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UH is the Top #2 Seed & in the South Region for March Madness!
134 Plays2 months ago
Welcome to Episode #77 of the No Conference for Old Men Podcast.
Our Houston Cougars are now 28-6 after beating BYU & KU in the XII Tourney, but come up just short in the Finals vs AZ to ready themselves for the real Tournament. Now it's March Madness time, with the brackets out and Houston as the top #2 Seed assigned to the South Region. And most importantly, the Cougars have the chance to play in Houston for the Sweet 16 & Elite 8 rounds should they advance that far! The 3 Old Men provide a recap of the XII Tourney games & break down our respective March Madness brackets in this episode. The pod is again sponsoring a Bracket Challenge for The Veer & CoogFans.com members for a chance to beat the 3 old men, with the overall winner joining us on a post-season episode!
Please have a listen as the 3 Old Men weigh in & discuss the March Madness brackets, as well as provide our respective picks for the Final 4 & Champion.
- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com YouTube Page; we're also available via Dave Campbell's College Podcast Network 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
Introduction & Guests
00:00:06
@NoConfForOldMen
Welcome folks to episode number 77 of the No Conference for Old Men podcast, podcast where three old guys are talking to Houston and Cougars basketball with a bit of Big 12 coverage added in as well and proud members of the gocougs.com network, the undisputed number one Houston Cougars content provider. And we are here today again with all three of the old men, Tom Lidiak, former coach, Bill Walker, former player, and myself, Steve Chang, the analytics guy for this episode.
Houston Cougars Recent Performances
00:00:31
@NoConfForOldMen
That's going to be our March Madness preview folks. Well, our Cougars had a great finish to warm up for March Madness with a focused win over BYU, then kind of a thrashing of Kansas that was especially satisfying. Only thing that could have made the weekend better was to pull out a win versus Arizona. But hey, we ended up losing a close win, to, i'd say what is likely the best team of the nation. But overall, lots of learnings for the team.
00:00:58
@NoConfForOldMen
I felt the D has ramped up for the tourney. And thankfully, there were no injuries on our team.
March Madness Brackets & Contest
00:01:04
@NoConfForOldMen
And now the brackets are formally out. We're the top number two seed and placed in the South region, which more importantly means that we get to play in Houston for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games if we advance. We're also sponsoring a no-confidence for Old Ben Go Cougs bracket on CBSSports.com for the Veer and Cougfans.com board members to participate in and compete with the old men yet again.
00:01:28
@NoConfForOldMen
where, you know just to be honest, our showing wasn't the best last year, especially you, Tom, where I think you came in dead freaking last, buddy. So anyways, so looking forward to fans participating, and we can talk a little bit of trash as well as the weeks go by.
00:01:45
@NoConfForOldMen
So for this big March Madness episode of the pod, we're going to quickly summarize the Big 12 tourney results in the first segment.
Game Analysis: BYU & Kansas
00:01:52
@NoConfForOldMen
But then we're going to pivot really quickly into March Madness brackets with specific attention placed on the Cougars South bracket. So why don't we get into it, guys, in dissecting our two wins over BYU, then Kansas, and then the loss to Arizona. Let's each just provide some takeaways from our play and in performance. Then we'll transition to a more free-flowing discussion on the March Madness brackets, going from region to region to highlight interesting matchups, potential upsets, and who we see coming out from each region. And Tom, why don't you kick things off with the coach's perspective on the Big 12 Championships.
00:02:28
Tom Lidiak
Well, the first game, BYU, you kind of figure BYU would be a little bit sluggish because there was just it was their third game in three days. Both teams kind got off this slow start for scoring-wise. I think it was, what, 41-37 at halftime we were down.
00:02:44
Tom Lidiak
We eventually, I think, took the lead with you know about about four minutes left. Big three by Kingston, big three by McCarty. and you know And came out with a hard-fought win.
00:02:57
Tom Lidiak
It's too bad Kevin Young didn't give us credit for the credit for the win. He was talking about Devonza. He should have shot 20 free throws or whatever. and Anyway, so here there's always –
00:03:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Your too thin skin, Tom. Just let it roll off your back.
00:03:15
Tom Lidiak
Oh, well, you know, you know, all the other coaches are, you know, complimentary.
00:03:16
@NoConfForOldMen
It's like it's sour grapes and just... Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:03:23
Tom Lidiak
Kelvin's always complimentary when, you know, usually when we get beat or whatever and Tommy Lloyd, but anyway, uh, beat them. And that's, and then it was on to, on to Kansas. So enough about the BYU game.
Game Breakdown: Arizona
00:03:37
@NoConfForOldMen
keep Keep going. Just, you can summarize all all all your attorney.
00:03:38
Tom Lidiak
Oh, Oh, the game, yeah, that then it was on then it was on to Kansas in front of a de facto home crowd.
00:03:40
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah. It was like, but yeah.
00:03:47
Tom Lidiak
And just, you know, what what can you say, held them to 47 points.
00:03:52
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:03:52
Tom Lidiak
i thought cant i thought I thought Darren Peterson hurt him on offense, hurt him on defense too.
00:03:53
@NoConfForOldMen
It's crazy. Good defense.
00:03:58
Tom Lidiak
he He doesn't play much defense.
00:03:59
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:04:00
Tom Lidiak
The ball just sticks, you know, when he's in the game. You got him out him out there giving the basketball a headache, pounding it.
00:04:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:04:07
Tom Lidiak
And then you've got four guys just looking at him. it was really interesting because when he went to the bench toward the end of the game, the first possession on an offense that he was out, the ball was just – it was just clicking from one side to the other real quick. And then a guy was able to drive the closeout and get up a decent shot. But, you know, give the Cougs credit. just Just a masterful defensive job.
00:04:33
@NoConfForOldMen
Do you think it was our best defensive game of the season?
00:04:36
Tom Lidiak
I think so.
00:04:37
@NoConfForOldMen
think so, right?
00:04:37
Tom Lidiak
Uh, you know, yeah.
00:04:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:04:39
Tom Lidiak
And Darren Peterson's play, I think kind of helped it a little bit too, because every time KU guy cut the ball in the perimeter, we were there as soon as he caught it, boom, we're, we're closing out and we were, uh, we were on it.
00:04:50
Tom Lidiak
So yeah. that was just a marvelous defensive effort. And then onto the Arizona game. you know, we got down by what, I think it was, it was 15.
00:05:02
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:05:02
Tom Lidiak
Uh, Kingston had trouble keeping this man in front of them.
00:05:05
@NoConfForOldMen
He did.
00:05:06
Tom Lidiak
They were, they were kind of, they were kind of, yeah, they were picking on them.
00:05:06
@NoConfForOldMen
so Picking on him. Yeah.
00:05:10
Tom Lidiak
And again, and, uh,
00:05:10
.0Bill Walker
Again, it's like the first game.
00:05:11
@NoConfForOldMen
Yes. Yeah. Over and over again, they would just be hunting him.
00:05:14
Tom Lidiak
and
00:05:16
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:05:20
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:05:26
Tom Lidiak
perimeter.
00:05:27
Tom Lidiak
cause you know, Kelvin mentioned it the other day, I think in one of his interviews is that, you know, uh, so neck never had to play perimeter defense in high school. He was always just guarding the biggest guy, you know, down the block.
00:05:38
Tom Lidiak
But anyway, uh, we, no,
00:05:39
@NoConfForOldMen
But you see him get get yelled at i by Samson during one of the timeouts. And it was it wasn't about guarding, the it was about rebounding down low.
00:05:48
Tom Lidiak
Rebounding. Yeah.
00:05:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, because Koa Pete was kind of abusing him at one point, right?
00:05:49
Tom Lidiak
Yeah. Abusing him.
00:05:52
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:05:53
Tom Lidiak
But, you know, Kingston goes out. I think we had Milo's and
Big 12 Tournament Insights
00:05:59
Tom Lidiak
Mercy and E-Man in the backcourt.
00:06:04
Tom Lidiak
And that's when we that's when we started our run. I think we went on a fourteen fourteen over run.
00:06:07
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah Yeah, that was a nice run.
00:06:10
Tom Lidiak
And it's because we're getting stops, you know, before that, you know, we, were we weren't, we weren't, uh, you digging into the lead at all because we weren't getting stops.
00:06:12
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:06:18
Tom Lidiak
You know, you got, you got to get three, four or five stops in a row. If you want to maybe six or even seven in a row, uh, to chip into a 15 point lead. And yeah.
00:06:27
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. and Senac played tough during that stretch, right? During that 14-0 run, so.
