Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: WVUAFM Tuscaloosa.
Hello, everybody. This is WVUA 90.7 FM the Capstone. And welcome to episode number 81 of the Full court press podcast, Shout Out Randy Moss. My name is Jamie Martinez and I'm joined by Nick Atkinson and Kaden Johnson. We're back. We're going to jump right into it. We got a little special episode planned for y'all this week. I know we talk a whole lot of NBA, but it's March and there's a lot of basketball going around this certain time of time of year. And I think it's time we get into a little collegiate athletics with March Madness right around the corner. We're going to get into our full brackets going game by game and seeing who can make the best bracket. But before we get there, we're going to dive right into the news because we took a little week off for spring break, so news has been collecting a little bit. So I'm going to toss it over to Kaden Johnson with the news.
[00:01:03] Speaker B: All right, first up we got De'Aaron Fox. We're going to talk about him a little bit. Oh, yeah, Jamie, I'm very sorry. It's probably the first time you're hearing this, but dear. And Fox is going to undergo season ending surgery.
[00:01:16] Speaker A: Oh, no.
[00:01:17] Speaker B: On two for on Tuesday.
[00:01:19] Speaker A: Season ending. This must be tragic. Whatever happened.
[00:01:22] Speaker B: Tendon damage in his left.
[00:01:24] Speaker A: Oh my goodness. Oh, my goodness. He's never going to be the same.
[00:01:28] Speaker B: What does this mean for the spurs moving forward?
[00:01:30] Speaker A: It's over forever. Yeah.
Left pinkies, as you know, on a left handed player are the most. Yeah, I'm just not. Yeah, he's going to be fine. The Spurs, I mean, it was done after Victor Wemanyama went down. So losing Fox, they're just trying to get a better draft pick, honestly. So sitting there, two best guys go for the best pick possible. That's all it is.
[00:01:52] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:01:52] Speaker B: Yeah. I saw Stephen A. Smith today. Did his like player name, aura, rankings. What have you guys seen that player name or today? Stephen A. What's today? The 17th. All right, so on the 17th this morning, Stephen A. Did ranking the top five players in the NBA based on the aura that comes with their name.
De'Aaron Fox was two.
[00:02:15] Speaker A: He has a tough name.
[00:02:16] Speaker B: Darren Fox is two.
[00:02:17] Speaker A: That's why I got his jersey. He's got the toughest name. Who? I kind of want to see this list now.
[00:02:21] Speaker B: So what is this? All right. Yeah, I'll Google it.
[00:02:24] Speaker A: Top five aura in names. Who else would even be on there?
[00:02:30] Speaker B: Malik it was. It was Jokic 1.
All right, here we go. I got it. Jokic 1. Dear. And Fox 2. Ja Morant 3.
[00:02:41] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:02:41] Speaker B: Trey Young 4. LeBron James 5.
[00:02:44] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:02:46] Speaker B: What do we think about that?
[00:02:48] Speaker C: It doesn't make any sense. The first two.
[00:02:51] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, I don't know why this is being talked about on national television. Stephen A. Is ranking players by their name, their aura, and their name. That's.
[00:02:59] Speaker B: But how is. How is LeBron 5?
[00:03:02] Speaker A: I have no idea. Like, what's even the basis for this? Like, Fox at 2. Sure. But like Jokic, I feel like if we're going based on how cool their names are, there's cooler names out there. Like, Amen Thompson.
[00:03:14] Speaker B: I mean, Luca Donk is a cool name.
[00:03:17] Speaker A: That's a cool name.
I have no idea what ESPN's going on.
[00:03:22] Speaker B: I don't understand where Trey Young falls in that.
[00:03:24] Speaker A: I love Young, but. Yeah.
[00:03:26] Speaker B: What is the aura behind the name Trey Young?
[00:03:29] Speaker A: It's about as basic of two names as it gets right there. Yeah.
[00:03:34] Speaker B: A lot of cool names in the NBA. Kyrie is a.
[00:03:38] Speaker A: That's a good one. I think John Moran's a good pick, too.
[00:03:40] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:41] Speaker A: JJJ Jaren Jackson Jr. I think that's cool. I don't know. I'm just thinking of people now. But great way to start. I like it.
[00:03:49] Speaker B: We'll move it. On a little more serious news, PG is consulting with doctors this week on treatment options for his groin and knee injuries, including a possible procedure.
A decision is expected early next week. It's important to note, too, the NBA is actually investigating the Sixers for questionably tanking, maybe, or possibly taking, I should say.
But this could kind of help their case if. I mean, you know, God forbid, I don't want. I don't want PG to be injured, but it could help the Sixers if it comes out that he is actually hurt and they're not just holding him back for no reason.
[00:04:28] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, this whole Sixers situation has been pretty sticky since, like, game one. They've just been the most injury prone team ever and Beat has been on and off, and he's officially done now. Tyrese Maxey has been sitting for like, eight games straight now, and I'm pretty sure he can come back whenever, but they're just not bringing it back. And then this whole Paul George situation, I'm sure they'll find a way to get him to sit for the rest of the year. So, I mean, yeah, much like San Antonio, Philly's just done for the year, but Philly's in a way worse spot than San Antonio is. I don't know if I can trust this process anymore.
[00:05:01] Speaker B: Whoa, Is that a bar?
[00:05:03] Speaker A: No.
[00:05:04] Speaker B: It was kind of like a mic drop moment for you there.
[00:05:06] Speaker A: Yeah. These mics weren't hooked up on like a big old selfie stick thing. I drop it, but I can't, unfortunately. So it is what it is.
[00:05:15] Speaker B: Yeah. I don't know. I just think it's like you were saying. It's kind of been weird from the get go. I kind of like this investigation because I had the Sixers as like second in the east and I had Embiid, like top five in ep, I think. I think we all were high. I'm like, what did you have?
[00:05:33] Speaker A: Yeah, they had such a good offseason.
[00:05:35] Speaker B: They had the best offseason.
[00:05:36] Speaker A: Yeah, they got Yabu Saleh and PG.
[00:05:38] Speaker B: And Jerry McCain ended up being really good to start the year, too.
[00:05:41] Speaker A: Yeah, that's. I think that's the first domino that really killed them was, I mean, obviously Embiid's injury prone, but when Jared McCain went down, I feel like he kind of took the Sixers with him because, I mean, there was so much hope in Jerry McCain. They love him over there.
[00:05:53] Speaker B: But I didn't realize it too, until I started reading. But a really. Tyrese Maxey has been out for, like, no reason. Yeah, like, like when Tyrese Maxey doesn't play, it literally is for like nothing.
[00:06:03] Speaker A: I have him. Yeah, I have him on my fantas team and I'm looking at the injury report and it's like they're just making stuff up as to why he's hurt. There's no reason that he needs to be sitting. And I mean, at some point it's kind of hurting his progression if you're not going to play him.
[00:06:16] Speaker B: And it's, it's becoming pretty clear that these teams have just found loopholes for like the, the Kawhi, like, no rest rules. Because even, even like the Celtics, you know, I'm, I'm not trying to imply that we, the Celtics have been holding out Kristaps for no reason, but they still have not said why Kristaps missed what, like 11 straight games or like 10 out of his last 11? And it's like all it's listed as is like mystery illness. Have y'all seen that?
[00:06:45] Speaker A: I mean, they're probably just saying that because Porzingis has a, an injury history and so they don't have to throw out a reason.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: You have an injury history. Seven footer. You know, I It's. It's all really weird, but it all stems from like, teams are just trying to find loopholes to get out of, you know, getting in trouble for wrestling players.
[00:07:01] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think it's really hit a boiling point this year. It's never been this bad.
[00:07:05] Speaker B: Yeah, exactly.
[00:07:06] Speaker A: I'm not going to blame Kawhi Leonard for starting this whole thing, but yeah, I would too. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:07:10] Speaker B: LeBron.
