B (4:00)

It's so insane that it happened the way it did. And you can look, John Shire said it after the game. That's not the one play in which they lost the game. Right? They missed a free throw right before that. They had multiple instances where players just fell to the ground and lost the ball and handed it to UConn. It was almost like out of a movie or like in Friday Night Lights. I used to love the show Friday Night Lights. And at the end of every game, there'd be these crazy, impossible situations where the other team made the exact mistake that it needed to make at the exact time. That's kind of what it looked like watching Duke. Like they were in a movie and completely forgot how to play basketball for a little while. And Yukon, which is such an emotional team to watch. And look, I am in the middle of Yukon country. Like, I can literally see Luke Murray, the assistant coach for UConn. I can see the back of his house from my window where I'm sitting right now. And like, it is a crazy Yukon environment here. Half my block is going to the final Four. And so you could. You could almost hear people screaming all around my neighborhood. When UConn won that game, it was so miraculous. And I freaking love watching Danny Hurley, coach. He is all idiot. And that whole referee thing, in the end, like, I don't even know what he was doing. I don't know why he went up to the guy.

C (5:35)

I do. I do. I saw the clip. Basically, the ref said he was saying something to him, and they couldn't hear anything because everyone was going so crazy. So he basically heard. They got right in his face to hear what he was saying. So the ref said he was the one talking to him, that he's the one that initiated it.

B (5:49)

Ah, yeah.

C (5:51)

It just. He's such a psychopath. I was right there with you. I was like, did what just happened? Because watching that live, I could not believe what I just witnessed with. With the coach. But again, this is why I love this guy. Like, I'm so glad he didn't go to the NBA. Right then the NBA would not work. But in college, you're just. It's the best. Because, again, there's still. They are adults, obviously, but it's like kids with the crazy head coach. That's what it always feels like. And he is that perfect bill of. He's right on the borderline of madness and genius. And, yeah, you can never doubt Yukon. This is ridiculous. What is this, Chad? Like, 20 years of UConn doing this, man, it's.

B (6:27)

It's amazing. It's totally amazing. They're just. Listen, between the men's and the women's teams, I live in the basketball capital of the world, in the middle of Connecticut Central Connecticut is the basketball capital of the world. 35 minutes from Springfield. Basketball, and in its entirety of success and culture is. I'm in the center of it. It's like I'm the heartbeat. We got to go to the final four in Indy, at least transition to that. All things betting in these two monster matchups. Illinois, my home state. This show's all about me. And UConn, Arizona and Michigan. Listen, our buddy Josh Nunn, aka Duck, co host of the Big Bets on Campus podcast, has been with us all through the tournament. He's kind of been crushing. He's given us a lot of guidance, and that's kind of why we're crushing. Doc, welcome back to the show, my friend.

D (7:32)

Thanks for having me on. Yeah, it's been a real fun tournament up to this point. We saw crazy activity in the Sweet 16, and in the lead eight rounds, and it's going to set up for an electric Final Four this weekend. So I'm excited to break it all down. How you guys been? We've been at the window a little bit. We've gotten the listeners home on some fun bets. Hope you both are doing well.

B (7:52)

Doug, I feel like we're giving you a gift. I know you're at Disney World right now, and I don't know what you're doing there, but I know when I would have to go to Disney World if I could get an excuse to do 30 minutes of something that wasn't being at Disney World. I felt like I was being given a present. So you're welcome.

D (8:09)

Yeah, I appreciate it. It allows me some time to dive into doing what I love to do best, and that's handicap these games and talk about college athletics. So I'm really happy to. To be on with you guys. Disney's gonna be fun, though. We're here a week. We're gonna be at Disney for about four days. We're gonna do some beach stuff. So I'm excited to be in Florida.

B (8:29)

Yeah, whatever. Listen, you, before the tournament began, gave us an exotic a fun bet on total seeds in the final four under nine. Congratulations. It's at seven. Michigan 1. Arizona 1. Yukon 2. Illinois 3. The second bet you gave out, also really fun last week. Three or more lower seed upsets outright in the Sweet 16 plus money. Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee. Well done, my friend.

