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Matt Norlander
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Matt Norlander
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Gary Penn
7270 Duke. 10 seconds to go. Got it. Cut and run through the ball. And who better than this guy? Get it in the boozer. Back for ahead Boozer. That ball deflected and stolen by Mullins Caravan. Two seconds. Mullins tosses it out. It's good. We're point three. Yukon goes in front. Utterly impossible.
Matt Norlander
Hey there.
Gary Penn
I am Gary Penn. This is the I Own College Basketball podcast where we sometimes discuss camel fighting, donut birds and leaky black Matt Norlander.
Matt Norlander
Hello. Hello.
Gary Penn
He's right there. Let's go in person podcast from the state of Connecticut.
Matt Norlander
That's right.
Gary Penn
Home of the Huskies.
Matt Norlander
That's right.
Gary Penn
And oh, buddy. If you're watching on YouTube, honor Brandon Davies and smash the like button. Smash the like button. And if you haven't yet subscribed to the Island College basketball podcast, please do that. Anyway, you subscribe to pods like Apple and Spotify. Let's get into it. All the tickets to the 2026 final four, they have been punched. On Saturday, Arizona, Illinois gained access. On Sunday, it was Michigan and Yukon. So we got a one seed, a three seed, a one seed and a two seed. All Americans on every team. First round NBA draft picks on every team. We will talk big picture. Look ahead to the Final Four before we get out of here. Eventually. But the place to start, Capital One arena in our nation's Capital, where the East Region delivered an all time great college basketball NCAA tournament moment. Final score, UConn 73, Duke 72. The Blue Devils were up 19 points in the first half. Seventeen with less than 17 to play, up 14 with less than 12 to play, up nine with less than five to play. And they still lost the game. Kane Boozer, he turned it over in the final seconds with Duke up to it led to Braylon mullins pulling from 35ft and oh, buddy, it looked good just as soon as it left his hand. UConn wins all time great NCAA tournament moment. We got to watch it together. Take it from there.
Matt Norlander
As you say that actually this is our live poll as we go live on YouTube here. Love when we get to do pods in person. I this is, this is an opportunity we don't get very often. So I love that GP Came up to the Stanford studios. We are in our CT2 studio, by the way, getting this done just to CT2. There we go. This, this, we've done this, this exact pod in this studio once before. Glad to have you back. When that shot from Mullins got hoisted and I the play on. It's gonna be a long podcast. I'm sorry to break it to you, GP we're gonna have a long show here.
Gary Penn
I got nothing else to do when that shifted today. I got nothing else when that shot
Matt Norlander
went up, which by the way, they have now distributed all on all CBS sports social channels. So you can see literally what we were going through as it happened, which was really a really cool moment. Like I've never been able to look at myself back at how I reacted to an all time sports moment. So that's really cool. Paris can speak for himself as to what he did or didn't react to, but when, when it was happening because of the way the play unfolded, I was just locked in the moment and I wasn't thinking like, I think this is going to go in. I think it wasn't going to go in. You thought it was going in when
Gary Penn
it left his hands, when he got a clean look. And I, if I were Duke in that moment, I was nervous the second it left his hand because it was a clean look from 35ft. And as we said on HQ, if all you do is watch basketball game, just turn on the TV and watch basketball games. It's unusual to see somebody make a shot from that distance, right? It is not unusual to watch somebody make a shot from that distance in a basketball gym, at a college basketball practice, in an NBA shoot around these Players take these shots every day. And because of the evolution of Steph Curry and perhaps some other things, now more than ever, people have grown up. Like a whole generation of basketball players have grown up, launching from 30, from 35, from 38. And so I thought for a while a clean look from there is better than a contested look, you know, seven feet closer to the rim. And so when he got that look, obviously from our angle watching on tv, you don't actually know if it looks good, but it looked good from our angle on tv. And that's an all time. Like we remember Bryce Drew to this day. And not because He's a Division 1 men's basketball coach and not because he's Scott's brother, but because he hit a shot that we all remember. Like I can still remember where I was when I watched that shot.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Daily Helmsman Newspaper Building, University of Memphis campus and this when I was here with you. It's an all time great moment. And it happened in the elite eight. That was Valpo Ole Miss round of 64. This is Duke Yukon elite eight. To send the Huskies to a third final four in a four year span until the day we die, that's going to be circulating around us.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, you know, you mentioned that and yeah, there are certain, certain spots you always remember where you were. I will never forget being in studio with GP A great host, Akeem Dermish and Avery Johnson. As we experienced that together, it's, you know, happens to be 20 years exactly since UConn was in that building in this round of the tournament, a East Regional final. But it wasn't facing Duke. UConn was the 1 seed. UConn was the team that was expected to go to the final Four and compete and win a national championship. It was facing George Mason and it was in that building where UConn had a three pointer to win it. Couldn't get it done. George Mason stunned UConn. One of the all time moments, all time games obviously in tournament history. We have another one here with Braylon Mullins hitting that shot and UConn holding only two leads in this game. GP UConn led two to nothing and UConn led 73 to 72. And we'll get to the Duke stuff eventually. But I want to focus everything right now on UConn as we break this down. Braylon Mullins, let's talk about him first. We got to get to a lot of stuff with this, with this team in this game though, and with hurling, with everything connected to, to this. Because this Is just an unreal, unreal. I don't know if it was the best game of the tournament. It was the best ending obviously, but like we've had some really, really epic tournament games already. Tournament never fails to deliver. Prior to Mullins hitting the game winner, he was over 4 from 3 in the game. He was 4 of 23 in the tournament from 3 point range. He was 10 for 57 from 3 point range in his previous nine games. From beyond the ark there. But none of that matters. As I said on HQ tomorrow, let alone a week from now, let alone 10 years from now, no one will remember that Braylon Mullins had just kind of gone cold from beyond the ark. He, he hit the shot that will live on forever. That is one of the all time shots in an event that obviously has given us quite literally dozens of unforgettable moments. This is there. Not only is it here, it is the fourth longest game winning shot in the history of the tournament. Paul Jesperson for Northern Iowa in that classic game over Texas in the first round. That's the longest ever was measured at 50ft. US read for Arkansas in 81 hit a buzzer beater from 49ft. That's number two, Jalen Suggs. 20, 21 final four. How could we ever forget that? That was 37ft. And then the official measurement here on Mullins winner was 35ft. And Suggs and Mullins are the only freshmen in the history of the tournament to hit a game winning shot with less than five seconds to go in the Elite eight or later, period. Since an elite eight has been played that goes all the way back to 1951. I got a few more stats on on you here with UConn. It was the largest halftime deficit under Dan Hurley, period. UConn had not won a game by trailing by at least 15 points at halftime since 2002. Sorry, Lap. The last time it happened they were down 21 to UMass at halftime in 2002 when Lapis coached him. That's the last time UConn did this and the LA. The last time that UConn I had another one here they were 1 in 12 when down by 10 or more at halftime. In the history of the tournament, they won in 76 over Hofstra when they were down by 13 and won that game in overtime. We can get into even more stuff on that, but just your, your big picture takeaway on Mullins. We got to talk caravan. He had five points in this gp.
Gary Penn
Yeah, he's bad, but made the big three like, first off.
Matt Norlander
Yes.
Gary Penn
Went into the bench to save a ball. All the little stuff.
Matt Norlander
Yes.
Gary Penn
As Dan would say, the winning shit. Yes, all the winning shit. He goes into the bench to get a ball. That's not going to show up in a box score, but it's going to show up in the. In the, in the. In the.
Matt Norlander
Watch the. How that we were GP and my watch this whole game together. You watched how that second half was playing out. And, and there were like, connect the dots, like eight or nine different plays. And that dive for the ball might have been the third dot, but in the moment, like, that was. That was critical, that, that.
