← Eye On College Basketball
Eye On College Basketball
Previewing St. John's-Kentucky, Houston-Arkansas, Duke-Texas Tech & more + Who will win the SEC?
01:07:00
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- [00:00]
Gary Parrish
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- [01:22]
Gary Parrish
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- [03:07]
Gary Parrish
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- [03:07]
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- [03:38]
Gary Parrish
Foreign. Welcome back, CBS Sports. I own College Basketball podcast where we sometimes discuss camel fighting dodo birds and leaky black. Matt Norlander is here with me. If you're watching on YouTube, people in the Davies Smash that Like button. If you haven't yet subscribed to the CBS Sports I Own College Basketball Podcast, please do that anywhere you subscribe to podcast, including Apple and Spotify. Let's get into it. And I want to start by looking ahead to the CBS Sports Classic by circling back to the preseason. Norlander, I know you remember back in the preseason we were discussing Kentucky's Jaden Quaintance and wondering aloud when he might make his regular season debut for the Wildcats after recovering from ACL surgery. And I told you I had sources who had told me it was a lifelong dream of his to participate in the 50th sports class that he had been watching this his whole life, had been dreaming about playing in it his entire life, and that date had been circled December 20 to make debut for Kentucky. Now here we are. Mark Pope said it is possible that Jaden Quadence plays in the CBS Sports Classic. We're gonna watch a dream come true on Saturday, perhaps. How excited are you about that?
- [04:53]
Matt Norlander
I am excited. I caught up with Pope yesterday to check in on this very thing. I, I, I honestly wanted to, but forgot to say it, and I wanted to be like, hey, listen, just so you know, back in mid October, Parrish did say he didn't report it. He said, it was my understanding that it's been Jaden Quaintance's lifelong dream. And, and he predicted that he would return in this game. Pope did tell me, I said, do you think you'll know by the end of Friday, when you go to bed Friday, do you think you'll know if he's gonna play? He said, honestly, I don't know that for sure. We'll have to wake up Saturday morning, see how it feels, feel, see what it is. There is a chance he does not play in the game, but there is a real chance that the, that, that GP called it right here on the pot. I think I had him coming back and the game before this. Credit to you. If it does indeed wind up happening, if he does play one, it's, it's obviously a huge deal. We can dive into all of that. But his lifelong dream of playing in the CBS Sports Classic is the most important story. I presume if he does play when CBS goes on the air with this game, it will be among the very first things that Brad Nestler says when he welcomes a national audience in at 12:30 Eastern on Saturday afternoon. But if he does play, I would think he'll be on something of a minute's restriction. Pope told me that Quaintance only got to play in full court practices at real speed two days ago. Well, now, three days ago, because he told me yesterday was two days ago on Tuesday is when it was. So we'll see. I'd love to see him out there. His involvement, period moving forward is paramount to Kentucky's chances near the top of the SEC and to be more of the team that we expected it to be in the preseason. So, yeah, that is the biggest, I think, dangling storyline connected to the CBS Sports Classic going into what is going to be a mammoth sports weekend. And we'll get into all the college hoop stuff tied to that over the course of the next hour.
- [06:44]
Gary Parrish
As you know, I wasn't initially going to pop down to Atlanta for, for this. I've been in New York all week and I was just going to come home and like, spend the rest of the holiday season with my, my family. And then it was like if this is really going to happen, I, as much as I enjoy my own children, I like watching young people reach their dreams. And so I'm gonna pop down to State Farm Arena. I'm flying down to Atlanta a little later on today. I'm gonna pop into State Farm tomorrow. I'm gonna see it with my own eyes, hopefully. Jane Quaintance makes his regular season debut for the Kentucky Wildcats. In all seriousness, Rick Patino did say they are preparing. St. John's is as if Jaden Quaintance will play and if he doesn't then they'll adjust accordingly. But they're preparing as if he's going to be on the court for however many minutes. Do you have a jokes aside like since for how big of an impact for people because this is somebody who played at Arizona State. Arizona State is not necessarily always on the national radar. I don't know how many people saw this young man play college basketball last season, but he's a projected lottery pick former five star guy. For people who haven't seen him try to explain what what they could expect from him in a Kentucky uniform, well.
- [07:57]
Matt Norlander
Big picture if he can get healthy. He tore his ACL back in the winter, early March I guess he had the surgery on it. He was the best freshman defender in the country. Honestly, he at full strength, at full health. If he can return, he can be the most impactful defensive player in all of college basketball. 610, 260 ridiculously advanced from a physicality standpoint and has been that way for years now. This is his second year in college because of how young he was. So advanced despite his age can be a real, real difference maker. He averaged last season 2.6 blocks, 1.1 steel so 3.7 combined. That was among the best in all of college basketball. It was the best among all freshmen. It might have been the best combined. I'm not entirely certain if it was the best combined. He was, he was really, really, really good a season ago from a defensive standpoint. Nine and a half points, eight boards while playing for Arizona State. If he gets on the floor Saturday, I don't have a like I haven't been given a number. I would assume he gets in, you know, maybe 12, 14 minutes or so, something like that. If now also we need to prepare for the idea that he, if he doesn't play then it's, it's happening soon. Like the, the end timeline on this is that when Kentucky opens up SEC play the first weekend of the season. I'll check my schedule here. Parrish, I believe that is against Alabama. Then that's, that's, I think that's the actual absolute end timeline. But I think that we're going to see him prior to that and he can have a real. It is Bama at Bama January 3. The only game between that is Bellarmine this upcoming Tuesday, which you would think if he doesn't play in this one, he'll play in that one. But yeah, a real difference maker. And I'll get to a little bit more of this when we do the final form one. Of course this game will be in there, but him and Jalen Lowe in particular, their returns have Kentucky fans rightfully feeling a little bit rosier as we sit here on Friday. We gotta see how they play out this game tomorrow against St. John's and St. John's team that has plenty of around it as well. But yeah, he's, he's a legit player and, and honestly I think he is. His presence on the floor can be impactful enough where it just swings. The entire personality of, of a Kentucky defense that has been solid so far this season, but it hasn't been top tier.
- [10:09]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, he's a second year player in college, but still just 18 years old. He could have been a lottery pick probably in the 2025 draft, but he was too young to enter it. So that's why he's doing a second year. He's now at Kentucky and I was on a Texas Tech Arizona State game last February on the sideline and he was, he was already injured then. I don't even think he made the trip to Lubbock, but I remember talking to people at Arizona State about him and they were like, there was pictures people had on their phone like, hey, have you seen this picture? And it was just him like attempting, like closing out, trying to block. He just, and he's just his arms and hands and everything's in places where limbs don't typically go. He just looks different. He's a difference maker, especially on the defensive end of the court. And I would suspect you'll see that pretty quickly if he does Indeed play against St. John's on Saturday. So St. John's was number five in the preseason AP poll. The Red Storm are now number 22. Kentucky was number nine. Preseason AP Poll the Wildcats are currently unranked. That alone suggests that both of these teams, to different degrees for different reasons, have been somewhat disappointing. Do you have a sense for which one of these teams needs this win? Just before Christmas more because thinking through it without knowing what Bruce Thornton could do or Caleb Wilson could do or if Jaden Quaint comes out and blocks 11 shots, it feels like the biggest story coming out of the CBS Sports Classic will be the loser of the first game. Because there's no way around this. Either St. John's is going to be a four loss team before Christmas and that's not the way it was supposed to be, or Kentucky's going to be a five loss team before Christmas and that ain't the way it was supposed to be.
