Tag Archives: basketball

Austin’s pitch to the WNBA

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Fran Harris has a plan. The former Texas women’s basketball great has the financial backing, she insists. She’s got the support of the school administration and the city’s mayor and has had constructive conversations with the sports investment group … Continue reading →

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The Ted Cruz Curse continues

Posted on October 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, Astros fans. Guess who was at the Astros game today? #Cruzcurse 😡 — Barbi (@Barbi__7) 10:00 PM – 02 October 2024 The Ted Cruz curse strikes (no pun intended) again. Allegedly. The Texas senator’s attendance at sporting events across … Continue reading →

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PAC-12 adds Gonzaga, UTEP to MWC

Posted on October 5, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Round and round they go. The Pac-12 is adding Gonzaga as a member in all sports the school plays starting in July 2026, the conference announced Tuesday. Gonzaga brings a rich basketball tradition to the refurbished Pac-12, as the Zags … Continue reading →

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More on Fertitta and the WNBA

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

He does sound serious. The Houston Rockets are putting together a proposal to bring a WNBA franchise back to the city but are currently awaiting further instruction from the league’s representatives, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and president of business operations … Continue reading →

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Fertitta to bid on a WNBA expansion franchise

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Rooting for him to succeed. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta on Thursday confirmed his intention to bid on an WNBA expansion franchise, a step toward returning the league to Houston at a time the WNBA is setting ratings and attendance records. … Continue reading →

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NCAA has a March Madness expansion plan

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I feel confident something like this is going to happen. College basketball moved one step closer this week to an expanded NCAA men’s basketball tournament. NCAA officials on Wednesday presented to Division I conference commissioners at least two models of … Continue reading →

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Not just Fertitta wants a hockey team here

Posted on May 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Do tell. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has company when it comes to bringing a pro hockey franchise to Houston. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed Tuesday that the league has received interest from other parties about a team in Houston. “Tilman … Continue reading →

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Don’t hold your breath waiting for the WNBA to come back to Houston

Posted on April 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The WNBA will be expanding from 12 to 16 teams by 2028. Houston is not on their list of potential new locations. The WNBA is looking to continue growing in the next few years. The league intends to reach 16 … Continue reading →

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Fertitta still interested in an NHL team

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Also possibly a WNBA team. For the second time in more than a month, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has stated his interest in bringing an NHL team to Houston. Fertitta, in an interview Wednesday on CNBC’s “Power Lunch,” was asked … Continue reading →

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Once again seeking Comets 2.0

Posted on April 9, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I would of course love to see this happen, but if it ever does it likely won’t be in the near future. Travis Scott was struck by basketball motivation in the middle of the night — crack of the morning? … Continue reading →

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Realignment roundup

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

You can officially put a bow on the PAC 12. Oregon State and Washington State have come to an agreement in principle with the 10 departing Pac-12 universities that will end ongoing litigation related to control of the conference, the … Continue reading →

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ACC goes Pacific

Posted on September 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Welp. The Atlantic Coast Conference is expanding from its Eastern roots. The ACC presidents and chancellors met Friday morning and voted to add three schools — Stanford, Cal and SMU, the conference announced. It will bring the league to 18 … Continue reading →

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Colorado to return to the Big XII

Posted on July 29, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It’s about to be the Big XIII, not that they will ever call it that, nor stay at that number. But it’s my blog and I can call it as I see it. The University of Colorado will leave the … Continue reading →

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Big XII remains “open” to more expansion

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe they’ll eventually call themselves the Big XVI. The Big 12 is open to further expansion, commissioner Brett Yormark said Friday, as the league prepares to welcome four new members, including the University of Houston, on July 1. Expansion was … Continue reading →

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A more nuanced look at the finances of hosting the Final Four

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve made fun of articles in the past that breathlessly and credulously repeated claims that various big sporting events like a Super Bowl or a Final Four would yield untold millions in sales and hotel tax revenue for the state … Continue reading →

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Big XII now looking to expand

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Probably a good idea to try, as a defensive measure if nothing else. The Big 12’s next step is clear after the early exit of Texas and Oklahoma was agreed upon Thursday night. The conference now plans to aggressively pursue expansion in some … Continue reading →

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March Madness could get bigger

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the story you probably heard about. A recommendation by the NCAA’s Division I Transformation Committee issued Tuesday would expand the NCAA basketball tournaments to 90 teams. The committee tasked with finding “opportunities to modernize college sports” issued several recommendations in a 39-page … Continue reading →