Gary Penn
And it also just spoke to the fight of like, hey, we're still in this thing. Because I didn't always think they were still in this thing.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
But they. They did and they, they needed them to believe it more than they needed me to believe it. So he goes into the bench to get the ball, hits the big three inside of the final minute.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
And then makes the pass to set up Mullins for the shot where he could have reasonably. And other players probably would have just launched it himself to, To. To have the awareness in that moment. Because the only reason you ended up with the ball is because another player didn't have awareness in the moment. We'll get to that. But to have the awareness in the moment to know, yeah, this clock is tick, tick, ticking. Because if you go back and watch the video, like when it starts with us reacting, you hear me saying, you got a foul, you got a foul. Because I understand Trapp tried to get the turnover, but it was getting late and I thought. I thought it was time to foul and instead they just blitzed him. And then they end up with the ball. And then for Caravan to understand there's enough time to make an extra pass and he's got a cleaner look, it will be in rhythm. That's championship, senior. That's. That's all the stuff you want him to be in that moment.
Matt Norlander
Winning as player in program history. And most players, understandably so in that moment, either out of pure panic. And it's usually that panic for sure.
Gary Penn
You think the clock's further than it is.
Matt Norlander
It cannot be overstated how impressive this play is by Caravan, because it all unfolds in a pinch, in a blip. Right? They forced a turnover. We'll talk on. On Dem. Even being there and being the guy to do that as well. But the point is Mullins gives its Caravan who sees Kam Boozer coming up on him, all right? And he could have taken the shot and probably would have gotten it off and, and less than a minute before in game time. Caravan's great at that NBA range three. It's why he's going to stick in the league. But he trusts his teammate to get a cleaner, better shot. Also stepping into it. There's no guarantee he makes the shot, but Mullens hits it. And in the process of doing that, UConn now has three game winning shots in the tournament in program history. The other two are pretty damn famous, but this one, now it's, it's above them. I'm sorry, it's tate George in 1990. It's 1998. Remember the McDonough call? Hamilton, Hamilton 98 against Washington. And now Braylon Mullins getting this done for on the Duke side. It was the second time that Duke allowed a game winning shot in the final two seconds of a tournament game. The other one, 2007. Eric Mayer got it done with 1.8 to go for VCU in that 11 over 6 battle. So impressed. Oh, this is great stuff. If you're watching on YouTube, this is great, great stuff by Joshua.
Gary Penn
Hello.
Matt Norlander
Some good visuals there. Some good images. I presume those are via Getty Images right there on, on Mullins. Okay, so we talked them all. That's an all timer. His legacy forever associated with one of the all time shots, Caravan. Five points but two a minimum two if not the really three huge plays, the dive, the, the big three that kept the comeback on the table and then obviously the pass. All right, we'll get to Reed because he was the, he was the mop. Demery playing on a bad ankle. Gets 23 minutes in this game. 11 points GP, five boards, two assists and he's credited with one steal here. I don't know if he got this. I don't have the stat book here. I don't know if he was credited on that.
Gary Penn
I believe he was.
Matt Norlander
So. And as I brought up in studio a year ago when UConn had an up and down season, you know they, they play in the 8, 9 game. They wound up getting an 8 seed. They, they lose to the eventual national champions by just two points. 77, 75. What was an awesome game. But they lost 11 games. We know what happened last season. One of the biggest problems was between Aid Mahaney and to a lesser extent Hasan Diarra. His inconsistency there. They did not have enough and solo ball emerged. But he soloball also had obvious, you know, incapacities on the defensive end. Their, their lack of physicality and consistency in the backcourt was one of the biggest drawbacks to UConn's season a season ago. And they went out and they knew they needed to get a physical, athletic big point guard. They, they got Demery. And because of that, it's just another decision that, that leads to this even being possible. Because, you know, Kane Boozer finds himself doubled. He make. Goes to make the pass again. We'll get to the Duke stuff in just a second here, but Demory gets his, gets his paw on it, balls loose. All of a sudden, there's no timeout called. And I'll be honest here, as we do this in real time, I don't know if UConn had a timeout on the board or not. I think it did. But no timeout called and it leads to, it leads to the winner there. So back to you.
Gary Penn
And Silas Demery was credited with that steal. And to your point, you hear Brett Underwood talk about we've got great positional size. Nate Oates, after Alabama was eliminated from this tournament, acknowledged publicly, I think when Isaac Trotter may have asked him if I've got it right about the, about needing to get bigger. And he said yes, clearly we've got to get bigger. That's sort of the buzzy word now in college basketball, like positional size and length, it at every position. And like I said to you when we were watching live or maybe on HQ earlier, if that's a 6:1 guard, maybe that ball didn't get touched. But it's a 6:4 guard, so it does. And I like UConn just blitzed it and was committed to the game will be decided right here. Like we're jumping.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
If you're going to try to throw this ball, we're going to.
Matt Norlander
And they were forced into it. Yes, of course, like they had. Let's keep it moving. But like UConn had also opportunities that it spoiled to even like in the final like three minutes, some missed free throws, a couple of bad possessions. Like they were even lucky to have it in that position where they could potentially, potentially win it. They let me bring up this 1 percentage GP here. So at the lowest percent, I'm bringing up Ken Palm here. Lowest probability was 2.7% overall. I think elsewhere at one point Today,
Gary Penn
according to ESPN, the probability. Probability for Duke got up to 98.7.
Matt Norlander
So even 1.3. Yeah. So 1.3 for ESPN's analytics and Ken Palm's got it at what I just a little bit more than that.
Gary Penn
What I mean Specifically is that there were moments where if you're selling out to foul. Yep, you can sell out to foul. And they weren't selling out the foul. And even in that final where the turnover happened, they were not selling out to foul. They were still trying to create the turnover. In other words, if he does not tip that ball, Duke's in the final for it and UConn's done. It comes down to that moment and Silas Demery gets his fingers on it and it leads to again, a sequence that we will watch for the rest of our lives.
Matt Norlander
And we'll get more UConn, obviously, as we preview the final four and all this week before we full on transition to Duke. UConn and Duke, just as a duo in the tournament, have made some real magic and, and they, they are a one of one rivalry, if you want to call it that, because no two schools have ever combined to have more games decided by one point in the tournament. They have now had three of them. That's the most. And no two schools have had more games decided by at least three points or fewer. They have had four of their games decided by a single bucket. Again, no two combinations of any two teams in the history of the tournament have done, have done that much here. The last two times that Duke and UConn have met in the tournament here and in the 2004 national semis, UConn one by one and come back fashion, they came back by 19 tier tonight. They came back by eight with 245 to go in the 04 semis against a very, very, very good Duke team. Really, really, really special stuff. I just, the, we were, we were headed toward having four clunkers and Arizona, Purdue, like I wasn't on the show obviously late Saturday. That and it was good. Arizona, Purdue was good for the first 65% and then Arizona when Arizona ultimately, like there wasn't drama at the end. We were headed for four in a row where we weren't going to get that credit to UConn for getting that done and for being the, the rare team that can get to the final Four in this kind of fashion. And I'm just, I'm still, I'm still buzzing. I'm still vibrating off of the, of how that game ended.
Gary Penn
GP it's just here's the other remarkable thing for me. I don't want to speak for you or anybody else, but I didn't, it didn't occur, I didn't think UConn was winning the game until that shot. Yeah. Until it was Over. Yeah, like, even as it's like, oh, it's even you. I don't think you'd mind me saying this.
Matt Norlander
By all means. It was all on the record. I don't care.
Gary Penn
Yeah, but like we're watching the game and you're like, just give us a game.
Matt Norlander
Yes. I just want a good ending.
Gary Penn
You're not, you're not actually saying, can you kind of come back and get to another final Four? It's just like, can we at least make this interesting at the under four?
Matt Norlander
Yes.
Gary Penn
And so we got to that point, but still it was like, okay. And they cut it to six or they cut it to four and I'm. And even at the end it was like, all right, it's a two point game and you inbound the ball. I seen this thing. You throw it in. Yeah, foul. Go make a free throw or don't like, whatever, like. But you're still as. You're up 19. You never want to only be up to in the final 10 seconds. I got that. But even up to, with 10 to play, you're in control. Everything's fine. And then it just happened. Then we can talk about that moment. We can talk about the big picture stuff. But this is a, this is a thing that's going to stick with, with, you know, it'll be a part of the Kaden boozer story to whatever extent there is a Kaden boozer story. And this, it's not just that Duke lost again without winning a national championship, despite having, you know, last year, the team that in the moment where they were playing, they were the projected favorite to win the tournament. Yeah. And in this tournament, as of this morning, they were no longer the favorite.
