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Back to the Sweet 16 Again BABY!!!
122 Plays1 month ago
Welcome to Episode #49 of the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.
Our Houston Cougars are now 32-4 & back in the Sweet 16 yet gain, after destroying SIUE & outlasting Gonzaga in a game that should've been in the Elite 8 round! Now it's into the Sweet 16 in Indianapolis, against #4 Seed Purdue who has the ridiculous "good fortune" to play 70 miles from campus as the lower seed. But bring it on! As the 3 Old Men provide a recap of the Tourney games & break down the upcoming Purdue game (as well as the potential looming Tennessee/Kentucky game in the Elite 8).
Please have a listen as the 3 Old Men weigh in & discuss the March Madness results, as well as weigh in on how poorly their brackets are performing.
- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering
- Intro / Exit music: Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io
- Please follow us on gocoogs.com/old-men/
Recommended
Transcript
Episode 49 Introduction: Cougars' Sweet 16 Journey
00:00:09
@NoConfForOldMen
welcome folks to episode number 49 of the no conference for old men podcast the podcast are three old guys we're talking houston cougars basketball with a big 12 coverage added in it as well and proud members of the goku's.com network the undisputed number one houston cougars content provider we're here today again with all three of the old men tom lidiak former coach bill walker former player and myself steve chang analytics guy for this episode Well, our Cougars are back in the Sweet 16 yet again, breezing past SIUE and then grinding through the Zags 81-76 in a game that should have been in the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 and definitely not in the second round of the tournament.
Facing Purdue: Regional Disrespect?
00:00:47
@NoConfForOldMen
The Cougars move on in the Midwest region as F1C where the disrespect continues where we face a Purdue team that's playing only 70 miles from their campus. But like we said last week, put us anywhere against anyone because this Cougar team is ready for all comers.
00:01:03
@NoConfForOldMen
So for what is now become our annual Sweet 16 episode of the pod, which, by the way, we will never take for granted. The Old Men will quickly summarize the two tourney wins and then pivot to talking about the upcoming Purdue game and potentially Tennessee and Kentucky after that.
00:01:20
@NoConfForOldMen
We'll also provide our quick perspectives on How our conference mates actually fared in the tourney with Tech, Arizona, and BYU joining us in the Sweet 16 to tie a record for a number of teams from Big 12 to get to this point, as well as how our respective brackets are holding up, which, hint, hint, isn't great.
00:01:39
@NoConfForOldMen
So let's get into it guys.
Victories Over SIUE and Gonzaga: Key Moments
00:01:40
@NoConfForOldMen
In dissecting our two wins over SIUE and Gonzaga, not much really to take away from the first win over SIUE. Killed them by 38. No starter played more than 24 minutes, no injuries, and we could start thinking about the Zags by halftime.
00:01:55
@NoConfForOldMen
Bad part of it was that the Zags could say the same thing. They completely dismantled Georgia in round one. No starter played more than 31 minutes, and as Bill and I had stated, it set us up for a round two matchup against one of the two teams we really had preferred to avoid in the Zags.
00:02:12
@NoConfForOldMen
and I guess it was UConn as well. They were so underseated as the number nine Ken Palm team. It was ridiculous. So why don't we just focus on the Zags game today?
00:02:22
@NoConfForOldMen
And let's start with you first, Tom. What were some of things you saw from a coach's perspective in our nail-biting win over the Zags?
Coach's Insight: Offensive and Defensive Thoughts
00:02:29
Tom
Well, first thing, LJ continued his hot shooting from the SIUE game. Sounds like a labor union there.
00:02:39
@NoConfForOldMen
It's...
00:02:39
Tom
He had, I think he had 15 points in the first half against them. And then, like I said, he continued his hot shooting. We got off to a really good start, really crisp start, 24-12.
00:02:51
Tom
And then I think we eventually built to fourteen point lead. 35, 27, uh, the half, but it was obvious, Gonzaga's defensive game plan. they took away, Milo's on the pick and roll. They brought two to the ball and they kind of made Milo string it out.
00:03:10
Tom
And then they were going to make a Juwan beat us on the short roll. And Juwan was, uh, first half, he missed a lot of shots. Uh, I wouldn't say point blank shots, but he was short, I think on most of them.
00:03:21
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:03:23
Tom
Uh, Second half, he came out and I think he hit like four buckets. Juwan did four buckets, right at the beginning of the half. It was, and both teams were just going blow by blow. it was like each one was throwing a punch and a
Player's Perspective: Game Highlights and Sentiments
00:03:37
Tom
haymaker. And, I will say this about our defense too. Uh, early in the game, they were getting most of their points off our monstering, the double team.
00:03:48
Tom
Few had a really good game plan for that. When we had to come over with a monster, he put his other big kind of in the short corner. And then he had two players in the corners. And, you know, from then on, it's like a numbers game.
00:04:04
Tom
They got a couple of buckets where the guy that was being double teamed hit Huff. What's his name? Huff or can't remember the big kid for Gonzaga.
00:04:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, hu he was pretty good.
00:04:14
Tom
They hit him for, yeah, a couple of easy buckets close. second half I noticed we didn't monster we went one-on-one in the post and gave no help also interestingly I think I'm out of talk with you on this Steve we were texting back and forth the score in the second half was 49 to 46 in Gonzaga's favor I mean who uh
00:04:40
@NoConfForOldMen
Mm-hmm.
00:04:41
Tom
Who would have had that on their bingo card that that many points would be scored?
00:04:41
@NoConfForOldMen
Uh, I know. Yeah.
00:04:44
Tom
Not only us on the offense end, but also, you know, defensively. Second half, EK, he hit a couple of threes that he normally doesn't hit.
00:04:57
Tom
And then Gonzaga makes their comeback. I thought the key play. In that comeback, we're up 60-46, and we have possession of the ball, and we're about to throw the knockout punch.
00:05:10
Tom
And then JoJo just makes that knucklehead play where, for some reason, when he came down an offense, he thought it was a good idea just go over there and just chuck Ike. For one thing, Ike is not going to move.
00:05:24
Tom
And it wasn't like he was trying to post up. You know, you can come in there and put an arm bar in the chest and seal and try to get post position. But I don't I have no idea what Jojo was doing on that. So an interesting thing on that, too, is, Kelvin being the coach he is, you know,
00:05:43
Tom
He doesn't do a Fran McCaffrey and go over there and rip the official or a Danny Hurley,
Analytics Breakdown: Performance and Plays
00:05:47
Tom
rip the official and get technicals. You know, he knew JoJo was in the wrong and then he chewed on JoJo. That's the difference between Kelvin and some of these other coaches. You know, it's no excuses.
00:06:00
Tom
You know, we're not going make excuses. Just make sure you do your job and play smart basketball. So, again, the tag of cuts at the seven. And from there, it was just a rollercoaster to the end.
00:06:11
Tom
Thank God for LJ and his free throw shooting. He was fouled a couple of times and he made both ends of that.
