← Eye On College Basketball
Eye On College Basketball
Caleb Wilson’s broken hand, Jerome Tang’s broken team and a weekend preview: Kansas-Iowa St., Kentucky-Florida, Texas Tech-Zona headline F4+1
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- [00:00]
Gary Parrish
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- [00:34]
Matt Norlander
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- [02:07]
Gary Parrish
There I am. Gary Parish welcome back CBS Sports I Own College Basketball podcast where we sometimes discuss Campbell Fighting, Dodo Birds and Leaky Black. Per usual, Matt Norlander is here with me. If you're watching live 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 and I want to start with the biggest development of the past 24 hours. And that is that North Carolina star and projected top 10 pick Caleb Wilson is out indefinitely with a fractured hand suffered in this week's loss at Miami. Norlander, you handled the headlines. CBSSports.com these were your first 17 words. One of the most valuable freshmen in the sport may have played his last game in college. Good first sentence. Sucky thing to read. I'll let you take it from here.
- [03:04]
Matt Norlander
Yeah. I hope this is not the last of it. Caleb Wilson, who I'm going to try. Have you noticed by the way this has happened multiple times. Not like across.
- [03:13]
Gary Parrish
It happens to me too. Yes.
- [03:16]
Matt Norlander
Caleb Williams. So me as the Bears fan, I will try not to invoke Caleb Williams on the show. Caleb Wilson because he is a projected top five pick. I think we have to allow for the possibility and, and the. Given the nature of a broken hand and that can vary and you're talking to a fella here who does this show up well on the, on the camp. You can see the, the, the. The wrist scar right there. That's a bass. That's a broken wrist. Basketball injury right here. GP 2002.
- [03:44]
Gary Parrish
I got one too. I got one too.
- [03:46]
Matt Norlander
Oh yeah?
- [03:47]
Gary Parrish
Yeah. Yes.
- [03:49]
Matt Norlander
Surgery required. You got screws in this bad boy.
- [03:52]
Gary Parrish
Like I do, bro. Bike accident at the age of 12. You ready? Had to put me to sleep to reset my arm. Hand to heart. True story. I woke up in the. Through the anesthesia. My parents could hear me yelling in the waiting room. They could hear me yelling. I woke up in the middle of them resetting my arm.
- [04:15]
Matt Norlander
That's atrocious. Oh my gosh. Well, I broke. We can get to Caleb Wilson just.
- [04:21]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, we'll get back.
- [04:21]
Matt Norlander
Hey, hey.
- [04:22]
Gary Parrish
We'll get to him in a minute. Let's talk about first let's talk about some old men non basketball injuries.
- [04:27]
Matt Norlander
When I broke this wrist, I broke it on a Friday night playing pickup hoops. And I was in pain, but I didn't know how much pain I was in. I wake up the next morning and it's. It's brutal. I go to the doctor. He just feels around and I. It was so painful. It's the one time ever I have fainted from just. The body went into shock and I'll never forget it was the weirdest feeling ever. Anyway, that was a risk, not a broken hand. But these things can take long times to recover from. And so how severe is the injury? They actually scanned him with an X ray in Miami. Didn't see anything. I was told MRI follow up Chapel Hill. The MRI is actually what revealed the fracture. And so given the timeline that could be in play, I mean, I'd love nothing more than to see him get back on the floor. He is one of the most joyous players to watch play. His battery runs so long. He plays so hard. He is the spiritual center of North Carolina's basketball team and he tweeted on Thursday, he basically said, like, I'm gonna be back. I can't wait to get back. Well, I hope that is the case, but it's a hand fracture, so we don't know. These sometimes can last months. He's also a top five pick, you know, who knows what if it's his. I think if it's Caleb Wilson's decision, he's going to get back on the floor as soon as possible. But they're not going to let him get back until he's fully healthy. And then if he is healthy, when is that going to be? My prediction is that we will see him play for North Carolina again, but we have to allow for the possibility that he has played his last game in North Carolina, which would be just so unfortunate because I love watching him play. But also, and this is our opening poll here, so vote if you haven't already on the show. How is this going to affect Carolina seating in the tournament? We're about to see how it does against some real competition without Wilson on the floor. Because I think it is a fair estimation, GP that we will not see him play again until I think at least the ACC tournament. I think anything before that may maybe the best, absolute best case scenario, slap a cast on him. I'm not missing my opportunity, the one and only to play at Duke after we beat him on our home floor. Maybe, but I, I don't know. What are your thoughts and I don't know general expectations on, on what's in play here as we have a second high profile freshman that unfortunately will be sitting many, many games, obviously joining Peterson situation, which is entirely different.
- [06:45]
Gary Parrish
Well, it's, it's, you know, it's just a fracture. It's not flu like symptoms. So you know, you know, it's not flu like symptoms. So it's just a fracture. So we're going to leave open the possibility that he could return at some point. It stinks. He's awesome. And reading through your story last night, you had a lot of little, like little nuggets I guess is what they would call it from the TV side. He's awesome. I think if you follow college basketball even a little bit, you know, that he's been maybe more awesome than than we realize. As you noted, 1720 point games already. That's a UNC freshman record. Think about all the freshmen who have played in North Carolina. I don't have to go through them. You could probably think of some off the top of your head. Nobody's done what he's done already and it's only February 13th. He has 66 dunks. You noted that leave the nation. He's just been an awesome college basketball player. Maybe not one who gets the type of attention or who has received the type of attention that Cameron Boozer has received or Darren Peterson or AJ DeBonsa for a variety of reasons. Among them that North Carolina hasn't been rocking and rolling in the top five or top 10 for much of the season. But individually he has been incredible. All American level. And I hope he heals as as quickly as he can because he does strike me as the type of person who is not just spending a year between high school and the NBA draft. Some of these guys are. I don't think he is. He. He wants to play basketball. He wants to be a Tar Heel. He wants to compete. And it stinks that that's been taken away from him at this moment. But I hope he gets it back.
- [08:25]
Matt Norlander
So do I. And we'll wait and see. On the, on the progression on the timeline there, sooner the better. Obviously get healthy. Let's hope this isn't his last game in the Carolina uniform. I do believe it is not. So we'll see. Now as to replacing him, there is no replacing him. And Carolina fans are understandably concerned because they've seen this team. They know what it is capable of at least to this point in the season. And it had that real bad spell for like three weeks where it was defensively atrocious. You take Wilson out of the mix, that's a problem. So I think Luka Bogavac will be the fifth starter now and he has started some games already. I think the key player in all this is not someone like a Zaden High who I think you can't. He hasn't played a ton seven footer. I don't think you can help but get him in the mix because otherwise you're relying on Geez. Okay, so Visa are the starting five. Stevenson. Jaren Stevenson will move to the four. Then you have no other options than that. So it's either and those guys can't play north of 35 minutes a game. So are you going to go with a one big man, four guard Wing attack. Hard for me to see Carolina doing that. So you probably get Zaden High in the mix there. But. But I actually think that Derek Dixon is the guy to watch here. He has been a freshman who has greatly improved from the start of the season and I think is going to be a key guy here like Seth Trimble as the leader now that Wilson and he was a veteran leader to begin with. Yes, we know what his his role is on the team. But Dixon, who's a quality shooter, good playmaker, he's the one who actually made the pass to Trimble obviously that we talked about last weekend to set up Trimble for the for the game winner against Duke. I just wonder if someone like him now has to elevate his game. It is going to be asking a lot for Carolina this upcoming weekend should have no problems. I say should pit at home, get it done. Shouldn't be an issue. Then it's at NC State next Tuesday. That will be a tough one at Syracuse. Theoretically Carolina should win but when you don't have your best player and you're playing on the road and Syracuse isn't atrocious, that's where can get into some trouble. Still home games against Louisville and Clemson and rap at Duke. So if I'm a Carolina fan there's also a home game against Virginia Tech which is no gimme. We'll see if Virginia Tech can actually consistently play its way into the tournament field. Pitt, NC State cues Ville, Vatech, Clemson, Duke. Those are your final seven of the regular season. I am signing up for four and three right now. That gets me to 23 and eight and in that scenario you're still going to be a single digit seed. You're not going to be where you thought you'd be with Caleb Wilson fully healthy but that Caleb Wilson isn't healthy anymore. I would take 4 and 3. I think 5 and 2 is the best case scenario with this remaining schedule. Very interested to see GP how how UNC adjust and adapts without Wilson here. I now think that this is one of the three or four most must watch teams over the next month because I'm very curious just to see how they respond. Again the Carolina fans watching the die hard college basketball fans listening they understand what Wilson meant to this team. But if you're just. If you're the type of person who takes in the pod and you've seen Carolina play maybe three or four times this year he is the center of everything they do. Everything they do now Vasar has been awesome. Trimble's A good leader. Dixon's come on well. But it all flows through Wilson's ability, his presence on the floor. And this is, this is a dagger here. I can't help but believe that Carolina is going to take a much worse seed than it would have had otherwise if he was available throughout the rest of the season.
