WEBVTT - Cookies & Oversight with Alexa Philippou 0:00:00.800 --> 0:00:03.000 Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're listening 0:00:03.000 --> 0:00:06.520 to new music from Mountjoy Camp and counting pros while 0:00:06.519 --> 0:00:10.039 we put Big X's on our calendars so work doesn't 0:00:10.039 --> 0:00:13.400 interrupt our college hoops watching. It's Thursday, March sixth, and 0:00:13.440 --> 0:00:16.520 on today's show, we'll be chatting with ESPN's Alexa Philippoo 0:00:16.720 --> 0:00:19.480 about just how mad this March will be, her front 0:00:19.520 --> 0:00:21.920 runner for Player of the Year and her favorite memories 0:00:21.960 --> 0:00:25.720 of Diana Tarassi, plus keeping tabs on unrivaled rosters. A 0:00:25.840 --> 0:00:29.320 legislative win we can actually celebrate Anna twenty four year 0:00:29.320 --> 0:00:31.520 pro decides it's time to hang them up. 0:00:31.840 --> 0:00:33.400 It's all coming up right after this. 0:00:39.640 --> 0:00:41.960 Welcome back slices. Here's what you need to know today. 0:00:44.280 --> 0:00:46.920 Let's start with some news out of Washington, DC. A 0:00:46.960 --> 0:00:49.280 bill that would have redefined Title nine with the goal 0:00:49.320 --> 0:00:53.440 of prohibiting transgender athletes from playing school sports has failed 0:00:53.560 --> 0:00:56.320 in the Senate. The bill, which passed in the House 0:00:56.360 --> 0:00:59.720 in January, would have codified into law Trump's executive order 0:00:59.720 --> 0:01:02.880 threat to remove federal funding from schools that allow transgender 0:01:02.920 --> 0:01:05.479 girls and women to compete on teams consistent with their 0:01:05.520 --> 0:01:08.120 gender identity. As a result, of the bill failing in 0:01:08.120 --> 0:01:10.480 the Senate. That executive order is all that exists at 0:01:10.520 --> 0:01:13.840 the federal level for now to Unrivaled, where we've got 0:01:13.840 --> 0:01:16.240 some roster movement to update you on heading into the 0:01:16.280 --> 0:01:17.759 final weekend of the regular season. 0:01:18.120 --> 0:01:19.280 First up the good news. 0:01:19.520 --> 0:01:22.640 Marina Mabry made her Unrivaled season debut earlier this week, 0:01:22.680 --> 0:01:24.959 playing twelve minutes in the Phantom's ninety two to seventy 0:01:25.040 --> 0:01:27.920 nine loss to the Lunar Owls on Monday, and Mabor 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:31.080 even Millie Rock during her introduction, showing off her biggest 0:01:31.080 --> 0:01:34.440 area of improvement so far at Unrivaled dance moves. The 0:01:34.440 --> 0:01:37.080 Phantom are currently last in the standings looking for a 0:01:37.120 --> 0:01:40.040 Hail Mary to close out the regular season. Maby's return 0:01:40.160 --> 0:01:43.080 helps because they won't have Sabrina Yenescu for the final run. 0:01:43.440 --> 0:01:46.200 Per the league, Yenescu is done for the season due 0:01:46.200 --> 0:01:48.640 to prior commitments that she made before signing on for 0:01:48.680 --> 0:01:52.200 the league's inaugural season. Lace's BC player Natisha Heideman has 0:01:52.200 --> 0:01:55.000 been reassigned to the Phantom to help even out team numbers. 0:01:55.440 --> 0:01:58.440 We've been super enthusiastic about Unrivaled all season, but I 0:01:58.440 --> 0:02:01.000 do think by next year need to tighten up some 0:02:01.080 --> 0:02:03.240 of these things. I don't know that they'll be treated 0:02:03.280 --> 0:02:06.440 as completely legitimate if they have players who are incapable 0:02:06.520 --> 0:02:08.960 of playing out an entire season because of commitments, or 0:02:09.000 --> 0:02:11.640 if they're consistently moving around players from team to team. 0:02:11.720 --> 0:02:15.840 But for now we understand season one some kinks iron 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:19.240 out unrivaled regular season wraps up this Monday, with the 0:02:19.280 --> 0:02:22.840 top four teams qualifying for the semi finals on March sixteenth. 