← Eye On College Basketball
Eye On College Basketball
B1G POY = TBD; Darius Acuff Jr. might be a top-3 pick? Plus: coaching carousel🎠 revs up; beefy preview/bubble games GALORE for final wknd of reg. season
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- [00:00]
Matt Norlander
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- [02:02]
Gary Parrish
Hey there, I'm Gary Paris. Welcome back with a CG sport. 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 honor Brandon Davies, smash that like button. And if you haven't yet subscribed to the I Own College Basketball podcast, please also do that wherever you subscribe to podcasts like Apple and Spotify. Let's get into it. I want to start a Big Ten where the two teams that will close the regular season against each other on Sunday on cbs. That's America's most watched network. It's the network of stars. They're going to be playing on Sunday and they played last night. Final score number three Michigan 71 Iowa 68. Final score number eight Michigan State 91, Rutgers 87. Both games were closer than they were supposed to be, at least according to the point spread. But the favorites still won both of those games. Norlander, I know you had your eyes on it. So the end of Michigan, Iowa, that was fun. I guess. Let's just start there.
- [03:03]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, we can start there. Really good game. You know, Iowa gave him a real push, got the game at home. This is the only meeting between these two teams this season. Iowa gets the benefit of the home game and you know, didn't shoot well from beyond the arc, just 7 to 26. But in so many other facets it just. They came ready, they came good to go and I actually thought they were going to be able to pull this out. Credit to Michigan. Londonborg had 16 points, eight boards, had some, had some key plays there. Morez Johnson was vital and I think he was the most important player over the course of the 40 minutes in the game. Then even Adai Mara had. He had like five or six plays in the second half either just rebounds, defensive stops, put backs where as the flow of the game was going, he was, he was keeping Michigan like one step ahead of Iowa. It winds up being essentially that 71, 68, no good, no good three pointer attempt at the buzzer there for Michigan to win, get to 28 and 2. It is the first Big Ten team since Indiana's undefeated season in 75, 76 to not lose in a true road game and league play. So credit to Michigan for doing that. It's already wrapped up the, obviously the one seed in general. It's wrapped up the one seed in the Big Ten tournament and it got a real good push afterwards. So credit to Michigan. Iowa is 20 and 10. It's still, it's still obviously in the field, but man, this was a really, really good opportunity for the Hawkeyes to add what I thought would have been a massive resume win and increase. Increase what they're all about in the process. Because right now, 20 and 10, the best wins for Iowa this season. Home to Nebraska, home to Ohio State at Indiana. I think that's, I think that's basically the, the top end of what they're looking at here. Hawkeyes to me are kind of dancing right between that 9 or 10, 9 or 10 line overall. So I don't think they're in real, any real danger of missing the tournaments. I mean, theoretically, if they have to lose at Nebraska on Sunday and lost their first Big Ten tournament game, we might have an uncomfortable conversation. But column should have that team in the dance in his first season. But man, they had, they had a really good opportunity and just couldn't pull it out.
- [05:10]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I thought Mar was terrific down the stretch, particularly when it looked like he was coming up to set. And that was Dusty as much as it was Mara. But he looks like he's coming up to set. That ball screen slips back, they throw it at the rim. He converts that. I mean that, that's. I know he's larger than most and his hands up there by the rim almost always anyway. But that was still a tough catch and a, and a tough finish. Like he, he moved in a way that, you know, people his size can't typically move. Like to finish that play was, was impressive. Roddy Gale had big plays down the stretch. Just an awesome basketball team. Yeah. And just post game, Dusty was there. It was a funny scene, you know, with. Was it Moja? Was it Morez?
- [05:57]
Matt Norlander
That's become the thing where, you know, someone does the hit and, and Mirage Johnson just stands behind and just looks into the void. I need this. I need this. Until Michigan seasons ends, unless even if that's in the national title game, they're obviously not going to want to do if they get bounced out of the second round. But after every Michigan win from here until the end of the season, I need the Mirez Johnson stare into the void. I love it.
- [06:20]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, it's just a funny visual. Like any anytime these things can originate particularly organically and become a thing. I'm fine with it. We, you know, the McNee State thing last season, like that, that, that just sort of became a thing and that was fun. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That just sort of became a thing and it was fun and, and you know, perhaps this is a different, you know, kind of version of, of something. Dusty talked about it post game. He was like, listen, because they obviously brought up undefeated on the road. That's, that's, that's wild. And he was like, we're more connected or, or we're like, I don't, I don't have the quote in front of me. But he more or less said like we, we're comfortable out here. Like, we're comfortable on the road. Our guys are so connected. And all of that stuff is, is, you know, played a role in us having a zero in the lost column in road games this season. So I think they had a one seed locked up even before last night. But if somebody wanted to argue otherwise, there's no argument anymore. Duke, Michigan, Arizona are going to be one seeds and then we're trying to figure out who's going to be that fourth. Let me ask you a question, because now Michigan State wins. Last night, it wasn't impressive, but it wasn't a loss. So it's close though.
- [07:40]
Matt Norlander
Like, yeah, went over a bad Ruckers team again, Senior night. A lot of stuff going on there. Like, I get it, but just you couldn't help but tilt your head like, I had the game on. I wasn't dialed in the same way I was with Michigan, Iowa, because I frankly, I didn't think it would be as close, but at least notable. It's kind of like, huh, okay, couldn't get it done by double digits. But when a win's a win and Michigan State still is vying for a two seat. Go ahead.
- [08:02]
Gary Parrish
There you go. Okay, so right now, slotted as a 2 seed, 25 and 5 heading into Sunday's regular season finale at Michigan on CBS, 4:30pm Eastern. By the way, if you're curious, just as soon as that wraps up, we'll be live here on the Ion College Basketball Podcast. I would assume I shouldn't speak out of turn.
- [08:21]
Matt Norlander
You. I've got an HQ hit. We got to figure out when that's going to happen. Yeah, okay.
- [08:24]
Gary Parrish
We'll figure it. We'll figure it out. We'll figure it out. Okay, so you say they're still in contention for a two seed. That's undeniable. Is there a path to a one seed for them? And I understand other things would have to happen. This isn't one of those where if they went out, it doesn't matter what else happens, they're a 1 seed. I think UConn would have to lose at some point between now and when the bracket is set. I think Florida would have to lose between now and when the bracket is set. Maybe Houston would have to lose between now and when the bracket is set. And let me be clear, it is wildly unlikely that Michigan State is going to not lose between now and when the bracket is set. First and foremost, because they got to play at Michigan on Sunday, that's probably a loss. And then they will not be favored to win the Big Ten tournament. So if we're being honest, they're probably going to lose two more times before the bracket is set. But play along right now, 25 and five, if you were to win on Sunday, 26 and five win on Sunday, you'd be nine and four in quadrant one, seven and one in quadrant two. So 16 and five in the first two quadrants with zero additional losses, win three quadrant one games because that's probably what it would be in the Big Ten tournament. Now you're 29 and 5 with 12 quadrant one wins and only one loss out of the first quadrant. Again, if Florida were to slip up, UConn were to get caught by St. John's or somebody else, and then maybe it would require Houston to lose in the Big 12 tournament. But that's a scenario where I think we could look up, as unlikely as it is, just play along. We could look up and maybe Tom Izzo does have a one seed in the tournament for the fifth time in his hall of Fame career.
- [09:58]
Matt Norlander
If Michigan State wins out to selection Sunday, it gets help with losses from Florida, UConn and Houston, then yes, the one seeds in play for sure. It's a long shot, but it's not, it's not unthinkable and it's a nice, it's a nice surge here by Sparty because after the loss at Wisconsin, this team was 20 and five, still a healthy record, but had lost three or four at that point and has since won five in a row, which includes wins at Purdue, at Indiana, not getting tripped up at home against the likes of UCLA or Ohio State. And then it was, it was close last night, but they also, they were, they were balanced overall. I mean fierce. Had 21 in the game, 15 came in the second half. He had eight assists. Continues to lead the country in assists per game. Cohen Carr had back to back to back dunks at one point. I know, I know.
- [10:47]
Gary Parrish
And like, and like a couple of them or maybe at least one it looks like that's not a, like you're not going to be able to finish this play the way he finishes the play. And then just his chins on the ramp.
