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- [00:00]
Damian Lillard
In case you didn't know, these young men are driven. They are prodigies, the savants, the ones we've been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship. He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him. He's taking it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished, but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaking up the status quo in their community and beyond. And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota. A new generation of Toyota drivers are here and they want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive.
- [00:36]
Mike Wilbon
Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon, hosting from Los Angeles where I'm surrounded by sunshine and palm trees.
- [00:44]
Frank Isola
I'm Frank Isola. Los Angeles. Why did I come down to dc? What am I doing here? You're supposed to be right here.
- [00:52]
Mike Wilbon
Frank, there was a marine layer this morning. You spent time out here. I mean, there was gray in the sky from like, I don't know, sun dawn until noon.
- [01:03]
Frank Isola
He's in beautiful LA and he's complaining.
- [01:05]
Mike Wilbon
He's so sledded.
- [01:06]
Frank Isola
You see that? Yeah, it's cold in New York today. Then I came down here, it was also cold. So take that into account here.
- [01:13]
Mike Wilbon
A little chilly. Welcome to pti. Tony has the day off, so I am happy to be joined by our great friend who traveled all the way down from New York City to sit in the studio alone, Mr. Frank Isola.
- [01:25]
Frank Isola
I came here for all this.
- [01:29]
Mike Wilbon
See, you got a welcome. It was worth the trip. We're going to begin, sadly, with the end of the season for JuJu Watkins. The Southern Cal star will miss the rest of the NCAA tournament after tearing the ACL in her right knee and in the first quarter of last night's win over Mississippi State. Frank, where does this leave Southern Cal and the entire women's tournament for that matter?
- [01:53]
Frank Isola
It's certainly a devastating blow for the tournament, a big time blow for USC as well. When you think about juju Watkins, you turn on the tv, she's everywhere. Either you're seeing, you're watching her play, you're seeing highlights. She's in every commercial. She and Paige Becker become, you know, the two faces of college basketball. I'd actually put JuJu ahead of her just because it's LA. It's a much bigger market for USC. It's going to be tough. Can they get to an elite eight where they would play UConn for the second straight year. Absolutely. But you can't tell me that it doesn't take a little bit away from the tournament. Maybe they would have played UCLA at some point, which has been a great rivalry already this season. I felt so badly for her going down. And I also think the way that the crowd treated Mississippi State, I mean, come on, folks, that was not a dirty play. It was unfortunate. Players get hurt all the time. It's a physical sport. I get the emotion of it. Absolutely. When you see this great player going down, you see it carried off the court. The reaction in some ways understandable, but it's not fair. The player that was a just a hard play, nothing dirty about it.
- [02:57]
Mike Wilbon
Frank, I'm glad you mentioned that. As we mentioned, I'm here in Los Angeles, a short drive, can walk, as you know, over to the building where that happened. And I was here a couple of weeks ago to watch juju Watkins in person. It's thrilling.
- [03:13]
Frank Isola
Yep.
- [03:13]
Mike Wilbon
I mean, she is a star. Her stardom is bigger than just women's basketball. She's a star in Southern California. And to watch her play in person, I mean, there are people coming out from all over the place, coast to coast to sit and watch her. So not just the tournament, but sports in general is lessened by her absence. And you know, given the time that she's injured, suffered this injury in late March, you don't know how long this has often been. A year. Injury. What does that mean for next season for Southern Cal? And I should mention that there is a player on Southern Cal's team. I'm not about to dismiss Southern Cal and Kiki Iria Finn, who is a star in her own right who had like 36 points.
- [03:54]
Frank Isola
That's right.
- [03:54]
Mike Wilbon
I don't want to say in relief because you know, you know, whose season is over, who doesn't have a chance to win is Stanford, from where she transferred down to Southern Cal because they're missing her. And she's another star in the making also. But juju Watkins, a full fledged star who you can see all over your airwaves and not just in the game. And again, I came out here two weeks ago, not, not on a work assignment. I just wanted to see her play her among others. And so Kiki Rice and others in the Southern California scene of women's basketball. And so it's really disheartening today to be here and know you're not going to see her again this season. And we, we wish her all the best coming back from this. People do come back. Paige Beckers, who you mentioned has come back from a serious leg injury. And so we just, we hope the best. Sadly, it ain't going to be in the next, in the next couple.
