By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
In 2022, the British group The Hollies will be celebrating their 60th year of existence. That’s right. They’ve never broken up.
Now, they fell out of the pop culture scene years ago. But they still tour. They still record. The RJB was fascinated to learn that one of the original members of the band was Graham Nash, he of Crosby, Stills and Nash.
So that tells you that this group has gone through changes like any group does with members coming and going.
The Hollies had a distinct sound to them because they could go soft rock but then turn on a dime and go hard. For example, they had the soft 1967 hit Carrie Anne. But then in 1972 they broke out Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.
It’s what was called back then for the groups coming out of Liverpool, England, Mercybeat, a mix of Rock and Roll and Pop Music. The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
For the RJB’s purposes, it happened to be shopping at a nursery on Sunday when this hit came on the speaker.
Always kinds of liked this ballad, especially with the understated French horns. It was released in 1974. It reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 6 in the United States.
****
As much as we all reveled in the glory of March with a national championship for Scott Drew’s program in 2021, we were reminded over the weekend how sudden a season can end.
Baylor’s second round 93-86 overtime loss to North Carolina on Saturday was as good as it gets in terms of competition, will to win and playing like your season was on the line…because it was.
However, it doesn’t guarantee anything. The tournament can be cruel.
Being inside Dickies Arena to watch that was such a treat. The final 10 minutes and overtime had a New Orleans chaos type of atmosphere to it.
A tremendous contingent of Baylor fans – mainly positioned behind the BU bench – and then sprinkled in pockets throughout the arena were loud pretty much from the opening tap. They then grew stronger as the Bears mounted their historic comeback. If you couldn’t appreciate what you saw on TV, take my word for it.
Of course, the building became electric between the Baylor fans, UNC fans and those who didn’t have a dog in the hunt got into it as possession by possession were fed with intensity. They knew they were watching a classic.
Was it like Duke-Kentucky 1991? Probably not because that one was back and forth until Christian Laettner hit the shot.
When you look back on what happened, a team down by 25 with half of the second half remaining had no business pushing this like it did. In fact, I made a comment to the media member next to me that when the game hit the 11-minute mark, that this was where the Tar Heels can start managing the game.
And then the Brady Manek ejection and full court press made this a 180. If you’re the defending champion and you’re going to go down, leave everything on the floor and don’t walk off it with any second guessing. I can assure you Baylor left it all on the floor and had no regrets.
The Bears just didn’t have enough. That’s sports. When athletes get between the white lines and coaches stand on or behind them, they all accept the risk associated with competing.
I’m sure there is some frustration because the Bears are the only No. 1 seed to not advance to the Sweet 16. But look at how the other No. 1s had to survive. Arizona needed overtime to clip TCU (I thought the Horned Frogs would give them everything). Gonzaga had to hang on against Memphis. Same with Kansas against Creighton. All three of those games could have gone the other way. Heck Creighton has the ball inside of a minute down by one and threw it away.
The tournament is cruel.
****
We will go full throttle with football once spring ball starts on Tuesday. My series is just getting started and have already gone through the quarterbacks, safeties and defensive backs. I just want to use this space to put the 2021-22 season to bed.
****
First, let’s get into Jerome Tang heading to Kansas State. It was time for him to go. He’s been a faithful second chair to Drew for the last 19 seasons, done everything that’s been asked and been a great shoulder to lean on.
However, when you’re in the position that Tang is at in his career, you either get labeled as a career assistant or a college head coach. Every coach comes to that fork in the road of his career where he is at an established program, and somebody believes some of that can infiltrate its fledgling program.
I think if Tang didn’t do it this year, his window would have closed. Perhaps he could have waited one more year after 2022-23. However, I don’t think that would have been a good idea, especially when you don’t know what the market is going to look like. This was a pretty good coaching carousel. I thought Tang was destined to end up with a P5 job like Kansas State or South Carolina or Utah or something like that. UTEP was never an option last year.
Tang is a solid recruiter. He knows how to communicate with players. He also has a pretty decent roster that Bruce Weber left him led by guard Nijel Pack. The roster could look different over the offseason. But Tang has a chance to build something and maybe get that program at least into the NIT for 22-23.