[00:07:11] Speaker A: Yeah, LeBron too. That's a good one. He load managed lives early in la. But I mean, I guess Kawhi Leonard really kicked it off. And Kawhi Leonard's been doing it a little bit this year too. But I mean, we're seeing it in Philly, we're seeing it in Dallas, which we'll get into in a second. Dallas is like really, really bad. But we were talking earlier, OKC did the same thing. They're getting investigated too. So, I mean, it's really all coming to a head this year and I feel like in the offseason that'll be a big focal point to try and get fixed because, I mean, I'm not really trying to go to a basketball game in Philadelphia to go watch. Like, who. Who do they even have playing like Urshanya Bou Sale is their best guy out there.
[00:07:44] Speaker B: Quentin Grimes has been their best player.
[00:07:45] Speaker A: He's averaging 20 again for a couple of weeks and they just traded for him too.
[00:07:49] Speaker B: Or even like Quentin Grimes has been their best player for a while. I saw last night he actually played against his old team. He played against the Mavericks, I think either yesterday, the day before, and he had like 28 and 6. Yeah.
[00:07:59] Speaker A: And I think so.
[00:07:59] Speaker B: Props to Quinn Grimes.
[00:08:00] Speaker A: Yeah, Grimes. Wasn't he on the Mavericks earlier this year?
[00:08:02] Speaker B: Yeah. And he was traded for Caleb Martin. Caleb Martin has been booty five out of the 19 games that he's been available for, sir. That he's been on the Mavericks for. But anyways, let's transition over into that.
So another injury for Dallas. This is a little bit different than the Philly situation because these are like actual concrete injuries. Dante Exum has suffered a broken bone in his left hand. Exum is out indefinitely. Also injured on the Mavericks. Kyrie Irving saw him tear his ACL on like live tv.
[00:08:33] Speaker A: Yeah. Against Sacramento.
[00:08:34] Speaker B: That was good stuff. Olivier Max since Prosperity, one of their young key pieces just suffered a season ending injury. AD is out indefinitely. Derek Lively is out for a while, and Daniel Gafford is also unclear on his timetable to return. I mean, they're just getting absolutely ransacked by Injuries.
[00:08:52] Speaker A: It's ridiculous. It makes you wonder, what if Luka Doncic was still there? Would he be sitting too, like.
[00:08:57] Speaker B: Okay, here's. Here's a fun game. Name. Name four starters for the Mavericks. Their last game.
[00:09:03] Speaker A: It's probably like Jaden Hardy.
Yeah.
[00:09:09] Speaker B: Starters in their last game they played.
[00:09:11] Speaker A: And I know we're talking earlier, like they're down to two way players and I know, I don't know.
[00:09:15] Speaker C: Edwards is the only one I know.
[00:09:16] Speaker A: Yeah. Kessler Edwards, former King.
Yeah. I don't, I don't get it. It's so weird.
[00:09:23] Speaker B: Okay. All right, here you go. Here's their starting five last game. P.J. washington.
[00:09:27] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:09:28] Speaker B: Clay Naji Marshall, Kessler Edwards and Brandon Williams. Oh, you guys, you guys know about Brandon Williams?
[00:09:39] Speaker A: Can't say I do. Not too much. I just know Kessler Edwards off the.
[00:09:42] Speaker B: Bench, Dinwiddie Max Christie, who's been pretty good for the year, and Dwight Powell, who's been on the Mavericks since the dawn of time.
[00:09:51] Speaker A: Yeah, that is one of the worst teams I've ever heard in my entire life. And that is rough.
[00:09:56] Speaker B: I think the Mavericks, like posted. There's like a me, a new starting five meme going around from like the Mavericks graphic where they posted the starting five the other night and it was like pg. It was like this starting five.
[00:10:08] Speaker A: That is rough. And to think Dallas was on top of the world just last season. I mean, they were in the NBA Finals.
[00:10:14] Speaker B: Well, yeah, we were talking about it earlier too. I mean, they, they've been good this year, you know, like they, they've had. They were top, top four or five seed, you know, not even that long ago. Even after the Luca trade, Kyrie got hot a little bit and they were playing pretty well.
[00:10:27] Speaker A: Yeah. Like the 25 minutes we got of Anthony Davis, they just looked so good. They had so much potential and promise. And now with all of this, I mean, this season's down the gutter and you got to look towards next year and hopefully everybody gets healthy, they get some good guys and free agency in the draft. And Nico Harrison's kind of just got to look forward and hope he doesn't get his job taken because, man, he is on the hottest of hot seats. Yeah, you got to imagine at least.
[00:10:51] Speaker B: Yep.
Other than that, nothing. Nothing else. Really. Crazy news, wise Mo Bamba signed a ten day with the Pelicans. That's league altering.
[00:11:00] Speaker A: Shout out. Shaq West.
[00:11:03] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. LeBron's hurt. He's going to be out one or two weeks with a groin strain.
Has anything really Stuck out for y'all.
In NBA news right now, it's a little dry, but things are about to heat up. I mean, what team's got about what, like 15 games left? Maybe. Maybe a little less.
[00:11:25] Speaker A: Yeah, I guess. One more thing. Amen. Thompson will be sidelined for 10 to 14 days with a left ankle sprain. This came out almost a week ago, so over, over spring break, but he should be back soon. And the Rockets are actually setting as the, the second seed in the west right now in a three way tie. So I guess that does hurt.
[00:11:44] Speaker B: But is it the Nuggets and the Lakers?
[00:11:47] Speaker A: I think it's the Nuggets and the Lakers or the Grizzlies. It's one of the two. Memphis and then the Lakers are two games behind at the five seed. And then Golden State's creeping up.
[00:11:57] Speaker B: Golden State has been really good. That's a, that's a good game tonight. I think is Denver Golden State on espn.
[00:12:03] Speaker A: Yeah, that's what I had for the game previews because we were originally going to do game previews, but kind of last second we pivoted towards a March Madness, which I think is way cooler. But Nuggets warriors would have been today and that would have been a pretty, pretty good game.
[00:12:18] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, I want to say the warriors have won like what, 15 out of 16?
[00:12:22] Speaker A: I think they're 16 and one.
[00:12:24] Speaker B: 16 and one now. Crazy.
[00:12:26] Speaker A: They're ridiculous.
[00:12:27] Speaker B: And Stephen Curry's Nick called that too. He, he called that after the Butler trade that they were like a finals level team.
[00:12:33] Speaker C: Yeah, 100%.
[00:12:34] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, I think they are too.
[00:12:36] Speaker A: Yeah, definitely. And I mean, they are just ridiculously good with Jimmy Butler. They just got Jonathan Kaminga back.
I think they just got Moses Moody back too. So, I mean, everything's kind of coming to a head for Golden State. And Stephen Curry, he's got only got a few years left, but this year, I mean, if he wants to cement himself in them. Goat talks. This could be that.
[00:12:55] Speaker B: Oh, he. Dude, it'd be.
[00:12:56] Speaker C: He is the Goat.
[00:12:58] Speaker B: The other day, he's like, he, he might be the goat. He is if, if they win it this year and he wins like finals mvp.
[00:13:04] Speaker A: Yeah, that's not crazy to say. And I already think he's the best point guard of all time. I think he passed up Magic.
[00:13:10] Speaker B: He's. I think it's like he's no debate. Top three all time.
If they win it this year.
[00:13:15] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, for sure.
[00:13:17] Speaker C: I'd say top two.
[00:13:18] Speaker B: Yeah, that's not crazy either. Yeah, that's Curry's era.
[00:13:21] Speaker C: It is.
[00:13:21] Speaker B: You know, the Curry.
[00:13:22] Speaker A: Awesome. The we're in Curry era. I like there.
[00:13:24] Speaker B: What? There is no LeBron era. There never was a LeBron.
[00:13:27] Speaker A: There was always Curry. Oh, that's awesome.
[00:13:29] Speaker B: We're just haters.
[00:13:30] Speaker A: Fingers crossed. If anybody wins the title this year, I hope it's Golden State. Shout out to him. But if that's all we got for the news, we could jump into a segment that.
[00:13:38] Speaker B: Let's do a bracket.
