Podcast Summary: Eye On College Basketball – "One Week to Selection Sunday: Bama, St. John’s Win on Buzzer-Beaters; Race for Top Seeds Tightens; 5 Teams Dancing🕺🏻; Big Bubble Recap; Kevin Keatts Fired @ NC State"

Release Date: March 9, 2025

Hosts: Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander

1. Introduction

In this episode of Eye On College Basketball, hosts Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander delve deep into the latest developments as the NCAA Tournament selection looms just a week away from Selection Sunday. The discussion spans pivotal games, shifting seed races, bubble candidacies, and significant coaching changes affecting the college basketball landscape.

2. SEC Standings and Auburn's Turbulent Season

The episode kicks off with an in-depth analysis of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), spotlighting Auburn’s unexpected struggles.

• Auburn’s Ups and Downs:

  Gary Parrish begins by highlighting Auburn's position as the outright SEC champion, albeit narrowly by a single game. Auburn's late-season downturn, marked by back-to-back losses against Texas A&M and Alabama, has thrown their tournament seeding into uncertainty.

  Gary Parrish [03:24]: "I still believe Auburn's going to be the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament, if only because I don't believe Auburn is going to lose a third straight game."

  Matt Norlander concurs but introduces scenarios where Auburn might not top the seed list, emphasizing the potential impacts of conference tournament outcomes.

  Matt Norlander [04:09]: "I think that's really the only scenario and I find it to be unlikely that that's going to happen where Auburn's going to turn around and lose his first game in the SEC tournament and Duke's going to win the ACC tournament."

• Revisiting Predictions:

  Reflecting on their initial optimism, Gary acknowledges the shifts in Auburn’s performance but maintains faith in their overall resume, albeit with reservations.

  Gary Parrish [04:56]: "I still think Auburn's going to be the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament... but it's more up for grabs than I anticipated it being."

3. Predictions for Top NCAA Tournament Seeds

The hosts engage in a lively debate over the projected number one seeds for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

• Gary Parrish’s Predictions:

  Gary outlines his top four seeds as Auburn, Duke, Houston, and Michigan State, considering their performances, Quadrant One (Q1) wins, and conference tournament possibilities.

  Gary Parrish [17:28]: "My prediction, Auburn, Duke, Houston, Michigan State."

• Matt Norlander’s Take:

  Matt echoes similar sentiments but expresses skepticism about Houston's sustained dominance, anticipating potential upsets in the Big 12 tournament.

  Matt Norlander [17:58]: "I'm telling, like, we got a week until this bracket comes out... I'm going to put this prediction on the table and I'm very confident I'm going to be very wrong."

• Discussion on Conference Tournament Outcomes:

  The conversation underscores the volatility of conference tournaments and their significant influence on final seeding decisions, stressing that despite Auburn’s setbacks, their overarching season performance keeps them in contention.

4. St. John’s Buzzer-Beater Triumphs

A standout segment focuses on St. John’s remarkable buzzer-beater victories, propelling them into the NCAA Tournament.

• Dramatic Wins:

  Matt recounts St. John’s stunning wins against Marquette, showcasing standout performances by players like RJ Lewis and Kadari Richmond.

  Matt Norlander [12:10]: "Cam Jones on Senior Day. Cam Jones again. I enjoy watching this dude play ball so much, but there's only so much that he can do."

  Gary praises the team’s resilience and execution under pressure, highlighting their automatic bid secured through intense moments.

  Gary Parrish [43:38]: "These are the detailed elements that make the tournament special. Watching Brian Barone cut the net with those scissors was a beautiful representation of their journey."

• Emotional Celebrations:

  The hosts express admiration for the emotional and symbolic gestures by the team, such as cutting the net with a specific pair of scissors to commemorate their achievement.

  Gary Parrish [43:57]: "They pulled it off. So congrats to them. High Point. Allen Huss has done an incredible job..."

5. Automatic Bids and Mid-Major Successes

Gary and Matt shift focus to mid-major conferences, celebrating teams that have secured automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.

• Teams Securing Bids:

  Five teams have clinched their spots, each emerging from different conferences:

  • SIUE (SIU Edwardsville) – Ohio Valley Conference

    Gary Parrish [31:23]: "SIUE is in the NCAA tournament out of the OVC. Congrats to Brian Baronet."

  • High Point – Big South Conference

    Gary Parrish [31:30]: "High Point is in out of the Big South. Congrats to Alan Huss."

  • Lipscomb – Atlantic Sun Conference

    Gary Parrish [31:38]: "Lipscomb is in out of the Atlantic Sun. Shouts to Lenny Acuff."

  • Drake – Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)

    Gary Parrish [31:43]: "Drake is in out of the MVC. What's up, Ben McCollum."

  • Omaha – Summit League

    Gary Parrish [31:49]: "Omaha is in out of the Summit League no matter what happens in the tournament title game because St. Thomas is ineligible."

• Notable Achievements:

  • Drake’s Historic Run:

    Under first-year head coach Ben McCollum, Drake has made an unprecedented impact, winning 12 straight conference championships across two schools.

    Gary Parrish [38:32]: "This is somebody I would be looking at if I got a high major opening..."

  • Omaha’s Automatic Bid:

    Due to St. Thomas's transition to Division I, Omaha secures their spot regardless of their conference tournament outcome—a decision Gary criticizes as nonsensical.

    Gary Parrish [31:58]: "Omaha is already in, but I think Omaha's got to play a tournament title game against St. Thomas. What is Going on?"

