← Eye On College Basketball
Eye On College Basketball
’25 Summer Shootaround: Texas Tech spent more than $10 million on its roster. Will it be a top-10 team?
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- [00:00]
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- [01:31]
Gary Parrish
Today'S Summer Shoot around, this is my reminder that if you are a fan of a school that is not a part of our predetermined list of schools for shooter on episodes, there are three separate auctions that you can bid on to get the bonus episode for our summer shootarounds and those episodes will publish in September. So if you're watching on YouTube, you want to go right here, top right corner of the screen right there. Hit that QR code or we've got links in the description. If you are listening to the podcast, the auction links to the three separate auctions are in the description as well. They'll be in this one, they'll be in the next one, they'll be in the one after that. The deadline, this is key, is August 14th. The schools that have already been determined are St. John's Houston, BYU, Purdue, Yukon, Florida, Texas Tech, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas, Arkansas and North Carolina. So if you didn't hear your school mentioned and you want us to talk about it, you want to ask questions, you want to ask actually help produce a summer shoot around episode, you can be a fan of a big time program or a mid major in the middle of nowhere. If you bid the most, you will win. You will get your bonus episode dedicated to your favorite school. So go to the link, rally your friends. In about a week's time, we'll have three separate winners. Bid now. Bid frequently and we'll talk to you soon. Welcome back into our summer Shoot around series where GP And I are splitting up some of the love and bringing on some knowledgeable folks from outside CBS who know the college basketball world well. Longtime listeners to this podcast, which dates back in its original form to 2010, are aware that today's guest is no newbie. Jeff Borzello has been at ESPN since 2014, and I know it's been since 2014 because when he decided to leave me and GP behind at CBS and said stuff, see ya. I was on my delayed honeymoon with my wife in Italy. I left for that honeymoon not knowing if he was going to leave cbs and I returned. I said, what's the deal? He let me know I'm skedaddling there. Prior to that, though, he did work with us for more than three years, and in that time we had some chats on this very pod. Since then, he's gotten married, had two children, tried to trick people into thinking he takes orange theory classes. He's taken up youth soccer coaching, tweeted way, way, way, way, way too much about the Chelsea Football Club. He's lost thousands in fantasy football, but still maintained his title as the best hair in college basketball. Welcome back. Jeff Borzella. How you doing, buddy?
- [04:04]
Jeff Borzello
Had I known you were going to hype up my hair in the intro, I would not have gotten it cut two days ago. I would, I would have let it flow a little bit to, to show it off, but happy to be here. I feel like I'm going to speak more than you and GP let me speak when I used to appear 12 years ago, 11 years ago. So I'm fired up. I'm fired up.
- [04:23]
Gary Parrish
I'm right off the top. First of all, by the way, apologies on Borzella's audio. It's good enough, I suppose. Also, if you're watching on YouTube, he, I think he's in some sort of like quasi dungeon, you know? Blink three times.
- [04:35]
Jeff Borzello
The lighting keeps, keeps shifting. It keeps shifting. You said it was fine. Now it's like dark again.
- [04:41]
Gary Parrish
No, I don't know what you got going on there, man. Do you remember the last time you were on the pod? This pod, Porzela's hopped on. I do the, the college sports now stuff. Moonlight that and Borzello. Always an annual appearance, and that's always a fun one with me.
- [04:53]
Jeff Borzello
Do you remember? So, you know, actually, you know, the last time I probably said a word on this pod was you were recording with GP at some sort of Final Four, maybe Phoenix. Yeah.
- [05:03]
Gary Parrish
Bada Bing 2017. Do we know why we were doing that podcast?
- [05:09]
Jeff Borzello
I mean, you. I don't. I was. I don't think I was expected to be on.
- [05:12]
Gary Parrish
No, you were in. You were in the room with me.
- [05:15]
Jeff Borzello
I want to say about something. I was like, I'm just gonna hop on. I want something specific.
- [05:21]
Gary Parrish
It could have been Final Four, but I want to say Ewing got hired at Georgetown and that was the impetus for that show, but I can't remember exactly.
- [05:26]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah, that's a good one. Say. No, he got. He got hired.
- [05:31]
Gary Parrish
I definitely 100 wrote about Ewing being hired at Georgetown when I was in Phoenix at the Final Four. That definitely happened.
- [05:37]
Jeff Borzello
I don't know if I buy that.
- [05:39]
Gary Parrish
I think.
- [05:40]
Jeff Borzello
I'm pretty sure. No, I'm pretty sure. I was at the. The Garden for the regional when he got hired.
- [05:46]
Gary Parrish
Oh, I'm looking at the date on this right now. You're making me do this right now. Don't worry. We're gonna get to Texas Tech. We got plenty of money.
- [05:53]
Jeff Borzello
You know what I remember about the ewing hire? Goodman's SportsCenter appearance? You have to remember that. You do, right? Yeah.
- [06:02]
Gary Parrish
Oh, how I wish. How I wish we had. How I wish we had that. Here we go, Patrick. This is. Here we go. April 3, 2017. Patrick Ewing is Georgetown's biggest name, but it'll take more than that to win. I filed this in Arizona. I remember that. If you got. Maybe he got hired like a day before, two days before, but I definitely filed that in Arizona. Anyway, that's the last.
