Hour 2: Myron Gets Bumped

Summary

Podcast Summary: Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Episode: Hour 2: Myron Gets Bumped
Date: April 5, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Myron Medcalf (joined later), Guest Host Tim Welsh
Guest: Caron Butler (UConn Alum, Miami Heat Assistant Coach)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the college basketball Final Four, focusing on UConn’s program and the culture underpinning its repeated success. Guest host Tim Welsh joins Matt Jones while Myron Metcalf checks in live from the Final Four in Indianapolis. They are joined by Caron Butler to discuss UConn’s coaching legacy, leadership, and the characteristics behind the program's dominance. The team also covers MLB highlights, reactions to recent city “shade” from celebrities, and the media narrative around the women's college basketball handshake controversy.

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Key Segments & Insights

1. UConn’s Culture and Sustained Success

(00:31–08:11)
Guest: Caron Butler

• Topic: UConn Basketball’s Championship Pedigree
  • Matt Jones playfully asks Butler if UConn will “let someone else have a chance” after their dominant run.
    • Butler: “No, we cannot do that. ... When the great Calhoun took that job … he wanted to build something very special.” (01:31)
  • Tim Welsh and Butler compare coaching styles and the transfer of culture from Jim Calhoun to Dan Hurley.
    • Welsh: “You never saw a Jim Calhoun team get outworked. ... That's kind of the same with Dan Hurley.” (02:03)
    • Butler: “It's pretty much the same, but there's also a karma to it.” Emphasizes selflessness and intangibles like winning 50/50 balls and team pride. (02:36)
  • Discussion on whether Hurley’s intense, “yelling” approach still works:
    • Butler: “Truth sounds like hate to those who hate hearing the truth … If you can be bought, you can be sold. So I think that you need leadership.” (04:28, 05:35)
• Quote:
  • “You just cannot tell the story of UConn basketball without mentioning [Alex] Caraban.” (06:09) — Caron Butler

Notable Moment

• Matt challenges Butler on the reputation of UConn fans:
  • Matt: “I have said the meanest is UConn, like, they have the meanest fans.” (07:08)
  • Butler: “We're sore winners and we're sore losers.” (07:50)

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2. Around the Sports World: MLB Highlights & Rule Changes

(12:28–21:41)

a. Joe Adell’s Incredible Game

• Discussion of Adell robbing three home runs in one game, preserving a 1–0 Angels win.
  • Matt: “He had three robbed home runs in a game, Tim. Three home runs that he stole...” (13:46)
  • Tim Welsh: “I've never seen that, though. Three in one game. That was unbelievable.” (14:07)
• Breakdown of the MLB rules regarding fielding while falling into the stands.
  • Unknown analyst: “He was still in the field of play. So it counts.” (15:00-15:11)

b. ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) Challenge Ends a Game

• The first MLB game ending on an ABS challenge is discussed.
  • Matt: “Not only does it get the calls right, I actually think, oddly, the crowd gets into it waiting for the challenge.” (17:23)
  • Tim Welsh: “It's growing on me ... there's a strategy to when you use it.” (17:52, 18:21)

c. World Cup Luxury Package vs. The Tim Welsh Experience

• A $75,000 World Cup hotel package in Boston is compared humorously to a stay with Tim Welsh.
  • Welsh (joking): “You can get out all in for about 10k.” (21:41)

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3. Final Four In-Depth: UConn vs. Michigan Preview

(24:15–38:53)
Myron Metcalf checks in from Indianapolis.

• UConn’s defense is praised, especially their stifling of Illinois:
  • Myron: “That was one of the lowest, maybe the fourth lowest scoring tally for Illinois in NCAA Tournament history.” (26:41)
• Discussion on "Final Four environment" factors:
  • Depth perception in stadium shooting and using new basketballs affect player performance.
    • Welsh: “You got to zero in on those rims because of the fact of the depth perception issue.” (28:05)
  • Myron: “Those basketballs ... are brand new. ... I don't think that was the deciding factor for UCAH. I think UCAH's defense and experience was the advantage.” (28:59)
• The future of college basketball—roster construction:
  • Both teams are older and larger—Michigan gets credit for transfer portal success.
    • Myron: “I don't think you can win a championship in today's climate without NBA size at every position.” (30:03)
  • Welsh: “Michigan's really thrived with their Portal ... Elliot Cadeau last night was absolutely the difference maker.” (30:56)

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4. Women's Final Four Drama: Geno vs. Dawn

(32:32–34:12)

• The hosts debate Geno Auriemma’s sideline confrontation with Dawn Staley.
  • Myron: “Geno needs to grow up. ... I just thought it was wrong. I thought Dawn was in the right to defend herself.” (33:03)
  • Matt (joking): “You think she would have taken him?” (33:46)

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5. City “Shade”: LeBron on Memphis & Mets on St. Louis

(39:40–45:11)

• LeBron’s Memphis Comments
  • LeBron (clip): “You guys have to move. Just go over to Nashville. ... Don't they got a hockey team, too?” (39:56)
  • The crew reacts—with Tim Welsh calling for more respect for local fan bases and community.
  • Tim: “Players play. ... I think it's a disrespect to all the hard working people in the community ... that pay to go see you play every time you come to Memphis.” (44:41)
• Mets Broadcasters on St. Louis:
  • Joking that the city is always empty (“No people. No people.” 40:51)
• Matt and Tim both defend Memphis and St. Louis as vibrant cities with rich histories and great fans.

