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NCAA #ncaa Basketball 🏀 March Madness #mcbb Preview
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NCAA #ncaa Basketball #basketball 🏀 March Madness #mcbb Preview
Featuring Sports Professor & Bobby G from Audible Sports (YouTube @TheAudiblePodcast)
🔥 Watch/Subscribe on YouTube 💯 https://youtube.com/live/XP7fH4YQ-Y0
#sports #ncaa #marchmadness #basketball #mcbb #wcbb #ncaabasketball
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Transcript
Introduction and Excitement for March Madness
00:00:05
Speaker
World heavyweight float Championship belt wrapped around my waist yo I got that rip flair fake it boat Slam me on the page that's why they call me street pro Create heat on beat float Like Jordan after the second time he
00:00:29
Speaker
You came prepared now get ready for the show
00:00:47
Speaker
Yo, yo, yo, what up, friends? Welcome back to another edition of Ball and Buds. Yes, today we are here for the NCAA March Madness. Yes, it is madness, baby. One of the best...
00:01:06
Speaker
sporting, I mean, events, I should say. i was going to say weeks in the year, BG, but this goes more than a week, obviously. It goes three weeks. So we have three weeks of glorious, glorious college basketball starting at the opening weekend, which we know is some of the most fun basketball TV you can watch.
Guest Introduction and Podcast Promotion
00:01:27
Speaker
People take days off from work just to watch the opening days of the tournament. And you know I had to be blessed by one of my brothers joining me today here, making sure he's bringing that expert college beat on my mind for you. My brother from the Audible podcast, Bobby G. What's good, homie?
00:01:47
Speaker
What's up, man? Appreciate you for having me once again. And ah hey, man, let's give the people what they want, man. Yes, sir. Let them know where they can find you first, please. Hey, first, shout out to Network216. Find me like you did earlier today, Mondays and Wednesdays, me and the homie Big Mike from the Man Cave. Game time 216, which is all Cleveland all day.
00:02:07
Speaker
ah Even though it's Cleveland, still like it. It's funny. I mean, we talk a little bit. You know, we had questions. swear we got the best chat on that show. It's hilarious. And then, of course, ah Tuesday nights, you catch me with the red guys in the rec room. Tuesday nights talking all sports. And, of course, ah Thursday and Friday, Audible Sports Podcast and Audible Thursday night post-game show. We decided to run it through the entire offseason this year. So you catch me, Mar, and April, the Jess girl, doing that. And then, of course, love you.
00:02:41
Speaker
Through the graces of the most high, you can catch me Thursday with the guys from the Rec Room Sports Hub on Rec Room Sports Radio. but And that is every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern on ESPN Jacksonville, 690 a.m.
00:03:00
Speaker
Excuse me, sir. Can you say it a little louder for the people in the back that could not hear you, my friend? Let them know where you're at again right now, superstar.
00:03:11
Speaker
Yes. Thursdays from 4 p.m. Eastern to 6 p.m. Eastern. You can catch me and the rest of the crew. Kay Witt, Jada M.I.C., Scott Cole, Alan Perales, and the rest of the crew on yeah yeah ESPN Radio, Jacksonville, 690 Woo!
00:03:31
Speaker
ESPN Radio salute and blessings. That is amazing. Happy that y'all are ah moving up, and that is great, great news. Y'all definitely make sure you tap in with them. And, yeah, definitely tap in with the Audible podcast, Audible Sports, all that. We'll get a comment in here. Oh, my brother Dan, I haven't talked to you in so long, my friend. Hope you and the family are doing well. Blessings to you. Another veteran here.
00:03:56
Speaker
i I actually worked with him in the Mission Continues, which is a veteran organization, volunteer organization. And so we worked together in the Nashville platoon, but then he had a baby and he had to go take care of things. So salute. Hope the baby is doing well and hope to see soon, my friend.
00:04:15
Speaker
Yes. Get your picks from here as well. We're going to break down the whole bracket for you. All right. Thank you all for everybody tuning in. Again, make sure you tap in with Bobby G and the Audible podcast and all of the rest of the crew. We are going to kick this bad boy off. Make sure you subscribe at Ball and Buds, B-A-L-L-A-N-D-B-U-D-S on YouTube. Handy QR code up there at the top. If you scan that, it'll take you to the link tree where you can find all of our socials. You can follow us on Instagram, so on and so forth.
March Madness Highlights and Historical Moments
00:04:44
Speaker
Cool. What's good, CanTizzle? My brother. Shout out to CanTeen and Flo at the Bottom Line Sports. Y'all tapping with the Bottom Line Sports. Saw they had a show the other day, so they talk all the sports as well. All right, cool. So as we said, we do have March Madness, one of the greatest times of year, and obviously it's because you have 64 teams that are in a one-and-done tournament. You lose, you go home, you But you continue on for the glory and the gusto and the other thing that makes this so great as both is.
00:05:19
Speaker
is The fact that so many crazy things can happen in March Madness. Just, I mean, um from buzzer beaters, which is just, you know, kind of a a smaller thing to some of the crazier things. So I did, i I want you to check with me on this list. I went to AI and I asked my AI, his name is Atlas, shout out Atlas. Yes, I do talk to my AI.
00:05:44
Speaker
Teddy Atlas. There you go. um And I asked him for the craziest moments in March Madness history. So here, spit out. I'm just going to do the top five. Okay. five, Steph Curry in 2008 as a Davidson Wildcat 10 seed going to the Elite Eight, averaging 33 points a game.
00:06:04
Speaker
Okay. Number four, Loyola Chicago. We know, we remember ah Sister Jean. May she rest in peace. She passed away a few months ago, actually. um Loyola chicago Chicago made that Final Four run as an 11 seed.
00:06:20
Speaker
Number three, Everyone knows this one very well. Christian Leitner's legendary buzzer beater thrown from the other end of the court, turn around, fade away jumper to win the game. And what probably was put what put him on a team USA over Shaq, as you so rightly pointed out the other day. Yeah.
00:06:44
Speaker
Or ri he just got the AWV vote. That too. That too. um But although i think I think that could be two, but they have at number two Villanova's perfect championship game in 1985 as seed, the lowest seed ever to win the national championship, stunned the Georgetown Hoyas shooting 79%. Yes, I said 79% from the field.
00:07:13
Speaker
Yep. That was a four corners offense, right? Mm hmm. then number one, I'm sure you can guess it. What is it, my friend? Number one tournament, it would have to be a Jimmy V and NC State. No, no, no. They got the 16 over one.
00:07:28
Speaker
They got when UMBC beat. redo But you're right, though. That one should have been up there. but Is that what I wonder if that's on the list here? ah Yeah, they got they got it at number seven. Jim Valvano. They got it at number seven. I didn't do the whole top ten. Right, right. But ah number one, they got the UMBC.
Bracket Predictions and Matchups Analysis
00:07:44
Speaker
Although, you know, that might not be number one, though. I don't know.
00:07:47
Speaker
what can i Can I be mad at this? that you put I can't be mad that you put in the 16 over the one. It's happened so few times. um like I guess I can accept that. but yeah Jimmy V, did that that does he that has to be top five.
00:08:02
Speaker
That has to be top five. Again, I didn't do this, so don't say me. yeah i they did this to Teddy Atlas AI. Atlas AI made this list, but yes, i agree with you. Curry was at five, right?
00:08:14
Speaker
curry was a five i wouldn't put i wouldn't have put that in the top five who's a six uh let's see six is where i moved away from it hold on
00:08:26
Speaker
All right. Number six is Texas Western in 1966 with the five starting first all black squad. Number eight is actually Virginia's redemption story coming back and winning the championship after losing. it Yeah. Number nine, Dunk City, Florida. go Wow. That's in the top 10 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles a few years ago and a few years ago. Holy shinobis. That was in 2013. Yeah. Wasn't that far.
00:08:53
Speaker
mean, it, That was 13 years ago, bro. It seems like yesterday. Dunk you. That's crazy. Yeah. And then the number 10 is the second 16-1, Fairleigh Dickerson over Purdue.
00:09:08
Speaker
So I don't know that I agree totally with that list. yeah I feel like Tyus Edney should be in there. Come on. as a beater Speak to me, baby. You got to make a clap. Let's go. UCLA. Yes. Bringing up one of the greatest memories I've ever had in sports. As much as I hate this squad. And it's actually the first time I cried watching a sporting.
00:09:30
Speaker
No, not second time. I cried watching the sporting event. ah You have to put the Duke upset of undefeated UNLV. Okay. Yep. You got to put that in the running rebels. Yep. You got to get that up there. I agree with that. We're about to bake history.
00:09:45
Speaker
I agree with that. I would definitely put those two in the top 10. I would, uh, let's see, Timmy V's already there. What is there? Anything else I would potentially put, oh just for me, cause it's one of my personal favorite moments. I would find a way to put John Wallace's championship game in there against Kentucky.
00:10:06
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. All right. Anybody, if you watched our audible show, we did a top 10, top 10 performances from final four runs for players who didn't quite pan out in the NBA. And that was one like that What he did against that Kentucky squad, which had Walter McCarty, Ron Mercer, Derek Anderson, ah Tony. du Like it was, it was that bomb Kentucky squad. Walter McCarty is a wild throwback name. Yeah, but it was that squad, like that Kentucky squad that had nine and NBA players on it yeah before it became commonplace to stack your squad.
