← Eye On College Basketball
Eye On College Basketball
Arizona has to be No. 1; Purdue escapes Memphis and Paradise Penny; weekend preview: Wisconsin-BYU, Purdue-Texas Tech + more
01:13:20
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- [00:00]
Gary Parrish
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- [01:11]
Matt Norlander
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- [02:46]
Gary Parrish
I am Gary Parish welcome back CBS Sports. I own College Basketball podcast where we sometimes discuss camel fighting, dodo birds and leaky black. Matt Norlander is here with me. If you're watching on YouTube, be Brandon Davis, smash that like button. And if you're one of us, let the world know in the chat and in the comments. And if you haven't yet already subscribed to the CBS Sports I Own College Basketball Podcast. Please do that wherever you subscribe to podcasts including Apple and Spotify. Let's get into it. I want to start with Purdue, the team that returned to the top of the AP poll earlier in the week. The Bowlmakers are down in the Bahamas. They're playing in something called the Baja Mar Championship and last night they beat Memphis 80 71. But we're actually down three points with seven minutes remaining. Norlander, any concerns about Purdue looking less than sharp against a Memphis team that is now 1 and 3? Or is it more like, hey, shut up, baldy. Perdue is undefeated and just wanted Alabama last week, in case you forgot. Everything's fine. Where do you land on this very important conversation on this Friday?
- [03:48]
Matt Norlander
It's paradise, Penny. Ain't no thing. You go to a beautiful locale. Yeah, Penny Hardaway throws on a pair of shorts. This team's going to be competitive. That's how this goes. I saw it a year ago in maui, Memphis upsetting UConn. I mean, I think the win here is that Matt Painter didn't collapse to the floor and get himself ejected. You know, I think that's a huge win and the chat's already at it because apparently the the ref show was on full display in this game and Purdue fans were apoplectic. There actually were game was obviously on CBS Sports Network. We've got some awesome stuff coming later today on CBS Sports Network that we'll get to on the show. Shout to the director of yesterday's Purdue Memphis game at our network because some of the fan shots were absolutely hilarious. Hilarious. So I know Purdue fans were a bit, a bit ticked off at the whistle. Whatever. You won by nine. It was, this is funny to me.
- [04:43]
Gary Parrish
So Purdue fans were mad. Memphis fans were were popping me with like, hey gp what year did these announcers graduate from Purdue? So, like, I was. I guess everybody was just mad. It should be clear this is one of those games where it is on CBS Sports Network, but it is produced by an outside entity like th. Those are not our directors. They're not our producers, they're not our announcers. They just throw it to us pregame, halftime, postgame, that kind of stuff. But I thought they did a great job. I had no complaints. But it's interesting to hear that the Purdue fans were mad and Memphis fans were mad. Maybe we just live in a world in 2000 where people are just mad all the time. I think that's closer to the truth. Folks are just upset.
- [05:24]
Matt Norlander
I think you're picking up on something there. Unquestionably the game. Listen, I will. I will credit Memphis for showing up ready to battle, taking Purdue out of its element just a bit. I mean, Braden Smith, he probably. I said it on hq, he probably had a B minus game for him. Didn't shoot well, 2 of 14, did dish 11 dimes. I had a couple of steals, did have four fouls. But C.J. cox was a pretty big factor in this game. And then Fletcher Lawyer showed up and hit some big shots, including a couple threes in the second half that gave Purdue a little bit of a cushion. I thought the game really, you know, pivoted and produced direction. Once you had the Oscar Clough, Aaron Bradshaw interaction, in which, I mean, I guess Clough did give him. He gave him a little of a forearm, nothing crazy. And then Bradshaw goes to the deck. It seemed like there might have been a little bit of exaggeration on Bradshaw's behalf, but then he gets up, points a finger in his face. We don't have a brouhaha, thankfully. But then Bradshaw goes to the bench and Memphis was taken out of the game. At that point, Purdue scurries away with an 80 to 71 win. Tigers are going to have to pick up some wins. They got another opportunity today. We'll get to that in just a little while. But you had the game kind of there for the taking. And I don't know, you know, the Bradshaw thing really was, you know, if it just, you know, switched the energy in the building or not. But it was a toss up up until that moment. And then Purdue, really good team, really good coach, really good players tend to know how to win these kind of games. And that's exactly what happened in the Bahamas.
- [06:55]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, with Aaron Bradshaw. He is one of Memphis's most talented players, even if he's not necessarily One of Memphis's best. And you just can't do that, you know, like you, you just can't do that. It's, it's a technical foul that leads to points, so that's a problem. But it's also a technical foul that, that removes you from, from the game. It also a problem. And you know, this isn't a unique thought, but that, that, that moment, everything about that is precisely the reason he's playing in the American Conference now as opposed to the NBA. He was a five star prospect coming out of high school. And the, the physical stuff, like, just look at him, it's all there. Like he looks like somebody who should be making millions of dollars playing basketball in the NBA and instead he's in his junior year of college at Memphis has been wildly disappointing so far. And it's his third school in three years because he tried to go to Kentucky, that didn't go well. Tried to go to Ohio State, that didn't go well. And so far at Memphis things aren't going well. And at some point, if everywhere you go things aren't going well for you, then maybe that's a look in the mirror type of situation. I don't know that that's actually where the game flipped though, if I'm being honest, because Memphis was back in the lead after that. The Tigers were actually up three points with like roughly seven minutes to play. And just as soon as they take that lead, Purdue counters with a 15 to 2 run. And at that point it's, it's game over. And I know that Matt wasn't pleased with the way they played last night. He expressed that they kind of got caught in a game that they're not used to playing. These are his words, not mine. But he said it felt a little bit like a pickup game, which, as a Memphis alum and longtime Memphis fan, I can't tell you how many times over the years I've had to hear that from opposing coaches. Everybody always thinks they're in a pickup game against Memphis. I just at some point I, I hope it's different, but perhaps it'll never be. But that's my whole life. Like, I felt like we were in a pickup game. I've heard that my whole life about Memphis basketball teams. So I know Matt wasn't pleased with the way his team played, but I thought, hey, you're in a game with maybe not a great team, but they've got some real high major players over there, guys who have played in, in the Big Ten and the Big 12 and you got a really unusually not so great performance from Braden smith. He was 2 of 14 from the field and yet you were still able to grab the game when you needed to grab the game, pull away from them and set up a top 15 matchup on CBS Sports Network tonight. I, I don't think Purdue played well. That wasn't even close to their A game. But I did like that they're so deep and versatile and they can get it from a lot of different places that even if Braden Smith is off well, you've got another four year starter right beside him who can knock down shots in the second half. And that's what Fletcher Lawyer did. I thought encouraging performance even if it wasn't a good one from Purdue.
- [10:01]
Matt Norlander
I agree. Memphis has three losses in its first four games now for the first time since 2000, 2001. So you are now into the pre Calipari era. You're into the Gary Parish beat writer era. 2000, 2001. Were you on the beat there for the commercial appeal or does that even predate you by a season?
- [10:21]
Gary Parrish
I was still in that time breaking nationally unprecedented recruiting scandals back then. That would have been that era.
- [10:31]
Matt Norlander
2000, 2001. Okay.
- [10:33]
Gary Parrish
But shortly after that, yes, I was promoted to the, to the Memphis basketball beat. My first full time season as the Memphis beat writer was 2002, 2003. It aligns with the Rodney Carney four years. My first game on the beat. Memphis defeats Syracuse, my little Anthony. Syracuse goes on to win the national champ.
- [10:51]
Matt Norlander
We have talked about that in 2000, 2001, Memphis, if you're curious, finished 20 and 15, was in Conference USA. A much better Conference USA now I guess that is. How about that? That is the cow. That was Cal's first season. I thought he was 01, 02. That's. That is Calipera. They lost to Temple, Stanford and Utah. And the first through the first because.
- [11:11]
Gary Parrish
That like I remember, I remember this vividly. Cal wanted his first game at Memphis to be like a show.
- [11:16]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [11:17]
Gary Parrish
And so they intentionally went out and got John Chaney and Temple because of the whole John Caliperi, John Cheney thing from Temple UMass days. So John's first ever game at Memphis was a home game in the pyramid which is now a Bass Pro shop. Of course, first game ever in the pyramid for John Calipari was against John Chaney and Temple. It was a neat. That was like a big deal.