- [06:25]
Jeff Borzello
Really wish we had the Goodman footage. That was incredible.
- [06:27]
Gary Parrish
Oh, my God. The Goodman. Yeah. That is. Folks, that is a long running inside joke that we don't need to get too much into, but yes, your entire.
- [06:34]
Jeff Borzello
Pot is inside jokes.
- [06:36]
Gary Parrish
Oh, boy. Okay. Anyway, it's great to have you back. Fanta Doster, Evan Miyakawa, they all went to GP you're stuck with me, but I think we remember how to do this. Let's dive into Texas Tech and get this going here. Grant McCaslin, 51, 20 in two seasons. Borzello, he's been a solid hire immediately. I think Tech has objectively become a top 15 program in the big picture since he got there. Exceeded expectations, and I think Tech's poised to stay in that layer if you will in year three. We'll get to where you think about Tech after we get to the break but let's look at last season and kind of just really quickly retrace what what the Red Raiders did. They were a 29 team. They got a three seed. They lost in the elite eight. Tech had the most mellow, dramatic second weekend I think of any team in the tournament. In the Sweet 16 the Red Raiders snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after coming back from 16 down with less than 10 minutes to go. And then they were even down 13 buddy with with four and a half to go against Arkansas and the regional semis out in San Francisco. They ultimately won 85:83 in overtime. That was a wild game. I went back and watched the end of it. Just how they were able to pull it off. I'd say that was a top five game of the tournament. They only hit 8 of 32 from 3 point range in that game. But in watching and re watching it yesterday it felt like every single three they hit was absolutely crucial. Kept their hopes alive. So they got Arkansas. You and I were actually those games happened when you were and I were in Jersey for the east Regional.
- [08:17]
Jeff Borzello
I remember watching them on my on like the laptop right in front of me. Yeah, yeah.
- [08:20]
Gary Parrish
That is correct. Yes. We were as invested in that in those games as we were as the.
- [08:26]
Jeff Borzello
Ones that we didn't have quite the close games that they had in east.
- [08:29]
Gary Parrish
Others we did not. We were not gifted with Newark wherever we were. We were in Newark. That's right. That's right. Two days later Tech was on the heartbreaking end of the other side of it when it botched the game late against Florida in the elite eight. Lost 84:79. Tech missed a bunch of one and ones. It gave up an 18:4 run mostly at the hands of Walter Clayton Jr. And Thomas Hauck. But all told I think it's been better than hope for two years in so before we look ahead you're just your big picture thoughts on on where this program is after getting McCaslin from North Texas two years ago.
- [09:04]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah, I mean I didn't think he was going to be this good or they were going to be this good this quickly under him. I mean he checked a lot of boxes when they hired him. You know high major experience as a as an assistant coach grinded through a junior college ranks successful low major mid major coach. But he was sort of at North Texas at least. He was sort of a slow it down Defensive minded coach didn't know, you know, if he had the, you know, if he was going to adjust to the Big 12. And not only has he adjusted, they've. Not that they're flying up and down the court, but they're, you know, they've had two pretty incredible offensive seasons in a row now. He's hit on his transfers, he's hit on his freshman, which is a testament to him, but he's. I thought he was going to be good. I didn't think they were going to be this good this quickly. And last year, I mean, I know, I remember going into the turn going to the tournament, I thought there were six teams that could have made the Final Fours. The four ones, St. John's and Texas Tech, or that I could have picked to go to the final four. St. John's and Texas Tech. St. John's obviously did not work out. But I felt with like three minutes to go in that Florida game, I was like, you know what, I should have, I should have gone with Texas Tech. I felt pretty vindicated. And then Walter Clayton, you know, did his thing and, and rewrote history and, and that was that for Texas Tech. But no, I mean, I loved them last year. I think they're really good, gonna be really good again. But yeah, he's, he's done, McCaslin's done exceeded my expectations. He's exceeded expectations two years in a row at Tech. And, and I'm interested. I haven't thought about Your, your top 15 program in the country take, but I do think they're pretty well positioned to be, you know, around this range for the next few years.
- [10:42]
Gary Parrish
I think that's, I think objectively fair. They were ninth at Ken Palm last season. The season before that they were 31st, got a 60, 23 and 11. Those two things. Plus, and we'll get to this in a few minutes, plus what they did in the portal and how much they spent. I think it's, I think it's objectively fair to say Tech is operating as one of the 15 best programs in the country right now. In order to stay there, they're going to have to, you know, be a four seat or better level team, maybe even a three seater level better team this upcoming season. The preseason rankings are going to reflect that. They would, they will almost certainly.
- [11:19]
Jeff Borzello
They're already in that range where you're kind of giving them the benefit of the doubt in terms of rebuilding a roster.
- [11:24]
Gary Parrish
I just changed by mid January.
- [11:27]
Jeff Borzello
No, I'm just saying they're, they're one of those teams already in year three where you're sort of trusting what McCaslin does in the portal and what he does on the recruiting trail. You know, when it comes to tiebreakers, you're sort of giving them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to roster construction. And that's, you know, they're one of the, you know, 12 to 15 programs that you're doing that right now.
