Hour 1: What Do You Know About SIUE?

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron – Episode Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron
• Hosts: Myron Medcalf and Matt Jones
• Publisher: ESPN Radio
• Description: Join Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf every Sunday morning as they delve into all things sports, providing analysis, insights, and engaging discussions to kickstart your weekend.

Episode Details:

• Episode Title: Hour 1: What Do You Know About SIUE?
• Release Date: March 9, 2025

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Introduction and Lighthearted Banter (00:00 – 01:04)

The episode kicks off with Matt and Myron engaging in light-hearted conversation about everyday moments and how Mentos gum can "defresh" them, turning mundane situations into lively experiences. This playful exchange sets a relaxed tone for the show.

Notable Quote:

• Matt (00:31): “It is Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio with Matt Myron, on a beautiful day where I am. Hopefully where you are as well.”

Daylight Savings Time Debate (01:04 – 03:32)

The hosts delve into the contentious topic of Daylight Savings Time. Myron expresses frustration over losing an hour of sleep, questioning the authority behind the change. Matt shares an anecdote about his great-grandfather who refused to adjust clocks, highlighting generational differences in attitudes toward time changes.

Notable Quotes:

• Myron (00:50): “We ain't saved nothing. What do we save?”
• Matt (01:15): “He would leave it and be one hour wrong the whole time.”

Personal Stories and Heritage (03:32 – 12:26)

Matt shares a nostalgic story about his great-grandfather, a mountain circuit rider preacher who inadvertently influenced the country singer Morgan Wallen's roots. This segment intertwines personal history with broader cultural references, showcasing the hosts' diverse backgrounds.

Notable Quote:

• Matt (02:54): “Refresh the everyday with Mentos gum available in a range of fresh flavors like spearmint, fresh mint and strawberry. Mentos gum.”

Sports Recap and Highlights (12:26 – 22:21)

The conversation shifts to sports, with Matt providing a rundown of major recent events:

• College Basketball: Alabama's win over Auburn impacting Duke's NCAA tournament seed.
• NBA: Lakers' loss to the Celtics due to LeBron James' injury.
• UFC: Mentioned as a significant story of the day.

Myron emphasizes the SEC's dominance in college basketball, comparing it to the Big East's historical prominence. They discuss the implications of the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) making the NCAA tournament, admitting limited knowledge about the school’s background and notable alumni.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt (04:15): “Yesterday was a major day in sports. Probably the biggest story is a lot of college basketball throughout the country.”
• Myron (05:00): “Alabama, Auburn to me was just incredible... the SEC has been remarkable all year.”

Deep Dive into SIUE's NCAA Tournament Entry (22:21 – 36:42)

Matt and Myron explore SIUE's unexpected entry into the NCAA tournament. They humorously critique the limited fame of SIUE's alumni, such as comedian Kathleen Madigan and author Shelby Steele, questioning the university's prominence in sports history.

Key Points:

• Historical Performance: Myron recalls SIUE's past in Division 1 soccer during the 60s and 70s, debating their current status.
• Community and Culture: Discussion about SIUE’s role as a commuter school near St. Louis and its local impact.

Audience Interaction: Listeners contribute facts about SIUE, including past music festivals and athletic achievements. Despite the hosts' initial skepticism, the segment highlights SIUE's rich history and community engagement.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt (08:06): “Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville made the NCAA tournament. Those of you getting brackets are going to see SIUE on your bracket.”
• Myron (17:04): “The fact that they are headed to the big dance, color me surprised.”

Advertisements and Commercial Breaks (36:42 – 45:17)

The podcast transitions into various advertisements for sponsors such as McAfee, LinkedIn, and Best Western. These segments are skipped in the summary as per the user request.

In-Depth College Basketball Analysis (45:17 – 44:54)

Post-break, the hosts return to a detailed analysis of the ongoing college basketball season and the upcoming NCAA tournament. They discuss:

• Title Favorites: Auburn, Duke, and Houston as top contenders.
• Potential Final Four Teams: Including Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan State, Iowa State, and Texas Tech.
• St. John's Success: Highlighting coach Rick Patino's leadership and the team's unexpected performance surge.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt (41:09): “I think Kentucky's in the mix, but they're not deep.”
• Myron (40:43): “Houston is LJ Cryer, playing like an All American. Juan Roberts.”

NBA Playoffs Preview and Team Health Concerns (44:54 – 45:17)

Matt and Myron briefly touch upon NBA playoffs prospects, discussing the Boston Celtics' potential championship run and Lakers' challenges due to injuries and team dynamics. They express skepticism about the Lakers' ability to sustain performance, especially with key players like LeBron James dealing with injuries.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt (26:21): “So let us know. 888 say yes. We will also get to LeBron, Luka Tatum, Jalen Brown, big Lakers Celtics game last night.”
• Myron (24:53): “But Cleveland is deep. Cleveland can hit you many different ways.”

Closing Remarks and Teasers (45:17 – End)

The episode concludes with teasers for upcoming segments and guests, including a mention of Quinn Richardson, a former Clipper podcast host. The hosts encourage listeners to stay tuned for more in-depth discussions on college basketball and other sports topics.

Notable Quote:

• Matt (45:02): “Get ready to pick them on your bracket. We will do more next here on Sunday MORNING with Matt Myon.”

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Conclusion:

In this episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron," the hosts navigate through a blend of personal stories, light-hearted banter, and comprehensive sports analysis. The spotlight on SIUE's unexpected NCAA tournament entry serves as a focal point, sparking discussions about the university's athletic history and community impact. The episode effectively balances humor with insightful commentary, making it both engaging and informative for listeners.

