On the Hardwood
CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter on if the transfers regret their new stop (the only transfer looked at was LeJuan Watts):
The numbers: 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists
The scoop: Watts isn’t starting anymore, but he’s still playing starter’s minutes as Texas Tech works some kinks out with this new-look rotation. Watts is pretty clearly Texas Tech’s third fiddle, who has shown extra edge on the glass. He has multiple offensive rebounds in five of eight games, to go along with his barrage of backdowns, post-ups and mismatch-hunting drives. Texas Tech doesn’t have much to worry about with Watts. He’s an excellent No. 3 behind JT Toppin and Christian Anderson. The verdict: Everybody’s happy.
On the Gridiron
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football released their all-Texas team and Texas Tech led the way with 8 selections, highlighted with LB Jacob Rodriguez winning the DCTF Defensive Player of the Year and Joey McGuire and TAMU’s Mike Elko winning the Co-Coaches of the Year Award. RB Cameron Dickey, OL Howard Sampson, DE David Bailey, DT Lee Hunter, and CB Brice Pollock on the first team while RB J’Koby Williams, and DE Romello Height make the second team.
CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello on the back and forth between Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua:
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua has openly questioned the ACC’s support after Miami — an ACC member — jumped the Irish for the final at-large CFP berth. Bevacqua told “The Dan Patrick Show” on Monday that Notre Dame’s relationship with the ACC sustained “permanent damage.”
His decision to go after the league so forcefully, and so publicly, didn’t sit well with Yormark.
“Pete’s behavior has been egregious,” Yormark said Tuesday during a panel at the Intercollegiate Athletics Forum in Las Vegas. “It’s been egregious going after [ACC commissioner] Jim Phillips when they saved Notre Dame during COVID. We all knew, and it was very transparent — [CFP committee chairman] Hunter [Yurachek] was very transparent about it, that as Notre Dame and Miami got closer together, head-to-head would be a factor.”
Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger on Utah being on the verge of of entering into a private equity deal with Otro Capital. If you have heard Cody Campbell speak on this, he thinks this is a terrible idea (private equity for colleges with a terrific rating where they could issue bonds if they need an infusion of cash where the borrowing rate would be better for the colleges – I hope I got that remotely correct).
At the center of the project is the creation of a private, independent offshoot of the athletic department — Utah Brands & Entertainment LLC — in a first-of-its-kind partnership between a university athletic department and an equity partner. An executive team from Otro Capital, combined with athletics department personnel, will lead the creation and operation of the new company, which will live within the university’s foundation.
The university retains majority ownership and decision-making authority of Utah Brands & Entertainment. Otro marries the capital infusion with a team of experienced operators. A president from outside the university will preside over the company and report to a board, chaired by Utah athletic director Mark Harlan, with seats for trustees and Otro executives.
The project includes a fascinating wrinkle. The university is offering a prominent group of donors the ability to purchase a stake in Utah Brands & Entertainment. Already, university officials have culled a small donor base to generate millions in purchase agreements. The more than $500 million capital figure includes both the nine-figure cash infusion from Otro as well as those capital commitments from donors.
OLB David Bailey and LB Jacob Rodriguez won the Pony Express Award which goes to the most-outstanding teammate duo regardless of position and this award is named after Eric Dickerson and Craig James. Yep. Craig James.
Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood was named as a finalist for the Broyles Award which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.
The Ride from the Big 12 Championship Game: