Straight Fire - Duke chokes against Houston + NCAA Championship preview

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode Title: Straight Fire - Duke Chokes Against Houston + NCAA Championship Preview
Release Date: April 7, 2025
Host: Jason McIntyre
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Jason McIntyre delves deep into one of the most shocking upsets in recent college basketball history: Duke's unexpected loss to Houston in the NCAA Tournament. Alongside this analysis, McIntyre provides a comprehensive preview of the upcoming NCAA Championship game, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.

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Duke vs. Houston Game Analysis

Game Progression and Key Moments

Jason begins by setting the scene, recording the podcast from Salt Lake City while his daughter competes in a volleyball tournament. He recounts the dramatic shift in momentum during the Duke vs. Houston game:

"Duke led by 14 with 8:17 left, then by 9 with 3:03 left, and by 7 with 1:27 to go. They were up by 6 with 40 seconds left and never scored again. Houston went on a tear." ([07:25])

This narrative encapsulates the rapid turnaround, highlighting how Duke's dominance unraveled in the final minutes.

Player Performances

McIntyre provides detailed assessments of key players, particularly focusing on Duke's Cooper Flag and Houston's defensive prowess:

"Cooper Flag was phenomenal with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, three three-pointers, and three blocks. But in clutch moments, he faded, unable to score when it mattered most." ([06:30])

Conversely, he praises Houston's Sion James despite his concussion:

"Sion James showed resilience by continuing to inbound the ball despite clearly being concussed, which severely hindered Duke's ability to maintain control." ([10:15])

Coaching Decisions

A significant portion of the discussion centers around coaching strategies, critiquing Duke's coach John Shire:

"Kelvin Sampson's relentless press contrasted sharply with John Shire's inability to adjust, especially in critical moments like inbounding the ball." ([09:00])

McIntyre argues that Shire's inexperience and poor decision-making were pivotal in Duke's downfall.

Critical Mistakes

The episode highlights several pivotal errors that contributed to Duke's loss:

• Inability to Inbound the Ball:
  "Duke couldn't find an effective inbound strategy against Houston's full-court press, leading to turnovers at crucial times." ([11:45])

• Fouling on Cooper Flag:
  "The unnecessary foul on Flag over the back was a glaring mistake, providing Houston with free throws that sealed the game." ([13:34])

• Tyrese Proctor's Shooting Struggles:
  "Tyrese Proctor, typically reliable from three-point range, went 3-for-13 in the final games, crippling Duke's offensive options." ([08:50])

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Broader Impacts on March Madness

McIntyre reflects on the wider implications of this upset for the tournament, emphasizing how such unexpected outcomes are both thrilling and heartbreaking for fans and bettors alike.

"This Duke loss is one of the biggest gaffes in sports history, not just because of the loss itself but due to the manner in which the leading team crumbled under pressure." ([07:50])

He also touches upon other significant games, such as Florida vs. Auburn and UConn's women's team victory, providing a holistic view of the tournament's progression.

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NCAA Championship Preview

Looking ahead, McIntyre offers his predictions and analysis for the NCAA Championship game, likely featuring Florida against Houston. He discusses the strengths and weaknesses of both teams:

"Florida's depth and offensive tenacity make them formidable opponents. Meanwhile, Houston's defensive discipline could pose significant challenges." ([25:10])

He highlights key players to watch and strategic matchups that could determine the outcome of the championship.

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Personal Reflections and Fan Reactions

Throughout the episode, McIntyre shares personal anecdotes and interacts with fellow fans, providing a relatable perspective on the emotional rollercoaster that March Madness brings.

"This loss really hurt, not just because of the money involved in our Calcutta pool, but because of the sheer expectation Duke carried into the game." ([12:00])

He also acknowledges the support from listeners and shares insights from sports bettors on social media, enhancing the episode's communal feel.