00:06:31
Tom Lidiak
And then we'll see.
00:06:32
.0Bill Walker
And Sharp was out.
00:06:33
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:06:34
.0Bill Walker
The backcourt was Yuzan, Flemings, and Mercy.
00:06:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Was he? Was he out? Oh, was...
00:06:40
Tom Lidiak
Okay.
00:06:40
@NoConfForOldMen
It was Fleming's? I thought Fleming's was out and it was...
00:06:43
Tom Lidiak
Fleming's came back in, I think, right before.
00:06:43
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay.
00:06:46
Tom Lidiak
Yeah.
00:06:46
.0Bill Walker
He was out for a little bit of it, but but yeah, anyway.
00:06:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:06:51
Tom Lidiak
Anyway, and then I'll leave it.
00:06:51
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:06:54
Tom Lidiak
I'll get handed over to Bill here in just a second. The two bankers, you know, the two banker the two bankers didn't help either.
00:06:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:07:00
Tom Lidiak
We cut it to one and the shot clock was going down. And I think it was Karchinkov just hoisted like a 22-footer.
00:07:06
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:07:07
.0Bill Walker
It was.
00:07:08
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, that one was ridiculous. i mean, I, the other one.
00:07:10
Tom Lidiak
Yeah. And then
00:07:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:07:13
Tom Lidiak
Burry's was not going for the backboard. That was a straight on.
00:07:15
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:07:16
Tom Lidiak
That was a straight on Scott.
00:07:16
.0Bill Walker
Yeah, it was straight on.
00:07:17
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:07:17
.0Bill Walker
It was just as bad.
00:07:18
Tom Lidiak
Yeah.
00:07:19
@NoConfForOldMen
fair
00:07:19
Tom Lidiak
Yeah. So, you know that's where Bill Russell used to say, nice catch basket. But here's here's the deal. You know, if you're good enough, you're good enough. And, you know, if you're good enough to beat them, then somehow you find it a way to win, even even if they make those two bankers. But it's just Arizona might win the whole thing. They might be the best team in the country.
00:07:38
Tom Lidiak
And then to be that close,
00:07:41
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, we were, we were right there, man.
00:07:42
Tom Lidiak
and and And to have a couple of things go against us and still have a chance to win, I think that just shows how how how how good we are.
00:07:43
@NoConfForOldMen
sir
00:07:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:07:53
Tom Lidiak
you know So who who knows? You get in the tournament, when know you know who who knows?
00:07:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Get on a good run. Yeah.
00:07:59
Tom Lidiak
knows? who knows
00:08:01
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. How about you, Bill? What what were your views from a big 12 tourney?
00:08:06
.0Bill Walker
BYU, I was not pleased early on with our turnovers. 16 for the game, and and I was taking notes while I was watching the game.
00:08:18
.0Bill Walker
It was the first note I wrote down. like, you know what the hell is going on with the with the turnovers?
00:08:21
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:08:23
.0Bill Walker
And I believe of those 16, nine were in the first half. It was either nine or ten, but I think it was nine.
00:08:27
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:08:30
.0Bill Walker
And you know how they –
00:08:34
.0Bill Walker
briefly interview the coaches during, you know, in game during the games and they interviewed Calvin and that that was exactly the only thing he said that he was disappointed that we weren't protecting the ball.
00:08:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:08:49
.0Bill Walker
And so didn't surprise me. Great minds think alike.
00:08:54
Tom Lidiak
So what explains that?
00:08:56
.0Bill Walker
What explains why Kelvin and I were both on board with the turnovers?
00:08:58
Tom Lidiak
know Yes, yes. yeah
00:09:01
.0Bill Walker
Again, Tom, you need to listen. Great minds think alike. Not that difficult to to ascertain.
00:09:07
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
Houston's Defensive Strengths & Weaknesses
00:09:10
.0Bill Walker
Moving on, Sharp sharpe was abysmal from the field in that game. he shot one of nine, one of six from three. And quite honestly, a lot of fans were were all over him, down on him.
00:09:22
.0Bill Walker
and and And yes, he is going to have to provide more offense versus the better teams in the tournament. especially when we go up against probably high-scoring Illinois.
00:09:32
.0Bill Walker
However, and I hope everyone understands, he was assigned to DeBansa in that game. He was assigned to Peterson in the following game. He was assigned to Burries in the in the game after that.
00:09:43
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:09:45
.0Bill Walker
It's like, you know, he's... he's guarding the number one overall draft pick, the number two overall draft pick, and possibly a third lottery pick.
00:09:58
.0Bill Walker
So, yeah, light lighten up on him a little bit. he He is going to have to step things up offensively, but but i I had no issue because he he expended a ton of energy playing those three.
00:10:13
.0Bill Walker
Yeah.
00:10:14
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:10:15
.0Bill Walker
Yeah, you know, turnovers aside in that game, i thought Senac, Tugler, good to see Tugler on the court. Flemings, Mercy, and McCarty played well.
00:10:27
.0Bill Walker
Kansas, I could sum this game up with one number, 8.3. That was Kansas' shooting percentage from the field in the second half, 8.3%.
00:10:40
.0Bill Walker
eight point three percent that That's i mean that's that that's that I mean, that's otherworldly.
00:10:44
@NoConfForOldMen
It's nuts. It is nuts.
00:10:46
Tom Lidiak
You know, and what's it hey wasn't their first bucket on that lazy pass at at around half court that Peterson picked off and dunked.
00:10:47
.0Bill Walker
That that never happens.
00:10:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:10:56
Tom Lidiak
Wasn't that their first bucket of the second half? I think it was.
00:10:59
@NoConfForOldMen
It could have been. I mean, it's, uh,
00:11:01
Tom Lidiak
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:01
.0Bill Walker
Yeah. yeah Yeah. 25% shooting for the game. I mean, that this was absolute defensive dominance from from start to finish. Yeah.
00:11:12
.0Bill Walker
i mean two made I think it was it was either two or three made field goals in the second half. yeah Sharp held Peterson to 3 of 11 from the field, 14 points, and prevented the analysts, unlike in the BYU game, from gushing over Peterson.
00:11:22
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:11:32
.0Bill Walker
He just... He couldn't do anything for them to to jump all over. Sinek came out firing, drilling threes. He dominated the boards on both ends.
00:11:43
.0Bill Walker
And in fact, Kansas only grabbed one offensive rebound in the first half. I mean, they... that They couldn't shoot and they and they couldn't get after the ball. I mean, it was it was just a great game to watch. You know, Fleming took over in the second half.
00:11:59
.0Bill Walker
Mercy played 24 solid minutes. I'd predicted us to win by nine and some people thought, yeah I know you guys thought it would be a tight game. I said nine because as I said in the previous episode, we're just a better team than Kansas. Obviously, I underestimated how much better.
00:12:16
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. here
00:12:19
.0Bill Walker
Arizona, yeah I had Arizona winning
Predicting South Region Outcomes
00:12:22
.0Bill Walker
76-70, so i was pretty damn close.
00:12:28
.0Bill Walker
But had it not been, Tom, as you mentioned, for the couple of late shot clock expiring bank shots by Kirchenkov and Burries, we could have easily won that game.
00:12:41
.0Bill Walker
and And I wish we had, I wish I was completely wrong on the pick.
00:12:44
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:12:45
.0Bill Walker
yeah when when When previewing this game, though, if you recall, I started out by saying, I don't care. Because I thought, if we're playing in this game, we've beaten Kansas, we've secured the two seed in the South, and the game is is completely irrelevant. And and you know from that standpoint, though it was correct. Yeah.
00:13:07
.0Bill Walker
the The only other thing I'll say about this game was that Tugler was really, really exceptional.
00:13:12
@NoConfForOldMen
He was, yeah.
00:13:13
.0Bill Walker
20-10. He had a great game against Arizona and it drew fouls on them.
00:13:18
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, I agree. We get, yeah, we get a Tuggler like that in the tourney, you know, sky's the limit, man. So I mean, yeah, go ahead.
00:13:28
Tom Lidiak
And if – a couple of quick things before we move on, Steve and Bill. In that Kansas game, if you recall, the first time we played him at the Fog, every time Sanak would pick and pop, they they they dared him to shoot it, and he he missed them.
00:13:43
Tom Lidiak
They were wide open.
00:13:43
@NoConfForOldMen
Missed him, yeah.
00:13:44
Tom Lidiak
Right.
00:13:44
.0Bill Walker
Yeah, they did it again. e self said that.
00:13:46
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:13:47
Tom Lidiak
And he he he made him pay. He made him pay there.
