The Ryen Russillo Show (Barstool Sports)
Episode: Wemby’s Big Night & More w/ Noah Eagle, Plus the Darryn Peterson Mystery w/ Eamonn Brennan
Date: February 11, 2026
Overview of the Episode
Ryen Russillo kicks off a packed episode with in-depth coverage of Victor Wembanyama’s breakout performance against the Lakers, discussing Wemby’s impact and the San Antonio Spurs’ future with guest Noah Eagle. The conversation then pivots to college basketball with Eamonn Brennan, focusing on the “Darryn Peterson Mystery” at Kansas, the controversy around player eligibility in Alabama, and the evolving state of college hoops. Russillo and his guests blend sharp analysis, personal stories, and memorable moments, culminating with listener life advice and the signature banter among the regulars.
Key Segments and Discussion Points
1. Wemby’s Big Night & NBA Takeaways (w/ Noah Eagle)
(03:37-18:52)
A. Wembanyama’s Ascendancy and Awe Factor
- Noah Eagle describes seeing Wemby up close and the “wow” moments:
“He has that type of impact…he’s like one of three guys probably in the NBA at this point that I would say I would pay whatever it takes to go see. Him and Steph are still at the top of that list.” – Noah Eagle (08:20)
- Eagle recounts his first time seeing Wemby: an effortless, flat-footed bank shot over Nic Claxton that left even the broadcasters speechless.
- He shares an anecdote from an Olympic game in France where the entire arena erupted just at Wemby’s warmup half-court shot.
B. Wemby’s Defensive Impact
- Eagle draws comparisons to elite rim protectors, noting Wemby causes “second-guessing from all-world professionals,” and by the end of his rookie season, “if he’s even close to the basket, just figure something else out.”
- He mentions Jamal Crawford called Wemby the “most impressive young athlete he’s ever been around mentally.” (07:46)
C. Spurs’ Playoff Upside
- Russillo and Eagle debate:
- Are the Spurs legitimate threats in the West and can they get past OKC in the playoffs?
- Eagle (11:13): Agrees with Brian Scalabrini’s claim that “San Antonio can win it all” if things break right, but points out concern over Wemby’s playoff durability and the team’s lack of postseason experience.
- Details how OKC neutralized Wemby with physical perimeter defenders like Dort and Caruso.
D. Lakers Analysis
- Russillo presses Eagle: Is the Lakers talk overblown? Are they simply an “above average team with much better branding”?
- Eagle (15:38): Cites a lack of lineup stability and concerns about their front court depth, concluding he “just doesn’t know how [the Lakers] would work” in a 7-game series against West contenders.
“Those small ball lineups around the league…like the Warriors’ small ball, Draymond’s just clearing space and I don’t know if [the Lakers] have that. Now, maybe Rui Hachimura develops into something like that…” – Noah Eagle (17:18)
2. College Hoops Deep Dive (w/ Eamonn Brennan)
(44:20-67:18)
A. The Darryn Peterson "Mystery" at Kansas
- Kansas keeps winning crucial games but top prospect Peterson’s on/off-play raises eyebrows.
- Peterson’s impact: Kansas’s “peak version” is with Peterson, but uncertainty lingers as he frequently sits out major games.
- Brennan breaks down the rumors and possible explanations: is Peterson banged up, or is he “picking and choosing his spots” at the direction of agents/handlers?
- Noted that “he’s missed some of the biggest games you’d think a guy [chasing the top pick] would want to be in.” – Eamonn Brennan (48:05)
“Either way, if you’re an NBA front office, you’d like the guy who really, really wants to be on the court… you want the guy who’d die to be out there.” (50:09)
B. Draft Prospects & NCAAB Landscape
- Discuss the gap between Peterson and the pack (DeBanza, Boozer, Flemings) as top NBA prospects.
- “Boozer…should win the national player of the year handily…he looks like a guy who’s been in college for four or five years.” (53:04)
- Big 12 and Big East storylines: St. John’s surging, UConn’s standing, and the unique challenges of slotting together transfer-heavy rosters.
