At the regular season’s halfway point, Iowa State is the Big 12 favorite. Thoughts and observations, from Becht v. Purdy to winning on the road.
Cyclone State: Iowa State’s Backloaded Big 12 Schedule
Iowa State’s path towards the playoff, plus the state of Cyclone volleyball.
Cyclone State: Iowa State Won the Mental Game
How the Cyclones upset Iowa, and where they go from here.
Joe’s Notes: Checking the MLB Standings
It’s Memorial Day Weekend. Here’s where the standings stand. Plus: MVP and Cy Young races, more on House v. NCAA, and an Indy 500 weather update.
Joe’s Notes: What’s the Deal With the Timberwolves’ Ownership Situation?
A refresher on A-Rod vs. Glen Taylor. Also: The Mavs’ tanking worked, the Cubs’ bullpen is medium, and the Packers have some anti-divas.
Joe’s Notes: Is Paul Skenes Good or Famous?
Separating the player from the phenomenon ahead of a hyped MLB debut. Also: What makes hockey attention hard, some conference realignment, and the playoff weekend ahead.
Joe’s Notes: The Toronto Maple Leafs Are Rich and Bad
Uniquely so. Also: Will the Suns and Kevin Durant part ways? Should the Braves be World Series favorites? And how good will UConn’s latest additions be?
Joe’s Notes: What Conventional Wisdom Gets Wrong About Home-Ice Advantage
The good thing about getting a series to 1–1 is not stealing home-ice advantage. It’s avoiding going down 0–2. Also: The problem with “hit rate,” the good thing for the Celtics, and Iowa State’s going to Dublin.
Joe’s Notes: Replay Review Is About Fairness, Not Perfection
The ending of last night’s Knicks game was imperfect. Was it fair? Also: Mark Stone and LTIR, Kyle Hendricks’s injury, and Tyrese Hunter is transferring to Memphis.
Joe’s Notes: The WNBA CBA Is Holding Back Caitlin Clark
The league and its union did not account for a generational superstar. Also: What Jimmy Butler’s injury does to the Heat, Reed Sheppard goes pro, and Jameson Taillon prepares for his season debut.
Joe’s Notes: Why the Flyers Might Pull Their Goalie Early Tonight
The Eastern Conference tiebreaker situation. Also: A potential issue with college sports’ transfer markets, BYU’s hire, and playoff experience vs. playoff inexperience.
Joe’s Notes: Should the NBA Playoffs Be Smaller?
Checking in after a rote Game 82. Then: Kentucky loves Mark Pope, the Coyotes are (probably) moving, and a case for believing in the Bulls.
Joe’s Notes: The Real Problem for John Calipari
The youth thing might be an issue. But it isn’t the main one. Also: Fixing replay review, Washington State in the clutch, and more thoughts on all of yesterday’s games.
Joe’s Notes: The Most Desperate Teams in the NCAA Tournament
Plenty of teams want a Final Four. Only one needs that championship more than the rest. And it’s not Purdue. Also: Conference correlation, the three Ohtani possibilities, and Otz vs. the Jacks.
Joe’s Notes: The Big East Will Be Just Fine
Plus: Justin Fields & Drew Brees, short track tires, and how our bracketology model performed.
Joe’s Notes: Chris Collins Has Done It Again
Is Chris Collins a good coach? It depends when you look. Also: WAB vs. SOR, Knecht vs. Zeigler, and a culture advantage for Iowa State.
Joe’s Notes: NCAA Tournament Selection Is Too Far in the Weeds
We can have nuance without fixating on Q1 wins. Also: Bunting for a hit, Texas/Texas Tech regression, and the Western Conference Play-In Tournament might be loaded.
Joe’s Notes: Why Is the MLS So Bad?
Theories. Also: How’s Jerome Tang liking Kansas State? With Bellinger back, who’s the Cubs’ biggest threat? And what’s going to happen with NIL now that it’s even more legal?