00:13:50
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:13:50
Tom Lidiak
And then going back to JoJo's play lately, Kelvin, I think on his radio show last night, said that what they've done with JoJo is that he's just not strong enough.
00:14:04
Tom Lidiak
against most teams, traditional fives to like, just throw it onto the block. So what they're doing, they're having him short roll, you know, and then, and then he can, you know, he can take it right.
00:14:11
@NoConfForOldMen
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
00:14:15
Tom Lidiak
can take it left. He can spin and and all those other things.
00:14:18
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, you could use this quickness.
00:14:19
Tom Lidiak
So,
00:14:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:14:19
Tom Lidiak
Yeah, and that's you know that's that's gonna be that's going to be vital like in this in this tournament because it gives us an extra dimension offensively. Because now now if you want to double-team Kingston, if you want to blitz that pick-and-roll with Kingston or blitz it with Milo's in there, you've got the short roll now.
00:14:29
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:14:37
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:14:39
.0Bill Walker
I noticed that, sorry, I noticed that Calvin's also been subbing for Tuggler pretty quickly.
00:14:39
@NoConfForOldMen
I mean.
00:14:45
.0Bill Walker
He's bringing bringing in Sockle pretty quickly. and And I like the fact that he's he's putting him on the bench for a little while before he even picks up that first foul.
00:14:55
.0Bill Walker
It's not sending him to the bench early after he commits to. So it's, it's a yeah, it's it's playing out well.
00:15:00
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:15:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. I mean, and just quickly from an advanced analytics perspective, I'm going to just summarize it looking at all three games. The formula is actually pretty simple. Yet what we've come to expect from a Samson led team, basically turn it up a notch on D stay true to our patient, but balanced offensive philosophy,
00:15:21
@NoConfForOldMen
And though we lost a close one in the end of Arizona, staying the course resulted in an, I'd say overall, more connected D in preparation for the real tournament. i mean, we saw consistently across final three games was intense, more communicative D that really just limited any good looks inside the arc.
00:15:39
@NoConfForOldMen
Now, of course, it helps that Tugler wasn't in foul trouble and he could stay on the court. It's just a different team when he's he's able to kind of patrol the paint. But like the entire season, we still continued to have, i guess I'll call it challenges containing three-point shooters, ending up with three-point percentage D at 40% across three games, which is pretty bad.
00:16:02
@NoConfForOldMen
But we did improve a bit on our other weaknesses this season, and that was on the defensive rebounding side versus both Arizona and BYU. Offensively overall, we finally began to shoot better from three-point range, ending at 41% across three games with contributions basically across the roster, including our bench rotation of Miller and McCarty. So that's great going into March Madness.
00:16:25
@NoConfForOldMen
And as I said before, no injuries, a great distribution of minutes, and it really bodes well heading into the tournament. So why don't we get right into the brackets?
00:16:36
@NoConfForOldMen
As stated, we are the top number two seed and in the South. And number one for the tourney, we've got Duke in the East, Arizona in the West, Michigan and in the Midwest, Florida in our South region,
00:16:49
@NoConfForOldMen
And why don't we start with the South region first, where we're paired with Florida and a tough Illinois at number three, Nebraska at number four. Then if you go five through eight, we've got a sneaky good Vandy, North Carolina, St. Mary's and Clemson.
00:17:04
@NoConfForOldMen
And why don't you guys take it from here and kind of give your a initial thoughts about the South region itself, how tough it is in your your opinion. How do you like our potential matchups? What are some interesting first round games and potential upsets? And then pick kind of who you've got coming out to the final four. And Bill, you can go first with this one.
00:17:26
.0Bill Walker
Steve, you you you mentioned several teams, but you didn't mention one that I've got winning two games. and not in this They're not in this region.
00:17:33
@NoConfForOldMen
Two games, Wisconsin. Are they in? Oh, no, no, no. Okay.
00:17:40
.0Bill Walker
There were three teams across all brackets that I didn't want to see quite some of the teams that I like, aside from of H, having to be matched up against like like Wisconsin, Vandy, who I knew were going to be four or five seeds and and get seeds in that range. So our region, Vandy goes down to McNeese State in the first game. McNeese was one of the three teams.
00:18:08
.0Bill Walker
McNeese is really, really good. they They won their opening game last year.
00:18:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep. You're picking this year that McNeese is going to upset Vandy?
00:18:17
.0Bill Walker
McNeese is going to upset Vandy, and they're going to beat Nebraska in the second game.
00:18:21
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, my God. Okay.
00:18:23
.0Bill Walker
McNeese,
00:18:26
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, that that that's a pretty brave couple of picks.
00:18:26
.0Bill Walker
but trust me. Trust me. McNeese is a really, really good team. I I i really don't have much else in the way of first-round upsets. I've got Clemson.
00:18:43
.0Bill Walker
Actually, I think I've got, but i've i think i've I thought I had all three. I had three of four, nine seeds winning, but but now that I'm looking at Clemson, they're in eight, so maybe it's two and two. Florida, Clemson, McNeese, Nebraska winning game one, Carolina winning Illinois.
00:19:03
.0Bill Walker
And as it affects us or applies to us,
00:19:08
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:19:09
.0Bill Walker
I think St. Mary's easily takes care of A&M, even in Oklahoma City. St.
00:19:15
@NoConfForOldMen
I think so too. but Everyone's talking about A&M, right?
00:19:17
.0Bill Walker
Mary's.
00:19:19
@NoConfForOldMen
And it's like, it's nuts.
00:19:19
.0Bill Walker
Well, it's, yeah. so St. Mary's st mary's is kind of a a slightly lesser version of us. they They rebound extremely well.
00:19:27
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:19:29
.0Bill Walker
They protect the ball. They play very good defense.
00:19:31
@NoConfForOldMen
Disciplined, yeah.
00:19:34
.0Bill Walker
St. Mary's, if you leave them open, though, they're they're about a 39% three-point shooting team. so So, you you know, when it comes to us playing them, you've got – make sure you're out on their shooters.
00:19:48
.0Bill Walker
And, but yeah, it's going to two very similar games. St. Mary's is simply more disciplined and they're better than A&M.
00:19:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:57
.0Bill Walker
They are going to beat A&M.
00:19:59
@NoConfForOldMen
agree.
00:20:01
.0Bill Walker
Not, not surprisingly, I have us beating Idaho.
00:20:05
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:20:06
.0Bill Walker
Idaho is idaho's a, Idaho is a, a three point shooting team. They're a, I mean, they've got a bunch of three-point shooters. They're a small team, though. So this should be a game where we go to Tuggler inside. Hopefully, Senac can get get some touches inside as well because they are not a big team. We should be able to dominate them inside.
00:20:29
.0Bill Walker
And just so you know, I've got – what do I – I have us beating – Idaho, 84-57. I have us beating St. Mary's, 67-54. And if and and and if by some stroke of pure luck A&M gets by St. Mary's, I have us beating A&M, 88-69. Like
00:21:02
.0Bill Walker
I said, I've got McNeese winning the second game. I've got him losing to Florida.
00:21:06
@NoConfForOldMen
Wow.
00:21:08
.0Bill Walker
I've got us beating Illinois. And, you
00:21:11
@NoConfForOldMen
Are you, are you worried about that game, Illinois, or match up with Illinois?
00:21:15
.0Bill Walker
yeah you know, they're they're a phenomenal offensive team, and and they're and they're big.
00:21:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Offensive team. Yep.
00:21:21
.0Bill Walker
And their big men are skilled and and can score inside. So, yeah, a little bit, but they're – they're also very beatable.
00:21:32
.0Bill Walker
they They don't play great defense and, uh, you know, that's a game where we'll need sharp, I think, to, uh, to hit shots.
00:21:32
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:21:40
.0Bill Walker
and And quite honestly, they don't defend all that well. So he will get open shots. I think we outscore them and, and, uh, uh, yeah, I thought we'd be talking about that one next week.
00:21:51
.0Bill Walker
So I didn't particularly preview, preview it, but, uh,
00:21:52
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, yeah, yeah. i just Don't need a preview. it just I just wanted your your thoughts.
00:21:56
.0Bill Walker
Yeah, but but I've got i've got us beating Illinois, and then i hate to do it. I think Florida beats us.
00:22:06
@NoConfForOldMen
ye of little faith. Okay.
00:22:08
.0Bill Walker
and and heres and and And here's what I'm going to say.
00:22:08
@NoConfForOldMen
No, no, that's good. Yeah.