D (9:06)

Thank you. Yeah, it just. It seemed as though there was some level of top heaviness in this NCAA tournament, particularly with the 41 seeds. We only ended up seeing two of them get to the Final Four, but it really wouldn't have affected anything, regardless of Duke and UConn's outcome for this specific wager. And, you know, we saw Iowa give Illinois a real run for their money in the Elite 8, but I just kind of thought that that number on the total seeds to make the Final Four was about one too high. And so I thought there was value in taking the under. And that turned out that it was. And then as we get down to these later rounds of the tournament, we see that the talent disparity gets so condensed. And so the pricing in these lines was very competitive. And it really wasn't that much of a shock to see the teams that ended up winning do so. It wasn't the monumental upset that allowed for that second exotic to cash. It was just two or three really competitive teams playing another real competitive team. These lines were about 3 points or less, almost in Every circumstance. So we had a couple of breaks go our way to get that one to the window. And I think it really allows for some compelling matchups now that we're even beyond the Sweet 16 and into the final four.

B (10:27)

And now you've got extra money to buy yourself a turkey leg.

D (10:30)

Now I got extra money to buy myself something that I won't need when I'm at Disney World this week.

B (10:35)

Listen, Duke. We talked about Duke, Simon. They struggled against Siena in the first round. They trailed TCU in the second half. They had their hands full with St. John's in the Sweet 16. They blew a 19 point lead to UConn. We've all seen how it ends. Duke up to only 10 seconds left. Inbounding the ball. Matt Mitchell, play this clip back to Sar. Now I head to Kaden.

D (11:05)

Boozer and a steal. Mullins gets it. It's caravan to Mullins. Long range three.

C (11:11)

Oh, it went in.

B (11:15)

Mullins delivers. Bedlam. Bedlam here. All right, Simon, I want Matt Mitchell to play the second clip from Duke, and then I want your reaction because everything about what happened is so Duke. I cannot believe the way it went down. Matt Mitchell, play the clip.

D (11:35)

Bobbled it back for Sar. Needs to get rid of it. Does for Kaden. Seven seconds. Try to throw it ahead.

C (11:40)

Deflected.

D (11:41)

Stolen by Connecticut.

C (11:42)

Two seconds.

D (11:43)

It's Mullen's upside hop for the win.

C (11:44)

Oh, he hit it with 3.10of a second to go. Valai Smith ran off the bench. That should be a technical, but with

D (11:53)

3/10 of a second to go, Connecticut has the lead, 73 to 72.

B (12:00)

Simon, as a Duke guy, this is the clip that made the rounds on the Internet. And it felt like the most dupe thing ever that this guy was out there claiming it should be a technical. He's looking, he. He's literally looking for the technicalities to give Duke the opportunity to get back to the free throw line. As a Duke fan, how do you feel about that?

C (12:21)

Yeah, as a fellow Duke douche, I right away was like, yep, that's a tech. Where's the refs in this? But yeah, I, I, like I said, it's been, it's been a ton of karma and pain just coming as a Duke fan. Like, I, I like this year. I've handled it better in the past. Like, there's been just every year like you, you know, we. We've wasted so much talent that's come through Duke. And you know, that, that play, you catch the ball, you bend down, you heave it over your Head like a granny, shot up into the air. You just eat up. Three seconds, throwing the ball into the air. And he did the exact dumb move, right? He tried to move the ball down the court. Did not. The violation, penalty, right? And it's like, it's. It's just. It's brutal because I even saw the clip of them going over that exact moment and that play and what to do in those final seconds the night before the game. So it's why we love sports. And I talk all the time. Like, people can get mad about how I get on about championships, but it's so hard. You can have all the talent in the world if you're not mentally right in the right moments. And the other team is like that kid shooting that ball huge, right? Because his teammate passed it back to him. And a split second, he's at half court, half court, shooting that three. So it's the best, Chad. It's like, why, again, why we talk about why we love basketball? It's those exact scenarios. And as soon as they got the deflection, everyone knew. I feel like we all knew that, yeah, they were gonna somehow hit a three, and it's like, oh, my God, they're doing it. This is actually happening right now. So, yeah, the Boozer brothers handled the class after the. Afterwards, did all the interviews. You know, I just can't get over there. Just kids. And they handle like such a professional. This new generation Chad is.