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Notable Quotes

• "Cooper Flag was phenomenal, but in clutch moments, he just couldn't deliver." – Jason McIntyre ([06:30])

• "Kelvin Sampson's coaching was a stark contrast to John Shire's inexperience during critical game moments." – Jason McIntyre ([09:00])

• "Duke's inability to inbound the ball effectively against Houston's press was a game-changer." – Jason McIntyre ([11:45])

• "This was one of the most watched Final Four semifinal games since 2017, with 15 million tuning in." – Jason McIntyre ([25:00])

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Conclusion

Jason McIntyre wraps up the episode by summarizing the key takeaways from Duke's heartbreaking loss and setting the expectations for the NCAA Championship game. His insightful analysis offers listeners a deeper understanding of the game's dynamics and the factors influencing the tournament's final stages.

"Florida's depth and Houston's defensive strength make for a captivating championship matchup. I'm excited to see how these teams perform under pressure in the final showdown." ([29:10])

Listeners are encouraged to tune in next week for further analysis and updates as the tournament progresses.

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Tune In: For a comprehensive analysis of the NCAA Tournament and to stay updated on all the latest sports stories, listen to The Herd with Colin Cowherd on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Bob Pittman]

You know when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You, you'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code [e-mail] hi, I'm Bob Pittman, chairman.

And CEO of iHeartMedia. I'm excited to introduce a brand new season of my podcast, Math and stories from the frontiers of Marketing. I'm having conversations with some folks across a wide range of industries to hear how they reach the top of their fields and the lessons they learned along the way that everyone can use. I'll be joined by innovative leaders like chairman and CEO of ELF Beauty, Tarang Amin, legendary singer, songwriter and philanthropist Jewel.

Being a rock star is very fun, but helping people is way more fun.

And Damian Maldonado, CEO of American Financing.

[George M. Johnson]

I figured out the formula. I just have to work hard.

[Bob Pittman]

Then that's magic. Join me as we uncover innovations in data and analytics, the math and the ever important creative spark, the magic. Listen to math and Magic on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[George M. Johnson]

What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Sam Mullins]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[George M. Johnson]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Sam Mullins]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[George M. Johnson]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Sam Mullins]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[George M. Johnson]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Bob Pittman]

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sam Mullins]

Hi, I'm Sam Mullins. And I've got a new podcast coming out called goboy the gritty true story of how one man fought his out of some of the darkest places imaginable.

[George M. Johnson]

Roger Caron was 16 when first convicted.

[Bob Pittman]

Has spent 24 of those years in jail.

[Sam Mullins]

But when Roger Caron picked up a pen and paper, he went from an ex con to a literary darling. From Campside Media and iHeart Podcasts, listen to GoBoy starting April 9th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

I'm ready to fight. Oh, this is Fighting Words. Okay, I'll put the hammer back. Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with a second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back.

[Sam Mullins]

Part of the power of black queer.

[George M. Johnson]

