03.18.26 Women's College Tennis Weekly Results ft. John Parsons | The Deciding Point [College Tennis]

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Welcome to...

Hey, great shot.

This is the great chat podcast.

A cracked rackety and belief podcast network production.

My name is Alex Gruskin.

On today's show, we have another West Coast edition

of the deciding point.

It is also time for our mid year award show.

That's right folks.

It may be crazy to say out loud,

but we are at the halfway point of this 2026 college

tennis season, a college tennis season

that has been unlike any other.

I can remember certainly in the 21st century,

perhaps in the sports history.

And look, the story of the season has been parody.

Each and every week, someone else

at the top of the game tumbles.

This past weekend, no exception, of course,

as you saw in Ohio State, knocked off twice.

On there, West Coast swing, as they lose to Pepperdine,

USC respectively, you had Georgia taking a second defeat

in as many weekends as they get knocked off

by an Uber talented, of course, Texas team.

You had Tennessee, not only dropping one to Auburn,

they dropped one to Florida as well.

You had Oklahoma, a massive victory over LSU.

Again, we could spend seven hours, eight hours,

all of the hours, breaking down each and every result,

what I want to do for all of you college tennis fans

instead today is offer again our mid-year award show.

That way, we can encompass everything

we've learned through the first two and a half months

of this 2026 spring.

That means breaking down our all first team lineups.

Who plays where?

What would be that ideal lineup through two and a half months?

Who's the gal?

Who's the guy?

Who's the coach of the year?

What are the most intriguing things

to think about moving forward?

And then, of course, what are our rankings?

Are tiers of contenders?

After 10 weeks of data consumed.

We're going to try and do all of that on one podcast here

tonight.

And of course, if I'm going to attempt such a massive endeavor,

who's going to help me do precisely that he is, of course,

the returning champion of returning champions

to this podcast founder of the No Add No Problem blog

and podcast, he is our on the ground

correspondent for so much of this 2026 season.

Oh, by the way, he's on his way to Georgia,

as I enjoy his home in California.

It's our dear for theorist friend.

Excuse me, John Jay Parsons joining us once again.

Jay, hey, great shot.

Welcome back to the show.

I apologize.

We can't be live on YouTube tonight.

But we're at the halfway point.

How are you feeling, my friend?

Well, good.

I mean, we're coast swapping.

So I'm going back.

East, you're out here on the west.

You're being treated to some very warm weather

down there in Southern California.

But yeah, it's pretty crazy.

We're at the halfway point I was looking at schedules.

And really, you have maybe three or four weekends

left on the regular season, depending

on what conference you're in.

So it's rounding into shape.

And I actually feel like, and we'll discuss this in the tiers.

But I think it's reflected in some of the team rankings.

You start to see some formation there.

So it does feel like we're starting to get some answers,

even though at the same time, if you ask me to pick

a national championship winner right now,

I mean, your guess is as good as mine.

No, really well said.

The rankings are just less noisy than they were

to start the season with our first computer edition.

And of course, that was always going to be the case

as more data was available as more victories were included

within that ranking total.

And so, again, I completely agree.

It certainly helps that we've had 10 weekends.

It's crazy that we've already had 10 weekends of college

tennis.

I don't like that at all.

A few weekends are remaining.

I feel like I'm finally starting to understand this 2026 season

then again, before we know it, this season will be behind us.

And yet, as more comfortable as I grow each and every weekend,

by the way, you talk about the coast swapping,

that screwed up my weekend.

Because in my mind, I was thinking, oh, it's 10 a.m.

Like, there's no college tennis I have to follow.

It's 10 a.m. on a Saturday.

Things will start later in the day.

It's like, well, wait.

It's 1 p.m. Eastern time.

Like, someone's already down at doubles point.

We've already had this upset.

You forgot completely that this was actually a Saturday

match, not a Sunday.

Welcome to me waking up every weekend.

That's crazy.

Between that and college football starting at nine,

like, those would be the two reasons I would never

move to the West Coast.

Now, they may be the only two reasons.

I want to be clear.

But they're not insignificant reasons.

And so, no, I completely agree.

I mean, seeing Pepperdine all the way up at number two.

And I know, again, we're going to discuss this more later

with our tears.

I don't know if that feels noisy or accurate.

Given what they've accomplished, I mean, again,

they went on the road and beat Texas in Austin.

Georgia couldn't do that this past weekend.

There are things.

There are many things for us to discuss, John J. Parsons.

Before we do, we're going to do it in reverse order this time.

You are on the road heading to Athens this weekend.

Any other things we can be on the lookout for

as you make that trip?

Any fun things going on in the no-ad, no problem universe?

Yeah, we've got a lot going on.

When I do these in person trying to get the coaches on,

so we'll have Jordan Zabo of Auburn

that will be out on Wednesday.

And then we'll have Drake Bernstein of Georgia.

That should be out on Thursday or Friday.

So talking to them about this top five matchup,

of course, they played a thrilling match

at indoors earlier this year.

I'm sure both coaches remember that one

quite well.

And these are two teams that are very much

in contentioned for the NCAA title.

Chat with them about some of the history

making moments on the Auburn side,

highest program ranking they have ever had

under head coach Jordan Zabo's second year.

So yeah, those interviews out.

And of course, we'll have to do some sort of live reaction

after we see what is hopeful to be a thrilling,

maybe four-three match in Athens this weekend.

It's going to be a lot of fun.

Jellis, you get to be there.

Certainly our crack record theme will be covering it

over on ESPN plus for those of you

who can't make that trip to Athens.

It also leads to a tangent.

I was going to go on later when the category came up.

But this is where we're actually going to start.

Our halfway year award show, midway point,

award show hover, whatever nomenclature you would like to use.

Because John Jay Parsons, a category I have,

and there are many categories within this list.

Again, we'll do our all first team selections.

We'll talk about the gal.

We'll talk about the newcomers, the coach of the year.

But I wanted to introduce a category,

the most shocking upset of this 2026 season to date.

Because certainly, again, there have been quite a few

head scratching results for college tennis fans

to consume here in 2026.

John Jay Parsons, on the eve of the Georgia Auburn rematch,

coming up this weekend, is it fair to say

that it's actually Georgia overcoming a match point,

multiple match point deficit,

or maybe it was just the one for Mert in that semi-final

against Auburn that has screwed up the hierarchy

like so severely in this 2026 season.

Like if Auburn wins that match,

look, they still have to beat a Red Hot Ohio state team.

But by the way, had their own match points

to win the national indoor championship.

That is no certainty, certainly for a team

that obviously we saw them struggle to close out Georgia.

They couldn't do it in those semi-finals.

But if they had done it,

like, doesn't this season just make a little bit more sense

for all of us at this point of the year,

an Auburn team that, by the way,

this isn't hyperbole folks.

An Auburn team that at this point of the year is 23 and 1.

We're talking like 2000s Virginia,

sort of statter win loss record, Jay.

We don't see or, I mean, 2025 wig for us.

Yeah, that's true.

Okay, perfect.

I like that comp.

I got no problem with that one either.

Like if they just win that match, win the national indoors.

This team is undefeated right now in conference play,

a conference that, again, it feels like we spend every podcast.

And I know we're one of the biggest losers at the halfway point

because we haven't done enough of these, my apologies folks.

But like, I've got other nominees,

but I just wanted to start there with the rematch looming

because that is one of those inflection points

where it's just kind of like, okay, like,

so who's the number one now?

Yeah, I think that's a very good point.

I mean, they are a point away from, again,

at least making the final and then you say,

well, maybe they beat Ohio State there.

And if that is the case, they're undefeated right now

and they would be your undisputed number one team

and all of this other chaos would feel a little bit below the fray.

And you say, well, at least there's this one team

that is sort of risen above

and look they are undefeated in the SEC now,

like this all makes sense.

But now you have that looming

and I would actually argue one other,

like we might look back and say, well, at indoors,

if Hamilton doesn't get injured in that North Carolina match

against Ohio State, do they beat Ohio State

and is it a North Carolina Auburn match?

And you say, hey, at that point, if North Carolina wins,

they're your undisputed number one

because they beat Georgia earlier prior to indoor.

So I think we are whisker away in both of those instances

from having teams that could be undisputed number ones.

Now, should we couch this in terms of our most shocking upset,

maybe not, but I think it's a fair point

that we are very close to have having two teams

that we could argue are undisputed number one.

Yet here we are.

The Ohio State UNC shout is also equally good

because UNC had beaten Georgia obviously

and lead up to the indoors and shy.

You know, again, I think all of us had them

as the favorite to advance out of the champagne

half of the bracket.

