1 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: Hey, welcome into the all new ah. Well, my man 2 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: Dave Reston is gonna join us at the moment. He 3 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: is the lead voice of the Big Ten Network calls games, 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: been there since day one, and I think the Big 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 1: Ten is maybe the most interesting conference in college basketball. 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: As we get ready for Championship Week, which kind of 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: strangely has started this week because the Las Vegas tournaments, 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: Mountain West has been moved up, so it's the West 9 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: coast that's okay, an extra week a week early in Vegas. Um, 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: I'm good with all that. UM. I want to give 11 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:42,959 Speaker 1: you a quick thought on the NBA, and then we'll 12 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 1: get to some college stuff, including my thoughts on a 13 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: couple of these jobs which are not yet open could 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: be open, and what it means and the coaching landscape. 15 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:56,639 Speaker 1: I was watching Luca take on Zion the other night, 16 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: and they're not exact replicas, right, But is it possible 17 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: that we're watching the next Larry Bird and the next 18 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: Charles Barkley? Right? Luca seems to have a much bigger 19 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: smile and almost a Magic Johnson sort of way about him. 20 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: But the way he plays is ability to pass, shoot 21 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: and rebound, get open and create space. Even though he's 22 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: not a great athlete, that's Larry Bird. He's also not 23 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: scared of taking and making the big shot. And as 24 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: much as we consider here and go well, Bird was 25 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 1: like twenty three by the time he became a pro, 26 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: that's fair Bird. From the moment he started playing in 27 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: Indiana State, Indiana States started winning like he he was 28 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: synonymous being a winning player. And think of how he 29 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: turned around. I think they won like nineteen games or 30 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: something year before he got there. In Boston won sixty 31 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: his first year. Like that's what Luca has been able 32 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: to do, turn around a flounder, floundering franchise almost immediately. 33 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: Granted Bird had to have Michale and Parish eventually, but 34 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: Lucas got Kris Stops, Prozingis and others. I'm talking about 35 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: the way in which they play, the skill set they have. 36 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,239 Speaker 1: If you kind of said, what's a two version of 37 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: Larry Bird, you could do a lot worse than Camp 38 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: if you than that. If if you're comparing him to Luca. 39 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 1: As for Zion, he's Barkley. That's what Barkley was when 40 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: he first got in the league. The round mound of 41 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: rebound was too athletic for traditional power forwards and centers 42 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: to guard and just too too strong and too tough 43 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: in a low post for a guard, which back then 44 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 1: six ft four and a half six ft five guys, 45 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 1: that's what they were for a guard to guard. That's 46 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: where Zion is. Zion is a small ball center. But 47 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: if you put a big on him, he's too quick 48 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: to athletic. You put a guard on him or a 49 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 1: wing on him, and he's just too strong and too good. 50 00:02:56,080 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: In the post, we're watching Bird and Barkley. That's watching 51 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: Bird and Barkley. I also believe that I think that 52 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: Simmons is closer to magic than we want to believe. Now. 53 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: Part of what Simmons doesn't have is that unspoken, unwritten 54 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: magic was kind of magical. He just took over. He's 55 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: taken over every room he's ever been in. Right, Luca 56 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: and Zion have more of it than Ben Simmons do. 57 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: But Simmons is the same stock size. People like you 58 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: forget like magic couldn't shoot either man go and not 59 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: just look at the numbers. It is a bad free 60 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: throw shooter. Was a bad shooter. Became he had kind 61 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: of that shot put shot, set shot that became makeable. 62 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: So I'm not as down on Ben Simmons as others are. 63 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: I think he's an incredible talent. Now are there times 64 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: in which you feel like he's not working on his 65 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: game shore other times when you feel like he mentally 66 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: isn't there in terms of leadership emotional engagement? Yes, which 67 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: magic you could He never felt like you could say. 68 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: But remember Magic was he was out in the scene 69 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: in l A. He used to hang out with his 70 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: owner like Magic was a hangout guy, which is what 71 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: Ben Simmons kind of is. Like now it's the Kardashians 72 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: or whatever, but it's the same kind of idea, Like 73 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: they're both they both liked that lifestyle and feel like 74 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 1: they could compete even though that's the lifestyle they live. 75 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: That was magic. I don't think it's crazy to think 76 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: Luca is Bird because remember Luca one in Europe, Bird 77 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: one in college and win a championship in college obviously, 78 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: but he's within Indiana State, come on, dude, and and 79 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: he's He's turned around the Mavericks bunch the way Bird 80 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: turned around the Celtics. And I think that there's a 81 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 1: certain um Barkley quality to Zion and a magic quality. 82 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: To Ben Simmons, what's old is in fact new. All right, 83 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: let's get to college basketball. So we're watching San Diego 84 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: State at the time it's recording. Just came from behind 85 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: and beat air Force. Um, look, they're not the aim 86 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: team without Nathan Mensa. You don't have your starting center 87 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: who's a versatile athlete who allows him to go big 88 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: a little bit more and play small. He can you know, 89 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 1: he can do it either way. I I'm not sure 90 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: they're as good as a record, although they basically played 91 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: conference play without him. So so there is that which 92 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: leads us to this one seed discussion. I tweeted out 93 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: after watching Dayton completely and thoroughly dismantled Rhode Island that 94 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: I thought Dayton looked like a one seed. And I 95 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: know that some of this would go counter to what 96 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: I said about Wichita State this years ago, in which 97 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 1: toa State was undefeated going to the tournament, and I 98 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: was like, look, as anybody picking which toa state text, 99 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: here's the thing that I I love, we will and 100 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: I don't know if Dayton should be a one seed. 101 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: I just know that everybody else is losing. All right, 102 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: We'll see if Kansas wins, Kansas is probably one seed regardless. 