In this Martin Luther King Jr. Day edition of the weekly review. COVID-19 makes it a mostly quiet week on the local college basketball beat. Plus, the Cincinnati Reds avoid arbitration with six players.

The College Basketball roundup

Cincinnati Basketball and Xavier Basketball had games postponed due to COVID-19. Cincinnati was supposed to play East Carolina Basketball and Tulane Basketball last week. Both were postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test and contact tracing within Cincinnati’s program. As of Monday morning, no makeup date has been announced for the East Carolina game. The game against Tulane is now scheduled to take place on February 26th at Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena.

Through the postponements, the Cincinnati Bearcats missed two opportunities to get back to winning ways. Along with facing two teams that were directly ahead of them conference-wise. Going into last week, the Bearcats ranked second-to-last in the American Athletic Conference standings. East Carolina and Tulane were directly ahead of the Bearcats in the standings. As of Monday morning, Cincinnati ranks last in the conference; with a 1-4 AAC record and a 3-7 overall record. Cincinnati’s next game is Wednesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Facing Temple Basketball at 9 PM Eastern on ESPN2.

The Bearcats will face their toughest test of the season to date this Saturday. When they face conference-leading No.8 Houston Basketball in Houston. Houston goes into this week with one loss and an 8-0 home record. The Houston Cougars are living up to the high preseason expectations many had for them. Saturday’s game is scheduled to tip-off at Noon Eastern time on CBS.

Xavier’s was supposed to play Seton Hall Basketball last Saturday. According to a Xavier statement, the game was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within their program. No makeup date has been announced yet for this game. Xavier’s next scheduled game is this Wednesday in Connecticut. Facing No.23 Connecticut Basketball at 8:30 PM Eastern on CBS Sports Network.

Northern Kentucky Basketball did play their scheduled game last week. The NKU Norse lost back-to-back home games against IUPUI Basketball. Losing 74-69 last Friday and 65-63 on Saturday; dropping the Norse into a four-game losing streak. This weekend offers the Norse a chance to that and another losing streak. The Norse haven’t won on the road this season; going into this weekend 0-5 road-wise.

NKU will face Robert Morris Basketball near Pittsburgh this Friday and Saturday. Robert Morris goes into Monday ranked one spot above NKU in the Horizon League standings. Trying to end a two game losing streak after being swept by UIC Basketball. Friday’s game is scheduled to tip-off at 7 PM Eastern. Saturday’s scheduled tip-off is at 5 PM Eastern; both games can be seen on ESPN3.

Cincinnati Reds avoid arbitrations and refute a rumor

The Cincinnati Reds came to terms with six arbitration-eligible players last week. Avoiding arbitration hearings for a second-consecutive year. Through signing outfielder Jesse Winker and five pitchers to one-year deals. The five pitchers are Michael Lorenzen, Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, Amir Garrett and Noe Ramirez. Lorenzen and Castillo’s contracts are worth just north of $4 million. Lorenzen will get $4.4375 million and Castillo will get $4.2 million. Winker will get $3.15 million, Mahle gets $2.2 million, Garrett gets $1.5 million and Ramirez gets $1.175 million.

Avoiding arbitration with Castillo and Lorenzen in particular goes a long way. In keeping the Reds pitching staff mostly in tact going into the 2021 season. Castillo and Sonny Gray will be the Reds starting aces in 2021. If free agent Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer leaves Cincinnati. The Reds will have two big decisions to make in the future with Lorenzen. Whether to have Lorenzen be a starter or a reliever. Along with what to do when he becomes a free agent after the 2021 season.

All of this comes with the Reds rumor mill turning in recent weeks. Reds general manager Nick Krall is refuting an unsubstantiated rumor that the Reds were considering trading Castillo. Reportedly describing the rumors as “completely false” to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. There’s also recent speculation over whether the Reds could reunite with Didi Gregorius. Trade speculation also surfaced around Eugenio Suarez and Sonny Gray in recent weeks. While the Reds and other Major League Baseball teams are looking to shed payroll due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s unclear whether the Reds would make such drastic moves; after emerging from years of rebuilding.

Cincinnati Bengals hire new defensive line coach

The Cincinnati Bengals hired Marion Hobby last Saturday to be their next defensive line coach. Succeeding Nick Eason in that role for the Bengals. Hobby was most recently the Miami Dolphins’ defensive line coach in 2019 and 2020. This past season, the Dolphins defense allowed the sixth-least rushing yards in the AFC. Before his stint in Miami, he had the same position with the now Urban Meyer led Jacksonville Jaguars. Hobby helped guide the Jaguars to their 2018 AFC Championship Game appearance. All part of Hobby’s 26 years of coaching experience; most of which was at the college level.

Elsewhere in Bengals news, Joe Burrow is back in Cincinnati. Returning after having ACL surgery and starting his recovery in Los Angeles. Burrow injured his ACL and MCL during a game last November. Meanwhile, last week was significant for one of Burrow’s Bengals quarterback predecessors. Former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Along with former Bengals safety David Fulcher.