[00:13:39] Speaker A: Yeah, we're going to throw it back because this is something we used to do before we changed stations. We did a little March magnet segment. And I don't think we ever did it this way. I think we just went week by week going like sweet 16 and.
[00:13:51] Speaker B: Yeah, we did.
[00:13:51] Speaker A: We're doing. We're going to. We're going to get real heavy into it today. This is. Let's have some fun. Let's make some crazy picks. So I guess we'll just start from the top.
[00:13:59] Speaker B: Yeah. Auburn in the south region.
[00:14:01] Speaker A: Southern region. Auburn, number one team taken on one of Alabama State or St. Francis, Pennsylvania.
[00:14:09] Speaker B: Yeah, there you go.
[00:14:10] Speaker A: Unfortunately, as much as I dislike Auburn, I feel like I guess I have.
[00:14:15] Speaker B: To pick the barn here 100%.
[00:14:18] Speaker A: Unfortunately. It sucks, but they'll lose later. This one, the second game. Way more riding on this one. Louisville, Creighton, two of the more underrated teams, especially Louisville, is a team that everybody's talking about making a deep despite being the 8 seed. Where do we feel this one goes? Because in my initial bracket, I had Creighton beating Louisville, but I don't know. I'm going back and forth on this one. What do y'all think?
[00:14:44] Speaker C: I have Louisville.
[00:14:46] Speaker A: Louisville, yeah.
[00:14:47] Speaker B: This is a really tough game, I think. Oh, I don't know. I was talking to you about this earlier, Jamie. Like, Creighton is going to go under the radar because so many people are going to be talking about how underrated Louisville is, which they are. But Creighton is still a very good team. Like, I think this is a team that's better than a nine seed. They push. They push St. John's to the brink in the Big east championship game.
Could go either way. But I actually am going to take Creighton in this one. I'm going to go with the Blue Jays. I don't. I watched Louisville play a couple games in the ACC tournament. I don't think they have the interior defense to stop Ryan Kochbrinner, who's one of the best bigs in the country on Creighton. I'M going to take the Blue Jays.
[00:15:32] Speaker A: Did Alabama face Creighton this year? Was that okay? Yeah, because I knew. I know that game was really good. And Bama. Bama did some awesome things in that game. So moving on to the 5 seed Michigan taking on the 12 seed UC San Diego. This is actually where I have my little Cinderella run. I have the 12 seed UC San Diego just purely based on the fact that I'm from California and I can't really see any of the teams from California getting too far. Like, I don't know if UCLA will get super far. But you know what? I think every bracket needs a Cinderella. I'm going to go UC San Diego over Michigan.
[00:16:03] Speaker B: Yeah. Good story here. UC San Diego's in their first year of NCAA tournament eligibility.
[00:16:08] Speaker A: Beautiful.
[00:16:08] Speaker B: And both their men's and women's teams made it. They're one of six teams, I think, in the country that won 30 games this year. That being said, Michigan always plays their best ball in March. They're hot. They're coming off of a Big Ten tournament championship. I think a five seed is a little disrespectful for Michigan. I think they clean this one up. I got them winning big.
[00:16:28] Speaker C: Yeah, me too. I just have Michigan winning also.
[00:16:31] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:32] Speaker A: Next up, number four, Texas A and M. Taking on the smart kids out over at Yale who are sitting at the 13 seed. I'm going to take Texas A and M in this one. I feel like they're legit and I don't know if Yale can match up with the sec.
[00:16:47] Speaker B: This would be pretty interesting. If Yale does win and Michigan wins, they would be playing against Danny Wolf on Michigan, who was Yale's best player last year when they beat Auburn. But I. I don't think this Yell team is quite as good as the. The team last year. And they're playing an SEC team. I got Texas A and M. Yeah.
[00:17:06] Speaker C: I have the same. I don't see the. I don't see it being like last year for them.
[00:17:11] Speaker A: Yeah. I just feel like there's a lot of teams here where it's hard to pick the upset. I'm kind of forcing myself to pick upsets in some of these situations. Like moving on to number six, Ole Miss versus either one of UNC or San Diego State. I'm actually going to take the upset here with either UNC or San Diego State. I'm hoping at San Diego State. That's a team with tournament experience. They bumped Alabama a couple of years ago, so I do think they'll beat unc, but Even if UNC makes it, I think they have a shot against Ole Miss. I've seen some of their liabilities defensively. They lost to Missouri not too long ago. Ole Miss did. So I'm going to take the upset. I'll go San Diego State.
[00:17:50] Speaker C: I have Ole Miss, definitely.
[00:17:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm just, I'm kind of forcing myself to pick up.
[00:17:55] Speaker B: I have Ole Miss in this one, but I do think no matter who they play in this game, it'll be close.
Ole Miss has really experienced guards and they have solid big men. They are going to need them to be a little bit better. Better if they play UNC because UNC's bigs have gotten significantly better as the year has gone through. But I do like Ole Miss in this one.
[00:18:16] Speaker A: Moving on, we got the Iowa State Cyclones taking on Lipscomb. I can't tell you I know too much about Lipscomb, so I'm going to take Iowa State. Yeah.
[00:18:26] Speaker B: Iowa State's without their, in my opinion, second best player, Keyshawn Gilbert for the entire tournament. Lipscomb is a little frisky. I think they have made the tournament either two years in a row or two to the last three years. That being said, Iowa State has a really high powered offense, a lot of scoring options. I like Iowa State.
[00:18:43] Speaker C: Yeah, me too. I don't know anything about Lipscomb either.
[00:18:46] Speaker A: Yeah, like some of these, these lower teams, like, I've just never even heard of. Like I'd never heard of Loyola, Chicago until they had that big Cinderella run a few years ago. So moving on, we have Marquette taking on New Mexico. I have Marquette winning this one.
[00:19:00] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah, I guess. I mean, kind of an upset pick here. I know tens beat sevens more often than not. I like New Mexico here. I trust Richard Pitino a lot. New Mexico's got Donovan Dent, who's one of the best point guards in the country. He's actually playing another one of the best guards in the country in Cam Jones. So this should be a pretty fun matchup. However, I do like New Mexico in this one.
[00:19:23] Speaker C: I have Mar. Oh, we do a Marquette in New Mexico, right? Yeah, yeah, I have Marquette. Yeah.
[00:19:27] Speaker A: All right. Moving on to the last game of the southern bracket, two seed Michigan State taken on 15 seed Bryant. I'm going to go Michigan State.
[00:19:35] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not much to be said.
[00:19:36] Speaker A: Yeah, I think that's a bit of a lot going on. To the west, number one Florida, who I think is the best team in the country, goes against 16 seed Norfolk State. Again, this might be a game where there's not Much to say. Florida looks unbeatable. I got to take them. Yeah.
[00:19:50] Speaker B: Same state.
[00:19:51] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. I'm going to take Norfolk State over Florida.
[00:19:53] Speaker B: Yeah. Norfolk State looks unbeatable. They just won the SEC tournament.
[00:19:57] Speaker A: They're on a roll.
[00:19:58] Speaker B: Take Norfolk State. Yeah.
[00:20:01] Speaker A: Okay. Florida sweep. Moving on to another pretty good game between the eight and nine. Yukon. Oklahoma. I took UConn in this one. What do y'all think?
[00:20:09] Speaker C: I have Oklahoma. I just don't think UConn's gonna do it this year.
[00:20:13] Speaker B: That's a good pick. I don't mind the Oklahoma pick. I'm gonna take UConn just solely off of Dan Hurley and tournament experience.
But. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if Oklahoma won this game. Oklahoma is really frisky. And when they get hot, they get hot. It's. It's hard to stop Jeremiah Fears as well. But Yukon, you. You con probably should win this game. And it's a little weird that they were as low as an eight seed.
[00:20:37] Speaker A: Yeah. Because I know a lot of people talk about how good they are.
[00:20:39] Speaker B: I think the Big east kind of got screwed over a little bit with some of their seating. Like, we were just talking about Creighton being a 9 seed. But I do like UConn in this one. Very close game, though. I think that'll be one of the closer games, the first round.