103 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: But if they win the Big Twelve on the road 104 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: against Texas Tech and they've beaten Dayton, how are you 105 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: going to not make them a one seed regards what 106 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: they do in Kansas City? So I think Kansas is 107 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: a one seed. Then it's like who else? Everybody else 108 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: keeps losing or coming close to losing to inferior your teams. Right, 109 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: Gonzag got blown up by B y U. Let's say 110 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: Gonzaga wins out. I think they'd probably be a one seed. 111 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: Then who's left, Like, there's nobody in the Pack twelve 112 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: that will be a one seed. In the Big Ten, 113 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: there's nobody that will be a one seed. Right, They're 114 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: all kind of so similar, And obviously you'll hear from 115 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: Dave Revson about just how even this league is seton 116 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 1: hall now. They lost at home to Villanova last night. 117 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: Don't see them being a one seed even if they 118 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: weren't fully healthy the entire year. Like, go ahead, try 119 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: and find the team that it makes sense to give 120 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: them a one seed. So I guess you go get Kansas. 121 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: If Gonzaga wins out, they beat B y U or 122 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: st Mary's to win the time when the conference tournament title, 123 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: you put them in there. The difference of this day 124 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: and team is that, again, this is assuming. I mean 125 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: they get to the championship of the A ten, but 126 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: if you win, you win the A ten. Even the 127 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: A ten is not great. This league has been about 128 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: how evenly matched all these teams are, and yet you 129 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: got a team with only two losses in the season. 130 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: That's pretty outstanding, pretty amazing. So, um, I might sound 131 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: like a hypocrite, and I'm okay with that, but I 132 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: think that if you're actually listening to what I'm saying 133 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: and you understand, you know what I'm saying is is 134 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: basically this every year is different. I'm not comparing past 135 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: years and past teams in their past resumes to anything 136 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: they did previously, and I'm simply trying to be fair 137 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: and I am. The reason I like Dayton is not 138 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: just Obie Topping and how they fit around him, and 139 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: I agree with the idea. I'm not sure he would 140 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: be nearly as good in a high major conference. I'm 141 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: pretty sure he wouldn't be because there's more quality big men, 142 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: especially in like the Big Ten. But I mean even 143 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: in the Big twelve. I mean, look at you know, 144 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: you don't as a bouquet. Could he cover about the floor? 145 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: Probably not, but could he could Topping? We've seen Topping 146 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: against as a bouquet when Kansas was playing Big Back 147 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: in Maui. And I think as a book has gotten better, 148 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: top of mey have gotten better. How would you do 149 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: against Nick Richards if they played Kentucky, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. 150 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: So I guess the the takeaway is this, Um, I'm 151 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: probably gonna violate my own rule about Dayton being a 152 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: one seed, which is, hey, if you're a one seed, 153 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: you should be considered one of the four best teams 154 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: in the country, and you should be a favorite to 155 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: reach the final four. And I don't believe that Dayton 156 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:45,599 Speaker 1: is viewed as one of the four best teams in 157 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: the country in order I believe they are or should 158 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: be viewed to be a favorite to reach the final four. 159 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: But I do think that they've so thoroughly dominated the 160 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: Atlantic Ten, especially winning on the road, the Ryan Center, 161 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: a good team, a great home environment, that I would 162 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: put them as a one seed. Be sure to catch 163 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: the live edition of The Doug Gottlieb Show weekdays at 164 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 1: three p m. Easter noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio 165 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: and the I Heart Radio app. He is the face 166 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: and voice of the Big Ten Network. He's Dave Revson. 167 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: He joins us in the All Ball Podcast and Rever. 168 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 1: We're getting ready for Indianapolis, which is going to be 169 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: the Big Ten Tournament. It has been outstanding the past 170 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: couple of years. The league may not be as good 171 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: at the top as it's ever been, but it's as 172 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: interesting as it's ever been. Uh My first question you 173 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: is how the hell did Wisconsin get to the top 174 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: of this league? What? How did this happen? It's a 175 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: darn good question, Doug. I mean, it's been a crazy 176 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: year for Wisconsin. It started, as I'm sure you know, 177 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: and it's probably a lot of your listeners know, with 178 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: a tragic accident in May involving Howard Moore. He's just 179 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: a wonderful, wonderful guy and long time assistant vote for 180 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: Bill Ryan and then joined Greg guard staff when when 181 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: he got the job, and just a wonderful guy, and 182 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: he lost his wife and daughter in the accident and 183 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 1: he has been profoundly impacted by it medically and had 184 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: to take UH. This year off. It just it was 185 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: so sad, and he just kind of wondered how this 186 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 1: team was going to bounce back from that. And then 187 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: they started the year really poorly, as you know, I mean, 188 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 1: really couldn't throw it in the ocean when they were 189 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 1: out in their tournament in Brooklyn. They lost a Richmond 190 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: in New Mexico. And then they had one of their 191 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: best players, second leading scorer Kobe King, leave the team 192 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: at the end of January. And so just about everything 193 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: that you know kind of could go wrong, from human 194 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: tragedy to just kind of figuring out roles on the team, 195 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: all of that has happened. And yet here they are. 196 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: And I guess the most the simplest explanation for it 197 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: would be they started making shots. I mean, I know 198 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: it sounds crazy, but I mean they were just such 199 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: a bad shooting team, particularly from the guard spots early 200 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 1: on this year, and they just seem to have figured 201 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: it out. I do think the addition of Micah Potter 202 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: helped a lot. To transfer from Ohio State. He got 203 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: eligible in December and they started playing a bit better then. 204 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 1: And part of it is, you know, his ability to 205 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: kind of stretch defenses, as you know, swing offense inverts 206 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: a lot, and so the bigs are out on the perimeter, 207 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: and I think that took some of the pressure off 208 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:28,839 Speaker 1: of the guard. So I think the addition of Potter 209 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: has helped them a lot. But I do feel like 210 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,199 Speaker 1: it just is guys figured out their role and kind 211 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: of responded to the adversity. But it's an amazing story. 