Hour 1: Selection Show

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Hour 1 – Selection Show Summary

Release Date: March 16, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf
Platform: ESPN Radio

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1. Introduction and Setting

The episode kicks off on Selection Sunday, the most anticipated day in college basketball, where the NCAA tournament brackets are unveiled. Hosts Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf, in studio together for the first time since pre-COVID, set the stage for an engaging discussion on the tournament selections and key storylines shaping this year's bracketology.

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2. Bracketology and Selection Sunday Overview

Myron Metcalf expresses his excitement, stating, "This is maybe my favorite day of the year sports-wise, when the brackets come out" ([00:34]). The hosts delve into the anticipation surrounding the automatic bids, with only Big Ten and American tournaments still pending at the time of recording.

Matt Jones adds enthusiasm, "It's Selection Sunday, man. It's always the most exciting day of the year." ([01:20]) They discuss the balance of joy and disappointment as teams either make or miss the tournament.

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3. Discussion of Key Teams and Storylines

a. North Carolina's Bracket Bust Potential

Matt Jones highlights the precarious situation for North Carolina, noting, "From 1975 to 2009, North Carolina missed the NCAA tournament twice... now today, if they miss it, that's two out of three years" ([02:39]). This marks a significant downturn for a historically strong program.

b. Duke's Prospects and Cooper Flagg's Availability

The impact of Cooper Flagg's injury on Duke's tournament prospects is a focal point. Myron Metcalf questions the implications of Bubba Cunningham—the chair of the selection committee and athletic director at North Carolina—announcing the brackets, especially concerning Duke’s chances ([04:16]). The conversation incorporates humor and speculation about Flagg’s availability: "Cooper Flag will be available for the NCAA Tournament. So don't expect that to impact their seeding" ([40:04]).

c. Texas and the Dominant SEC Conference

Myron Metcalf praises the SEC, claiming it's "the best league I've ever seen" ([16:04]). Tom Crean concurs, emphasizing the depth and competitiveness of the conference: "Florida... they just keep getting better... they're playing the best basketball in America right now" ([06:16]). The hosts discuss how the SEC's strength surpasses traditional powerhouses like the Big East, highlighting that the conference is poised to secure numerous top-seed spots.

d. St. John's Renaissance under Rick Patino

A standout storyline is Rick Patino’s transformation of St. John's, winning the Big East tournament for the first time in over 30 years. Myron Metcalf lauds Patino, saying, "Rick Patino at St. John's has done one of the most amazing things we've ever seen" ([07:25]). Matt Jones echoes this sentiment, forecasting St. John's as a potential national championship contender: "I think they're that good." ([07:50]).

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4. Interview with Tom Crean

Tom Crean, a featured guest, shares his insights on the pressures of coaching during Selection Sunday:

• Stress and Focus: "It's unbelievably nerve-wracking... You're really trying to navigate... your mind is on that." ([13:26])
• Managing Public and Family Expectations: Emphasizes the importance of administrative support and involving family in the process to handle ticket requests and media attention ([15:37]).
• SEC Dominance: Aligns with Metcalf's view on the SEC's superiority, providing statistical backing on teams' performances: "Florida, when Walter Clayton was on the court, the conference games... plus 2,43. Duke... plus 456." ([16:04]-[17:02])

Crean discusses the challenges young, freshman-led teams face in winning championships, attributing it to physicality and the speed of the game: "It's the physical play... the game goes faster... you have to build a process which is really hard." ([18:23]).

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5. Predictions for the Tournament

Myron Metcalf's Five-Team Picks

Myron presents his five-team prediction, confidently asserting, "The four number one seeds are Duke, Auburn, Houston, Florida." ([24:51]). He adds Alabama as his wildcard contender: "I’m going to put Alabama as my fifth team that can win the title because they can score so much." ([25:47]). Myron's picks reflect his confidence in traditional powerhouses and emerging teams.

Matt Jones' Insights

Matt considers factors such as player injuries and team resilience:

• Duke: Likely to reach the second round without Flagg but uncertain about advancing further without him fully available ([05:12]-[05:42]).
• Houston and Auburn: Strong defensive teams with robust offensive capabilities ([26:18]-[26:44]).
• Michigan: Unique playstyle with two seven-footers, making them a tough matchup ([29:06]).

Surprise Teams:

• BYU and McNeese: Potential dark horses capable of deep runs due to strong performances in late-season tournaments ([29:55]-[32:36]).

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6. General Discussion on Bracketology

The hosts discuss the increasing complexity and competitiveness of bracket selections, noting the SEC's overwhelming presence with 13 teams likely to make the tournament ([16:04]). They emphasize the strategic elements involved in predicting matchups and the influence of coaching styles, especially those emphasizing big men and unique offensive structures.

Notable Quote:
"You’re acting like it’s not cool to have been the kid that was the bracket guy. I feel like that was pretty cool." – Myron Metcalf reflecting on the personal aspects of bracketology ([38:14]).

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7. Key Conclusions and Final Thoughts

As the bracket reveal approaches, Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf express their excitement and the significance of this event in the sports calendar. They underscore the pivotal role of player availability, team depth, and coaching strategies in shaping the tournament's outcome.

Myron Metcalf concludes with enthusiasm, "This is the greatest sporting event in the world, and this is the first time you and I have done it in studio together since COVID" ([39:44]).