00:06:14
@NoConfForOldMen
It did.
00:06:18
Tom
So a tough game, like you said, that 1-8 game versus Gonzaga. That felt like an elite eight game.
00:06:27
@NoConfForOldMen
ah ah dad
00:06:28
Tom
Gonzaga, in my opinion, Gonzaga, gotta give them credit. They were a lot better than I thought they were. I thought this might have been a 12 to 14 point U of H win.
00:06:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, no, they hung tough, especially after taking those blows early on. Bill, how about your views to the big win from player's perspective?
00:06:47
Bill Walker
Yeah, there was a lot of pregame complaining about us drawing Gonzaga in the second round. But in the end, quite honestly, I think it's Gonzaga who could and should have done more of the complaining.
00:07:00
Bill Walker
You number nine in Ken Palm, number eight in the net. you know, forget, forget the seven seeds, does anyone who's actually watched these teams believe the six seeds?
00:07:11
@NoConfForOldMen
Exactly.
00:07:12
Bill Walker
And by those, I mean, Missouri or Illinois are better than Gonzaga.
00:07:12
@NoConfForOldMen
like
00:07:18
Bill Walker
Uh, Ole Miss definitely gets a pass. They're safe, but, uh, mean, they, they played well, they played really well, but Missouri or Illinois, absolutely not, uh,
00:07:18
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:07:25
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:07:28
Bill Walker
You know, the committee in its infinite wisdom really did Gonzaga more so than us a disservice.
00:07:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:07:35
Bill Walker
And with that said, you know, we showed why we're the best team in the country. First half, we out-rebounded, we out-shot. we If it's a word, we out-turnovered and we completely outplayed them.
00:07:46
@NoConfForOldMen
Mm-hmm.
00:07:49
Bill Walker
They hit a couple of late shots that cut our consistent double-digit lead to eight-point lead at half. And that's 27 points in the first half for a team scoring 87-plus points per game.
00:08:05
Bill Walker
yeah Our first-half stars were Cryer and our defense. Second half is a little different, as you mentioned, Tom. Who would have thought that we would have been outscored 49-46, which is just crazy.
00:08:19
@NoConfForOldMen
What?
00:08:19
Bill Walker
But they also shot 14 of 23 for 61% from the field, 6 of 9 on threes, and they made every one of their 15 free throws. They shot 15 for 15 for the game.
00:08:34
Bill Walker
All 15 were shot in the second half. Actually, we were very close. We were 14 of 29 from the field.
00:08:40
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:08:42
Bill Walker
We were 4 of 8 from 3, and we were 14 of 18 from the line in the second half.
Purdue Preview: Matchups and Strategies
00:08:47
Bill Walker
That was all but one of our free throws for the game. Very, very good, very efficient offense. the D, maybe not as great as it could have been, but i mean quite honestly,
00:08:59
Bill Walker
I know that they're a good shooting team. I mentioned last time, but they were on fire led by Graham Ike, their, their big guy.
00:09:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:09:08
Bill Walker
And his last name is spelled for everyone. Watch it. You can see the big Ike on the back. And I was constantly referring to him as Tina Turner's ex Ike, uh, because only is,
00:09:20
Tom
Mm-hmm.
00:09:20
@NoConfForOldMen
Nah.
00:09:25
Bill Walker
It's spelled Ike, but, I mean, he was just beating the hell out of us in the second half. so I thought, well, there's an apt comparison. 27 points, 9 of 9 free throws, 2 of 3 threes. i mean, he just played an extraordinary game. Khalil Battle, who most probably saw after the game, he was crying and Calvin hugged him.
00:09:50
Bill Walker
He had a... Really solid game, 17 points, five rebounds. Not great shooting, but not bad. And then Nembhard, Ryan Nembhard, they're – their point guard, who coming into this game is basically their best player, 10 points, 11 assists, but we also forced him into five turnovers.
00:10:09
Bill Walker
For the good guys, Cryer clearly was the star.
00:10:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:10:13
Bill Walker
8 of 15 from the field, 6 of 11 from three, 8 of 8 from the line, including, as you mentioned, Thompson, huge ones late. 30 point, one turnover game.
00:10:24
Bill Walker
30 points is Cryer's career high. Roberts, was aggressive the entire game, maybe a little too much so in the first half, where nothing would drop.
00:10:35
Bill Walker
But he turned around and started hitting an awful lot in the second half. And Steve, I'd love to argue with you right now about how facing...
00:10:45
Bill Walker
exactly the same defense a guy could can not shoot well in the first half maybe shoot significantly better in the second half and it's just the shots are falling the shots weren't falling uh and the defense was basically the same but i'll leave that alone we'll let you off the hook there uh you well Well, the other guys that played really well for us, besides Roberts in the second half,
00:11:14
Bill Walker
would be certainly, well, let me say, I'm sorry, Roberts ended up with 18 points, eight boards, and five assists, and he did a good job of kicking the ball out to our shooters.
00:11:22
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep. One foul.
00:11:25
Bill Walker
Sharp only took seven shots, but he retained his aggressiveness, which I love, and i would say our unsung hero for the game was certainly Tuggler.
00:11:36
Bill Walker
Five of nine from the field, he scored 11 points, he had a couple of blocks, He had 11 boards, six on the offensive end, and he only committed one foul.
00:11:44
@NoConfForOldMen
yeahp
00:11:47
@NoConfForOldMen
life out
00:11:48
Bill Walker
Unfortunately, it was one not particularly intelligent foul, and it hurt our momentum, but that was his only foul of the entire game.
00:11:52
Tom
Mm-hmm.
00:11:53
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:58
Bill Walker
you he was on, he seemed to, uh, to have a tough time penetrating and being himself offensively. And I give Gonzaga credit for that.
00:12:08
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:12:09
Bill Walker
committed three turnovers, but he did dish out eight assists. And one of the two field goals he made was, it was a three, uh, that we needed, uh, deep into the second half.
00:12:20
Bill Walker
I thought we came up big.
00:12:23
@NoConfForOldMen
so
00:12:24
Bill Walker
They made the game tight, but we never – well, we lost the lead very briefly, but I thought that we were the better team. They just – God, they were just – excuse me, hitting everything. He hit big shots, but you know what? We hit big shots as well when we needed to to kind of stem some of their tides.
00:12:43
Bill Walker
Yuzan, Sharp, Cryer, they were perfect from the line down the stretch. Cryer with the big ones, but Sharp hit some big ones as well, and so did Yuzan.
00:12:54
Bill Walker
And, you know, in the end, great teams do what they need to do to win games like this, and we're a great team, so we did exactly that.
00:13:04
Tom
Malik Wilson, too. I thought Malik Wilson had, the box score probably doesn't, you know, tell you a whole lot about Malik's play, but look who was on the floor in crunch time.
00:13:07
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, unsung here.
00:13:16
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:13:16
Tom
Malik was there. He had that offensive rebound where his head was almost on the rim.