00:10:41
Speaker
And then, of course, it was post-bopitino and like John Wallace literally almost beat them by himself. yeah that was so don't know but this is what it is shout out shout out to Teddy Atlas AI shout out Teddy Atlas AI out here that's tremendous alright cool no I just thought that was I love using AI because it can always generate really good things for you pretty easily but anyways look man ah There's some powerhouses we're dealing with in this right now.
00:11:14
Speaker
Five teams in particular, ah Duke, Michigan, Arizona, Purdue, Houston, were all national title favorites at some point during the season. Correct. Duke is the current favorite, and this is coming from DraftKings with a plus 300 odds, followed by Michigan at plus 360 and Arizona at plus 390.
00:11:39
Speaker
Defending national champion Florida, the fourth number one seed is is a plus 750, excuse me, and no other team has odds shorter than plus 1,000. So what we're seeing here is pretty much DraftKings is saying this is a these teams that we're, we have at the top are very dominating. And we also see this on the women's side. I did my women's bracket and it was the same thing. It was stock all the way through pretty much because you're just so dominant up top. So what do you think about that? How do you feel about these number one seeds that we got going on this year? Do you think they were ranked correctly? Do you have any, you know, anything to say about that?
00:12:24
Speaker
No, think the ones for the FOMA, for ah no if for the most part, that's what saying, are pretty accurate. It's a team like Michigan was undefeated for a good chunk of the season.
00:12:36
Speaker
ah You know, Duke, same thing. Like, they've all been up there, and they kind of all played each other, right? So, you know, you've had some great regular season matchups. So, not mad at that at all.
00:12:47
Speaker
But I think it's kind of like that every year, though. you got to ten What I think is different about this year and what's going to be the separator this year I think you finally have ah spread out individual performers that are going to be able to carry. Like, ah I think AJ DeBance is going to carry BYU. I think Acuff is going to be able to carry, you know. So I think there's more.
00:13:15
Speaker
you're Right. I think we're going to see some superstars made in this tourney that are going to have a chance to shine against these great teams. No, completely right. ah You mentioned a few of the, and and we'll talk about this. i say I want to save this for last, but I do want to talk a little bit about those young gunners that are going to be in the and NBA draft, some of those better players. So we'll talk about that a little later, but yeah, you're completely right.
00:13:40
Speaker
um You do have ah the AJ, duba I won't even bring up the Kansas guy because I heard your your vitriol today. I didn't know how you felt about him until I Until earlier, I'm going to keep that away. But there is a lot of young, good players. You mentioned the cuff for Arkansas. What a baller that kid is. um ah You know, ah just Phylon from Alabama. You got Anderson who came in to step in for topping at Texas Tech. What's my guy at ah Illinois that dropped 40? Oh, shit. Yeah, the guard. I forget his name.
00:14:17
Speaker
Oh, why am I? i'm Yeah, hold on. I'm flunking on it as well. Hold on real quick. Let me look up. Get my rosters up here. Anyways, I should have them. Let's see. Basketball.
00:14:30
Speaker
Indiana basketball. Or Illinois basketball. Excuse me. Roster. You're going to get there before I will. jesus ah I can't even type. I don't know what's going on right now.
00:14:44
Speaker
um this What do we got here? Illinois roster. In Wagler. Wagler. That's okay. Yep. Wagler. Got it. Keaton Wagler. Keaton Wagler is one of the top players in the country, as you mentioned. And again, lot of good young talent. ah So let's start off.
00:15:03
Speaker
I actually got a little picture here for us. Let me right throw this up here see what we got. oh like Working like that, ah triviy could like you know what what could have been scarier about this tournament?
00:15:16
Speaker
What's that? People forget. Cooper Flag should be at Duke right now. Remember, he reclassed.
00:15:26
Speaker
m You could have had Ken Boozer and Cooper Flagg on the squad. Very true. Shout out to Rock Chalk. You already know who they rooting for. Kansas fans probably do not want to hear what you have to say about Darren Peterson. she says She says Peterson is good. But, y'all, if you do like true crime, this is the best true crime podcast on YouTube.
00:15:53
Speaker
So, y'all check out Rock Chalk True Crime. We appreciate y'all tuning in. For sure. We'll do. Yeah. Definitely. Definitely true crime for sure. So anyways, Jayhawk fan there. um So yeah, looking at this here, we'll just go through the, um the we'll go through from left to right.
00:16:11
Speaker
So let's start with the East here. Obviously some of these games, as we're looking at them in our minds, are already going to probably be victories. um So let's just look at some of the...
00:16:24
Speaker
the ones that we're not, that we are maybe a little more contentious of who someone thinks goingnna the winner going to be. Cool? Because I think we both know Duke's going to beat Sienna. I don't think we need to actually go over that. mean, you really didn't? No, it didn't. ah I would, I would literally, like, and I would run down the hallway with no pants on that I have right now. And like, in my apartment building, if you really did that, that would be crazy, you know?
00:16:54
Speaker
Stop it. I wish I had to stop it. Stop it. Get some help. So anyways, move to the next one. Number eight, Ohio State versus number nine, TCU. What are your thoughts on this game? Who's your winner here in this first round matchup?
00:17:12
Speaker
Tough matchup, even matchup. Ohio State is a lot better than people think. And the same with TCU. Uncle Scott, shout out to Uncle Scott Cole. He was on game time earlier. We're just breaking it down. And he likes TCU, and I actually agree with him.
00:17:26
Speaker
I would go TCU for the semi-upset here. You know, 8-9 can go either way. But I would take this to be the first nine seed to advance to the round of 32.
00:17:38
Speaker
Yeah, as you mentioned, right, ah to historically, this is a toss-up game, the 8-9, 50-50 on really who's going to win here. Jamie Dixon is a longtime coach. He's done this for a long time, has a lot of experience ah in this in in in college but coaching college basketball, so you can never count them out.
00:17:57
Speaker
Ohio State, they –
00:18:01
Speaker
they finished they finished They finished well. they had They had some momentum. And then they came in ah after losing five of their previous nine.
00:18:13
Speaker
They ended up winning four in a row. Momentum is something that does matter coming into tournaments. So you could look at that and say you pick Ohio State, but no, I'm going with you and Scott as well. I am picking TCU in the slight upset here. I think that they are just a better collective team all around.
00:18:34
Speaker
All right, cool. ah Moving it down, I don't think you have North Iowa, but do you have anything there that we may want to talk about? um yeah actually uh this is an area where a lot of people feel st john's got screwed i know there was a lot of talk ah of people saying duke got screwed because uh this a lot of people are calling this the toughest region right um but a lot of people feel no it was st john's it really got screwed like they should be a higher c potentially a three c and uh the fact that they may bump into uh dude in sweet 16 um you know could be a real thing so um
00:19:15
Speaker
I like, ah I'm not mad at that type of thinking. I'm actually i'm actually glad glad you brought that up because I wasn't going to say anything about this game, but i do have I did have notes on it just in case. um And yeah, they are a team that has an argument in a legitimate case to be a four seed instead of a five seed.
00:19:35
Speaker
um They tallied 16 wins in quadrants one and two and only have one loss, which was to Providence in the in the third three and four quadrants. They also obviously won the Big East tournament. Yeah. Uh, look, they're good. They're coached by one of, one of the best coach of all time, one of the goats, uh, in this game. And so you can never, um, you can never count out, uh, a team coach, uh, you know, by a legend as such.
00:20:10
Speaker
Right.
00:20:13
Speaker
All right, cool. ah Let's move it on. kick Shout out Rock Chalk, Kansas. I have heard some people saying they might choose an upset here. Are you one of these people?
00:20:25
Speaker
I think actually Scott. pretty Well, i don't think that was Scott, i was the upside but he said he would not be surprised. um me did It all depends on if your guy's going to play.
00:20:38
Speaker
If they're peace, it's going to play. And the reason, I mean, sorry, Rock Chalk, you're out there watching this. The reason I'm so tough on this dude, you're from Ohio, bro. we We don't birth suckers in Ohio.
00:20:51
Speaker
Hold them to account. Yeah, we don't birth suckers in Ohio. Whether it be, I don't care what sports you play, baseball, football, bat cricket. Yeah, we don't birth suckers in Ohio. we We love to compete. We love to play.
00:21:04
Speaker
And for him to to be out there and, you know, just, I mean, m We see what's happening. A little side eye action. so i mean I don't know. what Is going to come out on fire score like 15 points in the first 16 minutes of the game and then decide I had enough?
00:21:24
Speaker
like That's what it's going to depend on. But is Kansas there blue blood? You got to go with them.
00:21:34
Speaker
Yep, definitely so. And I was – the reason I kept saying legend was because I was blanking on Rick Pitino's name and I have no clue why i was blanking. Rick Pitino is the coach of St. John's. and as so As a Celtics fan, I do know that. I just was blanking. Yeah, no I can't see any way that Kansas loses this game. But there are complaints, Rock Chalk, that Darren Peterson maybe is just not all there for this college basketball season.
00:22:02
Speaker
um So, you know, take that for what you may. Moving down Louisville in South Florida. Do you have the upset here? ah it I think I do.