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Notable Quotes:

• Matt Jones: "It's Selection Sunday... one of the most remarkable spans in college basketball history." ([02:39])
• Myron Metcalf: "You won't let UAB win because they'll steal a bid if they do." ([11:06])
• Tom Crean: "There's nothing like it. As a head coach, you get really caught up in how it's going for everybody else." ([14:13])
• Myron Metcalf: "Rick Patino is the biggest star in this NCAA tournament in terms of recognizable figures." ([08:42])

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers an in-depth analysis of the upcoming NCAA tournament, highlighting the dominance of the SEC, the resurgence of storied programs like St. John's, and the intricate dynamics of bracket selection. Through expert insights and lively discussions, Matt and Myron provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of what to expect as the tournament unfolds.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

This is Matt and Myron the Podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

What an absolutely great cut that was of all the various teams making the NCAA tournament. It's the men's Bracketology Selection show right here on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app. You can ask your smart speaker to play ESPN Radio, Sirius XM Channel. Idiots everywhere. I'm Matt Jones. Myron Metcalf, presented by Progressive Insurance. I got chills there. Mine. This is maybe my favorite day of the year sports wise, when the brackets come out. And for the I think fifth time, it's an honor that you and I are getting to announce them here on ESPN Radio. But for the first time in years, you and I are in studio together. We have not been in a studio together since pre Covid and you came dressed like Snoopy to celebrate the selection show. Ready to rock.

[Matt Jones]

Here we go, man. It's Selection Sunday, man. It's always the most exciting day of the year. And you also just love to see, you know, these young players and their coaches celebrating the opportunity to get into the NCAA tournament. Obviously there'll be some disappointment as well, but what a fun day, man. It's going to be awesome.

[Myron Metcalf]

And the men's Bracketology Selection show is presented by Progressive Insurance. You know, at Progressive, they're making things even easier. They'll help you bundle your home car insurance together so you can save on both. Learn [e-mail] or 1-800-Progressive so basically we know almost all of the automatic bids, but there's six still 6:45 left in the Big Ten tournament. Wisconsin leads Michigan 45:41. We also still waiting to see make sure Memphis wins the American. There's some bubble teams kind of holding their breath to see because Memphis is in either way and we got to see if UAB beats him. But Myron, a lot of storylines, the brackets will come out around 6 to 6:15, something like that. But there's a lot of storylines today because there are some powerful names on the bubble, right? North Carolina is on the bubble, Indiana's on the bubble, Texas is on the bubble. Then you go off the bubble to some like lesser teams like Boise State and Xavier. You got some powers versus not powers for these last spots. What do you think's going to happen?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I think if you're a North Carolina fan, I mean, this is sort of a situation that you've never experienced before. From 1975 to 2009, North Carolina missed the NCAA tournament twice. I mean, one of the most remarkable spans in college basketball history. And now today, if they miss it, that's two out of three years.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

Where they missed the NCAA tournament. So I think the Final Four in.

[Myron Metcalf]

Between with the which is really strange, right. Not no tournament. Final Four. No tournament.

[Matt Jones]

It's fascinating kind of what they have done so far under Hubert Davis. But also I think there are a lot of teams like North Carolina that are going like, who are we? What's your identity? Sort of this new era. And then Texas is a team where there's going to be a good SEC team that just doesn't get a chance to dance because the league is that tough. And a team like Texas just happened to be at the bottom of one of the best leagues we've ever seen.

[Myron Metcalf]

With a dude who Trey Johnson might be a top 10 pick and may not end up in the draft. So let's, let's talk about some of the what this show is going to be. First of all, we're going to have Tom Crean in here at 5:15. We may have Joe Lamont Leonardi. Join us. Then after the brackets come out, Myron and I'll announce them. A lot of coaches. Mark Pope, the coach at the University of Kentucky, Pat Kelsey, the coach, University of Louisville. For those of you that listen to me regularly, you know I'm a Kentucky guy. I've never interviewed the Louisville coach. Get to do it tonight. Michigan coach Dusty May finishing after his game. Tonight we got Phil Martelli Jr then we will have the selection committee chair, Bubba Cunningham, who's an inter in an interesting spot because he is the athletic director at North Carolina and the chair of the selection committee. So maybe the most interesting story, whether or not Carolina is in, he has to walk out of the room when they do it.

[Matt Jones]

It's fascinating, man, that he's the chair in a situation like that. And listen, I don't think Bubba Cunningham or anybody else could do anything for the Tar Heels resume. It just doesn't seem like they had enough. But it is a fascinating story.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, we'll see what Bubba is able to do it. You know, it's a good country music song, too. Bubba shot the jukebox. We'll see if he's able to shoot his way into the.

[Matt Jones]

Shoot the jukebox.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why have you never heard that Bubba shot the jukebox.

[Matt Jones]

Have you ever heard that? Like, I've never heard of any song.

[Myron Metcalf]

The lyrics is. The lyrics are Bubba shot the jukebox last night. He said it played a sad song that made him cry.

[Matt Jones]

Did he understand he could unplug it?

[Myron Metcalf]

He decided to shoot it.

[Matt Jones]

That's what he decided to shoot something.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, let's talk about the major conferences and our winners. I think sometimes in conference champ championship week, you get some out of the way winners. I don't really think that happened this year in the major conferences. Duke wins the ACC even without Cooper Flag. Is. Is Cooper flag on play in the tournament in your mind?

[Matt Jones]

I think he'll play. I don't know if he'll play the first game. I don't know if he'll play the second game, but I think we'll see him. He'll be available. I just don't know when he'll be able.

[Myron Metcalf]

They're good enough to get sweet 16 without him.

[Matt Jones]

I think they're good enough to get to the second round, depending on the matchup. But it's dicey if he's not playing.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, they could be sitting there. That could be like a Yukon sitting there. Somebody like that. You might have to have to show up. They're still good without him, but they're not winning a title without him. Would you agree?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think they're definitely a second weekend team without him.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, so Yukon win or. Excuse me. Yeah. Duke wins the ACC. Then in the Big 12, you get Houston, another team that's likely to be a one seed today. Florida wins the SEC tournament today. Maybe the most stacked SEC tournament ever. Are they a one seed?

[Matt Jones]

Florida's one seed.