- [11:59]
Matt Norlander
Well, let me just go bigger picture. All four teams. That's our, that's our poll question here live as we do the show. Which team has the most at stake this weekend between all four of these teams? You've got St. John's Kentucky, Ohio State yet to get a real resume win so far this season. And then North Carolina and the Tar Heel fans quite happy to see themselves in a position where they are not entering this game with an inordinate amount of stress, which is obviously I Carolina does not have the most at stake. I think you can make the case that Carolina has the least at stake. If I was ordering them Parrish, I would say the team that has the most at stake this weekend is St. John's at 1. Then I would say Kentucky. I don't really think the gap to 2 to 3 is that big with Ohio State because of the lack of resume and quality W's that it has on the on his docket so far. So keep that in mind. And then Carolina for Kentucky and St. John specifically, they're combined one and seven in quad one game so far this season. So yes, it is relatively urgent. When this game got announced back in May, obviously very exciting. As we drifted closer to the start of the preseason, we thought, well damn, this could actually wind up being a top 10 matchup. This is how the season can go sometimes. Obviously nothing is ever guaranteed. And so instead of having a top 10 matchup, we have a game between two teams that aren't even in the top 21's unranked and St. John's is sitting there at at number 22. For you I go. That's my order. Most at stake, Johnny's 1, Kentucky 2 Ohio State 3 Carolina 4. What would you order it?
- [13:21]
Gary Parrish
I think that's right. It's certainly at the top. Johnny's one. For a couple of different reasons. Kentucky, if it were to take another loss, can still hold on to the idea. Two things. One, hey, we're still trying to get healthy. We just got this guy back. We just got this guy back. We still don't have the how. You know, you can discount some stuff by talking about the health of your roster, where it's been and where it is now. And also take some comfort, I guess, that you're about to play an SEC schedule that's going to give you a ton of quad one and good opportunities. St. John's if you lose again and you're four losses before Christmas, it's just like, what's your excuse? I mean, you're just not. You're just not as good as you were supposed to.
- [14:05]
Matt Norlander
There's no excuse, honestly. I know you're asking it rhetorically, but there is none. It's understandable if, if quaintance does play and low looks awesome in a micro gp. If they lose the game, it will be understandable. But in the bigger picture, St. John's with everything that they have, all they spent on the roster, there won't be an excuse for starting seven and four going to Biggie's play.
- [14:23]
Gary Parrish
That's exactly right. And so I do believe it's St. John's Kentucky, in some order. I would put them in the same order that you put them. And there was an interesting quote from Rick, maybe from yesterday. I saw it from our buddy Adam Zagoria where he, he said, you know, I think me and Mark, you know, Mark Pope have like, similar issues. He didn't get specific. He was sort of talking broadly. But the quote was sometimes overrating somebody you bring in. Overpaying somebody you bring in can hurt you. No different than the Mets or the Yankees or the Giants or the Jets. The implication being that perhaps at St. John's and Kentucky this season, they both overrated certain players that they brought in and perhaps overpaid for certain players that they brought in. And if you're looking for an explanation for why these two big programs are disappointing on some level so far this season, perhaps that's the thing to point to. You buy that at all?
- [15:19]
Matt Norlander
I do. Going back to the rankings from the offseason, remember we had St. John's number one portal, US and 247 combined. Cobb did some good work, Trotter as well, Travis GRANTHAM, all guys, St. John's was number one in the transfer rankings. It was St. John's 1, Michigan 2, Louisville 3, K State 4, and then Kentucky 5. And between St. John's and Kentucky spent more on its roster than any program in the country. St. John's I think, is. Can fairly be assessed as top five overall. And Patino is absolutely right about that. He's speaking from a genuine place and probably what's felt not just by the fans, but I think within both of those coaching rooms. Just as a purely objective analysis of what has happened so far, I think that is, that is entirely fair and it's also reflected in, you know what, what the teams have not been able to do against good competition. Like for example, St. John's is ranked going into this game. Kentucky, Kentucky is not. I actually think Kentucky is the better team. But whatever. St. John's has the number next to its name and will on CBS on the screen in the bottom of the graphic. But Kentucky this season is 0 and 4 against ranked teams. It's 7. 0 against unranked opponents. When it's playing bad teams, it averages 93 points a game. The ranked opponents just 69 points per game. It is losing its games against ranked teams. Kentucky by an average of 15.7 points this season versus the unranked competition. It's played 34 and a half win margin. Obviously those are a lot of buy buy games and buy team opportunities. Meanwhile, for St. John's it's still, it's still working through if it can have Zubi as the main guy and enough supporting cast around him to be consistent. Because to this point, 10 games in St. John's six different players have led the team in scoring. Maybe that's a good thing. Honestly, maybe it's not. Five players have led the team in rebounding. Six players have led the team in assists. These are stats that can sometimes work in your benefit, but in St. John's case, I'm not exactly convinced that that is the case there. They have six guys that are a bit redundant from a position standpoint. I know the coaching staff is very aware of that, acknowledges that and working through that is going to be a difficulty. They might be able to survive in the Big east and still wind up as a top three team. But man, I do. That's. I just, I think that this game, it means both, it means a lot for both teams. But I think if you can tell me that Quaintance is going to be healthy and be a real, real difference maker in the sec and Jalen Lowe's going to come along. Kentucky just has more slack on the leash from a resume standpoint to make up for it to this point. So you know, keep an eye on, on all that. But yes, I do think that the we get understandably so we have a long off season. There's this Gush of commitments that happen from the, you know, end of March into mid maybe you're looking at all these players, all right, this guy went here, he did this, this guy went here. And you're trying to figure out, okay, which of these groups are going to wind up actually having the best teams. You can have a lot of noise on certain reputations and certain guys, how much are guys allegedly being paid? And it's not always going to fall cleanly. It's just not, it can't, it never will with Kentucky and St. John's it has not fallen cleanly yet. There is very, there's plenty of hope for both of these teams to get, get right and be the kind of teams knocking on the doorstep of March where we thought they'd be. But neither of them been that to this point. And I'm, I'm interested to see if we get a really, really good, clean fun game between these two tomorrow or if on a very big stage on a huge weekend in sports parish, one of these two really prat falls and and ends with a thud heading into league play and essentially goes into Christmas pissed off.
- [18:36]
Gary Parrish
This will be the 23rd time Rick Patino has coached against one of his former players. He is 18 and 4 in such games to date. He is 9 and 1 while coaching in the city of Atlanta. So a lot of historical stuff on the side of Rick Patino, but that is the first game. CBS Sports Classic but in most people's eyes the the headlining game. Before we move on, I do want to touch on the second game. North Carolina, Ohio State. We talked a lot this season about North Carolina, but barely at all about Ohio State. So let me ask you about the Buckeyes 8 and 2 losses to Illinois and Pitt wins over Northwestern, Notre Dame and West Virginia. Does Jake Diebler have himself NCAA tournament team, you think?
