rushing yards, while Dykes has gained 231 rushing yards, caught 15 passes and
leads UR with 5 total touchdowns. Junior wideout Isaac Brown leads the pass
catchers with 16 catches for 227 receiving yards.

Predicted Winner: James Madison Dukes

This matchup always churns out good football, and with both schools itching to
get back in the win column, this one should be no different. JMU has dominated
this series, and it should continue this weekend. Richmond's offense has been
stagnant since Mancuso's injury, and they may not be able to overcome that here.

FCS Game Of The Week: James Madison Dukes vs. Richmond Spiders

Many college basketball fans think that the season gets underway in earnest
around Thanksgiving, when there are several high profile early season
tournaments taking place all over the country. However, it might be more
appropriate to say that things get kicked off much earlier in October with
Midnight Madness.

Most of us are intimately familiar with the excitement that March Madness can
bring, but Midnight Madness is a concept not everyone might know much about.
Held several weeks before the first game, Midnight Madness is essentially a big
party thrown by the school to get the fans excited about the upcoming season. As
you might have guessed, these festivities are held at a specific time of the
evening—midnight! Despite the late start, fans, athletes and alumni like fill
the arena with good vibes, hope, and well wishes for the upcoming campaign.

Not many can resist a good natured event such as Midnight madness, but who’s
idea was it to start the party so late? The tradition
[https://www.si.com/college/2019/10/04/midnight-madness-schedule-dates-kentucky-duke]
began with a lot less fanfare at the University of Maryland before the 1971
college basketball season. Terrapins head coach Lefty Driesell sent his players
to run for one mile just after 12AM during the start of the season. Little did
anyone know, that classic coaching decision would turn into a gala that would be
broadcasted on ESPN+.

> “This was Lefty’s way of saying, ‘Hey world, Maryland is here now. We got a
great team and I’m going to be the first team in America to practice,” Tom
McMillen said Via NBCsports.com
[https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/ncaa/ever-wonder-how-midnight-madness-got-its-start-university-maryland]
. 
McMillen was on the Maryland basketball team during that groundbreaking run.

> On today from 10 to noon on @espn630dc
[https://twitter.com/espn630dc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]. 50 years after Lefty
Driesell invented midnight madness, @LenElmore
[https://twitter.com/LenElmore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw], who helped launch it joins
me at 11:20

— Andy Pollin (@andypollin1) October 8, 2021
[https://twitter.com/andypollin1/status/1446431758543736852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
It doesn’t matter whether the program has fallen on hard times, or whether the
recruiting season didn’t go as planned. Everyone and their mother, or their
wives, looks forward to Midnight Madness.

> “…We’ll have Hoosier Hysteria, which my wife has been telling me for about 60
straight days,” former Indiana men’s basketball coach Tom Crean said while he
was leading the Hoosiers. “’Quit trying to run drills. Make it entertaining for
the fans’(Crean’s wife said)”. “So I’m trying to listen to her on that.” Via 
Indystar.com
[https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/hoosier-insider/1/01/01/midnight-madness-iu-calls-it-hoosier-hysteria-and-other-basketball-notes/2555417/]
It’s such a spectacle, that celebrity acts often show up to campus. Midnight
Madness for the Kansas Jayhawks(also known as Light Night In the Phog) featured
a performance by Run DMC earlier this month. The Memphis Tigers brought in
rappers Lil Baby and Future to perform at their Midnight Madness kickoff in
2019.

If you’re really lucky, the coach of the basketball team might agree to be shot
out of a cannon. Midnight Madness might be the best sports-related party you’ve
never heard of.

College Basketball: When is Midnight Madness?

You may not have realized it, but we’re actually in the middle of National
Hispanic Heritage month in the United States. The period of recognition for this
important topic started on September 15th, and ends on October 15th. Many
organizations are embracing this period of self reflection and advancement for
the Hispanic and Latinx communities, including
[https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/general-inclusion-releases-hispanic-latinx-resource-guide] 
the NCAA. The ethnic background of student-athletes, coaches, and other members
of the sporting/academic landscape are being celebrated.

