Alan Hahn (1:19)

Up at quarter to six, shoveling. Because you know what? We didn't get the call. I don't know about. I don't know about Alan, and Maya's not ready for school yet. But we didn't get the call. We didn't get the call. There was no school. So that meant if I'm not. If you don't have it by quarter to six, you're going. So, yeah, had to clean off the cars. Had the shovel, get them ready to go to school.

Michael Kay (1:39)

Oh, boy.

Alan Hahn (1:39)

So I'm ready, baby. Don's dead because he was changing a.

Peter Rosenberg (1:43)

Tire and his heart exploded.

Alan Hahn (1:44)

Every time I shovel, all I think about is Michael secretly hoping that I die of a heart attack.

Michael Kay (1:50)

I don't think he's hoping yet. I think he's worried.

Alan Hahn (1:52)

No, he's not worried. Listen, he's worried. He cares about me. But there's nothing more important to Michael other than money than being right. And he has told me, don't shovel. You'll have a heart attack. So he'll be sitting there in my wake, upset just like everybody else. But he'll turn to Peter or he'll turn to Alan or I'll turn to Winthrop or somebody, you know. Say I told him. Told him this would happen.

Peter Rosenberg (2:16)

I called it.

Michael Kay (2:17)

And then Nancy walks by and he goes, oh, I can't believe this. I'm so sorry.

Peter Rosenberg (2:20)

Yeah, right.

Alan Hahn (2:21)

But I did tell him. But that said, Nate, I did tell him.

Michael Kay (2:25)

I did see him.

Alan Hahn (2:26)

If he had listened to me, he'd still be alive.

Peter Rosenberg (2:28)

You know, I had him in the death pool. All right. You know, I let him know it wasn't a bad.

Michael Kay (2:32)

It wasn't a hard shovel job today, though, right?

Alan Hahn (2:35)

No, no, no, no, no.

Peter Rosenberg (2:36)

It was heavy snow, though, Don, wasn't it? You had a nice powder there in Jersey.

Alan Hahn (2:39)

Yeah. It was relatively easy. Yes, it was. But you just brought up something very morbid. And I don't want to go into any detail about something in a past life that I might have done.

Peter Rosenberg (2:49)

Yeah.

Alan Hahn (2:50)

But if. If we had a deadpool here of only people that worked here, whoever Michael had, he would be rooting for them to die.

Peter Rosenberg (3:01)

Now.

Alan Hahn (3:01)

Maybe that would be the reason he wouldn't get involved in it. But, Peter, honestly, if he did, well, that's how much he loves to win.

Michael Kay (3:09)

He loves winning. That part that parts, or he loves winning?

Alan Hahn (3:14)

I think we.

Michael Kay (3:15)

Guess what. Your New York Knicks love winning. How do you like that?

Alan Hahn (3:17)

Oh, yeah, we.

Peter Rosenberg (3:19)

What a job.

Alan Hahn (3:20)

Way to save the show.

Peter Rosenberg (3:21)

Yay. Way to bounce back. Oh, yeah. You know, that. That's a. That's a Pacers team. Guys, that was playing. They had the second best record since the start of the new year. I think it was them in Denver, if I'm not mistaken. They were playing really good basketball, and they had climbed all the way up to fourth. And if they had won that game, like, they looked at that game against the Knicks as opportunity. You win that game, you're two back in the. In the loss column. And so that. That had some sizzle to it. And the Knicks were coming off an embarrassing loss to the Celtics on Saturday. And they look terrible, and they're. You know, there's a lot of little issues creeping up about the continued injury with OG he's not there. Brunson did not play well in this game last night, but he was the only player that could play on Saturday. Car. Anthony Town struggled and really couldn't finish around the rim. They. They took them out of the game completely. And so there were some thoughts of, you know, can they. You know, can they beat the good teams? They go into Indiana. They remember, that's been a house of horrors. They haven't won there. Um, if you remember, in the playoffs, that was. You know, they lost all three in that building and then lost before that. So they. I think they lost five in a row because they lost earlier this Season as well. So all the things that were factoring in, you were looking at it. And then Brunson gets in foul trouble and all you're thinking to yourself is they're in for a rough one. This is, this doesn't look good. And Carthage Towns turns into, turns out one of the dominant performances. You'll see Josh Hart has his 30 point game now they've all had one and he was phenomenal. And they just had another one of these wins where after the game's over you stop and you just go, all right, are they this good or is the east like. Is it just top three? Because if that's fourth place in the east, that's not very good.

Alan Hahn (5:10)

No, it's not. And the Bucks are the same thing. And like here, here's what I'll say about the Knicks. It's so weird with this fan base, right? Because you've got most of the fans who believe they're the most optimistic fan base in town. We all agree on that. The Knicks, a Knick fan, is more optimistic about their team, more pumped up about their team. Like even in the worst moments, still believe more than I think any other fan base.

Peter Rosenberg (5:35)

I think I would call them, I would call them optimistic.

Alan Hahn (5:39)

Yeah, more. I would say that's a perfect word, more optimistic. Because Yankee fan, yeah, Yankee fans, they've set a standard that it's hard for even the Yankees to match. Met fans waiting for the other shoe to drop. Same thing with the Jets. Islander fans are like that too. I think the Ranger fans can be optimistic, but they also can be their own worst enemy when it comes to stuff like that. But the Knicks, they defend, they call anytime we talk about them. So they believe that this team win a championship.

Peter Rosenberg (6:06)

But.