[00:20:51] Speaker A: Yeah. And tournament experience was really the big basis for me picking UConn. I just feel like those back to back Natties, it's got to help in some way. Moving on to another entertaining game that Kaden and I were actually talking about earlier. Five seed Memphis taking on Colorado State, sitting at that 12 seed. I know we're talking about it earlier. This one could really go either way. Memphis led by Penny Hardaway at head coach. I didn't know too much about Colorado State until I was talking to Kaden on the way over here. And it seems that they dominated the Mountain west and have been extremely high. I have Memphis winning, but I think I might switch to Colorado State just because of what Kaden was telling me. So I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go Colorado State.
[00:21:30] Speaker B: Colorado State is one of the hottest teams in the country right now. They've. They've got 10 straight wins, three of those being in the Mountain west tournament, which is a legit conference. They beat Utah state by like 20 in the semifinals and beat Boise. Boise State in the championship by double digits as well. They're one of the hottest teams in the country. They had no business being in the Tournament three or four weeks ago and they just can't stop winning since then. Nate Clifford, one of their best players at forwards averaging 20 and 10 this year. Colorado State is actually favored to win this game over Memphis. They're minus two and a half favorites. Vegas knows I'm taking the 12 seed.
[00:22:10] Speaker C: Yeah, I'll take the 12 seed then.
[00:22:12] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:22:12] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:22:13] Speaker A: Sweep on the upset.
[00:22:14] Speaker B: I like that means Memphis is going to win by like 30 probably.
[00:22:19] Speaker A: Moving on, we have Grand Canyon, everybody's favorite online university.
Who are they facing? I legit Maryland. Maryland. Okay. I just had it pulled up and now it's gone. But Grand Canyon taking on Maryland. I really like Grand Canyon just because I feel like there's aura in that name. But Derek Queen's been on a bit of a roll this year for Maryland averaging 16 a game.
Screw it. I'm going to take, I'm going to take, I'm going to take Grand Canyon. Why not? Jacoby Cole is averaging 14 a game shooting 52 from the field. I'll take that.
[00:22:51] Speaker C: I'll go Maryland. Yeah.
[00:22:53] Speaker B: Typically high powered bigs are like the recipe for disaster against Cinderella's because I mean obviously a mid major school is not going to have someone to keep up with a five star NBA prospect seven footer like Derrick Queen. But with the way that Derrick Queen plays I think if Grand Canyon can put some high ball pressure and like pick up at half court and make Derrick Queen pick up his dribble away from the basket, I, I think they can shut him down. Grand Canyon plays at a really fast pace. We saw him play Alabama last year in the round of 32. They still have Ty on Grant Foster who's one of the better scorers in ncaa. I actually like this upset. I'm gonna go Grand Canyon.
[00:23:31] Speaker A: Okay, Moving on. We have Missouri taking on the Drake Bulldogs. I took Missouri in this one. I saw what they did to Alabama and when you see a team do such a high powered offense like that it's kind of hard not to pick them. So I'm going to take Missouri.
[00:23:50] Speaker C: I have Drake. I don't really know why.
[00:23:52] Speaker A: So you won the beef.
[00:23:53] Speaker B: So they both of these teams have. I don't know if I like. Okay. Both of these teams have the potential March Madness player of the year. Like as far as their X factors go. Everybody loves a good white boy. They can shoot in March Madness. Missouri's got Caleb Grill transfer from Iowa State. He's one of the best three point shooters and he's got some crazy bunnies like he can windmill and then Drake has been at Sturts, who won conference player of the year. He's averaging 19, 5 and 6.
So both of these teams are really good. I think Drake got a little unlucky with this matchup in the first round. I think Missouri is a really good team like we were talking about. Like they, they put the beats down on Alabama and I think this is a really close game just because Drake is good. But I think Missouri is the better team and I'm going to pick Missouri as well.
[00:24:41] Speaker A: Yeah, it's hard because I know Drake's had a pretty good season, but Missouri, I mean, it's kind of hard not to pick them. Moving on, the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the three seed take on UNC Wilmington. Texas Tech. I'm pretty sure they're projected to win by 15 and a half, so it's pretty hard not to pick a team projected to win by that much.
[00:24:59] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm going to take Texas Tech.
[00:25:02] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm going Texas Tech as well here. J.T. toppin is one of the best players in the country.
[00:25:06] Speaker A: Shout out Obi Toppin, by the way. Moving on Kansas taking on Arkansas. Another pretty even matchup between two legendary coaches. I'm going to take Kansas in this one though. They're the seventh seed. I know tens beat seven more than often. That's where our upsets come from. But can't go against Arkansas on this one.
[00:25:27] Speaker B: Yeah, can't have March Madness without a coach. Calipari early tournament exit.
Yeah, I like Kansas in this one too. I think they have a better roster. I think they've. Kansas's peak is better than Arkansas's peak. So if Kansas comes out playing like they should be playing, they should win this game.
[00:25:44] Speaker A: Hunter Dickinson's having a good year to average in almost 18. So with 10 boards he's having himself a year. So moving on, St. John's taking on Omaha. Shout out Peyton Manning. St. John. Everybody's really kind of fallen in love with him as of late because Spike Lee was seen on the sidelines like two days ago. So St. John's though.
[00:26:04] Speaker B: Bandwagon.
[00:26:05] Speaker A: Yeah, that's what the streets are saying. So we'll see where that ends up. But I have St. John's taken on and beating Omaha.
[00:26:13] Speaker B: Yeah, Rick Pitino.
[00:26:16] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:26:17] Speaker B: That's all there is to say. Yeah, I was trying to think of the action Bronson Bar where he says Rick Pitino. I don't.
[00:26:24] Speaker A: I know what you're talking about and I can't. Off the top of your head saying.
[00:26:26] Speaker B: It in his Voice like rick patino.
But St. John is one of the best defenses in the country. I like them winning this game.
[00:26:35] Speaker C: Yeah. I think John's also.
[00:26:36] Speaker A: Yeah. St. John's I think has natty aspirations at this point going to the eastern bracket. This one should be a whole lot of fun. Starting off Duke. I can't tell who those second teams are. You know who those teams are.
[00:26:49] Speaker B: American versus or Mount Saint Mary's.
[00:26:52] Speaker A: Ooh. Well, whoever it is, Duke is going to put the beats on.
[00:26:56] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:26:57] Speaker A: Unfortunate for whoever wins that game because Duke probably wins by 40. Do we. Is Cooper Flagg coming back?
[00:27:03] Speaker B: He is expected to be back for the first round.
[00:27:06] Speaker A: Huge.
[00:27:06] Speaker B: I probably. Probably a pretty big minutes restriction though. I highly doubt he plays more than 20.
[00:27:13] Speaker A: They won't need them. They could honestly sit up and be just fine.
[00:27:17] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, one SEC championship. Last two games, the ACC tournament without.
[00:27:21] Speaker A: So was it that nail biter game? North Carolina.
[00:27:25] Speaker B: Yeah, UNC. They were up 21 at halftime without him still. And ended up winning by two because of the free throw lane violation. And then.
[00:27:34] Speaker A: Yeah, that's right. I saw.
[00:27:36] Speaker B: And then Louisville. I mean top 10 team in the country in Louisville. I know they're an 8 seed, but I mean they still beat a top 10 team in the country without Cooper flag. Yeah, it says a lot.
So yeah, yeah. Obviously got Duke winning this one unanimously for sure.
[00:27:51] Speaker A: Moving to the 8 9, we have Mississippi State taking on Baylor.
Another game that I think will be really good, but I have the nine beating the eight in this one. I'm going to take Baylor.
[00:28:00] Speaker B: Baylor spent a lot of money this offseason. I think they paid North Shadow O'Mear 2mil to come from Miami and they paid Jeremy Roach a mil to leave Duke, which could be a pretty cool matchup if Baylor does beat Mississippi State. However, I think Josh Hubbard gets hot in this one and Mississippi State gets the win over Baylor.
[00:28:20] Speaker C: I agree.
[00:28:21] Speaker A: Oh, you got Mississippi State.
