B (2:53)

Yeah. Let me just give you a couple of teams, four teams actually, that UConn has already beaten this year. BYU, Illinois, Kansas and Florida. That's a really good list of teams. Absolutely. I don't worry about them.

A (3:03)

Resume.

B (3:04)

I found this game last night unbelievable, literally non believable, that a D1 team of scholarship athletes, of nil receiving scholarship athletes, could miss 24 shots in a row, could finish with 40 points, the number 15 team in the country. To me, that was actually not possible. All right. Rick Pitino, at the end of the game, took off his beautifully tailored suit. By the way, they had 14 in the second half. 14 points. It wasn't running time. It was a regular 20 minute half. He takes off the beautiful suit, he puts on a sweatsuit. He blames himself for everything. Now, this is different than happened two years ago when they lost a game and he blamed all of his players for everything and said they were physically weak. He learned from that. And if I felt that this was sincere, I would think it was very good. But I watched it. It wasn't necessarily sincere. You're right, they are going to be better. But the oddest thing is this, and I'll get out on this, three weeks ago they beat UConn. They shot 50% and had 81 points. This is not to be believed. What happened, Tony?

A (4:13)

It's a split. It's a split of conference rivals. It's all right. And Pitino, whether it's sincere or not, you make me laugh at that because of course it wasn't, but you know it is gonna be sincere. His effort at getting them to be embarrassed and then better, that is what is gonna be sincere about Rick Pitino. The National Football League combine, Tony, is underway in Indy. But the talk around town isn't just about the college stars running around in their undies. NFL GMs are also reportedly discussing free agents and potential trades for established stars. So are you more interested in the measurements of college guys or the potential movement of vets?

B (4:57)

I like some of the measurables. I like when they find a quarterback, his hands are too small, which is a no, no. Like Joe Burrow. It's too bad that Joe Burrow never became a good quarterback. His hands are too small, really. And I never understood why they measured the down lineman in the vertical jump. I mean, I don't really know what that's about, but I'm sure, like you, I am less interested in the draftees, most of whom I've never heard of, than I am in what's going on with veterans who I am aware of. For example, that movement of veterans. Will Miami keep tua? Will Arizona keep their quarterback as well? Does Kyler Murray.

A (5:35)

Kyler Murray?

B (5:35)

Kyler Murray? Will they keep him? I know you want Max Crosby to go to Chicago. Will the Raiders keep Max Crosby? Will the Philadelphia Eagles keep AJ Brown? Where is Aaron Rodgers going to go? If he's going to go. Where is Kirk Cousins going to go? Will Indianapolis pay their quarterback, Daniel Jones? Here's the deal, Mike. This is the beginning, the kickoff of hot stove. And hot stove is great in basketball, it's great in baseball and it's great in football.

A (6:01)

No disagreement. By the way, don't forget about Cincinnati's Hendrickson. If we're talking about pass rushers who could be on the move, they could. They can't for back to. Back to back years come to a contract situation. So Tony, I'm interested in the vets a move.

B (6:13)

Although.

A (6:14)

Although I will say and I need to be a little bit apologetic. You know how much I have hated the combine and cursed the combine. Tell the story on this show.

B (6:24)

The story about Tuesday. Yeah, you tell the story about Tuesday.

A (6:27)

Yeah, I clicked on because it said combine live and I clicked on. Too bad it was last year's combine, but I watched anyway. But Tony, we need, we need some out the middle pass rush help and a stout one defender in the same body.

B (6:43)

We need the Bears.

A (6:44)

And so this kid that would be Kaden McDonald with, you know, we, we need him in the middle. He's like 642-360lbs. So yes, I have on certain positions I've worked as and they're measurables. Yes, I do.

B (6:59)

You're like, yeah, you're like a full fledged assistant coach now without portfolio. You watched last year's combine but only a couple of years. Even though let's go to the NBA. In two of last night's featured games, Detroit beat Oklahoma city and Detroit 124 to 116. But Oklahoma City was missing its top four scorers at the tip and finished without his top six scorers. Denver routed Boston and Denver last night, 10384 with Nicole Jokic getting 30 points and 12 rebounds. These are four of the top five teams by wins in the entire NBA. Wilbon, what was the more intriguing outcome to you?

A (7:33)

Denver. It was Denver, Tony, beating the Celtics. And look, the Celtics at the end of a road trip and it's, you know, we talk about schedule losses and the NBA has more schedule losses than any other league where you can look at it three weeks ago getting that game. The Celtics weren't getting this game. But, but, but, but I digress. Nikola Jokic I told you yesterday I don't think he's going to miss another game and I think he will be eligible for the MVP award because of that. In terms of the voting. So Tony, I thought that was it. Oklahoma City played their JV and by the way, they are so deep and so talented that they can press Detroit in Detroit even without their dudes, even without the MVP sga. So that was fine. But I think Denver, look, I picked Denver this year when I didn't know what San Antonio was going to be or they were going to come this quickly. And I don't pick people to repeat. I have had Denver and so this is a fascination to me.