Alan Hahn (6:07)

But also there seem to be these kind of self invented, we've got to prove ourselves. I'm sorry you're better than Indiana. I understand the history, Allen, but you know what? I don't take anything away from lat. They're better than the Pacers, they're better than the Bucks. You know, this is a team that should be able to beat Denver at the Garden, you know, so I think that there are some things. Where do you believe or not? If you believe, then that's a game you should get. Forget about the history. Forget about what happened back in the day. Forget about Reggie Miller trying to. With the choking with Spike, those days are over. He's a good team. But you know, losing to the Lakers, losing to the Celtics, losing to Oklahoma City, that's a different story. Because now we're moving to a different tier, but can we all just accept that, you know what? This is a team good enough to be able to win the games that, that they should instead of let, let's not doctor it up to be like, oh, that was a big test. That was a big test. They passed. No, last night, to me anyway, was a game you should be able to get.

Michael Kay (7:02)

Well, yeah, I mean, the Pacers. The Pacers, a few weeks ago, when they were like the hottest team in the NBA for a moment, that, that might have been a different thing. But, yeah, last night is a game you should win in spite of the history in Indiana. And they get it. And now the conversation becomes. And we've been talking about this, guys. It's just, are they going to be able to continue to win when it matters the most? We know they can beat the 4, 5, 6, 7 teams in this conference. Can they beat the 1 and 2 ahead of them?

Peter Rosenberg (7:33)

Well, we're gonna find out. So this is the last game before the All Star break. As we know, they play the Hawks tonight. Trey Young, you know, again, another team that's sort of. They were making and making a little noise earlier. They've fallen down over the. Now, I, I don't even know if they're even. I think they're in the top 10 right now, but that's it. But when we get to the other side of this All Star break, they play. They still have to play the Cavs three times. They've only played the Cavs once, and the Cavs are just dominant. So they get. They play them three times. They still play Boston two more times. So you're talking about. That's five games in the last 28 that are against teams that essentially you're going to have to figure out, are you good enough to beat them. And because you're hoping to see one of them in the playoffs at some point when we get to April. And so that, that. I think the answer. You're going to get that answer. Now, here's the other thing. Mitchell Robinson spoke last night. They. The Knicks don't normally do this as an injured player. He's not cleared yet. They normally don't make players available when they're injured unless the player wants to talk or there's something to be said. They made him available to the beat writers. We didn't get him on tv. They had him just with the writers. And, you know, he's anticipating being back pretty soon. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't in the lineup, you know, on the other side of this all star break wouldn't shock me. They, they go to the, I think they're home against the Bulls and they play at Cleveland in a back to back coming out of the break next Thursday and Friday. He could be in the lineup for those games. That's how close he is to playing. And you get OG Anunoby, who should be back. He was listed as questionable last night, he's listed as questionable again today. He is not somebody that's out. They think he's a day to day situation. If you get him and Mitchell Robinson back and now you've got your full lineup, you know, now you're looking at a completely different team. That I would say, okay, now I need to see what that looks like. Because we haven't seen what that looks like yet. We don't know what that looks like.

Michael Kay (9:28)

Well, and to me the hard thing is, and I really am not trying to be that guy to Knicks fans, but if you're a Knick fan, even if you find out in the near future that you have both available, do you really believe in their heart, in your heart that they're going to stay available? Because like it's not just enough that they come back Allen and they're there for a game. Are you going to be there?

Alan Hahn (9:51)

Will they.

Michael Kay (9:51)

But will OG and Mitchell Robinson be available consistently at the end of the regular season and through the playoffs? It's. It's hard. It's hard for someone.

Peter Rosenberg (10:00)

Is it weak for me to say. Is it weak for me to say that's an unanswerable. Like, I can't, you know, there's certain players I, that's one that I can't say anything with conviction, especially Robinson because he's missed so much, man, that's the problem. It's a foot injury that he's dealing with. He is, you know, he gets her, he'll play great. And then all of a sudden like the next day you'll see these on injury report and you're going, oh no already. It just seems to. He's like. I think he reminds me a lot of the feeling you have when Giancarlo Stanton is in the lineup and he's performing and he's hitting bombs and like the offense looks different. And Judge, it's better for Judge when he's in the lineup. Judge is better when Stanton's in the lineup. And then you just say to yourself, this is awesome. But just like Brian Cashman said last year in the offseason, he got killed for it, but he wasn't wrong. Something always happens and then you lose them. And then that's when you realize it's. It's not somebody that you can depend on and you might need to depend on them. Like, honestly, guys, I kind of feel, in a weird way, and I've said this, I. I don't think this is the, you know, this is the championship run season. I'd love to be proven wrong. I just feel like there's more tweaking to be done to. With the roster. But if this is a year where they can get on a run because the league is kind of wide open at the top, he might be the key. His health and being available and on the court, you know, from. From February until May, could be the difference between this team reaching as far as they've ever reached in the last 25 years versus, you know, second round and out. I think he might. I think Mitchell Robinson might be the key to all that. It's crazy to say, but I do think that's what it is. And I wonder how many fans really are ready to buy into that.

Alan Hahn (11:41)

That's why I'd love to hear from him, because you just said it perfectly. Without those guys, you're probably two and done, which is what we've seen over the last couple of years. But if you get them back, then you're. Then. Then a conference final is. Is on the table. I think some fans think one step ahead, that if they got those guys back, they can win a championship. And I think that's just a little bit too optimistic.

Peter Rosenberg (12:05)

Well, that. But that's. Isn't that. That's the design of the roster. Like the design of the roster is for when those guys are healthy. This is a championship roster because what you get is the scenario of Robinson at center. And while he might not start, you can have lineups against certain teams in certain matchups. Like the Cavs play big. You know, if you play Denver in a finals or something like that, you could put Robinson and Towns together because they did that in Minnesota and it worked. And Towns knows how the 4 is natural for him. He knows how to play with a defensive center like Gobert. He, you know, he can do the same with Robinson. So it's not an awkward fit. It could work. So you want to believe that. And then you have Anunoby who would slide to the three, and you'd have a guy like Josh Hart coming off the bench. Now you're deeper. So there's so many ways to look at and say to yourself that like if I just put it on piece of paper and slid it across the table, you, you would look at that and say, okay, that's a, that's a championship recipe. That's a roster that if everything worked out, if we played stratomatic, it would win. But the problem is, is the probability that you can't, you can't equate is the injury probability. And with Robinson, it's very high. And that's when, you know, you start to wonder how much can you really, really get into? Well, that's the potential of what it could be.