00:22:12
.0Bill Walker
The past two years, I've had us winning the whole thing, and we haven't.
00:22:16
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:18
.0Bill Walker
So I'm going to –
00:22:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Reverse jinx.
00:22:20
.0Bill Walker
I'm going to sign myself, even though you guys are in the same boat, I'll take it on as being the jinx.
00:22:25
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah okay
00:22:28
.0Bill Walker
And so, whereas nobody wants U of H to win more than I do. and And, and, and I may even really think that we're, we might, uh,
00:22:34
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:22:41
.0Bill Walker
I just think that you know one of the reasons we made the run at at Arizona was because their big men got into foul trouble. Florida's got a, and I think we have a little bit of difficulty versus big teams.
00:22:54
.0Bill Walker
Florida's as good across the front line as anybody, and if we get them into foul trouble, then then yeah, I'll change it, but
00:22:55
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:23:05
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:23:06
.0Bill Walker
I've just got a bad feeling. And quite honestly, everyone's down on Florida because they they you know they got smoked by Vandy in the SEC semis.
00:23:08
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, that's fair. Fair.
00:23:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Handy, yeah.
00:23:15
.0Bill Walker
But Florida was so hot you know coming down the stretch and and you know one one loss, but they're still really good.
00:23:26
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay.
00:23:26
.0Bill Walker
So, yeah i yeah, I'm not happy to be making that prediction, but that's it.
00:23:27
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:23:33
@NoConfForOldMen
No, no, no. It's logic based. It's logical. And they are a one seed dude.
00:23:36
.0Bill Walker
Yeah.
00:23:37
@NoConfForOldMen
So how about you, Tom? What's your take on the South region?
00:23:41
Tom Lidiak
I have Florida advancing over Lehigh or Prairie View to face Clemson. I think Clemson's going to be Iowa. Sorry, Hawkeye fans.
00:23:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:23:50
Tom Lidiak
Vanderbilt, McNeese, I have Vandy winning. Nebraska and Troy, I have Troy winning.
00:23:55
@NoConfForOldMen
Wow. Okay.
00:23:56
Tom Lidiak
Uh, Carolina, Carolina VCU. I have VCU winning Illinois over over Penn. That's Fran McCaffrey's team. Now, uh, you can, uh, St.
00:24:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:24:06
Tom Lidiak
Mary's a and M. Uh, you know, I went back and forth, but eventually I picked a and M probably going to be wrong on that one.
00:24:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Really?
00:24:14
@NoConfForOldMen
Wow.
00:24:17
.0Bill Walker
you're it it you're You're positioning yourself well, Tom, for a dead last finish again.
00:24:18
@NoConfForOldMen
I don't think that style wins in the tournament. Lucky ball.
00:24:24
Tom Lidiak
Hey, we, uh, that's okay. We have a chance to, if if they do, we have a chance to be, uh, Aggie again, you know,
00:24:28
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:24:32
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:33
Tom Lidiak
And then we beat Idaho. Idaho finished seventh a 10-team conference. So I think, you know, advanced there. Now going to the next round, Florida Clemson, I have Florida. Vandy, Troy, i have Vandy.
00:24:47
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:24:47
Tom Lidiak
VCU, Illinois, Illinois, A&M, U of H, I have that.
00:24:48
@NoConfForOldMen
hi
00:24:51
Tom Lidiak
And Florida and Vandy, I have Florida winning. Illinois, u of H, U of H winning. So I have us.
00:24:58
@NoConfForOldMen
Elite Eight, rematch.
00:24:59
Tom Lidiak
Yep, yep. And Looking at that Illinois of H matchup, if we get that far, it's going to be in Houston, Toyota Center.
00:25:07
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:25:09
Tom Lidiak
Bill, you mentioned this, you know, Illinois, they have four Euro players on their team. Five, if you include Pajas, Stojakovic's son.
00:25:18
@NoConfForOldMen
Hmm.
00:25:19
Tom Lidiak
So they have like five Euro league players. You know, historically, the knock on those kind of guys is that very highly skilled, but lacking in toughness. I'm,
00:25:31
Tom Lidiak
that's That gap there is is is shortening. you know But they have theyre they're skilled they're skilled.
00:25:42
Tom Lidiak
They have, what's his name, Wagler, Keaton Wagler.
00:25:44
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, yeah, he's great.
00:25:45
Tom Lidiak
They got him... But in the final analysis, I think we're the tougher team and we advance. The Florida Vandy game rematched there from just about a week ago and Florida advances.
00:26:00
Tom Lidiak
So that is my synopsis on the record.
00:26:03
@NoConfForOldMen
Whoa, whoa.
00:26:04
.0Bill Walker
you're forgetting You're forgetting who goes to the final four.
00:26:05
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah, who goes to the final four?
00:26:09
Tom Lidiak
It's no-brainer. We do.
00:26:11
Tom Lidiak
Why?
00:26:12
@NoConfForOldMen
Why?
00:26:13
Tom Lidiak
hey or We're, a you know, we we get another shot at them.
00:26:14
.0Bill Walker
cnks God, I hope you're right.
00:26:19
Tom Lidiak
Of course, you know, it's kind of like different teams and all that. But, you know, the way Tuggler's been playing offensively, the way Mercy and McCarty have been coming on, that gives us a little extra boost.
00:26:21
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:26:30
Tom Lidiak
Yeah, I just think just think we're the better team. Overall, we're the better team.
00:26:34
@NoConfForOldMen
All right. Love it. Love it. Yeah, I hope so too. I mean, but when you look at it from an advanced analytics perspective, we actually got the toughest region again this year, tied with the East, according to Kenpom, especially at the top of the seed list, where we have the overall numbers four, five, seven, and 12th best teams, all in our region based on Kenpom. Now, if you look at things from a Bart Torvik perspective, which is actually my my preferred analytics site,
00:27:03
@NoConfForOldMen
you'll find that we're the second toughest one next to the East. But honestly, I can't complain, guys. You've got to beat the top teams along the way to win the championship, and we get to play in our own backyard at the Toyota Center as a two seed. Plus, this year's team is starting to peak defensively, so...
00:27:21
@NoConfForOldMen
You know my perspective is bring it on, man. Just bring it on. And I have to say of the three seeds, we did get the one that I was preferring to avoid in Illinois. I mean, of all the three seeds, I was just hoping they would be placed elsewhere.
00:27:34
@NoConfForOldMen
as you guys both mentioned, great offensive team, though it's interesting. They don't actually shoot great, but they still score a ton from three point range. And that's our biggest weakness on defense.
00:27:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Potentially Vanderbilt versus Nebraska the and UH versus A&M in the second round. And as I kind of mentioned earlier, I'm seeing lots of folks posting about the potential of UH to face A&M again.
00:28:09
@NoConfForOldMen
However, i feel like everyone's just sleeping on St. Mary's because actually think St. Mary's is going to blast A&M. I don't even think it's going be close. I just think they're
00:28:18
.0Bill Walker
I agree with you.
00:28:18
Tom Lidiak
hoping hope you're I hope you're right.
00:28:20
@NoConfForOldMen
they're just a better team. but So, and then, you know, for me, I find, I do expect it to be a UH Florida in a heavyweight rematch in the elite eight, where of course I've got our coups coming through to the final four.
00:28:35
@NoConfForOldMen
I just think that level of hunger and and just the thought of a rematch against Florida is really going to get our staff, you know, super hyper-focused with some uh, surprises on the defensive side.
00:28:50
@NoConfForOldMen
And, you know, as great as Florida was last year, I mean, Clayton was bailing them out, you know, all the time. He's not there anymore folks. And i'll tell you the two guards they've got, mean, they're winning with their bigs.
00:29:02
@NoConfForOldMen
Their guards are not that great even after a whole season. And so I think we, uh, I think we beat them.
00:29:09
.0Bill Walker
Flanders been solid.
00:29:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Uh, Solid, but not great. I mean, they had great backcourt players last year, right?
East Region Insights & Predictions
00:29:17
@NoConfForOldMen
Now, why don't we go to the East region with Duke, where UConn is number two, Michigan State's three, KU is four. And then if when you go five through eight, they've got a feisty St. John's, a Louisville, UCLA, and then Ohio State.
00:29:31
@NoConfForOldMen
Again, just give your initial thoughts and kind of interesting games and pick your winners through there. Tom, why don't you go first with the East?
00:29:40
Tom Lidiak
Okay. Duke advances first round. I have TCE over Ohio State. That's an 8-9 matchup. that should That should be a decent game. St. John's over UNI.
