Basketball-NBA: Grizzlies vs Sharpe drama.
Basketball-NCAA: Lots of upsets this week in the Top 25. Like 15 of them.
Football – NCAA: Harbaugh staying at Michigan
Football- NFL: 1 wild card and 4 divisional games in a week = 2 divisional championship games set
Golf: Rahm wins again. LIV gets TV deal.
Olympic Sports: LSU gym fans cause drama. USC renames field. Shiffrin off podium this week. USA Swim HC named for Worlds.
Tennis: Australian Open had some upsets but a lot of American success.
Basketball – NBA:
- Things got heated in the Lakers vs Grizzlies game. Before half, several Grizzlies players, most notably Dillon Brooks, Steve Adams, Ja Morant and Morant’s dad all went up to confront Shannon Sharpe, the Fox Sports reporter. Sharpe showed up to the game in a James jersey with a goat mask and is known on the show ‘Undisputed’ to be a unapologetic LeBron fan. Sharpe started poking at Brooks saying he was too small to guard LeBron and then it escalated from there. F bombs were dropped, etc. Nothing else happened but security did escort Sharpe back to his seat after the 3Q started and it blew up on Twitter.
Basketball-NCAA:
- NCAAM Losses in Top 25 this week: #2 Kansas will not be #2 after this week. They lost to #13 Kansas St on Tuesday, granted by only 1 point. Then to #14 TCU on Saturday. TCU destroyed the Jayhawks 83-60. #12 Iowa St brought it in the 2H against #7 Texas, winning by double digits. #19 Clemson may have had the highest scorer of the game but it wasn’t enough to beat Wake Forest. Clemson lost 87-77. DePaul beat #8 Xavier by 1. West Virginia had a strong 1H to lead #14 TCU by 15 at the half and despite scoring 41 in the second half, the Horned Frogs lost the game. #15 UConn lost to Seton Hall by 1. #20 Marquette outlasted #22 Providence for a ranked matchup in the Big East. #25 Arkansas lost to Mizzou by 3. Loyola Marymount put an end to #6 Gonzaga’s home win streak. That streak was tied for 8th longest in NCAA history at 75 before this game, that the Bulldogs lost by 1. That one hurts.
- Continued: #23 Rutgers lost to Michigan St who now have the same record in the Big 10 and overall at 5-3 and 13-6. Duke is a very back and forth team, they win games when they’re not ranked and then lose when they are. This time they were unranked playing #17 Miami and won by 2. The Blue Devils are undefeated at home this season so far. #11 Arizona beat #5 UCLA in a low scoring game 58-52. After beating #7 Texas earlier in the week, #12 Iowa St had a let down game losing to unranked OSU. Rounding out the week was perhaps the biggest update of all as #1 Houston fell to Temple by 1 in a low scoring game 56-55 on Sunday.
Football – NCAA:
- Harbaugh is staying at Michigan after he was rumored to interview for the Broncos HC job. That’s good and bad for Michigan fans as Harbaugh also faces NCAA allegations that he lied during an investigation. It is all still pending and is likely to be drawn out for months. The investigation is for violating COVID restricted recruiting rules during the dead period.
Football – NFL:
- Wild card games: We just hadn’t talked about the Cowboys Bucs game on Monday night love. The Cowboys handled the game well despite not ever beating Tom Brady… The Dallas K Maher did not though with a NFL record of 4 missed PATs. This is the Cowboys first away playoff win since 1992.
- Divisional Playoffs:
- Chiefs vs Jags started the weekend’s divisional games. Chiefs fans were loud after their bye week last week until Mahomes went out of the game with an ankle injury in the 2Q (check). He went out for the rest of the half and was not happy about doing so. Mahomes did play the entire 2H though and with TE Travis Kelce took the team to their 5th straight AFC Championship game. Chiefs beat the Jags 27-20.
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- The Eagles/Giants game was not much of a game. The Eagles out away the NY team early leading 28-0 at half. The Giants did manager to score in the 3Q but that was it. Eagles cruise to the NFC Championship game 38-7.
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- The first game on Sunday was a rematch of the MNF game that was never played between the Bengals and the Bills. And for a feel good start, Damar Hamlin was in attendance watching from a suite with his family. But that’s where the good feelings for the Bills ended. The Bengals went up quick 14-0 in the 1Q. Buffalo only managed to score 10 points the whole game in the snow and thus lost 27-10.
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- It was a throwback rivalry for the final game of the weekend. The Cowboys were looking to make their first NFC Championship game since 1995. It was a low scoring game the whole time going into half at 6-9. And yes that’s a TD for Dallas and another missed PAT for K Maher (making it 5 in a row). The Cowboys then managed to score a FG in the 3rd to make it all tied up 9-9 going into the 4th. But the 49ers got their run game going and scored a TD at the beginning of the final Q. The two teams then exchanged FGs to give Dallas the ball back with 3:04 left in the game down 7. They had to punt. Then SF punted and Dallas had one more chance, this time with no timeouts and only 45 seconds on the clock. As the final play from the Dallas 24, Dak Prescot passed the ball and then they were going to attempt a lateral play but it was snuffed out quickly. 2 turnovers and Dallas’ leading RB out didnt help either. 49ers advance!