- [11:39]
Matt Norlander
This is forgotten to history that that Memphis team by the way finished 20 and 15. Got it sacked together. But it started 2 and 6. It actually beat Christian Brothers to get to 4 and 6 and then it was 4 and 8 before it turned it around. Didn't make the NCAA tournament. That was year one. He would soon have it going there. We'll see if Memphis can avoid something like a 2 and 6 start the season. My last thing on this game was I thought Memphis did a good job on the boards because it was a pickup game. You know, Purdue had been quite clearly dominating on the glass both ends in every previous game this season. This was much more even. It was a key, key factor in Memphis even keeping it close. Texas Tech obviously going to do the same. We'll get to that in the final four. And one. You want to talk about the, the nightcap there down in the Bahamas?
- [12:19]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, because that was a good one. Texas Tech beats Wake Forest by a point. And Wake Forest, buddy, they were up, up with less than three to play and just could not close it out. Attempted an alley oop in transition in a one possession game. I like, which I, by the way, I don't even like the way that sounded coming out of my. I don't mind it if I actually.
- [12:40]
Matt Norlander
Like it as it played out. No way.
- [12:43]
Gary Parrish
Like I could tell you. I was in studio. Wally Zerbiak hated it. Okay. He was yelling.
- [12:47]
Matt Norlander
I said, I said, what are you doing? I didn't yell it, but as it was at the ball, left his hands like, what are you doing? I just, it seemed like a bad play as it played out to me. Transition.
- [12:56]
Gary Parrish
Not even trying to argue with you, but it doesn't bother me as much as I know it bothers other people because these are young athletes and they make that play all day long every day. But they didn't in this moment. And Steve was obviously upset. He thought there was some contact. What did you think? Should there have been a whistle there?
- [13:13]
Matt Norlander
I actually had no issue with the no call.
- [13:15]
Gary Parrish
I didn't either. I didn't.
- [13:17]
Matt Norlander
Now Forbes was also borderline. Forbes and Purdue fans both borderline apoplectic last night. So also some really good cutaway shots to Forbes in this game. It's the, it's the same old story. I mean they had this game.
- [13:34]
Gary Parrish
Oh man. I mean that. Now think about this. Okay, so. So in its first five years they've had. They finished in the top five in the ACC three times. Like that's not bad historically speaking. But none of it has resulted in instantly turn. They've been right there but can't get there. And now in this season, do you know how easy it Is, I mean I can flip like two possessions and they're five and oh right now with wins over over Michigan and Texas Tech they're ranked undefeated, getting ready to play top ranked Purdue and right now we're saying man, this is it. Steve Ford finally broke through and Wake Forest, that's the biggest surprise of the season. We would be having that conversation right now if I flip like a possession in the Michigan game and a possession in the Texas Tech game. They lost in overtime to Michigan. They squander a lead in the final three minutes against Texas Tech. So instead of being five and oh with two top 15 wins they're three and two getting ready to play Memphis. The margins are really, I mean it's, it's just like that.
- [14:33]
Matt Norlander
But the trends unfortunately have been established and Forbes is going to have to break them this season. Wake Forest is 0 and 17 when playing ranked teams away from home underseas Forbes. They have not won a single game away from home with Forbes against a ranked opponent. They've lost 13 of their past 14 overall against ranked teams. The only win was against Duke when Kyle Filipowski was on the brink of death. You'll remember that he almost died.
- [15:03]
Gary Parrish
I, I'll never forget that he almost died.
- [15:06]
Matt Norlander
Very scary scene Texas Tech. You know they between Purdue and Texas Tech obviously a common thread there with good teams can find a way to win games and all that stuff. And that was true. Toppin played well, Christian Anderson showed well for himself but they didn't have a, a really good all around T performance like Lawn Watts was really kind of, kind of up and down. I will say that Juke Harris for Wake Forest really did have a standout performance. The kind that, that made me say okay maybe, maybe his impact here is going to be bigger than, than I thought it was going to be for this team. He had 26 points, 10 rebounds, a pair of steals, only one foul. He was pretty good. Miles Colvin had 19 off the bench as a function of this result. We don't get Miles Colvin revenge game against his former team Purdue because of this. But yeah, I mean wake was close. They had it. Grant McCaslin even said immediately in the post game interview we can't play like this against Purdue tomorrow. He's absolutely correct. If they do that tonight, big time game on CBS Sports Network. Texas Tech will lose. But again we'll preview that game and get a little more into it in the final four. And one some, some good balance between Anderson Tyree, Bryan Topping in this one. We'll see how they can handle the 24 hour turnaround here. But Texas Tech wins and as a result Dodge is a second loss against the power conference team. They of course played a really good game but but got beat by four last week against Illinois.
- [16:41]
Gary Parrish
So you noted Juke Harris. I mentioned that. There's a scenario where you just flip a couple of possessions and Wake Forest is undefeated and being called the breakout team in the country. Even with these losses, you can reasonably say Juke Harris is among the breakout players in this country. He averaged like 6 points per game last season. Started one time. You know, he only had three points in the first half last night and then he really got going in the second half. He's above 20 points per game on the season. He has been excellent. I saw the same postgame interview you did where Grant was like we got it. We can't play like this tomorrow. And I think it's interesting the, the two better teams won both games down in the Bahamas and both coaches. I didn't hear Matt say this is as clearly as I heard Grant say it, but I guarantee he, he would like. Neither coach thinks their team can play the way they played yesterday and win today. Neither coach thinks that. So it'll be an interesting game. Only top 15 matchup on the schedule this weekend. It's kind of a light weekend. We'll get to this, I think because everybody's getting ready to go to Las Vegas. So nobody played this weekend or very. Not as, not, not as many teams as otherwise would play this weekend. But this is the only top 15 matchup on the schedule and you get the reigning Big Ten Player of the year on one side, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year on the other side. It will be terrific. We'll get picks in the final four and one presented by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more.
- [18:12]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, we got more to get to first before that.
- [18:14]
Gary Parrish
Yeah. Before we look ahead, let's, let's look back. Fun game Wednesday night. Gampel Pavilion. Arizona upset Yukon. Norlander was in attendance. I'm going to ask him about it next. First, let's get a word from our partners.
- [18:25]
Matt Norlander
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- [19:26]
Gary Parrish
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Matt Norlander
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- [19:30]
Gary Parrish
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- [20:06]
Matt Norlander
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- [20:08]
Gary Parrish
With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app download today. I have no idea if it's true or not. I verify nothing, but in the chat I see somebody type juke. Went to my high school. Great kid. I just like reading stuff. I just like hearing stuff like that. I just like hearing people say, hey, I kind of know that guy and that's a good guy. So I hope that that's. I hope that that's true. Hey, final score. Arizona 71, Yukon 67. It was an electric scene inside Gampo. I watched the whole thing on my phone. You were there. Tell me about it.
- [20:46]
Matt Norlander
Why on the phone?
- [20:47]
Gary Parrish
I was having a nice dinner.
- [20:49]
Matt Norlander
Ah, gotcha. Okay.
- [20:51]
Gary Parrish
I just, I mean it was just perfect. It's like, like Joe Flacco. Joe Flacco went. I don't know if it's viral, but he, he, it was a clip that got a played around. He was like, I used to look at people having dinners by themselves. I was like, what's going on with that guy and you realize that guy's actually having the time of his life.
- [21:09]
Matt Norlander
He said, I came to realize that dude was in heaven.
- [21:12]
Gary Parrish
That's right. That's right. And I can tell you, as someone who does table for one all the time, I love it. I. I feel awkward in so many situations in my life, but never in a restaurant by myself. I'm the most comfortable in a restaurant by myself. So I got here to New York, I took a nice shower and I said, I'm doing table for one. I'm gonna have a nice dinner tonight. And I said, I.1.1 AirPod in. I don't know if this is appropriate to be sitting in a restaurant like this. I might have been violating all sorts of social rules, but I'm personally, I was having a blast. One AirPod in. Game on the phone, beautiful meal. It was like the best Wednesday I've had in a long time.
- [21:49]
Matt Norlander
Happy to hear it. I was up on the upper level in the press seating of Gampel Pavilion. Take, take.
- [21:56]
Gary Parrish
So I probably had a better, I probably had a better view than you did. You did?