6. Bubble Teams and Selection Sunday Contenders

The hosts dissect teams on the bubble—the borderline for NCAA Tournament selection—highlighting their performances and potential outcomes.

• Highlighting Bubble Teams:

  • Arkansas:

    Arkansas secures a crucial win against Mississippi State but remains on the bubble due to a nuanced resume.

    Matt Norlander [53:02]: "They have a decent win but with an 8 and 12 record in Q1 and Q2, they're not a guaranteed spot."

  • Oklahoma and Texas:

    Both teams grapple with securing their bids amidst strong competition within the SEC, with Matt expressing doubt about their chances.

    Gary Parrish [65:11]: "You cannot... it's a long road, very much in danger."

  • Indiana:

    Indiana showcases resilience with a comeback win against Ohio State but faces an uncertain path in the Big Ten tournament.

    Matt Norlander [57:02]: "Indiana right now is 52 in the net. Its average metric rating is 41."

  • Xavier and Colorado State:

    Xavier remains a strong contender with seven straight wins, while Colorado State navigates the Mountain West tournament to secure their spot.

    Matt Norlander [62:33]: "They are definitely good enough to do damage."

• Key Metrics and Predictions:

  The conversation underscores the importance of Quadrant One (Q1) wins and overall resumes, with both hosts sharing their predictions for which bubble teams will make the cut.

  Gary Parrish [31:13]: "We're getting to a bunch of teams here that are on that two line and then the running for, for, for number one."

7. Firing of Kevin Keatts at NC State

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the abrupt termination of Kevin Keatts as head coach of NC State, despite his previous success.

• Background and Reasons:

  Gary and Matt critique NC State’s decision to fire Keatts after a Final Four run, despite his performance that season. They argue that the program had already questioned his long-term suitability prior to his tournament success.

  Gary Parrish [84:26]: "It seems pretty clear NC State reached the point where they decided they wanted somebody else to be their head coach."

  Matt Norlander [85:07]: "They make the Final Four, and everything changes."

• Impact on the Program:

  The hosts debate the implications of this decision, suggesting that NC State’s administration prioritized a strategic direction over recent achievements under Keatts.

  Gary Parrish [86:32]: "This would have made sense to me if somebody at NC State would have been on the phone with me and say... but that is not the mindset universities ever have."

  Matt Norlander [89:13]: "They hire Ben McCollum, he's going to win the conference. Ben McCollum gonna run."

• Future Outlook:

  Both Gary and Matt express skepticism about NC State’s future success under new leadership, hinting at ongoing instability within the program.

  Gary Parrish [89:45]: "They don't feel like they can do it now... They don't know if they have the right coach."

8. Additional Highlights and Notable Moments

Beyond the primary discussions, the episode touches on various other noteworthy events and stories:

• Drake’s Coaching Success:

  Praise is extended to Ben McCollum for his phenomenal performance in his first year as Drake’s head coach, leading them to multiple conference titles.

  Gary Parrish [38:32]: "This is somebody I would be looking at if I got a high major opening... he's an amazing basketball coach."

• Michigan State vs. Michigan Rivalry:

  The intense rivalry game between Michigan State and Michigan is dissected, including post-game interactions and traditions like the Michigan State logo kiss.

  Gary Parrish [27:29]: "They made something like this... the visual was good. Tom and Dusty had their arms around each other trying to understand."

• Rising Mid-Majors:

  The hosts celebrate the achievements of other mid-major teams like SIUE, High Point, Lipscomb, and Omaha, emphasizing their historic entries into the tournament.

  Gary Parrish [43:38]: "These teams have never been to the tournament before... It's a rare example of a mid-major program making the NCAA tournament three consecutive years with two different coaches."

• Player Highlights:

  Individual performances, such as Grant Nelson’s standout game for Auburn and RJ Lewis’s efforts for St. John’s, are lauded.

  Gary Parrish [05:24]: "Grant Nelson's just ridiculous, ridiculous dunk on Cardwell."

9. Conclusion and Upcoming Events

As the episode wraps up, Gary and Matt preview the upcoming conference tournaments and their potential impact on Selection Sunday. They encourage listeners to stay tuned for further analyses and updates as the tournament approaches.

Gary Parrish [90:23]: "We get the semis on Monday, title game on Tuesday... So Both the Big 12 and ACC will get underway on Tuesday."

Matt Norlander [93:40]: "It's the road to Joy. It starts in Dayton, Ohio, maybe."

They also touch upon lighter moments and interactions, maintaining an engaging and conversational tone throughout.

Key Quotes:

• Gary Parrish [04:56]: "I still believe Auburn's going to be the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament, if only because I don't believe Auburn is going to lose a third straight game."

• Matt Norlander [17:58]: "I'm going to put this prediction on the table and I'm very confident I'm going to be very wrong."

• Gary Parrish [43:38]: "Brian Barone cutting the net with those scissors was a beautiful representation of their journey."

• Gary Parrish [84:26]: "It seems pretty clear NC State reached the point where they decided they wanted somebody else to be their head coach."

• Matt Norlander [85:07]: "They make the Final Four, and everything changes."

Final Thoughts

This episode of Eye On College Basketball offers a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the tumultuous week leading up to Selection Sunday. From Auburn's roller-coaster SEC journey to the emergence of mid-major powerhouses, and the unexpected coaching shake-ups at NC State, Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander provide insightful commentary and spirited debate, ensuring listeners are well-equipped for the impending NCAA Tournament excitement.