← Eye On College Basketball
Eye On College Basketball
Mighty Midwest: Iowa St. + Nebraska still undefeated; Arkansas-T. Tech, Zona-Bama, UCLA-Gonzaga headline another strong non-con weekend
01:08:56
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- [00:01]
Gary Parrish
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- [01:15]
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- [01:59]
Gary Parrish
Hey there, I am Gary Parrish. Welcome back CBS Sports. I own College Basketball podcast where we sometimes discuss camel fighting, dodo birds. Leaky Black Matt Norlander is here with me. If you're watching on YouTube, be Brayden Davies. Smash that like button. If you haven't yet subscribed to the CBS Sports I Own College Basketball podcast, please go ahead and do that. Wherever you subscribe to podcasts like Apple and Spotify, let's get into it. I want to start in the Hawkeye State where Iowa and Iowa State met Thursday night in A game between power conference programs that entered with a combined record of 18 and 1. Fun matchup. Final score. Iowa State 66, Iowa 62. The Cyclones, they were coming off a historically awesome performance at number one, Purdue. They tried by as many as 13 points in this one, but rallied to outscore Iowa 4129 in the second half. They won the game by four. So Iowa State now 10 0, just like Duke and Iowa drops to 8 and 2. But the losses are to the teams that are ranked fourth and ninth in the top 25 and one, that is Michigan State and Iowa State. Norlander, good to see you on a Friday morning. What'd you make of Iowa State staying undefeated with a victory over their in state rival?
- [03:14]
Matt Norlander
Wonderful game. And this is about as good as you can ask for record wise. Other than literally both teams being undefeated at the time of the game, which I'm not sure that we've ever had maybe once before between these two programs. And for whatever reason, however, the calendar usually breaks down. This game is typically only the only game of note. The night is played almost every single season. I think they build it kind of a little bit around the final schedule, but my, my brain's telling me that in recent seasons for sure, when these two square up for their only meeting in. What do they call it? The Cyhawk, the Cyhawk series, which Iowa State apparently won in wrestling, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, there might have been another sport in there. This year. They had swept all of them for the first time. So I know Cyclones fans listening and watching are extremely happy about what. What transpired there. But it was, it was cool to see Iowa get competitive. And not just competitive, you know, up 13 in the first half with three minutes to go. And then our colleague Chris Hassell, who I rumor has it, might be from Iowa. I'm not sure he cursed the Hawkeyes the rest of the way because he called Ben McCollum the coach of the year. Next thing you know, Iowa State had a 19 nothing run, half over half. And then actually to start the second half first, eight and a half minutes, 22, four outscored the Hawkeyes and Iowa State one. Despite not shooting as well from the field as Iowa, it won in part because it was able to get to the line for what, 23 free throws. Iowa only had three. I have to shout out Killian Torre, who I thought did a really nice job on Bennett sturts, who had 10 points, four assists. Joshua Jefferson obviously is the stud of the game. He had 24 points game high at that and continues to be just a rising star in college basketball. And with him alongside a healthy Lipsy Lips, he had what, 14 last night. Momcilovich didn't even have a ton, but they just got so much good stuff going on there right now. GP A really fun game came down to the closing possessions, which was, which was good to see in Iowa. You lose, you blow a big lead. You had it, you had it in Hilton, but at least you know a top three team in the country did. Didn't run you out of the gym in the first season under your new coach. You got to be at least inspired by that, even though blowing the big lead is. Is. Is not exactly the most inspiring thing. Iowa State, by the way. GP 100 now that's just the fourth time in the history of the program the Clones have gotten off to a 100 start, but it is the second time under Otzelberger.
- [05:48]
Gary Parrish
Joshua Jefferson, you mentioned 24 points, five rebounds, two steals, two blocks. He is number two now in the Cape. Boy, I'm picking up on it like you taught me. Year standings, he's number two. I don't think any, like most people didn't have Cameron Boozer as the national player of the year in the preseason, but everybody assumed it was possible. I don't think anybody assumed Joshua Jefferson as a first team All American was a thing we were going to be talking about. Did, did people even think he'd be the best player on his own team?
- [06:18]
Matt Norlander
No. He was going in. Obviously considered the best NBA prospect on the Cyclones, but Lipsey considered the most valuable player, being the floor general and being a veteran that he is. But at this point, yeah, you probably got the stats queued up, but I'll throw it right back, right back to you. 18.2 per game points wise, six and a half rebounds, five assists, shooting well from the field. He's been really, really good. And for as valuable as Lipsy is, Jefferson really is the guy that has taken Iowa State to the top tier in the sport and can keep them there. That was only reinforced last night with what they did against the Hawkeyes.
- [06:50]
Gary Parrish
And it reminds me a little bit of that Gonzaga team that won Maui the year I was there. I believe it was 2018, 2019, where coming into the season everybody was like, zaga is going to be really good. And Gonzaga's best player is Rui Hachimura. And throughout the first week of the season or first month of the season, it became clear that, yeah, Rui's great, but the best player at Gonzaga, in that particular year, that was Brandon Clark. And so we just had it all wrong. And it's looking like that might also be the case at Iowa State. I don't know if Hassel is right that Ben is going to be coach of the year. It's just, it's year one and he's dealing with some other monsters in that league, but he's obviously very good. I mentioned the record two losses, but both to teams that are ranked in the top 10 of my top 25 and 1. I started thinking about this last night. Name a state where you would take two coaches over the state of Iowa right now. I don't mean to get you off the top of your head, but I mean, I can give you some, some, some possibilities. Michigan, you've got Tom Izzo.
- [07:53]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [07:54]
Gary Parrish
And like, don't forget Greg Campy. In the state of Texas, you've got Kelvin Sampson, Scott Drew, Grant McCaslin, Sean Miller.
- [08:03]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [08:03]
Gary Parrish
Strong in Kentucky. I know UK fans don't want to hear this right now, but I'll still throw Pat Kelsey, Mark Pope into the ring. In California, you got Mick Cronin, Eric Musselman, Randy Bennett. But that the state of Iowa's got two. Pretty good. More than that. But the two at the power conference level are operating. They, they look like if you could keep these guys in these jobs for a decade, you'd feel pretty good about it.
- [08:31]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, no doubt about it. You know, give some love to Ben Jacobson.
- [08:35]
Gary Parrish
That's where I stop myself.
- [08:37]
Matt Norlander
He's, he's, he's done a good job. And then Eric Henderson. You know, Drake's not world leaders right now, but he's been a pretty good, proven coach. What we might have is the classic best coaches per capita situation going on in Iowa. The old pound for pound analogy might be at play there, but yes, yes, a really, really quality game. I want to get the exact hassle. The exact hassle. Tweet here. Hold on. It was just ridiculous because he sent this out. Yeah, here it is. Call it now. Ben McCollum, coach of the year. And every year from here on out, that was sent at 8. 46. I think Iowa was up at 13 at that point and they subsequently just pissed away the lead after that. So just too funny. Our buddy Hassle, who does a wonderful, tremendous job hosting on CBS Sports HQ. Let's go. Bigger picture on the Big 12 GP, because with Iowa State winning this game and, you know, avoiding taking the, Taking its first l, it maintains its standing in the sport. And I think you've about come over to my side on this by by believing. Although if you didn't, I'm interested to hear your case. The Big 12 is the best league in college basketball right now. Not guaranteed to be that for the rest of the season, but with what it's done in non conference play, to me this earned that title. It is not sitting there at Ken Palm right now. The SEC still is, but that is still predictive metrics. I do think we'll probably have a turn in that by the time we get to Christmas. But Iowa State, undefeated. Arizona, undefeated. Oklahoma State, by the way, undefeated. In addition to the likes of Houston, which has one loss, BYU which has one loss now Kansas has a healthy Darren Peterson. We'll get to the Jayhawks in the final four. And one. Texas Tech, we'll get to them in the final four and one. Baylor still looks solid. Even UCF at eight and one is off to its best start ever under Johnny Dawkins. I don't know if it's going to be a tournament team. I don't know if Colorado is going to be a tournament team, but these teams are not losing a lot of non conference games. Colorado off to an 8 and 1 start. Even Arizona State off to an 8 and 2 start. So while there have been disappointments like West Virginia's just been okay, Cincinnati hasn't been as good as you think. Kansas State, really, what the hell's going on there? And Utah is, as expected, not that good. Big 12 overall is pretty pretty damn strong. Your thoughts on on the league and where do you have Just for a refresher for our viewers and listeners, where do you have ISU? You have Zona One? I think everyone realized that. But where is ISU? Where's Houston? Where is BYU? Where's Tech? In your top 25 and 1 as of Friday morning.