It's a great what if that's a great shout by you.

Hamilton doesn't get injured if they win that match.

She's up five two in the first set

when she's no longer able to serve comfortably over her head.

I actually didn't have that on my list.

I should have.

I mean, there are a lot of other good ones

to shout out here in the more conventional upset

since the obvious one we haven't discussed.

Oh, this five two over LSU.

I know LSU was missing pieces.

That was one of those, huh?

Head scratching.

Okay, the SEC is doing that too.

There are some other good ones.

Wisconsin over UCLA 4-3, obviously a recent one,

but like, okay, we see you Wisconsin.

How about Arizona State Clemson?

There are four three wins over Pepperdine.

That Clemson win in particular

over Pepperdine in the national indoors.

Now, again, no Greshkina because it was out.

That's a big reason.

And that's why it can't be the number one.

But like, Pepperdines, if Pepperdines

at the national indoors, then being number two,

it intuitively makes more sense.

Obviously, the Clemson loss,

that's one of the reasons they weren't able to.

We talk about the sticker shock in the early rankings.

Arizona State over Pepperdine is why Arizona State

is still within the top 20 of the rankings.

My last three four to you, because I can't,

I got a list, Jay.

Miami over in State 4-3 this weekend,

or last weekend, whenever it was.

That's another Miami what?

And then obviously this past weekend,

and this is where I knew we were gonna talk about it.

Pepperdine 4 over Ohio State,

just the severity of that score line.

That's certainly shocking.

Even more surprising USC, 4-1 over Ohio State.

Honestly, a win coach swain in the Trojans,

desperately needed, a win that by the way,

Big 10 is wide open.

There are points to be distributed.

Like maybe quietly, this is the best case scenario

for the entire conference now.

And by the way, Sunday's matchup USC at Michigan.

Big 10 has a marquee matchup for the first time

in a long time.

That's not just Michigan versus Ohio State.

They're all good picks, Jay.

Any of them scream out to you?

Well, I would add two more.

I would.

I love that.

The Vanderbilt win over Georgia.

Really was shocking to me,

particularly after what we'd seen Georgia do at indoors.

And then I would throw in Colorado over Oklahoma State.

Definitely a huge upset.

But I think those three, to me,

plus the fourth that you had added in there

of Ole Miss over LSU,

were the ones that I felt like were upset in Flaxon points.

That we can run a list to 10 as fast as we did, Jay.

It speaks to again that you left anything off the list.

It's pretty wild.

I forgot about Colorado Oklahoma State.

This has been my own West Coast swing.

It just I overlooked it.

It's also like, look, we're going to talk more

about Oklahoma State later.

They're featured within.

I have a separate tier almost entirely

so we could talk about Oklahoma State Stanfords in that.

I have a wild card tier.

Spoiler alert.

People are in the wild card tier.

But it's been a season.

And by the way, those were all awesome matches.

It is just worth noting across the board.

You look at this Pepperdine team.

And you mentioned it when we spoke last time.

Greshkin is not even playing one.

Sonia is undefeated.

I think in singles play so far.

And just like, I see a Harman's been really good

at the bottom of the lineup as well.

I mean, again, for USC, it's such a young team still.

You obviously, Hassam had a massive fall.

She's still so new to the top of that lineup.

Mahendran is new to that lineup.

How good Zia has been after.

Obviously, her big fall result was the IT Masters.

And you always take that tournament with a grain of salt

just given what that field looks like.

But I mean, she's going to come up in our best newcomer

conversation.

And by the way, USC who's been really good at doubles.

That hasn't been the thing.

That's propelled them to success this season.

It's the depth that they've assembled on that roster.

And that depth was shown off in the matchup against Ohio State.

You just, I'm glad you shot it out of Vanderbilt.

I didn't even consider that a shocking upset.

Like, I think Vanderbilt's that good.

And at the time in the season, I mean, they had not been good.

And Georgia was coming off the indoor title.

Yeah, but you mentioned it the true road test for Georgia

that was at Vanderbilt when we talked about it last week.

Like, that's why to me, it wasn't shocking.

Because it is still a new George team in the meat of that lineup.

And so that was way more shocking to me than peppered

by I'm beating Ohio State.

Now, the fact that Ohio State didn't win a set,

we want to add that in, we can talk about that.

Yeah.

Like, a scoreline result was definitely more shocking to me.

Yeah, but I think scoreline has to matter too.

Because that scoreline was shocking.

Like shocking to do that to that Ohio State team.

I mean, no one else has.

And so certainly it was a noticeable moment.

This was a fun category.

I'm glad we started with it.

Again, a little change of pace to kick off

our midway point award show.

But now, let's get to my favorite category.

Our first team, all lineup selections.

I mean, again, someday they're going to start saving

these for the ITA Hall of Fame so we can better chronicle

who the best players were at each position

throughout the course of every season.

That's always been the dream of something like this.

Within all of these upsets, there's been some chaos.

And certainly a lot of lineup changes, late additions.

You're playing six.

No, now you're playing four.

No, sorry, now you're playing six.

Because we added two in February or whatever it may be.

I also said this was the thing.

Jay wanted to discuss with you before the show.

But I said I'm going to save it for here.

Because it's more fun that way.

Jay, I'm getting Draconian with my policies here.

Because it's 2026.

And there are many multiple effective platforms

for teams to display their stats on their team website.

If you don't have updated stats, you are now

ineligible for the all first team selections.

And so look, I'm going to call out some schools here

at the top, Jay.

Auburn, you're 24 or 23 and one.

I cannot be clicking your stats page

and have it go to the men's stats from last season.

Like you're Auburn.

And by the way, Auburn usually works.

So I do want to give them some grace here.

They're going to get that particular protection of grace

because I know they're better than that.

But you're better than that.

Get your shit together.

Arizona State, come on.

Your best season in a long time.

Where are you at?

Cal Grace, because they have one head coach for two programs.

But come on, you're Cal Berkeley.

There's someone who can do the stats.

Clemson, you took me to the ITA page.

That's no bueno.

SMU, I think they only have two men.

Cal only has two matches.

That's what it was.

SMU, no, just takes me back to the schedule.

UCF, great stats from the 2025 season.

Miami, no stats.

Those are seven relevant teams.

Those are seven teams who want to be chronicled.

How they perform this season.

I'm disqualifying them from the exercise, Jay.

I just think in 2026 that has to be the penalty we enforce.

Well, I mean, I'm totally on board with you.

There's brutal these stats.

I mean, especially the ones this year

that are routing me to the men.

I'm like, this is sexist.

This is 2026, like what's going on?

I know I don't want the stats for the men.

I'm looking for the women.

This is my annual plug.

I feel like this is like the one time of year

when I just like don't even go to the stats pages.

And I just use the ITA website because thankfully,

my brain still works and I can sort of have a sense

for who I might want to pick.

And I just kind of go and I look at their stats

and I'm counting them up manually.

So yeah, it is brutal.

I will say, I don't know if you can exclude Auburn

from this list though.

Here's the thing.

I wanted to do that to make a point.

Like it's only the halfway point.

It's not the full year show.

And I actually think Auburn's going to have their shit together.

I think I'm going to hopefully get a text

from our dear friend Jordan Zabo.

You'll see him Thursday.

If you don't mind bringing this up or Friday

whenever you see him, like it's an easy fix, I'm de-cute him.

It's got to be enforced across the board.

What's the point of a policy if you're

going to make just clear cut exceptions right off the top?

Like Auburn, I'm using you to send a message.

I apologize.

And again, you're going to come back.

I still have, I want to be clear.

I only disqualified from the all lineup selections

because that is so stat intensive.

And I don't want to be manually counting.

I shouldn't have to manually count.

No, like imagine the casual fan.

And by the way, Jay's not a casual fan.

But this is his life.

He goes to work at 7 a.m.

He's not done until 10 p.m.

All the man wants to do is check a few stats

because in his spare time, he dedicates the rest of his time

to us as a college tennis universe.

Don't make the motherfuck account manually.

Like that's just a straightforward thing.

And so that's why I didn't want to address this

before the show, Jay.

Because I was like, I've got a good rant in me.

And I think it's justified.

Fair.

It's there justified and well done to you

to have the receipts on all of those schools.

I did, look, I tried.

And I want to be clear.

I think I looked at 50 schools, 43 of you.

That's an 86% hit rate.

Congratulations.

I come from a family where 86 isn't good enough.

Like, we're in a family here at Crack Crackets.

I can live with 48 out of 50.

I can't live with 43.

Like that's just not good enough.

So you're on notice schools.

We love you all.

But just come on, come on.