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Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you can be bought, you can be sold.”
  — Caron Butler (05:35)

• “We're sore winners and we're sore losers.”
  — Caron Butler (07:50) responding to Matt’s jab about UConn fans

• “Not only does [the ABS challenge] get the calls right, I actually think, oddly, the crowd gets into it waiting for the challenge.”
  — Matt Jones (17:23)

• “You can get out all in for about 10k.”
  — Tim Welsh (21:41), joking about his own “World Cup package”

• “That was one of the lowest, maybe the fourth lowest scoring tally for Illinois in NCAA Tournament history.”
  — Myron Metcalf (26:41) on UConn’s defense

• “I don't think you can win a championship in today's climate without NBA size at every position.”
  — Myron Metcalf (30:03)

• “Geno needs to grow up. ... I thought Dawn was in the right to defend herself.”
  — Myron Metcalf (33:03)

• “Players play... I think it's a disrespect to all the hard working people in the community ... that pay to go see you play every time you come to Memphis.”
  — Tim Welsh (44:41), criticizing LeBron’s Memphis comments

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Segment Timestamps

• UConn’s Culture & Caron Butler Interview: 00:31–08:11
• College Basketball Final Four/Fan Culture: 06:09–08:11
• MLB Highlights/ABS Tech: 12:28–21:41
• World Cup Hotel Package Discussion: 19:01–21:52
• Final Four Preview & College Hoops Trends: 24:15–32:32
• Geno vs. Dawn Staley Debate: 32:32–34:12
• City Shade Segment (Memphis & St. Louis): 39:40–45:11

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode blends knowledgeable basketball analysis with playful banter and sharp commentary. The hosts maintain a casual, engaging tone, freely ribbing each other and their guests, while still providing serious insight into college basketball’s cultural and strategic shifts. Listeners are treated to not just Final Four talk, but also broader sports news, with quick takes on baseball milestones and even the business of live sports experiences.

From the legacy of UConn and its “sore winner/sore loser” fanbase, to the impact of transfer portal roster-building, to LeBron and the Mets broadcasting team’s city comments, this episode is a lively snapshot of sports as both a culture and a business.

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For listeners who missed it:
This episode is packed with inside stories, passionate opinions, and candid moments—a worthwhile listen for anyone following the NCAA Tournament, UConn’s basketball story, or just looking for a lively Sunday sports talk.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

This is Matt and Myron the podcast. It is some mountain Spanish. That's right, it's Matt Myron. Presented by Progressive Insurance. You can save big when you bundle home auto, motorcycle, RV or boat. Visit progressive.com Tim Welsh sitting in for Myron here for the Final Four. I am Matt Jones and you know, I don't know as a Kentucky fan, I, I got mixed emotions about UConn potentially winning their seventh title. That's only one below Kentucky's eighth for second most all time, but it's a pretty amazing accomplishment. And Karam Butler is former UConn. Well, he is a UConn alum, Heat assistant coach. He won the 2011 NBA title and Quran. I, I, I got a lot of Yukon things I could ask you, but let me just start with this. We all stop winning titles. I mean, you've only been to eight Final Fours and you got a chance to get your seventh title. You got a chance to pass Carolina tomorrow night. Can you guys just stop and like let some other people have a chance?

[Karam Butler]

No, we cannot do that. Thanks for having me on the show. I, I think that's what it's all about. When the great Calhoun took that job many years ago, he wanted to build something very special. And I think that, you know, Coach Hurley, Coach Ali, all the coaches that sat in that seat pretty much inherited the winning culture. They taught the principles and it picked up a lot of momentum and now the guys are just following through and executing it. And it's a beautiful thing to see.

[Tim Welsh]

You know, Caron having coached against the great Jim Calhoun and watching Danny now over his period of time at both Rhode island and Connecticut, I think there's a lot of similarities in the way they coach as far as they get talent. Of course, you have to have some talent and they mesh it well. And then their teams play extremely hard. They play hard. You never saw a Jim Calhoun team get outworked. And I think that's kind of the same with Dan Hurley. What do you, how do you Compare the two?

[Karam Butler]

100%. I've been in the locker room, obviously, with Calhoun at the helm. So I know what the motivational speeches and the call to actions was by being in those seats. And I also been in the war rooms with Coach Hurley, where he allowed me to listen to some of the practice preparation and allowed me to speak to the team this season. Coming into the locker room, hearing the messaging, and tactically, it's pretty much the same, but there's also a karma to it. You know, you're watching an action movie or a drama movie, and you see a villain actually get the karma that he or she deserves at the end of the movie, and you're like, man, that's karma. It's also good karma and checking all the boxes, you know, throughout the course of the season, you know, coming early to practice, going hard, getting 1% better, doing the little things, which is all the intangibles, leading the team in deflections, getting on the floor, taking pride on the defensive end of the floor, and buying into the messaging, and most importantly, just being selfless. So now you see UConn back in the final Four now, eventually in the championship game again tomorrow night. This is special to see.

[Matt Jones]

So there's this narrative in talking to Karam Butler, UConn alum, he Assistant coach. There's this. There's this narrative out there about younger players in this nil era. Well, you know, you're not. They're becoming professionals. And you can't coach in college and yell like maybe your coach did years ago. And then here comes Dan, Danny Hurley, and there. I can't remember a coach who seemingly has yelled more and been more intense, but his players do seem to buy in. And. And. And it. And it works. Why do you think it does? Why. Why do you think players do? And do you think that system. Because there had been talk last year of him getting the Lakers job. Do you think that could work at your level, at the pro level?