Key Takeaways:

• Daylight Savings Time: A source of frustration and generational debate.
• SIUE’s NCAA Journey: An unexpected yet intriguing development with historical context.
• College Basketball Dominance: The SEC's rising prominence compared to traditional powerhouses.
• Upcoming NBA Playoffs: Concerns over team health and dynamics influencing championship prospects.
• Engaging Host Dynamics: Matt and Myron's chemistry and ability to blend humor with deep analysis enhance the listener experience.

Listeners tuning in can expect a thoughtful yet entertaining exploration of current sports events, enriched by the hosts' unique perspectives and interactive segments.

Transcript

[Matt]

Did you know that those boring moments don't have to feel, well, boring.

[Myron]

Like when you're stuck in traffic or a boring lecture. Just pop a piece of Mentos gum to start freshening things up. Before you know it, you've turned your.

[Matt]

Car into a karaoke stage in the lecture hall into a dance hall.

[Myron]

Refresh the everyday with Mentos gum available in a range of fresh flavors like spearmint, fresh mint and strawberry. Mentos gum.

[Matt]

Yes, defresh.

[Myron]

This is Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Matt]

It is Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio with Matt Myron, on a beautiful day where I am. Hopefully where you are as well. It is daylight savings time, so some of you may have woken up a little bit early. What? What's wrong, Myron? You don't like daylight savings?

[Myron]

We ain't saved nothing. What do we save?

[Matt]

Well, you say daylight is the name you get. You get.

[Myron]

But you took an hour from me.

[Matt]

One more hour of daylight tonight. So, like, if it gets dark where you are at 6:30 tonight, it'll be 7:30.

[Myron]

I don't care about any of that. You took it from me though. Why don't I get to choose how I use that hour? I wanted the extra sleep, I don't want the extra daylight. So I just agree with how that happened.

[Matt]

You know, my great grandfather, he would not change the clocks. He would leave it and be one hour wrong the whole time. And you'd ask, you'd be like, papa, half the year, he's wrong.

[Myron]

But wait, how did he go to work? Like, what?

[Matt]

He would. In his mind. He would switch it in his mind and we'd be like, why don't you just switch the clock as well? And he was like, no, that's what they want you to do. And I was always like, who's they? Like, who are you talking?

[Myron]

I agree. Who is they? Is my question. Who's making these decisions? Big day to take an hour away from me. But we just all agree. But we just all agree to it. And at what point do we push back is all I'm saying.

[Matt]

While I bring this up, I didn't expect to say this. Can I tell you a quick story about my Papaw Green before we get to sports? He was a mountain circuit rider, preacher. Do you know what that is? He would get on a horse and he would. In the mornings, he had like three churches and he'd preach at one of them at 10am Then he would get on his horse and go somewhere else for like 12:30 and then somewhere else for three, right? That's what he would do. So he. He never really left Sneadville, Hancock County, Tennessee, which is also where the country singer Morgan Wallen is from. All right, so one time they went to Knoxville, which was the big city, close to Sneadville, and they went to McDonald's for the first time. And he had never been to McDonald's. Okay, now you got to think of, like, in 1977, what McDonald's would have been like. Life was a little slower in Hancock County, Tennessee. He walks up to McDonald's, and people are like, yes, sir, may I take your order?

[Myron]

Blah, blah.

[Matt]

And of course, there's all this stuff on the menu. And it kind of freaked him out because he was in overalls and he wasn't used to going to a restaurant where people shouted at him. And so they kept saying, what would you like, sir? What would you like? And he just goes, yeah, I guess you just give me an order of mashed taters, which, of course, they did.

[Myron]

Not have at McDonald's, which was not on the menu.

[Matt]

Mashed taters were not on the menu. And so anyway, he rode a horse.

[Myron]

Did he ride a horse up there? You said not.

[Matt]

He didn't ride a horse to Knoxville. He would ride a horse, though, from church to church to go preach.

[Myron]

That's old school. A lot of black preachers, too. Like, I feel like the mountains and like, the black. Like, there's a lot of similarities, man.

[Matt]

Oh, yeah, for sure. And the M. People from the mountains and black people. That's why you and I get along. Like, we all don't trust. We all don't trust the government. Right? We always think there's something out there.

[Myron]

Happening, you know, like every show's like an episode of Black Jeopardy on snl. I feel like when they bring it. When they bring in Tom X.

[Matt]

And I could see you going, well, I just take me in order of mashed taters.

[Myron]

I definitely think daylight savings is run by the Man. I definitely. I definitely believe that.

[Matt]

You don't hear that story, by the way, on Greeny, which you don't hear anything on Green, because it doesn't exist anymore. 888, say ESPN.

[Myron]

Shots fired for what, man?

[Matt]

Well, no, I mean, they're just off the air.

[Myron]

Keep us on the air, though. All right.

[Matt]

888, say ESPN. It is Sunday morning with Matt Myron. Yeah. Yesterday was a major day in sports. Probably the biggest story is a lot of college basketball throughout the country. Alabama goes on the road. Beats number one, Auburn. Auburn took two losses this Week probably ensures Duke will be the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Kentucky goes on the road and wins at Missouri. St. John's goes on the road and wins at Marquette in a last second shot. Then in the NBA, the Lakers lose to the Celtics after LeBron tweaks and gets a little bit of an injury, Celtics win. What was the biggest story there was UFC last night. What was the biggest story yesterday for you?

