Tag: Big Ten Network

Big Ten Network releases 2024 Baseball and Softball broadcast schedules

As the baseball and softball season continues, the Big Ten Network will be the place to catch all the action

During the 2024 baseball and softball campaign, the Big Ten Network will be the place to catch all the action. On Wednesday, the network announced that it will feature nearly 600 games. Fans will also be able to stream games on the FOX Sports App and B1G+ throughout the season.

Softball coverage begins on Friday, March 22, when Illinois takes on Nebraska at 6 p.m. ET. This year, the network will also provide coverage of the Big Ten Softball Tournament from Iowa City, beginning with Game 1 on Wednesday, May 8, at noon ET and concluding with the championship game on Saturday, May 11, at 4 p.m. ET.

Lisa Byington, Sloane Martin, and Kylen Mills will be the primary play-by-play broadcasters for softball coverage. Analysis will be provided by Jennie Ritter, Elise Menaker, and Sammy Nettling.

Baseball coverage will begin on March 29 at 6 p.m. ET when Purdue visits Ohio State. The Big Ten Network will also provide coverage of the Big Ten Baseball Tournament Presented by IFS from Omaha, beginning on Tuesday, May 21. On May 26, coverage will conclude with the championship game at 3 p.m. ET.

During the baseball season, Connor Onion, Jack Kizer, and Connor McKnight will be responsible for play-by-play duties. Scott Pose, Danan Hughes, and Jeff Leise will provide analysis.

On April 6, the Network will provide its first coverage of a Rutgers game when the Scarlet Knights take on Wisconsin.

Rapheal Davis believes Cliff Omoruyi should return for a final season with Rutgers basketball

Rapheal Davis believes that Cliff Omoruyi should return to Rutgers.

If Cliff Omoruyi returns for one more year with Rutgers basketball, then the expectation is that the Scarlet Knights become a contender for the Big Ten championship as well as a run in the NCAA Tournament.

That’s the projection from Rapheal Davis, the Big Ten Network analyst who believes that there is a convincing argument to be made for Omoruyi to return to Rutgers. An All-Big Ten selection, Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points per game this season.

He also averaged 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.

Following last week’s regular-season finale, a loss to Ohio State at Jersey Mike’s Arena, Omoruyi sounded like he was going to leave Rutgers. Davis, a former standout at Purdue and now an analyst with the Big Ten Network, believes that Omoruyi should return for a final season at Rutgers.

“In today’s world, it’s never goodbye,” Davis told Rutgers Wire last week.

“I think obviously the world we live in, anything can happen. I don’t know Cliff. I don’t know. his family situation.. I don’t know much about him. But I know what I’d be thinking (that) if I had a chance to come back and play with NIL and  I can play with two guys that are coming in and have a real chance to win the Big Ten championship and then go for a run to the Final Four – I think I would come back.”

Davis is referring to Omoruyi partnering with incoming freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, both five star players.

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Already, three Rutgers players have entered the transfer portal, with guard Derek Simpson the most noticeable player set to leave the program. Were Omoruyi to return and not leave for the NBA or enter the transfer portal, Davis thinks Rutgers could be special.

Omoruyi was an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

“So I think the Cliff next season with a guy like Ace Bailey and a guy like Dylan Harper…I think he just goes back to being just a really, really good defender, an NBA-level defender,” Davis said.

“And then he becomes just a lot better on offense He won’t be asked to do as much because they have guys around him that can create for him. I think Cliff is one of those guys who is an NBA player when he has NBA players around him. I think next season he’ll have a couple around him.”

Big Ten Network analyst Raphael Davis says Rutgers basketball will bounce back next year: ‘They can come in and be top 25’

Rutgers basketball’s down year is by no means a trend according to Big Ten Network analyst Raphael Davis.

A disappointing season for Rutgers men’s basketball comes down to this week’s Big Ten Tournament. And for college basketball analyst Raphael Davis, the dip from Rutgers was expected in many ways.

But, the Big Ten analyst doesn’t expect Rutgers to stay there for long. Davis believes that Rutgers will be one of the top programs in the nation next year.

It has been a down year for Rutgers basketball (15-16, 7-13 Big Ten) ahead of this week’s Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers opens the tournament on Wednesday against Maryland.