- [11:03]
Gary Parrish
I did flip it. I did move Michigan to number one at some point. Really? Did you? I just think at some point you've got to stop. I'm trying. As, as I age, I'm trying to be less rigid in my thinking. And this is not something I would have done five years ago. I would have just said the team I've got number one has a zero in the lost column. Until that changes, they're going to be number one. And if anybody wants to subscribe to that way of thinking, it's fine with me. It's easily defensible. But I mean Michigan's just beating everybody's brains at out. They're number one in every computer that I look at. At some point, I felt like, you just gotta. Honestly, it was a quote from Dusty May. I'm sitting there reading the recap from the most risky recent blowout, and he's like, these guys deserve to be ranked number one. And I'm like, you know what? He's right.
- [11:57]
Matt Norlander
What if Arizona, we're gonna get to this in the Final Four? What if Arizona wins in Alabama against Alabama and Tommy Lloyd says these guys deserve to stay number one?
- [12:05]
Gary Parrish
Then what? Then what are you going to do?
- [12:06]
Matt Norlander
You're going to find yourself in a pretty damn tight spot.
- [12:08]
Gary Parrish
I. I read something on Instagram, I think, and it said, like, 90% of the things you worry about never actually happen, so stop worrying about them until you have to deal with it. So that's where I'm at right now.
- [12:23]
Matt Norlander
And if you can. If you can really just dive into that, that means that Parrish gives Arizona a 10% chance at winning against Alabama this Saturday. We'll get more into that on the Final Four.
- [12:31]
Gary Parrish
And one the way my life goes, I'm expecting Arizona to win by 70 in Birmingham on this weekend. At which point I'm sitting there going, now what? Now what am I supposed to do? But I decided. I decided to respect Dusty's credentials, all the numbers and his spoken words. He said his players deserve to be number one. And I was like, I'll fight with Norlander, but I don't want to fight with Dusty May. So, fine, Michigan's number one.
- [13:00]
Matt Norlander
Sound like someone who would be just awful on the stand under cross examination. All it took was to read one sentence that Dusty May said that you read in some sort of story, and suddenly your entire worldview just flipped like that.
- [13:16]
Gary Parrish
Well, I mean, shouldn't Dusty May be able to change your entire worldview? Like, I'm sitting here right now, like, I think it's safe to assume Dusty May's worldview is probably better than mine.
- [13:26]
Matt Norlander
I mean, I would think that's the case, and frankly, I would hope it's the case. And he might need to start running the entire Michigan athletic department at the pace they're going there. So maybe a lot more attention.
- [13:36]
Gary Parrish
Okay, what is going on at Michigan? That's crazy. Crazy, crazy.
- [13:42]
Matt Norlander
Especially crazy when you juxtapose it with just how dominant and amazing and incredible the Michigan basketball program is and just how well respected everyone on that staff is. And then you look at everything else, it's just. But anyway, I was trying to guide us down the road of the Big 12. You have Michigan number one. Where is everyone else? At this point. And are you with me? Big 12, best league in America.
- [14:04]
Gary Parrish
I don't know that you've ever been friends with somebody who's obviously smarter than you, but I feel like I, I.
- [14:10]
Matt Norlander
Feel like I, I, I, I, I do this podcast with you. So obviously the answer is yes.
- [14:14]
Gary Parrish
I've known Dusty for a long time. I feel like his worldview is probably better than mine. So when he says, hey, listen, I don't ring basketball teams every morning, but I'm telling you, I know basketball teams and this one deserves to be number one, I was like, fine, whatever. Michigan's number one. So the Wolverines will stay there. Arizona is probably going to win by 1,000 points this weekend. I've got Arizona at 2, Iowa State at 4, BYU at 6. So to your point, three of my top six in the top 25 and one are from the Big 12. Number 14, Kansas. Number 15, Houston. Number 17, Texas Tech. I still think the Big Ten is probably deeper in, in the sense that on Selection Sunday, it might have more teams in the tournament than any other league. But who has the most national championship contenders Right now? You might be able to say that it's the Big 12. Sure. I wouldn't argue with you about that. I wouldn't argue if Dusty May said that, I wouldn't argue with him either.
- [15:10]
Matt Norlander
I think it's more than it might. I think it is. I think at this point with what we've seen from all these teams, I think that is very much the case. And yeah, good, good start here for the Big 12. You got anything else or do you want to stick in the Midwest? Talk about another undefeated team.
- [15:25]
Gary Parrish
Who called it first about how difficult it was to walk into Pinnacle Bank.
- [15:30]
Matt Norlander
I believe that was you.
- [15:32]
Gary Parrish
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- [16:34]
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- [17:35]
Gary Parrish
That'S a 30 point win. Here's what I wrote Thursday morning In the top 25 and one out of 365 Division 1 men's basketball teams, only two went went to bed Wednesday night with a 100 record. One of them was a Duke program that has won 126 games in the NCAA tournament and the byproduct of that is five national championships. The other is Nebraska, the only power conference school in the sport that has never won a game in the NCAA tournament. Historically, these teams come from very different places, but they have the same record right now. Here's what I'm asking you. Is this the year? Is this the season that Nebraska finally removes that burden from its shoulders?
- [18:22]
Matt Norlander
All that time, all that existence. Nebraska basketball when did what year did it start?
- [18:27]
Gary Parrish
GP what year did Nebraska what was the first season?
- [18:32]
Matt Norlander
Nebraska Cornhuskers Men's basketball history 191118961896 It's a long time. The tournament's only existed since 39.
- [18:47]
Gary Parrish
So you know, sister, sister, sister. Jean was a freshman.
- [18:51]
Matt Norlander
There we go. And in all that time, Nebraska has never won. And then simply tournament came super thick chunks of broken life and reality. Nebraska, is this the season. You know what? I'm gonna, I'm gonna tap out. It's too early for me to say.
- [19:09]
Gary Parrish
No, no, you have to say early.
- [19:11]
Matt Norlander
To sort the data. It's not. I'm sorting data on the daily. At this point. I want to believe, but I don't know. Nebraska's 100 right now to tie its best start in school history. It did this once before. It didn't win in the civil tournament game 77, 78, if you're curious is the other time they started 100 also won 14 games in a row. Not only is that the longest streak in the country, the win on Wednesday night also marked tied for the longest win streak in the history of the program. They did that in 1991. I'm seeing a lot of signs that indicate that this very much can end. But I'm not going to sit here on December 12th and tell you, Gary Parrish, that it will end. I do believe that you believe that 2026 will mark the end of the streak, though. They're going to win a tournament game. You're on board, right?
- [20:04]
Gary Parrish
Of course I'm on board. I want to believe that.
- [20:06]
Matt Norlander
Yeah. If we actually attached stakes to it, would you still be on board? Anyone can just say it. Like doesn't you just say it, but some sort of stakes. Would you, would you, would you then continue with your belief there?
- [20:21]
Gary Parrish
Do you know the type of things I have attached stakes to in my life?
- [20:25]
Matt Norlander
If we had to, if you had to wager an entire paycheck of yours on Nebraska winning an NC tournament game in 2026, would you do so?
- [20:32]
Gary Parrish
Bro, I have spent much of my life gambling on the Mets. What do you think? Are you kidding? I, I, Yes, I'll believe in. I believe in the Mets. You don't think I believe in Nebraska?