- [04:46]
Frank Isola
1700 points for her this season. That's the second most by a sophomore. Kelsey Mitchell has the most and, and if juju had played a couple more games, she's going to have the most points. After two seasons of college basketball, it's amazing too about USC kind of being back on the map and they've become kind of the celebrity team, because you and I know back in the 80s, you know, when it was Cheryl Miller, the McGee sisters, Cynthia Cooper, the great teams they had, you know, they haven't made the final four, USC, since 1986. They haven't won a national championship since 84. Like we remember those dominant teams. It's been a while and this team was certainly good enough. Now they can get to a Final Four. Mike, whether or not they could win four games without that player, without her, that's going to be tough. That's going to be tough. Yeah.
- [05:28]
Mike Wilbon
But there's going to be a. Certainly a lot of energy behind them.
- [05:30]
Frank Isola
That's right.
- [05:31]
Mike Wilbon
I'm betting. Let's move to the latest plot twist with the Lakers and Mavericks, LA fell by 12 in Orlando, the Lakers second straight loss since LeBron returned from their groin injury. And in Brooklyn, as you sacked four to see yourself in person, Frank Anthony Davis finally returned from his AB strain and the Mavericks rolled over the Nets. So which, Frank Lakers or AD's return is the bigger deal?
- [05:57]
Frank Isola
Well, it, it's going to be the Lakers, just because they're three and seven in their last 10 games. And in the seven losses, what's happened to them defensively? They've lost those seven games by an average of 15 points, almost 16 a game. Your Chicago Bulls and your guy, Kobe White, you know, they put up 81 in the second half last night. Orlando put up 60. And then JJ Redick's talking after the game about how we look tired, which you don't want to hear at this time of the year, especially with LeBron having missed the last two weeks, you think he'd be ready. One thing, though, about Anthony Davis, and I did get a chance to see him last night at a time of the year, and you know the way March works in the NBA, you got guys missing games, they're resting for the playoffs. Nikola Jokic, I get that he's carrying an injury, but they're getting Ready for April. Anthony Davis. What's the incentive to come back? And here's a guy that's taken a big, a lot of criticism over the years. He came back and played last night where it doesn't look that good for Dallas to make the playoffs. But Nico Harrison was there last night. You know, Jason Kidd. There's so much pressure on that organization. They wanted to win that game with Anthony Davis. So I give him credit for coming back. What it all means. Can they get 10th place? I don't know. Being in the lottery might be better. But I thought it was interesting that he did come back at a time when so many players miss games.
- [07:07]
Mike Wilbon
Frank I thought it was impressive and I like listening to Anthony Davis's comments afterward. And you could see, yeah, it meant something to him. And he said that he was very frank about it. I need to come back and be with these guys given everything that has gone down here. Anthony Davis, as you know, we've been around Anthony Davis for years now, more than a decade. He's a nice guy anyway, from A to Z. His whole time we've seen him in public life. But I think that he's really impressive now because you're right, the incentive, he could take the easy way and say, you know what, maybe we should be in the lottery. Maybe I shouldn't risk anything more. No, he didn't do that. And so I think the Mavericks could have some energy, some sympathetic energy behind them as they maybe try to get that 10 spot and get that play in spot and wrestle it away from whoever's left. The Suns and I, Sacramento, just Sacramento. But the Lakers are interesting because I did think it was going to take time for them to sort of rework LeBron back in there, even though he wasn't out for that long. Frank I thought it was going to take time. And I know, I know Luka's been great in that time, several games without him. But the Bulls, who have a thing going on that nobody cares about except Chicagoans where they've won eight out of 10, you look at this threesome and people don't even. They might know Kobe White, they have no idea what else is going on with our rookie whose name they can't pronounce, who I can barely pronounce, and Josh Giddey, and they crushed the Lakers. They smashed them, they embarrassed them. And so the question to me is, is this bigger than the Lakers just sort of needing to work LeBron back in? Is the ramp longer than that? Is it bumpier than that? Are there some Potholes in this because all those teams are bunched, Frank, and it's hard to separate them. And what do the Lakers need and how long do they need before these playoffs start in just a few weeks?
