1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. 2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 2: What is up, straight Fire fan, It's me Jason McIntyre. 3 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 2: Straight Fire for Wednesday, March the twelfth. Today is one 4 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 2: of the great days in college basketball. I know the 5 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 2: NCAA Tournament's amazing, but on Championship week there are actually 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 2: more games today than there are on the first Thursday 7 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 2: and Friday in the NCAA Tournament. Today is a great 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: day in college basketball. I hope you can cozy up 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 2: with the television and just fire left and right. It 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 2: was a decent night last night in gambling, really good 11 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 2: night in sports. You had lots of wacky stuff happening. 12 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 2: Joey Bosa cut by the Chargers, lands with the Buffalo Bills. Ooh, 13 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: that's spicy out with Von Miller in with Joey Bosa. 14 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: I like that move. 15 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: Obviously, if Bosa can stay healthy, maybe they make him 16 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 2: situational first half of the season so he's fresh down 17 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: the stretch. I don't know what the strategy there would 18 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: be to keep healthy, but Joey Bosa obviously still in 19 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: his prime. He's just got to stay healthy. When he's healthy, 20 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 2: he's a monster. DeAndre Hopkins not invited back by the Chiefs. 21 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 2: He lands with the rival Ravens. Interesting. I'm sure Lamar 22 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: Jackson is thrilled with that. And the other NFL play 23 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: that was moderately interesting. Leonard Floyd cut by the forty 24 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 2: nine ers. Okay, Leonin Floyd, good pass rusher. Another one 25 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 2: when we talked about the Niners at length yesterday. He 26 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 2: goes to the Falcons and now, all of a sudden, 27 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: the Atlanta Falcons are trying to build something of a defense. 28 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 2: They have for years been desperate for a pass rush. 29 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: Now you look at the depth chart and they're like, Okay, 30 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 2: we have Leonard Floyd, who's still got some left in 31 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: the tank. Matthew Judon who's still got some left in 32 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: the tank. They're a little on the older side, but 33 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: you've at least got some potential there. They've got the 34 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: young quarterback in Pennix, They've got pieces. Can they overtake 35 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 2: the Bucks in the division? Tampa Bay just for some 36 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: reason just keeps on winning it. 37 00:01:58,120 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 3: We'll see. 38 00:01:58,520 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: I don't know. 39 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 2: Somebody's trying to sell me on the pay. I'm not 40 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: quite there yet. It's early though. We haven't done the draft. 41 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 2: Free agency. It becomes official today and maybe we'll see 42 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: Aaron Rodgers land some up. I'm sick of talking about 43 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 2: Aaron Rodgers. I guess the beauty of all this guys 44 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 2: be excited. There's almost no Cowboys talk because they're irrelevant. 45 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: They have nothing going on that Dallas Cowboys don't matter 46 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 2: right now. If you rank the teams in terms of 47 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 2: interest level from talent to Super Bowl chances, to young 48 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 2: quarterback to exciting players to great rosters, there's no way 49 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: the Cowboys are top twenty. There just isn't other than 50 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 2: quote unquote America's team. What is there spicy about the Cowboys? 51 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 2: You know they're not getting off the DAC deal. 52 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 3: They can't. 53 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 2: I just you show you Tell me what is exciting 54 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: about the Dallas Cowboys team, and I'll listen. But I'm 55 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: just telling you they are right now irrelevant. But our 56 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 2: guest today is awesome. If you like March badness, and 57 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: I know you do, again, I'll repeat, I don't do 58 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: a lot of gambling on the NBA. 59 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: I'll lose some. 60 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: I don't gamble in baseball at all. I don't touch 61 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: hockey at all. So this is the last big event 62 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: tournament that I will be firing on until the NFL season, 63 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: so you know it's gonna be popping. And Thomas Cassalle, 64 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 2: we brought him on the last couple of years, very good. 65 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 2: He's at CBS Sports Line as one of their gamblers. 66 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 2: He is I don't want to give away all his picks, 67 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: but he is on Arkansas today in an SEC tournament game. 68 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: You gotta get that one. I got that on the books. 69 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: I on Arkansas. But a good breakdown of some teams, 70 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,239 Speaker 2: some comparisons for like the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are dangerous. 