- [11:51]
Gary Parrish
All due respect to Pitt, but you do kind of like, you know, to get to ease into this a little bit. Like, okay, life without Caleb Wilson looks like this. Let's try it out for 40 minutes against Pitt at home. That's a pretty good place to start this. Then you go to NC State. And I know you mentioned at Syracuse can be tricky without your best player conversation for another day, but we need, we do need to have it at some point.
- [12:14]
Matt Norlander
We will.
- [12:14]
Gary Parrish
The visuals coming out of that place.
- [12:16]
Matt Norlander
Oh my God. And the ads leaving, like, there's a lot of stuff accused put it in the queue. It's coming down the conveyor like that.
- [12:22]
Gary Parrish
Genuinely, like, makes me sad. I have no connection to Syracuse other than I work with a lot of Syracuse grads, as do you. And like, that's a, that's, that's, that's. I mean, that's Syracuse. That's one of the biggest brands of my lifetime in college basketball. And to look up and see them nationally irrelevant. And the building just empty in a way that seemed unimaginable, like actually unimaginable once upon a time. That's a sad scene, but we'll get to that another day.
- [12:54]
Matt Norlander
You.
- [12:54]
Gary Parrish
You ready to move on?
- [12:55]
Matt Norlander
Let's do it.
- [12:56]
Gary Parrish
Jerome Tang went viral following Kansas State's latest rough loss inside Bramledge. We're going to share his words with you next, but first let's get a word from our partners. Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. 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. Right now, get up to 20% off select online storage solutions put heavy duty HDX totes to good use, protecting what's important to you. The solid impact resistant design prevents cracking and the clear base and sides make items easy to find even when the totes are stacked. Find select online shelving and tote storage up to 20% off at the Home Depot to organize every room in your home, from your garage to your attic, visit homedepot.com how doers get more Done this message may be shocking to many millennials. If you are one, you might want to sit down right now. Loads of people are searching the following on Low rise Jeans, halter top, velour tracksuit, puka shell necklace, disc belt. You likely place these in the dark of your closet in 2004, never to be seen again. But if you can find it in yourself to dust them off, there are a lot of people who will give you money for them. Sell on Depop where Taste Recognizes taste Jerome Tang went viral following Kansas State's latest rough loss inside Bramlage. Let me provide some context for you. Then we'll listen to what Tang said post game so this is year four for Jerome Tang at KSU. Year one third in the Big 12, made it all the way to the Elite Eight. Awesome. Year two, ninth in the Big 12, missed the Incidental Tournament. Year three, ninth in the Big 12, Missed the NCAA Tournament. Now we're in year four. And heading into Wednesday's game with Cincinnati, Kansas State was 10 and 13 overall, 1 and 9 in the Big 12 despite for the second straight off season spending like real money in the portal and enrolling one of the sport's best transfers. So that was the scene heading into the game. And then KSU lost 91.62 at home to whatever team whose coach was like I don't say this with any whose coach was nearly in tears just last week after losing to West Virginia and falling to 11 and 12 in his season. So by the time the game was over, the student section at Bramwidge was like filled with folks with bags on their heads. They're planning to do that again for the next holding game. And then after the game, Jerome Tang, he jumped on radio and Josh, if you've got it, listen to what he said. It was, it was pretty quick here live courtside. I know you're a very frustrated man right now. Just your no, I'm an embarrassed man. I'm an embarrassed. I'm embarrassed for our university. I'm embarrassed for our fans. I'm embarrassed for our student section. You know, none of these dudes deserve to wear this uniform. And we got practice at 6am tomorrow morning and folks, this thing is going to get changed. Thanks a lot.
- [16:22]
Matt Norlander
God bless.
- [16:22]
Gary Parrish
Go cats. Norlander, your thoughts?
- [16:27]
Matt Norlander
Well, he also had a post game presser which I believe came out. I don't know which one came first, honestly. Sometimes the Coach will go do radio before he goes and meets the local media. He also said at the post game presser that these guys don't deserve to wear the uniforms and most of them will not be next year. Did you see that this actually made the a block of pardon the interruption yesterday?
- [16:48]
Gary Parrish
I did not see that but I did see that. Like whether you go to CBSSports.com ESPN.com and unranked Kansas State team was grabbing a headline on the homepage wherever whatever website you you were, you were.
- [17:03]
Matt Norlander
Yeah. Speak to how far the story reached. You know Kansas State is not good but to be the third topic that Tony and Mike hit on on PTI and actually Wilbaugh was like if I was the AD, I basically give him until 5am before the practice to to have purple on walk the comments back or he's fired. Well Vaughn was on fire when he was doing that. It was, it actually made me chuckle. This is a disaster for Jerome Tang in Kansas State. It is one in ten in the league. The only win is at home over Utah, the only other team in the league with only one win in the league. It is disastrous and it is two consecutive seasons of bad spending, poorly missed evaluations. Tang's buyout is significant. Well north of 10 million. I know K State fans at this point they're probably ready to move on. Obviously never say never. I'm not sure that there will be a changing of the guard after this season in Manhattan, Kansas. It can get worse and if it does get worse, yes, those things can exacerbate the issue. But this is, this is a, this is a crash out. I mean the last two seasons it wasn't good, but at least they won at least eight league games in in conference play. Hey, stay sitting here at 10 and 14 outside the top 100 of every predictive mainstream metric. It's 1 in 10 in the league. Next up, hello at Houston tomorrow. Good night Irene. Not happening. Home to Baylor, at Texas Tech, at Colorado, home to tcu, home to West Virginia at Kansas. Entirely conceivable that Kansas State wins with leaves league play in the regular season with no more than three wins. It might only be two. The irony of all this is that PJ Hagerty, although he hasn't been setting the world on fire in terms of his efficiency, he's top two in the country in scoring per game at this point. So he has at least come through on what they hope that he would. But so many other supporting players here just haven't, haven't done it. It does ultimately fall on Tang. And I'm sure Jerome would agree with that. In the after the moment when you've got a bad team coming to your building and you lose 91 to 62 on your home floor. That's why he reacted the way that he did. I understand that. But it does fall on him and his staff. You brought the players to Manhattan, Kansas. You built this roster, spent a pretty penny on it in the process, and it hasn't translated whatsoever. Kansas State, to me, is on the very, very, very short list of Programs in men's D1 college basketball, where there's a disconnect between how, how proud historically it is, how much it matters to the community versus how much it's reflected in coverage nationally. So, you know, within the context of the Big 12, Kansas State would not rank in prominence in accomplishments above the likes of Arizona, above the likes of Kansas, of Iowa, State, of Cincinnati, historically. Right. And Baylor in this past generation, Houston in the past generation. But you go back, like decades and decades and decades. Kansas State had some ballers, it had some really good teams. They care about that program. And so part of why. I think if you want an insight into Tang and why he reacted the way he did, it's not just embarrassment. Overall, he feels real pressure. He should. They won't stand for this. The venue is called the Octagon of Doom, and it's not tongue in cheek that when that place is rolling and that school is doing what it should be doing, it is among, I have been told, I have not been there. Would love to get there one day. Among the most joyous and intimidating venues in college basketball. Those days, for now, are done, and I'm not seeing how Tank possibly can turn this thing around in the season. I do get curious on if it continues to sputter out to this level. If they don't get out of the league with more than two wins, can they rally enough money to actually try and fire him and bring in a new coach? That remains to be seen. But I did not expect us to be at this point whatsoever with the Wildcats in mid February.