Creativity is the fact that we got us, you know, we are the greatest culture makers in world history. Listen to Fighting words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. This is Straight fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up straight fire fam? It's me, Jason McIntyre, straight fire for Monday, April 7th. Oh, this is gonna be a tough one, folks. For starters, let me just come out and say it. I am recording this in late Sunday afternoon from Salt Lake City, Utah. Yes, it is actually pretty lovely here. It's not that cold. Nice little downtown, kind of clean. I'm not, not hating it. Friendly people for sure. So we're recording this from Salt Lake City because my daughter's at a volleyball tournament. We had a great Saturday. We're about to play on Sunday and our flight back has been delayed and I don't think I'll be able to record it late Sunday night. And I'm hosting the Herd tomorrow, so I won't be able to wake up at the butt crack of dawn and record it. So I'm getting it out of the way now. And that's probably a good thing because this whole Duke loss Saturday night put me in a bit of a fog, a funk, whatever word you want to use. We'll get to that shortly. But as I'm recording this, I just watched the Lakers put up the most impressive half any NBA team has had this season against a quality opponent. They dropped 78 on the free throw merchants. They are leading OKC by 22. In OKC. Luka Doncic, for as bad as he was Thursday against the warriors. And if you go back to that podcast, I thought that was his worst performance as a Laker. He has responded big Time. He is dominating this game. 22 points in the half, five threes, five assists, zero turnovers. They are throwing everything at him, including Lou Dort, AKA the Dorture Chamber. He's getting cooked. He has no chance against Luca. Chet Holmgren on the switches is getting annihilated. Lakers are making threes at a ridiculous rate there. 15 of 22 in the first half. Now listen, they could lose this game because again we're recording this Sunday afternoon. They might blow this game and lose and then I sound like an idiot. But right now this jives with the take I had a little over a month ago that the Lakers are not afraid of OKC at all. Anyways, let's get to more important matters and oh dear. Houston 70, Duke 67. So for starters, because I had saw a lot of people asking me this on social media, I did not answer any of it. I did not lose money on this game. I'm not upset because of a money loss. Okay? We had Duke in the Calcutta. You guys know how that works. You bid on teams and you get a portion of winnings from the whole pot for every round they advance. So for the tournament we ended up in the plus thanks to McNe State winning a game and Duke getting to the final four. So we will have a small tiny roi. Probably be able to buy like you know, a pizza party for a seven year old. Right? That's what we can afford based on this. Now it should have been way better than that. It should cover upcoming spring break trip. But Duke choked. There is no way around it, folks. This is one of the biggest gags I can remember in sports history. Duke led by 14 with 817 left. They led by nine with 303 left. They led by seven with 127 to go, folks. Duke was up six with 40 seconds left and never scored again. And Houston went on a tear. It is just astonishing. I'll set the scene for you. So we had finished volleyball. I was watching the first half on my phone thanks to Shout out to fubo. Cowherd got me a FUBO account and it is ridiculous. You can watch it anywhere. It's awesome. So I'm watching it as my daughter's team's winning in volleyball. And then, you know, we get to the hotel bar to watch the second half and Duke is kind of in control. Cooper Flag's having a ridiculously good game. And then all of a sudden they just kind of sort of start to slow down and I. You gotta obviously give Houston some credit. They're scrappy their defense was. Was good. They're the number one defense in the country. Duke made one basket the final 10 minutes. I believe it was a Cooper flag three. At that point I thought, oh, we got this, it's over. And Houston in the first half, I think they were like 4 for 22 on two point field goals or 4 for 20, some ridiculous number. And Duke was in control. They had this game. Houston did not win it. Duke lost it. And you know, I cannot bury anyone on Duke. I know a lot of people going after Cooper flag. Cooper flag was phenomenal. 27, 7 and 4, hit three threes, didn't miss a free throw, had three blocks, was everywhere. But as had been the case earlier in the season, now at the time, he was 17 years old, but he had two chances earlier in the season. Down one and he couldn't score. And Duke lost both those games. One was to Kansas. I forget who the other one was to. But he didn't deliver in the clutch. And again, it's a 17 year old going against 20, 21, 22 year olds. I think Hunter Dickinson's like 24 from Kansas. And same thing happened last night. Now, it should have never come to this, but trailing by one Cooper flag. And I had said this like five minutes earlier, dude, stop fading away in the lane. Attack the rim. You're getting fouled. And for some reason he fades away and it goes front rim. Houston gets the board. The guy makes the free throw.

[Sam Mullins]

The.

[George M. Johnson]