You wish him well.
****
Tang isn’t the only one who could be on the move. When I mentioned over the weekend that Tang’s departure could help someone on the current staff to be promoted, that went to Alvin Brooks III and John Jakus.
I’m told any kind of promotions of either will be handled but not immediately. Why? Well, partly because Brooks’ name is coming up for jobs. He’s mentioned as a candidate for New Mexico State since Chris Jans just went to Mississippi State. He could also be a candidate at Louisiana Tech if its head coach Eric Konkol moves on to Tulsa.
At this point, I’m not sure how strong of a candidate Brooks is. At the very least, just getting your name in the conversation for this stage of your career is important. It sets the stage for the future.
We’ll definitely watch this.
****
While COVID-19 created the benefit of giving those players an extra year to play ball if they chose to, it also created a roster logjam.
Baylor’s 2022-23 roster could go two different ways – a total reboot much like it was this season or a lot of familiarity along with the three signees Keyonte George, Dillon Hunter and Joshua Ojianwuna.
For those with this decision to make, I’m going to place my bets:
Matthew Mayer – He’s gone. He said in the home finale against Iowa State that he was 98 percent sure he was done. The way he spoke in the presser after UNC didn’t appear to change. Plus, I think Baylor just needs to move on from his erratic play.
James Akinjo – He’s gone. With the number of guards on this roster returning or arriving, he’s going to get pinched on minutes.
Flo Thamba – He’s gone. I know he said that he wanted to discuss this with his family after the season. But with Ojianwuna arriving and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua potentially close to the start of the season, there may not be enough minutes for him. Now, you could make the argument Thamba’s experience allows Ojianwuna time to adapt and develop.
Kendall Brown – He’s gone. He’s a projected Top 15-20 NBA pick. I would say his progression through the season was not as fast as I thought it would be. But he is 18. Pretty young. Still, his ceiling is incredible. Maybe he declares without and agent to see. I doubt it.
Jeremy Sochan – He’s gone. If anything, his performance in the NCAA tournament helped his NBA stock. Sochan showed some toughness especially not backing down to UNC big Armando Bacot. Sochan also hit some big shots during the comeback.
That brings us to transfer portal candidates. I know it’s out there about LJ Cryer possibly jumping into the portal and that may happen. Maybe that foot will never be the same.
You’re going to have Adam Flagler, Langston Love, Dale Bonner, George and Hunter with an opportunity in the backcourt.
Pretty crowded. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Jordan Turner follows Cryer. However, I would ask you to consider what experience in the back court brings.
It’s going to be a busy offseason for Drew.
****
Ok, you women’s basketball aficionados, I’m going to put it to you to rate Nicki Collen’s first year – success or failure?
On one hand, the Lady Bears finished the season 28-7, overcame an 0-2 start in Big 12 play and wound up winning the conference regular season title and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
On the other, they lost the Big 12 tournament championship, their winning streak over Texas ended at 13, they were surprisingly easily bounced AT HOME in the second round by a No. 10 seed and critics will say that she only did this with Kim Mulkey’s players.
It does sound like Collen has recruited a pretty decent group of players for the future. The question is going to be are they at the same caliber that used to come to Baylor?
For me, the measure of Collen’s tenure should not be judged by this season. Obviously, another deep NCAA tournament run would have helped. However, see how she’s doing by the 2023-24 season. By that time, the roster will be her creation and her style will either be a fit or not.
****
Now, let’s take a look at other Baylor sports…
>Baylor men's golf will be back in action on Monday when the Bears tee it up at the All-American Intercollegiate at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
The Bears have recorded top-two finishes in each of their last three starts in the All-American, including a tie for second in their previous visit in 2019.
>No. 6 Baylor men's tennis fell to No. 12 Michigan on Sunday afternoon at the Varsity Tennis Center, 4-0.
It was just the second loss of the season for the Bears, now 17-2. BU is now 7-2 against ranked opponents for the spring. They play at TCU on Friday.
>Click this link for all of what Baylor accomplished at the TCU track meet over the weekend.
