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Keeler: Deion Sanders’ new offensive line coach wants CU Buffs to “build a fence” that stops t

Keeler: Deion Sanders’ new offensive line coach wants CU Buffs to “build a fence” that stops t

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686915

BOULDER — Godzilla wouldn’t throw down with Phil Loadholt. Unless the King of the Monsters wants a place of honor among Deion Sanders’ luggage, best swing that mighty tail around the other direction and run, son.

If the Buffs’ new offensive line coach is ever cornered in a dark alley by a bear, Yogi’s as good as a rug. At 6-foot-8, 340-ish pounds, when Loadholt rises and stretches at the dawn of a new day, the man blots out the sun.

“It’s like (an) eclipse walked outta here,” CU’s wide receivers coach Jason Phillips cracked Monday as he replaced Loadholt on a makeshift podium across the hall from The Buff Team Store.

Like tugging on Superman’s cape, spitting into the wind and pulling the mask off that old Lone Ranger, you mess around with Phil at your peril.

“We want to recruit the top talent, as you’ve seen with Jordan (Seaton) coming in,” Loadholt said when I asked him Monday about his philosophy and lodestar. “And then hopefully keep the guys that are in-state (in Colorado), keep them here.”

(Sound of a record scratching, then silence.)

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Go on.

“I know we’ve got some good linemen (from Colorado) that are at other places right now,” Loadholt continued. “And we hopefully can build a fence around that and keep those guys here so that we don’t have look at other places, you know what I mean? So hopefully, we can start building that relationship around the state.”

Priority for you?

“One-hundred percent. One-hundred percent.”

As Loadholt spoke, off in the distance, I could almost hear ex-CU big man Matt McChesney scream out a “hallelujah” from halfway across town.

The first step to addressing a problem? Admitting you have one in the first place. Since 2017, per 247Sports.com’s database, Colorado high schools have produced seven offensive line prospects who rated as four stars or higher, or an average of one per recruiting cycle. The Buffs wound up signing … one of them.

And while Coach Prime is more of a “let’s portal them in as free agents when they’re juniors or seniors” sort than a developmental, Kirk Ferentz, Barry Alvarez, Bill Snyder kind of guy, talent is talent. And baby steps forward are still steps, especially when they’re trending in the right direction.

“Being a good player doesn’t make you a good coach,” the first-time offensive line boss noted. “I understand that as well. But I definitely lean on my experience.”

At 38, Loadholt is a blocker who’s been around the block a bit. A star in football, basketball and track for Fountain-Fort Carson, his frame and pedigree blossomed at Garden City (Kan.) Community College, then at the University of Oklahoma. The Minnesota Vikings plucked him in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and he proved to be a mainstay up front in the Great White North until injuries hastened his retirement in the summer of 2016. The coaching bug bit, and stops on the staffs at UCF, Mississippi and Oklahoma led Coach Prime to make Loadholt an offensive line guru this past offseason.

“(The hiring process) was surreal, man,” Loadholt recalled. “It was full circle for me, obviously, being (from) about an hour and 45 minutes down the road. So being able to come back to my hometown, spend time with my parents and my sister, who still live here … it’s great.”

We learned a lot about Sanders last year, for better or worse. The only quicker way into Coach Prime’s doghouse than becoming a sports columnist is being CU’s offensive line coach after Shedeur Sanders just spent three hours running for his life on national television.

“No, he made that clear,” Loadholt said with a grin. “He made that very clear. But the interview process was real. I went and (saw) him, went down to his house and (saw) him and spent some time with him down there and let him know my philosophy and how I want to take care of things.

“And that point (about Shedeur) was definitely made, that it’s important to keep the quarterback up. So I’m excited to have that chance to do that.”

According to 247, the top in-state prep prospect for the Class of ’25 is another top-shelf lineman, Cherry Creek tackle Soren Shinofield. The Buffs haven’t offered yet, reportedly. But if Loadholt is serious about building a fence, he can start with the garden out back.