0:02:23.080 --> 0:02:24.240 The Lunar Owls and. 0:02:24.240 --> 0:02:26.920 Roseby C have both locked up playoff spots, with Vinyl 0:02:27.040 --> 0:02:30.840 Missed Laces and Phantom fighting for the final two. Speaking 0:02:30.880 --> 0:02:33.200 of Sabriana and NSCU, she also made news this week 0:02:33.240 --> 0:02:37.079 by being introduced as an investor in NWSL team BAFC. 0:02:37.440 --> 0:02:40.720 She'll also be serving as the club's official commercial advisor, 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:43.480 a role that, according to the team's press release, will 0:02:43.480 --> 0:02:46.359 allow her to quote support BAFC athletes as they work 0:02:46.400 --> 0:02:50.280 to build their portfolio of brand endorsements. End quote more 0:02:50.400 --> 0:02:54.359 NWSL Houston Dash forward Yuki Nagasato has announced that she's 0:02:54.400 --> 0:02:58.400 retiring from soccer following a twenty four year professional career. 0:02:58.760 --> 0:03:01.520 The Japanese international made her Olympic debut in two thousand 0:03:01.520 --> 0:03:03.440 and four, and was a member of the country's twenty 0:03:03.480 --> 0:03:06.400 eleven World Cup winning squad. She played eight seasons in 0:03:06.440 --> 0:03:09.680 the NWSL, spending time with the Chicago Red Stars, Racing 0:03:09.720 --> 0:03:12.960 Louisville and Houston Dash. In twenty twenty, Nagasato also made 0:03:13.040 --> 0:03:15.400 history as the first woman to play for a Japanese 0:03:15.440 --> 0:03:18.320 men's team when she joined her brother's team, which played 0:03:18.320 --> 0:03:22.000 in Japan's second tier professional league. Yuki is a fan favorite, 0:03:22.120 --> 0:03:25.600 a team favorite, and an all around wonderful, joyful light 0:03:25.680 --> 0:03:28.680 of a person. The game will really miss her more. 0:03:28.720 --> 0:03:30.160 Soccer. Let's start by. 0:03:30.080 --> 0:03:33.200 Rewinding back to last May, when FIFA announced its intention 0:03:33.280 --> 0:03:36.200 to host a Women's Club World Cup in early twenty 0:03:36.240 --> 0:03:39.520 twenty six, featuring sixteen teams from leagues around the world 0:03:39.600 --> 0:03:43.760 like the NWSL, WSL and more. Now, the soccer organizing 0:03:43.840 --> 0:03:46.480 body says it needs more time and is postponing the 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:49.400 event until twenty twenty seven at the earliest, per the 0:03:49.440 --> 0:03:52.560 Athletic The decision was made with input from clubs, confederations, 0:03:52.640 --> 0:03:55.960 leagues and players unions, with those groups also advocating that 0:03:56.000 --> 0:03:59.560 FIFA hosts a smaller four or six team event next winter. Instead, 0:04:00.080 --> 0:04:03.080 keep you posted as we learn more. To motorsports news, 0:04:03.120 --> 0:04:05.400 friend of the Show, Catherine leg will make her NASCAR 0:04:05.480 --> 0:04:09.040 Cup Series debut this weekend, competing in the Shriners Children's 0:04:09.040 --> 0:04:11.800 five hundred in Phoenix on Sunday. In doing so, she'll 0:04:11.840 --> 0:04:13.760 become the first woman to compete in a Cup Series 0:04:13.840 --> 0:04:16.720 race since twenty eighteen. Way to go, Catherine, and if 0:04:16.720 --> 0:04:18.920 any of you slices miss that episode with her, go 0:04:18.960 --> 0:04:20.520 back and listen ahead of Sunday's race. 0:04:20.640 --> 0:04:21.960 We'll link to it in our show notes. 0:04:22.839 --> 0:04:25.200 Speaking of friends of the show, Bob's letter Alana Meyers 0:04:25.240 --> 0:04:27.560 Taylor will be in action at the World Bobsled and 0:04:27.600 --> 0:04:31.640 Skeleton Championships in Lake Placid, running today through Sunday and 0:04:31.680 --> 0:04:33.200 March fourteenth through sixteenth. 0:04:33.400 --> 0:04:34.520 These are the first. 0:04:34.240 --> 0:04:36.680 Bob Sled and Skeleton World Championships to be held in 0:04:36.680 --> 0:04:39.560 the US since twenty twelve. Want to see how Alana does, 0:04:39.800 --> 0:04:41.320 We'll link to the website where you can find the 0:04:41.360 --> 0:04:44.839 schedule and race results in our show notes. Speaking of 0:04:44.880 --> 0:04:47.599 fast cold sports and yet another friend of the show, 0:04:47.839 --> 0:04:50.560 We've got a little cross country skiing news. The bi 0:04:50.640 --> 0:04:54.039 annual World Championships in that sport are currently underway in Norway, 0:04:54.240 --> 0:04:56.800 and on Wednesday, the American duo of Jesse Diggins and 0:04:56.880 --> 0:05:00.400 Julie Kern won silver in the team sprintcond and straight 0:05:00.440 --> 0:05:02.800 podium finish in the event after they claim. 