71 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 2: Listen SEC. He makes a case that the SEC is 72 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: gonna have like a dozen teams in the tournament. I 73 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: know they's stacked. I didn't realize it was that many. 74 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: But a lot of actionable stuff here. Devour it. It's 75 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: Thomas Cassalle from CBS sports Line. 76 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 77 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio 78 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to 79 00:03:53,920 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: listen live. Jason likes to think he knows everything when 80 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: it comes to sports. 81 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 3: I know what sports fans want. 82 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: But for everything he doesn't. He knows a guy who does. 83 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 3: Let's just say I know a guy who knows the 84 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 3: guy who knows another guy. 85 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 2: All right, let's welcome back to Straight Fire. One of 86 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 2: our best college basketball guests every year. He is I'm savant, 87 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 2: maybe strong, I don't know. Listen, the guy knows college hoops. 88 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 2: He's got a new job at CBS Sports line Picks. 89 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 2: He's all over the NCAA tournament, which starts next week. 90 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 2: Thomas Cassale, Thomas, how you doing, I'm. 91 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 3: Man, I'm doing well. Thanks for having me again. 92 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's uh, you know, it's that time of the 93 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 2: college basketball season where everybody who didn't pay attention when 94 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 2: you were gambling and crushing in November, December, January. Now 95 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 2: everybody's like late to the party, trying to play catch up. Oh, 96 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 2: Duke is good. 97 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: So I don't know. 98 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 2: We're at that stage Championship week. 99 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: I don't let me. 100 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: Let me just hear your overall thoughts so far on 101 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 2: the season. Is it a two team race with Duke 102 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: and Auburners, We're gonna see some party crashers. 103 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's it's an interesting season. My thought for the 104 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 3: last couple of months is when we get to the 105 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 3: sweet sixteen, I don't know how many upsets we're gonna see. 106 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 3: A few years ago, we kind of saw Baylor and 107 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 3: Gonzaga on a collision course. They were supposed to play 108 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 3: in the regular season. The game got canceled. Duke and 109 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 3: Auburn did play. It was a close game. But to me, 110 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 3: top to bottom, it's those two. Then maybe Houston and 111 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 3: everybody else. They're just deep. They got it. And the 112 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 3: thing about Auburn is this for this week coming up. 113 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 3: They were tired at the end of the year. You 114 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,679 Speaker 3: could see it. They were mentally tired. They were beating 115 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 3: up a little bit. My guess is, if you want 116 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 3: your best bet at the conference tournament, bet Auburn in 117 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 3: their first game. They're gonna annihilate somebody. They're fresh, they're 118 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 3: gonna be back to normal. And I just those are 119 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 3: the two best teams. Obviously the tournament, anything can happen, 120 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 3: but I think once we get to that elite eight area, 121 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 3: it's gonna be favorites. 122 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, everybody loves a good sleeper. What are the characteristics 123 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 2: you look for? Everybody knows Ken Palm, Bart, Torvik, these 124 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 2: great sites that can help with the handicapping, But what 125 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 2: do you look at a lot of people are like, oh, 126 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: you got to be top twenty defense. You have to 127 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 2: be a top ten offense. You got to have experience. 128 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 2: Are there any things that jump out at you as like, 129 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 2: hey man, that's what I circle. Offensive rebounding, three point shooting. 130 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 2: What are some of your top characteristics? 131 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's three metrics I look at for the tournament. 132 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 3: I look at offensive rebounding because you're gonna have games 133 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 3: where you don't shoot well. Can you get second chance opportunities? 134 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 3: I look at turnovers? Do you turn the ball over 135 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 3: a lot? Michigan was doomed even when they were playing well. 136 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 3: They've ranked towards the towards the end of they turn 137 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 3: the ball over at tom they don't have a true 138 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 3: ball handler. Can't win in the NCAA tournament cause sooner 139 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 3: or later one of these SEC team is going to 140 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 3: ball pressure. You get to death and you're gonna lose. 141 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 3: The other one that isn't sexy, but it's free throw shooting. 142 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 3: Can you get to the line? Do you make foul shots? 143 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 3: For example, Utah Tonight gets to the line a lot. 144 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 3: They shoot sixty three percent in conference's rate that they 145 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 3: get to the line, but they're not converting. So but 146 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 3: again you're looking at close games, follow shots often, you know, decide. 