The terrible free throw shooter. Oh, no, the good free throw shooter makes the two. They're up by three and then they end up winning. But it should have never got to this. I don't want to crush John Shire much, but one of the notes I had that we talked about last week with. Oh, damn, I'm forgetting the guest. It was somebody good. But Kelvin Sampson as a coach is a huge advantage over John Shire. John Shire has never been to a Final Four. Okay, John Shire is a young coach. I'm sure he's going to have a great career. It's tough to win every game, but he had a loaded deck here. And they were favorites. And they led by 14 with. With 8, 17 left. I mean, folks, you know, this is kind of on John Shire. I'm not going to put on flag. Listen, Tyrese Proctor was just awful. I feel so bad for the kid. Remember, he couldn't miss from three in the first two rounds of the tournament. Well, in the final three games of March Madness, he couldn't make a damn shot. And he was over 4 from deep against Houston. And compounding matters, he's a really good free throw shooter. He missed the front end of a one and one up by one. Hold on. I got the three point numbers. Last three games, Arizona, Alabama and Houston, he was a combined three for 13 from deep. Those are like my numbers in a rec league. And it's not a big deal because the three I hit are memorable and cool, but there's not a final four on the line, you know, I mean, come on. So Proctor just choke city. But I cannot bury Proctor because I think Shire really screwed things up having James inbound the ball. Now, James had a good game. I, I like his game. I, I think he's probably a pro, although he's on the older side. I pro have a really good international career. So Sion James only had seven points and five rebounds. But here's the problem. He got drilled going to the basket. Or maybe it was def. No, no. Yeah, it was going to the basket and he ends up hitting his head on the ground hard. And it was very clear that he was concussed. Like very obvious head drills the ground. One of the dads I was watching with was like, well, with all those braids. Maybe it absorbed the hit and like Duke didn't take him out of the game or anything. And maybe he came out for like a minute or two, but it was like he didn't even go to the locker room. I didn't see a concussion test and you could tell a couple minutes later he's driving baseline and he just drove the ball like off his leg and you're like, dude, what is that? And then for whatever reason, John Shire had him inbounding the ball repeatedly. When Houston went full court press and Duke could not inbound the friggin basketball. I mean, folks, that was one of the most frustrating things I've seen as a, as a sports fan. Backing aside just the inability to inbound the basketball, it's like, dude, you don't have an inbound split and I, you know, I'm talking with the dads and I'm like, how about put everybody on one side or a couple down the court and just throw the ball up to Cooper flag. Like just a quick lob inbounds pass. They would foul him instantly. Like the guy's unstoppable. And just the turnovers on the, I mean, at one point Houston had I think a seven point play. So Cryer hit a three and then on the play they called some kind of whack flagrant foul. The guy makes one Free throw. Oh, so there's a six point play. He makes one free throw and then, then they get a dunk. And it was a six point play. And it in like maybe seven seconds came off the clock. And I'm like, this is just not good. I felt good most of the way. And at one point I. Let me see when it was. Oh, when, when they called the foul on Cooper Flag, which was total. And I was so angry. I am again, I'm with the guys and I said to the bartender, I need my check, please. And the guys look at me and I'm like, this is over. We lost. And you could just tell the second they called that bogus foul on Cooper Flag over the back. And Warren Sharp has a great video of it. And no, I'm not blaming the refs, but CBS showed multiple angles. There was no foul. There was no over the back. There was no shove, nothing. It was two guys jostling for a ball. And I, yes, I'm going to mention my men's league team here. So two seasons ago, when we had Richard Jefferson, we lost on an almost identical situation. The we took a shot in a tie game and our big guy, who's 6, 7, not Richard Jefferson, another guy is going up for the board and they're like, smallish captain who's like, I don't know, six feet tall maybe, is going up for the rebound and they called a foul on us. Now, I watched the video multiple times and like, okay, I guess you could call it, but it's like, really a loose ball foul in a tight game on like a missed shot. And like, Cooper Flag's looking incredulous at the referees, like, are you serious? And of course it's on. Like, a guy who's like a 62% free throw shooter, he goes to the line and what happens? He buries both.

[Bob Pittman]

You know, when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace. Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support. Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code [e-mail] are your ears bored? Yeah. Are you looking for a new podcast that will make you laugh, learn and say que?

[George M. Johnson]

Yeah.

[Bob Pittman]

Then tune in to locatora radio season 10 today.

[George M. Johnson]

Okay.

[Bob Pittman]

I'm Diosa. I'm Mala, the host of Locatora Radio, a radiophonic novella, which is just a very extra way of saying a podcast. We're launching this season with a miniseries, totally nostalgic, a four part series about the Latinos who shaped pop culture in the early 2000s. It's Lala checking in with all things Y2K 2000s. My favorite memory, honestly was us having our own media platforms like Mundo's and MTV Tres. You could turn on the TV, you see Thalia, you see JLo, Nina Sky, Evie Queen. All the girlies doing their things, all of the beauty reflected right back at us. It was everything. Tune in to locatora radio season 10. Now that's what I call a podcast. Listen to Locatora Radio Season 10 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. I'm excited to introduce a brand new season of my podcast Math and Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing. I'm having conversations with some interesting folks across across a wide range of industries to hear how they reach the top of their fields and the lessons they learned along the way that everyone can use. I'll be joined by innovative leaders like chairman and CEO of Health Beauty, Tarang Amin.

