Jim’s Journal, March 14th, 2024

Tonight, the Reds have more Cactus League action on the way to you, and it’ll be some late-night play again.  Last evening, Cincy built a big lead over the Giants, but then had to hold on to win, 19-11.  Tonight’s first pitch against the Rangers comes at 9:05, so Tommy Thrall’s pregame coverage is up about 15 minutes before, on 103.9 FM, WRBI.

 

If you ordered tickets for that sure sign of spring, you might want to be closely watching your mailbox…  the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office says the first wave of those highly-anticipated blue envelopes have been sent out.  They say there were envelopes sent to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 36 other nations worldwide, for this year’s 108th running of the 500, that comes up on the 26th of May.

 

SO much action in men’s college basketball!! Conference tournaments are going on in a lot of places as teams jockey for spots in the big NCAA event.

Some fans were shocked by an upset in the Big 12 tournament, but not fans of those Bearcats from Cincinnati…  UC, seeded number 11, stunned 6th seed Kansas Wednesday, and it wasn’t close–  this was a 20-point margin.  The Bearcats won it 72-52, so tonight they’ll take on Number 3 seed Baylor.

The Big 10 tourney has the conference’s number 1 seed, the Boilers of Purdue, still waiting to learn whom they’ll play tomorrow.  Michigan State and Minnesota will decide that tonight, the winner facing the black & gold.  Also this evening, Ohio State, the 10th seed, takes on number 7 Iowa.  Penn State beat Michigan by 9 Wednesday 66-57, meaning the Nittany Lions take on IU’s Hoosiers, who are seeded 6th, this evening.

In the Big East, it was a bit of an upset, but a narrow one…  9th-seed Xavier edging number 8 Butler Wednesday, 76-72.  The Musketeers have no time to rest, however, since they next face the top-seeded UConn Huskies today.

 

What a contest in the NBA at Gainbridge last night…  the Pacers and Bulls took it to overtime, but Chicago prevailed in Indy, the final 132 to 129.