- [10:57]
Matt Norlander
He's outraged and I know. And I need even more from him on the big stage. In just a couple of weeks there, Kohler had 15.7 rebounds. Actually, before we go on, I just have to give, give his great grandfather a shout out.
- [11:08]
Gary Parrish
Awesome.
- [11:09]
Matt Norlander
Because 102 years old was honored before the game is one of a dozen or so living members from Pearl Harbor 1. Here we go. Max Carey, who does an incredible job Sid for Michigan State will be honored at the USBWA's Monday luncheon of the day of the title game for essentially, you know, being the best ID in college basketball, being awesome.
- [11:34]
Gary Parrish
Max is going to be honored for being awesome. And it's, it's long overdue and well deserved.
- [11:39]
Matt Norlander
Max Carey does a wonderful job. He sent this out. EARL Chuck Kohler, 102 years old, enlisted in the U.S. navy at 17. If you're keeping track, that's 85 years ago. One of 12 remaining Pearl harbor survivors. He was honored. He's Jackson Kohler's great grandfather and he was honored before the game last night. That was awesome. You can see if you're watching on YouTube. This is why you need to watch on YouTube. In addition to listening, we've got some of the video here. Rolling his B roll. Really, really, really cool deal, man. Like, this is, this is leveling up even more beyond just. It was obviously Kohler senior night to have his great grandfather there. That is chills, goosebumps stuff. Still with us at 102. Pearl Harbor Survivor. Incredible story. Thank you for your service. That is awesome, awesome, awesome stuff. So I wanted to at least mention that as well. Very cool. Oh, by the way, then K went out and got 15 points, seven boards. Had himself a nice game as well. And as one of the rare four year seniors at the same school, our own Isaac Trotter sent out a tweet earlier this week that went widely shared. There are 22, period at the high major level, the Big Ten has the most. But Kohler is one of those Spartan dogs through and through. Good for him for getting that done. I do think Michigan State's chance at a one seater long shot, but, but nonetheless it's still on the table.
- [12:56]
Gary Parrish
Long shot, but alive. And yeah, that piece Isaac did just first off, just the idea and then the research to like put a number on it because I think we all sit around sometimes and we're like, man, it ain't like it used to be. But for somebody to actually, you know, just take the time and, and count heads and say, hey, did you realize it's only 22? It got the, the attention that it deserved. I built the whole segment of the, you know, GP show around it. So that was good work from him. He's, he's terrific, you know, working with our staff. So it's a testament to how unbelievable Michigan's been this season that both of these things can be true. We agree that Michigan State is a long shot to get a one seed, but it's still in play. And yet this game on Sunday, even though it's between first place and second place, there's a three gap, three game gap in between them in the standings. So it's not for a conference championship, not even for a share, nothing. And it's because somehow Michigan was able to pull away within this league from everybody, including another team that is still in play for a one seed. In the NCAA tournament. So I don't know where Coach of the Year is going to land. But if Dusty May ends up with some national coach of the Year trophies, won't be surprising to me. So it's not for the Big Ten title on Sunday. Let me ask you this, then we'll move on. Is it for the Big Ten Player of the Year race? Is that still up in the air? Yaxel, Jeremy Fears. I think maybe not most people, but certainly some people would call them the leading candidates. Keaton Wagner's got to be in there somewhere. But is if we're calling Yaxel the favorite right now, is there anything fears that Michigan State could do Sunday in Ann Arbor to flip that vote?
- [14:42]
Matt Norlander
Sure. I mean, if you want to say best player, best team, then it's over. But I wonder if it's over if you add up points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game. Jaxel Lindenberg 24.8 he's at 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 dimes shooting 50 from the field. His O rating is the best of any of the guys that we're talking about here. 134.8. That's really, really good. Fears leads the nation and assists 9.1 assists per game, 15.3 points, 2.4 boards as a point guard 44.6 from the field not as good, but OH rating still quality 130.7 26.8 if you add up the three big stats there. So he is ahead of Levenborg Overall. Waglers even more 27.4 total when you add up 18.1 points. So he averages the most points. He's the best scorer on the best offense in college basketball. 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 45 from the field, 42 from 3. His O rating is better than Fears, but not quite as good as the Axel 133.6 and then I will throw in Braden Smith, who is not going to get it, but he has a higher combined total than Yaxel or fears at 14.7 points, 8.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds shooting 39% from 3.27.1 total when you add up the points, assists and rebounds. By the way, if you're curious who has the most combined points, assists, rebounds per game, it's Nick Martinelli 30.1 at Northwestern. He's not going to win it, but he actually has the strongest overall stat line. Bruce Thornton is also better than everyone we're talking about. Team's not quite good enough, but Thornton 19.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists. Sturts is also there's a lot of really, really good players in the Big Ten, but it's going to go to one of the three that are finishing at the top of the league. I think this is completely up for debate going into the final weekend. I don't think this is decided. If if Michigan State wins at Michigan this weekend and fears drops 18, 11 and 6 like he's very well could win it and pull it from Yaxel. And part of that's because Michigan is so well balanced. So I don't have an answer right now. Parrish. I think it is totally up for grabs. And by the way, if Wagler if Illinois can finish out the season with a win and Wagler goes off again now they play at Maryland. The the opponent isn't good, but if Waggler goes for like 34, 8 and 6, you tell me he can't get it. I think he still could. He's top five in Ken Palm Player of the Year right now. So I think it's a total toss up going into the final weekend.
- [17:07]
Gary Parrish
Michigan, Michigan State, Sunday, 4:30pm Eastern. You can watch it on CBS. It's America's most watched network. It's the network of stars. Moving on in my Hildebrand voice since we last convened here on the pod, Darius Acuff Jr. Went big big in Arkansas's blowout win over Texas. Sean Miller had high praise. You might have heard his comments. They went everywhere. If not, we're going to play them for you next. First though, let's get a word from our partners. This is Gary Parish from the Ion College Basketball Podcast reminding you that the big college basketball tournament is just right around the corner. Been a great season. Can't wait to cover what will be my 23rd straight tournament. Hand to heart, I'm telling you, there's nothing like being there live. If you can, you should try it. When you do, use game time because game time has the lowest price guarantee or gametime will credit you 110% of the difference so you can shop and purchase with confidence. You know, my family's coming up to New York to visit me while I'm working. I decided I want to take them to the conference tournament in Midtown Manhattan. So I looked at Friday Session four, clicked on four tickets. Dozens of options popped up. Found four in the lower level, clicked on that one click later, I'm paying just like that. We got conference tournament tickets in nyc. It's going to be a blast. Take the guesswork out of buying college basketball tickets with Game time. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code I for $20 off. Your first purchase terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code EYE for $20 off. Download the GameTime app today.
- [18:36]
Matt Norlander
Oh, could this vintage store be any cuter?
- [18:39]
Gary Parrish
Right?
- [18:39]
Matt Norlander
And the best part? They accept Discover. Except Discover in a little place like this? I don't think so. Jennifer oh yeah, huh? Discover is accepted where I like to shop. Come on baby, get with the times. Right. So we shouldn't get the parachute pants. These are making a comeback, I think.
- [18:59]
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Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide, based on
- [19:04]
Gary Parrish
the February 2025 Nielsen report.
- [19:06]
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- [20:09]
Gary Parrish
It's our last episode of the Island College Basketball Podcast. Darius A. Cuff Jr. Went big, big in a win for Arkansas over Texas. Final score 105.85. He had 28 points, 13 assists, 3 rebounds in 36 minutes. After the game, Texas coach Sean Miller had high praise. If you got two minutes, let's listen to what he had to say about Arkansas's five star guard.
- [20:32]
Sean Miller
Going to make one statement here. Usually a guy like A Cuff gets, you know, too much credit or or Too much respect as, as a young player in college basketball. You know that that can happen sometimes when a guy is that highly touted and certainly has this bright future beyond college like he does. But in my time, and I'll just go 34 years, I've never seen a point guard better. And when people talk about, you know, who's going to be the number one pick in the NBA draft or who's the best player in the conference, I mean, just for a perspective, and I think our conference is great. He averages 25 points a game. I'll just start right there. He shoots 40% from the three point line. He leads our league in assists. I think he's the first player since Pete Maravich who's led our league in both points and assists. If you look at Arkansas as a team, the best thing they do is they never turn the ball over. And that's because he has the ball in his hands 80% of the time. His assist to turnover ratio is astonishing. And not until you actually are in the game and you feel his presence. You know, the adage of a point guard makes the game easier for his teammates. He's the, he's a textbook prime example of that. I just have never been on a court where one player at that position is, is any better than he is. You know, greatness is how I would describe his game and seems like an amazing young man and you know, just to watch. I bring it up because this is game 30. He's got several weeks or a month or so left, but guys like him, they just don't come into college basketball very, very often. I mean, he's a generational player. He's, he's really, really good. And this, this number one pick thing, like I'm, I don't know why people aren't talking about him more. I can't imagine anybody better.
