SWEET 16!! Kentucky advances to meet Tennessee!! Derik Queen hits a buzzer beater to send Maryland to the second weekend!! Calipari beats Pitino AGAIN and Arkansas moves on!! And we might have to check on Charlie and Anthony again after their argument thi

THE SWEET 16 IS SET!!! 

Auburn, Michigan, Ole Miss, Michigan St, Florida, Maryland, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Duke, Arizona, BYU, Alabama, Houston, Purdue, Kentucky and Tennessee

Charlie and Anthony will recap the first 2 rounds of the tournament!!

KENTUCKY advances to their first Sweet 16 since 2019 in Mark Pope's 1st year!!         Kentucky vs Tennessee!!!

Maryland will play Florida after Derik Queen hits the 1st buzzer beater of the tournament to beat Colorado St in the second round!!

Calipari beats Bill Self and Rick Pitino and takes Arkansas to the Sweet 16 to match up with Texas Tech.

Louisville cant beat Creighton in Lexington, and bow out in the 1st game of the tourney!!

SEC gets a record 7 teams into the Sweet 16!!

Big Ten and Big 12 both get 4 teams in.

Duke is the last man standing for the putrid ACC!! UNC, Clemson and Louisville all go down!!!

And someone check on Charlie and Anthony because their convo-turned-argument about whether players are playing for the teams or playing for the money got pretty heated!!

Transcript

Charlie (00:27)
All right, guys, welcome back to another episode of the Blitz the Bookie podcast. I'm Charlie Winkle joined as always by Anthony Roberts. It is Monday, March the 24th and the Sweet 16 is set. Maybe the sweetest of sweet 16s in a long time. The Kentucky Wildcats. I told you Anthony last week when the brackets were released, the cats were going

to the Sweet 16, they beat Troy, they beat Illinois, and they advance to face Tennessee in the Sweet 16. Not only does Mark Pope have a really good first year and have a bunch of big time wins, but he caps it off with a trip to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Something us Kentucky fans have not seen since 2019 with Malik Monk and De'Aaron Fox. It's been too long. It's been a long time coming. The cats are back and Pope is on his way to legend status in his first season at Kentucky. The cats are back. Anthony. No doubt. was a lot of fun to watch all the games this weekend.

to watch Kentucky. Get back to the sweet 16, I like our matchup against Tennessee, but we'll get into that in a little The one thing that we had talked about, maybe we would see, and I think we did see it. It was a very chalk favorite, written tournament. you didn't see a lot of underdogs winning. I'll go back to what I said before. I think a lot of it's all those players are getting plucked with NIL, but we'll get into that later.

really it was, it's been a good tournament as much as there's not been a lot of upsets, it's going to make for a really competitive sweet 16. you're going to get really high quality games and you're not going to get many situations where maybe a weak team just beat up better team and was able to do it that one game and then they get rolled the next game. Right here, you got 16 quality teams that are lined up.

and ready for a really competitive sweet 16 the cats are back. The Terps are back. Maryland. With the first buzzer beater of the tournament. Arguably a walk on that play, but we're going to forget that that ever happened and we're just going to say Derek Queen, the big time freshman. He wanted the ball. They say in the huddle before that last play, he told him he wanted the ball.

Big time moment. He hits the big time shot. Buzzer beater. They get past Colorado state. The Terps are back in the sweet 16 as well. Super happy for the Terps and all the Maryland fans How does the kid come down from that high this week? I mean, literally his last second shot. you said it. He's big man on campus. You better believe that if he goes, if he goes back to campus, he's probably not going back to campus.

But yeah, he's a freshman. He's probably gonna be a first round pick, probably gonna be a top 10 pick. Yeah, I'm just saying though, like being a freshman, big shot, called for it, wanted it, bad shot, but made it look good. a... And a team that has not been there in a while. So you know their fans are excited. I've talked about it in the past how the fans up there in Maryland are more pro fans, but I will give them credit. When Maryland's good, they'll support.

Now it's when they, when Maryland falls off that the fans kind of fall off too, but it's fun when they're good. I'm glad that they're back. I love to see it. The Terps and the cats both in the sweet 16 and then Anthony, your favorite team, your favorite coach, second thing, your favorite, your favorite NCAA family, the Calipari's go down to Arkansas. loved it. First year have a mediocre season.

get in the tournament by the skin of their teeth. They got hot at the end of the year. They got, they were playing a lot better at them. And then he beats Kansas, turns around two days later, beats the seed St. John's coached by the one and only Rick Pitino who cannot beat John Calipari. He's lost nine of the last 11. Did you know that?

Yeah, it's, you know, we talked about it leading up to it and you know, I touched on it, but Cal is just a bad matchup for Rick. know both those. He rat free in his I don't even think it's that Charlie. I don't even think I get what you're saying. He coaches tight. He does, but I just think it's a matchup. You know, we talked about Cal and Rick Barnes before the show started. Cal has trouble with Rick Barnes. a lot of basketball's, matchups. And I said it last week on the show. I just don't think Rick's teams match up good with Cal.

What Rick does, I've watched him for years, he presses, he wants to turn you over, that's what his game is. Having a lot of athletes, wearing you down with athletes, pressing you, has too many athletes, and as he's trying to figure it out, what's the new age basketball, one thing Kyle's never short on is athletes, and you're just not gonna be able to press a Kyle team. He usually has really good point guards and guys can get up and down the court. You're not gonna tire those kind of guys out, so.

That's why he's a bad matchup. But I'm sure like you say, we're Rick Barnes. It's a bad matchup for Cal. Everybody has that guy that their style of play just don't match up good with that other team. And I do think it's Cal for Rick. Guys, if y'all don't know about that rivalry, those two guys do not like each other at all. I don't care what they say. They do not matter. In they were both asked not too long ago and I'll give Rick credit because he

was way more straightforward than Cal. And he pretty much said, look, we don't like each other, but it's, don't think they hate each other, but they're very competitive. yeah. They've got a long history and then they're opposites. They're opposites. They do not like each other. I agree. I'm going to be honest. I'm glad that we saw it. We talked about it last week, hoping that we get to see that matchup. think everybody wanted to see that. I'm glad we did because last year,

last few years, I don't know if we would have thought we'd ever seen that matchup again. Yeah. I Patino gotten some trouble was out of the game for a while over the Greece. then he gets to St. John's and I didn't think we would ever see it again. So I'm just glad we saw it. It was, it lived up to the hype. It was a really good game. It was really good, high intensity game.

I told you St. John's cannot shoot. I'll be honest with you, Charlie, I feel like that game is kind of a throwback to the games that maybe I enjoyed a little bit more. It don't work anymore though. I know, I know it but I'm going to tell you it's funner to watch. funner to Blocking shots, being athletic. think, I think a lot of the games have been super physical. They are, but everything's Not a lot

rim attacking. I'm not saying they don't go to the rim, but just not a lot really attacking each other at the rim defenders going up to block a lot of shots, trying to turn the ball over. you see some of it, but I just don't think you see it at that high level with high level athletes. I do think that's a funner brand of basketball to watch. I'm not saying it works no more. Don't I'm just saying that I enjoy watching it. St. John's kryptonite was there shooting and they shot 27%. You're not going to win many games.

Definitely not in the NCAA tournament. You're not going to win many games against any division one school shooting 27%. I don't care how good you are. And it showed played good, but they rely on turnovers and easy baskets. St. John got out coached. He did. It's a bad match. He got out coached. You know what he should have did? He should have went to his own. We've seen for years that cow.

will pull his hair out when a team plays his own against him. It's like he's never seen it before. I don't know why St. John's didn't play his own pretty much the whole game. the big we're going leading up to it. Cal was short on players. He was only playing seven players for the last handful of weeks. maybe he thought he could wearing up wearing him That's what he does. A lot of teams. That's what Rick style is to kind of try to wear you out and literally kind of will itself to victory. And you know, it just didn't work.

Arkansas has the, the athletes though. So pack it in, make them shoot. I really do think that Cal out coached Patino. I do. And honestly think that Patino.

I don't know if he over coaches or under coaches or just what it is with when he coaches against Cal, something's in his head. It's style of play. It's style of play. What Rick likes to do versus what Cal typically has. It's Cal's usually going to have the athletes usually have really guys that can handle the ball. Wagner did a great job with the ball. They couldn't turn him over.

You know what you got to be able to do with those defensive teams like Patino likes though. You got to be able to score. Yeah. But they get a lot of easy buckets off those turnovers when you don't get them. You, you caught it. You said, you know, they have trouble shooting the ball, but a lot of times they get those turnovers. And then they rely on that, sweet Lou or Rivera kid to be their score. And Arkansas was all over him. They were all over him for the last two or two or three minutes, which I thought was crazy. Super crazy.

Look, I don't know if the kid said something, if he's got an attitude, if him and Patino have history. I have no clue. I do know that he was having an off night dance with the girl that you took to the dance. Exactly. He's the biggest player of the year. He's got to be in the last few minutes of the game. Go ask Lane Kiffin in Mississippi. Remember that Jackson dark fell apart. He, he kept dancing with him.

You didn't want to dance with him. That's your guy. agree. I agree. There's no reason. At some point it was just a two or three point game there with like what a minute left or under a minute left and St. John's had the ball. If anything using for a decoy, tell him to drive and dish. were attacking him at the rim. They had a guy challenging him at the rim and they had a guy following up behind him, but they just didn't have, like you say, didn't have enough scores and wasn't able to turn Arkansas over. I thought DJ Wagner did a really good job handling the ball.

know the kid didn't live up to his billing coming out of high school, being one the top players in the country. But I will say that every time I've watched DJ, I do think DJ's improved give him credit for nice ball handler can get to the rim. I like to see him shoot a little better, but I do see him progressing and some kids don't get it done their freshman year. a sophomore and think the kid has a lot of talent. He's a solid guard. He is, and he's got better.

the problem with him. He was overhyped. Yeah, just overhyped. One of those guys that was talked about for three, four years before he even got to college. Just too much hype. I agree with that. Sometimes you don't live up to what the hype is or you don't live up right away, but you're still like in his case.

Yeah, he underperformed a little bit for Kentucky. Okay. I still kind of liked him, but I do think he underperformed. But if he wasn't as hyped as he was for four years, three to four years, maybe we wouldn't look at it like he underperformed. You know what it is. You know what it is. It's the it's these players that their parents were really good. I'm telling you, nine times out 10, those kids are

They get a ranking just because their is whoever. think Chador is a little bit overhyped at Colorado, not as much as these other kids I'm talking about, but I've seen it time and time again. a few of them that make it the Curries of the world, but for those that don't the Wagners, Milt Wagner, his grandfather played at UofL, was All-American there. played at Memphis with him, and he swears by Cal.

Actually, UofL tried to hire his grandfather to get him milk. But then his dad, when he was at Memphis, he was going to stay in college. And he came to Cal, and Cal says, no, you can't stay. He says, you're a top five pick. You got to go. And the kid said, well, I want to stay in college, coach. He said, no, you can't. You're a top five pick. And then he got his MBA contract. And I think it was later that year. He came down with some severe disease. Yeah, that was Dwan Wack. Yeah, and never could play again.

