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Mark Zinno
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Myron Metcalf
This is Matt and Myron.
Jonathan Zaslow
The podcast Catch Matt Myron tonight with the ESPN Radio Men's Bracketology selection show coming up at 5:00pm Eastern. He's Mark Zinno. I'm Jonathan Zaslow. This is Sunday morning on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app at SiriusXM Channel 80. We are presented by Progressive Insurance. Hello, Mark Zino. How are you this Sunday morning?
Mark Zinno
Oh, Zaz. I mean if there's ever any way I wanted to wake up on a Sunday and start my day, it's with you.
Jonathan Zaslow
That's what I'm saying. I like the early wake up here on Sunday. I'm a get up in the morning early and get stuff done kind of guy. So I like this early shift. I couldn't be less serious. I'm a sleep in kind of guy.
Mark Zinno
I am, I am one of the rare breeds. I stay up late and, and I get up early.
Jonathan Zaslow
Really?
Mark Zinno
I'll sleep when I'm dead.
Jonathan Zaslow
That's very army. You're an army guy. What was the nor. What, what's the normal time, you know, wake up time when you're, when you're active? You're an active duty.
Mark Zinno
I mean, well, if you're, you know, every day it's usually somewhere in the neighborhood of five to five, 30, that's all.
Jonathan Zaslow
500 hours for those who are not an issue.
Mark Zinno
30. Yeah. So it's really dark outside, but yeah, I never go to bed before midnight either. Ever. I have, I have farms fear of missing something which is different of fear of missing out because I feel like fear of missing out. The difference, the difference is fear of missing out implies that you have to actually be there. Fear of missing something just means that anything could happen and I would like to be awake for it.
Jonathan Zaslow
You just want to know about it.
Mark Zinno
Yes. So like when the unfortunate, for example, most people were in bed. But when, when the news broke of the unfortunate, you know, airline incident with the helicopter, everything in D.C. i was awake, I was up. I didn't miss it. I was there for the whole thing and I was consumed with it till two in the morning.
Jonathan Zaslow
You need to be aware of everything that's going on.
Mark Zinno
So I have fear of missing something. Fear of missing out means that's something I would be a part of.
Jonathan Zaslow
Distinction.
Mark Zinno
I don't need to be a part of it. I just don't want to be. I don't want to miss anything.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, I didn't know that. That's a good distinction. Now make sure you don't miss out on the college. How about that for a transition? I'm a professional. Make sure you don't miss out on all the college basketball that we got coming your way all throughout the day today leading to tonight's ESPN Radio Men's Bracketology selection show special at 5:00pm Eastern Time. So let's get to it here. Mark Zino after yesterday's action, updated look at Joe Linardi's bracketology. Auburn Even though they lose yesterday, Auburn has locked up Joe Linardi believes the number one overall seed, regardless of what happened yesterday and regardless of, I guess, what happens today with the SEC Championship final. I will say there real quick, why, why have they locked up the number one overall seed regardless? They, they didn't even make it to the conference final. And, and like, what if, what if Florida wins today? Florida looks amazing.
Mark Zinno
Yeah. But again, you have to talk about overall, the, the body of work that Auburn has put together this entire season. You know, I mean, they've struggled lately.
Jonathan Zaslow
They've lost some games lately.
Mark Zinno
Okay. But you know, when you have three months of your only losses to Duke, who might be the other best team in the country and Florida, who might be the other best team in the country. I mean, yes, you lost at Texas A and M in a spot, you know, where I mean, it was Texas A and M was sort of fighting for getting their season back on the rails. And then you lose a game, a two point game to Alabama.
Jonathan Zaslow
I'm just saying, a lock as the number one overall seed. I don't know like this FBI, but.
Mark Zinno
I also think the metrics grade them out that way if you're into that sort of thing. When you look at them completely on the offensive and defensive end of the floor, they, they're probably the most complete team in the country.
Jonathan Zaslow
Now Joe Lenardi is also telling us here, Zeno, that Florida will be the fourth number one seed, presumably in the west after they beat Alabama yesterday. All right, now today they are facing Tennessee 1pm Eastern SEC tournament final. How about the Johnny's St. John?
Mark Zinno
There you go. Let's get loud and proud here Big.
Jonathan Zaslow
East should be a solid number two after winning the Big east championship last night. Look, I don't have any ties to St. John's I'm not a New Yorker. Even though the Zaslos Zaslows are in New York, I'm the first generation of Zaslo that is down here in South Florida. Right? But I, me, myself, I don't have any ties to St. John's but I like it that St. John's is back in the forefront. That's a great story for the tournaments.
Mark Zinno
I mean, look, St. John, here's the biggest thing you need to know, okay? And I don't think there's another team in the country that can say this as a distinction. They have four losses. Not a single one of them was by more than three points. Their four losses are by a combined six points. Like, that's insane. It's insane. Like, that's how good of a team they've been all year long. And what's scary about St. John's right now more than anything is that they're actually starting to make three pointers for a team. Statistically, if you just look at the raw numbers ago, they don't make a lot of threes. That's. That's a bad three. You look at the. Down the stretch, what they've done. If they are making threes, this team might be nearly unbeatable towards the Final Four. Like to win four games and get there, they could be a very, very tough out. But I do think the seating matters for them. You know, what bracket they get placed in. I think if they get placed against team like Auburn who's long and lengthy and athletic, I don't know that they can do it. A team like Houston, maybe. I think they.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, but even there, what you're talking about, if it would be against a team like Auburn. We're talking about the regional final. They were doing.
