In this week’s review, two metaphorical tidal waves hit Cincinnati sports. Two Cinderella stories with opposite results for two Ohio teams. Plus, Thomas More Women’s Basketball is two wins away from another national championship.

Greater Cincinnati College Basketball’s Transfer tidal wave

Six Cincinnati Basketball players entered the transfer portal last week. Freshmen Tari Eason, Mike Saunders Jr., Gabe Madsen and his twin brother Mason. Along with sophomore Zach Harvey and red-shirt junior Mamoudou Diarra. Across Cincinnati, Xavier Basketball sophomore’s Daniel Ramsey and KyKy Tandy. Plus, Xavier freshman CJ Wilcher also entered the transfer portal. All of these announcements came days after both team’s missed out on March Madness. There’s no news at this time about where these transfers are going.

The local March Madness weekly roundup

Going into Monday, most local teams in this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament are already out. No.2 seed Ohio State Basketball was upset in the first round. By Sweet 16 bound No.15 seed Oral Roberts Basketball. Ohio Basketball joins Oral Roberts as one of the Cinderella stories in the tournament. No.13 seed Ohio beat defending national champions Virginia Basketball last Saturday. Ohio will play No.5 seed Creighton Basketball today at 6:10 PM Eastern on TNT.

Purdue Basketball’s stint as March Madness host state Indiana’s lone representative ended quickly. Losing in overtime last Friday to North Texas Basketball. West Virginia Basketball beat Morehead State Basketball last Friday/Saturday. As West Virginia and former Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins clinched his 900th career win. West Virginia narrowly lost to Syracuse in the second round last Sunday.

Huggins is one of March Madness’ notable names of local interest. Along with former Cincinnati head coach and current UCLA Basketball head coach Mick Cronin. UCLA beat Michigan State Basketball in last Thursday’s First Four. Then went on to beat BYU Basketball last Saturday. Cincinnati native and Walnut Hills High School alumnus MaCio Teague is another notable name. Teague and No.1 seed Baylor Basketball are advancing to the Sweet 16.

In the National Invitational Tournament, Western Kentucky Basketball is advancing to the quarterfinals. After scraping by Saint Mary’s Basketball 69-67 last Wednesday. WKU will play Conference USA foe Louisiana Tech Basketball this Thursday at 10 PM Eastern on ESPN2. Dayton Basketball and Toledo Basketball’s stint in the NIT is over. Toledo lost to Richmond Basketball 76-66 last Wednesday. Dayton lost to Memphis Basketball 71-60 last Saturday. Elsewhere, former Dayton head coach Archie Miller was fired by Indiana Basketball last week; after four years as Indiana’s head coach.

Meanwhile, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament is underway. No.4 seed Kentucky Basketball is the only team that played during the opening day of the tournament. Beating No.13 seed Idaho State Basketball 71-63 last Sunday. Louisville, Wright State and Indiana Basketball will play later today. A live bracket with more information regarding this year’s tournament is available here.

Thomas More Women’s Basketball is in the semifinals of the NAIA Tournament. After beating Mount Vernon Nazarene 71-51 last Thursday and Dakota State Basketball 72-47 last Saturday. Thomas More will face Morningside Basketball tonight at 7:00 PM Eastern in Sioux City, Iowa. The winner will face either Indiana Wesleyan Basketball or Westmont Basketball. In the National Championship game Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern time.

The 2021 Cincinnati Bengals free agent frenzy begins

The first week of this year’s NFL free agency frenzy is in full swing. With a tidal wave of Bengals departures and additions in the last week. Cincinnati bid adieu to veteran wide receiver A.J. Green. He’s joining the Arizona Cardinals through a $6 million one-year deal. After spending the first decade of his career with the Bengals.

Veteran defensive tackle Geno Atkins is another major departure for Cincinnati. The Bengals released Atkins after 11 seasons and eight Pro Bowl appearances. Atkins also earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2012 and 2015. Cincinnati also released right tackle Bobby Hart last week. Hart started in 45 games in three seasons with the Bengals.

Two of the Bengals recent first round draft picks are also leaving. 2016 first round pick William Jackson III is joining the Washington Football team through a three-year deal. 2017 first round pick John Ross agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants. Defensive End Carl Lawson is also going to New York. Through a three-year deal with the New York Jets.

Tight End Cethan Carter is will go to a Jets AFC East rival. Joining the Miami Dolphins through a three-year deal. The Bengals are also looking for a new kicker and quarterback. After Randy Bullock agreed to a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions. The Bengals traded quarterback Ryan Finley to the Houston Texans.

During his two seasons with Cincinnati, Finley was effectively the quarterback of last resort. Being initially passed over for Brandon Allen after rookie quarterback Joe Burrow’s injury. In exchange, Cincinnati will have a higher seventh round draft pick this year. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cincinnati will have the 200th overall pick in the upcoming draft; instead of the 231st overall pick. Aside from the draft pick swap, terms of the deal are still unknown.

Running Back Samaje Perine agreed to a two-year deal to stay in Cincinnati. Perine will get $700,000 guaranteed and $3.3 million at most. Meanwhile, the Bengals are signing five free agents. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie from the Dallas Cowboys agreed to a three-year deal worth $21.75 million at most. Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton is also joining the Bengals.

Hilton and former New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson’s have four year deals. Hilton’s free agent deal is worth $24 million at most. Hendrickson’s deal is the most expensive of the free agent deals so far. Hendrickson will get $16 million guaranteed and a maximum of $60 million. Former Minnesota Vikings left tackle Riley Reiff has a one year deal. Along with former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. Reiff will get $5.5 million and Ogunjobi will get $4.6 million guaranteed.

Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Report

Luis Castillo was named the Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day starting pitcher last week. This will be the second Opening Day start in Castillo’s career with the Reds. Castillo was the Reds Opening Day starter in 2019. Elsewhere in Reds news, Joey Votto is back with the team. After being sidelined by a positive COVID-19 test earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Reds are moving Eugenio Suarez to shortstop. Suarez was previously the Reds main third basemen.