Hour 1: Arizona Dominance or Another Calipari Disappointment?

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Good morning. Welcome into first take. I'm Courtney Cronin

That's Kendrick Perkins

That's coach that greenberg and of course the man who needs no introduction

Stephen A Smith you guys we have made it to the end of the week we get rewarded with the return of basketball and the sweet 16

If tonight's games can be anything like last night. I think we'll be in a good spot

Absolutely no question about it. First of all forward

But before we get started let me give somebody they flowers real quick

Okay, boom my Texas was in the building last night

Bear down Arizona basketball my day one the assistant coach over the

Brandish appeal been knowing him for 36 years of my life

You know what I mean and my brother on that sideline coaching those boys up with coach Lord did his thing

I just had to take a moment to give him some flowers boom my Texas in the building

Perkins should be a producer on the show because that's exactly where we're starting here this morning

I love where your head is Arizona pouring it on big

Against Arkansas the wildcats punch their ticket to the elite eight with a 109 88 win

Six different players scored 14 or more points for Arizona a tournament record while the cat shot 63.8 percent from the floor

The best mark in the sweet 16 since 2005 the win gives Arizona its first appearance in the elite eight since 2015 on the flip side of this

The 21 point loss was the largest of John caliperi's NCAA tournament career

Entering Thursday his 84 NCAA tournament games coach were the most ever without a 20 point loss his last appearance

In the final four came back

In 2015 when he was at Kentucky coach coming to you first here. What's the bigger headline?

Arizona's dominance on Thursday night or this being caliperi's worst tournament loss

I think it was Arizona's dominance but I spent the before the game this was going to happen

This was a bad matchup for Arkansas. I said before the game. They struggled defending the post in this

They struggled redundant defense event that front court obviously struggled against the front court of

I was on that I was going to dominate the game. It was a bad matchup

They didn't have any answers to the question. They couldn't get stops

That Arby's personal student I was scoring people. They were not a very good defense team and playing against a physical front court that dominates the pain 16 points in the pain and dominates the glass

This was not a fair fight. So yeah, this is one who lost a dark cow very great win for Arizona

Arizona's the best team in the country. They've been dominating the tournament their physicality in the front court the size of their back court the depth that they have eight starters basically

You know to me. I thought it was Arizona's dominance because as a matchup it wasn't a fair fight and that's the reason he killed me

This was all about Arizona. This was all about Arizona

This was a statement win and it was a message to the rest of the teams that are still in the NCAA tournament right now

This was a message that we're here to kick ass and take name

That we're here to stand on business and when you look at this roster when you look at how they play agenda free basketball

When you talk about two freshmen that stepped up last night peak and birds

They stepped up in the tremendous weight

Then you got that grown-ass man coming in off the bitch in a walker who had 14 points and seven rebounds

This team is just exciting to watch. They don't care who gets the shine

They are committed to the game plan and they are ready to take it home

And when you look at how they play when you look how they play for one another this team right here is just different

I believe that they're going to win the national championship and I'm not being biased

But this also brings up a bigger story steven a and coach this brings up why

Upper-class men juniors seniors why they matter in the tournament because no matter how good

There is a cover word and the freshmen for all can saw it doesn't matter when you get to the tournament

You need those older guys. You need those vets and it's that's another story and see again

John Caliper he's one of the best to ever do it

He he recruited me

But when it comes down to in the NCAA tournament and it's proven over the last two three four years

You got to have those upper-class men

Listen

Arizona whipped ass and we understand I mean everybody that I've seen talking about the NCAA tournament

Everybody has said that Arizona's going to win the national championship

I picked them to win the national championship

They're obviously still in it in the elite eight they appear to be a leader whatever

But two things could be true

This could be all about Arizona as big perk and coach and coach Greenberg pointed out

But that ass kicking that Arkansas received last night

We have to look at John Calipari

We have to look at a guy that's considered one of the great coaches

The guy that's been around a really really long time

That's considered to be a master recruiter

And it's not just a bad game

We saw a better collection of talent assembled on Arizona

Tommy Lloyd has a better team

He has a deeper team. He has a more complete team

It does make you look at John Calipari and say how to happen

How that happened and that's what we gonna do this morning because John Calipari wanted a great coaches coach