00:13:21
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:13:23
Tom
Hit a clutch free throw. You know, I was saying, Malik, just hit one of these two. Just please hit one of these two.
00:13:28
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:13:28
Bill Walker
I thought the same thing.
00:13:30
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, no, he played well. I mean, from an advanced analytics perspective, this Zags game couldn't have started any better than it did. As many experts articulated beforehand, if you haven't played us, it's difficult to simulate the defensive intensity, no matter how much coaches emphasize it just by talking about it.
00:13:48
@NoConfForOldMen
And of course that played out as the Zags were on their heels, as we took a 14 point lead at the 6.55 minute mark of the first half to their credit. Zach steady themselves and Pulse with an eight at the half. We then control for the most part, the second half, pushing the lead back up to between nine and 14 points for basically three quarters of the second half.
00:14:08
@NoConfForOldMen
And then they started pressing us with three minutes left and things got tight as we quite honestly, we wilted a bit dealing with the pressure. But ultimately, as you guys had highlighted, Tim held on for the five-point win with some timely free throws from Cryer and some stifling game-ending D by Wilson and Francis on battle.
00:14:26
@NoConfForOldMen
When looking at the game from an advanced analytics perspective, it's actually a really weird game because, yeah know, watching the game visually, i felt like we played great D. Even in the second half, we played hard.
00:14:39
@NoConfForOldMen
challenged every shot, blocked almost 16% of their shots, forced turnovers on almost 17% of their possessions. And even after knocking them back and grabbing 14-point lead in the first half, somehow the Zags were able to end up shooting over 58% effective field goal percentage for the game. 45% from three-point range, of course, including some unreal shots in the second half, like the two threes by yeah k Fortunately, offensively,
00:15:08
@NoConfForOldMen
I mean, we were also supremely efficient for the game. Over 53% effective field goal percentage, 50% from three-point range, less than 11% turnovers, over 39% offensive rebounds.
00:15:21
@NoConfForOldMen
Criott and Roberts were basically shredding the Zags. Plus, Tuggler, as you guys had highlighted, had an incredible game on both ends. 10 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks in only 20 minutes.
00:15:32
@NoConfForOldMen
So here's the two key stats of the game that made things close at the end. Zero field goals, two turnovers in the final 428 of the game for the Cougs. And then if you look on the flip side, 17 of the 27 points scored by Ike were against Francis. I went back and counted every basket that was made.
00:15:53
@NoConfForOldMen
So quite honestly, I know Tuggler made that silly foul, but I'm not sure why he only played 20 minutes with only one foul in arguably one of his best games of the season. So maybe it was to avoid his...
00:16:06
@NoConfForOldMen
kind bad free throw shooting at the end when we were thinking they might foul. But boy, he was playing really well and Ike was having issues scoring on him. But hey, I'll take the win and we're off to the Sweet 16.
00:16:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Now let's get to the next game versus Purdue. Not to downplay this matchup, but I think we all agreed at the outset that we'd like this potential matchup if we got by the Zags.
00:16:31
@NoConfForOldMen
Bill, you can go first. What's your player's perspective on this matchup versus the Boilermakers?
00:16:36
Bill Walker
Yeah, I don't like this matchup. I actually love this matchup. Purdue's and we we Sorry, we we play them Friday.
00:16:46
Bill Walker
The schedule I saw said 9.09 p.m., so it's a late...
00:16:50
@NoConfForOldMen
That's the last game, I think.
00:16:51
Bill Walker
yep Yeah, and...
00:16:52
Tom
Which it means it'll probably be 9.30.
00:16:55
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:16:55
Bill Walker
right That's right. And it's either on TBS or true, according to what I've seen.
00:17:00
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:17:02
Bill Walker
And of course, as everyone's mentioning on all the boards and everywhere right now, the game is being played in Indianapolis about just over an hour drive from Purdue.
00:17:13
Bill Walker
It's the biggest home court advantage for a higher, I guess, seeded team, a four versus a one or whatever it is versus a one.
00:17:21
Tom
Bye.
00:17:25
Bill Walker
You know, the most advantageous for the weaker team seed-wise, but I couldn't care less. It doesn't matter.
00:17:34
Bill Walker
They ended 13-7 in the Big Ten, despite a, I think, I want to say they may have ended up the sixth seed in the tournament, despite a Big Ten tournament, despite a three-way tie with UCLA and Wisconsin, who I think won the tiebreakers.
00:17:50
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:17:52
Bill Walker
Purdue's currently 16th in Ken Palm. They're offense 55 defense. 19 in the net. They've had defense nineteen in the net they've had let's see Well, they're 16 in Bart Torvik.
Sweet 16 Predictions: Tennessee and Kentucky
00:18:08
Bill Walker
They're 22 in the AP. They're seven and ten versus quad one teams. They have their two NCAA wins so far in this tournament, 75-63 over thirteen seed high point over you know not exactly you're blue blood teams but that's what it is This is a team that I don't find particularly strong or athletic, but they are smart.
00:18:39
Bill Walker
They move the ball well and they can definitely shoot. 49% from the field for the year and 38.5% three. McNeese. So it's they were up eighteen at half versus mcne so The game wasn't, even though they won by 12, it probably wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated.
00:19:00
Bill Walker
Purdue's best players, their top scorer, Trey Kaufman-Wren. He's a 6'9 junior forward, 20 points a game, 6.5 boards, 2.5 turnovers.
00:19:12
Bill Walker
He takes consistently... 18 to 20 shots a game. He was first team all Big Ten. He shoots 60% from the field, 43% from three, and he gets to the free throw line.
00:19:27
Bill Walker
He is a good player. I would imagine that Roberts will probably play him being the most versatile of our big men. Their other all Big Ten first team players, Braden Smith, he actually is the Big Ten player the year.
00:19:43
Bill Walker
Six-foot junior point guard. 16 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 2.2 steals a game, but commits three turnovers. He 38.5% from three.
00:19:57
Bill Walker
Hits his free throws. Quite honestly, he does everything, but I think this is a game where LJ can stay with him if LJ's playing him.
00:20:08
Bill Walker
I think Milo could probably guard him pretty well, and I think off the bench you're going to see Malik all over him.
00:20:18
@NoConfForOldMen
Thank
00:20:19
Bill Walker
Fletcher Lawyer is their other big scorer or decent scorer. Another junior. They're going to be good next year if they all stay. 6'5 shooting guard, almost 14 points a game, 45% from three.
00:20:32
Bill Walker
He is their best shooter. My guess is that Sharp will have the assignment of locking him down. And couple others real quickly, CJ Cox, six three freshman, two guard. He does shoot 40% from three, although he doesn't shoot a whole lot.
00:20:49
Bill Walker
And Miles Colvin, he's a 6'5", two guard. They play a lot of guards, obviously. He will shoot. He likes to shoot. And quite honestly, I hope he does because he is not an exceptionally good shooter.
00:21:02
Bill Walker
Yeah. One of the few.
00:21:03
@NoConfForOldMen
Thank you.