212 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: And I think what's really cool about it is that 213 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,319 Speaker 1: it happened on the offensive end. They they have going 214 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: into last night's game against Northwestern, and they didn't scored 215 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: a ton of points last night, but they were the 216 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: highest sporting team in the Big Tens February the nine 217 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: when they started their winning streaks. So that's kind of crazy. 218 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you think of them as being efficient offensively, 219 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: but you don't think of them as being high scoring. 220 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: But they have figured out a way to score and 221 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: and it's really been an amazing story. Yeah, it's I mean, like, look, 222 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: in in fairness, they did play, uh, you know, the 223 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: bottom of the league and and some of the top 224 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: of the league that they played they played at home 225 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: during the stretch, right, you know, like Ohio State has 226 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: been a bad road team, they beat them at home 227 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: Rutgers agreed at home bad on the road beat them 228 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: at home. Um, you know, Perdue much better at home 229 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: than on the road, and they squeaked that one out. 230 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: But the win at Michigan really kind of solidified it 231 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: as as real. Let's get to Michigan. Um, how would 232 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: you characterize this season under a new regime? I think 233 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: it's been really interesting. They've had stretches where they played 234 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: very well. They've had stretches where they played not quite 235 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: as well. Uh. You know, obviously, the win over Gainzag 236 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: I think still resonates. It's a really good win and 237 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: gave us a sense of what they could be early 238 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: on this season. They've gone through a couple of stretches 239 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: of losing streaks as well. To me, part of it 240 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: has been, you know, Isaiah Livers being in and out 241 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: of the lineup. I mean he is from my point 242 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: of view, I think he's the best guy. He's certainly 243 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: their toughest matchup for people. Xavier Simpson is this straw 244 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: that stirs the drink, and I get that, and he's 245 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: tremendous point guard. But Livers is the guy who when 246 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: teams start game planning for Okay, how are we going 247 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: to stop Michigan. He's the first guy who you really 248 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: need to worry about, what are we going to do 249 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: with him? And so the fact that he's been in 250 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: and out of the lineup, a lot of that has 251 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: coincided with you know, when he's in, they've been better, 252 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: and when he's not, they haven't been But I think 253 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: John Howard's done a really good job. I think there 254 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: were a lot of doubters about Jouan, and you know, hey, 255 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: he had never been a head coach before. He's taken 256 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: over from one of the great tacticians in college basketball 257 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: and John Belin, I mean his good next and old 258 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: guy as there is, and and that those were massive 259 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: shoes to fill, and and so kind of from what 260 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: I said, I mean, not a team in the league 261 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: heading into the final week. They have some really good wins. 262 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: They're a clear cut n C Double A tournament team, 263 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: and I think if they're playing well, they're a team 264 00:13:58,200 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: that they could do some damage and could get to 265 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: the same the weekend. I like Maryland more than most 266 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: and then of course they lose three out of four 267 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: here before they have Michigan on Sunday. Um I think 268 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 1: the loss to Michigan State at home after beaten Michigan 269 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: State on the road just a couple weeks ago. Is 270 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: probably the one that jumps avage you right, like, look, 271 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: you're gonna lose some road games, losing to a house State, 272 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: losing even a Rutgers. I mean, those those are good, 273 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: really good home teams. Maybe not empirically great teams. But 274 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: I find it hard to get others outside of Maryland fans, 275 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: even Maryland fans, seem to not want to buy in 276 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: that seemed to not believe it. Um, what what is 277 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: your level of faith in Maryland come not just the 278 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: Big Ten tournament, but the n c A tournament. I 279 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: think the biggest thing I worry about Doug is death, 280 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: particularly in the front court. And then we have six 281 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: guys at average double digit minutes, as you know, the 282 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: Mitchell twins leaving fairly early in the year, and then 283 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: the fact that Seoul Mario has taken longer to come 284 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: along then I think they expected. In combination, that's put 285 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure on Jalen Smith to stay out 286 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: of foul trouble and and stay in games, and occasionally 287 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: that has been an issue for him. And the look 288 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: they're a team with two supremely talented guys. When Collin 289 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: and Jalen Smith are really really outstanding college players, and 290 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: at Jalen Smith is going to be an outstanding pro 291 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: as well. I guess I just worry they're so heavily 292 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: reliant on those guys. They don't have a ton of depth. 