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- [00:01]
Matt Jones
It's time for basketball and Uber Eats is dropping deals on game day favorites to keep you locked in on the action. Like when you're craving a buzzer beater, but also Buffalo wings or when an upset makes you want to ugly cry into a pizza. And right now, Uber Eats has game day deals from Burger King, Buffalo Wild Wings, KFC and hundreds more local favorites so you can keep your eyes on the ball and your hands on a burger. Order now only on Uber Eats. Product availability varies by region. See app for details. This is Matt and Myron, the podcast.
- [00:35]
Myron Metcalf
It is that time, folks. It's the men's bracketology selection show on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. The brackets are coming out, so let's get started. Right now, the number one overall seed in the Atlanta region is Auburn. Myron good with it.
- [00:52]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I don't think there was any debate. I mean, what they've done over the course of the year, they deserved it.
- [00:56]
Myron Metcalf
They will be playing in Lexington, Kentucky against the 16 seed. The game is Alabama State and St. Francis. Alabama State and St. Francis playing to go against Auburn. The game is in Lexington. The eighth seed in the region, the Louisville Cardinals. Maybe a little lower seated than people thought, but playing in Lexington against creighton, what an 8, 9 matchup. And what a draw for Auburn. You have to play in Lexington, maybe against Louisville, who's one hour down the road. That is insane. That'll be a definitely a talking point. The five seeds in that region will be Michigan. They're playing in Denver, Colorado as the Big Ten champ. Michigan ends up going to Denver. They are going to get a 12 seed in Denver. Up in the altitude there, there's your. See the team actually celebrating with their five seed ranking. I'm sorry, Myron, I cannot believe you've got Louisville and Creighton. And they will. Michigan will play the 12 seed, UC San Diego. You picked Michigan as a team that could win it. That UC San Diego team, Byron, is really good now.
- [02:03]
Matt Jones
They're tough. I think if you're Michigan, you're going, wait, we won the Big Ten tournament and now we get a major draw for Michigan.
- [02:10]
Myron Metcalf
You win 10 and you get UC San Diego. That I telling you folks, that will be a tough one. It also shows they don't really take into account the Big Ten title game, do they?
- [02:20]
Matt Jones
Yeah, the brackets are usually done. We always hear that message. This proves it for sure.
- [02:23]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, they, they, I, I actually think they should, but they don't. The four seed is Texas A and M. They will play from the Ivy League. Yale in Denver as a 13. I think, Myron, that's another dangerous game, right? Yale beat Auburn last year in the se in the NCAA tournament, was able to actually pull an upset. And now they get Texas A and M chance for another one.
- [02:44]
Matt Jones
Definitely a chance. They got a lot of veterans on that Yale team. That's a tough matchup for A and M. Yeah, that's.
- [02:50]
Myron Metcalf
That's going to be a tough one. Six seed is Ole Miss. They'll play the winner of San Diego State and North Carolina, which means the Tar Heels are in the tournament. Myron.
- [03:00]
Matt Jones
Okay, someone has to explain that one to me, Matt, because, wow, I didn't think they had the resume to be in that position.
- [03:06]
Myron Metcalf
That is amazing. So the. This will be a big story of this, of this whole tournament. North Carolina is in the tournament. Good decision. Bad decision.
- [03:15]
Matt Jones
I think it's a bad decision. I don't think they had the resume to do that. I think they needed at least one win over Duke. They didn't get it. I don't understand it.
- [03:20]
Myron Metcalf
You think people are going to say, well, the selection committee chair is from North Carolina, so that's why it happens?
- [03:26]
Matt Jones
I think people are definitely going to say.
- [03:27]
Myron Metcalf
Going to say it. Whether it's true or not is another thing. Three seed in Milwaukee is Iowa State. They will play Lipscomb from Nashville in the 314 matchup in Cleveland. In the south region, the 7 seed is Marquette. They will play the 10 seed of New Mexico. Marquette, New Mexico. That'll be the game of. Hey, what else is on when they're playing? Is that. Is that what that one will be?
- [03:51]
Matt Jones
Oh, no. I mean, Richard Patino, Mountain west coach of the year.
- [03:53]
Myron Metcalf
Donovan, be excited for The Marquette, N.M.
- [03:57]
Matt Jones
Mexico can be a team that gets to the Sweet 16 and can surprise the field. They're good. Really good.
- [04:02]
Myron Metcalf
The two seed in that region is Michigan State. Michigan State is the 2 seed. They will be playing in Cleveland. I would expect a massive crowd from. For the Spartans. And Tom is a. What a job he's done this year, Byron.
- [04:15]
Matt Jones
I mean, look at what he's doing with Jace Richardson, the son of Jason Richardson who was on that 2000 team.
- [04:19]
Myron Metcalf
And Michigan State will play Bryant, coached by Phil Martelli Jr. Who will be joining us in the next hour. Michigan State and Bryant. That means the one seed in the south is Auburn to Michigan State. Texas A and M is the four and. And the three seed is Iowa State. Does that seem like a balanced region to you? Michigan is the five, Louisville is the eight. I cannot believe Louisville's the eight.
- [04:42]
Matt Jones
It's balanced. But if I'm Auburn, I'm going. Wait a minute. Number on overall seed. I might have to play Louisville and Lexington.
- [04:47]
Myron Metcalf
The committee did. Auburn. If you have to play. If you're Auburn and you have to play Louisville in Lexington in the second round, that's amazing, isn't it?
- [04:58]
Matt Jones
I bet Bruce Pearl is both happy and furious about what he's witnessing right now.