- [21:59]
Matt Norlander
Yes. That's not a complaint. Just how they, they used until four years ago, the press seating. Campbell was right there on the court. You know how these things go. You can sell season tickets for 30k a year. You can sell, you know, I don't even know close to 100 of them they're going to do that. So they, they had to bump the press up there. And Hartford still, you're, you're still on one of the baselines and it's a pretty good view there. So wonderful game. Arizona wins. I didn't even. I, I show up to Gampel and I'm told Terror Street's going to be out. I'm like, really? He's out. And yeah, ankle end of the BYU game, I was like, well, that changes things. And when I heard the news, I was like, well, between Crevis and, and Pete, like they're gonna have a real shot at taking this, at taking this game here, but we'll see how goes. Gambles and gamble at its best, in my opinion, is every arena at its best. At the high marriage level, almost everyone is obviously very, very good. But at its best versus every other arena at its best, I think it's top five in the country because it's. I just, I love the build of the place. You can fit enough people that still feels intimate, just everything about it. So I knew that the building would be ready. Two dollar Meal of light night. It was ready. The lines were indeed biblical and credit to Tommy Lloyd. Arizona hopping on a bird, getting there and getting this win. Plenty to get to about the actual about the actual game, but just a few notes and stats here. Arizona. I was curious when they were leading in the game. I sent a a note over to our research team who was able to dig this up. So credit for them for a weird ask for me. But I had to know. I was like if Arizona wins this game, this is gonna be their third win against the top 15 team in the first five games and none of those games are at home. Have we even seen this once in the past 2530 years? Turns out we had seen it twice. The Gonzaga team from 20202021 that Tommy Lloyd was an assistant on did it in the COVID season and then Arizona in 0102 which just an absurd start to the season. Teams do not schedule like that anymore also did it. Those are specifically three of your first five victories are high majors away from home. The 9697 Arizona team actually did it as well, but one of those games were at home. Extremely impressive for them to have done this. GP movement number one. We'll get to that in just a second there. Tommy Lloyd has 24 wins through the first four and change seasons of his career against ranked opponents. That's already the second best mark ever for wins by a head coach to start a career in your first five seasons. Izzo holds the record. He won 31 against ranked opponents in his first five seasons. Lloyd can conceivably catch him this year. Shockingly, this was the first time Arizona won a game in which both teams were ranked in the top five since the 01 final four when they beat, coincidentally enough, Michigan State. And Arizona is the first team in the last 30 years with at least two wins against top three teams in the first five games of the season. Of course, when Florida was ranked number three, they did it. And UConn is currently ranked number three. Mighty impressive overall. As for the game and how it played out, you know Arizona led for much of the night. They were able to maul Yukon on the glass at a level even Tommy said afterward. He said he said something like that literally might be unheard of. They outpaced him by 20. They didn't have reed crevice just 8. Pete did well. 16 as well for Pete. But Jaden Bradley, again, he is the guy. He is. He is becoming Mr. Clutch of college basketball. He had that up and under with like what, 30 to go 25 to go. That gave him the three point cushion. There were other plays beside all of that. He is super humble. Got a chance to speak to him and interview him after the game and I. It's. It might be Braden Smith and then Jaden Bradley for the best guards in the country right now to start the season. Pete's awesome, put up a double double, did some really good stuff there. But Bradley is the kind of player that is quickly moving into the how many more guys would you rather have the ball in their hands in a tight game versus a good team in the final two plus minutes?
- [26:10]
Gary Parrish
The.
- [26:11]
Matt Norlander
The list is, is short and you might only get to one player and that's Braden Smith before you get to Jaden Bradley. So extremely, extremely impressed with what he's been able to do. What were your takeaways on what happened down there in stores?
- [26:23]
Gary Parrish
Well, yes, they did dominate them on the glass on both ends, but I don't think that's hard to figure out. Like you mentioned, Terrence Reed was out. He's their UConn's leading rebounder and averages nearly twice as many rebounds as anybody else on the team.
- [26:38]
Matt Norlander
Also the leading scorer right now, too.
- [26:39]
Gary Parrish
Yeah. So you're missing him. That's tough. And then you're also missing your five star freshman, Braylon Mullins.
- [26:44]
Matt Norlander
Right.
- [26:44]
Gary Parrish
So, I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but could you reasonably say UConn was missing two of its best five players?
- [26:50]
Matt Norlander
I think you might even be able to say UConn was missing two of its four best players. And I even asked Hurley. So I'm, I'm. Yes, I'll let you keep going. But I'm interviewing. I mean, I'm just talking to Dan afterward and I kind of got the phone like this, so I'm like, he can see them recording. So I go, if terrorists is playing tonight, what do you think? What do you think happens? And so he, he looks at the phone, looks at me. He goes, Looks. He was actually in very good spirits.
- [27:20]
Gary Parrish
Sure, he had that.
- [27:21]
Matt Norlander
He had the moment where he tore up the paper. Memorial. A great writer who's covered UConn forever, but it was just. I just wanted to see what he was going to say and instead he gave me a very comical, classic Dan kind of look there. Not having Reed was a huge factor. I happen to believe that if Reed was playing in the game, UConn probably would have found a way to narrowly get a win. But I do want to acknowledge that Arizona did control this for much of the night. So it is, it's entirely feasible that that wouldn't have happened to get the win. As I wrote, you never have to apologize or complain. If you go on the road against a high major opponent and get a win, you don't have to, you don't have to apologize for that. But we can acknowledge that UConn was obviously shorthanded.
- [28:01]
Gary Parrish
I agree with every bit of that. And it's, it's funny to hear you say that Dan had that sort of interaction with you because I guess I went on HQ yesterday morning and the, the clips that were making the rounds were like, he seemed upset, like really like he was taking it hard. And I, I'm sure that's true because he takes everything hard. Like that's. That he's an emotional guy and he lives and dies with it. And that is part of what makes him one of the best, if not the best, college basketball coaches working today. So, like, I was asked about it, I was, and I just sort of said exactly what I just said. But it is interesting to hear that he was okay. You know, like I, I think he. And he should be, he should be okay. He's got one of the best teams in the country. He's got one of the best teams in the country shorthanded. When they get healthy and whole, UConn's going to be there, I promise you on selection Sunday when we're, when we're talking about teams that are equipped to maybe go do this thing, I'll be surprised if UConn's not a legitimate part of that conversation. I agree with you that if you're Arizona, you don't have to apologize for any of this. You scheduled the game. You don't know whose ankle is going to be hurt by the time you get there. I love that Tommy was this aggressive with the non league schedule because I wish everybody with, with big brands in college basketball would be. You can afford to take some losses. And I love the conversation he, he had with you. I had never heard this, this phrasing before. I liked it. I'd never heard it from a basketball coach. He said, yeah, you know, you. Sometimes you get a good hop to just feel it turn to. I love that, you know, because it's like, oh, this is easy. Or, or easier than it should have been. Oh, this is right in my glove. Let's just. We don't have to apologize for the good hop. We didn't have to go into the hole for it. It came to us. Just turn two and get out of here. And I love thinking of it that way. Yeah, they're shorthanded and yeah, they're going to be better than they were tonight. And we may look up in February and we go, oh, man, that. Thank God we didn't have to play that team. But you know, we, we went into Gampel Pavilion tonight and beat. Beat Yukon. Like I'm not. We got a good hop. We turned two with it. I'm proud of my guys. I love that sentiment. And then him talking about Jaden Bradley with you, he was like, listen, you know, Braden Smith gets all his flowers because he does, because he's been historically great and is perhaps on his way to breaking an all time big NCAA record. But, but Tommy was like, I got. I got a special one too. And. And he was the best player on the court type stuff at UConn. And anytime you're playing a Dan Hurley team in a road environment and you've got the best player on the court, then.
- [30:42]
Matt Norlander
Then you're in a good spot unquestionably. And yeah, Bradley just real, real nice young man to talk to. Honestly, humble to a fault. I was actually kind of tease him a little bit. I was like, you got to give me something, man. You know what you just did. You heard that building. And he gave me a couple solid quotes. You know, they hit one big shot. It felt like five in the moment and all that, all that stuff. But truly committed to the process. I had him. He's the one. I'm gonna, I'm gonna bang my chest a little bit about this because I knew that we. I don't. I'm not going to look it up here in real time. We got to keep the show moving. He was lower on our preseason top 101 players and I want him to be. And I had him in my top. I want to say I had him in my top 15 because I thought that he was going to be so crucial to what they were going to do. And as a good two way player and just the most egregious miss of the entire preseason. No Arizona player, period. But Bradley specifically wasn't named to the preseason all Big 12 first team, which was 10 players deep, 10 players and Bradley didn't get named to it. That's aging terribly. He had 20, remember, he had 20 plus not just against UConn, but against Florida as well. And two more things. Then we can move on to the Bama Illinois one if you want. Co opit. This is from our research team. Good little nugget here. So he had 16 and 12. Now freshmen are not exactly always going to find themselves in a situation when they're where they're involved in a game with two teams in the top five. So it doesn't happen every week obviously. But Pete is now on this list. In the past 25 years, freshmen have a double double, the first of their career to come in a game where both teams are in the top five. Pete this year, Zion did it in 2018-19. Omari Spellman interestingly enough did it with Nova in 2017-18. Then you got Kevin Love in 07.08 and Greg Odin 06 07. Some really, really, really good company with Co opieth there. I thought it was impressive that he just did that and still kind of had a little bit of a workman like kind of game. And then well, we're going to circle back to this I think plenty of times this season. But the fact that Arizona did it again and by did it again I mean one away from home against a team ranked third in the country and only hit two three pointers. They did the same thing as Florida, two threes. Yukon on the road, they only hit two threes and they win. They're going to get clipped this season by a couple of different teams and their lack of, of of ambition from, from firing from beyond the arc. That's going to pick them off a couple of times. But this is why I among the many reasons why I love this sport. I love how you can build teams and have different styles. Styles absolutely make fights. That's the, that's the maxim in boxing and the one other sport where it applies more than any other is college basketball because of how roster builds, coaching tactics, schemes. Tommy Lloyd is not looking to fire off 53 is a game. It's just the way that he had what he has, who he has on his roster and it's working so far. I don't know if this is going to be a bugaboo that prevents them from doing what I'm projecting the preseason to, making a Final Four. But I am so impressed that they are able to just take this method and go with it. And to be clear, they also quite clearly wanted to take advantage of the opportunity at the last minute they didn't know what they weren't going to face Reed and without him being on the floor. Pound the paint they did. They were plus 18 in the paint versus UConn. All of it paid off.