- [11:44]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I think that's, I think that's totally fair. There's a lot to get to in terms of who did, who did Tech add, You know, how much money did this program spend? The university in general has even, you know, just a few days ago they landed the, the number one player for next year's class in football. So just Texas Tech as an entity has really stepped up and become as formidable as really almost any university from a funds standpoint as nearly any program in the country.
- [12:13]
Jeff Borzello
It's, it's been the first million dollar softball player.
- [12:17]
Gary Parrish
They did. They did. So we'll get into JT Toppin Texas Tech spending the roster upcoming Borzella where he has them in his off season rankings. There's a lot to get to with Texas Tech. We'll break it all down. But first, let's take a quick break.
- [12:31]
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- [14:25]
Gary Parrish
Before we get into the names to know who's back, who's new, all of that, let's talk about the biggest name. Obviously. J.T. toppin. He returns I reported in April that Texas Tech was willing to commit minimally in the neighborhood of $4 million over the course of the upcoming season for JT Toppin. Lo and behold, it could wind up being even more than that if he gets true genuine bonafide nil deals as the season goes along. And if you can live up to the hype, the hype is going to be he's going to be a preseason first email American because hello, he was a first email American at CBS Sports last season. He averaged 18.2 points. Didn't even debate going into the NBA draft. Part of that was because of the money that was that was promised to him. He averaged 9.4 rebounds, had some both in the regular season and in the tournament. Had some outstanding, outstanding moments. He's the fourth All American in Texas Tech history. Borzello. But he's the only one that will return to school as an All American. So the other ones were Andre Emmett in 03 04, although he was basically a borderline All American as a junior, but technically wasn't when he returned for a senior year and was a was a clear cut All American. You also had Keenan Evans, but he was a second or third teamer in 2018. And then Jared Culver the year after was a second teamer as well in 2018-19. So those are the only guys from TTU who have ever been All Americans. Toppin is coming off the second best season by any Tech player in history. Emmett senior season I think outrage what he did last season shot 55.4 from the field. He'll be in the mix to be preseason national Player of the Year. And again because of that that's why he was paid so handsomely and didn't even test the the draft process. When we let's, let's flash forward to April 1st. Borzello will JT Toppin have been one of the five best players in the sport for this upcoming season?
- [16:06]
Jeff Borzello
I think so. I mean if you look at the, the talent of last season, the final two months or so, I don't know if there was a better player outside of Cooper Flag than him. I mean you mentioned some of the individual games. Got a case in the tournament for sure. Yeah. I mean the top end. I mean 41 and 15, 32 and 1230 and 4. I mean he was putting up video game numbers. Double double in all four tournament games. He was sensational. And I think and we'll get to some of their additions shortly but like I think with the addition of of the big man from vcu, it's going to take some of the pressure off of him defensively and I guess free free him up to reserve some of his some of his energy for the glass on the offensive end. I, I don't see a world where he's not averaging close to what he did last year and if he does, that's going to be one of the top five players in the country. I give the edge to Braden Smith for preseason favorite to win the Wooden Award, but topping to me is right there and I think another year of this and he's going to play himself into the first round of the NBA draft and Tech could make a Final Four run. I mean it could work out for everyone in terms of the money they spent to bring him back. But I do think he's, he deserves to be in this conversation going into the year and, and I think come April 1st I think he'll, he'll be right there.
- [17:28]
Gary Parrish
Also I think he's got a very good chance. I don't think it's highly, highly probable. Like I wouldn't put it north of 75%. We've got some extremely talented the top three picks in the draft could be coming into college basketball next season with Darren Peterson, A.J. deBance at Cameron Boozer in addition to returning players necessarily mean they'll be the three. Yes, I want to be clear about that doesn't but they but like if you average 22 points next season, it wouldn't shock me if you told me Boozer was a stat monster and maybe one small tick down from Flag overall I would believe you because Boozer was outrageously good. We'll save all the Boozer talk for a Duke episode, which will be coming soon enough in this feed. And then Darren Peterson. I mean and we'll save this for the Kansas one. But Bill Self has multiple times on record said he's the best player I've ever recruited to Kansas.
- [18:10]
Jeff Borzello
That's throw Braden Smith throw top. And that's. That's probably what the All American team looks like seven months from now.
- [18:17]
Gary Parrish
There's a healthy chance and there's even.
- [18:19]
Jeff Borzello
There's other guys. Yeah.
