A television ratings report earlier this week revealed that ESPN’s coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament game between Iowa and Louisville garnered 2.5 million viewers. That number is higher than any NBA game broadcast on the channel this season, but 92.3 The Fan morning host Ken Carman believes that doesn’t necessarily mean the NBA is seeing a downturn on the Worldwide Leader.

“People know those NBA players, even though a lot of them are sitting on the bench, but it’s women’s basketball and we know women’s basketball gets a fraction of the love in this country,” co-host Anthony Lima said. “She’s not in the same stratosphere as those NBA guys.”

“It’s playoffs versus regular season, and I’m just not surprised,” Ken Carman countered, arguing that NBA games on a random Friday night have a different feel and energy to them compared to an Elite Eight contest.

“ESPN does a good job of promoting (the women),” Carman continued.

“Is this more about the statement of the women’s game or more of a statement about the NBA, where it has gotten stale and become an afterthought?” Lima questioned.

“Both these things can be true,” argued Carman. “The regular season in the NBA — they’re not sitting there talking about a mid-season tournament for nothing. People don’t care about the regular season, and they want people to care about the regular season. And women’s basketball is a much bigger deal than it used to be, and is a much more popular sport than it used to be.”

Carman concluded by saying that the NBA playoff games will have high television ratings, like always, and that comparisons of the two audiences simply boils down to regular season viewing against playoff viewing.

The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on ESPN has garnered record highs this year, with first round viewership growing 27% compared to last year.

Earlier this week, during the Ask Me Anything segment the new 94 WIP morning show of Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie were asked who would win a triple tag-team wrestling match between DeCamara/Ritchie, Hugh Douglas and Joe Giglio, and Jon Marks and Ike Reese.

In response, DeCamara said it was clear the morning show would win, and called Ike Reese a liability.

“Jon Ritchie? Starter. Hugh Douglas? Starter. Ike? Special teams guy,” DeCamara said. “I’m not trying to be rude. I love Ike, I’m just saying. He was a little light. A great backup, but the thing about being a backup is that you’re always a backup.”

DeCamara later said “I’m like Howard Cosell. I call it like it is.”

During the station’s afternoon show, Reese fired back by saying what DeCamara’s sports fantasies have consisted of — like a bit earlier this week where he took part in a free-throw shooting contest against former St. Joseph’s star Jameer Nelson — has been Reese’s professional life while the morning host was too “unathletic and frankly uncool” to achieve.

“You get to be on WIP now and get to shoot free throws with Jameer Nelson and other Big 5 athletes. You get to go down to fantasy camp and be around former Phillies players. Joe, your fantasy life is the life I’ve lived for the last 30-plus years. You were the one cheering for me. You realize that, right?

“Whether I was out there playing a backup role on third down or special teams, you were cheering for me. Remember that, Joe. This platform has finally allowed you to live the life you’ve dreamed of when I’ve been doing this 30-plus years. Not to mention, I retired and now I’m doing what you love, doing better than you.”

DeCamara and Ritchie played the audio of Reese’s comments Thursday morning. Co-host Rhea Hughes jokingly called DeCamara’s comments “disrespectful”.

“I’ll say this,” DeCamara said. “I was prepared to give Ike a standing ovation. The last two seconds? I don’t know.”

Hans Olsen spent five years in Provo as a member of the BYU football team. He started on the defensive line for his final two seasons and as a senior was named second team all Mountain West. Now, the Cougars are moving into the Big 12 and Olsen is coming along for the ride.

The school announced on Thursday that he will be the new radio analyst. He replaces Riley Nelson, who resigned in January and will work with Greg Wrubell, who has been the voice of the Cougars since 2001.

Calling games runs in the Olsen family. Hans is the nephew of Merlin Olsen, who worked as an analyst for CBS and NBC after a Hall of Fame NFL career.

“I’ve always loved what my Uncle Merlin did in the booth, and I had a dream to see what it was like,” Olsen said. “I’m grateful to Brian Estridge and Bowl Season Radio for giving me the chance to pursue that dream, and I’m beyond thrilled to now work with Greg, Mitch, and Jason to bring my passion for the game to the BYU fans I played for years ago.”

Sports fans in Salt Lake City know Hans Olsen well. He is the co-host of Hans & Scotty G on KSL Sports Zone 97.5. He and Scott Garrard have worked together since 2014.