00:21:05
Bill Walker
They also start a 6'10", kind of slow big man, but he plays like 10 to 12 minutes a game. So this will be far more four guards with Kauffman Penn.
00:21:17
Bill Walker
So I do see a lot of floor time for my league, which I love. They actually beat Alabama by nine earlier in the year, and they lost to Auburn by 18.
00:21:30
Bill Walker
So those would be our two common opponents that we've matched up against.
00:21:33
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:21:35
Bill Walker
But they've also lost by four to A&M. They beat Ole Miss by two, and they lost to Marquette by 18. And in that game, Marquette was, i watched that game, Marquette was much quicker, much more athletic, much more aggressive.
00:21:50
Bill Walker
They forced 15 Purdue turnovers, and Purdue couldn't do the same. Marquette only committed six in that game. I see this as Quite similar to that game.
00:22:02
Bill Walker
I think Roberts will get a lot of looks inside. I think Yuzan will control the floor much like he has for the second half the season.
00:22:05
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:22:13
Bill Walker
I think this is a game where Sharp matches up really well with them and could have a really good game. And, you know, Purdue's had some nice wins, Alabama being the biggest one.
00:22:23
Bill Walker
But, they're playing at home. But quite honestly, we're just a better team. We're a much better team. We're on to the Elite Eight, seventy eight sixty six
00:22:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay. Tom, how about you from a coach's perspective?
00:22:38
Tom
If you look at the coach for Purdue, it's Matt Painter. He's been at Purdue for a while. Really, really good coach. I've always kind of thought that when you look at coaches, they kind of fall in two categories. What they emphasize, more offense or more defense. If you look at Coach Sampson, definitely a defense-centric approach to the game. Matt Painter, in my opinion, is defensive.
00:23:03
Tom
Offense oriented. Interesting thing about Matt Painter is about 10 years ago, he started going with an offensive coordinator about 2015 or so. So it's been about 10 years.
00:23:15
Tom
So he he has a, guy on the sideline. that, um, um, holds up the whiteboard like Casey Beard does now. they've been doing that for about 10 years. And ever since they hired, uh, ever since they went to the system of having an assistant, uh, call the sets and call the plays, their offensive efficiency is really, really, climbed a whole, a whole lot better.
00:23:33
Bill Walker
Thank
00:23:37
Tom
So they're, they're a better offensive team, I think, than they are a defensive team. Yeah, he has about 150 plays, which most coaches have probably that much. There's only so much players can digest.
00:23:51
Tom
i mean, they there's only so much.
00:23:53
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:23:53
Tom
So then they come into the game with about 20 or 25 of these plays. They're chosen for each game. The coaches will sit down. And I was an article by Casey Beard the other day, and that's what Kelvin does with Casey.
00:24:07
Tom
They go over the game plan. and they pick out what sets or plays they want to do. And then Casey's able to do that on the sideline. They hold up that whiteboard, and it'll say an alignment, like a horns alignment and and some type of action blast or whatever, so like a horns blast.
00:24:23
Tom
But they're a really good offensive team. Like I said, not as good defensively. Bill mentioned their personnel. Fletcher Lawyer is that shooting guard who's shooting 45%.
00:24:37
Tom
You have to make him dribble to a shot. You can't let him just sit out there and, you know, catch and shoot and shoot rhythm threes. I mean, he's really, really, really, really good shooter.
00:24:48
Tom
Bill mentioned Trey Kaufman-Ren. That's going to be a really good matchup. Bill said 60% from field. And then you have Braden Smith, the All-American, who I think Milo's is better.
00:25:02
Tom
You know, there might be some extra motivation from some of our guards knowing that this guy's a first-team All-American. Versus our pick-and-roll, I think they'll hit the short roller. That's the way we play it, our pick-and-roll defense. You know, we bring two the ball, and it appears that, Braden Smith will hit that short roller.
00:25:22
Tom
that short roller They're pretty good at that. So be embarrassing to watch and see how we play the pick and Braden Smith and how we're going to, match up and try to stop their short roll game.
00:25:35
Tom
And like Bill, I predict this winning, you know, would say 12, 13 points, but you know how it goes. So I'm saying maybe, I'm maybe saying like seven, we win by seven or eight.
00:25:44
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:25:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. That's the, roughly the line.
00:25:50
Bill Walker
I think our defense is going to, I think much like a lot of teams, much like Gonzaga reacted early and often throughout the first half, I think Purdue is going to get hit with a defense that they have not come up against, not even close in the Big Ten, including Michigan State.
00:25:50
Tom
Like BYU did.
00:26:08
Tom
like be y you did
00:26:11
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. I mean, strictly from an analytics perspective, I'm not going to back away from my initial statement either. On paper, this is just a really good matchup for our Cougs. And the professional analytics guys agree with the largest expected spread coming in our game in the Sweet 16 at 8.8 points via Hoslam metrics.
00:26:32
@NoConfForOldMen
Even though Purdue's coming in is, as you mentioned, Bill, number 16 in Ken Palm. So they're really good. Purdue's number seven in adjusted offensive efficiency and number 55 in adjusted defensive efficiency.
00:26:44
@NoConfForOldMen
While we've settled in at number 10 in adjusted offensive efficiency, and now we've moved all the way to our rightful place of number one after this last game in adjusted defensive efficiency.
00:26:55
@NoConfForOldMen
So this could be our least pressure packed game on offense remaining in the tournament. Purdue offensively is an excellent shooting team again this year, number 18th in effective field goal percentage, number nine from three point range. But fortunately, they're also a very deliberate offense like us.
00:27:13
@NoConfForOldMen
They're like number 299 in tempo and are just good at protecting the ball like 83 and turnover percentage and offensive rebounding at 117.
00:27:25
@NoConfForOldMen
Unfortunately for Purdue, we're great when setting up our D in the half court and we feast on turning teams over. Plus our three point percentage D is rounding into peak form at number 25 now in the country and number five from five point range. So Purdue's going to find it very difficult to score on us.
00:27:44
@NoConfForOldMen
On D, Purdue's just not the same without Edie this year. they They have somehow maintained a great three-point percentage D at number 34. Their overall effective field goal percentage D is dreadful.
00:27:56
@NoConfForOldMen
They're 239 in the country, 341st from two-point range.
00:27:58
Tom
HMS.
00:28:00
@NoConfForOldMen
As you guys had highlighted, expect lots of Roberts, Tugler, and Sharp driving to the hoop this game to loosen them up for open threes deeper in the game. This is just not a good matchup for Purdue.
00:28:12
@NoConfForOldMen
if you look at during the course of the season, I think, Bill, you mentioned as well, three comps, again, high energy Ds this season, and there none of them are at our level, but Purdue has lost all three to A&M, Auburn, and Michigan State. So I like our chances in this one.