B (8:33)

I disagree with this. I mean I fully expected that result. The other one, I thought that Detroit was going to have an easy game. I thought they were going to be up by a lot of points early. They were playing a phantom team. There's nobody out there for Oklahoma, Oklahoma City. They're at home and they have just come off a bad loss at home to San Antonio. They were down. They were down 12 at the first quarter. They were only up six at the half. Mike that was a three point game with five minutes to go. And it's not like cade Cunningham went 5 for 26 because he went 11 for 16. Mike if I was a fan of the Detroit Pistons, I would be discouraged now. I would think these were two underachieving games at home in a row, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, who didn't have anybody out there. And I watched a lot of that game. I couldn't believe it. I thought Detroit would sprint out and they didn't. Tony I was surprised.

A (9:32)

The only pushback I would give is that there was probably a little bit of a letdown coming out of that loss to San Antonio at home. Tony Oklahoma City has 20 guys who can play. Oklahoma City has like we used to call it in pro football, a taxi squad. Oklahoma City has dudes at home that can come out and get you 20. They just do. They're that deep.

B (9:54)

DJ Alexander wasn't out there and Holmgren wasn't out there and Hardenstein wasn't out there. You know a lot of guys. Well, maybe they do, but I expected something different. Let's take a break coming because I watched it. Coming up, how will Canada's loss to the United States in the gold medal game change their approach going forward? We're going to ask PK Subair.

A (10:13)

We'll also ask him about the Stanley cup chances for Connor McDavid and the Oilers. It's like three years running. We're asking about this, aren't we?

B (10:22)

If I'm watching the NBA, I expected Detroit to do I expected them to put that game in hand by the end of 15 minutes.

A (10:30)

The other guys are the champs.

C (10:31)

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B (13:15)

The NHL season got back underway last night, which makes it a perfect time for a visit from our great friend ESPN NHL analyst PK Subban. Let's start with this. You are Canadian. How does the loss to the United States in the Olympics, you know, the Olympic gold medal hockey game sit with Canadians? And do you see that changing the Canadians approach going forward?

D (13:39)

Well, for me personally, I hope it tweaks their approach. I mean, there's no question they could have ended that thing in overtime multiple times and throughout the game. They had their chances. They dominated in play. But you know, when we look over at the US Side, that's a team that was built to withstand Canada's pressure. They maybe weren't going to be able to outscore him and beat him six nothing. They don't have Crosby, they don't have McKinnon, they don't have McDavid. But what they do have is depth and strength in numbers and they were able to get a lot more people involved throughout this tournament, which left Canada's top players, in my opinion, exhausted by the end of the tournament. Canada failed, in my opinion, to get everybody involved. Now, did that cost them? No, that didn't cost them the tournament, but ultimately put USA in a position to take the tournament. And how did they do that? Connor Hellebuck. Obviously they didn't plan on getting out goaltendered, but Jack Hughes was fresh. I know he took that penalty and almost was the reason that USA didn't win. But when he came on that ice, we're looking at three fresh players. Zach Warrenski. That wasn't Quinn Hughes who made the play on Nathan McKinnon beside the net. That was Zach Warinski, right? He's their fourth or third defenseman in that tournament. So Team USA got big contributions and got players to step up through this tournament. I don't think Canada got enough players involved. Celebrini was awesome. McDavid was awesome. McKinnon was awesome. Makar was great. They were tired at the end of the tournament. And Makar, what happens when you're tired? You make poor decisions. That's a poor pinch by him, right? You watch him for 10 days, guys. He ain't gonna make a mistake. He's tired. Nathan McKinnon, same thing. So their key guys were all on the ice in that moment. Canadians are going to take that one tough, because when you look at your best and they're out there and you lose, it's tough to handle. But can you really, really criticize those guys? You got to criticize them in the moment. But when I look at the whole tournament, Team Canada should have had more guys involved. You can't have your best players out of gas at the end of the tournament. That's when you need them the most is in that overtime. And to me, Team Canada wasn't prepared enough for the format. To me, Schaefer should have been there. Josh Morrissey, once you knew he was out, you only got one defenseman that can move the puck up the ice. Cale Makar, well, that's why he's tired in overtime. So they needed another D. I'm not saying Schaefer was the guy. Maybe if more. Morrissey wasn't hurt. That gives them that look, but they didn't have enough. And in my opinion, when you get out goaltended and you don't score on a five on three, you're going to lose that tournament. And Team USA took advantage of it. So Canadiens got a right to be upset, but they're going to have to tweak how they put together the next roster and how they bring guys in. They need more guys involved.