- [08:59]
Frank Isola
Yeah, a couple of things. Number one, you mentioned Kobe White. You know that he's the first Chicago Bulls player to win back to back player of the week honor since your buddy Derek. Michael Jordan. No, Michael Jordan, first one to do it since Jordan. That's a while ago. And Anthony Davis last night. This is how much Dallas wanted to make sure they won that game. And he was on a minutes restriction. He played about 27 minutes. It was like a walk in the park for me. He had 12 points. He was dominant. The minutes he played, they actually brought him back in the game. Up 19 with 439 to go. Again, they did not want last night. They really did. All right. Meanwhile, tonight's NBA action features Jimmy Butler's return to Miami. Why isn't Mike there? It's going to be the first time since he traded him to the warriors last month. Jimmy calls it, quote, just another game, says he isn't curious about how the Miami fans will receive him and adds of his time with the Heat. Quote, we made some cool runs. We had some fun. Sounds like me and Mike hanging out together. I think that's all we did. Mike, do you believe this is really just another game for Butler?
- [09:59]
Mike Wilbon
Not for one second, no. Now I do believe that he's going to just the fans and tune them out. And Miami is not. I mean, let's face it, it's not Philly, it's not New York, it's not Boston, it's not Chicago, it's not Detroit. And barely paying attention half the time, as we know there. They've been better the last few years, but they're barely paying attention half the time. They're like, oh, Jimmy Butler was actually here for a while and it was more than just some fun. They got to the finals a couple of times and Jimmy Butler was great in those playoff games in those series. I mean, I sat courtside, as you did for a lot of those games and a lot of those dramatics. And I give the Heat a lot of credit for what they did, even though I know they didn't cash in ultimately and win a championship. But is it just another game? No. And didn't Kevin Love speak to that? He was one of many. And if we sat down sort of behind the scenes and turned the camera off and said, jimmy, what do you really believe? We. We'd get a different answer. But what does he care what the fans think? No, Jimmy Butler's too big for that, too good for that. Played in too many places for that.
- [11:00]
Frank Isola
Yeah. So number one, the game tonight, as you know, in Miami, it's a late arriving crowd. So I think the video tribute is.
- [11:08]
Mike Wilbon
Going to arrive at all.
- [11:09]
Frank Isola
It's going to, it's going to take place during player introductions. So whatever reaction may or may not happen, I don't think it's going to be that powerful. But Jimmy Butler, and this is why I think he's done a pretty good job in the lead up to this. He hasn't really trashed the Miami Heat and really has no reason to. But they're 16 and 4. The warriors are with him, therefore, in 17 cents a trade, and that includes a 10 game losing streak. So he's letting the results speak for themselves. But I give the Heat credit for this, for giving a video tribute. And if they don't do it, they're going to get criticized. Because no matter how you look at it, Jimmy Butler essentially held him hostage for a couple of months. And everything he says about the way he was treated, he was unhappy. If they had paid him. This all came down to money. Mike originally didn't even want to go to the Warriors. He wanted to go to Phoenix because he knew he had a deal in place if he got traded there. But because of Bradley Beal and the no trade clause, it wasn't going to happen. He's happy in Golden State. Yes, he's with a great team, but he got an extension. So if he had gotten the extension in Miami, everything that he talks about, the back and forth with Pat Riley, the suspensions, leaving practice when he found out he wasn't starting, it all came down to the contract extension. That's what it always was about with Jimmy Butler.