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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/03/18/deion-sanders-cu-buffs-recruiting-offensive-linemen/
Old friends in CU Buffs’ Tad Boyle, Boise State’s Leon Rice collide in NCAA First Four

Old friends in CU Buffs’ Tad Boyle, Boise State’s Leon Rice collide in NCAA First Four

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686916

It wasn’t long after Colorado, with a great collective sigh of relief, officially landed the sixth NCAA Tournament bid under Tad Boyle when CU’s coach picked up his phone and made a call.

With a First Four matchup set in Dayton against Boise State on Wednesday night, Boyle wanted to bend the ear of one of his better friends in the coaching fraternity. That, of course, is nothing unusual. Yet it was likely one of the few times in NCAA Tournament history that sort of call was placed to the very coach looking to end his friend’s season.

When the Buffs lock horns with the Broncos on Wednesday (7:10 p.m. MT, truTV), it will be a battle of longtime coaching allies in Boyle and Boise State head coach Leon Rice.

As youngsters, Rice preceded Boyle as an assistant at Oregon in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and he was an assistant at Northern Colorado when Boyle was cutting his coaching teeth at Longmont High.

“Leon Rice is one of my dearest friends in the coaching business. We talk weekly throughout the season. Two, three times a week sometimes about our teams,” Boyle said. “He knows our team extremely well because he watches our games. I know his team extremely well because I watch his games.

“Now, the players, maybe not so much. But the coaches know. He’s familiar with us. I’m familiar with them. Now it’s a challenge to get our teams familiar and ready.”

Boyle and Rice have worked together each of the past two summers as well. Boyle was the head coach for USA Basketball’s U18 FIBA Americas team and the U19 World Cup team last summer, and he brought Rice on board as an assistant for both teams.

“We’ve had a lot of great times together and we really lean on each other,” Rice told BuffZone during last summer’s U19 training camp in Colorado Springs. “Tad really helps me through my hard times. I try to help him in the coaching hard times in the season. We bounce a lot of stuff off each other and we have a deep relationship.”

J'Vonne Hadley (1) of the Colorado Buffaloes speaks with head coach Tad Boyle during the second half of the Oregon Ducks' 75-68 Pac-12 Tournament championship game win at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
J’Vonne Hadley (1) of the Colorado Buffaloes speaks with head coach Tad Boyle during the second half of the Oregon Ducks’ 75-68 Pac-12 Tournament championship game win at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

First-round tournament matchups often begin with an air of unfamiliarity. Yet that won’t be the case in Dayton, and it extends beyond the close relationship between the head coaches.

CU and the Broncos squared off in the Myrtle Beach Invitational early last season, with the Broncos posting a 68-55 victory in which the Buffs shot just 35.8% overall while going 4-for-20 on 3-pointers. Given the impact of the transfer portal, a surprising number of key rotation players return from both sides from that matchup, including Tyson Degenhart, Chibuzo Agbo, Max Rice and Jace Whiting for Boise, plus KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva, Luke O’Brien and Javon Ruffin for the Buffs (J’Vonne Hadley suffered a minor injury in the first game at Myrtle Beach and didn’t play against the Broncos).

Degenhart recorded 14 points and seven rebounds against the Buffs last year, and he enters Wednesday’s matchup as Boise State’s leading scorer (17.0) and second-leading rebounder (6.2).

“Going through the game plan from a year ago kind of gives you an idea of how they play, what kind of team they are, what their culture is,” da Silva said. “So it’s not like a completely new team, I’d say, but obviously they have new players, they have new roles. We’ve still got to make sure that we get a good game plan together and execute that.”