> 𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐀 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 | 𝐄𝐏 𝟕𝟓
𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩@TheAndyKatz
[https://twitter.com/TheAndyKatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] talks with @WCCsports
[https://twitter.com/WCCsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] commissioner Gloria Nevarez
and @GSAthletics [https://twitter.com/GSAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]' Ben
Rodriguez – founder of @LA_CAASA
[https://twitter.com/LA_CAASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] – about 
#HispanicHeritageMonth
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/HispanicHeritageMonth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
. https://t.co/GLnJ0MMq85

— NCAA (@NCAA) September 24, 2021
[https://twitter.com/NCAA/status/1441477538702843905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
To this end, the NCAA office of inclusion produced a guide for member schools
which provides some helpful context on the history of the Hispanic community in
the United States. This educational pamphlet
[https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/inclusion/ethnic/INC_CelebratingHispanicHeritageMonthResource.pdf] 
also includes commentary from Hispanic-American student athletes and staff
members.

> “I would encourage Hispanic student-athletes to be brave and seek positions of
leadership in which they can get the opportunity to speak and share their
experiences in a professional environment,” Purdue University Northwest men’s
soccer player Ismael Contreras expressed. “Whether it be the Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee, student government or a different organization, take the
leap and believe in yourself…” Via NCAA Hispanic Culture Guide
[https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/inclusion/ethnic/INC_CelebratingHispanicHeritageMonthResource.pdf]
According to the guide, one out of every six people in the United States is of
Hispanic or Latinx descent. To that end, the NCAA understands the importance of
communicating with and on behalf of a notable part of the population.

> “The office of inclusion is delighted to provide additional resources for the
membership to educate and celebrate individuals of different cultures. Though it
was created for Hispanic Heritage Month, the guide can be used anytime to
recognize and support Hispanic/Latinx student-athletes and staff on campuses
across the country,” said Niya Blair Hackworth, who is the NCAA Director of
Inclusion. Via NCAA.org
[https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/general-inclusion-releases-hispanic-latinx-resource-guide]
Colleges all across the nation are getting back to connecting on an in person
basis, and that level of connection holds true for the Hispanic community at
campuses throughout the country. Harvard’s Nayleth E. Lopez-Lopez spoke about
how the pandemic short-circuited student efforts to hold cultural events on
campus, but that it is great to be back.

> “I’m honestly so happy that we can finally meet up and form community with the
first-years and sophomores, because I know, especially from sophomores—they got
hit hard last year. I feel like they weren’t able to fully see how strong the
Latin community is here at Harvard,” she said. Via TheCrimson.com
[https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/9/28/hispanic-heritage-month/]
> “More importantly to me, it was being a Latina, and to be able to represent
those girls that may not realize the opportunities they sit for.” - Coach Lisa
Fernandez speaks on her impact in light of #HispanicHeritageMonth
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/HispanicHeritageMonth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
 

🎥: https://t.co/GL42s8tLNi#GoBruins
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBruins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/1HP0HaSw5r [https://t.co/1HP0HaSw5r]

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) October 1, 2021
[https://twitter.com/UCLASoftball/status/1444018880532279300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

NCAA Inclusion Department Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Bryan Armetta

In college basketball, there are no guarantees. 

Win streaks are broken. #16 seeds can take down #1 seeds (it will happen again
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIoVgJTOx5Y&feature=onebox&ab_channel=MarchMadness]
), and a single five-star recruit can change the entire trajectory of a program.

This year's group of preseason favorites should be extra wary of any hype and
fanfare, as lurking right behind them are a host of rivals starving for a chance
to take down everyone's conference-winning pick. After a topsy-turvy
pandemic-impacted season, along with another round of the transfer portal
carousel
[https://gmtm.com/articles/college-basketball-five-best-transfers-and-recruits-2021]
, who knows what to expect this year?

Below are six darkhorses that have what it takes to flip the script and hang a
conference championship banner at the end of the regular season. 

*All statistics courtesy of Sports Reference CBB
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/]

SEC: Auburn

It was not a great 2020-21 season for Auburn and Bruce Pearl, as the team went
13-14 in the SEC. Still, fans shouldn't be too concerned. After a 2019 Final
Four run and a promising 2020 season (the Tigers were 25-6 before March Madness
was cancelled that year), a rebuild was inevitable.

After one busy offseason, it's safe to say Auburn has rebuilt. Five-star recruit
Jabari Smith Jr. and North Carolina sophomore transfer Walker Kessler give Pearl
two young big men to mold his team around, as both possess the ability to bang
bodies down low or shoot from outside the paint. They'll be joined by a
returning roster that contains some firepower, including talented junior guard
Allen Flanigan, who was injured for a good portion of last season. The major
question for Auburn: will they have enough three-point shooting to hang with the
sharpshooters at Kentucky and Alabama? Stay tuned.