Mark Zinno
Talk about to go to the final.
Jonathan Zaslow
Four if St. John's gets to the regional final. That's a hell of a season.
Mark Zinno
Year two under Rick Pitino.
Jonathan Zaslow
Unbelievable. Right? Look, very exciting times, the Johnny's. Here was the final call yesterday as St. John's knocks off Creighton in the Big east tournament final. It is a championship Saturday in New York City, and this is a victory for St. John's St. John's won the outright regular season title. They're the Big east tournament winner. You know who your Big east champions are? St John's defeats Creighton 82, 66 in the title game. Yeah, that's Courtesy John Minkow from Learfield with the final call. There is St. John's win. So you know a little bit about it. And New York, you know, New York likes to fancy themselves a basketball town. St. John's being an attraction there. That's a big deal.
Mark Zinno
Yeah, I mean, you know, I try to remind non New Yorkers that New York will always be a Knicks town first and foremost, when they are good and competitive. That's a different level, more so than the Yankees or the Giants or, you know, anything else. St. John's kind of also, you know, because of their home games, most of their home games being at Madison Square Garden, you know, are the. Are the sort of adopted son, so to speak, of New York City. And New York is not a college town. St. John's the only college team I ever grew up with. Right. Like Syracuse was too far away.
Jonathan Zaslow
Right.
Mark Zinno
No one cares about Rutgers. Sorry, Rutgers. It's nice over there in Piscataway.
Jonathan Zaslow
It's also Jersey. No, exactly.
Mark Zinno
Right. So but like New York City in and of itself, there's no. That's the only real college team there. So that's what we all grew up with. So I get the energy and the understanding that, that, you know, St. John's right now sort of captivated the city.
Jonathan Zaslow
And also finally, according to Joe Linardi bracketology, Michigan, they're in the Big Ten championship game, 3:30 Eastern. Wow. Against Wisconsin. But Michigan, with their last second win yesterday, they have moved up to the last number four seed by just advancing to the Big Ten championship. So right now, Joe Lenardi's number one seeds. And again 5:00pm Eastern time tonight, right here, men's selection show. And you'll have Matt Jones and Myra Metcalf, who normally hosts Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio. You'll catch your pals tonight at 5:00pm Eastern Time. Joe Linardi's number one seeds right now, Auburn with the number one overall seed. He also has Duke. How about Duke yesterday? ACC tournament championship. Here was the final call as they knock off Louisville right here on ESPN Radio. So Hubbard takes the inbounds pass in.
Mark Zinno
The backcourt, spins it to James, who.
Jonathan Zaslow
Stands under the basket on the left side. And the final score in Charlotte. Duke 73, Louisville 62. The Duke Blue Devils are champions of the ACC tournament for a 2020 third time. Excellent job by Duke. And it was interesting what happened yesterday. Mark, I thought where coach John Shire before this game he, he had mentioned how. All right, Cooper flag. He. He's not going to play in the championship game, but it's a day to day thing. We're hoping he'll be available to us in the first week of the NCAA tournament. And, and I thought this was really interesting because while I felt that he was being honest with the media in his assessment right now of Cooper Flag status, it's interesting because in that spot you wonder if the coach is being coy. You know, you wonder because apparently yesterday Duke and the acc, they, they have made, they've made it clear to the selection committee that Cooper Flag is expected to be available next weekend. And that's obviously interesting because even if you didn't think he was available, you want to make it seem like he's available so that the committee doesn't downgrade you from one of those number ones.
Mark Zinno
We discussed this. True. Because I think there's some value, at least in the conversation. Remember what happened in the College Football Playoff and Florida State, right. Jordan Travis breaks his ankle or Jordan David Travis Davis, who was it again? What was Florida State? Quarterback.
Jonathan Zaslow
It was the quarterback.
Mark Zinno
Yeah, Jordan Travis. Right. I was right the first time. Anyway, so he breaks his ankle and they end up not getting in the playoff because they were not one of the best four teams without him. Which I think generally everybody who was not a Florida State fan agreed with. Right. We agree with the assessment. This is different for a myriad of reasons. One, at the time we're only talking about four teams. We're talking about, in this case, 37 teams, right, who are looking for an at large bid or 68 teams if you include the 31 AQs. So from that standpoint, it completely shifts everything. Number two, I don't think you can look at Duke and their resume and deny them a number one seed with or without Cooper Flag because again, this, the seating in this tournament isn't about who the best 68 teams are. That's not. If it was 13, 13 SEC teams would not be getting in, period. Because five of those bottom feeders are nowhere near as good as some of these secondary teams. Whether it's New Mexico who didn't get in or was not going to get in, you know, from the Mountain West, Boise State, you know, some of these other teams that have a North Texas could give, give some of these teams a lot of fits. Some of these bottom SEC teams, I just, I don't think it works out the same way. I don't think there's any reason to downgrade Duke at this point in time. I also don't think there's any reason for him to play until the sweet 16.