Golf:
- Well I wouldn’t bet against Jon Rahm at the moment. This weekend he took the American Express for his 4th win in 6 starts and his 9th PGA Tour title overall. 2 of those wins were on the European Tour but still he has also had 7 straight Top 10 finishes. Rahm was tied with rookie Davis Thompson with 3 holes to play. Rahm ultimately won by 2.
- Watch out PGA Tour, the LIV announced their TV deal this week for the incoming season. You can watch LIV events on the CW in the US. Remember there are also more tournaments this year as well so we might have a good battle for golf fans going on.
Olympic Sports:
- LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne has 6.7MM followers on TikTok and is the highest earning woman in college athletics and she is out of competition on an injury. That didn’t stop fans of hers from disrupting the meet against #5 Utah where competition had to be stopped as fans were so disruptive. That wasn’t even their home meet. LSU lost their home opener to defending national champs and #1 Oklahoma on Tuesday. But the Tigers now travel with beefed up security.
- USC announced that they will be naming their field inside their track stadium after Olympic sprinter Allyson Felix. Felix Field has a nice ring to it! Felix is the most decorated American track athlete of all time with 11 medals over 5 Olympic games.
- Shiffrin has been oddly quiet. She got 4th and 7th in the downhills this week so we keep waiting on the WC record.
- USA Swimming announced their HCs for the world championships in Japan this summer. Bob Bowman, who you might recognize as Michael Phelps’ coach, will head the men’s squad. He is currently the HC at ASU right now. Carol Capitani, HC of Texas, will lead the women’s team. Bowman has been on every Olympic staff since 2004 – 2020 and 4 world championships. This is Capitini’s first time as HC for an international competition.
Tennis:
- Australian Open has begun and we are in the Round of 16. The Americans had a strong start having the most USA players make it to the 4th round since 2004.
- Men’s bracket: Some notable names are still in it like Djokovic and Tsitsipas but others are missing. USA Korda beat RUS Medvedev. DEN #2 seed Ruud was upset by an American rookie, Brooksby. ESP Nadal lost in straight sets in Round 1 to USA McDonald. He has been having some issues with his hip and it showed. So there will be a new champ as Nadal was last year’s champion. GBR Murray won his 2nd round match in a grueling 5+ hours. But then couldn’t bounce back in his 3rd round the next day and he is out.
- The men still in: RUS Khachanov, USA Korda, GRE Tsitsipas, CZE Lehecka, RUS Rublev, SER Djokovic, USA Shelton and USA Paul. Only #3, 4, 5, 18 & 29 remain
- Women’s bracket: USA Sloane Stephens lost in Round 1. USA Coco Gauff beat US Open champ GBR Emma Raducanu in the 2nd. CAN Andreescu lost in round 2 to ESP Bucsa who then got destroyed by POL Iga Swiatek. Only Gauff and Jessica Pegula were the lone Americans to make it to the Round of 16. Swiatek lost yesterday in the Round of 16 to KAZ Rybakina in a huge upset #22 vs #1. Gauff also went down in straight sets that round to LAT Ostapenko. USA Pegula survived and is the only American left on the women’s side.
- Women still in: KAZ Rybakina, LAT Ostapenko, USA Pegula, BLR Azarenka, CZE Pliskova, POL Linette, BEL Sabalenka and CRO Vekic. Only a #3 and #5 seed remain in the top 10. Everyone else is outside top 15.
- Men’s bracket: Some notable names are still in it like Djokovic and Tsitsipas but others are missing. USA Korda beat RUS Medvedev. DEN #2 seed Ruud was upset by an American rookie, Brooksby. ESP Nadal lost in straight sets in Round 1 to USA McDonald. He has been having some issues with his hip and it showed. So there will be a new champ as Nadal was last year’s champion. GBR Murray won his 2nd round match in a grueling 5+ hours. But then couldn’t bounce back in his 3rd round the next day and he is out.