00:22:15
Speaker
ah think I do. Really? Okay. Yeah. This is this is gonna be this is gonna look like an NBA game because both of these teams like to let it fly from three right. What's gonna mean we know what what three point mean lots of threes means long rebounds for me it's gonna be an up and down transition game facts and.
00:22:33
Speaker
When you get into a transition-style game, that evens it up for you know the lower-seeded team. right It takes away the strengths from your favorite.
00:22:44
Speaker
so for If it's an up-and-down game, I like South Florida. ah Louisville, if they can control the plate the pace, turn it into you know that that ah not necessarily half-court, but just slow down a little bit.
00:22:57
Speaker
they can win But I like South Florida. i I'm going with them. All right, there you go. The 11 over six upset. And just ah to let everybody know, because I have stats for everything. You know, the sports professor always comes equipped with the stats. Overall, number six seeds have won about 61% of the games against number 11 seeds. But The number 11 seeds have reached the final four five times. Not saying it's going to be South Florida, but I'm saying you don't count out the number 11 seeds is what I'm saying. four Reaching the final four five times is more than any other double-digit seed in the history of the tournament. So there's your sports professor's fun fact there. Yeah.
00:23:42
Speaker
Look, I agree with you. i think that they do have a chance. Now, when you're looking at the actual percentages, depending on the sites that you look at, most sites are giving the Cardinals a 65% to 70% chance of winning this game over South Florida. The net ah ranking for these teams, Louisville is the 17th, and South Florida was 45th.
00:24:04
Speaker
bit One thing that South Florida has going against them is they did not play very many games great teams. They're only 0-1 against the top 25. So ah not not that Louisville did well. They were three and six But at least they played nine teams in the top 25.
00:24:23
Speaker
So that definitely is something you need to look at as well. Both teams, as you mentioned, i love I love how you pointed out getting up and down the floor. Both of these teams score over 85 points a game averaging. So both very high-scoring teams.
00:24:38
Speaker
And South Florida, I talked about momentum. 10-0 in their last 10 games. So, hey. And another nugget. Remember, I...
00:24:52
Speaker
ah Brown from Louisville is dealing with a sore back. That's right. Yes, he may not play. We do not know if if Brown is going to be healthy enough to play yet. That is a good point. Thank you for pointing that out. Canteen says Duke has the most challenging road ahead.
00:25:06
Speaker
um that ah you know That is usually debated, but I think that's what the most of the experts had said today. so Yeah. Rock Chalk, depends on which of our teams shows up for sure. Okay, well, at least we admit it.
00:25:22
Speaker
um When we are good, we are very good, though. Okay, cool. Basically, translation means when Derek Peterson plays the appropriate amount of minutes. When he does not. when I like how Mike called him AR-50. I like he pulled the Anthony Richardson out. That was that was beautiful.
00:25:41
Speaker
um All right, cool. Well, let's move it on down to the next game. i don't think but I don't think you have North Dakota, so we're good to move on from that, right? state tommy joe i don't I mean, do you? got Okay,
00:25:56
Speaker
now here's one look I am a Bruin fan. Everybody knows I am a UCLA fan. Before I went to the University of Maryland, before I taught at Vanderbilt, I grew up as a kid, a UCLA fan since I was a little young boy. So they were one of my first loves. um It's going to be a tough one.
00:26:15
Speaker
This is going to be a tough one. And a lot of people are picking this 10-7 upset for UCF. And I mean a lot of people to the point where it's upsetting me, even though I know that our team my team has been very up and down this season. And Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent, two of our starters, are both questionable, although they are both said to be playing. What are your thoughts on this game?
00:26:39
Speaker
This is one of those matchups where, like I said, we need the stars to shine, right? If UCLA wants to avoid that upset bug, ah Donovan is not only going to have to play, he's to have to show up and show out, right?
00:26:52
Speaker
I think a lot of people have him as, at worst, what one of the top seven point guards in the in the country. Fair to say. yeah, you know, you went to a big-time school to be a big-time player, then let's see it. But on the other side...
00:27:09
Speaker
A UCF, they got dogs. They got dogs over there. They got dogs being hungry. Not long at all. Yeah, with UCLA being banged up, a tough team can take advantage of that.
00:27:25
Speaker
I'm calling another upset here. I'm going to Woo, UCF with the upset here for Bobby G. Look, man, if I was not a UCLA fan, I'm telling you, I would probably pick UCF.
00:27:40
Speaker
I would probably be picking UCF in this game. I am worried about this game. Very worried. Not only because the health of Bilodeau and Dent, even though, again, they're both supposed to play. um It doesn't matter if even if you're at limited mobility still can hinder your game, especially in March Madness, when everybody's hyped up, the game moves a lot faster. There's more at stake.
00:28:01
Speaker
um You know, you got to be at 100 percent a lot of the times and. Luckily, they are two of the best players in the country. So if they do come in at 75%, you're hoping you you're still better than some of your backups. But that still doesn't mean that you can beat a UCF team, which, as you mentioned earlier, is one of those low seeds that can get the ball up and down the floor, that can make a three when needed. So... um You know, we' we'll see what happens here. Again, if I was ah not a UCLA fan, I would be picking UCF, but I'm not going to do that to my team. And I think we can at least win one game, especially if we have Dent and Bilodeau.
00:28:39
Speaker
This team is Mick Cronin coach team has been bipolar all year long. I don't expect us to make a long run, but I'm hoping we can at least win this game. All right, moving it down to the bottom one there. UConn and Furman. I don't think either one of us have Furman, correct? Furman, Furman, Furman. Furman.
00:29:00
Speaker
you what What was that? Bueller. Bueller. Bueller. I know it's a movie buff. you like i know you i know you like Bueller. Bueller.
00:29:13
Speaker
Oh, that's tremendous. All right, cool. Let's keep it moving. Moving on to the next one. We got the South there in the middle. Both of us have Florida. I'm not even going stop there. Number eight, number nine, Clemson, Iowa. Now, this is, again, eight, nine game are toss-ups.
00:29:31
Speaker
um What are you thinking with this game? A lot of people are choosing the upset here for Clemson. I mean, for Iowa. Bye-bye.
00:29:43
Speaker
It's not much of an upset as we talked about, though. Yeah, but it's just one of one of those tough ones. It's flip a coin. ah Mm-hmm. In this one, I'm going with Clemson.
00:29:55
Speaker
win tola I think this will just be a close competitive game. and ah It'll be one of those classic tournament games. it It has a chance to be a game of the day, you know.
Cinderella Stories and Tournament Dynamics
00:30:04
Speaker
Let's talk about not momentum, though.
00:30:07
Speaker
ah Both of these teams, Clemson 4-6, Iowa 3-7 in the last 10. Talk about stumbling into the tournament. Also, we have to think about another significant injury here. I know you mentioned Mikel Brown earlier for Louisville. Clemson has Carter Welling.
00:30:26
Speaker
the superstar forward who is out and is not going to be playing in this game. That's something that's going to be taken into account as well. Net rankings, Clemson's 34th in the country. Iowa is 27th. So I am, you know, I'm going to go with Iowa. I'm going to go with Iowa in this one as well. Yeah, no, going to take that upset. And think that, I think Iowa can, can,
00:30:55
Speaker
Probably.
00:30:59
Speaker
I don't want to say I don't want to say push them around. Right. They got they got size, you know, bigger team. Right.
00:31:10
Speaker
So it doesn't matter. who Whoever wins is going to get slaughtered by Florida anyway. That's for good that's a good point. That's a good one. We don't really need to keep talking about it. All right, moving on. Vanderbilt and McNeese. Full transparency here, y'all. I taught at Vanderbilt for three years, so I cannot go against him. I'm contractually obligated to root for the Commodores or at least pick them. Vanderbilt, who you got, brother?
00:31:35
Speaker
I'm going through Scott. Vandy, man. I like Tyler i like tyler Tanner. yeah He's a hooper. Probably the fair to say to the best guard displayed there since Darius Garland.
00:31:49
Speaker
Ooh. Even though I know Darius Garland only played handful of games while he was there. Yes. I think he played like five games, if I remember correctly, something like that. I mean, he's a two-time all-star in the NBA, so you can only imagine what he would have done if he played the full season at Vandy. So you're saying he went the Darren Peterson route? Is that what we're saying? Yeah. No, Darius legitimately got hurt, as you can also see by the path of his NBA career. Kid can't stay healthy.
00:32:18
Speaker
That is true. that is That is very true. Nebraska, I'm sure you got them over Choi. Yes? Yeah. This one, though, hey, a lot of people picking the upset. Now we know VCU has a history of running from that 11 seed and making some big waves. Do you see them doing it again here?
00:32:41
Speaker
No. oh Oh, no. Even even without Caleb. I was going to say, even without Caleb, that was my next follow-up. Yeah, even without this. Everybody that doesn't know Caleb Foster there is injured. They're star player.
00:32:55
Speaker
I think this would be a different scenario if this were like a second round matchup and like Caleb kind of went down in the first round and then they had to, but you didn't know wilson Wilson, Wilson, not Foster. My apologies. Caleb Wilson. My apologies. Yeah. Caleb Foster's on Duke. We don't want to do that. I might got my pissed from people off. I don't want to get cancer. Sorry. good ahead they They know they're not going to have them. They prepare to play without like, it's, it's just a matter of preparation. So they'll, they'll be ready to go.