Has not been to the final force since 2015

2015 and 11 years now

It's 11 years

Talk about John Calipari. That's what we're talking about here

And we know he's gonna go out there and he's gonna get a super freshman like a darrius a cuff and he's had

Super freshman

But it gets us to piggyback off of what big perk just said

It ain't just about them

It's about what you surround them with

Those experienced dogs those cats that know how to deal with the pressure that know what NCAA tournament basketball is all about

Having that experience not just being able to recruit and having an elite freshman

That's taking the world by storm

Arizona said one man ain't beaten us. What else you got and nobody else showed up

Now darrius aca finished with 28 points at 11 in the first half when it was a game

And I'm not even thinking about the 28 points because most of it was garbage time

I mean that was an ass kicking. I mean it was depressing to watch because you don't expect to see a John Calipari team

Not have a chance and that's how it looked the man has coached 85 and C double eight tournament games

This is his worst defeat

And they were humbled on the court and you saw them coming apart at the seams ready to get ready to start fighting

You know hard files guys coming down on his head holding them down as his crouching his head and all of this other stuff

Arizona just kept this composure

They relax they were like you know what?

This is what happens when you get your ass beat that's what's going on right now

And we understand no big deal we ain't gonna react to it because we got a 10 national championship

We trying to win that's what they did

There was a difference its levels to this and what we're seeing our coaches

Recognizing the importance of depth

And unfortunately our concert didn't appear to have that last night ain't nowhere around it

They didn't have it all twisted now, but you know you're talking about getting over their back curd was young their front curbs all seniors

Promise they made some mistakes in the front court in terms of hurting

I mean they had guys that were not as good and you look at the front card. I was home

And those are grown ass

man

To man walk is a grown man

Creators is a grown man the physicality of the frontman compete to fresh when he's a grown man

They could not deal with the physicality in the front court

And then the size even for checkout. I mean the size he comes over from the early the size of the physicality and the back card

Yeah, I think they missed on some front court guys the back card wasn't the problem

I mean Billy Grinchman plays hard the guys lose it a little bit at the end of the game

Yeah, that was frustration, but at least they continue to play hard

They've got to improve their front court. They got a big time with every class coming in if they don't compliment those guys

With physical tough winning players to the front court that can rebound and post defend

Right then the same things gonna happen guards can get in the game

But you gotta be able to rebound and defend the pain and they did not have the ability all season long

To do those two things and Arizona was a better team and and dominated the game in the pain

Coach coach help me out here for a second the high school player of the year

I can't think of his name right now, but he's going to Arkansas. He helped me out for a second

Yes

Okay, okay, so it's so essay here's what here's the problem

This is where you have to pick a side and I'm not talking to you

I'm talking about college basketball right when you talk about going out and getting these top five recruits

These elite freshmen that comes with a cause and the last time I check

With John caliperi sign would Arkansas to be the coach

Not only did he get his money, but he was able to get access to five million dollars a year for NIL

Now what ended up happening is these guys that are McDonald's all American

They cost and I'm not talking about three four hundred thousand dollars. I'm talking about

1.5 to two million so it's hard to balance out

The remaining of the roster. That's why I bought up a young man like a waka who had fourteen and seven

He was a starter for Arizona last year as the starting one of the starting big men

And he could have went he could have hit the transfer portal and we got a big payday from somebody else

But he chose to stay and imagine the coach your head coach coming in you and telling you

I got this income and freshmen Pete McDonald's all American. I'm going to have to move you to the bench

Anybody else probably would have bounced, but instead he stayed and now he's put himself in position to go win the championship

Not getting caliperi he does have to show up and show out

For his advancing getting to the lead eight final four and bringing another national championship

But it's hard to say when this in our aerospace and trying to get the type of crews

And especially the the way that he goes to get those type freshmen is just hard to find that balance

All right to put a bow on this we know Arizona is going to move on to the elite eight

They will play Purdue both perk and coach have talked about the depth of this team everybody from jaden Bradley big 12 player of the year

He's a senior tobe a waka. He's a senior mo crevas. He's a junior

Let's not forget Anthony Dello Dello or so deli as they call him there a big presence

Is senior presence coming off the bench for the wild cats? All right

We're going to move on here to the big 10 because what a big night it was for the conference on Thursday with three teams advancing