293 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: So you know, if those guys they can keep everyone 294 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: on the court. Uh And and you know, the additional 295 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: time outs. Obviously in the n C Double A tournamenty 296 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 1: the longer time out's definitely helped them. But I do 297 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: worry about that that component of Maryland's team. But you know, 298 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: in terms of having matchup issues, how do you deal 299 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: with Jalen Smith, how do you do with Cowens. We've 300 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: seen Wiggins get better more. Sell Is is a great 301 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: Blue guy. I think they have some really nice components 302 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: to them. They just haven't guarded well here over these 303 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: last four games, and they've given up at least one 304 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: point one point per possession over those games. And and 305 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: to me, that's been their identity. I mean, that's been 306 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: where this team has been great all year, is on 307 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: the defensive end. And so they need to figure out 308 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: how to get that back and get it out pretty 309 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: get it back pretty quickly here, otherwise they're gonna be 310 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: in trouble. Make your case for Luca Garza's National Player 311 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: of the Year oh Man well Iowa. First of all, 312 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: I mean just the outsize influence that he's had to 313 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: have on that team because i Alas had all kinds 314 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: of injury issues. They had three guys who they were 315 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: really counting on that haven't been a part of their team. 316 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: Jack Nanjee got hurt about five games games in. Frank 317 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: McCaffrey said he had the best offseason of anyone. Patrick 318 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: McCaffrey's brand's son, who is a really good player. I mean, 319 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: I've had them a number of times this year and 320 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: have watched him in their their shoot arounds, and I'm 321 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: just floored by his skill set. I think he's gonna 322 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: be great. H He has sat out this year kind 323 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: of dealing with some of the after effects from the 324 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: cancer that he had a number of years ago. To 325 00:16:57,840 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: cancer is and back, but just kind of figuring out 326 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: how to how to deal with it, uh and some 327 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 1: of the impact that that that has had on him 328 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 1: and and and had on his body. And then Jordan Bohannan, 329 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: who was you know, a tremendous shooter and a real 330 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 1: leader for this team. He's been out as well, so 331 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: you have three guys you were counting on who aren't 332 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: part of this team. He's put a ton of pressure 333 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: on Garza, and I just think he's been amazing. I mean, 334 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: he plays close to forty minutes there, certainly has in 335 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: some of these biggest games. I did a game in Indiana. 336 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: He's had twenty seconds of the game, and yet at 337 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:31,360 Speaker 1: the end of the game he's getting up and down 338 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: the court better than anyone, and you know, hitting a 339 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: couple of critical threes to try to get Iola to 340 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: make a run late in the game. I just think 341 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: his his energy is fabulous. He's an incredible condition and 342 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:44,959 Speaker 1: he's just gotten better and better. I mean, he's just 343 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: an efficient a player as you're gonna find in college basketball. 344 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: He is every post move you could possibly want, but 345 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: he can hurt you out on the perimeter as well. 346 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: And then he just plays so hard. Doug, So yeah, 347 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 1: you know, again, I'm biased. I Obi Toppin's had a 348 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: great year, and I certainly could understand that. I just 349 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: think it's different the bigs in the Big Ten this year. 350 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: I mean, if you go down the list and look 351 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,719 Speaker 1: at how good the big men in this league are. 352 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 1: Almost everyone's got someone but you've got to deal with 353 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: And Luca gars is gonna put up the most points 354 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: of any Big Ten player in conference play over the 355 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 1: last twenty years. So to me, that speaks to just 356 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: how good he's been. And I think it's different in 357 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: the Atlantic. Can Again, I'm not no, no, no, no, 358 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: you're you're not. You're not. You're not. You're you're you're not. 359 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,200 Speaker 1: I mean, you may may sound like you're disparaging the 360 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: but it's that that's the reality when you get to 361 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: a lower level and the eight ten, whatever you think 362 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: of dating the league is generally a lower level. Uh 363 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: what what you usually have is the bigs are the 364 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 1: ones that are either undersized or underskilled or whatever. And 365 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: in the Big Ten specifically, it's you know, there are 366 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: some teams that play small, but it's a league where 367 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 1: it's really hard. It's like Big ten and football, right, 368 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: you can run spread, but you still gotta run the 369 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: ball between the tackles to win in the Big Ten 370 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: and same thing. It's the same thing in basketball, Like 371 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: you know, even as much as Michigan has played four 372 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: out one in four years under John b Line, right, like, 373 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: you still have to defend the rim. There's still John Testy's, 374 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: you know, like John Testy's for example, I think what 375 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: you want to think about Michigan, but they have a 376 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: legit big guy that you have to match up with. 377 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: I would I complete. It's it's a it's the one 378 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 1: league in the country where bigs absolutely positively matter more 379 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: than than than anyone else. All right, A couple more 380 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: I want to get to. Last year, around this time, 381 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: we reconvenient and got a chance to call the game. 382 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna bring up Northwestern basketball right now, but 383 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: it was Northwestern Penn State and Penn State at the 384 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: time was Owen pen the league, and that was their 385 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: first win. And I said the local, the Penn State reporters, 386 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: they were talking about making a change. I was like, look, 387 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 1: I don't know what Owen ten League teams are supposed 388 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: to look like, but Penn State doesn't look like them. 389 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: They look like they're really really close and they're still 390 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: really bought into. Pat Chambers and you and I both 391 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: know we've done Penn State Northwestern games for years, Like 392 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: that's a that's a hard job. Probably the hardest job 393 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: in the league because that arena is so big and 394 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: it's not the basketball school. Um Still, I'm impressed, Like 395 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: you'll lose Russy r. Bolton who just started as a freshman, 396 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: and like Penn State is, I think there are there 397 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: are a problem for teams in the n c A Tournament. 