Boise State coach Leon Rice gestures during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State on Friday, March 8, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Boise State coach Leon Rice gestures during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State on Friday, March 8, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/03/18/old-friends-in-cu-buffs-tad-boyle-boises-leon-rice-collide-in-ncaa-first-four/
Seminoles’ rise boosted by transfers

Seminoles’ rise boosted by transfers

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686887

By Bob Ferrante

Orlando Sentinel Correspondent

TALLAHASSEE — There are college football programs around the nation taking more transfers than Florida State. But few can claim a success rate quite like that of Mike Norvell and the Seminoles’ staff the last few years.

FSU had 11 selections to the 2023 All-ACC team who transferred in after Norvell took over, a group that doesn’t include quarterback Jordan Travis. While there will annually be a debate over who is the portal king, and really anyone from Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin to Colorado’s Deion Sanders to Louisville’s Jeff Brohm and even former FSU offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State can stake a claim.

But Norvell has always stated that recruiting the portal and high school ranks is all about “fit.” FSU has found the right fit of production, leadership and personality that have translated to 23 wins the last two seasons.

“It’s about being right,” Norvell said. “There’s plenty of people that have taken more transfers. People point to ours because ours are good. They do a great job when they get here. They make impacts.”

FSU’s coaching staff will get a first-hand look at the transfers and what impact they could have in 2024 when spring practice opens on Tuesday. It’s the first of 15 practices leading up to the spring showcase on April 20 inside a Doak Campbell Stadium that, perhaps fittingly, is also going through a massive renovation.

There’s perhaps no bigger transfer than quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, whom Norvell says has fit right in with Brock Glenn and incoming freshmen Luke Kromenhoek and Trever Jackson, an Orlando native. But the impact of transfers could also be reflected at nearly every position group on offense and defense.

While the narrative with transfers is that they often come and go after one year, Jared Verse was a two-year transfer who is set to be an NFL first-round draft pick. Defensive tackle Fabien Lovett and defensive back Jarrian Jones just spent four years at FSU following a transfer from Mississippi State.

And FSU has retained a number of multi-year transfers who will be major parts of the 2024 roster, including tight end Kyle Morlock, offensive linemen Jeremiah Byers and Keiondre Jones, defensive tackle Darrell Jackson, defensive backs Greedy Vance and Fentrell Cypress, linebacker Justin Cryer and tailback Caziah Holmes of Cocoa.

Norvell called it a “new age of college athletics with change and transition.” As the Seminoles have won incrementally more games in each of his prior four years, they have also been able to manage the portal better and better. With wins comes the attraction of FSU’s coaches and roadmap for player development as well as helping them develop for the NFL.

FSU loses Verse as well as Lovett and Braden Fiske on the defensive front. But their development and success is why FSU was able to land some of the top defensive ends in the portal in Marvin Jones Jr. (Georgia), Sione Lolohea (Oregon State) and Tomiwa Durojaiye (West Virginia) as well as defensive tackle Grady Kelly (Colorado State).

“We’re not going to say that we’re better than anyone else,” defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said. “We’ve taken a lot transfers and high school kids. But tell me the ones that haven’t worked out. The trust is that. Right? … We’re not better evaluators than everybody in the country. I’m not saying we are. But I’m saying we’re really good at it — for what fits here.”



https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/18/seminoles-rise-boosted-by-transfers/
Dolphins restructure running back Jeff Wilson Jr.’s contract to lower 2024 cap hit

Dolphins restructure running back Jeff Wilson Jr.’s contract to lower 2024 cap hit

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686888

Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. agreed to a contract restructure Monday that cuts into his 2024 cap hit to the team.

The adjustment lowers Wilson’s cap number from $3.67 million to $2,375,500, according to a league source.

It essentially assures Wilson’s return to the Dolphins for the 2024 season as he was previously a candidate to be released for savings toward the salary cap.

Wilson’s base salary was lowered from $2.6 million to $1,125,000, but he added $400,000 guaranteed, plus workout and roster bonuses and incentives.