00:29:50
Tom Lidiak
Kansas over Cal Baptist. even But that game and Kansas' history, who knows you know if there's going to be a monumental upset, it could be Cal Baptist.
00:30:03
.0Bill Walker
I watched Cal Baptist.
00:30:04
Tom Lidiak
Yeah.
00:30:04
@NoConfForOldMen
That
00:30:05
.0Bill Walker
I watched ke i watch Cal Baptist's championship game.
00:30:07
@NoConfForOldMen
would be funny. Yeah. Oh, wow.
00:30:09
.0Bill Walker
They're not going to beat Kansas.
00:30:11
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:30:11
Tom Lidiak
Okay. I have South Florida over Louisville in a mild upset. i have michigan I have Michigan State over North Dakota State.
00:30:22
Tom Lidiak
A little tidbit here, I had my wife fill out a bracket, and she put North Dakota over Michigan State. Not North Dakota State, but just North Dakota. I've always said,
00:30:33
Tom Lidiak
I've always said, if you don't put state at the end of your bracket, back when you used to write them in, I said, I'm going to just throw your bracket out, okay?
00:30:37
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah ha It's going to good game.
00:30:40
Tom Lidiak
It's not norton they're the Bison. Okay, UCLA advances over UCF and UConn over Furman. Duke TCU, i should that's going to be a close game, I think.
00:30:51
@NoConfForOldMen
I know.
00:30:52
Tom Lidiak
i think But I think Duke advances.
00:30:52
@NoConfForOldMen
It's a tough second round.
00:30:55
Tom Lidiak
St. John's versus KU. KU is kind of bipolar. If they're not playing at the fog, I still have KU advancing.
00:31:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, you do you have them beating St.
00:31:05
Tom Lidiak
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:31:05
@NoConfForOldMen
John's Wow. Okay.
00:31:08
Tom Lidiak
South Florida, Michigan State, Michigan State advances. UCLA, UConn, I have UConn advancing. And then you have a Duke-KU matchup, and I think just Duke blows their drawers off in that game.
00:31:21
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:31:23
Tom Lidiak
MSU and UConn, I have Michigan State advancing. And then I have the Dukies.
00:31:27
@NoConfForOldMen
The two keys making it. Yeah.
00:31:29
Tom Lidiak
The Dukies, I hate to say it, but –
00:31:33
Tom Lidiak
Duke.
00:31:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay, how about you, Bill, on the East?
00:31:38
.0Bill Walker
Tom, this worries me because i'm I'm pretty well aligned with you for the at the beginning.
00:31:45
Tom Lidiak
That means you're going to tank your bracket.
00:31:45
.0Bill Walker
Duke,
00:31:48
Tom Lidiak
Ha!
00:31:48
.0Bill Walker
that's exactly why I just said I'm worried.
00:31:51
Tom Lidiak
Ha!
00:31:51
.0Bill Walker
That's exactly why I'm worried. Duke, I just didn't know about this this next game. I took TCU, but...
00:32:03
.0Bill Walker
I think that's going to be that's an absolute coin flip. St. John's, Kansas. I've also got South Florida over in Louisville. Michigan State, UCLA, and UConn.
00:32:15
.0Bill Walker
Here's where we're we'll start to diverge a bit, fortunately for me. Duke, Duke winning. St. John's over Kansas.
00:32:27
.0Bill Walker
Michigan State and UConn. because of the fact that the Duke's not healthy right now, I think St. John's, I have St. John's upsetting Duke.
00:32:39
@NoConfForOldMen
Nice.
00:32:40
.0Bill Walker
I have UConn over Michigan State, and I have St.
00:32:40
@NoConfForOldMen
I like it.
00:32:44
.0Bill Walker
John's again beating UConn to go to the Final Four.
00:32:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay. Wow. So you do have a big, so you do have a big upset.
00:32:53
.0Bill Walker
Well, it's it's a five seed.
00:32:53
@NoConfForOldMen
so
00:32:54
.0Bill Walker
It's a five seed.
00:32:55
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:32:55
.0Bill Walker
I mean, it's,
00:32:56
@NoConfForOldMen
That's pretty, that's pretty damn good. Five seed to the final four. That's pretty, that's pretty ballsy.
00:32:59
.0Bill Walker
Yeah.
00:33:01
@NoConfForOldMen
I like it. I like it. And yep.
00:33:04
.0Bill Walker
I'll tell you what. I've picked two in my life. I've picked two Final Fours exactly right. One was the year that Villanova beat Georgetown, and I had the three Big East teams, Villanova, Georgetown, St. John's, and then Memphis State at the time. Villanova was an eight seed that year it had to play the opening play-in game in Dayton against Dayton.
00:33:24
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:33:30
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:33:31
.0Bill Walker
And then about – it was about 10 years ago, I had – Kentucky, Duke, Wisconsin, all three were one seeds.
00:33:43
.0Bill Walker
And my fourth was Michigan state who was a five seed and they made it.
00:33:46
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:33:49
.0Bill Walker
neither year did I end up winning anything or doing much of anything, but, uh, cause I had so many other miserable picks, but, uh,
00:33:58
@NoConfForOldMen
No, I like the pick. I mean, i was I'm of the same opinion as you. I'm high on St. John's. I'm just not as gutsy at picking him. I almost did. And, you know, when I look at it in the East, you know from an analytics for perspective, but also eye test you I think Duke got the toughest region in the East. And Ken Palm has this region tied with the South for toughest, where Bart Torvik has East alone is is the toughest by far, actually.
00:34:27
@NoConfForOldMen
Really just some tricky games where I don't think the matchups are that favorable for Duke as the overall number one seed. So it's really a tough go for them. We talked a little bit about you know the potential to face number nine TCU in the second round. I think that's a tough one. i They've played everyone tough. They played us tough you know this year.
00:34:46
@NoConfForOldMen
And that would be a second round match. Then you potentially get a hot St. John's with Pitino in the Sweet 16 with a week to prepare. yeah that's That's a big wow for me. So when you look at the region as a whole,
00:35:00
@NoConfForOldMen
interesting first round games, OSU and TCU. I do have TCU upsetting OSU, even though that's a toss up. Did you guys see Wally had OSU advancing? I want to say to like the, don't want to say elite eight or final four.
00:35:13
@NoConfForOldMen
It's like, man, this guy is just for a guy that is such a good player. He just does not know college ball.
00:35:18
.0Bill Walker
He's from Ohio.
00:35:19
@NoConfForOldMen
It's like, Oh my God. Yeah.
00:35:22
.0Bill Walker
He's from Ohio.
00:35:23
Tom Lidiak
He's he's never Wally's never crazy about us because he's an offensive guy.
00:35:24
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:35:24
.0Bill Walker
So no surprise.
00:35:26
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. I don't.
00:35:29
Tom Lidiak
He loves offense.
00:35:29
@NoConfForOldMen
He is.
00:35:30
Tom Lidiak
He's a guy that scored a bunch of points in college and didn't play lick of defense. So.
00:35:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:35:35
.0Bill Walker
He's just a clown.
00:35:36
@NoConfForOldMen
He is. He really is. Anyways, Louisville, USF, I think that'll be a good good game. UCLA, UCF. I picked UCF, but I have to admit that was more for conference support than my true belief because I think UCLA is a better team.
Midwest Region Analysis
00:35:54
@NoConfForOldMen
It could surprise a few few folks. Now, potentially Duke TCU, St. John's KU in the second round where I as well have St. John's beating KU. And I actually don't think it will be close. I think St. John's is going to put a beating on KU. Yeah.
00:36:09
.0Bill Walker
I agree.
00:36:10
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah And Louisville and Michigan State in round two. I think that'll be fun. So great matchups in this region. I almost predicted the Johnnies to upset Duke almost as well, but I chickened out basically.
00:36:24
@NoConfForOldMen
But in the end, I do expect it to be Duke versus UConn in a physical bout in the Elite Eight, where I actually have UConn upsetting Duke to go through to the final four. Now, why don't we jump to the Midwest region with Michigan first?
00:36:39
@NoConfForOldMen
as the number one seed where we've got ISU is number two, UVA number three, Alabama number four, and then five through it, we've got Texas Tech, Tennessee, Kentucky, and UGA. Again, initial thoughts on the region, what you think, and then your final four pick in in the region. Bill, why don't you kick things off here?
00:36:59
.0Bill Walker
I've got a fair amount of chalk here, especially as we get toward the end. Michigan, Michigan to win their opening game. Georgia, this was a complete toss-up for me. Georgia, St. Louis.
00:37:11
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:37:12
.0Bill Walker
But St.
