Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Hour 2 – Carolyn Peck and Josh Pastner
Release Date: March 16, 2025

On this episode of Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron, hosts Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf delve deep into the upcoming NCAA basketball tournaments, featuring insightful discussions with esteemed analysts Carolyn Peck and Coach Josh Pastner. The episode offers a comprehensive breakdown of both women's and men's brackets, conference dynamics, and the potential impact of key player injuries on tournament seeding.

1. Women's Bracketology with Carolyn Peck

Timestamp: 00:31 – 06:42

The episode kicks off with an in-depth conversation with Carolyn Peck, ESPN's women's college basketball analyst. Peck provides her expert analysis on the projected top four seeds in the women's tournament: USC, UCLA, South Carolina, and Texas.

• UCLA's Dominance: Peck emphasizes UCLA as the "most dangerous" seed, drawing parallels to their previous national championship team.

  "I would have to say that UCLA is the most dangerous. And this is why they are built very similar to last year's national championship team." ([01:24])

• Potential Matchups: She discusses possible high-stakes matchups, particularly contemplating the impact of a UConn vs. UCLA face-off. Peck highlights UConn's defensive prowess and the importance of their big players' consistency.

  "If Connecticut had to face UCLA, they have enough firepower from the perimeter to be able to score baskets." ([02:17])

• Contenders Beyond the Top Four: Peck doesn't discount UConn's potential as a title contender, praising Paige Beckers' determination and the team's evolving synergy. Additionally, she lauds South Carolina's trio of Chloe Kitts, Saniyah Fagan, and Joyce Edwards for their standout performances.

  "South Carolina could be in the mix when it comes down to that final day." ([03:14])

• NC State's Tournament Prospects: Addressing NC State's strengths, Peck underscores the necessity for roles like Isaiah James and Sinai Rivers to perform exceptionally to secure a Final Four spot.

  "When you face NC State, listen, you better lock down your money because he's gonna have some thieves in the night." ([05:03])

• Juju Watkins' Impact: Highlighting star player Juju Watkins, Peck compares her to legends Cheryl Miller and Caitlin Clark, underscoring her record-breaking scoring ability and potential as a tournament game-changer.

  "She is on a tear and I think she could be one of the toughest guards in this NCAA Tournament." ([05:45])

2. Men's Bracketology and Conference Tournament Finals

Timestamp: 06:42 – 12:08

Transitioning to the men's side, Matt and Myron discuss the implications of recent conference tournament outcomes on NCAA seeding, focusing primarily on the SEC and Big Ten tournaments.

• SEC Tournament Final – Tennessee vs. Florida: The hosts analyze Florida's strong performance throughout the season, citing their consistent scoring and defensive capabilities. Despite a surprising loss to Tennessee, Florida remains a formidable contender.

  "Florida is making a very, very strong case, especially if they win this thing." ([08:26])

• Big Ten Tournament Final – Wisconsin vs. Michigan: Attention shifts to Wisconsin's triumph over Michigan State and Michigan's narrow victory against Maryland, setting the stage for potential high-seed placements in the NCAA tournament.

  "[Big Ten] Wisconsin and Michigan are poised to secure high seeds in the tournament." ([09:01])

• Number One Seed Contemplations: The discussion delves into the uncertainty surrounding the top seed, particularly the debate over Auburn's standing versus Duke's potential. Mark Zino argues against Auburn's automatic top seed based solely on their season record.

  "They're likely to be the number one overall seed, but based on what happened to them yesterday... we don't even have to consider anybody else right now." ([07:00] paraphrased)

3. Duke's Cooper Flagg Injury and Seeding Implications

Timestamp: 12:08 – 19:05

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Duke's Cooper Flagg ankle injury and its potential repercussions on the team's NCAA seeding.

• Injury Details and Availability: Mark Zino raises concerns about Flagg's injury, questioning whether it will affect Duke's seeding if he remains unavailable for key tournament games.

  "It's gonna severely impact their ability to forget winning the whole championship. I'm talking about just getting to like San Antonio to get in the final four." ([12:49])

• Committee's Consideration: The hosts discuss how the NCAA selection committee might factor in Flagg's availability, potentially downgrading Duke's seed if his participation is uncertain.