The 28-year-old power runner signed a two-year, $6 million contract as a free agent last offseason, but in his first season on the deal, he only carried 41 times for 188 rushing yards without a touchdown, adding 14 receptions for 85 yards.

In the 2023 offseason, Wilson was coming off his best season. Acquired by the Dolphins in a midseason trade, he had 860 rushing yards and six total touchdowns in time split between Miami and San Francisco.

Wilson (6 feet, 210 pounds) has ties to Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel from back with the 49ers when McDaniel was both run-game coordinator and then offensive coordinator as Wilson first made it with San Francisco as an undrafted player in 2018.

Miami essentially returns its running back corps in 2024. Rookie phenom De’Von Achane is back for a second season, and veteran Raheem Mostert is also under contract coming off a career year. The team already re-signed fellow running back Salvon Ahmed, and Chris Brooks enters a second professional season after making the Dolphins roster as an undrafted rookie in 2023.

Wilson’s top highlight with Miami last season was a defining moment in the team’s last win. He plunged for a late first-down conversion on third-and-2 against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 24 that allowed Miami to run down the clock so kicker Jason Sanders’ game-winning field could come as time expired.



https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/18/dolphins-restructure-running-back-jeff-wilson-jr-s-contract-to-lower-2024-cap-hit/
50th Players Championship delivers needed greatness for PGA Tour

50th Players Championship delivers needed greatness for PGA Tour

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686889

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — The week of the 50th Players Championship began with a flap but ended with a flourish.

Scottie Scheffler’s dramatic and historic 1-shot come-from-behind win was the show-stopping performance the PGA Tour needed on its biggest stage.

Scheffler’s relentless execution and closing ability drew Tiger Woods comparisons as he maintained his stranglehold on world No. 1 at the expense of the reigning U.S. Open champion (Wyndham Clark), British Open champ (Brian Harman) and Olympic gold medalist (Xander Schauffele).

Yet Scheffler didn’t have the opportunity to chase down, defeat and demoralize all of golf’s top players.

Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during his closing 8-under 64 during the final round of The Players Championship March 17 in Ponte Vedra Beach. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during his closing 8-under 64 during the final round of The Players Championship on Sunday in Ponte Vedra Beach. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

LIV Golf continued to intrude at TPC Sawgrass, even if the absence of world No. 2 Jon Rahm, five-time major champion Brooks Koepka and five former Players champions, including 2022 winner Cam Smith, took nothing away from Scheffler’s transcendent performance. 

During his annual address Tuesday, commissioner Jay Monahan highlighted the Tour’s multi-billion dollar agreement with the Strategic Sports Group, aimed to combat the Saudi-funded rival league. Reporter queries followed, as did player reaction.

Schauffele said Monahan had “a long way to go to gain the trust of the membership,” potentially setting the stage for an uncomfortable champion’s ceremony when Schauffele held the 54-hole lead.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan looks on during the trophy ceremony after the final round of The Players Championship March 17 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan looks on during the trophy ceremony after the final round of The Players Championship  at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Scheffler, not known to share public opinions, blamed LIV defectors for less buzz about the Tour’s showcase event.

“If the fans are upset, then look at the guys that left,” he said.

But by the time Scheffler hoisted the trophy Sunday evening, golf was in a better place.

The world’s No. 1 player matched the lowest final-round score by a winner with an 8-under-par 64 to erase a 5-shot deficit, equaling the tournament’s biggest comeback during 41 years at TPC Sawgrass.

The 27-year-old summoned his best stuff after three days of battling a neck injury and watching three players ranked inside the top 10 leave him behind.

But on the Players’ golden anniversary, forces came together to produce a final round as riveting and emotionally exhausting as any in tournament history.

‘Today was another battle, hard-fought week,” the understated Scheffler said. “A lot of guys played some really good golf this week.”

