The Weekender: Jahvon Quinerly is on the Move Again, LSU Baseball Sits on the Throne and ESPN Sends Legends Packing

By 11W Staff on July 2, 2023 at 2:52 pm
Jahvon Quinerly
Troy Taormina – USA TODAY Sports
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Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.

Another Twist for JQ

Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly startled the college basketball world on Sunday, announcing his plans to enter the transfer portal.

Quinerly’s collegiate career has been quite a wild ride. The former five-star recruit originally committed to Arizona back in 2017, but pivoted to Villanova after the infamous FBI investigation in Tucson. His tenure in Jay Wright’s program was short-lived; Quinerly spent his freshman campaign sitting behind Collin Gillespie, and was not happy about it.

The New Jersey native bolted for Alabama after the season, but was denied a waiver to suit up immediately and had to wait a year. Quinerly’s play has been a total roller-coaster since he finally started taking floor for the Crimson Tide. In bad stretches, he’s a horribly inefficient chucker that can torpedo an offensive possession at any time. In good moments, it’s not impossible to imagine Quinerly being the lead guard on an NBA team.

What happens next should be fascinating to watch. Rarely is such a prominent player in the transfer portal so late in the offseason, and interested coaches will now scramble to make their pitches. Memphis and Miami are reportedly involved, but there are several other schools participating in the chase, as well. Quinerly will have a host of options as he makes one final run at a national championship.

A Purple and Gold Party

The LSU baseball team blasted Florida in a decisive Game 3 on Monday night, winning its seventh Men’s College World Series in program history.

The Tigers were loaded with talent, as they normally are, but their iconic one-two punch stole the show. Dylan Crews finished his time in college riding an absurd 75-game on-base streak while also playing elite outfield defense. Pitcher Paul Skenes was so unhittable in the postseason that he won the Most Outstanding Player award without throwing a single pitch against the Gators. Unsurprisingly, the juniors are both projected to be top-three picks in the upcoming MLB Draft.

The 2019 LSU football run has seemingly opened the championship floodgates in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have brought home four team national titles in the last five years - in football, men's outdoor track, women's basketball and baseball - after winning just one in the previous nine. Some legendary college athletes have donned LSU colors in the past half-decade; Crews and Skenes join an impressive group headlined by Joe Burrow, Angel Reese and world-class sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.

Perhaps no athletic program in America has as much momentum as the Tigers. The excitement on campus will undoubtedly produce some absolutely deafening home environments for Jayden Daniels and company to enjoy this fall.

Sweeping Changes at ESPN

It has been known for weeks that significant layoffs were on the horizon at ESPN. That didn’t make it any less stunning when the flood of news finally arrived on Friday.

Some of the network’s most well-respected and recognizable on-air talent was let go in an enormous overhaul. From the NBA world, Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose were shown the door. On the NFL side of things, longtime Monday Night Countdown members Suzy Kolber and Steve Young each exited.

But for college football fans, nothing was quite as jarring as the departures of David Pollack and Todd McShay. After Pollack’s promising playing career was cut short by a serious neck injury, he found a home seated between Rece Davis and Lee Corso on College GameDay. McShay, on the other hand, partnered with Mel Kiper Jr. to shoulder much of the NFL Draft coverage for years.

The shocking round of layoffs was prompted by ESPN’s desire to meet its financial goals. It is perhaps no coincidence that the series of moves occurred shortly after the company threw $85 million at Pat McAfee.

The respective absences of Pollack and McShay on ESPN airwaves are hardly the only reasons that the upcoming college football campaign is going to feel very different. The landscape - both on and off the field - has shifted dramatically. UCF will compete for a Big 12 title. Michigan’s season opener can be found exclusively on Peacock. Penn State is slated to play Michigan State in a dome on a Friday night, with NBC handling the broadcast.

But no matter how strange things get, the tradition and excitement of college football will always reign supreme. It all starts next month.

ICYMI

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Basic Instinct

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Corey Dennis Won't Lower Expectations for Lincoln Kienholz Despite Later Arrival Than Past Ohio State Freshman Quarterbacks

Lincoln Kienholz declined to enroll early at Ohio State because he wanted more high school hardware. But the four-star quarterback is ready to compete, and his new coaching staff has high expectations for him.

What's Next

  • 62 Days Until: Ohio State at Indiana, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
  • 83 Days Until: Ohio State at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)
  • 111 Days Until: Ohio State vs. Penn State, TBD
  • 146 Days Until: Ohio State at Michigan, Noon (FOX)
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