Jonathan Zaslow
Well, that's what I was saying. Even if he has to miss next week, the, you know, a team like Duke, they should be able to get through the first week and beating potentially a 16 seed and then an 8 or a 9. And then finally likely rounding out the four number one seeds, the Florida Gators. That's my alma mater, the Florida Gators. Yesterday they advanced to the SEC tournament final. And here was Will Richard helping the Gators get past the Crimson Tide. Loose ball for Klobjard racing ahead, fumbles the dribble, gives to Richard. Wing right, three, pow. Right in the kisser. Timeout, Alabama. And the gators lead it by 21 points at 9, 24 to go. Call courtesy of Sean Kelly from Learfield. Gators win 104, 82. And they take on Tennessee, 1pm Eastern Time. That is on ESPN television. The Florida Gators, the Tennessee Volunteers fighting for the SEC tournament championship. So that's what we're gearing up towards later today. 5:00pm Eastern, ESPN Radio's men's bracketology selection. Show your pals, Matt Jones, Myron Metcalf, who are normally here in these seats on Sunday morning. Coming up next, the other basketball team in New York. They weren't so lucky last night. That's next Sunday morning on ESPN Radio. On the ESPN app.
Mark Zinno
The madness is coming. They ready?
Jonathan Zaslow
We are ready.
Mark Zinno
Bubbles bursting brackets breaking from half court toward the ring.
Myron Metcalf
And Cinderella dancing.
Mark Zinno
Down goes number one, the madness. I love the tournament.
Jonathan Zaslow
I love this time of year. Love it.
Mark Zinno
Continuing coverage right here on ESPN Radio. Race the rudders. Race the sails.
Jonathan Zaslow
Race the sails.
Mark Zinno
Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching.
Jay Williams
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Roger, wait. Is that an enterprise sales solution?
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Jonathan Zaslow
With LinkedIn ads, you you can target the right people by industry, job title and more. We'll even give you a $100 credit.
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Mark Zinno
Get started today at LinkedIn.com results.
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Mark Zinno
Matt and Myron the podcast brings.
Jonathan Zaslow
It to half court.
Mark Zinno
Stops and shoots a three on the go. Banked it in.
Jay Williams
He banked it in.
Jonathan Zaslow
The bank of San Francisco is open all weekend. Call courtesy in 95. 7 the game that was Jimmy Butler beats the first quarter buzzer from around half court. He banked it. He banked it in. Warriors beat the Knicks last night. 97 94. This is Sunday Morning on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app and SiriusXM Channel 80. Your pals Matt and Myron normally in this spot. You will catch them tonight 5pm Eastern Time with ESPN Radio's Men's Bracketology selection show. He's Mark Zino. I'm Jonathan Zaslow. The Warriors Zeno. Last night they improved a 141 with Jimmy Butler in the lineup. 142 overall since the trade was made. And usually a pretty good indicator of how well you're playing, how good your team is, is point differential. Well, the warriors have outscored opponents by 13.6 points per game in those 15 games with Jimmy Butler in the lineup where they are 14 1. I got some more for you here. The warriors are on a seven game win streak is their longest of the season. They are now 11 games over.500. And Golden State right now trying to creep up in those western standings. They're currently number six. They're three back in the loss column of number five, the Los Angeles Lakers. Are the Warriors a threat? Mark Zinno, once the Western Conference playoffs.
Mark Zinno
Begin, can I ask you one thing before this?
Jonathan Zaslow
Go on.
Mark Zinno
How's that? How's that? The whole Jimmy Butler thing settling with you now.
Jonathan Zaslow
I mean, you can look right here on my right shoulder. I got the Jimmy Butler picture. It's still on the wall. What did I tell you?
Mark Zinno
The day after the trade happened. You go cold Jimmy. Right?
Jonathan Zaslow
It was hashtag. What was it? Hashtag.
Mark Zinno
Dry Jimmy. Dry Jimmy.
Jonathan Zaslow
Dry Jimmy.
Mark Zinno
Like dry January. Yes.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah.
Mark Zinno
You just don't watch. You just don't pay attention until he gets to the NBA Finals. It's not worth the headache.
Jonathan Zaslow
Well, I'm not watching Autonomy. They're Western Conference team. I get sleepy, you know, once 10:30pm rolls around.
Mark Zinno
I understand that. Yoel, man, I get it. But are there, Are the Warriors a threat? It feels like, it feels like. Are they a threat to anybody catching Oklahoma City? No. Are they a threat to winning the Western Conference? Maybe, like just here's the thing you get. I would think the Lakers are more of a threat than the warriors are.
Jonathan Zaslow
My thing is, you get to the fourth quarter, if it's a tight game, you got Jimmy and you got Curry. I mean, these two guys know how to play in fourth quarter close playoff games.
Mark Zinno
They seem to be pretty good, you.
Jonathan Zaslow
Know, and Jimmy plays, I know a thing or two about Jimmy Butler, you know, Jimmy plays that playoff style of basketball that wins you games. You know, once we get to that part of the season, if they, if they are in close games in the fourth quarter, the warriors could be a major, major problem, I think for any of these teams in the West.
Mark Zinno
Yeah. You know, and again, it'll behoove the warriors just to create some distance between them and the play in tournament. Right. It would be interesting, you know, and there's a world where if you're a team like Memphis right now, you know, you almost say, I'd rather let the warriors and Lakers finish four or five. Right. And they could theoretically eliminate one or the other. Right. In the first round. And that's kind of what you're hoping for. If you're like a team like Oklahoma City or Denver, you're going, I hope those two finish in the four and the five seed and they knock each other out. So you don't, you only have to deal with one of them and not both of them. Right. That's, that's the hard part of going through both.
Jonathan Zaslow
Tough for the warriors to catch those guys. They're three back in the lost column.
Mark Zinno
Yeah.
Jonathan Zaslow
And, and by the way, two through five, like right now the Houston Rockets are number two technically in the Western Conference. Two through five are all even in the loss column. That's Houston, Denver, Memphis, Los Angeles. They're all even right now in the lost column. Like it's, it's good.