Wyndham Clark reacts after missing a tying birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of The Players Championship March 17 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Wyndham Clark reacts after missing a tying birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of The Players Championship on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Harman, Schauffele and then Clark had a chance to tie Scheffler with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole. Clark’s ball even fell halfway into the cup before horse-shoeing out to end his bid in agonizing fashion, especially given he held a 4-shot lead after 36 holes.

Each would have been a worthy world-class winner.

In golf, though, dominance generates mass appeal like few sports.

Coming off a 5-shot win during the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Orlando’s Bay Hill, Scheffler fit the bill. He led the Players field in strokes gained tee-to-green and off-the-tee, along with driving accuracy at TPC Sawgrass. He tied for third in greens in regulation.

The rare time he made a mistake, his brilliant short game saved him. A putter change prior to the API seems to have filled the one hole in his game.

Even when Scheffler struggled before winning at Bay Hill, he recorded 14 top-10s in 19 starts between wins.

Scottie Scheffler of the United States speaks to reporters after winning The Players Championship March 17 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler of the United States speaks to reporters after winning The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Now with consecutive wins for the first time since his dominant spring in 2022, tougher tests await.

The April 11-14 Masters will feature 2023 winner Rahm, Koepka and three-time champion Phil Mickelson, who tied for second in 2023, along with 2018 winner Patrick Reed, who tied for fourth. Augusta National Golf Club also is unlikely to yield the low scoring encouraged by soft conditions at TPC Sawgrass.

Either way, 2022 Masters champion Scheffler will be the man to beat. But even if he fails, he helped the PGA Tour deliver a major win Sunday.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com.



https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/18/players-championship-scottie-scheffler-jay-monahan-pga-tour-wyndham-clark-brian-haraman-xander-schauffele/
Magic can secure postseason spot with win Tuesday vs. Hornets

Magic can secure postseason spot with win Tuesday vs. Hornets

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686890

Winners of three in a row, the Magic have a chance to clinch a non-losing season for the first time since 2018-19 on Tuesday night against the Hornets at Kia Center.

A home victory would mark Orlando‘s 41st of the season, securing at least a .500 record with 13 contests remaining.

Although the Magic have their eyes set on much more under third-year coach Jamahl Mosley with less than a month before the playoffs begin, securing a non-losing record would check off another box in the rebuilding process for the organization.

The Magic finished below .500 each of the past four years but have improved their win total each season under Mosley.

Speaking of the postseason, a win on Tuesday would also clinch, at worst, Orlando’s spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament. That’s because the 11th-seeded Nets are unable to earn 41 wins this season after dropping Sunday’s game to the Spurs.

Beede’s Breakdown: How Magic adjusted against Raptors to sweep season series

The Nos. 7-10 seeds in each conference compete in the Play-In for the Nos. 7 and 8 spots in the playoffs.

Orlando missed the Play-In last year despite a surge in wins during the second half of the season. The group was the last team in the East to be mathematically eliminated from Play-In contention.

This year, the Magic have been ahead of schedule throughout most of the season. No better example is their current record.

Mosley’s squad enters the Charlotte game at 40-28. At this point last season, the Magic were 28-40.

Of course, Orlando can avoid the Play-In completely by finishing in top 6 in the East to clinch a first-round playoff berth.

Entering Monday’s games, the Magic sat fifth in the conference, just half a game behind the fourth-seeded Knicks (40-27) and two full games ahead of the sixth-seeded Pacers (38-30).

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Orlando has a 88.7% chance of finishing inside the top 6 and a 73.3% chance to win the Southeast Division.

The Magic have won just one division title (2019) since 2010.

While Orlando’s goals are in sight, its upcoming schedule after the Hornets only gets tougher.

Although all four games will be played at home (where the Magic are 23-9 this season), the next four opponents (Pelicans, Kings, Warriors and Clippers) hold above-.500 records. Orlando is 15-22 against teams with a winning record this year.

Three of those four teams also sit inside the top 6 in the West; Golden State is ninth.

Fortunately for Orlando, the team is healthy at the right time.