- [18:20]
Gary Parrish
There's other players that are in that conversation as well. I'll be interested to see Toppin, who was obviously like something of a mark man as the season went along last season. There's gonna be a whole different thing because they. They bring back. Okay, so here's the roster situation with Tech. They bring. Gone are Darian Williams who was. Had moments where he. I'm not saying he was text mvp. He wasn't. I'm just telling you, if you follow Tech, there were definitely games and moments where he was the. The guy on the floor that you knew the ball was going to him and he was pounding and the paint could post up. He had some big shots. He's gone. Chance McMillan gone. Elijah Hawkins Gone. Kevin Overton Gone. Kerwin Galton? Gone. Devin Cambridge Gone. Federico. Federico also gone. So they're all gone. Back is Toppin and then Christian Anderson who's the point guard and needs to take a jump. But Toppin's gonna be a seriously marked man with some pieces to be determined around him. I think you're starting five for Tech is Anderson. Donovan Atwell, who comes over via UNC Greensboro, probably plays the two Lawan Watts, six six small forward average nearly 14 points. Better than six and a half boards, 4.4 assists. He played at Washington State. He's actually a. He's the kind of player where. Okay, I want to see when he goes and plays at this level. It's going to be a step up from what he did last season. Can he be a guy that can be nearly product as productive as he was a season ago? Because I think Toppin's gonna need him. And then you mentioned the. The VCU big. Although he's a little. Yeah, lean 610 center type. He'll probably start. I think Tyree Brian from Santa Clara is probably the first guy off the bench. He averaged like 10.4 points last season. That's. That's what's around him. Before I get to the whole money part of this because I do find it fascinating. Do you think. I mean, does this look like a roster that can be top three in the Big 12 to you?
- [20:10]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah, I mean I don't think it's in terms of from a pure talent perspective, I don't think it's far off from last season. I mean Darren, Darren Williams is better than any of the transfers coming in. But I think Lawan Watts in terms of what a poor man's version of him would have looked like last season, I think he kind of checked some of those boxes. I mean he's six six, he's physical, you could run the offense through him. He can make shots from three. You know he's a little slow footed but you know he is. If you were looking for the mid major version of what Darren Williams was, I think they sort of found the perfect replacement for him. They bring in some wing shooters. You mentioned Atwell, Brian's coming in and like I said, I think Bamboyak down low. He's a guy, I mean he's the leading returning shot blocker in the country and that's not really been A thing that McCaslin's had is elite rim protection with him and topping next to each other. I think he's going to have kind of paint defense like he's never had before and they're going to be not much improved that in the floor because they've been pretty good but I think they're really going to protect the rim better and I think the shooters they're bringing in will allow them to stretch the floor. And you mentioned Christian Anderson. He's kind of the key to this. You know he didn't play the point for them last year but he did for Germany, you know, I guess last month and the U19 World cup and he was terrific. You know he was really good against the US really good against Canada and he showed he could play the point guard spot and so if he's ready to take that jump and based on what we saw a couple weeks ago and what we saw from him toward the end of the season, I think he is. I think this team is, you know, I don't know if I'm ready to say they're more talented than last year because I think Williams was just so good and sort of the fulcrum for what they did. But I don't think they're far off and I think this is a team that can make this similar run they did last year.
- [21:57]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, Hawkins was also in terms of being a pure point guard, he was pretty talented. You beat me to the punch with.
- [22:03]
Jeff Borzello
Anderson, basketball player Than him.
- [22:06]
Gary Parrish
Overall, I'm.
- [22:08]
Jeff Borzello
I mean, I think they're bigger. They're bigger. I think they have great shooting. Yes. I think they're going to be better defensively inside. I just, you know, I. I think they're. There's going to be areas they're better. And, you know, obviously, hey, if they had lost to Arkansas by 10 last year in the Sweet 16, then I'd be pretty confident saying they're going to be better this season. But, you know, it's. The tournament's a crapshoot, but I don't think that there's a huge gap between what they were last year and what they're going to be this season.
- [22:34]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, it was outrageous just going back and watching those games. Arkansas should have beaten Tech. I mean, they just should have. And then Tech should have beaten Florida. You know, so they. They benefit one night, and then they fall prey to it two nights later. You beat me to the punch on Anderson, what he did last month. I thought that was a fairly critical development for Tech, and it's why I think Tech has a case to be top 10 overall. Before we get to where you've got them versus where GP has them and all that, what do we make of Texas Tech becoming just a massive, massive force in the portal? You and I talk to a variety of sources. Some coaches, some non coaches. Borzello is, as I say this lovingly and sympathetically. He is as invested in the portal as pretty much anyone in college basketball media. I don't know how you do it, but more power to you.
- [23:27]
Jeff Borzello
I didn't know where that was going. I'm content with where it ended up.
- [23:30]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I love keeping you on the edge, buddy, but you and I both know that once we got to. And hell, you're about to say like, I knew it two, three weeks before, but basically, once we got to, like, the second week of April, the. The Texas Tech and how much money they're throwing around and how much they're going to be able to spend while they haven't out. You know, basically no school is going to come out and outright say what it's. What it's at. They're definitely north of 10 million. If you told me they were north of 14, I'd believe you. But I'm comfortable in saying that this entire roster is going to have accrued at least $12 million when all is said and done by the end of next season. And yet, even having said that, Toppin's a big name, but it's. It's fascinating to Me how they got pieces and the pieces could all add up to be a top 10 level team. But the reality is we're talking about a program that doesn't have immense amount of prestige and history and its programs history. You know it went to the, obviously the title game with Beard in 2019 and that was history making for Texas Tech. And yet they were able to, I just know this by speaking to frustrated programs that lost out on some of these players, they were able to vastly outbid a litany of programs on a number of guys. What do you make of the fact that Cody Campbell, obviously the billionaire affiliated with the program, has helped even before, you know, revenue sharing kicked in all that just I, I find Texas Techs rise as a really, really big stick in, in college basketball and obviously of course college football as well to be one of the more intriguing developments in the sport in 2025.