Give us some stats.

All right, first team all line up selections, Jay.

Let's start with doubles.

Because it's a cluster fuck, as it always is,

at the halfway point.

Number one position.

I had six nominees.

I'll go through my nominees.

You can, I won't go through the staff, that promise.

But I'll go through the nominees.

You tell me who you had.

Because get, I looked at 43 others.

I have the NCAA champs, Broadfooter No Sickway.

I have Brantmeyer Hamilton, even though a limited sample size.

Let's just be honest.

If you can pick Reese Brantmeyer and anyone,

you still might do it.

Coopers in Perez, Maureen Webster.

Tip of the cap, always going to respect Melody Collard

and anyone on this list.

But her and Viv Young's best can be really good.

And then this sneaky ad.

And I think it's important to point out

if they don't win, their team loses the doubles point

by virtue of they only have five players.

Comar and I camp are nine and one.

And they have to win every time.

It's just a different sort of pressure and they've done it.

So in one of those otherwise been a really weird season,

I wanted to give them a tip of the cap, Jay,

who's your one doubles pick?

I'm going with the NCAA champs.

They are 13 and two this year in dual matches.

They have been in the biggest moments

that college tennis has in playing the NCAA tournament.

So if I got to roll out a team at one,

I'm going with the champs.

I really did consider Comar and I camp.

And I had them there in pencil.

Because by the way, that's still a really good team.

Like they could absolutely win a set against anyone

on the right day.

You want to be the champ, you got to beat the champ.

And I know they've lost a couple of times,

but 13 and one is damn good.

That's the engine that has the system humming once again.

I think that was the pick.

I agree.

Broadfoot O'Sickway, my number one double selection as well.

Five choices for number two.

Less of a case, but again,

Linsor, Udvarity, R6 and O at two doubles.

For Oklahoma State, give them a shout.

LaPada and Patty P, 7 and 3 at two,

but I got to see it in person.

They won clutch doubles when they Georgia needed them.

Cuzz and Savant at Pepperdine, Graschkinna

for those less familiar, 7 and 1 at two.

Ray and Stammel, Vanderbilt, 10 and 2 at two, 11 and 2 overall.

Garcia, Ruiz and Mu, 8 and 1 at two, 12 and 2 overall, J.

Who'd you go with at the number two doubles position?

Number two doubles was probably the hardest line for me to pick.

And I feel like I might have gone with them last year,

but I went with Stammel and Ray of Vanderbilt.

I think that they're holding down that two spot

behind Webster and more.

And you have two more experienced players and doubles there.

So if I've got some of the youth firepower

of O'Sickway there at the top spot,

then give me some of the veteran leadership

of Stammel and Ray at two.

It's a good pick.

Again, I have them written in right now.

Oklahoma's been really good at doubles.

Like I don't want to throw them under the bus.

And in person, Garcia, Ruiz and Mu were excellent.

Excellent indoors.

Well, here I don't think you've even mentioned

Gilhenny and Glow at one, right?

But they're NCAA semi-finalists.

100%.

Again, Oklahoma's been really good.

Like I agree.

Here's the problem.

Oklahoma's played six different teams at three

and they're 13 and one overall.

First of all, shout out to coaches, Cobra.

Like you've found six different teams in 10 weeks.

Clap of the hands, speaks to their depth.

And they've all been good.

But I just like can't give them.

It's just too much.

It's too much.

So they didn't get the all line.

I've cheated in the past.

Jay, I'm trying to stick to rules now.

I've matured.

I went Garcia Ruiz Mu accordingly at the two spot

because I just wanted Oklahoma

to have some representation.

And again, that team impressed me particularly so.

So they were my number two doubles pick.

But Ray and Stammell was my second choice,

although shout out because on the list,

three dubs who you got.

Bowers in Carutanova of Auburn.

I know they're excluded from this exercise.

Thank you.

But they are 19 and one.

They've only lost one dual match together.

And obviously that record is gotty.

It includes some of these double headers.

You can hear more about Coach Zabo's

double header strategy on the pod out on Wednesday.

But yeah, I mean, Bowers in Carutanova have been awesome.

OK.

So that's the right pick.

I just want to be clear to all the listeners.

That is the correct pick.

But I'm a man of principle, if nothing else.

Slama, Tenasi, or Tenin III, we are a HVNC state.

Renitz, Matanikov, 7 and 3, that's not a bad team at three.

Again, Oklahoma should be the pick

because you'll take their three doubles position this year,

13 and 1.

I went Dongareva, 7 and 2.

Two freshmen who have been excellent.

And Georgia deserves some doubles representation.

I know I think they dropped the doubles point to Vanderbilt as well.

They might have dropped it to Texas as well.

But I was at the national indoors, where

they weren't dropping doubles point.

And they are the national indoor champions,

and we're at the halfway point.

So yeah, it should be the Auburn team.

I went Dongareva.

I like that team on paper.

They're the temporary pick, Jay, at that three double spot.

All right.

Well, I'm realizing something about my overall lineup

here that we'll have to circle back on at the end of this.

And by the way, speaking of rules,

I too was militant when we transitioned to singles.

You must have played the plurality of your matches

at the spot in which I nominated you.

OK.

I'm glad you brought that up.

plurality or majority?

plurality because there's players like insert name here.

And if you play four different positions,

but your true position is the one I'm

nominated in you at, then it doesn't.

I don't care that you moved your way up to two

and played a few matches there.

Well said.

Because there are a lot of those spread out across all these.

Particularly midway.

Maybe we could make a majority case at the end of the season.

But early on, if you only have 10 completed matches,

you might even have a majority.

What we've learned over these last 12 years

is you don't even need a plurality.

Just win in the swing states.

That's good enough.

All right.

Start at the top spot.

I got to eat nominees.

Can I just say, though?

I think you're going to like my eight nominees.

It should be seven.

Yeah, I'm sorry, Laskvitch.

Laskvitch is off the list.

It's seven nominees.

That said, these are legitimate seven.

Reese, of course, Brandmeyer, who by the way,

lost three sets around one.

Qualities in Miami, like played really well in that match.

Luciana Perry, majority and plurality.

She's 7-0 at 1, but 8-2 overall.

That's just kind of funny.

Arrea of Texas 11-2.

CB Moore, 9-2.

She's had an awesome year.

Quietly, very quietly, Jay.

Do you know Arena Ballas is 10-1?

10-1 at the top spot.

It's not as though Dukes played our easy schedule.

Like, that's not as if they played a gauntlet.

Michigan, national indoors, nothing.

Look.

All right, I'm not saying you're wrong.

I'm saying 10-1 at 1, it doesn't have to be a gauntlet.

That's what we've learned this season.

Emily Welker, like Ole Miss, 8-2 at 1.

She's an NCAA single semi-finals.

She belongs on this list.

And then the sneaky one that I think will make you laugh.

But it speaks to, and we knew this coming into the year,

like, how high her upside can be.

You know, Monica X-Trans 8-1 for Stanford at the top spot.

Like, in a single match, if she's hot,

and I've gotten to see it, you're just like, fuck, she's good.

So I wanted to give her a shout out at this midway point.

Well, I think that's a fair shout.

Probably more deserving in a different category

that we'll talk about than overall number one,

because there's one right answer here.

It's your NCAA singles champion, Rhys Brandmeyer.

She is the one you want playing for you at that one line.

Are you sure you don't want Vanimpe?

No, yeah, I want Rhys Brandmeyer.

Yeah, I agree.

Rhys Brandmeyer is the number one singles pick.

Number two singles.

So this is where it gets tricky, because, by the way,

it's a stacked position.

This is so stupid.

You okay, LeCrosse is technically 3-0.

Like, she may have been trailing.

I'll just say, technically 3-0, OB's 10 and 2,

5-2 at the two spot.

Tayas Chavez, 7-0 at 2, 9-1 overall,

and this really comes down to two people.

Do you want Tayas Chavez, the beating heart of that?

Well, tough to say, Xperi, 2, of course, as well.

But Chavez, 7-0, or Luciana Perez,

who could have gone Jerry West and won the national indoor MVP,

even though her team didn't win the event.

Like, she was that good.

She's 9-0 at 2, 15-0 overall.

Has somehow gotten better, even though she's already

been excellent.

Her first two seasons of college, tennis, J.

I think this one's a no-brainer.

I think she has to be the pick because of the scale of it.

But, like, her first Chavez at the number two spot

is maybe the most fun race at the board, on the board.

I mean, it's a fun race, just like the contrasts and styles.

But, I mean, Perez, we saw Pete Perry

Perry was playing at two when they played Ohio State.

