Pete Thamel lists four coaches who could fill Notre Dame opening

Would you like one of these coaches?

Since [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag] announced his intention to leave Notre Dame in January, various names have floated as his replacement. Our own Nick Shepkowski made his own list of candidates in the immediate aftermath of Brey’s announcement. While it’s nice to keep all options open, it appears the list is starting to narrow down. At least that’s what ESPN’s Pete Thamel said he believes during the most recent episode of College GameDay:

For all we know, this list could be completely bogus with none of the four landing the job. But when you cover college basketball for a living, you’re bound to hear a few whispers about who the next coach might be. For argument’s sake, let’s pretend this list is legitimate and that the search indeed will come down to these four. Then, we can debate as to who would be the best candidate for the Irish for the long haul:

Enough about football, what about the college basketball season?

Lost in these conversations over what could have been in regards to football is a nagging question—what will happen with college basketball?

In recent weeks, the spotlight in the college sports world has been on the management (or lack thereof) of the college football season in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NCAA and major conferences wasted the bulk of the summer by not coming up with a suitable return plan for college athletes, and now, with two of the Power Five conferences already moving to conference-only schedules and the rest likely to follow, the entire idea of having a college football season in the fall seems to be hanging by a thread.

It seems a near certainty that the season will be at the very least delayed until late fall/early winter, the implications of which would be devastating for the sport at large.

But lost in these conversations over what could have been in regards to football is a nagging question — what will happen with college basketball?

Surely, the NCAA will do whatever is possible to avoid making any substantive changes to the season considering the entire postseason was canceled last season. Allowing the virus to significantly affect two seasons in a row is a worst-case scenario.

But if the college football season — along with other fall sports — are canceled or postponed, where would that leave college basketball?

In making these plans, many of the limitations and stipulations that affect college football’s return also apply. Players are still unpaid, and forcing them into a position of risk is a bit different from when the NBA does it to its millionaire athletes. You still have to deal with the fact that it’s inconceivable to try and replicate a bubble-type environment; travel and the freedom of movement for student-athletes (who will still be taking classes as students, and at least at UF, could be taking them in-person) will be necessities.

But there are also a number of reasons why basketball doesn’t have to suffer the same fate football inevitably will. Smaller rosters mean you only have to worry about keeping conditions safe for 12-15 people (plus support staff), as opposed to the 100+ required for football. The schedule would be easier to adjust if necessary since nonconference basketball games aren’t tied with seven-figure contracts like in football, and playing games without fans wouldn’t be as financially catastrophic as it would be for football, where schools in conferences that don’t have lucrative TV deals often need revenue from ticket sales to subsidize their entire athletics departments.

Not to mention the fact that the season isn’t set to start until November, putting several more months between the current state of the pandemic in the United States and the season’s commencement.

But there are no guarantees. The Ivy and Patriot Leagues have already canceled sports through the fall, meaning that if the basketball season were to happen in those Division I conferences, it would at the very least be delayed. It’s very possible the beginning of the season is pushed until December or January and nonconference games are eliminated entirely or severely reduced. There’s also the conflicts basketball season could have with a potential spring football season to keep in mind.

There is reason to be more optimistic that the college basketball season will happen on time than the college football season, to be sure. But if that’s going to happen, the NCAA can’t waste the next three months and repeat the mistake it made with football.

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Another Conference Cancels Fall Sports for 2020

It was the Ivy League last week and today it’s another conference that is cancelling all fall sports in 2020.

Last week saw big news on the college sports landscape as the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced plans to only play conference games during the fall sports season this year while the Ivy League took things a step further, cancelling all fall sports.

Now the Ivy League has company as another collegiate conference is axing all fall sports.

The Patriot League that consists of American University, Bucknell, Boston University, Holy Cross, Colgate, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola (Maryland), Army and Navy, announced Monday that they have cancelled all fall sports for 2020.

The league added that both Army and Navy are exempt from the cancellations.

Army plays football as a Division 1 independent while Navy plays football in the American Athletic Conference.

For now, Notre Dame is still scheduled to play Navy on Labor Day weekend but I feel safe in saying that is looking murky at very best, much like college football in general for 2020.

Patriot League will not have fall sports

Patriot League will not have fall sports.

BETHLEHEM – The Patriot League, part of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision, announced Monday that fall sports have been canceled.

Press release:

Recognizing the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to present significant challenges to our campuses and communities, the Patriot League Council of Presidents announces the following decisions regarding Patriot League competition:

• Patriot League teams will not engage in competition in the fall season (championship and non-championship);

• Decisions surrounding winter and spring sport competition will be made at a later date; and,

• The opportunity for conditioning, strength training and other practice opportunities in all sports will be permitted provided health and safety conditions support such activities.

Because the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy are unique in their environments and their missions within higher education, the Council of Presidents agree that the academies may continue to engage in competitive opportunities as considered appropriate by their respective Superintendents.

