NCAA Expands Tournament

Over the past couple of weeks the sports world has been good to me. I have had a lot to smile about (solid draft by my Bengals and the Reds look to be improving). When I saw this next story cross the wires in the newsroom I busted out my best Tiger-like-fist-pump-into-the-air.

Finally the NCAA makes the right move. They (at least for now) expand the NCAA Tournament from 65 to 68 teams as opposed to the rumored 96 teams.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The NCAA's Board of Directors has approved the new 68-team men's basketball tournament that will begin next season. It's the first expansion since 2001 when the tourney went from 64 to 65 teams.

How the new format will work isn't likely to be determined until this summer, when the men's basketball issues committee meets. It is believed the tourney will include four opening-round games, often called play-in games, instead of the one that has been used since 2001.

The NCAA recommended the expansion last week, when it also announced it had reached a new 14-year, $10.8 billion television package with CBS and Turner Broadcasting to broadcast the NCAA's marquee event.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Report: Altman to leave Creighton for Oregon

The Southern Illinois rivalry with Creighton looks to have taken a small hit. According to multiple reports longtime Creighton head coach coach Dana Altman has agreed to take over at Oregon.

Altman spent 16 season at Creighton including 11-consecutive 20 win seasons where he finished with a 327-176 record.

The Oregonian newspaper reported Altman will get a seven-year contract worth nearly $2 million per season.

Altman would replace Ernie Kent who was fired after 13-seasons at Oregon.

SEMO Spring Game Shortened By Bad Weather

Tony Samuel and his Southeast Missouri State Redhawks put the finishing touches on spring practice Saturday afternoon with the annual spring game. Unfortunately the scrimmage lasted less than ten minutes as lightning forced a stoppage in play. The scrimmage was later cancelled with the offense leading 7-1.

Former Paducah Tilghman running back Mike Jones put the offense on the board with a cake walk into the endzone from two yards out. Jones pounded out 20-yards on seven carries.

Quarterback Matt Scheible carried the ball four times for a dozen yards... and completed 1-of-4 passes.

Austen Lane Drafted By Jacksonville

The dream of getting a chance to play at football's highest level becomes reality for Murray State defensive end Austen Lane.

He is selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of Saturday's NFL draft with the 153rd overall pick. Lane was rock solid his senior season despite playing on a Racers team which won only three games.

He finished his career as Murray state's all-time leader with 29 sacks and 53 and a half tackles-for-loss and becomes the highest draft pick in the programs history. Lane was selected as the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year after leading the league with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles-for-loss. He wrapped his college career recovering a fumble and scoring a touchdown while playing in the Under Armour Senior Bowl.

Deji Karim Drafted By Jacksonville

Twenty-seven picks after taking Murray State defensive end Austen Lane the Jacksonville Jaguars stay in the Heartland and draft Southern Illinois Saluki running back Deji Karim with their 6th round pick.

Karim becomes the 21st player in school history and first Saluki taken since the NY Giants selected Brandon Jacobs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Karim was the 2009 Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive player of the year and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. He ended his college career as SIU's all-time leader in all purpose yards with 2,339.

You might have a chance to see Lane and Karim when the jags play a regular season game October 24th at Kansas City or December 5th at Tennessee.

New OVC Hit King

There is a new hit king in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Jacksonville State senior Bert Smith pounded out four hits Saturday against Austin Peay to take over the lead with 288 career hits.

Smith passes the mark of 287 previously held by Southeast Missouri State's Jeremy Johnson who played for the Redhawks from 1997-2000.

Johnson went on to play professionally in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

He was drafted in the 26th round of the 2000 amateur draft but never made it to the big leagues.

Jaime Garcia Ends Lefty Losing Streak

Here is a stat which will make you say wow!

Saturday's starter for the Cardinals, Jaime Garcia, turned a rare feat for the redbirds in his win last Saturday at Milwaukee. The win by Garcia snapped a Cardinals streak of 586 games without a win by a left handed starting pitcher.