DeWan Wagner always said, you know, I owe my life to Cal because I did get a contract and I was able to make me some money to get life started with. if I would have listened, if I would have done what I thought was right and what other people was telling me, he said, but I listened to coach and coach told me, And so I think essentially that's why they got him. You remember UofL hiring his grandfather, old Milt Wagner? Yeah. And then I feel like they let him go after they didn't get him.

Yeah, Louisville was trying to make a play on him pretty much for three years too, but I don't think they eat. Don't you feel like those kids that don't you feel like those kids that are come up under their dads. Don't you feel like they're sometimes like overrated? I mean, I think we've seen it with some football guys over the

feel like there's always really high expectations. Your Orioles got one right now, but I think he's pretty good. The holiday kid. fine. Yeah. Do you feel like he's overhyped any at all because of that or you think it's rightfully so? No, he's fine. He's going to be really good. kids do get overhyped because of their name. try to live up to a handful, but yeah, I would say the majority of them don't.

And it's a lot of pressure on those kids Matt, know And they can't even James imagine the pressure that he's got I still like to have this situation. I'm not saying yeah If you if he's trying to be a basketball player, yeah, if he's trying to go be a Contractor then that he ain't got no pressure. But if he's trying to go be an NBA player, he's got a ton of pressure Yeah, but if you don't make it there, he's gonna be a multi billionaire no more. You're multi millionaire. I that I get your rights. You're absolutely right. Yeah, you're

but yeah, you see them players they're really supposed to be a three star they make them a four star I've seen it with Shaq's kids I've seen it with several players kids names, you and most of the time they don't live up to it and this Wagner was good and he is good. I think he's NBA player I don't know if he's a NBA star, but I think he's the NBA player. So he's a good player, but then being

Milton's grandfather, all American at U of L, all American in Memphis. the pedigrees there. on a lot of boards, he was like a top three player. Probably should have been like a top 40 player, top 50 player. Anthony does sucked me into a 15 minute conversation about Cal and all his boys. Oh man. No, but I do think that was probably the story of the first two rounds.

You know, I'm, looking through the games, trying to see what are the biggest stories. It was chalky Anthony. give you credit You were right. you talked to talked about it the last couple of weeks, possibly not seeing as many upsets and it did play out. We'll see if that's a long-term thing or if maybe that's just a one-off this year, but it definitely happened. in Missouri. guess those were really the only two big upsets, right?

Yep. to me, the story of the story of the first two rounds to me is Kentucky. But look on a more here, Arkansas is the only team that is we got Ole Miss is a six. Arkansas is a 10 Arkansas and, and Calipari beaten Patino, beaten self, making it to the second round.

Unfortunately, I think is the biggest story. I agree with that. It just is. So we'll see what Cal does from here, who they matched up with. Texas Tech. They got boogie flame back to that. That's a big get back for them. So we'll see. We'll see if we'll see what color Anthony's wearing next week. If he's wearing blue, I'm starting to plan. I will be pulling for Cal. I guarantee that he's actually an Arkansas fan now.

Second my second favorite team in college basketball, no doubt. Alright, so first round. Let's look back at this first round Anthony. Besides the ones we did just mentioned first game of the weekend.

The UofL Cardinals minutes away from home. First time in the tournament in four years, five years, however long it's been. about being under seeded, cried by head about being under seeded, which I actually thought that they were until we seen the ACC play. Loses to Creighton, not only loses the game was, I'm not going to say it was over.

But Creighton took control of the game in the first half and was up double digits. I think at halftime you have bell didn't really ever make a run. I did hear Creighton shot really well. I was just getting off work and I looked at my phone and there was a minute to go and they were down by like 14 points or something. I was like, wow, that was easy. It looked like Creighton shot the most threes.

in the country. All they did was Jack up threes. That's what they usually do, I, I, UofL was not closing out. I haven't watched a lot of UofL. I'm not going to sit here and throw Pat Kelsey under the bus, but I watched that whole game.

it was obvious that they were looking for the three ball. And UofL was not closing out good enough. I could have swore at halftime when they came out in the second half, they were going to start closing out better on a three point shot. They didn't and they kept banging threes. I've never known a time when Kraton don't shoot three.

They were 11 to 24. 45 them way too many threes open threes U of L.

with not making the tournament for as long as they did. And like you said, crying about the seed. That's all I heard. You get a game 45 minutes away.

You've been talking all year about how good you were, how you avails on the come up is we only lost five games or six games, whatever it was seven games.

You should have won that game. Yeah. You got to beat Creighton in Lexington. And you did. That was a home game for him. Good season for Louisville, but it was a terrible ACC. And you bowed out in the first round in a winnable game against a bunch of white boys, a point guard that looked like he was 40 years old and does your taxes just frying them. I do think Creighton's typically.

and traditionally really but all I heard all week is how they were under seeded, and then when you could see in the way the ACC performed overall, besides Duke, all three teams kind of took shellac. it's nothing against Louisville. was just, the ACC was down. I think most people seen it. The selection committee seen it. And that's why they did what they did. I mean, I'm sure after happened,

happened they were like okay we got it right what the SEC seven teams Charlie seven teams in the sweet 16 how many did we come in with 14 yep seven is a new record it passes the old record of six so seven teams in the sweet 16 that's pretty impressive guys out of almost half the teams in this week 16 are from the SEC so congratulations to the SEC I think most people already

Thought they were the best and thought it maybe was the best conference ever. The person, the man. Last week, I halfway felt like a Louisville fan the way I was reacting to the, the bracket coming out and I, I, I'll be all the way honest. I thought they were under seeded too. I thought they should have been a seven or maybe a six. They got really close to home home and I sat here and kind of defended them last week, but I'm not doing it this week.

If you don't make it out of the first weekend, that's cool. They were going to play Auburn, but go beat Creighton.

I didn't get to watch the game. Little brother. They creating shot well, but you're saying that didn't close out. So I would say, well, they ran into a hot shooting team, but you're saying they didn't close out. So they did not. But I want to say before we get off that game real quick, I do think Creighton might have the most underrated coach in the country. I know I talked to you about that the other night. Was that you? No, no one. Creighton's coach, Doug McDermott.

Yeah, it was Charlie is a really good coach. Been there forever. He has been there forever. His son was an all American best player in the country, pretty much there for a year or two. It was good, but he's a really good underrated coach that I think does not get to. I don't know if he's got ties into Creighton. I'm willing to bet that he's got some kind of ties. He's had some big offers either to Creighton or to that area because why is he not mentioned more?

They know some of these bigger jobs because they know that he's not going anywhere. He's got to be tied in. I like I like McDermott. I think he's a really good coach. That's kind of underappreciated. He has Creighton pretty much in the tournament every year. They've never really broke through, but I like the guy didn't make a final four once or my raw or late a I don't know if they made a final four. I don't think they did, so that

First game of the day, Louisville was out by 2.30, Anthony. They were like the first one, weren't they? First game of the day. They were the first result of the day was Louisville. They were the first ones eliminated. off the weekend pretty good there. Some other notes in the first round, Tubby Smith and High Point, which Tubby Smith does not coach High Point anymore.

hasn't coached there for three years, but I pretended that he did, even when I found out, I know we talked about Tubby last week, I was lost. I thought Tubby was still at High Point. Found out that he wasn't. Look, we're gonna say a lot of stuff. We're probably gonna get some shit wrong. We might even start a segment can send us texts every week and tell us where we fucked up, but.

I pretended he was high points coach. had me convinced. even told you, I said, I'm going to start rooting for him. I like Tubby. I've always been a Tubby guy. I'm an ex coach guy. Even after I found out he wasn't their coach, I was just still pretending he was their coach. That was going to be my third favorite cheer for high point, but they did lose. So maybe they should bring Tubby back.

You remember his wife Donna They always made a big deal of her talk about how the coach had carried himself Well, Kentucky, so we've been blessed but now Gillespie we'll leave that leave him out But far as Cal and tubby, they both carried theirself. Well when they were here, other notes ACC Clemson goes down to McNeese in the first round I picked that one. See ya

UNC loses to Ole Miss Clemson loses to McNeese. And who was the other one? Anthony Drake, Drake beat Missouri or well, Missouri was the other now I saying the other ACC team. Louisville. Yeah. We already talked about it. Louisville, Clemson, UNC all go down. Yep. And go down pretty handily. I mean, UNC brought it a little close at the end, but Mississippi pulled away, but

was up in that game by like 15, 20 points almost the whole game. Yeah, and they won by seven, I

There was a couple other close games in the first round. I've heard some people saying all the games weren't that good. It was a lot of blowouts. I don't think the upsets were there, but I do think that there was some good games. BYU Wisconsin. Yeah. BYU Wisconsin. was, well, that was, that was second round. was second round. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But that first round Michigan, Michigan's in the sweet 16.

They squeaked by that UC San Diego team. You called that too, Charlie. You they were tough. UC San Diego gave them a fight. They squeaked away with a three point win.

Baylor and Mississippi State played a tight game 75-72. I know both of them bowed out. But there was some tight games. The St. Mary's and Vandy game. That was a three point game. boys got past the SEC powerhouse Vandy. You know, Vandy was up in that game most of the game, that was a three point game was the story that game Mary's which I always kind of bet and pull for St. Mary's.

They out rebounded Vandy by 13. To me, that's been the story of the tournament so far, what I've seen. Of course, this is a story of basketball, throughout the years, of these teams are just really out rebound on the other teams and the teams that are winning the rebound battle, they're typically winning these games. And I think that's just true of basketball in general. Get on the boards, you get second chance points, the game becomes easier. UConn beats Oklahoma, Illinois. were, I was trying to...

kind of cheering for Xavier because they're the talk was there was a lot of Illinois fans up there in Milwaukee. Illinois ended up taking down a Xavier. But yeah, the game of the first first round, of course, for us, UK takes down Troy control the game. They were made me nervous for a while. We pulled away in the second half, ended up winning by what? 19. Yeah.

But it was Charlie was nervous. I was, I was nervous for that one. I was nervous for both of them, but we get the first win. We get the little monkey off of our back of just not getting a tournament win for the last few years. And it felt really good. It felt really good. I don't care if it was Troy. We've been beat by Oakland and St. Peter's. I was nervous. We can't get beat by another one of these teams. And we didn't, and it wasn't our best game.

It really wasn't that that Troy team played really good defense. I've heard that they were top five in like defensive metrics. Now, who did they play? Probably not a bunch of tough teams, but they were a good defensive team pressured us pretty good. But we answered I was really happy. gotta play your best game from there. No, just get the win. I was so man. It was it was

I was the monkey off the back. It felt good. I'll tell you the game that I watched a lot of, and I was nervous for him for a second because the team was playing out of their mind, but Robert Morris really, played a hard fought game against Alabama and Alabama was able to kind of pull away there at the end. But I'm telling you, Robert Morris was balling. I don't even think it was Alabama playing bad. I just think Robert Morris was balling. Now I remember Florida Gulf coast about six, seven, eight years ago. You remember that team?