[Myron]

Byron? I think it was just the, the full day of college basketball. But I mean, Alabama, Auburn to me was just incredible. Not just because it was this overtime game and comes down to Mark Sears, who was cold all day, hits the game winner at the end. But the fact that Alabama Auburn means this much in basketball.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Myron]

Is just incredible to me. And obviously the SEC has been remarkable all year, but I don't know if people understand what's happened to SEC basketball over the last decade, that that game was the game of the day and that it has legit Selection Sunday implications. So, I mean, just the whole pageantry around that game on a basketball court, the iron ball, that was fun to see.

[Matt]

A lot of America, you know, tunes into college basketball like right about now. And if that's the case, it's got to be weird to people that the ACC and like Duke Carolina is irrelevant and that the SEC and Alabama Auburn is the game. The fact that the Iron bowl of basketball is not only the game, that it lived up to expectations. Right. That Auburn, Johnny Broom hits national player of the year candidate, hits a three to tie the game at overtime and then Mark Sears, who'll be first team all SEC hits a floater to win the game. I mean, that's got to be insane to people. And again, if you're not a regular college basketball fan, this sentence sounds crazy, but the SEC is probably the best college basketball conference this year, maybe that any conference has ever been, except maybe like the Big east in the 80s. That's maybe the only one. Myron, it is amazing how deep the SEC goes this season. Yeah.

[Myron]

And I think it's important you mentioned like the, you know, the Big east of the 80s and 90s. I mean, at the time that's where you wanted to be a college basketball player. Right. If you were Allen Iverson and Ewing, you wanted to play in that conference. I think the same thing is happening to the sec. Like what's going to be difficult, I think for the ACC to overcome is when you see all the success, success with the sec. This is just going to be a destination for players in the years ahead. So it's only going to get bigger and better as, as it establishes itself as the premier conference, I think, in college basketball.

[Matt]

And you know this better than anybody, but you know, I would say in the top hundred players in the, in the country every year, probably 40 to 50 live in the SEC. It's just they went and played basketball somewhere else and now they're just staying home. Right? Like now they're just staying in the south and you're ending up getting a great conference. Now also, we got our first automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. And here's what I need from you, all the listeners, okay? 888, say ESPN. We do this every year. Usually the first bid to the NCAA tournament comes from the Ohio Valley Conference. Right? Ohio Valley Conference has changed its membership over the years, but yesterday, and I'm gonna have to say this correctly, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Okay, so it's not Southern Illinois, the Salukis, it's Southern Illinois. Excuse me, at Edwardsville. Not Evansville.

[Myron]

Edwardsville.

[Matt]

Yep, yep, yep, Edwardsville. So S I U E made the NCAA tournament. Those of you getting brackets are going to see S I U E on your bracket. They'll probably be like a 15 seed, maybe 14. So here's one of the things. This is a school I know nothing about. Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville I barely knew was a school. They've never made the tournament before. I assume they're in Edwardsville since that's part of the name. James, I need to know a little bit about this first entrant in the big dance. All right, well, a little bit is.

[Myron]

All you're going to learn because there's not much, there's not much, not much info out there that's very interesting. You asked me to look to see who some of their most notable alumni are.

[Matt]

Okay, so yeah, who went to the school. That's good.

[Myron]

Kathleen Madigan is the only person I know.

[Matt]

She's the.

[Myron]

Who is Kathleen Mad comic, A standup comedian.

[Matt]

She was on Do I know her from anything?

[Myron]

What was the, what was the show Last Comic?

[Matt]

I don't know.

[Myron]

She was, she was on Last Comic Standing. Did she win Kathleen Madigan? Yeah, that's.

[Matt]

So you're telling me the most famous person from SIUE is a woman that didn't win comic standing? Yeah, she's a, she's, she's a pretty.

[Myron]

Like she has a bunch of stand up. Like was she ever on BET Comic View? I don't think so. Okay. Her last name is Madigan. So I'm Pretty sure.

[Matt]

Okay, so you're telling me the best we could do at SIUE is Kathleen Madigan? Do you know who Shelby Steele is?

[Myron]

Because I don't. And he even has my last name.

[Matt]

Is he the Civil War historian? No, that's Shelby Foote. Sorry, Shelby Foot.

[Myron]

Wait, why do you know Civil War historians? Like, you have a list of Civil War historians.

[Matt]

When you grow up in the south, you know, they teach you a lot of Civil War and most of the historians. Wait a minute. Hang on, Myron. Most of the historians are on the side of the north, but Shelby Foote was, like, the one guy who was like, the south, you know, it has stuff.

[Myron]

So y'all got, like, Civil War historian baseball cards, like, y'all just traded.

[Matt]

I will guarantee you, if you grew up in the south, everyone listening in the south, you. You've heard of Shelby Foote? I know they have. It was like, when you were a kid, he was the one dude you had to read with Shelby Foote. And he didn't go to S I U E, to be clear. So who is Shelby Steele? Who is that?

[Myron]

He's an American author and columnist.

[Matt]

What did he write? What did he write?

[Myron]

Yeah, what did he. Yeah, maybe. No, it doesn't even say what he wrote.

[Matt]

It doesn't even say what he wrote. Okay, so you. You know, by that definition, I'm an American author. I wrote a book. That doesn't mean anything.

[Myron]

All right, so John Shimkus, who's an American now, you just making up names. I think that school. I think that school made up a list. You know, you can go on and, like, edit your Wikipedia. I think maybe that's what happened here.

[Matt]

All right, so here's what I. Here's what I need. Someone here, okay? Someone out there in radio world. You either went to siue, you know someone who went there, you have some information, because this team is in the NCAA tournament, and so far they're not. They don't even have a Shelby Foot. They got Shelby Foot's little cousin Shelby Steele on as their. As their alumni. If you have any connection to SIUE888, say, ESPN. Myron, maybe we can learn something about the first school that's in the NCAA tournament.