Rutgers has a top 10 recruiting class coming in, highlighted by two five-star recruits in forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] and guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag]. Also coming in is four-star [autotag]Lathan Sommerville[/autotag], a forward/center.

So despite the dip from Rutgers this year, a campaign that likely snaps a three-year streak of postseason appearances, Davis believes Rutgers will take a big step forward next year.

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And, they will go into next year anything but down, Davis said.

 

“They’re my favorite, I mean, obviously, you don’t know who’s going to get who in the portal, and I still think Rutgers will be a shooter away, a dead-eye shooter away,” Davis told Rutgers Wire on Monday.

“If, in the portal, they can get that to go along with the haul they got coming in to go along with if Cliff (All-Big Ten center Cliff Omoruyi) comes back…Derek Simpson…Jeremiah Williams. With what they can bring defensively, I think if they can get it right in the portal, Rutgers can definitely come and be in the top 25 and the favorite in the Big Ten.”

This season has been a disappointment for Rutgers but understandably so. The Scarlet Knights lost two key pieces in the transfer portal this summer from last year’s top in guards Paul Mulcahy (Washington) and Cam Spencer (UConn) and were unable to adequately replace either player so late in the cycle.

It is a fall from grace for Rutgers for sure, but one that might have been predictable given these late losses.

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A former standout guard at Purdue, Davis refers to his own college career to provide some perspective on this Rutgers season.

Davis made the connection between what Pikiell has done at Rutgers with the tremendous rebuild undertaken by Matt Painter at Purdue.

The Purdue head coach took over the Boilermakers in 2005. Following a losing first season with the Big Ten program, Painter took Purdue to the NCAA Tournament in six of his next seven seasons.

Then, Purdue underwent two years with a losing record and no NCAA Tournament appearances. They had some big losses due to graduation, including JaJuan Johnson (an All-Big Ten selection and a first round pick), E’Twaun Moore (an All-Big Ten guard) and Robbie Hummel (an All-Big Ten forward). It took two seasons, but Purdue bounced back.

Rutgers is going through a similar time, Davis explained.

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Since that dip, Painter rebuilt Purdue and led them to seven NCAA Tournaments in as many seasons that the tournament was held (due to COVID-19, the NCAA Tournament was not held following the 2019-20 regular season).

“I mean, we were dead last place in my sophomore year in the Big Ten so that was two years after those guys left,” Davis said of his time at Purdue.

“This the second year after (former Rutgers All-Big Ten guard) Geo Baker left. I just got to think you’re going through a transition as a program. And you have those years where you kind of go through your ups and downs. And then with this new transfer portal and stuff like that, it’s a little more detrimental when you lose guys late.

“But I think of coach Painter and going from last place in the Big Ten through losing some guys and now he’s regarded as one of the best coaches in college basketball. So I think we need to think about it that way. You kind of kind of expect the ups and downs of college basketball.”

Big Ten Network airing National Signing Day special

The Big Ten Network will have a signing day special.

For Big Ten football fans across the country, The Big Ten Network will be the station to watch on signing day. On Wednesday, December 20, the network will air four hours of live recruiting coverage starting at 2 p.m. ET.

The B1G Live: Signing Day Special will feature Mike Hall, Howard Griffith, Jake Butt and Allen Trieu. On the show, they will break down the incoming classes, transfer portal movement, and roster updates for all 14 Big Ten schools. However, the fun does not stop there.

A few head coaches from the Big Ten are scheduled to join the show. That list includes Ryan Day, James Franklin, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, USC’s Lincoln Riley and Washington’s Kalen DeBoer. They will be joined by Michigan Commit I’Marion Stewart, who will provide his thoughts on the Wolverine’s chances in the College Football Playoff.

 

As news in the Big Ten breaks, there will be plenty for this group to discuss. During the 2023 season, eight teams including Rutgers reached the seven-will mark. That has only created excitement for how the next class will impact the conference.

The B1G Live: Signing Day Special will also be streamed on the Fox Sports App and social media.

WATCH: Jonathan Smith makes first TV appearance as Michigan State football coach on the Big Ten Network

Jonathan Smith makes first TV appearance as Michigan State football coach on the Big Ten Network

Jonathan Smith is the new man in charge of the Michigan State football program, and it’s getting more real by the day.