Yes. They called them something like the dunk. They, were Duncan, throwing alley oops. Do you remember that? I want to say they might've been a 15 seed, but I'm going to tell you what, besides that team, and this just off the top of my head, who was that? Robert Morris might've been the most athletic 15 seed besides Florida Gulf coast that I have ever seen. Yeah. No, they were really athletic.

They were running up and down the court with Alabama. Like it was just another day. That point guard was nice. He was seeing the pass before the pass was really impressed by his vision and court awareness. He really did a good job. Now. Then the day the cream rise to the top, Alabama was able to kind of get one by nine. That's right. And Robert Morris took the lead with about seven minutes left in that game. They gave they gave

Alabama everything they wanted in that game and it might be good for Alabama. You know the problem with like the Robert Morris's the Florida, Atlantic's the St. Peter whoever it is. It's made these runs throughout the year.

The problem why you're probably not seeing it now is because those players are on Kentucky. I mean, we're filled with those kind of players, from transfer portals and stuff like that. Other teams, not just Kentucky, but that was my argument coming into it. And if you look at our roster and many other rosters throughout college basketball, they're filled with these kids from Drexel, these kids that were maybe under the radar recruits out of high school, but turned out being really nice players developing out. And then they made them some money in the NIO world.

come to some of the bigger universities and you're seeing them all across college basketball right now. So if there's a positive out of it, that's the positive, because some of these kids ain't NBA kids, but at least they're able to make them some money in college. So then we move on to the second round. We've already touched on the game of the second round was Arkansas over St. John's. and like I said, I thought it lived up to the billing. It was a really good game.

McNeese got rolled after beating Clemson. Yeah, they did. them out.

Big 10's been strong. have. Big 12's kind of been strong. Yep. So what did we say the numbers was? Seven, four, four, and one? Yep. You're seeing no small conferences. of course, the powerhouse of the SEC. Seven, Big 10 and Big 12 both got four, which they're making it to the show. That's solid. Four. then you got the big one from the ACC. The Duke Blue Devils holding it down for the ACC. If it wasn't for the SEC having seven and having 14 teams in and being...

Four teams in is pretty solid for the Big 12 and the Big 10. And they've made good shows. I mean, I think four in the Sweet 16 is good for any conference. I've always liked the Big 10 teams in basketball. So for me, it don't surprise me. I'm kind of outside the SEC. Matter of fact, traditionally, I would say the Big 10. I think you played that award play goes to the ACC. If we're talking about my whole lifetime, who's been the best conference?

But not by much. And to me, I've always been more of a big team guy than ACC. Yeah. Yeah. Do you have a second conference you kind of like Charlie? Mine in football has always been kind of the big 12. Not really. Not really in back. I mean, in foot in football but not, not really in basketball. It used to be the ACC because Maryland was in the ACC best. I didn't like Duke, but or North Carolina, but

I did like Maryland and the ACC was just a really strong conference. The big East was fun back in the day. was. I went to a lot of the big East game. I graduated from UofL and actually I got an opportunity to go to a lot of those games. There was a lot of big time tickets. had 10, 15 years ago. I would have told you, I absolutely hate big 10 basketball. It's changed a little bit because the game has changed. But man, big 10 basketball 15, 20 years ago, boy was some slow down boring free.

Wisconsin. couldn't have paid me to watch a Wisconsin. My second favorite team. Wisconsin versus Minnesota basketball game 20 years ago would have been like watching paint dry. I actually used to really like Wisconsin until they beat our undefeated 38-1 team. didn't like them no more. Let's definitely not bring that up this weekend. So second round, like I said, your McNeese's, your Drake's, they go down. Texas Tech takes care of Drake.

Creighton goes down to Auburn. yeah, your smaller teams start to get knocked out a little earlier than than normal. I second round. All these smaller teams gone. Gonzaga is gone. To me, the story of the second round was that Florida Connecticut game. Is that of a game?

Connecticut was right there with them. I liked Florida a lot in the game. I thought Florida played bad I thought Florida was really showing that maybe they were the best team, them or Duke or Auburn, but I kind of was leaning Florida. But after watching Connecticut, Florida looked human for once. But I do think Florida was able to pull it together at the very end, but it came down to the very end. Florida hit a couple big threes. Essentially was the difference. Connecticut had them down a decent part of the game.

Not by a lot, but by a few points here, a few points there. Florida's point guard took over. He's good. He just completely took the game over. did. Did you see where Connecticut's coach was? heart. He, he overreacted. don't even want to give him a time of day, man. That dude is the biggest cry baby. He's a good coach and yeah, wanted him.

But I'm glad we didn't get a man. He is a whiny ass. He goes from saying he's the best coach in the game to crying. I can't, I can't deal with the guy. I even want to talk about it. Listen, there is a lot of coaching ability goes into it. Don't get me wrong. It is. And you got to recruit the players and get them, but you got to have an NIL budget. But at the end of the day, you got to have players too. a guy, he like God of a coach for two years, cause he went back to back, but you know, he didn't have the same team.

I want to off note, I know we talk a lot about Maryland basketball here. What's their NIL look like? Do they have good at NIL support? Charlie and Maryland, do you know? I do not know. would probably say it's not very high, but I could be wrong on that. I hope they are going to change and start and start paying some guys because I think I've said it on here. Maybe not mayor. I've talked to you about this, but Maryland's main problem.

over the last 20 something years is they cannot keep the local guys. in a great area. got the, I mean, you know, you know, yeah, but a very populated area. got Baltimore DC. I feel like there's always a lot of football and basketball talent. John wall was from that area. Wouldn't you? No, no. He was from Carolina. He was from Carolina, but there's been the big defensive end for South Carolina was from the DC area this year. been a lot of their local guys, their local guys have

Went to other schools, out of state for a year. Yeah, Durant was from up that way. Carmelo, I think was, nah, he's a New York guy. know he's a lot of Durant is from up that way. The handful of times we've been up, there's a lot of traffic. So I know they got a lot of population. There's a lot of good ball players up that way. And that's been their problem. So hopefully somebody stepping up, you know, now I don't know if this guy is still involved with Maryland, but the guy that started under armor.

was a Maryland graduate. think he played football for Maryland and Maryland was the first school to ever start wearing Under Armour because he was a local guy and he's tied in with Maryland. throwing some money at, I don't even know if he's still, I would imagine he is, he's an alumni and Maryland still wears Under Armour and they were the first major school, maybe the first school at all to be wearing Under Armour.

I like Under We wear Under Armour at our house. But I do think, just as a marketing guy, a marketing major in college, and I could be wrong on this, but I do think Under Armour's branding, way they who they sell themselves to, it's not so much, it's a sports brand, don't get me wrong. But I feel like years ago they used to really sell themselves compete with Nike in that market and trying to get the universities. To me, I'll be honest with you now, feel like Under Armour,

goes after another market. they're kind of the blue collar sports brand per se. And Nike's kind of sitting there kind of by theirself right now. kind of dominate the sports world market. You don't see much from Adidas, but may and I could be wrong on that, but that's just kind of how I see it. Well, hopefully that guy is still throwing some money towards Maryland and I'm not sure what their NIL situation is.

a lot of money up there in that area. And there's a lot of millionaires in that area. So they should be spending money. I hope somebody's throwing some money at them. I'm sure it took some money to get there at Queen. I'll tell you a funny story.

me and my family took a trip to DC. We took several trips to DC. have a history, yeah. I like the area. We've had a good time. We've stayed in Alexander. That's where we usually stay, right south of the city. But anyhow, we were up in Annapolis. were going, it's a little town. How far is that from DC? 30 minutes, Charlie, is that what it is? From DC? Yeah, 45 minutes to an hour. We were sitting there and we were walking through the town. Beautiful little town. It's a lot of boats, a lot of yachts.

And I was walking over a bridge and my son, we seen this yacht and it was a big fancy yacht, had a light going on. I told my son, I think it was something like, man, that's probably like a $10, $15 million yacht right there. And of course, person I am, I Googled it. I think it was like almost a hundred million dollar yacht. It had a name to it and everything. I was way off. There's so much money up in that area. It's ridiculous. I remember going through the neighborhoods and Googling the houses, how much they cost. I was like,

How does people afford to live here? I guess that's just the difference in cost. Part of the reason I moved back to Kentucky, but you know, it's all it's all relative because whatever your cost of living is the quality of life you can live for, sure the jobs pay more, but it's really do. But it ain't the wages ain't keeping up with the inflation. There's it's not even close. one of friends lives up there. He talks about it all the time.

you're paying $3,000, $4,000 a month for a townhouse. You know what a lot of people do? I've seen this as a contractor myself. They'll work in California, maybe some of those that Ritzier areas. And when they retire, they'll come to somewhere and maybe not Kentucky, but somewhere like it where the cost of living is lower. So their money goes a lot further. You know, me and my wife, our goal was to get to Florida, a retirement.

But now with all the New Yorkers and Northeasterners going down to Florida, kind of priced it out of the market for families from Kentucky, even if you've done decent for yourself, because their money's so much bigger up there. And I've always thought about that from the NIL perspective. Up north, out west, the money's bigger. Are they going to be able to draw the players out there because money is bigger out there? I don't know. But I've never lived there, so I don't know how much bigger money is. is it just things cost a lot more or do the jobs pay that much more?

So that jobs do pay more, but it, like I said, it's not keeping up with the inflation while we're on Maryland, the buzzer beater, the first buzzer beater of the tournament. Everybody always likes to see them. Colorado state.

nails a three with three seconds left. Actually it was six seconds, but then once they got it over half court and called a timeout, they had about three and a half seconds. They drew up a really wasn't drawing up a play. They just got it to their guy. They just got it to their guy. It really wasn't a play. was, and I did hear that in the huddle, he said, get me the ball. have a couple of expletives.

Get me the ball. didn't like the shot, but I guess that's what big time players do. was a tough shot. one foot runner. It was tough. That's why he's probably a lottery pick. Yep. So first buzzer beater. was fun. Glad to see it. and now they get the face. The Florida Gators. Here's

The one problem with Maryland, I know everybody's heard about the crab five The crab five maybe the best maybe the best nickname in a while. I like it Guess it's a little play off the fab five and they got the you know, the crabs up there in Maryland So I like the name but I don't know they're gonna have to come up with a name for their bench. I Don't know what it is the crabby five. the crack

Let's pull it up real quick, Anthony. I know you told me about it, but it is bad. Well, in the first round and while you're pulling this up, let me say, I cannot get on the right side of I had a good evening yesterday, but I needed it because I had a bad day Saturday and had a not so good start Sunday. Good evening yesterday. Just got a decent amount of my money back, which I was happy about. But

I cannot get on the right side. had Maryland. If Maryland would have won, I would have cleaned up yesterday. get on the right side of Maryland. I gave up too many points. I shouldn't have gave up. What were they? Seven and half, eight and a half? Eight and a half. I was mad at myself for betting against Tennessee, I bet UCLA, and then I bet...