[Myron Metcalf]

The four ones are Duke, Auburn, Houston, Florida.

[Matt Jones]

I do, and I think Florida this week made its case that it can certainly win a national championship. And I don't think it's crazy for a lot of people to pick Florida to win it all. They're playing, I think, the best basketball in America right now.

[Myron Metcalf]

That might be true at 5. 45, by the way, I. Every year, Myron, since 1996, have picked five teams to win the title, and I guarantee the title comes from that group. I've only missed once. Do you remember which one? Can you guess which one I missed?

[Matt Jones]

You probably missed UConn the first one.

[Myron Metcalf]

You. 2011 Yukon. That was the only. That's the.

[Matt Jones]

That.

[Myron Metcalf]

Excuse me. 2014. Yeah, 2014 Yukon. That's the only one.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

And I will give my five.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. I like it.

[Myron Metcalf]

And you, you can write it down and go to the bank with it then. I think maybe the best story in college basketball, which is hard for me to say because I spent a lot of my career giving this guy a hard time. But rick Patino at St. John's they win the Big east tournament for the first time in 30 plus years. New York, I was driving in today from, from New York to Bristol, Connecticut. I listened to local New York radio and they're all talking St. John's which has to be crazy. I mean, that's an NFL, Yankees, Knicks, et cetera. And they're all talking St. John's what Rick Patino has done at St. John's one of the most amazing things we've ever seen.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, it's the perfect marriage, right, between a coach and a program. Rick Patino back on the east coast. And you remember those St. John's teams in the late 90s, early 2000s, like when Ron Artest and those guys were there. It was fascinating. It was a national story. But then they weren't good for a long time. So I mean, Rick patino to bring St. John's back. Win the biggies championship. Win the biggies tournament, man. It's an incredible story. And this is a team that I think can win a national championship. I think they're that good.

[Myron Metcalf]

You think they're that good?

[Matt Jones]

I do. They can't shoot, but remember those Louisville teams couldn't shoot in 2012 and 2013 and they were still pretty good under Ripertino.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Here's what I think is great about you and I. We do Sunday morning with Matt Myron, Sunday mornings from 10 to 1. That's often an NFL show.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

But at our heart, if we're being honest, we're kind of college basketball guys. Here's what I love about Ripino. He first of all, he's the coach of my childhood, but I love he brings a star power to the sport. I mean, this is a dude who has seen a clip from the documentary following him. It went viral and was talked about on like Shane Gillis's podcast. Joe Rogan's podcast played it then he's on the Tonight Show. I mean, he's on the Tonight Show. When do you think the last time a college basketball coach has been on the Tonight Show? It's probably been a while. I think that has really added a lot of sort of energy and spark to the season.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, you see Rick Patino in the garden in that white suit. I mean, there are many that can make it interest the way that he does.

[Myron Metcalf]

Brought back hypnotized when they introduced him.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. I mean, to be honest, outside of Cooper flag, Rick Ptino is the biggest star in this NCAA tournament in terms of recognizable figures. Man, if they advance, that's going to be a huge story around the country for a lot of cash.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, they had a sold out guard.

[Matt Jones]

It's amazing.

[Myron Metcalf]

And they played hypnosis.

[Matt Jones]

New York loves him, man, which is amazing that he's done this.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's a. You're right. It's a perfect place.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Like he had to get out of the state of Kentucky. He had coached all the teams we had left.

[Matt Jones]

He did, he did.

[Myron Metcalf]

There was nowhere else he could go, so he went to New York and it's worked out.

[Matt Jones]

And you know what? If you're saying who's the best coach, not even just this season, who's the greatest coach of all time? Rick Patino's in that conversation, man. And if anybody had any doubts about that this year, I think he put those to bed.

[Myron Metcalf]

For those of you who kind of a lot of people sometimes like this is when they, you know, they, they're casual college basketball fans. I think for me, the storylines of the year have been the Duke freshman rick patino at St. John's and then the power of the SEC just as a whole, just the conference as a whole. Gonna get 13 teams in today, maybe even 14. They're gonna have like seven or eight teams in the top four seeds in each of the brackets. Those to me are the three biggest storylines. Anything else stick to you as a season wide thing?

[Matt Jones]

No, I, I think those are the biggest stories so far. I think going into the tournament, a bunch of the injuries we've seen over the last couple weeks is probably its own storyline, but I mean, the SEC is going to shatter the record established by the Big east in 2011. And you know what? I think they're the IT conference in college basketball. They were that in football, but it feels like they've stolen that mantle from the Big east, the Big Ten and the other leagues that have had it in recent years.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, Tom Craig's going to join us and, and he coached in that league and I want to talk to him about that because I, I never. I mean, I'm an SECC guy my whole life. I never would have imagined it happened, but it has. Wisconsin leads Michigan 51:50 late in the second half, the Big Ten title. Memphis is up 69, 61 with six minutes to go in the American title. All the bubble teams are going. Come on, Memphis. Do not let UAB win because they'll steal a bid if they do. It's the Men's Bracketology Selection show here on ESPN Radio. My guy, Tom Crane Next.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron. The podcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

Race the rudders, Race the sails.

[Matt Jones]

Race the sails.

[Tom Crean]

Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching. Over.

[Myron Metcalf]

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[Myron Metcalf]

It'S the men's bracketology selection show. ESPN radio Matt Jones, Myron Metcalf we are presented by Progressive Making things easier at Progressive. They help you bundle your home and car insurance together. Save on both. Learn [e-mail] or 1-800-Progressive ESPN analyst Tom Crean is in studio. And I think what's interesting, first of all, Tom, great to see you.

[Tom Crean]

You too, Matt.

[Myron Metcalf]

You too. Myron's like a million bucks. Unlike the two of us, we're on TV today. Isn't this like the best day? Is it a good day? As a coach, is it nerve wracking?