00:33:26
Speaker
ah Look, I'm from Virginia. I love when VCU Rams make some noise in the tournament, and they're 9-1 in their last 10. North Carolina is only 6-4. Now, North Carolina is 5-2 against top 25 opponents, which bodes well. But I'm going with the upset because they are from Virginia, just like me. VCU with the upset. All right, moving on.
00:33:54
Speaker
I don't think you have Penn over Illinois, correct? Nah, Keaton keton for the show, man. Keaton's going to put ah at least 25. There you go. Very nice. Now, this one, again, some people are are saying this could go either way. Number seven, St. Mary's versus number 10, Texas A&M. Who you got?
00:34:14
Speaker
this I like St. Mary's, man. ah They're tough, and actually get to see them play once a year. you know the The conference tournament is in Vegas every year. Oh, that's right. Yeah, they're tough, man. They're tough. They're well-coached. They play disciplined basketball, and they can catch a – I mean, Texas A&M basketball-wise is no powerhouse, right?
00:34:35
Speaker
they They can easily catch a team like that slipping in a one-game scenario. So definitely going with with ah St. Mary's for upset here.
00:34:45
Speaker
For the win. Because they're sick. Yeah. I mean, you know, in into yeah by name it is. I know what you mean. yes yeah by by yes by By brand value. Yeah, by brand. By university size. Yes. um No, i'm going i'm I'm with you. St. Mary's here. They're 22nd net rank in the country. Texas A&M is 44th.
00:35:10
Speaker
in the country. um Now, Texas A&M can get a lot of buckets, 88 points averaging per game. But St. Mary's 8-2 in their last 10. Texas A&M stumbling at 4-6 in their last 10. I am all about momentum, as you can tell. I keep talking about it. I'm all about momentum going into any kind of playoffs, whether it's baseball, football, whatever, basketball, no matter. Momentum is very important.
00:35:34
Speaker
St. Mary's for the victory. All right, moving into this last game here. I do not think either one of us has Idaho. Idaho. I think one person does.
Interlude: Wrestling and NCAA Structure Discussion
00:35:45
Speaker
I think one person does. Sweet pea. Is the University of Idaho going to win?
00:35:54
Speaker
it du and And I'm assuming she's from Idaho. you're Okay. Your wife was from Idaho. Okay. All right. Hey, by the way, shout out to Jacob and the people that were here at the Bracketology yesterday in Nashville, um Iowa fans. I forgot to shout them out at the Iowa one, but salute to them.
00:36:16
Speaker
ah But yeah, anyway, so, okay, cool. Let's move it into the third one over here. We got the Midwest. Michigan is going to win that game. Moving into the next one, Georgia. Long time for Michigan, though.
00:36:30
Speaker
Wait a second. oh yeah do now I haven't won in the first round. oh oh well I do have them as the first number one seed to fall. Okay. Okay. So there you go. And we can talk about that in just second. You'll let me know where you think they're going to fly. Actually, you might as well just go ahead and That's the weird part. I don't, I'm, I'm not sure.
00:36:49
Speaker
Okay. It's like, it's not just, I think they're going to be the first week. It could be. Sweet 16 could be Elite Eight. but i think they're but again we all And again, we expect the number one seeds to to do good. So you know saying that they'd be the first one, like as you mentioned, could be the Elite Eight. so Right.
00:37:11
Speaker
Okay, got you. All right, cool. ah But that's good insight. I like that there. Georgia versus St. Louis. A lot of people, again, toss-up game here, but a lot of people choosing the nine seed, St. Louis. Are you?
00:37:25
Speaker
No, got Georgia. Okay. This is the St. Louis. They play kind of a patient game. They look for the the the best shot, not the shot. I think that could hurt them in a game like this. I think Georgia i think george is going to come out of the gate fast and kind of get them in St. Louis in a position where they're kind of playing from behind early and come late in the game, that looking for the perfect shot, you know, going to speed up their offense more than they would like to.
00:37:53
Speaker
And I'm not saying they'll be down by like 15, but like a a nice 7, 8-point constant cushion throughout the game could be one of those where constantly they cut it to three and Georgia hits a shot to push it back up to, you know, seven, something like that.
00:38:08
Speaker
But, yeah, I got Georgia winning. And, you know, a lot of people may say that that is – especially in ah in a name value, brand name as we talk about, would be the team to go with in this matchup.
00:38:24
Speaker
ah But there's just something I can't do in my heart morally, BG. And i cannot in good conscience, I cannot in good moral aptitude, not ineptitude, but aptitude is what I said, go against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
00:38:45
Speaker
I cannot go against Steph Blurry. I cannot go against Milk Chamberlain. I cannot go against Larry Blurd. I cannot go against Robbie Avila and the so St. Louis Billikens with the upset here. Yes, that man has moved on and is now playing for St. Louis before he was playing there at the with the Sycamores in Indiana State where're the greatest where the great Larry Joe Bird went to school at. You remember this one? This kid with the headband? You remember him, right? Yeah, yeah.
00:39:23
Speaker
He's a St. Louis fan. Anyways, that's great. we' got They got athletes at Georgia, don't they? Yeah, yeah. I just, I have to. I probably should choose Georgia, but I can't. I want to say that. The heart wants what the heart wants.
00:39:38
Speaker
I love watching a fat guy get up and down a basketball court. um Because I am one of them. ah Texas Tech and Akron. Now, you are from Ohio.
00:39:50
Speaker
Are you picking the Akron upset? No. Okay. ah and you know I mean the crazy thing is is there's some people that that say like Akron has a better tournament resume than Miami of Ohio right so they're definitely not slouches they're not slouches but um and it's going to be tough I don't see Texas Tech running they they could lose because they could lose this ain't going to be an easy one at all but
00:40:27
Speaker
I don't know. I just, I just think Texas is tech. Just takes it in the end. experience Experience plays out in this one, I believe. Okay. I respect that. I am not trying to pander to the Ohio favorited audience right now, but Akron is 10-0 in their last 10. We keep talking about momentum.
00:40:48
Speaker
One thing that does scare me is Texas Tech is i had the third best strength of schedule, which means they had the third toughest schedule in the country, which means that Damn, they played a lot of hard teams and are fortified in the fire, ready for the playoff, as you mentioned, experienced. But no, I'm going with Akron. I'm going with the Zips for the upset. Plus, you got to get 112 over five, right? Doesn't that doesn't that always happen? like but Actually, i've got the I've got it for you. Roughly 35% of the games are won by 12 seeds.
00:41:22
Speaker
But true we keep seeing it more often nowadays, don't we? Yeah, I think there's usually two per turny. Yeah, lately, these past few years, it has been a lot more. Yeah. yeah Okay.
00:41:35
Speaker
All right, cool. well Let's go ahead, move it down to the next game, Alabama-Hofstra. I have Alabama. I don't think you have different. No, Alabama's got it. All right. Moving down, Miami of Ohio and SMU at Tennessee. Now, look, you talked about Miami of Ohio. This was a hugely controversial issue going into the bracket. Actually, we can pull this down for a quick second, bring us back up for a minute. um So this Miami of Ohio, they were undefeated in the regular season.
00:42:09
Speaker
And their only loss came in the mid American conference tournament championship when they fell to UMass, but it was their only loss in 32 games going 31 and Oh, before that, plus um they, their top 40 wins above bubble and top 30 strength of record. So they have good outlying meth metrics as well.
00:42:32
Speaker
What are your thoughts on Miami of Ohio? Do you think, that they should have had so much consternation to get in? do Don't you think that someone that goes – and i don't I shouldn't say don't you think because that's leading the witness. But would you agree? Because I think that if you're 31-0, yeah, you didn't go against ah the SEC or the Big Ten or the ACC or whatever, but you still won 31 damn games without losing one. What are your thoughts? Yeah.
00:43:01
Speaker
um First of all, how about we get rid of this 60-18 crap? What is this? what What is this? We have to play a game to get the play in? Right. like no what was There are enough colleges out there. Stop being a trade afraid to hurt people's feelings.
00:43:19
Speaker
my I'm sorry, kids. You weren't good enough. We we have a nice tournament called the NIT for you to play in for your consolation prize. It's right there? um Yeah. Like, and if any team shouldn't have to be in one of these first four games, it's them.
00:43:35
Speaker
Like you said, the only team who finished the regular season undefeated. Like, if that doesn't earn you an automatic end to the 64, I don't know what does.
00:43:46
Speaker
So that's the only gripe I have with it. Why are they in in this game to have to prove themselves? it So and I hope they win. I hope they win.
00:43:57
Speaker
And in a bit of ah poetic irony, a little serendipitous, if you may, ah Bruce Pearl and Auburn were the ones that got shafted from getting in because of Miami, Ohio getting in. And this is after Bruce Pearl was calling for Miami, Ohio to not get in week after week after week on the bracket show.
00:44:20
Speaker
Yeah. So I hope they handle their business against SMU. And then I'm picking them to handle their business against Tennessee.
00:44:31
Speaker
All right, cool. Let me add this ah back to the stage real quick. Ooh, I got us in the row. What happened? Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Hold on. I'm going to have some technical difficulties. We're going to move it over to the um ah next game, Virginia. I got Virginia over Wright State. Do you as well?