[George M. Johnson]

The way I approach risk is constantly try things and actually make it okay to fail.

[Bob Pittman]

I'm sitting down with legendary singer, songwriter and philanthropist Jewel.

I wanted a way to do something that I loved for the rest of my life.

We're also hearing how leaders brought their businesses out of unprecedented times. Like Stephan Bonsell, CEO of Moderna. It becomes a human decision to decide.

[George M. Johnson]

To throw by the window your business.

[Bob Pittman]

Strategy and to do what you think.

[George M. Johnson]

Is the right thing for the world.

[Bob Pittman]

Join me as we uncover innovations in data and analytics, the math and the ever important creative spark, the magic. Listen to math and magic stories from the frontiers of Marketing on the iHeartRadio radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[George M. Johnson]

We ready to fight? I'm ready to fight. Is that. I thought it was. Oh, this is Fighting Words. Okay, I put the hammer back. Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with the second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back. And that's what we are doing on Fighting Words. We're not gonna let anyone silence us. That's the reason why they're banning books like yours, George. That's the reason why they're trying to stop the teaching of black history, queer history, any history that challenges the whitewashed norm or put us in a box. Black people have never ever depended on the so called mainstream to support us. That's why we are great. We are the greatest culture makers in world history. Listen to Fighting Words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sam Mullins]

My name is Harry Houdini. Harry Houdini could make elephants disappear, walk through walls and escape the Chinese water torture cell. But he was also on a mission against mediums. I have never seen one genuine medium. Join me, Tim Harford, for a cautionary tales trilogy on the world's most famous magician.

[George M. Johnson]

It takes a flim flammer to catch a flim flammer.

[Sam Mullins]

Houdini wanted the world to see reason in an age of spiritualism. He went undercover to seances, exposed fakes and charlatans, and even tried to convince Washington lawmakers to ban mediums for good. A campaign that cost him friends and made him many enemies. They're going to kill me. Listen to cautionary tales on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