00:28:27
@NoConfForOldMen
Based on the metrics, this is projected to be a seven-point win for the Cougs based on Ken Palm, but because our D is really starting to
Tennessee vs. Kentucky: Strategy and Players
00:28:34
@NoConfForOldMen
tighten up. Of course, the Zags were a different picture, but especially on the three-point range, I'm predicting we're going to win 10, 71-61 for the Cougs.
00:28:43
@NoConfForOldMen
for the cook Now, not to jinx things, but assuming we do win this game, our potential matchup will be versus either Tennessee or Kentucky in the Elite Eight, which is a rematch of conference foes and a similar dynamic to our game with Purdue of defense versus offense.
00:29:00
@NoConfForOldMen
What do you guys think of the game and how we match up with both of these teams? Tom, I guess you can go first from a coach's perspective.
00:29:07
Tom
Sure. Tennessee led by Mark Pope. This is Pope's first year at Kentucky. So, you know, they were in the conference last – Pope was in the conference last year at BYU.
00:29:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Mm-hmm.
00:29:19
Tom
So, offensively, defensively, they're not going to be strangers if we do play Kentucky, you know, because we played a Pope team. The difference here, I believe – and I haven't watched Kentucky a whole lot, but last year, if you remember, when we played BYU – Al McGuire would call a team like this a donut team because they had nothing in the middle.
00:29:40
Tom
BYU did not have much of an inside game. They had Traore that would come in every now and then, but you know they didn't even attempt to really feed the ball inside and get it in there.
00:29:47
@NoConfForOldMen
good.
00:29:50
Tom
They were just pretty much live and die by the three. Polpeck, Kentucky, little bit different. He's got Amari Williams, who's like seven.
00:29:59
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah he's good
00:30:01
Tom
I don't know, seven one something like that. And, you know, he's just not an afterthought in their offense. So he brings a different dimension to to a Mark Pope team. Tennessee, on the other hand, no stranger to Kelvin, led by Rick Barnes.
00:30:19
Tom
Kelvin's known Rick Barnes in college. They both played NAA basketball teams. uh, in North Carolina, Kelvin played at, uh, UNC Pembroke, uh, Tubby Smith played at high point. I'm not sure where, where Rick Barnes played, but he was, you know, a player at a college in that NAIA division. And so Kelvin has known Rick for, what, 40 something years. Uh, uh, Rick has always been kind of a coach that, uh, tough, hard nose, build around defense and rebounding.
00:30:51
Tom
So if we play Tennessee, it's going to kind of be like a mirror image.
00:30:56
Tom
Kentucky will be a whole different one.
00:30:57
Tom
You know, it'll be a contrast in styles. You know, I'm sure we'll control the tempo, which would be, Kentucky wants to get out there and run a gun and get out in transition. So Tennessee has lost to Kentucky twice, I think it is.
00:31:12
Tom
Got to play them a third time. You know, the old adage is that it's hard to beat a team, three times in a season.
00:31:15
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:31:19
Tom
but who knows? That's a coin flip in that game.
00:31:22
@NoConfForOldMen
Who would you rather play, Tom, of the two?
00:31:25
Tom
i would
00:31:27
Tom
Mirror image is is Tennessee. Maybe I'd say I'd rather play Tennessee.
00:31:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay. Okay. Cool. Bill, how about you from a player's perspective on Tennessee, Kentucky?
00:31:42
Bill Walker
I'd rather play Kentucky.
00:31:44
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, me too.
00:31:44
Tom
Ha!
00:31:45
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. a
00:31:48
Tom
Now you got to explain.
00:31:50
Bill Walker
Well, let me get into it. Yeah. Tennessee is 29 and seven right now. They came in fourth in the SEC. Most people, including the three of us based on our brackets, including all the, the,
00:31:50
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:32:03
Bill Walker
the clowns on ESPN and everywhere else. Everyone, and I guess I can include us when I say prognosticating clowns, everyone seems to have us playing UT to go to the Final Four.
00:32:09
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yep.
00:32:17
Bill Walker
up But you never know. As you mentioned, Tom, Kentucky beat UT reasonably low-scoring game in Knoxville, and 75-64 Lexington.
00:32:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:32:27
Bill Walker
Who knows? Perhaps it's four in laxington who knows perhaps it's Bad matchup for Tennessee, but but you never know.
00:32:37
Bill Walker
Tennessee has been compared to us as they are the best defensive team in the SEC. They typically don't score more than in the 70s, and they hold opponents into the 50s or 60s, which is not bad in the SEC where you have some high-scoring teams.
00:32:50
@NoConfForOldMen
Mm-hmm.
00:32:53
Bill Walker
Under former Texas coach Rick Barnes, who I guess you have to mention left UT for UT,
00:33:01
Tom
Which one's the real UT?
00:33:02
Bill Walker
there, there, well, I've lived in Nashville. I lived in Nashville for 11 years and I've lived here for, for about 13. Uh, it really depends on where you are.
00:33:16
Bill Walker
If you're in, in one of those places, that's the real UT. And, uh, and if you're in the other, then that's the real UT.
00:33:20
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:33:25
Bill Walker
And both are, are absolutely passionate and adamant about it. Uh, But yeah Tennessee right now, they're five in Ken Palm, 17 in offense, three in defense.
00:33:39
Bill Walker
They're also five in the net. They're six in Bart Torvik. They're six in the AP.
00:33:43
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:33:44
Bill Walker
They're 12 and seven in quad one games. And they they score 74 and a half points a game. They allow 63.
00:33:54
Bill Walker
They are, and i think, and kind of an average rebounding team, a fairly mediocre shooting team, but they do move the ball well, about 15.5 assists a game, and they force seven steals a game defensively.
00:34:12
Bill Walker
and
00:34:12
@NoConfForOldMen
Thank
00:34:13
Bill Walker
With them, leading into that, leading in with them, it's the D. Opponents shot 38% for the year, 28% from three. They force 11.5 turnovers a game. They block five shots per game.
00:34:27
Bill Walker
In other words, they're not a huge team, but they're athletic and they're quick. They're definitely kind of like us, but I don't think they're nearly as strong. I don't think they're nearly as aggressive.
00:34:37
Bill Walker
Their best players, their leading scorer is Chase Lanier. He's all SEC second team, 18 points a game, 41% from threes, a 6'4 shooting guard, transferred in from North Florida, and he was the SEC newcomer of the year. He's a senior.
00:34:55
Bill Walker
Their point guard, who is not only first-team SEC, but the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, kind of like their version of sharp i'm sorry Shed last year, is Zakai Ziegler.
00:35:09
Bill Walker
5'9", senior point guard, 14 points, 7.5 assists. He does commit three turnovers. He'll take some outside shots and he'll hit some, but basically he's not a good shooter and you'd rather have him shooting.
00:35:26
Bill Walker
Another guard that gets a ton of playing time is Jordan Ganey. He's a six three senior guard, another senior, 11 points.
00:35:35
Bill Walker
He is not a good shooter. He plays very good Ds, physical. He probably won't start, but he plays over 30 minutes a game, so he effectively as a starter.