[Myron]

Yeah, I will say they have a great player, Rayshawn Taylor, who I've written about and I told people about coming to the season. But, yeah, we need to learn, like, who are the alums, man?

[Matt]

Yeah. Or just something about the school. What. What are they good at? Where is Edwardsville, Illinois? Is that a real place. I'm not convinced that is either. Let us know. 888 say yes. We will also get to LeBron, Luka Tatum, Jalen Brown, big Lakers Celtics game last night. That and more on college basketball and maybe more on Civil War historians. That's next here on Sunday Morning with Matt Myon.

[Myron]

Matt and Myron. The podcast.

[Matt]

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[Myron]

Race the sails.

[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

Yeah, no that's a, that's an American.

[Matt]

Tale to the other great grandson. Ended up on ESPN radio trying to figure out where Siue is for making the NCAA tournament Sunday morning presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive Insurance offers round the clock protection. Get a quote [e-mail] so he said Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, first team in the NCAA tournament. There's some folks on the phone, which I want to get to, but, Myron, I think it would be cool if we had the coach on. Here's my question, James. Can we get the coach on? Do you have his phone number? What's his name? Do we know. Brian Bartholomew. We're efforting.

[Myron]

Evan came in here and they were trying to get him on the show last. On a show last night?

[Matt]

Yeah, he didn't want to go last night. He was waiting for us this morning. So we can. Do you think we can try?

[Myron]

We're trying. Yeah, we're going to try.

[Matt]

Okay. All right. Now, there's some people. Why would that help? Why is you being on the show?

[Myron]

I'm known in these circles, that's all.

[Matt]

What circles?

[Myron]

You know? Yeah. Does that help? Basketball circles.

[Matt]

Okay. I thought you meant Edwardsville, Illinois. Social circle there, too.

[Myron]

I've been. I've been down that way.

[Matt]

All right, so there's some people on here who. Who say they know Mike is in Chicago. He says he knows something about S I U E. What? Do you know Mike? Yeah, I know that down the St.

[Myron]

Louis area in the 60s and 70s.

[Matt]

They were the mecca of college soccer. And I know Suey. I think they won one or two.

[Myron]

NCAA D1 college soccer. Did you. Did you say 60s? Did you say 60s?

[Matt]

He said 60s or 70s somewhere.

[Myron]

Were they letting brothers in? Were they letting brothers play then? Or what was the rule? Was that. Are we allowed to play it? What was the rule on that back then? I don't know.

[Matt]

I don't think I'm just gonna appreciate it.

[Myron]

They didn't have no politics.

[Matt]

I'm just.

[Myron]

Yeah, I mean, they have no. Can I have no one name. Brothers out there played SIU Stab in the dark. Go ahead.

[Matt]

I'm gonna say American college soccer in the 60s didn't have a lot of brothers.

[Myron]

No, they didn't have. They didn't have them, you know, brothers coming from, you know, Europe and Brazil. They didn't have that. I bet. So. Yeah.

[Matt]

All right, so S. So first thing we know, S I U E. A powerhouse of college soccer in the 60s and 70s. That's good to know.

[Myron]

Keith and I pre Brown v. Board of Education.

[Matt]

Okay, Keith, what do you. Hey, what's going on, guys? About S I U E. Hey.

[Myron]

Yeah, so the things that I know is that I. I actually lived about 40 minutes from there. I grew up 40 minutes from Edwardsville, right outside of St. Louis. They used to actually Be a commuter school. So whenever you said that they are headed to the big dance, color me surprised, because I know that they really only have had like some of these sports for Maybe only about 10, 15 years sometimes. Can I stop you quick? Do you say color me surprise like in normal conversation? Because I. I haven't heard. I feel like that's a 1945 phrase. I haven't heard someone say that in years. Man.

[Matt]

That is true. It's like somebody saying. It's like somebody saying 23 skidoo. You don't hear that a lot.

[Myron]

I've never heard that, by the way, y'all. That's what, that's what we kind of teach you around that area, I guess. I don't know. Yeah, okay. I respect it. It's just. Yeah.

[Matt]

So you say close to St. Louis and that it used to be a commuter school. So you're. You. Are you going to pick them in the big dance when you get them on your bracket next week?

[Myron]

I mean, probably not, but it also depends on who they're up against.

[Matt]

Okay, fair enough. All right, let's go to Ken in Colorado. He's going to have something on siue. I feel it. What do you got?

[Myron]

Nothing on siue.

[Matt]

I don't know squad about that, but how do you not know who Kathleen Madigan is?

[Myron]

She is one of the funniest comedians.

[Matt]

Out there right now. But what would I know her for? Like, what is she done? Well, she's been all over. She does. If she's been all over, then you could give me one thing. She's done well. She's a stand up comedian.

[Myron]

So it's not like she does tv. Cash say something to you? Can we be honest? I want to. Can we be honest about something? I don't know if you realize this. We don't all watch the same comedians. I don't know if you know that. So sometimes, like, I grew up watching. So who was your. Who was your favorite comic on BET's Comic View? Who was your favorite.

[Matt]

Did you like Shucky Ducky?

[Myron]

Yeah. On BET's Comedy View, who was your go to comedian? That's America, right? Like, you know Kathleen Madigan. I know D.L. hughley. That's all just two different worlds. It's okay. Do me a favor. YouTube her.

[Matt]

She's hilarious.

[Myron]

And you're gonna.