[Karam Butler]

I'm here to tell you it does work at the pro level. You know, truth sounds like hate to those who hate hearing the truth. And I think that if you're a person of integrity, that execute integrity every day by example and not just by conversation and messaging, people will fall in line and let you lead them and allow you to lead them. But if you're a person of, you know, something else, and you know it's a crack in the armor, you know, the radars of players or your followers go off immediately. People wouldn't follow you through an open door. And you see that Coach Hurley is about what he says he's about. You saw that Jim Calhoun was about what he said he was about. And you know, to the NBA, you know, it. It is coaches like Coach Spo and the godfather Pat Riley, who I had the luxury of playing for. They are about tactically what they say they about. So you would do anything for them with them at the helm and that's what you want, you know, and then it is certain places where you go and it is, you know, a package deal from an nil standpoint. But I'm always been under the presumption that if you can be bought, you can be sold. So I think that you need leadership after him.

[Matt Jones]

Boy, I like it. You got good sayings, Tim. If you could bought, you could be sold. I like these.

[Tim Welsh]

Well, he didn't have to do many much talking when he played, and having coached against Karan, I always felt like he was a really great leader. And not necessarily with his words, but by his actions, the way he played and a great leader. One of the greatest ever, in my opinion. Right up there next to you is Alex Caraban at Connecticut. How would you describe his play over the course of the last four years, his leadership and the intangibles he brings to UConn?

[Karam Butler]

Isn't it amazing that you just cannot tell the story of UConn basketball without mentioning him? And just think about that for a second when you talk about us, you know, on the cuffs of, you know, passing North Carolina right behind, you know, Kentucky and, you know, you just think about all those things and like, he's like just a winner. I think that at the end of the day, when you think about winning player and on the collegiate level, but also all these things and all these intangibles that he's doing on the collegiate level in a sport, you know, he can apply it to his life, you know what I mean? And I think that's true leadership and true mentorship right there. So with Caravan, like, I'm so proud that he chose to go to UConn. I'm so happy that he fell forward in his role and in his leadership space. And, you know, he's one of those guys. And I hope I'm able, you know, God willing, I hope I'm able to be there when they put his number in the Raptors, because he's definitely deserving.

[Matt Jones]

All right, Karan, I'm going to get you out with this. People who listen to the show know I've said this for a long time. When it comes to college basketball fan bases, I have said the Meanest is Yukon, like, they have the meanest fans. There's a video yesterday. I've been around them because y' all beat us for the title in 2014, but I've been around him for regular season games. There's a video of fans taunting Illinois fans as they're walking out of the arena last night, just screaming at them. I'm gonna say. I'm gonna hold my words. Yukon has the meanest fans in college basketball. Do you disagree?

[Karam Butler]

I'm gonna say this just to piggyback on what you just said. We're. We're. We're sore winners and we're sore losers.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, it does. That sounds like you're saying they're mean is if they're sore winners and sore losers.

[Myron Metcalf]

We like to rub it in a

[Karam Butler]

little bit, that's all.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, I've seen it. My co host once got punched by one of your fans after a regular season game. So, Karan, I think you. It's something in your blood up there, maybe. I saw it with Gino too, the other night.

[Karam Butler]

I knew you was going tip it to that, man. That was crazy. I didn't know what I was watching. I was at home watching the game with my daughter. But you know, Philly. Philly natives, like, they're super competitive, so it was good to see that, you know, on that platform with women's sport. And I hope that's just the end of it and it just stays with basketball. But I know they have a great deal of respect for one another.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I've never been to stores, but your coach, Gino, Danny, just. There's got to be something in the water up there with y'.

[Myron Metcalf]

All.

[Matt Jones]

I'm just saying, man.

[Karam Butler]

House of the dogs.

[Myron Metcalf]

Huskies.

[Matt Jones]

House of the Dogs. Karan Butler, Yukon alum, Miami Heat assistant coach. Great stuff, Karan. Nice to meet you and thanks for coming on.

[Karam Butler]

Appreciate you. Anytime.

[Matt Jones]

There you go. You think you know, Tim, you're right there next to Connecticut. Is there something in the water there in Connecticut?

[Tim Welsh]

Do I. I gotta put you in my car one day. You've never been to stores. You've never been to Rhode Island. I mean, you need to get out of Kentucky once in a while. I guess you were at. In D.C. last weekend, but goodness, I

[Matt Jones]

want to go to stores.

[Tim Welsh]

There's something in the water. Yeah, it's all great coaches.

[Matt Jones]

I've been to pretty much every great basketball arena in the country except store, so I do want to try to get there sometime and experience that.

[Tim Welsh]

Well, they have great fans they have great support and then a tremendous administration as well. You can't do it without administration that's backing you. David Benedict's been there a long time. He's a tremendous athletic director that supports his coaches. And just remember too, they're they're not in a Power 5 in football. You know, they're not a football school anymore, really. I mean, they're an independent. They've done really well as an independent. But we all know they don't get the big checks like those Big Sec, ACC, Big 12 schools get Big 10. So they have to find other ways to generate their revenue. And they've done a tremendous job doing that.

[Matt Jones]

They really have. All right, now it's not just college basketball in the Final Four. There's other stuff going on. Headlines from around the world of sports with Tim Welsh, Matt Jones, that's next here on Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. Matt and Myron, the podcast.

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[Matt Jones]

Uh, little to the left. No, wait.

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Should have gone with Wayfair. Or what if it doesn't hold up?

[Tim Welsh]

That sofa was four days old.

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[Matt Jones]

It was a sofa. I swear.