[Tom Crean]

Oh, it's, it's unbelievably nerve wracking. And we're just having this discussion in the studio. I look back at it, and there's. You're worried so much about everybody else. You're certainly worried about your family. You're worried about your team. You're worried about your coaches and their families. Your. If you're doing an event with the fans, you're concerned about that. And then all of a sudden, as soon as the brackets are out and there's that level of stress, no matter where you're at. Okay. It doesn't matter if you're on the bubble or the one year we went in as the number one seed. There's a high level of stress to it. Well, then you just turn right around and start working, or your mind is on that, because now you're doing more media, you're doing some interviews. And that was at times when it took a little while to get the film. Now you can be on your opponent as quick as you can get into synergy.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Tom Crean]

And so, like, it's. I look back at that, and I certainly wish I would have taken a breath a few more times and enjoyed it and looked around a little bit, and you see pictures, you think, man, I don't even remember that. Yeah, right. But there's nothing like it. I mean, I'm not complaining. I mean, there's absolutely nothing like it. But you do, as a head coach, get really caught up in how it's going for everybody else. You kind of forget about yourself. And I wish you'd take it in with your family a little bit more. I hope people do.

[Matt Jones]

Tom, what do you do when you're getting the ticket requests and, you know, people sending you texts? How do you block out that side of it?

[Tom Crean]

We better have a good administrative assistant secretary, chief of staff, and now general manager. Right, but. And it's even more than the general manager now. You better have a great chief of staff. But I think it was pretty good. I think you're. You're really trying to navigate. You want to get it clear, okay, this is what we have. This is the amount of tickets that you're gonna have as a coach. You're gonna have for the family. There aren't extras. And so you just try to handle it. But the best is when you have an administrative meeting. In this day and age, you can't really have it before. You could have a logistics meeting before, but once it's established now, you have to have a good meeting. I mean, and you gotta get everything covered. That's where your staff is important. The athletic staff is important. You want your wife or spouse involved in it so they have an idea of what's going on.

[Myron Metcalf]

People don't even think about this. People don't even think about it. Tom Cream, ESPN ANALYSTS all right, so I think two of the biggest stories going into this bracket reveal are things you would know more about than anybody. Let's start with the SEC. I mean, 13 teams, almost certainly in. Got to see about Texas. That's my league. I think it's the best league I've ever seen. Only like the 80s Big east, maybe. What do you think?

[Tom Crean]

Absolutely. Absolutely. And it's not just recency bias. I mean, Absolutely. There's just too many teams. And when you bring up Texas, and in my mind, I keep looking at, okay, they got 15 losses, all right, they're 6 and 12. They're in the SEC, right, like those. Here's an example of how great the league is. Okay? Florida, when Walter Clayton was on the court, the conference games, the conference tournament games, the, the number right now for them, they were plus 2, 43. Okay, when you go to Duke and you look at the conference and you look at the conference tournament games, that team was plus 456. Now think about that. That's two number one seeds right there. That's how different Duke's path was than an Auburn, than a Florida, than people like that. And Duke is great. They could win it. I mean, I'm not, that's not a knock on Duke. But that SEC like that, when I got that number like that, put it in context for me, because Florida is outstanding and that seems like a high number, a plus minus until you see what Duke did and, and, and Florida.

[Myron Metcalf]

Might be playing as well as anybody in the country. And Georgia blew him out. I mean, like, that's, that, that's a crazy thing about the league that.

[Tom Crean]

The thing about Florida is they've just been getting better and better. You could see it coming. I had the good fortune to see him practice in July and they weren't even all there, but you could see it. I think people forget how good they were last year. And then they were devastated. Well, Micah Henlock and got hurt in the championship game. I mean, we could have been talking about Florida at a Sweet 16 Elite 8, Final 4 level a year ago, but you took out a guy that was one of the best rebounders in the country, right behind Garcia and certainly Zach Eady at Purdue. The team was devastated and they never really recovered. Well, now they're that much deeper. And so it's crazy to me how deep they are. I feel like they've been that since November and they just keep getting better. They've got more and they're top eight and nine that I think would start for at least 70, maybe upwards of 75% of the high majors.

[Myron Metcalf]

Wow, that's amazing.

[Tom Crean]

The high majors.

[Matt Jones]

I got the same mantra every year, Coach. Young teams don't win championships for the most part, even though we hype them up. You got the 2012 Kentucky team with Anthony Davis, 2015 with Duke and Ty Jones. But that's it in the one and done era. Why do you think that is? Obviously Cooper Flag and Duke, they look amazing. But why is it so hard for teams led by young players, specifically freshmen, to win a championship at this level?

[Tom Crean]

Well, we'll start with the physical part. It's the physical play, the thing that takes the longest, I think for college players when they come in. It's not necessarily the mindset of the game when you develop this. It's not necessarily the skill of the game. It's the physicality of the game and the speed of the game and what that does to your mind. All right. Because you've got to be able to. The game goes faster. Well, your mind's got to get a little slower with it. I mean, you got to build a process which is really, really hard. And then the physicality. I mean, there's. So the number one story of this tournament for me is how is it going to be officiated? Because some of the best, and it is every year, but this year more than ever because there are so many great programs that are putting pressure on the referees. There are three to four fouls every possession on a six, seven, eight pass possession that ends at the rim. And they could. And now the games were 211 last year in the NCAA tournament. A few years before that they were 207. That's going to escalate this year, like with the reviews and things of that nature. There's no question about it. We'd be talking about 2 hour and 45 minute games if they called every foul.