Alan Hahn (13:21)

I got to see it.

Michael Kay (13:22)

And maybe that's the question that I have for Knicks fans. Like, do you believe, like Alan said, that this is not the year like, like in your heart, do you believe this is a good year and you're going to really show you deserve to be in the conversation at the top or do you actually believe that this is a team that can put it together and win the whole thing? And of course that would include Allen. Then this health from players that you haven't necessarily seen in the past.

Peter Rosenberg (13:48)

And 800 now at 93776. We got the calls coming in momentarily. We'll get them all set up. Go ahead, John.

Alan Hahn (13:54)

And the thinking from a lot of people who think they can make a run to a championship is that if I face the Celtics in the second round, well then I'll cruise past the Cleveland Cavaliers because I always do that. I pump the brakes on that.

Peter Rosenberg (14:06)

Again, this seems like a different cav games.

Alan Hahn (14:10)

See, those are going to be must watch games right now. I think the Cavaliers are not the Celtics. They're not going to play with their food because they want to prove to everybody they are for real, especially against the Knicks. So again, I wouldn't put all my eggs in the basket of those three games as the end all be all. I mean they've only lost 10 games, guys. I mean there's a lot going on there. We know they're exceptionally well coached. They're a lot different than they were a couple of years ago when they were out pretty quickly at the hands of the Knicks. So hey, I just, this is the vibe I get, Peter. Remember a couple of years ago where everybody including Michael, oh, they're beating the Heat. They're going to, they're going to the conference final, they're going to beat the Heat and then they Heat beat them like so just be careful. I'm not saying they can't win. And I still think the Celtics are The better team. And that will prove out. So I'm not really sure you would get by the Celtics in the second round anyway. But the feeling is, well, once you do that, then you're. Then you're. Then you're in cruise control. I don't think that's the case.

Peter Rosenberg (15:07)

Here's what I like and this is where I'm in the danger zone because I'm like again on paper, that team that I just told you with a healthy Robinson, a healthy Anunoby, that team, why they traded for, why they gave up, what they gave up for Bridges. That team was made to beat the Celtics because now you have everything it takes. You have all the elements you need. You have the added size, you have the seven footer that'll pull a guy like Porzingis away from the paint so he can't block shots. And it opens the paint up for a guy like Brunson. Right? Like you have defenders on the wing to take on Tatum and Brown. You didn't have OG to guard Tatum that game. That's why they struggled. He got switches and he ended up with. Josh Hart was 64 and he just killed him. So there was things that happened on Saturday that I watched and I thought, see, this is, this is what happens if the guys that you're relying on get hurt. Now you become a team that can't beat them. That's why I keep saying it's amazing that Brunson and Towns are your stars, but your key to winning or getting past a team like the Celtics might be the two guys that, that are not in the lineup right now. Quick stat before we get to the calls. You mentioned it, so I'll say it. The Knicks do a good job beating the bad teams. You know, they're 24 and 6 against teams with a losing record, 24 and 6. You know what they are against teams with a winning record, 11 and 12. That's a damning stat. It's a damning stat and it's one that you know is going to come up and keep echoing. After losing to the Lakers on national tv, after losing to the Celtics on national tv, after losing. And when they come out of this break and they go play this, the Cavs on that Friday night in Cleveland, you think that all eyes will be looking and see, okay, because they haven't seen Cleveland since November and that was a close game. They haven't seen him since. How do they stack up and will they have Anunobi and Mitchell Robinson in the lineup? There's a lot to Watch here, guys. That's a lot to talk to with the people. 800-9193776. Let's start off with Al in the Bronx. What's up, Al?

Ryan (17:00)

Yo, what's up, Alvin? First time I got to talk to you since a new show. Just want to say I agree with you 100%. Mitchell Robinson is the key. He just has to stay healthy. We have a good squad and like you notice everything I noticed on Saturday, that's what it was. OG and I would sit OG until, until after the All Star break. There's no point in risking this right now. Keep them all healthy, we can beat Boston. But the thing is, once you get to the playoffs, crazy things happen. Boston and which club could get knocked off by a lower seed and then it could be smooth sailing for us. That's what I'm.

Peter Rosenberg (17:38)

You gotta watch. Yeah, you know what, Al? You gotta watch those first round matchups too. Remember was it two years ago when Jimmy Butler and the, and the Heat ended up winning in the, the play in and they played the Bucks and they beat him and now all of a sudden the Bucks are out. Now it opens up everything so you just never know. Gillen, Brooklyn. What's up, Gil?

Ryan (17:54)

What's going on, Alan? Guys, what's going on? You know me and you talk ball all the time. This squad is a decent squad. I'm always going to have my, my problems with Paul Anthony, but he's doing what he's supposed to do. He's, he's giving us good scoring out, out the post and on the wing. My thing with the Knicks right now, I think they need another guy at least six, eight. That, that's, that's a swing man that can put D and hit threes. What happened to the, the young guy that they had, that they drafted this year that they was playing earlier? I, I, I guess he's up in, in, in, in the D league, but then he was showing signs of hitting the three. The rookie that they got this year in the draft. I know you know who I'm talking about.

Peter Rosenberg (18:41)

But they need pacom doer, the 19 year old.

Ryan (18:45)

There you go.

Peter Rosenberg (18:46)

Yeah.

Ryan (18:48)

Is he that bad off?

Peter Rosenberg (18:50)

Well, he's 19.