- [22:42]
Gary Parrish
As I wrote in Thursday's top 25 and 1, a lot of people, myself included, has, have said and written a lot of nice things, positive things about Darius Auff Jr. Throughout the season. I don't think anybody's taking it that far. That meant something to me. Hearing Sean Miller say that meant something to me. Does it move the needle for you at all?
- [23:01]
Matt Norlander
It does. I mean it moved the needle that night when he said it. I received even two texts from, from NBA people, which I don't think this is going to lead to Acuff being in the conversation to be number one. But just Millard saying what he said and saying, I don't know why he's not there. The answer is, and I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm just saying Derek Acuff is 6 3, maybe £190. If he was 6, 5, 2, 10 and doing this, yes, it would be Sometimes the measurables can be everything when it comes to the number one pick and everything that is attached. With a franchise selecting the very first player in a year in a given draft, you're not just trying to take the player you think will be the best almost every single time if you have the number one pick, you are trying to draft the player that you think can and will change your franchise over the course of a decade plus. And every and everything that comes attached to that, not just in terms of production but all of the spotlight and responsibility and being the face of a franchise with all of that. That said, I have been high on Acuff for a long time. I have maintained that he should be a top five pick since essentially December and what I see that he is capable of doing. Quick run on the stats. I think Miller said he's averaging 25. That's not exactly accurate, but he is at 22.2 points, 6.4 assists.
- [24:09]
Gary Parrish
I'm sorry, I think he might admit like literally in SEC games.
- [24:12]
Matt Norlander
Got it. Okay then that, that would make more sense there. 22.2, 6.43 boards a game, 43.7 from three. He's the only high major player this season to have at least 28 points and 13 assists in a game. When Arkansas just responded beautifully to Cal's what was, you know, tied for Cow's worst loss by margin ever against Florida. They come back and they drop 105 on Texas is ahead there there. He's had 20, 20 point games this season. He's already the school's freshman leading scorer. He's going to break the freshman assist record at Arkansas. Miller was right. He is going to be the only other player aside from Maravich to lead the SEC in scoring and assists in a single season. He's 422 points shy of. Sorry. In SEC games only. This is from Arkansas. In SEC games only he has 422 points. That is two points shy of the school record which he will break. Mason Jones did that six years ago and he's, he's a, he's a really, really, really, really, really good player. Man. If you, I think I said this on a recent podcast. If you watch Arkansas play and they've got a lot of fun talent about him like you see what Billy Richmond can do. Malik Thomas has some real pop there. Trevin Brazil was almost unstoppable in this game the other night as well. D.J. wagner Credit to him, he has accepted a role and actually showed himself well in the second half of this one. There's a lot to Arkansas that makes them a fun and potentially dangerous team in the tournament, provided they can get some defensive consistency. But everything is flowing to and through and attached to what Acuff does on the floor. He has ultimate command of the offense, he has ultimate confidence in his abilities. He has really good savvy, really good touch, really good feel. To me, he embodies what we talk about with this freshman class. It's absurdly deep. Acuff is in the midst of all of that, but in a given year he would be very much in the conversation to be the number one pick or the number two pick. But because we have this just outrageous class where you've got a guy at Washington who's not even going to make the tournament and is is just a double double monster machine and might not go before number 10 in the class, it's bonkers. So I love what Miller said. I do think it will have a real impact on the general discussion about the top three, the top four in this NBA draft. And I think that Acuff is good enough to dial it up even more next week in Nashville in the tournament and be that kind of player who can will Arkansas to an extra win or two on the big dance stage.
- [26:41]
Gary Parrish
I I doubt he'll be the number one pick in the draft for all of the reasons you noted and others. But if I win the lottery, I'm I've at least got to take a look at it. I at least want to bring him in. I mean if I know nothing more than this top shelf athlete, lead guard doesn't turn it over, shoots above 40% from three and just led the SEC an assist and points per game. Like I've got to look at that. And so he's been incredible. And I think the Optus stats thing that I noted was right now 22.2, 6.4 assist, 43.7 from 3 with an assist determine ratio of 3 to 1. It's one of those things where, you know, you chop up the lines and you frame it how you want to frame it. But according to optistats, no Division 1 player has ever posted numbers that good in each of those categories for an entire season while appearing in at least 75% of his team's games. Acuff is on pace right now to be the first. He is averaging more points and assists than Derrick Rose averaged in college. He is averaging more points and assists than Shake yo just Alexander averaged in college. Both of those guys also played for John Calipera. They were also one and done. Guards, they're NBA MVPs. I'm not telling you that's what Darius Acuff's going to be. That would be a ridiculous place to set a bar for anybody other than maybe a LeBron or a Wimby. But he is having a better one year of college, a more productive one year of college than Derrick Rose had at Memphis or than SGA had at Kentucky. And at this point, it's clear in my mind that the SEC Player of the Year award should head his way. As for what Sean said. Yeah, I'll tell you. I'll tell you why it mattered to me. A. He just went out of his way to just say, this guy's amazing. I don't know what. What everybody else is.
- [28:33]
Matt Norlander
Guy also played point guard at the D1 level back in the day.
- [28:35]
Gary Parrish
There you go. Guy also is from Pittsburgh and very close to John Calipari. So when he says things like. And it sounds like he's an amazing young man, like, you know, I've been around John Caliperi. He doesn't describe every one of his players as, quote, amazing young men. So if Sean Miller is saying that, he's getting that from his friend Cal. And I like it when coaches think that their players are amazing young men. So here you got you checking that box. The basketball stuff is EAS to see. And then this. I look. Tried to look it up very. I don't. I don't think I tried that hard. But Wichita State, Arizona played in the NCAA tournament. And after the game, if I remember correctly, there was a moment between Sean Miller and Fred Van Vliet. And after that moment in the press conference, somebody asked Sean Miller about it, and he said something along the lines of, I just wanted to take a moment and tell him, don't let anybody tell you you can't play in the NBA. And I'm paraphrasing here. I don't know that I have the words exactly right, but the sentiment, I believe, is true.
- [29:34]
Matt Norlander
I was at this press conference.
- [29:36]
Gary Parrish
Yes, go ahead. Then you take it from here.
- [29:37]
Matt Norlander
I know that that was. That was essentially. That was essentially it. Like, it was. Wichita State was obviously led by Van Vliet and by. By Baker, a really, really, really talented team. And, And Sean Miller, who was just you know, who's never shy to heat praise on other players, which I very much appreciate. Just wanted to make sure he took it upon himself to. To kind of let the world know what, you know, Van Vliet and. And what. What he was capable of. I only remember this as well because it was attached to. I'm pretty sure I had tweeted something. I've mentioned this on the show before. I tweeted something about Van Vliet and can he make it in the NBA? And I wasn't sure. And then Van Vliet, like, favorited it and, you know, he. He subsequently gave me a hard time about it. He was always very cool about it, but he made sure that he never forgot that I said that about him.
- [30:26]
Gary Parrish
So, anyway, so Sean. Sean saw that in a way that other people clearly didn't. Evidence being that Fred Van Vliet went unselected in the draft. And you look up now, he's 32 years old. He is an NBA champion. He's an NBA all star. I think he's made more money than both of us combined. And Sean Miller saw that, and that meant something to me. He recognized that, hey, everybody's saying that this guy can't play in that league because he's, you know, too little, not athletic enough, blah, blah, blah. I'm telling you, I. That's crazy to me. He went out of his way to say it to Fred, then went out of his way to say it to the world. People didn't listen because Fred went unselected. And it looks like Sean Miller was right. So when he says this, when he goes out of his way to say this about a lead guard, again, this kind of stuff, like, I don't know what you guys are missing, but I'm telling you, I've seen it. Obviously, Acuff, Van Vliet, different levels of prospects, but it was still the same kind of sentiment. Yeah, I just saw this up close. And if you don't think this is what I'm telling you it is, you're missing something. Those words matter to me. That was an incredible night for Acuff on Wednesday. A, because of his performance and B, because of what the opposing coach said about him.