Mark Zinno
It's about, you know what, I've got about 18 games left, 17 games left, depending on which team it is.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, like seven. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mark Zinno
17, 18 games left. So I mean, look, a four game gap is not that much to make up. I mean, it's possible, it's not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.
Jonathan Zaslow
Well, and you got the Lakers, who are taking a nosedive right now, obviously without LeBron. They've been missing Luca recently. As well.
Mark Zinno
Yes.
Jonathan Zaslow
I mean, can the Lakers drop down to six? I suppose. I mean, LeBron was jumping around Bryce's state championships yesterday. Looks pretty healthy to me. Maybe he's back sooner than later.
Mark Zinno
Let me ask you this, because the other side of the equation of what happened last night was simply. Do you want to take a guess at how many wins the Knicks have against the Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder, Lakers and Warriors this year?
Jonathan Zaslow
Well, I know against the Cavaliers, Celtics and Thunder, it's zero.
Mark Zinno
Yes. Well, if you add in the Lakers and the warriors, it's still zero.
Jonathan Zaslow
And as. And as our pal producing the show back there behind the glass in Bristol, Nick Carty, Nick's fan, he just throws up a bunch of zeros. Yes.
Mark Zinno
I mean, look, Nikki understands we're going through this. We're going through the same thing here, you know, I mean, it's not a question. I think we suck is aggressive. That said, to his point though, it's we suck because guess what? We're going to win a playoff series and then we're going home. That's what, what it feels like. That's. I mean, Jalen Brunson now out for another one to two weeks, right? His injury is going to be even longer. You don't even know what version of him you would get back by the time the playoffs started. Are you going to even rush him back to get, you know, or try to push him to get back before the playoffs? Is it worth it? I mean, other than playing one or two games that likely won't matter in the 81st and 82nd game of the season, you know, what's, what's the reason to try to get him back for the playoffs?
Jonathan Zaslow
And you got to be careful with Mikel Bridges minutes, you know, 38, 39 minutes. Like last night. You gotta be very careful. He gets tired.
Mark Zinno
Not only that, Tibbs got into an argument with Josh Hart on the sideline last night.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, what was that about?
Mark Zinno
I think he was saying Villanova should be in the tournament, and Tom Thibodeau disagreed. And that was probably where that whole thing started from. Nonetheless, he just. It doesn't feel like for as good as things started, it doesn't feel like it's now. It feels like duct tape and Crazy Glue are holding this whole thing together. And it just looks like a bad 8th grade science project right now.
Jonathan Zaslow
Let's see if we get an update here. ESPN NBA Insider. Is Sham Sharania here? He is on NBA Countdown on Jalen Brunson's current status. So Thursday marks two weeks For Jalen Brunson, sources tell me it's more of a three to four week minimum return time frame for Jalen Brunson that sidelines him through late March, early April. The key for the Knicks and Jalen Brunson is keeping that swelling down in that ankle, getting it lower and then increasing the mobility in the ankle. They, they know they need to get him right for the playoffs. That's of the utmost importance. They're four games up right now in Milwaukee, New York, Jalen Brunson. If Jalen Brunson misses another two weeks, could they wind up blowing that four game lead? I don't know. But the more important, more interesting conversation is that would be the difference between playing Cleveland in round two or playing Boston in round two. But the thing is, you face Boston, the Knicks are terrible at defending the three, you face Cleveland, the Knicks are also terrible at defending the pick and roll. That's what those two teams do the best.
Mark Zinno
Yeah, and again, I mean, the ultimate question is, are Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns went healthy enough for the Knicks to overcome a lot of that? To this point, we see the answer is no.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, no, I, I, I, I'm, I'm with you. But at the same time, does everything need to be solved in this past off season, which was acquiring Bridges and Towns? Okay, you made those moves. It got you to number three. You see what's next if you don't win the Eastern Conference this year. Coming up next, the defending champs got a major boost last night. But is it enough on ESPN Radio.
Mark Zinno
Hey, it's your resident super bowl champ, Chris Candy. Before you fill out your brackets, make sure you tune into the tournament challenge. Mar all the info you need right here on unsportsmanlike Weekday mornings at 6, right here on ESPN Radio, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Matt and Myra.
Myron Metcalf
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I was never really a runner.
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I'm Ann.
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I'm running the Boston Marathon, presented by bank of America.
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I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
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To give people like me a chance.
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To thrive in life even with cancer. Join bank of America and helping Anne's cause. Give if you can@b of a.com supportan what would you like the power to do? References to charitable organizations is not endorsement by bank of America Corporation Copyright 2025 the podcast Tatum Double teamed again. Lobs into Porzingis. Bounce pass into the corner. Drew Holiday return to Porzingis. Pretty good look deep three left side no good back iron rebound. Drew Holiday kick back to Porzingis. Tries to again short again but an offensive rebound Cornette on the back tap to Jason Tatums.
Jonathan Zaslow
That's the entry to poor who says.
Mark Zinno
Enough for the three point shooting.
Jonathan Zaslow
I'm going to dive to the basket.
Mark Zinno
And flush on your head.