Ryan (18:53)

Hey, but he sold signs early on.

Peter Rosenberg (18:58)

And then I think he got hurt. I got to look up and see what the injury is, but I know he got hurt playing in a, in a G league game a little while ago and he's kind of been out of the lineup. So that's one thing. No, but I don't know if you're relying on a 19 year old. But you're not wrong, though, Gil. I'll say. They definitely could use off the bench. You know, like, Landry Shamut last night had a nice game. He had 11 points, but he's kind of been hot and cold. If they can upgrade that spot in the off season with a. With a. You know, like. Like what guys? What he said, like one of those prototypical NBA guys. A 6, 7, 68 wing shoot threes. Like. Like what next?

John Fanta (19:32)

Bear.

Peter Rosenberg (19:33)

Easy, Bear. What the Cavs did in getting DeAndre Hunter. That's exactly what the Knicks need. Something like that off the bench. And so, you know, that's again, why, like, when you look at the roster and you see how can you make it better? That's. That's the areas in the off season that you got to think about. Tess in West Caldwell. What's up, Tess?

Alan Hahn (19:53)

Hey, what's going on?

Don LaGreca (19:54)

Hey, guys. How are you? Thanks so much for taking my call. I appreciate it. So I wanted to make a comment about the game yesterday. Everybody know I'm a Lakers fan, but I do pay attention to the Knicks. But, Alan, I cannot start this off without telling you what transpired last night. It's piggybacking off of when it was just you and Don on. Because Rosenberg was taking care of the baby, so he wasn't on. Remember when I was telling you how my colleagues call you Zaddy? Remember that conversation, Alan?

John Fanta (20:19)

Oh, boy.

Peter Rosenberg (20:19)

Oh, boy.

John Fanta (20:21)

Yes, okay, I remember.

Don LaGreca (20:22)

And Don, we already remember. The lady called after I called thinking that I was trying to steal you from her. I'm just complimenting you and your beautiful hair and stuff. But anyway, so, Alan, I'm watching a post game last night, right, with you and Wally, and I'm getting this group chain of text messages, and my colleagues are bugging. They're like, oh, my God, look at our daddy. Look at Alan. And look at Wally. And those eyebrows. Oh, my God, they look like fashion models modeling blazers. They're going crazy. And I'm not going to front. Now I'm paying attention because don't forget Allen. It's like you guys are like family. So I don't look like that, but now I'm paying attention because of the things they're saying. Alan, you and Wally, world wilding last night. I mean, y'all look like y'all was modeling, like, I don't know, blazers. It was like, fit to a tee. Like, what are you guys doing right now? Like, put a T shirt on. Like, you're distracting, you know? Female people that's trying to pay attention, they don't care about no stats. They just kept looking at y'all. Like, they have chiseled jaw lines and lot of jawlines. Like, you need to knock it off, Allan. Like, both of y'all was wing yesterday. And then you got the little one in the middle. So they have no choice but to.

John Fanta (21:27)

An alpha like Peto.

Michael Kay (21:30)

You just called Peto a child, baby.

Alan Hahn (21:33)

Oh, poor Bill.

Don LaGreca (21:39)

The way him and W are standing around the table. It's like they're showing up. They know they have these tight, chiseled blazers on.

John Fanta (21:45)

You understand, W. You only have one button.

Michael Kay (21:47)

Tessa, you bring up a great point. I'm not. This is not a joke. I am dead serious. If I were Bill Pedo, and I don't think I have much height on Bill Pedo, and I'm in that situation a little bit more, but I have a little bit. I still. If my two co hosts are Wally and Allen, I am coming up with a way to stand where, like, my legs are protected and I can stand on something. You can't. You cannot be in Peto's situation next to you.

John Fanta (22:14)

Absolutely.

Don LaGreca (22:14)

Because the guy in the middle, it was like, almost like. It was terrible. It was like he was sandwiched between two, like, I don't know, like, two mountains. And he's just a little grass in the middle. Like, you know, that's not right in the middle opening. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. But Alan knows what I'm talking about, because Peter. I told him and Don, I told him and Don how, you know, females do look at them. And it's just like. Even when I looked yesterday, like, alan, what are you doing? And then it kept going to his, like, icy blue eyes and stuff like that.

Michael Kay (22:43)

All right, you know what? I'm. Tessa, I'm going to have to put a bow on this call. This thirst cannot continue. We got a commercial here, I think. Tessa, why don't you towel off and call that.

Alan Hahn (22:53)

Towel off. Yeah, that. That phrase has never been more meant than right now.

John Fanta (22:59)

Yeah.

Michael Kay (22:59)

Maybe lay a towel down while we're at it.

Peter Rosenberg (23:03)

I'm trying to figure out the whole, like, you know, men in blazers thing. That was like, what?

Michael Kay (23:07)

Yeah, I mean, all the.

John Fanta (23:07)

All you did.

Michael Kay (23:08)

I saw Alan yesterday, Tessa. All he did was dress for work. And. And you're acting as if he went there shirtless.

Peter Rosenberg (23:14)

That's your first feel like, I went over the top yesterday at all.

Michael Kay (23:18)

No, you were regular.

Alan Hahn (23:19)

You look good.

Peter Rosenberg (23:20)

Normal, regular. But that's.

Alan Hahn (23:25)

Did you see what happens when it's on and not like the, the Playboy Channel or something.

Michael Kay (23:28)

This is very intense.

Alan Hahn (23:30)

Is there a Chippendale Channel I'm not aware of?

Peter Rosenberg (23:32)

But that's the thing. When you're the team you cover is good. You look better.

Michael Kay (23:36)

It's that. You know what?

Peter Rosenberg (23:37)

Nobody was saying this when, when they were seven, winning 17 games in a season. Nobody said it were. They did. They hated me. You suck. Your team sucks. You suck. Now. Now I'm.