[Myron Metcalf]

Somebody who's had to watch SEC games this year. I don't see how elite could be more physical. And they can't call everything. So I do think that makes a difference. All right, so let's go to the bubble. That's what everybody wonders right now. You got North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, maybe sitting on one side. You got Xavier, Boise State. If it's you, which of those five teams I mentioned? Let's say there's two spots. Xavier Boise State, Carolina, Indiana, Texas. Who you putting it for?

[Tom Crean]

Me, I'm looking at it in recent results too, over a period of time. And I am equating the SEC for one. I'm putting Xavier in it because when they. That league is really good and when they struggled early, they didn't have Zach Fremantle and you got to equate that in there. I mean that's a key guy. It was their. Their best big guy. I like Xavier. I think when I would Matt Myron. When I look at this bubble, I say, okay, who could get to the second weekend, right? Like who's. Or let's say it's a Dayton situation. Who could get to Sunday or Saturday? I think Xavier could. I think Texas could.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Tom Crean]

Trey Johnson's just.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's tough because Texas best win, if you look at it might be like Kentucky on their court. So you don't have the wins. But I wouldn't want to play Trey Johnson. You know what I mean? If I, if I was a six seed or a three seed, I wouldn't want to play them.

[Tom Crean]

No, absolutely not. And they've been in some really good. Like Arkansas, I thought got a lot better and they really responded when Boogie Flan went down. Now I'm not sure how far they go without Theo. Okay if he's out for the first weekend, but I look back at like, okay, Arkansas had numerous chances to beat Auburn. Texas had numerous chances to beat Arkansas. Like there's these games really come down to. We could talk about every team in the league that way. These games really do come down to a couple possessions. And if that's the best league in the country, which it is. I think you got to factor that. And I'm not sure they're going to do it, but I think you do.

[Myron Metcalf]

30 seconds. I think the 1 seeds are the four best teams. I think it's Florida, Houston, Duke, Auburn. Do you agree?

[Tom Crean]

Yes, but. But I think right now, and not to be just because they're 1 and 3 since the Kentucky game. Auburn's not the same team since Kentucky. The numbers pared out.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, wow.

[Tom Crean]

Yeah, they're not. We do that to teams and I'm not saying. I'm not saying that they can't. That, that they can't get that back. I said the term yesterday. They need a reset. They got to reset defensively. That's the bottom line. I think Florida is the best team.

[Myron Metcalf]

Tom Cream will be on stuff for the rest of the evening. Thank you very much. Great stuff. As always. Such a dapper coach. We're going to do more Men's Bracketology show next on ESPN.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron the podcast.

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[Myron Metcalf]

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[Myron Metcalf]

So you can do. You get [e-mail] compatible with select apps. Requires Google Gemini account. Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy. It is the Men's Bracketology Selection Show ESPN Matt Jones Meyer Metcalf I want to tell you that right now it looks like we have our automatic burst pretty much ready. Michigan has beaten Wisconsin to win the Big Ten. They were down most of the game and they're going to win. Dusty May who will join us later in the show. And Michigan going to win the Big Ten title. And it looks like Memphis is going to hold on against uab. That hurts. Well, it hurts uab. The teams on the bubble will be happy about it as Memphis was probably in either way. A couple of things to get you ready for this day and this night of bracketology. Myron Metcalf writes. How many words did you say it was?

[Matt Jones]

I submit a 13,114 words.

[Myron Metcalf]

13,114 words.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

That is more words than almost anyone knows. And you that preview will be on ESPN.com and it will be all you need to know to do your bracketology. And you're going to want to play the ESPN Tournament Challenge. It's the number one bracket game in America which means the world. And they're back for fans with bracket brain. More than a $250,000 in prizes tournament brackets available right after the selection show. We will have a Tournament Challenge marathon tonight with analysis that includes Myron and all kinds of bracket predictors analyzers. It's all there. That is going to be On ESPN and the Bracket tournament challenge. All right, Myron, every year I do this. I always tell you I'm going to pick five teams and I guarantee it. Take it to the bank, give it to your grandmother, whatever you need. What are you laughing at? What's wrong with giving it to your grandmother? That's a good.

[Matt Jones]

Take it to the bank. I'm like, what? I don't know what that means. Like what?

[Myron Metcalf]

But give it to your grandmother. You lie. Okay, yeah, because she wouldn't give your grandmother something's false.

[Matt Jones]

No, no.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm going to give you the five teams, okay? One of them is going to win. I do this every year. Only been wrong once. 2014, Yukon. Okay, my five teams. You tell me if there's one you would take out. One you put in Duke, Auburn, Houston, Florida. That's the four number one seeds. Now, I haven't picked the four number one seeds in many years, but I think this year the four number one seeds are very. And then my fifth team, which is the one I struggled with, I'm going to put Alabama as my fifth team that can win the title because they can score so much. If you were to look at the metrics that have shown the title winners in the past, the only other teams that really would qualify on the list are Marquette and Wisconsin. And I can't pick those teams. So I'm going to stick with my five. Is there anybody you would take out or anybody you would put in?

[Matt Jones]

Well, your top four, I think most people would agree. I mean, I think Duke, now that Cooper Flag's gonna be available for the NCAA Tournament, clearly a team that can win it all. I think Auburn has been the best team in America for most of the season. Houston, even. Even without Juan Roberts. I think they are, man. They, you know, without Juan Roberts, they had a chance to. To slip, but L.J. cryer, Emmanuel Sharp, so many talented players, man. Milo's Eunice, that's a really, really good Houston team. Maybe the best Houston team that Calvin.

[Myron Metcalf]

They've always been good defensively. I think the difference is this year they're really good offensively. They. They have an efficiency. They're like fourth in offense normally. What's kept them out is they're like 25th this year.

[Matt Jones]

4Th Milo use on is a really talented player, Malik Wilson. They got a bunch of guys, L.J. crier, who can score at levels that they haven't had in the past. Then Auburn, you mentioned. Clearly, they're right there as well. Florida, I think, is playing the best basketball in America. Right now I just like Alabama. Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why?