On Monday, Smith made his first appearance on television as the head coach of the Spartans, when he was interviewed about his new role on the Big Ten Network.

You can watch it below, where Smith’s interview starts at 26 minutes and 17 seconds:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Big Ten Network’s Gerry DiNardo sees success already for Rutgers football: ‘this year is a significant year of progress’

Rutgers football has already accomplished a lot this season according to the Big Ten Network.

In some ways, Rutgers football is already playing with house money, having shown this year that they are a significantly upgraded program under head coach Greg Schiano. But that doesn’t mean that the expectations haven’t lessened for the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers comes into Saturday’s game at Penn State off consecutive losses to Ohio State and Iowa for their first losing streak of the season. But at 6-4 (3-4 Big Ten), Rutgers can still prove plenty more.

This fourth season under head coach Greg Schiano has seen Rutgers turn from a rebuilding program into a built one. The program is competitive now against the best in the Big Ten and became bowl-eligible last month.

That alone is something that the Big Ten Network’s Gerry DiNardo said is quite an accomplishment

“They’ve already established that this year is a significant year of progress. They were bowl-eligible last week going into Iowa and I think that a lot of us thought this was a match-up opponent against Iowa. And Iowa is a traditional Big Ten, they’re probably going to go to Indianapolis,” DiNardo said on the Big Ten Network this week.

“To say that Greg Schiano is bowl-eligible going into this game last week…this is a little different though. Penn State is a really good team, they have the most talent. The issue with Penn State is if the loss to Michigan is a distraction.”

DiNardo, a former offensive lineman at Notre Dame, was a head coach at LSU and Indiana before transitioning into his role at the Big Ten Network.

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Against Penn State, one of the top defenses in not just the Big Ten but the entire country, Rutgers won’t have it easy. The offense has struggled over the past month and last week at Iowa, they had just 122 yards of total offense.

In the past four games, quarterback Gavin Wimsatt has seen his completion percentage drop in each game. DiNardo said that the offense can bounce back, but that Rutgers is going to try to control the clock in this game.

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“The issue is that they’re an option team, Wimsatt is OK in the pass game. He’s not great. I think one of the advantages you have if you’re an option team and people are moving around a lot on the front, you just give the ball to the fullback – there’s no fullback any longer – (but) give the ball to the running back and they’ll be a crease,” DiNardo said.

So I think you’ll see that from the Rutgers offense. I think you’ll see alot of triple options type of plays to try to slow down the Penn State defense. The Penn State defense is really good.”

 

Big Ten Network previews Rutgers football at No. 22 Iowa

The Big Ten Network sees a tight game between Rutgers at No. 22 Iowa.

For Rutgers football, Saturday’s game at No. 22 Iowa represents a chance at a statement game. It is the kind of game that Rutgers has not won since entering the Big Ten, but it is a chance

Rutgers (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) is coming off a 35-16 loss to No. 1 Ohio State this past Saturday. Holding a 9-7 lead at halftime, Rutgers was down just five points early in the fourth quarter before eventually losing to the nation’s top team.

Iowa is a tough match-up for Rutgers, given not just their similarities in style and personnel but the fact that there may not be a more physical team in the Power Five than the Hawkeyes.

In talking about Saturday’s game, the Big Ten Network’s Anthony Herron observed that Iowa and Rutgers are very similar in their approach. Iowa (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) checked in at No. 22 in the College Football Playoff rankings that were released this week.

“Between the two squads, Rutgers is a team that looks very similar,” Herron said on the Big Ten Network when talking about Iowa.

“Greg Schiano coaches very similarly to Kirk Ferentz. And I think between the two programs, they both value special teams at such a high level and both want to make sure they can punt and pin you down deep and and set their defense up in a position to play downhill with aggression.”

Herron is a former defensive lineman at Iowa who now is an analyst with the Big Ten Network.

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Rutgers, with a top-five defense in the Big Ten, has a similar emphasis on physicality as Iowa. Both teams have strong defenses and will want to run the ball.

Special teams are important. Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, a defensive back who is also a special teams standout, has 238 punt return yards (on 20 return attempts) with a touchdown on the season.