Matt Norlander
Right.
Gary Penn
But they were the number one overall seed. Back to back years, you've got the national player of the year. And it's not just that you lost.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
It's how you lost. 19 point lead in this one and last season against Houston in the final four, they were up, you know, double digits in the second half, I think 14 maybe with less than 12 to play.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Couldn't hold up to hold on to that either. And this will be something that John's going to have to hear about and deal with until he can take it off the table. This happens to coaches all the time and most of the greats. And I think he is a great. He's certainly on track to be one. And I know this isn't a good dated or moment to be trying to make that point, but his track record is his track Record. But these losses these past two years in the NCAA tournament, they're going to have to. They're going to put him in a position where he's got to answer tough questions every March.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
Until he gets it done.
Matt Norlander
I want to stick on the big picture stuff with Duke before we kind of maybe reverse injury near it and go to their. The way they handle it at the end. We can do that. There's this loss, there's a Houston loss. They blew a 14 point lead and then was it nine with under a minute. Right. A year ago Final four it was nine with.
Gary Penn
It was nine with under three.
Matt Norlander
Nine with under three. They blew a 17 point lead against Texas Tech this season and lost. They blew a 13 point lead against North Carolina and they lost on the road when Seth triple hit that winner and then they blow the 19 point lead. Coincidentally enough, Duke and Carolina both got knocked out of this year's tournament after blowing 19 point leads. If you're watching here on YouTube they're showing the the largest blown halftime lead by a 1 seed ever. I was actually at that Virginia Syracuse game that was in Chicago. That was the Virginia team that was the first Virginia team that people thought might have a chance to win the national championship. Didn't get it done. They would obviously get it done three years later. I remember that Duke Indiana game. So 2002 that Duke team that had Jay Williams, he misses the foul shot Indiana late he mouse a curse word that catches that CBS cameras caught there o2 I watched that with buddies up in Syracuse. That is for me that is a. Remember where you were because that dude that o Duke team remember they want to know one they were good enough to repeat. And then Arkansas, Kansas and in in 91 had a 12 point lead again these are the largest blown leads.
Gary Penn
I think halftime I think 02 was pretty. That's a blurry year for me.
Matt Norlander
Okay, well there we go. Well 2002 was a clarity on that. I got a few more nuggets on on the Duke end of it but let's just have the shire conversation and do conversation overall here first before we kind of go back and talk about the the way they played it out. Getting everyone together to watch the game is fun until you realize you're running low on snacks right before halftime. That shipped is there for you on game day. Whether going for that classic spread chips and dip or mixing in even a few healthier options. I can and so can you order all the favorites for same day delivery to keep the party going. Especially now that March is here. And if that ship bowl is looking suddenly too empty, no stress, just place another order and it shows up the same day shipped makes last minute hosting so much easier. You can get snacks, party supplies, decorations and more delivered from nearby stores. I'm talking grocery runs from places like Safeway or Albertsons, Party decor from Michael's, or even a quick target order all while you're getting ready for guests. With Shipt, you can order same day delivery on groceries, gifts and so much more. And shoppers are known for incredible attention to detail and care. Plus, with an annual Shipt membership, you get unlimited orders, zero delivery fees on orders over $35, exclusive deals, and even the option to request your favorite shoppers again. Download the app or order@shipt.com that's S H IPT.com
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Matt Norlander
It is going to be unfortunately for Shire and for Duke because of the nature of how this game was blown. And I think it's, it's. I, I don't think you can say yes, 50, 50 down the middle. Did Yukon come back or did Duke blow it? Which was more of. Yeah, to me it was more Duke blowing it than it was Yukon winning it.
Gary Penn
It's always that you think it's when it's some. When you were up this much with this left, this much with this left, this much with this left and this much with this left and lose. You contributed.
Matt Norlander
Yeah. So no team can come back and
Gary Penn
beat you unless you can contribute to that in this way.
Matt Norlander
And listen, Shire has lost what six games total in the past two years. But it comes with the territory. When you're the coach of Duke, it is Duke. It's the most popular team. It's the most polarizing team. What Shire's been able to do in compilation is extremely impressive but because it just like when you take this job, this is what's going to be part of it. If you are going to lose in this kind of fashion, this kind of thing is going to stick to you more. I agree with what you said in studio earlier tonight. I do think, I genuinely believe that we are going to get to a moment where we are at a national title game. It could be a year from now. It might take five years, maybe it'll take ten years. Who knows? Maybe the way that Shire will get his first will be kind of like Lou Dolson. They won in 97. They were a four seed. They were not expected to win that. You never know. The tournament's a funny and a funky thing here but it is something that he got. Generational prospects and generational college players at least in back to back years, the national player of the year and back to back years. It's rare that a coach is able to get back to back national players of the year let alone back to back freshman. That's never happened before. Shire and Duke the only coach and program to ever do that. And Cam Boozer who was so reliable the the entire season did meet his match on this night against terrorist Reed. We didn't get to him and we. I got to invoke him as well before we got out of the segment. But yes, this is going to be something that is attached to him. It will be until they can get a national championship. You know it's just, it's just, it's just a reality like and this is going to be something that That I think that he will, like, he'll wear it well. Like, he unders. He understands the deal, like. And even afterward. In fact, Josh, I think we have John with Tracy outside the locker room. I want to say this is maybe like a 65, 72nd hit here. Let's just. I don't even know if GP's heard this in real time yet. Josh, if we could play that real quick as. As he talked to Tracy moments after the loss here on Sunday night.
Gary Penn
I'm sure you're still processing everything but what happened down the stretch of that game to allow them to come back and ultimately get that shot off at the end there.
John Shire (Coach John Calipari)
Well, look, I don't have the words for you, you know, All I know is these guys don't deserve that ending. They've been incredible this year, and they don't deserve this ending. And I don't have the words for you.
Matt Norlander
What did you say to them in
Gary Penn
the locker room there?
John Shire (Coach John Calipari)
Well, I've never been in a locker room like that before with that kind of game. And these guys literally have done stuff that haven't been done before. And, you know, you're literally an inch away from the promised land. And we gotta process this together. And just like we've done all year and not gonna stop that now. And bottom line is, it's hard to find meaning in it. I'm not gonna find meaning in it right now. I'm gonna be there for them and support them because literally, they've taken us. What they've done this season has been incredible.
Gary Penn
That all makes sense to me. Yeah, that's tough. Yeah, that's tough, man.
Matt Norlander
And I appreciated his raw, like, emotion and honesty. There was that. That's two days removed from when he was, like, in tears on the court over Foster even playing, like. And he made a really good point, you know, Boozer.
Gary Penn
Yeah.
Matt Norlander
I mean, Boozer is going to have a shiner for days. I don't even think there was a call, a foul on that. That play. They were busted up. Like, this was a physical, physical game. And. Yeah, like, there was a lot there. Sorry. Started jumping.
Gary Penn
No, you just, like. I understand what he means when he says those players didn't deserve that outcome. And then he says, we're gonna have to process this together. And that's true on some level because all these guys are gonna. I mean, Isaiah Evans gonna play in the NBA, obviously, Cam is Patrick Gangba. They'll make millions of dollars. They'll have incredible lives. I'm certain they'll never get over this.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
This will be the thing that bonds
Matt Norlander
them in a very weird way.