To the elite eight out west

Trey Kaufman Renn's tip in was 0.7 seconds remaining sent for due to the elite eight for the third time since 2019

Kaufman Renn's put back was the latest game winning field goal in an NCAA tournament game in Purdue history

Three seed Illinois brushed off number two Houston and what essentially was a home game for the Cougars behind double doubles from freshman Keaton

Wagler in David Mirkovich the Alina are back in the elite eight for the second time in the last three seasons and finally

Number nine Iowa stun Nebraska after a huge blunder by Huskers coach Fred Hoyberg to only send four players out of a time out

With under a minute to play

Hoyberg was asked about the mistake after the game

I've never been in a situation like that. I know they always count to make sure does not six

I don't know the rule on that with with four, but yeah, I mean again

We it was a miscommunication and you know unfortunately

It uh it happened, but that you know the as far as the rule. I've never been a part of anything like that

It was so staggering that even the broadcast crew had no clue until

They realized coach that there were only four players on the floor now

I know that in college basketball officials have the discretion to let a coach know

Hey, you've only got four out there. We don't ever see that in the NFL when there's 10 guys on the field

That's just something that you roll with you only see it with 12 men on the field, which is a flag

Should the reps have warned

Coach Hoyberg that he only had four on the floor

Well first got to take responsibility, but I spoke to two five or four legendary officials that have done multiple final fours

And the last guy who I had the utmost respect for sent me this back to sit by rule

You can inbound the ball being five five on four, but in my opinion

It was a mechanic breakdown by the crew

After any time out of each official in this three of them and trial official most importantly probably usually

Would make this decision each official should count the players if you notice only four

You should quickly alert the coach before putting them on play now. That's not a rule

But that's just company that officials are taught to do you got the game and the essence of the game

There are three partners as coaches are the players and the officials

All right, and they're all working together that to basically make sure the game comes off in a positive manner

And you know, it was the fail by coach Hoyberg and this staff and like a communication

But also I think the officials not that they have to but I'm sure they're gonna look back and say you know what my bad

And that played off remember I was up three points. They had to get a stop to get the ball back

So in a lot of ways it didn't determine the game it it determined an opportunity to win the game the same thing to me is

This was a big-time game big-time shots great ball movement great space

playing really hard

But a brutal ending

brutal ending um

True one could easily argue to bid the referees barely worked

They called the grand total to 23 fouls for the game

You know, so say they let him play last night, okay?

So we got a point that we got we got a point to that as well

And obviously I was going to brass the 20 to 7 off turn over

So they were in a position to win this game. They just blew it

I always stayed with this striking distance. They only led for a grand total of two minutes and 10 seconds

The entire game, but they stayed within striking distance. They did what they did in a game that tight

I get the point about the referees alerting you but them it that ain't their job

That is not their job. That's your job as a coach to know that you know five guys who's going out in the game

You understand what I'm saying? You know you're starting five is right? You know who your subs are right?

Don't you make changes? Don't you sell big guys in and out during the game? Of course you do

It ain't the referees job to make sure you got five players on the court. It's your job

It's your job. I like Fred Hoyberg and all of that. I'm not I'm not here to you know to

insult the man or anything

But I'm just saying that's not the official's job. It's your team

It's your job. It's a critical critical time during the game

You got a birth to the elite eight on the line

The last thing you're expecting to be worried about is your coach knowing how many guys he actually has on the court

That is insane to me to think that an official is supposed to come to your rescue when it comes to I can't believe

This is even a discussion. Yeah, I can't believe it

I can't believe that we're having a discussion on national television as to the official

Needing to go over to the coach and say hey coach. You only got four players on the court

When the game itself mandates that five guys is supposed to be on the court at all times

You are you kidding me? We're having that discussion. That's insane

That is not the official's job is your job to make sure you got five dudes on the basketball court

You talk about a basic premise that comes with a coach

Coaching 18 number one on the list should be five guys are supposed to be on the court at the same time

And to save you the phone

All the time tell me when it's different in basketball. I'm all ears

This ain't a three on three tournaments a full court tell me what full court basketball game

You've ever seen where five guys ain't supposed to be on the court. It's the number one rule

Five guys on the court for your team at the same time. What's the problem? I can't believe we're having this discussion