0:05:02.560 --> 0:05:03.520 Bronze two years ago. 0:05:04.720 --> 0:05:06.520 And last, but not least, we want to send a 0:05:06.640 --> 0:05:10.480 huge congratulations to US women's national team and Portland Thorns 0:05:10.480 --> 0:05:14.560 forward Sophia Wilson formerly Sophia Smith, who's pregnant with her 0:05:14.560 --> 0:05:17.800 first child. Wilson and her husband Michael, a wide receiver 0:05:17.880 --> 0:05:20.960 for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, made the announcement via a 0:05:20.960 --> 0:05:24.039 post on Instagram yesterday and included photos of the two 0:05:24.040 --> 0:05:27.599 holding sonogram images and the caption quote, life just keeps 0:05:27.640 --> 0:05:31.520 getting sweeter, speaking asweet. If you haven't seen Michael rattling 0:05:31.560 --> 0:05:34.080 off all of Soph's acomplishments and saying. 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:36.440 If she can do it, he can do it. Get 0:05:36.480 --> 0:05:38.760 ready for some serious cheese in, y'all. 0:05:39.000 --> 0:05:41.280 We'll link to that video and their baby announced post 0:05:41.320 --> 0:05:43.880 in our show notes. We're wishing you a happy and 0:05:44.000 --> 0:05:48.640 healthy pregnancy. So we got to take a quick break. 0:05:48.680 --> 0:05:53.920 When we come back, we're talking besketball. I love that, 0:05:53.960 --> 0:05:56.800 but I shouldn't be singing right now. My voice is trash. 0:05:57.000 --> 0:06:00.160 Alexa Philipoo caught up with her yesterday. It's coming up next. 0:06:06.839 --> 0:06:07.560 Joining us now. 0:06:07.560 --> 0:06:10.919 She covers college hoops and the WNBA for ESPN. Previously 0:06:10.960 --> 0:06:13.200 covered the Yukon Huskies and the Connecticut Sun for the 0:06:13.240 --> 0:06:15.440 Hartford Current, and her work has appeared in the Dallas 0:06:15.440 --> 0:06:19.039 Morning News, Seattle Times, and Cincinnati Enquirer. A Stanford alum, 0:06:19.080 --> 0:06:21.520 her past jobs include interning at the House Committee and 0:06:21.600 --> 0:06:24.800 Oversight and Government Reform, and founding and working as head 0:06:24.880 --> 0:06:27.880 chef of gourmet cookie company Mad Moose Bakery. 0:06:28.240 --> 0:06:31.719 It's Alexa Philippoo, a high school chef. 0:06:32.480 --> 0:06:35.160 I did not think that was going to ever see 0:06:35.200 --> 0:06:38.600 the light of day on something work related, but yes, 0:06:39.040 --> 0:06:41.839 I loved Here's the thing, Sarah, though, I like to 0:06:41.880 --> 0:06:44.440 bake the cookies, but I don't eat cookies. 0:06:44.240 --> 0:06:47.240 So like it was like I lost out most of 0:06:47.279 --> 0:06:49.520 the fun. I just was doing it because I enjoyed it, 0:06:49.800 --> 0:06:50.479 but I never. 0:06:50.320 --> 0:06:53.760 Really Okay, Yeah, where'd we get the name Mad Moose Bakery? 0:06:54.600 --> 0:06:58.560 Oh? It's honestly a long story. But I was selling 0:06:58.600 --> 0:07:03.720 them to my cousin and his nickname was Moose. I 0:07:03.720 --> 0:07:05.600 don't even remember how that came about. So it was 0:07:05.600 --> 0:07:08.440 a playoff of like moose, like the animal, but then 0:07:08.480 --> 0:07:10.720 like moose, like you know, a dessert. 0:07:10.360 --> 0:07:14.080 Moose, So chocolate moose. Yeah, exactly right, sounds sounds very 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:14.640 high school. 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:18.400 Well, congratulations on being entrepreneurial even at a young age. 0:07:18.760 --> 0:07:22.720 And congratulations on the ESPN contract extension that was just announced. 