- [05:02]
Myron Metcalf
That's interesting.
- [05:02]
Matt Jones
That's tough.
- [05:03]
Myron Metcalf
As a Kentucky fan, do you think Kentucky fans go to that game and then root for Bruce Pearl, which is something that no one would have ever imagined would happen.
- [05:12]
Matt Jones
Feels right up their alley, I think, to do that potentially.
- [05:15]
Myron Metcalf
So North Carolina's in.
- [05:17]
Matt Jones
Don't understand it.
- [05:18]
Myron Metcalf
That means there's going to be one of these teams that doesn't make it that you think should have.
- [05:23]
Matt Jones
Is that.
- [05:23]
Myron Metcalf
Is it like a travesty or is it a close call?
- [05:26]
Matt Jones
It feels like a travesty. Based on what the criteria has been quality wins. They haven't had it. They got on a little run late, but they're in an ACC that's one of the worst accs that we've seen. I just don't know what they did over the last month to say that's definitely a tournament.
- [05:43]
Myron Metcalf
I have to say, you would have thought. See, here's what doesn't. Here's what I don't understand. If Louisville is an eight seat after being as good as they were in the ACC this year, then that must mean that the committee thinks the ACC is.
- [05:58]
Matt Jones
Is terrible, isn't good. That's what they.
- [05:59]
Myron Metcalf
Then how do you put North Carolina in?
- [06:01]
Matt Jones
That's the problem.
- [06:02]
Myron Metcalf
I don't understand how Louisville can be an 8 and North Carolina can be in the field. That seems inconsistent to me, doesn't it?
- [06:09]
Matt Jones
Well, and that's why you're gonna have such a conversation with Bubba Cunningham as the committee chair. A North Carolina team that couldn't beat a Duke team that didn't have Cooper flag in the ACC tournament championship. I mean, I'm sorry, the semifinal. So I don't understand it.
- [06:23]
Myron Metcalf
All right, let's look at some of the rest of this region because Auburn is the number one overall seed. Michigan State is the two. Let's say the seeds play out as they will. You know, Auburn has really finished poorly for a team that played so well earlier this year. I mean, just two weeks ago after they beat Kentucky, there was a. There were stories about how they had one of the highest offensive efficiencies in NCAA basketball history. They've now lost three of four since then. Do you like Michigan State? Do you like Auburn in that region?
- [06:54]
Matt Jones
I still like Auburn, man. I think we get caught up in champ week. And the reality is, Matt, there are a lot of teams that have been great in their conference tournaments and done nothing in the NCAA tournament. And there are a lot of champions that didn't succeed in their conference tournaments and still went on to make the Final Four or the national championship. The thing about Auburn, for me, man, is you still got to deal with a team that can go 10 deep, a team that has the best resume in the entire country, a team that has Jani Broom, one of the best players in America, and this incredible supporting cast balanced on offense and defense. And they won the best league maybe of the last 30 years in the SEC. That has to count for something. I'm not panicking about the way Auburn has finished the year so far.
- [07:41]
Myron Metcalf
I. You. You think they have? I mean, that Louisville Creighton 89 matchup, that's a juicy first rounder, right? Two teams that lost in their conference tournament finals playing the first round is an 8 9. And if I told you in the five major conferences, two teams playing in their championship games would play in an 8 my 9 matchup. That's amazing, isn't it?
- [07:58]
Matt Jones
No, it is. It is amazing. Like I said, if you're Bruce Pro, you're going glad to be number one overall. See, but the committee did not do him any favors.
- [08:06]
Myron Metcalf
All right, we're going to go quickly here, take a break. When we come back, we will give you more of the regions the south is in. We'll have more. Auburn's the number one overall seed. Carolina is in more Next on the Men's Bracketology selection show on ESPN Radio.
- [08:23]
Matt Jones
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- [08:35]
Myron Metcalf
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- [08:48]
Myron Metcalf
Wait, did I say job title yet?
- [08:50]
Matt Jones
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- [09:03]
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- [10:20]
Matt Jones
It.
- [10:20]
Myron Metcalf
Is the men's bracketology selection show on ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance. We got a riddle brought to you by Progressive Insurance. What do your home and auto have in common? Progressive protects them both. Easy riddle. Learn more@progressive.com all right, we gave you the South. It's now time to go to the East. I will read you the one seed in the east which means the number two overall seed is Duke. They will play the 16 seed, the winner of American and Mount Saint Mary's. Notice Myron, I predicted Mount Saint Mary's versus Duke. You shunned me. The eighth seed will be Mississippi State against the non seed Baylor. That is a very Myron athletic matchup of those two teams. Two teams that play a lot, a lot like and that will be an athletic battle. Don't you think it will be?
- [11:04]
Matt Jones
I think that'll be a tough game.
- [11:05]
Myron Metcalf
And then by the way, I think both those teams can give Duke some some hassles there in that second round. The five seed is Oregon. They will play against Liberty. That game will be in Denver. And the four seed Arizona against the 13 seed Akron. Akron I think is a scary team there for against Arizona, don't you?
- [11:26]
Matt Jones
Akron's won 21 of the last 22 games. Uh, they've made 60% of their shots inside the arc over that stretch. 38% of their three point attempts. That's a tough game for Arizona in the 6 11.
- [11:36]
Myron Metcalf
It's the battle of the initials. BYU versus VCU in a game of use. You think BYU can be very dangerous, don't you?
- [11:45]
Matt Jones
BYU over the last month of the season has had the best offense in America. They've gotten hot at the right time. Richie Saunders is a tough player. Kevin Young figuring it out as a head coach.