B (14:01)

Yeah, well, they're so savvy. Look at what Caribbean did, right? There's five seconds left. He gets the ball in the wing. He's their leader. He's the guy who's won national titles. He had an opportunity to take a contested shot, recognize the situation. Saw his teammate coming up from behind and knows what kind of shooter he is and got him the ball in a really good shooting position. Even though it was a long shot, it wasn't nearly as contested. And the guy made it. He made the exact perfect play. How much of that is because of the coaching? How much of that is because. Situational awareness? How much of that is because he had been through four seasons of college basketball? You know, it's probably. It's. It's a. It's alchemy, man. It's all of it. And let's. Let's talk about what that means for duke and for UConn. I mean, as we get to the Final Four, right after we get this word from Hard Rock bet. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet Florida's sports book. The biggest weekend in college basketball is almost here. Semifinals are set. International champion is just days away from cutting down the net. Now's the time to step your game up with daily dance and boost on Hard Rock Bet. You'll get a live profit boost and a parlay profit boost for the games. More ways to shoot your shot. More ways to cash in with boosted odds when the stakes are at their highest. Plus, Hard Rock Bet is handing out $25 bonus bets if a team you bet to win or cover hits a buzzer beater. Because when the lights are brightest, every shot matters even more. If you haven't joined Hard Rock Bet yet, now's the time to check in the game. New signups can double their winnings on their first 10 bets, max $50. That means if you would have won 100 bucks on your first bet, now it's 200. So don't sit on the bench. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today and get the party started. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. Must be 21 or over and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. To play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1-833-Playwise in Indiana, if you or some of you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9 with it. In Ohio, call 1-800- my reset gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee or Virginia.

A (16:38)

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B (17:09)

first game up Saturday, 6:09pm Eastern 3 seed Illinois, 2 seed Yukon Doc Illinois is a two point favorite. The total is 139 and a half. I'm not really surprised that Illinois was the favorite in this game. The Big Tens had a better tournament. They've been playing incredibly well. I think that there's more enthusiasm and more respect for the way the Big Ten plays and UConn plays coming out of its tournament. And I think Illinois has been a phenomenal team and a phenomenal offensive team all year. Were you Surprised at the number. Did you see Illinois as the favorite in this matchup?

D (17:51)

I think it's probably competitively priced. A point and a half is where I would have made it. So I think we saw that line open about that and got bet up a little bit. You can find some 2 1/2 on UConn if you like that side. I think the question comes down to if UConn can force some turnovers against the Illini, who are a top 10 level team and protecting the basketball offensively. But UConn, they're going to gamble a little bit defensively and we've seen those gambles pay off at times. We've seen those gambles lead to easy shots for their opponent. I think it's critical to see UConn force some turnovers of Illinois. Illinois is not going to force them. Their defensive mosaic is just one where they just don't attempt to provide a lot of on ball pressure and they don't force a lot of turnovers. So I think we're going to get an honest game in the half court from UConn. We're going to see a lot of opportunities for UConn to run their sets and we shouldn't have turnovers be a real liability for them. But if they force 10 or 12 turnovers of Illinois, that's going to really put the pressure on the Illini. Can UConn make some shots? Entering the Final Four, they were 27 out of 93 from deep. And we saw it in the game against Duke. We saw guys like Solo Ball and Caravan and Mullings go a combined 2 of 17 from 3 and they were still able to find a way to win the game. I know that UConn wants to play some high low. They want to get the ball inside. I think Terrace Reed is a guy that can really have an impact here as long as he can stay out of foul trouble. UConn played Illinois earlier this season. They dominated the matchup. But Reed was in foul trouble. I think he only played about 14 minutes. If he is able to stay on the floor, stay out of foul trouble and impact the game on both ends of the floor, I think UConn has a really good chance to win this game. Illinois cannot start slow like they did against Iowa. UConn is too athletic. There's too much tenacity on the defensive end. I think it could be real trouble for Illinois if they're just trying to play catch up against UConn like they had to against Iowa. I just don't foresee that UConn is a team that's going to surrender a real big run as long as their big men can stay out of foul trouble. So the pace is going to be slow. Both of these teams are going to be methodical on the offensive end and both are 296 or slower in offensive operating tempo. I think Terrace Reed is going to have a big game. So the way I would play this initially, if you don't love the side or total, either way, Reed's point total is 15 and a half. And I'd go over there. I think he's going to get to the stripe. I think he's going to get. And UConn will be able to procure some paint touches. If UConn has any confidence with their shooters and they're nailing a few shots early, that's going to require Illinois to expand their defense and Reed's going to cook in the post. So I like over 15 and a half points for Terrace Reed. I think UConn can win this game. I initially said on this program earlier in the tournament that I thought there was a chance that UConn might have been a hair overseeded. But these guys, they have played really good situational basketball. They, I mean, the comeback alone, I think that you can see that really become a springboard for UConn. I think they have a really good chance to win this game. So I wouldn't be surprised if it comes down to the last two minutes. If you know the thing about UConn, they block a lot of shots and Illinois really do try to get the ball into the ring, rip, get it to the rim. I think Yukon has a really good defensive advantage here. It's going to be hard for Illinois, specifically Stojakovic, who comes in off the bench. And you know, his dad Peja was such a shooter, but he likes to get to the tin. He likes to drive and create off the bounce. I. I think he's key for Illinois and I don't know that his game really suits what UConn wants to do defensively. So I kind of think it's a tough matchup for Illinois and UConn really should have a good showing here.