Gary Penn
And they'll never, they'll never get over it.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
Like, I, I, every retired coach has a game that sticks with them. Every player that didn't cut nets has, you know, that. Like Roy Hibbert, who works with me at CBS Sports Network. I, I, he said this on tv, so I don't think he would mind me saying it. When somebody was doing a Steph Curry documentary, they reached out to him because Steph. Yeah, part of his story starts with upsetting Georgetown in the NCAA tournament. And Roy politely declined to be involved in the documentary. And he was like, and it's not even. Because it's just, it's a hard thing to talk about. Like, you know, this guy went on to be an NBA All Star. He's like, that, that's a real low moment in my basketball career. Like, that's, that's where it's over for me. And so this hurts. And I'm not surprised that the locker room was busted up and that John was busted up. The great thing about being the Duke coach is that you're going to have access to the best players in the world and you are, yeah, you are often going to end up with the best roster in the sport. The worst thing about the Duke job is that every time you lose with this kind of roster and this kind of team, the whole world's going to be there to tell you it's because of you. And I'm sure John will take that. You know, the responsibility comes with the head coach to make sure you close that game out. But he's going to have to deal with it. And I've seen other coaches go through this. I can remember going on radio in Kansas City. Bill Self is, I think, in year five. Yeah. And in his first four years, he'd obviously gone to foreign silly tournaments, but I think two Elite Eights and then lost in the Elite Eight both times. And I remember being asked, like on radio by Kansas City radio hosts, do we think Bill Self can win the big one? And my answer was, of course, sure. But I thought it was interesting that that was the question that was being asked. And it really wasn't a question that I remember being asked nationally, but in that market where, you know, the tip top of the sport is where they expect to be, it was like, can this guy can win a lot of games and pick 12 titles, but can he really win the whole thing then? Of course he does. And then he did it again. John Calipari used to have to answer that question all the time right up until 2012. And he got it done. Billy Donovan went to a title game early in his career, but then, and I only remember this because Billy brought it up after he won his first championship. He was like, you know, before this year, I had been eliminated, my team had been eliminated in the first or second round of the Nice tournament five straight years. And that was a little bit of a narrative connected to me. Oh yeah, he's hot shot, young recruiter, but like. And he lucked into a title game one time. But where's the substance? When we get the tournament, we know what happens to Billy Donovan's Gators. They go out every, every time. First round or second round, that was, that's what people said about him. And then he won a title and then he won another one. And the point Billy made, and this is the point I would make about John, and this is how I believe his career will unfold. The point I remember Billy making was the tournament is, it's a tough deal. It's single elimination. Any number of things can determine the outcome of a game. Upsets are more common in this sport than they are in, say, football, just because of the physicality of that sport and the, the, the shot making in this one and other reasons. But you get the point. The point Billy made was what I've always believed is that if you keep building teams that are theoretically good enough to do it, like every year we, at some point somebody says, how many teams can really win the whole thing? And we say, oh, there's six or eight or. But we gotta, we got a list right, right now how many teams could win the whole thing?
Matt Norlander
I'm gonna say four.
Gary Penn
Yeah, well, probably that's, that's right. But even keep building teams that are on that list. When somebody asked Matt Norlander on January 15, Every year how many teams can win the national championship and name them for me, please make sure you got one of them on the list. And if you keep getting one on the list, eventually the shot that didn't fall that one time, going to fall the next time, the shot that went down on you, that'll bounce off the rim the next time. That foul trouble that cost you a second round victory, it'll be foul trouble on the other team next time. And it'll just, it'll just happen for you and you'll look up and you'll be where people were questioned. You never get. And that's what I think will be John Shire's career here's what I believe. He's going to keep building teams that have national player of the year candidates that are preseason top five and top 10 that on paper look like they're good enough to win the whole thing. And then he's going to eventually do it. He will. He's going to eventually win a national championship at Duke. It's just going to maybe take a year longer or two years longer than, than people thought.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, I understand that. You know, a lot of people love to hate Duke. I get all that. Like that that just comes with the general. Yeah, you could hate dude, but like they're shot. So they're shot in Freuda with all this. But like, can we. We got to be clear. John Shire is operating at the, at the highest level of the sport. He has not been able to win a title yet, but we both believe that's going to happen. And, and Duke is still the envy of just about every program with the exception of literally maybe two or three in the entire sport, if that. But we'll see if he can break through. That was. Yeah, that's, that's, that's a heavy moment. That's. That is part of entering into the deal though, and this, this tournament and its capacity. This tournament will give you life and it will kill you. I mean, it's just these endings are unreal. Let's get to the play. And then I got a few nuggets on, on Duke and historical stuff with one seeds and, and all that stuff on Duke's end of it. Damesar passes it in. Cam gets it first. He could have held it, didn't decides to pass it right back to Dami. You know, like even as that was playing out, the one thing that kind of flashed in my mind as I'm, as I'm watching it is what are you told not to do? Don't pass it back underneath your own basket. He does. And then Dame almost succinctly is like, okay, I got to get rid of it. Kaden finds himself at the ball. Now when he does this, he's double flanked. He's got Evans and I can't remember in my mind's eye who the other players. There's two players in the front court and I think maybe to try and get it past the timeline, whatever, he gets rid of the ball. It's obviously the.
Gary Penn
Except we inbound it with 10 seconds
Matt Norlander
anyway, so it wasn't even that. Yeah, you're right. So like, even if that like it's at times expire with all that I Thought they were gonna.
Gary Penn
He panicked. That's what.
Matt Norlander
Wow. It's. It's a panic moment. I will say this. We've been going non stop on HQ and then tried to set up here for the podcast. We haven't been able to take in a lot. I did squeeze in about 60 seconds to listen to Caden at his locker. After I heard about 60 seconds of cam again, like that image of Boozer with the shiner, the puffed out eye. That's going to stick with me for a long time. This team was beat the hell up. It speaks to UConn's fight and resolve. I give Kane Boozer a ton of credit for like sitting there taking the questions. In all likelihood he's going to be coming back for a second season in college and he's going to carry this with him into next season. It's a lot, it's really heavy. And, and, and for this Duke program, I'm kind of just firing off all the stuff I got here. Remember they lost in Lita to NC State and that was a blown lead. That was, that was tough. Like I remember talking to Shire four or five months after that and he kind of went into like everything that he took from that and the processing of that.
Gary Penn
So just, just think of this and then. Yeah, but like think, understand what you're saying here. They were in an elite game with an in state rival. Yes. Double digit C. Yes.
Matt Norlander
Not supposed to be there.
Gary Penn
You just knocked that out and you're. That's, that's another Final Four, right. You're up 19 in this one.
Matt Norlander
Yes.
Gary Penn
Just knock it out.
Matt Norlander
Yes.
Gary Penn
You would have three Final Fours instead of just one.
Matt Norlander
I'm curious on your end. I think people are going to say the NC States one is third on the list and I guess I agree, agree with that. Although it is the one to, to a would be or quasi rival, whatever, which is the worst of the three to you. NC State was the Houston in the Final Four. The Houston one was a seize up. Like that. That was a seize up. This one was more like you're trying to fend off a bear attack and, and eventually it just, it just gets you, you know, in the, in the most heartbreaking, devastating kind of way. To me I think the Houston one is worse than. But this, at least you made the Final Four. This stops you one second from getting there. I'm curious, what do you think? And for any Duke fans that watch or listen after the fact, listen, I'd just be curious. I would agree with you in the wrong emotion. The moment you're probably going to say this one, but to me, Houston feels like it was worse.
Gary Penn
Here's the thing. If you beat Houston, you wake up on Monday. Your favorite of the national title game with Cooper Flagging Concan Nipple.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
This one, you, you're going to Indianapolis if you win it and there's two
Matt Norlander
juggernauts on the other side, you're not
Gary Penn
expected to win it. Yeah, yeah. I mean they're the number one overall season.
Matt Norlander
They could have won it.