Forward Jonathan Isaac (who sat Sunday’s game vs. Toronto due to left knee injury maintenance) is set to be available for the Magic against the Hornets (17-51).

While Orlando has no players listed on its injury report, the same can’t be said for Charlotte.

Former Magic coach Steve Clifford won’t have guard LaMelo Ball (right ankle tendinopathy), guard Seth Curry (right ankle sprain), forward Cody Martin (left ankle sprain), guard Bryce McGowens (right knee strain) and center Mark Williams (low back injury recovery) against Orlando.

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com



https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/18/orlando-magic-charlotte-hornets-nba-playoffs-jamahl-mosley/
UCF set to write another chapter in War on I-4 rivalry with USF

UCF set to write another chapter in War on I-4 rivalry with USF

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686845

UCF thought it had put its time in the American Athletic Conference in the rearview mirror when it joined the Big 12 last July.

However, as fictitious mobster Michael Corleone found out in “The Godfather Part III,” just because you think you’re out doesn’t mean they won’t try to pull you back in.

UCF (17-15) faces a familiar opponent — one from their past — when former AAC member and in-state rival USF (24-7) travels to Orlando to face the Knights in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) Tuesday night at Addition Financial Arena (9 p.m., ESPN+).

“It’s great to play USF,” said UCF coach Johnny Dawkins. “They probably feel the same way. Unfortunately, we’re not in the same league anymore, but that was always a great rivalry.

Slow start sends UCF to 2nd-round loss to BYU in Big 12 tourney

“The War on I-4 took on a special meaning for all of us as competitors, so we have to get our guys up to speed on exactly what it means.”

Guard Darius Johnson, forward C.J. Walker and forward Thierno Sylla are the only Knights to have participated in the rivalry series, which ended with a pair of losses to the Bulls last season.

“I remember asking Coach if we were still going to have the game against USF,” Johnson recalled. “Fortunately, it worked out, so we can play them.

“We have a lot of new guys on the team, and some of them don’t realize how big the rivalry is, so I tried to relate to them any rivalries they may have had in high school or at the AAU level.”

UCF wrapped up its first season in the Big 12 with seven conference wins, including a program-first three wins over ranked opponents: No. 3 Kansas, No. 23 Oklahoma and No. 23 Texas Tech.

The Knights also secured their first win in the conference tournament, blowing out Oklahoma State 77-62 in the first round before losing to BYU 87-73 in the second.

Big 12 men’s and women’s tournaments to remain in Kansas City through 2031

USF went on an incredible run in its first season under coach Amir Abdul-Rahim, winning 22 of its final 24 games to capture the AAC regular-season title. But the Bulls fell short in the conference tournament, losing to eventual tourney champ UAB in the semifinals.

UCF and South Florida personnel said they believed they did enough to earn a spot in the 68-team NCAA tournament field, but both were shut out and found themselves in the 32-team NIT field instead.

“We’re happy to be still playing, first and foremost,”  Dawkins said. “Going to a postseason tournament, especially if you couldn’t make the NCAA, but to go to the NIT is a really good first step for the group.”

Junior guard Jaylin Sellers added, “I know it wasn’t what we expected us to do, but I’m cool with it, and I want to run it.”

This is the 49th meeting in the series, with USF holding a 27-21 advantage. The Bulls have won five of the last eight games, including twice in the 2022-23 season. Those losses still hang over Johnson, who scored 2 points in UCF’s 82-75 home loss.

“Last year was disappointing,” said Johnson, who is second on the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game. “To get them back is something I’m looking forward to.”

UCF knows it faces a challenge because USF is one of the better teams in the AAC in 3-point shooting, connecting on 36% of its long-range shots. The Bulls are reminiscent of another team the Knights recently faced.

“They’re very similar to BYU. They have a lot of guys who want to shoot the ball and they have a lot of guard play,” Johnson said. “We have to be talking on defense and making sure we limit [their] threes and stop them in transition.”