B (21:45)

Simon, I think in honor of your co host, we should bet Yukon as an underdog. Let's just take him out right now.

C (21:54)

Yeah, I felt like Joe Public right away because soon as I saw this open I was like, okay, I wonder what the pros are going to do. And they've obviously come in and taken a position on Illinois here and I I'm like, you guys, where It's. You have UConn, who has the players who have been there and done it and the coach who's been there and done it, playing a team that hasn't really ever been in this type of scenario before. Now they have a whole week to think on. That's why I love College of Basketball. It's like they've gone back to school and they're the heroes for this week.

D (22:21)

Right.

C (22:21)

And they're not. Some schools are on spring break, whatever it is, they're enjoying themselves.

D (22:25)

Right.

C (22:25)

I know they're working hard. They're getting ready for what's ahead, but it's like, mentally, you drink a little bit of it. We're Hurley, we've seen it. The man's a crazy person. I'm with you. I mean, I don't know if we're gonna make this brass balls or Simon says, but we gotta take UConn's money line. I mean, what show would this be if we don't take Yukon's money line? I'm so happy Duck is on there with us because I thought. I mean, you're gonna be just a joke public.

B (22:45)

Yeah.

C (22:46)

It's nice to hear some pros are joining us on this. This Yukon side.

B (22:49)

It's so funny you say, like, these kids back at school and last night I took our dog out, you know, like 10 or 10:30, and I don't know why. It was, what, Monday night? And I started thinking about, like, I wondered if everybody who was. Maybe I just. Someone had just. Oh, I had just seen, like, a clip of the UConn thing again. You know, I was scrolling before I took the dog out, and I was thinking myself, oh, I wonder if they went back to campus and, you know, if everyone's going, oh. It was a scene of everyone on UConn's campus going crazy. So I was thinking, like, oh, my God, I wonder if the kids are back on campus and what happens and when they're going to go and thinking about what a difficult transition it would be to go from being in stores and the celebration that's happening and then having to get on a plane and come down from all that and get focused for the game. That's what the coaches are supposed to do. But you're right. It's totally wild. Simon, we're going to do it. Let's do it right now. Our brass balls bet of the week, presented by Hard Rock Bat. We're going with the Yukon Huskies.

C (24:00)

You know what it takes?

D (24:02)

It takes brass balls

B (24:06)

not even plus two. We're taking them outright. Second game, say 8:49pm Eastern. Everyone's saying this is the real championship. I don't buy it because I love the pluck of both of those teams and I'm going to see you kind of in the finals. Michigan is a one and a half point favorite. This line duck has not moved the total 157 and a half. Obviously much higher than it is for UConn and Illinois, two slower paced teams. What are you thinking about this one, Doc?

D (24:34)