- [34:00]
Gary Parrish
I love all that about college basketball as well. Like you can win a national championship playing really fast or you can win a National championship, quite literally playing as slow as anybody else in the country. Like you can. That wouldn't, you wouldn't even be allowed to play that way in the NBA. Like a front office would not even allow you to play as slow as you can play in college basketball and be successful. And the same thing with the three point shooting. Like you would not even be allowed to play the way Arizona plays college basketball in the NBA. It just would not be allowed. Like they would, they would tell the coach, you can't keep doing this. And if he tried to, they would fire him. But in, in college basketball it works.
- [34:37]
Matt Norlander
By the way, he's not exaggerating on that.
- [34:39]
Gary Parrish
That's, that is exactly what, that's what would happen.
- [34:41]
Matt Norlander
Unless somehow you could get yourself to the two seed in the, in your respective conference. It's just, it's just not how it's done at that level. No.
- [34:49]
Gary Parrish
And so as noted, I did move Arizona to number one in the top 25 and one not because I believe it is what you had to do. I'm proud other people, other people have left. I wanted you to be proud of.
- [35:00]
Matt Norlander
Me that honestly, I'm proud of you because I, I think, because you know how hard that was for me three, four years ago. I don't think you would have done it. And especially after Purdue had the struggles against Memphis. To me it's just not arguable at this point. Arizona is the number one team in college basketball because of what it's done. And frankly I like reward like it's, it's, it's daily rankings. Okay, we got a long way to go. But Tommy Lloyd opted in to the reigning national champions. He didn't know they'd be it when they got the game, but he opted into that in Vegas. Then UCLA in its backyard. I understand that Arizona had some decent fan contingent there. I'm not, I'm not oblivious to that. And then you go fly across the country to UConn. You do that early in the season, you win all three of them. Absolutely. You deserve a one next year name.
- [35:42]
Gary Parrish
And, and that, that, that's, that's where I'm at. I, you're right. Probably a few years ago I wouldn't have done this. And I'm not even like I could have not done this and defended it easily. I could have just said, hey listen, I still think Purdue is the best team in the country. They're undefeated. They've also got a big win one over Alabama. And I think if they played Arizona schedule they would have the Exact same record as Arizona. I'm now going to move off of Purdue because Arizona went out and scheduled in an unusual way and is executed against it. I could make that argument easy, no problem. But I wanted to reward ambition, aggressiveness. Not to imply that any of this stuff is that important. All right. But, but I liked what Tommy told you. Like we're not afraid to play these games and this is the kicker. We're not, we're not afraid to lose them. Like, okay, we, we might, we might lose the game. So what? It's fine. We'll be fine. I, I love that mindset. This is a long season with a bunch of games. This isn't the BCS era of college football where if you took one loss early, it really might keep you from, from competing for a national championship. There is nothing that's going to happen to you in November outside of your star player getting hurt that is going to keep you from competing for a national championship if you are otherwise good enough to do it. I love that Tommy has adopted that mindset. And when you make the schedule and then go 50 against it, I'm happy to reward you for it. Arizona number one in the top 25 and one. Let's move on. Elsewhere in the sport, past couple of days, couple of other interesting results. Alabama 90, Illinois 86. LeBaron Filon, who's been great, he had 24 points, knocked down a dagger three with like 75 seconds left. Took a three point game, turned it into a six point game in Illinois. After that, never got closer than two again.
- [37:36]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, so I missed all of the first half here. As you would obviously expect. I was there getting interviews and starting to write and then did try and peek in here as I was doing the file and made sure I watched the end of the game and as a result just had a late trip back on Wednesday night. But, but no regrets. I speculated on the show or HQ, can't remember where. First to 90. Well, that's exactly, that is literally exactly what it was. Alabama hits the 90 point threshold. Really entertaining game. Some big time play down the stretch. Phylon was tremendous. You know, really, really good games can play out in really different ways and, and checking the notes afterward, I was surprised to learn there was only one lead change in this game and this was very entertaining, one of the more entertaining one lead change games you'll ever see. Illinois led for most of the first half and then Alabama was in control for almost all the second half. Illinois obviously just chasing the tail and right behind the entire way phylon. If they get that phylon four out of every five games and the defense can be average to above average, then Alabama quite clearly will be a threat. If not will be the team that wins the SEC. Filon had 13 points in the final five minutes of this one, including some big time, big time buckets. 19 of his 24 came in the second half. Overall just just a ton of fun watching this game and it was a fun watch in general but I couldn't help but as I and Alabama does home and homes all the time, this is not Nate. Nate schedules just as ridiculously as Dan Hurley, as Tommy Lloyd and some others there. But it I was watching, I was like this looks weird. The Bulls logos are on the floor. If they were doing this in a home and I would be even more insane. But whatever, I'm not going to get, I'm not going to get nitpicky over that. Illinois missed eight free throws in the second half. Obviously that was a big bugaboo. Andre Starakovich had his best game maybe of his career considering opponent involved 26 points, 11 of 16 from the field. Had a pretty nasty dunk in the, in the first half and then even Kylan Boswell stepped up big. See some good signs for both teams. One team's got to win, one team's got to lose. But Boswell had 20 of his 22 in the second half. David Mirkovich had another double double. There's just a lot there and just an entertaining game. A really awesome Wednesday night doubleheader in college basketball. We are continually like we're going to get this tonight, we're going to get it into next weekend. We just keep them coming right on down the assembly line. It's just, it's we talked about in the preseason and a couple of our preview shows, but I told you like November is going to be loaded. I understand when that stuff is just off in the distance, it's kind of hard to, to take it in. But now that we're here and we're living in it on a week by week basis, I mean this is so wonderful to get just one good game after another after another after another. It's really building up for an awesome November. And I was so happy that Alabama and Illinois lived up to the billing and coming right after UConn Arizona, it gave college hoops fans just an awesome, awesome night. We mentioned all the Lloyd stuff and what he had been able to do. I will give Oats his credit too. He is, he and Alabama are tied with Tennessee with 30 wins against ranked opponents in the past five seasons, that's the most in the entire Sport. Hurley and UConn are sitting there at second with 27 overall. They just get it done. And notes oats has won six games now, Illinois being in the top 10 when this went down. This was his sixth win as Alabama's coach against the top 10 team. So schedules ambitiously and as I wrote on the in the in the Arizona Lloyd column, they're probably I even asked Tommy. He's like I can't give you an answer. Why? Like I don't know why. But I said there must be something about you having the mindset to chase these kind of games and the fact that you're so good and win them more often than not, particularly in the regular season. I think it's true of Natos. If you're willing to do this, you're probably going to be on the better side of it more often than not. That was the case here as the Tide got a really entertaining win over the Align. I like both those teams. I can see both of those teams making the Final Four.
- [41:38]
Gary Parrish
One other notable result from the past couple of days before we look ahead. Final score Dayton 77, Marquette 71 in overtime. Congrats to the Flyers. But the story here isn't really the game as much as Marquette is now three and three no good wins losses to unranked Indiana, unranked Maryland and unranked Dayton. And the Indiana loss was I think by 23 points. They're down to 69th at Ken Palm. I know that's nice, but not really.