Gary Penn
Of course they could have. But they would be an underdog in the title game regardless of opponent. And so to me it'll be 2025 because Con Canopy and Cooper Flag are about to finish 1:2 in Rookie of the year. Yeah, they both look awesome. You're going to look back and go you had a double digit lead late and with. With two other world talents and if you win it, you're the favorite on Monday night against Florida.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, I think that, I think that's right. And keep in mind with the, the Duke path here, they almost get knocked out by Sienna. They got a, they got a tussle from tcu. Then they run away there. They get a hell of a. I mean that was one incredible game against St. John's pushed them to the max. Even Patino tweeted earlier tonight like the the ending of that Duke Yukon game is why college basketball is the best sport. I agree with you coach. Here's a few stats and these you want to keep it moving. We can one sees this was on the broadcast I think. But just as a reminder. 1. Seeds were 1340 all time when leading by 15 points at halftime in the history of the tournament now 134 and 1. Teams that led by 15 at halftime in the history of the tournament regardless of seed were 503 and 9. The last time we saw a team incapable of holding a 15 point lead or more at halftime in this tournament. North Carolina 2022 national title game. That's the biggest halftime blown lead. Kansas won the national title there. More surprising on this is the fact that UConn started 1 of 18 from the field from three. It finished the game four or five from deep. Duke was actually the first team to go on a 140 run against the Connecticut program since the year 2019. UConn had lost 27 of its last 28 games when trailing by at least 15 points. Duke was 512 when it led by at least 10 at halftime in the tournament. The only losses were the Indiana 1 and oh 2 that I mentioned a few minutes ago, they lost in the 98 elite eight to Kentucky. And now this one as well. 51 and four all time. Duke is now when leading by at least 10 at the half. It's just. It's an all timer. It really is. UConn's now the fourth team to win a Sweet 16 and Elite 8 by combined five points or fewer. Remember they had their own novella of their own against Sparty on. On Friday night. Just incredible. And I will say history that you know that saying history doesn't repeat itself. It rhymes. Different round, different teams. But I saw someone post a video. I'm sorry, I don't know who did it. The Furman Virginia ending from a few years ago in the first round and how that played out. Not exactly the same amount of time. Not exact. But there's a lot of weird similarities in that it's the tournament, the pressure. It can crush you. And that's what happened to Duke here on Sunday.
Gary Penn
The last thing on Shire then. I do want to circle back to the turnover. Sure. Because I don't think we've drilled down on that enough. Just updated. Career record is 124 and 25.
Matt Norlander
I mean, come on now.
Gary Penn
All right, so like, I know you hate Duke, but like just be careful with the John Shire suck stuff because you ready for this? You can't be 124 and 25 through four years as a Division 1 men's basketball coach.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
And quote, suck with four trips to the NCAA tournament, including three Elite Eights and one appearance in the Final Four.
Matt Norlander
831 percentage there.
Gary Penn
Oh, by the way, you know what Coach K's was at Duke? 78.5.
Matt Norlander
Oh, I was gonna say 76.
Gary Penn
78.5. Winning percentage for Coach K at Duke and he's widely considered the goat.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
John Shire's winning percentage right now through four years. 83.2. Back to Kaden Boozer.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
I feel sick for him. I. I like first off, he's got to deal with the dynamic that he's a twin.
Matt Norlander
Thank you for bringing this up. Keep going. But like brother to brother thing, like there's. There's a lot. There's a lot with this. Go ahead.
Gary Penn
You just gotta always hear you're not your brother.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
And I don't. I don't know, but I imagine that's all. That's been a thing his whole life.
Matt Norlander
Yeah. But. But a plenty like five star prospect in himself.
Gary Penn
But he's playing real minutes for Duke.
Matt Norlander
Correct.
Gary Penn
I know it's not like he's a. I know my cute brother. He is awesome in any context except the context compared directly to his twin brother.
Matt Norlander
Yes.
Gary Penn
So I imagine that's a thing. It would be for me. Maybe I project it. It would be for me. And then, you know, you're sort of thrust into a role this season that maybe you didn't know you were going to have or your team didn't think you were going to have because of the injury to Caleb Foster. And then all of a sudden you're holding the ball about seven seconds left in a game. And if you just hold the ball.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
You're shooting free throws. As a 80% free throw shooter, I think he was six or six from the line in the game to that point. You're up to. You're shooting free throws. Let's just call it six points, something left and you make them both. The game's probably over.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
You make one. You're probably not losing in regulation. You know how the math works. And so he made a poor decision. There's no getting around that. And then he executed it poorly. So there's two mistakes here. The first mistake is trying to pass the ball. I know why he did. And we'll get to that. But that is the first mistake. And then the second mistake is if you're going to pass the ball, at least make a good pass. You know, you don't.
Matt Norlander
You ready?
Gary Penn
You ready?
Matt Norlander
Yeah. Yeah. A little bounce down below or.
Gary Penn
Or. Or just straight up. In the end, like, there's a million ways this game can end and there's like one way that it can't. And that's the way it went. And so listen, this stuff is bang, bang. It's very easy for me to sit here and be like, really what you should have done. It's much harder to do it. Yeah. All right. In the arena, in the moment, in the arena, it's a. It's an easy thing to talk about. It's a harder thing to do. That's not lost on me. But if. And I. And it was interesting because Yukon, like sold out completely. There was nobody in the back court for Yukon. Like, if that pass gets past Silas Demery's fingers, the game is over. It's not even like if the pass is completed. It's just like if. It's almost like you have to block this field goal attempt.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Or else the game is over and they got a fingertip on it. Just like. Maybe that's the best way to put it. It was like a blocked field goal attempt and if they don't block it, it's a chip shot, it's the game's over. And so they sold out completely. They weren't trying to foul, they were trying to create the turnover and they get it. And then we talked about the shot, the shots, the shot. But everything that led to that moment. And the truth is Boozer, if you could slow it down and pause it and go, okay, what should you do here? Every time you know what you tell you just hold the ball, let him come get me, let him come get me or pump fake down here. The one, the one thing he should not have done is the thing that he did and I think he knows that. But he was acting in real time and it was sped up and, and he just made a poor decision and, and it's, he'll have to carry that around. And I, I, what I hope for him is that we're all back here a year from now.
Matt Norlander
I, I want to believe he's going
Gary Penn
to have a moment and he gets a moment.
Matt Norlander
He'll get a moment of redemption and I'm going to give him a little bit right here, right now. Not just like all props to him for taking the questions. Real pro stuff there. That's really, really good stuff. Reminder. Josh just messaged us on this and why I do want to mention this as well. It's only because of Boozer, Kaden Boozer and Foster that Duke was even in this position to be in this game against Yukon to begin with. Kaden Boozer, who stepped up in Foster's stead, really, really emerged, you know, relatively impressively. He had 16 against Clemson on March 13, 16 against Virginia and those were in the ACC tournament. 19 critical player in the win over Ciena to dodge all time infamy there for Duke and then he wasn't as prominent, I would say the past two games, but still a key, key player there. So between him and Foster and Foster, you know, Foster's not 100 healthy, Shire said, like he should shouldn't be. Probably even been on the floor in the five point win over, over St John's which went down to the final couple of possessions there. So I don't even know how deep into the, if you told me we're 45 minutes in already and we haven't gone to our first break, I apologize but that is an epic like one of the 10, 15 most memorable Elite 8 games ever. That's, that's phenomenal stuff GP so I, I'm about tapped out on, on Duke Yukon. The rest is you. Unless you want to take a break.
Gary Penn
You know what? Let's move on because there was another game. Wasn't quite as dramatic as Duke Yukon, but there was another game on Sunday where Michigan punched a ticket to the Final Four. Up next, we're going to do the weekend whip around by shifting our attention over to Chicago where Michigan humiliated Tennessee on America's most watched network, the Network of Stars. We'll do that next. First, give us a word from our partners.
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Matt Norlander
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Gary Penn
The weekend Whip around is brought to you by Domino's Guys. This is a championship level deal. You can get any pizza with any toppings for just 9.99. Final score Michigan 95, Tennessee 62 Total domination from the Wolverines 33 point win represented the largest margin of victory for any team in an Elite Eight game since Michigan beat Virginia by 37 in the 1989 Elite Eight. So no, no, and I know you were wondering, but no, this will not be the year Tennessee finally gets to a Final Four for the first time in program history. But Michigan has now made it nine times in school history. Norlander. No surprise the Wolverines advance. They're the one seed. But buddy, that was something, wasn't it?
Matt Norlander
It was. Can we, can we just start on Barnes real quick here? He gets to three consecutive Elite Eights. This, you know, Tennessee's got more wins in the tournament than a school not to make a Final Four. And Barnes here sitting at what, 860, 861 wins? Something like that. Truly like one. Is he the best coach to not make a Final Four? He might be. If not, he's, you know, top three unquestionably.
Gary Penn
Well, he has made a play football.