[Matt]

She's literally one of the largest comics out there right now. All right, I appreciate the call. That's good. So now we know. I like that you said that. We all know different comedians.

[Myron]

We do.

[Matt]

I Did I did say one? You know who Shucky Ducky is, right?

[Myron]

Chucky, Ducky, Quack, quack.

[Matt]

Oh, yeah. Okay, so when I was. When I was young, we're off topic, shockingly. But when I was young, I would tell.

[Myron]

We've been on topic at all, because I don't.

[Matt]

We really haven't. No, no. I turn on that BET comic view when I was like 16, right? And I would see him stand up there. I would see him stand up there and he would get up there and he'd look at the crowd and he'd go, hey, everybody, Shucky Ducky. And then the crowd would go, quack, quack. And they would all laugh. And I was like, is that all it takes to be a comic? It's just walk up and write shucky Ducky. And then the other people will go, quack, quack.

[Myron]

He had a thing, man. He had a thing. What people have to remember is like pre social media. Like, that was appointment tv, man. So, yeah, it was cool, man. All right.

[Matt]

Roger's in Indiana. He says he's got a fact. What is it, Roger?

[Myron]

Well, I was going to school over mid-80s. They won the Division 2 wrestling championship.

[Matt]

Almost three or four years and went.

[Myron]

On Division 1, probably got third and few champions. That's all I know about it.

[Matt]

Division 1 soccer in the 60s and now we're up to, I guess they moved to Division 2 in the 80s and then started winning wrestling. They got relegated to Division 2 and then they started winning wrestling. Byron.

[Myron]

Hey, man, listen, I tell you what, it's. Everybody has a story, you know, Everybody's got a story. SIU is here, though.

[Matt]

Wait a minute.

[Myron]

SIUE is here.

[Matt]

Jeff in New Jersey. He has one more fact before we go to break. Jeff, give me the SIUE fact.

[Myron]

Two quickies.

[Matt]

In the 70s 80s, they had a great river festival music. All the big acts would come there in the summer, come and play there. So they had a big music festival in the 70s. Okay, one more.

[Myron]

Okay. Who would come, though? Who would come? I moved this up a decade.

[Matt]

You won.

[Myron]

A big artist.

[Matt]

Finish your other one. Oh, Marshall Tucker Band, Alice Cooper, Coleman Brothers.

[Myron]

Yeah, it was. It was an awesome outdoors. Were there any brothers there? Very cool at that festival? Of course. I don't know.

[Matt]

Yeah, sure. One more quickly. I just got 30 seconds. Give me your other fact. Oh, I think the campus desktop for Halloween. They do a big Halloween thing there.

[Myron]

It's awesome.

[Matt]

Okay, so they celebrate Halloween.

[Myron]

All right, well, everybody do that.

[Matt]

Well, I appreciate it. Thank you very much. So as you can see they also.

[Myron]

Do 4th of July.

[Matt]

Our first entry into the NCAA tournament is a school full of history. It's a school full of intrigue. It's Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, a school for the ages. Get ready to pick them on your bracket. We will do more next here on Sunday MORNING with Matt Myron on ESPN Radio.

[Myron]

Matt and Myon the pod.

[Matt]

Hit pause on whatever you're listening to and hit play on your next adventure. Stay two nights and get a $50 best Western gift card. Life's the trip. Make the most of it at best Western.

[Myron]

Visit bestwestern.com for complete terms and conditions.

[Matt]

Get the Angel REEF Special at McDonald's. Now let's break it down.

[Myron]

My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and the drinks. Sound good?

[Matt]

I participate in restaurants for a limited time.

[Myron]

The holiday flips it out to Tatum. A three from the left is good.

[Matt]

Today was definitely Celtics, Lakers, two big time teams. Like we wanted to win tonight.

[Myron]

The 2025 NBA champions are the Boston Celtics.

[Matt]

It was that Kendrick Perkins at the end that just said the Celtics are going to win it.

[Myron]

Yeah, it was.

[Matt]

Yeah. Based on what? That they won one game last night with LeBron getting hurt. All right.

[Myron]

I mean, I've been pretty good all year.

[Matt]

It's one game. They're seven and a half games behind Cleveland. Right. I mean, Oklahoma City's eleven and a half games up in the West. How does nobody give those two teams any, any credit just because they're not in Boston and la like those teams have been by far the best teams in the regular season.

[Myron]

I agree. I do think we've overlooked Cleveland and okc, what they've done all season. At the same time, Boston has a ring. Cleveland hasn't proven anything. So I think that's where some of.

[Matt]

The say, I mean, you can't just say Boston's going to win. I mean, I guess you can, but you can't. It's, it's the, that's, that's nonsense to me.

[Myron]

But you wouldn't bet on Cleveland over Boston in the seven game series right now.

[Matt]

Depends on who has. If Cleveland has home court, which it looks like they will, I think that's a complete toss up. I really do. I'm not saying that like cle, Boston would probably be the betting favorite because the betting public would know Boston more than Cleveland. Most people out there can't name three players on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

But nevertheless, I Think Cleveland is deep. Cleveland can hit you many different ways. And Cleveland. Didn't Cleveland beat Boston by like 30 recently?

[Myron]

Like comeback win?

[Matt]

They had that comeback. That's right, what it was. So I don't, I don't know how you can just dismiss them, Myron.

[Myron]

No, and again, I think you OKC and Cleveland are in the same spot. Incredible teams, incredible seasons, incredible talent, but haven't proven it yet in the postseason. So that's where you have the doubts.