A (16:23)

One guy I'm sure they'd like to have had out there was Sidney Crosby, who, of course got hurt and will start to transition back to the NHL. Season resumed out for at least four weeks, and of course, the Penguins are in the playoffs right now. Pk but how big a blow is this? Because you see the Penguins sliding because Crosby is missing so much time.

D (16:48)

You know, I'm a little bit optimistic. We know that this is going to hurt them. Let's be real about it. You can't replace Sidney Crosby. I don't care who you put in the lineup or what trade you make, you ain't replacing them and it's a big hole. I but I'm optimistic about Pittsburgh because, you know, they've had a great season. Give Kyle Dubas and them credit. They've managed to bring in young players. Chinnikov on their third line, they got bigger with Brazo and Manta on the wings. Malkin's playing better. Novak, Kendall, some of the young players that they brought in. They still have one of the best fourth lines in hockey. Their D looks okay. I know they got Carlsen, who's still got to make sure that he's consistent every night, but I don't mind it. And they pick up Skinner, who's obviously looking better than Christian. Jae right now gave up six goals last night, so they're not in a terrible position in the second half. But losing Crosby is going to hurt him, so they're going to have to weather that storm. Hopefully he can get back earlier.

A (17:41)

We got to talk about the Panthers for a second. Of course they beat the Oilers for the cup the last two seasons and they're just sort of out of it. They're. They're not the Panthers team that we necessarily expected. But where is Edmonton? Pk do you see the Oilers is sort of, I don't know, being re energized by all this. Is there a run coming out of them over the next few weeks?

D (18:04)

Well, this is getting repetitive and I feel the only reason why I come positive with the Oilers is because of Connor McDavid. And he deserves to have 10 rings right now with how great he is. And I just don't see how that's going to happen in Edmonton. They're going to have to show me. First of all, Annette, they got to get in net figured out. Christian Jarry gives up six last night. That's not a great start to come in against a team of Anaheim. So we know up front they're front loaded, they're heavy up front. We know they have the experience to put the pressure on teams. Can their defense get it done? And to me, if their defense doesn't get it done, their goaltending is going to be left out to dry. So they're going to have to make some moves. I still do believe they're in a better position than they were last year and the year before. They're going to have to show me because I think Connor McDavid understands that there's so much competitive balance in the league right now it's up for grabs. So you can't get too caught up in losing streaks and winning streaks. You got to keep forging it on and just get in. And if they get in, we know they're a dangerous team, but their goaltending and defense for me, just aren't good enough. I don't know how to say it.

B (19:11)

We gotta get you out of here quickly. So we're gonna ask this question quick and ask for a quick answer. The Avalanche dominated the early part of the season. Do you see Colorado as the team to beat now?

D (19:23)

Well, for their offensive players, I hope they have energy come to playoffs because those guys hum. I mean, the way they play, they play fast and play with the puck. But the Minnesota Wild, they are going to have to get through Minnesota and Dallas to do that. I think Minnesota is the team that's gunning for him right now. I don't have to hear that out of that locker room. But I see Quinn Hughes, I see Brock Faber, I see Matt Boldy, I see Caprisov, I see potential depth players coming in. They got great D. Minnesota is a problem and I think that they're only going to get better as the season goes on. That's the team for me to watch. You know, Dallas is dangerous too. You got to give them credit. But we've seen them year over year. They have to prove that they're ready to take that next step. I think Minnesota's got a lot of firepower, they got a lot of energy and I think they want Colorado.

B (20:13)

Pk, it's a pleasure. I'm so glad to have you in months. Thank you. Thank you.

D (20:19)

Thanks for having me back, guys. It's always a pleasure. I hope to see you guys soon.

B (20:23)

You can catch PK on the Point tonight, followed by the Rangers and Flyers and the Kings and the Oilers. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Colts give Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade.

A (20:33)

Really?

B (20:33)

What is the market exactly for him?

A (20:35)

Permission and a million dollar bonus help restore the glory of the dunk.

C (20:42)

I like things my way. My coffee, my schedule and my treatment. So I talked to my doctor about self injecting with the Vivgard Hytrulo pre filled syringe which contains fgartigamide, alpha and hyaluronidase qvfc. It's injected under your skin subcutaneously. It means I can inject in my space on my time. It's my treatment my way. Visit vivgartmyway.com that's V Y-V-G-A-R-Tmyway.com and talk to your doctor about Vivgart Hytrulo brought to you by Argenics.