The last cardinals lefty starter to post a victory prior to the Garcia's win was Mark Mulder on June 15 2006.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau the 586 games was the longest streak in the majors.

Didn't last nights game against the Mets go 586 innings? I lost count!

NCAA Tournament Expansion News

College basketball fans (especially those who love March Madness) mark April 29th on your calendar. That is the day NCAA officials will meet in Indianapolis and tournament expansion could be topic of discussion and ultimately decided.

The NCAA has until July 31st to opt out of the final three years of it's current 11 year $3 billion dollar deal with CBS.

Why opt out of a perfect marriage? Money of course. The NCAA is looking into expanding the current 65 team tournament to as many as 96 teams.

My stance on the issue is biased - I work for a CBS affiliate (KFVS) and can't imagine what it would be like not having the tournament on KFVS. The current tournament does not need a major overhaul. It could use a tweak here or there but not something as drastic as adding 31 more teams.

I briefly wrote about this in an earlier post dated March 15th.

I bring this up again after reading a great article from the Indy Star on NCAA Tournament expansion. If it's inevitable expansion will happen I like the idea written about in the article (CBS & Turner teaming-up to get the broadcast rights).

Bypassing The Minor Leagues

The Chicago Cubs were part of MLB Histroy today in Cincinnati when they took the first pitch from Reds starter Mike Leake. For only the 21st time in the history of the game a player has skipped the minor leagues and jumped straight to the majors after being drafted.

The list of players who skipped the minors and debuted in the bigs.

2009 Mike Leake (Reds)
2000 Xavier Nady (Padres)
1995 Ariel Prieto (A's)
1993 Darren Dreifort (Dodgers)
1989 John Olerud (Blue Jays)

1988 Jim Abbott (Angels)
1985 Pete Incaviglia (Expos)
1978 Tim Conroy (A's)
1978 Bob Horner (Braves)
1978 Brian Milner (Blue Jays)

1978 Mike Morgan (A's)

1973 David Clyde (Rangers)
1973 Dave Winfield (Padres)
1973 Eddie Bane (Twins)
1973 Dick Ruthven (Phillies)

1972 Dave Roberts (Padres)

1971 Pete Broberg (Senators)
1971 Rob Ellis (Brewers)
1971 Burt Hooten (Cubs)
1969 Steve Dunning (Indians)

1967 Mike Adamson (Orioles)

Change to Friday Nights Cards TV Broadcast

I just got this e-mail from the St. Louis Cardinals concerning tonights TV broadcast of the series opener at Milwaukee.

--- --- ---

Cardinals Fans --

Due to a scheduling conflict, tonight's (Friday, April 9th) Fox Sports Midwest telecast of the Cardinals game at Milwaukee (7:10 p.m.) will be shown on an alternate Fox Midwest channel.

Please refer to the list below for info on where to find the alternate Fox Midwest channel:

St. Louis market

• Charter-St. Louis - Channel 3 or 8
• New Wave-Dexter and Sparta - 21
• Madison-Madison County - 8
• HomeTel-Douglas, Ill - 3
• AT&T U-verse - 692
• DirecTV - 680
• Dish Network - 452

Outside the St. Louis market
Fans outside the St. Louis Market can follow all the action on MLB.tv or tune in on one of these stations.

• Cable TV: Fox Sports Midwest main channel, Fox Sports Midwest HD
• AT&T U-verse - 692
• DirecTV - 680
• Dish Network - 452

Dillard & Booker Still On Saluki Basketball Team

Despite recent message board postings leading to speculation SIU Players Kevin Dillard and Anthony Booker are transfering to another school or simply leaving the program they are not true.

Wednesday afternoon I talked with Tom Weber, Assistant Atheltics Director for mens basketball, he tells me as of Wednesday both Anthony Booker and Kevin Dillard are still part of the basketball program and are expected to be on the team next season.

Obviously the reports of them leaving the program could actually come true, but right now they are still on the team.

Stay tuned.