[00:28:22] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:28:22] Speaker A: Okay. I'm only picking Baylor because they have a recruit coming in from where I'm from, so that's cool. Why not shout out to Yasafu?
[00:28:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:28:31] Speaker A: Moving on, we have the five seed Oregon Ducks taking on Liberty. Who's the 12 seed. I have Oregon winning this one.
[00:28:38] Speaker B: Yeah, I do too. Oregon typically plays better in March and they're led by a very good big man. And that's going to be enough for me. That's all you need, Nate Biddle.
[00:28:49] Speaker A: As long as you got a big. You going to win.
[00:28:51] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:28:52] Speaker A: All right. 4 seed Arizona taking on 13 Akron. Hashtag that kid from Akron. Shout out, LeBron. I'm going to take Arizona though.
[00:29:00] Speaker C: Me too.
[00:29:01] Speaker B: Yeah, I like Arizona in this one. Akron came back from down like 20 in their conference championship to win, but Arizona is very good and it's gotten a lot better as the season's gone on. I like them in this one.
[00:29:14] Speaker A: All right, the BYU taking on vcu. Byu, extremely electric offense. Something about them Mormons, they know how to get the ball in the hoops. So I'm going to take BYU in this one.
[00:29:30] Speaker C: I'll take vcu.
[00:29:32] Speaker A: Ooh, little upset pick. I like that.
[00:29:34] Speaker B: Yeah, I like that too, because this is like such a 50, 50 game. One of the best offenses in the country going against one of the best defenses in the country. That being said, BYU is electric.
I. I just think good offense beats good defense here. I'm gonna go BYU.
[00:29:51] Speaker A: Yeah. So moving on. Wisconsin as the three seed, taking on 14 seed Montana. Wisconsin is who I'm going with in this one.
[00:29:59] Speaker C: Me too.
[00:29:59] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:30:00] Speaker A: That's a. That's a pretty easy pick there. Now we got the homers. The two seed Alabama Crimson Tide.
[00:30:06] Speaker B: Oh, you skipped St. Mary.
[00:30:07] Speaker A: Oh, I did skip St. Mary's Vandy. I'm sorry. Yeah, because Vandy kind of hurt us in the football season, so I kind of tend to forget about them. But seven seed St. Mary's taken on the ten seed Vanderbilt. This is actually where I picked a ten seed to win. So I'm going to take Vandy in this one.
[00:30:20] Speaker C: Me too.
[00:30:21] Speaker B: Yeah, I am too. Or wait, did y'all pick Vandy?
[00:30:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:30:25] Speaker B: Oh, no, I actually am going to go St. Mary's in this. I think St. Mary's plays pretty solid defense and Vanderbilt has gotten significantly worse as the years gone on and AJ Hoggard just isn't doing enough for them. I think Jason. Jason Edwards has been good scoring wise, but they're going to need either one of Tyler Nickel or AJ Hoggard to do something in this game. And they've gone a little flat the later it's been into the season. That being said, I'm going to go.
[00:30:52] Speaker A: St. Mary's all right, moving on now we got the homers. The Alabama Crimson Tide taking on poor Robert Morris.
Yeah, this is a Crimson Tide game right here where I got to take.
[00:31:05] Speaker B: Them easy get right game for Alabama here.
[00:31:08] Speaker A: Need it.
[00:31:08] Speaker B: Went off a big L.
I like Alabama big in this one. Maybe we'll score like a 110 or something like that.
[00:31:16] Speaker A: That's what I'm hoping for. I'm Hoping Jaren Stevenson can really get himself right. He's been looking pretty good as of late.
[00:31:21] Speaker B: Yeah, Jaren may start if Grant's out.
[00:31:24] Speaker A: I mean, if he's not down threes.
[00:31:25] Speaker B: Like I feeling Grant's gonna be out for this game.
[00:31:27] Speaker A: I mean, it shouldn't be that big of a miss against Robert Morrison. If Jaron Steven can keep knocking down threes like he is, then Bama should be all right. So moving on to the Midwest, our final of the conferences, we have number one Houston taken on 16 seed SIUE. Where is. What is SIUE? Oh, okay. Well, Houston's going to win, so I'm sorry, Siue. Yeah, unfortunate there. Now we have the 8. 9. Gonzaga taking on the Georgia Bulldogs. Battle of the Bulldogs here, but I'm going to take the zags.
[00:31:59] Speaker C: Yep, me too.
[00:32:00] Speaker B: Yeah, I like Gonzaga. I think they're better than eight seed. They snuck into the top 25. And today's last AP poll of the year.
It's a good game. I think Georgia's frisky like this. A team that could get hot. But all Gonzaga has to do really is kind of keep Asa Newell and Silas Demery under control and. And they got it.
[00:32:21] Speaker A: Yeah. If you can keep Asa Newell under wraps, they're going to win the game. I feel like that's really all it comes down to. Then we have five seed Clemson taking on 12 seed McNeese. I'm going to go Clemson here. They're a team that turns it on in March. They did. They did it last year with some upset wins and I think they turn up again again this year. I have them going decently deep in this one.
[00:32:41] Speaker C: That's really. That's just. Why would you pick them whenever you have an NIO niece?
[00:32:46] Speaker B: Yeah, Jamie. Jamie is the first ever equipment manager to have an nil deal.
[00:32:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm right there. McNeese needs me.
[00:32:55] Speaker B: But wasn't it like Buffalo Wild wings too? I think and tick picks. But yeah, I like Clemson.
McNeese is really good. You know, we got to watch them play at Coleman this year against Bama. I just think unlucky. They have to play against a team like Clemson that is known for elevating their play in March as of late. Clemson always plays with a chip on their shoulder. I don't think they're going to let the upset noise get too loud.
[00:33:24] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't think so either. Moving on, four seed Purdue taking on 13 seed High Point. I'm going to take Purdue in this one. No Zach Eady, but I think they get it done. Yeah. Gone.
[00:33:34] Speaker B: High Point has. High Point has a really good offense. Like they play at a really fast pace. They score a lot of points.
But you know who else does that? The University of Alabama. And you know what happened when they played Purdue this year? They lost, unfortunately. So I think Purdue does a good job at forcing the game to be played at their pace. Braden Smith is one of the best ball handlers in the country. One of the best facilitators in the the country. They have good scoring options at the wing with Fletcher Lawyer and Trey Kaufman. Ren, I like Purdue.
[00:34:02] Speaker A: All right, moving on to six seed Illinois taking on one of Texas or Xavier. Who do we have in this one? I'm going to take Illinois.
What do y'all think though?
[00:34:12] Speaker B: Texas, very similar to Kansas, has a great starting five that just hasn't really been able to put it together this year. That's kind of what happens when you just like farm the transfer portal like they did.
That being said though, they have a lot of experience. Illinois has been really shaky this year. Texas is a good offense offense. Illinois has a bad defense. When those two combinations go together, Texas could get hot early and stay consistent with that. I like Texas. Give me the 11 seed.
[00:34:37] Speaker C: I agree.
[00:34:38] Speaker A: I like that. Moving on to three seed Kentucky taking on the 14 seed Troy Dan's. I'm going to take three seed Kentucky in this one.
Troy, it's Alabama. But Kentucky, they're Kentucky. They do their thing.
[00:34:53] Speaker C: Yeah, blue blood. I have Kentucky too because they don't have Cal party anymore.
[00:34:58] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So now they can like actually win that. Now they can actually be like mid major teams. Yeah. I don't know if Jackson Robinson is going to play. I don't know if Lamont Butler is going to play if both of them are out and Kentucky has to resort to playing Trent Noah 20 minutes a game and starting Travis Perry. I like, I think Troy's going to win like if they do. That being said though, I think Jackson Robinson or I think at least Lamont Butler will play. So I am going to take Kentucky. But we're going to get on this show Monday after Troy beats Kentucky this weekend and I'm going to be punching myself for picking Kentucky, but I am going to pick them.
[00:35:36] Speaker A: Okay, next up we have 7 seed UCLA taking on Ted seed Utah State. Again, I'm a Cali guy. I don't really put a whole lot of thought into teams from California and I just pick them. So I'm going to go ucla.