- [25:02]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah and they've become one of the sort of the boogeymen for sort of the rumored oh, this kid's got a two, two and a half million dollar offer from Texas Tech. Like Texas Tech, byu. Some of those schools have become sort of the, oh you know I heard this. The school offered him two and a half. I heard of this school offered him three. It's, it's, it's Texas Tech and it's BYU and some of these, you know, not going to call them nouveau rich schools. They mean they have money but they are the ones that are perceived to be spending and you know, spending a lot. The reason I don't think now you asked me before the show like do I think they're a top three salary cap team in college this season. The reason I would say no, I do think you're right about being in that kind of 10 to 12 ish range. I mean you look at their roster, like you said, it's not 1 through 12. We're not talking about a loaded roster. They're really probably only paying significant money to like six guys and to be north of 10 million with those. And then you know, the rest of the bench getting whatever they're getting, you know they're spending and I to get topping out of the NBA draft to come back. I think they're spending it pretty wisely. I do think, I mean and they were making a real run at Ben Henschel who withdrew from the NBA draft was thinking about going to college. Florida was on him. Texas Tech was on him. He ended up signing with Perth for another couple years. I don't know if he, I think he was having some eligibility and clearance hold ups for the college game. But you know, they, they were ready to spend more, but it seems like they're spending it pretty well. I don't think they're wasting money by doing what they're doing. Toppen was going to cost that to come back. And you know, they beat out some real programs for these guys in the Portal. Juan Watts was, was a top 50ish transfer you had to spend to get him Bamboya. When he hit the Portal, I, you know, I didn't really think much about it. He averaged like three points a game of vcu. You know, someone smart reached out to me and was like, you should keep an eye on him. I think he's going to, you know, you'd look smart if you ranked him in your rankings. And he ends up at Texas Tech and he's going to be the anchor of what should be a top 10 defense in the country. Like they're not just going after the top 20 transfers and saying, hey, here's a ton of money. I think they're finding pieces that fit and spending on guys that they think will, will, you know, they're going out there looking for certain things and they're spending to find it. And you know, and I don't, I don't see anything wrong with it. I don't think it should be frowned upon. But I do think it's funny that, that they are one of those schools, like I mentioned, that is sort of the, you know, elephant in the room when it comes to, oh, I heard this school is offering or this player's got this offer. And it's always the, you know, whether it's true or not, it's always sort of the similar. I was Washington, it's Texas Tech, it's byu, it's, it's those sort of schools.
- [27:35]
Gary Parrish
And what, you know, what Kansas State was at last year? Not as much this year around. But Texas Tech still even did this a little bit last year. You know, I did that big feature on Cedric Coward leading up to Navy draft. And a year ago he decided to follow his coach to Washington State. He was at Eastern Washington. David Riley got the job, he went to Washington State. And then Coward went into the Portal with obviously the intention, and he ultimately did, of following Riley to Wazoo. But schools found him and his agent told me that Texas Tech last year was offering close to a million dollars to get Coward to go to Texas Tech. And he turned, he turned down hundreds.
- [28:07]
Jeff Borzello
Of thousands last, last spring. That was a big number. Not as Big.
- [28:11]
Gary Parrish
It was. It was a much. That was like. Yes. That was like. That would be equivalent to this year being like 2.2, 2.4. Like that. It was a very big number last year. No doubt about it.
- [28:21]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah.
- [28:21]
Gary Parrish
You've got tech number 10 in your rankings, hence the. Not that. Not that Borzello would know. Can you name one Pearl Jam song? I got Pearl jams 10 behind me. Can you name a single Pearl Jam song?
- [28:32]
Jeff Borzello
Probably not. Yeah. I mean, if you played like three, I think I ever heard this.
- [28:36]
Gary Parrish
Can you name me the lead singer of Pearl Jam? He's probably one of the 15 most famous frontmen in American music history.
- [28:43]
Jeff Borzello
No. Can you name five of each songs?
- [28:46]
Gary Parrish
No. No shot.
- [28:47]
Jeff Borzello
Can you name one member of. Of Swedish House Mafia?
- [28:50]
Gary Parrish
No. No chance.
- [28:50]
Jeff Borzello
All right, see, we're on the same page.
- [28:52]
Gary Parrish
There we go. Eddie Vedder, by the way. Okay, this is 10.
- [28:57]
Jeff Borzello
There you go. I'm locked in.
- [28:59]
Gary Parrish
Borzell's got Texas Tech at 10 in his rankings. Here are his top 10. Purdue, 1. Florida 2. Houston, 3. Yukon 4. St. John's 5. BYU 6. Louisville 7, Michigan 8, Kentucky 9. Texas Tech, 10. I think you. You vacillate a little bit on what's up.
- [29:15]
Jeff Borzello
Pretty incredible ranking.