0:07:22.760 --> 0:07:25.880 So you're sticking around with the Worldwide Leader. Happy to 0:07:25.880 --> 0:07:28.120 hear you'll be sticking around, especially because we love getting 0:07:28.160 --> 0:07:32.120 your expertise on all things college hoops. Conference tournaments are underway, 0:07:32.200 --> 0:07:33.800 so any upsets you're watching. 0:07:33.480 --> 0:07:37.680 For upsets, I mean, I think we have to talk 0:07:37.720 --> 0:07:39.720 about the SEC. I mean at the time that we're 0:07:39.760 --> 0:07:42.840 recording this, I know, like Tennessee just they won their 0:07:42.840 --> 0:07:46.000 game very comfortably against Texas adem but they're a nine 0:07:46.040 --> 0:07:48.920 seed in the in the SEC tournament, which is wild, right, 0:07:49.000 --> 0:07:54.640 So that conference is just so deep, So I don't know, 0:07:54.760 --> 0:07:58.120 necessarily it feels like, yes, maybe we'll have South Carolina 0:07:58.640 --> 0:08:03.320 and Well Text I guess like be the ultimate teams 0:08:03.320 --> 0:08:05.240 that will face off in the final, But just because 0:08:05.240 --> 0:08:07.240 of the depth of the conference, then you know, you 0:08:07.320 --> 0:08:09.880 just don't know. Maybe if a certain if Kentucky gets hot, 0:08:09.960 --> 0:08:12.840 if at Tennessee refinds its groove after that huge loss 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:15.640 to Georgia, so maybe we'll see some upsets. And then 0:08:15.680 --> 0:08:18.640 you know, acc I want to see if Knitter Dame 0:08:18.800 --> 0:08:20.840 kind of refinds its groove, if anyone else can really 0:08:20.880 --> 0:08:23.160 challenge them, or if you know, it's really they're still 0:08:23.160 --> 0:08:25.760 the team to beat. So those are the two I 0:08:25.840 --> 0:08:27.040 really have my eye on. And then I think with 0:08:27.120 --> 0:08:30.720 Big ten, we're probably just expecting UCLA USC Part three, 0:08:30.840 --> 0:08:33.880 Big twelve. Yeah, I think I would probably picked TCU 0:08:33.920 --> 0:08:35.720 at this point to they seem like they're the best 0:08:35.720 --> 0:08:38.000 team right now, especially with Kanadasity a little injured, So. 0:08:38.320 --> 0:08:39.000 Yeah, who knows. 0:08:39.080 --> 0:08:40.000 We'll have to see. Well. 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:42.160 And with Notre Dame, you mentioned NC State, you know, 0:08:42.240 --> 0:08:44.720 technically the number one seed because of the tie breaker 0:08:45.200 --> 0:08:48.000 in that one. So yeah, it's whether or not they 0:08:48.000 --> 0:08:49.640 can be the team that they were kind of most 0:08:49.640 --> 0:08:53.760 of the season, or they have a particular issue trying 0:08:53.760 --> 0:08:57.320 to beat the wolf Pack in this tournament. Going forward, 0:08:57.559 --> 0:09:00.480 let's look ahead to the NCAA tournament. For new or 0:09:00.520 --> 0:09:03.480 maybe for those who are unfamiliar, how much do these 0:09:03.520 --> 0:09:07.240 conference tournaments matter and how much does regular season success 0:09:07.400 --> 0:09:08.720 impact seating. 0:09:09.400 --> 0:09:11.920 Yeah, I think, well, obviously we have a wealth of 0:09:12.200 --> 0:09:15.199 data up to this point that the committee is using 0:09:15.280 --> 0:09:18.000 to decide what the bracket looks like, and we were 0:09:18.040 --> 0:09:21.640 able to see specifically with those top sixteen teams in 0:09:21.679 --> 0:09:24.600 the reveal last week, what they're thinking was up to 0:09:24.679 --> 0:09:27.600 that point. Of course, so much has happened literally since 0:09:28.120 --> 0:09:30.559 that reveal that day, there were a ton of upsets. 