- [31:42]
Matt Norlander
Completely, completely agree. If you want to get some context. More on on Acuff and as a player and someone who's played for John Calipari, our Cameron Salerno has a. Has a piece up@cbssports.com that, you know, brings Acuff into the conversation. Where does he rank among the best guards and where he is he, you know, poised to rank ever to play for Calipari. Acuff's moving up that list pretty, pretty swiftly here and we'll see what the next we'll see what this month can bring. That brings a lot of promise and opportunity. It's been very, very fun to watch him watch Acuff play, who, by the way, came into college with the reputation of of being a guy who might not make the best passes, might not take the best shots. Really talented. He has really adjusted his prospects at the NBA level as a result of his play over the past four months. It's been very, very cool to see and I can't wait to watch him play even more over the next three weeks.
- [32:31]
Gary Parrish
One more thing to get to before we get to the Final Four. And one St. Louis has secured at least a share of the A10 title. They did it for the first time since 2014. We'll spend a few minutes on that next first, let's get another word from our partners.
- [32:44]
Matt Norlander
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Matt Norlander
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Gary Parrish
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- [34:25]
Gary Parrish
The win this weekend over George Mason St. Louis will be outright Atlantic 10 champions. They've already got the Billikens at least a share for the first time since 2014. We don't have to spend a lot of time here, but I did want to acknowledge the excellence of 27. 3 overall, 152 in the A10. St. Louis hasn't gotten the same kind of attention that Miami Miami Ohio has received, obviously because the Billikens aren't undefeated and because they don't have a Wally Zerbiak, although they did have Larry Hughes and a Jordair jet. And that's pretty good from as far as I'm concerned. Norlando, you saw this up close a few weeks ago. You were at shape. It's tell us how awesome Josh Shirts is at his job and then tell us whether St. Louis is going to get a third year from him, because I know you got your little coaching carousel column up over@cbssports.com and I saw his name in there. I saw,
- [35:20]
Matt Norlander
yeah, alphabetically listed, if I was listing in order of quote unquote hottest coaches, Shirts probably at the top of the list on this year's carousel. Among sitting head coaches there, 27 3. Mighty impressive at Mason on Saturday, by the way, for Slew. Mason's no longer really in the at large conversation. It looked like it might potentially be there as recently as a month ago, but that's falling out. But Mason's still good, so we'll see if we're jinxing the Billikens at all here by, you know, in advance of their road game to wrap up the 8 10. But St. Louis is safely in the field and going to be in the NA Tournament and and Shirts has done a really good job there, which is not a huge surprise. But he's been able to in two years kind of just, you know, flip the program to a certain extent. And not even to a certain extent he has flipped it. Last year under the radar, 19 and 15 weren't quite as good as people were expecting. And then now we see what's happening here this year and is extremely good on both ends of the field right now. Excuse me, both on the both ends of the court. Effective field goal percentage for sluice 60.7 number two in the country. Effective field goal percentage defense 44% best in all of college basketball this is also the most accurate three point shooting team in the country. Almost 42% from beyond the arc. They've got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6 guys that are shooting north of 37% or better from beyond the arc. As for Shirts and his prospects, he's going to have them. Whether he takes them, it is truly an open, an open question. St. Louis, if it hasn't already, I'm told it's going to come to him with a. An extremely big up in contract terms. Significant increase in pay for him and his staff. Double the nil at minimum. Do everything you can to keep them and there's a chance that St. Louis will win out here. And the biggest reason why is there's not at this stage and not really expected to be because I don't think Ohio State, personally, I don't think it's going to open. I think Ohio State will make the tournament. Jake Diebler will keep his job. Even if they didn't make the tournament. There's no, there's no guarantee that Diebler would be out after two years. But that's a top. I bring that up because that's a top 20 job, but I don't think it's going to open. If you look around, Syracuse is probably the best job out there. It's not a top 20 job right now. Not in my opinion. You really dig into the realities of what it's like to, to run a program at syracuse right now. 20, 26 nil portal era post Bayheim. People don't consider Syracuse at this point to be one of the 20 best jobs in men's college basketball. But it's probably the best on, on the carousel that's expected to open. It hasn't opened yet. Every indication that Syracuse is going to open, they have already reached out to some potential candidates there. Shirts being one of them. So shirts is going to be a high priority for Syracuse. I think he's going to get a real look from Providence. My understanding is Kansas State already came knocking and it was a thanks but no thanks there. So we wait, we wait and see on shirts. Cincinnati remains 5050 if it will open or not. I think Cincinnati would have Shirts at the top of its list. But if he stays a year, can do this again. The thing is you're not going to have, you're not going to have Kareem Abdul Jabbar next year. You're not going to have Steph Blurry hanging around campus. Can you do this again? Can you be a team that wins 25 plus games and be just as hot next year. I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying this is how it works. If you go next year and don't make the tournament, there are bigger jobs open. How is your case? We'll see on that. Yeah, I don't know. So we'll see it go. Feel free to go over to the app site, cbs sports.com I've got 15 sitting head coaches, 10 high major assistants just to kind of know and to track. Brian Hodgson's a name. Jared Calhoun considered the favorite right now at K State. Whether or not he'll take that remains to be seen. Casey Alexander at Belmont's a name to know. Takeo Siddle at uncw. Travis Steel. Oh, by the way, if Travis Steele gets to the tournament without a loss, that's going to be really fascinating because he's talked to me on the record this season about how much he really enjoys and he means it. Like he coached Xavier, it didn't work and like he's gotten to have carte blanche at that school. They just approved a 240 million dollar arena that's going to open in two years. That will be interesting with Steel. There's some high end assistance in there as well. Boynton at Michigan, Murray and Kamati Young at UConn. Duke is almost definitely going to lose probably at least one assistant this season, Carlin Hartman at Florida. So I send it on back to ugp. But if you want to get an idea of the guys that are, that have already heard contact from schools and, and are certainly going to hear more over the next week. Plus as the carousel really starts to spin. Go and read it. But shirts. His name is at the top of the list and I don't know what to think about what he's going to do. Like I really think it's 50, 50 if he stays or goes.
- [39:57]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, this is one of those where as, as, as you get older and you have a job like this, you should better understand that like yelling about what men or women or anybody should do with their careers. Like, like you know better than them. Like I, I probably thought, I probably thought I knew what everybody should do when I was, you know, 35 and under. But at some point as your kids get older and you make career choices, you realize that different things matter to different people. And so like Josh is going to have opportunities and president and then he's gonna, I'm assuming, gonna make the best decision he can make for everybody involved. But on a very basic level it might Just come down to do you walk away from one of the best jobs in a top seven league to take a middle of the pack job in a top five league.
- [40:49]
Matt Norlander
Right.
- [40:49]
Gary Parrish
Or, or a bottom half job in a top five league or a bottom third job in a top two league. And different people can weigh that different ways. But I know a lot of coaches are like, if you've got one of the best jobs in a good enough league, don't take a bad job in a better league because you're just going to get eat up. Or at least that's a, that's a likely scenario. So these are all the things he'll, he'll have to weigh. I'm certain he's already weighing them on some level. Either way, he's got a, a conference championship trophy headed to, headed to Shaffetz arena. And perhaps it'll be, perhaps it'll be an outright given what happens this weekend.
- [41:30]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, we can move on. But it just, it just dawned on me like it's just been busy, just been going on stuff. The news actually like finally broken taint. Yesterday I invoked Providence. Like Kim English is still the coach there, but sure he's been informed that that's, that this isn't breaking news. But as, as we're going through the coaching stuff, like it just, I didn't even think about it front of mind, I guess. Never say never. Maybe they could pull off an NC State which, which honestly like that would be amazing and hilarious if that happened. But there is expected to. You know, Kim English understands the deal here and that process of like trying to find the next coach that's, that's quietly already underway.
