B1G 25-26

[Hawkstar 22]

For those that care, I just saw that Aliyah Boston will be resuming her Big Ten college basketball sportscaster duties on NBC/Peacock this next year.

AB does a fantastic job!

 

[JellyBean]

For those that care, I just saw that Aliyah Boston will be resuming her Big Ten college basketball sportscaster duties on NBC/Peacock this next year.

Love it! Aliyah is knowledgeable and does a great job. She is a natural.

 

[cancontent]

 

[YoDore]

Rutgers Preview

 

[JellyBean]

Rutgers Preview

Another solid interview. I wish Rutgers and Coach Washington all the best this season.

 

[YoDore]

 

[YoDore]

UCLA preview

 

[cancontent]

Fox going all in on Michigan for their conference play coverage this year.

 

[BigTenGuy]

. . . Fox going all in on Michigan for their conference play coverage this year.

Five BIG schools scheduled for 4 or more Fox/FS1 appearances in 2025-26:

Michigan-9 (also 1 NBC)
UCLA-6 (also 1 NBC, 1 ESPN2)
Iowa-6
USC-4 (also 3 ESPN)
Michigan State-4

(ESPN/ESPN2 schedules with leagues other than the BIG still in progress)

Will be interesting to see if Swords, Olson & Holloway can turn their repeated feature exposure into ratings gold. In the recent boomlet of WBB TV ratings, Michigan has been an underperforming ratings team. The Michigan brand/fan base has yet to really embrace WBB. But this year’s sophomore class is special, and Swords, in particular, plays with a flair that might build a following.

 

[cancontent]

Five BIG schools scheduled for 4 or more Fox/FS1 appearances in 2025-26:

Michigan-9 (also 1 NBC)
UCLA-6 (also 1 NBC, 1 ESPN2)
Iowa-6
USC-4 (also 3 ESPN)
Michigan State-4

(ESPN/ESPN2 schedules with leagues other than the BIG still in progress)

Will be interesting to see if Swords, Olson & Holloway can turn their repeated feature exposure into ratings gold. In the recent boomlet of WBB TV ratings, Michigan has been an underperforming ratings team. The Michigan brand/fan base has yet to really embrace WBB. But this year’s sophomore class is special, and Swords, in particular, plays with a flair that might build a following.

Agreed and I find it perplexing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me, the women's program has been more successful over the last decade than the men's. Naz Hillmon broke records, lead their team further in the tournament that some thought possible and now is the WNBA 6th player of the year.

The Juwan Howard era left a lot of be desired, and the current coach (name escapes me) looks to have gotten things straightened out. But to see that the women's program didn't get much of a bump after their Sweet 16 and Elite 8 runs was surprising.

 

[YoDore]

Five BIG schools scheduled for 4 or more Fox/FS1 appearances in 2025-26:

Michigan-9 (also 1 NBC)
UCLA-6 (also 1 NBC, 1 ESPN2)
Iowa-6
USC-4 (also 3 ESPN)
Michigan State-4

(ESPN/ESPN2 schedules with leagues other than the BIG still in progress)

Will be interesting to see if Swords, Olson & Holloway can turn their repeated feature exposure into ratings gold. In the recent boomlet of WBB TV ratings, Michigan has been an underperforming ratings team. The Michigan brand/fan base has yet to really embrace WBB. But this year’s sophomore class is special, and Swords, in particular, plays with a flair that might build a following.

This team fascinates me. Swords, Olson and Holloway are likely to improve in year two after outstanding freshman campaigns, which would seem to indicate the team will also improve a lot. but Hobbs was just so crucial to what they did last year, and her loss will be felt. Still, I think the Wolverines will be a force. Should be fun to watch.