147 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 3: So those are three metrics I look at. And you also, 148 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 3: you've got to be able to make shots. I like 149 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 3: Saint John's. I do they they I like the way 150 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 3: they play. I think they're gonna give some teams trouble. 151 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 3: But my guess is sooner or later they're not going 152 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 3: to make enough shots to advance. 153 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm looking at the offensive rebounding rate. Texas A 154 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: and M leads the country, and they're really good at 155 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 2: free throw percentage rate. So are the Aggies a bit 156 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: of a sleep where they've played in the SEC where 157 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: you know, listen, man, the s If you guys haven't 158 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 2: been paying attention, the SEC has been arguably the toughest 159 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 2: conference I can remember in many, many years. 160 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, and my guess is a couple of these teams 161 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 3: when they when they get out of the SEC. I 162 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 3: don't know who they are yet. We'll have to see 163 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 3: the brackets and how they play early. But your old missus, 164 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 3: your your Texas A and M's, your teams that don't 165 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 3: have to play Auburn, Florida and Alabama every night are 166 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 3: gonna be tough off, you know, Missouri doesn't have a 167 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,679 Speaker 3: great defense, but they play a style that can bother 168 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 3: teams in the first couple rounds. You know, I'm talking 169 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 3: to the Sweet sixteen. Missouri is not gonna win at all, 170 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 3: but I think that's a good angle is instead of 171 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 3: laying the points like with Auburn and Alabama early on 172 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 3: in the tournament, look for some of these second tier 173 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 3: SEC teams that would have been competing for a conference 174 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 3: championship in a lot of other places. 175 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 2: Oh, that's interesting, but you drill down on a team 176 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 2: like Texas A and M and my gosh, Buzz Williams's 177 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: team cannot shoot at all three hundred twenty seven to threes, 178 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 2: two hundred and seventy first in free throws. Like they're 179 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: an they're an offensively challenge team. That being said, their 180 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 2: d will keep them in games. And if you look 181 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 2: at their resume again, I'm not picking on Buzz Williams, 182 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: but like, here are their last few losses Florida, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, 183 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: Mississippi State. Those are all top forty five teams in Kenpom, Texas, Kentucky, Alabama. 184 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 2: Like they're gonna smash some of these middling teams who 185 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: people are like, look at the record, I'm not that good. 186 00:08:58,320 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: But but Texas A and M. They're gonna be able 187 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 2: to the surprise of people, right. 188 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, And one of the things you got to look at. 189 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 3: Metrics are great, but you have to you know, you 190 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 3: have to look at the entire picture. One of the 191 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 3: things Texas A and M struggles with is those SEC 192 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 3: teams that really pressure the ball and bother them defensively. 193 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 3: There's not like a lot of teams in the Big 194 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 3: Ten who do that, so you gotta look at what 195 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 3: them every You know, the thing that's hard about the 196 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 3: NCAA tournament is you got to start over. Like things 197 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 3: that happen in the regular season don't always transfer over, 198 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 3: so you gotta be weary to like look at Texas 199 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 3: A and M and how they played against Florida or 200 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 3: things like that. It's whoever they're playing that day. Are 201 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 3: they going to kill that team on the boards, Because 202 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 3: if they are, then they're three point shooting probably doesn't matter. 203 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 3: But that's a perfect example of a team is you 204 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:48,719 Speaker 3: got to wait for the bracket and see who they're 205 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 3: gonna go up against. There might be some favorable matchups 206 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 3: where they can make. 207 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 2: A run now you said the Big Ten doesn't pressure 208 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 2: the ball much. Everybody all of a sudden loves tom 209 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 2: Izzo's Michigan State squad. I again, if you look at 210 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 2: the full body of the season, they have not been great, 211 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 2: but they are streaking big time. Since I believe it's 212 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 2: February first, they've got They're one of the better teams 213 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 2: in the country. Where are you on Izzo and the Spartans. 