- [19:23]
Matt Norlander
If I sit here today I'm going to say yes. I'm that much of a believer in Bruce Thornton. I've mentioned him on before on the show. I think he is really has been the most underrated player in college hoops. Maybe that's no longer the case. Maybe, frankly maybe it still is because he is, he is a stud. He's. This is actually something of a homecoming for him. By the way, he grew up in the greater Atlanta area. Interested to see how he plays in this one shooting 50% from three point range this season. Dieblers in year two Ohio State is 8 and 2 but is it a nondescript 8 and 2? It has not played a good non conference Schedule the wins. Okay, Northwestern, West Virginia, Notre dame. Those are three power conference wins. None of those teams project as NCAA tournament teams. None of those teams are top 50 yet. And everything else that they've played for the most part from, from a biking perspective, they're all really bad teams. The losses came at pit. Pitt's not good. They came at home against Illinois. Understandable. Illinois is good but we'll see if that they have a real chance to, to really boost their, their reputation in, in this kind of game. D Block didn't have a tournament team a season ago. He's got some, he's got, he's got solid talent on the team like John Mobley is also a very capable three point shooter who I. He's 36 this season. I think, I think you can bump that number up by the time we get to Valentine's Day. But you know OSU is a pro. It's, it's a, it's a quality program that to this point is kind of just, kind of just floated kind of been there. Because they don't have the notable win yet. North Carolina has been noisy. It has Caleb Wilson who is performing like a top three freshman in the country right now and has only one loss against Michigan State. You know, it's, it's, it's actually if Carolina wins this game Parrish, it'll be off to its best 12 game start since the 0809 title winning team. Yes, you heard me correct. It's been that long since they will have started at least 11 and 1 through 12 games. So I think this game is better than some folks might be giving it credit for or expecting because of what Ohio State can do offensively when it can get into its half court offense. It's pretty efficient. It doesn't, it also doesn't. It's not sloppy with the ball and Carolina doesn't really force turnovers. So I think we've got a chance for a really good game. How they, how they game plan against Wilson will be interesting. Is Caleb Wilson are we going to be coming out of the weekend talking about a number of things but will his performance in this game rank highly among that or is he just going to have, you know, a just okay game? He's been really, really good. He hasn't gotten quite as much run obviously as Boozer or Debancer, but he's out of Peterson right now. He's the third best freshman in the country at worst and I, I'm interested to see what he does. What he does in this game I am interested in it and I do think GP I, I'd say even though the first game is, has way more general appeal, I would give this game the better chance at being the closer game with a minute to go, considering the way both teams play, how they're stacked and, and how they've looked so far.
- [22:10]
Gary Parrish
On Caleb Wilson, it's 19 and a half points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 54.6% from the field. That's not quite Cameron Boozer, but it's really good. And he's fourth in the K POI race right now. Boozer, of course, way ahead of everybody. Joshua Jefferson at Iowa State still second, but yeah, Caleb Wilson is, is fourth in that race right now. Back to Bruce Thornton. Whether you want to call him the most underrated college basketball player in the country or the most overlooked, however you want to frame it, it's him. Yeah, it is clearly him. Like if I walked into the other studio over there, which it's filled with people who cover sports for a living, would they know Bruce Thornton? If I said, hey, you guys looking forward to seeing Bruce Thornton this weekend? Would they know what I'm talking about?
- [23:01]
Matt Norlander
Probably not. And that has as much to do the fact that they didn't play in the tournament is anything else. But no, probably.
- [23:05]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, he's never been in the NCAA tournament. All right, so think about these. These two things are true. Barring an injury or something weird, he's, he's probably going to leave as Ohio State's all time leading scorer.
- [23:21]
Matt Norlander
And he.
- [23:22]
Gary Parrish
Might never play in the NCAA tournament if they don't get there this season. So. And the numbers are off the charts like right now. And this is the other, this is where I argue with people when they say rankings don't matter. Yes, they do. Because Ohio State hadn't had a number next to its name this season and people don't have any idea what Bruce Thornton is doing. But let me tell you, 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.3 steals. He's a six two guard shooting 60.2% from the field. That's not normal for somebody. And 50% from three. Any way you slice it, he is one of the best offensive players in the country. He's already ninth on Ohio State's all time scoring list. And again, barring a surprise, he could finish as the school's all time leading scorer ahead of Dennis Hobson, Jerry Lucas, Michael Redd, Jim Jackson and every other Ohio State great. Shouts to Mike Conley, shouts to Greg Odin Shouts to Daquan Cook Put your favorite Ohio State player in the comments. Shouts to Aaron Craft He's a phenomenal college basketball player and it would be neat if this stage that the CBS Sports Classic provides him, I don't want to say can be a coming out party as a senior. That's not the right way to frame it, but could really make people start to pay more attention to him this season. I think it's a big opportunity for Ohio State because you could launch your team and your star player into a bigger conversation by performing well on Saturday.
- [24:48]
Matt Norlander
No doubt. Shouts to David Lighty as well my all time favorite Buckeye and had there never been Covid and don't we wish that was the case, I'm pretty sure David Lighty would still have the all time record for most games played as a men's D1 college player. He's Thornton is really, really good. A very good high profile opportunity this weekend for him to have another good game. He is overwhelmingly the number one guy in the scouting report. We'll see how Carolina faces off against him. Obviously we're going to talk about this game in the Final Four and one as well, but it's, it's huge weekend on cbs. I'll be at the Arkansas Houston game that's also in the final form one we'll get to that as well. But you know, speaking of Arkansas, speaking of the SEC gp, can we talk can we just go big picture on the SEC to this point because the league has been bumpy. David Cobb highlighted that this week@cbssports.com.
- [25:38]
Gary Parrish
Just.
- [25:38]
Matt Norlander
Just take a peek at what else is at stake this weekend and what the league has and has not done to this point because this is the final week of non conference play to really earn some good wins and and position itself for where it lands in the conference hierarchy and the amount of bids it's going to chase, you know, over the next two, two and a half months?
- [25:56]
Gary Parrish
Sure, of course. We're definitely going to do that very soon, but let's pay some bills. I got to get a word from my partners. This is Gary Parish from the Ion College Basketball Podcast here to remind you that AG1 is the daily health drink that combines your multivitamin, pre and probiotics, superfoods and antioxidants into one simple green scoop. It's one of the easiest and best things you can do to support your body every day. If you listen to the POD regularly, you likely know that during the season I'm constantly traveling, which can take a toll. My immune system sometimes needs a boost. AG1 provides it, and it now comes an original citrus, berry and tropical as we approach the New year, it's never too early to take control of your health. But you don't have to wait for January 1st. You can get started today. And right now, AG1 has their best offer ever. If you head to drinkag1.com I you'll get the welcome kit, a morning person hat, a bottle of vitamin D3 plus K2, an AG1 flavor sampler, and you'll get to try their new sleep supplement, AGZ for free, which has been a game changer for my nightly routine. That's drink ag1.com I for $126 in free gifts for new subscribers.
- [27:02]
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- [27:17]
Matt Norlander
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- [27:31]
Dan from Heed the Call
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- [27:54]
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- [28:24]
Gary Parrish
Hey them flights back and forth to New York don't pay for themselves, Norlander. You got to get a work area.
- [28:30]
Matt Norlander
By the way, I'm glad you were able to get those flights in the wind here in the north. Like a decent portion of the country. People watching, listening. Right now, some serious winds affecting flights. So I hope that you're able to take off land Safely, without delay here, because I know we've got a little bit of a nasty weather system tearing through the US Today, so I did.
- [28:47]
Gary Parrish
Get delayed yesterday at jfk. No big deal. You know, it just meant I, I, I had two drinks instead of one. No big deal. But I have had more travel issues this season already than I had all of last season. Like, all of. I've been stuck places and canceled, and I don't know who's. I don't know who I'm supposed to blame. You know, blame it on the weather.
- [29:09]
Matt Norlander
Blame it on the rain.
- [29:10]
Gary Parrish
I'm a. I'm. I'm gonna. To quote.
- [29:13]
Matt Norlander
Blame it on the rain.
