The Ryen Russillo Podcast: Bracket Preview, Upsets, and Final Four Picks with Stanford Steve

Release Date: March 18, 2025

In this engaging episode of The Ryen Russillo Podcast, host Ryen Russillo teams up with Stanford Steve, a seasoned NCAA tournament enthusiast and ESPN contributor, to dissect the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament. Their conversation delves deep into bracket strategies, potential upsets, and Final Four predictions, offering listeners a comprehensive analysis of the tournament's dynamics.

1. Overview of Top Seeds and Conference Strength

Stanford Steve kicks off the discussion by highlighting the exceptional strength of this year's top seeds. He emphasizes that the combined net ratings of the top five teams are "off the charts," suggesting a highly competitive field.

• Stanford Steve [02:31]: "The combined net rating of these teams is off the charts. You have five teams with a plus 30 net rating."

Ryen concurs, particularly singling out Florida as a favorite due to their depth and consistent performance throughout the season.

• Ryen Russillo [02:31]: "The depth, the wow factor, the multiple guys that can make tough shots and big shots an absolute game changer at the point guards position."

2. Florida Gators: A Dominant Force

A significant portion of the conversation centers on Florida's basketball team. Both hosts praise Florida for their balanced roster, strategic coaching, and ability to dominate opponents, as evidenced by their double-digit victories in the SEC.

• Stanford Steve [03:00]: "They won every game by double digits like it was nuts. So, yeah, as an impressive team as I've seen coming into a tournament in a while."

Ryen elaborates on Florida's strategic advantages, including key players like Clayton Elijah, a transfer with Final Four experience, and Condon's versatile bigs from Australia.

• Ryen Russillo [04:15]: "They have Final Four experience. So, they just have everything. There's really, it's really tough to do in college basketball."

3. Analyzing the West Region and Other Top Seeds

Stanford Steve discusses the competitiveness of the West region, noting that four of the top twelve teams are from this bracket, including St. John's and Texas Tech.

• Stanford Steve [05:27]: "The West region has four of the top twelve. They have St. John's on the other side. We're going to spend time with Texas Tech."

Ryen adds his perspective on Duke's storied presence in the tournament, comparing the current team to memorable past squads and expressing confidence in their potential despite some early tournament disappointments.

• Ryen Russillo [08:42]: "This has been as fun a Duke team as I can remember. Probably going back to Shire's team because they knew it was their last chance."

4. Upset Predictions and Underdog Stories

Both hosts explore the possibility of upsets, particularly focusing on lower-seeded teams like VCU and BYU. They analyze VCU's strong defensive metrics and BYU's offensive prowess, considering their matchups and potential paths through the bracket.

• Stanford Steve [28:48]: "Going with a little 1-16 action VCU, BYU VCU depending on where you see it. They force turnovers on 20% of their opponent's possessions."

Ryen shares his strategy for identifying teams with championship potential, mentioning his list of fourteen contenders at the start of the season, including Wisconsin, Arizona, BYU, and others.

• Ryen Russillo [08:42]: "I had a lot. I started with 14. This region has the most of Any region. I got five Wisconsin's teeter and I think Wisconsin got a brutal draw."

5. Final Four Predictions

As the discussion unfolds, both Ryen and Stanford Steve present their Final Four picks. Ryen opts for a mix of traditional powerhouses and strategically chosen teams based on their performance metrics and potential matchups.

• Ryen Russillo [53:00]: "Final Four. Yeah. All right. Because I'm going against it. I'm gonna go Alabama, Tennessee, St. John's watch out for Missouri. Just watch out. And I'll go Iowa State."

Stanford Steve counters with his selections, emphasizing teams like Michigan State, Florida, Duke, and Tennessee, and ultimately predicting Florida over Duke in the national championship.

• Stanford Steve [53:43]: "I've got Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Tennessee. Florida over Duke."

6. The Role of Conferences and Historical Context

The hosts delve into the impact of conference strength on tournament success, particularly scrutinizing the SEC's performance in recent years compared to the Big East and Big Ten. They discuss how conference dynamics and team preparedness influence bracket outcomes.

• Stanford Steve [42:08]: "The SEC for all of the resources and all of the athletes that you think are just down the street, basketball wise, it's been a really disappointing conference for years."

Ryen counters by highlighting the SEC's current surge, noting their record-breaking bid numbers and overall strength in the tournament.

• Ryen Russillo [46:22]: "They roll in this year with 14 bids, which breaks the Big East record of 11 back in 2011."

7. Betting Strategies and Odds

Towards the episode's conclusion, both hosts touch upon betting strategies, particularly focusing on upsets and the allure of betting on underdogs. They discuss popular betting options like FanDuel and highlight specific betting picks based on their analysis.

• Stanford Steve [28:48]: "I'm going with a little 1-16 action VCU, BYU VCU depending on where you see it."

• Stanford Steve [52:39]: "St. John's to reach the Sweet 16 -175."

8. Audience Engagement and Final Thoughts

In the latter part of the episode, the hosts interact with audience questions and feedback, addressing topics ranging from NBA insights to entertainment queries. While this segment veers into lighter, more humorous territory, it reinforces the podcast's commitment to engaging with its listener base.

• Stanford Steve [54:04]: "You watch 1923? You gotta."

Despite venturing into diverse topics, the episode maintains a clear focus on the NCAA tournament, ensuring that listeners gain valuable insights into their bracket strategies and Final Four predictions.

Notable Quotes

• Stanford Steve [02:31]: "The combined net rating of these teams is off the charts."
• Ryen Russillo [08:42]: "This has been as fun a Duke team as I can remember."
• Stanford Steve [28:48]: "VCU forces turnovers on 20% of their opponent's possessions."
• Ryen Russillo [46:22]: "They roll in this year with 14 bids, which breaks the Big East record of 11 back in 2011."
• Ryen Russillo [53:00]: "I'm gonna go Alabama, Tennessee, St. John's watch out for Missouri. And I'll go Iowa State."
• Stanford Steve [53:43]: "Florida over Duke."

Conclusion

This episode of The Ryen Russillo Podcast offers a thorough and insightful analysis of the NCAA tournament landscape. Through the collaborative expertise of Ryen Russillo and Stanford Steve, listeners are equipped with nuanced perspectives on team performances, potential upsets, and strategic bracket placements. Whether you're a seasoned bracketologist or a casual basketball fan, this episode provides valuable takeaways to enhance your tournament experience.