- [29:17]
Gary Parrish
I don't know. I wouldn't go that so far. I know you vacillate a little bit on Texas Tech, what to do with them. So, yeah, I did. Does that mean you were willing to go as high as 6 or 7? GP's got him at 7, which is why tech is the seventh show. In order of our shoot around, you've got them at 10. Are you maybe even putting them a little bit higher than you? Like, what are your thoughts? Big picture on. On why you've got them where you got them.
- [29:36]
Jeff Borzello
So the night of the title game, when everyone puts out their first iteration of these rankings, I had them 22. The next edition, like, two weeks later, after Toppin came back, they added Watts, Atwell, Brian. I think I got a little too excited. They were really active in the early portal side. I moved them up to three. It was aggressive. So. Yeah. Yeah. So over the next couple updates, even though they didn't really do anything. Yeah. So over the next few updates, over the next couple of months, I sort of dropped them a spot or two every week and settled on nine. Like, once it does settle, once everyone's roster was. Was set, I'm. I feel good about putting them at 10. I just. I feel good about. I mean, I think Topping and Anderson are being one of the best one two combos in the country. I trust McCaslin. I, I do like the way the pieces fit. I kind of worry about their depth although they did they got a Jalen Petty the reclassified or a 2025 point guard to to provide some sort of depth and insurance behind Christian Anderson if he doesn't acclimate immediately to the full time point guard spot which I think he will. So I, I don't. I just, I. Some of the questions I've had about them have been answered so I feel good about 10. I don't have a problem with GP having them at 7. I think that the I don't know 6, 7 through 13. Yeah. Kind of be thrown in every any sort of order you want.
- [31:00]
Gary Parrish
I think that's fair before we get to the non con schedule and do a little regular season win total which very excited for you to play. Paris isn't here to defend himself. Let's, let's, let's have you praise him or kill him. What do you like, what do you not like about the guy's rankings?
- [31:15]
Jeff Borzello
St. John's at 1 feels incredibly aggressive.
- [31:19]
Gary Parrish
More aggressive than tech at 3 in the middle of April.
- [31:23]
Jeff Borzello
Given that I settled with tech at 10 and I feel good about it now that everything's settled, he's still a St. John's at one feels, I don't know, it feels a little over the top. Yeah.
- [31:34]
Gary Parrish
But I like that. I don't like he's aging, man. I like that there's nothing.
- [31:37]
Jeff Borzello
I do too.
- [31:37]
Gary Parrish
I do, I want.
- [31:38]
Jeff Borzello
I don't think, I don't think there's really consensus one period.
- [31:41]
Gary Parrish
Like there's not. But it's going to be either Purdue or Houston when the AP Top 25 comes out in October. We know it's going to be one of those.
- [31:47]
Jeff Borzello
I agree with that. My issues aside, I do like that he's BYU 3 by the way. I don't necessarily agree with it but I like that he's taking that leap with them because I think their ceiling is maybe higher than anyone in the country. And so I like that he, that he's leaning high. My other issues with his Louisville at 15 is. I don't want to say farcical but it's.
- [32:08]
Gary Parrish
Use the word.
- [32:09]
Jeff Borzello
Say it. It's, it's not great. I just, it means an incredibly talented team and I don't know. I mean he's, he's taking leaps of faith with other teams that are made up almost entirely of transfers. St. John's other team.
- [32:23]
Gary Parrish
Hey, do you have the. Did you get, did you get sent the Kelsey glasses?
- [32:27]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah, my two year old.
- [32:29]
Gary Parrish
I might wear these whole. I might wear these. I'm doing, I'm doing the Louisville shoot around. I might wear them for the whole thing.
- [32:36]
Jeff Borzello
You should. Dude. My daughter just wears them constantly. Yeah. Shows up and like starts posing in them. I'm aware it. Yeah. So like I think Louisville, he has them way too low. I think Michigan State and Oregon are too high. I don't have them ranked. He has them like 16 and 17. I am, I'm not entirely into that. But yeah, Louisville, Louisville would be my, my sticking point with him.
- [33:00]
Gary Parrish
Okay, fair enough. I'll. I'll have him return the favor at some point as well. Let's get to the non con schedule and everything in general.
- [33:07]
Jeff Borzello
Let me bring up their schedule.
- [33:08]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I sent it to you. So you're well prepared. I'm gonna give you the rundown. In fact, not only am I gonna give her a rundown. Oh, nada. Guess what I'm doing. I'm doing a little music backdrop here. Let's, let's do this here. Oh, there we go. Give me a little jam. This is The Texas Tech 20, 25, 26 non conference schedule. Games of note, November 11th at Illinois. I like that. November 20 and 21 Baja Mar tournament. 4 team MTE. They're going to open with Wake Forest and then they will either play Purdue or Memphis. That's actually got a good chance of being two good opponents regardless of of win, loss overall by the end of the season. We'll see what happens with Memphis. There's LSU and Fort Worth is on December 7th. They've got Arkansas. Yes. They've got a rematch with their Sweet 16 game. That's going to be in Dallas on December 13th. And then they get Duke in MSG on December 20th. That's a really tasty matchup and I, I felt it was pretty creative.
- [34:04]
Jeff Borzello
You know what else is that day not to stray off? Texas, Arkansas, Houston at Barclays.
- [34:08]
Gary Parrish
That's right. Big day. I mean December's low. Like the back to back weekends are just insane.