> Jabari Smith Jr., ESPN's #5 player in 2021, has committed to Auburn 🦅 
@jabarismithll [https://twitter.com/jabarismithll?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/lbCux38cIB [https://t.co/lbCux38cIB]

— BallerTV (@BallerTV) October 9, 2020
[https://twitter.com/BallerTV/status/1314680992255352838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Big East: St. Johns

After a crucial win against #3 Villanova last season, St. Johns looked poised to
make a return to the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for the Red Storm, the team
took a nosedive to end the year, going 3-5 against Big East rivals. To make
matters worse, they'll welcome back just three returning players from last
year's squad.

If the previous paragraph cast some doubt over St. John's chances of competing
for the Big East this season, fear not. Of the three returnees, one is star
forward Julian Champagnie, who averaged 19.8 PPG, 7.4 REB, and 38% shooting from
three. Another is guard Posh Alexander, the Big East's 2020 Freshman of the
Year. Admittedly, the conference should be Villanova's to lose once again.
However, the Johnnies have already shown they can hang with Jay Wright's
Wildcats after their upset win last year. Another season for Champagnie,
arguably the best player in the Big East, and Alexander could give St. Johns one
of the most dynamic duos in the nation. Now, head coach Mike Anderson will need
a roster filled with transfers to back up his stars with solid defense and smart
playmaking.

Pac-12: USC

Out west, USC also has some work to do fresh off an Elite Eight appearance. The
departures of big man Evan Mobley, the #3 overall selection in the NBA Draft,
and guard Tahj Eaddy leave USC without its two best scorers from a season ago,
as well as a defensive anchor in the seven-foot Mobley.

Still, the next six highest scorers for Andy Enfield's crew will be back in
2021. Of all the returnees, Isaiah Mobley, Evan's brother, has the best chance
at a breakout season, combining potentially potent offensive ability with a
lanky shot-blocking frame. Other members of the supporting cast, such as Drew
Peterson, Isaiah White, and Ethan Anderson, could all thrive with bigger roles
in the Trojans offense. UCLA and Oregon deserve to be considered preseason
favorites, but don't be surprised if USC's depth keeps them firmly in contention
for the Pac-12 crown.

> ISAIAH MOBLEY. THAT’S IT. @USC_Hoops
[https://twitter.com/USC_Hoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] #MarchMadness
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchMadness?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/gqHMBpDAER [https://t.co/gqHMBpDAER]

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 23, 2021
[https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/1374187638320599049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Big 12: West Virginia

Admittedly, taking down the defending champion Baylor Bears or the reloaded
Kansas Jayhawks is a tall order for any other Big 12 member school. If anyone is
up to the task, why not West Virginia? Bob Huggins always has his Press Virginia
teams ready to play for big games, evidenced by the team's win over Kansas last
February and a grueling OT loss versus Baylor in March. 

The loss of leading scorers Miles McBride and Derek Culver has many
prognosticators understandably pessimistic about WVU's chances to win their
conference. What may be overlooked is the addition of Malik Curry at point
guard; the Old Dominion transfer averaged just over 16 points a game.
Sharpshooter Sean McNeill, who shot .388 on three-pointers while averaging 12.2
PPG, and sixth-man extraordinaire Taz Sherman headline the returnees for the
Mountaineers. With a strong offensive trio, a difficult defensive scheme for
opponents, and a veteran coach, West Virginia has what it takes to snag a Big 12
championship from Kansas and Baylor. 

> 🗣️ Bob Huggins on senior guard Taz Sherman: “Taz has had a heck of a year.” 
pic.twitter.com/RgyZtcAl35 [https://t.co/RgyZtcAl35]

— Gold and Blue Nation (@GoldAndBlueNtn) March 8, 2021
[https://twitter.com/GoldAndBlueNtn/status/1368939664061632515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Big 10: Maryland

Overall, the 2020-21 season was a solid one for Maryland, who made the NCAA
Tournament and took down UConn in the Round of 64 before falling to Alabama.
Leading scorer Eric Ayala is back, along with several other important pieces
from last year's group, such as sharpshooter Donta Scott and Hakim Hart. 

While making up the production of Aaron Wiggins and Darryl Morsell is a
challenge for head coach Mark Turgeon, those brought to College Park this
offseason could be an improvement. Georgetown transfer Qudus Wahab and four-star
prospect Julian Reese give the Terps an interior presence they were sorely
missing last season, while Providence transfer Fatts Russell combines with Ayala
to form what should be one of the highest-scoring guard duos in the nation. With
a deep roster that can attack defenses from just about anywhere on the court,
the rest of the Big 10 should look out for a Maryland team on the rise.