0:09:30.600 --> 0:09:33.160 Throughout the last week, there have been a ton of upsets, 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:35.920 and I think what's unique about this year is that 0:09:36.040 --> 0:09:38.480 you know, you have it's all also, we should say 0:09:38.679 --> 0:09:41.480 different for each conference and different for each team. Some 0:09:41.559 --> 0:09:44.160 teams are fighting to make it into March period, but 0:09:44.200 --> 0:09:46.959 when we're talking about some of these real contenders or 0:09:47.000 --> 0:09:49.520 the power for you know pretty much which teams are 0:09:49.559 --> 0:09:51.320 probably going to make it. But then it is, like 0:09:51.360 --> 0:09:54.000 you said, all about seating, and for this year, it's 0:09:54.040 --> 0:09:58.520 really interesting because the top sixteen teams, it feels like 0:09:58.520 --> 0:10:01.480 a lot is fluid. There's still number one seeds up 0:10:01.480 --> 0:10:04.720 for grabs. The teams that get to host those are 0:10:04.760 --> 0:10:07.840 the top sixteen seeds I've been referring to, So that's 0:10:07.880 --> 0:10:10.640 all really fluid as well. There's been upsets like Ohio 0:10:10.679 --> 0:10:13.720 State losing that like right now, they're not slated to hosts. 0:10:13.720 --> 0:10:17.560 According to Charlie Gums projections, could a team like Maryland 0:10:17.559 --> 0:10:19.160 go on a run and get back in that position. 0:10:19.320 --> 0:10:22.200 Kansas State is a little bit of a precarious spot too, 0:10:22.280 --> 0:10:24.280 So we're looking at who's going to host. We're also 0:10:24.280 --> 0:10:27.000 looking at who's going to get that number one overall seed, 0:10:27.160 --> 0:10:30.440 and I think that who ends up having a really 0:10:30.480 --> 0:10:32.520 strong run the next week is We're going to termine 0:10:32.520 --> 0:10:33.960 a lot of that. So I think it's exciting because 0:10:33.960 --> 0:10:35.559 there's a lot of intrigue and it doesn't feel like 0:10:35.600 --> 0:10:37.400 anything in the Stone. 0:10:37.760 --> 0:10:39.880 So much parody wide open field. 0:10:40.240 --> 0:10:41.720 You mentioned we got our first look at what the 0:10:41.720 --> 0:10:44.760 top sixteen looks like from the Basketball Committee before those 0:10:44.840 --> 0:10:48.040 upsets and thing offers tournaments. But UCLA, Texas, USC and 0:10:48.080 --> 0:10:50.760 Notre Dame the number one seeds. And to your point 0:10:50.800 --> 0:10:54.880 about the home advantage, it's a debate that's raged for 0:10:54.960 --> 0:10:57.320 several years in the women's game of should we still 0:10:57.360 --> 0:11:01.800 be giving home court advantage and host opportunities to teams 0:11:02.120 --> 0:11:04.000 or should it be like the men's tournament where it's 0:11:04.040 --> 0:11:06.280 neutral sites. Do you think we're still at a place 0:11:06.320 --> 0:11:09.640 in the women's game where it's beneficial to have those 0:11:09.720 --> 0:11:13.240 home sites and to encourage tickets and attendance and everything 0:11:13.360 --> 0:11:16.480 by you know, placing them in basketball hotbeds, or are 0:11:16.480 --> 0:11:17.760 we at a spot where we might be able to 0:11:17.760 --> 0:11:18.840 move toward neutral sites. 0:11:19.440 --> 0:11:22.680 Personally, I love that teams could host in a women's game, 0:11:23.000 --> 0:11:26.920 and I think there's nothing like I just remember actually 0:11:27.320 --> 0:11:29.960 one time walking into it was a second round game 0:11:30.040 --> 0:11:32.480 here in stores. I'm saying here in Stortside. I'm literally 0:11:32.480 --> 0:11:34.960 here in stores after having to do some interviews here 0:11:35.040 --> 0:11:40.000 and so just walking into the gamble pavilion and it 0:11:40.040 --> 0:11:42.480 was like an atmosphere for a second round game. I 0:11:42.520 --> 0:11:45.120 was not expecting, but it was electric. You could feel 0:11:45.640 --> 0:11:47.400 just like the tension brewing, and it was a really 0:11:47.440 --> 0:11:49.920 actually tough game for Yu Kong. As we're playing, I 0:11:49.920 --> 0:11:52.440 think it might have been you see yes at the 0:11:52.480 --> 0:11:56.280 time or yeah, that sounds right. So I think it's great. 0:11:56.320 --> 0:11:58.880 I think you know, they're really well attended. You're not 0:11:58.960 --> 0:12:03.080 seeing environments where it's like no one's in the stands 0:12:03.080 --> 0:12:06.199 and it's like, what's the point here? And my argument 0:12:06.280 --> 0:12:09.560 for keeping that too is like you should you know, 0:12:10.040 --> 0:12:11.920 I know this doesn't apply to maybe some of the 0:12:12.000 --> 0:12:14.800 lower mid majors, But for the most part, if you're 0:12:14.840 --> 0:12:18.240 in the conversation to host, you know you have the 0:12:18.520 --> 0:12:21.720 like if you want to host like investor program, do 0:12:22.000 --> 0:12:25.040 well in the regular season and in your conference tournament, 0:12:25.120 --> 0:12:27.000 and then you can be in a position to have 0:12:27.040 --> 0:12:29.280 that you know, quote unquote advantage. So I think it's great. 