Jonathan Zaslow
Oh you little bitty head. Call courtesy in 985 the Sports Hub, Chris Saps Porzingis game high 24 points as he made his return. Missed the previous eight games with a an undisclosed illness. The Celtics beat the Nets. That's right, the lowly Nets. The Celtics slip past them. 115, 113. This is Sunday Morning on ESPN Radio alongside Mark Zinno. I'm Jonathan Zaslow. Your pals, Matt, Myron, normally in this spot, you will catch them later on Today, 5:00pm Eastern with ESPN Radio's Men's Bracketology selection show. You got a few more bids that are going to be essentially punched today, although most of these teams, they're getting in no matter what. You got some great college basketball still coming up today and we'll get back to that coming up later on here this hour. But the Boston Celtics, last night, they get the win. They are 49 and 19 on the year. They're pretty much locked in to that number two overall seed in the Eastern Conference. They're not going to catch Cleveland. They're nine back in the lost column. They're five up on the New York Knicks. So Boston pretty much locked into that two spot. Do you see any Mark Zinno? Do you see any, I guess kinks in the armor there of the Boston Celtics considering that, you know, last year they totally dominated the regular season and that had been exactly the case this year?
Mark Zinno
I mean, in theory, could the Pistons be young enough and dumb enough not to know how good the Celtics are and give them a run for their money? We saw that they were able to beat them during the regular season, which kind of was surprising to me, at least in some semblance given, you know, the way situationally that whole Game set up. But you know, they've been able to, to beat Boston at least once. I think that's noteworthy. And again, a team like, like right.
Jonathan Zaslow
Now you're looking at like Atlanta or Orlando in the first round against.
Mark Zinno
Right. Well, I'm talking about, I'm talking about the second round. I'm not even worried about the first round.
Jonathan Zaslow
The second round you're talking like you said, it could be Detroit, it could be New York.
Mark Zinno
Right.
Jonathan Zaslow
In the second round. Certainly we don't have any faith in the Knicks against the Celtics.
Mark Zinno
No, unfortunately. And, and the 3, 6 matchup would be on that same side of the bracket because the NBA doesn't recede. So it would be on that same side of the bracket.
Jonathan Zaslow
I guess the conversation really is how much do we believe in the Cavaliers who have won 16 in a row. They're going for a 17th consecutive win. They have had afternoon that's on ABC at 1pm Eastern host in Orlando.
Mark Zinno
They have had a 15 game win streak, a 13 game win streak and 11 game win streak. And now they're on 16 going on 17. Like this is insane.
Jonathan Zaslow
I think it feels like they're for real.
Mark Zinno
I mean how many more games the Cavaliers lose the rest of this season?
Jonathan Zaslow
Well, it's funny. Yeah, I was looking at that. In six of their next seven games including today are against teams under 500. The only one that is a team over.500 is the start of a five game trip at the beginning of this week at the LA Clippers. Now that's tough. Can you keep a, you know, at that point it have to be a 17 game win streak. If they win today, can you keep a 17 game win streak going through a five game Western trip? And by the way, Donovan Mitchell has missed the last couple of games. That's gonna be tough.
Mark Zinno
Yeah. Wow. Now my head is spinning about that west coast trip and who they're going to lose to because I don't think they run the table on five games out west. It's always hard for east coast teams to do that.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, the teams that they're facing, like I said, they start out that trip at the LA Clippers, that's going to be on Tuesday. Then you have a back to back at Sacramento, then they're at Phoenix, they're at Utah and at Portland. So only one back to back in that spot and really only facing one good team and that's the Clippers.
Mark Zinno
In reality the Clippers, they've played them twice. They play the Knicks twice in the Pacers twice. We're still over 500, I think. Right. That's the only teams that they're playing that are over 500.
Jonathan Zaslow
10 over 500.
Mark Zinno
Yeah. So I mean, they have six games left against teams that are prohibitive playoff teams and that's it.
Jonathan Zaslow
I think Cavs are for real. I really do. I think when you could put together this many win streaks and it's not. It's not like the Oklahoma City team last year that had zero playoff experience.
Mark Zinno
Right.
Jonathan Zaslow
This Cavs team's got some experience. I mean, yeah, they start a lot of wins.
Mark Zinno
There's a difference. They have playoff experience and a lot of playoff series wins.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah. Right. But. But eventually you're going to break through. Like you don't have these teams that pop up out of nowhere. Especially young teams. Very, very rare. Forget about being. It never happens where they just pop up out of nowhere. Super young team. And they wind up making a big run in the postseason. This league doesn't operate like that. Normally you need a little bit of postseason experience and I think the Cavaliers have it. I mean, again, 16 consecutive wins. Now today would be 17 against an Orlando Magic team. I think the Cavs. And they'll have home court now. The Celtics are excellent on the road, but the cat. The Cavaliers are even better at home. Cavaliers would have home court advantage. That's a big deal. You get that game seven in your building against Boston potentially. I mean, let me ask you this. If you had game seven, Cleveland hosting Boston, who are you picking there? You picking the champs who have won huge games on the road? We've seen it over the last few years. Heck, they won Game 7 on the road back in 2022 at the Miami Heat to go to the finals against Golden State Warriors. This team's won game Sevens on the road. Do you. Would you go with a Celtics team or the Cavs at home? What they've worked for the entire season. That one game at home against Boston.
Mark Zinno
I'm trying to figure out what the line would be. I mean, you know, I'd have to look at the rest of the series.
Jonathan Zaslow
Below be really low. Right.
Mark Zinno
I mean, it might even be a.
Jonathan Zaslow
Cavs to be favored.
Mark Zinno
Kind of depends. It depends on how the series unfolds a little bit. But it would be a pick or a 1 point spread in either direction. I don't think it's that one and a half.
Jonathan Zaslow
Who would you pick?
Mark Zinno
I would have a hard time picking against Celtics. I really would be some game. The best version I know.