- [29:15]
Gary Parrish
To quote the great Milli Vanilli, the kids don't know nothing about Milli Vanilli, do they?
- [29:20]
Matt Norlander
I don't think they need to.
- [29:22]
Gary Parrish
I think they kind of do need to.
- [29:23]
Matt Norlander
I mean, maybe to a certain extent.
- [29:25]
Gary Parrish
It'S actually a sad story.
- [29:27]
Matt Norlander
Yeah.
- [29:28]
Gary Parrish
I think Buddy took his own life.
- [29:30]
Matt Norlander
Well, I, I mean, I'm not sure. I, I was. I thought you were talking about the fake performances. You know what? Let's talk about the sec.
- [29:39]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I think. I think he. I think he did both of those things. I think he fake performed. And then, you know, Google it. You Google it on your own time.
- [29:47]
Matt Norlander
So this with that AI Google stuff, though. Reminder.
- [29:50]
Gary Parrish
Can't trust it. I don't know what's going on. I saw a video the other day of Sharon Moore pushing a stroller with his wife, and I was like, well, I guess they're trying to work it out. You know, I wish him luck. And then it was like, nope, this is fake. This is not real. He.
- [30:04]
Matt Norlander
He.
- [30:05]
Gary Parrish
That's not a real thing.
- [30:08]
Matt Norlander
Let's keep it moving. But, like, my buddy over there, GP that you're looking at listening to right now, that's a smart man, intelligent man, and he's getting duped by the algorithm on. On the daily. What hope do we have? What hope do we have? If you're just like, it's good to see Sarah Moore's back, dude.
- [30:26]
Gary Parrish
I, I, I don't have any idea what's going on. I. There was, like, three minutes where I thought Woad got kicked out of a basketball game earlier this season. I don't know what's happening in the world. I don't know who I can believe anymore. Let's hope I can trust Zags. I mean, I pulled those patino quotes straight from Zags. What if he's just out there making stuff up, too? I don't know anymore. I don't know who to believe anymore. I still think I can trust Adam Zagoria, but I don't know about the rest of the Internet.
- [30:56]
Matt Norlander
All right, what do we trust about the sec? What do we know about the Here's a perfect segue. We don't know what we know about this league at this point. Way different from a year ago.
- [31:03]
Gary Parrish
I don't know who I can trust on the Internet. I don't know who I can trust in the sec.
- [31:07]
Matt Norlander
That's an accurate statement if you aren't aware. Last season the sec, the entire season, every postseason tournament included, The SEC lost 23 games total to teams not in the SEC. It went 185 and 23. That is an 89 win clip this season. The SEC to this point and think about all the games it'll have in postseason play. It has already doubled its amount of losses to non conference opponents from a season ago. It had 23 all last season. It is 131 and 46 overall in non complay the season GP. That is a 74 win rate versus the record setting and on a it's never getting broken. 89 versus all non con opponents for one league is nuts. The highest ranked team in this week's AP Top 25 is Vanderbilt, still undefeated, sitting there at 13. I think we've got six or seven teams in the poll which is healthy. But there's not a single top team at team in the top 10 in the AP poll. In the predictive metrics. It's. It's a drastic setback from a season to go and I do think you can make the case that the SEC actually falls fourth in the conference hierarchy heading into Christmas.
- [32:15]
Gary Parrish
So I think I can tie all this together. What I'm hearing from you is after last season, historically great, the SEC has fallen off. It's a one hit wonder. A little like Milli Vanilli.
- [32:29]
Matt Norlander
You can tie. You can tie it together, I guess. But I don't want to call it a one hit wonder because that was the biggest hit ever. But I hear what you're saying.
- [32:36]
Gary Parrish
Are you comparing this to Milli Vanilli?
- [32:40]
Matt Norlander
That's literally what you are doing.
- [32:42]
Gary Parrish
Oh, okay.
- [32:42]
Matt Norlander
I wouldn't dare. I wouldn't dare.
- [32:45]
Gary Parrish
I thought you were doing it. I thought you were comparing the SEC to Millie Vanilli. Seemed harsh. Seemed harsh. I know Greg Sankey sometimes rubs people the wrong way, but comparing his league to Milli Vanilli seems harsh.
- [32:58]
Matt Norlander
I agree.
- [32:59]
Gary Parrish
The question dribble handoff was okay. Who's Going to win this thing now because like you mentioned, Nobody in the type 9 at Ken Palm, but then there's like seven bunched together in the 10 to 25 range. I went with Alabama. Alabama was not my preseason pick. I think that was Florida. And Alabama is not the highest ranked team in the top 25 and one from the SEC right now. I believe that's Arkansas. But I went with Alabama two trophies every year in the SEC. One for the regular season champ, one for the tournament champ. And so over the past five years, they've handed out 10. And NATO has, has four of those two conference tournaments, two regular seasons. I think he adds another regular season title in March. And he also has the SEC Player of the Year in LeBaron Phylon.
- [33:50]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, Alabama's entirely reasonable. Logical. I can see the Crimson Tide having the number one next to their name when the SEC tournament gets played. You see who I picked?
- [34:02]
Gary Parrish
I did not. I wanted to be surprised in real time.
- [34:05]
Matt Norlander
Who do you think I could have picked? Alabama. I could have picked literally 15 other teams. Who do you think that I picked to win the SEC regular season?
- [34:15]
Gary Parrish
I'm gonna say that you circled back, you were influenced by a recent conversation with Mark Pope and you circle back to the Wildcats.
- [34:24]
Matt Norlander
Kentucky's your guess.
- [34:25]
Gary Parrish
Kentucky is my final answer.
- [34:28]
Matt Norlander
Well, well, well, well, well. You are. All right, I'm going, I'm going with Kentucky. If Quaintance is going to be healthy, Jalen Lowe's impact I think is going to increase and be undeniable. And I pick Kentucky to win the SEC at the start of the season with the idea that Quaintance would get healthy by Christmas and be a major factor in the league and that Jalen Lowe would be one of the most important transfers in the entire country. Now, I don't know if Low will wind up being top five or top ten, but I do know when I saw him on the floor last week in the Indiana game, it was immediately evident. So yeah, I, I, I'm taking Kentucky narrowly. I also wrote in, in our capsule for the dribble handoff. I, I do think this is going to be the most wide open race that we have this season among all the high majors because you look at the Big East, Yukon, maybe St. John's probably not going to be that compelling. Yeah, the Big 12 should be very, very good and would be the one league that I think could really compete with it. The Big Ten. Seems like it could be Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State. Okay. Could be like a three team race. Maybe. Maybe you'll have an Illinois or or Nebraska. I'm not gonna discount them popping in there but from the SEC stand the ACC seems like it's Duke. We'll see if UNC or Louisville can really be in there but the SEC going in right as things stand right now and let's even call my Kentucky one a long shot. I I willingly accept that I'm not they're not the most likely the second or third most likely right now. I completely feel you on that. But you've got Vandy still undefeated Florida. We will hear from multiple writers in our triple handoff. Put floor as their pick. Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas 6. I can't discount Auburn as 7. I don't think they'll be there but Georgia is 10 and 1 and top 25 at Ken Palm right now. Just feels like this really could be one like, you know, one of those carnival horse racing games. Just one after another. They're switching every other week. It should be a pretty awesome race overall, but I'll go. I'll go Kentucky. Not with ultra confidence. That'll be right. But it was my preseason pick and there's enough there to give me hope. I say this less than or 24 hours out from the CBS Sports Classic. Now, even though it's not an SEC game, watch Kentucky lose tomorrow and my pick will be aging immediately. Terribly.