- [11:54]
Myron Metcalf
The three seed is Wisconsin. Who. That's a. Well, maybe a little high C for them, but they're very good, very efficient offensively. They'll play a 14 seated Montana team leading to a potential Wisconsin, BYU, second round game that I think would be a lot of fun. Vanderbilt is a 10 seed. That's another team that kind of you thought was in but weren't sure. They play a seven seated St. Mary's St. Mary's Vandy, that's a classic big boy conference, you know, smaller conference. If the SEC wants to act like they were the best conference in the country. They got two big games in this region with Mississippi State, Baylor and St. Mary's and Vandy to kind of show if the conference was as strong as everyone thought.
- [12:37]
Matt Jones
Yeah. And to your point, I mean Baylor has a lottery pick and Vijay Edgecombe playing against Josh Hubbard in Mississippi State. And then this Vandy team, AJ Hogart, will he take care of the ball? He's had a lot of issues with turnovers going against the St. Mary's team that has one of the best defenses in America.
- [12:50]
Myron Metcalf
A lot of people wondered who would get Alabama as their two seat because I think Alabama might be the best two seed. It's going to be Duke because Alabama is in the East. They will play Robert Morris. I think the five best teams are Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida and Alabama. So one of those one seeds was going to get a two seed Alabama. What do you think about Duke getting what I think is the best two seed as their two seed in the East?
- [13:18]
Matt Jones
They're going to make a mern it. I mean that's going to be a fascinating game. The young guys at Duke, I think Alabama's pace and the way they can push, uh. Come on, Malawash, the seven footer at Duke, how does he deal with that pressure? But also remember Grant Nelson got hurt in the SEC tournament. Will he be healthy enough for Alabama in the in the tournament?
- [13:35]
Myron Metcalf
You also see something that I don't think has ever happened in the NCAA tournament before, which is you could get two teams from the same conference playing each other in the second round. You could get Alabama and Vanderbilt playing each other in the second round. That's never happened in the history of the NCAA tournament, but it may happen this year because the SEC is likely to get 13 teams in 13, obviously.
- [13:55]
Matt Jones
Possibly 14. Yeah. And Bubba Cunningham on a conference call this week said we're going to see things that we probably haven't seen before because you have so many teams from one league in this deal.
- [14:05]
Myron Metcalf
All right, so the east has Duke as the one, Alabama is the two, Wisconsin is the three, Arizona the four, Oregon the five, byu, the six. Feels like a pretty balanced region to me. Who do you like?
- [14:19]
Matt Jones
Well, I mean, I think it's. If you tell me Cooper Flag is healthy, I'm still picking Duke to come out of there. But Alabama being your two is not going to be easy based on that style of play. Arizona playing some of the best basketball. Oregon has wins over a lot of top 25 teams. And then a team like Wisconsin and John Tanji, who has been one of the best players in America, he's going to be an All American. So that's a, that's a tougher region based on what I'm looking at now than what Auburn has in the South.
- [14:43]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, let me. Let's go. I want to look at these 5 12, 4, 13 matchups because this is where you always get at least one, so sometimes multiple upsets. If I read you these four matchups and I said Meyer, Metcalf, tell me which one is most likely to end in an upset. Michigan against UC San Diego, A and M against Yale, Oregon against Liberty, Arizona against Akron. I think all four of those could be upsets. I don't think they all will, but forum could. Which one do you think is most likely?
- [15:13]
Matt Jones
I think I'd say Akron, Arizona.
- [15:16]
Myron Metcalf
I don't. I don't agree with you. Yeah.
- [15:17]
Matt Jones
Cause I think Arizona is a good team, but they're also a streaky team and that's kind of been their entire season. Started slow, got off to a good start, figured themselves out. Caleb Love can be one of the best players in the country. He can also be a guy that goes 4 for 25. So I think Akron's going to give them problems.
- [15:33]
Myron Metcalf
I think a lot of people will pick Yale, Texas A and M. They will because they'll. Just. Because they probably haven't watched Texas A and M play. But in my opinion, when you're looking for a team to be upset, one of the things you want to look for is do they have a go to guy? Because if they don't and things get bad, it can be bad. A and M's got Wade Taylor.
- [15:53]
Matt Jones
They do.
- [15:54]
Myron Metcalf
And I think that makes it less likely for them to be upset. Plus, Yale beat Auburn last year, so A and M is certainly not going to take them for granted considering they just beat an SEC team last year.
- [16:04]
Matt Jones
Well, I think A and M is a Team. If you tell me they're in the Big 12, if they're in the Big 10, I think people would see them differently. It's been hard for anyone not name Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama to get any love in the SEC because it's been that strong. But I think A and M is legit. They're balanced to your point. Wade Taylor is one of the best players in the country at his best. That's gonna be a tough game, though, against Yale.
- [16:26]
Myron Metcalf
When you sit here and look big picture at these early conferences, it's hard to see a huge pattern in terms of seating. Except the one thing I would note. It feels like the Big 12 got a LI. Quite a bit of respect in seating. The SEC is probably going to get all these teams in, but they didn't get crazy good seeds. I thought Ole Miss could even be a. Mississippi state gets an 8. Vandy does get a 10, but I do think there's. It's. It. It's not like the committee thinks it's by far the best conference. Well, that it. That they get big seed bumps.
- [16:58]
Matt Jones
Yeah, no, I. I think that has been pretty balanced. If anything, you're the ACC and you're going, wait a minute. Louisville is one of the best teams in our league, and they're an eight seed. So I think both the Big Ten and the SEC so far have been treated.