[Matt Jones]

Because I do feel like they've been a different team in, in recent weeks. You know, kind of that one trick pony a little bit.

[Myron Metcalf]

Teams have a trick. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

But teams have figured out how to beat them. Even when they're trying to push the pace the way that they do. I think Alabama strength is they can overwhelm you with the way that they play.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

And they haven't been able to do that in recent weeks.

[Myron Metcalf]

So I would see the feast and famine with Alabama. If you watch the SEC tournament, they dominated Kentucky. Just completely did exactly what you said, just overwhelmed them. Then the next night they got dominated by Florida.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

So I mean, that. That's the kind of feast and famine. So if you're going to take Alabama out, who you putting in?

[Matt Jones]

Well, also remember Alabama, Grant Nelson, we don't know if he's going to be healthy and that would be a big loss. So I think there are three teams that you have to consider. One is in the sec. Tennessee is who I would replace from the SEC with Alabama. They can't score, but Tennessee is a really, really good team. That was playing with Florida for a chunk of that game. Top defense in America, the Kai Ziegler, one of the best defensive players in the country. Rick Barnes, we know what he's been able to do. I think Tennessee, to me would be that team from the SEC that I would replace Alabama with. And then from there, St. John's I think, has to be in the conversation only because of what Rick Patino has done with a team that was just like St. John's not a great offensive team, incredible defensively. He's won national championships with a team just like that. And then a team I'm watching right now, Michigan, it looks like to me is such a unique kind of threat that I think they got to be in the mix as well. You haven't seen Matt, a team play two seven footers the way that Michigan does. I mean, they use them to run their entire offense. And Danny Wolf and Vlad golden. It's just hard to repair for something like that.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's interesting. The three new coaches in college basketball that have taken over programs and had a lot of success early would be Mark Pope at Kentucky, Pat Kelsey at Louisville and Dusty May at Michigan. Interestingly enough, all three are going to be on the show tonight, but they all three do the same thing, which is they run a lot of their offense through the bigs and you just don't see that. I mean, that's an NBA Thing that has now come to college basketball and has become a big part for some of these teams is what they do well.

[Matt Jones]

And I think running through the bigs.

[Myron Metcalf]

If you haven't watched them, like bring the bigs to the top of the key and run it not on the block. They run. They do what Draymond does in Golden State. Right. They run it through the top of the key. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, Danny Wolf is a seven foot point guard in a lot of ways in that mission offense. Yeah. So it is a unique thing. Is it a different thing that you just don't see? They got hot at the right time, but they've been good throughout the year, man. So I think for Michigan to finish strong the way that they have, you got to put them in that conversation as well.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right. Before we get to brackets, because when we get to brackets, we'll figure it out more in depth. Give me a team five seat or lower. That could be the surprise team to end up in the Final four. If it. Give me a five seat or lower that you go, all right, that team's got enough that if things go, they could end up there.

[Matt Jones]

I'll give you two. I mean, I think Arizona turned it on in the Big 12 tournament. We saw what they can do and Caleb Love is playing well. That's a very good team.

[Myron Metcalf]

You think they'll be like a 5, 6?

[Matt Jones]

I think they'll be 5, 4, 5. But BYU is probably the number one team I would pick. I mean, Kevin Young, Phoenix Suns assistant a year ago, I think it took him a while to get used to the collegiate system. I also think you hear coaches say this, Matt, in the transfer portal era, more and more coaches are getting good with their teams in February, in late January, it's taking longer because there's so many different pieces that they have to bring together. And I think BYU is a great example of that. A bunch of transfers, obviously, in that program. A new coach who is coming in in his first year of college basketball. And it took some time, I think, to figure it out, but right now BYU is figuring it out and I think they're one of the best teams in America over the last couple of weeks.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, I'm going to give you. I'm going to give you two, but then a third way off the. Off the path. Okay. Wisconsin's one for me. They'll probably be a football.

[Matt Jones]

There'll be a three or four, though.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right, well, I'm going to say there'll be a four because just bear with me okay, Okay. I don't want you stealing my phone. I'm saying Marquette, I'm going to get another team from Wisconsin. I think they can get hot if they get the right bracket. But here's the one this team is. I got to see their draw. But this could be an Elite Eight team that no one mentions.

[Matt Jones]

Okay?

[Myron Metcalf]

Watch Chris Beard and Ole Miss, because they can play with any team. They've got guys who can shoot, they can play defense, and they tend to, like, grind out these games. They played Auburn well in the SEC tournament before they lost. I just see that again, for me, it'll be about matchups, but no one mentions them. And they have some really good wins this year. So I'm going to throw them out there as a. I mean, obviously you're sitting there, like, going, oh, it's not going to be one of the things. I mean, I'm not saying.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't say that.

[Myron Metcalf]

That was how you say.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I didn't say.

[Myron Metcalf]

That. I'm just. That was almost a direct quote.

[Matt Jones]

That's not what I said.

[Myron Metcalf]

I. But I'm just saying if you're going off the beaten path, there's one.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I mean, you know, I think with a guy like Chris Beard, who's been a really good coach, this is where coaching matters more than anything. It's actually, to me, not in the first round. It's that 24 hour. That's a period between the first and second round.

[Myron Metcalf]

All right? Now, again, we don't see the matchups. There's going to be some 13, 12 win a game.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Who's it going to be?

[Matt Jones]

McNeese.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, I think that's a good one.

[Matt Jones]

Way now they're playing some good basketball. I mean, Will Wade ain't gonna be there long. I guess he's gonna get a high major job here pretty fast. But, I mean, that team has won 57 games in the last two years. Get this. Will Wade has not lost a game in January in two seasons with McNiece. I mean, so this is a team that just gets hot this time of year. They're playing great offensively and they have.