Anyways, I could go on for at least an hour and I might do it on the Herd Monday. About this loss, definitely one of the three worst losses I've suffered as a gambler. Not from a monetary standpoint, just because of what the upside was. Leading by so much throughout the game, folks, this one really hurt. And again, I haven't given Houston enough credit. Their defense was relentless. Crier was excellent. Kelvin Sampson, just a perfect press at the end. But again, Houston didn't win this as much as Duke blew it. Now I will give my guy, Preston Johnson sports Cheetah a shout out. He's in our our Calcutta group. And we had a group text like, hey, who would we rather face, Houston or Tennessee? And I was like, I don't want to see Tennessee. You know, that's just sick. SEC team they're battle tested. I'm not that worried about Houston. Their game ending situations, their meltdowns, inability to score, and of course, what happens. We have to face Houston and they end the game. Great. Now, remember, Houston was getting revenge for last year. Ironically, last year in the Calcutta, we had Houston shed goes down in the first half with the ankle injury. And Duke wins, I think, by three or four, although it never felt particularly that close. I'll talk about Florida in a minute. The Florida Auburn game. That was an excellent game. And I'll talk about tonight. I. I forgot. I probably should have shouted them out at the beginning. Congrats to the UConn women. They blew out South Carolina in the national championship. I confess, I didn't watch the game and shout out to Alex Ovechkin, who is now the leading scorer in NHL history. He surpassed Wayne Gretzky with a goal on Sunday. Unfortunately. Guys, listen. And I got asked this by a dad here this weekend in Salt Lake City. So, Jay, how are you up on all this stuff? I mean, look, do you see that Dodgers come back last night? I'm like, I. I did not. I'm like, I. I can't be up on everything. Like, I couldn't name for you 10 NHL players right now. The only NHL connection. This is real. This is not made up. So in the men's league playoffs, we were having to face Timofey Mozgov in the semifinals. And Mozgov and I have become friends. We had like a shooting contest the other day. He won. Shocker. And that same night, Ovechkin was playing at the LA Kings. Ovechkin, Russian. Mozgov, Russian. And Mozgov told me, oh, I'm going to the game with my family. I was like, oh, that's. That's just great. We end up winning the semi final. And that. That's basically all I've got on event. You know, he's a great. He's a great story. I. I'm just not a huge hockey guy. You know, you get a little older, you get the family. You just can't do everything. Like, March Madness is great. And I'm already thinking, like, oh, man, I guess I gotta cash out the account. You know, Like, I'm not gonna. I'm just not gonna be really gambling on baseball. And I'll do some NBA, you know, I have some Lakers futures. I have some other NBA futures. We'll talk about that as the playoffs get closer. But, yeah, anyway, so real quick, Florida, Auburn. Oh, an interesting nugget And I have so many notes I have here again taken while watching girls volleyball, 12U volleyball, I should say. But both of the semifinal winners, Florida and Houston, trailed at the half by six and eight respectively. And at halftime, my buddy Nico text me, hey, hey, I know we're on Florida. You think we add to it at half? And I was like, yeah, I don't know, man. Auburn looks just really freaking good. They just, I mean, they were just dominating and they weren't missing shots. It was essentially a clinic. And Auburn just looked like the better team. I'm not gonna lie. They looked like the better team. And I didn't add to it. I just stuck with my Florida. And that, that paid off because, you know, Mr. Walter Clayton Jr. Decided, hey, you know what? I think I'm gonna go Shabazz Napier or Kemba Walker in this NCAA tournament and Walter Clayton. So I submitted a mock draft for NBA on Friday. And I don't look at mock drafts before submitting mine because I don't want them to impact how I thought, think about players and positioning. And I had Walter Clayton like in, I think the top 22. I like his game a lot. I know he's on the older side. I know he's been around the block, shall we say. And you know, the NBA loves potential 18, 19, 20 year olds as opposed to the 22, 23 year old guys. Because sometimes the 23 year old players are, you know, dominating 19 year olds. And I don't care about any of that. Walter Clayton is a freaking student. The guy had 34 points. I have it here in my notes. That is the most by any player in a final Four game win since 1981. I mean, Clayton just took over that game late. Nobody could guard him. He had five of eight threes. He's hitting impossible threes that I'm like, why are you shooting at? Oh my gosh, what a shot. Like, he was extraordinary. Bruce Pearl tried the kitchen sink. I mean folks, Bruce Pearl. They did the hard double on screenshots. They threw not only guards at him, but they threw Baker Mazzara, who is a long, twitchy defender. They threw him at him. None of them could stop him. And Florida came back, stormed back in the second half. They were really, really tough getting to the foul line. Now, they didn't shoot it great from the line, only 70%. But Auburn was worse, 69. But they made five fewer free throws. And Florida, relentless on the offensive glass with their bigs, they're just too big. That's why they're my pick pick against Houston and we'll get to that shortly. But this. I just love this Florida team. Now a quick note on you know one of my favorite players, Tahad Pettiford, the freshman from Auburn. I also have him in the mock draft. I'm irrationally high on him. I totally understand that not everybody feels the same way, but it was one of those oh shucks, he can't hang with Clayton. The moment's a little big. It might help him to come back to school. He had a 1 of 6 shooting night, 0 for 4 on threes, did get to the line, made all his free throws but three turnovers, three fouls. Just not the kind of performance you need from a stud freshman when other guys aren't delivering. Broom was excellent in the first half and then I don't really even know if he scored in the second. He just didn't do much. Auburn, as they like to say, the water got turned off and Auburn's offense just shriveled up. 46 in the first half, 27 in a second.

[Bob Pittman]

You know when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace. Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code [e-mail] are your ears bored?

[George M. Johnson]

Yeah.

[Bob Pittman]

Are you looking for a new podcast that will make you laugh, learn and say que?

[George M. Johnson]

Yeah.

[Bob Pittman]

Then tune in to LOCATORA RADIO Season 10 today.

[George M. Johnson]

Okay.