[00:35:49] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm going to take ucla Also.
[00:35:50] Speaker B: Yeah, Utah State's has played worse as the year has gone on. UCLA has done the exact opposite. I like ucla.
[00:35:57] Speaker A: There we go. And then our final matchup of the round of 64. 15 seed Wofford taken on 2 seed Tennessee, who by 20. I dislike Tennessee just as much as I dislike Auburn. Zakai Ziegler. Oh, it makes me so mad. But I have Tennessee winning this one unfortunately.
[00:36:12] Speaker B: Yeah, I do too. Yes, I guess.
[00:36:15] Speaker A: Yeah, I guess if I have to.
[00:36:16] Speaker B: All right, round of 32.
[00:36:18] Speaker A: Round of 32. We keep going.
Probably should have keeping. Been keeping track of this because I'm not sure I got it.
[00:36:24] Speaker B: I got it right here.
[00:36:25] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:36:25] Speaker B: Okay. So round of 32. We've got Auburn versus either Creighton or Louisville.
I, I like, I like Auburn in this one. I know this is.
[00:36:38] Speaker A: I think Auburn wins regardless.
[00:36:39] Speaker B: I, I think, I think they do too, but I could also see them losing regardless. This is a pretty dangerous game for the 1 seed. Auburn kind of got. Auburn didn't deserve the overall 1 seed, but they also got a little unlucky that they have to play either a top 10 team or Creighton in the second round. But I do like Auburn.
[00:36:56] Speaker C: If they play Louisville.
[00:36:57] Speaker A: I, I have Louisville actually. Yeah, I have Auburn. Louisville here. I'm gonna go Louisville. I think Louisville is my. That's not Cinderella.
[00:37:06] Speaker B: That's not a bad.
[00:37:07] Speaker A: Yeah, I think they match up well with Auburn. I'm gonna go Louisville. Next up, I actually have UC San Diego taking on Texas A and M. And again, I needed a Cinderella this year and UC San Diego called to me from the heavens and said I'm your Cinderella so I won't go on UC San Diego.
[00:37:26] Speaker B: Yeah, I got. I have Michigan, Texas A and M. Texas A and M is one of the worst shooting teams in the country.
So they, they get cold and they're just terrible. I think that's going to happen in this one. I like Michigan. Like I was just talking about Michigan earlier. They. They play their best ball at the end of the year and they definitely are doing that right now. They're one of the hotter teams in the country.
[00:37:50] Speaker A: Is Juan Howard still their head coach?
[00:37:52] Speaker B: No, it's Dusty May now from Florida Atlantic.
[00:37:56] Speaker A: I figured he got fired. I just couldn't remember if it actually happened or not. So good to know it did.
Moving on. I have Iowa State taking on one of SDSU or uncle. I have Iowa State.
[00:38:08] Speaker B: I have Ole Miss playing Iowa State in this one. It gets a little closer with Keyshawn Gilbert being out. That being Said it just goes back to even with Keyshawn Gilbert out, Iowa State has so many options to score. I think this little week of rest before the tournament is going to give Curtis Jones, who's their best player, a lot more time to heal up. And if he's 100% healthy, Iowa State's very dangerous. I like the Cyclones.
[00:38:32] Speaker C: I have the same game, same same idea.
[00:38:34] Speaker A: With Iowa State moving on seven seed Marquette taking on two seed Michigan State. I have Michigan State beating Marquette in this one.
[00:38:43] Speaker B: I've got Tennessee, New Mexico playing Michigan State.
New Mexico is really good. Michigan State, however, just has such a good defense. It's going to be hard for New Mexico to get much going, especially when they rely on their guards for most of their scoring. I mean, Michigan State.
[00:38:58] Speaker C: I have Mark at Michigan State. I'll go.
[00:38:59] Speaker A: Michigan State moving on to the West. This should be a very entertaining game, at least. I'm not sure if we'll have the same game, but I have Florida taking on UConn, team with a ton of experience taking on debatably the best team in the country and debatably the natty favorites.
But I feel like I have to take Florida. They're just too good not to pick.
[00:39:18] Speaker C: Yeah, I have Florida. Oklahoma. I'm taking Florida.
[00:39:21] Speaker B: I have Florida. UConn. I think this will be a really close game. Weirdly enough, I think this could be like Florida's biggest challenge until they get to the Final Four.
This could be like an overtime type of game, you know, UConn's not just going to come out in the NCAA tournament, get killed no matter who it is they lose to.
That being said, though, Florida is just so good. It's hard for me to pick anybody against Florida.
[00:39:43] Speaker A: Exactly. Taking the gators, moving on 12 seed Colorado State. I have taken on Maryland and I actually have Colorado State winning against Maryland.
[00:39:53] Speaker B: Yeah, I've got 12 seed Colorado State taking on 13 seed Grand Canyon. Colorado State stays hot.
[00:40:00] Speaker A: There we go.
[00:40:01] Speaker B: Give me Colorado State in the sweet 16.
[00:40:04] Speaker C: I have Maryland against Colorado State.
[00:40:06] Speaker A: I thought I picked Grand Canyon, but apparently it still says Maryland. But regardless, I think I would still have Colorado State winning. Moving on. I have Missouri taking on Texas Tech. This should be a really good game. I have the three seed beating the six seed, though, so I'm going to take Texas Tech.
[00:40:22] Speaker C: Yeah, I have Texas Tech. Drake.
[00:40:25] Speaker B: I like Texas Tech a lot, but I also like Missouri. These are two teams that I would have seriously considered being like my Cinderella Final Four team had they had been in a bracket with a worse One seed than the best team in the country in Florida. That being said, as far as this game goes, I do like Missouri.
[00:40:43] Speaker A: Oh, there we go. Moving on, I have seven seed Kansas taking on two seed St. John's St. John's I just think is on fire right now. Head coaching I do think will get them far. So sorry, Hunter Dickinson. I'm going St. John's Yep, me too.
[00:40:58] Speaker C: I agree.
[00:40:59] Speaker B: This would be one of the weirder games of the tournament. Like I wouldn't even be surprised if Kansas was favored to win this game.
[00:41:05] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:41:05] Speaker B: If it plays out like this. But I think it'll be really, really close. St. John's barely, barely, barely.
[00:41:13] Speaker A: St. John squeaking it out.
[00:41:14] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:41:15] Speaker A: Moving on to the east where I think this is the most action packed tournament. I have one seed Duke taking on Baylor and I think it doesn't really matter who you have Duke facing. I'm gonna take Duke over Baylor. Cooper Flagg is just once, once he's back in that rotation fully swinging. And then they got Proctor and Maluach. Just such a hard team to beat. The nipple con canipple too. Man, that is a ridiculous team.
[00:41:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Concaniple ACC tournament MVP average 215 and 5 in the tournament. I like Duke big over Mississippi State. I think they, they beat the brakes off of them.
[00:41:50] Speaker A: Yeah, I think that's an easy Duke win there. Moving on, I have five seed Oregon taking on four seed Arizona. I'm gonna go Arizona in this one. They got Jaden Bradley. Real Tide.
[00:42:00] Speaker B: Yeah. Real Tide. Real Tide.
[00:42:02] Speaker A: Gotta go.
[00:42:02] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. I'm picking Arizona in this one just for the sake of Caleb Love versus Duke in the sweet sixteen cine. Um, no. But Oregon, Oregon has, has struggled with finding scoring options and Arizona is at no struggle for that. They, they, they have depth, they have good shooters off the bench and they have solid bigs. I like Arizona.
[00:42:24] Speaker C: I'm taking Oregon over Arizona.
[00:42:26] Speaker A: Ooh. Okay. All right. Next up, six seed. I. Well, at least I have six seed BYU taken on three seed Wisconsin. And I think when it comes to March, electric offense reigns supreme. You got to score points to win games. And I think BYU beats Wisconsin.