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[Matt Jones]

It is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio. You can tell your smart speaker to play ESPN Radio. We've talked a lot of college basketball, but we don't have to just talk about college basketball. As a matter of fact, there's other things going on, including one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen last night. So let's get into it with headlines. Extra, extra. Read all about it. The Sunday headlines. All right, James, let's go for it. What's up first?

[James]

Yeah, so big AL west game last night between the Mariners and Angels. And Joe Adele, Angels outfielder, did this.

[James (continued)]

Here's the two, one pitch, and there's a swing and there's a high fly ball. It's carrying deep down the right side. Adele is jumping over. He goes over the wall. Did he catch that one? They haven't signaled. Joe AD does it again.

[Matt Jones]

Holy smokes. Joe Adele leaps over that short wall to pull this one back.

[James]

That was the third. That was the third robbed home run of the game for Adele. Robbed Cal Raleigh, also in, like, the first inning. Three robbed home runs.

[Matt Jones]

He had three robbed home runs in a game, Tim. Three home runs that he stole from. And they go. They won the game. One nothing. So if he misses any of them, they don't win. He's Louisville Ballard High School's own Joe Adele. Have you seen better plays, Tim, than that last night?

[Tim Welsh]

Illinois could have used him last night to defend Braylon Mullins out of the point line. He. He's got some ups, man. The timing, the toughness. I've never seen that, though. Three in one game. That was unbelievable.

[Matt Jones]

Now, here's what I don't understand, though, okay? So just from the rules, nerds out there, and I'm not trying to be like, excuse me, guy, I'm not. But the third one, he fell into the crowd. Okay? So it. He is in the crowd with the ball. So what is the rule? Is he allowed to, like, why doesn't he just climb the fence and run into the stands and catch it? Like, what is the rule of whether you're out or

[Tim Welsh]

you're asking the ex umpire or the former basketball coach.

[Matt Jones]

Are you an ex umpire?

[Tim Welsh]

No.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, okay. I thought you were.

[Unknown Baseball Analyst]

I think I know this one. I had to look this up this morning.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

What is the rule?

[Unknown Baseball Analyst]

Because he had the ball in his mitt, like he was in the act of catching it while he was still over. He hadn't gone into the stand yet. He was still in the field of play. So it counts.

[Matt Jones]

But he caught it.

[Unknown Baseball Analyst]

It was like. But it was like he. His body and like, the way where it. Where it landed. When they looked at it, he was still in the field of play.

[Matt Jones]

So if he had just jumped the fence. Because that fence is very small. If he had jumped the fence and caught it in the crowd, it would not count.

[Unknown Baseball Analyst]

Correct. Because he left the field of play.

[Tim Welsh]

Kind of like possession on a wide receiver catching a. Yeah, but on a

[Matt Jones]

wide receiver, you have to put your feet down. Right. And he didn't get his feet. It's fine. I'm not trying to be that guy. It was amazing. No, I'm not. I promise you. And he went to. He's from Kentucky, which immediately makes me.

[Tim Welsh]

I've known you for an hour. You are trying to be that guy.

[Matt Jones]

He went to Ballard High School. My dad used to teach about. Okay, well, no, my dad used to teach at Ballard High School. I'm excited for him. Go Ballard. I just. I just didn't know what the rule was.

[Tim Welsh]

But still dissecting apologies. And you're dissecting three catch.

[Matt Jones]

Standing by my Geno take.

[James]

It's more like the rule for a quarterback. If any part of the quarterback is still behind the line of scrimmage. Okay, they throw the ball.

[Matt Jones]

When they throw the ball, and it's.

[James]

Then it's considered a legal pass. I think that's more.

[Matt Jones]

By the way. This will never happen again. What we just saw. That'll never happen again. You won't get three chances at it, much less three chances. And then convert it all. It'll never happen again. Pretty amazing play in baseball. What's next?

[James]

Cal Raleigh, who hit what, like 50, 60 home runs this year, still doesn't have one. And that's because of Joe Adele. Let's keep with the Major League Baseball. We had the first game end with an ABS challenge earlier this week. And here's what it sounded like.

[James (continued)]

The 1, 2 pitch just off the plate, outside 2, 2. And there will be a challenge. The challenge from Samuel Besallo. Well, this will be interesting. Can our game end with an ABS challenge? And the answer is, yes, it can. A Colts a cold strike three. And that's your ball game. And an Orioles win.

[Unknown Mets Broadcaster]

So.

[James]

Electric call.

[Matt Jones]

It was electric.

[James]

The crowd goes wild for the avs Challenge and to a game. Matt, what do you think about this?

[Matt Jones]

I kind of love the abs, you know, listeners, this show. No, I'm a Reds fan. We had the game where CB Buckner kept getting overruled by Onio Suarez plays. The loudest cheers of the entire games were for the ABS challenges. I actually think, Tim, they couldn't have, like, foreseen that this was going to be how it would work. But not only does it get the calls right, I actually think, oddly, the crowd gets into it waiting for the challenge. So I think it's been a success.

[Tim Welsh]

Yeah, I mean, I was a little bit thinking that it might be clunky at first, but it's. It's growing on me a little bit. It's growing on me. I mean, I. You knew a game was going to end pretty in the near future. It hadn't. I don't believe it hadn't happened yet. So, yeah, I guess this is what they want. I mean, they'll tweak it, I'm sure, and figure out what works best as far as timing and not delaying the game. I mean, it's quite a bit, though.

[Myron Metcalf]

They.

[Tim Welsh]

I mean, these teams, I still. Some of them know how to do it, some of them don't.

[Matt Jones]

See, I think that's what's interesting, too, Tim. There's a strategy to. When you use it. Right. And so that. So. So I actually think that adds a new element, Tim, of, like, thinking and strategy to the game.

