Welcome to the first Sunday in July, Big Blue Nation. Things have slowed down in the sports world with the NBA closing up shop, the NFL taking some time off, golf having played three major championships, and the MLB quickly approaching the All-Star break.
But we should expect the news cycle to pick up quickly.
Talking season is right around the corner, and the SEC will host media days in Dallas for the first time as everyone welcomes Oklahoma and Texas to the league. KSR will make the drive to the Lonestar State to cover the event starting on Monday, July 15. Over the next few weeks, we will hear from every coach in college football as each conference host its own version of media days. The Big 12 will get the party started on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Expect coaches and administrators to go on record recording a ton of important topics. The new playoff format, revenue sharing, where the process stands with getting some legislation help from Congress, new rules (helmet tech), and much more. KSR will be locked in to provide updates.
Football is coming.
Kentucky guards are live dogs in NBA Rookie of the Year race
Expectations will be high for Reed Sheppard in Houston. Much will be asked of Rob Dillingham in Minnesota. Could either Kentucky one-and-done guard become Rookie of the Year in 2024-25? The odds say that would be an upset.
With the NBA Summer League tipping off across the country, starting in California (July 6-10) and Salt Lake City (July 8-10) and followed by Las Vegas (July 12-22), Sheppard has opened with the fifth-best odds to take home ROTY while Dillingham owns the ninth-best odds.
Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards sits atop the list (+650), followed by Zach Edey of the Memphis Grizzlies (+700), Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks (+750), Dalton Knecht of the Los Angeles Lakers (+850) and Sheppard of the Houston Rockets at (10/1) to round out the top five.
Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls) joins Sheppard at 10/1 along with Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs). Ron Holland (Detroit Pistons) and Dillingham (Minnesota Timberwolves) check in at 15/1. Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers) rounds out the top 10 at 20/1.
NBA Summer League Play heats up
The NBA Summer League got started on Saturday with four games being split between Sacramento and San Francisco. Bronny James made his professional basketball debut, but former undrafted free agent Adonis Arms was the star with 32 points as the Kings beat the Lakers 108-94.
Four more games are on the schedule for Sunday.
- Miami Heat vs. Sacramento Kings | 4:30 p.m. ET | NBA TV
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors | 6:30 p.m. ET | NBA TV
- China vs. Charlotte Hornets | 8:00 p.m. ET | ESPN2
- San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings | 10:00 p.m. ET | ESPN2
The 2024 California Classic features two rosters for both the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors are they host this tournament. The Chinese National Team will also play games in the Bay Area against NBA competition.
The Summer League will switch to Salt Lake City on Monday with more teams playing games before the NBA goes all out in Las Vegas from July 12-22.
The ACC is really doing this
After SEC Media Days wrap up in Dallas, the ACC will hold its own four-day event in Charlotte from July 22-25. The conference is now up to 17 members with the additions of California, SMU, and Stanford. Those moves were head scratching, but this is 100 percent happening.
SMU is taking advantage of this power conference opportunity as Rhett Lashlee‘s program has landed commitment from four top-300 high school prospects and currently has a top-25 class. The fits more Cal and Stanford seem more odd.
The Golden Bears will host Miami, NC State, and Syracuse while taking road trips to Florida State, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, and SMU. The Cardinal will host Virginia Tech, SMU, Wake Forest, and Louisville while taking road trips to Syracuse, Clemson, and NC State.
The move is real and it could make the ACC fascinating to watch this football season due to all of the odd matchups.
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