Latest news with #JayBilas
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jay Bilas Throws Cold Water on Trump's College Sports Plan
Donald Trump has vowed to make college sports a priority, but at least one prominent analyst isn't buying it. ESPN's Jay Bilas raised eyebrows this week with his pointed critique of the former president's newly proposed college athletics commission. Speaking to On3's Pete Nakos, Bilas didn't mince words. Advertisement 'We've had the Knight Commission, we had the Rice Commission,' he said. 'Anything with commission on it is probably not going to accomplish anything.' That might sound harsh, but Bilas' skepticism comes from experience. Both the Knight and Rice Commissions were high-profile attempts to reform college sports, particularly around amateurism and athlete compensation. Neither produced any significant policy changes, despite years of work and well-funded research. ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas.© Adam Cairns / USA TODAY NETWORK Bilas points to the failures of the Knight and Rice Commissions as warning signs The Knight Commission, created in 1989, was intended to bring academic reform and financial oversight to college athletics. The Rice Commission, launched in 2018 after the FBI's college basketball probe, was supposed to clean up the sport's reputation. But both failed to enact enforceable change — or keep up with the rapidly shifting landscape now dominated by NIL and the transfer portal. Advertisement Trump's new proposal to form a commission that would 'bring fairness and sanity' back to college athletics has already stirred political and media buzz. But Bilas' blunt assessment undercuts any early optimism. And he's not alone. Many critics believe college sports' problems won't be solved by more panels and paperwork — especially from figures with little history in the space. With the NCAA facing lawsuits, conference realignment chaos, and a player empowerment revolution, another commission may not be what's needed. Jay Bilas isn't rejecting reform. He's just warning that we've seen this playbook before — and it didn't work then either. Advertisement Related: Emmanuel Acho Doesn't Hold Back About Angel Reese's Reaction to Caitlin Clark Related: Russell Wilson and Ciara Share Family Update in New York
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN's Jay Bilas roasted for LeBron James ‘complainer' comment during Lakers game
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas made what turned into a controversial comment regarding LeBron James' interactions with referees during the Lakers' Game 1 loss to the Timberwolves on Saturday night. As James expressed his frustration over a no-call on a jump shot, Bilas defended the superstar, stating, 'He's not a complainer.' LeBron James warms up prior to the Lakers' Game 1 playoff outing against the Timberwolves. Getty Images 'LeBron James thought he got hit on that jump shot, and I think he did,' Bilas said. Advertisement Added ESPN play-by-play announcer Mark Jones, also on the call for the game, 'You can see the tangible frustration etched on the faces of both he and [Luka] Dončić tonight.' Bilas added, infamously, 'And he's not a complainer.' The statement immediately raised eyebrows, considering James' well-documented history of… well… complaining about not getting calls and to referees, in general, during games. Jay Bilas smiles during the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame announcement on April 5, 2025 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio Texas. NBAE via Getty Images LeBron James is often seen arguing calls or voicing displeasure toward referees, frequently making headlines as a result. Critics quickly took to social media, expressing their disbelief over the comment. Advertisement 'Jay Bilas clearly only watches college basketball,' one Tweeter wrote. 'Nobody complains more than Lebron, other than maybe Luka.' Another wrote, 'This guy lost all credibility. The most preposterous statement of all time.' Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas humorously chimed in with a video mocking the idea that James is not a complainer, and posing a photo of the Lakers star on one knee 'begging' for a call from a referee. All of this, of course, as the Lakers were obliterated by the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-95 in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff run, and at home in Los Angeles. Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts toward referee Brian Forte (45) after called for a foul on Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the second half at Arena. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images James finished the night with 19 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals while shooting just 1-for-5 from three.
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jay Bilas inexplicably blamed Duke's Final Four collapse on a lack of close ACC games
Jay Bilas inexplicably blamed Duke's Final Four collapse on a lack of close ACC games Duke's soul-crushing 2025 Final Four loss on Saturday in San Antonio stands as one of the most shocking collapses in college basketball history. Trying to blame one thing feels wrong, as it was just a monumental, cumulative failure for the team as much as it was a stellar showing for Houston when all hope seemed lost. Well, ESPN analyst and former Duke player and assistant Jay Bilas has found a culprit for the defeat, and it's ... the ACC. Wait... what? Ahead of Monday night's national title game between Houston and Florida, Bilas pointed a finger at the lack of competitive games in conference play as a reason for Duke's unexpected blown lead. "I thought the biggest factor in the game was the fact that Duke was inexperienced in close games," Bilas said during ESPN pregame coverage. "And that's where I felt the ACC really let 'em down. Everybody else in this Final Four had played games that came down to the wire day after day and game after game." While it can be factually true that Duke didn't play in a lot of close conference games this past season, the whole "let them down" concept is really ludicrous. It's not and never will be the conference's responsibility to serve as a sharpening board for a legacy program, and Bilas is ... y'know ... just a bit biased and probably doesn't want to fully blame his alma mater directly for the loss. Duke lost Saturday's game to Houston because the entire operation collapsed in crunch time. For a team as absurdly talented as Duke is, you should be able to maintain your composure with a lead even if you haven't been asked to do it a lot. Sure, experience helps, but the lack of it isn't why you lost. This might work for Bilas, but it probably won't work for most anybody else.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jay Bilas on Kentucky vs Tennessee in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game
This episode of The C.L. Brown Show features ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas to break down Kentucky basketball's Sweet 16 matchup with Tennessee and the rest of the NCAA Tournament. Bilas details why the Wildcats offense puts so much pressure on the Volunteers to defend and was successful in both regular-season meetings. He also points to the battle in the frontcourt as being what will likely determine the outcome. And Bilas tells why he believes the death of Cinderella teams in the NCAA Tournament is widely exaggerated. A new episode of this podcast, hosted by Courier Journal sports columnist C.L. Brown, posts each Wednesday. You can listen to The C.L. Brown Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcast, Audible, CastBox and iHeartRadio, among others. Kentucky basketball can reach Final Four. It's because Cats have point guard who knows how Kentucky basketball playing Illinois in wrong location. But UK keeps eye on road Kentucky basketball lacks sizzle vs Troy. But methodical approach brings good result Louisville basketball's Junior Bridgeman shined bright despite avoiding spotlight Final Four or 1st-round exit, Pat Kelsey has made Louisville basketball a success Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@ follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at to make sure you never miss one of his columns. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball vs Tennessee March Madness game: Jay Bilas podcast
NBC Sports
24-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Bilas: Calipari has been 'amazing' at Arkansas
Jay Bilas joins the Dan Patrick Show to share his thoughts on the opening weekend of March Madness, the no-call for Maryland, the job John Calipari has done at Arkansas, and more.