0:12:29.360 --> 0:12:31.440 I would probably be really disappointed they move away from it. 0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:33.720 I see why people like neutral sites, but like, we 0:12:33.760 --> 0:12:36.240 do get neutral sites obviously once we get to the 0:12:36.280 --> 0:12:38.800 regionals and then the final four, so we have that 0:12:38.840 --> 0:12:41.240 built in. But I just think campus sites, it's still 0:12:41.240 --> 0:12:44.760 college athletics. And yes, also too, they're gonna be upsets, 0:12:44.800 --> 0:12:46.600 like we're seeing more and more upsets in the women's game. 0:12:46.880 --> 0:12:51.120 So hopefully it's a good balance, like for the whole 0:12:51.120 --> 0:12:52.760 scope of the tournament that you have a little bit 0:12:52.760 --> 0:12:55.079 at that college field, but also the neutrality and the 0:12:55.160 --> 0:12:55.520 later on. 0:12:57.360 --> 0:12:59.920 How many teams deep do I have to go for 0:13:00.120 --> 0:13:02.480 you to say that they have a legitimate chance to 0:13:02.520 --> 0:13:02.880 win it. 0:13:02.840 --> 0:13:06.520 All, I'd say six. Do you want me to name 0:13:06.559 --> 0:13:08.440 them or do you want to game them together? 0:13:09.400 --> 0:13:10.120 Yeah, let's hear. 0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:13.679 Yeah, So I think, let's you know you have at 0:13:13.679 --> 0:13:18.440 the top Texas USC. I might be messing up the 0:13:18.440 --> 0:13:23.920 exact rankings right now, South Carolina, UCLA, Yukon and Notre Dame. 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:26.000 Notre Dame, I think those are the six for me. 0:13:26.200 --> 0:13:27.960 Some people like to put else you in there, but 0:13:28.120 --> 0:13:33.040 I haven't seen that championship level play for them. I 0:13:33.080 --> 0:13:35.560 mean I wouldn't be I don't think i'd pick them 0:13:35.559 --> 0:13:36.839 to make the final for her right now, but I 0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:38.880 wouldn't be shocked if they do, because they just obviously 0:13:38.960 --> 0:13:40.599 have the talent. But yeah, for me, it's been to 0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:43.400 six that I really think have the shanga shot. I 0:13:43.400 --> 0:13:45.800 think that's been honestly pretty consistent throughout the season that 0:13:45.840 --> 0:13:48.840 those above the rest. 0:13:48.480 --> 0:13:51.559 Yeah, they've kind of shuffled around the top the top rankings. 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:55.440 Are there any potential dark courses? Is there a team 0:13:55.480 --> 0:13:57.640 maybe LSU is one, but is there a team that 0:13:57.679 --> 0:14:01.120 you think if everything is hidden, yeah, they could do 0:14:01.200 --> 0:14:01.800 some damage. 0:14:02.000 --> 0:14:05.280 Yeah, I think so. The Big twelve is interesting because 0:14:05.600 --> 0:14:09.800 I feel like they've it's been like a very the 0:14:09.880 --> 0:14:12.400 ones completely emerge as a power, like you kind of 0:14:12.400 --> 0:14:14.719 saw that from TCU, but then they've had their own 0:14:14.800 --> 0:14:17.840 ups and downs. Kansas State. I think it's unfortunate Aoka 0:14:17.920 --> 0:14:20.600 Lead has been injured, especially towards like the end of 0:14:20.640 --> 0:14:23.680 the season, so that's a factor for them. But like 0:14:23.720 --> 0:14:25.680 those are two teams I would definitely watch, like if 0:14:25.680 --> 0:14:29.640 they really catch fire at the right time, Kansas State 0:14:29.760 --> 0:14:33.120 again would need I think Aoka Lead healthy and contributing 0:14:33.160 --> 0:14:34.640 and on the floor to be able to go in 0:14:34.680 --> 0:14:37.760 a run. And TCU obviously, I know we talked about 0:14:37.800 --> 0:14:40.080 them before the last time I was on with their 0:14:40.240 --> 0:14:42.840 kind of duo of Helly Van Left and Stoner Prints 0:14:42.840 --> 0:14:45.520 and then I don't know if I feel that strongly 0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:48.040 about this in the sense that they just were upset 0:14:48.400 --> 0:14:52.560 in a really kind of maybe tellyway against Georgia. But 0:14:52.680 --> 0:14:55.240 Tennessee again, like they have to they could probably Like 0:14:55.360 --> 0:14:57.040 I guess what we could say about them is like, 0:14:57.080 --> 0:14:59.240 obviously they could lose to anyone. They just lost to Georgia, 0:14:59.280 --> 0:15:00.680 but I also think it could beat a lot of 0:15:00.720 --> 0:15:02.760 good teams, and we saw them against a lot of 0:15:02.800 --> 0:15:05.920 the good SEC teams earlier this year, come really close 0:15:05.960 --> 0:15:07.400 to Vega, and then they have the big win against 0:15:07.400 --> 0:15:09.000 you go too against. 0:15:10.280 --> 0:15:13.720 Yeah, any under the radar storylines, we should be following 0:15:13.920 --> 0:15:15.480 either on the court or off the court. 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:16.480 Entering the tournament. 0:15:17.160 --> 0:15:20.400 I'm just really interested to see. You know, this is 0:15:20.440 --> 0:15:24.200 the first year after you know, Caitlin Clark had kind 0:15:24.200 --> 0:15:28.840 of taken the whole basketball scene by storm. I think 0:15:28.840 --> 0:15:31.080 a lot of people in the sport were saying, you know, 0:15:31.160 --> 0:15:32.800 she's obviously a star in her own right, but there 0:15:32.800 --> 0:15:35.440 were other stars too that were, you know, really doing 0:15:35.480 --> 0:15:37.480 great things. And so now that you know she's moved 0:15:37.520 --> 0:15:40.240 on to the WNBA, I'm really eager to see which 0:15:40.280 --> 0:15:42.280 stars are going to show out the most in March. 0:15:42.320 --> 0:15:44.600 Is it going to be the pagebackers, and is it 0:15:44.640 --> 0:15:47.920 going to be the you know, the Juju Watkins or 0:15:48.120 --> 0:15:50.360 you know, could Hana Hidalgo be in that conversation, or 0:15:50.400 --> 0:15:52.440 maybe it's you know, other people we haven't talked about yet, 0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:55.320 like Mikaela Blake for example at Vanderbilt. She's one of 0:15:55.320 --> 0:15:57.520 the best freshmen in the country. There's another great freshman 0:15:57.520 --> 0:16:00.360 and Sarah Strong who could really make her name in 0:16:00.400 --> 0:16:02.920 March as well. So I just it's always that like 0:16:02.960 --> 0:16:05.000 time where you're just like, who's going to be that 0:16:05.120 --> 0:16:07.600 team or that player that really emerges. Like last year 0:16:07.640 --> 0:16:09.960 we didn't think NC State would necessarily do that, and 0:16:10.000 --> 0:16:11.720 then they're there in the final four for the first 0:16:11.760 --> 0:16:14.120 time since you know, they had been there since like 0:16:14.200 --> 0:16:17.240 ninety eight or ninety nine. So I just love that 0:16:17.320 --> 0:16:19.640 kind of anticipatory feeling of like you just don't know 0:16:19.680 --> 0:16:22.200 exactly what's gonna happen or who's gonna, you know, really 0:16:22.280 --> 0:16:25.800 pop off. And then and then once like we get there, 0:16:25.840 --> 0:16:28.360 I'm just look very fascinated to see, like who's actually 0:16:28.400 --> 0:16:29.760 in Tampa by the end of it, if it's going 0:16:29.840 --> 0:16:32.360 to be one of mostly from that group of six 0:16:32.360 --> 0:16:34.440 that we talked about, or maybe you know some people 0:16:34.520 --> 0:16:35.160 were surprised. 