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A special teams play might make the difference in this one.

“And I think for Rutgers, the fact that they’re comfortable in a game like that actually provides a different sort of challenge for Iowa this week because of the Iowa offense hasn’t been in a position to really put pressure on the opponent,” Herron said.

“To have a passing attack that isn’t going to air the ball out that much, and Rutgers being comfortable, being risk averse, then, you know, Iowa is not going to be in as good a position.”

Big Ten Network on Rutgers football: ‘They keep getting better every week’

The Big Ten Network hails the performance done by Rutgers and head coach Greg Schiano.

Rutgers football opened up some eyes last week with their tough loss to No. 1 Ohio State. For putting Ohio State on the ropes for much of the game, Greg Schiano’s program earned praise from the crew at the Big Ten Network.

It is well-rehearsed by now: Rutgers held a halftime lead and was down 21-16 early in the fourth quarter of what would become a 36-16 win over Ohio State. But in pushing Ohio State, there was a lot to be said about the trajectory of Rutgers and the rebuild under Schiano.

Rutgers is now 6-3 (3-3 Big Ten) and bowl eligible. They are No. 44 in the nation in the latest ESPN FPI update.

This week, the Big Ten Network broke down Ohio State’s win over Rutgers. While focusing primarily on Ohio State (and rightly so), the crew did a nice job of discussing Rutgers and the job done with Schiano so far this season.

“I think when you think about how he is building this team and coaching this team – because we were all like ‘OK, you have to get to six,’ right?” BTN’s Howard Griffith said.

“But I’m sure, yes that’s important but still that’s not the destination, that’s not it. We got to keep building more and more. And they keep getting better every week.”

Griffith is a former fullback at Illinois who spent 11 seasons in the NFL.

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The one sticking point about Rutgers came from studio host Dave Revsine, who talked about the need for quarterback Gavin Wimsatt to continue his development. In particular, Revsine noted that the need for Wimsatt to improve his accuracy have popped up for Wimsatt this season.

Wimsatt is completing 49 percent of his passes on the season, the lowest for any starting quarterback in the Big Ten. It is an improvement and a substantial one at that as he had a 44.8 completion percentage in 2022.

The recently turned 20-year old is reading the field better, but moments like Saturday’s pick-six are a reminder of his need to continue to progress in his ball placement and accuracy.

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In his last four games, Wimsatt hasn’t cracked a completion percentage of 50 percent, something Revsine said needs to improve.

“I think as they continue to elevate, that’s a part of his game that is going to naturally improve or something else is going to happen or somebody is going to pass him. He doesn’t want that to happen they truly believe in what he can do,” Griffith said.

“It’s about really this offseason and really this season, just continuing to get better. But they know what to expect out of him. And that’s the coaching brilliance in this whole thing, they know what they’re going to get out of him.”

Rutgers is being projected to play in the Pinstripe Bowl according to USA TODAY’s Erick Smith.

Rutgers women’s basketball: Kaylene Smikle highlighted as a Big Ten player to watch

The Big Ten Network had praise for a Rutgers women’s basketball standout.

After a standout performance as a freshman, Kaylene Smikle is getting some buzz heading into this upcoming season. The Rutgers women’s basketball guard is being expected to emerge as one of the top players in the Big Ten.

Last season, Smikle led Rutgers with 17.9 points per game. She is a major reason why there is optimism that the Scarlet Knights can take a step forward this season in what will be a second year under head coach Coquese Washington.

This week, the Big Ten Network’s Meghan Wallace (McKeown) highlighted the top 20 players in the conference. Smikle checked in at No. 16.

Smikle had a very strong freshman season at Rutgers.

“Smikle had a fabulous freshman season putting up 18 points per game – more than five boards and nearly two steals,” McKeown said in her piece on the Big Ten Network.

“The sophomore can flat-out get to the basket no matter how many defenders you throw her away. With a year underneath her belt, I cannot wait to see how much more her  game continues to mature as she heads into her sophomore year with the Scarlet Knights.”

 

Last season saw growth from Washington’s young team. Rutgers finished 12-20 (5-13) and won a game in the Big Ten Tournament.

This year, with several transfer portal additions, headlined by Destiny Adams, this could be a season where Rutgers takes a step forward.