- [17:11]
Myron Metcalf
I don't think there's any doubt. If you look at the bracket as it is now, halfway through the big storylines for me are Louisville being an 8, but North Carolina being in. That's going to be. I think that's going to be the controversial thing, Myron, out of this so far is them being North Carolina being it. Now we're going to go to the Midwest in Wichita, Kansas. Houston is the number one seed in the Midwest. They will play Southern Illinois at Edwardsville. If you listen to our show last Sunday, uh, we learned a lot about that school, first time ever being in the tournament, and their coach was on with us. Congrats to them. Gonna be a tough go of it, though, Myron. Probably against Houston, right?
- [17:52]
Matt Jones
Hey, you gotta believe in Rayshawn Taylor and siui, man. Maybe they got a shot. No, no, I have to believe they're good. But Houston's great.
- [17:58]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, it was a great story, though. The coach had the scissors and he hung him up and said, we're gonna use these at some point. Um, I don't know if he's gonna be able to use them against Houston in that first game, but we'll see. Now the eight seed under Houston is Gonzaga. They will play a nine seated Georgia. That will actually be a great game. Gonzaga and Georgia. I sit there and look. I don't know if Gonzaga will beat Georgia, but if they do a Gonzaga Houston second round game. That's pretty juicy, isn't it?
- [18:26]
Matt Jones
Yeah, that's fascinating For a Houston team that's been really good, dominated the Big 12. And this is not the same Gonzaga team we're accustomed.
- [18:32]
Myron Metcalf
It's not. But they still score a lot. So the idea of having the offensive firepower of Gonzaga against a defense like Houston, quite something. Now in Providence, Rhode island, the 5 seed is Clemson. Boy, that's going to be amazing. They play the 12 seed McNeese. Clemson is really good, but not the most athletic team. McNeese is a crazy athletic upset potential.
- [18:57]
Matt Jones
I'll tell you what, they are not doing the ACC any favors. Man. That is the toughest 12 seed in the field. Wow.
- [19:03]
Myron Metcalf
The four seed in the Midwest is Purdue. They will play a 13 seed high point. And Myron, I'm going on record right now. Write it down in the studio. High Point takes out Purdue in providence in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Move High Point to the second round. That's my 13 over a four.
- [19:24]
Matt Jones
Tell you what, Kamani Hamilton and Co. That High Point team is good. That's a tough first round matchup for Purdue.
- [19:29]
Myron Metcalf
The six seed in the Midwest will be Illinois. You know they have firepower, Myron, but then sometimes they look just awful. They go all over the place they will play. Winner of Texas and Xavier. Texas is in. The SEC is going to get 14 teams in the tournament. Texas and Xavier, the big boy conferences.
- [19:51]
Matt Jones
Get in.
- [19:52]
Myron Metcalf
Myron, what do you think about Texas being in surprise?
- [19:54]
Matt Jones
I mean I thought Texas, Oklahoma in the season finale was like an elimination game. Didn't do a lot in the SEC tournament, but clearly the committee respects the sec.
- [20:03]
Myron Metcalf
That is Texas getting in. I thought for sure that their loss the other night was going to make them not in there. And they're the 3 seed. Are your Kentucky Wildcats in the Midwest? 22 and 11. They will play in Milwaukee. Suspect a lot of Kentucky fans will make that trip. And they will play against Troy in the first round. Kentucky has lost two of the last three years to an underseated team in the first round. Does it happen this year?
- [20:31]
Matt Jones
I don't think so. But you're going to my hometown, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Make sure you go to college.
- [20:36]
Myron Metcalf
Come with me.
- [20:36]
Matt Jones
Get a burger.
- [20:38]
Myron Metcalf
Will you Come join me.
- [20:39]
Matt Jones
Get a burger.
- [20:40]
Myron Metcalf
Me and you Hanging out in Milwaukee. It'll be great. Ucla is the seven seed. They'll play in Lexington. Kentucky against a 10 seeded Utah State. I don't know how UCLA, what kind of crowd in Lexington you Getting for UCLA vs Utah State?
- [20:54]
Matt Jones
Byron Nick Cronin will be happy.
- [20:57]
Myron Metcalf
How many people are going to be at ucla, Utah State in Lexington. Then the two seed will be the Tennessee Volunteers. If you had ever told people at the Rupp arena they're going to get Tennessee, they would have gone. Come on, that's insane. Wofford against a Wofford team. That was a little bit of an upset winner. Tennessee plays Wofford. So you look at the Midwest Region there, Myron, what do you think? What do you make of it? Duke the. Excuse me. Houston the 1, Tennessee the 2, Kentucky the 3, Purdue the 4 could have a Kentucky, Tennessee Sweet 16 game.
- [21:26]
Matt Jones
They're going to make Houston earn it because that is a hell of a stretch to have to get through Tennessee potentially or Kentucky and then teams like Gonzaga in there as well.
- [21:34]
Myron Metcalf
What if you had Kentucky and Tennessee in the sweet 16?
- [21:37]
Matt Jones
How about that? It's possible.
- [21:38]
Myron Metcalf
I mean that's definitely possible in Indianapolis. Can you imagine what that crowd would be like if you had Kentucky and Tennessee playing in Indianapolis? Kentucky's beaten Tennessee twice this year already.
- [21:48]
Matt Jones
Yeah, it'd be fun, man.