[Tim Welsh]

Absolutely. Just. It's kind of like college basketball with the challenges.

[Matt Jones]

Exactly.

[Tim Welsh]

The coaches now get during a game. And I'm all for saving them, though. I mean, obviously, last night, that's a good thing. They had one.

[Matt Jones]

And I will note, if you go back to the game that got all the attention. The Reds. Red Sox. The Red Sox in that game used their challenges, and they were out of them by the second inning. And at the end of the game, there were some calls that they needed to challenge because CB Buckner was so off and they couldn't. So I actually think that's kind of an interesting way to go. Now, what's next?

[Tim Welsh]

The Red Sox haven't really flourished in this category so far this year.

[Matt Jones]

Not. Not yet. No.

[James]

All right, World cup coming up. This summer, a tweet from Only in Boston, Raffles Hotel Boston is offering a $75,000 presidential suite stay aligned with the World cup this summer. The package includes a private helicopter to Foxborough, premium seats, a matchday Butler spa treatment. Matt driving up through up to Boston for the World cup stop. In Rhode island first, obviously. But what do you think you're going to drop 75,000 on this service here?

[Matt Jones]

No, I mean, this is a little bougie for my taste. I can't imagine having a match day butler. I feel like I would want them to leave me alone. But the. You know, everything I read about the World cup, especially when it comes to Foxborough, is that it's clunky. I mean, I think has the city council even like, they still haven't agreed to pay for the security yet for the thing. Is this of any interest to you, Tim, your big time coach money? A little $75,000 World cup experience?

[Tim Welsh]

I think that my. They have paid for the security. I think they.

[Matt Jones]

They did. Okay, so they agreed to it worked that out.

[Tim Welsh]

Mr. Kraft of the owner of the great Patriots took care of that part of it at least. Listen, I live about 35 minutes from Foxborough, closer to Foxborough than Boston, and you can rent my house for a lot less. Yeah, and I'll take you to one of those great Rhode island restaurants.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so let's see. All right, so $75,000 gets me. Gets me a helicopter, Foxborough premium seats, a matchday boat, and a small treatment. What is the Tim Welsh house experience? You'll give me a place to stay. Will you get me to Foxborough?

[Tim Welsh]

Absolutely. And know it well. We're season ticket holders. I know which parking lot to park. Park in.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you know which parking lot.

[James]

That's key because getting in and out of Foxborough sometimes not the. Not the greatest experience.

[Matt Jones]

Now since I get spa treatment, Tim, what do you have a nice bathtub at your house?

[Tim Welsh]

Whatever you need, we can put one in. I know some good plumbers. Yeah, I mean, by the way, you can take a train there. And the train, they have a train station right at the stadium.

[Matt Jones]

So instead of the price, I like this. So for the Tim Welsh experience, you get a train to Foxborough, right. You get to stay at his house. He will bake you some cookies and he's even going to put in a bathtub for your stay, that is. And what is the.

[Tim Welsh]

And I'll. We'll stop on Federal Hill in Providence on the way for a nice bowl of Bolognese or something.

[Matt Jones]

And what does this cost me? If that's $75,000, what is the Tim Welsh presidential stay?

[Tim Welsh]

You can get out all in for about 10k.

[James]

That's a deal.

[Tim Welsh]

And we're in business.

[James]

I think I'm in.

[Matt Jones]

You know, I actually think you should post this, Tim. I feel like you would have people take you up on it.

[Tim Welsh]

Well, I've got, I've got some other people that live in my house actually they have to co sign.

[Matt Jones]

I'm not sure they for ten grand I think I would tell them we're staying at the Holiday Inn for a little bit of time. All right, there you go. Those are your headlines. I like it. And I may take up on the Tim Welsh experience. Myron Metcalf is at the final four. He will join us next here on Matt and Myron. Matt and Myron the Pod.

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[Karam Butler]

Foreign.

[Matt Jones]

Here on ESPN Radio, Tim Welsh is filling in for Myron Metcalf because Meyer Metcalf was like, oh, I'm too busy, it's Final four weekend. But he does grace us with his presence here today. From the Final Four, I'm surprised you were Able to fit us in. Myron, thank you very much.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, I got bumped, it sounds like, though, on my own show. That was fun. James called me and said, yeah, he said, we had you at 11, but can we move you to 11:30? We have a better guest. So that was surprising to me.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it was Karan Butler, and I actually have to say, Karan did a really good job. Myron, I'm not saying you wouldn't have done a good job, but, like, Karan was really good.

[Myron Metcalf]

Karan was great. You know, NBA All Star champion, all that, former D2 football player, walk on. I mean, you got to give me some credit for my credentials as well, but I'm glad you got both of us.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And you claim to have been a running back. Still don't believe it. All right, you are at the final Four. Neither of those games yesterday ended up being quite as. As good as we had hoped. But let's look at today. All right, you've got. Or tomorrow, Michigan and Yukon. UConn finds a way in these things. On paper, Michigan should be a heavy favorite, but do you. Do you think they can. UConn can steal another one.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, I usually say, you don't bet against Dan Hurley. He's here. I don't think a lot of people thought he'd make it to the national championship game again for the third time in four years. But the talk here in Indianapolis is the margin of victory for Michigan. You know, like we were talking this morning, breakfast, like, how many points? 10, 15, 20. Because Michigan was unstoppable. And you look at that game and you go, okay, Jackson Lindenberg gets hurt. And they still were pummeling them even without their best player on the floor. So I don't know. Arizona, I thought coming in was certainly one or two in the NCAA tournament. And to watch Michigan do what they did to them, I don't know how UConn finds a way to win this game unless they make an overnight trade.