[Matt]

I get it. But they're also very young. The only reason they haven't proven it is they've never really had a mature team like this. I think a Cleveland, Boston series and even an OKC Denver or OKC Lakers series, I think those would be great series. But to just dismiss the idea, you know, because they won one game, that Boston's going to win, I think it's kind of, kind of silly. 888, say ESPN Sunday morning with Matt Myron. They did. That game last night was a big win for the Celtics. Lakers have been hot since the acquisition of luka. However, Dave McManaman on Twitter says even though it's too early to project the timeline of how long LeBron will be out because of his groin injury, sources have told ESPN that injuries such as this can be a matter of weeks, not a matter of days. Let's say that's true. Myron, it was nice to see the Celtics win, But let's say LeBron is out for a matter of weeks. What does that do to their ceiling going into the playoffs?

[Myron]

I mean, it changes where they're going to end up with the seed. I think. I mean, I think Luca can do a lot to keep this team in the top tier. But obviously LeBron, I think was Western Conference player of the month in February, was putting up MVP level numbers. But I also think what happened last night is the ultimate concern. The question about the Lakers is how healthy will they be going into the postseason. Considering Luca coming back from his injury, still trying to get in shape, and then LeBron being 40 years old, I thought last night was a 40 year old's injury because of when it happened. It's in the fourth quarter. The Lakers are on a 16 to 2 run, he's battling in the paint with young Jaylen Brown, and he suffers his groin injury. I think LeBron on any given day can be the best player in the NBA. I just don't know if he can do it for a month and a half in the playoffs to lead his team.

[Matt]

I agree with that. I Also think that when, you know, when you get to the playoffs and the defense clamps up, I still think LeBron and Luka can score. But Myron, can this Lakers team guard anybody when we get to the playoffs? I mean it's a little different in the regular season. You can come at him in waves, you know, you can pick your spots. You can't do that in the playoffs. And this Lakers team, I know the numbers say they've been good defensively recently and I think that's true. I don't see it translating. I don't see them being able to in a game that matters, being able to get the stops they need. With this roster, maybe they will. But if they do play lock in on defense, then you got the problem that you just said which is can a 40 year old guy bring it for a month and a half? They you look at the way the seeds are going in the west. Let's say with LeBron out, Denver passes the Lakers. I think that's a very good chance. With LeBron out. So then this is going to be the Lakers path to get to go to the finals. They'll have to beat Golden State in a seven game series. Denver in a seven game series, Oklahoma City in a seven game series. Do you really? I just, I don't see the Lakers doing that. Do you?

[Myron]

No. I mean if you're telling me they're not healthy, I mean obviously the question is, is answered.

[Matt]

Let's even say they're healthy. Let's say they're healthy. That you think they can make that run against those teams.

[Myron]

I think it's more plausible. I think Luca, and again this is what I hated around the trade. He led a similar team to the finals last year. Right? He led a team that didn't have household names.

[Matt]

They weren't similar. They weren't similar because that team could play defense. This team cannot play defense. That team was perfect for Lugo.

[Myron]

No, you're off on that because the Lakers actually since Luke trade have been much better defensively. Their challenge has actually been being in a consistent rhythm offensively. Now I agree with you though Matt. The playoffs are different. Playoffs you have to do that night after night. And I think the challenge for the Lakers is all these teams are young dudes. It's a bunch of young guys. Can you keep up at 40 years old? I think that is ultimately going to be the challenge. Especially if LeBron is dealing with a growing injury.

[Matt]

Like okay, so I mean just like think about a Lakers nugget series. Who's Garden Jokic on that team. Like who, who's even, I mean, I mean, who's even going to try on that team? Because the thing that, the thing that always helped the Lakers is they had Anthony Davis, okay? Now they don't. Who's guarding those guys? They have nobody. Who's chasing Steph around against the warriors? Like, like when it's Steph and Jimmy Butler, who's guarding those guys against the wars? Who's guarding Shea? If they play the Oklahoma Thunder, it's just not happening. The Lakers have been fortunate. They've had a pretty good run of schedule here recently. Now it gets harder down the stretch, but they've had a pretty good run of schedule. They come up again last night, they lose. I know LeBron gets hurt at the end, but they were losing most of that game. I just don't know when you get down to it now, you could say the same thing. Who's guarding Luka? And the answer is nobody. Who's guarding LeBron? The answer is nobody. But they're going to have the exact same problem on the other end. I don't care what the numbers say for this last six, seven, eight game stretch.

[Myron]

I mean, they just beat the Nuggets though, and they played great defense on Jokic. Again, I think they can beat any team in the league, like with Luka, when they're healthy. I think that's clear. They can battle any team in the NBA. The question is, can you do that over the course of a series? And I think that's why yesterday is so concerning a, a groin injury. Okay, let's say he's out for weeks of court today, minimum. Who is he when he gets back? Is that something you can re aggravate? Is that something that hinders him down the stretch? So I don't know the answer to that. But a healthy Lakers team can play with anybody. I just don't know if at 40 years old, LeBron James coming off a groin injury can play with anybody over the course of, of a seven game series.

[Matt]

Well, I mean, we're going to find out. I just wanted to look up for my own sort of, well, being here the last, you know, the run of teams the Lakers have beat. And so since the trade, they beat the Jazz back to back, they beat the Hornets, beat them. Then they beat the Trailblazers. You're right, they beat Denver, they beat a depleted Dallas team, they beat Minnesota and the Clippers. Now the beginning of that is a murders row of terrible. The end of that when you beat the Nuggets the Timberwolves and the Clippers is pretty good, but you're still not playing the kinds of consistent level of teams you and I are talking about. And that's why I remain suspect. Now, on the other side with it with the Celtics, do you think the east is a two team race? Is it just Cleveland and Boston, or do you think there's a chance that the Knicks or Milwaukee could have something.