Matt Norlander
I'm sorry, sorry, sorry about that. He made. He made I'm thinking, I'm thinking title game in my mind. Sorry. He hasn't made a title game. You can just. But he did go. He did. Long, long day. Reminder. I woke up.
Gary Penn
What do we did? What do we did? Like 13 minutes on. All right. Is Rick Barnes really the best coach to never.
Matt Norlander
Josh puts, Cuts it up, puts the whole segment on YouTube. Good times. What? The general point that I'm trying to make here is that Barnes. I, I did wonder if he was. If this was his last best chance to get there. I don't know. He's not. He's gonna, he's gonna return. He got asked out on the record and he's. Well, I, I, who knows?
Gary Penn
He did say he was returning and he said something else that was interesting over the weekend that I have thought for a while with coaches who are maybe aging, but at schools with incredible resources. He was like, it's easier now than it used to be.
Matt Norlander
Right?
Gary Penn
Like, I don't have to recruit people. Somebody for two years. I could just kind of.
Matt Norlander
Yes, as long as you can handle, like, the urgency of the portal for, like, three, four weeks and everything that comes with that. If you can handle that. Like, I think some of the problems that some coaches have is like, all right, who's this guy that's coming in? Like, I have no relationship with them. Some guys aren't good with that. The other guys that can be like, all right, my staff is telling me, well, like, energy's telling me, well, I
Gary Penn
mean, I think it was Brad Underwood last night. Is that where you were?
Matt Norlander
I was not.
Gary Penn
Okay.
Matt Norlander
I saw Arizona defeat Purdue.
Gary Penn
I got it. I got it.
Matt Norlander
I was not in Houston to see Illinois.
Gary Penn
Okay.
Matt Norlander
Defeat Iowa.
Gary Penn
All right.
Matt Norlander
It's all good.
Gary Penn
It's becoming different.
Matt Norlander
Stanford on Saturday, Stanford on Sunday might be a world's first. I don't know if it's ever happened before.
Gary Penn
Me, I'm having a hard time keeping track of where you are, where Evan Washburn is, where Laurence Heidi is, where Allie laforce. I'm trying to.
Matt Norlander
Ally and I hung out a little bit there in San Jose. Okay, Green. Little green room with Jim Jackson. Great, dude. Yeah, there we go.
Gary Penn
I've done a game with Jim Jackson.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, there we go.
Gary Penn
All right. So Brad said that because somebody said, hey, when did you know that all these guys were going to get along like this? You know, different guys, different backgrounds and. And he was like, well, you never really know. You know, you hope and you have ideas, but you don't know. And then he said, just sort of off, you know, just sort of in passing, he was like, yeah, you know, the first time I ever saw Keaton Wagler in person, we had already signed him. Yeah, I had never seen him in person. I'd never been in the room with him.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
And we had already signed him. And. And by signed him, that means like giving him lots of money to come play basketball. And so I do know that some coaches aren't comfortable with that aspect of this because it can blow up on you. You just look up and you've got a locker room. You're like, oh, this guy's a jerk and this guy's a jerk. And you couldn't pick up on that, on Synergy or Zoom. But I have heard other coaches tell me I like this way more. I've got. I don't have the most money, but I've got enough. And I've got a general manager and they're keeping track of all the stuff I need that they need to keep track of. And at the end of the day, I don't have to text a kid every other day or go watch his stupid high school game on a Tuesday night. Like, you know me decades. Coaches would wrap up practice at 4:30 so they could jump on a plane and fly to Michigan to go watch somebody's high school game. Like that's a real thing coaches do during the season. They don't want to do it, but you felt like you had to. Well, now it's like I can just let my general manager do all the legwork, tell me how much money I got, and then I can just sit down in front of the family at the end of the day and say, take, here's $1.2 million and it's just easier and cleaner and less work. And so Rick seemed to sort of say, I don't know, the way I interpret it was, if it was the old way, I don't know that I'd keep doing this. But it's not. It's not as hard as it used to be to roster, build and get players. The recruiting process is different, but less taxing and that might prolong his career.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, and my. Tennessee was trying to be the first six to break through to the four since, coincidentally enough, Michigan in 92. But Michigan prevented him from doing it. Solid year all around for Tennessee. They will make a run here and didn't have an issue with Iowa State. Nate Amant will be a one and done and quite possibly go top 10 in the draft. Let's talk Michigan here because, buddy, that's a machine. Arizona was number one in Ken Palm after its win on Saturday. Michigan promptly leapfrogged the Wildcats by virtue of this. Of this just Route 9562 win. Dusty May's team is a force. Yaks on Londonborg again. Outrageously good. How about. How about this? 30 plus points, 5 plus rebounds and 5 plus assists in the Elite 8 or later the last 50 seasons. Yaxel, Stacy Ogman, Daryl Griffith, the Dr. Dunk and Larry Bird. He's also the first player with 25.5 and 0 turnovers in the in the lead 8 win since Larry Johnson at Vegas in 91. My favorite Michigan stat of them all is that Michigan is the first team ever to score 90 plus points in four consecutive tournament games and win all of those games by double digits. This is a locomotive. Dusty May is, by the way.
Gary Penn
You know, there's like a bunch of those types of things connected to this team.
Matt Norlander
Without a doubt. And like Arizona's got a bunch, Michigan's got a ton.
Gary Penn
Let me run you through a couple.
Matt Norlander
Go ahead. Let's have it.
Gary Penn
Most points in the tournament in advance of the final four. Second since Kentucky in 1993. They've scored 381 points in their four games so far. Again, that's the most leading up to a Final Four since Kentucky in 1993. Largest margin of victory in this game. 33. It's the largest margin of victory for any team in an Elite Eight game since Michigan over Virginia by 37 in 1989. And Michigan is now also the first team to ever block at least eight shots. Dude. In four straight NCAA Tournament games in. Dusty May is now just the sixth head coach to lead two different programs to the Final Four in a span of four years. Joining, of course, 40 Anderson.
Matt Norlander
Of course, 40.
Gary Penn
Trivia.
Matt Norlander
Try. Okay.
Gary Penn
40 Anderson.
Matt Norlander
Where do you coach?
Gary Penn
Yeah,
Matt Norlander
dude, I got no idea.
Gary Penn
40. Took his first. Got his first Final Four.
Matt Norlander
Say one of them's from Texas.
Gary Penn
Nope. He got his first 40 Anderson. He got his first Final Four at Bradley, of course. And then. And then he took Michigan State there.
Matt Norlander
How about that?
Gary Penn
40 Anderson Lee Rose. Okay. Took Charlotte and Purdue. Took Charlotte and Purdue. He was Bobby Lutz before Bobby Loose.
Matt Norlander
There we go.
Gary Penn
He was the original Bobby Lutz. That's what people used to call Leroy
Matt Norlander
Rose before everyone knew who. Bobby Loose.
Gary Penn
That's right. But then you could see it.
Matt Norlander
Lutz or Lutz?
Gary Penn
Bobby Lutz. Bobby Lutz.
Matt Norlander
Bobby Lutz. Lutz.
Gary Penn
Bobby Lutz. Lutes. Bobby Lutz.
Matt Norlander
Lutz. But anyway, he.
Gary Penn
Okay. Lee Rose Charlotte Perdue, Roy Williams, Kansas, North Carolina, obviously John Caliperi. Memphis, Kentucky.
Matt Norlander
Yep. Dusty.
Gary Penn
Dusty May.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
And the legend, Gene Barto.
Matt Norlander
Gene Barto, Memphis State and ucla. There we go. That's right. There we go. How about that? Dusty is also the. Has done the rarity here. Michigan won eight games in 23, 24. It is the first team Michigan is since Drake in 69. Nice to win fewer than 10 games and then two seasons later make a final four. Awesome, awesome, awesome deal there. They were just. It was. It wasn't a game. What do you want from me? Wasn't a game. Michigan looked incredible and they've. They continue to be on a tear. It is all too fitting. You see this, you see the stats here. I mean just Yaxel was awesome. A die didn't even have like a great game. But he just can't. You can't deny how much of a force he is. They're doing this without Cason as a reminder. Like they're not at a hundred percent. They don't have their back a point guard and they're still steamrolling everybody. They are incredible. First time ever a team's won three. First time ever that. How about this? Three teams won four tournament games by 10 points each entering the Final Four. Michigan did it. Illinois did it. Arizona did it. But Michigan looks as dangerous if not more than anyone they have. They have managed at least four 30 point wins against ranked opponents in the same season. That's more than anyone in the history of the sport. Big time stuff out of the Wolverines there. So I. There's not much else to take away from this game. They made it a laugher. They made it a clunker. And then Yukon and Duke made up for it with with the nightcap there. So we had one good to leave a game. The other three were run away.