00:37:12
.0Bill Walker
Louis has lost. that They lost like like four of five or four of six down the stretch.
00:37:17
@NoConfForOldMen
oh did they yeah
00:37:17
Tom Lidiak
they're going They're going down.
00:37:41
.0Bill Walker
ta no i think
00:37:42
@NoConfForOldMen
You're kidding. Wow. that That's also a gutsy pick.
00:37:45
.0Bill Walker
i think Akron, one, Akron's a really good team, and two,
00:37:51
.0Bill Walker
Toppins out, and whether he plays or not, Anderson has the groin injury. So I just don't think Tech's at full strength.
00:37:58
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:38:00
.0Bill Walker
So I've got Akron winning that game. Alabama, go ahead.
00:38:02
@NoConfForOldMen
hey Hey, Bill, before you go back, I think i I saw it was on Twitter. So it could be all full of shit, right? So i don't know if was accurate or not. But there was a statement that was made that because people are picking Akron over tech, exactly as you mentioned.
00:38:18
@NoConfForOldMen
then what they had stated was, well, if you look at their record this year,
00:38:19
.0Bill Walker
Yeah.
00:38:24
@NoConfForOldMen
they have not won a single game of a Ken Palm top 125 team all season. So take it for what it's worth.
00:38:31
.0Bill Walker
Yeah, well, that's okay.
00:38:33
@NoConfForOldMen
I don't know. Okay. Yeah.
00:38:37
.0Bill Walker
Alabama winning, Tennessee winning, Virginia winning. here was here i said there were three teams that I didn't want the that that i didn't want teams I liked to face early.
00:38:49
.0Bill Walker
One was Akron, the other obviously McNeese, and here's the third, Santa Clara.
00:38:51
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:38:55
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
West Region Predictions
00:38:56
.0Bill Walker
i like I really like Santa Clara, and I have them.
00:38:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Me too. So do I.
00:39:00
.0Bill Walker
I think they're going to beat Kentucky. And then I have Iowa State, and then it becomes a bit more. Oh, and I'm sorry. I think I missed. Right now I have Tennessee. – if if Well, there, I, I, it's funny because, uh, Akron actually lost to Miami of Ohio. I think there's zero chance. I think the absolute guaranteed win other than a, a one or a two versus or a three versus a, you know, 16, 15, 14 is SMU taking apart Miami of Ohio.
00:39:38
.0Bill Walker
I think SMU wins that game easily.
00:39:40
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:39:43
.0Bill Walker
If it's SMU, Tennessee, I'm not sure. I want to wait until that game is played. but if it but But for the sake of this, I have Tennessee winning.
00:39:53
.0Bill Walker
After that, I've got Michigan. I've got Alabama over Akron. If Tennessee wins, I think their defense gives them the win over Virginia.
00:40:08
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay.
00:40:08
.0Bill Walker
And Iowa State. And then, like i said, I've got a little more chalk here. Iowa State, Michigan. And I know a ton of people think it's going to be Iowa State, but I think Michigan wins that game.
00:40:23
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay. Cool. how How about you, Tom, from a coach's view for the Midwest?
00:40:27
Tom Lidiak
Okay, I got Michigan advancing first round over Howard or UMBC. Like Bill, I have Georgia over St. Louis. I kind of watched St. Louis a little bit before the end of the season, and they were they were they were getting worse.
00:40:41
@NoConfForOldMen
Uh,
00:40:42
Tom Lidiak
The Tech-Akron game, i was tempt just like Bill, I was tempted to pick Akron, but I – I ended up picking Tech. Now, the Alabama-Hoster game is very interesting because of Aiden Holloway's arrest.
00:40:56
Tom Lidiak
Dude had 2.1 pounds of marijuana on him. In Alabama, it's illegal. Plus, they get you with the drug stamp law. Here in Iowa, we have that. So...
00:41:07
Tom Lidiak
if if you don't If you don't have a drug stamp on your illegal drugs, you get arrested for that and charged with that too. Now I looked it up.
00:41:17
@NoConfForOldMen
Interesting.
00:41:17
Tom Lidiak
I asked AI, how many joints could you make out of 2.1 pounds? And it was, it was close to 2000.
00:41:22
@NoConfForOldMen
What is it?
00:41:24
Tom Lidiak
It was close to 2000.
00:41:26
@NoConfForOldMen
Ha ha ha ha
00:41:27
Tom Lidiak
Holy cow. What's he doing? What's he doing with that? Uh, somebody said it was probably an Auburn fan that, that turned to me anyway.
00:41:35
.0Bill Walker
No, he he he's doing it because he was selling it to the Hofstra team.
00:41:42
Tom Lidiak
But it'd be tempting, it you know, I think by the time what they play Thursday, Friday rolls around, he's going to be clear because it goes, it goes to their, the student, you know, the university students board of conduct or whatever.
00:41:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:41:58
Tom Lidiak
And, you know, there's no trial yet. So, you know, technically you're innocent until proven guilty. So you yeah.
00:42:03
.0Bill Walker
They're gathering facts.
00:42:05
Tom Lidiak
Yep. I mean, Hey, A guy that gave a gun to a guy that murdered a person in the plane. So marijuana marijuana is just that's that's like spitting on the sidewalk, you know?
00:42:13
@NoConfForOldMen
That's nothing. Yeah.
00:42:17
Tom Lidiak
Anyway, so Bama advances. I got Tennessee coming through. I think SMU is going to beat the crap out of Miami of Ohio.
00:42:25
.0Bill Walker
Agreed.
00:42:26
Tom Lidiak
Yeah, you got UVA over Wright State. you got I'm like Bill, I got Santa Clara over Kentucky. I'm not i'm not high i'm not high on Kentucky.
00:42:32
@NoConfForOldMen
Yes. So do I. Yeah.
00:42:35
Tom Lidiak
And then ISU. So next round, Michigan advances over Georgia, Tech over Bama, UVA over Tennessee. And speaking about UVA, they're they're a totally different style of play with Ryan Odom over Bennett.
00:42:50
@NoConfForOldMen
Tony. Yeah. Yeah.
00:42:51
Tom Lidiak
What's his first – I can't remember his first name. Dick is the dad.
00:42:54
.0Bill Walker
Tony, Tony.
00:42:54
@NoConfForOldMen
tony yeah
00:42:55
Tom Lidiak
Tony. I mean, they're you know they're they're athletic, they and they're very, very good offensively.
00:42:59
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:43:02
Tom Lidiak
Santa Clara, ISU got ISU winning. Michigan over Tech, I got ISU over UVA, and I got Iowa State. a
00:43:13
.0Bill Walker
lot a lot of people agree with you.
00:43:15
@NoConfForOldMen
Iowa State over Michigan.
00:43:15
Tom Lidiak
But here's – but here's But here's the deal.
00:43:18
Tom Lidiak
You know, Iowa State's one of those teams where, you know, fool me once, you know, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me type of thing because they haven't advanced as far as people think they should. you know, they've had some really great regular seasons and then they just peter out, you know, in the in the tournament.
00:43:36
Tom Lidiak
So let's see, Chicago.
00:43:37
@NoConfForOldMen
Where's the Midwest being played again?
00:43:40
Tom Lidiak
Chicago.
00:43:41
@NoConfForOldMen
chi Chicago, I mean, they should have great representation there, though, right?
00:43:44
Tom Lidiak
Oh, yeah. they they'll travel Iowa State will travel anywhere.
00:43:45
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:43:47
.0Bill Walker
Well, so will Michigan.
00:43:47
Tom Lidiak
Yeah, there yeah you could play in Siberia and Iowa State would have people there, you know.
00:43:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:43:53
.0Bill Walker
michigan michigan Michigan's going to have You remember Chris Webber, Juwan Howard,
00:43:53
@NoConfForOldMen
But what will Michigan travel? and They don't you don't care about basketball.
00:43:58
Tom Lidiak
Where?
00:43:59
Tom Lidiak
Who?
00:43:59
@NoConfForOldMen
Michigan.
00:44:00
@NoConfForOldMen
Michigan doesn't care about basketball.
00:44:00
Tom Lidiak
Michigan?
00:44:02
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:44:04
Tom Lidiak
I like Texas.
00:44:08
@NoConfForOldMen
No, no, no. But, but I don't, I don't think, I mean, I don't know if they travel that well for the, the NCAAs. So we'll see.
Final Four Predictions
00:44:18
.0Bill Walker
They'll travel to Chicago.
00:44:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:44:20
.0Bill Walker
Absolutely.