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Gonzaga looking at the Big XII

Posted on November 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The first real conference move by a non-football school is being discussed. Conference realignment chatter for months has centered mainly around college football. That hasn’t stopped Gonzaga from being proactive behind the scenes in discussions with at least three power … Continue reading →

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UH will officially join the Big XII in 2023

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

No use waiting around. The University of Houston will start play in the Big 12 in 2023 after the school came to an agreement on exit fees with the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars will pay the AAC $18 million … Continue reading →

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Get ready to start raking in the cash, UH

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Money, money, money. As the athletic director at Texas, Chris Del Conte is the CEO of one of the richest college athletic departments in the nation. He also knows what it’s like to have to make every penny count. At … Continue reading →

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Houston Comets 2.0?

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’d be happy to see the WNBA come back to Houston. From 1997 to 2000, legendary players Cynthia Cooper, Tina Thompson, and Sheryl Swoops led the Houston Comets to the first four national WNBA titles. The team was a dynasty: … Continue reading →

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COVID puts NHL on pause

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of an ominous throwback. The NHL is beginning a leaguewide shutdown Wednesday amid a rise in positive COVID-19 test results among players, and with 10 of the league’s 32 teams’ schedules already paused and their facilities closed. The … Continue reading →

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On Rice and the AAC

Posted on October 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a great move for Rice. It also means they will need to step it up in men’s athletics. On the job a few months in early 2014, Rice athletic director Joe Karlgaard met with alumni at a fundraiser in … Continue reading →

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No vax needed to see a Rockets game

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

No, thanks. The Rockets will not have any entry or seating restrictions beyond those required by NBA health and safety rules this season, according to Rockets president of business operations Gretchen Sheirr. The team does provide an option for fans … Continue reading →

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NCAA warns Texas about anti-transgender bills

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just the voter suppression bills that will do great harm to the state of Texas and its people if the Republicans ram them through. Amid all the talk of boycotts and corporate criticism of election bills going through … Continue reading →

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More local pushback against SB7 and HB6

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Mayor Sylvester Turner invited a diverse group of elected officials, community leaders, and business executives to stand in solidarity against voter suppression bills in the Texas Legislature. More than 50 individuals and organizations have vowed to fight … Continue reading →

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Do better, NCAA

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

C’mon. This is ridiculous. The teams had barely landed in Texas when complaints of inequity between the women’s and men’s tournaments roared over social media posts noting the women’s weight training facilities in San Antonio were severely lacking compared to … Continue reading →

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The “Star Spangled Banner Protection Act”

Posted on February 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

You can’t make this stuff up. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Wednesday that requiring the national anthem to be played “at all events which receive public funding” will be among his top legislative priorities this session. The “Star Spangled … Continue reading →

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Women’s NCAA tournament to be entirely held in San Antonio

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Similar to what the men are doing, in a warmer location. The full 2021 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament will be held in San Antonio, the NCAA confirmed Friday, marking the biggest event in the city since the COVID-19 … Continue reading →

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NCAA finalizes single-site March Madness

Posted on January 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to Indianapolis, assuming anyone is allowed to attend, which honestly they shouldn’t as things are right now. The NCAA will host its entire postseason men’s basketball tournament in Indianapolis and surrounding areas with a bubble-like format, officials announced on … Continue reading →

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Are you ready to attend a basketball game?

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not, at least not yet. Ask me again after I’ve been vaccinated. The Rockets on Thursday made official their plans to have limited numbers of fans in attendance at home games under a variety of health and safety protocols … Continue reading →

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The entire NCAA men’s tournament in one place

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

If we’re able to have an NCAA basketball season at all, then something like this makes some sense. The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee announced today the relocation of 13 predetermined preliminary round sites for the 2021 Division I … Continue reading →

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Coronavirus and college sports update

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

What life is like for Texas’ college football teams. In the world of COVID-19-era college football, Sunday is a day not for resting but for testing. Each Sunday this fall brings a new set of checklists and guideposts that players … Continue reading →

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Everybody is invited!

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I missed this last week. ACC men’s basketball coaches are proposing an expanded 2021 NCAA tournament that would include every Division I team. Several ACC coaches would prefer to avoid nonconference games in the 2020-21 season due to complications from … Continue reading →

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