  "They'll have to present Duke Friday Sunday. Yeah, that may look like... they're doing you a favor by giving you an extra day to get Cooper Flag." ([16:51])

• Speculative Scenarios: Jonathan Zaslow entertains the possibility of Flagg opting out of the NBA draft to return to Duke, highlighting the unprecedented nature of such a decision.

  "It's unprecedented. I can't think of another time that's ever happened in the NBA." ([17:44])

4. Discussion on Conference Strength and Tournament Selection

Timestamp: 21:07 – 36:17

The conversation shifts to the broader landscape of college basketball conferences, particularly critiquing the SEC's dominance and its impact on NCAA tournament selections.

• SEC's Overrepresentation: Mark Zino voices frustration over the SEC securing numerous tournament bids, arguing that not all 14 teams from the conference are deserving of inclusion.

  "This seems like a formula over the course of time though that's bad for the sport when a third of the tournament comes from these two conferences." ([27:51])

• Non-Conference Strength of Schedule: Chris Canty defends the SEC by highlighting their robust non-conference schedules, which bolster their teams' tournament credentials through strong performances against top-tier opponents.

  "All those metrics... it's what you do in the non-conference... that's why they're going to get the majority of the field in." ([34:36])

• Final Four Predictions: Canty expresses confidence that the SEC will have at least two teams in the Final Four, citing Florida and Auburn's season performances as evidence of their championship potential.

  "I really believe that to kind of match up to show that as strong as our conference has been this year." ([30:13])

5. Interview with Coach Josh Pastner

Timestamp: 24:24 – 36:40

In a compelling segment, Coach Josh Pastner joins the hosts to share his insights on preparing for the NCAA tournament and the challenges teams face during bracket selections.

• Pre-Tournament Preparation: Pastner outlines the intense schedule coaches endure once their teams are selected, including scouting opponents, media obligations, and developing game plans under tight timelines.

  "As the head coach, you then got to divide up... preparing for your first game." ([25:14])

• Impact of Tournament Structure: He discusses the demands of playing multiple high-stakes games in quick succession, emphasizing the physical and mental toll on players and coaching staff.

  "It's that second game where does that end up, catching up to you at some point." ([30:57])

• Conference Bias and Selection Fairness: Addressing the ongoing debate about conference biases, Pastner acknowledges the criteria set by the selection committee but calls for a more balanced representation of conferences to ensure tournament diversity and competitiveness.

  "What do you have to come back for? It shows you how much you really don't want to play with the Washington Wizards." ([33:28])

6. Miscellaneous Topics and Lighthearted Moments

Timestamp: 36:17 – 47:09

The latter part of the episode veers into lighter discussions, covering topics such as NBA records, team management decisions, and innovative player strategies.

• Alex Ovechkin's Record Chase: The hosts comment on Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record, expressing mixed feelings about the potential surpassing of a hockey legend.

  "I don't like it. I mean, I've been very clear about this." ([39:28])

• Atlanta Falcons' Quarterback Decisions: A heated debate ensues over the Falcons' choice to retain Kirk Cousins over Michael Penix, with Mark Zino criticizing the management's strategy and its long-term financial implications.

  "It was a bad decision by the organization and they're paying the price for it." ([42:10])

• Innovative Pitching Techniques in MLB: The conversation highlights the Seattle Mariners' rookie pitcher Urangelo Sanja and his switch-pitching abilities, sparking discussion on the practicality and rules surrounding such a skill.

  "Why can't he throw right if he wants? And in the next pitch... I'm going to throw with my left on this one." ([44:54])

Conclusion

This episode of Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron offers a multifaceted exploration of the current state of college basketball, blending expert analysis with candid discussions on team dynamics, player performances, and the intricacies of tournament selections. Whether dissecting the prowess of UCLA's women's team or debating the strategic decisions within the SEC, Matt and Myron provide listeners with a thorough and engaging perspective on the thrilling world of sports.

Note: Advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content sections were omitted to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented during the episode.