[Myron Metcalf]

Athletes that are not Southland or whatever. The. They're better than that. And I think that they're not going to be scared. A lot of these teams, you get overwhelmed by athleticism. They're not going to have that happen.

[Matt Jones]

No. Javon Garcia, conference player of the year, Christian Shimante, defensive player of the year in that league. So, I mean, that is a team that's made 39% of their threes over the last month or so. So this is a. A really tough team. I think in McNeese.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm gonna give you mine the High Point from North Carolina.

[Matt Jones]

High points.

[Myron Metcalf]

Got some bowlers, like, in this bracketology. The last one from Leonardi, he's got him playing Maryland. If that game occurred. I'm picking high Point over the Terps, so I.

[Matt Jones]

Mine.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yours is McNeese. Mine is high Point. Those are the teams.

[Matt Jones]

I.

[Myron Metcalf]

If I'm a 4 seed, I would not want to see either one of those teams on the other side here in 20 minutes.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, no, that won't be fun. That would be a nightmare matchup for four.

[Myron Metcalf]

That would be a. A big nightmare matchup. It's a men's bracketology selection show. So I guess they bring out. I guess the announcement looks like 17 minutes away. 17 and a half minutes. We will bring you the. The selections as they come. Myron, I've been through this before. I can always tell as I'm announcing the teams. Myron's brain is already thinking about the matchups, and sometimes I have to remind him who's even playing. I got it. Were you as excited as I was as a kid when you. When. When on this day?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, no, I was.

[Myron Metcalf]

Did you draw the brackets yourself like, I did?

[Matt Jones]

No, I didn't. And I can tell based on how you do this show that you did. Like, this is like. No, this is like your dream position, man. Like.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, that's true.

[Matt Jones]

Going through the bracket, I mean, you're good at a lot of things, but I feel like this is actually where you shine.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why do you say that?

[Matt Jones]

Because you just. For me, I am someone who's like, give me the bracket at the end. Right. But you, as it's happening.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I'm nerdy.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you're like a scientist.

[Myron Metcalf]

Scientist. Like. Oh, yes, yes. No, I mean, this was like. This was my. I still have the hand copies of the bracket from, like, 1992.

[Matt Jones]

You don't have to tell everybody that. You know, listen, when I. If I meet, like, some stuff is for, like, the cruiser.

[Myron Metcalf]

If I meet women, I don't go up to them and go, I've got the bracket from 1992. But the kind of person that's listening to this show, I would think would appreciate that.

[Matt Jones]

No, but I mean that sincerely, though. I mean, sincerely, you. You are good at a lot of things. This is your moment. Like, as the brackets are unveiled, I.

[Myron Metcalf]

Could have been Leonardi. This is. You, like, needed to be, like, quick. Lenardi story. I know we gotta go break. Last year I was in this building to do this show. When it was over, I went. We all stay at one hotel in Bristol. I won't say it who it is, but all these people, like everyone. Oh, everybody goes and stays in the 1 Hotel, Bristol, Connecticut. It's got like sheep on the. So, like, there's one hotel that everybody goes and stays in. And I hadn't eaten when this was over, I went down to the little sports bar in the hotel and I was eating and the only other person that plays was Joe Lenardi. And the nit selection show was on TV. All right, the nit selection show. It's probably 9:30 at night. Joel Nardi is doing what I did when I was a kid. He has drawn the brackets and he's writing down the NIT Love It Selection show as it comes out. And I thought I could have been that guy. But that's. That's love when he's doing that at that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, man. So this is your moment, man. Enjoy it.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't like how you're casting me as some sort of.

[Matt Jones]

No, I really think this is. You seem to enjoy this more than anything that you do.

[Myron Metcalf]

To be honest with you, I enjoy this more than the games.

[Matt Jones]

I agree. I agree.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's better than the games. Will Duke be at full strength in the tournament? We will have Myron's latest report. That's next here on the Bracketology Selection show on esp.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron the podcast.

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[Myron Metcalf]

Matt Jones, Myron Metcalf here brackets are 20 minutes away. ESPN plus fans unlock a world of entertainment with a Great offer. Get 6 months of Sirius XM on us and enjoy your favorite ad. Free music, talk, podcasts and more. Go to espnplus.com SiriusXM to get the offer. Six months, that's pretty good. Eligibility and offer details apply. One person writes in. You can write, I have a number that's like a text machine we use on the show. 772-774-5254. Jason writes in and says, I think Myron just called you a bracket nerd, Matt. I love it. And he's right. But are you offended? Well, a little bit, because I, like, think because you're, like, acting like it's not cool to have been the kid that was the bracket guy. I feel like that was pretty cool.

[Matt Jones]

Like, how long have I worked with you? What, seven years? Seven, eight years. Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

This day is the most excited I ever see.

[Myron Metcalf]

You excited?

[Matt Jones]

Legitimately. Nothing wrong with that.

[Myron Metcalf]

First of all, this is, like. This is like my favorite. I mean, I'm going to be real with you. This is, like my favorite weekend of the year. I'm always at the SEC tournament like all my college friends. Then I flew up here this morning. You walk in, you just. You're. You're at espn. Like, I'm not here all the time. Like, for a lot of these people, like our producers in there, it's old hat. They walk in. But I'm only in this building. Like, first of all, I couldn't even get in this building because I. Because I.

[Matt Jones]

There were a lot of text messages.

[Myron Metcalf]

I couldn't get in. They were like, you're an employee. They gave me a look like, you're an employee here. I said, I promise I am. Then when you get in, you know, you see all these pictures. You walk in, there's Rebecca Lobo right over there, right? Hello, Rebecca. There's Tom Crean. You know all that. That's kind of cool. Then you sit in here and you're in a big studio. Myron walks in with his Snoopy jacket on. Like, it's exciting. And then you get to say the brackets. Like, how could you not enjoy it? Why are you trying to act like it's so cool? You enjoy it, too.

