In this review, Opening Day is delayed as Major League Baseball’s lockout stretches into March. College Basketball conference tournaments begin. Oksana Masters wins gold and FC Cincinnati shows promise despite their home-opening loss.

Cincinnati Reds Opening Day delayed… again

After extending a Major League Baseball deadline by a day. To save the originally scheduled first week of the upcoming season. MLB cancelled the first two series of this season last Tuesday. After owners and players failed to reach an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. This means Opening Day is being delayed for the second time within three years. Unlike 2020, when the season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This lockout is devolving into another American past time, griping over taxes.

Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini joined three of his fellow team owners. To vote against a proposal by MLB towards the league’s players association last Tuesday. A proposal that was ultimately unanimously rejected by the players association. Castellini and the three other owners reportedly didn’t want to raise the Competitive Balance Tax. From a $210 million payroll threshold in 2021 to more than $220 million. The tax is meant to limit teams from excessive spending. Becoming a de facto salary cap that MLB owners have utilized for years.

This wasn’t the only rough headline for Castellini last week. According to Hall of Fame Reds beat writer Hal McCoy, Castellini tried to get him fired several years ago. From a previous job McCoy had writing for Fox Sports Ohio. Due to a comment critical of Castellini. It’s not a Vladimir Putin-style press crackdown but it’s still not a great look Bob.

The local college basketball weekly roundup

Men’s Basketball

Xavier Basketball ended their five-game losing streak last Saturday. Through a 97-75 Senior Night victory over listless Georgetown. Earlier in the week, Xavier lost 66-88 at St. John’s. Now Xavier heads into the Big East Tournament as the No.8 seed. Entering into perhaps the most pivotal week for head coach Travis Steele’s career. As the team strives for their first NCAA Tournament appearance in the Steele era. Heading into this week as a bubble team after snapping another late season slide.

Meanwhile, Northern Kentucky Basketball began their conference tournament last week. Beating Detroit Mercy last Thursday in the Horizon League quarterfinals. After getting swept by Detroit Mercy during the regular season. Now the action shifts to Indianapolis for tonight’s semifinals. Taking on No.2 seed Purdue Fort Wayne as the Horizon League’s No.3 seed.

Cincinnati Basketball heads into the American Athletic Conference Tournament as the No.8 seed. Despite being a major conference program, Cincinnati’s NCAA Tournament hopes are in the same spot as a mid-major. It’s win the AAC Tournament’s automatic bid or bust for Cincinnati. Heading into the AAC Tournament with a 17-14 overall and 7-11 conference record. While striving to snap a five-game losing streak. After losing to Houston 71-53 last Tuesday in Houston. Then wrapping up the regular season last Thursday losing at SMU 76-71.

Women’s Basketball

After wrapping up their regular season with a 74-53 home loss to Seton Hall last Tuesday. Xavier lost in the first round of the Big East Tournament. To No.7 seed St. John’s 76-69 last Friday in Uncasville, CT. Xavier forward Ayanna Townsend scored her fourth career double-double. With ten rebounds and matching a career-high 18 points.

No.5 seed Northern Kentucky advanced to the Horizon League quarterfinals. Through a 73-50 home win against No.12 Detroit Mercy in last Tuesday’s first round. The NKU Norse lost on the road to No.4 Cleveland State last Thursday 59-51. While their NCAA Tournament hopes are toast. 21-8 NKU could be invited to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

Cincinnati heads into the AAC Tournament as the No.11 seed. Starting their campaign today after wrapping up the regular season on February 26th. Meanwhile, two Kentucky teams had different kinds of upsets. No.7 seed Kentucky upset No.1 (AP Top 25) South Carolina 64-62 yesterday to win the SEC Championship. It’s Kentucky’s first Women’s Basketball SEC Championship since 1982. While No.4 (AP) Louisville Basketball’s lost through a buzzer beater last Friday 61-59. To No.7 seed Miami-FL in their lone ACC Tournament game.

2022 Winter Paralympics update

Louisville, KY’s Oksana Masters won Team USA’s first gold medal of these games. Through winning the Women’s Sprint Sitting Biathlon event on Saturday in Beijing. Masters’ teammate Kendall Gretsch won the bronze medal in that event. On Sunday, Masters won silver in women’s long distance sitting cross-country skiing. That medal is the 12^th overall in Masters’ Paralympic career.

The rest of the week that was

FC Cincinnati’s home opener featured some encouraging moments. Though the match ultimately ended with a 1-0 loss to D.C. United. D.C. scored through Ola Kamara’s stoppage time penalty kick. Prompted by a handball call on FCC’s Geoff Cameron. The ball deflected off Cameron’s arm in the penalty area. Resulting in an extended video review that dragged on through stoppage time.

This was the second call that bit FCC in Saturday’s match. In the 22nd minute, an offside call erased an attempted goal by Brandon Vazquez. Up until the penalty kick goal, FC Cincinnati was in good shape to end the match with at least a draw. They were much more aggressive on offense. Compared to their 5-0 loss at Austin FC a week earlier. With 16 shots compared to D.C. United’s ten. Bringing some energy on a night where TQL Stadium experienced a brief pre-match power disruption.

A transformer failure disrupted the stadium’s National Anthem performance. Resulting in an apology from the club after the match for disrupting the fan experience. It was a losing weekend for the Cincinnati Cyclones too. Losing to the Toledo Walleye yesterday in Toledo 1-7. A day earlier, the Cyclones lost 3-5 to the hosting Fort Wayne Komets.

What to watch this week (all times Eastern)

Men’s College Basketball

Horizon League Tournament (Indiana Farmers Coliseum: Indianapolis, IN)

Semifinals

Northern Kentucky vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, Monday at 9:30 PM on ESPN 2 and WCKY-AM (1530)

Horizon League Championship Game, Tuesday at 7 PM on ESPN

Big East Tournament (Madison Square Garden: New York, NY)

First Round

No.8 Xavier vs. No.9 Butler, Wednesday at 4:30 PM on FS1 and WLW-AM (700).

Quarterfinals

Xavier or Butler vs. Providence, Thursday at Noon on FS1

The full Big East Tournament bracket is available here.

American Athletic Conference Tournament (Dickies Arena: Fort Worth, TX)

First Round

No.8 Cincinnati vs. No.9 East Carolina, Thursday at 1 PM on ESPNU and WLW-AM.

Quarterfinals

Cincinnati or East Carolina vs. No.1 Houston, Friday at 1 PM on ESPN2.

The full AAC Men’s Tournament bracket is available here.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Selection Show, Sunday at 6 PM on CBS.

Women’s College Basketball

AAC Tournament (Dickies Arena: Fort Worth, TX)

First Round

No.11 Cincinnati vs. No.6 Houston, Monday at 6 PM on ESPN+.

Quarterfinals

Cincinnati or Houston vs. No.3 Tulane, Tuesday at 9 PM on ESPN+.

The full AAC Women’s Tournament bracket is available here.

FC Cincinnati

FCC at Orlando City, Saturday at 7:30 PM on WSTR-TV (64) and WCKY-AM.

Winter Paralympics

Oksana Masters is set to compete in several events throughout these games. The Paralympics run throughout this week and concludes Sunday. Masters will compete in the women’s middle distance sitting biathlon. Tonight at 9 PM on the Olympic Channel and nbcolympics.com.

Cincinnati Cyclones (broadcasts available through cycloneshockey.com)

Cyclones (informally known for this game known as the Cincinnati Coneys) vs. Wheeling Nailers. Friday’s opening face-off at the Heritage Bank Center is set for 7:30 PM.