In this review, the Cincinnati Reds start Spring Training with broadcasting booth changes. Cincinnati Basketball’s hot streak ends amid a brutally cold week in Texas. Plus, this year’s Flying Pig Marathon is moving to Halloween.

Cincinnati Reds: Spring Training begins and Barry Larkin’s new job

As the snow and ice slowly began to melt in the greater Cincinnati area last week. Spring Training officially began for the 2021 Cincinnati Reds. Pitchers and catchers reported to Goodyear, Arizona last Wednesday. Cincinnati will start Cactus League play this coming Sunday. With an exhibition against the Cleveland Indians at 3:05 PM Eastern.

Meanwhile, Barry Larkin is joining FOX Sports Ohio’s Reds broadcasting team. The hall of famer and former Reds shortstop will call home games. Joining former teammate Jeff Brantley and Chris Welsh as analysts for Reds broadcasts. Larkin has several years of national broadcasting experience. Previously working as an analyst for ESPN and the MLB Network. Barry Larkin’s addition wasn’t the only Reds broadcasting news of the week. Jeff Piecoro, Doug Flynn and Danny Graves will not be back for Reds broadcasts this season.

The local college basketball weekly roundup

Cincinnati Basketball endured a 90-52 clobbering at Houston Basketball last Sunday. In practically the blink of an eye, Cincinnati went from keeping apace with then No.6 and now No.12 Houston. Even holding a lead at times during the first half. To trailing by a double-digit margin at the halftime break. Cincinnati trailed by over 40 points at the nine minute mark in the second half.

The game came at the end of a rough week for Houston and the state of Texas. Much of the state was plunged in to darkness last week. After one of the worst winter storms for the state in modern times. Knocking the state’s power grid onto it’s metaphorical backside. Freezing pipes and leaving many in the state without heat or running water. Prompting concerns about whether last Sunday’s game would even occur. Nonetheless, the game was able to go forward as the lights and heat slowly turn back on across Texas.

This week will be one of Cincinnati’s busiest of the season to date. The Cincinnati Bearcats are scheduled to play three games this week. Starting with Tulsa Basketball on the road this Wednesday. That game is scheduled to take place at 9 PM Eastern on ESPNU. The Bearcats will wrap up the week with back-to-back home games. Facing Tulane Basketball Friday at 4 PM Eastern on ESPN+. Followed by Memphis Basketball Sunday at 1 PM Eastern on ESPN.

For the first time since 2015, Xavier Basketball lost to St.John’s Basketball. Xavier lost 93-84 in New York last Tuesday. Snapping a 12 game winning streak against St.John’s. Xavier got back to twinning ways last Sunday. Beating Butler Basketball at Xavier’s Cintas Center 63-51.

Fresh from snapping a two game winning streak through Sunday’s win. Xavier’s next game is this Wednesday against Providence Basketball. The road game for Xavier is scheduled to tip off at 9 PM Eastern on FS1. Xavier will face No.13 Creighton Basketball this coming Saturday. Tip off at the Cintas Center is set for 5 PM Eastern on FOX.

Northern Kentucky Basketball split their series against rival Wright State Basketball. Winning 81-75 Friday night and losing their regular season finale 77-71 on Saturday. The NKU Norse are closing out the regular season with a 13-10 overall and 11-7 conference record. Now it’s on to the Horizon League Tournament, where the NKU Norse will be the No.4 seed. Earning a first round bye and an automatic quarterfinals berth.

The Norse will host the highest remaining seed on March 2nd at 7 PM Eastern. Last week, the Horizon League announced the tournament will not be played in front of spectators. The announcement comes days before a deadline for NCAA Division I conferences. Which will set the stage for how Conference Championship week will shape out. Conferences will have until this Friday to finalize their postseason tournament plans.

2021 Flying Pig Marathon scheduled for October

Runners will have nearly six more months than usual. To prepare for the Flying Pig Marathon and the Queen Bee Half Marathon. Both races will take place in late October this year. Following an announcement by race organizers last week. In-person marathon events are now scheduled to take place from October 29-31. The Flying Pig and other races connected to it typically takes place in early May. Last year’s race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.