- [12:14]
Mike Wilbon
But now it's come down to one team being 4 and 17, the other one being, I think, 16 and 4. And so I, you know, Miami's falling behind the Bulls right now. If that 9, 10 series took place, the Bulls would have the home court advantage. That's unthinkable a month ago. Frank, you're right. So the story to me is entirely Golden State. I don't care what Miami does from here. And they, they can't make them, they can't do anything to me this season. Now that they got rid of Jimmy Butler, they can be in the lottery. They can do something in the offseason. Fine. Miami's always a story during the season. They have A more than a culture. They have an organization which knows what it's doing. But in the short term, this is about the Warriors.
- [12:54]
Frank Isola
Yeah, you're right.
- [12:55]
Mike Wilbon
Let's take a break. Coming up, Duke and Florida have been putting up impressive wins, but which is more vulnerable Thursday night?
- [13:04]
Frank Isola
And does Kentucky or a team coached by Kentucky's old coach stand a better chance of making it to the elite a toss? Up next surprise. You're not Miami.
- [13:15]
Mike Wilbon
I'm not rooting against Miami. I'm rooting for myself to be a prime 112 often. But that's done now.
- [13:21]
Frank Isola
Yes, that's done a couple of years.
- [13:23]
Mike Wilbon
The Golden State warriors are the story and they better not trip up too much either.
- [13:28]
Unknown
Taxact knows filing your taxes can be complicated, and that's why we have live experts to help you with any questions. They can hold your hand through the process, beginning to end, metaphorically, of course. I mean, they can't actually hold your hand in person. I suppose you could hold your computer mouse while you chat with the expert about capital gains or whatever, which is sort of like holding hands. Sorry. Point is, our tax experts can make filing easier. Tax Act. Let's get them over with.
- [13:58]
Damian Lillard
In case you didn't know, these young men are driven. They are prodigies, the savants, the ones we've been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship. He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him. He's taking it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaking up the status quo in their community and beyond. And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota. A new generation of Toyota drivers are here and they want you to know one thing you can I can't stop my drive.
- [14:38]
Mike Wilbon
Time for Toss Up. Frank Isola will be playing the role of the Washington Generals. You know who the Globetrotters will be? What's first?
- [14:47]
Frank Isola
Toss up. More vulnerable number one seed on Thursday night, Florida or Duke?
- [14:52]
Mike Wilbon
Well, I mean Frank, this is really interesting. I mean Florida and Duke have some winning streaks. Florida Eight in a row, Duke 13 straight games. Florida gets Maryland. And people unfamiliar with Maryland, you know, don't know the last names Queen and Reese necessarily. And they're learning them because Maryland, which lost a bunch of at the buzzer games, including 1 in Evanston, Illinois 11 this past weekend in advance and it was pretty thrilling, but now they get to deal with that. Florida point guard Walter Clayton Jr. You know, we're around enough NBA people to know a lot of them think that he's the best point guard in the country and is going to be ready to play in the league next year. So, but I, I, I think Duke going against Caleb Love, who was at Carolina and played against them and knows them, I think they may be a little bit more vulnerable against an Arizona team not many folks know much about.
- [15:44]
Frank Isola
I think it's Florida. John Shire won as a player, he won as an assistant coach. He's been to the Elite Eight. He's got the best player in Cooper Flag. And the NCAA did a huge favor by having Arizona play the last second round game in Seattle. Now they got to play in Newark, New Jersey on Thursday. I mean, give me a break. Stu gets every break but for Florida, right?
- [16:01]
Mike Wilbon
Let me change my mind on this.
- [16:03]
Frank Isola
Todd golden, you know, he's never been through this. I know he's familiar with that area. He coached at San Francisco. And you think about that front line of Maryland, the guys that you mentioned, Derrick Queen and Angel Reese's brother, Julian Reese, they could be tough. The one thing that, the one thing that worries me about Maryland, all this stuff going on with Kevin Willard. I know you heard that he was on a local RA radio show here, didn't necessarily commit. And the word is that he's up for that Villanova job. So it looks like he's going to be either coaching at Maryland or Villanova. I don't know if that's going to inspire Maryland or it could be something.