0:16:35.240 --> 0:16:38.560 Yes, And the stakes are really higher than ever, not 0:16:38.720 --> 0:16:40.800 just because of the eyeballs and the fan interest, but 0:16:40.960 --> 0:16:44.600 for the players, nil opportunities, the chance to make your 0:16:44.680 --> 0:16:47.000 name on the highest stage, the chance to get people 0:16:47.040 --> 0:16:49.680 to know you and make you a household name, really 0:16:49.680 --> 0:16:52.320 happens so much during tournament time. And then also this 0:16:52.400 --> 0:16:55.120 is the first year that leagues and teams get paid 0:16:55.200 --> 0:16:58.200 when their teams advance. For such a long time, there 0:16:58.240 --> 0:17:00.960 were payouts on the men's side, and there was a 0:17:01.040 --> 0:17:04.320 real benefit to investing in your program and watching it 0:17:04.359 --> 0:17:06.239 go far and on the women's side, you go win 0:17:06.320 --> 0:17:08.840 the whole damn thing and you get nothing. And so 0:17:08.880 --> 0:17:11.399 the fact that the women and the teams and leagues 0:17:11.440 --> 0:17:15.200 are getting paid when there are teams advance just ups 0:17:15.200 --> 0:17:18.560 the ante on everything. It makes everything bigger and more important. 0:17:18.600 --> 0:17:22.040 At tournament time, you mentioned a couple of the names, Hannah, 0:17:22.359 --> 0:17:26.040 Paige Juju front runners for player of the year if 0:17:26.080 --> 0:17:30.399 I give you Juju Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, Paigebackers, Lauren Betts, 0:17:30.440 --> 0:17:34.119 and then Tanaia Latson who's leading the league in scoring, 0:17:34.200 --> 0:17:37.600 leading the country in scoring. Is there anybody that really 0:17:37.640 --> 0:17:40.000 for you has already sealed it up personally? 0:17:40.040 --> 0:17:42.600 I know some places have started to make their kind 0:17:42.640 --> 0:17:45.600 of proclamations, at least some of the media sites. I 0:17:45.600 --> 0:17:47.960 don't necessarily know if it's one hundred percent of done deal. 0:17:48.560 --> 0:17:52.639 I think Juju Watkins might have the edge because of 0:17:52.680 --> 0:17:55.560 those games against UCLA, because the fact that they won 0:17:55.640 --> 0:17:59.720 the Big Ten title and they want it outright. You 0:17:59.760 --> 0:18:02.879 can say enough about what she's done this year and 0:18:03.080 --> 0:18:07.680 specifically just like she has help around her, but she's 0:18:07.720 --> 0:18:10.840 still the centerpiece of everything they do, and she's taking 0:18:10.880 --> 0:18:13.679 on so much in different areas before But you know, 0:18:13.800 --> 0:18:17.119 if if USC stumbles in the Big ten tournament, in 0:18:17.160 --> 0:18:20.560 Hanna Hidalgo goes on a run, or Pagebackers suddenly takes over, 0:18:20.840 --> 0:18:23.920 or baby Lauren Betts finds her way again. I think 0:18:23.960 --> 0:18:26.840 it's it's interesting because these are humans making their own 0:18:26.880 --> 0:18:29.280 decisions on this, and the voting process I think probably 0:18:29.280 --> 0:18:32.000 differs based off each award or based off you know, 0:18:32.200 --> 0:18:34.600 if it's a publication for claiming someone the player of 0:18:34.600 --> 0:18:37.000 the year. So I think it's a little bit still 0:18:37.040 --> 0:18:39.679 up forgots. I don't think someone's completely separated themselves, but 0:18:40.280 --> 0:18:43.000 right now would probably say that, like the edge probably 0:18:43.080 --> 0:18:47.160 feels like it's it's juju. But we'll see what people say. 0:18:47.400 --> 0:18:49.879 Another big thing to watch for during the tournament is 0:18:49.920 --> 0:18:52.679 how YU confers and whether that will affect star senior 0:18:52.680 --> 0:18:56.199 guard Azy Fud's decision to stay for another year she 0:18:56.280 --> 0:18:59.240 has eligibility or go to the WNBA draft. Her most 0:18:59.240 --> 0:19:01.520 recent quote was, we'll see about the fifth year. 0:19:01.880 --> 0:19:04.200 That's what we've heard. Do you have a strong opinion 0:19:04.280 --> 0:19:05.439 on what her choice should be. 0:19:06.960 --> 0:19:10.480 She's such, she's in a unique situation because this is 0:19:10.480 --> 0:19:14.320 really her first fully healthy year or I don't even 0:19:14.320 --> 0:19:19.000 know if fully mostly. Yeah, since really her freshman year. 0:19:19.080 --> 0:19:22.560 So I think she's she does seem to really love 0:19:22.560 --> 0:19:26.920