- [42:06]
Gary Parrish
The last thing I'll say about this, you touched on it. I just to put some more specific numbers on it. It wasn't just that St. Louis was bad two seasons ago, right before they lured Josh Shirts to campus, they were 13 and 20 overall. 5 and 13 in the Atlantic 10. They finished 14th. Yeah, which, which, which equates to next to last in the league. And nobody was coming to the games. All right. They made a coaching change, understandably so. They made an excellent hire, undeniably. And they went from seven games below.500 the year before shirts took over to four games above.500 in year one. That was last season. This is year two. And in year two, just two nights ago, they clinch a league title at home in front of a capacity crowd. This part matters too. Of nearly 11,000 despite the opponent being a sub 300 team. All right. And what nobody there to see who they were playing. Nobody cared. It was just our Billikens are playing tonight for a conference championship and nearly 11,000 people came to that arena to watch an A10 basketball game. I say all this because I think it's easy for fans of programs who have had it good at some point, tasted something good, and now it's just really bad. So, like, looking at you, Syracuse, Pitt, Memphis, it can get so bad. The visuals, nobody's at the games. I mean, you should have seen FedEx forum last night.
- [43:40]
Matt Norlander
I did, Trust me, I know it was a slow night in hoop, but I was doing work, doing prep, making calls, and I had it on the game and my God, the seat back number that I saw on the television screen was depressing.
- [43:51]
Gary Parrish
It's sad. It is sad that that is what Tiger basketball has come to. And I can just tell you, you know, I'm surrounded by people who have loved that thing their entire lives and they're beat down right now and they don't think it'll ever be good again. And I tell them, hey, just look up at St. Louis. They're in a league that their fans don't really care about either. If we're being honest. They were really in a bad place two years ago, but they made the right hire. They've established a culture now they're winning conference championships again. And they're more, most importantly, they're filling up a building that nobody was coming to as recently as. As two seasons ago. If it can happen like that at St. Louis with the right hire, if you've ever had success before, you can get something close to it back if you just make the right hire. And so I wish everybody, every school that. That has to do such a thing over the next few weeks or months. I wish him the best of luck.
- [44:49]
Matt Norlander
You can check out the Gary Parish show on Grind City Media. He was just about to segue into one of his primary topics on this Friday. I say no break. We got plenty to get to. I don't think folks even realize how busy the next two days are on the college basketball schedule. It's the final Four and one. I'm up like four games on the tally. Josh, don't even turn on your mic. We're good to go.
- [45:10]
Gary Parrish
Game one. Oh, no. I need to hear this from Josh's soft tones. Josh, am I really behind?
- [45:18]
Matt Norlander
Don't hit the wrong button, Josh, by the way.
- [45:19]
Gary Parrish
Okay, that's crazy.
- [45:21]
Matt Norlander
We all make mistakes. But yeah, I think you.
- [45:25]
Gary Parrish
I think you might have been better served, GP just going along with keeping My microphone muted. You're officially looking up at Norlander in the final four.
- [45:35]
Matt Norlander
And one surmounted.
- [45:37]
Gary Parrish
God. 40, 40, 46 and one to Norlanders.
- [45:40]
Ad Read / Advertiser
42, 44 and one.
- [45:50]
Gary Parrish
Got anything to say or you just want to move on real quick? I don't have anything to say, but I would want to tell you a quick story. And I mean the quickest. The other night I got a studio. The other night I got at a studio. And because we had stumbled into Tool the other day on Wednesday's episode, it was just in my head and I don't know why it was in my head, but I was like, you know what? I want to see if I really did the Learn to Swim part. Right? Like, how close did I sound?
- [46:14]
Matt Norlander
You were close. Ish.
- [46:15]
Gary Parrish
I. Okay. I felt good because I haven't heard that. I haven't heard Maynard Keenan say that phrase. I'm not. I'm not exaggerating, maybe 20 years, but it is what it is. What popped into my head when you said 46 and 2. I immediately went to that title track and I immediately went to Learn to Swim. And I was like, I wonder if I. How good I sounded because it felt good, but I didn't know. And so I went and found a live version of Maynard Keenan singing that song. And it was like some festival from like two that, like last year, it was la.
- [46:45]
Matt Norlander
It was. It was this. It was the send off for Ozzy Osbourne. Yes, it was Tools first performance in a long time.
- [46:49]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, how about that? Okay, so I was in it. And then I swear to God, you got to understand, I'm on like, no Blurry Eyed and I'm barely holding it together. And I'm watching this video and the drummer for Tool is in a number 22 Kansas Jayhawks jersey. I glance over and I'm like, is the. What is going on? We have to be the only college basketball podcast that has ever spent that amount of time on Tool. I am randomly watching a Tool video in the middle of the night now, and the drummer is wearing a Darren Peterson jersey.
- [47:25]
Matt Norlander
He was wearing a Danny Carey jersey as I responded to you on the text thread. Danny Carey from Lawrence, Kansas, wears a Kansas jersey all the time, has played at Kansas basketball games with the pep band. But now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
- [47:39]
Gary Parrish
But isn't that a wild thing to stumble up to?
- [47:41]
Matt Norlander
If you're me, I know you. You're watching a tool video at 3:15 in the morning. I don't know why you are, but you are. And suddenly you think you're hallucinating because you' Do I see the drummer for this band right away wearing a 22 jersey? Yes, you're damn right he was. I thought I was also an insanely, insanely talented drummer. For those who might not realize, I
- [48:01]
Gary Parrish
think I, I thought I was hallucinating. And I'm not even ruling out, I'm not even insisting I wasn't hallucinating, but the jersey was, it was real, was a real thing. Game one, Friday, 9pm Eastern.
- [48:14]
Matt Norlander
Let's go.
- [48:15]
Gary Parrish
Number 19, Miami University at Ohio, inside the Logan Paul Center. You can watch it on ESPN. To Miami -5 and a half. Yes, Logan Paul did attend Ohio University, but he's a non graduate. He's a college dropout. He's a college dropout. I wonder whatever. I wonder whatever happened to him. I wonder if he's doing okay.
- [48:38]
Matt Norlander
He's doing all right. Nine Eastern. Here we go for the regular season undefeated run. And it's a rivalry game on the road. Ohio's coach by Jeff Bowles. And if you think this man doesn't want to end this undefeated run, he would love nothing more than to kick Miami out of the building with his first loss of the season. Friday is actually really loaded. This is obviously the biggest game of the night. Redhawks right now this morning, 21 and shrink the record 30 in wins above bubble. If Miami wins, it's going to get into the tournament. It will be a lock. The selection committee cannot, will not, should not keep out any team ever that runs the regular season table. The committee will not do that if Miami can get this win. And I don't think it's going to be easy. This team has been tap dancing on a high wire as of late. Redhawks are going to the dance. It doesn't matter what happens in the Mac tournament. And I'm going to lean in to the good here. I will take Miami to win. Miami to cover. Shouts to Eric.
- [49:49]
Gary Parrish
Shouts to Eric K. We love Jeff Paul. The Iowa College basketball podcast loves Ohio. But we can't be rooting against the greatest story in the sport, can we? I'm conflicted. I admit. I'm conflicted up front. I actually think Ohio covers this number.
- [50:09]
Matt Norlander
All right. I almost picked Ohio to cover, but I said, you know what? No, I'm leaning into the positive. That's why I took. That's why I took the Redhawks.
- [50:15]
Gary Parrish
That is exactly what I'm doing as well. I think if I had to bet my own money, I would take Ohio plus the points. But I don't have to bet my own money. I just have to sit in a recliner and watch a basketball game and I probably got to eat, you know, Westville with Wally Zerbiak on Wednesday night or something. And I don't want him to be all down in the dumps. So I also will take Miami minus the five and a half points. And you're exactly right. I don't even want to hear anybody suggest if they win tonight. Well, you know, what if they took a lost in the first game? Like, shut up. All right.
- [50:51]
Matt Norlander
I don't like gotta win it though. I know.
- [50:53]
Gary Parrish
I want to hear it. All right. If they win tonight, the conversation is over. They will either be in the tournament as a at large or they will be in the tournament as an auto bid. But there is no NCAA tournament that's gonna happen without Miami. If Miami wins tonight.
- [51:08]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, they lose. That's the conversation again. We'll get there if we need to get there. What's game two?
- [51:14]
Gary Parrish
Game two, Saturday, noon Eastern. Number at Oklahoma State. It's inside Tony Allen Arena. You can watch this on cbs. It's America's most watched networks network of stars. Tim bomb has it.