- [36:49]
Gary Parrish
Hey, let's pick some games. It's time for the Final Four. One presented by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more. Give me one more word from our.
- [36:56]
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- [37:27]
Gary Parrish
And one presented by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more. Let's try that again. It's time for the final four in one presented by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more day one, Saturday, 12:30pm Eastern. Number 22, St. John's versus Kentucky. Inside Killer Mike Arena. You can watch it on CBS. It's America's most watched network. Network of stars. Kim Pom's got it. St. John's minus one.
- [37:57]
Matt Norlander
Oh, that surprise you? The line?
- [38:02]
Gary Parrish
No.
- [38:03]
Matt Norlander
Okay.
- [38:04]
Gary Parrish
No it's the. That's. That's the number. That's the preseason number one in the top 25 and one. I'm not. I'm not surprised. The preseason number one in the top twenty five and one is favored on a neutral court over a disappointing Kentucky team. Not surprised at all.
- [38:19]
Matt Norlander
Hey, listen, if you want to take solace in something, not that you need to, but you know how there's no shortage of NFL analysts that understandably so, pick the Chiefs to win the super bowl, and they aren't even going to the playoffs. So, you know, this. This preseason projection game is hard, dog.
- [38:35]
Gary Parrish
Maybe I should.
- [38:36]
Matt Norlander
You think you want to be out here? You don't want to be out here?
- [38:38]
Gary Parrish
I'm saying it's not. It's not as easy as. It's not as easy as we sometimes make it look.
- [38:43]
Matt Norlander
That is correct. Yeah. Sometimes we make it look easy. Sometimes. Oftentimes we very much. Okay.
- [38:48]
Gary Parrish
Did I know who would be the best team in the country this season? It appears that I didn't. It appears I wasn't even close.
- [38:57]
Matt Norlander
All right.
- [38:58]
Gary Parrish
But. But do I have to remind you about the Jaden Quaintance thing?
- [39:05]
Matt Norlander
Exactly. He's got a play in the game. We're hopeful that'll be the case.
- [39:10]
Gary Parrish
I will drag his ass out on that court if I have to. All right. I'll just.
- [39:14]
Matt Norlander
I'll snap you one incredible issue.
- [39:17]
Blue Apron Advertiser
You see.
- [39:18]
Matt Norlander
See me.
- [39:21]
Gary Parrish
And then. And then Bruce Pearl's on the call. BP is like. I think that's Gary Parrish checking Jaden Quaint into the game.
- [39:30]
Matt Norlander
Bruce Pearl will be on the mic making his CBS TV debut for both of these as well. For sure, this is the 17th meeting all time between these schools. Kentucky leads 11 to 5. They last met. It's been 14 years. December of 2011 in Lexington. St. John's is averaging 88 against game season and getting 20.2 of those points off the fast break. That's the fifth best in all of Division 1. Meanwhile, Kentucky's only allowing 66.4 points per game. So you figure St. John's will probably land somewhere in the 70s in this. We'll see. Kentucky's also very good at reducing fast break points. So as you watch this play out, St. John's they want to get out and running points in transition. Turn them over as much as they possibly can. See if St. John's can even hit 10 fast break points in this game. I'll probably say no. Kentucky's coming off a season low. Only four turnovers last week against Indiana, they're trending in the right direction. Don't expect a three point show. Not that it can't happen, just don't expect it. Both of these teams are have done well at reducing the impact of the three point shot for their opponents so far this season. Teams are only making 30% of their threes against St. John's teams are only making 29% of their threes against Kentucky this season. Bryce Hopkins is going to go against his former team in this one Parish, not Providence. But he was at Kentucky before that. He has been cold as of late, only nine points per game over the past four. He had been averaging better than 17 up to that point prior. I'm interested to see what he looks like in this one and then also depending on whether we get JQ on the floor or not, how much he plays. You know Modiabate has been really solid. I mean his last three games 14.7 points, 8.3 rebounds. You can't really play him and JQ at the same time given their position and what they do and what Kentucky wants to do on offense. So Bates hot. You know keep him out there and look out for Ortega away just in terms of he was a non factor in the Indiana game. He does still leave Kentucky in scoring. This is a big spot but assume San and is flanked on him for the most part. Maybe Dylan Mitchell though I don't know. I could. I could see them throwing a few different looks at oa but it all starts with Low and what he can do and how he's going to run the offense, how much he can play on the floor in this one and then how Kentucky counters Ejafor eight blocks in back to back games, 16 total for Ejafore. He has been a really good player against ranked competition so far this season for St. John's which has struggled overall against the good teams. Ejafor has not. I will take Kentucky to win and by winning they also cover in the process. I'll even toss you a score here Parrish. I'll say Kentucky wins 70. I'll say Kentucky wins 78 73.
- [42:17]
Gary Parrish
We'll keep it moving. Needless to say I'm going with the preseason number one in the top 25 and one anytime you got your your personal preseason number one only having delay a point on a new report against a disappointing team. You've got to do that every time. St. John's minus the one game two Saturday three o' clock Eastern Ohio State versus number 12 North Carolina inside Outcast Arena. You can watch it on CBS, American Watch Network, Network of stars. Kim Palm has it. North Carolina minus three.
- [42:46]
Matt Norlander
Okay, just a couple of things here. GP mentioned the Thornton stuff before. He's the only D1 player averaging at least 20 points and shooting 60% from the field. That's nuts. 21.8 per game, obviously. Keep an eye on him. Carolina has only turned the ball over eight and a half times per game over its last five. Let's see if it can keep that up. Ohio State averages 86 points, 87.6 points per game. It's their. It's tracking to be their best scoring team in more than 50 years. We'll see if they can keep that clip going once they get into the thick of league play. They probably can't, but still, they can really score. Meanwhile, Carolina has been the opposite. They have allowed less than 75 points in 12 consecutive games. They haven't done that to start a season since. 97, 98 Carolina. So they're going to try and keep Ohio State under 72, 73 points. Meanwhile, Ohio State's good at scoring. I think they're going to probably. They'll probably eclipse 7273 in this one. Carolina doesn't put a lot of pressure on the ball. Oh, it doesn't turn it over. I do think we've got a really good chance at a really good game this season. Excuse me. On Saturday. Between how these teams have looked this season, I will go Carolina in this one. What did you say the line was? Minus three, right? Yeah. All right. I'll go Tar Heels to win and to cover. I get the sense you're gonna agree with me.
- [44:08]
Gary Parrish
I'm gonna take. I'm gonna take the Buckeyes plus the points. I've sort of talked myself into this Bruce Thornton thing. I, you know, I. Whoever wins the game, wins the game. But I like when stories emerge. Like, when we can talk about these things and say, man, I. It'd be neat if more people were aware of this. And then, boom, it pops. Like, if you remember last season, there was a day where we were like, cooper flag's been great, but he hasn't had that moment. And then, like, it was like later that night he had a. I think a transition dunk. My memory doesn't fail me. Maybe against Pitt. And then we were off and running on the Cooper Flag train. And I'm not comparing Bruce Thornton to Cooper Flag, but, like, this is a great college basketball player.
- [44:47]
Matt Norlander
I really wish that you would, though.
- [44:49]
Gary Parrish
Okay, fine, I'll do it. Bruce Thornton is this season's Cooper flag. Far as I'm concerned. I don't really, I don't really know how exactly. I might have to put some more thought into it.
- [45:01]
Matt Norlander
Nope. Clip it, aggregate, do your thing.