00:44:49
Speaker
Wow, I figured this out. Yeah. as Again, another tournament-tested team. Yeah. Defense. its defense bad day day
00:45:03
Speaker
Defense plays out in these early rounds. You get all teams coming off a layover at least boy four to five you know four to five days off.
00:45:14
Speaker
Time to prepare. You give a defensive team that much time to prepare, you're going have a tough afternoon. and So especially you know for like a lower tier team, that can be tough.
00:45:26
Speaker
There you go. All right. ah We both have Iowa State, no doubt about that. But the last one there, Kentucky-Santa Clara 7-10 matchup. A lot of people like Santa Clara in this matchup. What are your thoughts?
00:45:39
Speaker
I'm one of them. oh Steve Nash being in in the crowd watching like a proud dad. Yeah, I like Santa Clara for the upset, man. Kentucky kentucky hasn't been Kentucky for a nice little bit.
00:45:55
Speaker
you know that's fact That's very true. Very true.
00:46:00
Speaker
Yeah, I'm with you. I got Santa Clara as well. Kentucky is a net rank of 28th. Santa Clara is 40th in the country. And yes, they played 14 games against top 25 opponents in UK. So they are very experienced. But I do like the Santa Clara team. And they are not too shabby in the schedule. They played either top rank, top fiftieth In their momentum, 7-3.
00:46:24
Speaker
Again, momentum going into the playoffs, 7-3. Kentucky stumbled, 4-6 in their last 10. We're going with the upset here, Santa Clara. All right, moving it into the final one, the West here. We both got Arizona. No need to stop there. Villanova versus Utah State. Some people do have Utah State. What are your thoughts on this game?
00:46:46
Speaker
Nah, give me Nova, man. ah um Even though you know that there's no such thing as an 8-9 upset Just give me Nova, man they're it they're just a It's a coin flip, but I feel they're just a better team The net ranking does not agree with you. The net ranking has Utah State at 26th and has Nova at 35th.
00:47:10
Speaker
Also, Utah State had had a harder strength of schedule ah playing the 46th versus the 52nd, so pretty similar. and last year we got We got trophies at Nova. We're better. that's true That's true. But as you just mentioned, with Kentucky, Nova ain't the Nova of old either, though. So...
00:47:29
Speaker
Jalen Brunson and Dante DiVincenzo are not walking through that door. as They might. They might. The way that college ah college is letting all these players back in to the – what do you think about that, by the way?
00:47:45
Speaker
That's crazy how these G League players go back. That's wild. Yeah, we got to cut this out, man. It's not in football. No. Like we're, we're past, we're past the code. The rest of the country is past COVID stuff. It's time that the NCAA get past it too.
Final Predictions and Tournament Strategies
00:48:01
Speaker
Facts. Agreed. All right, cool. Let's keep it moving. Wisconsin and high point. Do you have a 12 over five upset? ah No.
00:48:12
Speaker
Even Wisconsin. actually I do think you said you liked Hawaii earlier. What do you think about this four verse 13 matchup? I do like Hawaii, but this is one of those cases I spoke about.
00:48:25
Speaker
Darius a cuff jr. Woo. It's going to be good. He's going to reintroduce himself to people who don't know who he is. Can I reintroduce myself? My name is cuff. Hey, to the C cuff.
00:48:40
Speaker
Yeah. I look for him that I'm going to say, I'm to call it 30 plus. I agree. I think that Acuff is a baller and as much as it pains me to go against the Rainbow Warriors since I was stationed there for three years and and went to many of a Hawaii Rainbow Warrior game on campus. What an amazing campus to party at when you're young and 21 and such beautiful beautiful women. ah Oh sorry. My bad. I got a little distracted there. It's okay man. I mean i so I didn't spend time in Hawaii but I did spend time in Germany and
00:49:15
Speaker
you know, uh, thanks, we P I love you. i would just i I was, I was bored in Germany. Uh, and, and yes, even though they, they say I was a ladies man when I was a baby, I don't know if I was that much of a ladies man. Let's keep it moving. BYU.
00:49:33
Speaker
You talked about it. So I'm assuming you have this victory here. Cause you did say earlier, AJ Devon said, was going to lead them deep into the tournament. Uh, do you, is that what you have again? Another one of those dudes, I think, uh,
00:49:46
Speaker
Yeah, I've said at the beginning of year, and I'm going to stick to it. BYU to the Final Four. AJ DeBanz is going lead them to the Final Four. Woo! To the Final Four. Wow, I didn't hear that on your show earlier. Maybe I missed that part. Final Four. Woo! Let's go. All right.
00:50:00
Speaker
Cool. There you go. I i agree. I got BYU in that one, although I am i would not put – I would not – I am not going to say that I could not see an upset happen. I could see – one of those teams, depending which, because neither one of those teams are slouches.
00:50:19
Speaker
Now, is BYU the better team and has the star player? Yes, on both accounts. But i it wouldn't be so far-fetched to see an upset is what i'm trying to say. True, true.
00:50:29
Speaker
Agree. all right, cool. Gonzaga. I got Gonzaga like you got BYU. I got Gonzaga as a Final Four team. They are my sleeper Final Four team. What do you think?
00:50:41
Speaker
I mean, hopefully we get to see that matchup, right? That would be awesome. but Yeah, I mean, Gonzaga is what? they They're the ultimate Cinderella.
00:50:54
Speaker
They're the ultimate Cinderella. like there they can only theyre They're kind of like Luther Vandross's curl, right? They just can't quite, never really...
00:51:07
Speaker
Yeah, man. one One year, one year, they are going to win the whole thing. Like I feel like they have to, they have to like, they kickstarted all of this small school stuff.
00:51:19
Speaker
Like they were, they were the originators and they, the fact that they've basically been able to develop into a powerhouse and maintain their, their status as a powerhouse is amazing.
00:51:33
Speaker
but when are going to bring one home? I mean, my belief is that, I mean, is this even a real school? is does there been a Do we know that this exists?
00:51:44
Speaker
Because it seems like they only come around basketball time when it's March Madness. And all a sudden you got Gonzaga popping up talking about they from Seattle, but ain't nobody heard of no campus old old Arizona online bullshit they got going on. Yeah. And it's like, man, one of these, like, as i you got to finish the deal one year once. I mean, if that's the only sport you got to support, I hope so. With all the NIL money you got going into that bad boy, y'all better win at some point. No, I agree with you. You got to get over the hump at some point. And that'll go into another one of the final four teams that I have, which we will give you our picks in just a second. Once we finish this west side of the bracket here, Miami, Missouri, 710. Do you have an upset here?
00:52:28
Speaker
ah Yeah, but I don't really think it's an upset. Okay. Let's face it. People out there and know me know I'm a Hurricane fan, but Miami's not a basketball school. Let's keep it by. And we used all our good fortune during football season, so give me Missouri. There you go. Now, I am, and I believe he's still there, or did he retire?
00:52:46
Speaker
Did Jim Laranega retire from Miami? Or is he still coaching Miami? Let's find out. Nope. I don't remember if he retired or not. I can't remember.
00:52:59
Speaker
Anyways, ah the old George Mason coach, Jim Laranega, he was the one that took George Mason on their final four run. I grew up 10 minutes from George Mason's campus is is where I grew up as a kid. So shout out to the George.
00:53:15
Speaker
ah We used to always go to the Patriots Center for all all those events and stuff. But yeah, shout out to the George Mason University. Nope. Jay Lucas.
00:53:26
Speaker
Jay Lucas. This is coach at Miami. OK, yeah. So there are negative been gone for a second. That's what I thought. I just want to make sure ah John Lucas is. That's John. that's john luca down Yeah, John Lucas is is his son. John Lucas is his second son. Right. yeah Okay. All right. All right. Cool. And that we both got Purdue. No doubt about that there. Now, looking a little forward, we're obviously going to give you our final four and our champion ah picks here. But just future projecting in this into the second round, knowing what I know now from your picks, I kind of want to see what you think about some games that we could see. So first of all, you picked Duke as one of your teams to obviously go pretty far. So what do you think about a possible, because this would come obviously before the final four, a possible Duke versus St. John's matchup one in five. Do you have thoughts on that?
00:54:25
Speaker
And that's what I've been kind of pondering. Like I, I would not be surprised if, If the winner of a potential St. John's Kansas matchup.
00:54:38
Speaker
Ooh, so you, okay. So you might not even have St. John's getting past Kansas then is what you're saying. Right. um And might not have Duke getting by either one of them. Oh Again, it's another one of those things like Darren Peterson is talented enough to beat 18 by itself, right?
00:54:57
Speaker
Like he he's not projected to be number one pick for no reason and right fact ah I would never poo poo his ability like the talent is what it is It's it's just his want to play his will to play the game But yeah, don't like I would want to, I'm trying to see I would want to see that game more.
00:55:19
Speaker
I would want to see Duke versus St. John's and see how it plays out. And think the winner that game definitely win the region. ah But yeah, I think that could be a very inter in entertaining game. I think it could be instant classic per se.
00:55:35
Speaker
And that matchup would make all the controversy about this this region worth it, right? Especially if you play it out in one of those exciting classic games.