ACC: Virginia Tech

It would be a cop-out to go with Duke and North Carolina after subpar seasons;
expect both Tobacco Road rivals to get back to their perennially winning ways in
2021. The real ACC darkhorse resides up north in Blacksburg, where Virginia Tech
welcomes back four starters from an NCAA Tournament team. Each player averaged
at least 8.5 points per game while forming the backbone of a defense that gave
up an average of just 66 points per game during the regular season. 

To bolster the offense at guard, head coach Mike Young now turns to graduate
transfer Storm Murphy, who hit on a blistering .417% of three-point attempts
over four years at Wofford. The shooting of Murphy, Nahiem Alleyne (.397 FG3%),
and Hunter Catoor (.415 FG3%) should space out the floor for the rest of the
Hokies offense, including nightly double-double threat Keve Aluma down low. It's
important to remember that VaTech was a major force last season, taking down
strong teams in Villanova, Clemson, Duke, and Virginia. The ACC is always a
college basketball gauntlet, but the talent assembled at Virginia Tech should
set the bar even higher than their previous third-place conference finish. 

> STORM MURPHY. CLUTCH. @WoffordMBB
[https://twitter.com/WoffordMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] is headed to the SoCon
Championship for the second-straight season!pic.twitter.com/LwYFYhjRem
[https://t.co/LwYFYhjRem]

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 9, 2020
[https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/1236826266936004608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

Men's Basketball: The Darkhorse Program For Each Major Conference

Alexis Peltzer-Harding

The 2021 Divison-I women's volleyball season is projected to be one for the
ages. Not only are the athletes ready to be back on the court and give it their
all after they haven't had a great season for the past two years, but there are
some big names returning for this season.

The Wisconsin Badgers have some of the top athletes in the nation at the moment
and are projected to win this season's NCAA championship. They have two top,
All-American athletes that are going to take their team to new heights.

Dana Rettke
Dana Rettke's list of accomplishments is long and impressive. She started out
her career at Wisconsin in 2017, earning the title of Freshman of the Year.
She's been placed on the First-Team All American every year since 2017. 

This 6'8 middle blocker dedicates immense time and effort to keep up her skill
as an athlete. She has been in the Big Ten for Player of the Year, Freshman of
the Year, Player of the Week, Freshman of the Week, and Defensive Player of the
Week. She doesn't take these titles lightly, proving herself worthy of them
every season.

She describes herself as "passionate" and her team as "experienced" meaning that
together, she believes that her team can be the best of the best. Kickstarting
the season, Rettke left nothing on the court. 

Sofar in this season Dana has gone above and beyond, sofar having 50 kills in
their 5 games. That is a 10 kill per game average and is a positive start toward
a successful season. She has a .55 average in attack % for their first 5 games. 

Sydney Hilley 
Sydney Hilley's Wisconsin volleyball career has been nothing short of
awe-striking. Of all her years on the team, she has played as a starter in all
but one. She's a 2019 and 2020 First Team All-American. Her 6' stature is on the
shorter side for the team, but she doesn't let that stop her in giving it her
all.

Hilley is an essential part of the team as it's setter and, essentially, control
tower. She was the 2019 and 2020 Big Ten Setter of the year and shows that by
her actions on the court. She's got big dreams for her team, striving to win a
collegiate championship. 

She's a winner, a dedicated female athlete that is focused on reaching her
goals. She believes in her team and counts on them as much as they count on her.
Hilley knows the sacrifices that playing on a team sport comes with and is
willing to do anything to bring her team to the top. 

This season so far she has collected a total of 19.5 points in their 5 games.
Her most impressive statistic at this time is her season high of 44 assists in
one game while playing against Kentucky. 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make sure that you're paying attention to these two incredible female athletes
when watching this seasons Division I volleyball teams. Both Hilley and Rettke
are going to attempt to lead their team to victory. 

Keep an eye out for the Wisconsin Badgers and which players rise to the occasion
this season.

Women's Volleyball: Wisconsin Has The Two Headed-Snake of Division-I

Check out his profile -https://gmtm.com/athletes/1335908/van-weber

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Zachary McKenzie (12U c/o 2027)  Under a little pressure I shuffled forward and hit my WR on a deep 43 yard TD route. 

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