Well, you have assistance most times too like that's on the other coach

Maybe point it out. I'm talking about the coaches corny. I'm saying all of them

Whoever the coaches are the head coach and the assistant your job is to make sure it's five or five

Five guys it's basic elementary school and elementary school team knows

I'll pop one at the end and that's what we're gonna. I'm telling you. I don't give a damn you anybody just play basketball if you're full court

Five guys on the court at the same time

That's the rule. It's always been that way. How are we having a discussion on national television about how to office you should have told the coach

Are you kidding me? It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous

Let's let's look at the bigger picture here coach because Thursday was pretty significant for the big time

So you got Iowa Purdue and Illinois all moving on to the elite eight

What was the most impressive win in that conference last night?

I

Would say don't they're one that Illinois was the most impressive to me. I mean it matter in which shape played

I like we always think they'll go right there really not fancy team great past 15 shop makers before gamers all over the floor

But the tape used to and just go right at them

They went on a 17-0 run against Houston and it was their defects

They helped the other last three points. They hold 60 points

They've held the last three points to 27 percent three point five the defense and intensity the compliment

What they're doing offensively. Let me tell you something

That is absolutely a team that can that can potentially win an asset championship. I mean it is very very simple

When they defend how connected they were defensively the overall size

They're building a limit you to one shot

They're toughness defensively the compliment and elite offense with so many different guys that can score

And another great first from the key blog was absolutely dynamic

So to me that went over the number two state Houston

Sent a message to everyone else

Illinois is no joke

They're not no doubt about that and the seeded defensive intensity last night was incredibly impressive

They just handcuffed Houston Houston couldn't do anything offensively. So give credit where credit is due

I also think that when we talk about the big 10 we have to say this we have to be more expensive than just college basketball

We have to remind the world they've gotten in last three national championships in football

You understand michigan or how state and obviously now indiana and then here they come with the NCAA

And obviously their record in title games themselves

Nine teams have made it to the NCAA title game

They're one and eight in those title games throughout history. So that's not something that's impressive

But in terms of getting there

Obviously they're making some noise right now. You see Purdue. You see Illinois. You see

You see I receive what's happening. I'm just looking at them right now

And I'm giving credit where credit is due to the conference overall

It is without a doubt the best conference in football if you're talking about if you're a student out there and and sports matters to you

And you look at the two big sports

basketball and football not or not order obviously as football first and then basketball

What conference is better than the big 10 right now? We just got to get props where it's due

They're making noise. They're putting everybody on notice. This is the best conference in the nation

Plain and simple and they're showing it to us in the NCAA tournament after they finish showing it to us in college football

Michigan state remains they will play Yukon tonight the last team from the big 10 to win a title in men's basketball time is a squad back

26 years ago. All right sweet 16 continuing on tonight four more great games

Which upset do we see brewing St. John's over Duke or Michigan state over Yukon

And the next losing this late in the season to the hornets has Stephen A hot

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You choose the crust type the size you load on the toppings

You can basically use this deal to make any pizza you want from New York style to handmade pan pizza to filly steak pepperoni mushrooms

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Welcome back to first take the next seven game win streak ended last night at the hands of the Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets took the lead at the end of the first quarter

Never gave it back after that point. They led by as many as 21 and the fourth before winning 114

Rookie con Knippel leading the way 26 points 11 boards eight assists while also doing what he does bet shooting it from deep six of his ten three point attempts went in

Knippel has made

253 three-pointers this season and he's played in 72 career games. That is the fewest number of games to reach

253 point games since the three-point line was introduced during the 1979

1980 season

Stephen A. I want to go easy on you here because I know you're not feeling great about this one, but what does this loss say about the next?

