In this week’s review, things go from bad to worse for John Brannen. Thomas More Women’s Basketball advance to the NAIA Championship Game. Plus, remembering the lives and legacies of Mike Bell and Howard Schnellenberger.

UC launches review into men’s basketball program

The Universtity of Cincinnati announced a review of their men’s basketball program last Friday. Reportedly due to allegations relating to the program’s coaching staff. The university did not disclose what the allegations are. Nonetheless, the review is adding to the woes for Cincinnati Basketball head coach John Brannen. As a roller coaster March for the Cincinnati Bearcats nears an end; with the potential for a drama-filled April within sight.

Six Bearcats players entered the transfer portal; less than a week after Cincinnati played in the AAC Tournament championship game. Now Brannen finds himself abruptly on the hot seat with this review. After just two seasons as the Bearcats’ head coach. Add onto this, the lack of clarity over what allegations are prompting this review. Along with the relationship between Brannen and Cincinnati Athletic Director John Cunningham. Suspicion abounds in local sports media that Cunningham is trying to find a way to oust Brannen. Without paying Brannen the roughly $5 million he would be owed if fired.

Thomas More Women’s Basketball fall short in NAIA championship

The best local college basketball story of this March is in Crestview Hills, KY. Home to the 2021 NAIA national runners-up Thomas More Women’s Basketball. After advancing to the National Championship Game through beating Morningside Basketball 65-62 last Monday. Thomas More lost 72-61 to Westmont Basketball in last Tuesday’s National Championship game in Sioux City, IA. TMU wrapped up the season with a 29-2 overall record and a 14-0 home record.

Xavier Basketball’s week in review

Xavier’s men’s basketball team is looking for a new assistant coach. After Ben Johnson accepted Minnesota Basketball’s head coaching job last week. Johnson previously played for and was an assistant at Minnesota. He joined Xavier’s staff in 2018, after being a Minnesota assistant from 2013-18. Johnson succeeds Richard Pitino as Minnesota’s head coach, whom Johnson worked with as an assistant.

Elsewhere in Xavier news, Jason Carter entered the transfer portal last week. Plus, Xavier Women’s Basketball player A’riana “Ari” Gray will join West Virginia Basketball as a graduate transfer. In a different story with a Xavier connection; former Xavier men’s basketball head coach Thad Matta has a new job. According to Indianapolis Star reporter Gregg Doyle; Matta will be Indiana University’s men’s basketball Associate Athletic Director. Reports of the hire came the same day Indiana hired Mike Woodson; to be their men’s basketball team’s new head coach.

The NCAA Tournament roundup

Meanwhile, Wright State Basketball had one of the biggest upsets in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament. Beating No.4 seed Arkansas Basketball 66-62 in the first round last Monday. The Horizon League champions lost two days later to No.5 seed Missouri State Basketball 64-39. Indiana Basketball and Louisville Basketball are the two teams of local interest in the Elite Eight. No.2 seed Louisville will play No.1 seed Stanford Basketball Tuesday. In the Alamo regional final at 9 PM Eastern on ESPN. The game will feature two Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year semifinalists.

With Fort Thomas, KY native and Northern Kentucky University alumnus Jeff Walz coaching Louisville. Plus, Stanford head coach and Division I Women’s Basketball’s all-time wins leader Tara VanDerveer. No. 4 seed Indiana will play No.3 seed Arizona Basketball. In the Mercado regional final tonight at 9 PM Eastern on ESPN. Both are advancing to the first Elite Eight appearances in their program’s history.

In the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, Ohio Basketball’s season is over. Losing to Creighton Basketball 72-58 in last Monday’s second round. Shifting the local connections to March Madness broadly from programs to individuals. One connection is former Cincinnati Basketball and current UCLA Basketball head coach Mick Cronin. Cronin will coach in the first Elite Eight game of his career this week.

No.11 seed UCLA will play No.1 seed Michigan Basketball. In Tuesday’s East regional final at 9:57 PM Eastern time on TBS. UCLA advanced through an 88-78 overtime win last Sunday against No.2 seed Alabama Basketball. Another local connection is Baylor Basketball player and Cincinnati native MaCio Teague. Along with Arkansas Basketball and former Northern Kentucky Basketball player Jalen Tate.

Teague and Tate will face each other tonight in the South regional final. Baylor advanced after beating Villanova Basketball. Meanwhile, Arkansas advanced after narrowly escaping a upset against No.15 seed Oral Roberts Basketball. Winning 72-70 last Saturday, ending Oral Roberts’ Cinderella run in the tournament. Tonight’s tip-off between No.1 seed Baylor and No.3 seed Arkansas is set for 9:57 PM Eastern on CBS.

Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Report

Joey Votto returned to the Cincinnati Reds lineup last week. Appearing in his first game since March 7th last Friday. After missing most of March due to testing positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Reds roster continues to take shape ahead of Opening Day. The Reds released pitcher Noe Ramirez and infielder/outfielder Dee Strange Gordon last week.

Cincinnati signed free agent pitchers Nick Howard and Heath Hembree. While re-assigning catcher Rocky Gale to minor league camp. Along with pitchers Brandon Finnegan and Jesse Biddle. The Reds will have their last Spring Training exhibition this Monday. Cincinnati will host the Seattle Mariners in Goodyear, AZ at 3:05 PM Eastern. The Reds will start their 2021 season this Thursday. Hosting the St.Louis Cardinals at 4:10 PM Eastern on FOX Sports Ohio and WKRC-TV (12).

R.I.P Mike Bell and Howard Schnellenberger

Former Reds player Mike Bell passed away at the age of 46 last Friday. Due to complications from a bout with kidney cancer. Mike Bell’s Cincinnati roots ran deep; as one of three generations of involved with the Reds. Mike played for the Reds in 2000 and his brother David is Cincinnati’s current manager. Their father Buddy Bell played for the Reds in the 1980’s.

Buddy now serves as Cincinnati’s vice president and senior advisor. Buddy’s father Gus Bell had an All-Star playing career with the Reds from 1953-1961. Mike Bell was most recently a bench coach with the Minnesota Twins. He was hired by the Twins for that role before last season. After 13 seasons working in player development for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Legendary college football coach Howard Schnellenberger died last Saturday at age 87. Schnellenberger led Miami-Florida Football into national prominence in the 1980’s. Coaching the program to their first national championship in the 1983 season. Schnellenberger was Louisville Football’s head coach from 1985-1994. During his tenure, Louisville Football won the 1990 Fiesta Bowl and the 1993 Liberty Bowl. Part of a 6-0 bowl record during his coaching career. He also had college head coaching stints with Oklahoma Football and Florida Atlantic Football.