00:44:21
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay. I mean, for me from the Midwest, second easiest region, according to Ken Baum and Bart Torvik, I actually can't believe UVA and Bama got three and four seeds. I think they're, uh, overseeded.
00:44:36
@NoConfForOldMen
Interesting games early on for me in the South UGA and St. Louis as well. I am still sticking with St. Louis. I think I've just got a soft spot for kind of the mid majors. I've also got Santa Clara beating Kentucky. That would just be golden.
00:44:50
@NoConfForOldMen
And I just can't wait to see the meltdown of the Kentucky fans. If that actually happens.
00:44:56
.0Bill Walker
If you've got a soft spot for the mid-majors, why aren't you on on my bandwagon and taking McNeese over Vandy and Nebraska?
00:45:06
@NoConfForOldMen
i don't I don't think they're as good as you you think they are. they did They didn't win their regular season, right? They won the tourney, but they didn't win their regular season.
00:45:13
Tom Lidiak
Stephen F. Austin.
00:45:15
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:45:15
Tom Lidiak
Stephen F.
00:45:15
.0Bill Walker
McNeese?
00:45:15
.0Bill Walker
McNeese?
00:45:15
Tom Lidiak
won.
00:45:16
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:45:16
Tom Lidiak
Yeah, Stephen F. won it.
00:45:17
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. So you may think they're really good, but you know Wade's no longer there. So I don't think they're as good. But yeah, we'll see.
00:45:27
Tom Lidiak
They're probably better defensively, though, with weight without Will Wade.
00:45:27
.0Bill Walker
right
00:45:30
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:45:32
Tom Lidiak
Because they' their ball screen defense, I can't remember they played last year, was awful.
00:45:34
.0Bill Walker
I think McNeese did win the regular season.
00:45:37
@NoConfForOldMen
uh i don't i don't think so yeah it was steven f austin that one uh so it was kind of deemed an upset i mean they they have the biggest they were highlighting they have the biggest nil by far in that conference they didn't win their regular season but they pulled off the win in their tourney
00:45:38
Tom Lidiak
I think it was Stephen F.
00:45:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Anyways, I mean, for round two, I think Tennessee UVA is an interesting one. I've got UVA winning that one. I'm also predicting all chalk here with the Michigan ISU game in the Elite Eight.
00:46:08
@NoConfForOldMen
I almost picked Iowa State, but ended up having Michigan advancing to the Final Four. And now why don't we go to the West region final one with Arizona, where a week Purdue is somehow a number two, which surprised me. The Zags are number three, sneaky good Arkansas at four, and then five through eight, we've got Wisconsin, BYU, Miami and Villanova.
00:46:31
@NoConfForOldMen
And Tom, why don't you go first around your thoughts on the the West region?
00:46:37
Tom Lidiak
Okay, real quick, Arizona advances to play Utah State. Here's one for you, Bill. I got a high point over Wisconsin State.
00:46:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Really? hu
00:46:49
.0Bill Walker
Good.
00:46:50
@NoConfForOldMen
that that's That's a daring one.
00:46:50
.0Bill Walker
but look
00:46:52
@NoConfForOldMen
I haven't watched High Point at all.
00:46:52
.0Bill Walker
with with
00:46:54
@NoConfForOldMen
High
00:46:55
.0Bill Walker
therere They can shoot. they're they're they're a
00:46:59
@NoConfForOldMen
Point, yeah.
00:46:59
.0Bill Walker
They're a very good scoring team. But, Tom, based on your track record, that that that that thrills me to to hear that you're picking high points.
00:47:05
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:47:10
Tom Lidiak
Trivia real quick. Trivia. What, what well-known retired basketball coach played at high point and he played against Kelvin Sampson in college.
00:47:12
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:47:21
@NoConfForOldMen
I don't know. Barnes?
00:47:22
Tom Lidiak
Tubby Smith.
00:47:23
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, Toby Smith? Oh, wow.
00:47:24
Tom Lidiak
I'll be Smith played at high point. Yep.
00:47:26
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay.
00:47:26
Tom Lidiak
Uh, Kelvin played at, uh, North Carolina, Pembroke and Rick Barnes played. I can't remember which one, but they all, they all play against each other in college.
00:47:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:47:34
Tom Lidiak
Uh, Arky over Hawaii. Hawaii is interesting because they're a no help defense. They don't give help on drives.
00:47:41
Tom Lidiak
And Arkansas has one of the best ISO teams in the country.
00:47:44
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, they do.
00:47:45
Tom Lidiak
So we'll see how that, we'll see how that works out. Arkansas might score 200, I've got my good friend, Kevin Young, the wonder kind over whoever comes out of NC State in Texas.
00:48:00
Tom Lidiak
That's kind of like the U of H portal bowl between Terrence and, and Tramone in that game.
00:48:02
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:48:07
Tom Lidiak
I got Gonzaga over Kennesaw, Miami advances over Missouri. I got Purdue over Queens. Now, Arizona over a really good Utah State team. They just don't have enough firepower. High point, Arky, Arky advances, BYU, Zags, Zags advance, miami over Miami and Purdue, Purdue wins. And then i have Arizona over Arky.
00:48:29
Tom Lidiak
The Zags and Purdue, I have, and I hate to say this, but I have Purdue. Purdue.
00:48:36
.0Bill Walker
No, you've got every single top seed in every game.
00:48:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:48:40
Tom Lidiak
And then I have Arizona over Purdue.
00:48:43
@NoConfForOldMen
Purdue.
00:48:44
Tom Lidiak
m
00:48:44
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay. Okay. How about you, Bill? with With the West. Wow.
00:48:48
.0Bill Walker
All right.
00:48:49
.0Bill Walker
Yeah. Arizona wins their opening game. Utah state beats Villanova. I really like Utah state. I'm going to, according to Tom, I'm going to pick the upset and have Wisconsin beating high points.
00:49:03
.0Bill Walker
Uh, Yeah. Arkansas winning, BYU coming out. I think we'll see.
00:49:14
.0Bill Walker
i don't know if they're – they play tonight, don't they? Did NC State play Texas tonight? Is that the the two eleven s that play tonight?
00:49:20
Tom Lidiak
Yeah, 8.30.
00:49:21
.0Bill Walker
Yeah. I just can't believe with their record that Texas even made a play-in game. But –
00:49:30
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah I know. i was shocked too.
00:49:31
.0Bill Walker
so Anyway, I've got BYU coming out of that. Gonzaga. I've got Purdue. And then just like I'm probably irritating the hell out of all the of H fans by picking Florida, I'm probably not going to send the podcast to any of my NBA classmates from Miami because I have Missouri beating them.
00:49:54
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh,
00:49:55
.0Bill Walker
I think Missouri, I can't think of his name, but they just got there their, their, the player back, uh, guard, he, I mean, really good player. And I, so I flip flopped on this one, but, uh, but yeah, uh, Arizona over Utah state, Arkansas over Wisconsin, uh, Gonzaga over BYU.
00:50:20
.0Bill Walker
And because their defense has been horrific this year, Missouri over Purdue.
00:50:30
@NoConfForOldMen
nice okay okay
00:50:32
.0Bill Walker
Arizona over Arkansas, Gonzaga over Missouri, and Arizona to the Final Four.
00:50:42
.0Bill Walker
yeah And by the way, Arizona for the most part has a cakewalk. That's a really easy region, I think.
00:50:52
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah yeah yeah i would I would agree. I mean,
00:51:00
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah.
00:51:07
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Yeah.
00:51:10
.0Bill Walker
And McNeese really isn't that far off from from a lot of others. But
00:51:15
.0Bill Walker
what was I going to say? oh
00:51:17
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:51:17
.0Bill Walker
Yeah, I've got to imagine that everyone that was getting off topic, bring up Bartorvik, but I've got to imagine that everyone who analyzed the regions had to have this one as the weakest
00:51:28
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, it it was. I mean, and it's great for Arizona. I mean, great for our conference. I mean, if you look at the kind of the average rankings in both Bart Torvik and Ken Palm, it was the easiest. but with Bart Torvik by far, I mean, the average for the, the Bart Torvik rankings for that region was 21 versus in the East and the South, it was like a little bit over
Episode Conclusion & Listener Engagement
00:51:54
@NoConfForOldMen
15.
00:51:54
@NoConfForOldMen
I mean, that's a huge gap, right.
00:51:56
.0Bill Walker
yeah
00:51:56
@NoConfForOldMen
And so mean, good for Arizona. I mean, they've got some interesting games, even though it's a weak region. I do like some of the matchups. i mean, potentially,
00:52:08
@NoConfForOldMen
you know, Villanova, uh, versus, Utah state is interesting. BYU potentially versus Texas.