- [34:12]
Jeff Borzello
Two, four, three schools that we never see in New York.
- [34:16]
Gary Parrish
That's true.
- [34:16]
Jeff Borzello
Playing. I'm fired up. Duke we always see in New York, but that's beside the point.
- [34:20]
Gary Parrish
Isn't that also.
- [34:23]
Jeff Borzello
I'm just, I'm just looking at myself from a selfish perspective.
- [34:26]
Gary Parrish
I gotcha. I Gotcha. Big 12 schedule I think will be released in about two weeks. I checked in on a source. They have not determined everything yet. They're still working on it a couple hang ups with just certain dates and hang on this arena there yada yada. The league is going back to an 18 gamer after having its one and only 20 games slate last season. So Texas Tech gets two plays with BYU. Like to see it. Houston love to see it. And then Colorado see what they are home only. Borzello, you don't love to see it.
- [34:55]
Jeff Borzello
It feels that Tad Boyle is going to call you.
- [34:57]
Gary Parrish
No, I'm just saying it's not going to get. It's not getting the juices. What do you want from me? You fired up? You fired up for Buffs Raiders on a Tuesday night at 9:30. I gotta go.
- [35:11]
Jeff Borzello
I gotta go to Orange theory the next day that you made fun of me for so I'm not gonna watch that one.
- [35:14]
Gary Parrish
Gonna miss it instead of only for the Red Raiders. Cincinnati, Kansas don't have to go to Fog Island. K State, Oklahoma State, TCU and Utah and road only they don't get to host. They have to go to Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, ucf, Iowa State and West Virginia. All told. How many regular season Wins for Grant McCaslin's team next season? Borzella, how many they have going into the Big 12 tournament? 31 game schedule.
- [35:39]
Jeff Borzello
All right, well I'm looking at how many games I think they'll lose.
- [35:41]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, that's how Paris does. He works backwards.
- [35:44]
Jeff Borzello
Well because I don't know every game they're playing so I just.
- [35:46]
Gary Parrish
Well you just. You assume the buys are wins.
- [35:50]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah. 1, 2, 3, split 5, 6, 7, 31 game schedule.
- [35:58]
Gary Parrish
That's correct for one more year. We'll be at 32 the season after this upcoming 1 20.
- [36:11]
Jeff Borzello
I go 23, 23 and 8. Yeah, it feels I kind of liked when I 24 and 7 sounds so much more of where I would like to have them.
- [36:23]
Gary Parrish
XL is going to be better. Right? 247 is a tall task with. Without a. Without a certain amount of point guard.
- [36:30]
Jeff Borzello
On the road at Illinois is gonna be tough. Both teams are kind of working in some guys. Right. So then Purdue figure though they could.
- [36:38]
Gary Parrish
Lose to Purdue if they get them.
- [36:39]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah, I think they'll beat Wake then I think they'll lose to Purdue, Arkansas in Dallas and Duke. MSG. I have those three teams like 10, 11 and 12. So I think let's say they split that's three non con losses. Yep. And then I think they split BYU and Houston. That's five.
- [36:55]
Gary Parrish
That's five.
- [36:56]
Jeff Borzello
And then we're getting to the road.
- [36:58]
Gary Parrish
At least twice on the road.
- [36:59]
Jeff Borzello
Right. Arizona, Iowa State, Baylor, I think. Well, I guess I'll say the lose at Arizona, Iowa State, that gives me seven losses or 24, seven. There's going to be some random game I think where they slip up and so especially in the Big 12. So that leads me to eight. So I say 23. Eight is what I would go with.
- [37:17]
Gary Parrish
I'm going 22 and nine. I'm going 22 and nine because I don't think when I do my top 101, you're not high on this team.
- [37:23]
Jeff Borzello
You're not high on decks. I can tell.
- [37:25]
Gary Parrish
I guess not. That's fine. This, this also happens every. As you, as you well know, you've listened to every eye on college basketball over the past.
- [37:31]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah. Ten years.
- [37:32]
Gary Parrish
Been a month. I tend to, I tend to fade more than I buy at this stage of the season. I'll talk myself into it. I just think the Big 12 will be better next season and I, that's, that's a challenging non con. I want to see how these pieces work. I think, I think Tech will get in and be, you know, be a get in.
- [37:55]
Jeff Borzello
Wow.
- [37:56]
Gary Parrish
Got them in. No, I'm saying I, I think they'll get in and they'll be a four seed, five seed. I think that's where they wind up for me. 22 and 9 went two in the Big 12 tournament and you know they're, they're 24 and 10 heading into selection Sunday. That's, that's my guess on them overall.
- [38:11]
Jeff Borzello
But this is always 20, 22 and 9. By the way, if like six years ago that sounds like such a middling record now every team plays like five marquee non conference games. So I haven't have. And then they play 112 conference games. So nine losses is no longer floated up. Yeah, it's the worst thing in the world. But 22, 9 just seems low.
- [38:29]
Gary Parrish
I, I don't disagree. I, I was, I was wrestling with 23 and 8 or 22 and 9.
- [38:34]
Jeff Borzello
Ultimately when you, when you rank them like 27 in your top one in your one through 300.