[Bob Pittman]

I'm Diosa. I'm Mala, the host of Locatora Radio, a radiophonic novella, which is just a very extra way of saying a podcast we're launching this season with a miniseries, totally nostalgic, a four Part series about the Latinos who shaped pop culture in the early 2000s. It's Lala checking in with all things Y2K 2000s. My favorite memory, honestly was us having our own media platforms like Mundos and MTV Tres. You could turn on the TV, you see Thalia, you see JLo, Nina Sky, Evie Queen, all the girlies doing their things. All of the beauty reflected right back at us. It was everything. Tune in to locatora radio season 10. Now that's what I call a podcast. Listen to Locatora Radio Season 10 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

We ready to fight? I'm ready to fight. Is that what I thought it was? Oh, this is Fighting Words. Okay, I'll put the hammer back. Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with the second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back. And that's what we are doing on Fighting Words. We're not gonna let anyone silence us. That's the reason why they're banning books like yours, George. That's the reason why they're trying to stop the teaching of black history, queer history, any history that challenges the whitewashed norm or put us in a box. Black people have never ever depended on the so called mainstream to support us. That's why we are great. We are the greatest culture makers in world history. Listen to Fighting Words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Bob Pittman]

Hi, I'm Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. I'm excited to introduce a brand new season of my podcast, Math and Stories from the frontiers of Marketing. I'm having conversations with some interesting folks across a wide range of industries. Hear how they reach the top of their fields and the lessons they learned along the way that everyone can use. I'll be joined by innovative leaders like chairman and CEO of Health Beauty, Tarang Amin.

[George M. Johnson]

The way I approach risk is constantly try things and actually make it okay to fail.

[Bob Pittman]

I'm sitting down with legendary singer, songwriter and philanthropist Jewel.

I wanted a way to do something that I loved for the rest of my life.

We're also hearing how leaders brought their businesses out of unprecedented times, like Stephane Bonsell, CEO of Moderna. It becomes a human decision to decide.

[George M. Johnson]

To throw back the window, your business.

[Bob Pittman]

Strategy and to do what you think.

[George M. Johnson]

Is the right thing for the world.

[Bob Pittman]

Join me as we uncover innovations in data and analytics, the math and the ever important creative spark, the magic. Listen to math and magic stories from the frontiers of Marketing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Sam Mullins]

My name is Harry Houdini. Harry Houdini could make elephants disappear, walk through walls, and escape the Chinese water torture cell. But he was also on a mission against mediums. I have never seen one genuine medium. Join me, Tim Harford, for a cautionary tales trilogy on the world's most famous magician.

[George M. Johnson]

It takes a flim flammer to catch a flim flammer.

[Sam Mullins]

Houdini wanted the world to see reason in an age of spiritualism. He went undercover to seances, exposed fakes and charlatans, and even tried to convince Washington lawmakers to ban mediums for good, a campaign that cost him friends and made him many enemies. They're going to kill me. Listen to cautionary tales on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