>Baylor softball split its Saturday doubleheader with McNeese State, falling, 5-4, in game one before bouncing back and shutting out the Cowgirls, 3-0, in game two at Getterman Stadium. Baylor won beat McNeese, 5-2, on Friday. BU is now 15-10 overall and has a DH with Tarleton State at home on Tuesday.
They travel to No. 1 Oklahoma for a three-game weekend series starting Friday.
>Baylor women's golf climbed the leaderboard for a second-straight day, finishing with a 27-over 879 and securing a tie for eighth at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes Golf Club.
The Bears' 4-over-par 288 was the fourth-best score in the field in Tuesday's final round and saw the Bears move from a tie for 10th to a tie for eighth with the Duke Blue Devils. Baylor's 575 in the final two rounds trailed only No. 2 Oregon, No. 5 Wake Forest and No. 12 Arizona State.
The Bears will compete in the PING Arizona State Invitational Friday-Sunday at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix.
> No. 26 Baylor (13-4, 4-0) defeated West Virginia 5-2 Sunday morning at the Summit Tennis Academy. This marks the second-straight season, and 11th time in program history, that the Bears have opened Big 12 play 4-0. Baylor beat Iowa State, 4-3, this past Friday.
Baylor will be playing at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State this coming weekend.
>No. 1 Baylor acrobatics & tumbling kept their streak alive with the 284.460-280.685 win over No. 4 Quinnipiac on Saturday at the People's United Arena in Connecticut.
The Bears improved to 5-0 on the season with the 3.775-point decision over the Bobcats. Baylor will take to the road again for a Friday night meet against Mary Hardin-Baylor at 6:00 p.m. Friday in Belton.
>No. 6 Baylor equestrian has earned the No. 4 seed for the upcoming 2022 Big 12 Equestrian Championship, as previously announced by the league office.
All four Big 12 teams will compete in Fences, Flat, Horsemanship and Reining when the conference meet takes place on Friday and Saturday in Burleson at TCU's Diamond Creek Ranch.
Let’s make it a great week!
Publisher
In 2022, the British group The Hollies will be celebrating their 60th year of existence. That’s right. They’ve never broken up.
Now, they fell out of the pop culture scene years ago. But they still tour. They still record. The RJB was fascinated to learn that one of the original members of the band was Graham Nash, he of Crosby, Stills and Nash.
So that tells you that this group has gone through changes like any group does with members coming and going.
The Hollies had a distinct sound to them because they could go soft rock but then turn on a dime and go hard. For example, they had the soft 1967 hit Carrie Anne. But then in 1972 they broke out Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.
It’s what was called back then for the groups coming out of Liverpool, England, Mercybeat, a mix of Rock and Roll and Pop Music. The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
For the RJB’s purposes, it happened to be shopping at a nursery on Sunday when this hit came on the speaker.
Always kinds of liked this ballad, especially with the understated French horns. It was released in 1974. It reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 6 in the United States.
****
As much as we all reveled in the glory of March with a national championship for Scott Drew’s program in 2021, we were reminded over the weekend how sudden a season can end.
Baylor’s second round 93-86 overtime loss to North Carolina on Saturday was as good as it gets in terms of competition, will to win and playing like your season was on the line…because it was.
However, it doesn’t guarantee anything. The tournament can be cruel.
Being inside Dickies Arena to watch that was such a treat. The final 10 minutes and overtime had a New Orleans chaos type of atmosphere to it.
A tremendous contingent of Baylor fans – mainly positioned behind the BU bench – and then sprinkled in pockets throughout the arena were loud pretty much from the opening tap. They then grew stronger as the Bears mounted their historic comeback. If you couldn’t appreciate what you saw on TV, take my word for it.
Of course, the building became electric between the Baylor fans, UNC fans and those who didn’t have a dog in the hunt got into it as possession by possession were fed with intensity. They knew they were watching a classic.
Was it like Duke-Kentucky 1991? Probably not because that one was back and forth until Christian Laettner hit the shot.