[00:42:40] Speaker B: I also have byu. Wisconsin. This is one of the best offensive Wisconsin teams. But if, if John Tanji's off, then they're. They're not fantastic. BYU has multiple scoring options and they're a very good shooting team. I saw like BYU shooting like 45%.
[00:43:00] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:43:00] Speaker B: Threes this year.
[00:43:02] Speaker A: It's ridiculous.
[00:43:02] Speaker B: Yeah, like the best corner shoot three shooting team in the country. I like byu.
[00:43:07] Speaker C: I have Wisconsin beating vcu.
[00:43:11] Speaker A: Ooh, okay. Wisconsin.
[00:43:13] Speaker B: I do think Wisconsin is really good.
[00:43:14] Speaker A: Yeah, Wisconsin's really good. All right, and then my next matchup, I have 10 seed Vanderbilt taking on two seed Alabama in an SEC matchup. I'm going to take Alabama in this one. Again, like I said earlier, electric offense wins games. And that's what Alabama brings to the table with one of the most electric offenses in basketball. Hopefully they can get the defense down. But. But I think Mark Sears has a really good march coming up. So I'm going to take Bama over Vanderbilt.
[00:43:38] Speaker C: Yeah. Hope I have Bama also.
[00:43:40] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, I got Alabama. I don't think St. Mary's can keep up with Alabama.
Bama's offense is at that level where it's good enough to score 90 on anyone in the country, no matter how good their defense is. And I just don't think St. Mary's can put up 90 against Alabama.
[00:43:55] Speaker A: Exactly. Moving on to the Midwest, I have one seed Houston taking on eight seed Gonzaga. And again, I can't pick against the one seed in this situation. I'm going to take Houston.
[00:44:04] Speaker C: Me too.
[00:44:05] Speaker B: I'm going to take Houston. But this out of every 1 versus 8, this might have the best chance of happening.
[00:44:12] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:44:14] Speaker B: Yeah. Gonzaga's offense is really good, but they just haven't really been battle tested with kind of the weak WCC conference schedule that they've played. Houston has been battle tested. So give me Houston.
[00:44:28] Speaker A: All right, moving on. Five seed versus four seed. I have Clemson taking on Purdue and I'm going to take Clemson. Like we said earlier, Clemson gets really hot in March. They did the same thing last year and I think they do the same thing again this year.
So I'm going to take them over Purdue.
[00:44:43] Speaker C: Yeah, sadly, I agree.
[00:44:45] Speaker B: Yeah, this is a tough one, but I just. Purdue. I really think if Purdue can put it together, they'll be really good.
I am going to go with the Boilermakers.
[00:44:59] Speaker A: Okay, next up, I have six seed Illinois taking on three seed Kentucky. This is one I went back and forth on, but I think I'm going to take Kentucky.
[00:45:09] Speaker C: I'm taking Texas over Kentucky.
[00:45:11] Speaker B: I am also Texas over Kentucky for the exact same reason why I took Texas over Illinois. It's not even that I think Texas is that great of a team. It's just if you're going to put them against a really weak defense like that, they. It gives them the chance to excel. And if they get hot like that, I just think they beat Kentucky.
[00:45:29] Speaker A: All right, last matchup of the round of 32. I have seven seed UCLA taking on two seed Tennessee. And as much I was. I would love to pick UCLA in this one. I just think Tennessee, as much as I dislike them, are a ridiculously good team. And got to take them. Got to take Tennessee.
[00:45:46] Speaker C: I'm taking ucla.
[00:45:48] Speaker B: Yeah. As much as I want to take ucla, I'm going to take Tennessee.
[00:45:52] Speaker A: I almost want to switch just because I dislike Tennessee so much. But as we move on to the. Where are we at?
[00:45:59] Speaker B: 16.
[00:45:59] Speaker A: Sweet 16. All right. I have Louisville taking on UC San Diego in my first matchup. And I'm going to have Louisville.
[00:46:06] Speaker B: What a sweet sixteen.
[00:46:07] Speaker A: Yeah, that's. That's how we start off. That's awesome.
[00:46:10] Speaker B: We got Louisville, Michigan.
[00:46:12] Speaker C: I'm taking Louisville.
[00:46:14] Speaker B: Yeah. Okay. I got Auburn, Michigan.
I am going to take the barn. And this one, sadly, I think this is where Michigan's run kind of comes to an end.
[00:46:21] Speaker A: Tisk, Tisk, Tisk. Moving on. I have a 3, 2 matchup between Iowa State and Michigan State. I actually went with the upset here. I'm gonna go with the Cyclones and that awesome offense they got.
[00:46:31] Speaker C: I'll go Michigan State over Iowa State.
[00:46:34] Speaker B: Yeah, give me the clones. Yeah, give me the clones. I like that. I wasn't thinking that until. Until right this very second. But, you know, that's kind of how it is when you fill out a bracket sometimes. Sometimes just impulse.
[00:46:44] Speaker A: Yeah. You just got to go with your gut. I went with my gut.
[00:46:46] Speaker B: I think Iowa State is better team.
[00:46:48] Speaker A: Than Michigan State, but sometimes that's what happens in March.
[00:46:51] Speaker B: See that game playing Iowa State's way?
[00:46:53] Speaker A: Shout out Brock Purdy. That's the only reason I did it.
[00:46:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:46:56] Speaker A: Moving on to the west, one seed Florida taking on 12 seed Colorado State. In mind. Now this is where Colorado State's little run comes to an end because I don't see very many people being in Florida.
[00:47:07] Speaker C: Yeah, I have Florida, Maryland. I'm.
[00:47:09] Speaker B: Yeah, Florida, Colorado State. And I agree with you. It probably comes to an end and not very dramatic fashion. Florida, probably. If it is Colorado State in this game, Florida probably wins by 30 points.
[00:47:18] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:47:19] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:47:19] Speaker A: That's not crazy to say.
Next up, I have Texas tech taken on St John's and I wish I was more educated on St John's at the moment because something about him just talks to me and I like their odds, so I'm gonna go with them. Spike Lee, that's his influence.
[00:47:37] Speaker C: I'm definitely taking St. John's there we go.
[00:47:39] Speaker B: I've got Mizzou and St. John's weird game. I think Missouri matches up well with St. John's I think Missouri's Cinderella story keeps going here. I just can see Mark Mitchell being able to take R.J. lewis out of the game for St. John's and I'm going to go with Mizzou in the Elite Eight.
[00:48:00] Speaker A: Okay. Moving on to the East, I have the Duke Blue Devils taking on Arizona. And like Kaden was saying earlier, we got a little Caleb Love versus Duke situation, but like usual, I'm going to take Duke in this situation. Cooper flag is just that guy. And like we were saying earlier, that team is just flat out loaded.
[00:48:21] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm taking Duke over Oregon.
[00:48:22] Speaker B: Yeah, I have Duke, Arizona. Cooper flag by this point would be 100% healthy much Duke B Arizona at Arizona already this year.
I'm going to take Duke.
[00:48:33] Speaker A: All righty. Next up, I have BYU taking on Alabama. They're legit. The final score this game might be like 115 to 117. Yeah. Two extremely, extremely good offenses. It really comes down to who plays the better defense in this situation.
I'm going to go Alabama. I just have to. I think Grant Nelson defensively has been playing well as of late. Hopefully Cliff Amore can really get down on the defensive side because I think really locking up the interior against such talented bigs, it's going to be very important. And like I said earlier, I think Mark Sears is due for a really good march. He's really gotten hot lately. His shooting splits are up, his points per game is up. He was first team all sec. So got to take Bama. The boys in Crimson.
[00:49:18] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm taking Bama over Wisconsin.
[00:49:20] Speaker B: Bama, byu. I was joking about this the other day. Like be with. This would be probably the highest points total set for any March Madness game ever. I bet it would be like no joke, like maybe like 190something. But I am going to take Alabama.
[00:49:37] Speaker A: All right. Moving on to the Midwest, I have one seed Houston taken five seed Clemson and I got an upset here. I have Clemson beating Houston. There was a statistic that I saw in a group chat earlier. I think.