- [21:50]
Myron Metcalf
All right, so we have. That is your Midwest region. We are going to give you the final region which is the west here momentarily. A pretty balanced field. North Carolina and Texas both in. That's next on Bracketology on ESPN Radio.
- [22:03]
Matt Jones
Matt and Myron the podcast welcome to AutoZone. What are you working on today? My car is making this noise. Sometimes it's like.
- [22:25]
Myron Metcalf
And sometimes it's like.
- [22:27]
Matt Jones
Do you have a dash light on?
- [22:29]
Myron Metcalf
Oh yeah.
- [22:30]
Matt Jones
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Myron Metcalf
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Matt Jones
Finger so I can get in more.
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Myron Metcalf
Squats anywhere I can. 1, 2, 3. Will that be cash or credit? Credit.
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Matt Jones
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- [23:14]
Myron Metcalf
Compatible select apps requires Google Gemini account results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy. Is the bracketology selection show for the men on ESPN Radio. The women's bracketology selection show will follow us on ESPN Radio from 8 to 11. We are here until 8 o'clock. We've given you the first three regions. Let's go ahead and do the final one. We head to the west. This will be in San Francisco. The number one seed. The Florida Gators actually be a homecoming if they get there for Todd golden who came from San Francisco. They will play Norfolk state in the first round. Then this 89 matchup. Myron Poor to Todd Golden. Can't love this. Yukon two time defending champ is the eight seed. They will play a nine seated Oklahoma. That Todd golden or excuse me, Todd golden has to be like can you imagine Florida Yukon second round. Yeah.
- [24:06]
Matt Jones
No, I don't think that's going to be any fun for Todd golden to think about that matchup against the Huskies.
- [24:11]
Myron Metcalf
I don't think so either. The 5 seed pretty highly seated. Actually I think little higher than I would have thought. Memphis will be the 5 seed. They'll play the 12 seeded Colorado State. That should be a heck of a game. I could. That's almost a toss up to me. Do you what do you think? Colorado State's been so hot here in the second half of the year and.
- [24:28]
Matt Jones
Colorado State is a lot of people's picks to maybe make a run to the second weekend and beyond. Neat. Clifford's gonna be a household name when it's all said.
- [24:35]
Myron Metcalf
They got. That's a draw where I think that's in Seattle. Any of these teams could come out. The four seed is Maryland from the Big Ten. They will play a Grand Canyon team. That's very dangerous. Another 4:13. That I think is very dangerous.
- [24:48]
Matt Jones
That's a tough matchup. I mean for what Grand Canyon has been able to do. At the same time I think Maryland has the goods to make a final four run.
- [24:53]
Myron Metcalf
The six seed is Missouri. Good seed for the sec. Missouri finished kind of didn't finish great but had a good season. They will play a Drake team that you think is very dangerous in the 611 matchup.
- [25:04]
Matt Jones
Drake's been great over the last month and a half of the season. That is a tough draw for Missouri.
- [25:08]
Myron Metcalf
Very tough draw. You've got Texas tech is the 3 seed. They will play a 14 seed UNC Wilmington. What do you. What do you like that?
- [25:17]
Matt Jones
I think UNC Wilmington is really good. That's going to be a tough matchup for whoever they face at the same time, Texas Tech has Final Four potential with JT Toppin.
- [25:26]
Myron Metcalf
I'm gonna go ahead and tell you, if you can get tickets to Providence, Rhode island, go to Providence, Rhode Island. Because for people who think the selection committee doesn't consider matchups, I don't know if they do or not, but Providence is going to sell tickets. The two seat is St. John's they will play Omaha, a team that I've fallen in love with thanks to the Outrunners, wrestlers from OVW wrestling who have they beat up Trash cans there in Omaha. But here's the story. Yeah, the 710 matchup is Kansas and Arkansas. On paper, that's the most fun first round matchup. But you know what could happen, Myron Metcalf, if Arkansas were to beat Kansas. Rick Patino versus John Caliperi in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Are you kidding me? Can you imagine? Like you think they're going to sell some tickets in Providence, Rhode Island.
- [26:24]
Matt Jones
Can the committee just stop saying they don't care about the storylines? Like everything they've done in this entire tournament has been specifically about storylines. Come on, man.
- [26:33]
Myron Metcalf
Kansas and Arkansas, I believe earlier this year played a preseason exhibition exhibition against each other and Arkansas won. Their fans very excited. It might have been the first warning sign that this Kansas team wasn't as good as we thought. What do you think? Arkansas and Kansas there, that'll be a heck of a matchup.
- [26:52]
Matt Jones
I mean, Arkansas team where Boogie Flan is set to return after he was supposed to be out with a season ending hand injury.
- [27:00]
Myron Metcalf
Do you think that helps?
- [27:01]
Matt Jones
I think so. I mean, with a Duthero possibly being out with an injury, but Kansas, that team has final four talent. They just haven't looked apart.
- [27:11]
Myron Metcalf
All right, so you look in the West, Florida is the 1 seed, St. John's the 2, Texas Tech the 3, Maryland the 4, Memphis the 5, Missouri the 6. Again, just looking at this, I have to tell you, I think this is maybe the most open of the regions. Even though I think Florida is very, very good. If somehow Florida were to be upset, I feel like the other teams, that then becomes like anybody's game, right?
- [27:36]
Matt Jones
Yeah. I mean, St. John's again, this is a team that's one of the top defenses in the country. Can't shoot, but you got Rick Patino. And if you got Rick Patino, you have a chance. I have a Texas Tech team, JT Toppin, if you don't know the name, that's an all America, one of the best players in the entire Country Memphis. Remember, Tyrese Hunter was in a boot for the UAB game, the American title game. So will he be healthy? That'll determine a lot about Memphis, and that could give Colorado State a shot to maybe even win a couple of games out of this region.