As for tonight's game, Florida, Houston. So Houston opened as a one and a half point dog, which is a mild surprise because they're the higher rated team per Ken Palm. And I know you could just say, well, Duke was higher rated than Houston. Come on, Jason. It's close, but Ken Palm has Houston as slightly better and winning by one. Yet Florida opened as a one and a half point favorite. Now, don't be surprised. Money came in instantly on Houston. I think the public is backing Houston. Listen, when you beat Duke, of course they're going to back you, right? They beat Gonzaga by five, Purdue by two, Duke by three. Those are great wins. They have three top 10 Ken Palm wins in the tournament. Florida, which has a million all season, only has two. And that's against Texas Tech, where they needed a crazy rally. In Auburn, where they also needed a good rally. I don't know. I just keep looking at this and I'm saying Florida's depth is insane. What's the whistle going to be like? Because Houston doesn't have the depth. Florida loves to attack. They get to the line almost better than anybody and now they don't shoot it. Great. From the line. 165th in the country, but it's not like Houston does either. Houston is at 110th in the country, so they're both, like, marginal. But I just, I had to go with Florida here in this one. I think the depth wins out. I don't know how you stop Clayton. And yes, Houston has some dogs defensively. Uzon, maybe this is his, his show me game. I think he's a pro friend for Shella who Was on the pod before the tournament. He loves him. He struggled against Duke, but did hit a couple big threes. The kid Sharp is tough, man. He is. He was really getting at the naduke players. It was one of those veterans versus young guy things and, and they just couldn't, they just couldn't fight through the burly 22 year olds. I'm sure you guys saw the, the video or not the video. The picture on Instagram where they said every Houston player, all the guys were shirtless and just shredded. Every Houston player runs an under six minute mile. And these aren't like young dudes. These are like big burly beasts. And they just were tougher than Duke. Now I don't know that they'll be tougher than Florida, which has some dogs. I like Richard, I like Martin, obviously, Clayton and the bigs. I just think it's. I think, I think it's Florida. Plus, there's got to be a letdown right after taking down Duke. How do you come down off that? I know it's the coach's job to be like, hey, we, we got one more to go. Sure, but you just took down Cooper Flag and Duke. I mean, just putting that in perspective is just extremely difficult. I don't know how you rally off that 48 hours later. Like the come down. I would not be surprised. Florida jumped on him early. Houston coming out maybe a little high on their own supply. Like, hey, hey, we're Houston. We just beat Duke. And it's weird how things work. Do you remember when Michigan State took down Zion Williamson in the Elite 8? Actually, it was not just Zion, it was Zion and Chet Holmgren. And I remember that because I had, yes, Duke and that loss was just devastating. I, I felt so bad for Zion. I felt worse for Cooper Flag in this one because just, I think they kind of got jobbed. Inability to inbound the ball, that dumb foul on the free throw line. It's just a tough one for Duke, man. But anyway, so Michigan State beat Zion and RJ Barrett in the Elite 8. And then, you know, six days later, seven days later, whatever it was, they went out and lost in, in the Final Four. Like, it's tough to beat an awesome team and then come out again and get the dub. So I'm on Florida tonight to wrap up what I think has been a tremendous college basketball season. I do have in my notes here that this was the most watched Final four semifinals since 2017. Fifteen million people tuned in. That's pretty damn good, right? I think it should be a great game and obviously, you know, check out all, check me out on the Herd. I'll probably be crying over the Duke gloss. And please no White Lotus spoilers. I won't be able to watch it Sunday night. I'm gonna have to watch it. Hopefully Monday. I'll try to be offline as much as possible because I don't want to know who got killed, who the killer is. I don't want to know any of that. So please don't screw it up for me. Talk to you Tuesday.

[Bob Pittman]

You know, when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most Insured members have a $0 copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code SPACE80 when you go to talkspace.com Match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com Save $80 with code [e-mail] hi, I'm Bob Pittman, chairman.

And CEO of iHeartMedia. I'm excited to introduce a brand new season of my podcast Math and Magic Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing. I'm having conversations with some folks across across a wide range of industries to hear how they reach the top of their fields and the lessons they learned along the way that everyone can use. I'll be joined by innovative leaders like Chairman and CEO of Elf Beauty Tarang Amin, legendary singer, songwriter and philanthropist Jewel.

Being a rock star is very fun, but helping people is way more fun.

And Damian Maldonado, CEO of American Financing.

[George M. Johnson]

I figured out the formula. I just have to work hard. Then that's magic.

[Bob Pittman]

Join me as we uncover innovations in data and analytics, the math and the ever important creative spark, the magic. Listen to math and Magic on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[George M. Johnson]

What's up everyone? Julie Switbinks here Along with former NHL player Nate Thompson, we're doing a new podcast together.

[Sam Mullins]

Here we go.

[George M. Johnson]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Sam Mullins]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[George M. Johnson]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Sam Mullins]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[George M. Johnson]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Bob Pittman]

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sam Mullins]

Hi, I'm Sam Mullins and I've got a new podcast coming out called goboy the gritty true story of how one man fought his way out of some of the darkness places imaginable.

[George M. Johnson]

Roger Caron was 16 when first convicted.

[Bob Pittman]

Has spent 24 of those years in jail.

[Sam Mullins]

But when Roger Caron picked up a pen and paper, he went from an ex con to a literary darling. From Campside Media and iHeart Podcasts, listen to GoBoy starting April 9th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[George M. Johnson]

I'm ready to fight. Oh, this is Fighting Words. Okay, I'll put the hammer back. Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with the second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back.

[Sam Mullins]

Part of the power of black queer.

[George M. Johnson]

Creativity is the fact that we got us. You know, we are the greatest culture makers in world history. Listen to Fighting words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.