- [20:47]
Matt Norlander
I'm not saying you don't. I'm just trying to get a little more information out of you.
- [20:51]
Gary Parrish
I don't care. I, I bet on the Mets every day during the summer.
- [20:56]
Matt Norlander
That's sounds like a serious, serious personality flaw.
- [21:00]
Gary Parrish
I just want so badly for them to be good.
- [21:03]
Matt Norlander
Alonzo. Isn't he an Oriole now? Everybody.
- [21:05]
Gary Parrish
Brandon Nemo, Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonzo.
- [21:08]
Matt Norlander
Don't you have the richest owner in the entire sport?
- [21:11]
Gary Parrish
That's what I thought. That's what I thought. What I'm starting To find out is it doesn't matter how much money you have if, if people don't want to take it.
- [21:22]
Matt Norlander
It's very hard to do when you have all of the money and you find people that don't want to take all of the money very hard. Only the Mets.
- [21:30]
Gary Parrish
It's tough, man. But yes, I believe in Nebraska. I have spent my whole life believing in the Mets. It's not hard to believe in Nebraska. It doesn't take me much to get, get there. All right, so absolutely, I believe in Nebraska. Plus, in all seriousness, jokes aside, we're done with the Mets. I know how much it means to Fred. Like, I've talked to him about this. They came, they made the NCAA tournament a couple years ago. Came to Memphis and like, they were the majority of the crowd. Like, they traveled that fan base like in Las Vegas. I know we don't care about the crown, but like, they did win that and they, they took fans there. That, that, that fan base cares about everything. They care about football. They care about everything. Volleyball, I think every time I turn on a volleyball game, it's Nebraska and the thing is sold out. So they care deeply. And, and, and so, yes, I would like that for them. I do think they're, they're good enough to do it. Like, just basketball stuff. They get Rick Mass back and he's been terrific so far. He missed all of last season with a knee injury. He's now averaging 18 points, six and a half rebounds, 3.1 assists in 28 minutes per game. Like, he's been excellent. I think they can get this done. Yes. I'm going to predict on December 12th whether you're comfortable with it or not. I'm predicting Nebraska wins a game. It's first ever game in the NCAA tournament. It happens in March 2026.
- [22:49]
Matt Norlander
I hope you're right. I would love to see that. Nebraska fans deserve this, unquestionably. A couple more notes on the, on the game here. Big picture stuff on the Cornhuskers. Wisconsin Hatton did hell to 16 a game this season. And Wisconsin's outlook is very foggy still, even, you know, almost six weeks into the year. But whatever, they, they're certainly a solid team. John Blackwell was one of 11 from the field and held to seven points. That's a Wisconsin team that before they played Nebraska was averaging 88 a game. Like, really, really impressive stuff there. Winning by 30 was Nebraska's largest mov in a win since 34 against Rutgers in 2016. Very, very impressive there. They'd also never won Against Wisconsin by as many as 30 period. Jamarcus Lawrence, we'll get to Mass in just a second, but he had the seven assists. He's been a really key player as well. And we are seeing, you know, real signs of a, of a very real top 25 level team that is, that is gearing up for its biggest game of the season. They have to play at Illinois and that game, because we're talking about Nebraska here, that game is not in the top 25 and top 25 one that the final four and one. But what a, what a, a terrific game on a very good Saturday. And we'll get to that in just a couple of minutes to go on the road and face a really talented Illinois team. It is a house money situation for Nebraska. Yes, it is trying to extend the, the longest win streak in the sport. Yes, it is trying to set a program record by starting a season 11 0. Yes, it is trying to set a program record by winning a 15th consecutive game. If it doesn't do that, no one's gonna, no one's gonna shirk at Nebraska. What's whatsoever. Fred Hoiberg has done just a really, really good job on a. For a team that I think going in was expected to land somewhere in the. I think we're being fair and honest. Nebraska was expected to be somewhere in the 10 to 16 range in the Big Ten this season. And it now it's, it's outplayed that to this point. It looks like one of the, you know, it's undefeated. So record wise it's one of the very best. But if you remove even that. Let me bring up, let me bring.
- [24:53]
Gary Parrish
Up the Big Ten sort something.
- [24:56]
Matt Norlander
I'm sorting it right now. Well, if you wanted to actually sort. You want to, you want, you want to straight up sort in real time, folks, not anyone can do this. Okay? You want to straight up just in real time right now. Nebraska this season in terms of Overall efficiency is 25th in the country and in wins above bubble resume wise, Nebraska's 11th best in the country. So it's looking like a top five team in the Big Ten overall. Super impressive stuff. Very interesting to see what it can do in a real competitive, tough environment. League game against the Illini on Saturday, tremendous spot for an Illinois team that's coming off a couple of high major wins. Tennessee, Ohio State now gets Nebraska in this house. Illinois is going to be favored in that game, but nevertheless, good, good stuff, good gains for Nebraska. We appreciate it. Anyone listening isn't familiar with the lyric I dropped Mo Moe Nebraska. Tremendous song. Just love it. Love me some Mo. Love me some Nebraska. Give it a spin after the pod.
- [25:54]
Gary Parrish
They are also Nebraska. Not, not the song or the album, but the basketball team made in a way that I think it's easy to overlook in the preseason. In other words, like I said, they get R back. We don't usually talk too much about so and so. Missed all of last season, but now he's coming back. What will that look like? But they've got one of those. And then DeMarcus Lawrence is, is a, what do we call it, a boomerang transfer. Like he went to, he was at Nebraska for some good stuff, went to Rhode island, then bounces back to Nebraska and now he's, he's playing a role on an undefeated basketball team. So, you know, yeah, we'll see where it, where it lands. But so far, so good. That's a team that at the very least looks like it's in position to maybe get the best seed it's ever received in the NCAA tournament. That, by the way, is a six seat. Never anything better than a six seed at Nebraska in the NCAA tournament. Can you do better than that? And if you do, if you do, by definition, you're in position to advance in the NCAA tournament because you'll be the better seated team in the bracket. Move on 5, 4 and 1. Presented by FanDuel Sportsbook. We're going to do that next, but first, let's get one more word from our partners.
- [27:06]
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- [27:37]
Matt Norlander
What's good, y'?
- [27:37]
Gary Parrish
All? It's Vaughn Miller, Super Bowl MVP, Sagmaster, and now your host of Free Range.
- [27:43]
Matt Norlander
This is where NFL meets Real Talk.
- [27:45]
Gary Parrish
Every week, I'm bringing you inside the game.
- [27:48]
Matt Norlander
From locker room stories to league wide headlines.
- [27:50]
Gary Parrish
You want football iq, locker room insight and real conversation. Conversations with the people shaping the league. Welcome to Free Range with Von Miller, where nothing is off limits and every down counts. New episodes every Wednesday.
- [28:02]
Matt Norlander
Listen and follow Free Range with me.
- [28:04]
Gary Parrish
Von Miller, wherever you get your podcast.
- [28:08]
Matt Norlander
Hey, guys. Back at the playground again, huh?
- [28:11]
Gary Parrish
Yep.
- [28:12]
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- [28:15]
Gary Parrish
Heck, yeah. And some waves. So we could go surfing.
- [28:20]
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I love that.
- [28:21]
Matt Norlander
A redwood forest would be cool. I'm in ski slopes.
- [28:25]
Gary Parrish
Let's do it.
- [28:26]
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- [28:29]
Gary Parrish
Wait, did we just invent California?
- [28:32]
Sponsor/Commercial Voice
Discover why California is the ultimate playground@visitcalifornia.com.
- [28:36]
Gary Parrish
It'S time for the final four in one. Presented by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more.
- [28:43]
Matt Norlander
Josh, hold on. Do we want to do this? I mean, do we. Do we want to do this again?
- [28:50]
Gary Parrish
This is only. This is the only thing I've been looking forward to all week. What are you talking about? Do I want to do it? This is. I've been looking forward to this moment all week long. Josh, if you don't mind, turn your mic on and in the best voice you got, however you interpret that, update us on our records and tell me how good I am at this. I. I fear that I can't.