Michael Kay (23:47)

Now you're a tall drink of water, baby.

Peter Rosenberg (23:50)

I love it. I love it.

Alan Hahn (23:52)

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Peter Rosenberg (24:04)

Plus, for every pair purchased, another pair.

Alan Hahn (24:06)

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Don LaGreca (25:11)

It's me, Angel Reese. You can't beat the post game burger and fries, right? Know what else you can't beat? The Angel Reese special. Let's break it. Favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun of course. And don't forget the fries and a drink. It's gonna be a high C for me.

Alan Hahn (25:29)

Sound good?

John Fanta (25:31)

All you have to do to get.

Don LaGreca (25:32)

It is beat me in a one on one. I'm just playing get the Angel Reef Special at McDonald's now. Ba da ba ba ba.

Alan Hahn (25:39)

I participate in restaurants for a limited time.

Peter Rosenberg (25:41)

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Alan Hahn (25:45)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

Peter Rosenberg (25:46)

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your Podcasts. I will switch gears. We'll stay with basketball, but let's switch gears from the the NBA game and your Knicks calls at 800 now with 93776. And get back into the college game because St. John's is back at it tonight. St. John's at Villanova. And again, you just, they're must watch at this point. 6:00. It's on FS1. And the man calling the game joining us right now, John Fanta, College basketball. He's not just a writer, he's a broadcaster. He's like a guy that his career is skyrocketing and he's got a huge fan base and it's great to have him join us here. He knows everything about the Big East. And John, before we get started, welcome to the show. And Peter just had, Peter Rosenberg here on the show just had his first child. What I understand your wife is due for your first child. It's sometime soon, right?

John Fanta (26:41)

Yes, she is. And it's great to be with you guys. Thanks for having me. We are due in May. Very excited. And it's a, it's a boy and we can't wait.

Peter Rosenberg (26:51)

That's fantastic.

Alan Hahn (26:52)

Was it timed out that way so that wouldn't be any problems with March?

John Fanta (26:59)

Well, you know what? It was a. I would have done it. I would have been happy with any time. Could have given a whole new definition of March madness. But I know we didn't. We didn't. I'm not, guys, I have a bachelor's degree from Seton hall and I'm not smart enough to know how to time all that stuff out. I was a horrible science student. I was an even worse phys ed student. So let's call it a fortunate happy ending.

Alan Hahn (27:27)

Okay, that's, that's one way to word it's fortunate.

John Fanta (27:34)

Spot ever on this first spot ever on your show might be my last. Let's do this.

Michael Kay (27:38)

No.

Peter Rosenberg (27:38)

Are you kidding me? As Don always says, he loves to work blue. So we're right in there. You're right in the wheelhouse, John.

Alan Hahn (27:44)

This is going to be a lot of fun.

Peter Rosenberg (27:45)

But speaking of which, let's work red here for a second. Rick Patino says that this St. John's team, which is top 10 for the first time since I think I was in college, they, he says we haven't even reached our potential yet. What have you seen out of this team and what is their potential from what you've seen?

John Fanta (28:04)

Well, their potential is final four. They, they can reach those types of heights and the Reason why is their defense. This is a team that just defends relentlessly, holding 11 of their 13 Big east opponents to 70 points or less. And all you have to do is look at the national charts to understand where they rank their second in America in defensive efficiency. They're in the top six in the country in blocks per game, top 10 in rebounds, top 11 turnover margin at plus five. They're 12th in turnover scores per game. They're top 20 in steel the point. They suffocate you when you get off the bus. They are a New York team. That's why this story is one that New York City can rally around. They guard you so much and they make you uncomfortable. Offensively, teams look weary as the game goes on. They look like they, they are not excited to be on offense when they're going up against St. John's late in the game because that's how frustrating it becomes. Connecticut with well over 20 turnovers on their home court against the team. Yes, it happened against St. John's this is an outstanding defensive team. And because of, of that relentless nature, because of a Hall of Fame coach and because of a couple of guards who can create their own shots, this team can make it to San Antonio this April. It is within the realm of possibility.

Alan Hahn (29:30)

And John, it has to be because these offensive numbers, you know, 84th in points, 91st in assist, 351st in three point percentage. So is that going to be a problem, especially with the three if they can't score, Will the defense be able to hold up with that with those types of numbers in the dance?

John Fanta (29:49)

You know what, I talked with Sean Miller, the head coach at Xavier. He played at Pitt. He's known for sending in Jerome. Oh yeah, from my partner tonight, Bill Raftery. Sean was the one who delivered the dish. Look, Sean said to me, he goes, here's where the argument stops. He goes, when you're number two in the country defensively, so much gets compensated, so much gets negated there. So I agree with you guys on the fact that I am naturally concerned, like anybody would be. I think Rick Pitino is too about, hey, like if I'm only hitting three or four threes in a game, how are we going to be able to beat the elite? But the fact is last week they, they not back to back, you know, top tier ranked wins. And, and for the first time in the same week of, of those rankings since like 2006. So as one assistant told me, Bob Walsh on Rick Patino staff. Bob Walsh says, what's made this journey so amazing is statistical data doesn't support it because you would never say that a team that's at the bottom of their conference and near the bottom of the country in three point shooting would be in first place and the Big east at 12 and 1. But they, they take away your perimeter shot making with their length and desperation on that end because they know that they're not a great work of art offensive team. I also do think this guys, they've got some games in them still where they're going to make seven or eight threes. That's going to be enough for them to, to take off to a different stratosphere. You could look at it one of two ways. They're 21 and 3 and you could say they're just a really bad shooting team or you could say they're 21 and 3 and maybe they have some sort of aggression to the mean and they get going.