The collegiate athletics experience at all Patriot League institutions is valuable to fulfilling our educational and developmental missions, and the League recognizes that any degree of non-competition this fall is deeply disappointing to our student-athletes, coaches, and fans. However, the health and safety of our campuses and communities must be our highest priority.

The League is committed to exploring creative approaches and alternatives to providing future competitive experiences to our fall sport student-athletes, including the possibility of conducting fall sport competition and championships in the second semester.

Patriot League Council of Presidents

Sylvia Mathews Burwell, American University

Robert A. Brown, Boston University

John Bravman, Bucknell University

Philip Boroughs, S.J., College of the Holy Cross

Brian W. Casey, Colgate University

Alison R. Byerly, Lafayette College

John D. Simon, Lehigh University

Brian Linnane, S.J., Loyola University Maryland

Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, United States Military Academy

Vice Adm. Sean Buck, United States Naval Academy

A second FCS conference announces a cancellation of its fall athletic competition

After July 8’s news of the Ivy League cancelling its fall athletic competition, a second FCS conference has followed suit and it is the…

After July 8’s news of the Ivy League cancelling its fall athletic competition, a second FCS conference has followed suit and it is the Patriot League.

The conference is the first that participates in the FCS playoffs to shut down their football season and is the next piece in a continuing long line of news pointing towards an abridged, postponed or even completely cancelled fall college football season.

Nicole Auerbach, a senior college football writer for The Athletic, continued to describe the difference between how the Ivy League and Patriot League went about altering their athletic calendar.

And if all of that wasn’t enough, the ACC also announced today that it is postponing its virtual ACC Football Kickoff media event until further notice.

A few weeks ago many signs pointed towards college football starting on time and with a normal schedule.

Now, after two second division conferences announced a cancellation of their fall athletic seasons and several Power Five conferences moved to a conference-only schedule, that season is looking more and more in question.

Gators News: July 13, 2020

A new week is upon us and given the events that preceded the weekend we are in for one heckuva few days as we roll into the middle of July. 

A new week is upon us and given the events that preceded the weekend we are in for one heck of a few days as we roll into the middle of July.

It is expected that sometime later today the Southeastern Conference will make its announcement concerning the shift to conference-only schedules already taken by the Big 10 and PAC-12, as well as the Ivy League’s decision to cancel all fall athletics. The Patriot League is also canceling its 2020 fall athletics season, according to a source.

In other news, Major League Baseball is currently struggling with its restart due to numerous reports of positive COVID-19 cases while the National Basketball Association is trying its hardest to keep its bubble from being burst.

Around the Swamp

It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

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Patriot Final: Colgate vs. Boston U college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Patriot Final between the Colgate Raiders and Boston Terriers, with college basketball betting odds, picks and bets.

The Colgate Raiders (25-8) will take on the Boston U Terriers (20-13) in the championship game of the Patriot League Tournament Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, NY. We analyze the Colgate-Boston odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Colgate vs. Boston U: Three things you need to know

  1. Wednesday’s contest will be held at Cotterell Court, the home venue for the No. 1-seeded Colgate Raiders, who won the Patriot League’s regular-season title with a record of 14-4. Third-seeded Boston finished two games back, at 12-6. The Raiders are looking to make the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year. The Terriers are in search of their first NCAA bid since 2011.
  2. Colgate has defeated Boston twice this season. The Raiders downed the Terriers 79-70 at Cotterell Court Jan. 18. CU defeated BU 79-63 in Boston Feb. 10. Wednesday’s contest pits the Patriot League’s No. 1 offense (76.6 points per game) and No. 3 defense (68.2 PPG) of Colgate against the circuit’s No. 4 and No. 2 ranked units, respectively (71.1 PPG, 66.9 PPG) of Boston.
  3. BU has advanced to the Patriot League with two wins — over Navy and Bucknell — by six or fewer points. The Terriers have been involved in six such games in a row, going 4-2. On the season, Boston is 7-18 in games played within two possessions.

Get some action on this college basketball matchup or others by placing a legal sports bet at BetMGM! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.


Colgate vs. Boston U: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Colgate 69, Boston 64

Moneyline (ML)

PASS on the moneyline. Colgate: -278, Boston U: +220. Colgate is a safe pick to win, but there isn’t any value with a $10 moneyline bet returning a profit of just $3.60.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Colgate is 10-5 ATS at home. Boston is 8-10 against the number on the road. Colgate has won three in a row in its series with Boston, and the Raiders are 4-1 ATS over their last five games against the Terriers.

The line here is on the mark. Respect the line — Colgate -6.5 (-110) — and PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

Here is the profit potential in this one. The Under is 22-8 in the Raiders’ last 30 games vs. a team with a win percentage north of .600, 4-1 in the Terriers’ last five games as an underdog and 6-2 in Boston’s last eight games lined at 7.5 points or under.

Both teams are solid in preventing free-throw attempts. Colgate has been on what figures as an unsustainable shooting run in culling together high-scoring games of late, and the Raiders also logged lofty percentages in each of their previous two games against Boston. BACK THE UNDER 139.5 (-106).

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