Jay Williams
Right.
Mark Zinno
I'm already thinking about them like that's. Going to be awesome. And Memorial Day weekend, you know, we're sitting there watching game seven of that series be sub game. Yeah. You know, I think I, again, I, maybe it's just confirmation bias when, when it comes to the Celtics just because of the way they've been able to handle everybody else come the postseason and.
Jonathan Zaslow
They don't care about playing on the road. They don't. I think that's part of why they're second right now in the Eastern conferences. They know, they, they, they've done it before. They know we, we don't need to be the number one seed. We can win a road game.
Mark Zinno
Yeah. I think they feel more than confident they can win at least one road game. So. And for all of that, you know, I mean, they are equally as powerful at home as Cleveland is. Right. Like, they, there's, there's.
Jonathan Zaslow
Well, in theory they are. This year they have not. But in theory, yes.
Mark Zinno
But again, for as much as Cleveland has been dominant home, it doesn't feel like it's, it's Denver Nuggets two years ago dominant at home. Right. Like when you just nobody could go in that building and win a game.
Jonathan Zaslow
I mean, they got the cheating with the air.
Mark Zinno
Yes. I mean, cheating. It's cheating. It's, you know, physics and shooting science. It's not cheating. It's just where they live.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah.
Mark Zinno
You know.
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah.
Mark Zinno
Okay.
Jonathan Zaslow
Tune into NBA action today is the Cavs host the Magic, presented by. Indeed. Coverage begins at 12:30pm Eastern right here on ESPN radio and the ESPN app. He's Mark Zino. I'm Jonathan Saslow. Coming up next is the SEC championship, a national championship preview. This is Sunday morning. That's next on ESPN Radio on the ESPN app.
Mark Zinno
Welcome the 2025 NFL Draft on ESPN Radio.
Jay Williams
The NFL draft is now underway live.
Myron Metcalf
From historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Mark Zinno
Wisconsin with the first pick.
Myron Metcalf
It all begins with round one.
Mark Zinno
The Tennessee Titans select Thursday, April 24th on ESPN Radio. ESPN and on ABC. Matt, you don't wake up dreaming of McDonald's fries. You wake up dreaming of McDonald's hash browns. McDonald's breakfast comes first. I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve.
Jonathan Zaslow
And it does without me lifting a.
Mark Zinno
Finger so I can get in more.
Jonathan Zaslow
Squats anywhere I can. 1, 2, 3.
Mark Zinno
Will that be cash or credit?
Jonathan Zaslow
Credit. 4 Galaxy S25 Ultra, the AI companion.
Myron Metcalf
That does the heavy lifting.
Jonathan Zaslow
So you can do you get yours@samsung.com compatible with select apps requires Google Gemini account. Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy. Myron the podcast Bennett Anderson gets it across half court. Chop this one up for the Gators. Anderson's mob by his teammates. And the Gators with a statement win here in the semifinals, beat Alabama, the fifth ranked team of the country, fourth ranked Florida 104, Alabama 82. What a moment here for this club. And they will play for a championship tomorrow here in Nashville against Tennessee. That's right. That's my school. That's my alma mater. Big time front runner when the Florida Gators are playing well. Call courtesy of Sean Kelly from Learfield. As the Gators advance to the final of the SEC tournament, they will take on Tennessee 1:00pm Eastern Time. You can catch it on ESPN Television. This is Sunday Morning on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app and Sirius XM Channel 80. We are presented by Progressive Insurance. Your pals Matt and Myron. You normally hear them hosting Sunday morning. You will hear them coming up at 5pm Eastern right here with ESPN Radios. Men's Bracketology selection show could be very controversial. We'll see which teams get all the number ones, who gets in, who's left out. Joining us now, let's bring aboard someone who knows what's going on. All right, Jay Williams, ESPN college basketball analyst joining us here on Sunday morning, J. Mark Zinno, Jonathan Zaslow here. Thanks for joining us. Let's start out with the SEC championship game. Florida, Tennessee. Is it possible that Tennessee, if they do beat the Gators, do you think they can get one of those number ones?
Jay Williams
Yeah, I think they will get one. I mean I think we had Greg Sankey on the show yesterday. It's pretty insane when you think about the power of this conference. Seven teams in AP top 25 and look, I'm watching this bubble get squeezed. I'm watching these potential. Sorry, they're playing music in the gym. Of course, when I start doing this interview, what would radio be without a little bit of chaos and a little bit of havoc? But I honestly feel that Texas is going to get in. I think they're going to have a record setting 14 teams in the NCAA tournament. And I think Tennessee with 11 quad one wins, with the way they've been playing, with the way they ran through Auburn the other day, I think they have a legitimate case to be a number one seed. Like I'm actually making the point, guys that the way Auburn trickled into the tournament, losing the last three or four games, you can make a case that Duke could be the number one overall Seed.
Jonathan Zaslow
That's what I'm saying.
Jay Williams
Yeah, I know people want to penalize them because they're in ACC, but they went 19 and one in the ACC. They lost one game. They won every game they're supposed to win.
Mark Zinno
They laughed.
Jay Williams
They're 31 and three.
Mark Zinno
Yeah.
Jay Williams
Exactly. So it's like now we're supposed to diminish them or put them at a disadvantage because they've dominated their conference. And to me, I think they should be the number one overall seed because I think it's. If it's your full body of the work, the way you play at the end of the year matters. And the way Auburn has played at the end of the year has not been the Auburn team that we watch throughout the course of the regular season.