Oh man, I'm blanking. But one seeds don't typically get into the final four together. So I do think I have to drop a one seed and I think Houston is that one seed that there's.
[00:50:01] Speaker B: Only been one time ever that all four one seeds made it to the final four.
[00:50:05] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:50:05] Speaker B: Thousand eight.
[00:50:06] Speaker A: And I just can't see that being the case this year. So I'm gonna take Clemson.
[00:50:10] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm not gonna Take Clemson. I'll take Houston.
[00:50:13] Speaker B: Okay, Yeah, I have Houston, Purdue, and I am going to take Houston.
[00:50:17] Speaker A: All right. And then my final game or the final game of the Midwest, I have Kentucky taking on Tennessee. And as much as I hate it, I keep having Tennessee win. So I guess I just got to stick with it.
[00:50:28] Speaker C: Have UCLA beating Texas.
[00:50:31] Speaker B: I have Texas, Tennessee, rematch of the SEC tournament. Tennessee, finally it can play. The defense that will stop Texas, I think they clamp them up. Low scoring game, give me Tennessee.
[00:50:43] Speaker A: All right, Elite Eight time. This is where it's getting serious. Starting off in the South, I've got Louisville taking on Iowa State. And Louisville's Cinderella run continues. I haven't beaten the Cyclones and making it to the Final Four.
[00:50:59] Speaker C: Okay, I got Louisville, Michigan State. I'm going to do Louisville. I have them going on too.
[00:51:04] Speaker B: I got Auburn and Iowa State. I think this is where the Clones Cinderella dreams die. Auburn, very good team. Give me the barn. Final Four.
[00:51:15] Speaker A: All right. Going to the West, Florida taking on St. John's again, good coaching will get you far, but at some point it comes to an end and I do think Florida is.
I don't know if I want to say they're the best team in the country because Duke is right there too. But I think those two are on an upper echelon above everybody else. So I got to take Florida.
[00:51:36] Speaker C: I'm taking St. John's over Florida.
[00:51:38] Speaker A: Ooh, there we go. I like that.
[00:51:40] Speaker B: Hey, St. John's is the best defense in the country. Like, if there is anybody that can stop Florida, Florida's offense, it would be St. John's Houston or, I don't know, Duke maybe. But yeah, that's. It's not ridiculous at all. I have Florida playing Missouri. This Missouri did beat Florida at Florida this year. Oh, I am going to take the Gators though. They've gotten better since then. That was early in the year. Florida is looking unbeatable right now.
[00:52:06] Speaker A: Yep. Moving to the East, I have Duke taking on the University of Alabama. And as much as I would love to have Alabama winning this whole thing, and despite how good their roster is, I just don't think they are equipped to beat Duke right now. I just think Cooper Flag would probably body poor Jaron Stephenson. So I'm going to take Duke over Alabama, unfortunately. But I would love to see Alabama win the whole thing.
[00:52:31] Speaker C: Yeah, I definitely see Duke winning. We have no sort of defense to handle that.
[00:52:34] Speaker B: Yep, I agree. I think Duke would slow this game down. Played at their pace, turn Alabama over, get out and transition. Get Some easy buckets. That, that would be the biggest thing. Alabama already has a turnover problem. I think we average like 10 turnovers a game. And, and Duke is one of the best defenses in the country. The length that they have around the perimeter, guarding the ball, they can jump passing lanes. It's just a recipe for disaster.
[00:53:00] Speaker A: I just think Duke really has everything over Alabama. The experience, they can slow the game down. Coaching, it's gonna be really hard for Alabama to go and upset Duke. So I think that's an easy Duke pick. And then for the final matchup of the Elite Eight, I have Clemson taking on Tennessee. And I do think this is where Clemson's little run comes to an end. They do show out in March, but I do not think they have Natty aspirations. As it stands, I have Tennessee beating Clemson.
[00:53:26] Speaker C: Okay. Yeah. I have Houston, ucla and I still see UCLA winning.
[00:53:31] Speaker A: I love that. Oh, I like that a lot. I should have went with that.
[00:53:34] Speaker B: Yeah, Houston, Tennessee. For me, this is a tough one. However, I do think as God this, I just picked Alabama to lose and I'm about to have Tennessee and Auburn in the Final Four. Oh, kind of disgusting, kind of gross. But I am going to go with Tennessee here. I think the Vols reached their first ever program Final Four.
Both of those teams have a very good defense. It'd be a really low scoring game. However, I just think Tennessee has a little bit more scoring options they can fall back on than Houston. I think that gets them the win.
[00:54:06] Speaker A: All right, Final four time. Southwest. I have the eight seed Louisville Cardinals taking on the one seed Florida Gators. And once again, I know it's not the the craziest pick in the world. My Natty is not. You know, I'm sure a few people have the same Natty out there, but I have Florida beating Louisville in this one, punching their ticket to the national championship.
[00:54:28] Speaker C: I'm Louisville, St. John's I have St. John's winning to the Natty.
[00:54:32] Speaker B: I've got Auburn in Florida. Battle of a couple one seeds.
Florida handled Auburn at Auburn this year. I don't think this game's much different. Auburn keep it close for a half. But similar to most other games Florida has, they just outplay they just outrun in the second half. Their depth. Everybody can score, everybody can shoot. Give me the Gators.
[00:54:55] Speaker A: All right. Second matchup of the final Four, the East, Midwest. I have Duke taken on Tennessee and thank goodness Tennessee finally can get out of here. Sky Ziegler go away because it is Cooper Flag's time in that very talented Duke Team I have going to the national championship.
[00:55:12] Speaker C: Oh, wait, so I have Duke, ucla, and I'm going to take Duke. Yeah, obviously.
[00:55:16] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:55:17] Speaker B: Yeah, I've got Duke, Tennessee. I think Duke actually kills Tennessee. If this game matches up Duke and Tennessee, two of the better defenses in the country. Duke just has a gear offensively that Tennessee does not have. I like Duke in this one.
[00:55:31] Speaker A: All right.
[00:55:32] Speaker B: I have the same.
[00:55:32] Speaker A: Or.
[00:55:33] Speaker B: No, we have the same national championship. You have St. John's yeah.
[00:55:37] Speaker A: All right. So in my national championship, I have the Florida Gators taking the. Taking on the Blue, Duke, Blue Devils. This should be a game for the ages. I think both of these teams are just as good as one another. Both of them have extreme, extreme amount of talent.
I gotta take Florida, though. I just feel this is something I keep going back and forth on. I just think Florida at this point in time just look unbeatable. And as much as I love Duke, as much as I love Cooper Flag and the rest of that team, I just think it's Florida. They have come out the gates and just put the beats on a whole lot of teams. And I think that continues in March. And I have Florida winning the national championship.
[00:56:16] Speaker C: I have Duke, St. John's and I'm.
[00:56:18] Speaker A: Going to take St. John's ooh, that's hard.
[00:56:21] Speaker B: I've got Florida, Duke in the national championship game.
This would be the most fun national championship of all time if these two teams play each other.
That being said, the Gators are just too good, man. It would be just, like I just said, close for the first half. But Florida just has some of the best conditioning I've ever seen. I mean, it's like, if Alabama, I could play at their highest level for 40 minutes. That's kind of what it's like watching Florida, which is sad because it's like that's literally what Alabama could be if everything just went perfect all the time. I like Florida. I think they're the best team in the country.
[00:57:02] Speaker A: All right, so one more time, we'll go around the table and say our natty picks.
[00:57:05] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:57:06] Speaker A: I got the Florida Gators winning the national championship.
[00:57:08] Speaker B: St. John's I got Florida as well.
[00:57:10] Speaker A: All right. This should be a really, really fun March Madness. I think we're in for a whole lot of fun throughout these next couple weeks. Hold on. Let's hope. Let's hope I pressed the right outro button this time. I did. Thank you all for tuning in to WVUA 90.7 FM and the full Court podcast. Full Court Press podcast. Shout out. Daquan Cook. Y'all know him. Y'all love him.
[00:57:29] Speaker B: Peace. Daquan Cook.
[00:57:36] Speaker A: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa.