A true coin flip. I've seen these teams play numerous times and every time I watch Michigan and Arizona I feel like either one of these teams can win the national championship. I never really felt that way watching Duke. I felt like Duke had some flaws and once their personnel was injured, it just kind of seemed like a team that was on a different level than Michigan and Arizona. Arizona has such a fifth gear. We saw it against Purdue where The Wildcats scored 19 points in the first six minutes of the first half and then they went on this unbelievable cold stretch where they couldn't hit shots, they couldn't hit free throws, they weren't making three point shots, which they don't take a lot of. It was probably the coldest stretch I've seen in quite some time for Arizona. They go into the half down seven and you just saw them completely tear Purdue apart in the second half, 48 to 26. They outscore the outscored the boilers in the second half and there was just, there was no answer for Purdue. Michigan is really going to have to play this well in the post or it could be trouble. I look at Michigan completely dominated Tennessee and you could tell right away with Tennessee in the Elite Eight that Tennessee was getting open shots from the outside, which is not what they want to do. But that's what Michigan was giving up and Tennessee was not hitting them. Even when the game was in the balance and Tennessee was banging on the offensive glass and collecting offensive rebounds, the shots were not falling and you could just tell that the run was coming from Michigan. But you know, you look at Arizona, they shoot fewer threes than anybody in the country. Only 25% of their shots come from beyond the arc, so they're going to get the ball into the painted area. Michigan has an exceptional rim protecting defense. They block and alter more shots than anybody in the Big Ten. You've got Mara, who has 100 blocks. Yaxel and Morris Johnson each have 50 block shots this season. But what's going to happen if those guys get into foul trouble. That's where I would be concerned with Michigan is if their big guys get into foul trouble and Mara has had a propensity to do that during this tournament. Well, when he has to sit, they slide Yaxel down a position and then they've got a couple of different guys that they rotate in and they play fast, they hit outside shots, they create a little bit of tempo off of that. I could certainly see that happening here where Arizona is able to get shots at the rim and procure trips to the foul line and Michigan counters with some pace three point shooting. I don't know that they'll go on this huge run that we've seen them go on in every game of the NCAA tournament, but I definitely think the points are coming here. Michigan is 22nd in adjusted tempo. Arizona is 56th out of 365 teams. But Michigan is the most talented offensive team that Arizona will have faced all season. And I just kind of feel like these two teams are going to go back and forth here. So if you put Cadou and Burnett and Roddy Gale on the floor at the same time, if, if Michigan's post guy Mara has has to sit with foul trouble, it's going to create pace, it's going to create open looks. Their, their offensive system is so well oiled. I really think this is going to be an offensive game here. So I actually lean over the total. The total is high at 157 and a half, but I lean over the posted total as these two offenses are both top five in efficiency. I think it's strength on strength here and I think that the points are coming.

B (27:53)

Simon, what are you hearing? Are you. Have you seen anything, heard anything, Anyone telling you anything on this one?

C (27:59)

Yeah, just like I heard a couple pros on Illinois. I heard some pros like Michigan and it's just another battle tested team that's very long. And you saw how when they're rolling they can dominate teams, right? Not just offensive, but defensively. I mean they're just really talented. So I don't know it's. Personally, I honestly want Arizona. I feel like, you know, even going back to the early 2010s and early 2000s, Arizona was just always that team, right? I mean even going back to, I mean when's the last best run they had James Harden error.

B (28:30)

So it feels Arizona State like, look, they were great for decades under Lou Olsen and then they won that title. I think it was like 99, 2000, something like that. But it's been a minute since Arizona had him. All right, Doc, we've been running hot with the exotics. Anything new? Anything for Monday's championship game? If you're handicapping it all the way through, let's finish it off for the fans.

D (29:08)

I think we will see UConn advance, and I think we will. It is really a coin flip. You're splitting hairs. I think Michigan does a better job of forcing its opponent to be something that the opponent does not want to be. And so I think Michigan will force Arizona to have to shoot some threes and they have some shooters that can bury the outside shot, but it's just not in their DNA makeup for what they want. For that reason, I think Michigan moves on. I think Michigan and UConn play for the national title. Another one that I think will be a really, really good game. It's all line dependent. If this comes out at six and a half, seven and a half, I'd be on UConn. If it's two and a half, I'd probably take Michigan. I would guess, gun to my head, Michigan would end up winning the whole thing.

B (29:59)

Wow.

D (29:59)

Very, very close game.

B (30:01)

Michigan. Well, I'm married to a Michigan alum. That could get really annoying in my house. But, Doug, you've crushed it all tournament long. I want you to enjoy Disney World. I want you to spend all the money you've won on really important things that will make the world a better place because they were bought at Disney World. Thank you. Josh Nunn, Doc co host of the Big Bets on Campus podcast. This has been Sharper Square, part of the Volume Podcast Network. Watch or listen on YouTube at Sharper Square. Like the video. Subscribe to the channel, Download some Spotify, Apple pods, whatever you get your pods rate. Review, subscribe, leave us. 5 stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Until next time. Love you.

D (30:49)

Utterly impossible.

B (30:52)

March means Dr.

A (30:59)

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.