[Myron]

To say about that? I mean, to me, I think it's a two team race. And I love what Kyle Kuzma has done for Milwaukee. I don't think you can overlook that. I think the Knicks, obviously, when they're healthy, are very interesting team. But the Knicks have been so bad. I mean, I think the Knicks are.09 against the Thunder, the Celtics, the Cavs and the Lakers this season. Right. So they haven't proven they can be the lead team. Is that bad?

[Matt]

Is that not good?

[Myron]

It does seem bad. It does seem bad. But Milwaukee, can they be interesting? Yes, but I don't think they can compete with a Boston team that's wanted and has all that confidence and depth. I mean, Peyton Pritchard and Derrick White dropped 40 apiece the other day. Like, how many teams have dudes on their team who are that?

[Matt]

Hang on. I'm in college basketball. I'm in college basketball mode. Are you telling me with a straight face that Peyton Pritchard scored 40 points in a game?

[Myron]

I'm telling you Peyton Pritchard and Derrick White scored 40 points.

[Matt]

Okay, I can see Derek White. You're telling me there was a game that Peyton Pritchard had 40 points in the National Basketball Association.

[Myron]

They combined to. They combined to hit 19 three.

[Matt]

Okay, they combined. So he didn't have 40 himself.

[Myron]

I just told you he had 40 himself.

[Matt]

He did have 40 himself. Because you, James. What? No, I believe you. If you say it, I believe you. What game was that against? Who were they playing?

[Myron]

It was earlier this week. I can't remember off top of my head. Yeah, I think they were playing the Blazers. Yes, they're playing the blazers. They won 128 to 180.

[Matt]

Can we. You were talking about relegation earlier. Can we relegate the Blazers? Because anyone.

[Myron]

Let's take a moment.

[Matt]

Score 40 points. Can we put them in the G League? Who's on the Blazers, by the way? They have Scoot. Okay, so let's play a game. Me and you. Myron, who is on the Blazers? You can't look this up. Scoot is one. I think they have former Kentucky warm up Legend Shade Sharp on their roster as well. Can you name three other players on the Blazers besides Shaden Sharp and Scoot Henderson. Ready? Go, Myron.

[Myron]

Anthony Simons is on that.

[Matt]

Anthony Simons is on the roster.

[Myron]

Yes, I know Donovan Clingan was drafted there, so Donovan.

[Matt]

Donovan Clingan is hurt, but he's on the roster, so I'll give you that one. That's two. Can you get one more?

[Myron]

I think Tristan Camara.

[Matt]

Tristan Camara is not on the roster. There's a guy named to Moni Camara, but that's not Tristan, so you missed it.

[Myron]

I knew Camara.

[Matt]

You got it. You can't say the wrong first name. You have another chance.

[Myron]

I knew Camara well to stand Camara. What'd you say? What's his name? First name to Money Camaro.

[Matt]

Now, wait a minute. Hang on just a second. I was looking at this roster. Okay, stop the meat. Did you stop the music? Hey, I was looking at this roster, Myron. It said to stand Camara and now it says to Monte. Did you just switch the ESPN roster while I was looking at it?

[Myron]

Does Myron have that kind of power?

[Matt]

Did you just switch the roster while I was looking at it? It seem said Tun and now it says Tumani.

[Myron]

What do you mean you switched it?

[Matt]

Did you switch said T? All right, I guess you win. Who is Toomani Camara, by the way? How do you even know who that is? I've never heard that name in my life.

[Myron]

Yeah, I mean, the problem for us, though, like, following college basketball so deeply, it's hard for me to keep up during the season outside of the big storylines. But I know a lot of these guys who come up from college, though.

[Matt]

Okay, so also on the team. Deandre Ayton is on the team. Robert Williams is on the team. There's some guys I don't know. Dini Avija. I don't know him.

[Myron]

Probably. That's probably how you say it, though.

[Matt]

Why do you assume I don't know how to say these people's names?

[Myron]

Because you will fight through one of those names without actually looking it up. Like you just. You call that man Deanie Avenger. What'd you call it?

[Matt]

Avenger? It is Dini Odd Vaja. He's a great player.

[Myron]

I think you're making that up, man.

[Matt]

Well, he played. I don't know where he played, but Dini Odd Vaja is good. There are other guys that no one would know. Look, all right, so Myron was able to win. Name three guys on the point. We will get back. What'd you say? Yeah, he won. Congratulations. We will do go to college basketball and test all of my Metcalf's other knowledge right here on Sunday Morning with Matt Myron, Matt and Myon.

[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

Check responses for accuracy. In my mind I was saying it's.

[Matt]

Going to be a game winner. Sears at 2 at 1 for the win.

[Myron]

Ball game. Ball game. Oh my goodness.

[Matt]

Mark Sears with a floater at the buzzer.

[Myron]

And our message was let's go on to try to get a win on their cni.