Mark Zinno
All right, Jay, well, look, you and I are in the same age. And when you played college ball, the idea that a team that went 612 in the regular season in conference plays making the tournament is offensive. That it's happening now, this is bad for the sport. There should not be 14 SEC teams in. There are not 14 worthy teams. Oklahoma and Texas are a joke. And I just. And again, I don't believe that what happens in the tournament validates whether you got in or not. It's about your regular season resume. So they could win their first round game, lose their first round game. I don't care that I don't think those two things are connected. But come on, like this is. This is silly at this point. Yes. Okay. Oklahoma is like two, three quad one wins. They got a quad one losses. Why do those not matter?
Jay Williams
So let me ask a question. It's because it's. I hear that comment overall and I think that makes sense. But then tell me, who are the teams that you will be taking over Texas to get in the tournament?
Mark Zinno
I mean, look, New Mexico has made an excellent case that they are one of the 68 best teams in the country. They're going to be sitting at home. Right. They're not going. You know, you want an extra mid.
Jonathan Zaslow
Major team in instead of those. That's what you're saying.
Mark Zinno
And usually look, and I'm a guy that usually favors the big schools and always has this current construction because of conference realignment I think is bad for the sport in the long haul. And if this is going to happen every single year where we're going to just start favoring the Big Ten in the SEC because they have so, so many, quote, quad one opponents at big schools, I don't think it's good. I think it's bad.
Jay Williams
But I don't, I don't, I don't think this is every year. I mean, I think we're talking about a record setting season in the history of basketball. That's what we're talking about, the SEC this year. And trust me, usually I'm on your side. I always want to see the mid majors favored in these things. It's hard for me to look at a league that has seven teams in AP top 25 that, you know, like, it just, you're talking about a league that yesterday could have been the Final Four. And I think a lot of people, you could make a case it could be better than the Final Four if we actually had those drawings. So yeah, Texas could easily be South Carolina and not win any games in the conference. That's easy. I, you know, so for me it's hard because when you start comparing bodies of work, when you're playing teams that are quad three, quad four games and you're winning them, I hear you in the big scheme of things, but when you're losing to, you know, 80% the league that's in the top 25 now, now said, I'm going to punish you for that. Like, and you actually won seven of the games, you know, versus quad top tier opponents. Like they beat Texas A and M, A team that, you know, beat Alabama, team that beat Florida. It's, these are massive wins. So I, I don't know, man. I think this year is an anomaly as opposed to just it being the standard of what it's always been.
Mark Zinno
I just for me, like, I get the idea of putting more, lending more credibility to the wins than the losses. But if the losses don't matter equally as much as the wins, then what are we doing here? Like, if you want to be a good team, you have to beat good teams. And Texas and Oklahoma haven't demonstrated that they can do that except a one off or two off here for the entire year. That's just, you know, they've won, they've.
Jay Williams
Won seven versus the top 25.
Mark Zinno
I see. I don't, I don't use top 25 because those rankings, to me, I look more metrically.
Jay Williams
What do you mean?
Mark Zinno
I look at the metrics. I'll go by Ken Palm, I'll go by those things. Come on, Jay Will, you know as well as I do there's a staffer who fills that thing out. It's not, I mean, John Shire isn't sitting there spending 30 minutes each week counting the top 25 teams in the country. Stop.
Jay Williams
Yeah, I mean, I just, Just to add to. I mean, this is. I love these type of debates. I don't mean to do this to you, but I mean, I, I know where. I know where Texas A and M ranks in the net and in the Kim Palm. No, I know where all the ways ranks are. And both Kim Palm and Annette, like, they're legit wins. Like, I wouldn't come on any show and ruin my own credibility by saying their wins just weren't. You know what I mean? It's. They're better wins than just being in the top 25.
Mark Zinno
Okay, I trust you. I'm not arguing.
Jonathan Zaslow
Jay Williams here with us on Sunday morning. Jay, let me ask you about your school here. And I thought it was interesting where, while we don't know Cooper Flag's status for next weekend, how important do you think it was? I mean, it was important enough for the school to do it, for the school and the ACC to tell the committee they expect Cooper Flag to be available next week. Like, they, they were, I guess, nervous that maybe Duke would drop from a number one seed.
Jay Williams
Yeah, I don't know why you would drop from the number one seed. I think that's actually a true depiction of what's happening. I get politically, you know, people saying that this is what they should do in order to confirm the number one seed. I think they've captured the number one seed. I also, and maybe you guys talked about this before, maybe I'm just a little bit old school here, right? Like, I get it. He rolled his ankle. Stick that thing in a bucket of ice.
Mark Zinno
Rub some dirt on it.
Jay Williams
Pony up, man. I mean, Coach Case to talk about, oh, sorry, Jay, you tweaked your ankle. And I know people at home will talk about like, well, Jalen Brunson was out for a month. I get all that bone bruises. I've had them all, right. It's not like he got his appendix removed. Like, I think they could have played him if they wanted to play him against North Carolina, they chose not to. They could have played him if they wanted to play him against Louisville, they chose not to. I think that he's okay. I think he's going to play in the first round of NCAA tournament. I think he should on limited minutes, maybe get him 20 minutes. Because when you get to the 8, 9 game, I think that's going to be imperative. I've got, like, Cooper Flag ready to go. And look, Duke was able to win without him. There's still a really good basketball team. They just can't reach their ceiling without the number one overall draft pick, who I can make a case is better, better defensively than what he is offensively. And he adds to the length into the sides of the biggest team in America. That's what they're going to miss if they don't have them on the court.