I Baylor against Duke. I've been so high on Duke. Just a couple silly bets, but I did get a decent amount of my money back last night. I kind of swept the board last night once all the, I took my ass whoopens. So first round game against Grand Canyon, Maryland's bench. Maryland scored 81 points. Their bench had 13, which is actually really good for Maryland.

They had 13 points. Couple other stats here. They had, they did have 10 rebounds. It was just between two guys, just two guys. How many guys do they play typically? It looks like seven and a couple other guys get four minutes here, six minutes. So they're, pretty much playing seven guys. Okay. I've been noticing this. Their bench has been struggling and then

Against Colorado State.

While you're looking for that, late night game last night. Arizona was the last team to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16. I actually needed Arizona minus three and a half to finish off my parlay's. They won by four. I kind of got lucky. I didn't check the score this morning. They were up by seven with like a minute and half to go, but I said, heck with it. I'll just let it be. But anyhow, while Charlie was looking that up, I just passed out long. Arizona's a team that could be dangerous. Did you get that stat, Charlie?

Yeah, I got So yesterday against Colorado State, Maryland's bench, two points, zero rebounds. Are they that bad? One assist, zero steals. Are they that bad or does the coach not them? Are they not allowed to take shots? They played three bench guys.

One of them got 10 minutes, one of them got seven, the other got four. They're starters, 36 minutes, 36 minutes, 37 minutes, 36 minutes, 34 minutes. two points, zero rebounds, one assist. Let me just say this. I will be cheering for Maryland. They will get their heads stomped if they can't get, if they're trying to beat Florida with five guys.

They're going to get their heads down. They're not beating Florida. Not with five guys. They need at least eight. I've got on the bandwagon with you with Maryland. I know it's a team you pull for it. I've always kind of like Maryland. So I've got on the train with it, even though I can't get on the right side of them. think there's three teams that can win it, maybe more, but Florida is one of them for me. Look, I'm like I said, I'll be cheering for him hard. I'm going to be cheering for him really hard. I really hope Maryland can pull off the upset.

But I think they're in trouble. Florida's only four and a half. so maybe seems like a sucker bet. Don't it? It does. Maybe Maryland's got a shot. They definitely got a shot, but just think about it. They're trying to play Florida with five guys. And with those, you think you can beat Florida with five guys, those three guards. It's going to be tough. Going to be tough. Let see Florida real quick yesterday. Florida. Look, they only got 10 points out of their bench too, but they did get

12 rebounds and a couple assists and probably with the whole thing is probably weakened up the benches man. Kids don't set no more. They go get paid. They go play. something that every team's not doing this. Are they? I don't think so. But now that you say it, maybe we need to look into it for the next

But you think about it from an N.I. You're in college. getting points off our bench. We got 20 points off our bench. 20 points, six rebounds, maybe we assist. Maybe we're not the norms. Maybe we're not the norm. cows only got seven. I do know that. But I know in college football right now, you're not seeing used to be you had a lot of really good subs on the big teams. You're not because those guys are transferring and playing other places. I'm going to have to look into that. Me too. I think it's a good. I think it's a good topic. Maybe you've got.

12, 20, Duke got 20 points off their bench. They're loaded though. There's guys that just want to play for them. I know, but I'm just saying Alabama, Alabama, shit, Alabama got almost 30 points out of their bench. So maybe it ain't as bad as that maybe it first looks like there. So we need to look into it though. Yeah, I don't know. It looks like Florida might only be playing really seven guys too. They're playing seven. They got an eighth guy that got eight minutes, but other than that.

I mean, I guess most most teams really are only playing seven or eight. I guess most teams ain't playing ten, but I feel like you got to get more than two points and zero rebounds out of your bench. I'm okay with playing seven or eight, but I like to have a couple guys in case I need them. That ain't just total scrubs that can produce. Okay, you don't play it much, but when you come in, they're not going to attack you right away. So speaking about a good bench, we saved it for last Kentucky, Illinois in the second round.

For one, I think we played maybe our best game of the year. Yeah. Overall, from start to finish, every guy contributed. I don't know if one guy played bad. I think it might've been. We didn't play perfect, but man, that was a good game. I was really happy with.

with our on the ball defense. and I'm not just saying Butler, of course, I'm talking a big part about Butler, but I just, I've always thought, man, we get beat off the dribble so bad. get, and that won't kill. We have got so much better on defense in the last three weeks. I don't even know how we've done it, but our perimeter and we, me and you was talking about it during the game. We were watching the game together. We were playing D on the perimeter. Chandler, Chandler was locking.

Dude's up. He was doing better. I know Charlie's you're high on him, but I still don't think locking them, but you're right. I I watched the with you and we'll watch. Dude, Chandler was playing D. I thought he was doing. I do think they were trying to attack him and he what is vulnerable was times I've seen him. Yeah, there was a couple times he got taken. There was one time I can remember where the dude made a good move and got to the rack and scored, but

Go back and watch it. Chandler was playing good D. You know who else playing good D. I called this out a couple of weeks ago. Brea. Brea is playing so much better defense than he was a month or two ago. I like I wish he had two more. Brea had his best game. He shot about 15 times. 23 points. 3 of 8 from 3, 10 of 16 from Phil Goals that added in 6 rebounds. That's exactly what he needs to do. 15 shots. How many threes he shoot?

He's got to shoot six to eight every game. And his defense is coming along. Bray had a great game. I'm not saying he was the most finesse or the most soft handed or soft footed, but I Garrison at big bull. thought that he, he just physical. Like, I don't think he's like some fine to finesse player, but he's strong as an ox. I think he's got a high ceiling too. If he can,

Like you said, kind of fine tune his game a little bit. He threw it one off the backboard. Oh my goodness. He made it. I don't even know how he made it. He don't have a soft touch. He threw a layup instead of shooting a layup. He threw a layup. I don't even know how it went in. Did his dad play like linebacker for the Cowboys? They said, I don't know about that. I've heard them talk about that. So got and I think it's more along the lines with being physical. But Garrison played pretty good too, man.

He a couple big plays in the game. But he had presence. He was a presence. had two really good passes. He did. I he was trying to be like Amari Williams. He being physical. And then the play towards the end of the game where he blocked the three pointer and then it went off on the guy's leg and they didn't call the foul. We thought it might have been. That was a really good play. that guy that kept looking for the threes.

That's big Z's brother from Kentucky plays on Arkansas. Now he can shoot the, could shoot it too. That's all he looks for. Shoot the rock. I knew early in the game, you got to guard a Vsich and you got to guard that 32 who was the point guard. He was one kid with the braids. Well, no, that kid was, he could get to the rim. He was physical. He was the shooter along with a Vsich and we did pretty good on him. A Vsich got, think, I think he hit four or five of them, but

just a solid, solid game. want to, I want to point out a couple other things on the stat line, not so much the stat line, but just, I really think everybody played good, Anthony. I do too. I do think Illinois had a lot of threes rattling and out. They only shot 28 from threes. If they hit, a decent number of those, I think it would have been closer. in saying that, playing good D in saying that I think Illinois was a really good team. So it's not like I'm saying that like,

I think they were really good team and we've had a couple of rattle out too. What I loved about Garrison Charlie, my biggest knock on this team is I don't feel like we're physical. And I don't think he's all world. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying he's great, but I do think he gives us a physical presence. And you cannot get bullied around down I do like him to come in. I like to see him maybe get some more minutes, long as he can hold his own us that physical presence, which I think we're gonna need against certain teams.

Yeah, he's got to well, I think we're fairly physical not super physical But when you talk about way and butler when they're playing like they should They're very physical. I I think always physical. I think always very physical. I like butler's game a lot He ain't bad physical. I agree about that. Well, butler's the king at keeping you on his hip Yeah, when he goes into the lane, he will stick you on his hip and keep you there. He's sad. He is he's savvy He and let's talk about him. He played

I don't think he hit a shot in the first round game. I don't know if he even scored in the first round game. Played kind of bad in that Troy game. But man, did he come alive against Illinois. It wasn't just his points. It was his whole game, his floor game, his pressure in the ball, his steals. It was his best game since the Louisville game. You know, he had 30 something again. He fried Louisville, but he has struggled since then. But man, he played almost a perfect game. I'm not saying stats. I'm sure he missed some shots.

But he played pretty damn perfect. I hope it's a sign of things to come. We know he's fought the injuries, but I hope that's a sign that maybe he's starting to feel better. It's a sign that he's going to play for his teammates no matter if he's hurt or not. I agree. And you know what? I will say, I give that kid a lot of credit on that because I do feel like he keeps fighting to come back. keeps getting hurt, but he keeps fighting to come And he knows this is it for He hit two. He's not a shooter.

But he had two big time threes. He was two for three from the three point line. But I feel like both of the threes that he hit came at big moments. Not like they never even really got a big time run going. But I do feel like if you go back and watch them to Butler threes came at a really good time. Butler played great away 15 wouldn't even have known it because he'd only played six, seven minutes in the first half. He got that second foul with what 12 minutes left. Yep. Had to sit out.

forced Chandler to play a lot. Noah had to play a decent amount of minutes. Noah played a lot. Now I will say this about Noah, while you mentioned him. He played eight minutes. Okay. He didn't play in the second half. I don't think he played all those eight minutes in the first half. He scored four points, which he knocked down a couple of free throws. And then he had a, what do you got him a layup or something? Right? Remember the foul three, you got two free throws from that. Yeah. And then he got a layup or something.

Maybe he had a reverse layup or yeah, it was pretty sweet. It was pretty sweet. But other than that, zero points, zero assists, zero steals, zero blocks. But I'm gonna tell you what that kid played pretty good with not having any stats. And there's another player that didn't Andrew Carr four points. He I say he didn't have stats. He's six rebounds. He had two assists, three steals, dude, Carr and Noah both played.

Really well, I shouldn't even say they're them in the same because no his stat line was nothing Noah played eight minutes didn't have a lot of stats, but he played pretty It's like I was saying what garrison a couple weeks ago. You don't have to be great. You just can't be bad That's right. You can't be the guy they're attacking. Yeah, and you giving it up and Noah's great He's gritty on defense. He's not the best. He's small He's small, but he he's gritty and he'll rebound and he'll do the dirty work

Eight minutes, four points. No other stats still play good. Andrew Carr back to him, dude. How valuable was he? He only had four points, but man, there's something about car. I know you heard me saying it during the game. A couple get the ball to car. Get the ball to car. I don't know what it is about him, It's he plays in a 30 year old league at the YMCA to me, but he is good. Very efficient. Like, yeah, I like his game. He doesn't.

mess up a lot. No, it's not like he, doesn't cost you. He's one of the ones. I don't think it's very physical, but guess what? You don't always gotta be that physical guy. Brea, we mentioned 23 points, six rebounds play great. I think he, I think he's better than what he thinks he is. Who's that? I think the kid's better than what he thinks he is. I think the kid's really good. He's, he's, if you, if he gets an open jump shot,

and there's nobody around him. I am not sure. And we have had some really good shooters at Kentucky, especially over the last like five years, Antonio Reeves, Reed Shepherd, Dillingham. And that was just last year, but we've had some more. Dude, I don't know if I have ever been more confident in a guy that's taken an open jump shot. And a lot of times with those guys, you know how you say, don't hesitate, just shoot it.