When you look back on what happened, a team down by 25 with half of the second half remaining had no business pushing this like it did. In fact, I made a comment to the media member next to me that when the game hit the 11-minute mark, that this was where the Tar Heels can start managing the game.
And then the Brady Manek ejection and full court press made this a 180. If you’re the defending champion and you’re going to go down, leave everything on the floor and don’t walk off it with any second guessing. I can assure you Baylor left it all on the floor and had no regrets.
The Bears just didn’t have enough. That’s sports. When athletes get between the white lines and coaches stand on or behind them, they all accept the risk associated with competing.
I’m sure there is some frustration because the Bears are the only No. 1 seed to not advance to the Sweet 16. But look at how the other No. 1s had to survive. Arizona needed overtime to clip TCU (I thought the Horned Frogs would give them everything). Gonzaga had to hang on against Memphis. Same with Kansas against Creighton. All three of those games could have gone the other way. Heck Creighton has the ball inside of a minute down by one and threw it away.
The tournament is cruel.
****
We will go full throttle with football once spring ball starts on Tuesday. My series is just getting started and have already gone through the quarterbacks, safeties and defensive backs. I just want to use this space to put the 2021-22 season to bed.
****
First, let’s get into Jerome Tang heading to Kansas State. It was time for him to go. He’s been a faithful second chair to Drew for the last 19 seasons, done everything that’s been asked and been a great shoulder to lean on.
However, when you’re in the position that Tang is at in his career, you either get labeled as a career assistant or a college head coach. Every coach comes to that fork in the road of his career where he is at an established program, and somebody believes some of that can infiltrate its fledgling program.
I think if Tang didn’t do it this year, his window would have closed. Perhaps he could have waited one more year after 2022-23. However, I don’t think that would have been a good idea, especially when you don’t know what the market is going to look like. This was a pretty good coaching carousel. I thought Tang was destined to end up with a P5 job like Kansas State or South Carolina or Utah or something like that. UTEP was never an option last year.
Tang is a solid recruiter. He knows how to communicate with players. He also has a pretty decent roster that Bruce Weber left him led by guard Nijel Pack. The roster could look different over the offseason. But Tang has a chance to build something and maybe get that program at least into the NIT for 22-23.
You wish him well.
****
Tang isn’t the only one who could be on the move. When I mentioned over the weekend that Tang’s departure could help someone on the current staff to be promoted, that went to Alvin Brooks III and John Jakus.
I’m told any kind of promotions of either will be handled but not immediately. Why? Well, partly because Brooks’ name is coming up for jobs. He’s mentioned as a candidate for New Mexico State since Chris Jans just went to Mississippi State. He could also be a candidate at Louisiana Tech if its head coach Eric Konkol moves on to Tulsa.
At this point, I’m not sure how strong of a candidate Brooks is. At the very least, just getting your name in the conversation for this stage of your career is important. It sets the stage for the future.
We’ll definitely watch this.
****
While COVID-19 created the benefit of giving those players an extra year to play ball if they chose to, it also created a roster logjam.
Baylor’s 2022-23 roster could go two different ways – a total reboot much like it was this season or a lot of familiarity along with the three signees Keyonte George, Dillon Hunter and Joshua Ojianwuna.
For those with this decision to make, I’m going to place my bets:
Matthew Mayer – He’s gone. He said in the home finale against Iowa State that he was 98 percent sure he was done. The way he spoke in the presser after UNC didn’t appear to change. Plus, I think Baylor just needs to move on from his erratic play.
James Akinjo – He’s gone. With the number of guards on this roster returning or arriving, he’s going to get pinched on minutes.
Flo Thamba – He’s gone. I know he said that he wanted to discuss this with his family after the season. But with Ojianwuna arriving and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua potentially close to the start of the season, there may not be enough minutes for him. Now, you could make the argument Thamba’s experience allows Ojianwuna time to adapt and develop.
Kendall Brown – He’s gone. He’s a projected Top 15-20 NBA pick. I would say his progression through the season was not as fast as I thought it would be. But he is 18. Pretty young. Still, his ceiling is incredible. Maybe he declares without and agent to see. I doubt it.