But the winds over, Perry Ray, Grecchina, Garcia,

Ruiz, Abagnato, Stammell, five of those six

are in straight sets.

She's been dominant.

She's just number two player in the country right now.

And she's up to the number one spot,

if my brain is working correctly.

But, Flip Flop with me.

Again, this is the halfway mark.

This is where we were.

We'll see where we are at the end of the season.

I mean, again, Luciana Perez has been so good.

It's in our, we'll talk about it more.

Is she the most improved player in the nation this year?

It's not, it's not an unfair argument to make.

It's a really good position.

Again, we got some strong twos on the board this year.

Three.

This is the position I listed seriously the most names.

OK, I have eight, three, by the way.

I have eight names, six of them are serious.

Tatum Evans, eight, no at three, 13 and no overall.

Bridget Stammell, seven, no at three.

11 and three overall.

Sonia Jean Baieva, please say I got it right.

6 and 0 at three, 10 and 1 overall.

Aspen Schumann, and I seriously considered it

because I was really impressed by her peak level at indoors.

Eight and two at three, nine and two overall.

Leyla Britez-Riso, I think you have to throw on that list

for 10 and see 5 and 0 at three, 10 and 0 overall.

And then another sneaky, most improved candidate,

up to three in their lineup, at the time, in plurality.

Lexington Reed, a VNM, seven and two at three, 10 and three

overall.

She's made a big leap.

She was a serious part of their success.

Again, I have Mcdonald, Valazue, Isabel Lacey

for Virginia, each listed as well.

But I think I'd turn to the first six, Jay.

And I'm curious who you picked.

Yeah, I mean, the three I had on my shorter list

were Evans, Britez-Riso, and Jay and Baieva of Papadine.

Ultimately, I went with Papadine.

I mean, so I went with Tatum Evans here,

North Carolina, at three.

Again, the strength of the schedule right now in the ACC

is not what we are normally used to.

A little tough to compare, but she's

been really good for them this year

and been putting up wins in the season

where some of her teammates haven't.

Stammel going seven and 0 at three in an SEC

centric schedule, like you're right.

That is probably more impressive than the Evans 8-0.

But I'll take Tatum Evans at three.

I'm going to sleep just fine at night.

And that's where I am.

And that's where she's been for the heels.

And yeah, she's been a rock.

And look, do the tar heels win the national indoors?

No.

They've still beaten Georgia.

They're still undefeated in ACC play.

Again, their bounce back win over Blanking

once again after they dropped the doubles,

but they come back and they win the match.

Should they beat Oklahoma at the national indoors in that round?

Like, I'm feeling good about UNC, but you're right.

It's just been so SEC centric because it just feels like

that can't those are where the heavy hitters are this year.

But they know at 313 and overall with the schedule,

they've played on pick and Tatum Evans.

Yeah, I mean, the Stammel stuff,

she actually hasn't been at three for some of these SEC matches.

She's been at two.

And I mean, the record is fantastic.

Her only losses are twice to Abagnato once to Perez.

But the matches she's played three in,

they've been kind of like cupcakes.

Fair.

That's why I picked Tatum Evans.

I agree.

Again, that's why you agree.

But by the way, G&B Ava, like on the list,

and certainly so impressed by what she's done here.

For Pepperdine, this is the big reason why they are,

where they are.

Absolutely.

Four is fascinating because I have all freshmen

in my number four spot.

And I have six really good freshmen, Jay.

Anastasia Grava of Georgia.

Ilanka Amare of A&M, who again only has four results.

Four matches.

Yeah, but it has moved up and is like,

I'm just saying like, if that's your four,

she's going to be fucking good.

Mama Dova, three and 0 at four, nine and three overall.

Luca Udvardi, four and 0 at four.

Okay, does Mama Dova meet the plurality rule here?

I think it was like compared to,

she's played everywhere.

Yeah.

I mean, she's been at two for at least the last few weekends.

Yeah, well, again.

I don't know.

I haven't heard four.

I'll tell you what, I didn't even pick her.

So it's, yeah.

But that's why it's like, it's tricky.

Luca Udvardi, genius Azaya, five and one at four,

13 and one overall.

She's another one who's played everywhere in that lineup.

Lavanya Tenozzi, 10 and two at four,

12 and three overall.

Strong class, a six freshmen, Jay.

And four is where you get pruned to go play

to the next year, one year, junior year.

I like all these pieces where any of them you're pick.

Well, the correct pick is more than a thought of Auburn.

I know it disqualified.

She's 11 and one.

Her alone loss being her first match back

after being injured at indoors.

Did you have another freshmen in Anna Fry?

I have her, but lower in the lineup.

OK, I feel like plurality rule has her at four.

Was that where it was?

Wasn't she 4-0 at two different spots?

Well, look, you know me, I'm doing the counting method.

Yeah, I'll look this up.

I'll look this up.

But that's why I have her at a different spot

because of the plurality rule.

I just may be wrong and had her in the wrong spot.

But I do have her on my list.

I just don't have her listed here.

Four is definitely the plurality.

And she's lost the one match to C-Signati of Ohio State.

I mean, I would go fry at four.

She was my runner up.

Could I make the argument that because she's not

going to end up at four, it's OK that I don't have her at four?

I mean, she might end up at four.

I mean, yes, she's very well end up at four.

All right, let's see.

I have the stat page in front of me.

Anna Fry has played five matches at four.

She's played four matches at the position I have her listed at.

But I think she's more likely to play the position I have her listed at

at the NTA tournament.

So there it goes, those principals.

I'm violated.

That didn't take long.

I have Goreva, 7-2 at four, 9-2 overall.

If you've listened to this pot at all this year, you know I'm just a believer

in the freshman's ball striking.

That's who I want at four.

I'll just take her.

I'll take her best and obviously she's gotten some big wins for them as well.

But by the way, Udvarti, who we was obviously a massive addition when it was announced

and when it was announced, you thought, OK, Oklahoma State might win the national

championship this year.

She's been good.

Like, it's just been such a mess down in Stillwater that we haven't gotten to

and enjoy it, perhaps as much as we thought we would.

But Udvarti's been good.

4-0 at four, 7-1 overall.

So that could be the pick.

Not a good freshman at this four.

The level of competition there is crazy though.

I mean, the match is she's played.

She loses to an NC state.

And then, yeah, she wins straight sets Northwestern, Tennessee and Ohio State.

Good wins.

West Virginia, Cincinnati, Colorado, Kansas State.

I haven't gotten to enjoy it the way we should have, Jay, that I agree.

I'm just saying, I'm on Udvarti watch.

All right, the five spot, A&M, Georgia, both good at those spots.

Too many people playing there disqualified.

I have four names.

Audrey Spencer, Alexia Harman, Victoria O'Sigway, Addison Lanton.

Who are you going with, Jay and Y?

Look, neither of those Ashton Bowers of Auburn.

She is 14, you know, this season.

Now, she is one of the players that came to mind when it's like, she's played as

high as two, but five is the plurality of her positions.

She's been fantastic and to end this entire season.

She's my pick at five.

The other two I had on my list, though, are Lanton and Dong of Georgia, I would put in

that list.

So, yeah, in my ballot, I have Ashton Bowers eligible, but I'm open to your nominees given

Auburn's DQ.

I'm a Dong, three and one at five.

She's played fewer matches than her teammate, Sophia Rojas, who's five and two, but eight

and three overall, Georgia at the spot.

I needed Ohio State representation.

How can you tell the story of the first half of this year without discussing the buck

guys?

I have Audrey Spencer, who could also end up as the most improved player.

We'll talk about that more a little bit later.

She's five and 0 at five, nine and 0 overall.

It's her, Perry.

Again, not since 2019, UCLA.

Have we seen such a firm strip of Perry, Shava, Spencer?

That's the Smith, Nanda, Cressy, find one more.

And Spencer is as essential a cog in that machine as either Perry or Shavas, who obviously

receive more notoriety given where they play in the lineup.

They don't make the indoor final if Audrey Spencer's not this.

She's my pick at five because Auburn update your stats page.

Yeah, fair enough.

I mean, definitely a hero of the season for them so far.

Yeah.

All right.

Six singles.

You got some choices, Jay.

This is where I had Anna Fry listed because, again, 4-0 at six, 11-1 overall, I think

she ends up there.

But Gloriana in a whom is 7-1 at six, Aaron Pierce, the freshman for Vanderbilt, 6-1 at

six, Nicola Dubnerova, 6-0 at six for Florida, Florida's gotten some good wins.

They beat Oklahoma.

They beat Tennessee.

They don't need Saples.

They're good.

