Blake Nichting

Iowa State Alum. I tweet about sports occasionally.

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@AdamFinkelstein Killyan Toure showed flashes of offense last year. If he makes a jump and shows he can run the offense consistently he’s gotta be in lottery consideration imo.

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@BudElliott3 Agreed. What about NBA draft picks playing in college basketball games? Just curious about the reaction from sec/b1g icing out Tech for this but not having nearly the same reaction for that.

(I hate it all but just find the difference in reaction interesting at least)

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@AndyStaples Short term sure. Long term I’m not convinced. College sports is unlike anything else, it can’t be compared to other leagues. Not sure it stays a national fanbase long term if you lock out half of current P4

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@chicagobars I think it would have been cool if they operated more like a sports bar as a primary business and incorporated the Sportsbook secondary (or not at all). Could have been a great watching experience but food/drinks were clearly secondary concern, expensive and not great imo.

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@CBSSportsCBB I think they might have done it to make him look taller? Stretched out the ankles a touch?

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@JackTriceMafia ESPN is only against for the same reason everyone is for it. Money. They own the rights but it gets opened back up if it expands beyond a certain point. Nobody in power cares about the sport just money/control

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@HPbasketball Always sucks when it doesn’t play out but it was a big swing and I respect them taking it. If they had hit in the top4 if would have been an awesome trade. Basically took a coin toss with no middle ground and they lost it unfortunate but personally I still like the idea.

[Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS]

I don't care how many schools we've added to Division I over the past however many years -- literally none of them are national championship contenders. It's nonsense to use them as even one reason to expand the NCAA Tournament most clearly don't want expanded.
@EyeOnCBBPodcast

[Pat Forde @ByPatForde]

Everyone knew ncaa tournament expansion to 76 was inevitable. Almost nobody wants it. Those trying to argue its merits are gaslighting you. I’ve written it many times — it’s a lousy development that contributes to the erosion of what makes college sports great.

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@Sam_Vecenie I think it’s objectively the right decision for them. Sports in a dumb spot making them do it. proactive teams that managed/filled their roster effectively get somewhat punished. While teams with holes may get bailed out with a new wave of players and full many rosters elsewhere

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

The current demographic with money to spend it’s pretty locked in on CFB essentially no matter what because that love built for years. Bad decisions won’t show bad results right away, but rather in the future with kids growing up with a broken sport. Regular season getting killed

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

Highly unserious people in charge of sports (among other things). Convinced nobody making these decisions actually like college sports. Sacrifice long term interest and health for a short term dollar spike

[Ralph D. Russo @ralphDrussoATH]

I told y'all a while ago that if you thought the idea of a 24-team CFP was just a crazy Big Ten plan that was going to die on the vine, you were very wrong.

https://t.co/Dkl2D98v7n

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@KevinOConnor How high do you think Momcilovic could rise? He’s gotten better defensively, I’m biased, but Im surprised at the difference between him and say Karaban given the shooting production Momcilovic just showed.

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

Otz is in his bag. The more I look into all these guys the better they look. Should be great fits and some upside still too.

Top20 if Milan goes Pro. Top5ish real title contender if he comes back.

🌪️ 🌪️ 🌪️

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

@elcorncapitan I think there’s an argument it makes sense in order to keep pace given the value of athletics to the state…but big picture it’s terrible. This is best reason we need national rules in athletics, every state is going down this path eventually otherwise and it’s wasteful

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

Portal season sucks enough as is, but I HATE all the quote tweets of “cyclone” etc. for any and all players 95% of which are simply a bad fit or not good enough and we should have zero desire for. I knows it’s partially tongue in cheek but it’s annoying timeline junk

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

Makes sense on an individual level, so I can’t blame them, but this is the best argument for getting standards in place. On a national level it makes no sense to have taxpayers effectively paying college athletes. Every state probably gets here eventually otherwise.

[Nick Osen @TheRealNickOsen]

Via Wisconsin Athletics: “Governor Evers Signs AB 1034 Into Law

Supports Wisconsin Athletics’ Commitment to Excellence”

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

Quite the sample size spin zone here on that 3pt number. I get it but also…

[Jeff Borzello @jeffborzello]

Duke freshman Nikolas Khamenia will enter the transfer portal, source told ESPN. 6-foot-8 forward averaged 5.7 points, but posted 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 41.7% from 3 in three ACC tournament games when two starters were sidelined. Was a five-star recruit in the class of 2025.

[Trilly Donovan @trillydonovan]

one last sights and sounds from the greatest sporting event in the world.

[Blake Nichting @banichting]

Just a snapshot but pretty wild that at this very moment the top3 on KenPom are separated by just .01 in their net ratings.