- [20:50]
Gary Parrish
It's a life comes at you fast situation. I mean, I can remember seemed like it was just yesterday. You and I are sitting in Kansas City, we're in some steakhouse somewhere, and here comes Tang and his staff. And they, you know, sat with us for a minute and, like, really excited about the season. And it's right around the corner. We can't wait to go. And then you look up and it's the day before Valentine's day and oh, buddy, like, you're fighting for your, for your job now.
- [21:15]
Matt Norlander
Yep.
- [21:16]
Gary Parrish
And like, I hate this. Like, I, I hate everything about this. I don't mind saying, like, I, I know supposed to say neutral and impartial. I'm a human. I, I like some people and I don't care for others. I, I like Jerome Tang. I like, you know, in a different world, he could be my neighbor, and I bet we'd get along just fine. Like, I like Jerome Tang and, you know, everything he helped Scott build at Baylor, and then he gets this opportunity. And in a sport where, if we're being honest, it can sometimes be difficult for assistants who don't look like me and you to get power conference opportunities. He got one and then knocked it out of the park in year one. Top three finish in the league. Elite eight. Looks like he's, you know, gonna be one of the next great ones from the Scott Drew coaching tree.
- [22:11]
Matt Norlander
Yeah. And by the way, was approached on the Arkansas job. Yes, I got it.
- [22:16]
Gary Parrish
That's right. That's right.
- [22:17]
Matt Norlander
Sliding door situation. Yes.
- [22:19]
Gary Parrish
100. So he decides to take Kansas State. You know, he's got the big contract and now it's just flipped on him. And when it gets this bad, like, you can be the same man and the same coach, but it gets hard to get out of this. I mean, when your students are already, already rallying, like, organizing bring your paper bags to Bramlage on Tuesday night, that's tough. Like, they're already working against you. They're not working for you anymore. They're working against you. And, you know, like you said, never say never. But it becomes very difficult to, to, to, to crawl out of this. They've lost three straight games at home by at least 24 points. Lost at home by 24 to Kansas, then at home by 34 to Iowa State, then at home by 29 to Cincinnati. And according to Curtis Siebel, who does radio 810 in Kansas City, I saw him tweet this. That's the first ever Big 12 team, first ever Big 12 team to lose three consecutive home games by at least 24 points in the history of the conference. So when you got this kind of stuff starting to get bullet pointed on you, it's, it's, it's difficult. I, I, I'd love nothing. Like you mentioned, the Octagon of doom. I have been there. Shouts to Jacob Pulling. And when I was there, Frank was the coach, Frank Martin. And they had it at a good place. And it was awesome. Just an awesome, awesome college Basketball environment. And then just the other night, I saw somebody take a picture and they, you know, tweeted it or whatever, and it was octagon of room. I think it said room, meaning there's a lot of. There's a lot of room in here because it was just empty seats everywhere. And they called it the octagon of room. So, like, you're getting that visual. You get the paper bags, you get the. Now you're calling out your own players. It's. It's a. It's a tough spot. This is. This is going to be. It's going to be difficult to get out of.
- [24:36]
Matt Norlander
It will be. And it becomes even more difficult if and when Tang stays, who you can bring into the program to reverse it. Not that it can't be done. It can, but it just. It's that much more difficult when the past two cycles within the industry, you will have people recruiting against you and saying, doesn't matter how much they can or say they're going to pay you. Look how that hasn't worked. Here's what we've done. It just. The slope becomes that much steeper and separate news. If I could pivot real quick here. GP we did get. And again, this is just. These are finalists. The hall of Fame class will not get announced until Final Four weekend, as it does every year. But why don't you let the folks know, if they don't know, the. The college coaches who are on the ballot for. For final inclusion consideration.
- [25:18]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I like seeing this. Naismith Basketball hall of Fame earlier this week announced 21 people are finalists for the Class of 2026. Among them, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, Gonzaga coach Mark Few. We're going to spend a little time on that next. First, Josh, let's get a word from our partners. The Naismith Basketball hall of Fame has announced that 21 people are finalists for the Class of 2026. Among them, Kelvin Sampson and Mark Few. Norlander. Will they both make it? Should they both make it?
- [26:15]
Matt Norlander
Well, should they? This. Well, should they? In general, yes. Will they both this year? I'm going to say no. No. While we're on this. Hold on. My apologies to everyone listening. Paris just blew out your speakers.
- [26:36]
Gary Parrish
I felt you deserve to be booed.
- [26:40]
Matt Norlander
The Naismith Memorial Basketball hall of Fame's process for better, for worse. Oh, no, wait. For worse is like the Pro Football hall of Fames. It is done in secret. The members. Whereas the members of the Pro Football hall of Fame, they often publicize the fact that they're on the committee. That's not even the case with the Naismith one. It is shrouded in secrecy. The whole process is way too haughty, way too full of itself, way too arrogant. It doesn't disclose hardly anything. And they need to do a better job, honestly, step into the modern era. I hate the way that they do this, but because of that, it gives them protection against, I mean, significant protection against people that don't get voted in. Trying to, you know, build walls against lobbying and all that stuff. Even if behind the scenes, you know, someone who knows someone who's on the committee and all that stuff. That in mind. It's why I don't think both will get in this year. I think one of them has a decent chance to get in. Josh, let's put up the poll. If you can only vote one in MSGP too, you can only put one in this year. Or if you only had one vote period, you get one vote for the rest of your life and can go for Samson or Few. Who would it be on the Carolina poll, by the way? Most popular C pick? 6 or 7. 47%. Least popular was. Was a 10 seed or worse at 9%. Wow. Okay. I think Carolina is going to be before gp. What do you think Carolina ends up with on Selection Sunday? I think I'd agree with the majority. I'll say a six or seven.
- [28:03]
Gary Parrish
I. I voted. I. I participated in the poll. I'm trying to be a good podcast listener and host. I participated in the poll and I voted six or seven.
- [28:13]
Matt Norlander
I agree. Yeah, I know, I know. Okay. He just did the thing. If you're listening. Second place, five or better, 32%. It's hard for me to see how they're getting the five. Anyway. If you could vote for only one. And I'll answer it too.
- [28:26]
Gary Parrish
Okay.
- [28:27]
Matt Norlander
You only get one vote, right? Sampson or Few. Right. Who do you give it to?
- [28:31]
Gary Parrish
I would refuse to participate. I'm not.
- [28:33]
Matt Norlander
No, that's. Don't be a coward.
- [28:36]
Gary Parrish
No, I say this sincerely. I'm not even trying to be funny.
- [28:38]
Matt Norlander
Well, I will answer it. My answer would go to Mark Few. And Kelvin Sampson is deserving. Mark Few. What he has done at Gonzaga does not have parallel. What Kelvin has done is Houston is also worthy of hall of Fame inclusion. He revitalized a dead program. Okay. And he's probably going to make another Final Four. Neither of them have won a national championship. That may well end in in less than two months from now, but Mark Few has the winningest all time percentage in men's D1. Was he benefited by being in the WC? Of course he was. But if you actually go in and look at what he's done against ranked competition, what he's done in the NCAA tournament, the Sweet 16 run, all of that, to me, it would be Mark Few, and I do think my guess is of the two, few would get in first. Sampson did get booted from the, from D1 and from college coaching for a short time because of cheating that happened. Were the rules outdated and silly? Sure. But nevertheless, he knew them and he repeatedly and flagrantly broke them. Whereas Few has spent time in on Team U.S. with USA Basketball, was an assistant coach at the Olympics last year. My guess is few will get in before Sampson. If you made me pick between one or two, I would go with Mark ahead of Kelvin. It's narrow, but I put, I posed the question. I should have to answer it, and that's my answer.
- [29:47]
Gary Parrish
I think that is a totally reasonable way to frame it. And I think you're right that Mark Few would have fewer people resisting. Yes, he would have fewer detractors than Kelvin would. But I want to be very clear. It would be crazy if either one of these men didn't end up in the Naismith Memorial hall of Fame at some point. And once I get myself to that place. Do it now. Do it now. Like, I, I know the rules and all that stuff. I, I, I don't like the idea of. I, we all, you never. You. Nothing's promised. I'm trying, I'm trying to say this without getting all weird and dark, but, like, I don't like the, like, you know, these men belong in the hall of Fame. Nobody has promised to live to 90 years old. We can do it right now. By definition, they're finalists. Do it right now. They both belong. They've had incredible, incredible careers. They both should get there. I do agree with you that if you're, if you were, like, putting odds on it, Mark Few, probably better odds right now in this moment in the year 2026 than Kelvin Sampson. But I believe strongly, strongly that both men belong in the Naismore hall of Fame. And I would be disappointed if they weren't both in, in the class of 2026. Just let me run you through some of this stuff real quick.