- [42:08]
Matt Norlander
Well, this is also a that one's on me. I was wrong. I had Marquette 2526 in the preseason, thought they'd be top four in the big East. And if we're going to say that Mark Pope in Kentucky were hitting a crisis earlier in the week, then we have to say the same thing of marquette. They lose by 23 in Chicago against Indiana. They get taken out by seven at home last week against Buzz Williams in the Maryland team that subsequently survived by the skin of its teeth at home against a Mount St. Mary's team that is ranked in the in the mid-2002 at KenPom. That's the team that won at Marquette's joint. And then Marquette loses again in overtime at home against Dayton. And let me double check this. I think they only scored three points. They did. Marquette scored three points in the free hoop session there. I like the win from Dayton's perspective because I picked Dayton to be the best team in the A10 had him in my preseason top 50. That was a little bit of, of a risky projection there. But they're looking a okay, Marquette doing this. Yes, it is a, it is a fix it quickly or else situation. They play Oklahoma in Chicago the day after Thanksgiving. That essentially becomes a must win. They also have a road game. Look at this Marquette. Okay, they got Oklahoma on November 28th. They've got Wisconsin on the road on December 6th. They've got Purdue on the road on December 13th. Those are the notable non con games remaining. Marquette can reverse.
- [43:38]
Gary Parrish
Can they cancel any of those?
- [43:39]
Matt Norlander
They can't. That's not how this works. It's not a dinner reservation for one. They cannot cancel it.
- [43:44]
Gary Parrish
That's tough.
- [43:45]
Matt Norlander
They are now Marquette will need to win two of those three games that I just mentioned to feel halfway healthy about its at large prospects. Even a 1 and 2, let's say they beat Oklahoma, understandably lose against Wisconsin and Purdue, you only have one notable non con win and then you're going to need to do damage in a Big east that has not been killing it in the non con. So yes, it is a, it is a big issue in Shaka Smart quite clearly and proudly decided to take this approach with not utilizing the portal despite the fact that Tyler Kohlik got in the portal. Omax Prosper got in the portal. You know, we'll see if he changes the way he operates once we get to the spring of 26, but that is mighty notable. What are your, you know.
- [44:31]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I mean like we talked about.
- [44:33]
Matt Norlander
What's your takeaway here?
- [44:33]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, we've talked about this over the years. Like as Shaka's sort of committed to this approach and he's not a rigid guy, I don't think, you know, you just said we'll see how he, he'll adjust, you know that you, you this is when this happens to you, you adjust. But I think my every time I was asked this question, you know, what do you think about Chaka's approach, you know, to the transfer portal and saying, sort of saying we don't need to do it that way. And I, I, my answer was always, I'm not going to argue with Shaka Smart about how to run a basketball program. All right. He's clearly, I've never done it and he does it well. So I'm gonna assume he knows more about it than I do. I'm not so arrogant as to think I know more about running a basketball program than somebody who has done it well at multiple schools. But on this specific thing, I think the thing I consistently said was it's a fine strategy as long as it works, but eventually it won't. It'll get to you. You're going to get caught doing it this way. And now Chase Ross is your leading scorer after being your fourth leading scorer last season. And what we're finding out is that you're probably a better basketball team when he's your fourth leading scorer as opposed to your leading score. And I don't mean that in any. I don't mean that exactly the way it sounded. But I think you, I think you get the point. We'll see where it goes from here. But given what we've seen so far and the schedule they've got in front of them, you know, things could, things could get a little shaky on the other side of it. Dayton is 4 and 1, loan losses to Cincinnati. They're up to 65th at Ken Palm. By the way, the, the, the best A10 team according to Ken Palm right now is George Washington 5 and OGW shouts to Chris Caputo. So A10 got four teams in the top 65 at Ken Palm right now. The American has zero and GW has a win over South Florida, which is right there with Memphis as among the favorites in the American. So a 10 kind of off to a nice little start.
- [46:40]
Matt Norlander
It is. It is off to a nice little start. And let's see, you know, give it another week or so with the results and they might have a chance. We talked about in our preseason preview at the big one where I was, I was very bullish on the A10 three bit A10. And I'm still very much there before we get to the final form one and oh, GP, we probably got like 20 or 20 minutes or so before we got a wrap here. I cashed out on a, on a close game after two overtimes last night. Josh does have the video. I'm guessing you probably might have seen it because it was populating on college hoops Twitter early this morning. But for anyone watching live or might not have been available to see it, if you're listening here, this is how USC escaped at home in triple overtime against a Sunbelt team late, late, late Thursday night. Josh, let's see it.
- [47:29]
Gary Parrish
It's deflected into the arms of Cross lead to Bellamy. Stolen by Rice.
- [47:36]
Matt Norlander
There's still time left.
- [47:38]
Gary Parrish
It's Marsh for the win.
- [47:42]
Matt Norlander
God. Jordan Marsh. Jordan Marsh. Just an insane, insane shot. I think we've got a photo that the USC team tweeted out of the shot when it left his hands. This if. If you're just listening, go find the video. Troy has the ball up one in triple over. Look at that angle. And they say hang it in the Louvre. Hanging the loose so it can get stolen. This is not a great sign for USC that you needed triple overtime. You needed 55. 55. 5. 5 minutes to get past Troy, which is now 4 and 3. Troy, by the way, two nights prior to had defeated San Diego State at its building in double OT. 108, 107. And Troy played a season opening game against Kent State that was a win on the road in overtime. Credit to Troy and Scott Cross. They have played nothing but road games with the exception of Pensacola Christian. Not a Division 1 team. Everything else has been on the road. In all sincerity, like huge credit to a team that was just decimated. As you would expect by the portal, they find a way. USC is heading off to Maui. They've got Boise State on Monday. That was an awesome scene. I had. I definitely had regrets. It was two overtimes. I was exhausted. I needed to get to bed. I figured USC would take it and get it done. It did. But in that method, that way was just wild. Troy's gonna be sick. They had the game. Turnover. Miracle heave. Three pointer. USC wins it at the buzzer.
- [49:31]
Gary Parrish
I love the pass. It was key. Hey, Clarkish. A little bit. It was a little.
- [49:34]
Matt Norlander
That's a great call. It was a little Kihei Clark.
- [49:36]
Gary Parrish
Yes, A little Kihei Karkish with the pass there. Obviously. That's a wonderful college basketball moment. I know you're nit. I know you're nitpicking USC trying to just barely get by a Sunbelt team. But you know what Tommy Lloyd would say? Sometimes you get a good hop. Turn two.
- [49:52]
Matt Norlander
That was. That was the most unexpected unassisted triple play. That's what that was.
- [49:58]
Gary Parrish
Unassisted triple play. Sometimes you get.
- [50:00]
Matt Norlander
That's exactly what it was. Well, except for the fact that Troy did a unintentionally assist. Okay. We're kind of.
- [50:06]
Gary Parrish
USA's best player nearly died in a car accident in the off season. All right. Will you relax a little bit? Can we celebrate some stuff?
- [50:13]
Matt Norlander
We can. It's 4,0 Trojans getting it done.
- [50:16]
Gary Parrish
That's what you should be saying as opposed to the nitpicky stuff you've been trying to throw.
- [50:20]
Matt Norlander
You got USC winning. You got USC winning Maui then.
- [50:24]
Gary Parrish
Sure, yeah. Of course. They look like. They look like a. Yeah, what do I care? I mean, I forgot Maui was Even happening. Which is sad.
- [50:32]
Matt Norlander
That's harsh.
- [50:33]
Gary Parrish
Which is sad.
- [50:34]
Matt Norlander
That's a Sunday that's. We can get done.
- [50:36]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, we're gonna talk about. We're gonna be sad on Sunday about Maui.
- [50:41]
Matt Norlander
All right.
- [50:41]
Gary Parrish
But right now I'm. I'm Look, USC to me looks like a team of destiny.
- [50:46]
Matt Norlander
It does not.
- [50:47]
Gary Parrish
I mean, that was. You don't think that was destiny? You have been in your scripture and it shows. You have not been in your scripture and it shows you. Stop. Neither have you.
- [50:59]
Matt Norlander
Let's be very clear. This is. You cannot be in your scripture and be one of us. Can we be clear about this?
- [51:04]
Gary Parrish
Oh, I think you can.
- [51:06]
Matt Norlander
No, no, no, no, no, no, you can't. I don't think you can have both.
- [51:09]
Gary Parrish
Oh, I think you can. You just gotta be able to compartmentalize a little bit.
- [51:14]
Matt Norlander
I think it's very important. You haven't been in your scripture because I'm almost sure the word compartmentalizer, that's not in the Bible.