214 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 3: Well, I'll give you the good and the bad. The 215 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 3: good is, this is a type of tom Izzo team 216 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 3: he usually makes a run with. They play good defense, 217 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 3: they rebound well. I think he really likes this team. 218 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 3: I think there's been a couple of teams recently they 219 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 3: haven't been tom Izzo kind of teams. This isn't one 220 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 3: of them, So I think that is the good. The 221 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,199 Speaker 3: bad is I think the Big Ten is really bad, 222 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 3: and I think by the second weekend you're gonna see 223 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 3: how bad it is. I don't know how many of 224 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 3: those teams are going to be hanging around. I don't 225 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 3: think Purdue's any good. You know, Maryland, I like their 226 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 3: starting five. That's the one team I kind of like. 227 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 3: Michigan State obviously the best team, but I just think 228 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 3: a lot of those Big ten teams are going to 229 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 3: have a short stay in the NCAA tournament. 230 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 2: Wow. So if you take the Big Tens in for 231 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,119 Speaker 2: a rough tournament, what does that mean for the ACC? 232 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 2: Which is, if you remove Duke pretty rotten. I don't 233 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 2: know where are you in. Like, I don't even know 234 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:04,679 Speaker 2: if North Carolina has enough in him to make a 235 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 2: run to get in. But like, ACC's even worse than 236 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 2: a Big Ten, right, Yeah, I. 237 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 3: Could see Clemson doing some damage. I think they're a 238 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 3: pretty good basketball team, but overall, I mean, they're really 239 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 3: down and it's hard. You know, Listen, Duke is good. 240 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 3: I don't want to say Duke isn't good. They beat 241 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 3: Auburn at home. They have some nice wins, but it's 242 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 3: kind of they almost have Gonzaga syndrome in recent years 243 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 3: where the conference is so bad and they've just been 244 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 3: beating up on everybody. They had one tough road game 245 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 3: against Clemson and lost. So I mean, it's not I'm 246 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 3: gonna fade Duke in the NCAA tournament, but I think 247 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 3: there's more of a question mark about Duke than Auburn. 248 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 2: What about john Shire? Any concerns about him. We know 249 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 2: he's had some letdowns, shall we say, in the postseason. 250 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 2: It seems like they struggle against kind of rugged, tough teams. 251 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,839 Speaker 2: I remember getting bounced by Tennessee and then NC State. 252 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 2: Are they more physical this year? See with the best 253 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 2: player in the country, I believe in Cooper Fly. 254 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. And the thing about listen, unless it's football where 255 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 3: it's fun to rag coaches all the time, I try 256 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 3: to be open minded about these younger coaches. I mean, 257 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 3: I always remind people there was a time when Villanova 258 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 3: fans were saying, geez, I don't know if Jay Wright 259 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 3: can win the big One. Well he did. He won 260 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 3: the Big One a couple of times, so Shires, he's 261 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,319 Speaker 3: still brand new. I you know, listen, Jim Beyheim was 262 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 3: at Syracuse for fifty years and won one title. Yeah, 263 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 3: you know, like, let's give the guy at least a 264 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 3: couple more years. I'll listen. If this team loses in 265 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 3: round two, then yes, then now we have we have 266 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 3: a narrative. Maybe that there's a problem. But I'm not 267 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 3: ready to close the book on Shire yet. 268 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 2: You know, in the NBA, a lot of people are like, 269 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 2: oh my gosh, the calves and the thunder are so 270 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 2: dominant they might go to the finals. And I'm like, guys, 271 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,439 Speaker 2: we've seen this a billion times. Some teams are built 272 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 2: for the regular season in the NBA, right, I mean, 273 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 2: the Calves are motivating. The Celtics just won the title. 274 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 2: They're less motivated. You look at ok See they got 275 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 2: bounced in the second round. Look at them this year. Awesome, 276 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 2: But we get to the playoffs. It's like a different sport, 277 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 2: a lot more half court. The whistles probably is a 278 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 2: bit of a different whistle. Do you think the same 279 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 2: applies to college basketball? And if so, who does that 280 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: impact the most. 281 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 3: There's one team And when I was on your show 282 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 3: last year, I said Alabama is a team you should fade. 283 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 3: Now here's what happened with Alabama. They drew Charleston in 284 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 3: the first round. That was my biggest bet of the 285 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 3: college basketball tournament because it was a perfect matchup. Then 286 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 3: they got North Carolina and I was like, set up 287 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 3: well for Alabama. Last year they played teams that want 288 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 3: to run with them. And when you want to run 289 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 3: with Alabama, good luck to me Alabama, And I don't 290 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 3: want to you know, Listen, the Ravens are a great team, 291 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 3: but the Ravens are a team that hammer inferior opponents 292 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 3: in the regular season. Then they'll get one or two 293 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 3: wins where you're like, this is the year, this is 294 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 3: the year, and then they go to the post he's 295 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 3: in and it's the same story. Alabama's a good team. 296 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 3: I don't think there's a ton of teams that can 297 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 3: beat them, but they are really set up for the 298 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 3: regular season where they just beat up on inferior opponents. 