- [31:14]
Matt Norlander
Okay?
- [31:15]
Gary Parrish
Kelvin Sampson. I think by the time I'm done with this, even if you were on the fence about it, you can't be on the fence anymore. He's 70 years old. He has more than 800 wins. Montana Tech, Washington State, Oklahoma Indiana, Houston. He's been to three Final Fours. He's coached in a title game. He's won a national coach of the year award in four different seasons. Nine conference championships, nine conference tournament championships. Totally rebuilt Houston from a dead program to one of the sports best. He's had five top five finishes at Kinpom in a row. Headed for another right now. This is year three in the Big 12. Year one outright regular season title, won it by two games. Year two outright regular season title, won it by four games. Big 12 record to date at Houston is 44 and 5. That's a Hall of Famer. It's crazy that you would have any questions about whether that guy belongs in the basketball hall of Fame. He should be in there. Mark Few, 63 years old, more than 700 wins, two Final Fours, two title game appearances, 22 conference championships, 20 conference tournament championships. National coach of the awards in both 2017 and 2021. He's also, as you noted, been on an Olympic gold medal staff. Simply put, he built a small school in a mid major conference into one of the biggest brands in the sport. That alone is hall of Fame worthy. Both of these guys would get thumbs up votes from me.
- [32:51]
Matt Norlander
25 straight years making the tournament, it will be 26 for Mark Few. Has won 83.3% of his games, made two national title games. Both these guys were in the bubble Final four. And when Houston went there with Samson, 21, that's when I wrote the column that weekend that this is it. Like he has crossed the threshold. He should be included eventually in the national, in the Naismith. Excuse me, hall of Fame. And I'm not even convinced that it'll happen this year. They're finalists, so they're. They're close. I. I don't know. I. I love. It'd be wonderful if both got in this year, the way that the voting goes, because there's a lot of people under consideration. I just. I find it unlikely both will get in, but hopefully at least one.
- [33:32]
Gary Parrish
Boo. You deserve to be booed. Every time you say that, you're gonna get booed.
- [33:36]
Matt Norlander
I am speaking just how it is, not how it should be. There's a difference. All right. Final form one. Let's rock it.
- [33:42]
Gary Parrish
All right. All right. Do we need another break from.
- [33:45]
Matt Norlander
I don't.
- [33:45]
Gary Parrish
Too much, too much.
- [33:47]
Matt Norlander
We're good to go.
- [33:48]
Gary Parrish
Okay, Josh, then get in my ear. Josh, get in my ear. Lower your voice. Soften your voice.
- [33:53]
Matt Norlander
How ironic. From Parish.
- [33:55]
Gary Parrish
Soften your voice and tell me how good I am at this I was going to ask you to do the same thing to, to lower your voice. My ears are hurting, so it's okay. I just don't like to hear people talk like that about Kelvin Sampson and Mark Few. I just, you know, you gotta, you gotta be principled. At some point, you gotta 10 toes down it, you know? I don't like hearing people talk about. If I'm just walking down the street and I hear somebody say something like that about Kelvin Sampson or Mark Few, I boo them. I'll boo a stranger over this. If you stand for. For everything, you stand for nothing. I suppose so. If, if you've got your, if you've got your stunt.
- [34:33]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, I don't think that's what it.
- [34:34]
Gary Parrish
Is, but it was a good effort. Everything.
- [34:36]
Matt Norlander
You stand for nothing.
- [34:37]
Gary Parrish
I, I, I, I, I, I think that is true.
- [34:40]
Matt Norlander
I think that is.
- [34:41]
Gary Parrish
I think we've reached a point in this country. I don't know if you've been paying attention to the news. I don't know if you follow the news much, but I think we've reached a point in this country where it's time for some of us to take a stand on some things and say enough is enough. And where I'm planning to take my stand is on anybody who tries to keep Kelvin Sampson and Mark Few out of the Naismith Memorial hall of Fame in the year 2026. That's where I'm taking my stand. It was stand for nothing, fall for anything. It was a good effort, gp. You're not winning Final Four and one anymore. I got, I got bad news for you. Well, then keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear this. Mute yourself. Well, mute yourself. Turn your mic off. That's enough out of you for today. Okay. I'm actually having a conversation with Norlander now. Just Norlander and the, and the listeners are. We're having a chat. 32, 38 and one for both of you. 32, 38, and one for both of you on. On February 13th, we are tied at six games under.500.
- [35:45]
Matt Norlander
The irony is that this is like the best college basketball season of a generation, and we've never been worse at picking the games. That seems to add up.
- [35:51]
Gary Parrish
So that I heard, I heard the chat of the Island College Basketball podcast is going to show up for Sunday's episode with bags over their heads. They're going to wear bags. They're going to listen to the show with bags over their heads.
- [36:01]
Matt Norlander
We deserve that.
- [36:02]
Gary Parrish
We deserve that. Like, you know, we spent six, seven minutes talking About Jerome Tang. Who are we to talk about Jerome Tang? We doing so good ourselves, you know, we might need to get bought out if we can't provide some better picks. Give it a go.
- [36:19]
Matt Norlander
What's game one?
- [36:20]
Gary Parrish
Hey, this is where it all changes today. This is where it all changes. These are the best picks on the Internet. A lot of people got picks. How many people got the best picks? That's what we got today. We got the best picks. Game one, Saturday, 12:45pm Eastern. It's UCLA at number two, Michigan inside the Chris Weber Center. You can watch it on cbs. It's America's most watched network. It's the network of stars. Michigan -16 and a half.
- [36:54]
Matt Norlander
Since we last spoke. Michigan went to Northwestern.
- [36:59]
Gary Parrish
Jesus, that was a wild one.
- [37:02]
Matt Norlander
Was down by 16 points with 14 and change to go in that game. It was the largest deficit of the season. Hey, Norlander, can you talk, please? Thank you. Came back from 16 down and outscored Northwestern 45 17. It was literally a switch flip just like that. LJ Kayson, career high 18 off the bench in that game. Played well. Michigan has won five straight road games by 10 or more points. They actually. They wound up winning the game by 12. It's a joke. That's tied for the longest streak Road wins 10 in a row or five in a row by 10 plus points in the Big 10 in 60 years. Good job out of Michigan. They get someone at home though, not on the road. They've beaten teams this season. You said the line was 16 and a half. 27.3 points per game, point differential at home for Michigan. That's the best buying a Big Ten team in at least three decades. A die Morrow. Shoot him out. Shout him out again. Why can't I talk? This is just brutal right now. Shout him out. Last nine games, 13.4 points per game, 28 blocks, 3.1 per game. Shooting 66 from the field. He's playing very, very well. And I think he's set up to play very well in this game. Donovan den on the UCLA side three street three straight games with a double double points and assists. Right now is averaging 13.7, 7.1 dimes GP. Tyler Billido has also been strong as of late. And on the road billow this season, 19.3 points, seven boards shooting 47% from the field and 36% from three. They're going to need him to step up in a major way. The line, I'm probably falling right into the trap. Sixteen and a half is a lot of points. UCLA is not going to win. But I think the. Keep it close, sir. Like Michigan by 12, maybe 12 back to back games. Give me the Wolverines.
- [38:52]
Gary Parrish
UCLA was 13th in the preseason AP poll, which makes them the highest ranked preseason team that is no longer ranked in the AP poll. So they've been disappointing, but they have been better lately. They dipped at one point, all the way down to 78 in the net. They're in the top 40 again now. That's the result of them going 5 and 1 in their past six. They got the Q1, Q1 win over Purdue. But have you seen this three game stretch they got. I mean, Saturday at Michigan, Tuesday at Michigan State, February 21, Illinois at home.
- [39:34]
Matt Norlander
The Cronin.
- [39:35]
Gary Parrish
Oh, I can't wait for these press conferences.