- [51:26]
Matt Norlander
Houston -10 HP threw this game on the schedule because it's a CBS game. But I will say this. Houston's seeking to clinch the 2 seed in the Big 12 tournament with a win here. It either wins this game or if it loses and Texas Tech loses at BYU, the Cougs will be the 2. Obviously Zona is the 1. Houston has won 43 in a row against unranked teams. That's the longest streak in the country. Wins over unranked second. Miami University and Duke have won 30 in a row against unranked competition.
- [51:58]
Gary Parrish
It's a special class of basketball teams.
- [52:00]
Matt Norlander
It really is. Oklahoma State needs to win this game and make the Big 12 semis to have a chance to get into the tournament. It's not unthinkable, but got to get this done at home. Cougars actually got a heck of a battle from Baylor on Wednesday night since we last talked. GP Good game. Good like good. Bayless, just not a tournament team this year. But it played another really, really good game against another really, really good team. Kind of like the way it did against Arizona. Couldn't get it done. Couldn't pull it out. Emotions running high. You love to see it. Emmanuel Sharp, Kelvin Sampson. It was great. Houston got the the win. Houston will get the win here, but I'll take the Cowboys. And Steve, let's to cover.
- [52:38]
Gary Parrish
Okay. I put this game here, in part because it's a CBS game. That's true. Like, I. I know where my direct deposits come from. All right? But beyond that, I wanted to use it as a hook to ask you, did you see Kelvin's press conference after the win over Baylor? There was a clip that went.
- [52:54]
Matt Norlander
You know what? I did not.
- [52:55]
Gary Parrish
Okay. There was a clip that got some attention, and I'd love to play up the. For you, except I knew I wanted to play the Sean Miller clip. And then you start trying to play a Kelvin Sampson clip, and you go look up, and you ain't gonna have time to talk about Tool's drummer. All right?
- [53:09]
Matt Norlander
And we know we have our priorities in order here.
- [53:11]
Gary Parrish
Of course we gotta have our priorities in order. But I thought it was great. I mean, all Caps, great. Go find it. Just Kelvin Sampson, or. I actually talked about it on the GP show yesterday. You can find it there. I did play it there because, you know, we had two full hours. We got. We had two full hours, and the Grizzlies aren't any good. So got to do something. Got to do something. Anyway, he said after the game, he had Emmanuel Sharp with him, and he had Miles us in with him. And there was the moment during the Senior night ceremony where they both, like, teared up, tears of joy, all that stuff. But, like, there's Kelvin Sampson, toughest man, hardest coach. He's in tears. Manuel Sharp in tears. It was just a sweet moment, as Isaac pointed out, you know, we only got 22 of those that have been there. You know, start your career here, finish your career here. And he's one of them. So that was sweet. And then Kelvin was either asked about it or he brought it up post game, but he went on to explain, like, he was talking about, Kingston Flemings is not going to graduate. All right? Because he's going to go to the NBA and Chris isn't going to graduate. Hopefully sometimes someday, though, they come back and do it. But, like, everybody else here is going to graduate. And this is important to us. But it's not because of me. I'm just their basketball coach. Emmanuel's going to graduate because of his parents, because his parents are both college graduates. And he went on to explain, like, in the recruiting process, this is something he prioritizes. He recruits players. Sure. Like, he's not going to recruit my kids just because he thinks me and my wife might be decent parents. It starts with the basketball players, but then he looks at the parents, and if there's things with the parents that he's that comfortable with. He'll move on from the basketball player because I don't want to speak for him, but I'm sure he's been surprised before in a good way, but I bet not as often as you get exactly what you assume is coming. And so he just sort of talked about that and just talked about. He just touched on a lot of really important messages that I think speak to the state of college basketball. But even more than that, just the world in general. Like it's just two minutes where I didn't get home till late last night, but I will at some point play that for my boys. Just hey, listen to this. He talked about how the next generation is got to be better than the previous generation and that as somebody who works around young people, that is what he sees. He's like, man, these young people today are better than they've ever been. And it's because parents like, like, like Emmanuel's parents and Milo's parents are invested in young people more than parents. I just thought it was a lot of good stuff. I know I could have just played it for you have been quicker.
- [55:48]
Matt Norlander
It would have been, yeah, but minus 10 HP.
- [55:52]
Gary Parrish
But find it, find it on your own time because it was, it was really good. Kelvin Sampson hopefully gets into the hall of Fame a little later on, I guess next month. In the meantime, yeah, I'll lay the 10 points. Game 3 Saturday, 2pm Eastern Louisville at number 22, Miami inside the Shane Larkin Center. You can watch it on ESPNU. KenPom has it. Louisville minus 1 minus 1.
- [56:22]
Matt Norlander
Louisville is 10 and 9 in quad one and two. BPI has the Cardinals 21. 9 as the 11th best team in the country. Ken Palm has Louisville at 16. Louisville's best wins are home versus Kentucky, Cincinnati and Cincinnati, but not at Cincinnati and the other arena in that city and Baylor and Fort Worth. Still kind of got to see some more from the Cards. It'd be, it'd be nice if Louisville could go on the road against a really solid team, a projected single digit seed, a good Cane squad, Kane squad that is 24 and 6. BPI has. How about this? Louisville is 11 in BPI. Miami 24. 6 is 40th in BPI, 29. Spot difference there. Fluval could go on the road and get this win. It could be really good for fan and team morale just going into the postseason, see if they can get it done. The Hurricanes are 11 and 6 in quad one and quad two. By the way. Much better record than Louisville at this point. 25th in resume average 35th in prediction average for the Hurricanes. Jay Lucas has done a wonderful job. If his former boss wasn't so incredible at coaching, this would be your ACC Coach of the Year. But Shire will almost. I mean how could Shire not be ACC Coaches of the Year? That's so.
- [57:27]
Gary Parrish
But Lucas, people don't know how to vote on coach of the year awards. There's too many goofies, too many goofies with ballots. That's how you want. The question is how could John Shire not win ACC Coach of the Year? The answer is too many goofies with ballots.
- [57:40]
Matt Norlander
Too many goofies. You hate it. Too many goofies. Goofies all over the place. I would think that's not going to happen in the accident. See, but we'll see. Maybe Carolina wins a Duke, Miami wins this one and some, some wonkiness ensues. You've got cards. Minus one is the line according to Ken Palm. I will take Miami. Miami at home getting another win. And in the process, I mean this should put Miami squarely on the, on the six line for sure. Maybe I, maybe there's even a case for a five, but I'm guessing no. But, but yeah, I'll take, I'll take the Cranes to get it done and to, to cruise into the ACC tournament. Not so much under the radar, but certainly under discussed. But maybe a win like this ups their profile all the more. And hey, here we are talking about him. Final four and one going to the fast going into the last weekend of the regular season.
- [58:23]
Gary Parrish
It would be wrong for Jay Lucas to win ACC Coach of the Year because John Shire has built the number one ranked basketball team in the country. He has done it by replacing multiple lottery picks and they've been excellent, excellent from start to finish. I know that they were supposed to be excellent, but you know, look around the country. Just because you're supposed to be good doesn't mean that you, you always will be. That should be rewarded. John Shire should be the ACC coach of the year. But Jay Lucas has been incredible. And if you're asking why did I put this game here, it's not because I care that much about how the ACC standings are going to shake out below Duke. But if we're going to spend time talking about Stephen Pearl is really struggling in year one at Auburn, we should take the time to acknowledge the good side of this. And that is Jay Lucas, 24 and 6 overall, 13 and 4 in the ACC alone, in third in the league standings, started 76. The King Palm, now 28, inherited a program that only won seven games last season. He's already won 24. Finished 193rd at Ken Palm last season. Again. Right now, hurricanes are 28. That is plus 170, 165 spots. It's plus 165 spots year over year. That's incredible stuff. He should be the ACC runner up coach of the year.
- [59:45]
Matt Norlander
Okay, there you go. You just invented a ward. All right. Speaking of the ACC game, 4 HP. We all know what it is.
- [59:51]
Gary Parrish
Saturday, 6:30pm Eastern. Number 17, North Carolina at number one Duke, inside Concanipple Stadium. You can watch it on ESPN. Kim Pom's got it. Duke minus 16. That's disrespectful.
- [60:09]
Matt Norlander
Is it 16?
- [60:10]
Gary Parrish
That's what Kim Palm says.