He's the one guy that like if he catches the ball and he's got room, he'll sit there and set his feet and take his time. He's knocking that thing down. You know, he reminds me of my all time favorite cat. He reminds me a lot of Darius Miller. He just does. They're, know, they're very efficient players. They're, I always wanted Darius to shoot more, I never thought he shot a lot, made a lot of money in the NBA because he was efficient. That's, know, Darius was more of a

He did it all. He did. There is better than him. but I always wanted Darius to shoot it more. I always feel like he wasn't confident enough. And I was, he wasn't no knockdown, just bang threes in your, but he was a very clutch. But his shooting percentage was very high at Kentucky. I remember looking at it. It wasn't the NBA. That's what got him. That's when the NBA was starting to talk about efficiency and stuff like that. And that's what got me, Darius, those big contracts there Chandler.

Was forced to play point guard there in the first half. I think the kids pretty decent little point guard. I thought best game I seen him play because I seen him play some games where I wasn't too hot on him, but I would be honest with you. I thought he played a solid game. He's got a lot better than just in the last like two to three weeks. I mean it wasn't but a month ago Anthony. He wasn't even getting any playing time and they were attacking him they were going right at him. It was like.

Chandlers on the court go at him and they tried that last night. I did think that he held his home. They got some help defense and they didn't just, exploit him in that, in that sense, but they definitely were going at him. But two or three, like you say, two or three weeks ago, they were going at him and they were kind of taking it to him. Three, four weeks ago. He was sitting on the bench. Yeah. Not even getting time. Now what do you play? He played 18 minutes. He's a really good passer. Six points, one rebound, three steals.

Took two years off. Played Played good. Yeah, I was happy with him. Knocked down two three point shots. One of them was from the damn logo with 18 seconds left on the shot clock. He just pulls up. No, no, no. Yes. Bang. There Chandler's got a high ceiling Chandler and Garrison got high ceilings. I hope they live up to what I think they those two guys can be. All

The most interesting player that we got for last. Amari Williams,

8 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, fills the stat sheet, and still frustrates me somehow every game. The top of the key point guard. I've never seen a big man that wants to be Magic Johnson.

or pistol Pete and everybody knows he wants to be they play off for them. They don't even play him out there because they know and they're they're looking for all the passing lanes because they know he's looking for some and he still gets the passes off. He's a great passer great pass great maybe the best passing big man that I have seen in basketball in a while. If y'all know one that I'm missing last let's say last five years. Dude. he dishes the Rock.

But I just wish he was a little more aggressive when he gets that ball at the free throw line and his guy is three feet, four feet off of him and he's standing at the free throw. I'm not, I don't want him to shoot that shot. I just want him to go score. He looks to pass more than any big man that I've ever seen. And it's very like, I don't know how to feel about it because I don't want him to stop passing because he's a really good passer. I can't say, well, just bench him because you hear the stat line.

He, he fills the stat sheet. I would argue that he's the, he is Kentucky's most important player. know a lot of people think that Butler is and there's an argument to be made for Butler, but I'm going tell you what, if something, something happened to Williams, say halfway through the year or whatever, and he was out for the rest of the year, we just struggled big time with Garrison, only Garrison and Carr. I think Williams is super valuable, but man, he's frustrating.

they said he couldn't get a cereal that he liked before the first game. Then he got a cereal that he wanted. He ate his cereal before the second game and ended up playing better. So get that man. His, it's some kind of shredded wheat cereal or some shit. know what, you know what I've noticed about email and I like his game a lot. And I think it's hard to be somebody really looks for the past. I the office player. Some guys do it, but it's like, you're kind of one of the other, but

He needs to get on that treadmill. Yes, yes. Man, he's getting on that treadmill. I've seen it several see it in youth football a lot. when you see it, you got to get them out. as a coach, see, I'm always looking for it. I feel like I see it before other people because I'm looking for it. And, I want to get my players rest. I'm trying to get them minutes. I'm always take a timeout, take them out before the timeout, maybe argue with the referee for a minute. I'm always trying to get them extra seconds, extra seconds.

Because fatigue is a real thing, especially in youth ball. But even at college level, you see it if you pay attention. Fatigue is a real thing. That's how Rick Pitino coaches. He tries to just to outwork you. But Williams, he gets his moments where he has to come out of the game. He does. He gets gassed. And that don't mean he don't work out. It means he might just have bad genetics at it. But he definitely needs to work towards that better. Probably has a decent body fat count. But some of that's probably genetics.

Is he putting the work in? Is he not? Because if you put the work in young man, you, you might be able to play some professional basketball, maybe not in the NBA, but maybe overseas. So Kentucky pretty much, I'm not going to say dominates, but they controlled that game. I think I kind of said it there at some point during the game to you that I just, just hold them to, don't let them get to seven or six.

And I don't think they ever really did. They maybe got to seven like one time, cut it to like eight, but they never really could get over that hump and cut it to five or four. Kentucky controlled the game. I really thought it was Illinois nine up 32 from threes. That's 28%. they had a handful of them right away. I really think that was the difference. And we played a good game. But when I say that's the difference, I say I'm saying that I think Illinois is a really good team. I told you. Let's talk about how many layups we missed.

Not not threes. I agree. 100%. Let's talk about the the layups. We know now three in the first half early in the first half where we could have like a 10 or 12 point lead in the first like five minutes of the game if we didn't miss three layups. So yeah, they did miss shots and they shot a low percentage. But you know, because you watch the game with me that I was paying attention to that closing out and getting a hand up. I felt like we were contesting a lot of their shots. I wouldn't

I didn't feel like I was pissed off because they were getting easy shots. No, I thought we played well. I took nothing away from them. just remember they did break some, they bricked a few, but there was about five or six of them that literally was in the cylinder rattled around and came out. They were tough. We probably had some of those. Yeah, we did. We did have a few. So

I'm pumped that we're, get to be excited about this Kentucky team for another week. We got a matchup now with Tennessee. Two and O against them. Gary and it'd be three and O. We've talked about it, Charlie. I think it's easier to be the team three times than it is two times. It might be. Cause when you beat them two times, you've already got past that. as much as I think Cal's a bad matchup for Patino. think.

Maybe we're a bad matchup for Tennessee. they like to play up on the guys really tight. And with the way we cut our basketball IQ with our veterans, with us being a good passing team, I just think we're a bad matchup for Tennessee. Well, it's a good point that you make because we played Tennessee twice. They are a top three defensive team in the country and we've excelled. We beat them twice.

And it's not just those two Tennessee games. I know it was Troy, but that first round game, they were a top five team in the country in defensive metrics too. And they defended well and it didn't work. I think who we have trouble against is those teams that are really good teams, but can score too. but far as those teams that are really good defensive teams, Charlie, we're going to get our points.

Illinois was pressuring us outside, right? Yeah, we pointed it out while we was watching it. They were really, really closing out on the they were not regarding the ball. They were just like Tennessee garden, the perimeter very hard. Guess what? Didn't work. Are we I'm gonna go ahead and ask is Kentucky the best passing team in the country? Actually forget the country or 16 teams left.

Are we the best passing team left? I think so. We passed the rock. I think so. And that does help against teams that want to pressure the ball. So I like the matchup against Tennessee and we've done it in our first two tournament games. I get it. Troy is Troy, but they are good defensive team and it didn't work.

Illinois, I don't know what their metrics are on defense, but I know what I saw with my eyes. They were pressuring that three point line big time and we were hitting them with back cuts. We were hitting them with good passes. I like the matchup Anthony. I too. I really like it. I think we're getting a little bit disrespected. We're getting four and a half. We beat him twice and we're a good matchup.

I don't know. Is it hard to beat a team three times? I think it's easier to beat them three than two. We've talked about this for a couple of days now. I do think it's easier to beat a team three times than two. Two, they made the adjustment. By three, they just, made the adjustment. Nothing happened. Beat them at home and our place. So I like the cats. I think they march on Charlie. We're getting better defensively too. And Tennessee is a team like a St. John's or maybe even like a Houston.

that doesn't score a ton of points. So if they get cold and they can't score, watch out. I hope I don't eat my words on that, but I think we're a bad matchup for them. All right. Well, let's go ahead and get into this Sweet 16.

Let's go ahead and roll through this and make some picks. All right. Let's start off with Kentucky. want to start with Kentucky? I mean, we're talking about them. I like Kentucky to march on there. I'm taking the cats too. And this is not, this is not a heart pick. It's not. I think we're going to win this game. It is for me, but I think we're going to win too. So I'm all right. I think Kentucky wins. It's in Indianapolis hour and a half. What is it? Two hours?

There's going to be a lot of blue. think Tennessee will travel well too, but it's going to be more blue. going to be an intense game. Tennessee is going to be hungry. They're physical. They're going to be really coming out, playing physical, trying to make adjustments. Kentucky's fans going to be there. It's going to be an intense game. And you know, Tennessee's never made a final four. So it'd be nice to be the ones to knock them out.

before they get a chance to play. I did not know that. Tennessee has never made a fine for They've had some good teams too. the winner of our game will be playing the winner of the Houston Purdue game. I'll be honest with you. Going into or five days ago, I would have picked Houston quick, been impressed with the Big 10. I've been impressed with what the Big 10 has done.

in the tournament, but at the same time, I've been impressed with Houston. I'm going to pick an upset here. I'm going to pick Purdue I definitely would bet on plus the seven and a half. Is that what it is? Yeah, but I'm going pick them to win it Yeah, we're just picking winners. Yeah, Purdue. We're picking winners. I'm going say Purdue. So this is both of these are Friday games.

Purdue, man, I'm, I'm, I'm not jumping off Houston. they were one of the four teams. I think that I said a few weeks ago, I said St. John's they're out. said Wisconsin, I kind of pulled back off of them. They're out. But my other future bets were Maryland to make a final four, Houston and Kentucky. So I'm not going to back off of it. I like Houston. I definitely like them here against Purdue.

always been a Houston person. My grandmother was a like them defensive teams. You should love Houston. I like Houston. just feel I'm feeling I've always liked Houston. I'm just kind of one of them. It's a field thing, man. I'm feeling Purdue right now. I don't know why I just I'm feeling it and I think they're coming into their own and I'm just feeling them. Houston road in the first round and then beat Gonzaga.