398 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: What are your thoughts on what Pat has done here 399 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: in a in a in a hot seat year solidifying 400 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,640 Speaker 1: himself as the coach at Penn State. Yeah, I think 401 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: he's done a wonderful job. And they haven't been great 402 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 1: down the stretch here. Myron Jones was out. He's their 403 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: second leading scorer. He missed six games with an illness 404 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 1: and they're trying to work him back in and that 405 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: has had an impact here. But yes, I mean clearly 406 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: has saved his job. They're going to be They're a 407 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,360 Speaker 1: clear cut n c Double A tournament team and they 408 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: are a really tough matchup. And there was a point 409 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: if you would have asked me a month or so ago, 410 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: I mean I thought they were arguably playing better than 411 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: anyone in the league. I had their game at Michigan 412 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 1: State and they were just a better team. They out 413 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: tough Michigan State. Jones was awesome at five or six 414 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: threes in that game. He was just fantastic. That was 415 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 1: like peak Penn State. And then he was out starting 416 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: with the next game, and they kind of haven't quite 417 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: been the same team since. But when they're clicking on 418 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: all cylinders, no one's healthy. I mean, Lamar Stevens is 419 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: is a pro. I mean he is really really good. 420 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 1: You've got Mike Watkins who is a shop blocking present inside. 421 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: The one thing I worry about with them is they 422 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 1: don't have a great point guard. Jamari Wheeler is not 423 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: an offensive threat. He's a tremendous defender. He leads a 424 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: league and steals. He knows how to get the ball 425 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: to his teammates in places where they can score. But 426 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,199 Speaker 1: he is a guy that you can sag off of 427 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: and you can kind of play five on four on, 428 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: you know, when they're on the offensive end of the court. 429 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: And so I worry about that a little bit with 430 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: Penn State, just in terms of how deep can they go. 431 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: But I think Pat's done an incredible job with this group. 432 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: And you're right, even when they were all intent, they 433 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: were totally bought in. They play with great intense to me. 434 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: They have responded to kind of who he is and 435 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: he has built a culture within that program and I'm 436 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: just so happy for him to see it kind of 437 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 1: come to fruition this year because he's one of the 438 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: good guys in the sport and really deserves it. Rutgers 439 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 1: is still I know, I know they beat Maryland and 440 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,360 Speaker 1: the weird year, right beat Maryland home Illinois at home. Um, 441 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: but they still lost six out of their last nine games, 442 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: so they're kind of petering out here down the stretch. 443 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,719 Speaker 1: Wouldn't stun me if they if they lose to Purdue 444 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: on the road, hard game, but um, Pichael is another 445 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: guy who like like man to to get to get 446 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 1: Rutgers to this level in in the Big Ten. What 447 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: sort of matchup do they provide a team If you're 448 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:44,439 Speaker 1: filling out your back, you're like, oh, Rutgers is going 449 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: to get in probably between eight nine seed and double 450 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:51,160 Speaker 1: digitcy depending upon how they finished and doing the Big Ten. 451 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: What's Rutgers look like if they're matching up with your 452 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 1: team in the n c A tournament, We're gonna guard 453 00:22:57,920 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: the heck out of you. I mean, that's kind of 454 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: in their identity there's still not a great offensive team. 455 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 1: They think their thirteenth in the Big Ten in three 456 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: point percentage. They were the last time I look. So 457 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: they have one guy who has supreme confidence in the shot, 458 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 1: and that's Geo Baker, who late in games is really outstanding. 459 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: But the biggest issue when you're going up against them 460 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 1: is how are you going to score against them? They 461 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: play really hard. They're an outstanding rebounding team. They go 462 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: hard after the offensive glass as well. So if your 463 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: team has issues trying to you know, defensive defensive rebounding 464 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,719 Speaker 1: is a problem, they're gonna hurt you there. The question 465 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,479 Speaker 1: with them is they are a their home court heroes 466 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: as we know. I mean, they've only lost once at 467 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: home all year, and they've only won once away from 468 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: home all years, So how will they perform on a 469 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: neutral court? I mean, I think we'll learn a lot 470 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:51,719 Speaker 1: to see how they do in the Big Ten tournament 471 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: because that's going to be kind of the first and 472 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,920 Speaker 1: only experience will have with that with them this year. 473 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: But they are a team that given the right matchups, 474 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:02,400 Speaker 1: can certainly win a games, and Michael's do an amazing job. 475 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 1: The one thing I'll say about them Doug Is. They're 476 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:08,199 Speaker 1: still really young. I mean they start. He's kind of 477 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: mixed up a little bit. He he hasn't been starting 478 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: Miles Johnson and center, even though he's his best guy, 479 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 1: because Mouse gets in fall trouble a lot, and so 480 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 1: he's kind of brought him off the bench and has 481 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: started a young man, Shaq Carter. But for all intents 482 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 1: and purposes, Miles Johnson is a starter. And that means 483 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: they have four sophomore starters on their team. So I 484 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 1: think that's what's really impressive is he's kind of gone 485 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: off the grid and recruiting and gotten some guys a 486 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 1: few who were heavily recruited, but you know by their standards, 487 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 1: who were maybe four star and in one of the 488 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 1: rating systems. But a few of his stars, Miles Johnson, 489 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: Geoe Baker, I mean, these were guys ranked in the 490 