- [28:05]
Myron Metcalf
All right, so our bracket is now out. Myron, let's talk about, first of all, who is out. Probably the big stories of who's out. Indiana is out and Boise State is out. Those are the two sort of on the bubble teams that got knocked out in favor of North Carolina, Xavier and Texas. What do you make of that, of those decisions?
- [28:28]
Matt Jones
Xavier, no problem with Xavier. I mean, that's a team that played really well down the stretch. They earned that bid. You got to help me understand how Texas got in, but certainly how North Carolina got in. If North Carolina had a situation the last couple of weeks were couple of weeks where they had to prove something to the committee, what did they prove? And if you're Texas, you lose to an Oklahoma team in the season finale of the sec, what did they prove? So to me, Boise State was more deserving, Indiana was more deserving than those two teams.
- [28:57]
Myron Metcalf
Also, West Virginia out. That was one. I think. I think a lot of people thought West Virginia would be in. I mean, there were basically six teams for three spots. Texas, Xavier and North Carolina. Get them. Indiana, Boise State and West Virginia do not.
- [29:10]
Matt Jones
Not.
- [29:10]
Myron Metcalf
It doesn't. There's nothing about that that necessarily tells you a lot about conference, because the ACC got, in my opinion, underseated throughout the bracket. Yeah, but then North Carolina got in.
- [29:22]
Matt Jones
Well, and listen, it's going to be a story that the chair of the committee is the athletic director at North Carolina. Carolina, yes. In the process, when you are attached to a school, you have to leave the room when there are conversations about that school. The idea is to avoid any sort of outside influence when you have that affiliation with the program at the same time. Twitter is a thing, man. And Bubba Cunningham being the chair of this committee and North Carolina getting in without the resume to deserve it, that will be the number one story coming out of this bracket.
- [29:55]
Myron Metcalf
So we're going to have him on here in our final segment. Are you going to, like, are you going to ask him that? Are you going to do the, you know, are you going to, like, ask him? What do you think? I want to say you put your journalist hat on little Myron Metcalf, reporter with a paper coming out of his hat.
- [30:11]
Matt Jones
I want to be clear, I'm not accusing Bubba Cunningham of influencing the committee. What I am saying is the perception is a really bad look that the chair of the committee is from North Carolina and North Carolina without the resume. Get in.
- [30:27]
Myron Metcalf
Sounds like he's backing down.
- [30:28]
Matt Jones
I'm not backing down. I'm saying that's going to be the story.
- [30:30]
Myron Metcalf
All right, well, it'll be interesting. Now I look at this bracket, big picture. I'm sitting here looking at it in front of me. For me, let's not get to the second weekend because you never know what could happen. Let's look in the first weekend. To me, the big story is that Little St. John's is the two against Omaha, Kansas and Arkansas. I do think that is a. That is an amazing set of matchups there. Rick Patino's got to be like, you're telling me in the second round I have to either give Bill Self or Cal. Like, you can't you get. You got to give me Bill Self or John Caliperi. Come on.
- [31:03]
Matt Jones
Listen, if he plays Cal, do they both wear their Kentucky championship rings like. And is there like a standoff at half court before the game?
- [31:14]
Myron Metcalf
All right, so here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna. We're gonna. No, we're not gonna take it our early break. We're going to. Are we got. We got our guy here. Well, we'll see. Nevertheless, it is the Mids Bracketology selection show here on ESPN Radio. Is Rick on? No, he's not. All right, let's take a. Let's do a. Let's do a quick break here. When we. When we come back, Jama Mashak is on. Jama Mashak is on. Gotcha. Tennessee senior guard who's had some excellent moments this year. Jamai, thank you very much for taking the time to come. You start the tournament against Wofford after a tough defeat today in the SEC Championship. Are you excited to get ready for the NCAA Tournament?
- [31:55]
Dusty May
Absolutely. Absolutely, man. You know, you know, super excited to. To really go out and show the country we can do. You know, we want to continue to get better, you know, as time goes on, but we're excited to play against Wofford. We know they're a good team. We're going to respect them like that, and we're going to go out and play hard.
- [32:10]
Matt Jones
Jamal, you've played in what might be the best basketball conference we've seen in 30 years. How excited are you to play somebody not in the sec?
- [32:21]
Dusty May
You know, it's super exciting, man. It's super exciting. You know, we've been playing in the toughest Conference, like you said, going against the toughest teams every night, but you know, to get a different feel, it definitely feels great. You know, I'm saying we get to kind of see where we are with other teams and other conferences and want to go out and dominate.
- [32:40]
Myron Metcalf
Talking to Jamal May, Shaq from Tennessee hit a big buzzer beater earlier this year against Alabama. I look alright. So, Jama, you may not know who I am. I'm kind of a. I'm a Kentucky guy. All right, so I'm a. I cover the University of Kentucky. In addition to this, you guys are going to be playing in Lexington. What's it going to be like to go to Lexington? Kentucky, a team you're used to having your rival and it be your home court here for the NCAA tournament.
- [33:06]
Dusty May
You know, our fans are dedicated. We know how much they love. They love us and they love the way we play. We think they're going to travel well. I think Lexington is a good place for us because I think Tennessee fans can come out there and watch. So, you know, we want to be able to put on a show no matter where we are, no matter what the fans are. But I think we're going to show out big over there and people are going to know how deep ALL Nation is.