- [39:37]
Matt Norlander
Cronen press tour. It's about to hit a new level. This is going to be like the dead in 77. Just, you know, right around that Ithaca show. It's about, it's about to hit legendary heights.
- [39:46]
Gary Parrish
Oh, he gonna, he's gonna cook. Mick's gonna cook. These press conferences on this, this little three game stretch. This is easy. I don't even know like this is the easiest pick of the things. This is the. This is like a gimme. I don't know if you noticed this game starts at 12:45pm Eastern.
- [40:07]
Matt Norlander
I did notice.
- [40:08]
Gary Parrish
That is 9:45. That's 9:45 inside Poly Pavilion. No chance Mick Crone is going to win a game in the eastern time zone. Starts at night.
- [40:18]
Matt Norlander
I've got, I've got UCLA covering you. You have Michigan covering?
- [40:22]
Gary Parrish
Yes. Are you kidding me? It is too early and too east. It is too early and too east for UCLA. No chance they might lose by 50,000. Game two, Saturday, 1pm Eastern. Number nine, Kansas at number five, Iowa State. We're doing it inside Halliburton Coliseum. You can watch it on ABC. Iowa State -5 and a half.
- [40:45]
Matt Norlander
Cyclones won three in a row at home versus the Jayhawks. Kansas has won eight in a row this season. Knocking on the door of top 10 status just in general in the context of the full season here. Sitting at 12 this morning at Ken Palm. Darren Peterson expected to play. Have no updates on any flu like symptoms. Did you see Bill Self? He went on for like three and a half minutes.
- [41:07]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, it's.
- [41:08]
Matt Norlander
You watch the whole thing.
- [41:09]
Gary Parrish
I did. And so everything he said is rational.
- [41:13]
Matt Norlander
To be clear, he basically put the entire season as best he couldn't into context for three and a half minutes. And I wouldn't even necessarily reject a lot of what he said there. But it's still, you know, if you're.
- [41:25]
Gary Parrish
If you're, if you're. He did as well as you can do under these circumstances. That's what I would say. He did as well as you can do under these circumstances. But I will just circle back to this fact. Darren Peterson was never on the injury report heading into Monday's game and Bill Self himself was asked about that and said, well, it's because we thought he was going to play. So they, they were surprised he didn't at least try to give it a go. And they were, I'm certain, frustrated and disappointed he didn't even try to give it a go. But once you get past all of that, now you just got to deal with the situation that's in front of you. And I thought Bill in front of that microphone handled it as well as he could.
- [42:08]
Matt Norlander
That's exactly right. If I can do, if I can channel my inner GP that's exactly right. Killian Tory has an awesome opportunity here for Iowa State. The French freshman is a very good on ball, defense, defender. I would figure he is going to have the primary assignment on Peterson because he's bigger than Lipsey and Lipsey is a good defender as well. You might even see some Joshua Jefferson there. I'm interested just to see how Iowa State again, we're under the working presumption that Peterson will play, will play more than 30 plus minutes. How they choose to guard him will be interesting. And how can they can they mute Flory Badunga's impact? Because what Badunga did in the Arizona game was to me the tilter for the, for the outcome of the game. He was fantastic. Turnovers also feel key to me in this one. Kansas is extremely poor at turning teams over the season. 343rd nationally in turnover percentage. So it's not good at turning it over. And it has to play this game on the road against the top 10 team in one of the better environments in the sport. Meanwhile, Iowa State eighth best at not giving it away in the entire sport and turnover rate. So Peterson Council need to really take care of the ball. I, I know Kansas is on a heater. I'm going GP Give me, give me the Cyclones. Get this done. Win and cover. So I'll even toss you a score here. I'll say like 70, 79, 72. Iowa State gets it done.
- [43:28]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I, I'm same. I take Iowa State, I'll lay the points. I'll respect the building as a, as a building truster. But the story, like, almost regardless of what happens, the story is Darren Peterson, does he play? Does he not play? If he plays, how does he play? If he plays, how much does he play? If he plays, does something happen in the middle of the game that makes him not play? I mean, this is where we're at with this thing. This is not, this isn't, this isn't even a college basketball story now. This is like a, this is like. My wife is familiar with Darren Peterson struggles to stay on the court.
- [44:00]
Matt Norlander
Mine is not. She is still been shielded from the Darren Peterson weekly drama. My wife has no idea who, who Darren Peterson.
- [44:08]
Gary Parrish
We, we are at least at the point where my wife can, can be like, so what's going on with him? You know, so, like, she's at least intrigued by the idea of like, what is. So what is that? Why do you keep talking about him all the time? Like, why do I hear his name? His name just walking through my house like half a asleep? He's like, Darren Peters, I never played. I don't know what's going on. So I, I, as I've said over and over again, I, I hope this part of the Darren Peterson conversation is behind us. I said it, Please. I said it as recently as Tuesday night on Inside College.
- [44:46]
Matt Norlander
I'm begging.
- [44:48]
Gary Parrish
And I said it. And they, they clipped the clip and, but they cut it right before Stove jumped back in. So because, and by the way, I've been getting killed on Twitter. I know.
- [45:01]
Matt Norlander
This is new.
- [45:01]
Gary Parrish
I know. So this is clip. And it's like me saying that I think if Kansas is going to win a national championship, the most important player is going to have to be Darren Peterson. So then of course, all the replies are like, oh, oh, oh, genius basketball expert. Do you think the number one pick of the draft, you think the number one pick of the draft, he's going to be the most important player on a team? Oh, that's why you make the big bucks, I guess. All right, you jerks. The question I was literally asked was, GP is it possible Flori Badunga is the most important player at Kansas going forward? And so I said, well, listen, Flor's been great, Flor's been great. But like, let's not over complicate this. Kansas is going to win a national championship. Darren Peterson is going to be the most important player. He doesn't play a lot, but what.
- [45:47]
Matt Norlander
He plays, I want. No, this needs to be the new thing. It's just out of context. You talking for seven seconds, something super obvious and no no other information, provided.
- [45:58]
Gary Parrish
They get you on these things sometimes. And it's. It's fine. It's no big deal. I just. I literally laughed it off. But I got the whole world. Not the whole world, a very insignificant amount of the world who just stay mad on Twitter all day long, attention.
- [46:09]
Matt Norlander
To me and what I said about.
- [46:10]
Gary Parrish
No, it's.
- [46:12]
Matt Norlander
Everyone knows about it. People can't stop talking about.
- [46:14]
Gary Parrish
People cannot stop talking about this. It's all anybody's talking about. No, nobody knows other than me and, like, seven people. Nobody knows anything about this. But, yeah, it's like I'm answering a question totally reasonably, but the way it gets clipped, they're like, oh, so this. So this guy's a basketball expert. They got me on one last year when the Kevin Willard was. The whole Kevin Willard, Maryland thing. And it was one of those. We were feeling in between games or something. You know what it's like, you're feeling like, hey, they're in, like, Stove's ear, Zuck's ear. And it's like, hey, rt, gp on the Maryland situation, because we're just trying to stretch it out. So they come to me on Kevin Willard, and I'm like, you know, it's an uncomfortable situation. You know, this is just not ideal. I'm saying all the stuff everybody said, and then they got. They come back to me and I need something new to say. So they're like, in gp, what's going on with Kevin? You know, I don't know what's. And I say, listen, you know, we've talked about this from every angle, but do you know who's not enjoying this? Kevin Willard. Like, this isn't fun for him either. Of course. That's the clip. So the clip. So the clip is like, Gary Paris says, Kevin Willard is not having a good time right now either. He's the. That's. And so the quote tweets are always like, oh, I'm supposed to feel sorry for Kevin Willard. I was like, Christ. So anyway, love it. The Darren Peters thing. So at the end, I'm like, and I hope still this is the last time we ever talk about this kind of stuff again. And that's where the clip cuts. But in if you were watching on tv, Stove goes, I bet it's not so I'll take Iowa State. I'll lay the points, but I hope Darren Peterson plays 40 minutes.
- [47:54]
Matt Norlander
Game three.
- [47:55]
Gary Parrish
Game three is Saturday, 3pm Eastern. Number 25, Kentucky, at number 14, Florida. It's inside the Joachim Noah Center. You can watch this one on ABC. Florida -11 and a half. Look at all these big numbers.