[Matt]

And we were able to do that day in Auburn. Alabama down on the plains is Alabama hits a game winner in overtime to beat Auburn after Auburn had won in Tuscaloosa just a couple of weeks before. It's Sunday morning on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. College basketball was great yesterday. I mean, we talked earlier about the automatic bid to Siue Sui, but Auburn, Alabama was great. St. John's Marquette was great. Duke beat Carolina. Who. But I mean, how many times in college basketball has the final day of the regular season Duke, Carolina been like the fifth story? Kentucky one on the road at Missouri. Oklahoma beat Texas in a game. That might be what gets Oklahoma the tournament. Indiana may have found its way into the NCAA tournament after an absolutely awful season and having a coach resign. You know, I think Alabama, Auburn's the story. I, I'll ask you what you think as we get in the tournament. I think there are three teams that to me are the by far title favorites and it's Auburn, Duke and Houston. And then I think there's a group of like 10 teams that can get to a Final Four and in one game could beat one of those teams that includes Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan State, Iowa State, Texas Tech. Do you agree with that, with that analysis?

[Myron]

Yeah. No, I think, you know, this is separation. I think with Auburn, Auburn, I think Duke and Houston, even though Auburn's lost a couple times this week, those two teams are just different for different reasons. I think Auburn, and you look at the fact that, like, they can go 10 deep, bunch of grown dudes, you know, 23, 24 guys, 25 years old.

[Matt]

And he's coming back.

[Myron]

Michael Mack. Chad became Azara. So they have that element. Like, I never, Matt, get caught up in the teams that have been good, really good for five months, and then they lose a couple. Like, I never just sort of go, all right, you write them off. If anything, that's fatigue. If anything, that's just, you know, coming out to the end of the season playing teams that have a greater sense of urgency than you do. But Auburn, to me, is still the title favorite. Duke has the best player, I think, in the country. And Cooper flag, and they won at North Carolina, largely without him in the first half. He picked up three early fouls, and yet they still come out on top. And then I agree, Houston is. Houston is always this. So people look at Houston and they go, all right, a good Houston team. So what?

[Matt]

But see, they're. They're better because they can score. A lot of years they haven't been good offensively. This year they are.

[Myron]

They are LJ Cryer, playing like an All American. Juan Roberts. So Houston, to me, this looks like one of the better Houston teams that Kelvin Sampson has had. But then I agree with that next tier, where you go, okay, Tennessee on any given day, could be great. Florida could be great. Michigan State, like, so there are a number of those teams that have a shot. Where do you put Kentucky in that mix, by the way, you mentioned?

[Matt]

I think Kentucky's in the mix, but they're not deep. So I think, like you. You match them up with a team like Alabama or Auburn that could score a lot, I think it's going to be tough for him. But you saw this yesterday with Missouri. I mean, they played on the road against the Missouri team that was 18 and one at home before that game. And Kentucky dominated the game. They were up double digits most of the game. And so I still think they still have it in them. I want to ask you about St. John's for a second because I think the St. John story is absolutely amazing. I mean, Rick Patino, whatever You want to think about Rick Patino off the court or, you know, the Italian restaurant or the prostitutes in the dorm, all that.

[Myron]

Why do you always got to bring that up every time he says that? Like, you, you. You could just say Rick Patino, but, like, you just can't help it, can you?

[Matt]

It's because it's an amazing story. They're amazing. But be that as my. As a basketball coach, he has to be one of the handful of best all time. He is going to take his fifth different team to the tournament. I think he's got a really good chance to take his fourth team to the Final Four. I don't know if it'll happen, but I think he has a chance. But I also think what's amazing is the way he's captivated New York City to college basketball. I mean, St. John's is on the back page of the newspapers here all the time. They are selling out the garden. Rick and St. John's were on the Tonight show this week with Jimmy Fallon singing a song. Rick was interviewed on the Tonight show in his wildest dreams when he went to St. John's I don't think, Myron, he could have expected what has happened there this year.

[Myron]

No, I mean, you talk about a comeback to have this roster and you know, all the pieces they have. Remember last year, I think they lost to like a D3 team in an exhibition or something like that, and everyone had written them off. But he has all the right pieces. To your point, if you say there are two minutes left in the national championship game, in. Who's your coach? It's Rick. I mean, Rick. Rick's your guy, right? So no one's ever doubted the coaching prowess, but this has been remarkable, man. This guy's been coaching for 50 years almost and just being elite at every stop. And I think that's why you give them a chance. Even though the St. John's team can't score. Right. They're ineffective as a shooting team, not a great offensive team. But that's a lot like the Louisville team he led to a championship into the Final Four. So I think Rick is why you give St. John's a chance. Because remember, Matt, the problem with the tournament is you have 24 hours to prepare for Rick Patino. And Rick Patino has 24 hours to prepare for you if you advance. That's not a good situation for any coach in this country.

[Matt]

He, I mean, you know, he had that little clip from the documentary about St. John's that little clip of him in the locker room giving the halftime speech. And that thing has entered Myron like the social media world. It's been on Tom Segura's podcast, it's been on Shane Gillis's podcast, it's been on Jimmy Fallon. It's like it got millions of views. It's being sent all around the world. Because he's sitting there going, you know, you're going to have adversity in life. Forget basketball, what are you going to do about it? He's sitting there screaming and yet he captivates people. And you know, with college basketball, losing Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim and some of those guys and Cal kind of going off into the wilderness to Arkansas, having Rick Patino be in the limelight. Myron, it's great for the sport, don't you think?

[Myron]

It is great for the sport. I mean it's a great storyline. I think he'll be maybe the most notable storyline next to Cooper flag going to the tournament. But he's also an example of why you have to hire a coach today that can sell your program in this era. You can't get someone who can't sell and clearly he can.

[Matt]

Well, this is going to be a great NCAA tournament. And for those of you like, this has been an awesome year for college basketball. The sport needed a big bounce back year. I think it's had it and I think you're going to look at a great tournament. Coming up, Quinn Richardson, former Clipper podcast host and a great guest. He's next here on Sunday Morning with Matt Myron.

[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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