[Tim Welsh]

Yeah, it was just such an impressive performance by Michigan. But on the other side, UConn's defense of Illinois. Myron, did you ever think someone could do that to Illinois, make them look almost pedestrian offensively, especially that they're the number one rated team in the country with offensive efficiency?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. I mean, that's the best offense in America. I covered it in Houston, and they really humbled them in a way that I don't think many teams have this season. I think that was one of the lowest, maybe the fourth lowest scoring tally for Illinois and NCAA Tournament history. I will say, Coach, like, one of the things I always wonder about in these stadiums is how long it takes a team to get used to the whole depth perception thing. Like, to me, I saw Illinois kind of hesitant on a lot of shots, almost like they were using the first half to try to figure out this court. And then you have a UConn team with guys who played in a bunch of stadium games. And I think that played into UConn's favor, but defensively they were given. They had to be. I just think doing that against Michigan and all those big bodies is a completely different task.

[Matt Jones]

Let me ask you, and I actually, I want to do what I did with Tom here and ask you both this because you both would know better than I did. Tim, I'll start with you. And then, Myron, I have been to these Final Fours, and for me, as a non player who's played at a high level, the depth perception seems to me to be something that would be a factor when I just shoot on the court before the game. And then the balls. I know this sounds stupid, but the balls are so inflated and they're not the balls they use for the rest of the year. Tim, do you think that that matters and then, Myron, you can follow up?

[Tim Welsh]

Well, I think obviously they've been using his balls throughout the tournament. And one thing I've noticed over the last few years it's kind of changed since we were coaching, is that every team has a group of different basketballs that they use throughout the season, depending on who they're playing. And when you go on the road, obviously the home team picks the basketball. So if it's, you know, whatever the brand is, they have and they practice with that ball leading up to it. So I'm sure both teams have practiced a lot with these basketballs, but the depth perception is another thing. And I think Myron's spot on with that. You know, right. When you take the floor for the first time, you know, you practice out there, but it's different when the fans are there and the atmosphere and everything else that goes with it. Sometimes you start looking around out there and you forget about what you really need to focus on. And you got to zero in on those rims because of the fact of the. Of the depth perception issue.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, also, just like the fans and where they're at, I think it's just a different feel and you could just see it, I think with Illinois just trying to figure out their range and those basketballs that they're playing. With are brand new. You know, they take them out of the box and they roll them out there. So it's not balls you've been playing with over the course of a season. So I think those can make a difference. I don't think that was the deciding factor for UCAH. I think UCAH's defense and experience was the advantage there. Obviously, they beat him earlier this season, but it's just different to play in an environment like this.

[Matt Jones]

Both of these teams, Myron in the finals, Michigan, UConn. Older than the teams they beat, built different ways. Michigan, a lot of it from the portal. Yukon tends to keep guys more within the system. Are there anything with the teams that made the Final Four and succeeded in the tournament that are sort of issues or trends you think showcase where college basketball is headed? Or is it just. These are two really good teams and that's how they got there.

[Myron Metcalf]

They're old and big, but I think the biggest. The bigger thing, like, if you look at UConn, Alex Carabin, like, it doesn't look like it on TV, he's 6, 8. You know, he's. He's gigantic. Braylon Mullins, you know, 6, 5, 6, 6. Harris Reed. And then you look at Michigan, obviously three guys, 6 foot 9 or taller. People talk about that, but it's their wings, Burnett and Trey McKinney. All those guys are 6 foot 5. So I think the. The thing you're seeing now is I don't think you can win a championship in today's climate without NBA size at every position. And I think that's the thing you notice here. There are no small players. I mean, Elliot Cadeau, but he's surrounded by a bunch of giants. So I think if you're recruiting going forward, you got to figure out how you're going to defend these teams that are assembling some of the biggest lineups that we've seen.

[Tim Welsh]

You know, it's amazing when you look at Michigan's lineup, and we all have seen teams that put together rosters from different schools from the Portal, and. And some work, some don't, but none of them usually get this far. But Michigan's really thrived with their. With the Portal and actually meshing their players. I mean, Elliot Cadeau last night was absolutely the difference maker, and he's looked tremendous in the last couple games. He's had some ups and downs with turning the ball over. But what's your take on Michigan? How they've done it, how they put the roster together so well, and how it's fit so, well,

[Myron Metcalf]

well, I mean, it starts with Yax just being one of the best players in America. And then I think having fluid big man. Now you look at Adon Mara, that's a seven foot three human being who is running the floor like a guard. Morris Johnson, like these are all really athletic, explosive, fluid, big men. So it allows you to play fast. I mean, that's the weird thing about Michigan. Usually when you have a team that big, they can't run. In the old world, coach, I'm sure you know, when you've had a big team, they had to slow it down. This Michigan team is one of the fastest teams in the country. And I think that to me is what really makes them go. The fact that they can push the pace. All these guys are versatile enough to defend multiple positions and there's just no way, I think, to really corral them. If you stop them in the post, they can hit threes. They're really good three point shooting team pressure on the perimeter. What are you going to do with all those big bodies in the paint? And then on defense, it's hard to catch them in mismatches. And I think that to me is what they found. It's like big guys who could do a lot of things who are versatile. It's just hard to beat a team with that much, that many tools.