- [48:07]
Matt Norlander
What? 11 and a half.
- [48:09]
Gary Parrish
11 and a half. Wow.
- [48:14]
Matt Norlander
That's a massive number. I know that they're at home, but geez, that's huge. SEC race as of this morning, Florida nine and two. Kentucky and Arkansas one game behind, eight and three apiece. This is the first of two meetings between the team. So if Kentucky beats Florida, it will be in first place technically with the head to head tiebreaker. But they've got to have a second meeting to wrap the regular season. So we'll see their Gators number one offensive efficiency team in the SEC in SEC play specifically this season, and number one in defensive efficiency adjusted this season. Also, of course, the best rebounding team that the conference has, one of the best in the entire country. Kentucky has been shooting better in league play from beyond the arc than it was in non league play. The, the, the difference isn't significant or like huge, but it has, it's been noticeable and the competition overall, you know, has been a little bit more difficult. So we'll see if they can keep that, keep that up here. UK has won seven of its past eight, of course, and I guess the big challenge here is can Modiabate, Malachi Marino, Brandon Garrison, can they pass the test? Can they meet the physicality of Florida's front line and win the battle of the boards, which is, which is just a huge ask, big time task for them to do. They can. Then Kentucky's got a real shot. In addition to, you're going to need Ortega away to play well. Colin Chandler's actually been stepping up with some good moments as well. Kentucky has been playing well overall. This also is the Denzel Aberdeen return game. He went in, he wanted like 2 million last year to, to stay on the reigning national champions. They said thanks but no thanks, we're not going to pay that amount. And then he went to Kentucky. Draw your own conclusions. So we'll see what the fan base does or does not have to say toward Aberdeen, who was a key role player on it.
- [50:00]
Gary Parrish
You weren't worth it. You weren't worth it.
- [50:08]
Matt Norlander
Florida's.
- [50:09]
Gary Parrish
I don't mean that. I don't mean that. I just say if you're looking for a chance, that's one you could maybe go to.
- [50:14]
Matt Norlander
Okay, say so how can I not take Kentucky to cover, which is probably a kiss of death there, but I will go Wildcats inside 11 and a half months.
- [50:22]
Gary Parrish
You know what, I don't know why I'm chewing ice into the microphone.
- [50:25]
Matt Norlander
I apologize Fine, I'm good with it. So.
- [50:29]
Gary Parrish
At some point on this podcast in the past month or so, I said, listen, the SEC, who they might get more teams than any other conference into the NCAA tournament, might rate as the best conference in America according to multiple computers. But I don't know that they got a national championship contender. They got a bunch of good teams, but it's just good teams. I don't know if they got a great one. Yeah, it's time to take that one back. Florida's great. Florida is legitimately great. They started five and four. They're now 18 and six. That means 13 and two in their past 15. They were as low as 33rd in the net in late November. Seventh in the net. Now this is a team that could win back to back national championships. It'll look different in the backcourt obviously, but there was a moment where I just, I thought the guards weren't good enough. And I don't think it's the best backcourt in America. But the guards are good enough, the team's good enough. Would you agree with that? Florida could win a national title.
- [51:27]
Matt Norlander
I'm almost there. The thing that prevents me from getting there the whole way. We'll talk about this more in March. Doesn't even hit 30% of its three pointers. Can a team win a national championship if it's not a good three point shooting team? And not even that they like they are a outright bad, bad three point shooting team now. They make up for it with the rebounding. I have them as a final four contender. It's really my toss up GP like that. They are, they are my, they are my team on the line. I don't know if they can win six. If you're not that good from three versus that's fair.
- [51:55]
Gary Parrish
I, I will though like you take Kentucky plus the points. That's just a big number in what I hope is a competitive basketball game. Game four, Sunday, 1pm Eastern. It's Indiana at number eight, Illinois inside the D. Brown Center. You can watch it on cbs. It's America's most watched network. Network of stars. Kim Palm's got that one. Illinois minus 11. Big numbers.
- [52:17]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, that makes sense to me though. Illinois coming off of the loss to Wisconsin figured they'll be good to go. Indiana is a good, is a good two point shooting team in league play this season. The three best teams from inside the arc, Duke and Michigan, both hitting 60. One of their two point winners, Indiana 60.1%. So they have gotten it done. This is also one of the better scoring Indiana teams of the past three decades, they can fill it up. They're averaging almost 83 a game. Illinois is also a very good scoring team. This I would, I would think this game is going to be decided in the 80s or the winning team's going to almost certainly cross the 80 point threshold. Lamar Wilkerson is, is really playing well. Him and wagler, I mean two dudes who have gone for 40 plus. Wilkerson's now done it twice. He just did it in their most recent game. In the last six games, how about this? Wilkerson is averaging 28.2 points. Waglers averaging 26.5 rebounds. 5.5 for Wilkerson, four flat for Wagler. Assists. Wagler 5.3. Wilkerson 2.7 shooting from the field. They're both better than 49% and then three pointers. In the past six games these two have combined to make 47 triple. So we could have some fun fireworks here. If Indiana can keep it close, we'll see. Illinois is top 10 team right now. It is 143 and 7 at home home as a top 10 team against ranked opponents in its program's history. I don't think Indiana gets it done. P Thamel VSPN reported shortly before he went on the show that he reached out to Brad Underwood who said that Kylan Boswell will be a game time decision for this game. We'll see if he can go. He had the hand injury and the hope was that he would be able to get back by the third week of February. Well, we're in the second week technically still and he might be good to go. Boswell's an awesome defender, would be a, be a significant factor in Illinois chances of winning the game if he indeed can play. So we'll see on that. I will take Illinois to win and cover though. I know it's a big line but I actually think the line I really, it's a forceful statement. I like Illinois by 15 plus.
- [54:19]
Gary Parrish
We need a veteran crew on this one. We need a veteran crew.
- [54:22]
Matt Norlander
The veteran crew and, and, and the, and the staff has to have seen every single face of the officials in a game earlier this season. Otherwise Underwood's going to be, he's going to be pissed. He might show up with a bag over his head. If not that doesn't happen.
- [54:33]
Gary Parrish
He was fired up. He was like we got one dude out there. I ain't never seen this guy before. I ain't seen him in two years or whatever it was. So we need a Veteran crew. Can we send a veteran crew to the D. Brown Center?
- [54:46]
Matt Norlander
We'll see.
- [54:49]
Gary Parrish
I don't. Nothing new to say about Wagler, but he is the biggest star in this game. 18 1/2 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. Among the leading candidates to be Big Ten Player of the year. Think about this for a second. Just to. If I just said like day before the season, we're just running through potential player of the year stuff and I said Big Ten player of the year. Just start listing names. How long before you get to Keaton Wagler? It might have been, yes, it would have been something like.
- [55:22]
Matt Norlander
That's really talking him up in the preseason. But he's still. Still wouldn't have been one of the three most likely Illinois players. Four most likely Illinois players you would have named, right?
- [55:29]
Gary Parrish
Yeah. So just an incredible story. You noted Illinois dropped two straight, both in overtime, at Michigan State last Saturday at home to Illinois on or at home to Wisconsin on Tuesday night. By the way, Michigan State, Wisconsin play tonight.
- [55:46]
Matt Norlander
Yes, they do.
- [55:46]
Gary Parrish
They are both coming off of wins over Illinois. You don't get that too often. Two teams coming off wins over the exact same team. Illinois. But like, here's the thing. Not that big of a deal. I mean, missed opportunity, I guess. But Illinois was fourth in the net on February 7th. Since then, the Illini 02 still fifth in the net. So, like, you know, it hasn't really damaged any computer stuff. Indiana five and one in the past six. Hoosiers are a nine seed right now, according to CBS Sports. I'm going to delay the points with Illinois. I like this team. Like, this is a. We talk sometimes about the Big Ten's lack of national championships since 2000. That league has multiple teams good enough to do it this season. Let's start the list with Michigan. But I think I'd put. All right, I'll ask you national championship contenders from the Big Ten. I'm not asking you for resumes or rankings. Just, you get. You get two darts. I'm imagining you're gonna attach Michigan to one of them and throw it. Who you attaching next? I would go Illinois.
- [56:48]
Matt Norlander
Say one more time. Sorry, I just got a text message.