- [29:15]
Matt Norlander
I can't do that this week. I'm sorry. One and four last week for Parish. Lander two and three. GP has done. He's 14 and 11 on the season. Norlander 13 and 12.
- [29:31]
Gary Parrish
We're close. Okay.
- [29:32]
Matt Norlander
But GP is either awesome or he's bad. He started one four week one, then went like nine and one over the next two weeks, and now one and four again last week.
- [29:44]
Gary Parrish
It's. It's. It's a roller coaster with gps. That's my life. That's. That's like. That's my life. That's like. That's life with me. It's a roller coaster. I have good weeks. I have bad weeks.
- [29:56]
Matt Norlander
I'm sorry, I can't do.
- [29:58]
Gary Parrish
Can't do nearly as much for you this week.
- [30:01]
Matt Norlander
Thank you, Josh. I appreciate that and much more. I was looking forward approach to the final four and one. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
- [30:10]
Gary Parrish
I guess I'll have to look for affection elsewhere.
- [30:13]
Matt Norlander
Where possibly could you find that?
- [30:15]
Gary Parrish
I don't know. I really don't know at this point. Game one, game one, Saturday, noon Eastern. Number 17, Arkansas versus number 16, Texas Tech, inside the J.R. ewing Center.
- [30:35]
Matt Norlander
Dallas.
- [30:37]
Gary Parrish
You don't know? Are you too young for Dallas?
- [30:39]
Matt Norlander
You know what this is? GP And I are like nine years apart. This is one of those instances where, yeah, the Dallas stuff, that was. That's. That's just a little bit before my time. So I know of this show, but yeah, not. Not in my wheelhouse at all.
- [30:53]
Gary Parrish
It didn't feel appropriate to go with like JFK or Lee Harvey Oswald or anything like that. So I just want jruing television show. You can watch it on ESPN2. Ken Palm has it Texas Tech minus.
- [31:04]
Matt Norlander
One this is a game.
- [31:07]
Gary Parrish
It is a game.
- [31:08]
Matt Norlander
Those raised on the Southwest Conference. How about that? I was not raised on the Southwest Conference. Arkansas and Texas Tech were both former members there. They have met 81 times in their history. How about this? Texas Tech 41 to 40 all time edge because Tech beat Arkansas in that great and dramatic Sweet 16 game last season in the tournament. In fact, the two most recent times these teams have played have come on the big dance stage. Arkansas defeated Texas tech in the second round of the 2021 bubble tournament, so they split the page past two. Keep an eye on Carter Knox in this one. He leads Arkansas in three point accuracy. He's only taken 22 but he's made 11 of them. I'd like to see him get a little more opportunities from beyond the arc there, see if they can set him up. Darius Acuff has been a really good distributor generally speaking for the season, but in the past two games he's at 18 assists so far. Over the past two games he's second in the country among freshmen in dimes per game and seventh in scoring 17.4 points per game. For Acuff, Arkansas's had some good good showings as of late, which is good to see. Texas Tech also coming off a thrashing against LSU on Sunday. 82:58 they're seven two are are the Red Raiders. JT Toppin probably a first team All American right now, which is not a surprise given he was a preseason first team all American, but we haven't talked a ton about him. His numbers right now are better than they were a season ago, 20.8 points per game, 11 and a half rebounds per game, shooting 52.5% from the field. Yet another really good weekend with some really nice matchups. Another great ranked on rank level game here. I will I will go Arkansas to narrowly win. This should be a really good game with a really good crowd crowd and if Hogs fans really get out there and travel like it could be close to a 5050 split down there and.
- [33:15]
Gary Parrish
JRU and country I was thinking the same thing. Often we get these neutral neutral site games between good teams and it's like either either the buildings half field. I mean it is like on Thanksgiving we had this amazing non league matchup between Arkansas on Duke that did historically great numbers on television but it was played in Chicago and the building was not full. And often when we do neutral site stuff, that's the case. Or it's like predominantly one school over the other and that just will not be the. I would assume that's not going to be the case here.
- [33:53]
Matt Norlander
Right.
- [33:53]
Gary Parrish
I would assume this building is full and there's, you know, 8,000, 9,000 Arkansas fans, 8,9000 Texas Tech fans. These are two programs that I don't know that it resonates nationally the way Duke fans resonate or Kentucky fans resonate or Kansas fans resonate. But they have fan bases that care deeply about these basketball programs. And so I expect that'll be a terrific scene. Arkansas, we had talked about them on previous pods, sort of throughout the first whatever games of the season, they just sort of did what they were supposed to do. They beat all the bad teams and they lost to the ones that were better than them. But then, you know, they knocked out Louisville earlier this month and I've got them higher right now in the top 25 and one than Texas Tech. So that doesn't necessarily mean anything. But I'll lean that way. I'll take the Razorbacks. I'll take the Razorbacks, not only to cover the number, obviously, but to win the game. Game 2, Saturday, 3:30 Eastern Memphis at number 11, Louisville inside the Purvis Ellison Center. You can watch it on ESPN. Kim Palm has it. Louisville -13. That breaks my heart. I was raised on the Metro Conference. I don't remember. I don't remember Louisville -13 too often. And I say that with a, with an incredible amount of respect for Lebrad, for Smith and Purvis ellison. But Louisville -13, that hurts my heart.
- [35:22]
Matt Norlander
Is that why you have this game, by the way? Because you were honestly, is that why this game is in the the final form one, because you were raised on the Metro?
- [35:30]
Gary Parrish
I was raised on the Metro.
- [35:31]
Matt Norlander
I can't figure that was why you picked this game.
- [35:33]
Gary Parrish
I was raised on Never Nervous Purvis, which is an amazing nickname, by the way.
- [35:39]
Matt Norlander
Oh, I love it.
- [35:40]
Gary Parrish
Never Nervous Purvis is an incredible nickname. Like, you're a Bears fan, so you probably spent like a lot of your life hating Aaron Rodgers, right?
- [35:51]
Matt Norlander
Can't stand the guy.
- [35:52]
Gary Parrish
That's the way I felt about Purvis Ellis, as much as you hate Aaron Rodgers, that's how much I hate Purpose Ellison.
- [36:01]
Matt Norlander
Those are not equal in the slightest.
- [36:03]
Gary Parrish
You don't know what he did to me when I was young. I know I shouldn't say that out loud. That could go a lot of different ways. Perfect. I've never met Purvis Ellis, and I want to be clear about that.
- [36:12]
Matt Norlander
Thank you for correcting the record.
- [36:14]
Gary Parrish
I've never met purpose out before. You guys try to take this somewhere it doesn't need to go. I've never met purpose, Allison. But that man ruined my childhood. He was so good.
- [36:27]
Matt Norlander
Yes, he was.
- [36:29]
Gary Parrish
Three time first team all Metro. Let's start there. All right. Most outstanding player of the Final Four for a national championship team in 1986. Consensus first team all American in 1989. Number one overall pick, 1989 NBA draft. It will stop there. That's about. We'll just stop there. But, like, up into that point, he was ruining my life. Amazing career.
- [36:57]
Matt Norlander
Wonder if he's going to be in the building on Saturday.
- [36:59]
Gary Parrish
I hope not.
- [37:01]
Matt Norlander
He may.
- [37:01]
Gary Parrish
He may.
- [37:02]
Matt Norlander
Well, I mean, it's possible. I don't know where Purvis calls home these days, but if he's in the greater Louisville area, why would you know?
- [37:08]
Gary Parrish
I hope it's hell. If I.
- [37:11]
Matt Norlander
If I was dominating the Metro and I was within driving distance and an old league foe was coming back into town, you bet your ass I'd be showing my face in that building. I want to see Purvis Ellison in the building on Saturday.
- [37:23]
Gary Parrish
The last thing I want to see on a Saturday is a Purvis Ellison. I'm scarred. Imagine if you were. Imagine if you were scarred as a nine year old, and then all these years later you're just like, all right, cool. I'll turn on the tv. First thing you see is Purvis Ellison. I don't need to see that. I never want to see that man again.