It says to me that fears from Nick fans about them getting back to the NBA finals since 1999

Uh the fears that they're not going to do it are absolutely valid

Put big perk up on the screen because I want to see big perk when I'm making this statement that I'm about to make

You know perk. I don't know if you saw the news, but I was told by Josh Hart to shut the hell up

So I was told by Josh Hart some dude Steve Puppa

From New York News Day and in New York when an interview and and told me to told me to shut shut the hell up

Let me say this

That here's the statement big perk so you can see it for yourself right here

This is Josh Hart talking about me for me. I think Stephen A

As a part-time nicks fan needs to shut the hell up. He barely knows guys that are on the team

And quote fine

Let me say this I find nothing disrespectful about what he said big perk because I instigated it by telling him

To be quiet the other day when he came to the defense of macaque bridges

But Josh Hart

Number one I don't need to know you

I don't need to talk to you

I get paid to talk about you

Somehow some way they haven't learned that perk one of these days they're going to learn that okay

They want to ignore the fact that I've been covering the NBA over 30 years, okay

The last time the new york nicks won a championship was 24 years or 22 years before Josh Hart was born

Okay, this is the point the kind of stuff that I'm talking about when the last time the new york nicks were in the NBA finals

Josh Hart was four years old

So again, I don't have it

I take no offense to what you said you're absolutely entitled to clap back

And I don't take it personal at all

But it don't make you right you go on the court last night with a via a seven-game winnest streak

And you lose to the Charlotte Hornets a team that's by the way the eastern conference best record of 23 and six

Since January 2nd. Why does that matter big perk because do you know

With the next seven-game winning streak

That those wins came against teams under 500

They were combined 176 games under 500. So who the hell did you be

We're looking at Boston ascending. We're looking at the pistons not going anywhere

We're looking at the Cleveland Cavaliers being right there and you're the new york nicks and last night

Lamello ball and con couldn't pull

Combined to out rebound the nicks and tire starting five. How does that happen

How am I supposed to feel confident? How a new york nicks fans are supposed to be a full confidence

You talking now Josh Hart you talking now you're chirping now you see what I'm trying to say the new york nicks right now

Or not what they used to be over the last two or three years. That's a fact

Now I know my brother from Beaumont, Texas got y'all convinced that he's even more of a nicks fan than me

I got it

I understand it

But I would say this the big perk all day every day you haven't suffered

As much as nicks fans like me have suffered a matter of fact big perk has contributed to the suffering

Because he won a championship and when the two NBA finals out of the eastern conference when he was playing

So you're wanting to people that contribute into the misery that the new york nicks have been feeling

I am a nicks fan. I root for Josh Hart good guy good guy

Dan Good player has over achieved with the new york nicks grateful to have him

Jalen Brunson great floor to have him

But the bottom line is this you went out and you got my kale bridges who I like

Who deserves every penny of that one hundred and fifty million dollar extension?

He got but the seven picks that you gave up to get them

That ultimately is going to prove to be the Achilles heel because if you don't get to the finals this year

How's the future looking because what are you going to be able to do to build the team?

Boston look at them Detroit look at them Cleveland look at them

What about you do you realize that it's a possibility that LeBron James might decide to go back to Cleveland

Do you realize that the Detroit Pisses ain't going anywhere?

Do you realize that Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown are going to be even better next year and all like you

Then they are now with Mazula and Sam Kasella knows boys coaching their ass off. This is not a good feeling

So I get where Josh Hart is coming from in defense of his teammate and wants to come at me or whatever

But it doesn't change my brother and last but not least I'll say this

Very depressing news for Josh Hart

You'll never have the last word against me

It will never happen

Because I do this 10 hours live per week

I ain't even bringing the 10 hours live on my radio show you ain't got it like that bruh

Go out there and win

Go out there and get McHale Bridges to measure up the snow

Who by the way in 32 minutes last night Big Perk had zero rebounds

Zero

Come on y'all get it together

Get together

That's how you I agree with every single word you just said

I don't want you to think that I was just looking down to be to be uh to uh

Brush you off. I was actually looking down to look at who did they beat in that seven-game

Winstery during that seven-game winstery the Pacers the Nets the Wizards the Pelicans

I mean we're talking about teams that's supposed to beat their teams that are trying to lose

Okay, that's number one

Josh heart if I was you

I would keep the main thing the main thing and you know what the main thing at this moment is

It's to play the game of basketball at a high level

Because correct me if I'm wrong

Didn't the owner dolin come out about a month ago and said about the expectations for us this squad this year

It's to get to the NBA finals and basically win the championship

That means the pressure is all Josh heart. That means that you guys are on the clock

And I'm gonna tell you this if you're looking at the rest of the teams that's about you know six through

10 some of those teams that's gonna have to fight to get in the play-in tournament