- [16:34]
Mike Wilbon
He's coaching in Maryland in the next couple of days, though. They, they, look, the fact is each of those teams has a shot. Okay. Both Florida and Duke will be understandably and justifiably favored.
- [16:45]
Frank Isola
Yes.
- [16:46]
Mike Wilbon
What's next?
- [16:47]
Frank Isola
Toss a better chance of making the Elite Eight, Arkansas or Kentucky?
- [16:53]
Mike Wilbon
You know, this is interesting. I, I, I mean, Kentucky has beaten Tennessee twice already.
- [16:59]
Frank Isola
Yep.
- [17:00]
Mike Wilbon
Frank. And you might think, okay, do they own them? And we know how difficult it is and how coaches worry themselves to wake up at 4 o'clock in the morning, even more so when they're going against a conference team they've beaten twice. And they, okay, I got to sell my kids on how difficult it is to beat them a third time. And I think that's what I'm going to take. As opposed to Arkansas, Arkansas goes against Texas Tech. Y But, but, but in, in Arkansas, by the way, if there's, is there a darling Is there a darling in this tournament? No, there's no underdog in this tournament. That may attach itself a little bit to Arkansas and Cal, but I'm going to say Kentucky's more vulnerable already having beaten Tennessee twice.
- [17:45]
Frank Isola
You know, you think about Kentucky, it's the first time in the Sweet 16 since 2019. I'm happy for Mark Pope. I got to cover him for a couple of years when he. He was in the NBA, played for the Knicks for two years. Terrific guy. But see, you don't want to go down that road with Arkansas. You don't want to call them a Cinderella at a time when none of the teams in a sweet 16 are from a small conference. That's why Cal's first year.
- [18:05]
Mike Wilbon
There's the darling.
- [18:06]
Frank Isola
I know it's. Nobody wants to look at John Calipari as the darling. They started out 05. He had injured players. Think about the job. D.J. wagner, you remember you were at the Final Four when Milt Wagner, his grandfather was playing. You know, that was the Jordan Final Four and Georgetown as well. But Arkansas has got a little something to them and they were really good against St. John's everyone talks about how poorly St. John shot 2 for 22 on 3. Arkansas was 2 for nice shooting either. And they won the game.
- [18:34]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
- [18:34]
Frank Isola
So Arkansas, that's sounds like we.
- [18:37]
Mike Wilbon
We're both leaning toward a couple of upsets here. If you can call them that. Frank. That's it. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Celtics gonna scare from Jayson Tatum and a big night.
- [18:51]
Frank Isola
In hockey as the top two teams meet in Winnipeg of all places. Say it. Admit that Calipari is the underdog of the tournament. He's the darling.
- [19:02]
Unknown
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- [19:34]
Frank Isola
It's kind of like my favorite sc. Ooh, this was good.
- [19:39]
Mike Wilbon
This is literally the perfect gift for me.
- [19:41]
Frank Isola
So don't just give mom a gift.
- [19:43]
Mike Wilbon
Thank you so much.
- [19:45]
Frank Isola
I love it. Thank you. Best Mother's Day ever. Give her a moment.
- [19:50]
Unknown
Only at Bath and Body Works.
- [19:57]
Mike Wilbon
Time to get happy people. Happy 25th birthday. Sha'carri Richardson, the American sport sprinter won two medals at last year's Paris Olympics, silver in the 100, gold in the 4x100 relay. In the latter, she ran the anchor leg, taking a shaky handoff from Gabrielle Thomas and bolting from third to first. Richardson's success in Paris contrasted with the disappointment ahead of the Tokyo Games in 2021 when a positive marijuana test led to a month long suspension which led to her absence from the competition. Richardson recently indicated that she intends to travel to Tokyo in September to defend her 2023 world title in the 100.
- [20:39]
Frank Isola
You know she'll be 28 for the LA Olympics and if she wants to join that group of Americans who won the 100 Evelyn Ashford Florence Griffith joined of course Gail Devers, 28 years old though for sprinter, maybe she can do it.
