Author: Lazarus Ok
The Miami Hurricanes had a strong 2024 season under head coach Mario Cristobal, achieving their best performance yet during his tenure. Despite their success, the season ended on a disappointing note with a loss to the Iowa State Cyclones in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Looking ahead to 2025, the team faces significant challenges due to the departure of key players, which could lead to a decline in performance. One of the biggest losses for Miami is quarterback Cam Ward, who is widely projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. His departure creates a major gap in…
Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry finds himself under pressure heading into the 2025 season, according to a college football analyst. Despite entering his third year with hopes for improvement, his tenure in Blacksburg has been disappointing. The 2024 season, expected to be a turning point, quickly derailed after a shocking overtime loss to Vanderbilt in Week 1. That defeat set the tone for a season filled with struggles. Though Virginia Tech managed to secure bowl eligibility by defeating Virginia on Thanksgiving Weekend, their 6-6 regular season fell short of expectations. As a result, Pry made significant changes to his…
Before stepping onto the court Tuesday night, Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats were widely dismissed by most people outside the Commonwealth. However, they delivered a shocking performance that defied expectations. Kentucky entered Thompson-Boling Arena as the 12th-ranked team in the nation, yet they were considered significant underdogs. By the time the game began, the 8th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers were favored by 10.5 points. Despite the odds stacked against them, Kentucky proved their doubters wrong with an impressive display. Many had assumed that Tennessee, playing at home and holding a higher ranking, would easily take control of the game. However, the Wildcats had…
Jim Knowles’ surprising departure from Ohio State to Penn State has reignited the rivalry between the two programs. Just days after Ohio State secured a national championship, Knowles, the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator, made the unexpected decision to leave for a conference rival. This move was met with frustration from Ohio State, prompting the program to request that Knowles not attend their national title celebration while he considered his options, according to Brett McMurphy of Action Network. Knowles and his representatives had attempted to negotiate a new contract with Ohio State both before and after the championship game. However, the Buckeyes’…
The University of Miami women’s basketball team secured a 70-63 victory over SMU on Sunday, led by a stellar performance from Haley Cavinder. Miami improved to 12-8 overall this season and 2-7 in ACC play. Cavinder delivered a season-best performance, scoring 32 points on 10-16 shooting, including 6-9 from three-point range, her highest of the season. She also contributed two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Miami excelled defensively, holding SMU to 33.3% shooting from the field and just 24.2% from three-point range, while offensively, the Hurricanes shot 44% from beyond the arc, their second-best mark this season. Darrione Rogers…
The upcoming Kentucky-Tennessee basketball game holds significant weight for Kentucky’s head coach Mark Pope as he strives to shape his vision for the program. The rivalry between these two SEC teams has been fiercely competitive, with each securing nine wins in 18 regular-season matchups since Rick Barnes took over as Tennessee’s coach in 2015. Both teams are currently ranked in the top 15 nationally, making Tuesday night’s game critical for their NCAA Tournament résumés and SEC standings. This year’s SEC Tournament introduces a new format with 16 teams, including Oklahoma and Texas. The top four seeds will receive a…
The Virginia Tech Hokies have hired Sam Siefkes, previously with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, as their new Defensive Coordinator. Siefkes, touted as a promising assistant coaching hire, has elicited mixed reactions from Hokie Nation. Many fans describe the announcement as “underwhelming,” citing his brief NFL stint with a struggling Cardinals team and a resume that includes a series of short tenures across lower-level college programs, including Wofford. Hokies fans had hoped for a more seasoned Defensive Coordinator with experience at higher levels of FCS or Group of Five programs. Concerns have also been raised about Siefkes’ recruiting capabilities, particularly in…