- [51:22]
Gary Parrish
You know how much better the Bible would be if they put that word in there? Oh, the.
- [51:28]
Matt Norlander
The outs would be left and right. Yes, unquestionably. But I don't think you can be in the scripture and be one of us.
- [51:34]
Gary Parrish
How do you put all those words in the Bible and you can't get me one? Compartmentalize.
- [51:39]
Matt Norlander
Not a single one.
- [51:40]
Gary Parrish
I mean, I don't know it for a fact.
- [51:42]
Matt Norlander
I just. I know there's no way that word's in the Bible.
- [51:44]
Gary Parrish
My whole life would be different if you just give me a. Just give me an out. I'd be a little more. You ain't been in your scripture and it shows. You stop believing in. In general and more specifically in usc.
- [52:00]
Matt Norlander
You got me?
- [52:00]
Gary Parrish
It's time for the final four and one. Presented by Fanduel Sportsbook. Make every moment more. We'll do it next. Let's get one more word from our partners. This episode is brought to you by Jack Daniels. Jack Daniels and music are made for each other. They share a rhythm in the craft of making something timeless while being a part of legendary nights. From backyard jams to sold out arenas, there's a song in every toast. Please drink responsibly. Responsibility.org, jack Daniels and Old no. 7 are registered trademarks. Tennessee whiskey, 40% alcohol by volume. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability. Because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain, and deliver.
- [52:40]
Matt Norlander
That's why Chevrolet has earned more dependability.
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Gary Parrish
Awards for trucks than any other brand.
- [52:43]
Matt Norlander
In 2025 according to J.D. power.
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Gary Parrish
Because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability comes standard. Visit Chevy.com to learn more.
- [52:50]
Matt Norlander
Chevrolet received the highest total number of.
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Gary Parrish
Awards among all the trucks in the J.D. power 2025 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study Awards based on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit J.D. power.com awards for more details. Chevrolet Together Let's Drive the Final 41 presented by F Sportsbook make every moment more I'm still Breathe if you were wondering if I'm still sick, the answer is yes. If you're wondering if the if I'm still sick, the answer is yes. If you if you're if the question is GP when you get in studio, do you have DayQuil sitting underneath the desk at all times? The answer is yes. Game 1 Friday, 4pm Eastern Number 23 Wisconsin versus Number 9 BYU Inside the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, center shouts to Taylor Frankie Paul. You don't know nothing about Taylor Frankie Paul.
- [53:44]
Matt Norlander
Keeping track at home, Parrish named the TD Garden AJ Debancer Garden. And now the building that that AJ debance will play in more than any other in his quick college career doesn't.
- [53:57]
Gary Parrish
Get his that's right. But I didn't have the option of giving TD Garden to the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. They're. They're a Utah. That's a Utah based deal. You don't know nothing about Taylor Frankie Paul, do you?
- [54:09]
Matt Norlander
Not even remotely.
- [54:11]
Gary Parrish
Oh, you should Google man.
- [54:12]
Matt Norlander
Let me proudly I don't.
- [54:14]
Gary Parrish
Oh buddy, she's interesting. She's lives an interesting life. You can watch this one on peacock. Peacock BYU -4 and a half.
- [54:24]
Matt Norlander
This is, this is super tasty, folks. I I don't think this is a first. I'm almost positive this isn't a first. But just a heads up, every single Final four in one game is a Friday tip. This is why you got to be dialed if you want to. If you've got to dial it on YouTube live. Okay? And because if you get into this.
- [54:44]
Gary Parrish
On mid Saturday, all these things, it's all everything from this point forward. From this point forward. If you listen on this from this point forward, everything's done. And, and just to to further shine a light on my personal growth. Yeah, you know me, I wouldn't have done this five years ago.
- [55:00]
Matt Norlander
Three years ago. Three years ago. We're, we're breaking down Northern Iowa, UC Irvine and Western Carolina Lipscomb.
- [55:08]
Gary Parrish
I used to have a hard and fast rule I would not preview Friday games. Looking back on it, that's kind of hilarious that I was that way. It's kind of stupid that I was that way.
- [55:17]
Matt Norlander
It was. But hey, you're here now. We're here now. Look at me.
- [55:20]
Gary Parrish
Look at me. Don't ever say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Look at me. I'm new tricking. I'm new tricking right now.
- [55:27]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, you are. This is a tremendous matchup in Salt Lake City. Wisconsin to this point, not a notable game. Campbell, Northern Illinois, Ball State, siue. Now they get byu. We get a look at what, what they've got here. John Blackwell, really hot from three to start the season 13:26. He's their best player. Nick Boyd, previously at San Diego State and fau. He's on the roster as well. And I know Badgers fans are really excited about the prospects of this team being top four, top five good in the Big Ten. Well, you get BYU in. In a hostile, you know, basically road environment. This isn't the Marriott center, but. But it's pretty close. And then for byu, this is the first game since the close loss against UConn. Third game against the high major opponent. They won against Villanova to start the season with the UConn loss. Now they have this here before they go and take on Miami next week. That's the ESPN event down in Orlando. What'd you say the line was?
- [56:27]
Gary Parrish
4 and a half.
- [56:32]
Matt Norlander
I'll say Wisconsin covers. Give me, give me the Badgers. It's a little too. It's a little too big for me. I'll say Greg Gar gets it done. I think. I think an outright win straight up is on the table. But I'll say BYU does get the victory narrowly by a bucket.
- [56:45]
Gary Parrish
I have BYU in the top five of the top 25 and 1. And every day various people call me stupid on social media for doing that. I need to be called stupid less frequently. That means I need BYU to win this game. I'm laying points. Game 2, Friday, 5pm Eastern Virginia versus Northwestern, inside Bill Withers hall.
- [57:12]
Matt Norlander
Oh, just listen to Bill Withers yesterday.
- [57:15]
Gary Parrish
Slab Fork, West Virginia. That's where Bill Withers was born. Oh, Slab Fork.
- [57:24]
Matt Norlander
Wow, that is wonderful. Slab Fork. I'd never heard of it.
- [57:27]
Gary Parrish
You can watch this on CBS Sports Network. Virginia minus three and a half. I'm going to be in studio trivia time.
- [57:34]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [57:35]
Gary Parrish
How many I knows or in Bill Withers Ain't no Sunshine, the entire song. How many in that. Yes.
- [57:49]
Matt Norlander
My son, my 7 year old, just awesome, loves music. Like his dad. And out of nowhere, I was watching. Were we watching? We were. I think the Purdue game had started. And he goes, dad, can I. Can we just listen to Lovely day? I was like, absolutely. Every single time you ask me. So we threw on Bill Withers randomly yesterday. Love that. I'm gonna say. I'm gonna say 32, 26 is the answer.
- [58:17]
Gary Parrish
26, I knows in Bill weather. Do you know the story behind that? That was just filler.
- [58:23]
Matt Norlander
It was. I. I vaguely. I've read the story, but it's been.
- [58:26]
Gary Parrish
It was just filler. He just put it down and was going to go back and, and write over it. And people heard it and they were like, yo, man, I don't know that this makes any sense, but it sounds great. Like, I don't know if it makes any sense, but that's. You should not change that. You should just leave it. And that's how that. That's how that came to be. Bill Withers legend.
- [58:47]
Matt Norlander
I tell you what, Slab Fork is one of the better name towns I've ever heard of.
- [58:53]
Gary Parrish
I regret that I'm not from Slab Fork. I have. I have lots of regrets in my life. You live long enough, have enough fun, you're gonna have some regrets. All right. But. But one of them near the top of the list. Why was I not born in Slab Fork?
- [59:08]
Matt Norlander
I went to the Wikipedia page. Notable people. Billy Arnold, professional boxer. Earl Francis, major league baseball pitcher. Never heard of them. Joe Goddard, major league baseball pitcher, also never heard of him. Doris Payne, noted jewel thief. Okay. And then Bill Withers, Slab for West Virginia. Man, this incredible. What game are we talking about?
- [59:32]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I can't remember. Let me scroll back up here. It looks like it's Virginia Northwestern.
- [59:36]
Matt Norlander
Yes, Virginia Northwest. Folks, tournament season is here. Like feast week, I guess, for all intents and purposes, gets going next week. But we're already here. We got Greenbrier, apparently a beautiful spot.
- [59:48]
Gary Parrish
And it looks amazing. Like, I have never. I said this last year. I had never thought about vacationing in West Virginia, but I like, saw those commercials and I was like, I should just take my family to West Virginia. I don't know why we keep going to the Bahamas. West Virginia looks amazing. So, yes, feast week is here. Evidence being that right now I'm talking to you. It is 10:42am Eastern. Do you understand? I will be in front of a camera talking about basketball till midnight. From. From this point forward, it's just me talking all day long.