00:35:48
Bill Walker
And then, uh, Felix, uh, Opara, uh, a six, 10 junior forward center. He's from Lagos, Nigeria. And I imagine that a lot of U of H fans are familiar with big guys from Lagos.
00:36:06
Bill Walker
Uh, everything he does though is a hundred percent inside. And by the way, I think it's either going to be Tugler or Francis on him. Yeah, I'd like to see a lot of Wilson in this game as well, playing Ziegler.
00:36:20
Bill Walker
And I think Sharp can certainly handle Chas Lanier. And then their other big guy is Igor Milicic. He's also 6'10". He's much more versatile, so he'd be tough.
00:36:31
Bill Walker
I got imagine he'll be played by J-Juan. 10 points, seven boards, two assists. He shoots threes. He shoots a fair number of threes, but he only hit 32% for the season.
00:36:42
Tom
Thank you.
00:36:43
Bill Walker
It's not a horrible percentage, but it's not great. yeah The key for us against Tennessee, I'm sorry, i'm sorry <unk> tennessee combining the two.
00:36:54
Bill Walker
The key for us against Tennessee is to make sure we get the ball to open shooters.
00:36:54
@NoConfForOldMen
Amen.
00:36:58
Bill Walker
And if that means multiple passes, that's absolutely fine. They're fairly deep, but I think we can bang on and wear them down, especially their big guys.
00:37:09
Bill Walker
yeah They're very good, as I mentioned, defensive team. But aside from, i don't know, playing themselves, they really haven't gone up against a defense like ours again, like we're talking about Gonzaga.
00:37:22
Bill Walker
And I think to beat us, for Tennessee to beat us, I think we have to be ice cold from the perimeter and they're streaky slash mediocre shooters need to shoot. Well, get on a roll and shoot. Well, for us, I like to see us do everything we can to get the ball out of Ziegler's hands. He can, he's kind of like Mark Sears controls a lot.
00:37:48
Bill Walker
You just want to keep the ball away from him if you can. And yeah I think they're structured, like I said, similarly to us, but they're just not as good in any one facet. i have us If we play them, we'll beat them Kentucky.
00:38:02
Bill Walker
kentucky Again, don't be surprised if this is our matchup. you know Kentucky beat them both times. At Kentucky, and this is funny, UT, Kentucky shot 50% the field and 12 of 24 from three.
00:38:16
Bill Walker
kentucky shot fifty percent from the field and twelve of twenty four from three
00:38:18
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah. 50 and 50. fifty and fifty
00:38:22
Bill Walker
They held UT in that game to 34.7% from the field and 24.5% from three. And this was while the turnovers were 13-5 in Tennessee's favor.
00:38:36
Bill Walker
That's a 78-73 Kentucky win. Basically, five starters played almost the entire game for Kentucky in that game, but all scored in double
Elite Eight Predictions: Defense and Matchups
00:38:46
Bill Walker
digits.
00:38:47
Bill Walker
So they were quite balanced.
00:38:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep. Yes.
00:38:49
Bill Walker
Here's what's kind of funny. The 75-64 win in Lexington saw Kentucky again shoot 50% from both the floor and three.
00:38:55
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:38:59
Bill Walker
Amazingly, Kentucky shot 26 of 52 and of almost half their shots from three,
00:39:05
@NoConfForOldMen
yes
00:39:07
Bill Walker
on the road And then instead of 26 of 52, they shot 25 of 50. And again, exactly 12 of 24 from three at home.
00:39:16
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:39:19
Bill Walker
UT shot 42, 42 and a half percent from the field in Lexington, but only hit three of 18 threes, 16.6%.
00:39:29
Bill Walker
UT did out rebound Kentucky in both games. Kentucky right now, They're 15 in Ken Palm, 11 in offense, 45 in defense, so kind of opposite of Tennessee.
00:39:42
Bill Walker
They're 14 in the net. They're 15 in Bart Torvik. They're 18 in the AP. They're 24 and 11, 12 and 10 in quad one games. Their only quad two loss was to a sweet 16 team, Arkansas.
00:39:57
Bill Walker
Kentucky scores 85 a game. They dish out 17 assists, so they do move the ball. Uh, they commit 11 turnovers a game, but they give up 77 over 77 points a game and, and allow 37% from three, uh, and the NCAAs so far, they beat Troy easily and they handled Illinois by nine. I don't think they've particularly been tested yet.
00:40:24
Bill Walker
They're, they're best players, Otega away six, four junior two guard, 16 it's about 16 and a half points five boards 50 from the field 36 from three he is a threat and he does also get to the line uh kobe brea six seven senior swing man 12 points uh 91 from the line and 44 from three this guy can shoot he is definitely probably their best shooter
00:40:40
Tom
Thank you.
00:40:58
Bill Walker
Andrew Carr, he's a 6'11 forward, 10.5 points, 5 rebounds, 56% from the field. He's a decent shooter. You can see the theme here.
00:41:12
Bill Walker
Tom, you mentioned Amari Williams, 7-foot center from England, 10 points, 8.5 boards, 3.2 assists game, and 55% from field. But everything he does is inside. and fifty five percent from the field And then the last one would be Lamont Butler, 6'2", senior point guard, 11 points, four assists, but he shot 36% from three. So yeah aside from Williams, who's kind of their lone threat inside, this team shoots, and it's a Mark Pope team, so you know they're going to shoot three.
00:41:41
Bill Walker
It's a little bit more athletic Mark Pope team. And once again, about 50% of their shots are threes, and you Guess what beats them? Force them to work for their shots.
00:41:56
Bill Walker
They're fairly weak defensively, and they don't rebound. If we pressure their guards, we deny the penetration, we dominate the boards, we kill them inside with our strength and our athleticism, and basically crier is crier, we win comfortably. If we play them, it's 78-64 U of h
00:42:17
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay, so you're thinking a bigger win if it's Kentucky, right?
00:42:22
Bill Walker
Definitely a bigger win if it's Kentucky.
00:42:22
@NoConfForOldMen
and
00:42:23
Bill Walker
I think we match up better with them. And yeah, like I said, I'd rather play them.
00:42:29
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah, this Kentucky-Tennessee game is so similar to our game with Purdue. Even the stats for Tennessee and Kentucky closely mimic the advanced analytic metric profiles for us as well as Purdue.
00:42:42
@NoConfForOldMen
So in the tourney, I typically favor a defensive-oriented team to an offensive-oriented team because, quite honestly, defense travels and you can control effort on that side of the ball. And so theoretically, I should go with Tennessee.
00:42:55
@NoConfForOldMen
And the analytics back that up with Tennessee favored to win by four points on Ken Palm. However, as you guys have both mentioned, Kentucky has beaten Tennessee twice already this season.
00:43:06
@NoConfForOldMen
And though it's tough to beat someone three times every season, you have to ask yourself, does Coach Pope Just got something figured out versus Barnes. If you look at the two games, exactly as you had highlighted, Bill, Kentucky took almost half their shots, over 20 each game from three-point range.
