It’s Mid-American Conference tournament week in Cleveland, and Jason Arkley of the Athens Messenger is back on The Nail to set the stage. The No. 1 seed Buffalo Bulls seek their third conference championship in four years, but the rest of the top teams in this year’s bracket – Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Ball State – are all looking to break long droughts. Arkley breaks down Thursday’s quarterfinal matchups and discusses whether a MAC team can win an NCAA tournament game for the first time since 2012. ... Plus: The effect of the graduate transfer rule on college basketball and whether the sport's latest scandals are being felt at the mid-major level.
Ready or not, it’s time for the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament, as the conference decided to stage its signature hoops event a week early for the sake of getting to play in Madison Square Garden. The Ohio State Buckeyes, one of the great stories in all of college basketball this season, figure to be a big factor this weekend in New York and in March Madness as well. The guys welcome back Josh Poloha of WaitingForNextYear.com to discuss how first-year coach Chris Holtmann has revitalized the program in Columbus, the stellar play of conference player of the year Keita Bates-Diop and others on the roster, and the teams who stand in the Buckeyes’ way in the Big Ten tourney. … Plus: A look at the scandals hanging over college basketball, the impact they could have on the NCAA tournament, and whether a day of reckoning is coming for some of the sport’s biggest names.
Cleveland is buzzing about basketball again as the Cavs kick off the unofficial second half of the NBA season on Thursday night. As we saw in a two-game preview before the All-Star break, the excitement comes with good reason. LeBron James is engaged, the team is rejuvenated and the games are once again must-see TV. The guys talk about the early returns from Larry Nance, Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood and George Hill, and what to look forward to down the stretch. … Plus: The most fun events to watch in the Winter Olympics, why not even commentary by wet blanket Bode Miller can ruin downhill skiing, and a quick thought on potential free agent QB targets for the Browns.
Within the past month, it became apparent that the Cavs were dead in the water as constructed. The only question that remained was how far they were willing to go to change their fortunes. As we found out Thursday, the answer was “pretty damn far.” The team tied its own NBA trade deadline day record, sending out six players in three deals and bringing in four new faces. Jeff Nomina of Waiting For Next Year joins the guys to discuss how a front office under fire for months stood up and overhauled a fractured roster to rebuild the team’s culture. Whether it is enough to overcome the Warriors (…or Rockets?) remains to be seen for now. ... Plus: The guys wrap up the show with a salute to WFNY on its 10th anniversary.
It’s been a busy 10 days since The Nail guys have convened to record a pod. Stipe Miocic successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title and already has another opponent lined up for July. WWE put on a surprisingly great Royal Rumble pay-per-view headlined by the first women’s Rumble match (and Ronda Rousey!). The Cavs have gone to hell and back, and are finally starting to show signs of life—although for reasons both on and off the court, Isaiah Thomas’ future looks as murky as ever. And finally—FINALLY—the Indians announced Chief Wahoo is going away (well, sort of). As they have every step of the way with their embattled logo, the Indians continue to take the hardest road possible in moving on. The guys cover that and more in a busy, wide-ranging edition of The Nail.
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is defending his title against Francis Ngannou on Saturday night, and News-Herald sports editor Mark Podolski is in Boston to cover the fight. Podolski has known Miocic since the champ was a wrestler for Eastlake North High School and a placekicker for the school’s football team, and he has followed Miocic closely throughout his MMA career. In his latest appearance on The Nail, Podolski shares stories from Miocic’s high school years, sets the scene at UFC’s media day on Thursday, previews the fight as Miocic tries to become the first UFC heavyweight champ to reach three successful title defenses, and gives a rundown on the red-hot, trash talkin’ challenger Ngannou. ... Plus: WWE Raw will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Monday night. The guys relive memories of WWE’s flagship show, including the time Tom went down to the then-Gund Arena, and was left standing outside without a ticket as a historic episode got underway.
From the final numbers on the scoreboard at Quicken Loans Arena on Monday night to the grim anonymous quotes from players in stories published in early Tuesday morning, the consensus is clear: The Cavs, as presently constructed, won’t beat the Warriors. Friend of the show and longtime Cavs fan Nick Carrabine is back on The Nail as the guys discuss what has happened to J.R. Smith, Isaiah Thomas’ fit and whether he’s playable against Golden State, and whether Ty Lue is getting the most out of this Cavs roster. Plus: The Cavs have assets, but in the face of what looks like increasingly long championship odds, is there a deal out there worth gambling on with a summer of uncertainty for the franchise ahead?
