In this review, Xavier wins the NIT championship. The Cincinnati Reds’ roster takes shape heading into Opening Day. While FC Cincinnati’s MLS NEXT Pro league team makes history.

Xavier Men’s Basketball win NIT championship

Xavier wrapped up a topsy turvy March on a winning note. Beating Texas A&M 73-72 last Thursday in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Clinching the program’s second National Invitational Tournament title; their first since 1958. Xavier was catapulted to victory through Jack Nunge’s bank shot with 3.1 seconds left. Nunge had a game-leading 11 rebounds and four assists last Thursday.

Colby Jones led the Xavier Musketeers points-wise with 21. Jones and Nate Johnson led the game with three steals each. Helping thwart Texas A&M’s offensive efforts throughout the game. Texas A&M surged ahead late in the first half after a hot start by Xavier. The Musketeers trailed 40-32 at halftime after leading through most of the first half.

Xavier came back and won despite foul trouble and whistle-happy officiating late in the game. Retaking the lead roughly eight and a half minutes into the second half. From that point on it was a back-and-forth game. Unlike their trip to MSG for the Big East Tournament earlier in March. Xavier wrapped up their New York NIT trip with playing their best March basketball in several years. Xavier advanced to the title game through beating St. Bonaventure 84-77 last Tuesday. Holding a multi-possession lead throughout most of that game.

The NIT title marked a successful “landing of the plane” by Xavier’s interim head coach Jonas Hayes. Meanwhile, Hayes’ predecessor Travis Steele accepted Miami-Ohio’s Men’s Basketball head coaching job last week. Also, Butler Men’s Basketball took a page from the Xavier playbook. Re-hiring former Butler and Xavier head coach Thad Matta to be their head coach. Doing so roughly two weeks after Xavier re-hired Sean Miller. In women’s basketball, Louisville advanced to the NCAA Final Four in Minneapolis. Losing to this year’s national champions South Carolina in last Friday’s national semifinals.

The Cincinnati Reds approach start of 2022 season

The Reds will start off their 2022 season this Thursday in Atlanta. After an offseason disrupted by Major League Baseball’s lockout. Delaying the start of the season a week later than originally planned. Plus, star Reds players from last season departing. Through free agency and mostly penny-pinching payroll-driven trades.

Cincinnati’s starting rotation will reflect their offseason changes going into Thursday. The Reds are turning to rookie Hunter Greene to boost their starting rotation. After trading Sonny Gray and waiving Wade Miley in the offseason. While Luis Castillo and Mike Minor recover from shoulder injuries. Greene is set to make his MLB debut this coming Sunday. In the Reds’ opening series finale against the Atlanta Braves. Tyler Mahle is set to start the Reds’ season-opener Thursday.

Also in Reds roster news, outfielder Shogo Akiyama won’t be on the opening day roster. Being designated for assignment Sunday, Akiyama has the option of going to the Triple-A Louisville Bats or become a free agent. Akiyama is in the final year of a three-year $21 million deal with the Reds. After successful years in his native Japan, Akiyama has struggled in Cincinnati. Hitting no home runs in his two seasons with the team. Along with battling hamstring injuries last year. Despite his home run drought, Akiyama was reliable defensively last year.

In another roster move announced Sunday, Aramis Garcia is poised to be Cincinnati’s backup catcher. As Akiyama weighs his options, the Reds will head into this season without a stable outfield. Instead of the relative stability they had last year with Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos. The Reds outfield will feature a combination of Aristides Aquino, Tyler Naquin and Nick Senzel. Along with Reds newcomers Tommy Pham and Jake Fraley.

Overall, this offseason is shifting the expectations for the 2022 Reds. As last season concluded, the Reds looked like a team still poised to contend with or without Castellanos. Instead of looking on paper like a team that could win 85 games going into last October. After Cincinnati’s offseason fire sale and doing little to address their bullpen. 85 wins seem more like a pipe dream for Reds fans this season. Though the Reds wouldn’t be the first Cincinnati team to exceed 2022 expectations. With rookie players leading the way through the season.

FC Cincinnati lose while USMNT qualify for FIFA World Cup

FC Cincinnati lost a 3-4 goal-fest hosting Montreal last Saturday. Brandon Vazquez continued a phenomenal start to his season. Giving FCC a 1-0 lead with his goal in the 12th minute. By the 21st minute, FC Cincinnati had a 2-1 lead. After Montreal’s Dorde Mihailovic’s goal in the 17th minute.

Cincinnati retook the lead through an own goal by Montreal’s Alistair Johnston in the 20th. FCC’s lead collapsed in the final minutes of the first half. Mihailovic scored a second goal in the 41st minute. While Kei Kamara scored in first half stoppage time. Giving Montreal a 3-2 lead going into halftime. Luciano Acosta tied the match with a penalty goal in the 61st minute. Joaquin Torres scored Montreal’s match-winning goal six minutes later.

After starting off the season with back-to-back losses. Then following that up with back-to-back wins. FC Cincinnati heads into a bye week with back-to-back losses. Losing to Charlotte on the road before the home loss last Saturday to Montreal. FC Cincinnati’s next match will be April 16th at 6 PM Eastern at Atlanta United.

FCC was originally scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders on the road this coming Saturday. That match is being moved to September 27th due to Seattle’s ongoing run in the Concacaf Champions League. Also in FCC news, FC Cincinnati 2 earned their first win in club history Sunday. Beating Toronto FC II 2-1 at Northern Kentucky University’s Soccer Complex. The match also featured FCC 2’s first ever goal; scored by Arquimides Ordonez in the fourth minute.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer team qualified for this year’s FIFA World Cup last week. The USMNT are in Group B in this fall’s World Cup. In the same group as England (cue the Washington crossing the Delaware memes). Group B also features Iran and either Wales, Scotland or Ukraine. Wales will face either Scotland or Ukraine in a European playoff match in June.

Scotland and Ukraine’s match was postponed due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. That postponed match hasn’t been rescheduled yet. The U.S. will open World Cup play taking on the European playoff winner on November 21st in Qatar.

Cincinnati Cyclones

The Cincinnati Cyclones wrapped up their five-game road trip on a losing note. Losing 3-0 to the Indianapolis Fuel last Wednesday. The Cyclones got quickly back to winning ways over the weekend. Beating the Iowa Heartlanders last Friday and Saturday in Cincinnati. Winning 4-2 last Friday and 5-2 a day later. With six games left in the regular season; the Cyclones are within range of qualifying for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Going into Monday third in their ECHL Central division; the top four teams from the division will advance to the Kelly Cup.

What to watch and listen to this week (all times Eastern)

Cincinnati Reds Spring Training

Reds vs. Kansas City Royals, Monday at 4:05 PM on WSAI-AM (1360)

Reds vs. Seattle Mariners, Tuesday at 3:05 PM on WSAI-AM.

Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves

Thursday’s first pitch in the Reds’ season-opener is set for 8:08 PM on ESPN2. Saturday’s game can be seen on MLB Network; Friday and Sunday’s games can be seen on Bally Sports Ohio. All games can be heard on the Reds Radio Network. Friday and Saturday’s games are set to start at 7:20 PM. While Sunday’s series finale is set to start at 1:35 PM.

Cincinnati Cyclones (all broadcasts available through cycloneshockey.com)

Cyclones at Trois-Rivieres Lions, Wednesday at 7 PM

Cyclones at Newfoundland Growlers, Friday and Saturday at 5:30 PM.

Cyclones at Growlers, Sunday at 2:30 PM