The other sneaky one, 13-2 Jasmine Conway at that number six singles position has been

a huge piece of NC State's success.

You had a lot of good choices to hear, Jay, who'd you go with?

I went with Glow of Oklahoma.

As you mentioned, she's only lost one match this dual season.

It wasn't a great loss to Shinyi Nong.

I also think a player, again, de-cute, but you didn't mention Ava Espicito, only one

dual match loss this season elevated herself into the singles lineup.

But yeah, I went with Glow.

I think the energy that she brings down at six, I like that pairing if I'm building my

overall team here.

Okay.

So here's the problem.

I don't want to have three UNC singles players.

You can't have three players from one team unless you're the undefeated number one at

the halfway point.

So because of that, Anna Fryer out, but she probably would have bit my pick.

I don't want to have another Oklahoma, but again, Glow would be a great pick.

I don't think it's right.

I already have an NC State pairing, so I'm kind of coughing myself here for no reason.

I'm going to go Aaron Pierce, like I just, I really enjoyed watching her at the National

Indoor.

She's been awesome for Vanderbilt, and again, she's 12 and three overall.

She's kind of played a little bit more up and down the lineup now, but plurality rule

in effect here.

Am I picking her though if she plays Anna Fryer?

No.

So I'm lying to all of you.

But is Anna Fryer disqualified because of Jay's rule?

Yes.

So I feel less bad.

Jay has been Conway's been really good at six, too.

I want to see it more outdoors, though, before I feel definitive about Conway.

Oh, this is the midway.

I know, Jay, but a lot of indoor tennis factoring into these results, I know this is tough.

This is tough, man.

This is the one that's going to eat at me.

Should I just put in a third UNC Tar Heal?

No.

We disqualified for it.

I'm going Aaron Pierce.

You know what?

I'm sticking with Aaron Pierce.

It's fun to have some Vanderbilt inclusion, and again, they make the National Indoor.

They go beat Michigan.

They beat Georgia.

Yeah, I'm fine with it.

I'm going to sleep perfectly fine tonight with Aaron Pierce.

Fair enough.

I mean, certainly a marquee win for her over Sophia Rojas to clinch that upset win over

Georgia.

You know, I'm looking at my list here.

Now, I don't take into consideration multiple teams.

I'm just going line by line in a vacuum.

Like, who do I want?

I'm now looking at this list.

I have no Georgia representation.

Yeah.

And I have no Ohio State representation.

I know.

And I have no Pepperdine representation, which is wild.

The Pepperdine stuff, because I've thought long and hard about where I can sneak in Pepperdine.

And they have a lot of nominees on my board.

So I feel okay if I submitted this ballot.

But yeah, that's great.

Like, again, that's a big thing for me is making sure there's proper team distribution,

which without trying to compromise my list, I also disqualified Auburn, which is just like,

how do you not have Auburn player?

So let's be clear.

I got my own Picadillos to deal with.

Again, I'm going to go through, give me your team.

One more time, just quickly, all the top line numbers.

Number one, Reese Brantmeyer, North Carolina.

Number two, Luciana Perez, Texas A&M.

Number three, Tatum Evans, North Carolina.

Number four, Merna Raffa, Auburn.

Number five, Ashian Bowers, Auburn.

Number six, Gloria Nehum, Oklahoma.

Okay, that's funny.

I went Brantmeyer, Perez, Evans, Goreva, Spencer, Pierce.

It's a good duel match.

Let's go play.

I like it.

I'll take my team doubles.

We both have broad photo sigway.

I went Garcia Ruiz Mu at two, Ewan Ray, Stamall.

I went Don Goreva at three, Ewan with the Auburn pairing.

Whose names?

Bowers and Carrotinova.

Bowers and Carrotinova, which, by the way,

that's a really fucking good number three doubles team.

Off of this, and we'll do this one quickly.

No one's knocked off Reese Brantmeyer from the Gall status.

She's still the Gall, everyone's chasing her.

I have three tier one names now, though.

Chavez is just in tier one.

Again, I really always struggle,

it could just be the combined spirit of her and Perry,

because you need sugar, spice, and everything nice.

Did you watch the powder puff girls growing up?

And a little chemical X.

And they got all of that, by the way.

So they are, that is tier one.

And then Luciada Perez, we just got to give her a shout J.

I think she belongs in tier one status.

I think she's been that good this year.

Yeah, I mean, she absolutely has.

Is she the gal?

No, but, you know, yeah, she's been awesome.

She's allowed to come hang out on weekends.

Where it's like, yeah, coming to meal with the gals.

Like, we want to hang out with you, Luciana.

Tier two, CB Moore.

I'm just like keeping an eye on, like,

if there's a Vanderbilt run.

Like, we're watching you CB, the committee's discussed.

CB Moore is that, like, dorm mates

that you had in college, that was like,

fun when they're on a weekend, you know?

But like, you were never sure.

Maybe they went home for the weekend.

Maybe they have a visiting girlfriend or boyfriend.

They went out of town for, they got things to do.

Like, when they are, you're like, awesome to see you.

So much fun.

I'm sad to say, that might be me.

I think you're just described me.

Am I the CB Moore?

I like that.

Then, by the way, just buy virtue of it

because you don't get disqualified here.

Of course, DJ Bennett is more than welcome

to come hang out with the committee.

Like, we've got, I, you're the number one player

on what might be the best team in college tennis.

Yeah, we got our eyes on DJ Bennett

who's playing so much better than she did in the fall.

That's the gal newcomer of the year is stacked.

And I'm not saying I am actually considering

all of these people for the award.

And I just say, though, it is such a long list,

but it is missing some star power.

Extran doesn't give it at the eight and one at Stanford.

Stanford just hasn't been good enough

for it to be star power.

I think that's fair.

It's a super deep list.

Like, we have such a healthy, you know,

healthy class of talent.

All the way down to, like, Brooke Black of Florida,

who, like, whose name I wrote,

I got all the way.

It's not numbers, unfortunately,

or Roman numerals.

It's in letters.

I got all the way to you.

So whatever number you is in the,

like, that's how many names I wrote down.

And I'm sure I'm missing some, like,

Dalek, or Eva Dong.

And I'm not even talking about Patty P.

Laskevitch, Mama Dova.

I didn't even mention Brunkel.

Extran on.

I didn't even mention TN May.

Tynasi, Osigwe, like, Abagnato.

And I'm sure there's more on the Texas side.

I'm forgetting.

Schumann, Fry, Amare,

Jay and by Eva, Crossley, Udvarity, McDonald,

and the Kule hasn't had that good of a year.

So I didn't write her down, but Kule, I didn't ask you.

Zazaya, like, the SMU freshman,

Van Impa, Pete Bradmeyer.

Who's your freshman at the air?

Who'd you go with?

So did you just consider this newcomer there?

Did you, like, they have to be like a true freshman?

Like, either way, I went with Abagnato.

She is the highest ranked newcomer of the year right now.

And I ultimately factored in, like,

how impactful have you been to your school and your season?

And this Texas team is really nowhere without her,

both her contributions and doubles,

and really shoring up that lineup.

Like, if they didn't have her at two

and they're moving everyone up,

they'd be in dark times.

And so for me, she has been, like, the most impactful

relative to her team.

And I think that her wins this year as well.

It's the reason she's, you know, 16 in the country.

Really good argument.

I had three names in mind.

I had her 12 in the country.

I missed the update today.

No, again, it's a good call.

I had her.

I had X-Trand.

And then the other sneaky name is Victoria O'Sigway.

Who, like, let's keep in mind.

She won the NCAA doubles title.

For sure.

What did I say 13 and 2 at the number five spot?

She's 11 and 2, excuse me, at the number five spot,

and clinched that Florida match.

And like, she's already had some moments.

I really strongly considered putting Victoria O'Sigway.

Like, that was actually the number two for me.

A big nano was three.

I went with the X-Trand because I just, like,

without Monica X-Trand, Stanford's dead.

Like, they're six and six overall.

They're limping as is.

But they're without Valerie Glossmann.

They're without Alexis Blokina.

And they said here, you're R1.

Just, we're throwing you in the deep end.

Figure it out.

And she has.

Now, it always, it hasn't led to the most pronounced

Stanford success.

But you're a freshman playing one.

You had this massive ranking at the tour level

coming into college.

And for the most part, she's lived up to it.

That's a really hard thing to do, particularly, again,

when you're thrusted into that number one spot

after not the greatest fall, either.

I'm regretting not picking O'Sigway, because, again,

I just think the totality of what she's accomplished.

But I'm going X-Trand, because I just

wanted to give her a shout.