00:43:24
@NoConfForOldMen
What that does is it spreads out Tennessee's D way more than they're comfortable with. And with things opening up, Kentucky shot 50%, again, from both two- and three-point range, both games.
00:43:35
@NoConfForOldMen
Just incredible, incredible stats. I just hope, quite honestly, that it's a super close game. For them, they go two overtimes and both teams are just super worn out from a matchup.
00:43:45
@NoConfForOldMen
ah you know I mean, from a matchup perspective, I do prefer to play a team that's offensively oriented with just a good D like Kentucky. i mean, it would be like playing, almost like playing Purdue again.
00:43:56
@NoConfForOldMen
But we've beaten both types of teams this season, so I'm good either way. I do feel the physicality of a game versus Tennessee would potentially result in a higher possibility for injuries. So I would like to avoid that, obviously.
00:44:10
@NoConfForOldMen
So give me Kentucky if we have a choice, but I think we can beat either team by roughly the same eight points, just simply based on the coaching factor with coach Sampson and just two days to
Big 12 Performance and Bracket Updates
00:44:21
@NoConfForOldMen
prep.
00:44:21
@NoConfForOldMen
I like our chances. So yes, yes, we have.
00:44:23
Bill Walker
We've also played Pope before. calvin's Calvin's coached against Pope.
00:44:28
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah. And we fared pretty well against BYU. So now if we, kind of pivot and look at our conference mates, right? Big 12 has got four teams in the Sweet 16, tying a record for the conference.
00:44:41
@NoConfForOldMen
I thought it probably should have been five teams, but ISU disappointed me in their last game. Of course, the SEC got seven teams in the Sweet 16, very crazy. What are your guys' thoughts on how our conference mates are doing?
00:44:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Also, kind of how are your overall brackets doing? Bill, you want to go first?
00:45:01
Bill Walker
My bracket stinks. It's better than Tom's.
00:45:02
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, me too.
00:45:04
Bill Walker
It's better than Tom's.
00:45:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Tom, where are you at?
00:45:06
Bill Walker
but
00:45:08
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, there you go.
00:45:08
Bill Walker
but but but but But that's right. But it basically stinks.
00:45:12
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:45:14
Bill Walker
However, and and and this should go to the notion that I'm actually a very good predictor because I predicted that I would suck going into this.
00:45:24
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah there you go
00:45:25
Bill Walker
I said, do not listen to what I pick. Pick exactly the opposite. With that said, however, All of my Elite Eight teams are still alive, so sadly I'm holding out hope.
00:45:35
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:45:38
Bill Walker
It's probably a really stupid thing to be doing, but but I am holding out hope.
00:45:41
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:45:44
Bill Walker
I've got, of of the four... four Big 12 teams that are left. One of those four, BYU, I had losing the first round.
00:45:54
Bill Walker
So I i certainly don't have them advancing any further.
00:45:55
@NoConfForOldMen
a yeah yeah
00:45:58
Bill Walker
However, the other three, I all have making the Elite Eight. Obviously us. I have Arizona beating Duke. And I have Texas Tech.
00:46:07
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, you do?
00:46:09
Bill Walker
Yes. And I have Texas Tech. Well, I had Texas Tech beating St. John's, but now I have Texas Tech beating Arkansas.
00:46:15
@NoConfForOldMen
I.
00:46:17
Bill Walker
So, yeah, i that that that about sums it up. don't Don't particularly follow my picks.
00:46:34
Bill Walker
That all goes out the window with when I pick us because nothing – Nothing, you you of H cannot be in any way derailed by my inability to to do anything right when it comes to picks.
00:46:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Prognosticate, yeah.
00:46:51
Bill Walker
Yeah, so so that'd be it for me.
00:46:53
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay, how about you, Tom?
00:46:56
Tom
Well, as far as brackets go, i think I'm dead last. i I predicted a bunch predicted a bunch of upsets.
00:47:01
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:47:03
Tom
I kind of changed.
00:47:03
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:47:05
Tom
I did change my bracket after we talked on the last podcast because Bill called me Mr.
00:47:08
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:47:09
Tom
Chalk.
00:47:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, so you started changing your...
00:47:11
Tom
but i
00:47:13
Tom
So I went back and...
00:47:13
Bill Walker
Well, not only are you chalk,
00:47:16
@NoConfForOldMen
You should never let him influence you. There you
00:47:19
Bill Walker
well, that's absolutely right, but not only do I call you chalk, but because you went and picked your most hated team, Kansas, to win the first round, which they did not do, I now call you rock chalk Jayhawk.
00:47:24
@NoConfForOldMen
go. That worked.
00:47:35
@NoConfForOldMen
there you go
00:47:36
Tom
well that i was playing 40 chester i figured if i pick kansas to win i always suck at my brackets and i would pick kansas to win they'll lose so it it it it worked you know whatever but whatever it takes but uh yeah my bracket is is pretty bad i still have uh you know
00:47:44
@NoConfForOldMen
the that worked Yeah.
00:47:54
Tom
all the, all the number one seeds in there. So I got that going for me and that's about it. But I think Steve, the original question was our conference mates, how they did.
00:48:01
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:48:03
Tom
Well, just talked about Kansas and, you know, and, uh, yeah, they, they didn't even make it out of the first round.
00:48:09
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:48:10
Tom
Oof-da, a blue blood program or a once proud blue blood program is, uh, you know, they, they lost in the first round, just like, uh,
00:48:10
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:48:19
Tom
with some of those schools, you know, i don't know, Norfolk state. So they're in the same boat as them.
00:48:24
Bill Walker
Bob Morris.
00:48:26
@NoConfForOldMen
You're on worse, yeah.
00:48:26
Tom
Robert. Yeah. Yeah. Bobby Morris.
00:48:28
Bill Walker
Your friend. yeah
00:48:29
Tom
hu
00:48:30
@NoConfForOldMen
I
00:48:32
Tom
ISU just with Bob Morris.
00:48:33
Bill Walker
Didn't you grow up with him? Yeah.
00:48:34
@NoConfForOldMen
didn't know. Yeah.
00:48:37
Tom
Yeah.
00:48:37
Bill Walker
yeah yeah that's all maybe you got Maybe he was
00:48:37
Tom
He's only about 300 years old.
00:48:42
Bill Walker
greater to a ahead of you
00:48:43
Tom
He could have, could have been, ISU something. they they They just stunk.
00:48:48
@NoConfForOldMen
i didn't know
00:48:51
Tom
They were down, I think, by 25 at one point to Ole Miss.
00:48:52
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah Yep.
00:48:55
Tom
I'm i'm not sure what what went down with ISU. they didn't They didn't even look recognizable to me from the team they were they were last year.
00:49:06
Tom
Yeah, I don't know. Maybe some things will come out next couple of weeks that might explain some things, but you know They've already got one guy in the transfer portal.