- [37:45]
Matt Norlander
Parrish. I'm going to take Memphis plus 13. You said it was 13, right?
- [37:49]
Gary Parrish
Unfortunately, I mean, that's not. This is not the Metro rivalry I grew up on. All right, but here we are.
- [37:58]
Matt Norlander
First of all, I doubt they do it, but this is one of those. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this has already been publicized. I just haven't seen. Seen it. If you work at both of these schools and you're in the athletic department, you're in marketing, and you know the game is happening, you need to be wearing your throwbacks. Like, it needs to say Memphis State on the uniform. Because when they were in the Metro, it was Memphis. That's another thing. It's never been Memphis State for me. I know it is for you, but it was always like, when they changed that, when I started to have an acknowledgment of college hoops and all that stuff. It was right when they were getting Ready to changes. So I've never had the. I've never, you know, thought about Memphis as Memphis State, but I know that they were at one point. They should be wearing Memphis State when they show up to play this game. They probably won't. That's a huge swing and a miss. I'd love to be wrong. It would be incredible.
- [38:46]
Gary Parrish
I do not know. I mean, I. I mean, I could send a text and probably find out, but you might not be wrong. They do wear Memphis State jerseys sometimes. And I. It would be a big miss if they didn't wear them correct at the Yum Center. I wish they planted Freedom Hall.
- [39:01]
Matt Norlander
That'd be even better.
- [39:03]
Gary Parrish
It would be even better. Take it to Freedom hall, throw Purpose Ellison out there. It just. It'd be nightmares for my. There is nothing that scared me more as. As a child. And I know people have, like Freddy Krueger. Jason. No, for me, it was Purvis, Ellison and Freedom Hall. I don't care about Elm Street. It was Freedom hall for me. Purvis, Ellison, Freedom hall nightmare stuff. I won't be surprised if they wear them upstate jerseys. They should like, seriously, here, locally, we've been talking about this all week.
- [39:34]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [39:34]
Gary Parrish
Andre Turner, who was the point guard for the 85 Memphis Final Four team, he's now on Penny staff. And so he did part of the weekly radio show. And I didn't remember it this way, but he was like, I played Louisville 11 times. He was in school for four years in Memphis State and Louisville played 11 times in those four years. I mean, so it was. It was a. As I mentioned earlier in the week, like Lakers, Celtics was a thing in the 80s, but in this. Here it was. It was Memphis State, Louisville, and like, to this day, there are people who live here who call Memphis. Memphis State still like to. Yeah. And so it's. It's a. This will be a fun. I don't know if it'll be a fun game, but it's a fun thing to think about. You know, having this rivalry renewed, it means something to Penny. Even though Penny never actually played against Louisville. That was where the rivalry went away. He never played against him, but he, like me, was raised on this stuff and I appreciate Pat recognizing what it is. And so it'll. It'll be a fun game. I'll take Memphis plus the 13 because how could I not?
- [40:43]
Matt Norlander
Well, you and I, in that case, we can get to game three in a second. But you and I agree. I will also take out of pity more than anything else. This is a very Rare final four and one game between two high major teams. I'm still going to call Memphis a high major team because it deserves that. But it's rare that you have a two high major team. Final form. One game where the spread is double digits nonetheless. Really had to get some stuff off his chest. We allow it. We both got Memphis to cover the 13. What do you got for game three?
- [41:12]
Gary Parrish
I know Ryan Conwell is going to make nine three. Okay. I'm very aware of how, of how this is going to unfold, but I'm going to sit down with my boys tomorrow. We're going to, we're going to appreciate Memphis State and Louisville on a basketball court. Game three, Saturday, 9:30pm Eastern. Number one, Arizona versus number 12 Alabama, inside Gucci Mane Arena.
- [41:34]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [41:35]
Gary Parrish
You can watch it on espn. Ken Palm has an Arizona minus one inside Gucci Mane.
- [41:41]
Matt Norlander
Have you done Gucci mane already this season? I feel like you have.
- [41:44]
Gary Parrish
Well, Birmingham's interesting because you can go Courtney Cox. You can go Gucci Mane. I went with East Atlanta Santa. I went with the East Atlanta Santa.
- [41:56]
Matt Norlander
I love that East Atlanta Atlanta Santa. You obviously have Arizona.
- [42:00]
Gary Parrish
I promise. Go find this video. You'll laugh at this video. There's a video of, of Wayne and he's, he's just like an interview, I guess. And there's some like top five rappers of all time or top five something of something. And they're, they're giving the, the list to Wayne and they're like trying to get him to guess, like, who do you think's on it? And he's like, jay. And they're like, yeah, Jay's number one. He's like, yeah, that makes sense. And they're like, who else you think's on it? And he's like, m. And they're like, m's not on it. He's like, what? M's not on the list. He's like, they're like, no, M's not on the list. He's like, okay. And then they're like, Drake. And he's like, yeah, Drake. That makes sense. I guess this is, this is, this is pre battle. All right. So he's like, yeah, I guess Drake. That makes sense. He's like, battle.
- [42:42]
Matt Norlander
That's indefensible. Keep going.
- [42:43]
Gary Parrish
He's like, I agree with you. I agree with you. I don't respect the master manipulator and a habitual liar too. But. But Wayne did at the time. They're buddies. So Wayne's like, yeah, Drake, that makes sense. And he's like, who else is on the list? Like, I don't know. You tell me. And they're like, gucci. And he's like. He's like, gucci. Gucci mane. And they're like, yeah, Gucci mane. He's like. He wants to say. You can see, like what? He's like, shout out Gucci. He just, like, respects it, but it's outrageous to him that he hears that. Is a top five. As a top five. Anyway, we're playing this game inside Gucci Main arena. That's what I'm trying to say.
- [43:21]
Matt Norlander
And you've got Arizona losing so that you can justify Michigan being number one. Do I have that right?
- [43:25]
Gary Parrish
You know what? I really do think that way. And I love Tommy Lloyd. But it would be helpful for my Twitter minions if Arizona took its first loss this weekend. I'm not rooting for that. I want to be clear. But would it be helpful for my mentions if Arizona lost a game? It would be helpful because some people did point out that after Michigan just pounded somebody, I was like, listen, man, what do you want me to do? Like, they're beating everybody's brains in. What do you want me to do? And then people were like, you realize Arizona's last game, they beat Auburn by 50,000 points. And I was like, that's a fair counterpoint. I'd say 99 of the replies I get to the top 25 and 1 are nonsensical. But if you're listening, whoever that was.
- [44:21]
Matt Norlander
Fair point.
- [44:22]
Gary Parrish
You make a fair point.
- [44:23]
Matt Norlander
Josh posted a poll earlier in the show asking our live audience, do you believe that four, at least four teams have a chance to win the Big 12 this season? 55% of the audience said yes. I actually think the. That's low. I figured more people would give at least four teams a chance. Arizona, of course, in that group. As for this game, Taylor Bull Bowen will play. He's had back issues, but he's expected to be on the floor. Aiden Holloway has had. Has had the wrist situation. So it is to be determined whether or not he's going to be able to go. And his availability could very well be the difference in Bama winning the game or not. Or even if he's on the floor, his effectiveness could be the difference in whether or not they can give it a go. Because keep in mind Jaden Bradley in elite defense defender. If. If Holloway is going to play but he isn't at 100, it can really work against Alabama. It does benefit Bama that it's getting the game in its home state, not his home venue but it's home state so we'll see what it can do there. The disparate numbers in 3.3 point attempts in 3 point makes is is obviously a very very big storyline going into this game. Arizona averages 16 exactly 16.03 attempted per game. That's 362 in the country. There are 365 teams teams and they make just six. They make they so they attempt exactly 16.0. They make on average exactly 6.03s. That's three hundred and twenty fifth in the nation. Alabama 36.1 attempted threes per game. So more than 20 hoists from beyond the ark beyond Arizona and then they, they only make relative to that 12.6. So Arizona is actually the better three point shooting team percentage wise. They make 37 and a half of their three point attempts. Bama makes 34.8. It's not a big margin but Arizona doesn't take nearly as many but they make a higher percentage. Between the two of them they average 52.1 three point attempts real quick over under 52 three pointers attempted in this game.
