Author: Luke Reimer

Today in sports history (1995), an ownership group led by Vince Naimoli was approved for an expansion team in Tampa Bay. After three unsuccessful decades of trying to bring a team to Tampa Bay, the Devil Rays were approved. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ first season was 1998. In late 1997, Larry Rothschild was named the first manager of the team. In the expansion draft in 1997, the Devil Rays selected 35 players, including Tony Saunders. Later, the Devil Rays were able to acquire Kevin Stocker, Wade Boggs, Fred McGriff and Wilson Alvarez. Tampa Bay Rays Get Off to Rocky Start Most…

Believe it or not, SWAC basketball had seven teams with double-digit wins and seven teams at .500 or better in the conference. The leader of the pack this season was Alcorn State, who finished with a 14-4 conference record. The best overall record in the conference came from Southern who went 17-13. The following contains the SWAC Tournament bracket and schedule, as well as a preview of what we can expect to see. The top eight teams will be competing for an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Check out the FlurrySports Conference Tournaments Hub for wall-to-wall college basketball coverage throughout the…

The Big East may have made its claim as the most fun conference in college basketball this season. With teams like Villanova, Marquette, Providence and UConn in the top 25 for most of the year, the Big East just may be the best conference in college basketball. The following contains the Big East Tournament bracket, standings and schedule, as well as a preview of what we can expect to see. Check out the FlurrySports Conference Tournaments Hub for wall-to-wall college basketball coverage throughout the leadup to March Madness! Big East Basketball Conference Standings SchoolConf. RecordOverall RecordSeedProvidence14-324-41 SeedVillanova16-423-72 SeedConnecticut13-622-83 SeedCreighton12-720-104 SeedSeton Hall11-820-96 SeedMarquette11-819-115…

Today in sports history (1971), the greatest fight in boxing history occurred at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The 26-0 heavyweight champion Joe Frazier was looking to defend his championship against 31-0 and former champ Muhammad Ali. This fight was the most anticipated match in history, as both men were at the top of their games. Both men were also two of the greatest boxers of all time. Ali was recently stripped of his championship titles for refusing to fight in Vietnam. Because of this, the Americans against the war sided with Ali. The Americans in favor of the war…

The Big 12 once again proved that they are the best college basketball conference in the country. With teams like Kansas and Texas Tech being fixtures in the top 25 this year, this has become one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Texas is the reigning champion of the Big 12 Tournament. Of course, Baylor made the run to the championship last year, winning the NCAA Tournament over Gonzaga. Can the Bears win the Big 12 Tournament en route to attempting back-to-back tournament wins? The following contains the Big 12 Tournament bracket and schedule, as well as a…

ACC Basketball was somewhat of a disappointment this season. Throughout the year, Duke was the only ACC basketball team that was consistently ranked in the AP Top 25. Wake Forest, Miami, Notre Dame and North Carolina were all teams who were either low in the college basketball rankings or were right on the cusp of it. Virginia, Louisville and Florida State were teams who severely underperformed this year. In fact, for Virginia, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Needing an ACC tournament to make the NCAA tournament, can they be seen as dangerous? The following contains the ACC Tournament bracket…

Big West basketball was a tale of two extremes this college basketball season. The conference features seven teams with a record of over .500. On the flip side, three teams finished with less than three wins in conference and less than eight wins overall. Long Beach State led the way in the Big West basketball standings, with a 12-3 record in conference with an 18-11 overall record. The only Big West team that was featured in the mid-major Top-25 was UC-Irvine with a 15-9 record. UC San Diego is ineligible to compete for the Big West title or postseason events…

Overall, Conference USA basketball was a decent mid-major league this season. North Texas found themselves on top of their division and the overall conference. Middle Tennessee took the top of the East side of the conference. Southern Mississippi found themselves at the bottom of the conference with a 1-17 record. Last year’s Conference USA Tournament winner was North Texas. The Mean Green come into this year’s tournament with a 1-seed, can they make a run back to the college basketball Big Dance? The following contains the Conference USA Tournament bracket and schedule, as well as a preview of what we…

Today in sports history (1985), 18-year-old Mike Tyson kicked off his boxing career with a debut knockout of Hector Mercedes. Before there was Iron Mike, there was just Mike Tyson from New York. As an 18-year old, Tyson somewhat resembled what he looked like in his prime; A heavyweight who was built like a brick house. Tyson began his professional boxing career with a bang. He knocked out Mercedes in the first round of the fight. In fact, the fight only lasted 1:47. Mike Tyson Starts His Career With a Bang Mercedes came into the fight with an 0-2-1 record, looking for…

In relation to mid-major conferences, the Southern Conference has been somewhat impressive. Six of the ten teams in the conference finished their season with an above .500 overall record. The SoCon has the unfortunate opportunity to be only a one-bid conference, so whoever wins the Southern Conference Basketball Tournament will be the lone representative. Chattanooga finished the regular season with a 14-4 conference record. This gives them the overall one seed for the conference tournament. Can Chattanooga add to their 11 tournament wins, or will UNC-Greensboro defend last year’s title? The following contains the Southern Conference Tournament bracket and schedule,…