- [45:04]
Gary Parrish
But here's a guy who could go down as the all time leading scorer at, at, at one of the great college basketball programs in this country. And I don't think many people are aware of how good he is actually at this level. Perhaps the stage CBS provides gives him an opportunity to do that. I'll take Ohio State plus the three game three Saturday, 5:30pm Eastern. Number eight, Houston versus number 14 Arkansas, inside the Joe Pesci Center.
- [45:35]
Matt Norlander
Ooh.
- [45:36]
Gary Parrish
You can watch it on cbs, America's most watched network. Network of stars. Kim Palm has it. Houston minus 5.
- [45:42]
Matt Norlander
Joe Pesci has made the final form one before. From Newark, right?
- [45:47]
Gary Parrish
That's right. He's from Newark.
- [45:49]
Matt Norlander
I like.
- [45:50]
Gary Parrish
And where else could he be from?
- [45:54]
Matt Norlander
That's a fair enough point. I mean, like, you know, I was getting ready to, to turn in last night and I was just flipping through before going to bed and then I saw Macaulay Culkin was on Kimmel. I was like, you know what? I really don't watch a ton of late night tv. Typically there's basketball I got to be writing. I was like, I'll hear what this guy has to say. He said, Culkin said when they ran through this, especially related from Home Alone. He said when they ran through the scene where they find him at the other house. You've seen Home Alone, I presume, right? Everyone in the world has seen Home Alone. You've seen it, of course. Cool. Okay. Well, when they, when they hang Culkin on the, on the, on the hanger of the coat rack, when they find him in the next doorhouse and, and Pesci's getting ready to, to bite his finger, whatever. When they ran through that, he said he actually bit his finger and he still has the scar that he got. And he said, I didn't. And then Kimmel was like, I'm pretty sure that's an HR violation. And he's like, I didn't rat him out after all these years. So funny enough, you bring up Pesci heard of very random Macaulay Culkin Pesci story less than 12 hours ago. I will be.
- [46:57]
Gary Parrish
Of all the Culkins, I like them all.
- [46:59]
Matt Norlander
Yes, yes, yes. Big time Kieran Culkin fan for sure. I will be at this game. GPU will be at the first two games on cbs. I will be at this one you've got John Calipari and Kelvin Sampson. They have coached a combined 70 seasons of college hoops. They've won well over 1600 games and yet it's the only the second time these two have ever coached against each other. They faced off in the 2019 Sweet 616 in Kansas and Kansas City Kentucky 1 against Houston. In that one Arkansas as a program Parish has lost six consecutive games in which both teams were ranked inside the top 15. If you can believe this. It is true. The last time that Arkansas won a game I guess non con wise. Although the notes here from our research says six straight top 15 matchups. So maybe this isn't even intra league as well. 1995 Final Four against UNC. The last time they won a game in which both teams are ranked inside the top 15. I gotta believe that's non con. Gotta figure Arkansas has won an intra League top 15 game. But regardless, it's been a long, long time. Arkansas averages 32 more points than Houston allows per game. We gotta, we got a few of these this weekend where it's, it's very much opposing styles. Hogs are dropping 90 a night. Houston is allowing 57.7. You got to figure Houston style will win out and Arkansas is not going to clear at least 72, 73 in this game. Keep an eye on Houston at the foul line because they don't get there a lot. I wonder if that if that might take up a little bit with the way that Arkansas plays. Arkansas is the only Division 1 team in the country where multiple freshmen average at least 14 a game. That's of course Darius Acuff and Malik Thomas who are combining right now to average 30, 33 points a game. They also combine for nine and a half sets. They're pretty damn good. They're the best points per game combo in the country. Boozer and Hamenia at Duke are two and then Wagler and Murkovich at Illinois are three if you are curious on that. And then the other stud freshman in this is obviously Kingston Flemings. He's similar to Acuff in terms of stat output, averaging 15 points, five assists a game. I wonder how he steps up in a, in a one like this. I, I do think it's going to be a really, really fun, really fun battle here. I'm excited to be there on hand in Newark to see what Arkansas can do against, you know, the toughest from a physicality standpoint. This is just the toughest matchup that they'll have this season or want Tennessee I think can actually equal Houston in toughness and they displayed that when they played out there in Vegas. Emmanuel Sharp is a guy that I think keep an eye out for this one. Not only does he score, he's only got 10 turnovers the entire season. I think like he's been he's been pretty reliable. Overall. I will go I really think and hope for a close one. Parish I will go. Houston to win But Arkansas is inside the number. The game is in doubt with less than 60 seconds to go.
- [49:46]
Gary Parrish
So as noted, I went with Alabama as my pick to win the sec and the dribble handoff this week I almost went with Arkansas. Arkansas is the highest rated SEC top 25 and one at number 11. Trevin Brazile has turned into a nice story. He of course tore his ACL December 2022. Came back next season. Wasn't the same player last season, still wasn't the same player. Now better than ever. 15.1.7.1 rebounds. And if you look at the way this Arkansas team is constructed, like the two leading scores arguably top two players are both freshmen. That's John Calipari ish for decades. But then Trevin Brazil's in her fifth year of college, fourth year at Arkansas. Malik Ewan's a senior, D.J. wagner's a junior. Carter, Knox, Billy Richmond are sophomores. They've got real roster balance. They're the kind I I tend to like. Like they've got five star freshmen. They've also got holdovers. They've got experience mixed with real NBA talent. Like that's a great recipe. I I like this Arkansas team and no, I didn't pick them to win the sec. But I won't be surprised if they do. And I'll I will take the Razorbacks plus the five points against Houston inside the Joe Pesci Center. Game 4 Saturday, 8pm Eastern. Number 3 Duke vs. Number 19 Texas Tech inside Jalen Brunson Garden. You can watch it on ESPN. Kim Pom has it. Duke minus 8.
- [51:20]
Matt Norlander
Deservedly so. By the way, on this note, after what we talked about Wednesday, apparently Cameron Indoor very much in contention if not among the finalists. So GP had that on the list. I didn't think that, you know, that hasn't been decided it's gonna be played there. But I just want to acknowledge what we talked about on Wednesday. Also mixed reaction. Some folks it feels like are very much open to the idea. A lot of folks just frankly hate not even just fan sub Bomani Jones thinks it's amateur. I was watching Pti Mike Wilbon hates the idea of the NBA cup being played in college arenas. So it has been interesting to see some of the response there. I would like to see it. And as I said, I thought maybe just with some logistical things and just the size of the venue, that Cameron Indoor wouldn't necessarily be up for contention, but it seems up for heavy contention. And if it is played there, I do not think that you will get a better visual, more general interest of any venue, period. If the NBA cup did actually go to a college venue, then, then NBA dudes playing a camera that would just draw more people than anyone. But did you see any of the react, you know, over the past 48 hours?
- [52:23]
Gary Parrish
I, I think if you were genuinely upset, like if you're actually bothered by the idea of the NBA playing games in historically relevant college arenas, like, if that's the thing that gets you angry, you're just a weirdo. Like, there's just something like, man, like, why. Why are you so mad about where a basketball game might be played? Like, relax, it's not that big of a deal, but it would be awesome. Or at least it'd be something that people would pay attention to. They play a Major League baseball game in a cornfield every summer. I often don't care anything about the teams that are in it, but we always have it on. Just because it's kind of a neat visual and it's in a smaller stadium. You see the corn, they might bring Kevin Costner out there. It's still just a regular season game, but it looks different. It takes you to a place, you know, that you don't expect to watch a Major League baseball game. And for whatever reason it works. Like, I've actually thought about taking because I think the Mets are maybe playing in it next. I've thought about taking my kids, like taking my family to, To a. Just see it, but be. Experience the whole thing. And I don't know why this couldn't be that. I don't know that it's going to make the NBA cup matter more than it already matters or change anything in a dramatic way. But you have no juice in Las Vegas. They're very aware of that. And by taking this to college places, particularly college places where the NBA doesn't otherwise exist, I think it would work and I would, I mean, I'd get real creative. I would invite the Duke students to be a part of it. Like have the Cameron crazies tell them who to cheer for or let them figure it out on their own. But like have that have students with their faces painted while the Thunder and the Knicks are playing for a trophy. It would. If you're offended by that, I don't know what to tell you. Be fine.