- [56:49]
Gary Parrish
I understand national championship contenders out of the Big Ten. I don't care about where you would have them ranked right now based on resumes. Just, I'm giving you. You can say this team's gonna win the national championship. And, and that's, you know, you're throwing a dart at the board. I imagine you take Michigan, use that on one dart.
- [57:08]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [57:08]
Gary Parrish
Illinois would be my second dart out of the Big Ten.
- [57:10]
Matt Norlander
Who would be and it's. I think Michigan State would be my second pick narrowly over Illinois. Sorry. Yeah. Michigan State then Illinois, then Purdue, then Nebraska.
- [57:31]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, you can put them in any order but like for me I think Illinois would come off the board second. Really good team with Final four and everything else. Aspiration. I will take Illinois. I'll lay the points, you Give me.
- [57:43]
Matt Norlander
The N1 and 1 Saturday 6:30 Eastern on ESPN Texas Tech at Arizona on Hassan Adams court. Arizona went 21 versus Texas Tech last season, their first season sharing conference affiliation. This is a college game day game. They picked this one over Kansas at Iowa State. I think in part because Arizona is awesome and they just were at Kansas last week. This is the fifth time game day has gone to Tucson since the basketball version began back in 04. Most recent trip there was in February of 22. The line. The actual line, not the Kemp on projection. The line GP Arizona nine and a half. Who you got?
- [58:25]
Gary Parrish
I'm gonna take JT Toppin plus the points and just root for a competitive game. I don't want to settle down in prime prime time on Valentine's Day and watch a blowout. So let's get a competitive game.
- [58:39]
Matt Norlander
That's all you got?
- [58:40]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I think that's it.
- [58:42]
Matt Norlander
Arizona 736 at home under Tommy Lloyd Arizona has dropped 84 points in all but two conference games so far this season, 77 against the Cincinnati 78 and it's lost earlier this week at Kansas Tech is 18 and six this season. Two most recent wins kind of off the radar at West Virginia, home to Colorado. Predictive metrics have Texas Tech right around that 1516 spot. Generally speaking, on average, JT Toppins currently averaging 21 1/2 points, 10.9 boards, 1.7 blocks, while Christian Anderson is 19.1 7.7 assists and shooting 44% from beyond the arc. Texas Tech does launch early and often from deep, averaging about 29 triple attempts per game. I think it needs to make at least 12 threes on the road in the spot to have a chance to win. I do think it's going to have a pretty good chance of keeping it close. Arizona 73 and 6 at home under Lloyd. So asking Tech to go in and get the win I think is asking too much, but I do, I get the sense this is going to be a competitive game. I feel like we're going to get to the under four. It's going to be looking like Arizona is going to win, but Texas Tech isn't dead yet. They're going to be within striking distance and so ultimately I think they get it done. Line nine and a half. I'll give me Tech to be inside that number and to.
- [59:54]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I will say that the three point line is the thing that would give Texas Tech a chance to like pull off this upset on the road. As you noted, they shoot it early and often the specific numbers, about 47% of their field goal attempts come from 3 and they make 39% of them which rates top 10 in the country. So this isn't just a high volume three point attempt team. They make a great rate and that makes you capable against I think anybody anywhere. It doesn't mean you'll win every game. It doesn't mean you're better than your opponent. But if you're going to take every other shot from three and you can make about 40% of them, you, you gotta. You got a shot against anybody without a doubt.
- [60:33]
Matt Norlander
Other games to know real quick and then we'll wrap it up here. Friday night we mentioned it. Michigan state at Wisconsin, 8pm Eastern on Fox. And we also have Miami University going for 25 and O at home against Ohio. See if they can get that done. That is an ESPN game, not ESPN2, not ESPN plus, not ESPN News. That is an ESPN9 Eastern game. Very cool for Travis Steele's program to get that opportunity. Not often we get a team that gets to 25 0. If it does get there, I'll have more for you that on Sunday's show and go ahead.
- [61:05]
Gary Parrish
I'm just gonna. So the other night we got into a conversation on CBS Sports Network about Miami, Ohio and I was asked how much wiggle room do they have? Same thing this morning on CBS Sports hq. How much wiggle room do they have? You tell them, answer that question. Can they take two regular season losses, lose in the Mac tournament and still be okay? No, they can't take two.
- [61:27]
Matt Norlander
They can't take two. No, they can't take two. Two regular season and a Mac tourney. They can't be a three loss at large team and get in.
- [61:35]
Gary Parrish
That's what I said.
- [61:37]
Matt Norlander
Large team and get in that. But that. That also circumstantial. But I'm also like I gotta see him lose first. Like let's just enjoy the. And not to refute the premise but like until this team actually loses, I just want to embrace the fact that they're still undefeated. Now when the loss comes then we have that conversation. But 240 and the only undefeated team in the country. They're, they're doing wonderful things. It's, it's really cool to see.
- [61:58]
Gary Parrish
I my answer to it has been you can lose one and then lose in your conference tournament and I would still advocate for you, you lose two and then losing your conference tournament, now you get real nervous. Now you get real nervous. And everybody who wants to work against you, they got all the data they need to do it. All the data they need to do it.
- [62:18]
Matt Norlander
See if think it's 250 on Friday night. On Saturday, here are the games we didn't touch on the final four and one I will be in studio on CBS Sports HQ from you know, 6:00pm Eastern on so sure to tune in. Me and Hakeem Dermish going to spend Valentine's night together.
- [62:32]
Gary Parrish
How sweet.
- [62:32]
Matt Norlander
We've planned for months. Yes, exactly. Here are the games to know on Saturday. Clemson at Duke, noon Eastern ESPN Big one for Clemson. It blew a game against Virginia Tech on its home floor that ruined its stride for stride, you know, record in league play with Duke. Well, it can get that back. Problem is it's got to go on the road. Win at Cameron. We'll see if it can do it. That's your first tip to watch on Saturday. A and M is at Vandy 1 Eastern SEC Network. That is a game with plenty of intrigue for both sides there. Vanderbilt in the overall SEC race and A M as well. A M also trying to build up a viable NCAA tournament seed. Miami at NC State for Eastern ESPN2 on Saturday. If the Hurricanes can go on the road in Raleigh and win, that is going to really ignite their tournament resume. They project to be in the field right now but this would be, that would be a big boost if they can get it done. Purdue at Iowa is probably the best game that wasn't in the final four. And one that's a five Eastern tip on Fox on Saturday. Hawkeyes are coming off.
- [63:32]
Gary Parrish
Yuck.
- [63:33]
Matt Norlander
Yeah. I mean that's your boy. That's your team. And 18 and 6 after they were on a nice little winning streak but they fell 7770 at a bad Maryland team. And credit. You know, when you're Maryland, you're having an awful year. Can we just pick off one or two games that are respectable in our our own building? They got it done. Good on them. But Iowa made me turn my head. I, I just, I didn't see that coming at all. And it wasn't just a loss. It was how they, they took the loss. I was checking in on the game here and there in the midst of some other basketball and Olympic stuff on Wednesday. But that's, that's not good. See how they respond. Purdue in their building. It's a lot of intrigue with that game. GP and then a few more. Virginia plays against Ohio State 8 Eastern on Fox. That game is in Nashville. That you heard me correct. Virginia, Ohio State, acc, Big Ten, we have that and we also have Louisville, Baylor this weekend in addition to Duke, Michigan next weekend. We are getting more non conference games in February. Credit to Intersport which is the same company that puts on the CBS Sports Classic. They have been a big proponent for this stuff behind the scenes in the off season. I do think we will have even more of these a year from now. The conference offices have to play ball and basically say okay, we're going to build our schedule around allowing one of our teams or two of our teams to go and play a non league opponent in February. It is good for college basketball. This is a huge opportunity for Ohio State. This becomes a massive coup. Ohio State was supposed to play Louisville and then Louisville ducked out the back door and went and found Baylor. And so then Ohio State for a few weeks was scrambling to get an opponent for this game. It gets Virginia. Lo and behold this becomes a Ohio State could change its entire trajectory heading into next month if it can. If it can win this game, it's got to win it. But it could. Virginia they thought could be a quality team, potentially Quad One. It's way more than that. That is a huge opportunity for the Buckeyes so that that turned into an amazing opportunity for them and I love the non con play in February. We need to have more of it in 20, 27 and beyond. We get three that this year. Can we get five, six, seven a year from now? Stay tuned on that. Just a few more games. GP Auburn at Arkansas 8:30 Eastern ESPN we'll see if Stephen Pearl has moved on emotionally from the Charles bediaco ruling. Missouri 8:30 ESPN2 bubble implications on both sides. We're about getting to where you know bubble stuff starts to matter. It takes on a little bit more weight. It really takes on the most we when we get to into early March but nevertheless tune into that and then Gonzaga at Santa Clara 10:30 Eastern ESPN Santa Clara can very much win that game. Broncos are a quality team. They win this game, you're going to see them projected into the field and rightfully so. But they see if they can get it done they are good enough to do it and that is a, that is a Rare game in that gym that is must see tv. But it is there. It is there now. This week, this season, big opportunity again. That's a 10:30 eastern tip on Saturday night.