- [46:10]
Gary Parrish
GP yeah Alabama's gonna take that many by themselves.
- [46:14]
Matt Norlander
Okay, 52. I am also, I'm also going to say over because NATO just does not want his team taking mid range shots. Arizona had serious size. You figured the more you know if you're getting involved with those bigs in the mid range, I don't know it's gonna, it's a very very interesting X and O battle. This is an awesome game. Love that these coaches have arranged for it to happen. Arizona going for 30 against the SEC. Of course Florida just you know, destroyed Auburn and now they're going up against Alabama. Here again not knowing the Holloway stuff is what makes me pump fake on this because if he was healthy I think I'd pick, I think I'd pick a Bama without abandon. I'll, I'll go Arizona. GP Last night when I was looking at our games I I wrote in Bama probably as the pick here but not knowing Holloway situation makes me, it makes me lean to the Wildcats and in doing so so gives me some entertainment because if that happens and Arizona beats another good team away from home to remain undefeated and be stride for stride with the likes of Duke and Michigan and Iowa State for not just best team status but best resume status, it's just going to put you in a bunch. So I look forward to you having to try to defend that on our Sunday pot.
- [47:32]
Gary Parrish
I don't want to be in that position. I don't want to find myself in that position. I don't root against anybody. But I do root for me and the top 25 and 1. You say all the time this is one of your go tos but like I do appreciate that in college basketball you have two teams like this. They're one of these teams to win the national championship and they play in entirely different ways. Like you couldn't do that in the NBA, at least not now. Maybe we'll get back to it someday. But if you try to play basketball in the NBA the way Arizona plays basketball, you would have a general manager and a nerd walk into your office and tell you you can't do that anymore. And yet that doesn't apply. We've seen national champions in college basketball that play fast. We've seen Virginia all things in between. So this will be fun just because of the contrast and approaches to the game. I'll just step with the bit. I I'll take Alabama inside Gucci Maine Arena. I'll ride with the East Atlanta Santa. But obviously Arizona has been awesome all season. It would nothing. It would not be surprising if they went down to Alabama and and you know, won the state championship. Knock out Auburn one weekend, knock out Alabama the next game four Saturday 11:30pm Eastern. It's number 25, UC Aladdin.
- [48:57]
Matt Norlander
I know I'm gonna be in studio Saturday late afternoon into the evening. So as just as an aside as we set up this game here, do dial into CBS Sports hq. Really proud of the studio stuff we do. I'll be with my guy Hakeem Dermish. Looking forward to it. But I do know this, they are not keeping me at the studio until two in the morning. To recap u selling in Zaga, it's not going to happen. I think I'm supposed to head home around 1 1am Maybe 12:30 at night. They will not keep me until this isn't March. We're not staying that late. An 11:30 tip is outrageous. I know Cronin was asked about this on on Thursday with the speedy availability and he actually I wanted him to go even farther. He just basically started off it's like I don't know what to tell you. Like this is outrageous. My dad needs to take two naps. He's 84 deep. Watch this game. And so yes, we have an 11:30 eastern tip between two of the most interesting, notable, proudest programs on the west coast with Gonzaga and ucla. Late, late late Saturday night Mick said.
- [49:54]
Gary Parrish
My dad, my dad hates this. All right. What I love more than anything is that Mick is. Hates this. And he, he's. He's on, he's on that coast. He's over there. It's only 8:30 for him.
- [50:08]
Matt Norlander
Correct. I actually, I love, I love that Cronin will find a way to. About the schedule and the games. It doesn't matter. There is going to be. You cannot stop this man from getting. From just being at his utter crankiest. And I know we've got more levels to hit this season. Part of me wants to go total, total conspiracy theory and think that the. That ESPN did this on purpose just to get a reaction out of Mick Cronin. You can't tell me they couldn't have played this game at even 10 Eastern, 7 local. But they said no. We're going to dial it up a notch. 8:30 local, 11:30 eastern. Let's get Nick going.
- [50:39]
Gary Parrish
He ain't even the one. I'm gonna be up till 2 in the morning trying to rank a stupid basketball team. Yeah. I love that he's mad. And most of the country is like, we're way ahead of you. We're like, we're gonna be waste. We're gonna be sleepier way before you. You get there. All right, but that's, it's perfect. I love that he wouldn't leave California in his non league.
- [51:03]
Matt Norlander
I love it. California didn't leave LA crazy.
- [51:09]
Gary Parrish
Wouldn't leave LA for non league. And, and, but now is complaining about the tip tops. Used to complain about the locations. Remember he was mad about seeing the Statue of Liberty.
- [51:20]
Matt Norlander
Correct. Well, I'm, I actually. He actually let me down here with this because. Let me bring this up real quick because I really want it. So yeah, this game is at Climate Pledge arena and they already had to play play at Washington in a league play earlier this month. I was. Maybe he could Mick someone close to Cronin please get this back to him. Especially if they lose Saturday night. I am dying for. We've seen the Space Needle twice in.
- [51:46]
Gary Parrish
The past two weeks.
- [51:48]
Matt Norlander
I want the Space Needle smack from Cronin. I. I'm not kidding. I need it. So while I truly don't care who wins or loses the game, I will say this. A UCLA loss could produce another just absurdly hilarious and uncalled for rant from Cronin that is tied to travel. And I need the Space Needle to take one on Saturday night, please. Or technically I guess early Sunday morning.
- [52:11]
Gary Parrish
Think about this in all seriousness. Name a human has who has been more Frustrated by seeing the Statue of Liberty than Mick Cronin. It's like, it's like a symbol of all of the great things we're supposed to be. I know we've lost our way in some ways.
- [52:32]
Matt Norlander
I get it.
- [52:33]
Gary Parrish
Yes, I get it. But it's a symbol of all of the great things we're supposed to be. And Mick was like, get that. Get Lady Liberty out of my face.
- [52:43]
Matt Norlander
Correct.
- [52:45]
Gary Parrish
I Love it. Saturday, 11:30pm Eastern. I kind of appreciate this. I don't want to stay up, you know, till 2:00' clock in the morning on a Wednesday night, but on a Saturday night, I'm always, you know, I don't know if Saturday Night Live is going to be a rerun or not. I'm looking for things to do. Ucla, Gonzaga. It's inside. Chris Cornell Arena.
- [53:04]
Matt Norlander
I'll take it.
- [53:05]
Gary Parrish
You can watch it on ESPN. Kim Pom's got a Gonzaga -10.
- [53:11]
Matt Norlander
You could have given our guy Jeff Amen, who has appeared on this pod, some love. Stone Gossard for sure would have taken that. Elaine Staley has gotten some love. Previously on this as well.
- [53:23]
Gary Parrish
I have Pearl Jam Radio as a favorite on my SiriusXM. Every once in a while, I'll push it. And you know what I hear more than any other song? Tell me if this makes sense to you. Here's the song I hear more than any other song on Pearl Jam radio.
- [53:38]
Matt Norlander
I'm gonna say, let me try and see if I can guess it.
- [53:39]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, guess it's.
- [53:42]
Matt Norlander
I don't have PJ Radio in my presets. I do dial in every now and then, but it's not my presets. And I'm a huge Pearl Gym fan, as everyone knows. I'm gonna say PJ Radio, the most common one on pj. I, I, I'll say Rocket. In the free world, they play that a ton. Okay. It feels like you're leading me toward a non Pearl Jam song being the answer.
- [54:04]
Gary Parrish
No, no, no. This isn't scientific. Like, somebody from Sirus XM could just be like, no, you've got it all wrong. We have all of this. You know, we, we know the numbers and you're wrong. But what I hear every time there's two yellow lead better, that would not surprise you. That's. You hear that all the time.