- [33:28]
Myron Metcalf
Well, congratulations on a great season, Jama. I respect this Tennessee team a lot for how hard you guys play and you're going to be a tough out for anybody. And if we, if my team sees you in the Sweet sixteen, don't you know, I won't be rooting for you. But I wish you the best in the entire rest of the tournament. All right, Good luck, man. I appreciate it. I appreciate it. Thank you. There you go. Jama Meshack, Tennessee senior guard. Well, I got to be honest, I can't tell him I'm all root for him when he's playing against the Cats, but otherwise. Listen to me.
- [34:00]
Matt Jones
Tennessee. Is this you all with Tennessee? It's just. It's just a tough thing with y'all. Tennessee, right?
- [34:05]
Myron Metcalf
Is he off the phone? It's cause of their fans. I got nothing against me, Shaq. Rick Barnes is a really nice dude, but you know, they're fans. I can't be rooting for that. Plus that orange. It's not an orange you can sit with. It's like an ugly pumpkin orange. Like, it's not. It's not that kind of place.
- [34:25]
Matt Jones
It was so hard for you to say nice things about Tennessee.
- [34:29]
Myron Metcalf
I just, I wasn't going to say. I don't want to beat Kentucky in the sweet 16. All right, so now what we'll do is we will, we'll take a little pause here. We're going to have a lot of coaches on. We hope to have Mark Pope, Pat Kelsey, Dusty May. We're going to have the selection committee chair. We'll see if journalist Myron puts on his inquisitive questioning when it happens. And now that the brackets out, I'll give you my reaction on the five teams that I think can win the title. That's all next here on the men's Bracketology selection show on espn.
- [34:57]
Matt Jones
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- [36:12]
Myron Metcalf
It is the men's Bracketology selection show on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance, Matt Jones, Myron Metcalf. The bracket is out. Big picture headlines. 14 teams from the SEC making an all time record. 3 more teams than have ever made it from a conference. That one will. I won't say it'll never be beat. We don't know how big these conferences will get, but it's got to be. It'll be. Probably be the record for a while. The 1 seeds are Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida. The 2 seeds, Alabama, Michigan State, Tennessee and St. John's Iowa State. Coach TJ Otzelberger has made an announcement. Myron, give everybody what happened?
- [36:54]
Matt Jones
Well, I mean he talked today about a key player.
- [36:57]
Myron Metcalf
We have the sound from it. We do. No, we don't. All right, so go ahead and give them the announcement.
- [37:00]
Matt Jones
Well, Keisha Otzelberger, I mean, sorry, Keshawn Gilbert is one of the top players for Iowa State TJ Otzelberger announced today that his status for the NCAA Tournament is that he is out, which is major, major news for Iowa State, a team that a lot of people thought could make a run to the Elite Eight or beyond.
- [37:18]
Myron Metcalf
Here was his comment. I'm going to let everybody make their own judgment about it because we don't know anything. But here's what Otzelberger said. So before we get going, just, I know the question of Taemin and Keyshawn and their health will come up, so I'd rather just address it right away and then we can move on to whatever additional questions you might have. But with Taman, he's progressing well and each day he's getting better. And so we fully anticipate he'll be ready to go for our game on Friday. With Keyshawn, we decided that he needs to focus on his rehab and getting his body back right. So he won't be available. As we move forward, we've decided he should focus on his rehab. What do you think of that?
- [38:07]
Matt Jones
I've never heard anything like that. I mean, to me, in a moment like this, I mean, you're listening to John Shire talk about Cooper Flack, like usually a coach for a player like Keyshawn Gilbert, averaging 13.4point, 13.4 points per game, top player on this roster. For them to make the decision, you want to know what's behind it? Keyshawn Gilbert has been dealing with a muscle strain. Played this year, played this week against BYU, 10 minutes. But he was obviously affected by it.
- [38:34]
Myron Metcalf
But weird to announce it though, after the bracket comes out and you're a three seed.
- [38:38]
Matt Jones
Weird to announce it after the bracket and I'm sure the committee is going, wait a minute. What did you know that maybe you.
- [38:44]
Myron Metcalf
Didn'T tell us Might not have been a three seed.
- [38:45]
Matt Jones
If you might not have been a three seed. But also they decided why? Was it really just about the injury or is there something else going on?
- [38:52]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, well, we won't, we won't know exactly what it'll be, but. But one of Iowa State's best players is out. All right, so I now look at the bracket and I feel my, my five teams to win the title. I'm going to stick with them. Although I will say I waver about one. I'm still going to take all the one seats. Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida all still good for me. I look at the one seeds and I ask, you know, which one has the hardest path? I don't know. Martin, I guess I think maybe the east is the hardest with Duke, Alabama, Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon, byu. But I actually think it's pretty balanced. I think the west is the easiest of the groups, but I think the other three are pretty balanced. What about you?
- [39:42]
Matt Jones
I mean, the west might be the toughest. I mean, the west is the toughest. It could be only five seed Memphis. Here, here's. Here's why. Because of your Florida and you're tied. Golden. You're going. I don't care what happened to UConn this year.
- [39:56]
Myron Metcalf
Okay, fair enough. Yeah, that's a tough second round game.
- [39:59]
Matt Jones
That's a tough second round game. But overall I agree. East is really tough for Alabama to be the 2 seed in that region. BYU, one of the hottest teams in America. Wisconsin, a team that has an All American, and John Tanji, who's putting up gigantic numbers. Oregon has a weird resume, but they've defeated a lot of really good teams. And then an Arizona team that can play with anybody.