- [60:22]
Matt Norlander
I'm aware, by the way, you took some liberties here. I Just did the. The old Google map. Hour 26 from Greenbriar to Slab Fork. I think that's outside the radius, but.
- [60:31]
Gary Parrish
I'm trying to find somebody from Greenbrier. Don't think I didn't put the work in. It's just. That's hard to do.
- [60:37]
Matt Norlander
I'm looking at some surrounding. I'm looking at some surrounding spots that we got trout.
- [60:41]
Gary Parrish
Well, like Greenwood.
- [60:44]
Matt Norlander
Renick.
- [60:45]
Gary Parrish
Here's how stupid I am. It's 2 o' clock in the morning and I'm sitting in a hotel bed and I'm trying to find somebody notable from Greenbrier. And the first person I find is a NASA scientist. And I'm like, well, we already used her. Because I remember using her last year. The NASA scientist. Do you remember her?
- [61:02]
Matt Norlander
I do remember that. Actually.
- [61:03]
Gary Parrish
I didn't want to go back to her. I didn't feel like. And then I saw Bill Withers is from Slab Fork and I. And then I was like Ain't no Sunshine with my dad's favorite song. And then I remember that story about how the. All the I knows got kept in there and it. It just. It felt like the proper thing to do.
- [61:18]
Matt Norlander
It's actually white. Yeah, this. This is played in white. Sulfur springs, hour 11. Hour 11 there. So. Okay, fair enough. I'm gonna go Virginia in this spot. I watched you in studio last night. Obviously hopes are high and I'm gonna buy. I have Virginia preseason top 30. I'll take Ryan Odom's group.
- [61:36]
Gary Parrish
I know that you haven't been sorting data. You've been lazy about it.
- [61:40]
Matt Norlander
Nope.
- [61:40]
Gary Parrish
Been lazy about it.
- [61:41]
Matt Norlander
Patiently waiting. We're getting there.
- [61:44]
Gary Parrish
Oh, do I have news for you. If you remove preseason bias over@bartorvic.com Virginia is seventh, Northwestern is 19th. I don't think the casuals know, but what we have today on CBS Sports Network is a top 20 matchup sans preseason bias. Do you dare me to say that on tv?
- [62:08]
Matt Norlander
Yes, I do, actually. Please do it. Do it well.
- [62:14]
Gary Parrish
Well, Kiana.
- [62:15]
Matt Norlander
The.
- [62:15]
Gary Parrish
The thing you don't realize. I don't think people realize. It's always so smart on TV to tell people things you don't think they realize very well. I love doing that.
- [62:23]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [62:24]
Gary Parrish
Hey, Keanu. The thing people don't realize. I don't think people realize it. Is that if you remove preseason bias. Bartorving.com. what we have here right here on CBS Sports Network today, this is a top 20 matchup sans preseason bias. Everybody just look at me like I'm speaking Chinese or something. I'M gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. I'm taking Virginia. Are you crazy? Are you crazy? Virginia's seventh.
- [62:50]
Matt Norlander
I also have Virginia. Welcome aboard.
- [62:52]
Gary Parrish
I know, but you don't have them for the right reasons.
- [62:54]
Matt Norlander
No, I do. I was higher on Virginia in the preseason than you. I was ahead of the whole eliminate. I. I had. I had already filtered my own data. Okay, come aboard.
- [63:06]
Gary Parrish
I know, but now I'm higher than you. You were higher than me, but now I'm higher than you. Okay, I'm taking Virginia, too. Game three, Friday, 6:30pm Eastern. Number six, Louisville versus Cincinnati inside the Steven Spielberg Center.
- [63:20]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [63:22]
Gary Parrish
You can watch it on ESPN, too. Louisville minus eight and a half. Spielberg, of course. Born in Cincinnati, 1946.
- [63:30]
Matt Norlander
Of course. Who doesn't know that? Hey, this is a. It's a good game here. I love to see this. Another Friday. Must watch. Tilt Bearcats at 4. 0. They've got the win over Dayton. Certainly top 100 win, but again, it's early. Now they got the opportunity here against the Louisville team that's yet to lose. And it's big win against Kentucky on the Cincinnati side. West Miller in a big season. Maybe a got to make the tournament to keep your job kind of season. We'll see. Dayday Thomas is your name to know. Really, really important. Key lead guard for the Bearcats, but they've got some good size as well. In fact, I think Louisville how it matches up size wise, could be something to watch in this game. Kirk Risa, still in college, by the way. Also with the Bearcats. He starts for them in the backcourt. Really fun matchup. This line is way too big. Give me Cincinnati to cover.
- [64:25]
Gary Parrish
I couldn't help as I was getting ready for this one. I think Pat Kelsey must be having a blast right now. You remember Candid Coaches? August 2024. We asked more than 100 coaches who will be more successful over the first five years, Mark Pope or Pat Kelce. And basically two out of every three people told us Mark Pope. Now Mark Pope is depressed and Pat Kelsey's not.
- [64:49]
Matt Norlander
They still got a hot wife. Don't forget that.
- [64:51]
Gary Parrish
Kids are healthy, far as I know.
- [64:53]
Matt Norlander
Yep.
- [64:54]
Gary Parrish
That really is. That's the key to life.
- [64:58]
Matt Norlander
Oh, unquestionable.
- [65:00]
Gary Parrish
Get you a hot wife and some healthy kids, buddy. It's hard to have a bad day.
- [65:04]
Matt Norlander
Yep.
- [65:06]
Gary Parrish
And now he's got a great basketball. Now he's got a Michael Brown. Imagine you got a hot wife, healthy kids and a Michael Brown.
- [65:11]
Matt Norlander
I know. Think about the way. Is it. Is it Mikel Or Mikhail.
- [65:16]
Gary Parrish
I've heard it every way you can.
- [65:18]
Matt Norlander
Say I've heard it everywhere.
- [65:19]
Gary Parrish
Also, I love this in the transfer portal. They were very intentional about what they were doing. They went out and added shooting. Specifically shooting. And the. The shooters they bought are. They're shooting. Ryan Conwell 43.8 from three. Eight attempts per game. Isaac McNeely 41.2% from three eight and a half attempts per game. Like they're, they're. This is going exactly the way it was supposed to go. Designed well and now executing well. I love this Louisville team.
- [65:51]
Matt Norlander
So you got them covering?
- [65:52]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, of course. What are you talking about? You think I'll say all that and then picked against them? Are you crazy?
- [65:56]
Matt Norlander
It is nine and a half, by the way. I think you said eight and a half, but the updated line is nine and a half. Just.
- [65:59]
Gary Parrish
Okay. I don't care, man. Make it 14. I grew up on the metro. All right, next game, Friday, 9:30pm Eastern. Number one, Purdue. Number 15, Texas Tech. This is going to blow your mind. I don't think your mind's ready for this. It's number one Purdue against number 15, Texas Tech. Inside Sebastian Bach Arena.
- [66:24]
Matt Norlander
No way. He's from the Bahamas.
- [66:26]
Gary Parrish
Sebastian Bach was born in the Bahamas.
- [66:29]
Matt Norlander
There's a chance you've said this on the show before and I forgot.
- [66:31]
Gary Parrish
It feels like if I've never said this before, I have wasted so many episodes of the Ion College Basketball podcast. This seems like something I should have known. It seems like something we probably talked about. But it was nice to be reminded last night around 2:15 in the morning. Sebastian Bach, legendary frontman of skid row. 18 in life that was born in the Bahamas, raised in in Canada, but born in the Bahamas. You can watch this one on CBS Sports Network. I'll bring all this stuff up at halftime. It's Purdue minus four.
- [67:04]
Matt Norlander
Minus four. Tasty, Tasty. Josh put up a poll in the chat. Who's the best team in college basketball? Arizona, as you would expect, winning the poll 53%. But Purdue 32%. Houston and Duke each 7%. Those were the four options as of now. But the good thing about the sport is we've got plenty of options to go around. Fantastic match. These teams last met in 2018. Sweet 16 in Boston. I was there. Texas Tech won that en route to Purdue was two seed. Texas Tech was three seed. I guess. Was that 2018 or was that 2019? It was 2019 because then Texas Tech made the Final Four that year. These coaches have met in the tournament. Grant McCaslin was the coach of North Texas in 2021 when they were a 13 seed and they beat the 4th seeded Purdue Boilermakers. Uncharacteristic for Purdue to get knocked out early by a double digit seat in the NCAA tournament.