I would not hand to leave. I would not bet. I would not bet a money line bet Purdue against Houston. But I don't like being chalky always. I hate somebody that takes their bracket and just stays chalky. I don't care. I'm trying to win money. I told you I would love to play a bracket where there's it's rewarded on seed you pick. you know, I'll pick the favorites, but I'm going to pick a handful of teams where I.

Maybe not having going real far. I had McNeese going to sweet 16 and Akron going to sweet 16. I still got a strong bracket, but I probably shouldn't have picked those two teams go to sweet 16, but I took a shot. I'm going take Purdue right there. Drawing the line. All right. Anthony's got Purdue. I got Houston. We both got Kentucky. Yep. And what's going to happen on Sunday? Cats. You got cats going to the final four. No doubt. Well, here's how here's what I got

I filled my bracket out, had Kentucky beating Tennessee and I had Houston going to the final four, ending Kentucky's run.

But Anthony.

I think we're going to beat Tennessee. And I think.

The miracle season is going to continue. I really do. I want to say this isn't my heart pick either. Maybe just a little bit. Tennessee's not. I think we're beating Tennessee, but here's my thing. If we beat Tennessee, I just think it keeps rolling and we're rolling right on to the final four. Instant legend status. I told you he was on his way to legend status.

If he wins two more games and we go to the final four and Mark Pope's first season, instant legend lifetime contract. I don't know about all that, but he's ledger's thing. ain't going nowhere. No, it would be definitely. would be. It would be remarkable if it happens. This team was thrown together in just a couple months. They did pay big money for this team. I know. I keep saying that to you, but could say at all you want.

You could say it all you want. We don't have any top players. They paid big money for this. don't care how much money they paid. We don't have any top guys. They pay twice as much money for this year's team as they did last year's team. You know why? Well, because that's nobody was giving Cal money. But I'm just saying we paid money for this team. Yeah. But what I'm telling you is none of these guys were top.

Transfer I know but I've heard a lot of people say they're playing for the name on the front of the Jersey these guys are if you don't pay these kids They will leave us all my all menor played last year if you didn't pay these kids They would not be here and just like all the kids across the country. They're playing for money here. They're all they They're playing for money. They're playing for money. Do you know where all menor played last year? I don't care where he played fairly Dickinson We have our payrolls pretty high and they're playing for money. I love the kids

But they're playing for money just like any of the NBA kids we've had before. crap Charlie, bull crap. We don't have any top guys. But our payroll is really high. Why do you think they came here? Why do you think they came here? They came here because of money. Everybody's going. That's where it's happening. All across the country players are going places because of money. It ain't just here. It's everywhere. That's what they're doing. That's what they're

Lang Kiffin said it back. It's not ever a curtain war no more. It's a bidding war. None of these guys on our team would be playing for any team like Kentucky. Well, why did they why did they pay so much for the closest thing you would have is Oklahoma? Why? Why did they pay so much for? Brea was playing for date. Yeah, it don't matter who they're playing for. It matters. Imagine how valuable they are on the open None of the guys that we have were top 10.

I don't know what they were. know our payroll was really high. Maybe they paid a bunch of them. I don't know, but I know our payroll was pretty high last year when they ranked the guys that were in the transfer portal. None of our guys were anywhere even close to the top. Well, maybe not over. I'm telling you our payroll was high Charlie. I've read it several places.

care about the payroll. Why is it high? Because I'm looking at our roster and none of these guys would have been playing at schools like Kentucky. I think they would have been playing at Duke or North Carolina. I think that's what a lot of these teams are made up of guys like what we got. I feel like that's what you're seeing in college basketball. Now is these kind of guys. I think that's why you don't see the the teams like Drexels and stuff making the runs in the tournament. No more is because these guys are getting plucked off from them.

you seen it with Indiana and football. The money's irrelevant, dude. It's not irrelevant. You had to pay for it. You're happy. But you're having to pay market price. Everybody pays market price for kids. I hate to say it's that way, but that's what it is. Look at where half these guys were about to go before Pope went and got him.

Go look at where they were. did they pay them so much? it wasn't a big deal. But why did they pay them so much? maybe because he paid a bunch of them or I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I know our payroll was pretty high. Almanor was playing for Fairleigh Dickinson and I heard I don't think it matters where they played at.

you're the sixth best guy on Fairleigh Dickinson, dude, it matters. Well, yeah, at that point, you're probably not very valued in the open market. Yeah, that's why I'm saying guys like that. He was not going to play for do not going to pay money money to nobody for no reason. I'm just saying this team is, think, different than what we're going to see in the next coming years.

The point I'm making is I hear everybody saying and I guess it pisses me off because I feel like they disrespect our other players like that. These guys are playing for the night and there I do think Noah is I do think there's a handful of guys are but if like say these guys did not they had eligibility. Okay, but say they had eligibility left if we didn't give them a very competitive contract compared to what other people was trying to give them they would leave I would to

where they're going to transfer to like I own or something. don't matter wherever they're playing. don't think they're playing for the name on the front when the dude was literally going to pay big money. I always kids across the country, not just at Kentucky everywhere. It's not about it's they're playing for money. I don't blame them. I would be to point is half of our team never thought they would play for a team.

like Kentucky. Yeah, but that with the new world, the new NIL, you don't have to set out transfer that opportunities there for kids all across the country. Now you're seeing you're missing the point. The point is these kids, they got plucked at the last hour. I don't I don't know the ins and outs of that choice. Those guys were not getting

It was not like a bidding war for Andrew Carr. Andrew Carr was probably still going to be at Wake Forest or wherever he played. Okay, and I'm not saying you're wrong. Williams played for Drexel.

you can play for Drexel. But if you're if you're valued on the open market, maybe like you say, they paid a bunch of them. It's not that they were playing for Drexel and the and Fairleigh Dickinson. It's that Pope didn't go get them, they'd probably still be playing for those teams. I don't know or similar to that. I don't know why. Why was our payroll so high?

I have no clue. don't either. I don't know. don't know. That's what it is now. payroll. That's what it is now. You're comparing the payroll to what it was last year. That's fine. That's clear. I'm just saying, These kids are playing because of money and I'm okay with that. I'm okay with this team. I disagree. Big time. Big time. Who?

I love them. That's why they're here. Charlie Charlie. is why they're here. Cause I'm honey. I them. I love them. I have no, would do the same if I was them. I would absolutely, if it was my kid, I would tell my kid to put yourself on the open market every year. You got to. That's what I hate about the new system. We're fighting a Duke in Florida for a, car. It's not the case. No, I'm not selling it.

I'm just saying we got lucky. I'm not just saying that. I'm just saying what he did. He got lucky. And then he got some money in his pocket. Well, we're paying somebody. We're paying somebody. We're paying a lot more than everybody else is paying just the, it's contracts now. There's just like the NFL or NBA. It's exactly what it might've, they might've paid more for these guys than they should have, but that's because Pope was desperate because he was, he already had.

He only had a month and a half to build the he had to be a little bit desperate. I can see that argument. That's exactly what happened. But Charlie, it don't matter. They're playing because of the money. That's why they're playing. Of course. Everybody in college basketball is playing because of money right now, Charlie. Everybody is. Everybody is. They're only playing for the money? That's stupid. No, but that's why they go to schools they go to.

You're seeing kids leave schools. They've been with for four years. Some of these kids on our team has been with schools for four years. They leave because they get opportunity to make money. I don't blame Yes, these guys are making money. And yes, the money was part of bringing them to Kentucky. They got on Kentucky's team.

Yes, they would. They'd have been playing for similar teams that they were already playing for. And don't mean just because you play for a weaker team don't mean you're really good. The point of the point of why I mean, I know give them big money. Florida, Auburn, they weren't coming. I don't give these guys. I honestly I'd love to argue about it, but I don't know enough about where they were going.

to sit here and make an argument. I I had the information right here and I don't think you know it either. I don't know enough of the ins and outs to argue about that. I would love to. I like how you call me out that I don't know what I'm talking about.

Don't know why I don't know why you would pay so much for players that nobody else is paying for I was getting paid so much I just our payroll and job dude. I read it's a million dollar payroll. That's what I've read several places You know how many points we got back from last year zero zero

We have zero points. But that's all across college basketball nowadays. That's why he had to go get eight guys. Yeah, but everybody's bringing in new teams now. That's the new... Not eight guys. It don't matter how many they brought in all veterans. It don't matter. I'm not taking nothing away from him. I'm just saying I when I hear everybody's playing for the name on the front of the jersey. I do think they're good kids. I like them, but I think our other kids were good kids too.

You know, I think they played hard too for what they were. I'm not saying they didn't. I'm saying these guys, most of them are. Butler might be your only one that has had some, I mean, he played for San Diego State. He would still be playing for San Diego State. You think he ever thought he was going to be playing for the University of Kentucky? You gotta tell me that guy. I bet you he would have been playing for San

Not my San Diego state could come up with some money. You're telling me he's not going to try to make some money before his college careers over when given the opportunity. How do you know San Diego State wasn't giving him money? He could have been very well could have been, but we had a we had to give you more or make it enticing enough for him to leave. That's how that's how the games play. now. If things are close, then a kid might make a decision. But if things are overwhelming one way, then you then you gotta then you gotta go with the money. I think you do.

way is our best, most athletic player. He was playing for Oklahoma. There was no bidding war for away. That's my point. I'll look to all going to tell you that there wasn't bidding wars for Amari Williams. This just at I think it's all over college basketball, all over college football.

the reason they play for certain schools is because of money. You acting like that's the only reason they play is for money. No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that's why they typically play for the school they're playing for. That's why I'd be playing for the school I was playing for. Especially if it's a kid that knew I wasn't going to the NBA. I'd be maximizing whatever the market was on me. That's just, that's what I would do. The point is I don't think there was a huge market for most of these guys we got. I don't know.

And I can't, I can't argue it because I just don't know. I know we paid a lot. That's all I know. know we have a decent. We had to get Bray. You might be right. Williams, you be right. Almanore, Garrison and Robinson, eight players that he had to go out. And yes, I'm sure they paid him because everybody's getting paid now.

So we didn't have to just go get three or four guys. a lot of kids ain't going to leave their school in a good situation or their friends without getting paid. I wouldn't. I'm not saying money is nothing. It is. Of course it is. But I think these guys right here, are. I told you about the, we talked about the 08.

Two broken shoulders and still trying to play. I've made the argument with you with O.A. in Oklahoma. He hit the two game winners against Oklahoma. I think it probably hurt him. He probably didn't want to leave Oklahoma. He probably just got more money to come to Kentucky. They're probably still his boys, but they probably understood because maybe he got a little bit more money, but he's going Oklahoma to Kentucky. I think when it's your last year of college.

and you're trying to make every bit of money you can don't think it matters. I think you gotta take, not unless it's just really close. Not unless it's really close. If you're telling me if Kentucky's gonna offer me 600,000 and Oklahoma's gonna, that I love, has been with, is gonna offer me 400,000, my last year of college I'm probably not going to the NBA, I gotta take that extra 200,000. I just do. I hate it. I hate leaving my friends, but I don't got NBA money. got 200,000's a lot.

it's still a jump for if you're a if you're a basketball player, basketball fan. Yeah. But is Kentucky not like one of the pinnacle schools? No, it is. Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina. Is that is that what you're going tell me going from Oklahoma to Kentucky or Oklahoma to Duke or Oklahoma to North Carolina doesn't mean let me that. Say it's in the old years. Say it's in the old years of college basketball and say my son is a is a good recruit. He's not a top recruit, but he's a good recruit.