Mark Zinno
J will. Rick Patino takes the Johnny's to the top of the Big East Year 2. And look, they look like a stronger team now than they did two months ago. And they were pretty darn strong two months ago. How scary for you? Is St. John's in a deep run in the tournament?
Jay Williams
I mean, is it, is it fair that we talk about St. John's winning a national championship? It's fair. It's fair to say that out loud. I'm a kid from Jersey. I grew up with Eric Barkley. I watched Bootsy Thornton, I watch Metta World Peace. I watch all these guys, right? Ron Artest.
Mark Zinno
Ron.
Jay Williams
Ron from Queensbridge, who was crazy as hell and still is now, and good friend like I. That, that to me is St. John's and I'm watching this team. And yesterday the thing that was crazy about it Overall, they made seven threes. They shot 50 from the three point line. That's always in my hiccup with them is you can't win a championship when you rank 335th in the nation in three point shooting percentage. You can't. But when you start making shots like that, combined with the way they play defense, we should be talking about St. John's getting to San Antonio for the Final Four. This is a real thing. And the godfather of the sport is proven why he's the Coleon.
Jonathan Zaslow
Don, one more minute here. Jay, real quick. Jay Williams, ESPN college basketball analyst, joining us here. This Michigan team, they get past yesterday to advance the Big Ten tournament final. They're taking on Wisconsin today, 3:30 Eastern. Are we taking Michigan serious at all?
Jay Williams
I mean, I've been taking. I've been taking Michigan serious. I think their style of the plate, look, it's this thing fills up in the air to me, man. I mean, of course there are teams that you could say can get there. Like we're talking about the Auburns, we're talking about the Dukes, we're obviously talking about, you know, Tennessee. I think Michigan with their twin towers of basketball and in their style of play, obviously having a point forward who's seven feet that can dribble and shoot and pass in the way they play is going to be a matchup nightmare. I do think how they stop. John Tanji is going to be incredible because he's been on a whim. I I will say I think Michigan can make a run, but I want to say this, and I know we were talking with sec. I firmly believe that the best team in the country right now is Florida.
Mark Zinno
Yes.
Jay Williams
Nobody's going to say that. Their guards are tremendous. They have great depth with Alex Cond in the company. I would say this regardless of whatever league they're in, if you're playing against this matchup of these trio of guards, of Walter Clayton Jr. Who his range starts the moment he steps in the building. You know, you talk about the way Elijah Martin, Will Richards, their guards can all shoot, can all defend, can all pass and can all dribble the rock and make plays. And they get a ton of offensive rebounds. They play a junkyard style. I just watched Florida. When the brackets come out, I know we'll be talking about the power of the sec. This Florida is a team that can win it all and cut down on Nets.
Jonathan Zaslow
Man, Excellent job. Jay. Thanks a lot for joining us. Enjoy the rest of the day.
Jay Williams
Hey, and thank you guys for the spirit of debate. I needed that to kick off my day on Selection Sunday.
Jonathan Zaslow
I love it. There you go. Thank you, Jay. Jay Williams, ESPN college basketball analyst there with us. How about that going going toe to toe there with you.
Mark Zinno
Michigan's for Gazi and I said Florida might be the best team in the country.
Jonathan Zaslow
So coming up next Sunday for the women's side of the bracket, we'll get you caught up on ESPN Radio. Hey, it's Evan Cohen. Coming up Monday, we'll continue to react to all the free agency news, plus give you all the info you'll need before you fill out your brackets. It's unsportsmanlike. 6am Eastern right here on ESPN radio, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Myron Metcalf
Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the Podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and on.
Mark Zinno
Sirius XM channel 80.
Myron Metcalf
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Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Episode Summary – Hour 1: Jay Williams
Podcast Information:
Auburn as the Number One Overall Seed
Florida Gators' Strong Performance
St. John’s University’s Rise
Duke and Michigan’s Tournament Prospects
Golden State Warriors’ Performance with Jimmy Butler
New York Knicks’ Struggles
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Dominant Win Streak
Boston Celtics’ Secure Position
Florida vs. Tennessee SEC Championship Game
Impact of Duke’s Cooper Flag Injury
Michigan’s Prospects in Big Ten Tournament
Tournament Madness and Predictions
Guest Insights with Jay Williams
Closing Remarks
Mark Zinno ([03:35]):
"When you have three months of your only losses to Duke, who might be the other best team in the country, and Florida, who might be the other best team in the country... they're probably the most complete team in the country."
Jonathan Zaslow ([17:31]):
"Jimmy plays that playoff style of basketball that wins you games."
Jay Williams ([35:13]):
"I think Tennessee, with 11 quad one wins… they have a legitimate case to be a number one seed."
Mark Zinno ([05:35]):
"They have four losses. Not a single one of them was by more than three points... if they are making threes, this team might be nearly unbeatable towards the Final Four."
In this episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron," the hosts delve deep into the intricacies of NCAA tournament bracketology, analyzing top teams like Auburn, Florida, St. John’s, Duke, and Michigan. They transition seamlessly into NBA discussions, examining the Golden State Warriors' resurgence with Jimmy Butler, the Cleveland Cavaliers' impressive win streak, and the New York Knicks' challenges. The inclusion of guest analyst Jay Williams enriches the conversation, offering expert insights into the SEC Championship and predicating national championship prospects. The episode is a comprehensive guide for sports enthusiasts gearing up for the tournament madness, blending statistical analysis with passionate debate.