Michael Kay (31:44)

Well, it's a great point John. And I was going to ask you talked about last week being a big week for them in terms of wins over Marquette and UConn. Do, do you think they've really seen enough high level competition for you to feel really good or is it, are there still going to be games here down the stretch, Creighton, etc. That'll make you believe that a bit more because obviously to go on the run all the way you're going to see some really high level teams that they have not seen the likes of quite yet.

John Fanta (32:17)

Well again last week, first pair of top 20 ranked wins in the same week since 2006. So when you see teams look last week's as tough of a week as they're going to have a couple of weeks in this league in the Big East. Now the Big east is a four big conference this year in the NCAA tournament. The only way they get five is if they get a bid stealer at the Big east tournament. Not, not impossible because March Madness brings. Last year we saw a record number of bid Steelers come out of nowhere and there's a couple of teams that could do that actually this year in this league. But you make a good point because I don't think there's anything else that St. John's is going to see in their conference that's going to offer a challenge that they haven't already seen. I mean they're 12:1 at this point and they've, they've rolled. Your question is, you know, is there something that could throw them off when they hit a different level of competition like an SEC team or a Big Ten team because I think they're going to win the Big east regular season, which, how amazing is this? You know, they got a lead in the lost column and a one game lead in the win column. St. John's hasn't won the Big east regular season. That's going to give you goosebumps. New York since Luke Carr in the second final season at the Unreal. So if you don't think that's magical and that there's a higher power, I don't know what to tell you because he's working some magic right now. I do think they've got to adjust when they, when they face that heavyweight potentially in the second round of the tournament.

Michael Kay (33:45)

Right.

John Fanta (33:46)

Here's the thing, here's the thing. If you are on the planet and I said to you blindly, well, if you could pick any one coach, get ready for any one game, who you pick, you picking anybody over the 72 year old from New York, who's, who's doing this right now with this ball club. They got a coach who's as good as any in the nation.

Peter Rosenberg (34:08)

I would love to see him and him and Tom Izzo just head to head in a game that's always, you know, you're going to get the best out of both of them. We're talking with John Fanta, he's going to be on the call tonight. St. John's Villanova on FS1 at 6 o'clock and St. John's just been on a roll, top 10 team for the first time and I can't even remember but Jon, like what you said about Patino was where I was going to go with you next is do you marvel at the energy, the amount of energy that he brings on the sidelines still to these days. It's just incredible to see him. It's almost like again rejuvenated. He was at Iona, you know, he just does what he does wherever he goes. He gets you organized, he makes you competitive and you're always going to win games. But this, this felt like the St. John's opportunity that came up for him and everybody. I remember two years ago we were all just like, you gotta hire this guy, you gotta bring him in. And they do. But it was a bit of a risk of course, because this is sort of like his last shot at a big time opportunity and this was a dormant program that could just never get it right. And in what, two years, what he's turned it into, yes, nil is, is helping him. There's no doubt about it. But his fingerprints once again all over the success of this franchise, this program. And I marvel at it at his age.

John Fanta (35:18)

I love that you just said franchise, actually. Because you know what? That's what they are when they're good in New York. They're now the 11th pro sports team. I mean, all you have to do is see that. All you have to do is see the traffic. Their game Friday night against Connecticut. Of course, there's a UConn effect, too. It's the second most watched game on. On Fox the entire year. And think about alumni bases, right? Fox has the rights to the Big Ten and those alumni bases are bigger than these Big east schools. But forget about it. St. John's is a national story because Rick Patino is a fixer of all. He fixes programs. He's done it time and again. He fixed Kentucky and he turned it into Camelot. He fixed Louisville and won a championship there and went on deep runs, for heaven's sake. He took Providence College to a Final four.

Peter Rosenberg (36:08)

Yeah.

John Fanta (36:08)

In 1987. You name it, he's done it. He'd be on college coaches, Mount Rushmore. He'd be sitting there with Shashevsky and Wooden. And you want to throw in Dean Smith or Jim Calhoun, Go ahead. Or Jim Behan, you'd make an argument for any of them. It's a fun argument. Come March, sure, you guys can have it. But let's talk about this guy has a relentless energy. I have asked him this a couple of times, so I'll share it with everybody. He is up at 4:30 in the morning. He is at Equinox on a bike at 5am he gets done with that at 6:37am he's walking his dog another couple of miles, runs an errand or two, goes into the office, works out players for two and a half, three hours, goes back to his office, does 30 minutes of business, goes and does a two or three hour practice. Then he eats dinner. He's 72 years old. He is a machine and he's not going anywhere.

Alan Hahn (37:08)

He's.

John Fanta (37:08)

Carol, why is he going anywhere? He. Absolutely. He. He has a perfect situation. I heard somebody say last week they thought he could be up for Indiana. I'm sorry, but that's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard in my life. He's not. You think he's gonna go to Bloomington? No, he is in New York City. He has Madison Square Garden. He has the Garden selling out.

Michael Kay (37:30)

Oh, no. This is the dream.

John Fanta (37:31)

Crazy to say.

Peter Rosenberg (37:32)

Yeah.

Michael Kay (37:34)

He's got a Chance here got a.

John Fanta (37:36)

Private jet 10 minutes from St. John's and he's got all the nil money in the world. He doesn't have to go sit at Pete's Jam and eyb elements over the summer. He's got the money to pay players now.

Michael Kay (37:46)

Let me, I was very critical last year on the show with everything that happened when he, when he called out his team, the lateral movement, the hustle on defense, all that stuff. And it seemed like a bad moment. And then me and many others were proven to look foolish as it clearly woke the team up. Where is, first of all, how big a moment was that in this run? And was there any doubt around the team at that point? Like, oh, is this thing actually going to backfire?