What to watch this week
Basketball – NBA:
- Tues 1/24
- Celtics at Heat @ 6:30pm on TNT
- Clippers at Lakers @ 9pm on TNT
- Wed 1/25
- Nets at 76ers @ 6:30pm on ESPN
- Grizzlies at Warriors @ 9pm on ESPN
- Thurs 1/26
- Knicks at Celtics @ 6:30pm on TNT
- Mavericks at Suns @ 9pm on TNT
- Sat 1/28
- Nuggets at 76ers @ 2pm on ABC
- Knicks at Nets @ 4:30pm on ABC
- Lakers at Celtics @ 7:30pm on ABC
Basketball – NCAA:
- Mon 1/23
- 9. Kansas at 17. Baylor @ 8pm on ESPN
- 25. New Mexico at Nevada @ 8pm on CBSSN
- Tues 1/24
- 20. Miami at Florida St @ 6pm on ESPNU
- 5. Kansas St at 12. Iowa ST @ 8pm on ESPNU
- Oklahoma St at 10. Texas @ 8pm LGHN
- Georgia Tech at 24. Clemson @ 8pm on ACC
- Wed 1/25
- 13. Xavier at 19. UConn @ 5:30pm on FS1
- Georgia at 4. Tennessee @ 6pm on SEC
- Butler at 23. Providence @ 7:30pm on FS1
- Mississippi St at 2. Alabama @ 8pm on SEC
- Texas A&M at 15. Auburn @ 8pm on ESPNU
- Thurs 1/26
- Middle Tennessee at 21. FAU @ 6pm on CBSSN
- 1. Purdue at Michigan @ 8pm on FS1
- 8. UCLA at USC @ 8pm on ESPN2
- 6. Arizona at Washington St @ 10pm on FS1
- Fri 1/27
- Air Force at 25. New Mexico @ 9pm on CBSSN
- Sat 1/28
- Boston College at 7. UVA @ 11am on ACC
- 15. Auburn at West Virginia @ 11am on ESPN
- 2. Alabama at Oklahoma @ 1pm on ESPN
- 12. Iowa St at Mizzou @ 1pm on ESPN2
- 16. Marquette at DePaul @ 1pm on FS1
- Cincinnati at 3. Houston @ 1:15pm on CBS
- 11. TCU a Mississippi St @ 3pm on ESPN2
- Arkansas at 17. Baylor @ 3pm on ESPN
- 20. Miami at Pitt @ 3pm on ESPNU
- 24. Clemson at Florida St @ 4pm on ACC
- 10. Texas at 4. Tennessee @ 5pm on ESPN
- Florida at 5. Kansas St @ 5pm on ESPN2
- 9. Kansas at Kentucky @ 7pmon ESPN
- 22. Saint Mary’s at BYU @ 9pm on ESPN2
- Sun 1/29
- 23. Providence at Villanova @ 11am on FS1
- Michigan St at 1. Purdue @ 11:15am on CBS
Football – NFL:
- Sun 1/29
- NFC Championship Game: 49ers at Eagles @ 2pm on FOX
- AFC Championship Game: Bengals at Chiefs @ 5:30pm on CBS
Golf:
- Thurs 1/26
- Farmers Insurance Open – Round 1 @ 2pm on Golf Channel
- Fri 1/27
- Farmers Insurance Open – Round 2 @ 2pm on Golf Channel
- Sat 1/28
- Farmers Insurance Open – Round 3
- @ 2pm on Golf Channel
- @ 4pm on CBS
- Farmers Insurance Open – Round 3
- Sun 1/29
- Farmers Insurance Open – Final Round
- @ 2pm on Golf Channel
- @ 3:30pm on CBS
- Farmers Insurance Open – Final Round
Hockey:
- Mon 1/23
- Capitals at Flames @ 8:30pm on hulu
- Tues 1/24
- Golden Knights at Devils @ 6:30pm on hulu
- Wed 1/25
- Rangers at Maple Leafs @ 6pm on TNT
- Capitals at Oilers @ 8:30pm on TNT
- Thurs 1/26
- Flyers at Wild @ 7pm on hulu
- Fri 1/27
- Red Wings at Islanders @ 6pm on ESPN
- Sat 1/28
- Blues at Avalanche @ 2pm on hulu
Olympic Sports:
- Thurs 1/26
- Figure Skating: US Championships – Rhythm Dance @ 6pm on USA
- Figure Skating: US Championships – Women’s Short @ 9pm on USA
- Fri 1/27
- Figure Skating: US Championships – Men’s Short @ 4pm on USA
- W Gymnastics: Georgia vs Florida @ 5pm on SEC
- Figure Skating: US Championships – Women’s Free @ 7pm on NBC
- Sat 1/28
- Figure Skating: US Championships – Free Dance @ 1:30pm on NBC
- Figure Skating: US Championships – Pairs Free @ 7pm on USA
- Sun 1/29
- Figure Skating: US Championships – Men’s Free @2pm on NBC
Soccer:
- Wed 1/25
- International Friendly: USA vs SER @ 9pm on HBO Max
- Fri 1/27
- La Liga: Tijuana vs Pumas UNAM @ 9pm on FS1
- Sat 1/28
- International Friendly: USA vs COL @ 6:30pm on TNT
Tennis:
- Mon 1/23
- Australian Open: Quarterfinals @ 8pm on ESPN2
- Tues 1/24
- Australian Open @ 1pm on ESPN2
- Australian Open: Quarterfinals @ 8pm on ESPN2
- Wed 1/25
- Australian Open @ 1pm on ESPN2
- Thurs 1/26
- Australian Open: Women’s Semifinal @ 2:30am on ESPN
- Australian Open @ 1pm on ESPN2
- Australian Open @ 9pm on ESPN
- Australian Open: Men’s Semifinal @ 9:30pm on ESPN
- Fri 1/27
- Australian Open: Men’s Semifinal @ 2:30am on ESPN
- Australian Open @ 1pm on ESPN2
- Sat 1/28
- Australian Open: Women’s Final @ 2:30am on ESPN
- Australian Open @ 8am on ESPN2
- Sun 1/29
- Australian Open: Men’s Final @ 2:30am on ESPN
- Replay @ 8am and 8:30pm on ESPN2
- Australian Open: Men’s Final @ 2:30am on ESPN