It has been impressive.

It's a bold pick.

I mean, I agree with everything you said

is not easy to do.

But what are her best wins this season?

That's a good quote.

What is Stanford's best way?

I mean, what's she beat Clemson?

OK, so she beats Jade Growing of Clemson.

She beats Cal.

Have they played Cal yet?

No, they've played Cal.

Oh, sorry.

No, not.

They played UCLA and USC.

She beat both of them.

She lost to Luke Camiro to one loss.

That's the one loss.

OK, I'll answer the question.

Her best wins are Eddie Laskiewicz back in January,

which is aging well, and then maybe John Hussam.

All right, I'll go with Victoria O'Sigway.

Talk to me off the pick.

I'm going to O'Sigway, then.

I know it's bottom of the singles lineup,

but again, NCAA doubles champion,

and she's been really good where she's been asked to play.

You can't penalize someone for being on it.

And NC State has needed her to be good.

Yeah.

So all right, I feel better about it.

Victoria O'Sigway, halfway point newcomer of the year.

I like the addition.

If you bake in the NCAA, it's for sure.

Yeah.

All right, good.

See, this is why I always need to have you here.

Coach of the year.

I wrote down 5, 6, 6, 7, 17 different names.

And I'm probably selling it short.

However, I have five tier one.

I have 17 names.

Well, I wrote down 17.

I have five in tier one, though.

Drake Bernstein, Melissa Shobb, Jordan Zabo,

Tassilo Schmidt at Pepperdine has to be on this list.

They're two in the fucking country.

And then this last one's going to shock you.

But Houston was a doormat for all these big 12 teams

to just roll over.

I know they're only three in three in conference play.

Winds over Utah, BYU, I forget who the third one is.

But they're in the NCAA tournament hunt.

And how quickly Catadomovich has that team just like competent?

It's not competing for national championships.

But it's just, it shouldn't get overlooked.

And there are plenty of other coaches who belong in that,

again, Coach Jackson at Arizona State.

There's a lot of good ones.

But I just, I've noticed what's going down at Houston.

I think it's particularly impressive.

So I have, again, it's not a team

with much history either.

I have her in tier one.

Yeah, I mean, I think Houston deserves some of their shout outs

this season, some of the best start in program history.

That one is a wait and see.

Right?

Like, let's wait to see how the rest of the season plays out.

But the start has been, has been good,

but as they kind of go through the bulk of the big 12.

But again, the expectations are, I mean,

you're pushing these teams now at minimum.

So yeah, definitely I like the inclusion there.

Some of those other coaches you mentioned,

like shouldn't really be on this list.

But the winner should be Tassilo Schmidt

of Pepperdine.

This is a team that was 25 last year.

They are number two in the country.

We didn't even have them in our top 10.

I, again, you have to put Tassilo in the list.

For you to say Drake has three new starters

they win the indoors.

I know how talented those players are,

but it's one thing to have talents

and other to win with talent.

Coach Shobber, Melissa, as the cool kids call her,

they had fucking match points in the national indoor final.

What do you mean that's not Coach Zabba?

You had them ranked 32 in the preseason rankings.

Like this team has been in the top five all year.

Coach Zabba, I mean, I knew he had a good team,

but like he had to build it and he did.

And they're really fucking good.

Like it's been more about what he did in the off season.

Maybe it was done during the year so far.

But like, I think all those, they're obvious cases.

I agree, I would go Tass.

I'm not saying you're wrong.

Because again, Tass has a little bit of the Houston remaking

of the roster along with competing against the best of the,

like it's the best of both worlds.

Shout out Hannah Montana, I want to say.

Yeah.

Got some deep cuts here.

Yeah, Tass is the pick.

But I'm just saying those other players,

all other coaches, by the way,

they're not the only ones.

Coach Swain, like Coach McKenna,

how quickly SMU's rolling.

Coach Quinta, because he's coaching two programs

and like they're both competent,

I mentioned Arizona State.

I don't think we give Robin Stevenson enough love.

Like I know it's not the hardest scheduling,

but Washington's always just like 14 and one

at this time of the year.

This season's no exception.

And then here's what you're gonna laugh at.

I just wanted to point this out.

I know it's been horrifying.

But Sergei Obdiev was handed a bomb and said,

Hey, there's 10 seconds on the fuse.

Try and turn it like trying to fuse it.

Try and figure it out.

And like there's still three seconds left on the clock.

Like the bomb hasn't exploded yet.

It's come close.

It's sparking.

But I'm just saying like, I don't know,

maybe it's not coach of the year,

but it's the most fascinating coaching I've seen this season.

So I just wanted to throw his name out there.

It was like, I just want him and Oklahoma State

on maybe I should have had best storyline

thus far, or like most fascinating thing,

but I had it thrown out there, Jay.

I mean, you kind of do.

We have a most intriguing team to follow

for the rest of the season.

Yeah, I mean, congrats to Schmidt

for winning this mid season of Borg.

All right, most improved category.

I have team and player for you because, of course,

I do Jay of the teams.

I think there's three obvious tier one nominees.

I'd go Ohio State, again, match point, Pepperdine and Houston.

I think Pepperdine, obviously he wins coach of the year.

Pepperdine for me is the most improved,

but like Miami Vanderbilt, TCU, SMU,

all good starts this season.

Again, I know the schedules haven't been massive.

I think Pepperdine has to be the pick.

Yeah, did you say Vanderbilt?

Yeah, they took it, maybe be Georgia.

I mean, okay, they were, I mean,

they were top 16 all season last year, right?

And they're like basically better this year.

Yeah, they get one good win.

Yeah, two.

Yeah, I had Pepperdine here.

I like your inclusion of Houston.

You know, against mid season,

but we'll see how that plays out.

So yeah, I, Pepperdine.

Ohio State was seeded number four

in the end of the days last year.

Yeah, I know, but you still wrote them off.

No, I'm just kidding.

I just want to try to poke.

Yeah, but it's one thing to be foreign.

It's another to have match point in the national end or final.

Like I'm just saying, there is a difference.

But this is the most improved category.

Yeah, and it's Pepperdine.

We agree.

All right, player.

It's a lot of inclusions.

Oh, look, I like to have a comprehensive fallet, Jay.

This is what I do is my flight.

Literally my flight yesterday I got delayed too

as everyone's did.

Even though I was going Phoenix to LA,

I wasn't even dealing with the Atlantic coast, but yeah, I had time.

I had time on my hands, Jay.

All right, I have 10 players,

but it really comes down to like two.

I, and again, I didn't exclude them from this part.

Spencer's in Bowers.

A Spencer in Bowers, those are the two to me

that I can't jump out the most of me

of just like how they've improved

and how they're contributing to their teams in particular.

Now, there may have been other players

who made equal leaps just in level,

but for me, it would come down to one of those two names

that you have someone different.

I mean, I think you just have to look

as far as the top two players in the rankings right now.

I mean, Carmen Horea and Luciana Perez

were not these versions of themselves last year.

Horea finished 37 last year.

She's up to one this year, Perez finished 56 last year.

She's up to two this year

and both have made huge jumps in their level.

I like your inclusion of Spencer.

I'm not convinced that the Bowers is more just about being healthy,

rather than necessarily like improving significantly.

Yeah, you can maybe say injury,

but the Spencer thing I think is definitely worth noting.

I had Perez 3 or a 4 on my ballot.

Breita's Riso 5, by the way,

and I do want to give her a shout

because we mentioned it earlier on defeat.

She's been awesome, like so, so good.

Well, while we're playing this game of everyone gets a shout,

I mean, Chloe Noel of Oklahoma has gone

from out of the lineup to being middle of the lineup

there for Oklahoma.

Icicle Mert, moving all the way up to be a top 10 player,

playing at the top of that lineup,

and then Espicito as well.

All American status in the fall,

cementing herself with a six spot for Auburn.

If we're doing it, re-smiller,

like she's been asked to step into the top half of the lineup

and what has otherwise been a really strange season

for Michigan, like she's been pretty damn good

at that number three spot all year, Jay.

So, wanted to give her a shout.

Yeah, let's go Perez.

I like again, Spencer Bowers have both made leaps,

but Luciana Perez might be the best player in the country.

I mean, it's shocking.

Yeah, like so the results, so, so good.

So, I agree with you, that's totally fine with me.

All right, Jay, most intriguing team for the second half.

Lot of good options.

I'm not even gonna give you my picks.

I'm not gonna bias you just what'd you go with and why?

Well, good, because I only have one.

And for me, it may be a little chalk,

but I actually went with North Carolina.

And I went with North Carolina

because this has been a very quiet season for North Carolina.