And Louisville's paying him $250,000 under the old system where it was cheating, giving him cash, and Kentucky's giving him nothing. I would tell my son to go to Louisville.

so you're pretty much saying that you would do the same thing that all the kids are doing that is the now the system that you're bitching about no no no no no no no no you're not listening I don't like this. don't like the way it is, but I totally do exactly yes And I said that time and time again. It's not that I be all about the money, dude Yeah, that's what life's about. Yeah. No, it's

It shouldn't be. It shouldn't be. You're right. It shouldn't be. You're right. And maybe when we get older and wiser, we realize it. But for a young kid, I know when I was that age. Everybody's teaching them now that the life's all about money. That's the problem. That's why the system is what it is. That's why kids are leaving for a couple more dollars because there's no loyalty and it's all about the dollar. And no, life should not just be all about the dollar. But who cares? Who cares about you after you leave college?

Nobody cares about you after you leave college. When I graduated from UofL, they didn't. They sent me all this stuff. And then the day I graduated, they didn't come to me with nothing after They didn't come to me with If you're basketball player, now maybe it's not like it's everywhere, but go to Kentucky, play basketball for four years and tell me that Kentucky's not going to take care of that. I agree with that. Now, I don't know if every university does that.

Most of them should. They probably don't. They're probably not giving you money, but you get some few opportunities, maybe some other people. Yeah. But you know, we're talking two or $300,000 cash, you know, money. Boom. That's a lot. Look, I'm sure OA when, and Garrison and Carr, when Pope went and met them and said, Hey, would you like to come to Kentucky? There's also, Hey,

We're gonna give you this much money and I'm sure that's everywhere. That's everywhere. That's everywhere. But I'm willing to bet that these guys right here I'm not saying it was not about the money at all. But I'm just saying these guys that are on our team Did not expect to be playing for a team like Kentucky Duke, Kansas The top teams they're not there but might don't to hang out but they might the only teams pan There's a lot of teams paying now good money

It used to be there was only a handful of teens really spending money. can't tell me that going from Dayton to Kentucky doesn't matter to Brea. It matters a little bit. Don't matter more money. It matters. They're getting the money too. to compare your package. It's just like getting a financial aid package or anything from college or a scholarship package. You got to compare them. got to look at them. Okay, this is what we're going to offer Brea more than Dayton.

Of course we are, Kentucky, right? Well, sometimes maybe sometimes Dayton might have to offer more in Kentucky because Kentucky has more to offer from a basketball standpoint. So if Dayton wants to counter and keep Rhea, it's just like the Louisville with Adidas thing. Nike has to pay less for universities because they're Nike because they can pay less. Adidas has to pay more because they are Adidas and they're not as big as brand. So if you want a team like Louisville to take you over Nike, what are you going to do for them? You got to bid higher. It's just simple business.

Yeah, but you're acting like the money and the plan for the university is mutually exclusive and it's not. What's that now? You're acting like getting the money. Okay. And playing for this saying that you're playing for the school like can't happen at the same time. It can. It can happen. I think and I think it genuinely can happen, but I just hate because I've heard so many fans say

You know, they act like these kids before never played for the name on the front of the Jersey. Yeah, they it was a stopping point because they want to be professionals, but who don't want to be professional? I still think they I still think most of them guys that Cal got that came in and were all stars and played one year and left. I still think those guys were yes, they were and they would get money under the table. So let's not let's not act like that. It's started. It ain't as big as what it is now. Guys, I would argue that those guys were.

Also playing for the name on the front. Yes, you say that Charlie, but a lot of UK fans don't say that. I I I think you're doing every one of them. Yeah, I'm sure there's some of them that didn't but I do think most of them. is what they do get in the game. You get in a season. You see the fans you see the environment in Kentucky. Why would you enjoy it? Of they're playing for Kentucky. Why not only that if not anything else you're playing for your brothers in that locker room.

so yeah, there's no doubt. They're getting money and I get it. matters. But I feel like you say that Charlie and I totally believe what you're saying. Cause I've talked to you about it. I know how you feel. know what kind of person you are, but I'm telling you, dude, there is a lot of Kentucky fans that would sit here and call me a liar. And I would argue with them until it's a lot of Kentucky fans that are morons too. every fan base has them.

Look, that's, that's just, I don't even know how we got into that, but it's, good stuff. I'm going to continue to believe that my Kentucky Wildcats are playing for the name on the front of the jersey. think they are just like tubby Smith is the coach of high point. I'm just going to believe it. And I'm okay with it. I believe it too, but I just want everybody to believe that those guys before were playing for the name of the Jersey. I I think you got your sour. I think we talked about what happens. You get there, you're an enjoying it.

Everything. mean, why wouldn't you? Yeah. I agree with everything you just said about that. I agree. And I think that's what happens. But just because somebody wants to go to the NBA and be a freaking lottery pick, you're going to be grudging. No, you know, they're going to, they never did. There people begrudge your shepherd. You know, you'll be grudging cause it's going to be a top five pick. Nope. will be grudge Daniel Orton though. And them dummies that left to, be second round picks are undrafted.

but no, those guys that left to be a first round picks. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. never, I never was one of those type. Yes. I got a little tired of the turnover and having to learn a new team, but I love the new talent. loved it. that's how that's what the new age of college basketball and college, like my, our football team this year.

Dude, I only know who a lot of the players are and I love your, but yeah, it's that's it. used to it. I wasn't a huge fan of having to learn a new team every year, but everybody hated it. when Cal did it, but then when coach K started doing it and adapted it, it was okay. It was a new world of college basketball. All right. So we both let's get back to this Dan Bragg. I don't know where that went to, all right. We both got Kentucky moving to the final four. Let's go.

Let's move up, Alabama. They are 16 to one to win it all. And they will be facing BYU who is 60. Is that on the other side? No, it's on the same side. That's what I'm seeing online. It's going up. So it's on that right side. Okay. I got mine. I got it wrong. Yeah. Okay. No, you're right. Alabama in Vegas is 16 to one to win the championship. We plan BYU, which is 65 to one to win the national championship.

Right now the points print is Alabama minus three and a half. Both of these teams like to run Charlie. Both of them like to score. This ain't going to be slowed down basketball. Probably be a fun exciting game to watch if you like up and down basketball going Alabama. I'm going Alabama.

So Alabama for me and Charlie both, uh,

Next game up. I got bad. I had when I filled my bracket out, Anthony, I had Bama winning it all. Did you? I had him in it. I didn't think that was what was going to happen, but I filled my damn bracket. I came out with Bama. I don't know if I'm going to stick with it, but we'll see. so we both got Bama. We'll move up a line there and we got Arizona 40 to one to win it all. We'll face the two to one favorites to Duke blue devils.

You want to upset? I'm going to give you upset. Give me Arizona. I'm going to take Duke, but I don't mind the upset. And I could see it. I think Arizona is tougher. What people play in that game at. I don't know, but I'm going to take Duke. It's got to be East somewhere in it. Yeah. It's got to be. Yeah. really good. So I'll take Duke. Then we got Duke in Alabama.

Man, I have Alabama, Auburn. I'm going to stick with it. I am scared of Duke, no doubt, but I'm going to stick with Alabama because that's what I got all my brackets I filled out. Alabama, Kentucky on that side for me. Where the hell? I know it's the East region, so it's got to be somewhere. They got number ones there. Yeah, they're close to home. Look, I do think Duke probably beats Arizona.

Little bit of a heart pick right there. Taking Arizona. Plus I was, Anthony was like, I hate when people take all chalk and I'm sitting here looking at my bracket and it was going to be all chalk. don't you hate that? when somebody fills out a bracket, it's pretty chalky. But like there's some people do that every year. They just do nothing but go down and the top teams. That's boring. I got Bama beating Duke. So it ain't going to matter either way. I got Bama moving on. So just let me go ahead and just take Arizona to beat Duke. And then

Bama to beat Arizona. So I'm going to stick with Alabama getting to the final four out of that bracket. Uh, I did change it up, Give me Arizona over Duke. I'll be honest with you. I'm cheering hard for Arizona. think Duke's really good. Can't cheer for him though. Just don't bet up. Don't bet them. So you don't have to cheer for him. I'm not betting against him. I made that mistake with better. bet against them. Just don't bet for them. So then you can cheer against them. So, uh, we'll move up to the top here. We got a Auburn at Michigan.

For me, look, I'm still not a believer in Michigan, but they've caused me a few games bet against them. but I'm going with Auburn. I do not know what to think about Michigan, man. They win. Just give me Auburn. So in that same region, we have Ole Miss versus Thomas O. Michigan State, Spartans. It's going be a good game.

It is. Ole Miss is hot right now. This is going to be a really good game. is really hot right now, but I am going to, I'm going to go Ole Miss. I'm taking Ole Miss, I'm going Ole Miss. We're staying almost on the same I'm taking Ole Miss. Ole Miss. Maybe I should take Duke, because since I didn't know I was going to take Ole Miss. Maybe I should take Duke, but no, I'm sticking with it. Give me Arizona and Ole Miss. Upsets. One seed's going down and a two seed, but yeah, I'm rolling with Auburn. And to me, Auburn's rolling to the Final Four. Yep.

I don't think Ole Miss is going to say Ole Miss had a good run, especially if they beat Michigan State. That'd be a hell of a run for them. Who'd they beat in that last game? It'd somebody pretty good. They covered because I had them. They were down a little bit early, but then they had about New Mexico. Yeah, that's right. They were down a little early, but they had a bad first half shoot. They came back and covered. Yeah. And they beat North Carolina. Yeah. Ole Miss had a good run, but I got, I got Auburn Auburn.

Alabama, Kentucky so far. Uh-oh. then we got, we got Florida playing Maryland. it about to be all four SEC teams? is for me. That's why I feel my brother ever happened. Probably not. Probably not. so me, Florida, Maryland, I'll be honest with you. I think Florida is a sucker, but at minus four and a half, cause I think they should be more.