- [38:40]
Gary Parrish
I know that's a, I know that's the thing. I, I honestly can't see myself putting Tech lower than like 16 or 17. That'll be, that'll be the floor for me.
- [38:50]
Jeff Borzello
That's fair. I think I have like UCLA and Illinois at 15, 16 and that. I don't think you could put them below them maybe.
- [38:55]
Gary Parrish
I think I have to have UCLA ahead of Tech, I think. But I don't. I haven't I haven't. I haven't gone into it yet.
- [38:59]
Jeff Borzello
No, no, no. Do that.
- [39:02]
Gary Parrish
Okay. Before we get out of here, we've got like a month ago before NFL season starts. Just curious. How many. How many drafts have you already done? How many leagues, if you're comfortable saying on the record, how many. How many fantasy leagues are you scheduled to be in this. This year? And how many drafts have you done?
- [39:20]
Jeff Borzello
I've added one league, so I'm at 18 now.
- [39:23]
Gary Parrish
I've done ridiculous.
- [39:24]
Jeff Borzello
Six, seven. Yeah. And I don't lose money. I don't lose money. There's another. Another false accusation.
- [39:33]
Gary Parrish
I'm gonna need the receipts on that one, buddy.
- [39:36]
Jeff Borzello
My tax returns account, for every send I've.
- [39:38]
Gary Parrish
Do they.
- [39:41]
Jeff Borzello
Absolutely not. No. Yeah. No, it's. It's a. I actually. I need. Every year I say I want to cut back, and I just don't. I just. Yeah, go ahead, you know, throw it. Throw an eye on College basketball. 1. I'll join. I'll run it.
- [39:54]
Gary Parrish
You want us to set our own fantasy football league?
- [39:56]
Jeff Borzello
Yeah. Yeah. GP doesn't. It's not dialed into fantasy.
- [40:04]
Gary Parrish
He's not dialed. I think he's got football. He's just. He's never been a huge NFL fan.
- [40:09]
Jeff Borzello
So he also flies every Sunday in New York.
- [40:11]
Gary Parrish
Should we do a like, 12 team college basketball media fantasy league?
- [40:16]
Jeff Borzello
I hate to break it to you. The group chat that you left several years ago.
- [40:21]
Gary Parrish
No, yeah.
- [40:21]
Jeff Borzello
Has one.
- [40:22]
Gary Parrish
That's. And that's not what I'm talking about.
- [40:24]
Jeff Borzello
What you want. You want basically the old CBS crew. And then.
- [40:28]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, but it's got to be. Listen, it's got to be auction, draft, the Snake stuff. The fact that Snake drafts are still.
- [40:34]
Jeff Borzello
You left. We have a. An option.
- [40:38]
Gary Parrish
The snakes.
- [40:38]
Jeff Borzello
I agree. Are.
- [40:39]
Gary Parrish
Are terrible. Terrible.
- [40:42]
Jeff Borzello
You know, I don't disagree. Yeah.
- [40:45]
Gary Parrish
If you're still doing fantasy anything and still doing snake drafts in 2025, please, please update your life.
- [40:53]
Jeff Borzello
Except rookie drafts and Dynasty. Those should be Snake.
- [40:57]
Gary Parrish
I'm open to hearing a case. Jeff Borzello. You can find him. You can find him on Instagram where he never posts about college basketball. You can find him on Twitter.
- [41:06]
Jeff Borzello
He takes.
- [41:07]
Gary Parrish
Yes, you can find him on Twitter, slash X, where he sometimes posts about college basketball. But we'll give way more updates on Chelsea. You can find him on Blue sky, where he has never posted once.
- [41:18]
Jeff Borzello
You said. When I joined, you said, no cross posting or I'm going to, like, kick you off whatever list you had.
- [41:23]
Gary Parrish
That's not true.
- [41:24]
Jeff Borzello
And so you did. And so I never cross posted. And I just, I forgot about Blue Sky.
- [41:29]
Gary Parrish
Drop.
- [41:29]
Jeff Borzello
Drop still on there. I'm dialed. I'm gonna dial back in. Don't worry.
- [41:32]
Gary Parrish
You gotta dial in. You gotta dial in. You gotta lock in. Okay, maybe you save all your fantasy.
- [41:36]
Jeff Borzello
Posts for there's gonna be some sort of X doomsday in like mid November where everyone's gonna scurry back to Blue Sky.
- [41:41]
Gary Parrish
Scurry. Come on.
- [41:43]
Jeff Borzello
You and you and the 12 people that are then thriving. Okay.
- [41:50]
Gary Parrish
All right. I appreciate you joining the pod, buddy. Thank you so much. We'll. We'll meet up again soon. Soon. And thanks for joining.
- [41:57]
Jeff Borzello
Thanks for having me back, man.
- [41:59]
Gary Parrish
All right, there we go. I had to say goodbye before I actually wrap the pod formally here. That was Texas Tech. We got another show coming up in just two days, so keep on the lookout and again, bid on those bonus auction items if you have not already. The auctions end, three of them on August 14th. We'll talk to you soon.
- [42:31]
Jeff Borzello
You can be anything.
- [42:55]
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