- [54:21]
Matt Norlander
Nothing wrong with the novelty of it. I mean, you know, I'm a pedestrian at best. Hockey fan. The Winter Classic is going to be played in South Florida in less than two weeks. The Florida Panthers are going to play, I believe the Rangers. And just the idea that they're going to pull off this has got like bizarro college hoops on an aircraft carrier. They're going to do a hockey game in Greater Miami on January 1st. Like, I will make a point to make sure that I try and find and tune in and watch the. A little bit of that. Because. And I'm sure there. I'm sure there are people in the hockey world that hate it and think it's stupid, but I think the Winter Classic is a really cool idea. And they play. They play one game a year for the most part, outside. Sometimes. It's been in the elements. It's really cool to see. Let's experiment. Let's have fun. Let's encourage creativity and not stifle it. Let's keep it moving, though. Duke versus Texas Tech. These teams have only met twice. I was at the most recent one. That was in San Francisco. Coach K. Farewell tour at sweet 16. Duke obviously won. These teams also actually met in the garden in 2018 as well. So this is the third meeting ever between the schools. Texas Tech is yet to be the ranked team this season. GP Duke is four and oh, in those games. Duke has won nine consecutive games at Cameron north slash Madison Square Garden. And it feels like Duke plays at the Garden just about every year. Well, that's because it plays in the Garden just about every year. This game getting played means that for 25 of the past 28 seasons, Duke has played at least one game in Midtown Manhattan off of West 34th. This is another game similar to the St. John's Kentucky one parish where in the preseason we thought, oh, we got a chance at. I remember talking about it with, with you and kind of prepping out. Like we really might have two top 10 games on the same day the Saturday before Christmas. It's not happening. Duke has obviously lived up to its billing. Tech was a preseason top 15 and has not done yet. Unranked outside the top 25. And predictive metrics, it's 7 and 3. A win here would really would go a very long way if Tech was able to beat Duke in this spot. I think it would register as one of the three best wins of the season. They'll be, it's, it's labeled a neutral. This will not be a neutral court. Duke will have anywhere between 85 and 90% of the fans inside of this building. And then the main draw is obviously Boozer versus Toppin. Let's go. These are the only two players in the country averaging more than 20 points and more than 10 rebounds per game. The exact stat lines right now. Boozer 23.3 points. Also, this has kind of been a little bit under the radar. He leads the country in scoring. Boozer does 23.3 per game, 10.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 56.3% from the field. Toppin 21.9 per game, 10.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 55.9. So essentially the same shooting splits as Boozer from the field. And we'll see who steps up in supplementary roles in this game. Duke's got the number one field goal defense percentage in the country. Opponents hitting less than 35% of their shots in this game. Tech average is 84 a game. Duke holds teams to 61. We have so many of these great offense, great defense matchups this week. I just hope Boozer vs Toppin delivers this can. This has the potential to be one of the better head to head player matchups we get the entire season. I really want to see both players at their best. I really want to see Texas Tech step up and, and give themselves a really good game here. The numbers big. I'm gonna, I want a close game but I'm gonna ride with Duke. It's been really good to what you said a couple shows ago. Michigan, Arizona. Are we just. We just forgetting about Duke a little bit? Maybe the Blue Devils come out of this with a, with a firm definitive win. I'll take Duke to win and to cover double digits on on late Saturday.
- [58:03]
Gary Parrish
Night at the Garden and Cameron Boozer, J.T. toppin, you. You arguably have the two best college basketball players in the country and that they both operate from the front court makes it an even more interesting matchup. Texas Tech been struggling defensively. You remove preseason bias over@bartorvic.com 90th in adjusted defensive efficiency. Grant McCaslin a discussed it in media availability earlier in the week and said it's an effort problem. He said we don't have a scheme problem. We don't have a athleticism problem. We have an effort problem. You have a theory on what's going on with Texas Tech's Lack of effort. The message boards are probably blaming it nil, but I'll let you confirm.
- [58:45]
Matt Norlander
No, honestly, Paris, I don't because like to have a theory and that kind of stuff, you probably got to have some real insight into the, into the day to day should.
- [58:53]
Gary Parrish
I shouldn't have put it like that.
- [58:54]
Matt Norlander
Yeah, it's fine. No worries. Will Wade said the same thing earlier this week. I mean his team blew out a buy game opponent and he said all but two guys even give a damn. So I in all honesty and Bruce Pearl talked about this on HQ earlier this week. I do think there is not with every team now with every coach but you know, this time of the year they want to get home for Christmas break because these players, you know, depending on the school and the schedule how it breaks, like sometimes they get three, four days to go away and then they got to come right back. You got to practice, you got a game before New Year's. And the messaging kind of has to be coaches get. They get worried about guys getting lethargic at this point of the year. They don't have to worry about them on January 5th, but it's that you know, December 10th to December 25th period overall. So I think maybe that's some of it as well. That being said, Watts just had himself one hell of a game for Texas Tech yet 36. I would be stunned if he goes for 30 plus in this game. I just want Boozer and Toppin to give us what we deserve. Just head to head. Like Boozer hasn't played a player one on one. His that's a forward that's. That's as good and as crafty as Toppin is like and, and Toppin hasn't as topping gone up against the guy with Boozer skill set in college. Probably not. So I just hope they bring bring the best out of each other and I think that they can. What a. What an awesome treat. I actually don't even know the story behind why these two specific teams were lined up for this specific game. But I just love that it happened because right now both of these are obviously first team all Americans.
- [60:20]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I'll take Texas Tech plus the points. So Texas Tech plus eight. You laid it. Duke minus eight. Correct.
- [60:27]
Matt Norlander
I'm going to lay it semi uncomfortably. Duke minus eight. Yes.
- [60:30]
Gary Parrish
All right, give us the and one.
- [60:32]
Matt Norlander
All right, they'll give you the N one and then a few more games to know before we get out of here. You know what?
- [60:36]
Gary Parrish
We've got an eye on that clock.
- [60:38]
Matt Norlander
I got the clock. Don't worry. You don't need. You don't need to worry. We're going to get out, get you out here with plenty of time to spare. More CBS love, because this is not, this is a viable and one game, two Eastern. CBS Sports Network. Saturday, it's Colorado State at Utah State on Nick Fazikis court. Both of these teams genuinely good teams. Both of these teams capable of making the NCAA tournament. I got a couple of nuggets, but I'm tossing it right to you. Thoughts and pick who you got.
- [61:12]
Gary Parrish
Do college basketball fans know that the head coach of the Rams is a college basketball legend? Are they. Does everybody aware?
- [61:20]
Matt Norlander
Well, I would say this, if you listen to this podcast, you definitely know and I think as Colorado State gets a little bit better and if it can get to the tournament this season, then it becomes a very, very well known thing. For those that might be watching or listening, that are unfamiliar, GP can, can get you up to date right now.
