Latest news with #CollegeBasketballInvitational
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ISU's Ryan Pedon gets contract extended
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Illinois State likes the direction of the men's basketball program. So Ryan Pedon is being rewarded. Pedon has signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season, ISU announced Thursday. In three seasons, Pedon's team have gone from 11 wins to 15 to 22. The 22 wins from the 2024-25 season was the program's most since the 2016-17 season, and the program's first winning season since 2018-19. 'I am grateful for this opportunity to continue leading the Redbird Men's Basketball program into the future,' said Pedon in a statement. 'I would like to thank Dr. Jeri Beggs, President Tarhule, and our Board of Trustees for their support and confidence in what we are building together.' Last season the Redbirds posted a 22-14 overall record, a seven-win improvement from the previous season and won a postseason tournament championship, the College Basketball Invitational. The team's end-of-season NET ranking was 121, the highest in program history since the NET rankings were introduced in 2018-19. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bob Huggins is among Cleveland State head-coaching candidates, per report
Bob Huggins is among Cleveland State head-coaching candidates, per report Former Cincinnati Bearcats and West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins is among candidates for the Cleveland State Vikings' head-coaching vacancy, and Adam Nelson reported that Huggins is believed to have talked to the school about the job late last week. Huggins was among potential candidates for the McNeese head-coaching vacancy, Field of 68 basketball analyst Jeff Goodman reported via Twitter/X, before McNeese hired Baylor assistant Bill Armstrong last month as its new head coach. Advertisement Cleveland State was 23-13 last season, 14-6 in the Horizon League. The Vikings lost to Illinois State in the championship game of the College Basketball Invitational. SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 10: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 enshrinee Bob Huggins speaks during the 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 10, 2022 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by) In June 2023, Huggins resigned as WVU's head coach after he was arrested for suspicion of DUI. About one month earlier, Huggins used a slur on-air to describe Xavier University fans during a 700 WLW interview. Huggins was UC's head coach from 1989 to 2005. "I don't have any good thoughts of Xavier whatsoever," Huggins told reporters two days before XU hosted WVU in 2022. "None. Absolutely none." Huggins was inducted in 2022 into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bob Huggins among Cleveland State head-coaching candidates, per report
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Redbirds hoping early returns to lead to success next season
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — The Illinois State men's basketball may be excited for summer school this year. June is when members of the team will return to campus to begin getting ready for next season. And when the guys come back to campus and start summer workouts, they are going to see a lot of familiar faces. 'You have to have a great offseason, put together a roster full of guys that are here for the right reasons, that want to be Redbirds and want to play for one another,' said ISU coach Ryan Pedon. This week, Johnny Kinziger, Jack Daugherty, Ty Pence, and Landon Wolf all announced they will return to play for Illinois State. And grad student Brandon Lieb, a 7-foot center who suffered a hand injury and was sidelined all season, said he would play another season in Normal. 'There's some momentum in there that exists, that we have worked very hard for and that we haven't had after year one or year two,' said Pedon, who just finished his third season coaching ISU. 'Hoping we can build on that.' ISU won the College Basketball Invitational last week for the program's first ever postseason tournament title. And now it appears most of the squad is returning, including first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference player Chase Walker, who had a breakout sophomore season this winter. Now the journey to next season is underway. 'Ultimately that journey begins in the middle of June,' Pedon said. 'When we come back for summer school.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox Sports
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
The Crown fills broadcasting spots for Fox Sports and provides NIL incentives for players
Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — From the traditional National Invitation Tournament to the College Basketball Invitational and the sport doesn't lack postseason opportunities for teams that don't make the NCAA Tournament. Even so, Fox Sports executives looked at the schedule and thought there was a place for one more, working with AEG to put together the College Basketball Crown, a 16-team tournament in Las Vegas that concludes its inaugural edition Sunday. 'There were some holes in our programming schedule,' said Jordan Bazant, who is in charge of the tournament for Fox Sports. Fox Sports is a primary broadcaster during the regular season, but had been relegated to the sidelines once the NCAA Tournament began as CBS and TNT Sports took over coverage. Bazant emphasized the Crown isn't meant to take away from March Madness, but to add to it. That's not to say organizers have eased into the postseason landscape. The Crown guarantees $500,000 in name, image and likeness money, with $300,000 going to the winning team. The runner-up receives $100,000 and the semifinal losers $50,000 apiece. Players must take part in promotional opportunities to receive the money. It's a similar format to the Players Era Festival, an early-season tournament also in Las Vegas that offered at least $1 million in NIL money to each of the eight participating teams. Bazant said the Crown borrowed some ideas from that event and other tournaments. The kind of money the Crown is offering might make it difficult for other postseason tournaments to compete for teams. Bazant said many teams sat out such events anyway because they lost money or didn't think those events carried enough prestige. 