[Matt Jones]

All right, I'm gonna get you out of here with this, Myron, because you have very important final four work to do with all of your very important journalists there in Indianapolis. We just earlier had a little bit of a back and forth, Tim and I, about the Geno Dawn Staley confrontation. We had different positions on it. You might be able to guess who was on what side. What is the Myron Metcalf position on Geno's actions on Friday night?

[Myron Metcalf]

Gino needs to grow up. You know, I mean, I think if you're worried about some handshake, address it after the game. I just thought it was wrong.

[Matt Jones]

He did address it after the game, just in public, but.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, but I mean, not in that. Address it for the first time after the game. Right. Like, I. I think it was a bad look and I thought dawn was in the right to defend herself. You know, somebody's coming up to you in the middle of the game, you're winning and a coach is yelling at you. We don't see that very often. So I, I thought Gino was in the wrong and he's lucky he didn't go further because I think Dawn. Dawn had to be held back. So I'M glad Gino got out of there. Oh, really?

[Matt Jones]

You think she would have taken him,

[Myron Metcalf]

her and those three dudes was gonna come out of the stands with no Social Security numbers? Yeah. It's gonna be a whole different problem out there on that court.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

You've been to South Carolina. I've been to South Carolina. That's not a problem that Gino and Yukon wanted.

[Matt Jones]

No Social Security number, huh?

[Myron Metcalf]

It would have been. It would have been a problem had that gone further.

[Matt Jones]

I think dawn needs help. I feel like Dawn.

[Tim Welsh]

Myron, I just want to thank you for letting me sit in your chair. But I also want to apologize to everyone involved that I didn't call you before to get warned about what it was like sitting in this chair. So, anyway, I've been taking. Taking a lot of shots this morning,

[Matt Jones]

but you're not taking shots. This has been a wonderful language, though.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's all code.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Tim Welsh]

Yeah, we've ironed a couple of things out already. You guys never been to Rhode Island? Myron, I mean, come on, get out of.

[Matt Jones]

I'll give you a little hint, Tim. I'm gonna give you a little hint of working with me. There's two ways when I'm working. If I give you a hard time, that means I like you. If I don't like you, then I just make a boring show and just am like, you know, so. So tell me about the 131 zone. Like, that's what I'm saying. So, like, the fact that I'm giving you a hard. Yeah,

[Tim Welsh]

what John Calipari told me.

[Myron Metcalf]

Stop.

[Matt Jones]

John Caliperi doesn't know.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, I appreciate y' all have it.

[Matt Jones]

Myron Metcalf, thank you very much. Now, see, Tim, why you got to do that to me? That's it. You know LeBron James. LeBron James had some strong comments about a city this week. I've had strong comments about cities you just heard Myron about. South Carolina. Was he in the wrong? That's next here on Matt. Myron on espn. Matt and Myron, the podcast.

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[Matt Jones]

It is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio. We have some breaking news. Pete Thamel of ESPN is reporting that Danny Hurley says that solo ball has some kind of a foot sprain and will not practice today. He's in a boot and will be monitored for tomorrow night. What's your thought on that, Tim? I bet he still plays, but do you think that's significant?

[Tim Welsh]

Oh, it's problematic, absolutely. I mean he's such an important player, veteran. Obviously the bench has helped them. The bench helped last night as well and but I would think he's going to be out there. I would think that the major more important issue in this game is Yaxel Lindeborg. I mean, obviously the way he looked last night, you know, sprained knee, sprained ankle and I would think ball's going to be there tomorrow night. There's no doubt about it. But obviously it could be problematic. But UConn does have some depth at guard.

[Matt Jones]

I would assume both those guys play though, right? I mean, it's the last hurrah going for a title. I. They're both going to get out on the court.

[Tim Welsh]

Yeah, of course. And you know, you look at UConn, Malachi Smith's given a major minutes throughout the tournament. They've done a good job. Jaden Ross, Jalen Stewart last night, the way they play, I mean at times last night Mullins brought the ball up, Braylon Mullens, I mean the guard, you know, the guard play ball, comes off those pin down screens. He's really effective with them. He's a streaky type shooter, but when he's shooting the ball, they're a much better team. And he's going to get his shots up, there's no doubt about it. But, but let's just hope everybody's Healthy tomorrow night, because I think if that's the case, we're going to see a great game.

[Matt Jones]

I agree. Now, if you've listened to this show over the years, I like to give, you know, people a hard time about the city that they're from. I mean, when you're. When you're from, like, a booming metropolis like Kentucky, you can do that. So we've had a lot of that this week. We've had a couple of big things. Let's. One of them got more attention than the other, but I want to play them both first. Let's start with LeBron James. He was on Bob Does Sports, which is a YouTube golf thing, apparently. I still don't understand why people want to watch strangers play golf on YouTube, but I know that the youngsters like it. And Bob Does Sports is one of the ones that is very popular. And LeBron clearly is popular because he was on it. And here's what he said about Memphis.

[LeBron James]

41 years old. You think I want to do that on a random ass Thursday? I'm not like, the first guy I even talk about in the NBA. Like, we all, like, you guys have to move. Just go over to Nashville. You got Vanderbilt over there. You got the nascar. You got a stadium. Don't they got a hockey team, too?

[Tim Welsh]

Yeah, Predators.

[LeBron James]

Like, you got everything.

[Myron Metcalf]

Doesn't look like LeBron's gonna be on

[Tim Welsh]

the Grizzlies anytime soon. So Grizzly fans out there.

[LeBron James]

Yeah. They know their only chance is in 2003 if they won the lottery. And I might. And I might have pulled Eli Manning and not showed up.