- [68:01]
Gary Parrish
Why do you want to bring that up? What are you doing? Why you want to bring that up?
- [68:05]
Matt Norlander
Backstone, contextual. Grant McCaslin has defeated Matt Painter.
- [68:08]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I know but I thought we were past all that Purdue loses to double digit seat stuff. I feel like we've been past that.
- [68:14]
Matt Norlander
Double digit team in the rankings right now. So I don't know how that plays a factor or not in the game. Huge.
- [68:21]
Gary Parrish
You're a real hater. You sound like a real hater.
- [68:24]
Matt Norlander
Well, you know, you're the prism in which you view the world gets extremely warped once you are anywhere between 38 and 54% boilermaker. So you're not seeing clearly. That's the problem.
- [68:37]
Gary Parrish
I accept that there could be some truth to that. I accept that.
- [68:41]
Matt Norlander
Exactly. In addition to Smith and Toppin two preseason first team All Americans. This is amazing because we get Braden Smith versus Christian Anderson and point guard Battle head to head. And then you get Toppin vs Trey Koffman Wren frontman Battle head to head. Really like these could be four of the 20ish best players in college basketball. Anderson is a good, good player. In fact let me bring up his refreshed his stats here what he had because both Smith and Anderson heading into yesterday's games were in rarefied area. Anderson Right now 18.8 points, 8.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds per game. Stat monster Anderson and Braden Smith were two of just three players in the country averaging at least 17 points and eight dimes this season. Just an awesome tremendous matchup on CBS Sports Network on Friday. Tell your significant other. Cancel all the plans. We're dialed in to Boilers and Red Raiders. I will. Tough game. I really really really want this to be like a one possession game, but something tells me one of these teams will squeak away. I'll go Purdue. I'll say Purdue wins and against Grant McCaslin's wants and desires they can't quite recover all the way and Purdue wins it with a little bit of breathing room but still a pretty entertaining game over 40 minutes.
- [69:55]
Gary Parrish
As you know, I'm still good percentage Boulder maker. I haven't shed all my bowler maker. I'm still good percentage Boulder maker. I can't drop Purdue from number one in the top 25 and one on a Thursday and then pick against them on a Friday and still maintain what I consider to be a good amount of Boulder maker inside of me. So I'm laying points. Purdue minus four, youth gone wild.
- [70:23]
Matt Norlander
Okay, we're. We're getting up against the gp. You got to be live in like six, six minutes.
- [70:28]
Gary Parrish
Yeah. So like, let's do game five and then say who you think's gonna win it. I'll say who I think's gonna win it. And then we gotta get going.
- [70:35]
Matt Norlander
Okay. Then we can do that. There's. There's some more stuff on CBS sports network. Butler, South Carolina, West Virginia, that's on at 2 Eastern. West Virginia, Clemson, 6:30 on ESPNU. Wake Forest, Memphis, also on CBS Sports Network. But those aren't the end ones. The N1 is Friday, 9:30 Eastern on Peacock. Peacock. Charlie Parker Court. By the way, Kansas City Charlie Parker native shouts to bird. It's 50 Nebraska against 5.0k state. And k State is coming off a game in which PJ Hagerty last night in Kansas City had 37 points, eight boards, seven assists, two steals in a 98.77 win over Mississippi.
- [71:16]
Gary Parrish
I don't know. I don't know why Memphis rated him for Doug McDaniel. That was a bad trade. Is not working out well for me.
- [71:26]
Matt Norlander
I'll tell you what. If Kansas State wins this and beats Nebraska and Memphis can't beat Wake Forest, the Hagerty thing is going to look even worse. And it didn't look good to begin with. Who you got in the game? The. The line is. What's the line here? I put it in the dock. Josh, what do we got for the line? Toss me a solid here.
- [71:45]
Gary Parrish
One and a half. One and a half, Nebraska one.
- [71:47]
Matt Norlander
I didn't know if it was two and a half or one and a half. Nebraska, undefeated Kansas State, undefeated Huskers favored my by one and a half.
- [71:53]
Gary Parrish
So we're doing this in Kansas City.
- [71:55]
Matt Norlander
We're doing it where we were at for Big 12 media day.
- [71:58]
Gary Parrish
You tell me Jerome Tang's an underdog in Kansas City with P.J. hagerty. I'm telling you that that's outrageous. I can't live like that. This is not Pinnacle Bank. You know how I feel about that, right? This is not Pinnacle bank.
- [72:09]
Matt Norlander
Though I have an update on that before we get out of here as well. But yes.
- [72:12]
Gary Parrish
This is not Pinnacle Bank.
- [72:13]
Matt Norlander
It's not Bank.
- [72:14]
Gary Parrish
This is Kansas City. This is T Mobile.
- [72:16]
Matt Norlander
This is Charlie Parker Court.
- [72:18]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, Jerome. You can't get. You can't give Jerome Tang and P.J. hagerty points. @ T Mobile. That's. That's crazy. That'll. That'll prove to be a mistake.
- [72:28]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [72:29]
Gary Parrish
Unless Nebraska is really good. Well, you know, we'll see. I like rink mast.
- [72:32]
Matt Norlander
Super thick chunks of broken life in reality. Are you taking Nebraska after all? No.
- [72:38]
Gary Parrish
What are you doing? Jerome Tang's probably listening to this right now.
- [72:41]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, there is a not. There's a non. I don't think this is the case, but there is a non zero chance Jerome Tang will listen to this show before case.
- [72:50]
Gary Parrish
Listen, I. We both. We saw Tang out at dinner. We see how comfortable he is in Kansas City.
- [72:56]
Matt Norlander
Yes.
- [72:57]
Gary Parrish
He's got a certain level of comfort in Kansas City. Yeah, he's got P.J.
- [73:01]
Matt Norlander
Hagerty. He does.
- [73:03]
Gary Parrish
Yeah. We're taking our one and a half points. We're feeling good about it. We sprinkle a little bit on that money line too, if you don't mind.
- [73:08]
Matt Norlander
Okay, you go ahead and use you sprinkle. This is a really, really quality game. I need to make a correction for the record. We are we atone for our. Our, our mistakes on this show as often as possible. I had mentioned on the Sunday show that I had seen or heard that they might be putting up a banner for winning the crown. And then Paris got into a three minute diatribe about how ridiculous that is. Turns out that is not happening. It is not happening. We did have someone send us a graphic of. You don't just walk into Pinnacle Bank. I got to get that to you eventually. But this isn't in Pinnacle bank, so it's not. It's not urgent, but I did want to atoned for that. So thankfully they're not raising a banner at Pinnacle bank for winning the crown. Cooler heads prevailed there. I will take Kansas State as well. Hagerty has been insane. Nebraska's good. Nebraska can win the game. But I will ride with the Wildcats here on eight, folks. Loaded Friday. Slate. If you got to. This is your. This is your lesson. If you got to this on Saturday or Sunday, shame you got to be here for Friday. Get to it as soon as possible, particularly as we are in the midst of all these great November tournaments over the next week and a half.
- [74:16]
Gary Parrish
All right, let's get out of here. I'm gonna. I'm gonna close this Zoom open another Zoom Talk for another hour and a half or so, and then I'm gonna take a shower, put on a suit, go to studio and talk for like another 12 hours. It's gonna be a fun day over at.
- [74:28]
Matt Norlander
We'll be back on Sunday I will be in Vegas for players era time to be determined. That's why you got to follow the show. Follow me and gp follow ION CBB to find out when we go live.
- [74:37]
Gary Parrish
Shouts to Devin Downey shouts to Chester, S.C. shouts to Terry Teagle legend Huck Larnell. Thank you guys once again for watching listening to I College Basketball Podcast. If you're not subscribed, please go subscribe anyway. You subscribe to podcast, Apple, Spotify. There's more of us than there are of him. That's got to be reflect. Can you believe it's my job to talk all day? Can you believe it's my job to talk all day?
- [75:00]
Matt Norlander
We can't do this. Just. We'll see you again on Sunday there.
- [75:05]
Gary Parrish
We're gonna talk to you on Sunday. Till then, take care. I gotta go. Bye bye bye. Paramount Podcasts what's up everyone? It's the counselor of Cash Sia Najad from the Early Edge, a daily sports betting show powered by Sportsline and part of the the CBS Sports Podcast Network. If you're looking for the best bets, picks and analysis for the day in sports, we're your one stop shop. We're locked in every day with NFL bets and player props, college football picks and so much more. Download and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere podcasts are found. Subscribe to the SportsLine YouTube page to watch us live at 10am Eastern Time every weekday. Make sure to turn on those notifications so you don't miss a single pick all season long. Good luck.