00:55:45
Speaker
oh yeah Yep. That's exactly right. That's exactly what i was thinking. All right. Moving on to the South. Here, future projecting your winners. Florida, 1-5 again versus Vanderbilt.
00:55:59
Speaker
Rematch of, obviously, SEC foes. What would you have in this one?
00:56:05
Speaker
um I think Florida got lucky, man. Somebody likes them. Granted, Vanderbilt, you know. That's what I thought, too. That's what thinking. Gave him that L, but ah this time Florida would see him coming.
00:56:21
Speaker
You know, Florida would see him coming. They prepared. They prepare they't know what to expect. And I kind of think Florida got a walk to the final four. Ooh, really? but this Yeah, with this region, don't really see a genuine threat.
00:56:35
Speaker
Okay, so you ah you're not as high. I'll take that back. Houston. houston Houston. I think it' it's a clear path for Florida and Houston to collide in the ah Elite Eight.
00:56:48
Speaker
Interesting, because, I mean, Vanderbilt is the 13th ranked team in net ranking. so I know, but. Very good team. Yeah, like I mean, Florida, you know what they've been doing in the last couple of years. I think they all underestimated And like I said, now they know what to expect. They're not going to sneak up on them.
00:57:06
Speaker
If they see Vanderbilt again, could be, ain't going to say beatdown, but it would be one of those. Well, it was the first time when Vanderbilt beat them by 17.
00:57:21
Speaker
But it could be the other way around where it's kind of Florida just controls the game. It's like, yeah, we ain't playing with y'all, but we're going to get zed up. Yeah, yeah. um You know, hey, I would agree with you. But again, i am contractually obligated to. No. The heart wants what the heart wants. Yeah, Vanderbilt. man I saw them play this past weekend at the SEC tournament at Bridgestone right up the street. I went and watched the game.
00:57:47
Speaker
And I mean, they're ah they're a very, very good team. And seeing them in person, you know, well I had i already already seen them once at the campus, but seeing them play in the SEC tournament made me a believer. And I think Andy is going to pull the upset here over Florida. Now, one thing that does contradict me is what I've been saying all day is momentum. Florida is nine and one in their last 10 and Vanderbilt is only six and four. So that would contradict me there.
00:58:13
Speaker
All right, moving it on into the Midwest region. Again, just future projecting off of the picks that you had here. What would you say if we saw a – obviously this would be moving into the later rounds if Alabama was able to get there. Alabama and Michigan is a matchup I like.
00:58:35
Speaker
think that could be that could be the last we see of Michigan. Okay. Okay. You've got the Alabama over Michigan. ah And but yeah that's if they make it. Alabama can get past Texas Tech. No, Michigan.
00:58:54
Speaker
oh Oh, you don't know. If Michigan makes it. Oh, now we're talking. Wait a second. that's ah i think michigan's going be You to get to the second round? I think they're going to be the first number one seed to fall. It could happen at the round of 32. Well, I mean, by process by process of elimination, it would have to be against Georgia or St. Louis, the winner. um the game Their game against Duke.
00:59:22
Speaker
showed me something. And if you really look at them since that Duke game, they've not been the same. They've not been. They're coming into that Duke game. they They were kind of like invincible. Yeah. like, I think a lot of people held Michigan this their year. They're going to the final four, at least and since then, they're just regular.
00:59:39
Speaker
They like Superman without his powers. And I think it's because like, they really don't have a guy you can give a ball to and say, go get me a bucket. They're a team full of system guys.
00:59:50
Speaker
But what Duke showed is if that system ain't working, who do you give the ball to and say, go get me a bucket? And it's like they can't do it. So if you can get them into a ah game where it's possession by possession, they got to grind it out.
01:00:05
Speaker
And it's here. Go get me a bucket. You can get them. And I think Georgia is athletic enough where they could turn into ugly game. it's And they can catch them. Wow.
01:00:19
Speaker
Now, now that would go, that would kind of contradict though. The fact that Michigan has what many consider to be the best defense in the country. And when you got that big line, you got seven foot two. ah died By the way, they stole from UCLA. Talk about NIL money. Michigan threw a whole big-ass offer at Mara, and he left us. True. anyway And it doesn't contradict it if their problem is other problems. I didn't say their problem is defense.
01:00:46
Speaker
Their problem is offense. right will you say Who do you give that call to? I see what you're saying. so you You're saying it's going to grind down kind of game then. Right. And it's like if you need a bucket, they don't have A.J. DeBenson. They don't have a Cam Boozer. Right. It's like you saw them struggle to get a bucket again. That's how Duke won that game.
01:01:07
Speaker
And, Matt, put any of those guys I just named on Michigan and replay that Duke game. They win. Easy. And especially missing LJ Kayser on, too. Yeah. Because it's just here. We we need two. We haven't scored in in two minutes. Get us one. You know, get to the free throw line. and It's something good.
01:01:25
Speaker
But they don't have it, man. And so that scares me. Yeah, I mean, that is a really good point when you're your best. I mean, um i' guess most people would consider Yaxel to be their best player, the Lindenburg guy.
01:01:37
Speaker
Yeah. And he's only averaging 14 and a half points a game. So you have a spot on point there. Yeah. So we'll see how it plays out. Okay, and then moving finally over to the West.
01:01:49
Speaker
Again, just forward projecting what I'm doing here, y'all, from where Bobby picked his winners. what and I guess it would be if it got here. I know you have BYU going to the Final Four, so that means that BYU would have to go against Arizona. and Talk to me about a BYU-Arizona game. Which completely puts me in conflict.
01:02:10
Speaker
Because if you if you saw Game Time earlier, I would love nothing more for the Arizona Wildcats to win this national title so that Bryce James can walk in his home.
01:02:23
Speaker
I forgot. Slash his national championship ring in his dad and his brother's face. Like, look what I got. That's tremendous. As matter of fact, walk through the door playing TI. ah Shorty, look what I got.
01:02:37
Speaker
you so stupid You thought your people was hot? Hey, Pops, look what I got. But, yeah, that's my conflict. But I got to stick with BYU, man. that was That was my word from the beginning of the season that they would make the final four. to stick to it.
01:02:54
Speaker
All right. Hey, as long as you're – we love when someone sticks to their original projections because that means that the projection you made at the beginning was a really good projection, so you might as well stick with it at that point. Okay, cool. So now let's go ahead and move into the final four and championship picks here. So let me – boom, NCAA basketball. Let's move us back to the forefront. If I could – again with this – crazy screen thing they got on here. I feel your pain, brother.
01:03:28
Speaker
There we go. All right. StreamYard always want to be acting up sometimes. All right. Anyways, let's keep it moving. Our final four and champion picks. Who are your final four? Well, we know BYU is one of them. Who are your other three final four teams?
01:03:44
Speaker
I got BYU. ah I got Duke. yeah i'm take Now, before you move on, hold on. I have a question for you. Do you not think that the injuries to center Patrick Gongba and um Cameron, not Cameron, ah Caleb ah Foster, do you not think that those injuries ah could possibly trip up Dukies at some point?
01:04:12
Speaker
No, because you have one of the best five players in the nation. Okay. Cameron Boozer's a beast. That dude is a beast. And again, more more times than not, especially recently, if you have the best player on the floor, facts you know you have a great opportunity to win.
01:04:28
Speaker
no And he he is the legacy. I don't think he's the best, but he's top five. For sure. He's top five. All right. Cool. all cool I got a Susan.
01:04:42
Speaker
Yeah, BYU, Duke. I'm going to put Houston. And ah who was the – which bracket am I missing?
01:04:58
Speaker
Hey, which bracket am I missing? I'm going to put it up again. Let me see the layout.
01:05:05
Speaker
Boom. There we go. All right, there we go. Yes, we got Duke. Oh, yeah. ah Florida. Florida. Okay. Okay. So you got Florida going to go into the Final Four. Wait, didn't earlier you just say you didn't believe in them?
01:05:17
Speaker
I thought you just know i said that earlier. No, said Florida has a walk. Oh, that's right. You did. That's right. You said you they were going to beat Vanderbilt. that's they are They have a walk until they get to Houston in the 8th. Right. Okay. So then since we are talking Final Four, talk to me about that game. Talk to me about a Florida-Houston matchup.
01:05:34
Speaker
That could potentially be the game in the tournament. Good beat. Two teams that have ah performed well over the last what five to eight years in the tournament. Consistently. Yeah. yeah So, yeah, that that should be a slobber knocker.
01:05:48
Speaker
Yeah. As Jim Ross was. That's what they call it. Yeah. By the way, what did you think of that AEW Revolution pay-per-view? I thought that was legitimately one of AEW's best pay-per-views of all time.
01:06:01
Speaker
I didn't get a chance see it. Oh, okay. I've been running – yeah, yeah. yeah Kids on Spring Bake, so i' just like been hanging out with them all weekend. not Hey, see if you can find it on YouTube. Sometimes people will... I well heard Ronda Rousey was there.
01:06:15
Speaker
She was. that showed up for She showed up for her girl. um What's her name? ah She's a whiz. the Moxley's bodyguard. What's her name?
01:06:27
Speaker
shit Not Shafir. Yeah. Yeah, Shafir. Marina Shafir, the problem. okay He's like, Moxley's like, do you watch AEW? I'll catch it when it's on, but I don't watch it consistently. You're not like a, it's not like a WWE for you. No.