There's so many scenarios. We don't know how it's gonna shape out

But I'm gonna tell you some of two three teams that's gonna be there in my opinion

The Hornets who they just lost to the Philadelphia in 76ers who just got Joe Ellen being and Paul George back

And it's probably about to get Tyree's maxi back and the Atlanta Hawks who have been balled and led by Jalen Johnson

Nikhil Alexander Walker and CJ McCullough

Right now I'mma just keep it a bump with you. I don't trust the nicks

I believe that they could I believe that they could get put out in the first round

I don't trust the New York nicks. I trusted them last year when they was led by Tom Timberdough

Because it was a level of accountability there

But all season long I say what have we been coming up here saying they have identity crisis

They can't get it right consistently on the defensive side of the things

Defences going to take you over the hook

Defences what we knew championships and when you look at the way the Celtics are playing right now

The way they sent the message of the night how they beat Oklahoma City

Detroit been playing good basketball without their superstar

In the mix and Kate cutting him obviously cleaving is under a lot of pressure

Joshua you better step up and deliver because I'm gonna tell you another thing you know who wants to be in New York, right?

It's a man by the name of Yannis out to the Koopa

You know right now him and the books are not on the same page

In order to get Yannis out to the Koopa to New York this offseason

They're gonna have to give up some pieces

So that means that every single player on this roster outside of Jalen Bronson is auditioning

To stay on the New York nicks

So Joshua you sure you want to tell people to be quiet and let me tell you this steven eight

I went on Jalen Bronson podcast

I went on Jalen Bronson podcast during the all-star break

And I told we had a discussion about podcasting and playing the game of basketball

And I told him that you need to limit as much distractions as you possibly can

Because you're on the verge if you win the championship in the New York Nick uniform in my opinion

You're gonna be the greatest Nick ever

So they need to keep the main thing the main thing

The main thing the main thing you listen that you know they invited me on the podcast for some reason

You know, I've been busy. They I guess they think I'm hiding something. Oh, no, no, they don't understand

I show up so you know what two Josh hearts face two Josh hearts face

I will tell him exactly what I said. I don't have a problem. I mean, I love the guy

He's a good guy and a damn good player and Jalen Bronson is a superstar in this game

But the bottom line is y'all ain't playing up to snuff and you don't get to sit up there and and call somebody

A part-time Nick fan has been a Nick fan for over 55 damn years on this earth and you 31

I was I was a Nick fan 24 years before you were born

You need to sit down and in the end when it comes when it when it comes down to is this you coming to the defense

You coming to the defense of your boy McCale Bridges. I'm not rooting against them. I'm rooting for them

I know what he did against Boston. I know the brother could play

But you're not measuring up to snuff and when they give you to add they give up the assets that they've given up for you

This is when we talk about with here's what people need to understand

This is what we mean when we bring up words like mental midgets

Okay, this is what we mean by that

You getting all up in your feelings because we talking basketball

We watch McCale Bridges go through a six seven game stretch you a averaging eight points shooting

28% from three point race and stuff like that and I'm like that ain't gonna get it done

You got to play and that prompts Josh Hart to come to his defense. No, he got to play

Just like you got to play. Just like Jalen Brunson got to play. I sit up then I point out Jalen Brunson

This is on you too. Why?

No, I'm not trying to say he went to Leon Rose give up these assets for McCale Bridges

I know that's Leon Rose in World Wide West. I get that part

What I'm saying is when you to face it a franchise you got to be willing to say hey

We trying to win a chip here. I want my boy

But we don't need to be giving up that much

Because we got a future to build and the teams ain't getting worse

And we want a position ourselves by keeping some of those assets to make sure that we could go out and get

Somebody that isn't all star that isn't all world player as opposed to giving up seven picks for a non-all star

Those are basketball things. I've said nothing about the man's character

I've said nothing about the man's personal life. I didn't do any of those things

For so Josh Hart getting all up in his feelings over McCale Bridges and me telling him he should be quiet

Yeah, he could clap back at me. I'm not taking that any of any offense

He has every right to do that, but it don't make him right

The fact of the matter is the nicks got their ass kicked last night when they went up against a real team

Two guards out rebounded the entire start and five. They got out rebounded by 19

Against the Charlotte Hornets

We ain't saved Detroit Boston or Cleveland and we're supposed to be enthused

New York nicks supposed to be going to the finals semi finals two years ago conference finals last year

It was supposed to be a step up to the finals and you got rid of Tom Fibito in order to do it

And now we're looking at a team and we're saying yo

This doesn't look good and you're gonna get all emotional about it tough

We're talking basketball. We're not doing anything other than that. We ain't getting personal

We're talking basketball and from a basketball standpoint your record is an illusion

You are not as good as your record says you are because when you go up against other teams on your level

They've been kicking your ass

What are you going to do about it?