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: three and four hundreds in the national recruiting services and 491 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: have been really good players for him pretty much right away, 492 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 1: UM help me on Indiana. You know, I know they 493 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,239 Speaker 1: had to beat Minnesota and they did. I know they 494 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: had to beat Penn State and they did. Um, I 495 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,160 Speaker 1: think they in one more at home. They probably get 496 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: in why why the struggle to win over the fans, Well, 497 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: I think it's probably something to do with those five 498 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 1: banners hanging at the end of the court. I still 499 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,439 Speaker 1: think there's just a belief that Indiana should be a 500 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: player on the national stage, and the fact that Archie's 501 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: been there a couple of years now and this will 502 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: be the third this is the third year, it would 503 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: be the first time they get into the tournament. Again, 504 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 1: the expectation in Indiana and particularly I think you look 505 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: at how good perdu has been recently and what a 506 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: what a tremendous job Matt Painters done and having sustained 507 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 1: success for that program. You look across the border at Kentucky, 508 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 1: uh State that they certainly share a love of basketball with, 509 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: and of course Kentucky has had incredible success under Kal 510 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: and I think Indiana believes that they should be in 511 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: that echelon of of college basketball success. So that's why 512 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 1: it's hard to win over the fans. It's just a 513 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 1: feeling that they haven't played at the level that they 514 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,919 Speaker 1: had hoped for. As to how good team is, you know, 515 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: the guard plays just so inconsistent. I mean, I think 516 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: just in general, if you were to define Indiana. It's inconsistency. 517 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: DeVante Green can have an unbelievable game. He can light 518 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: up Florida State for thirty. I was talking about the 519 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: game I did against Luca Garza in Iowa. He was 520 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,359 Speaker 1: unbelievable in that game, particularly in the first half, and 521 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: then you can go out and have a game where 522 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 1: he's three or fourteen and and so that that to 523 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 1: me kind of exemplifies what's going on with this team. 524 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: That the backcourt is is a challenge in terms of 525 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,640 Speaker 1: the consistency. And you know, even in the front court, 526 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 1: I mean, Justin Smith can disappear for long stretches, but 527 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: as a supremely athletic guy. So I think that's the frustration, 528 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:44,440 Speaker 1: is just a feeling like why aren't they more consistent? Uh. 529 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: It's good to see Illinois back and being competitive, and 530 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: they wearing the fly in the line eye jerseys, which 531 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: you and I every I think everybody loves. Uh and 532 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: Kofi has been just a breath of fresh air. You 533 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 1: talk about quality big guys in the league, here's the 534 00:26:56,760 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 1: guy who comes in. He's got a man body. Uh. Um. 535 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: But I almost felt like there was a moment there 536 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: last year where You're like, man, this could go either 537 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: way for Brad, like this might not this might not hit, 538 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,199 Speaker 1: and it feels like this year has hit. Is it 539 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: simply as they got KOFE and that change things or 540 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:20,119 Speaker 1: is there something else that led to Illinois figuring it 541 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 1: out and now becoming Brad Underwood becoming kind of the 542 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: guy for that program for years to come. But I 543 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: think this is really one of the coolest stories in 544 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: our league, and there is something different, And what it 545 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 1: is is Brad Underwood had a philosophy of how he 546 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,359 Speaker 1: wanted to play, and particularly as you know, on defense, 547 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: they were going to challenge the passing lanes. They were 548 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: going to get up in your point guards grill and 549 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 1: make things really difficult for him. They were going to 550 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,199 Speaker 1: try to force turnovers and kind of live off of 551 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:56,640 Speaker 1: that and turn defense into offense. And yet what ended 552 00:27:56,720 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: up happening is they were just dreadful on the defense. 553 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 1: Its event because teams in the Big ten by and 554 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: large had good enough point guards two not make the 555 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: mistakes that Brad Underwood was kind of counting on them making. 556 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 1: They were fouling at an alarming rate. They were last 557 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: year they got outscored by five points per game at 558 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 1: the free throw line. They were getting killed on the 559 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 1: defensive glass because they were out on the perimeter trying 560 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: to cause turnovers all of those things, and then their 561 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: opponents if they got past them, we're shooting about in 562 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: from two point range last year, and so Brad basically 563 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: ran all of the analytics and completely changed his defense. 564 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: This year. They played more pack line. Now they've got 565 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 1: Kopee Coburn, who changes things a lot because now you 566 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: have a rim protector. He can't play like that anyway, right. 567 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: He doesn't have it in him to kind of be 568 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 1: jumping out in the past range. So you had to change, 569 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: but they have. They basically they're among the worst teams 570 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 1: in the Big Ten and Steel. So they went from 571 00:28:57,520 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: one of the best to one of the worst, and 572 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: they've completely changed everything else. They go to the defensive 573 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: glass much better than they did. They're outscoring opponents by 574 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: more than five points per game at the line this year, 575 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: where they were minus five last year. So that's ten 576 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 1: points a game that they've changed. So to me, the 577 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: story is that Brad Underwood was confident enough in himself 578 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: to kind of look in the mirror and say, you 579 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: know what, I feel like I'm a good coach and 580 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: I've won a lot of different places, but this style 581 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: isn't going to work here, and I got to make 582 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: a change. And to be comfortable enough with yourself to 583 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 1: do that, I think it speaks volumes about him. You 584 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: know what's funny is that actually is the exact same 585 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 1: thing that happened at Oklahoma State. Is you own there 586 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: one year, but if you remember, they started Owen nine 587 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: in conference for his one year there, and then they 588 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: turn around the excuse me, right, it was O nine 589 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: this year, I think, um, and they did the exact 590 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: same thing they that he you know, one of his assistants, 591 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 1: he's like, hey, this ain't working, Let's go pac line. 592 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: They went pac line within kind of reason, and it worked. 