The victor will face this weekend the winner of top-seeded Villanova vs. VCU.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com



https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/18/ucf-knights-big-12-usf-bulls-nit-war-on-i4/
UCF lands commitment from Georgia defensive back Demarcus Gardner

UCF lands commitment from Georgia defensive back Demarcus Gardner

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686781

UCF landed another possible piece to its 2025 recruiting class with the verbal commitment of Cedartown (Ga.) defensive back Demarcus Gardner.

Gardner becomes the sixth player to commit to the Knights after announcing his decision on social media on Monday.

The 6-foot, 170-pound cornerback played two seasons of varsity football at Cedartown High School, registering 53 tackles, 8 interceptions, and 12 passes defended in 25 games. He also played receiver for the Bulldogs, totaling 942 yards with 13 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.

He joins a growing list of commitments that includes Tony Williams (ATH), Kendarius Reddick (DB), Santonyo Isaac (WR), Jaquez Joiner (OL) and Taevion Swint (RB). Gardner is the second player from Georgia to pledge to UCF, joining Reddick (Thomasville).

Gardner told UCFSports.com that Addison Williams, Trovon Reed, Ted Roof and director of player development Deshon Lawrence Jr. were among the UCF coaches who recruited the senior-to-be.

UCF entered the day with the No. 18-ranked recruiting class in the country according to the latest 247Sports composite rankings.

All verbal commitments are non-binding but can become official during the early signing period in December.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com



https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/18/ucf-knights-big-12-high-school-recruiting-demarcus-gardner-gus-malzahn/
Step aside, Tampa and Miami, Orlando has been named America’s No. 1 sports destination! | Commenta

Step aside, Tampa and Miami, Orlando has been named America’s No. 1 sports destination! | Commenta

19/03/2024, USA, Multi Sports, USA Publications, Article # 31686782

Step aside, Tampa.

Get out of our way, Miami.

Clear a path, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas, Atlanta and all the rest of you so-called sporting meccas.

Make way for the nation’s newest sports dynasty.

Make way for Orlando — the No. 1 sports business city in America!

And that’s not just me talking; it’s the nationally respected Sports Business Journal, which announced Monday that Orlando is America’s Best Sports Business City for attracting and hosting events.

“Orlando’s elevation to the top spot in this year’s rankings is a testament to the vibrant collaboration between world-class venues, dedicated sports commissions and the enthusiastic community that makes Orlando a standout destination for sports business,” said Abe Madkour, publisher and executive editor at SBJ.

Translation: We’re No. 1, baby!

We may not have any Super Bowl trophies like Tampa.

We may not have any NBA titles like Miami.

But we’re the champions in the world of sports business.

Hey, where’s the victory parade?

Where’s the champagne?

If you ask me, this is a major cause for celebration.

Everybody please raise your wine goblets while I say a few words:

“May I propose a toast,

Because I feel compelled to boast,

Of every city from coast to coast,

Orlando is the host with the most!”

Left to Right, Greater Orlando Sports Commission President & Chief Executive Officer Jason Siegel; Florida Sports Foundation CEO Angela Suggs; ESPN Wide World of Sports and Disney Water Parks Vice President Adam Ball; City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Orange County Board of Commissioners District 1 Commissioner Nicole H. Wilson; Osceola Board of County Commissioners Chair Cheryl Grieb; Seminole County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Jay Zembower; and Lake Board of County Commissioners Chairman Kirby Smith; pose for a photo following a Sports Business Journal press conference to announce Orlando as the 2024 Best Sports Business Cities for Attracting and Hosting Events, in the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Central Florida leaders at a media conference Monday where it was announced that Orlando is the best sports-business city in America. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

I used to think that Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was just being a pom-pom-waving politician when I would interview him and he would always call Orlando the No. 1 sports destination in America, but as it turns out, Dyer was absolutely right.