Jeremy Sochan – He’s gone. If anything, his performance in the NCAA tournament helped his NBA stock. Sochan showed some toughness especially not backing down to UNC big Armando Bacot. Sochan also hit some big shots during the comeback.
That brings us to transfer portal candidates. I know it’s out there about LJ Cryer possibly jumping into the portal and that may happen. Maybe that foot will never be the same.
You’re going to have Adam Flagler, Langston Love, Dale Bonner, George and Hunter with an opportunity in the backcourt.
Pretty crowded. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Jordan Turner follows Cryer. However, I would ask you to consider what experience in the back court brings.
It’s going to be a busy offseason for Drew.
****
Ok, you women’s basketball aficionados, I’m going to put it to you to rate Nicki Collen’s first year – success or failure?
On one hand, the Lady Bears finished the season 28-7, overcame an 0-2 start in Big 12 play and wound up winning the conference regular season title and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
On the other, they lost the Big 12 tournament championship, their winning streak over Texas ended at 13, they were surprisingly easily bounced AT HOME in the second round by a No. 10 seed and critics will say that she only did this with Kim Mulkey’s players.
It does sound like Collen has recruited a pretty decent group of players for the future. The question is going to be are they at the same caliber that used to come to Baylor?
For me, the measure of Collen’s tenure should not be judged by this season. Obviously, another deep NCAA tournament run would have helped. However, see how she’s doing by the 2023-24 season. By that time, the roster will be her creation and her style will either be a fit or not.
****
Now, let’s take a look at other Baylor sports…
>Baylor men's golf will be back in action on Monday when the Bears tee it up at the All-American Intercollegiate at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
The Bears have recorded top-two finishes in each of their last three starts in the All-American, including a tie for second in their previous visit in 2019.
>No. 6 Baylor men's tennis fell to No. 12 Michigan on Sunday afternoon at the Varsity Tennis Center, 4-0.
It was just the second loss of the season for the Bears, now 17-2. BU is now 7-2 against ranked opponents for the spring. They play at TCU on Friday.
>Click this link for all of what Baylor accomplished at the TCU track meet over the weekend.
>Baylor softball split its Saturday doubleheader with McNeese State, falling, 5-4, in game one before bouncing back and shutting out the Cowgirls, 3-0, in game two at Getterman Stadium. Baylor won beat McNeese, 5-2, on Friday. BU is now 15-10 overall and has a DH with Tarleton State at home on Tuesday.
They travel to No. 1 Oklahoma for a three-game weekend series starting Friday.
>Baylor women's golf climbed the leaderboard for a second-straight day, finishing with a 27-over 879 and securing a tie for eighth at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes Golf Club.
The Bears' 4-over-par 288 was the fourth-best score in the field in Tuesday's final round and saw the Bears move from a tie for 10th to a tie for eighth with the Duke Blue Devils. Baylor's 575 in the final two rounds trailed only No. 2 Oregon, No. 5 Wake Forest and No. 12 Arizona State.
The Bears will compete in the PING Arizona State Invitational Friday-Sunday at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix.
> No. 26 Baylor (13-4, 4-0) defeated West Virginia 5-2 Sunday morning at the Summit Tennis Academy. This marks the second-straight season, and 11th time in program history, that the Bears have opened Big 12 play 4-0. Baylor beat Iowa State, 4-3, this past Friday.
Baylor will be playing at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State this coming weekend.
>No. 1 Baylor acrobatics & tumbling kept their streak alive with the 284.460-280.685 win over No. 4 Quinnipiac on Saturday at the People's United Arena in Connecticut.
The Bears improved to 5-0 on the season with the 3.775-point decision over the Bobcats. Baylor will take to the road again for a Friday night meet against Mary Hardin-Baylor at 6:00 p.m. Friday in Belton.
>No. 6 Baylor equestrian has earned the No. 4 seed for the upcoming 2022 Big 12 Equestrian Championship, as previously announced by the league office.
All four Big 12 teams will compete in Fences, Flat, Horsemanship and Reining when the conference meet takes place on Friday and Saturday in Burleson at TCU's Diamond Creek Ranch.
Let’s make it a great week!