01:06:42
Speaker
And that's different. It's like, well, all I get to, all I really get to watch is raw and the PLEs. Got it. Cause SmackDown on Friday, like I'm on, uh, audible and in the hoop. So like my Friday night's done.
01:06:56
Speaker
Right. Okay. All right. It sucks. Cause they're moving real Ripley to SmackDown and I hate it. They need to just get rid of that stupid crap anyways. Nobody even remembers that they have that stupid brand split.
01:07:08
Speaker
All right. all right Let's see. What do we have here? We got some comments. New comment in. ah Yes. i that's the I have what is the analysis by paralysis or paralysis analysis. And I have all these brackets I got to fill out.
01:07:23
Speaker
And then I wait till the last damn minute. So, yeah, I need to get on it tonight right after this show and fill them out. Make sure y'all fill them out using our final four champion picks because we only got the right ones for you. So, Bobby G, go ahead hit them with your final four again because we had a little interlude there.
01:07:39
Speaker
We're going Duke. We're going in Florida. BYU. What happened? okay I think I did miss one.
01:07:49
Speaker
There we go.
01:07:53
Speaker
What happening here? All right. You had Duke. You had BYU. You had Florida. And you had. I got in the Midwest. who I have in the Midwest. Who'd you have beating Arizona? Was it Arizona? or I got BYU beating Arizona.
01:08:08
Speaker
There go. All right. So this will be the second time we did this. I swear we're okay. thank you So you got Duke, you got Florida, you got BYU, and then you got – who did you have beating Michigan? Let me see.
01:08:27
Speaker
Out of that reason, I had – oh, yeah yeah, that's the one I miss i missed. I missed that one. oh yeah yeah Iowa was State. Iowa State. Okay.
01:08:39
Speaker
All right. So you have Duke, BYU, Iowa State, and Florida. Yeah. Is that correct? Yep, so I got a six, a two, and then two ones.
01:08:51
Speaker
All right, six, a two, and two ones for Bobby G. Those are his final of four picks. My final four picks, look, ah I mean... there's One of these teams you mentioned, and they're going to be my champion, but they're one of those teams that at some point needs to get over the hump here. I also tried to make them not all number one seats because honestly, I could see all number ones ah getting there because I do think they're tough enough.
01:09:20
Speaker
um So I am going to go on one side. I agree with you. Even with the injuries, Duke is – oh, no, wait, I changed that. I changed that. My bad.
01:09:31
Speaker
I changed it. I changed it. I have the upset. St. John with the upset over Duke. So I actually have the Johnnies in my final four. i forgot I changed that right before the show because I had to earlier. I got St. John versus Houston on the other side of the bracket. So Houston at number two, number five versus. Nice.
01:09:52
Speaker
Because at first I had all ones and I was like, I don't like doing chalk like that. So I had to switch it up um because I had Arizona and then I switched it to Gonzaga. Gonzaga, as I mentioned earlier in the final four, and then I am picking one number one. Shout out to my brother, Clutch B. I do disagree with you. I think that Michigan is a tough enough team to make it to the final four. I have Michigan as my only number one team in the final.
01:10:16
Speaker
So, St. John, Houston, Gonzaga, Michigan. Now, who is your national champion?
01:10:28
Speaker
yeah
01:10:31
Speaker
Florida again goes back to back. Florida back to back. Don't do this. do that to me. For a second time. This is ridiculous. For the second in time, Florida goes back to back.
01:10:45
Speaker
Yeah, I know because the last time they beat my UCLA Bruins two times in a row and it pisses me off. When did they do it the first? Isn't this like almost an anniversary? It was like 2014 or whatever. They had joke Joe Kim Noah.
01:10:57
Speaker
Oh, bastard. Where's he at now? That was before it wasn was.
Final Four and National Champion Debate
01:11:01
Speaker
No, no, no. You're right. No, no, no, no. It was 2006, 2007. Yeah, you're right. 2006, 2007. Fortigators. Fortigators. It was 2006-2007. Rock Chalk has her final four, Arizona, Duke, Florida, and Michigan. So she went all number ones. A little oh a little chalk for the Rock Chalk. I see what you did there, the Rock Chalk. you went You went straight chalk on it.
01:11:25
Speaker
All number ones. I see you. What did you find out? oh Yep. Yeah, it was year late. It was 06-07.
01:11:37
Speaker
That's what I just said, 06, 07. 06, 07. their year, it is the anniver to anniversary of their, the second of the back-to-back. Or no, words the back first. 20 years.
01:11:49
Speaker
So that would have been dope if this was their first, and then next year they'd be going for back-to-back. A 10-year back-to-back replay would be absolutely sick. Wow. um There you go. Bobby G has chosen Florida.
01:12:05
Speaker
to be his ah number one a national champion for this bracket. And then I am going to, and I mentioned this earlier, so at some point, this team has to get over the hump.
01:12:20
Speaker
And I feel like this team... Don't do it. I'm going to do it to myself. I have to. And it's probably going to come back to bite me in the ass because they're probably going to lose like they do every other time.
01:12:33
Speaker
But, man... And I don't know if you agree with me. I feel like Kelvin Sampson has had this same team for 20 damn years. i feel like all these players are like 18-year seniors, and they need to win this at some point. And they have been on the precipice.
01:12:51
Speaker
What an amazing word for a Puerto Rican on a live TV show. Shout to Conan. Prayers up, my brother. But... on the precipice of a championship for years now and have not gotten over the hump.
01:13:03
Speaker
I am going to say that they finally get over the hump. Houston is my national champion this year, and they will do it over. I believe I had them beating Michigan. Yeah, because Michigan beats a Gonzaga in the final four.
01:13:23
Speaker
All right. So Houston, ah Michigan. I'm just writing these in so I can put them up and everybody sees them. Gonzaga. Who was my other one? Houston, Michigan, Gonzaga.
01:13:36
Speaker
Oh, man. Now I'm blanking on who it was. Shit. What did I just say? Houston, Michigan, Gonzaga. Oh, St. John's. That's right. Right. With the upset over Duke.
01:13:48
Speaker
All right, cool. So let me go ahead and post this so you all know. Boom. There's your final four picks if you want to take it to the bank. BG got Florida, Duke, BYU, Iowa State. The winners are in front, so he has Florida. And then I have Houston, Michigan, Gonzaga, St. John's with Houston as my national champion. Rock Chalk, that Arkansas versus Ole Miss game was good. Let's go Ole Miss.
01:14:14
Speaker
Surprise, Cinderella. Okay. She says about Ole Miss. um So, yeah, we could definitely see that. Ole Miss always in the running ah there. Any other thoughts on this? What is going to be an amazing tournament, my friend?
01:14:28
Speaker
I just want to see – I mean, this – because this everybody knows this this draft class is deep with talent. Oh, that reminds me. Thank you. Yes. No, thank you for saying that because I did say we were going to talk about that.
01:14:41
Speaker
So, I wanted to kind of merge into a little bit of just ah briefly – talking about the stars that we're going to see here in this tournament, because the and NBA draft, especially at the top, as you mentioned, with DeBancho, with Boozer, um with Peterson, we are going to see a lot of these really good players that are going to be fighting for the top spots the in this and NBA draft. So again, in the East region, you've got ah Cameron Boozer at Duke, Darren Peterson at Kansas. If, if Mikel Brown Jr. Can come back healthy him at Louisville is a great player. We talked about LeBaron Phylon at Alabama, Christian Anderson Jr. At Texas tech, Nate, a man at Tennessee. You got Thomas Howe at Florida, Kingston, Flemings, and Houston. You mentioned wet Wagler earlier, Keaton Wagler, Illinois, Tyler Tanner for Vanderbilt here in Nashville. Darius Akuf, we talked about him. You've mentioned A.J. DeBonta a whole bunch already. You got Brandon Burries and Coa Pete at Arizona. So a lot of really, really good players. Talk to us about what you feel.
01:15:50
Speaker
This is is this this isn't going shouldn't be or should not be a tournament where guys kind of hide behind their team. I want to see you step up. I want to see somebody say whether they're trying to win the chip or whether they're trying to show out to do, you know, for better draft position.
01:16:09
Speaker
Right. A cuff is on me. i'm I'm trying to show out. You're not the best point guard nation. I it like I want to see these guys take a person. Right. And if that happens, it should be a very exciting turn.
01:16:23
Speaker
We see a lot a lot of plays. And, you know, I want to see the guys who we don't know. I mean, um give me that seventh man off the bench from frickin Utah State.
01:16:37
Speaker
have a great game out of nowhere and it's like oh who is it like i
March Madness Experience and NBA Draft Prospects
01:16:40
Speaker
want to see some of that so i think this is a term determined for it and and i'm here for it i think it's gonna be very exciting from game one to to the championship game so Yeah, as like I said, as always, March Madness is, ah I'm sure for you and and definitely for me, one of my favorite ah sporting events of the year.
01:17:02
Speaker
Definitely probably even top three sporting events of the year is March Madness and just everything that comes through it and the excitement. And again, if even if you're not a basketball fan, that first weekend of just games going all day and you're seeing all these different buzzer beaters and comebacks and all All this stuff is really, really amazing. So, yeah, you don't have to take off a work if you're not a huge basketball fan. But I know I'm glad that I'm a business owner and that I work from home and that I have ah multiple TVs and laptops because i I'm going to have five screen setup going on. going to have both my big screen TVs. I'm going have all my laptops going. going to have the phone going. going to have all the games going on at once.