- [66:20]
Gary Parrish
All right. Hey, is that a show?
- [66:23]
Matt Norlander
That's a. That's a show. I mean, I got studio tomorrow, Valentine's Day. So today is, you know, today is all about wife and the kids, you know, hanging out with them. Gonna take them to a little ski hill here in Connecticut. Valentine's with the wife. Think she's gonna be cool watching Travis Steele's red Hawks around 9 Eastern tonight?
- [66:43]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, give it. Give it a shot. I. I will say last night, because I know you're covering the Olympics. I got home last night, flew it, landed here at 5, got home, and we just sort of settled in and turned on the Olympics. The Olympics are awesome. Hey. Hey. I'm late to the game. We had a blast watching that last night. And I don't care about any of it. Like, Chloe Kim. That's a person, right?
- [67:09]
Matt Norlander
That's correct.
- [67:10]
Gary Parrish
Okay.
- [67:11]
Matt Norlander
Female snowboarder in history.
- [67:12]
Gary Parrish
Okay. If you would have asked me one week ago who this is, how out, out of touch I am with all this stuff. If you'd have said, hey, GP Last, like, last Friday. Who's. Hey, who's Chloe Kim? I said, was she on Dance with the Stars or something like that? I don't know. I would not have known. I would not have answered it correctly. And so I go into it completely. Like, I don't know what's going on, but this seems like an easy thing to watch with the family while the fireplace is going. And by the end of it, I know it was all taped. I think it was all taped below. I didn't know anything.
- [67:39]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, of course they're in Italy. They're competing.
- [67:44]
Gary Parrish
Okay.
- [67:44]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [67:45]
Gary Parrish
Anyway, I didn't know nothing.
- [67:47]
Matt Norlander
How do they work?
- [67:49]
Gary Parrish
I didn't know nothing about nothing. But I sat down with my family like. Like a. Like a proud American and watched the Olympics last night. And I will say they really know how to package that for television. They really know how to make you care about things you don't care about. I don't care about this sport, and I don't know these people, but I'll watch this.
- [68:09]
Matt Norlander
They're good at that, no question. I love the Winter Olympics. I've been doing some writing on the side. If you haven't seen it, feel free to check it out. And on the Olympics note, Michaela Shifrin will race in the Giant Slalom. That's going to Be early on Sunday morning. And then Jordan Stoles, who is the next great speed skater. And really, I mean, he's got a chance to be the greatest of all time. He. I wrote earlier this week, he is going to be, in addition. In addition to the quad. God, who. The figure skating is the one thing that I just like. It's impressive. I just can't get into it. But stoles could go four goals in one game. He's gonna race in the 500 meters on February. I think that'll be. Excuse me, Saturday, February 14th. And I think that's going to be maybe around lunchtime on Saturday. So when you're doing Duke, Clemson, if you want to see some Jordan Stoles, that'll be happening live. Love me some Winter Olympics. Quite envious of our. Of our friends in the business who are over there getting to cover that stuff left and right and bouncing all around Northern Italy. Looks like. Looks like a grand time. And, yeah, we still got eight more days of Olympics to go. So anyway, that is. That is a show.
- [69:16]
Gary Parrish
It's just anytime I discover something, I want to try to share it with other people. Like, you know, I just. You know, I just read Jeff Perlman's Tupac book. So, like, when somebody asked me a question, I'm like, man, you should check out Jeff Perlman's Tupac book. That was great. And so I stumbled into this little thing called the Olympics. And so I just wanted people to know, like, if you. I know you might have heard about the Olympics, but give it a shot. Even if you think you won't care. I am living proof. Give the Olympics a shot. All right.
- [69:43]
Matt Norlander
It's. Some of the stuff is just the nature of, like, luge. Someone thought of that and said, yes, let's do that. Do you know the difference between lug and skeleton?
- [69:54]
Gary Parrish
Nope. Nope, not at all.
- [69:55]
Matt Norlander
You're on your back. Skeleton, you're on your stomach going 80 miles an hour down an ice sheet. Incredible. And I think.
- [70:02]
Gary Parrish
I think there's different terms for that.
- [70:05]
Matt Norlander
That's. Well, that's. That's what it is. And the drone stuff is all incredible as well. Josh says stoles his run for gold in the 500. Or. Excuse me, the 5. Yeah, the 500 is. Is 11:00am Eastern on Saturday.
- [70:16]
Gary Parrish
Okay.
- [70:17]
Matt Norlander
For real? That's a show?
- [70:19]
Gary Parrish
Yeah. Don't tell me anything. I want to watch all this stuff in prime time and, like, just be dumb and. And ignorant to what's going on. I want to be surprised by tape delayed television. I want to be sur. Delay Television. Amazing.
- [70:30]
Matt Norlander
They're doing all of these gold medal races in like a two and a half hour window. It's amazing how they just, they organized that. Perfect.
- [70:35]
Gary Parrish
I like it better like that. It was great. It was like every time they came back from commercial, the biggest thing in the world was about to happen. It was really good.
- [70:42]
Matt Norlander
There we go.
- [70:43]
Gary Parrish
All right, we got to get out of here. Shout out to Devin Downey. Shouts to Chester, S.C. shouts to Terry Teagle. He's a legend. Chloe Kim, she's a legend. She got a silver. But she was so, she was so happy for her little, her little friend.
- [70:57]
Matt Norlander
Okay. Competitor from another country. Yeah. Three golds in a row. Didn't happen.
- [71:02]
Gary Parrish
I know, but they're friends. She has mentored her. That young woman.
- [71:06]
Matt Norlander
I know.
- [71:06]
Gary Parrish
She was a good sport. She was a good sport.
- [71:09]
Matt Norlander
I, I'm so eager for you to find out about all these other Winter Olympic sports.
- [71:12]
Gary Parrish
Oh, there was this other.
- [71:13]
Matt Norlander
Your entire life and you're only coming to learn them at the age of 55. It's amazing.
- [71:17]
Gary Parrish
This 44 year old dude was competing in something.
- [71:21]
Matt Norlander
Nick Baumgartner, he's incredible, dude.
- [71:24]
Gary Parrish
I rewound his interview and played it for my kids. It was so good. I wanted my kids to hear that.
- [71:30]
Matt Norlander
His entire attitude on life is amazing. Yes.
- [71:33]
Gary Parrish
I love the Winter Olympics. I wish, I wish I'd have started doing this, you know, a few decades ago. I can't believe I just now got into the Winter Olympics. Huck, Larnell, Huck and Larnell. If you're not subscribed, please go subscribe anyway. Subscribe to podcasts like Apple and Spotify. More of us than there are of them. I think that Nick Baumgartner got fell. I'm pretty sure he's one of us. More of us than there are of them. That needs to be reflected in the comments.
- [71:58]
Matt Norlander
Chloe Kim, Miles Garrett, us.
- [72:02]
Gary Parrish
I could see that. That ain't hard to see. We'll talk to you again on Sunday. Yeah, Sunday's gonna do it.
- [72:11]
Matt Norlander
Till then, take care and watch the Olympics.
- [72:14]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I love the Olympics. Paramount Podcasts, Monster Energy. Everybody knows White Monster, Zero Ultra, that's the OG it kicked off this whole zero sugar energy drink thing. But Ultra is a whole lineup now. You've got Strawberry Dreams, Blue Hawaiian Sunrise and Vice Guava. And they all bring the Monster Energy punch. So if you've been living in the 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.