Gary Penn
That was the weekend whip around brought to you by Dominoes. If you're settling in for a full slate of college basketball, it doesn't get better than Domino's. Best deal ever. Any pizza with any toppings for just 9.99. That's what I'm getting for game day. Shout out to Domino's for sponsoring prices higher in some locations. Select this online only offer from 223 to 46 size. Availability varies by crust type max 7 toppings 6 for New York style and pan crust. Stuffed crust is extra. Excludes XL and specialty pizzas. Minimum purchase required for delivery prices, participation, delivery area and charges may vary. Okay, let me run you through a bit then. Now what we're going to do is we're going to highlight today's most impactful performance. Performance in the same day delivery of the game. Brought to you by Shipt your go to grocery delivery destination for anything you may need for game day. It's nice not having to go to the grocery store. It is, man. Buddy Norlander. Let's give it to Yaxel Lindenborg. Previously noted he delivered today. Certainly took 19 shots. He made 10 of them. Finished with 27.7 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, one steal. He's now scored at least 23 points in three straight games. Like I said on HQ earlier.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
Spoiler alert. Unless I work with a bunch of idiots. Spoiler alert.
Matt Norlander
Go ahead.
Gary Penn
Unless I work with a bunch of morons. Cameron Boozer is going to be the CBS Sports national player. Those ballots are due, I think.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, yeah. Those ballots are due tomorrow. We'll announce it later this week. He's the national player.
Gary Penn
Spoiler alert. Unless I work with a bunch of stupid people.
Matt Norlander
I love how he's being. Is this even passive aggressive? This is straight out aggressive. Let the others vote in peace.
Gary Penn
Spoiler alert. Unless I work with a bunch of super dummies. Cameron Boozer will be the CBS Sports National Player of the Year. But number two on my ballot will be Axel Lindenberg. And I don't know that I thought that when the tournament started, but the run he's on with Michigan going to the Final Four, I think he deserves to be the CBS Sports National Player of the Year runner up.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, that's not a thing, by the way. You either.
Gary Penn
It's a thing. Put it on his Wikipedia page.
Matt Norlander
You either.
Gary Penn
I want Yaks. I want Jackson to win two more games. And when he's standing up there accepting a trophy as the most outstanding player of the 2026 Final Four. Okay. And I want him to say it's. I can't believe if you'd have ever told me I would hold this trophy, I would have thought you were crazy.
Matt Norlander
We don't even make the trophy for the player of the Year.
Gary Penn
And now I lives digitally. Can't wait to get home.
Matt Norlander
Although I'd love if we did. Like, can we actually, can we. Can we get some hardware for these?
Gary Penn
I can't wait to get home and put my most outstanding player in the 2026 Final Four Trophy right next to my CBS Sports National Player of the Year runner up.
Matt Norlander
True story. Let's get him a runner up. There have been at least two programs in the past. Call it five, six years. That have been notified that their coaches won the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year. And. And I have been asked, cool, so do you need an address to ship the trophy to? And I'm like, we. We don't have a trophy.
Gary Penn
No, we just say it. It's gonna be.
Matt Norlander
It's gonna be in a graphic and on a. And on a dot com link.
Gary Penn
No. Here's what you get for being the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year. That's it. You get to hear me say it.
Matt Norlander
It's housed on a link on the site.
Gary Penn
Hey, why can't we get a trope? You know, inexpensive trophies are my. My little guy plays in a baseball tournament every weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing how they did today when we're done here. Last I heard, he was pitching. Okay. But every weekend they get rings. They. They win. So it's like, hey, doesn't seem necessary. And they are my little guy's team. They're basically the Jackson Lindenborgs of nine year old baseball. They are the rut man. We ain't never gonna finish seventh. But we don't finish first either. We. We're really good at runners up. We're like the Yaxel Lindenborgs of nine year old baseball. But they get. Here's my point. Yeah, they get. They get something.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Every weekend. Why can't we get Jackson Lindenberg a runner up trophy? They're not expensive. I'm saying I could.
Matt Norlander
We can't even get an actual player of the year trophy, by the way. When I was. I took. I got a tour at Stanford. Stanford is so good at athletics. I'll drop this in the no context preview. They have a room dedicated to all the trophies they don't care about showing in public of all this other stuff they've won. Because they're just the most dominant athletic department over the past like 70, 80 years. It was absurd. It was absurd how many trophies were sitting in this room.
Gary Penn
How about this? This is.
Matt Norlander
This is the stuff we don't care about.
Gary Penn
Okay, why don't we get.
Matt Norlander
There's a Katie Ledecky. Look at this. I'll show you real quick. Hold on real quick. Katie Ledecky. Because, you know, she's kind of good. Look at this woman athlete of the year. It's just sitting there on a shelf.
Gary Penn
Okay, then here's. Here's what we should do. Since Stanford clearly doesn't need all these trophies now.
Matt Norlander
I like where you're going. Yes.
Gary Penn
We would reach out and we say,
Matt Norlander
I should have stolen A couple you should have stolen. I should have smuggled it onto the airplane.
Gary Penn
Why would you not steal that Katie Ledecky. If you showed up with the Katie
Matt Norlander
Ledecky trophy, can we hand Jax the London board the right up national Player of the Year trophy with Katie Ledecky's name on it?
Gary Penn
My. My high school baseball teammate went to Ole Miss to play play baseball there. It was a catcher shouts to Billy Bernard. And I probably shouldn't have put his name on it like that because I just forgot the rest of the story. I don't think Billy had anything to do with it. All right, I want to make that clear. Yeah, I don't think Billy had anything to do with it, but I remember going down for the weekend one time to, like, just party at Ole Miss, and you walk in and they got a Florida Gators helmet, like, you know, on the tv, and it's like, what's going on? And it was Danny. They'd stolen Danny Warfel's helmet. And they were very proud of that. They were like. They were like, it's Danny Warfels. Put it on. So I think we were putting on everybody just getting drunk and running around in a Danny Warfel football helmet. It's good times. It might not have been Danny warfare. It could have been the Florida quarterback at the time.
Matt Norlander
But we'll run with Warfel. That's right.
Gary Penn
It's a better story if it's worthful.
Matt Norlander
We got to make some more money. By the way, are we getting rich again?
Gary Penn
Hold on a second. Okay, so here's the plan. We're going to reach out to. First off, we're going to wrap this up. All right? We're going to wrap this up.
Matt Norlander
Wrap it up.
Gary Penn
You're going to get home. I'll get back to the hotel.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Wake up tomorrow. Yeah. Lot to do. Turn in your CBS Sports ballots.
Matt Norlander
I'll get there.
Gary Penn
And then reach. We're going to reach out to Stanford.
Matt Norlander
Okay.
Gary Penn
And we're going to be like, listen, Stanford.
Matt Norlander
Stanford.
Gary Penn
Stanford, Stanford, yes, the university. The one out in California. And we're going to say, listen, I didn't know, but Norlander said you guys got a lot of trophies you're not using.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, they do.
Gary Penn
We have no trophies for anybody, and we would like to send one to Kelvin Sampson.
Matt Norlander
Look at this. Look at all these. I'm not doing anything with it. Look at all these trophies.
Gary Penn
This is ridiculous. It really does look like.
Matt Norlander
How many trophies are in this room? That they're just. They're just like, yeah, whatever.
Gary Penn
It looks like if you walked in, you ever see like, you know, MTV Cribs and somebody might like have a shoe closet and it's like, man, look at these. This shoe collection. And it's like 400 pairs of shoes. That is what Stanford has. But it's trophies.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Championship trophies. So we need trophies. They have too many.
Matt Norlander
Incredible campus, by the way.