E (21:12)

All right, here's some breaking breakfast news as we start the new year. Everybody's talking resolutions, eating better, staying on track, and and this one's actually easy. Kodiak Frozen Power waffles and flapjacks are a quick win. Heat neat, no prep, no excuses. They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving, a good source of fiber and crafted with 100% whole grains, not refined white flour. You have plenty of options too. Classic buttermilk and vanilla blueberry chocolate chip, even gluten free. And it doesn't stop there. They've expanded their roster to include French toast sticks, flapjack puffs and brand new breakfast sandwiches. So whatever your game plan is, there's something that fits. Breakfast that works. Snacks that work. Resolution friendly. Find Kodiak frozen waffles and flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box and a proud partner of us. Ski and snowboard.

B (22:17)

Happy time people. Happy 46th birthday Steve Blake this is right in our wheelhouse. Wilmon we covered this guy in Maryland where he was a four year starter for our pal Gary Williams. Blake was the point guard on Maryland's NCAA championship team in 2002. When Blake left college, he was fifth on the all time list for assists in a D1 career with 900. Now he is seventh. Blake played 13 seasons in the NBA for eight different teams, mostly coming off the bench. Washington drafted him in the second round. From there Blake went to Portland, Milwaukee, Denver, the Clippers, the Lakers, Golden State, the Nets and Detroit. For his long and plentiful career, Blake averaged six points and four assists a game.

A (22:59)

Tony I remember his freshman year and he became so dependable so quickly. You know this those Gary Williams teams and he had to go against a great conference in point guards like J. Will who wound up being drafted second overall. And Blake held his own. He got to a Final Four that they came up short and got to another Final Four. He and Juan Dixon. Just a great backcourt for Maryland. Love Steve Blake.

B (23:26)

Happy Anniversary Damian Lillard on this day three years ago, Lillard said a Blazers franchise record with 71 points. Lillard made 13 three pointers, just one shy of Klay Thompson's record 14. Strikingly, those 71 points only tied the league high that season as donovan Mitchell had 71 as well. There are 10 players in NBA history have scored 70 or more. Wilt of course did it six times, but five have come in the last eight years. Lillard Mitchell, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic. Lillard has been rehabbing a tornado Achilles all season. Won the three point contest at this year's All Star game. He should be ready to return at Portland next season at 36 years old to collect his $54 million contract.

A (24:06)

That's great. You know I'm a big Lillard guy, but I'm gonna go off script here for a little bit. You see the video just then of Wilt going up and slamming it down. All your producers are you TV producers who want to show dunk after dunk meaningless garbage. Go get some Wilt video and put that up there every now and then.

B (24:26)

Happy trails to free agency for Matt Scherzer. The 41 year old warrior God is reportedly returning to the Blue Jays. Scherzer went 55 with an ERA over five across 85 innings for Toronto last season. Though he was more effective in three playoff starts. Reports say the three time Cy winner, his new deal is for one year and $3 million. That's pretty steep pay cut from last year's $13 million. And the message I get from that is take what we offer you and shut up and sign it. Just sign it.

A (24:52)

Look, he's going straight to the hall of Fame. But this year out of old guys who've been great, great, great, I would take Verlander to have a better season than Max. I think I would.

B (25:02)

We'll see. That's why they play 162. Let's go to the big fish.

A (25:05)

Let's do it.

B (25:06)

Colts have given quarterback Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade should there be takers.

A (25:10)

You think everybody hopes they find the next Sam Darnold. Maybe Anthony Richardson will be that. Oregon and Oregon State will not meet in football this fall for the first time since 1944. Tony, that's a shame.

B (25:22)

To me that stinks. I don't care if they're not in the same conference.

D (25:27)

Play the game.

A (25:28)

Tee it up.

B (25:28)

Sun's owner Matt Ishbia wants to personally add million dollar bonuses to the dunk contest and three point contest at next year's All Star game in Phoenix. Would that help?

A (25:37)

No. I like Matt Sistemas spirit on this and what he's trying to do and the game is in his building next year. But I don't, I don't see it helping. Yankee slugger Giancarlo Stanton says can't open a bag of chips due to elbow pain but he's determined to play a full season. Your thoughts?

B (25:52)

I'm taking the under last one. Men's college hoops tonight. 13th ranked Michigan State at number eight Purdue. Okay, Mr. Big Ten, who you got?

A (26:00)

Tom Izzo.

D (26:00)

Time.

A (26:01)

I'm going with the upset on the road.

B (26:04)

Okay, we're out of time. We will try to do better the next time. And I'm Tony Kornhuff.

A (26:07)

I'm Mike Lobon. Same time tomorrow, knucklehead. Stitch Fix Shopping is hard. Let's talk about it.

C (26:13)

I don't have time to shop, so

B (26:15)

I buy all my clothes where I buy my seafood. I just want someone to tell me what shirt goes with what pants.

A (26:20)

I just want jeans that fit. Stitch Fix makes shopping easy. Just show your size, style and budget and your stylist sends personalized looks right to your door. No subscription required, plus free shipping and returns.

B (26:32)

Man, that was easy.

D (26:33)

I look good.

A (26:34)

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