It is a quiet season for the ACC,

but they're sitting here today at 17 and one.

They arguably were very close to maybe winning indoors,

but certainly making that final,

that injury to Hamilton.

And it does feel like quietly,

they have assembled all of the pieces now.

You have Hamilton back in doubles,

getting healthy, you have Zempardo eligible,

and in the mix.

And I feel like we're gonna be sitting here

at the end of the ACC season,

wondering how good this North Carolina team is

because they have Duke in Virginia left,

neither are at their top 10 standard.

So let's say if they roll through,

they finish 25, 26, 27 and one,

how good are they going to be?

And so I will be picking apart those pieces

for this North Carolina team

because they won't have the pedigree resume

of the SEC champion,

but I think they could arguably be

the best team in the country.

It'll be so interesting to see,

first of all, win if at all.

Do we see Hamilton in singles again this year?

Like they don't need it.

Zempardo, Fry, Rapman, as you're bottom three

with Brandt Meyer, OB and Evans as your top three.

Like, yeah, I'm good.

Zempardo and Malpe finding their footing

as a doubles pairing as well.

I know Coach Calvis feels extraordinarily highly

about that duo.

I had them listed, they are on my list.

I have a couple, so I can't help it.

Auburn, what if they run the SEC table and defeat it?

Like, just what if they do that?

Then they are the clear cut favor.

I don't care if they haven't done it before.

Pepperdine, like, what if we just lose Pepperdine

because they don't have,

they have NC State this weekend

and that's kind of it, the rest of the way?

Now, the pause on that, because that's true, right?

They have NC State, they go into WCC.

What about that makes them the most intriguing team?

Because, well, I just wonder,

I have to keep an eye on that.

And can they sustain my work on the argument?

Yeah, exactly.

It's can they keep blitzing people?

Because if they're just blowing everyone out,

then it's like, okay, well, that's what good teams do.

They blow out lesser competition.

If there's like a 4-3 escape with LMU,

then it's just kind of like, okay,

is it fair to still have questions

or if they do it a couple of times consecutively?

And that's just a one-off.

So I'm just, I need to know,

because everything else says that this team

is really freaking good, but they're so young.

Like, God, would they benefit from the callous thing

of an SEC schedule?

Speaking of that, my most intriguing team

for the second half, and it's fresh off of the winover

Georgia for them, so I think it's easy to make.

You could argue Texas has the most talent

assembled of any team in the country,

not just one through six, but one through eight,

one through nine.

Coach Jaffee has the roster.

It's extracting the most out of that roster,

and doing so by virtue of having everyone

in the right position.

And like, Array and Abagnato are your top two.

I still don't know what they're gonna do,

three through six on any given day.

You could give me 10 guesses.

I'm not sure I'm gonna get it right on any given occasion.

In fact, it's a fun game.

Try to figure out what you're gonna guess more correctly.

The Ohio State Men are the Texas women's line

upon any given weekend.

Like, they have those sorts of options.

They have pieces and doubles as well.

They just showed, they can beat Georgia.

They beat, who did they beat also earlier in SEC plan?

I'm blanking on, they had another big victory.

Oh no, they beat Vanderbilt at the indoors, excuse me.

That's the one that I was thinking about

and what was a marathon match.

Well, then they beat Vanderbilt again.

That's so they beat them twice.

This team is so talented.

And like, what if they win the SEC tournament?

Like, they just got hot, and then it's like,

well, wait a second, now they've won a tournament.

Like, I'm just, I'm like, couldn't they do it?

I mean, again, the concept of anyone

winning the SEC tournament was like, yeah,

we had to beat Georgia, Auburn,

and Vanderbilt's consecutively, or Tennessee,

or like some, like a, Tennessee a scrappy eight seed

on that conference tournament.

It's Texas for me, because I do think

that the amalgamation of talent down in Austin

is enough for this team to beat anyone.

Yeah, I think that's a good pick.

I mean, it still feels like we don't know

exactly what the pieces are gonna look like.

You know, you have pursuit out right now with injury.

You other than those top two.

So we had said this early on,

if this does feel like a team

that will be way better in May,

then they were in January and February,

and obviously we're starting to see that

with the win over number one, Georgia.

So yeah, it's gonna be interesting to see

how they finished the SEC.

It's fascinating.

Again, a lot of good storylines

left on the board there as well.

I also have listed in my category

just Big Ten Champion, whoever you are.

Like, we'll find you someday, I promise.

We'll see you in the Ohio.

Like, we'll figure it out.

But whoever that Big Ten Champion is,

like, are there enough points now left

if that Big Ten Champion is good enough

for them to finish top eight?

If it's not Ohio State.

The answer is yes.

Like USC, UCLA, these teams have paths.

So Big Ten in the mix.

All right, last but not least,

63 minutes in J.

Not too shabby, honestly, as award shows go,

relatively efficient.

Let's get to it.

Our championship contending tiers.

And within them, of course, our top 10 rankings

as we head past the midway point of the season.

Jay, I have four different tiers for you.

I have my tier one title contenders.

I have my tier two, which are top eight seeds.

I have my tier three, top 16 contenders.

And then I have tier four, better known as the wild cards.

If I told you, aren't we doing our top 10?

Well, I have my top 10 rankings within that.

And that stops within tier two.

But I just kept going because I wanted

to make the broader tiers.

I completed both exercises as I was the one who assigned them

to myself.

All right.

I have three tier one title contenders.

Do you want to hear my tiers?

Oh, do you have tiers as well?

I have tiers within my top 10.

Oh, hell yeah.

Of course I do.

I have my winner tier right now.

So I have three teams in my winner tier teams

that I can see winning the title right now.

I then have my I'd be surprised here,

where I'd be surprised if they won the title,

but they're not eliminated.

And then I have my I'd be shocked here.

OK, that's the same as one, two, and three.

Pretty similar.

And about we have the three safe teams in the title contenders.

Do you have offered one UNC2, Georgia three?

I do.

I have that exact same order within mine.

Do we need to discuss it or have we

discussed those teams enough?

I think we've discussed.

Can I ask, what's your is Georgia on in your tier one

by virtue of the NCA's being in Athens?

Like if it wasn't in Athens, would Georgia be tier two?

No, because that's the way they won indoors

told me that we could get a different tournament time, Georgia.

We could get a version of La Pada and Rojas

and Mert that elevates above the rest of these teams

that have not won an NCAA title.

So they'd probably still be in tier one.

And honestly, I didn't really even think about Athens

being the host when I did these tiers.

I did.

And it was certainly enough, but you laid it out perfectly.

And it's just that on top of Athens,

it's just like you have to put them in tier one.

It's a little different when you get to play at home.

Ask 2018 wake.

I want to allow them to elevate over a field

that eventually had, or a team in the semis in A&M

that had two top 100 players on the roster

and Rinder Kineschen Kipsen.

All right.

How many did you say you had in the surprise tier?

I don't think I said, but I have three in my I'd be surprised here.

OK.

This is my tier two top eight contenders.

And again, I'm thinking more rankings and surprised.

I have eight teams.

So excuse me, I have 10 teams.

So I still have 13 teams in my mind

that can compete for a top eight seed.

Which, by the way, at the halfway point, that's really not that high.

You have three teams in this tier.

Let me ask, are those three teams Texas A&M, Pepperdine, and Ohio State?

They are.

OK.

So those are the top three teams in my tier two.

I have A&M, excuse me.

I have, yeah, A&M now at four.

No, that's a lie.

No, it's not.

I have A&M at four, Ohio State at five, Pepperdine at six.

Even after that shlocking?

Yeah, because it's first outdoor match.

And it's like, that's great.

But I watch Ohio State beat North Carolina.

I watch Ohio State.

I don't want to say smack A&M, but like beat A&M.

And I watch Ohio State have match points in the national indoor final.

Now, I have them down to five because of what that score line looked like.

But I just have more trust in that Ohio State group

that I know a little bit better.

It's just Midwest bias is what we're saying.

Damn straight, motherfucker.

And then we had the USC loss as well.

Anyways, my order there is that that's good.

Number four, Pepperdine, number five A&M, number six of Ohio State.

I'm just thinking if I want to rebut.

No, that's right.

Yeah, Ohio State beat in a Mara less A&M.

I agree.

Pepperdine also beat in a Mara less A&M, like a full strength Texas and a full strength

Ohio State.

I'm just saying, like don't forget Texas A&M lost that match to Pepperdine.

Like I'm trying to actually get Pepperdine credit here.

Yeah, with what I have them behind that.

Yeah, but that's a half way from reminding me of Pepperdine A&M Ohio State.