- [20:52]
Mike Wilbon
May star studded event Yep and star studded people. She's five following on the American side Happy Anniversary Dusty May on this date two years ago, May and his nine seed Florida Atlantic Owls beat three seed Kansas State to reach the Final Four. Owls would go on to lose by one to San Diego State in the semis, but the accomplishment was unprecedented for fau. Prior to that run, the Owls had never won a single NCAA tournament game. In 2024, FAU made it back to the the dance, falling to my Northwestern Wildcats and OT of the first round. Head coach Dusty May then left for Michigan, which he has in this year's Sweet 16. The 5 seed Wolverines face 1 seed Auburn Friday night.
- [21:36]
Frank Isola
Frank, you know Dusty May used to be a manager at Indiana. When the Indiana job became available, his name was out there. Guess what he did.
- [21:44]
Mike Wilbon
What a path.
- [21:45]
Frank Isola
Got an extension smart guy. Pretty well May good age.
- [21:49]
Mike Wilbon
Happy trails. Jason Tatum it's kind of melancholy because Tatum left last night. Celtics win over the Kings in the third quarter after spraining his left ankle. Came down on the foot of Sacramento center Demonta Sabonis. While hitting the three. Sabonis who slid underneath was whistled for a flagrant one. Tatum briefly returned to the game, made one or two free throws, then headed for the locker room. He told Ramona Shelburn, the ankle is just so soar and the team is going to be cautious. The Celtics appear Frank to be a lock for the second seed in the east with just 10 regular season games remaining.
- [22:23]
Frank Isola
You know this has been a complaint of Tatum and the Celtics. They feel that a lot of guys are invading his airspace when he lands. So it'll be interesting to see how that's officiated on Tatum for the rest of the season.
- [22:34]
Mike Wilbon
All right, we got to run to the big finish in the women's tournament. Maryland beat Alabama in double oot despite the ties. Sarah Ashley Barker scoring 45.
- [22:44]
Frank Isola
Your thoughts, Frank, that was a great best game of the tournament. Brenda Freeze and the Crew in College park, though. Good win for them. The Pacers beat the Wolves for their fifth straight win. Is that significant?
- [22:53]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah. Pacers are rounding into shape. The Wolves, three or four losses. They doing a befuddle year. Az Fudd's gonna return to UConn for her senior season. What do you think, Frank?
- [23:03]
Frank Isola
You know, she's been injured before. I'm a little surprised. She's and Paige Beckers are good friends. I know Gina Auriemma is happy. The TGL season ends tonight with the Atlanta Drive trying to close out New York. Are you excited?
- [23:15]
Mike Wilbon
No more excited about AZ Flood coming back for her senior season. Wishing her the best. Last one. East leading Capital's west leading jets play tonight. Frank, who you got?
- [23:25]
Frank Isola
How about Alice Ovechkin? Seven goals in his last 12 to break Gretzky's mark. Do you want to win that? Do you want to finish with the best record in hockey though? Which know what happens with the best record during the season?
- [23:35]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
- [23:36]
Frank Isola
Jets could get it. Capitals could get it. We're out of time. Thanks for watching. I'm Frank Isola.
- [23:42]
Mike Wilbon
I got Obi scoring two goals tonight, including I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.
- [23:48]
Damian Lillard
In case you didn't know, these young men are driven. They are prodigies, the savants, the ones we've been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship. He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him. He's taking it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished, but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaking up the status quo in their community and beyond. And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota. A new generation of Toyota drivers are here and they want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive.
- [24:23]
Brad Milkey
Hey, I'm Brad Milkey. You may know me as the host of ABC Audio's daily news podcast Start Here. But I'd like to add aspiring true crime expert to my resume. And here's how I'm going to make it happen. Every week I'm going to unpack the biggest true crime story that everyone is talking about. ABC's got some unique access here. So I'll talk to the reporters and producers who have followed these cases for months, sometimes years. We'll bring you the latest developments and the larger context on the true crime stories you've been hearing about. Follow the crime scene for special access to the people who know these stories best.