[Matt Jones]

I love it. No, it's. It's a compliment, man. I love that you love it because it makes the show better. This. This is the greatest sporting event in the world, and this is the first.

[Myron Metcalf]

Time you and I have done it. Have been in studio together in Bristol since COVID which was five years ago this week, is when all the stuff shut down. I mean, people forget it was Covid. It was during conference championship week five years ago this happened. So it is kind of like a changing of the guard.

[Matt Jones]

It's fun, man. This is fun. This is the best day of the year leading up to the best sporting event in the world. There's nothing like these three weeks.

[Myron Metcalf]

It was kind of weird that Dan gave it. The NCAA senior vice president of basketball was on television, was that. And said this about Cooper Flagg's injury for Duke.

[Dan Gavitt]

But we understand from communication with Duke and the ACC that Cooper Flagg will be available for the NCAA Tournament. So don't expect that to impact their seating. He is not the only significant injury. We're tracking other injuries from other teams. Player availability is always a concern and a consideration and could potentially impact seeding, especially if a player is unavailable to play in the NCAA Tournament. Player availability is also considered in evaluating a team during the regular season based on player injuries and missed games.

[Myron Metcalf]

Really strange that the vice president of basketball would say it. And then Jon Shire was asked about it last night, and he said this. I don't know who said that. I did not say that directly, but I can tell you that that's exactly my intention. It's the same thing. I mean, I think it's trending in a great way where Cooper will be ready to go right away. NCAA Tournament. Was it all a little strange to you that the vice president of basketball is the one who broke the Cooper flag playing in the tournament story?

[Matt Jones]

It's very strange because the entire committee mantra leading up to Selection Sunday is don't comment about specific teams. I mean, I was on a conference call with Bubba Cunningham, North Carolina athletic director, chair of the selection committee this week. He wouldn't say anything about any specific team. Everything was coach speak. Everything was vague. So for Dan Gavin to say that, that was surprising. At the same time, if you're Duke, Matt, and the committee or the NCAA is saying, hey, we kind of need to know what's happening with Cooper Fleck.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

What are you supposed to say? You are going to say they're going.

[Myron Metcalf]

To say it, right? They're going to say it. I mean, like, they're. The incentive for teams is to act like, even if they're not playing, act like they are.

[Matt Jones]

Exactly.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, because they don't really have a choice in some way, Right?

[Matt Jones]

Yes. So I think that, to me, is the thing here. Dan Gavin said Cooper Flack will be available, and it Sounds like John Shire saying, that's the goal. I still don't think that means for sure he's playing in the first round.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let's ask about. All right, so let's say Duke plays, I don't know, Quinn, Apoc or whatever. Right.

[Matt Jones]

How do you say Quinnipiac? But they're not going to be in it. Yep.

[Myron Metcalf]

Are they not, Brian? Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Bryant. Let's say Brian.

[Myron Metcalf]

Wait a minute. Bryant's coach is coming on here. Let's say Mount Saint Mary.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. Mount Saint Mary's. Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Are they in the tournament?

[Matt Jones]

They're in.

[Myron Metcalf]

The tournament's not out yet. How am I supposed to know they're playing Mount St. Mary's and let's say he sits out. Then let's say UConn is the eight seat, which could happen.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

You tell me. Cooper Flag's not playing Duke vs. UConn in the second round of tournament.

[Matt Jones]

No, I think he probably will.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

But I think a couple of things with Cooper Flag, because you notice, Matt, sprained ankles sometimes are worse than, like, a break because it can affect people differently in terms of, like, you don't.

[Myron Metcalf]

Know how he comes back if he broke his ankle.

[Matt Jones]

That's not what I mean.

[Myron Metcalf]

A week ago. You think? Here's what I'm telling me. Cooper Flag broke his ankle a week ago. It wouldn't be as bad as if he sprained it.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, let me. Let me reset and explain what I'm saying. It's harder to know with an injury like this how he comes back. So let's say he's available. Is it the same Cooper Flag, but.

[Myron Metcalf]

If he broke it, he wouldn't be back at all?

[Matt Jones]

No, I'm just. Just go with me for a second, man.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Just stop messing up my metaphors. Anyways, I think he'll be available. Will he be 100%? Will they have the same confidence in using him the way that they always have with the injury? So I think there's still a lot of unknown. Him being available does not mean Cooper Flag is going to be what we've seen throughout this season. There may be limitations, and if that's the case, that changes their ceiling for me. It doesn't change them as a second weekend team, maybe even elite eight team. Yeah. But final four championship. They need 100%. Cooper flag.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. I mean, it's hard for me to evaluate all of these ACC teams. Right. I take Louisville. Great story. Great story. Good. Probably going to be a 6 seed, maybe really good team. But besides Duke, I mean, they haven't played anybody since, like, January 10th. So it's hard to. It's hard to know. And I wonder if that's also true with Duke. Like, how good are they?

[Matt Jones]

I mean, they beat Auburn.

[Myron Metcalf]

They did. But that was in December at Cameron Indoor.

[Matt Jones]

Right? They did it. They beat Arizona. I mean, they, they played some good teams.

[Myron Metcalf]

I know, but then Kansas and Kentucky beat them, like, so. So it's hard. It's just kind of hard to know. But we will find out for ourselves. Now we're just minutes away from the bracket being revealed. Myron says it's like, this is your Christmas.

[Matt Jones]

It is your Christmas.

[Myron Metcalf]

Don't. They're showing Jack Gulke on tv, though. That was not happy for me last year. But reveal the bracket and more. It is the bracketology selection show here next on ESPN Radio.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron, the Podcast.

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