Yeah, but it's the halfway mark.

And at the national indoors Ohio State was legitimately no worse than the second best

tea.

And it's like they have actually showed it in a way that you're still projecting for an A&M,

still projecting for Pepperdine.

It's like, no, no, no, through the first half of the season, I saw it from the buck

guys when the lights were brightest, they were ready.

But yeah, like again, I think those three teams all have to be grouped together.

So that's our top six.

We agree.

There was a joke in there about the lights being bright versus outdoor sun, but it's

okay.

We'll let it slide.

You know what?

Nothing.

I have nothing to add.

Melissa, get up.

Get up, Melissa.

Get up, Melissa.

Get up, Melissa.

Yeah.

That's my top six.

Okay.

My next tier is four teams.

In the I'd be shocked my seventh or ten.

Okay.

Okay.

Lay it on me.

Number seven, I have Texas.

Okay.

Number eight, I have Vanderbilt.

Okay.

Number nine, I have Oklahoma.

Okay.

Number ten, I still have LSU.

Okay.

We have the exact same four teams, which means we have the exact same top teams, but different

orders.

So I went Oklahoma, and you know I was a little higher on them to start the season.

I think the team is going to be so good outdoors.

They're my number seven.

They also beat Texas.

I watched it.

I was there at the indoors.

I know they lost that Florida match.

Texas has subsequently beat Georgia.

But I have them seven.

I have Texas eight because Texas is freaking good.

I mean, again, upside is as high as anyone.

I have Vanderbilt nine.

I have LSU ten.

And LSU is holding on to that ten for dear life.

Now, by the way, also holding on to tier two status for dear life, Tennessee, who I still

have snuck into my top eight contenders, but I'm starting to get a little concerned that

they just don't have enough beyond again, which still seems on paper to be pretty sound

team.

I go, Scott, Breitas, Riso, Oliya, find one more like through and let their spirit allow

them to find that one more to be clear, they're under their underperforming talent on paper

right now.

I agree.

I've NC State in this top eight contending tier as well.

That's a good team.

I know they lost Miami and throws you off the cent, but they're really good win out in

Cal like NC State's good.

I'm not right now.

They're going to win a doubles point and now they're up one on you got to find six singles

wins against that line.

I know it's a little thin up top, but like I'm not writing them off yet as a top eight

contender yet.

And then I'm not, I know it's been tough for Cal against Pepperdine, but Pepperdine's

two in the country.

And it's like, if you're not Pepperdine, Cal is beating you.

I know they lost you.

You know Cal almost lost to UCSB.

Oh, I know.

But they also like, we haven't seen them healthy.

Like I still don't know who Cal's best six and they still have all of that talent, Jay.

Okay.

Okay.

Well said.

All right.

So those are my top 13 teams.

And again, that gets you to tear to rapid fire through my top 16 contenders.

We don't have to talk about any of them, but just names.

I want to shout out that I haven't quit on you yet.

Duke, USC, UCLA, UVA, Florida, because Florida's just done too many times now.

Clemson.

And then you have to include UCF.

One UCF's good.

I don't know if they're great, but they are good.

Two, they could win the big 12th and maybe there will be just enough points in that big 12th.

Someone's going to get a top 16 seed.

So they just have to be there by virtue of math.

That tears boring.

The wild cards, Jay.

I got four, five, five.

I even surprised myself.

Oklahoma State wild card.

Michigan wild card.

Huge weekend for Michigan.

Huge.

They got the Bruins, the Trojans coming to Ann Arbor.

In Ann Arbor, what is it?

20 degrees there, probably indoors.

It's going to be rough.

Wild card.

Miami wild card.

100% wild card.

For sure.

Like could really spice up a very boring ACC.

100%.

Stanford.

Glossman comes back.

Wild card.

Yeah, for sure.

It gets interesting.

Still played her short if that Glossman comes back.

But if Glossman comes back, she's your 1x transfer to.

On's been killing it at 3 wherever you play her now.

Yeah, you moved Driscoll down.

I mean, that's a really solid 5th.

That's it.

Now you get to move TN May down as well.

And she's had some struggles.

They're a wild card.

I have SMU as my last wild card.

They were the fifth one who I also think could just upset some.

Like again, they almost did it to UNC.

They got a really good win this weekend.

I'm blanking on who they beat in in conference play.

I can look it up now.

They lost at they lost at NC State.

Who did they beat?

They lost at NC State.

They beat Wake Forest.

Yeah, so you must be memory.

You know, I'm thinking about the men.

That's exactly what I did.

Yeah, I'm in the men.

Crazy week.

That's exactly what I did.

But I'm still a believer in the fighting mechanics.

Like I just I think that team is good.

So I think they're a wild card.

We I feel like we still haven't seen like the best version of SMU yet either.

Well, because fight still got pulled.

I know.

I know.

So I have them in the wild card category fair for sure wild card.

Yes.

We still got some wild cards on the board again in total between all four of my tiers.

12 plus 30 25 teams.

Like, is that too long of a list when you're talking about the NCAA tournament at this point?

I feel like that's been the theme of the season.

Yeah, I feel like it's probably been longer for you in the past.

But I mean, Florida.

Florida to me is probably a really good wild card because you're looking here.

And you're saying, well, Smash Clova just got eligible at NC State.

So Scarlett Nicholson gets eligible there.

Now they just have another player in the mix.

Like I feel like that Florida team is going to be pretty dangerous in two months time.

Yeah, I mean, I have them up a tier.

But yeah, they maybe belong more with the wild cards than they do.

Yeah, they want to hang out with the loose reticate cops.

You don't play that rules.

They're like, they're like, wait, Stanford's over there.

That's where we belong.

Yeah, they're like, yeah, they're like, wait, I didn't know.

You didn't tell us SMU is having a party.

Like, we don't want to miss out on that.

Yeah.

Oh, man.

I would love to watch a Florida Miami match because who knows what happens in that one.

It's my final question to you and then we'll wrap this show.

Give me a letter, great.

Ten weeks into this season.

What do you give it?

Oh, I think it's really good.

I mean, I'm a tough grader.

Yeah.

I mean, it.

Say it.

You want to say it.

It's like an egg.

Yeah.

Like, can I say after?

And I love.

Look, I watched Dasha.

Everyone at, we were watching Dasha today.

Lots of heartbreakers, 75 and the third to Jacamo.

And everyone in the control and retention was like, dude, why are you reacting so strongly?

I like all Dasha winners.

They're like, first of all, why are you calling her Dasha?

I'm like, what are you guys?

What are they called?

Dario.

Because that's what it's listed as.

That's a guy.

It's a guy.

We got to talk team meeting.

Time out on me.

And I was like, look, there's a long history.

I was like, that's the gal right there.

All that is to say, I was just done with Georgia and I was just like, that storyline was so played out and to have.

It was great.

It was great.

But to have all this fresh blood, to have all this uncertainty, like we went from juggernaut of 2023 UNC.

To what by NCA term was clearly a juggernaut in 2024, A&M, to obviously a season long number one in Georgia.

But really, it's the 23 North Carolina 25 Georgia sandwich pieces, which is like those certainty of two of the last three years.

This is anything but like this is just chaos and yeah, it's a smack dab A for me.

I completely agree on that front.

Let me ask you this, because we don't get you for the next show.

What's your men's grade?

I was like, well, why don't we get, why don't you get me for the next show?

Oh, because it could be a C plus or an A plus.

You could make the case for I.

It's definitely not an A plus.

It is definitely not an A plus because I truly think on the women's side, we are seeing a ton of really awesome teams.

And we are seeing a ton of really great teams that would stack up against other great teams in the past.

Like pound for pound, I believe that.

The men's teams are not good.

And like, I don't care what you say.

Like, those are just a hodgepodge list of either new players coming in, injured players coming back.

Like, I mean, not good.

Like that is like, this is probably the worst men's season I've ever covered.

Interesting.

There I said chaos.

The worst.

I can't say that.

It's not the worst.

The worst season is 2020.

Oh, well, that doesn't count, but there is a worst season that you've covered.

And it's like, it's got to be one of them.

That's such a good question.

I can answer it.

I'm going to answer it.

Okay.

Okay.

Are you going to answer at the end of the season for sure?

Yeah.

No, I'm going to answer it now.

It's 2019.

I can't emphasize this enough.

And I've told this to his face.

I don't think Bruce Berker might be saying, I was so mad that Texas won.

I was like, you guys just aren't the best team.

Like, it's like so wrong that Wake Forest and UNC and Virginia all killed each other in the quarterfinal.

And Ohio State, like, they killed each other.