01:17:45
Speaker
Definitely agreed there. Said favorite time of year. Let the March madness begin. That is right. Also says, what about Trey White from Kansas?
01:17:56
Speaker
So there you go. Kansas Jayhawk fan. They're going in for their team. Hey, look, y'all I mean, y'all are always going to be a powerhouse. Although, as I agree with ah what BG said earlier about Bill Self going through one of his harder yeah years. I was dying when y'all were talking about that shit. That was funny.
01:18:13
Speaker
yeah um And he's talking about coming back to school. How do you, if I'm Bill Self and I hear him say it, I might quit. If you come back to school, I may quit, young fella.
01:18:24
Speaker
ah You they gave me so many grades. Forget this shit. By the way, Devontae is the mock draft right now, the current number one um for the NBA draft.
01:18:35
Speaker
Darren Peterson, the aforementioned who we were just talking about, is ah mocked right now. This is the athletics mock draft, by the way, per the athletics. He's mocked number two to the Wizards right now in theirs. And then at number three, they have Cameron Boozer going to the Hawks.
01:18:50
Speaker
number three
01:18:53
Speaker
i man That would put Jalen Johnson back to his natural position at the three. you and Very true. I like Boozer. I think Boozer should be number one.
01:19:05
Speaker
If you're asking me, if it were me picking, I would pick Boozer number one. Me personally. Sure. You have the pedigree. His dad was already a all-star in the league. So you already know he's going to be good.
01:19:18
Speaker
And he's already built like a grown ass 29 year old man, even though he's only like 18. So he's going to be body and people in the league rounding out that top five. You got Caleb Wilson going to the Indiana Pacers at four and the Brooklyn Nets taking Kingston. Fleming's your boy at number five.
01:19:37
Speaker
nice Oh, look, your boy Keaton Wagler, they got going to Utah at six. so do I don't know. I don't know. that That right there doesn't make sense. got Keontae George having a hell of a season, kind of his coming out party, and you got Isaiah Collier. feel you kind of set in the backcourt.
01:19:55
Speaker
And they got, yeah, they got a lot of good young talent there in Utah. They're building a nice young squad there. Oh, yeah. Let me let me round out the top 10 just because Dallas Mavericks at number seven taking a cuff, who we talked about.
01:20:07
Speaker
That could be a problem. Pairing him with flag. Yeah, that'd have something else. Mikel Brown, aforementioned Louisville going to Memphis Grizzlies at eight. Mm-hmm. eight a pin going to pair with Giannis if he's still there in Milwaukee at number nine, which he probably won't be. What do you think about that?
01:20:24
Speaker
Do you think Giannis will be traded this offseason? If they can't find a way to upgrade. if you If you can find a way to upgrade, then you do it.
01:20:35
Speaker
But if you can't, yeah, I think it's time to move on. Okay. Yeah, I agree. Especially in a draft that's loaded. try Yeah, try and get some picks. Oh, man, prayers up to Bill Self. Apparently has his heart problems.
01:20:49
Speaker
shut out Yeah, prayers up for you, brother. ah don't Definitely don't let DeBacha come back because you're going to have a lot more to worry about. just Prayers up for you, brother. um no but ah So, yeah, okay, cool.
01:21:04
Speaker
couple other notes.
NCAA Integrity Measures and Community Shout-outs
01:21:05
Speaker
NCAA is using tech to monitor tournament officials. So check this. If a referee... that is working in the tournament or even opens a sports betting account the NCAA will automatically be notified so it is they are on lockdown for making sure that ah there's no improprieties or any shenanigans all you gotta do is get your cousin to do it hey Jimbo hey jimbo go go ahead and sign you know what to do yeah yeah yeah exactly i go any other thoughts my brother
01:21:44
Speaker
ah That's it, man. Definitely send a shout-out and prayers to Scott Cove and the Cove family, man. Shout-out to my bro, one of our brothers in the podcast community, and you know just sending that healing energy his way.
01:21:58
Speaker
Yes, sending it your way, healing and positivity, my brother. Thank you for joining. I really appreciate it. Bobby G is always coming through in that clutch when I need him to. So please let the people know once again where they can find you at.
01:22:12
Speaker
Yeah, ah Mondays and Wednesdays, game time 216 at 216 Eastern. Me the homie Big Mike from the Man Cave, shout out. Catch us there or on Network 216. Thursdays and Fridays, Audible Sports Podcast on Thursdays. doing our Thursday night postgame show. Yes, we know it ain't no game, but it's still the postgame show. We're covering the offseason. and Of course, Friday, we're just wilding out. This Friday, actually, we're reviewing the list of the top 25 college players of the century, of this century.
01:22:40
Speaker
So we're going to review that list that was put out earlier. Wait, basketball? or Yeah, top college basketball players of this century. ah So, yeah, we're going to review that list.
01:22:50
Speaker
in a And then, of course, ah Thursday, again, check us out. Check me out with the Rec Room Sports crew on Rec Room Sports Radio, 690 AM m Jacksonville yeah ESPN Radio.
01:23:08
Speaker
Congrats, congrats, congrats again. Thank you, sir. Big, big up and big blessings to my big bro over here, BG, doing big things with his boys at Rec Room, new on ESPN Radio. So you know you want to make sure you tap in with the Audible podcast. Make sure you tap in with Rec Room because they are doing big things and going big places. ESPN Radio, that's big time, my brother.
Upcoming Episodes and Collaborations
01:23:34
Speaker
Congrats again. And we did we did get our welcome to the big league moment. We we got bumped last week for the ah Big Ten tournament. Never thought you'd say getting bumped felt good. Damn it, man. It feels good.
01:23:48
Speaker
Hey, shout out, Rock Chalk. Thank you for tuning in. And thank you to everybody. that And I subbed, Rock Chalk. I subbed. So i want hear some good good true crime. to I'm a huge true crime fan.
01:23:59
Speaker
There you go. I'm all for Yes, please make sure you tap in if you do like True Crime with Rock Chalk at Rock Chalk True Crime as well. Shout out Canteen and Flo there at the Bottom Line Sports. Y'all can tap in with the Bottom Line Sports Facebook group. Shout out, brother. All love to you. Enjoy your evening as well. Yes, enjoy that bourbon. Hopefully, what are you sipping on? Some Makers? Some Jameson? What you got going on there? But yeah, salute to you, my brother. Enjoy that and have a wonderful evening. That being said, for Bobby G, I am the sports professor. Make sure you catch us catch me and you know Bobby G and other people at BallinBuds.com.
01:24:38
Speaker
B-A-L-L-A-N-D-B-U-D-S on YouTube. You can also follow on Instagram. There is a handy QR code right up there at the top. Take that to our link tree. You can find all of Ball & Buzz social media. We really appreciate the support. Hit that like button, whether watching now or on the replay, as it really helps both of us out in this algorithm. It boosts us up so more people can check out the content that they are missing. And again, for everybody else,
01:25:06
Speaker
and Somebody did want to say somebody wanted to say what's up before you got out of here, too. Nope. Nope. Not happening. Not happening. Don't do it. great. I knew it was going happen. and I was waiting for it. Oh, I love it.
01:25:29
Speaker
Dan, the the the two best times a few weeks ago, you got Averill. And you said somebody was going to like, I think it was like a Valentine's Day one. And you said someone was going to take her out. I was like, that's I was like, that's foul. It's hilarious. And then when you got Mar the other day, because Mar was like, he checked you twice. He was like, nah, you ain't going to do it. Don't even do that. And then you still got him on the third time.
01:26:02
Speaker
That is hilarious. All right, y'all. We had a great time today. Really appreciate y'all tuning in again until next time. Oh, by the way, next time I will be on for sure. I may come on this week and do my solo show, but if not next week on Thursday,
01:26:18
Speaker
Oh, actually, this a good time to announce this since you're here. Next Thursday, i will be doing my super baseball preview. Averill from the Audible podcast will be there. Mar should be joining us as well. AP, Alan Perales from Rec Room will be there as well. So we're to have a whole big crew doing the baseball preview. That will be next Thursday at 6...
01:26:39
Speaker
ah 7 Eastern. Sorry, because y'all go on at 9. Yeah. 7 Eastern time. Special time we're going to go on because there's going be baseball all day. That's opening day. We're going to go on at 7, and we're going to lead you right into the Audible podcast where you'll be able to then co-catch BG, Marr, and Averill talking football at 9 p.m. Eastern. So next Thursday, 7 Eastern, Ball and Buds, baseball preview. We will see you there.
01:27:04
Speaker
Bobby G, I'll talk to it you, my brother. Peace. Peace.
01:27:13
Speaker
World Heavyweight Float Championship belt wrapped around my waist yo I got that Ric Flair fake and foat Slam you on the page that's why they call me Street Crow Create heat on beat flow Like Jordan after the second time he 3-peated folk Awesome buds by my side the crowd's all here Jabs and hooks Rhythm like a thunderstorm Knockout vibes this is our Legends of On Gloves of Fire
01:27:44
Speaker
We settle the score.