- [40:19]
Myron Metcalf
Let's do it like this. I like to do it like this is how I decide what the hard I go. I look at the seeds and say, okay, what's the best team on each seed line?
- [40:26]
Matt Jones
Yeah.
- [40:26]
Myron Metcalf
So if you look at the one seed, I think the best seed is. Honestly, I think they're all pretty good. So let's just skip the 1, 2. Alabama's the best of the two seeds, so that's a point for the East. Would you agree?
- [40:38]
Matt Jones
I probably pick Tennessee, actually.
- [40:40]
Myron Metcalf
Are you pick Tennessee?
- [40:41]
Matt Jones
They're to be even.
- [40:42]
Myron Metcalf
All right, so then you're going to go Midwest? Yeah, I look at the threes. Iowa State, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Texas Tech. I'm a little biased, but I think Kentucky or Wisconsin. Especially with Iowa State, having a player out is the best of the threes. Which would you say?
- [40:56]
Matt Jones
I think Kentucky. If you tell me they're as healthy as they can be. But Texas Tech with JD that means.
- [41:02]
Myron Metcalf
You would have the hardest two and the hardest three. Four, Purdue, A and M, Arizona, Maryland. Which one do you think's the best out of that group?
- [41:10]
Matt Jones
I think Maryland.
- [41:11]
Myron Metcalf
You got a point for the West. 5. Memphis, Clemson, Michigan, Oregon. Who's the best out of that group?
- [41:17]
Matt Jones
I'll give me a Michigan.
- [41:18]
Myron Metcalf
All right, so that's the south, the six, Ole Miss, byu, Illinois, Missouri. Who's the toughest?
- [41:23]
Matt Jones
I'll take BYU based on how.
- [41:25]
Myron Metcalf
So if that's the case, then it's a pretty balanced bracket because you picked one team at least from each region. So you would suggest that maybe you disagree with the last bubble teams. But when it comes to the top seeds. Pretty balanced.
- [41:38]
Matt Jones
Yeah. Yeah. I don't think there are a lot of arguments about balance this year. We've had that in past years where you look at one region and there's clearly a difference. I think every one seed has a tough path to get to the Final Four. But I do think if you're Auburn and you see, okay, Iowa State is announcing this injury after the field has been determined, you probably feel like maybe your path is a bit easier if the Cyclones aren't.
- [42:04]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I mean, Auburn sits there and go, but. But, you know, I mean, again, like I look at Auburn, if you told me I have to beat Louisville, Michigan and Michigan State to get to the final, I mean, that's a tough little path, isn't it? If you, if you, if you tell me that's my road.
- [42:18]
Matt Jones
Well, and it's the Kentucky thing to the Lexington Kentucky thing where you got to play Louisville in Lexington.
- [42:24]
Myron Metcalf
It's unfair to, to Auburn to make them potentially play Louisville in Lexington.
- [42:29]
Matt Jones
It, to me is the equivalent of the year when Duke had to go to South Carolina to play South Carolina that year that South Carolina made the Final Four. If you're Bruce Pearl, you're saying that's a really good Louisville team and I gotta go basically to their home turf as the number one overall seat. I'm sure Bruce Pearl is furious about that.
- [42:47]
Myron Metcalf
He does, however, get to go to Atlanta for if he gets to the regional, which will be a quite crowd. All right. You can't help but in these things, look for matchups in the second round. So I look at some of these second round matchups, I love them. Florida, Yukon sticks out like a sore thumb. St. John's Arkansas, the chance of Patino vs. Caliperi sticks out amazing. Well, as well. Auburn, Louisville, I think sticks out as a potential great matchup. And then just from a name standpoint, Houston, Gonzaga, Tennessee, ucla, I mean, those are all kind of marquee potential second round matchups.
- [43:26]
Matt Jones
Again, every year the committee says we don't care about tv, we don't care about storylines. And you look across the board here, they clearly care about all those things because they're giving us some incredible storylines, man. In this year's turn.
- [43:37]
Myron Metcalf
Yes. All right, so again, I look at, looking at the big picture, do you see, do you see a team seated, you know, 6, 7, 8, that you like to make a run? You, you seem very positive about BYU. Could you see BYU beating, say, an Alabama in the Sweet 16?
- [43:53]
Matt Jones
I could. BYU has the bet, has had the best offense in America over the last month of the season. Watch for Illinois at 6. Yes. They got destroyed by Maryland the other night.
- [44:02]
Myron Metcalf
That would make them beat Kentucky. I need you to shut up.
- [44:04]
Matt Jones
Okay, okay. Watch for Illinois still. I'm not saying who they're going to beat, but they could be really good.
- [44:09]
Myron Metcalf
I mean, you're not saying who they're going to be, but that's who they would play on. This is tough. Unless you think there's a route they would have to take. They would have to play against the team that I'm talking about.
- [44:19]
Matt Jones
Okay. It's, it's, that's a tough Illinois, a.
- [44:22]
Myron Metcalf
Feast or famine team. They are play well. They can lose by a million, which.
- [44:26]
Matt Jones
They did the other night.
- [44:27]
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. So that really is the case. All right, in the next hour, we're going to have a lot of coaches. We plan on having Pat Kelsey plan on having Mark Pope plan on having Phil Martelli Jr. Plan on having Dusty May. We'll have the selection committee chair. It's going to be all you need to get you ready for the bracket. That's here on the bracketology selection show right here on ESPN Radio.
- [44:49]
Matt Jones
Matt and Myron, the podcast.
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Myron Metcalf
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