299 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 3: I think that is the most interesting team heading into 300 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 3: the tournament. 301 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 2: Interesting. So Mark Sears, where are you on the little 302 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 2: point guard? He hit an amazing shot, a nice runner 303 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: to beat Auburn on the road. He is one of 304 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 2: these Let's see, he's twenty three years old, he started 305 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 2: out at Ohio. You know this is his fifth year 306 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 2: in college basketball. Pretty much we know guard's kind of rule. 307 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: Is Sears good enough to take over a game and 308 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 2: help Alabama make a run back to the Final four? 309 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 3: I think he is, But he's so unselfish. I've seen 310 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 3: multiple times this year where he has a drive to 311 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 3: the hoop and he passes it and I think, you know, 312 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 3: I think I've heard you mentioned too in the with 313 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 3: NBA players, like, it's great to be unselfish sometimes, but 314 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 3: sometimes you got to be the man, you know, like 315 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 3: you know, like I don't want Lebron passing in the 316 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 3: final seconds. I want Lebron taking the shot, right, So 317 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 3: I think that might be like his unselfishness is great 318 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 3: in an overall team environment, but what you're saying when 319 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 3: you have to take over a game, I don't want 320 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 3: him to be so unselfish. I want him to take 321 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:19,119 Speaker 3: the shots. 322 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 2: I want to go back to Saint John's for a second. 323 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 2: They're one of the best stories in the sport. Obviously, 324 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 2: you know the great coach Patino with the white suits. 325 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 2: But we talked about this with Jeff Goodman last week. 326 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 2: This team has some offensive struggles. They are one of 327 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: the worst three point shooting teams in the country. We 328 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 2: know the three is the great equalizer. We've seen teams 329 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 2: like a Kentucky go three for twenty five and lose 330 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 2: because they can't make threes. Saint John's, you seem to 331 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 2: like them. I'm just curious, where are you with a 332 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 2: team that can't shoot and oh, by the way, they 333 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 2: play tenacious defense. If they get some early whistles, does 334 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 2: it get in their head. They get frustrated because there 335 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 2: were a team it feels like to me, could be 336 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 2: out in the first round, could be in the four. 337 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, listen, let's talk about two teams we just mentioned. 338 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 3: I would rather see Saint John's play Alabama than Texas 339 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 3: A and M because Texas A and M is gonna 340 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 3: be one of those grinders right where Alabama. You're gonna 341 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 3: get layups, you're gonna get open shots, you don't have 342 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 3: to stand around the three point line and get stifled offensively. 343 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 3: So I actually think that would be a better matchup 344 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 3: for Saint John's because we saw one team kind of 345 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 3: slow Alabama down, and it was Chris Beard and Old 346 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 3: Miss that they were able to kind of frustrate them 347 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 3: and suffocate them. Saint John's isn't gonna hold them to sixty, 348 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 3: but if you hold Alabama to seventy five eighty, you 349 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 3: got a chance to win. So I think those are 350 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 3: the matchups you're looking for. I don't want to see 351 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 3: Saint John's play a team that can take advantage of 352 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 3: that poor three point shooting. And I'll say this, it's 353 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 3: hard to say this with with transfer portal and everything, 354 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 3: but my guess is, if I had to make it, 355 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 3: Rick Patino is one year away, I wouldn't want to 356 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 3: be anybody who has to play Saint John's next year 357 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 3: because he knows where his weaknesses are and he's gonna 358 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,199 Speaker 3: go out and fix those. I think they're gonna be 359 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:07,360 Speaker 3: scary good next year. 360 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: Wow. 361 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,479 Speaker 2: Interesting, so by Saint john Stock regardless of what happens 362 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 2: in this tournament, I kind of like that, let's go 363 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 2: to disappointments. Baylor has one of the best freshmen in 364 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 2: the country, the kid Edgecombe. They've got what everybody believes 365 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 2: to be a good coach, and Scott Drew. I don't 366 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 2: get it. They've lost four of six. Do they have 367 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 2: work to do to get into the dance? 