In this week’s review, Cincinnati Basketball’s head coaching search is over. The Cincinnati Reds keep up their winning ways at home. Plus, FC Cincinnati makes a good first impression in their regular season debut.

Cincinnati Basketball’s Wes Miller era begins

Wes Miller was hired to be Cincinnati Basketball’s new head coach last week. Miller was most recently the head coach for UNC Greensboro Basketball. Guiding the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance this year. One of two NCAA Tournament appearances UNCG made with Miller as their head coach. UNCG won four Southern Conference regular season and two tournament titles.

Miller amassed a 185-135 record in ten seasons as UNCG’s head coach. His North Carolina roots run deeper than his tenure with UNCG. He won a national championship playing for North Carolina Basketball. Miller was considered as a potential candidate for the North Carolina head coaching job. Following the recent retirement of his college coach Roy Williams.

Miller’s hiring wasn’t the only big news for Cincinnati Basketball last week. Two Cincinnati guards that recently entered the transfer portal; announced they will return to Cincinnati. Mike Saunders Jr. will return for his sophomore year. Announcing his return last Friday through social media. The news broke as Miller’s introductory press conference began.

Mason Madsen announced his return to the University of Cincinnati a day later. Madsen’s twin brother Gabe recently transferred to play for Utah Basketball. While Zach Harvey transferred to UC Santa Barbara earlier this month. Saunders Jr. and Mason Madsen join Jeremiah Davenport, David DeJulius and Mika Adams-Woods. Among the players that recently announced their intentions to stay at UC. Helping Miller in one of his first key tasks as Cincinnati’s head coach. Rebuilding the roster after six players entered the transfer portal last month. Last week’s developments leave freshmen Tari Eason and junior Mamoudou Diarra; as Cincinnati players still in the transfer portal.

A week of mourning and a big decision for the Davenport’s

On a solemn note, Jeremiah Davenport’s decision to stay came amid a time of mourning for the Davenport’s. Jeremiah’s father Darren died on April 5th at age 55. His funeral service and a celebration of his life took place last week. Darren Davenport was well known in Cincinnati’s basketball community. Darren was a Mt. Healthy High School star in the 1980’s. He played college basketball with Alcorn State and Northern Kentucky. Along with being a Navy veteran, he coached and officiated in AAU and youth level games.

The Cincinnati Reds and home sweet home

There’s no place like home for the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds returned home last weekend after a rough opening road trip. Wrapping up the trip with a 2-4 road record and 7-5 record overall. After losing two out of three to the San Francisco Giants last week. A rough shift from the 5-1 start the Reds had to the season.

Despite the losses, the Reds had some highlights in San Francisco. Most notably, Joey Votto got his groove back after a sluggish start to his season. Votto became the first Reds player to hit a home run into San Francisco’s famed McCovey Cove. Votto had a good showing last weekend too. When Cincinnati returned home to face their cross-state rival Cleveland Indians. In the opening series of this year’s Ohio Cup.

Votto hit a home run and a double in Cincinnati’s 10-3 win last Friday. Then helped the Reds snag a triple play in last Saturday’s game. However, the player with the biggest highlight of the weekend was Tyler Stephenson. The catcher knocked in a walk-off hit in extra innings last Saturday. Coming in as a pinch hitter with runners on the corners in the bottom of the tenth. As the Reds extended their home winning streak to seven games. With come from behind wins last Friday and Saturday; winning last Saturday’s game 3-2.

The home winning streak ended last Sunday with a thud. Cincinnati lost 6-3 in a game where they never led. As Cleveland starting pitcher Shane Bieber struck out 13 batters in eight innings. This week, the Reds will host the Arizona Diamondbacks. In a three-game series starting Tuesday at 6:40 PM Eastern.

Wednesday’s game starts at the same time and Thursday’s starts at 12:35 PM Eastern. Cincinnati will wrap up the week on the road. Taking on the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game series. Friday’s game starts at 8:15 PM Eastern. Saturday and Sunday’s games start at 2:15 PM Eastern.

Jay Bruce Retires

Shortly before last Sunday’s game, former Reds and Indians player Jay Bruce announced his retirement. Bruce made his major league debut with the Reds in 2008. He spent nine of his 14 major league seasons with the Reds. Most famously hitting a walk-off home run to clinch the 2010 National League Central Division title. One of the 319 home runs he hit over the course of his career.

All three of his MLB All-Star Game appearances (2011,2012 and 2016) were with the Reds. He was traded to the New York Mets in 2016 and bounced around with several teams. He spent part of the 2017 season with Cleveland. Played in 47 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2019. Then played in 51 games in 2019 and 32 in 2020 with the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s retiring after starting this season with the New York Yankees.

A Soccer season begins while others end

Last Saturday was a packed day for Cincinnati area soccer. First, FC Cincinnati’s 2021 season kicked off with a 2-2 road draw against Nashville SC. Two FC Cincinnati newcomers scored the opening goals of the match. Luciano Acosta scored in the eighth minute and Brenner scored a penalty goal four minutes later. Providing a remarkable change of pace for FCC. A team that struggled to score goals last season. Frequently going through scoreless match streaks last year.

Jhonder Cadiz put Nashville on the board in the 20^th minute. Then Randall Leal scored the equalizer in the 64^th minute. FCC’s opening road trip continues this Saturday at 1 PM Eastern. Taking on NYC FC at Yankee Stadium on WSTR-TV.

Second, Northern Kentucky University hosted the Men’s and Women’s Horizon League Soccer Championships. Both NKU’s men’s and women’s teams faced Milwaukee Soccer in their title matches. In the first match of the day, NKU Women’s Soccer took a scoreless draw into a penalty shootout. Northern Kentucky ultimately lost the shootout 4-3; while NKU Men’s Soccer lost 1-0 later Saturday afternoon.