- [60:13]
Matt Norlander
Hold on. Let's bring up this projected score. 81.65. What was the projected score four years ago? We are now four years old and one day removed from. Well, we're actually like. We're four day for four years and two days removed from Parrish. Wondering aloud on the show if Mike Shashefsky would get ejected from his final home game if he pissed on a ref. 4 days and 14 years and 1 day remove from Carolina actually going in and beating Duke and Kate's final home game. I'll never forget. Get that. Covering that for the rest of my life. And here we are, Carolina, big, big underdog Duke going for a 171 season in the ACC. The only loss, of course, Chapel Hill, 2-7-7168. Duke, Ledford the entire game until the very end when none other than Seth Trimble from the corner hit the three,
- [61:12]
Gary Parrish
by the way, I got it. I got it. That game. K's last game at Cameron.
- [61:15]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [61:16]
Gary Parrish
Duke was favored by 11 and a half.
- [61:19]
Matt Norlander
So this would be a bigger shocker.
- [61:21]
Gary Parrish
This would be a bigger shocker than the thing we had a hard time imagining happening just four years ago.
- [61:28]
Matt Norlander
I know this would not be nearly as funny. Sorry. We said there couldn't be anything because going into it, no one gave Carolina a chance. And we said it's not going to happen. But is there anything funnier than if they actually went and did this with all those Duke alumni behind K? And that's exactly what happened after. What did he say? It's unacceptable.
- [61:53]
Gary Parrish
It's unacceptable. Then we got our answer to the question, would there be? Is there anything funnier than Duke losing that game? And then we got our answer and it's like, it's like, no, no, there is nothing funnier than Duke losing that game. And not. I'M not even anti Duke. I'm pro Duke. But, like, that's objectively hilarious that they lost that game. It's objectively hilarious.
- [62:16]
Matt Norlander
Yeah. Crazy. The big question with this one, will Caleb Wilson play? ACC has availability reports the day before. Here's how I think this is going to go. The report's going to come out later on Friday. He's going to be listed as questionable. They're going to tip this game, and I think he's gonna be on the floor now. Hand injury. I. I understand. Caleb Wilson is wired. I love the way he's wired. He knows this is the only chance he will ever have to play in that building, and so he's probably champing at the bit and just dying to do it. If he feels good, maybe even chomp. No, the. The phrase is actually champing. Chomping is not correct. Champing is everything.
- [62:56]
Gary Parrish
Watch this. Watch this. Watch. Hold on.
- [62:59]
Matt Norlander
I shouldn't do it. Yeah, you should. Yeah, you don't need to do that.
- [63:02]
Gary Parrish
Definitely don't need to do that.
- [63:03]
Matt Norlander
I don't know where you were going with that. We'll keep it moving. Look it up. Champing at the bit. Everyone says chomping, but it's.
- [63:10]
Gary Parrish
I don't need anybody pausing that video.
- [63:12]
Matt Norlander
Well, either you.
- [63:13]
Gary Parrish
You are trying to make a point.
- [63:15]
Matt Norlander
Yep. I think Wilson winds up playing in the game. Put me at. Put me at 60, 40. He does. I'm not overly optimistic, but optimistic enough where I think there's enough out there that. That he's gonna play. That said, pick the game here. Duke also, you know, not just rivalry game, but, you know, going still vying with Michigan and Arizona for number one overall seed status. I'll say Duke wins. I say Carolina's in the number. Now, Duke has been. It's just been eviscerating opponents left and right. So. Yeah. Can Duke pull out? Can Duke win this by 24? Of course it can. I'll lean into the rivalry. That's a big number. Carolina covers. I'm gonna be wrong. What? I mean, it is what it is. Come on, Duke.
- [64:03]
Gary Parrish
This is real interesting. To champ means to chew noises. I can't say that word. It's one of those words. I can't say it. To champ means to chew noisily,
- [64:21]
Sean Miller
and
- [64:21]
Gary Parrish
to chomp means to chew vigorously. So you might champ at the bit, but I do chomp at the bit because I chew vigorously. I'm a vigorous chewer.
- [64:33]
Matt Norlander
You're not. I've seen you eat.
- [64:34]
Gary Parrish
I did almost. I almost choked to death at the Broadcast center on lamb. One night I got a little cocky with my lamb. I was like, I don't know if you really got to cut this piece up. I bet I can chew it vigorously. Chomp. And it got stuck right here. I thought I was gonna. I had to Heimlich myself. I highlight myself. I thought I was a goner.
- [64:54]
Matt Norlander
Is it physically possible to Heimlich yourself?
- [64:57]
Gary Parrish
Oh, sure. I do it. I do it. Yeah, Yeah, I think you can do it. I Heimlich myself. But like, I had that moment where I was like, wouldn't this be the wildest way to. To go choking on lamb at. In the second half of a Mountain west game? Like, wouldn't that be something? Anyway, I survived it, but I learned. I learned my lesson. You can't get cocky with your lamb. Cut it. Cut it into smaller pieces.
- [65:22]
Matt Norlander
That's right.
- [65:23]
Gary Parrish
Yeah.
- [65:23]
Matt Norlander
Anyway, that's why I don't eat lamb. You.
- [65:26]
Gary Parrish
You champ. And I respect that. I respect that. You champ. But I chomp. I chew vigorously.
- [65:33]
Matt Norlander
And. One Saturday, 10:30. Oh, you gotta pick the game.
- [65:37]
Gary Parrish
Oh, I do?
- [65:37]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [65:37]
Gary Parrish
I'm taking Carolina, plus the points. I want to watch a fun basketball game. That's good. So, yeah, just give me the 16 points and let's, let's, let's have it be compelling. In the under four, we've.
- [65:49]
Matt Norlander
We've doomed ourselves. I just know it. We both took Carolina.
- [65:53]
Gary Parrish
They're lose by 30. They're going to lose by 30.
- [65:58]
Matt Norlander
And one Saturday, 10:30 Eastern on ESPN. It's number 10 Texas Tech at BYU on. You know what? I'm gonna give the guy a little love here. Richie Saunders, court. He's getting the court for this game. He can't play on it. We're gonna name the court after him. Ken Palm. BYU cougs minus 2 HP.
- [66:17]
Gary Parrish
You have to believe that BYU is gonna win a basketball game.
- [66:20]
Matt Norlander
Gotta believe it. You gotta believe that they're gonna win a basketball game and that no one has had premarital sex the entire season.
- [66:26]
Gary Parrish
That's for. That's, that's. That. I think that's asking too much.
- [66:31]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [66:32]
Gary Parrish
I don't feel like I'm at a point. I don't feel like I'm at a place where I can believe BYU's gonna win a basketball game. Right now. Give me the points.
- [66:42]
Matt Norlander
That's all you got?
- [66:43]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, that's it.
- [66:43]
Matt Norlander
Okay, that's it. Hey, listen, I got. I got plenty of games to inform our audience on that aren't in the final form one. So I'll, I'll take that. BYU flirting with going into the 89 game. If you can't win this and it doesn't do anything in the, in the Big 12 tournament. Huge opportunity at home. Texas Tech coming off of the loss at home against TCU on Tuesday. This is a riveting matchup and I don't know what to expect. A late Saturday tip here will be dialed in for sure. I, I will go Cougs at home to win in cover, but I don't know if I've had a less confident pick the entire season. I really don't know if I have. I will go at least with Texas
- [67:29]
Gary Parrish
Tech it's like, hey, they really might just jump up and beat anybody with 17 three pointers.
- [67:34]
Matt Norlander
That's right.
- [67:35]
Gary Parrish
And with BYU, it's like, man, I ain't seen you dudes be that very good in a minute.
- [67:39]
Matt Norlander
The defense is, has been so bad. Can the defense show up in this one? I mean, Texas Tech, yeah. The threes are, and they're, they pick their spots. They are a good offense despite the fact that they're pedestrian from the line as well. So debona over under debona 28 and a half this game. JP over.
- [67:59]
Gary Parrish
Gee, he's got to. How, how, how, how else are they going to score?
- [68:02]
Matt Norlander
Yeah. Final home game, all that. Maybe I'll come back. You see, you heard that? You see that? That went.
- [68:08]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, that's silly. I, like, I, I don't mind we
- [68:11]
Matt Norlander
had this with Cooper Flag last year.
- [68:14]
Gary Parrish
I don't like. Yeah, the guy who is, is living in Provo for, for millions of dollars is just gonna stop. I, I don't mind it when, when the young people say it because I, I think it often comes from a sincere place. It's not a real thing they're gonna do. But I, I, I, I don't, I'm not dismissive of the idea that it's a real feeling that they have.