John Fanta (38:15)

Well, I think like, like us, like you guys, like a lot of people, there were some St. John's powers that be that expressed concern with those types of remarks made in 2024. But to Rick's credit, he's unapologetically himself. It was genius. It was, it was what Mick Cronin just did with his UCLA team last month. And they've been on fire ever since. Who did Nick Cronin work for? Rick Pitino. And so Rick, this is the motivating style of Rick Pitino. And I can tell you right now, the players understand he has this ability, he has this ability to touch people of all ages, but in particular, understanding how kids are through generations, but also understanding that he gets them to get that every, all the criticism comes from a place of love. This is a guy who values relationships. He takes two or three of his guys to a Yankee game. He takes a player or two to a random concert. He does some of the little things that go unseen and unheard and his players respond as a result. He has a way about him that, that is a Hall of Fame career. It's different, it's unique. But I could tell you, just sitting in on his shoot arounds, he does some things that other coaches just frankly would never do and can't do in 2025. But because of the way that he does it, it's hard to pinpoint other than it's just, it's a master of his craft that that's what he is, that's who he is. And that's why St. John's they had to take a risk. Guys, let's face it, you weren't talking about St. John's basketball on this show, perhaps ever the last 10, 15 years, unless it was for a bad reason. Now, this is a Real talking point before and after a game. And, you know, you brought up Tom Izzo in Michigan State. I'm telling you right now, TV networks are going to Rick Pitino and saying, hey, you want to. Who can. Who do you. Who would you like to play at the Garden? We'll make a game for you. We'll put it in prime time. Rick, The Tino's made St. John's a destination again. That's great for everybody in New York sports.

Alan Hahn (40:30)

What's the realistic seed for them in a bracket?

John Fanta (40:35)

I'm going to say a four or a five seed when it's all said and done. I don't think they're going to go 19 and one in the Big East. I think they could take one or two more losses, but I think they'll end up winning the Big east regular season. And you know, they have three losses by a combined five points, which. That is crazy. Like, they haven't gotten blown out. And that's the other thing. They, they played a Baylor team that's good. They played a Georgia team that's solid. And they lost by one at Creighton on New Year's Eve. And I'll tell you this last story, guys, four or five, see, But I'll tell you this one story here. On New Year's Eve, Rick Patino, the team stayed out in Omaha just to kind of spend New Year's Eve together. The game was in late afternoon. They were going to fly the next day, and I got stuck there as well. And everybody was in the same hotel. And Rick was kind of chatting that evening. He's like, the game we should have had. Should have had that game. You know, this is tough. This is tough for us. Could be tough to. To figure through this. I. He proceeds to go through everything, every detail you could ever imagine. And at one point I said, look, you lost. I said, this. I go, you lost by a point at Creighton, who's really tough and good. I think your team's going to be just fine. At the end of the night, he texted his players, men, no group I'd rather be with heading into 20, 25 than you. We're winning the Big east this year. Well, right now his words are looking.

Peter Rosenberg (42:08)

Awfully true right there. And we're going to be at. We're going to be doing a show right by the Garden. John, I don't know you. I'm sure you'll be part of the coverage of the Big east tournament.

John Fanta (42:19)

Absolutely.

Peter Rosenberg (42:21)

Okay, so what we're going to do is this we have a show. We're going to be doing it right by, in, in Penn Station, in one of the bars by Penn Station. We're gonna have. You're gonna come and hang out with us and we're gonna break this whole thing down to a fine powder because we all want to go. Because, you know, they're gonna have a primetime game. It's a Friday. We're doing the show. They're gonna have a primetime game that night. We're all going to this thing. Because what you're saying about how this has become a thing in New York, it does resonate. There's certain programs, certain franchise certainties, when they're good, like the whole city kind of rallies. It does feel like that's starting to come around. And that's not a feeling that a legit feeling that you have had about St. John's since I can remember into the 90s, like it just hasn't felt like this. And he has brought it back and you have encapsulated it so perfectly. So we hope to see you then in March. Thanks for joining us, though. Thanks, man. Great stuff.

John Fanta (43:08)

Anytime, guys. I'm in for that. And it is special to see something brewing here come March because New York's a basketball town, as you all well know, and St. John's coming through and, and breaking through here. It's cool to see.

Peter Rosenberg (43:24)

It's great for the market, no doubt. John Fanta again. Get him on the call tonight. St. John's Villanova on FS1 at 6pm The Johnny's are in. Villanova playing there. Villanova is not a very strong team these days, but St. John certainly is. That was good stuff from John.

Alan Hahn (43:38)

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Peter Rosenberg (44:10)

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Alan Hahn (44:13)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

Peter Rosenberg (44:15)

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, boys. The Doobie Brothers are coming to PNC Bank Arts center on August 7th and Northwell at Jones Beach Theater on August 10th. Make plans for your summer already. Right, ESPN New York has your chance to score tickets to the venue of your choice on the ESPNY app. All you got to do is scroll down to contest. Submit your entry brought to you by Live Nation. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am@ticketmaster.com catch a little doobies at one of those great locations in August. 800 now but 93776. Ryan is in Breezy Point. He wants to talk some St. John's what's up Ryan?

Ryan (44:58)

Hey fellas. Am I coming through? I got you on my headset.

Alan Hahn (45:01)

Oh yeah.

Peter Rosenberg (45:02)

Oh yeah, we got you.

Ryan (45:03)

How you doing? Hey, I give you guys so much credit for going on this St. John's topic early. You know, we could talk about seeds and what's ahead in March and you know, maybe some of the flaws they have offensively. I'm part of a crew of guys who have seen this through from thick and thin and we're happy to continue to galvanize more attention in the city. Obviously all roads lead back to Rick and everything he's delivered to the school and program over the last 18 or so months. But you know, look, it comes down this week. Tonight you have, I think a challenging game. I'm not going to call it a trap game because in college basketball the home road stuff is, is real and it, and it swings these games pretty heavy. So you hope they could come out tonight and get it done. But if that's the case, you go in a Sunday and St. John's as a basketball program has a way of melding the locality of New York sports with like back page energy, high level energy. And now you have this high level figure in Rick Pitino. So all the stuff you guys are doing to kind of put energy behind it where others might have hesitated. You know, look, I'm not going to debate Steam or anything like that. I don't think the vast majority of the people starting to draw their attention to it are there yet. I think it's just so exciting for the city and it's a unique experience is what I'm getting at going to those.