Gary Penn
Reach out. Reach out and say, hey, can we take some of those trophies off of. Off of. Off your hands? And then I'm pretty sure we can find a inscriptor. And then we just scratch off a Katie Ledecky and put on a Yaxel Lindenberg and everybody's happy.
Matt Norlander
I'd love if we could get that done. By the way, Kam Boozer is going to win national player of the year. So I feel like we got to get him his. Especially in this moment. It's trying moment for him.
Gary Penn
Take care of him first.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, I think that should be on higher on the priority gambles are first. Yeah.
Gary Penn
But yeah, I saw the groping room. There's plenty. We can get one to three. Yeah.
Matt Norlander
So if there's a source at Stanford that can see if you can just
Gary Penn
send us the trophies you don't want. And we're gonna put. We're gonna get one to Cam.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
One to Yaxel, one to aj.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
And that's enough.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
Gold, silver, bronze type of thing.
Matt Norlander
Yep.
Gary Penn
All right. That was the same delay delivery of the game.
Matt Norlander
There it is.
Gary Penn
Brought to you by ship. You can use ship to order all your faves same day from your favorite snacks to theme. Perfect decorations. They have it covered. Download the app. Order now@shipped.com that's S H I P T dot com. Okay. Norlander.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
I think this is the plan. Yeah. You correct me if I'm wrong.
Matt Norlander
Sure.
Gary Penn
We're going to wake up on Monday.
Matt Norlander
That's the plan. Yeah, exactly.
Gary Penn
Nothing's promised.
Matt Norlander
I know.
Gary Penn
I mean. Yeah. You know.
Matt Norlander
Yeah. All right, let's keep.
Gary Penn
I assume I'm good. I assume I'm gonna wake up on Monday, but I assume Duke was gonna hang on to a 19 point.
Matt Norlander
I assumed I'd be home by now, and so did my wife and so did my dog.
Gary Penn
But fingers crossed, we're gonna wake up a money. We're gonna turn in our ballots, all right. Turn in our balance. We're going to reach out to Stanford and then I'm gonna travel home. And then on Tuesday, we're gonna be back on CBS Sports Network.
Matt Norlander
We will.
Gary Penn
At 1pm Eastern.
Matt Norlander
Yes.
Gary Penn
That'll be one of those 40 minute shows spread over an hour.
Matt Norlander
That's our final four preview.
Gary Penn
That's gonna be a final four first one. And then on Wednesday, I'm gonna travel to Indianapolis.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, me too.
Gary Penn
You're gonna travel to Indianapolis.
Matt Norlander
That's right. We're gonna get dinner.
Gary Penn
We're gonna consume food.
Matt Norlander
We will.
Gary Penn
We have reservations. We do.
Matt Norlander
We have two separate reservations. We'll work on maybe making that one reservation.
Gary Penn
If anybody, if anybody wants to go to dinner Wednesday night, reach out. We got. We got multiple.
Matt Norlander
Find him.
Gary Penn
Hold on. Don't reach out. No, he said it.
Matt Norlander
No, it's too late.
Gary Penn
No, because the wrong person is going to reach out and I'm gonna get trapped. All right. There are some of you I wouldn't mind seeing. And there's some of you I don't really want to care. Okay. So yeah, if you hear from me.
Matt Norlander
Oh boy. Oh boy.
Gary Penn
Hey, just wait to hear from me, all right? Yep, just wait to hear from me. And then we're gonna. We're gonna got a practice show on Friday.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
And then on Saturday, 609 Eastern Illinois. Yukon.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Illinois is listening at.
Matt Norlander
This year. They played this season in the Garden the day after Thanksgiving and played in the elite two years ago.
Gary Penn
Illinois. Oh, that one. That one did not go well for Illinois.
Matt Norlander
It did not. Neither of them did. But that one, that one especially.
Gary Penn
So Illinois minus two and a half in this one. Yeah, that's where the line is right now, wasn't it?
Matt Norlander
One and a half.
Gary Penn
You said they both. They Both opened at one and a half. Illinois quickly moved to two and a half. Okay, Saturday, 8:49pm Eastern. Then we get, I guess the headliner. One seat on one seat.
Matt Norlander
Come on now.
Gary Penn
Michigan, Arizona. Michigan has opened as a 1 1/2 point favorite.
Matt Norlander
Yep. So big time stuff, I think on
Gary Penn
hq I was asked for predictions and I went Yukon.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Out of this side and Arizona out of this sign. I looked at my original bracket. I did have Michigan and Arizona playing and I picked Michigan on my original bracket.
Matt Norlander
Yeah, he said he was going to play both sides here.
Gary Penn
Yeah. So that's it.
Matt Norlander
So I think Michigan.
Gary Penn
Michigan first. And then the second time I was asked on hq, I picked Arizona. And so now I'll go back to Michigan. Michigan, Yukon. Monday night, Indianapolis.
Matt Norlander
There we go. I had Houston.
Gary Penn
Honestly, I could see any combination.
Matt Norlander
Any combination.
Gary Penn
Any combination makes total sense.
Matt Norlander
I'm gonna go out on a limit. I'm say there are four teams that can win the national title this season. So let's Say there's four. I'll give you the four. Connecticut, Michigan. Arizona.
Gary Penn
Let me guess the last one.
Matt Norlander
Arizona.
Gary Penn
Let me guess the last one. Illinois.
Matt Norlander
I got it. That's it right there. All right.
Gary Penn
We love.
Matt Norlander
We love an in person. Seriously, is this not the most outrageous trophy room you've ever seen in your life?
Gary Penn
It looks like.
Matt Norlander
Just come on, man. There's got to be. There's got to be 400 trophies in here.
Gary Penn
We're gonna buy some of them.
Matt Norlander
Yeah. Yeah, I like that. I like it a lot.
Gary Penn
Send me a picture of my credit card.
Matt Norlander
Don't need to see that. Nope. I think that's a show. That's a show.
Gary Penn
Yeah. Let's call it a show.
Matt Norlander
We can call that a show.
Gary Penn
Get out of here.
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
Gary Penn
Shouts to Devin Downing. Shouts to Chester, South Carolina, Terry Teagle. Legend, Huck Larnell. Thank you guys once again for watching. Listening to the I own college basketball podcast. If you're not subscribed, please go. Subscribe anywhere. Subscribe to podcasts, Apple, Spotify, more of
Matt Norlander
us than there are of them. That should be reflected in the comments.
Gary Penn
Do that. We're gonna talk to you again real soon.
Matt Norlander
Tuesday, one eastern, CBS sports network.
Gary Penn
Till then, take care. Paramount podcasts the comedy movie event of the year. Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice. Now streaming only on Hulu and Disney plus. Time to party. That's a great attitude. It's a time traveling ass kicking movie event. You sound and say starring. Starring Vince Vaughn, James Marsden and Asa Gonzalez. I thought you were a clone. Well, clones aren't real, dummy. And time machines are super grounded in reality. Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice. Rated R. Written and directed by Ben David Grabinski. Only on hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundle subscribers.
Episode: MULLINS’ MIRACLE MOMENT: UConn’s insane comeback vs. Duke is an all-time NCAAT ending; Michigan throttles Tennessee to set up tremendous F4
Hosts: Gary Parrish (GP), Matt Norlander
Date: March 30, 2026
Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander recap a historic NCAA Tournament weekend, opening with UConn’s jaw-dropping Elite Eight comeback over Duke on Braylon Mullins’ 35-footer at the buzzer—instantly one of March’s most unforgettable moments. They analyze how UConn clawed back from 19 down against the #1 overall seed, Duke’s collapse, raw reactions in the moment, the context of John Shire’s burgeoning coaching legacy, and the reverberations for Kane Boozer. The episode pivots to Michigan’s complete domination of Tennessee to round out a loaded Final Four, dropping more statistical nuggets and context for Dusty May’s modern Wolverines. Throughout, the hosts provide stats, historical comparisons, and classic banter, setting the table for a much-anticipated Final Four.
Classic Eye On College Basketball energy and humor: playful riffs on trophy rooms, teammate stories, and the idiosyncrasies of the transfer portal era.