368 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 3: Yeah. So here's the thing, Jason, we didn't know how 369 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 3: the transfer portal and all this stuff was gonna work 370 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 3: with different coaches until you know, we're finally starting to 371 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 3: see it. I'll tell you two coaches who have struggled 372 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 3: with it, Scott Drew and Bill Self. They don't have 373 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 3: good teams. They have a couple of good players, but 374 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 3: you know it's I watched Baylor and I'm like, man, 375 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 3: when they won the National championship. Remember that defense, Remember 376 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:56,639 Speaker 3: how suffocating those guards were. Where's it been? They just 377 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 3: I don't know. I don't think he has a good 378 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,719 Speaker 3: mix of players. I was kind of high on Bailor 379 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 3: coming into the season. They are a lot worse than 380 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 3: I thought they were gonna be. I just I don't 381 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 3: see how this team makes a run to figet. 382 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 2: In interesting losing ljcry Did they have LJ Cryer? 383 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 3: Yes? Yeah? 384 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 2: That, and I thought Jeremy Roach would be very good. 385 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: That the former Duke point guard who feels like he's 386 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 2: been in college since like the nineties. 387 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:21,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, he hasn't. 388 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 2: Really, he hasn't been great. 389 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 390 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio 391 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to 392 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: listen live. 393 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,160 Speaker 2: Speaking of transfers, who hasn't been great? Dude, I need 394 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 2: you to come clean with me. The Connecticut Huskies picked 395 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 2: up who I thought was one of the best point 396 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 2: guards on the West Coast, Aiden Mahoney, from Saint John. 397 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, Saint Mary's. Not only has Saint Mary's been 398 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 2: incredible this season, they got better, but he's barely playing 399 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 2: at Yukon, and then you hear Hurley come out this 400 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 2: week and say, yeah, half my team's entering the portal. 401 00:18:57,920 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 2: Do we know what happened with Aida Mahoney's or stuff 402 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 2: behind the scenes. I'm not aware of. 403 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 3: The Only thing I can think of is he's got 404 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 3: the Brady Hoak syndrome. You know. Listen that Brady Hope 405 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 3: was a great coach at like Ball State in San 406 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 3: Diego State. Then he got to Michigan and it was 407 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 3: a disaster. That's a thing sometimes, right, like we don't 408 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 3: know how these guys are going to perform. I mean, 409 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 3: look at that schedule. Yukon plays right out of conference. 410 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 3: It's a step up. Saint Mary's doesn't play that schedule. 411 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 3: And listen the team they do play, Gonzaga, it's not good. 412 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 3: Like Gonzaga is dripping with athletes, you know, like the 413 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 3: kind of athletes he's going to see at Yukon. So 414 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:36,479 Speaker 3: that would be the only thing I would say is 415 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 3: sometimes these transfers are going to be hit or miss 416 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 3: because they're taking a step up in class. 417 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, he was taking as many threes in like a 418 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 2: game for Saint Mary's ten eleven, twelve, thirteen, as he's 419 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 2: taking in like a month with the Huskies. Now I 420 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 2: hear he didn't want to commit to playing a lot 421 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 2: of defense, which is not great for a guy like Hurley. 422 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 2: By the way, where are you on Hurley? He's he's 423 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 2: got back to back titles. But I don't know Thomas 424 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 2: this at this like anger, the yelling, and it's just 425 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 2: a little unseemly. 426 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 3: No, Yeah, it's odd, you know, like it's one of 427 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 3: like he's already proven himself. He's won back to back 428 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 3: championships and the most dominant stretch I've ever seen. You 429 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 3: know that games haven't even been close. You think that, 430 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 3: like I get like having a chip on your shoulder, 431 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:26,719 Speaker 3: But I don't know. It's an odd some of the 432 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 3: things he said this year to officials and like being 433 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 3: the best coach. It's weird, like it's I don't know, 434 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:34,400 Speaker 3: he doesn't have to act that way. 435 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, almost like he's just a jerk. 436 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 3: All right. 437 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 2: I need his sleepers outside of the Ken Palm top forty, 438 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 2: so that rules out like Arkansas, Ohio State, Creighton, whatever, 439 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 2: outside of the top forty. I'm just trying to target 440 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 2: some teams that maybe I want to circle when the 441 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 2: brackets come out. The problem is, I don't know if 442 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 2: a ton of these teams are going to make the tournament. 