Peter Rosenberg (46:43)

It's basketball. Ryan. Ryan, this is a. Brian, this is a basketball city. I tell everybody, I know it's a baseball town, but it's a basketball city. They love the game in this city. And so when one of the teams is good and a high level, especially when it's been a long time traditionally.

Ryan (46:59)

Through point for St. John's right, there's clearly a breakthrough point where people really start to pay attention. And it's where they are now and they're starting to break through. And the last thing I'll say, they got three weekend home games at Madison Square Garden coming up. And Alan, Alan's got experience with the Knicks. Right. Like, it's real hard to get in the Garden for the next.

Peter Rosenberg (47:20)

Yep.

Ryan (47:20)

If you're a parent and you're trying to get your kid into msg, into a really good atmosphere, there's no. And to watch really exciting basketball. Like, it's not just the same kind of sanitized regular season NBA product that you get night in and night out. These guys have more.

Alan Hahn (47:39)

I know there's a lot of talk after it.

Ryan (47:42)

There's a lot of variability too. Right. There's more variability. Like they miss shots, like they make mistakes and, and I hate this. See my team make mistakes.

Alan Hahn (47:51)

It's all. Well, Ryan John said it. This is a, this is like a New York team. This is what we like about. We like defense in New York. We don't like a lot of flash and, and glam and tons of points. You know, like that's, that's la. Like with the Lakers when they had the Showtime. New York has always been lunch pail. As cosmopolitan a city as New York is, we seem to attract. Be attracted to the teams that play great defense, that play a gritty style of basketball. So we'll see if the lack of offense ends up hurting them at the end of the day. But the fact that they are led by their defense is exactly what New York wants. And I've been saying it about St. John's for a long time. The fans have been. It's been dormant. They've been frozen over. They haven't anything really to root for since the early 2000s. And now they've got something legitimately to root for. I mean, they're four or five seed in a bracket. You know, that's a team that can make a run. That's a team that's going to be a heavy favorite to at least make it to, to the sweet 16. And we haven't seen that in these parts in a long, long time.

Peter Rosenberg (48:49)

You know what it is with St. John's is that there was a time when the Big east was, you know, there was something romantic about it and how they put it together and, you know, it was, it felt big time. There was big Monday on espn and so you had always had a Big east game. There was just something a little bit bigger about it. The landscape of college basketball in the last 20 years has changed so much. Where it has felt a lot more ACC and a lot more Big Ten. You weren't getting the same recruits anymore. The football contracts came into play and that's when the biggies kind of broke up. And St. John's felt like a program left behind along with Providence, along with Seton hall. Like, it just felt like they were left behind here. Yep. And no one wanted the job and people would come in and take that. I remember Chris Mullen came in, tried to resuscitate what was his. Obviously that's his alma mater. And he tried and you know, they just couldn't get it to, to stick. It just felt like maybe that's it, you know, maybe the glory days are long gone. We're never going to have it again. Having a guy like Patino come in, though, Peter, as John said, that changes the game 100%.

Michael Kay (49:50)

It's, it's. Patino is a big deal anywhere. Patino here is perfect. And, and, and listen, there's a world in which this whole thing, to me, I certainly thought it was possible, it was just going to flame out. And I felt a little bad for Iona in all of it at first. And I'm like, oh, is this really going to go well? You know, he's 70 years old at the time.

Peter Rosenberg (50:13)

Right.

Michael Kay (50:14)

And now you look at it and you go, listen, there's a lot that can be said about Rick Patina. And listen, the 30 for 30 on Rick Patina, you need more than 30, right? The 90 for 90 part series. Yeah. On a Rick Potter Patino, it's a lifetime. But one thing that you cannot take away from the man is what he's capable of doing to a program. And when you do it to one like this, which can mean so much in this market, it's awesome.

John Fanta (50:40)

He's part.

Alan Hahn (50:41)

Sells to the Jets. That's what he is. He's a culture changer guy for sure. And you're right, they got left behind because they didn't have a football program. Rutgers ended up in the Big Ten because they wanted the football program. And then Syracuse goes to college. They, they get, they got stuck, you know, but really, Yukon keeps being lured.

Peter Rosenberg (51:02)

Right. You don't know if Luke, if Yukon, you know, they left and came back. Like, like there's a lot going on with that whole thing. So it's. To see it like this, I think people need to understand just how. And a younger generation who doesn't remember, of course, the days of, you know, when it was big time, it was big time basketball when you come to the Garden, like. Like Ryan said, and I did as a kid, I'd come to the garden to watch St. John's play Marist, like the holiday festival and all that stuff. I used to go watch because it was. That was the big time, you know, that's where I grew up, dreamed of playing for St. John. I wanted to be good enough to play for St. John's like, that's what it was always all about back then. It was New York's college team, which, this isn't really a college town, but St. John's is the college team of the city. It's just reality.

Alan Hahn (51:45)

It's coming a long way. Like 10 years ago, I actually called a St. John's game for. For MSG on television. It was the holiday tournament.

Peter Rosenberg (51:53)

Nice.

Alan Hahn (51:54)

And, you know, it was like, they didn't even sell the upper Bowl. It was. It wasn't a thing because St. John's wasn't great. And listen, the only time you fill the Garden is when they played Yukon or they played another big program because there was nothing to get excited about. Now there is.

Peter Rosenberg (52:11)

Thanks for listening to Madonna Rosen Bloomberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.