593 00:29:57,440 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: And it took him a couple of years. They wanted 594 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 1: to figure out the the exact, uh, the exact same thing. 595 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: And yes, it does show that even uh what he 596 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: would even consider himself a hard ass can sit there 597 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: and go like this ain't working. We gotta figure something out. 598 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: And they have figured out all. Right. Last team Michigan State, 599 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: will they when when the tournament n c A Turnam begins, 600 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 1: will they be where we many people thought they would 601 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 1: be at the start of the season because they've gone 602 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: through this kind of mere curial path trying to figure 603 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: out roles, and you know, some of it is you 604 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: make shots, you look a lot better. I mean, that's 605 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: really what happened in Maryland. Where Cash just makes five 606 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: threes and Rocket makes three threes. You make a threes 607 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 1: between your two guards, you're hard to hard to defend. 608 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 1: But in your mind, can Michigan State be the team 609 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: that they were? Maybe not number one in the country, 610 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 1: but in that discussion of hey here we got another 611 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:51,480 Speaker 1: ISO team in March, are they are they trending in 612 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 1: that direction in your opinion? I mean a month ago, 613 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: I would have told you no. Again, you know I 614 00:30:57,720 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: I had that game against Penn State, which was I 615 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: want to said the first week of February, and I 616 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 1: just didn't see it. I mean, you know that you 617 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 1: want to talk about a team that's been through a lot, 618 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:08,840 Speaker 1: and you mentioned they were preseason number one, But I 619 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 1: mean the second that Joshua Langford got hurt, that's kind 620 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: of out the window. Because this is a guy who 621 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: can score fifteen points a game for you, and to 622 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: not have him changes the dynamics of your team. Then 623 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 1: the horrible tragedy with Cashus Winston losing his brother, taking 624 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: his own life, and and you just felt like, you know, 625 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 1: it's just so hard to recover from those kinds of things. 626 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 1: So that this team changed so significantly over the span 627 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 1: of really, you know, a month or so October and 628 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 1: November and and now they've kind of spent the year 629 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 1: trying to figure out who they can be. I'll tell 630 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 1: you what though. I mean, Davier Tillman has really, I 631 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 1: think may be the defensive player of the year in 632 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: the Big Ten. He's really been outstanding. And then some 633 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:50,880 Speaker 1: of these younger guys who started to figure it out. 634 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 1: I mean, you mentioned Rocket Lot's like the last four games, 635 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 1: he's a totally different guy. Marcus Spingham has really gotten 636 00:31:57,160 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 1: good on the defensive end. Malik Halls had moments now 637 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: where all of a sudden, you say, Okay, he can 638 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: be a good contributor for this team. If it's just 639 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 1: gonna be Cassius and Xavier Tillman, I don't think they 640 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:11,760 Speaker 1: can go very deep. But you know, Aaron Henry is 641 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 1: a really solid player for them. All of a sudden, 642 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 1: you start to mix some of these other guys in 643 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: there's less pressure on Cashious, there's less pressure on Tillman, 644 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 1: and maybe they can be that team again. If you 645 00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 1: would have asked me in February, I would have told you, Now, 646 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 1: I mean I had kind of written them off, and 647 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,480 Speaker 1: I would have probably listed three or four Big Ten 648 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 1: teams that I thought had a better chance to make 649 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 1: a deep run. But here we are in March, and 650 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: you know they went to Penn State and one convincingly 651 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 1: you alluded to the Maryland game where it really from 652 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:42,080 Speaker 1: start to finish, we're just clearly the better team on 653 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 1: the road against the team that had a ton to 654 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: play for. I mean, Maryland could have wrapped up a 655 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: share of the Big Ten title in that game. So 656 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, here we are with good Thomas 657 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,719 Speaker 1: owin March, and I'm not going to doubt him, just 658 00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: give him the track record, but it's it's it's a 659 00:32:57,120 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 1: heck of a coaching job to get him to this point. No, no, 660 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: it absolutely, you're you're absolutely right. Last thing, it's an Indie, 661 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: which is an incredible basketball city, host Final fours. Whatever. 662 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,600 Speaker 1: If you were if you were in charge of the 663 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 1: Big Ten and you kind of are in charge of 664 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: the Big Ten. Um that is not the case, But 665 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:18,720 Speaker 1: what would the would there be a rotation? Would you do? 666 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: Because I will say that I thought the Garden was amazing, 667 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 1: was absolutely amazing. Now maybe it's that the play that 668 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 1: year was amazing, but I don't know. I felt because 669 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: the Big Ten hasn't always had a tournament, you know, 670 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 1: so it's not like there's always been this one home 671 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 1: for it. Would you do a rotation between Indie and 672 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: the Garden? Would you include Chicago? If Dave Revson was 673 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:44,720 Speaker 1: king of all Big Ten? What would you do? Well? 674 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: The Garden was great, and I think there was a 675 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 1: lot of cynicism about that. Why is the Big Ten 676 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 1: going out there? But if you were there, I mean, 677 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 1: it was just magical. It really wasn't eat the players 678 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: I think understood the significance of it. There's a huge 679 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: group of Big Ten of lums in obviously on the 680 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: East Coast, particularly in New York City, so Michigan had 681 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 1: a ton of fans there. Of course, they ended up 682 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,680 Speaker 1: winning the championship. Rutgers made really a good run and 683 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 1: so their fan base got to be there and be energized, 684 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 1: and there's just something special about that building, as you know, 685 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:19,120 Speaker 1: if you can include it in the rotation, I try. 686 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 1: You know, the issue is the Big East hasn't wrapped up, 687 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: and you know that that tournament had to be a 688 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:26,279 Speaker 1: week early, and the coaches really hated it, and so 689 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 1: I'm not sure it's worth doing it a week early 690 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:30,560 Speaker 1: to get back in the garden. I do think that's 691 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:34,560 Speaker 1: the challenge. I think I would also include some of 692 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:36,440 Speaker 1: the places that have been in the Big Ten forever. 