“We’ve known this for a long time, but It’s nice to have third-party validation where the rest of the country also recognizes that we are the best sports destination in America,” Dyer said at a media conference Monday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

Much of the credit goes to Dyer himself, a huge sports fan and visionary who recognized long ago what sports means to a community. During his six terms as mayor, he has fought hard and sometimes went against popular public sentiment to get a new arena (Kia Center) built and to keep upgrading aging Camping World Stadium.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer speaks during a Sports Business Journal media conference to announce Orlando as the 2024 Best Sports Business City for attracting and hosting events in the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer speaks during a Sports Business Journal media conference to announce Orlando as the 2024 Best Sports Business City for attracting and hosting events in the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

Unlike most mayors, Dyer has even gotten involved in some of the negotiations to bring events to Orlando. When he flew up to WWE headquarters in Connecticut a few years ago to try to sell Vince McMahon on bringing WrestleMania to Orlando, McMahon told Dyer he’d never had a mayor in his office making a personal pitch for his city.

And like all great sports leaders, Dyer has helped choreograph a team filled with chemistry, camaraderie and collaboration. From Jason Siegel and his staff at the Greater Orlando Sports Commission to Steve Hogan and his staff at Florida Citrus Sports to the city’s own team led by Chief Venues Officer Allen Johnson, Orlando is a well-oiled sports-hosting machine.

Greater Orlando Sports Commission President & Chief Executive Officer Jason Siegel talks to the media before a Sports Business Journal press conference to announce Orlando as the 2024 Best Sports Business Cities for Attracting and Hosting Events, in the AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Greater Orlando Sports Commission president and CEO Jason Siegel has been instrumental in bringing a wide array of youth, collegiate and professional sporting events to Orlando. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

Dyer, too, has worked in unison with Orange County mayors past and present from Rich Crotty to Teresa Jacobs and now Jerry Demings. Getting the county mayors and commission to sign off on funding sports projects through the tourist development tax has been instrumental in Orlando’s rapid ascent to the top of the sports tourism ladder.

“It takes a lot of chemistry, communication and teamwork,” Siegel said. “We are blessed to have such tremendous leadership in our community.”

Added Magic CEO and UCF Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins: “We truly believe teamwork among our political, community and business leaders has made this recognition a reality and made Central Florida a truly great place to live, work and play. The future is certainly bright as we use the power of sport to bring people together.”

This teamwork and synergy everybody is talking about has certainly paid off. Orlando not only attracts major sports events like the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games,  premier college football bowl games and huge international soccer friendlies, we also attract countless youth events that are responsible for mega-millions in economic impact.

In fact, as Stephen Hudak wrote earlier this month in the Sentinel, “Tourism in Orange County rode a wave of marquee sporting events and high-attendance conventions in January to generate more than $30 million in hotel tax revenue, a record for the traditionally slow post-holiday month.”

Among the events Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond referenced in Hudak’s article: The 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, the NFL’s Pro Bowl festivities and two lucrative events at the Orange County Convention Center — the PGA Golf Show and a national cheerleading and dance competition.

And there’s more on the way. Florida Citrus Sports is expected to make a major announcement Tuesday about another huge international soccer friendly coming to town that will undoubtedly sell out Camping World Stadium. Orlando is also planning to make aggressive bids to host games in the 2027 Women’s World Cup as well as future March Madness basketball games and College Football Playoff games.

This dynasty has only just begun. The Orlando Magic are on the rise, UCF is destined to be a major player in the Big 12 and Orlando City, despite a slow start this season, has been in the playoffs for four straight years.

So please raise your wine goblets once again.

Here’s to Orlando — the No. 1 sports destination in America.

When it comes to attracting and hosting sporting events, the City Beautiful has become the City Fruitiful.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

 

 



https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/18/orlando-sports-business-journal-best-sports-city-buddy-dyer-mike-bianchi-commentary/
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