'We're trying to provide an additional experience that those high-profile universities feel like they can participate from both financial and a brand standpoint,' Bazant said. 'But at the same time, that opens up other opportunities for mid-majors and low Division I majors to participate in these other events. So we think we're just adding to the potential opportunities for student-athletes, not taking away from anyone. 'Our goal truly is to be additive to the ecosystem and not dilutive.' To that end, Bazant said those teams competing in the Crown are staying in some of Las Vegas' top hotels, with the aim of creating a bowl-game like atmosphere for players who spend multiple days in the city. 'The folks did a great job in working to create a first-class event — transportation in, hotel, food,' said retired Hall of Fame coach Lon Kruger, who lives in Las Vegas and serves as an ambassador for the tournament. 'The people that are here have great things to say about everything so far. It's in the first year. It's only going to grow from here on.' Fox Sports-affiliated conferences Big East, Big Ten and Big 12 each had two automatic qualifiers for this year's tournament and the other 10 teams were at-large choices. Boise State was the only team, however, among the first four out of the NCAA Tournament to sign up. The other three schools — Indiana, Ohio State and West Virginia — opted to end their seasons. Boise State has advanced to Saturday's semfinials against Nebraska. 'Boise State is a phenomenal team,' Bazant said. 'They're not from what a common person would call a Power Four, but it has a great basketball tradition. So for us, tradition and history is more important than what conference you play in. But what conference you play in does help you build tradition.' ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. recommended in this topic
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Crown fills broadcasting spots for Fox Sports and provides NIL incentives for players
Colorado State guard Nique Clifford (10) passes around Boise State forward Andrew Meadow (13) and Boise State forward O'Mar Stanley (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (8) fouls Boise State forward O'Mar Stanley (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (8) fouls Boise State forward O'Mar Stanley (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Colorado State guard Nique Clifford (10) passes around Boise State forward Andrew Meadow (13) and Boise State forward O'Mar Stanley (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (8) fouls Boise State forward O'Mar Stanley (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) LAS VEGAS (AP) — From the traditional National Invitation Tournament to the College Basketball Invitational and the sport doesn't lack postseason opportunities for teams that don't make the NCAA Tournament. Even so, Fox Sports executives looked at the schedule and thought there was a place for one more, working with AEG to put together the College Basketball Crown, a 16-team tournament in Las Vegas that concludes its inaugural edition Sunday. Advertisement 'There were some holes in our programming schedule,' said Jordan Bazant, who is in charge of the tournament for Fox Sports. Fox Sports is a primary broadcaster during the regular season, but had been relegated to the sidelines once the NCAA Tournament began as CBS and TNT Sports took over coverage. Bazant emphasized the Crown isn't meant to take away from March Madness, but to add to it. That's not to say organizers have eased into the postseason landscape. The Crown guarantees $500,000 in name, image and likeness money, with $300,000 going to the winning team. The runner-up receives $100,000 and the semifinal losers $50,000 apiece. Players must take part in promotional opportunities to receive the money. Advertisement It's a similar format to the Players Era Festival, an early-season tournament also in Las Vegas that offered at least $1 million in NIL money to each of the eight participating teams. Bazant said the Crown borrowed some ideas from that event and other tournaments. The kind of money the Crown is offering might make it difficult for other postseason tournaments to compete for teams. Bazant said many teams sat out such events anyway because they lost money or didn't think those events carried enough prestige. 'We're trying to provide an additional experience that those high-profile universities feel like they can participate from both financial and a brand standpoint,' Bazant said. 'But at the same time, that opens up other opportunities for mid-majors and low Division I majors to participate in these other events. So we think we're just adding to the potential opportunities for student-athletes, not taking away from anyone. 'Our goal truly is to be additive to the ecosystem and not dilutive.' Advertisement To that end, Bazant said those teams competing in the Crown are staying in some of Las Vegas' top hotels, with the aim of creating a bowl-game like atmosphere for players who spend multiple days in the city. 'The folks did a great job in working to create a first-class event — transportation in, hotel, food,' said retired Hall of Fame coach Lon Kruger, who lives in Las Vegas and serves as an ambassador for the tournament. 'The people that are here have great things to say about everything so far. It's in the first year. It's only going to grow from here on.' Fox Sports-affiliated conferences Big East, Big Ten and Big 12 each had two automatic qualifiers for this year's tournament and the other 10 teams were at-large choices. Boise State was the only team, however, among the first four out of the NCAA Tournament to sign up. The other three schools — Indiana, Ohio State and West Virginia — opted to end their seasons. Boise State has advanced to Saturday's semfinials against Nebraska. Advertisement 'Boise State is a phenomenal team,' Bazant said. 'They're not from what a common person would call a Power Four, but it has a great basketball tradition. So for us, tradition and history is more important than what conference you play in. But what conference you play in does help you build tradition.' ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