00:52:19
@NoConfForOldMen
I think that'll be interesting. Missouri, Miami. So some interesting, isn't Texas BYU.
00:52:23
.0Bill Walker
Texas?
00:52:26
.0Bill Walker
Texas has to play NC State tonight.
00:52:29
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, I don't, I don't think NC state wins. I don't think either one's a good team, but but you guys have NC state winning.
00:52:36
.0Bill Walker
Well, I didn't really pick it.
00:52:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:52:38
Tom Lidiak
I've,
00:52:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:52:38
.0Bill Walker
I just i just think that BYU beats whoever it is. but But if I were picking, I would pick NC State.
00:52:47
@NoConfForOldMen
taste Yeah. I'd like to see a matchup versus UT because I always like to see UT lose to a big 12 team. So there's some wishful thinking on my part. I actually have Villanova you know advancing, so I think Arizona-Villanova will be fun. Wisconsin-Arkansas in round two I think it will be fun. BYU-Zags as well.
00:53:09
@NoConfForOldMen
Because the region is so weak, I am actually predicting an all-Big 12 Elite Eight game with Arizona and BYU. I think BYU has kind of found its legs without Saunders. And then I i see Arizona just breezing to the final four.
00:53:25
@NoConfForOldMen
And so why don't we now jump to your final four and championship participants? Who have you guys got and what's your predictions in the championship game? And Bill, you can you can go first.
00:53:52
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah so you've got sorry so you've got Michigan Florida in the finals
00:53:56
.0Bill Walker
Michigan, Florida in Indianapolis and my winner, Florida.
00:54:02
@NoConfForOldMen
oh my God back-to-back championships like they did last time is what you've got okay wow yeah interesting I know I I can't stand golden it's if that happens
00:54:06
.0Bill Walker
Yep. Yes.
00:54:09
Tom Lidiak
I can't stand to see that gap tooth, goofy yeah mother, you know, what, winning another one.
00:54:15
.0Bill Walker
steve i i i Steve, I thought you would be madly in love with Golden because there's probably not a coach that relies as heavily on analytics as he does.
00:54:16
@NoConfForOldMen
a ha
00:54:28
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, yeah he he is very analytics heavy, but I just, you know, the scandal from last year where it got kind of brushed under the rug. And, you know, he was here at USF, right?
00:54:38
Tom Lidiak
I heard
00:54:40
@NoConfForOldMen
You guys know that. And he was a bit of the same personality when he was there.
00:54:41
Tom Lidiak
yeah
00:54:45
@NoConfForOldMen
He was like super arrogant.
00:54:46
Tom Lidiak
heard he uses analytics to select the girlfriends he wants to stalk.
00:54:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Probably. Okay, Tom, how about yours?
00:54:54
@NoConfForOldMen
okay to
00:54:54
.0Bill Walker
Well, steve Steve, don't you do the same?
00:54:55
@NoConfForOldMen
am yeah I'm married. I'm happily married. i know.
00:54:59
.0Bill Walker
Well, yeah, yeah but but
00:55:01
Tom Lidiak
Golden is too.
00:55:03
.0Bill Walker
but my point is, did did analytics play a role in that?
00:55:09
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah if it was available back then, I probably would have, but now it was too to early.
00:55:11
Tom Lidiak
Thank you.
00:55:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Early days. I'm an old man.
00:55:14
.0Bill Walker
You know,
00:55:14
@NoConfForOldMen
Remember, just like you guys. Old man, it was all computers back then.
00:55:17
.0Bill Walker
ad analytics, you know, you got you got two kids, a boy and a girl. I mean, it it sounds like analytics has pretty much dictated your entire life, everything you've done.
00:55:22
@NoConfForOldMen
That's right.
00:55:28
@NoConfForOldMen
but Pretty much. Pretty much. Okay, Tom, what's what's your final four picks?
00:55:35
Tom Lidiak
Duke versus U of H, U of H advances, Arizona and ISU Arizona advances.
00:55:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Nice.
00:55:41
Tom Lidiak
So we have a U of H, Arizona, all big 12 championship.
00:55:42
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh.
00:55:46
@NoConfForOldMen
Rematch.
00:55:46
Tom Lidiak
And sorry to say Arizona sweeps us and they win it all.
00:55:47
@NoConfForOldMen
Love it.
00:55:51
@NoConfForOldMen
What? Are you serious? You actually picked Arizona?
00:55:55
Tom Lidiak
Mm-hmm.
00:55:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Holy cow.
00:55:56
.0Bill Walker
Well, okay, this is good.
00:55:58
@NoConfForOldMen
This is good.
00:55:58
.0Bill Walker
This is good. I usually do terribly in pools. And and i like I said, I've picked U of H twice and they haven't won the championship.
00:56:08
.0Bill Walker
Tom gets everything wrong. So he's so he's a
00:56:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:56:12
.0Bill Walker
yeah he's picking U of H to lose. So so that that bodes well for us.
00:56:15
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, my gosh.
00:56:17
.0Bill Walker
So we're looking looking good.
00:56:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay.
00:56:20
.0Bill Walker
Looking very good.
00:56:20
@NoConfForOldMen
So... So I've got us versus UConn in Michigan versus Arizona in the final four. I've got us with a nice win over Florida because coach Sampson.
00:56:35
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, I'm sorry. No, I've got UConn.
00:56:36
.0Bill Walker
So do I, yeah.
00:56:37
@NoConfForOldMen
Sorry, UConn. I think we own UConn, man, from the American days. And so we'll beat his ass one more time for old time's sake.
00:56:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Then I've got I've actually got Michigan over Arizona in the tightly contested game.
00:56:53
.0Bill Walker
so do i
00:56:54
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, so I was tempted to go all Big 12 like you, Tom.
00:56:55
.0Bill Walker
you know
00:56:59
@NoConfForOldMen
But honestly, part of me, I don't like our chances against Arizona. So I'd rather play Michigan. And so I've got us over Michigan. And I'm not underestimating Michigan here. They are an elite team, great size, and I do love their coach. But I just think with Coach Sampson and kind of his last few years, that sense of urgency for him and our team is the difference in winning this one.
00:57:24
@NoConfForOldMen
and I'll be fully honest, just like, I think just like you guys I'm picking UH, right? Part of it is a bit of a biased view. This is the least confident I've been at picking us to win it in I'd say the last three or four years, right? That we've been, we've been doing this, but, uh, here's hoping this one's, uh, this one's gonna work out.
00:57:45
.0Bill Walker
Hey, one last thing.
00:57:46
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:57:47
.0Bill Walker
i don't think you mentioned it right away, Steve, but whoever wins the the brackets, assuming they beat us, whoever wins gets to, will be a guest on an upcoming podcast.
00:57:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:57:55
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:58:02
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. And
00:58:03
.0Bill Walker
we We were supposed to have last year's winner, Bryce.
00:58:06
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah last year we had two. Yeah, we had.
00:58:10
.0Bill Walker
I know Bryce.
00:58:12
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. and then we had two, two winners. I had, uh, we failed to, to get them on. i'd actually invited them to join us on this one.
00:58:19
.0Bill Walker
yeah yeah both failed on us
00:58:20
@NoConfForOldMen
Uh, both, both paths. Well, one pass Bryce is traveling and then, uh, The other gentlemen didn't respond. And so we'll make sure that we'll make it happen this time.
00:58:31
@NoConfForOldMen
And yeah, and I'm sure there'll be people beating us, all three of us in in the brackets. And so looking forward to it.
00:58:38
Tom Lidiak
And if you're not beating us, yeah, yeah i don't know what to say
00:58:42
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, exactly. Okay, guys. So that's it for our 77th episode of the No Converse for Old Man podcast. Hope you all enjoyed it. And again, we'd really appreciate it. Folks would follow, subscribe, or collect our podcast on whatever platform of choice is. We're also available via Dave Campbell's college podcast network as our only basketball centered podcast or at the goku.com YouTube page for those that want to see our ugly mugs. We appreciate the continued support from all. Also, please give us a follow on our Twitter account. No conference for all men. Thank you all again for listening and please be on the lookout next week to download and listen as our sweet 16 episode drops.
00:59:23
@NoConfForOldMen
Take care of everyone.
00:59:25
.0Bill Walker
Go Cougs. I hope I brawn.
00:59:26
@NoConfForOldMen
Go Cougs. Yeah. March Madness, baby.