693 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:37,759 Speaker 1: One of the things that I got when I was 694 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:40,600 Speaker 1: on radio shows in those two years, because there was 695 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,040 Speaker 1: a year in DC as well, was on a radio 696 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:45,240 Speaker 1: show in Detroit and they're like, well, hey, wait a minute, 697 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,399 Speaker 1: Michigan is among the oldest members in the Big Ten, 698 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:53,439 Speaker 1: and how is it that Detroit's never hosted the Big 699 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:55,719 Speaker 1: Ten tournament? Of course, he of Michigan State who joined 700 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:57,879 Speaker 1: later on, But I mean, obviously it's been a member 701 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:00,760 Speaker 1: of the league for you know, seven the years. Now, 702 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 1: how come we're not a part of Minnesota. Hey, we're 703 00:35:03,719 --> 00:35:06,839 Speaker 1: a charter member of the Big Ten. How come Minneapolis 704 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 1: hasn't gotten to host the Big Ten tournament? And I 705 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 1: think it's tough to argue counter to that. I do 706 00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:16,759 Speaker 1: think Indie is fabulous. I mean, basketball means so much 707 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:19,120 Speaker 1: in the state. It really does take over the city. 708 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:20,480 Speaker 1: You and I have been there for events. You know 709 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:23,800 Speaker 1: what a great host city Indianapolis is. It's an incredible 710 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 1: place to walk around. It's easy to get to. All 711 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 1: the venues are good, restaurants are plenty of hotels. All 712 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,279 Speaker 1: those things make it great. But I do think that 713 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 1: some of these places that have been in the league 714 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:37,759 Speaker 1: forever that are located, you know, near major cities, I 715 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 1: do think you need to give them the opportunity. Milwaukee's 716 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:43,680 Speaker 1: got this fabulous new arena, Why why should Milwaukee hosted? 717 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 1: So I think that's the balancing act of of you 718 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 1: do have kind of these core places, particularly Indie, where 719 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:52,200 Speaker 1: I do think year in and year out, they do 720 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 1: an incredible job hosting. But I also think it's a 721 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 1: fair argument to say, hey, places that have been in 722 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:02,080 Speaker 1: the conference in maybe they deserve an opportunity to host 723 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:04,000 Speaker 1: it as well. Yeah, where Chicago gets it and their 724 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 1: team bailed, you know they well one of their teams 725 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 1: bailed obviously. The other team, um is your against the 726 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:15,479 Speaker 1: UFC Maroons. Well they may they still have the open 727 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:19,320 Speaker 1: invite to rejoin whenever they whenever they deemed themselves, whenever 728 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:22,480 Speaker 1: they deemed the league worthy of their of their admittance, 729 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 1: or their attendants. Wherever you're the best. I know you're 730 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:27,560 Speaker 1: super busy this time of year. Look forward to catching 731 00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:30,160 Speaker 1: up in Indie, and I appreciate you being my guest 732 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:33,799 Speaker 1: ally body, keep up the great work. Great to be 733 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:36,239 Speaker 1: sure to catch the live edition of The Doug gott 734 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 1: Leap Show weekdays at three p m. Easter noon Pacific. 735 00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: All right, last thing here, as as I appreciate Dave 736 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:48,040 Speaker 1: Revson joining us. It is interesting we talked about Michigan 737 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:49,960 Speaker 1: State and obviously they've been through a bunch of turmoil. 738 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:52,239 Speaker 1: They lost Josh Lankford, so they'll probably never be the 739 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 1: team that we thought they could be. But you look 740 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:56,880 Speaker 1: at the big ten, you say who's most likely to 741 00:36:56,920 --> 00:36:59,800 Speaker 1: make a run, you could probably say Michigan State. You 742 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 1: look at the SEC, who's most likely make a run, 743 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,959 Speaker 1: You'd say Kentucky. You look at the Big twelve, who's 744 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,600 Speaker 1: most likely run? You'd say Cancers even throw U c 745 00:37:08,760 --> 00:37:10,960 Speaker 1: l A in there, which is a huge surprise, or 746 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:15,000 Speaker 1: or Arizona. You know, every year we like to criticize 747 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 1: people who ranked teams in the preseason. It's gonzat the 748 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:21,400 Speaker 1: same thing. And yet sometimes we just have to have 749 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: faith in the coaches and the quality of players, but 750 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:27,400 Speaker 1: especially the coaches. Those guys make money because they're really 751 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:32,920 Speaker 1: really really good, really really good. Like does self have 752 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:36,960 Speaker 1: good returning talent? Yes, but given the math equation that 753 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:39,719 Speaker 1: is trying to find the right matchups and lineups as 754 00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:41,680 Speaker 1: the season goes on, I would bet on Bill self. 755 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:44,160 Speaker 1: Why because I got fifteen years of evidence to say 756 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:45,719 Speaker 1: he's gonna figure it out in the Big twelve and 757 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 1: he's probably gonna figure out in the n s A tournament. 758 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:50,080 Speaker 1: Same thing goes for John Calipari. They have first world 759 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:51,840 Speaker 1: problems because they have star players that want to go 760 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:54,399 Speaker 1: to the NBA, but they generally tend to figure it out. 761 00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:57,960 Speaker 1: And as much as those teams may have been overrated early, 762 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:02,520 Speaker 1: they're not actually overrated. As the water we'll find its 763 00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:04,680 Speaker 1: level here by the n c A tournament. All my 764 00:38:04,760 --> 00:38:07,120 Speaker 1: thanks to Dave Revson, Thanks to you for listening. More 765 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 1: great podcast to come. We'll get the championship week. We'll 766 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,319 Speaker 1: give you some some some picks, some players you need 767 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:15,680 Speaker 1: to watch, some things that we saw in the meantime, 768 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:17,719 Speaker 1: why don't you send us some questions. Maybe we'll get 769 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:20,319 Speaker 1: just a Q and a podcast going later this week. 770 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 1: I'm Doug Gottlieben. This is all ball.