[Matt Jones]

Man, that's harsh. My comments about Indianapolis are never even that bad. By the way. He's. LeBron's got to be the first guy who's been like, I'll tell you a great city somewhere with Vanderbilt and nascar. Those. That's a great.

[Tim Welsh]

He knows so much about it. He goes, and don't they have a hockey team, by the way? By the way, they have an NFL team, too, by the way.

[Matt Jones]

It is the capital of country music, and there's an NFL team. But let's lead with Vanderbilt, nascar. So that's his Memphis take, then the Saint. Excuse me. The New York Mets baseball broadcasters were in St. Louis for a game against the Cardinals, and they had this to say about St. Louis.

[Unknown Mets Broadcaster]

Only thing missing from that picture, as is often missing from every picture we show of downtown St. Louis, no people. No people.

[Matt Jones]

People.

[Unknown Mets Broadcaster]

Well, you know what? They wanted to look picturesque. You can see a car driving by on the right. That's the only sign of life. But there's never anybody walking around. Now.

[Matt Jones]

There is downtown St. Louis.

[Unknown Mets Broadcaster]

Not very often. You're right. It's like, remember the old neutron bomb? It wouldn't knock down buildings, but just would eliminate all the people. It's like one of those hits St. Louis. I. I guess it's just a photo op. People then run and hide so they're not in the photo.

[Matt Jones]

Also harsh about St. Louis, although I must say, I was in St. Louis two weeks ago and I didn't see any people. I was there for Kentucky's NCAA tournament game, and I was walking downtown in the day, in the daytime, and I didn't see a person. And I thought, this is a beautiful city. Why are there no people out? So with that said, Tim, one shot at Memphis, one shot at St. Louis by athletes and broadcasters. Do you think the city shots that have happened in the last week fair or unfair?

[Tim Welsh]

Oh, goodness. I hate when people try to be funny and aren't funny. I mean, LeBron's trying to be funny, I guess. I don't know. How about going.

[Matt Jones]

I was worried he was talking about me for a second. Okay, LeBron.

[Tim Welsh]

How about going to St. Jude's and visiting the poor kids? If you're bored in Memphis, there's nothing to do. I mean, that's what the Raptors do when they're in town. I'm sure other NBA teams do as well. And I'm sure the Lakers have done stuff like that as well around the country. So I don't know. I don't listen to these guys when they get out of their lane. It has no effect on my life. I guess it's fun to play these things. And the announcers try to listen. Baseball, 162 games. You got to talk about something other than, you know, the ABS system all the time. But St. Louis got a great Little Italy. I loved it there.

[Matt Jones]

I thought, no, it is the hill. You're talking about the hill. Yes. Very, very nice. And that's where Yogi Be and Joe Garagiola. But they were born, Tim, across the street from each other on the hill.

[Tim Welsh]

Perfect. There you go. Once upon a time, we had a Final Four there. I believe the last time Illinois was in the Final Four, it was in St. Louis. We were there and we had a great time. And having gone to Memphis many times over the years to cover Memphis, the Memphis Tigers, we stay right across the street and walk to the arena.

[Matt Jones]

Did you know that's now a Bass Pro Shops?

[Tim Welsh]

Yeah, that's the old arena, the new, the FedEx. I think it's still called FedEx form. I mean.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Tim Welsh]

Have you heard of Beale Street? I mean, come on. There's great, great ribs. I mean, got a nice.

[Matt Jones]

The same as you run on the river.

[Tim Welsh]

You go for a walk on the river. I mean, come on. They love their basketball there, both they do, the Grizzlies and the Tigers. So that's, that's good enough for me.

[Matt Jones]

So, James, he's going to make me feel a little guilty because, you know, there's one of the things I do like doing is, is, is giving cities a hard time. Let me take up for the city of Memphis, though, for a second. The food in Memphis is unbelievable in the history of Memphis, like, there's an amazing history. The civil rights history in Memphis going back, you know, 100 years is, is, is unbelievable and unparalleled. I think people got mad at the idea because LeBron's not the first person to say he doesn't like going to Memphis. I think they got mad, Tim, at the idea that he said, move it to Nashv. He then later added that he also felt that way about Milwaukee, which. Milwaukee gets astray. I actually really like Milwaukee. But Tim, I mean, do you, do you think it's out of line for, for a player as big as LeBron to say move a franchise?

[Tim Welsh]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. Players play, play. I mean, if you want to be an owner, buy a team. He's a member of the Fenway.

[Matt Jones]

I think he's probably going to do that.

[Tim Welsh]

Remember the Fenway Sports group? They want, maybe they'll buy the new franchise in Vegas. Who knows? He can, he can have his deal in Vegas. I mean, I, I don't like that. I think it's a disrespect to all the hard working people in the community, especially hard working people that pay to go see you play every time you come to Memphis and sell out that arena. So. Yeah, stay away from that. I don't, I don't like it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I, I didn't like the comments about Memphis because I like them. But as we've said on here, James, I would not really want to play in a lot of. In, in for me, it would mostly be Salt Lake, although it is beautiful there.

[James]

You hated the finals matchup last year. It was Indiana and Oklahoma City.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, Indiana, Indianapolis for like. My problem with Indianapolis is it's basically the Applebee's of cities, is what I've said. Like it's. The entire city is a strip mall and then Oklahoma City. I did used to criticize, but I went. And I will say Thunder fans are the most like the fans in the country. So it all depends. But you know, LeBron, I will say this about Nashville. Nashville 25 years ago. Awesome. Now it's a little bit like Disney World, but for country music. We're going to talk to a legendary coach next here on Matt My Matt and Myron the Pod.

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