00:49:14
@NoConfForOldMen
yep
00:49:14
Tom
their' Their big center, Deshaun Jackson, in entered in there. Baylor, they didn't give Duke as good of a game as I thought they would. But we still have Tech in there against Arkansas, who, by the way, is now like the underdog.
00:49:27
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:49:30
Tom
It's it's it's unbelievable.
00:49:30
@NoConfForOldMen
I know.
00:49:31
Tom
But you know what?
00:49:32
Bill Walker
i did I did take Arkansas over Kansas.
00:49:32
Tom
Okay.
00:49:35
Bill Walker
Yeah.
00:49:35
Tom
Okay.
00:49:36
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, did you? Okay.
00:49:37
Tom
You know, in this, I should have known it, but in this age of NIL, you know, some of the smaller programs are are going to be like AAA affiliates for the the bigger schools.
00:49:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:49:49
Tom
So you're not going to see as many upsets anymore, just for that fact alone. Also, I think the committee, for the most part, does a pretty good job of seeding. So, you know, back in the old days, 20 years ago or so, Gonzaga was a really good team, but They always had a high seed, like a 15 or something, and they were upsetting teams.
00:50:24
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:50:25
Tom
you know the whole Hopefully the whole nation is rooting for Arizona against Duke. BYU, playing Bama. First team to 100 wins, I think, in that one.
00:50:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:50:35
Tom
almost almost I say it kind of jokingly.
00:50:36
@NoConfForOldMen
That'll be a fun one.
00:50:38
Tom
Yeah, but literally we already went through our game, Purdue and Kentucky, Tennessee. Florida and Maryland, I think Florida handles them pretty well, even though they got a scare against UConn the other day.
00:50:50
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:50:51
Tom
And then think Michigan State beats Ole Miss. I think Auburn gets by Michigan. But Our conference mates Saturday went three and o and what was it yesterday?
00:51:04
Tom
One and one and two a Arizona with a big win over Oregon.
00:51:05
@NoConfForOldMen
one and two. Yeah.
00:51:09
Tom
If we're getting down like 19 to four Caleb, Caleb, you know, he's, he's kind of like a Khalif battle for Gonzaga.
00:51:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:51:11
Bill Walker
Love looked great.
00:51:11
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah, he did. Yeah.
00:51:21
Tom
I thought battle against us. I mean, he's usually a wild undisciplined player, but, uh, he looked, you know, he played on, unselfish basketball, disciplined basketball and Cato love is Holy cow.
00:51:37
Tom
Uh, he's, he's kind of like a wild card X factor.
00:51:39
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:51:40
Tom
you know, just, he just had an unbelievable game and he wasn't really hunting his shots that much. I mean, it wasn't like he got the ball and every time he was looking to, you know, he was looking to shoot and forcing shots or whatever, but,
00:51:44
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:51:52
Tom
Anyway, that's the way that's way i look at it.
00:51:55
@NoConfForOldMen
All right. I mean, look out.
00:51:56
Bill Walker
i will give you I will give you one upset that I that i absolutely believe is going to happen in the Sweet 16.
00:51:56
@NoConfForOldMen
heat
00:52:05
Bill Walker
And I think Ole Miss wins. My friend Kevin will be happy that I'm saying that. But I think Ole Miss beats Michigan State. i don't I just don't think Michigan State's that good. It'll be down in – I think it's in Atlanta. Yeah.
00:52:23
Bill Walker
And I think Ole Miss is the better team.
00:52:26
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, we'll see. And for Caleb Love and Duke, you know, he usually plays pretty well against Duke. So keep your eyes on that one.
00:52:33
Tom
Mm-hmm.
00:52:35
@NoConfForOldMen
So we'll see.
00:52:36
Bill Walker
I picked Arizona.
00:52:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Did you? Okay.
00:52:39
Bill Walker
Oh, yeah.
00:52:40
@NoConfForOldMen
I mean, it's been a nice showing by the Big 12 so far. It was great to see Commissioner Yormark there watching our game since we have become the flagship now of the conference in hoops.
00:52:51
@NoConfForOldMen
Love seeing Tech, Arizona, BYU taking care of business. Again, hugely disappointed in ISU not showing up defensively versus Ole Miss. That was, I'm still having a hard time getting my head around the score there.
00:53:06
Tom
my My Cyclone friends were awfully silent. Yeah. Lately, they've been pretty quiet.
00:53:12
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, it it surprised me.
00:53:13
Tom
Yeah.
00:53:14
@NoConfForOldMen
It really did surprise me I did not expect that.
00:53:14
Tom
yeah
00:53:18
@NoConfForOldMen
I do love the fun matchups of Tech versus Arkansas, but really, assuming they beat them, I and want to see them versus Florida. The rematch of Arizona versus Duke, I think that's going to be fantastic.
Future Matchups: Analysis and Final Thoughts
00:53:30
@NoConfForOldMen
And then BYU-Bama with the offensive fireworks, I think that'll be fun.
00:53:35
Tom
Hey, change the shot clock to 12 seconds for that one.
00:53:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, I don't think they need a shot clock for that one, right? They're going to be, you know, throwing up threes all over the place.
00:53:44
Bill Walker
Hey, Steve, I'm developing, not that it isn't already at probably peak mode as it could be, but yourera your Badgers didn't quite make it to the second week.
00:54:01
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, i didn' I didn't pick them though, right? I had BYU. I have BYU.
00:54:03
Bill Walker
No, but we bet dinner on it.
00:54:05
@NoConfForOldMen
Well, but then we said we didn't want to do that, right? wow Well, we can take take it offline. but But yeah, I actually have BYU winning over Bama.
00:54:15
Bill Walker
I know. Yeah. oh
00:54:17
@NoConfForOldMen
So we'll see.
00:54:18
Bill Walker
no
00:54:20
@NoConfForOldMen
But I actually have Tech and BYU both advancing to the Elite Eight. So fingers crossed. But yeah speaking brackets, yeah, sad. I think I'm 11th on Coug fans out of 29 and 23rd out of 41 on the VIR one.
00:54:34
@NoConfForOldMen
So when I looked at the VIR one and love the ticket office is in first place and we've picked the exact same Elite Eight and Champion. So there's no chance I'm going to get close to overtaking him. So tip of the hat to him so far. I like him to go all the way this point.
00:54:53
@NoConfForOldMen
So... So that's it for our 49th episode of the No Conference for Old Men podcast. We hope you all enjoyed it and again, would really appreciate it if folks would follow, subscribe or collect our podcast, depending on your podcast platform of choice.
00:55:07
@NoConfForOldMen
We're also available via the Republican football podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football. As the only basketball-centric podcast, we're at the gocooks.com website for those that prefer to digest the content that way.
Episode Conclusion: Social Media and Sign-Off
00:55:20
@NoConfForOldMen
We appreciate the continued support from all. Also, please give us a follow on our Twitter account, No Conference for Old Men. Thank you all again for listening. And be on the lookout for our next episode next week.
00:55:31
@NoConfForOldMen
Take care, everyone.