- [54:20]
Matt Norlander
But Rear View Mirror, top five Pearl Jam songs.
- [54:24]
Gary Parrish
I love that song too. But I hear all it is the most. It is the song I hear most often from Pearl Jam in the year 2024 vibe. Because SiriusXM throws it at me non stop. It's great song.
- [54:38]
Matt Norlander
Very fun to play on guitar as well. Okay, let's pick this kid.
- [54:42]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I guess so.
- [54:43]
Matt Norlander
Saga have played each other in each of the past five seasons.
- [54:46]
Gary Parrish
Sometimes I forget we're talking about basketball.
- [54:48]
Matt Norlander
I know. That's fine. Two of those games are coming the tournament by the way. UCLA won this matchup a season ago. 6562 in Inglewood. Prior to that can tag at the ECLA in Honolulu when the Maui tournament was out there when they were displaced by the by the fires. These teams have met 10 total times. It feels like more than that. But you know, so many of these games have been really really good games. You truly do love to see it. UCLA and Zaga a yearly thing. It just feels like it should should be a thing just like ucla Arizona now that they're idiotically no longer in the same conference. Tyler Billido has been pretty solid this year. I think he's still got another stage or two that he can rise to 13 and a half per game alongside Eric Daly. 11 and a half per game. Sky Clark 8 and a half per game. Those are the big returnees. But Donovan Dent's the guy to watch for. He has been fine but he has been banged up. To be fair, he has not been what we told you he would be. If you listen to Our preseason podcasts, 12.0.6.4 assists so far this season I know he's getting healthier but in a game like this, this is where you got to show up and and really, you know, live up to the hype, live up to the building. So I'm interested to see if he can if he can do that in this spot. Gonzaga has been with the with truly truly the exception to the rule that was that Michigan result has just been on a tear. It's third at Ken Palm. It's nine and one. It's taken out Oklahoma, Creighton, Arizona State, Alabama, Maryland and Kentucky. Kentucky from the Power 5 ranks already this is its penultimate non conference high major game. It still has Oregon a few days before Christmas. My ins I'm going to pull a Costanza here. My instinct was to take UCLA because it's a it's a 10 point spread on Ken Palm GP but I will say with that 12 interior of EK and Huff and not a lot of teams Michigan coincidentally enough and appropriately enough being one of them. Not a lot of teams have two guys who can work the interior like that and and and really really produce and give you on a given night. Ek and Huff could combine for, you know, 34 and 19 between both of them. We'll see if they can do that against UCL or not. But I will take Gonzaga to win this game and to actually get it, to get it done by double digits and in the process potentially give us another memorable Cronin post game clip.
- [57:06]
Gary Parrish
I wasn't going to mention this, but you said Tyler Bildeau and then it popped up into my head. Have you seen him going viral over the past week or so?
- [57:14]
Matt Norlander
I actually, when you say that, I, I, I haven't and I have no idea. I don't know if what you're referencing is about to be serious and not funny or very funny, but I don't know what you're talking about.
- [57:23]
Gary Parrish
Just, just do it on your own time.
- [57:26]
Matt Norlander
Okay?
- [57:26]
Gary Parrish
All right. Do it on your own time. But he's been out there in, in the, in the Twitter streets.
- [57:31]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [57:32]
Gary Parrish
He's gone viral. It's interesting. Okay, I'm taking UCLA plus the 10 inside Chris Cornell Arena. I know Gonzaga is awesome, but Tyler Villado's gone viral.
- [57:48]
Matt Norlander
Is that reason why you're going to take ucla? Are these directly connected?
- [57:52]
Gary Parrish
Directly connected.
- [57:53]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [57:54]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, directly connected. Game five. What is it?
- [57:57]
Matt Norlander
The ant? No, it's not the game five. It's N1. It's the final four. And one presented by FanDuel. Make every moment more.
- [58:02]
Gary Parrish
You're and one ed by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more. If you're gonna do it, do it right.
- [58:07]
Matt Norlander
There you go. Saturday, 5:30 Eastern on ESPN. It's number 19, Kansas at NC State on Tom Gugliata court. Put some spec on Tommy G's name. Googly Adam, you heard of Gucci Mane? Googly Automain came first.
- [58:27]
Gary Parrish
East Atlanta Santa. East Atlanta Santa.
- [58:32]
Matt Norlander
Guada was the. There's nothing that rhymes with East Raleigh. That's Christmas related. There's nothing. Ken Palm has East Raleigh Jolly. Sure, why not?
- [58:47]
Gary Parrish
East Raleigh Jolly.
- [58:48]
Matt Norlander
East Atlanta Santa Ken Palm has stink. Everything minus one on its own floor. This is Kansas's second non conference road game. Bill Self very much talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to this. Not a lot of schools. I'm not saying no schools, but not a lot of schools will play multiple non conference road games against high major teams. Kansas did it against North Carolina to start the season and then it is now doing it in the triangle again and returning with NC State. Josh is submitting East Raleigh Rudolph, which I do like more. Tom Googliotta, the East Raleigh Rudolph.
- [59:29]
Gary Parrish
Has he ever been called that before.
- [59:30]
Matt Norlander
You think he's the heir? No, he is not. I promise you this is the first time that has ever happened. Tom Gugliana, East Raleigh, Rudolph State minus one. Who you got?
- [59:39]
Gary Parrish
I mean we got Elvis Presley graduating from UMass Lowell. I think we can do anything at this point. Point, right?
- [59:44]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, of course.
- [59:45]
Gary Parrish
I'm taking Darren Peterson. You kidding me? We've gotten to a point where when I do radio interviews, people are like, in the preseason it was all Darren Peterson and now it's all Cameron Boozer or AJ DeBonta that has flipped. There's a little bit of out of sight, out of mind with him because of the hamstring issue. I think we're done with all the conspiracies. Bill Self hope so. Did you see Bill? He was admonishing the media. He was like, you guys think I'm full of. I'm telling you the truth. He's just got a hamstring injury. What do you want me to do? So hopefully that's all behind us. And also hopefully like this freshman class has been amazing. Caleb Wilson, co opied, AJ debons, Cameron Boozer, all of the Europeans and the guy who was supposed to be the best of all of them hasn't played that much. So I'll take Kansas. Big game from Darren Peterson.
- [60:42]
Matt Norlander
Kansas coming off that 80 to 60 win over Mizzou. Pearson played what, 23 minutes in that NC State coming off an 8545 win against Liberty. These are a pair of seven and three teams. Interesting setup for both of them. I feel like the loser of this one is going to be down on their non conference showing relative to what the preseason expectations were. Whereas the winner probably going to be feeling relatively chipper all things considered having you know, achieved a win on Saturday against a pretty good team here. So this feels like a medium leverage game. Overall, Kansas keep an eye on the, on its defensive interior averages 6 1/2 blocks per game. That's actually best in the Big 12 and top 10 in the country. And it's, and it's, it's defended the perimeter very well. It's, it's 20. It's only allowing opponents to hit 25% of their of their three pointers so far this season from beyond the arc. If you're curious, on NC State, it's a pretty good three point shooting team, 40% flat. That's top 15 in the country. So we wait and see on NC State's prowess from beyond the ark and if that is actually a significant factor in this game, that's the reason why NC State's so good is Kadir Copeland 55 and a half percent from three so far this season. Trey Holloman 51.4%. Darian Williams 46.7%. They have done, they've done a really, really good job. I will take, I will take State at home to get this done. Darian Williams, if you were following portal stuff in the off season and everything tied to Kansas, that just is another layer in this game because there was a belief that he might eventually be be in Florence this season. Nope, he goes to NC State. And, and so this is, this is a big spot for him. He's been a good player. He was the preseason ACC player of the year. We'll see if he can come up with a big spot there. You'll take the Jayhawks. I'll take the Wolf Pack. I like this. We've got a number of games where we disagree.