I'm watching as I have been for over 50 years

Get the hell over it. I'm not going anywhere matter of fact

My my attention is only going to intensify. Oh boy trust me

Can't wait for that episode of the roommates podcast all right coming up next

Darius a cup of juniors sensational tournament run has come to an end getting blown out by Arizona

Why does someone here feel it was the most disappointing loss we saw yesterday

Plus do we have more faith in St. John's beating Duke or Michigan state upsetting you con this is a debate you don't want to miss

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This college basketball tournament moment is brought to you by Mary at Bomboy

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Welcome back to first take dc is the place to be Friday night as the east region kicks off first Duke

St johns one seed five seed john shire looking to make his second straight elite aid appearance while rick patino

Will be trying to go to his first with st johns the age gap between the opposing coaches largest in sweet 16 since 1975

All right second game Yukon takes on michigan state. This is time is those 17 sweet 16 appearance

Which is tied with coach cowl and dean smith for photos most all times since the round was created

Dan Hurley in the sweet 16 for the third time in his eight years at Yukon the previous two times he

won the national title coach that's greenberg back here with us

Who do you have more faith in as you look at these two games would it be st johns pulling off the upset

Over number one seed duke or is it Yukon beaten up on michigan state

We're gonna go with st john then styles make fights and when you think about this st johns team and then do playing without

Potentially cal foster was not playing the incident like tournament

If they can pose their style of play on the game

I think st johns wins this game if they can turn Duke over st johns wins

This game if they can make the game ugly and physical st johns wins this game if they can make

Ambuzer defend st johns wins this game. So for me, it's more about styles make fights and the style of play if st johns can turn

This new team over and make it physical make it a rock fight make it a half court game make it a low scoring game

I think st johns wins this game. So I'm gonna go with st john slightly

Over Yukon

Well, you know what listen the what what what coach is not saying

You come over to compare to you come

Right, right, but the reason why the reason why I would say coach

I get where you're coming from and I agree with you

But what you're not saying is that listen Duke North girl Duke st johns

You're talking about a one C versus a fifth C and Yukon and michigan state is a two versus three and you know

Listen, you looking at Yukon with Dan Hurley and Yukon

They want six national championships since 1999 nobody's pulled that off not to mention back-to-back championships

23 and 24 under Dan Hurley in his eighth year. You're looking at michigan state

This is the 28th consecutive NCAA tournament for Tom iso this man has been here before

We know what fears brings to the table and others, but we understand that coach stars

You expect a dog fight. So again, even though you're looking very much forward to the matchup

The entry that comes with it isn't the same as st johns and Duke and here's what the interesting part is

You're looking at st johns having 130 games this year

You're looking at the pressure that Rick patino can apply

You know how dog it they are and how rough and rugged they can be and you're wondering about the officiating on what role

They're going to play in terms of controlling this game because if they're going to let them play who knows how that's going to affect Duke

Who knows that's how that's going to affect st johns that remains to be seen

Dan when you look at ojafor and you look at Bryce Hopkins and these boys you know what they can do

These are seniors. They've been around for a while

So you got cats that have been playing college basketball for a few years

Where's Duke is the younger bunch that's coming at with added with you and not only that their guard

They've got some issues at the guards about because they've got injuries

And now you've got kaden boozah who's going to be a pivotal piece in all of this because

Patino you know he's going to test them. He's going to pressure him

He's going to put him in zone situations

He's going to put him in crowds to see how he's going to be able to play in the just playing in a crowd

We're going to see kaden boozah

What are you going to do when you going up against those rough and rugged boys if the officials don't let them get in foul trouble