- [61:37]
Gary Parrish
Faro Manash, who hit the big shot in the NCAA tournament against Kansas, is now the head coach at Colorado State. He's got a team off to, what is it? I believe a 9 and 2 start. The combined record of these two teams is like 18 and 3. So I don't know if either will be a real, a real at large candidate by the time we get to selection Sunday. But these are two teams that could absolutely win the league's automatic bid. What are you laughing at so much?
- [62:09]
Matt Norlander
Because the chat is rightfully calling me. You didn't pick up what? I was trying to decide who. I was trying to decide who to name the court after. Okay. And so I was doing this this morning because I hadn't figured out who I was going to name the court after. I was like, so who are some of the better players in Mountain west history and Utah State history? And I had written a thing on my document. I was like, you know what? Sam Merrill was pretty good. And then I was like, oh, but Fizikas was good. Physicist played for Nevada. He didn't play for Utah. Someone goes, did Physicist light up Utah State or something? You know what, let's just go with it.
- [62:47]
Gary Parrish
It stays.
- [62:48]
Matt Norlander
This is Nick Fizika's court. I'm not changing it. It's his court for this game.
- [62:52]
Gary Parrish
Hey, I don't know know if he ever, I don't know that if he ever lit up that court, but I know he could have if given the opportunity.
- [62:58]
Matt Norlander
Damn right he could have.
- [62:59]
Gary Parrish
I know he could have.
- [63:00]
Matt Norlander
Great player. Look him up. Nevada. Earlier this, earlier this century with that is I almost went Sam Merrill. I was like, I'll just put in physique the wrong man team. I don't care. Mountain west legend as far as I'm concerned. Sophomore forward for Colorado State, Kyle Jorgensen leads the team in scoring. That is notable because this team is really really really really really really really good from three point range. Are you aware just how dominant Colorado State is from beyond the ArcGP?
- [63:28]
Gary Parrish
I'm aware of it.
- [63:30]
Matt Norlander
Best three point shooting team in the country at 45.4%. But it's not just that they take half of their shots from three. It's one thing to be a good three point shooting team, it is another thing to be a good three point shooting team and it is your entire identity and you're really, really good at it. So high percentage, high usage, high degree of difficulty. Fun. Watch. Good team. The six leading scores on this team all shoot 39% or better from deep. That is tremendous. Utah State the plot twist here is Mason Falslev, who's a guard for the Aggies, was expected to be one of the best players at the mid major level this season and he's really good. But MJ Collins, who was at Vandy last season, Virginia Tech before that, he's one of the best scorers in the country, better than 20 points per game. So they've got some real scores there. This is this genuinely could be one of the best place games of the weekend. That's why I wanted to make it the the N1. Utah State Statistical Forte is turning teams over their fifth in the country in steel rate, eighth and overall turnover percentage. They're looking to get teams to cough it up at least 15 times a game. We'll see if Colorado can State can minimize that. I do think the number is too big. Utah State probably wins, but let's get Mountain west play going with the bang. GP I'll take I'll take Utah State in a close one. Let's say 86 82. I know you want to get out of here. Just a couple more games to know around the weekend. Friday night 6:30 Eastern FS 1101 Seton hall at Providence Real quick. If Seton hall wins this game, broadly speaking, do you think you would put them in your top 25 and 1? I know Providence isn't a good team this season so far, but would you put an 111 hall team into the rankings?
- [65:03]
Gary Parrish
Probably not.
- [65:04]
Matt Norlander
Okay. I do think it would bump them up a tier if they won on the road regardless of PC's quality at the moment but I and I do think Stephen hall of have a chance to be ranked. Love a chance to be ranked in the AP poll if they can can get this win. Also on Friday 8 and 2 Villanova against 7 and 3 Wisconsin playing in Marquette's building. Don't ask me why it's a good non league game just a few days before Christmas. Nova has been nice but like a couple other teams we've talked about on today's show, Parish lacks one really hot, good respectable win. Wisconsin also doesn't have a victory to hang its hat on yet. So both these teams looking for a Christmas present The Week of Saturday 6:30 Eastern Peacock, Auburn vs. Purdue and Indy Stephen Pearl has faced get this Kelvin Sampson, Dana Altman, Dusty May, Rick Patino and now Matt Painter. What do they all have in common? They'll have a Final Four on their resume. Then you've got Tommy Lloyd in there who doesn't have one yet, but we'll get one. He's also got to face Caliperi, Beard, Golden Barnes, NATO's and Porter Moser. Still to come in league play he might set the record for the most Final Four coaches coached against in the first year of a head coaching career ever. We'll see if they can get it done on Saturday. Auburn versus Purdue and indigenous. That's a 6:30 tip. And then 10:30 Eastern ESPN2. Keep in mind this is going to be happening. You know we got Bears, Packers Saturday. We've got college football playoffs starting tonight and then all day on Saturday. Tons and tons of hoops. San Diego State versus Arizona in Phoenix. The Aztecs are 6 and 3 but they're number 5 in the country in 3 point accuracy. Can they keep it close? We'll be intrigued to see that. And then just a couple notable games on Sunday. One Eastern on the CW Vandy at Wake Forest. The Deeks GP are 9 and 3 but they do not have a win over a top 70 team. Undefeated Vandy is in your building. Wake Forest go take care of business. And then one Eastern NC State hosts the Rebels of Mississippi in green. They say host. The game is in Greensboro. We'll see what can happen there. Rebels are 7 and 4 don't have a good win. The loser here is going to have a is going to have a depressing Christmas there as well. Cincinnati, Clemson and Gonzaga. Oregon are also playing on Sunday. Cincinnati has brought back Jizzle James and frankly a plot twist I did not see coming. Bearcats are 7 and 4 West Miller seat is super super hot. That is a very urgent game for Cincy on Sunday.
- [67:21]
Gary Parrish
Yeah, it's probably. Those things are probably connected.
- [67:24]
Matt Norlander
You would think but I. Yeah, I mean listen, I hope everything is all on is is great and things can work out well, but I would not have predicted that was coming down the way.
- [67:33]
Gary Parrish
All right. I don't think I was afforded an opportunity to pick the Utah State Colorado State game, so.
- [67:37]
Matt Norlander
Oh, I thought you did.
- [67:39]
Gary Parrish
I'm taking the. I'm taking, I'm taking for openish plus the points. And I just love that the guy who took the Most ridiculous/3 pointer in NCAA tournament history now has a team that just launches every other shot from three. But let's go. All right, I'm Colorado straight plus the points. Are we ready to get out of here?
- [67:59]
Matt Norlander
Yes. But. But. Shouts here to to Debo who's stepping into produce for deck is Josh. God bless you. Off on a wonderful Christmas holiday. Nick Fizikis, three games versus Utah State in his last season. 21.3 points, 12.7 rebounds. I'll say it again Saturday, two Eastern. CBS Sports Network. Colorado State at Utah State on Nick Fosika's court.
- [68:21]
Gary Parrish
Put his name in the rafters. It sounds like he averaged enough to get his name in the rafters. Shouts to Devin Downey. Shouts to Chester, South Carolina. Terry Teagle legend Hunt Larnell. Thank you guys once again for watching. Listening to the I Own College Basketball podcast. If you're not subscribed, please go. Subscribe. Subscribe anyway. Subscribe to podcasts like Apple, Spotify. There's more of us than there are of them that needs to be reflected in the comments. So do that and we'll talk to you again on Sunday. Till then, take care. You can.
- [69:32]
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