- [62:34]
Gary Parrish
Quick, real quick on NC State. Like, I know expectations were high in year one with Will and like they're still fine. Like, it's still top 30 in the computers, but they are one of those teams that strong. Computer or okay, computer numbers, like NCAA tournament resume. Computer numbers, but they still don't have the wins. Zero top 40 wins right now. They beat VCU, but VCU's kind of been a little all over the place. So this is an opera. I, I think Kansas is going to be there at the end as long as Darren Peterson's there at the end. But you know, still sort of in a wait and see mode with NC State and eventually they'll record a big win. They got an opportunity to get their first one this weekend.
- [63:18]
Matt Norlander
Music references all over the place there. You realize you just dropped a Radiohead reference without knowing you did it.
- [63:23]
Gary Parrish
What did I say?
- [63:24]
Matt Norlander
All right, keep it going. Listen back. I'm not gonna say it.
- [63:26]
Gary Parrish
Tip.
- [63:27]
Matt Norlander
Hit that.
- [63:28]
Gary Parrish
Did I call myself a creep?
- [63:29]
Matt Norlander
Nope, you did not.
- [63:30]
Gary Parrish
But you know what?
- [63:31]
Matt Norlander
That's just kind of the unspoken Radiohead reference on every show. So here we go. Others to watch on this weekend here Friday, the one game to know is Texas at Yukon. We'll see if the Longhorns can keep it close. Not expecting it with the way that UConn has looked and terrorist Reed getting healthier by the day. But that's the one game to know on Friday. That's an eight Eastern tip on Fox between the Longhorns and the Huskies on Saturday. One Eastern Fox undefeated Oklahoma State against Oklahoma and okc. Nice to see these two programs playing since they no longer share a conference. Of course Cowboys fans if your team does get this win to remain undefeated, promise you will get some some chatter on Sunday night show because you'll definitely have earned it at this point there. Two Eastern ESPNU six and three Cincinnati against eight and one Georgia in Atlanta. Cincinnati if it were to lose this man oh man just hot hot seat for West Miller. Meanwhile Georgia, you know one of the Most under Discussed 1 loss High Major teams in the country. You beat Cincinnati, you might have something cooking there. Two Eastern Peacocks Saturday Marquette is at Purdue. Now Purdue was in a three point game at the half at home against Minnesota and then I tweeted this out so we I was watching with my kids wife was out with her gal pals. I put them to bed. I go, we go upstairs to go to bed. At the half I put him down, I come back down and Purdue is up 25 points like it was. I was like damn Nico mad fed really right out something and what the hell is up with Purdue. All right guys let's go to bed, read a couple of books. I come back down, the game was over to court Leonard Hamilton. The game was over. So that was just wild. I bring up this game because if Marquette loses this game it will have taken its sixth loss as of Dec. 13. Marsquette did not lose its sixth game in the past three seasons until mid February. If it loses this game, which it probably will, it will be under.500 in non conference play in totality this is the last non Conference game GP for the first time since 20002001 and if it loses this game it will have started a season with at least six losses in its first 11 games for the first time since 1990. 91 really going the wrong way for Marquette. So that is what is on the line with a very difficult road game against Purdue on Saturday 2 Eastern. Peacock a few more games for you. 3 Eastern Fox 6 and 4K State at 5 and 4 Creighton. It just feels like the earliest at large elimination game of the entire season. 4 Eastern Peacock undefeated Nebraska at Illinois. Dial that in. And by the way folks are unfamiliar. Their NBC Sports Network is also back if you have YouTube TV. So when I say these Peacock games, I believe all of these games are also viewable on YouTube TV with NBC Sports Network. Keep an eye on that Saturday 7 Eastern TNT just a couple of surprise teams. 8 and 2 Santa Clara versus 8 and 2 Arizona State on the outskirts of Vegas near Foothill 730 Eastern. Yes, if you were thinking this game was Final Four and one. Sorry both teams haven't been good enough. We've talked about them plenty. Indiana against Kentucky on espn. Obviously we're going to talk about this game on Sunday show see if Kentucky can get itself straight. I actually thought GP would put this game in the Final Four and one but he was raised on the Metro. What do you want from him? That's obviously a very, very big game for both of those programs, but much bigger for Kentucky which is in a near must win situation if it does not win this game. I don't know what more we can say other than giving context to the result if it loses in that game. But you do not, you do not want to lose to Kentucky at home if you're Mark Pope after the start you've had this season. Considering that these two programs and fan bases have have craved this game on an annual basis. It went away for much of John Caliper's time there. Now it comes back and you find yourself in a tight spot here. Then two more Michigan undefeated plays at Maryland on Fox at 8 Eastern. You wouldn't think Michigan would get tripped up. However, it's on the road. It's in a league game. Maryland's gonna pack the place and then 8:30 Eastern SEC Network on Saturday 91 SMU against 81 LSU in New Orleans. Winner of that one's going to be looking pretty nice from that large perspective after entering the season with a lot of uncertainty in both of those teams. So that is your Friday Saturday look at Sunday is actually relatively thin and I would expect we can go live 4:35, 5:30 somewhere just you know again, subscribe to the YouTube channel and you'll know when we go live. Bears play at one against the Browns and once that game's wrapped up GP I'm good to go. Whenever you are on Sunday when I.
- [68:00]
Gary Parrish
Say Kentucky Indiana, what pops into your head immediately?
- [68:03]
Matt Norlander
Christian Washer that's in that crazy it's the most notable recent thing to happen. Kentucky and Indiana fans are going to remember some other things. They also played in the tournament during the Korean era. There's a few things things but it's the Watford shot that was in Assembly Hall. This one will be on Kentucky's home court.
- [68:19]
Gary Parrish
Like I remember where I was watching that on tv. Like I have a. I have a.
- [68:23]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, I have a video garden covering something else and watching it in the press room at the garden when it.
- [68:28]
Gary Parrish
Happened I was the same day.
- [68:31]
Matt Norlander
Sorry it was the same day as the Zip them up. Xavier, Cincinnati. It was a wild day.
- [68:35]
Gary Parrish
I remember I had people at my house trying to put together a desk because I'm not equipped.
- [68:41]
Matt Norlander
Why would you do that?
- [68:42]
Gary Parrish
I can't do that.
- [68:43]
Matt Norlander
You come to my house and put together a desk. Please.
- [68:48]
Gary Parrish
It's one of the advantages of living in Mississippi. There are disadvantages, sure, but one of the advantages, cost of living. Amazing. And if you need somebody to put together a desk, they probably live next door to you. You know, everybody down here can do things with the their hands except for me. I'm like, I'm struggling, but I had people over building a desk at my house. And then I remember getting a phone call and it was like, hey, can you write a column on this? And Christian Wofford is forever etched in my memory. What a shot that was, huh?
- [69:21]
Matt Norlander
It was correct. I think you got another show. So that's a show.
- [69:28]
Gary Parrish
Oh, man, I'm about to reminisce about the Metro conference for two straight hours. No, I'm about to cry about Zach Edie for two hours.
- [69:34]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, I did see that. That's a doubt.
- [69:37]
Gary Parrish
Pro. Nothing ever goes our way. It's incredible. Between Grizzlies, injuries, and Purvis Ellison, I feel like I'm doomed. Shouts to Devin Downey. Shouts to Chester, South Carolina. Terry Teago's a legend. Hulk Larnell. Thank you guys once again for watching listening to I Own College Basketball Podcast. If you're not subscribed, please go. Subscribe anywhere you subscribe to. Pods, Apple, Spotify. There's more of us than there are of them. That should be reflected in the comments. So do that. We'll talk to you again on Sunday. Till then, take care.
- [70:21]
Sponsor/Commercial Voice
Paramount Podcast.
- [70:25]
Gary Parrish
Building a portfolio with Fidelity Basket Portfolios is kind of like making a sandwich. It's as simple as picking your stocks and ETFs, sort of like your meats and other topics and managing it as one big, juicy investment. Now that's pretty good. Learn more@fidelity.com baskets Investing involves risk, including risk of loss. Fidelity Brokers Services, LLC Member nyse, SIPC Member.