They don't find themselves in foul trouble

All of these intriguing elements come with it as we're watching this game as we get set to watch this game

Unfold and that's what I think

Why I think it's the more intriguing matchup. I expect a dog fight where you come in Michigan

Because the talent is just there and the coaching is just there on both sides

We know the coaching is there for St. John's

We don't know if the players are going to rise to the occasion against Duke

We're going to find out and we don't know how to use on Duke is going to

Respond to the pressure that we know is imminent because there's Rick Patino's team

We're talking about they're going up against we know what he does

When he goes against young gods and you got to make sure you just compose this hell and you don't get rattled

Otherwise a lot can change for the bad and against Duke

That's what makes it more intriguing

And that's why I think this matchup between Duke and St. John's is the game of the night to watch

So coach, let's zero in here a little bit more on Yukon and Michigan state

So obviously Michigan state is the three seed Yukon's the two seed if the Spartans win. It's an upset

Tom iso's group hasn't been to the final four since

2019 remember we talked about it for you know a little bit ago

They're the last team from the big 10 to winning national title

What does he need to do from a coaching perspective tonight to be able to finally break through and get back to the elite eight

I think the coach used to have done so in preparation. Well, these coaches in front of serves

These have to be talking all week

They're very close friends and Tom in a lot of ways is a mentor

Or role model for dad, but this is not going to be a coach this game

Well, these guys are going to have break eight points go both of these guys know what they're going to give and what they're going to take away

This is a planner's game. This stands are going to come down bright something really simple

Which he takes care of basketball sourced ever you got to take care of basketball

Jeremy fears you're going to take care of basketball matchup to watch Jackson co-worker Alex can't have been both

We were stretch force caravan moves more in the action

So I think this game is not going to come down to more than who takes care to ball and who makes shots with both of these teams at time

I struggled making shots

Outcarments been good, but so the ball is going to make shots

Jayden Ross has got to make shots in the other side

For miss can say they've had different guys step up different games. Thomas was found the right guy at the right time

So take care of the basketball

So let's step it up and make a shot

The coaches are getting in the peripheral of this game. They're prepared both teams have a game plan

It's going to come down to doods making plays and making shots because

The haze in a bar now. I mean they just got to go out and they go out and hope it's going to be an incredible game

Two great coaches of tremendous respect that are not afraid to coach your teams and I want to say I want to see

They look at all these older coaches we talk about you can't coach players hard you can't demand of them

You can't expect things of them and send standard. Yeah, like these old dudes. They got their team souping

I feel you on that and they both have balanced attacks. Let's let's let's make sure to remember that

They both have balanced attacks fears is that he's the he's the the nation's assist leader

So we got to remember that with him caravan just dropped 27 for Yukon against UCLA

We know what these teams can do both of it. There's not going to be this is the thing and that's why it's so intriguing

It's it's not it's not nobody's going to be surprised

It's going to come down to who shows up and who doesn't because iso

Obviously and hurly are going to have their team prepared

But that doesn't mean you're going to make shots and that's really what this comes down to you got to go out there and play

I think coaching will have more of an impact with Duke

Versus

St. John's then it will against Yukon and Michigan state because hurly

And iso are going to cancel one another out and it's just going to come down to who plays better

Where's with St. John's and Duke? I think coaching is going to have more of an impact because

schematically what Rick Patino is going to try to throw at Duke and it's younger players to rattle them a little bit

We're going to find out how effective that's going to be a players game. I'm going to make John shard. That dude can come ball

Well, I'm not I'm not underestimating

I'm saying that the point is the coaches

They're going to be fine but the point is

schematically those young players

Against Rick centino who's going is anybody going to get rattled it ain't going to be shards fault

He knows what he's doing it ain't going to be his fault

But if you go you're going to get rattled we're going to see because very few coaches are capable of applying pressure

Full court and half court to rattle you the way Rick Patino historically has been able to do coach knows that

Must see games tonight must see coaching matchups too, but as coach said it is a players game out in the east region

All right, the mighty huskies in the women's tournament are roaring so far

Who is the biggest threat to knocking them off Andrea Carter stops by the tell us next

Darius a cup junior and Arkansas were blown out by Arizona

But was it more of a disappointing loss than Nebraska's blunder at the end fresh hour first take coming up

You

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