443 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 2: Indiana has some work to do right to get in. 444 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, I'll tell you a team I like, and 445 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 3: I bet them a couple of times here in the 446 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 3: last week. I think they're going to be in as Xavier. 447 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 3: They lost a ton of close games early in the 448 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:13,879 Speaker 3: early middle of the season, and they had injuries. I 449 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 3: think they found themselves. Now that's a team who can score, 450 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 3: they can shoot, so I think they're gonna be interesting. 451 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 3: I'm just looking here down down the line, you know, 452 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 3: trying to find a good one for it. 453 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 2: They got seven straight wins and they got a good 454 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: coach in Miller. Tough draw in Marquette at the Garden 455 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 2: on Thursday. 456 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: I don't know too. 457 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 2: I haven't paid that close attention to Xavier, but uh 458 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 2: I will flag it certainly. I think uh South Carolina 459 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 2: in the SEC now they would need a major run. 460 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,400 Speaker 2: They need to win the SEC tournament. But at times, man, 461 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: this team has looked decent, right Yeah, I. 462 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 3: Hope they don't look decent tomorrow because I like Arkansas against. 463 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 2: You're at Arkansas talk all that's. 464 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 3: That that's a team that's just that's just it. They're 465 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 3: in a transition year in a tough conference. They'll be 466 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 3: better next year. You know. The other team, if you're 467 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 3: looking outside the top forty, you know, I think they're 468 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 3: probably in that have to win a couple of games 469 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 3: in their tournament is New Mexico only because the guard play. 470 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 3: They were a hot pick last year, remember, and Clemson 471 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 3: smashed them. 472 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 2: They have masburgskid or something. 473 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, and they still have a really good guard. They 474 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,959 Speaker 3: rebound the ball well, they might people might have been 475 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 3: a year or two early on New Mexico. 476 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 2: New Mexico. Yeah, I would need to drill down on 477 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 2: them a little bit. It looks like they're not a 478 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 2: lock for the tournament. 479 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:37,479 Speaker 3: No, oh, they still got a little work to do. 480 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I am just curious to you know. NCAA tournament 481 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:43,640 Speaker 2: obviously one of the I think it's the greatest event 482 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 2: in sports every year, better than the Super Bowl because 483 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 2: it's a month. The only thing the top said is 484 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 2: the World Cup for me. But here's my thing. There's 485 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 2: all this chatter about expanding the tournament, Thomas, here's my thing. 486 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 2: I like expanding the college football playoff, but We're going 487 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 2: from like four to eight to twelve. You know in 488 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 2: that area, that's fine. Even sixteen, I don't think is 489 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 2: the end of the world. Is there any way to 490 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 2: do the NCAA Tournament expanded without it being really, really dumb? 491 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 3: I don't think so. Listen, this was the people can 492 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 3: say they didn't like the expansion college football playoffs. This 493 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 3: is the first time in my lifetime we crowned a 494 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 3: real champion. Two and four teams isn't crowning a champion? Right? 495 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 3: We have enough teams in the NC Double A tournament. 496 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 3: This would obviously just be a money grab. But I'm sorry, 497 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 3: I don't need to see Rutgers and Syracuse in the 498 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 3: NC Double A Tournament. I just don't we have enough teams. 499 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 3: You get that first four team every now and then 500 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 3: who makes a little run. That's fun, But it's a 501 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,199 Speaker 3: perfect system. I don't think you have to mess with it. 502 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:47,679 Speaker 2: Oh, speaking of Rutgers, I'm glad you brought them up. 503 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 2: They have two of the best freshmen in the country. 504 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 2: Everybody who's excited. Ron Harper's kid, Dylan Harper, and then 505 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 2: Ace Bailey. Both of them are gonna be top five 506 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 2: at worst, Top ten picks in the draft and Rutgers 507 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 2: has been awful. I don't understand it now. I haven't 508 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 2: watched enough Rutgers to know. I just monitored them early. 509 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 2: I was like, these guys are losing to Kennesaw State Princeton, 510 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 2: and at that point I knew, Okay, they're in trouble. 511 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 2: I mean, what the hell's wrong with these guys. I mean, 512 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 2: they got two of the best players flat out in 513 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 2: the country and they can't win games. What happened there? 