C. Alabama & College Basketball Eligibility Rulings
- Recap of the Charles Bediako/Alabama eligibility saga.
- Brennan outlines the NCAA’s rare recent legal win: why it matters to bar “NBA guys coming back to play college basketball” and stem “loss after loss” in court for the NCAA (59:30).
- Criticizes Alabama’s approach of “muddying the waters” on eligibility, with SEC Commissioner also opposing the school’s lawsuit (63:22).
D. State of the Game
- Despite transfer chaos and NIL money:
“The product on the court has never been better… stylistic diversity, pace, efficiency. It’s one of the weird ironies: all this chaos has produced the best, most entertaining form of the sport.” – Brennan (64:46)
3. Noah Eagle Career Retrospective
(31:05-43:17)
A. On Being a “Son of a Broadcaster”
- Noah acknowledges at age 22, he got the Clippers radio job with help from timing, opportunity, his background, and parental trust—“that they could trust I had seen it up close.”
- He stresses his pride that after his tenure, the Clippers hired another 22-year-old not from a broadcasting family, showing progress in the industry.
B. Family Anecdotes
- Hilarious insight into his dad’s “office hours”—pacing around on phone calls for exercise.
- Syracuse loyalty runs deep; shares why he ultimately “had to come” despite initial rejection.
“If [the nepotism storyline] got to you, you will never succeed because it’s never going to go away… I probably agree, it’s real. I’m not gonna say they just hired me at 22 because they’re like, this kid has the goods.” – Noah Eagle (38:42)
C. Olympic & All-Star Game Hype
- Eagle is set to broadcast the NBA All-Star Game for NBC, “youngest in the history” per NBC’s research.
- Takes playful shots at “younger broadcasters” in SpongeBob terms:
“They said the same when I did the Super Bowl on Nickelodeon…how do we know SpongeBob or Patrick are not younger than me?” – Noah Eagle (42:36)
4. Life Advice, Banter & Listener Q&A
(72:13-end)
- Segments include life advice like “how do I ask the gym bro’s name if I forgot it?” and “my wife thinks I’m cheating because of work friendship.”
- The crew recaps the King of the Court betting challenge and shares gym and movie anecdotes.
- Discussion is lively, honest, and sometimes irreverent—as listeners expect.
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On Wemby’s Defensive Presence:
“I’ve never seen second-guessing from all-world professionals…by the end of his rookie year they learned: if he’s even close to the basket, just figure something else out.” – Noah Eagle (08:45) -
On Peterson’s NBA Uncertainty:
“Either way, if you’re an NBA front office, you’d like the guy who really, really wants to be on the court…you want the guy who’d die to be out there…” – Eamonn Brennan (50:09) -
On College Hoops Product:
“All this chaos has actually produced the best, most entertaining form of the sport.” – Eamonn Brennan (64:46) -
Noah Eagle on Nepotism:
“If the nepotism stuff affected me, then you can’t do it…It doesn’t matter how great of a job I do…someone is still going to say, ‘I wonder how he got that gig.’” – Noah Eagle (38:42)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- (03:37-09:33): Wemby up close—stories, impact, and defensive influence
- (09:33-14:20): Spurs, Thunder, and West playoff dynamics
- (15:38-18:52): What to make of the Lakers
- (31:05-43:17): Noah Eagle’s broadcasting journey & family stories
- (44:20-53:04): Darryn Peterson, Kansas, and the “mystery”
- (59:30-63:22): Alabama eligibility controversy & NCAA legal win
- (64:46-67:18): State of college basketball today
- (72:13-END): Life advice and open banter
Original Tone Recap
Russillo and his guests offer candid analysis, sharp insight, and personal anecdotes. Banter is friendly, at times irreverent, with plenty of basketball nerd-out moments. The hosts poke fun at themselves (“I am a record setter in forgetting names...”), laugh at the world of sports and broadcasting, and connect on relatable life advice, making the episode both informative and highly entertaining for basketball fans at all levels.