I like Florida. I'm a big, it's nothing against Maryland. I'm a big Florida guy. think Florida is really good. I'm going to try to beat them eventually here, but I do think they're really good. I'm going to go Florida. I'm taking Florida too, but I will be cheering for Maryland and I don't care if it bust up my bracket I'm cheering for crabby five crab five. bench with that bench, man. I think it's going might be their kryptonite this week against Florida, but

That'd be a big win if they could win that Next game, last game, Texas Tech will be playing Arkansas. me, look, I think Arkansas is hot. I think they're better than a 10 seed. Anthony's taking Arkansas to win it all. No, I'm not. got Boogie Flan back. I like what I seen out Wagner. they're playing good ball right now. They played really good ball the second part of their SEC schedule.

so I'm going to go Arkansas. but it's coming close to that end. Arkansas worries me here. I do think they have a legit shot to win this game, but Texas tech is good. They got that topping kid and he is balling. I don't know if he's related Jacob topping and

Obie topping. I'm not sure if they're of the toppings. Didn't we hit one of top? Yeah, we Jacob. Yeah. And his older brother, Obie topping plays for the, uh, for the Knicks or something. played for our state or what? WKU. Which one? WKU. One of them played for W no, no, obie topping played for like Dayton or something. Okay. You're right. Yep. Yep. Big rebounder. Right. Yeah. He's really good in the NBA. Not really, but he's, he's an athlete. I'm not sure if this guy is related to him or not. I actually tried to like,

Google this and look it up. And I could not get a straight answer. I don't know. It was weird how I just couldn't figure. So I'm assuming that he's not, but I could be wrong about that. But that, that topping kid's good. I'm going to take Texas Tech. Texas Tech. All right. So we have the matchup of, for me, it's Arkansas. It's only one we've been different on. We were same one. We got to the same result. Now you had, I had Houston, you picked Purdue, didn't you?

Yeah. Yeah. But we had Kentucky me out marching out. yeah. Did you pick? Yeah, no, I did. I did. So I have Arkansas and Florida. Listen, I like, I like Cal. I'll definitely be rooting for him. I'll be rooting for him over everybody. But Kentucky, do think that they're hot right now. And I think they're playing pretty good basketball, but at same time, I think Florida is really good. I'll take Florida. So my final four is Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, so that game for you would be Texas tech and Florida.

Yeah, Florida. Florida. We got an all SEC Final Four. Yeah. And I don't know. Is that really going to happen? Yeah. Why not? Is that really going to happen? Why can't it? I'm not saying it can't, but it's just damn. that really going to The only pick that I felt like I stretched was the Duke. You know, I probably being a little hater on them, but it's whatever. I like Alabama.

did you take Bama to beat Duke? Yeah. Okay. But you did take Duke to beat Arizona. Yep. But I would not be surprised if Arizona beats them. I do think Arizona is a tough team. They won't, they finished off my parlay last night, I have point two. All right. So we got our final four set. Both of them are the same. Yep. We are so lame. Yep.

That's all right. It's honest. I tried to be different. did not think I was going to take Arizona. I think I was going to take Ole Miss. I'm I'm cheating, dude. If I'm being honest, I'm cheating, dude. But whatever. I'm going to pull for Bama. So I'll do. Yeah, I hear you go ahead and say it. It's I like it. So for me, that's where Kentucky Lux runs out. I'm going to have Alabama over Kentucky. And then in the other game, I'm going to have Auburn over Florida this time. So so

real quick, we're going to go ahead and I guess make these picks. You're going to be out of town next week. Spring break is next week. Mexico. So we are not sure what's going to happen next week with the show. try to make something happen. since we are not sure about that, we're going to go ahead and make our, our final four picks and pick a champion here.

You going to change it up, Anthony? Are you taking Kentucky to win at all? No, Kentucky gets beat by Alabama. Kentucky gets beat by Alabama. And that's how I got my regular bracket filled out too. So you got Bama. Auburn Ironbow. And you got Auburn against Florida. No. Yeah. I mean, you got, you got Auburn beating Florida. I got the Ironbow in the championship. I hear you. State of Alabama would love that. Wouldn't they? Yep. I think the two dogs, feel like. That'd be pretty wild, man.

It would be like Kentucky Louisville in the national championship. was cool enough to play him in the final four, but could you imagine Kentucky against Louisville in the, in the national championship, Auburn, Alabama, North Carolina Duke championship? mean, basketball, that'd be a basketball state deal. That'd be a, that'd be a hell of a matchup. So look, think Florida and Duke, they're both going to be tough to beat. And if the cats get there, promise you, there will be a team I'll pull for them over them. I don't care about my bracket.

I didn't expect to take Kentucky over Houston, I did.

We talked about matchups. We talked about how Kentucky matches up good against some teams. Unfortunately, Alabama is not one of the teams that we match up good against. So they can now scores. Yeah. Look, I'm going to take Alabama here too. I hate to do it, but like I told you, I picked Bama to win it all. When I filled my bracket out, I was not expecting to. really was. It just happens sometimes in a bracket the way it works out.

You don't gotta be the best team. You just gotta catch the best route for you and keep winning. I'm gonna be honest. The SEC's already performed. We've already showed out.

I don't want to see Bama again. So I'm going to be cheering for Bama. Just like I told you not to bet Duke. I might not bet Alabama. I actually really like Alabama minus like what four or five against BYU. Three and a half. But I'm tempted to not bet them so I can cheer for BYU because look, I don't give a shit about the SEC anymore. We already know that SEC was great this whole year. They've proven it. We got 14. We've got seven now. I don't give a shit. They can all lose now.

I'm still an SEC. Let's get bam out of here. I did it. Let's get bam out of here. I do not want to see if somehow we get to the final four. I don't want to see them. I don't think you want to see Duke. Anyway, I'll try to lay off the game so I can cheer for BYU BYU score some points. I just don't care Arizona to do it. I'm definitely be cheering for Arizona,

Yeah, I'll be cheering for both of those upsets. To be honest, let's let that whole bracket fall apart. Arizona and BYU plan to go to the final four and we can get one of them. That's much better. I'm just to the point where, look, the SEC, you could say what you want. It's proven. We know what it was. It was great and they didn't underperform.

Even no matter what happens from the, from now, from this point out, guess, unless every single one of them lost in this next round, Kentucky or Tennessee at least moving on. yeah, I got Alabama and then I'll take Florida. Give me Florida over Auburn. said you had Auburn. Yup. Yeah. Give me Florida. So you'd be sitting on Auburn, Alabama. got Florida, Alabama. Who you got winning Auburn cuts the net stamp. Anthony's got Auburn.

I'm going to stick with what I had, man. I'm going to stick with Alabama, even though they worried me in the first round. say they worried me, but I don't think they played terrible. That team. I their garden. I like it tall white guy that he's kind of dirty Nelson. He's kind of dirty, but he's a baller. He's a baller. He's good. I want him on my team. He's like 30. I want him on my team. Yeah. So Anthony's got Auburn. got Alabama. You know, his cousin,

Andrew Carr is a poor man's version of Nelson. Shit, I like Carr. I do too. I do too. That's what I'm saying. I think Nelson's good. Nelson's the YMCA player. That's what, who was it that we saw that looked like the YMCA? Who was that? That was the guard for St. Mary's.

the guard for St. Mary's. Mary's. Here's some hairy ass legs and some big old thighs on him. He's just dribbling all the way around the court. He dribbled down to the baseline underneath the basket back after the three point line. It's like, dude, what are you playing? I the hairiest damn legs in the world. I'm like, I had the leg. You play basketball, All right. Alabama and Auburn.

We're both taking SEC all SEC teams to the final four, but Anthony only one thing matters. The cats are still playing. I am jacked up. I am too. We're going to the sweet 16. We're going to be Tennessee and let's let a you still thinking about going to the game. I can't go. I'm I'm on a we're going on spring break. We're going to Mexico, but I'd like to go. I talked about going to why I didn't realize I was going out town when y'all leaving.

I think we're leaving Saturday morning. fly out. Never been out of the country. So we never go because I got kids and I watch too many movies and And I found out it's cheaper to go to Mexico and it is go Panama City every year. Like we do, going and super excited. My daughter's graduating high school. It's kind of a little gift to graduating high school. We're going as a family, no friends, no nothing. A lot of times we go vacation with friends and I love that. Don't get me wrong. I love it, but.

I am kind of excited to just spend time with my family and especially my daughter. she's 18 now and she's growing up on me. It'd be nice to get to spend one vacation with her. us. There you I'm sure y'all have fun. What you about going to the game? I know you said I am still debating it. Tickets are a little high.

I'm about 50 50 with it. Usually I'm like 90 10. I'm going 100 % I want to go. I just don't know what we'll see. I'm going to keep looking into it here in the next couple of days. And who knows I might end up in Indy on Friday night, either way Anthony, that's all that matters. The cats were still playing. We get to enjoy a second.

weekend of the tournament. Sweet 16, two more games, two more wins, and we're going to the final four. I love it, dude. I don't know why we we can't, I'm not scared of none of those teams. I be honest with you. I'm scared of Florida. I'm scared of Duke and I'm scared of Alabama. And none of them are in our region. And I'm scared of Auburn. Yeah. None of them are in our region. So it works out, works out pretty good. scared of Tennessee. I'm not scared of Houston. I'm not scared of Purdue. Me neither.

get this done. Let's get this done. would be awesome for Pope in his first year. Real quick. I mentioned it before we get off here.

that pressure was on Pope there once Cal advanced because Cal advanced and then BYU advanced before we played. So I do think that put a little bit of pressure, personal pressure on Mark Pope. But guess what? Guess what I found out? Mark Pope don't feel pressure. He don't feel no pressure.

He might have before he went to bed Saturday night, but I'm gonna tell you what Sunday when he woke up He wasn't feeling no damn pressure. My man went out there coast his ass off and got that shit done. you see where such a thing BYU supposedly has more in IEL basketball money than anybody going into the NIL world that the NIL windows going to open and everybody has their money ready to spin So keep an eye on that guys. You're gonna see a lot of movement in college probably more than ever It's getting more and more every year. I expect this one

to be no different. expect a lot of movement transfer portal just opened today. So we'll start seeing a bunch of action and hearing. I wish I was good enough to play and cash me some checks, man. You know, I've talked to a few college players that were pretty good college players. I've just met them and seen them since then. They all say the same thing, man. I wish in I was, I'm telling you, one of Tim Tebow would have loved it. Tim Tebow, Gallaghty, Tyler Hensburg. There's a bunch of guys, There's a bunch. much money with Tim Tebow made in the NIL world? Millions.

millions millions millions I Mean he'd be up there. He'd be the best. Yeah, he'd be the highest he'd be the highest he's so marketable, Yeah, everybody want to connect their brand to him.

When you pay somebody to market for you, you want somebody that has a good image, a pretty smile, a good face, a good talker, a good player recognized. He's got it all from that. That's why he's making money now. All right, guys, we'll figure out what we're going to do next week. It might just be me, but who knows? Little Charlie might come on here with Charlie. Junior told me he's ready to take the seat next week. He would try.

I guarantee it. He's ready, dude. I'm telling you, I've been talking to him. He's ready. And we'll figure something out for the final four episode, either a late episode, maybe when, when Anthony gets back or maybe I'll try to just do a little short something by myself. but either way blitz the bookie next week, we'll be back somehow, some way guys pick y'all some winners, win some money, cheer the Terps on and cheer the cats on and cheer against John Calipari.

Nah, won't happen. the bookie boys. See y'all next See y'all. Later.