- [68:35]
Matt Norlander
All right. Yeah.
- [68:36]
Gary Parrish
Where I get frustrated is like, but just because we don't have to give it, we don't have to pay it real attention. You don't have to give it like, you don't have to give it like an actual, like, I'm not speaking out of turn here.
- [68:50]
Matt Norlander
No. What do you want to say?
- [68:51]
Gary Parrish
I was just going to say, like, just because AJ DeBonsa says I might come back to college, my mom wants me to graduate, doesn't mean we need to open a podcast talking about or, or like somebody needs to write a column saying, will AG Devonza really come back? Let's explore the possibilities. Like, no, he's going to enter the NBA draft. He's going to be picked in the top three. Just as soon as BYU loses in the NCAA tournament. That will be it. Period. I don't care what he says. I'm not calling him insincere. I'm just saying that's not the way this will play.
- [69:20]
Matt Norlander
Wouldn't. I mean, can you. Whatever. We don't have to play. Like, if he actually did come back, because I talked to his father about this when I went out there, just how much the, the degree actually does genuinely mean to A.J.
- [69:32]
Gary Parrish
no, no, I'm not. I can't even listen to it.
- [69:35]
Matt Norlander
Like, it would be amazing if it happened.
- [69:37]
Gary Parrish
It would be ridiculous. It would be dumb if it happens, okay? And I'm happy to let everybody do what they want to do, but it'd be financially ridiculous to not be in this NBA draft.
- [69:47]
Matt Norlander
So we're clear. Just so we tied up and before I give you what you know watch this weekend, Parrish on this podcast has said it is, it is not for me to tell grown men what they should be doing with their career, but I am not 19 year old basketball players. I am absolutely going to tell them what they should.
- [70:00]
Gary Parrish
That's not what I said. I'm not telling him what to do. He could do whatever he wants to do. I'm telling you, it would be financially reckless to, to stay in school and I'm telling you he ain't gonna do it. That's what I'm telling you. He can do whatever he wants, but it would be financially reckless to stay in school and he's not going to do it no matter what he or his father says to you or anybody else.
- [70:18]
Matt Norlander
If he is so fired up, he might bite the mic again though. Look at him. He's fired up.
- [70:24]
Gary Parrish
I chew vigorously. If there's one thing I learned from that lamb episode, it's that you need to chew. Particularly lamb. You need to chew it vigorously. I'm a chomper.
- [70:35]
Matt Norlander
Before we get out of here, wherever you're taking in this podcast, however you're taking it in on Friday or Saturday, here is your heads up on a loaded, loaded final weekend of the regular season. Dial in. Let's go. Because it is nothing but hoops for the next 48 plus hours. Friday Bubble Situations VCU at Dayton, 7 Eastern ESPN2 Rams project to Dayton right now. That would be huge if they can win at Dayton on Friday. UCF at West Virginia, 8 Eastern CBS Sports Network Knights don't Lose it. Don't flirt with that. Seton Hall 9 Eastern FS1 Friday Night Pirates in a must win situation, possibly on the cut line if they can win at home over St. John's on Friday. UNLV at San Diego State Aztecs 10 Eastern CBS Sports Network on Friday. Tex cannot lose between now and the Mountain west title game Saturday. Bubble let's go. Noon Eastern, the CW Virginia Tech at Virginia if the Hokies sweep the Wahoos, they might barely be in the field with a win, depending on other results this weekend. Arkansas at Missouri Tigers are in and will be a lock with the win. A loss still leaves a little room for doubt. 2 Eastern ACC Network SMU at Florida State SMU is either the last team in or the first team out right now, depending on how you look at it. That is a treacherous game for the ponies. 2 Eastern TNT Cincinnati at TCU the Bearcats will officially be in the mix if they can get a win on the road at the Horn Frogs. We'll see about that for Eastern. This game is not on television. It's a very good It's New Mexico at Utah State. It's on the Mountain West Network, which I think is only online.
- [72:06]
Gary Parrish
I rock with them. I rock with the Mountain West Network.
- [72:10]
Matt Norlander
You go and look at this game and the listings and there's no television network next to it. It's New Mexico at Utah State. These are two really good teams in the Mountain West. What are we doing? New Mexico needs to win the game to keep its bubble case alive. Utah State safely in the field for Eastern ACC Network. I put this in, regrettably, but nonetheless, if Cal does win at Wake Forest, it will still be in the bubble picture. It technically is a bubble game. 5:30 Eastern Fox Double bubble Indiana at Ohio State. To me, the winner of this is in the field for now. The loser of this is out of the field. Keep an eye on that. Six Eastern Saturday A&M at LSU Aggies are a lock if they can get the win on the road against LSU. You take a loss, things get hairier again. 8:30 Eastern Saturday ESPN Auburn at Bama Tigers are 16 and 14. Would probably be in the projected field with a win to get to 17 and 14. And they win on the road against Bama. If it loses the game, I feel like Auburn is near dead. I don't know if there's a higher leverage game for a bubble team this entire weekend at Auburn at Alabama and then Oklahoma at Texas Saturday night. 8:30 Eastern SEC Network Texas don't lose the game. Others on Saturday to know. Vandy at Tennessee at 2:00 clock on ESPN. Florida at Kentucky, the best game that wasn't in the Final Four and 14 Eastern on ESPN. Big one for Kentucky there. GP4 Eastern, CBS Wisconsin at Purdue, Purdue, which almost lost on the road to Northwestern just a few nights ago. That one takes on some heavy significance on Saturday. Senior day. UCLA@USC FS1 9 Eastern. UCLA is in the field. I don't think USC has a shot. And then we've got title games. 5 bids coming. GP I know we're up against it, but you wanted to talk about Danny Carey. You did this to yourself. We've got Saturday, 9 Eastern, ESPN, OVC title game. First team in the field, Tennessee State's the favorite coach by Nolan Smith. Yes, that Nolan Smith. Sunday, noon, cbs, NBC title game. Belmont is the favorite. Sunday, noon Eastern. ESPN2 Big south title game. High Point is the favorite. Sunday, 2 Eastern, ESPN2A sun title game. Central Arkansas is the favorite. Sunday, 9 Eastern. This might be after we're done. We might be on there. CBS Sports network, Summit League North Dakota State's the 1 seed, St. Thomas is actually the favorite, I believe, because it ranks ahead in predictive metrics. We will have five teams out of 68 in the field after we get out. After we get out of this weekend. Sunday, as GP mentioned before, Michigan State at Michigan, 4:30 Eastern on CBS. Iowa, Nebraska also play on Fox on Sunday. We will be back at some point on Sunday night to wrap up what is going to be a loaded weekend and do our best to get out in under an hour and a half.
- [74:33]
Gary Parrish
So for all of you that don't have scoreboard apps on your phone, that was terrific. You can just rewind that. You'll know when everything's gonna tip off.
- [74:40]
Matt Norlander
That's correct. You're welcome. I laid out the stakes for everyone so they know what to watch, when and what games matter most. You're welcome.
- [74:47]
Gary Parrish
Shouts to Devin Downey. Shouts to Chester, South Carolina. Terry Teagle's a legend. Hook Larnell, Danny Carey. Hey, I'm not even joking. Like, I, I went back, I started watching him play with the Kansas band. I like, I was in it, man. I was in it deep. I was in it deep. If you're not subscribed, please go subscribe anywhere you subscribe to podcast, Apple, Spotify, more of us than there are of them. That should be reflected in the comments. So do that. We'll talk to you again real soon. Till then, take care.
- [75:22]
Matt Norlander
Paramount Podcasts, Monster Energy, everybody knows White Monster Zero Ultra.
- [75:30]
Gary Parrish
That's the og. It kicked off this whole Zero Sugar energy drink thing.
- [75:34]
Ad Read / Advertiser
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- [75:36]
Matt Norlander
You've got Strawberry Dreams, Blue Hawaiian Sunrise and Vice Guava.
- [75:41]
Ad Read / Advertiser
And they all bring the Monster Energy Punch.
- [75:44]
Gary Parrish
So if you've been living in the
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Matt Norlander
White can, branch out. Ultra's got a flavor for every vibe, and every single one is Zero Sugar. Tap the banner to learn more.