514 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 3: You want to know my theory on college basketball. Anybody 515 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 3: whoever hears me analyze games, you never hear me talk 516 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 3: about players. I just don't think they matter that much. 517 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 3: You can't have like like listen Cooper, Flag is different 518 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 3: obvious I'm talking about in general. Both these kids are good, 519 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 3: but they don't have anybody to play defense, they don't 520 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 3: have anybody to rebound, they don't have a three point shooter. 521 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 3: So they didn't construct their team right. For college basketball. 522 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 3: It's great to have two good players, but if you're 523 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 3: giving up eighty five points a game, they're not going 524 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 3: to score enough. And I just think college is different 525 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 3: than the NBA. You have to construct it a certain way. 526 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 3: And have for kinds of players, guys who are never 527 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 3: gonna play at the next level, but do things in 528 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 3: college that you need to be successful. And Rutgers has 529 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 3: two good players and a bunch of guys who probably 530 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:12,400 Speaker 3: shouldn't be on the court. 531 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. 532 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 2: No, that's a great point. All right, we can wrap 533 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 2: up with this. So a couple years ago, who was 534 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 2: it that San Diego State went to the Final four? 535 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 2: There was another team in that tournament that got in. 536 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 2: There was fa Fau. Okay, last year, NC State with 537 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 2: an improbable run. Listen, Thomas, I know everybody's gonna lean chalk, 538 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 2: but there's gotta be someone now. Obviously when the draw 539 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 2: comes out. But even when the draw came out, nobody 540 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 2: at NC State nobody had San Diego State. People didn't 541 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 2: have them. I need some sort of look the hell 542 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 2: out they're coming out of nowhere. Whether it's a Creighton, 543 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 2: you see San Diego, I don't know. There's got to 544 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,919 Speaker 2: be someone out there who you like more than the market. 545 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll give you a couple I gave you. I 546 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 3: think that's a team that if they get hot offensively 547 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 3: in the right bracket and one of those SEC teams. 548 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 3: I was talking about that could be dangerous outside of 549 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:14,200 Speaker 3: the conference. Is Georgia. I like Georgia all year. They 550 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 3: got a couple of guards who can play, they defend, 551 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 3: they rebound, so and my other one out of the 552 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:26,919 Speaker 3: SEC is Old Miss. When they play that their best 553 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 3: game has shown they can go and beat the premier 554 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 3: teams in the SEC. And I think that out of 555 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 3: all the teams once they get out of that conference, 556 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:38,679 Speaker 3: if you're a one seed and Old Miss is in 557 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 3: that eight nine game, I would be concerned because that's 558 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 3: a team that can pull a big upset. Wow. 559 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 2: All right, listen, it's all about the SEC. I don't 560 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 2: know if you're are you multiple bracket guy or just 561 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 2: a one bracket guy. 562 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 3: I do one main one and then I do a 563 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 3: couple others. 564 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:56,439 Speaker 2: Right, Okay, So I like to spread my seed. I'm 565 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 2: like ten bracket guy, enter as many contests as possible, 566 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 2: and I think this is the year where you know, 567 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 2: you could theoretically have like three SEC teams in the 568 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:08,439 Speaker 2: final four in multiple brackets and maybe you know it 569 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 2: hit sixty six two out of three. There. 570 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's again. I've gotten burnt in the past falling 571 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 3: in love with the SEC because I'm an old UNLV guy. 572 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 3: I love athletic teams who press and you know, and 573 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 3: get out and transition. But this year, I think these 574 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 3: teams are legit good, you know, the ones at the top. 575 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 3: I mean, you could see a Kentucky get upset or 576 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 3: something that, you know, if they don't play defense, if 577 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:34,440 Speaker 3: they end up playing Yale or somebody like that. Sure, 578 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 3: but I think overall it's definitely the best conference. Yeah, 579 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 3: all right. 580 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:43,160 Speaker 2: Thomas Casale find his stuff CBS Sports Line, a lot 581 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 2: of picks. He likes Arkansas today obviously, as we're recording 582 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,399 Speaker 2: this on Tuesday, he likes Arkansas playing on Wednesday. Thomas, 583 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 2: thanks a lot man, great luck in the tournament. 584 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks for having me. I appreciate it.