Hour 1 - Danny Parkins Joins the Show, Cade Cunningham Injury

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In this world, there's one man who refuses to follow the script.

We have rules here, you know that.

And if you don't follow the rules, then what are we?

One man stands tall in the face of adversity.

But it ain't about how hard you're hit.

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That man is Nick, Kostos, and this is you better you bet.

If loving sports is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Where narratives aren't challenged and the truth is spoken.

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What's up everybody?

Happy and merry.

Premendous NC double A tournament Thursday to you and yours.

This is you better you bet.

With Nick Kostos.

Unwestward one sports.

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And on this Thursday morning, the world of sports infected.

The world of sports a little sick because everybody's got the madness.

And we will get to all the big stories today in the wonderful world of sports,

including the NFL rule proposal that I think is absolutely insane and

absolutely cannot happen.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers are the only team in the history of sports where

the third option is the most praise player on the team.

And it's actually correct to do so.

I will explain and we're also going to tell you coming up in just a little

bit here the quarter back signing in the NFL that happened literally in the

last 10 minutes of real time.

There has been a quarter back signing in the NFL.

And just so everybody knows if it were like Aaron Rogers signing with the

Steelers, we would lead the show with it.

It's not Aaron Rogers.

It's not something we need to lead the show with.

But there was a quarter back signing that just happened in the NFL.

I'm going to tell you what it is and what it says about a former top 10

quarter back pick in the NFL draft 310 840 4910 310 840 4910 YouTube

dot com backslash at the costos.

You can hit me up on all social platforms at the costos T H E K O S T O S.

We officially begin here this tremendous NCAA tournament Thursday

edition of you better you bet with me saying Merry Christmas to you and

yours Kenny Henderson take it away.

Yes, yes.

Can you feel it?

Are you ready?

Are you excited?

For the madness.

Oh my God.

Do you hear that music?

I mean, it's better.

It is better than any Christmas Carol.

Give me your best credit.

I love Christmas music.

Nothing gets you going more.

Nothing gets you more excited.

Nothing makes you feel more like a kid than that jingle.

Oh, baby, we are a little more than three hours away.

I mean, you know, I'm almost 43.

Yeah, you realize as you get older the passage of time, right?

And how days like this are so special and once it's over,

it's a long wait for the next one.

We are three hours away.

Three hours and 11 minutes away to be exact from tip off of the

2026 NCAA tournament 12 15 PM Eastern time.

And on our screen, it is now 905 AM Eastern.

So we are now three hours and 10 minutes away.

I'll do the math for you curtain jerk and slappies.

That means we are.

Let me make sure I get this right after I just insulted everyone.

190 minutes away from Ohio State in TCU,

tipping off in South Carolina.

Then we've got Troy in Nebraska at 1240 South Florida

and the Mike L. Browell at 130 high point and Wisconsin

at 150 and speaking of high point,

if this were like 15, 20 years ago in my life,

I don't have this job at this time of day,

and I don't have a wife and kid high point would not only describe

a basketball team playing in that game,

but also my mental state.

Alas, that would my 40s as a father and having this show

that that avenue of pleasure has been closed off to yours truly.

And somewhere along the way,

whether it's in this opening four pack of games,

which is going to be outstanding.

At some point today, tomorrow, first round of the NCAA tournament,

we are going to see some madness.

Something could happen.

I think it probably will.

Let's use the word could.

Something could happen.

Now could echo throughout sports history.

And be woven into the fabric forever of this tournament,

this sporting event that we all love so much.

Perhaps we will see a new name added to the list of March Legends

and March icons,

Farouk Manesh,

Arsenal,

Hop and Wrath,

Gulki,

and others.

We haven't even gotten to the 64 yet.

And we collectively,

we already have our first bit of madness.

And we got it last night,

courtesy of Miami Ohio,

dropping SMU as a seven and a half point dog,

final score,

Miami 89,

SMU 79.

And I can't tell you how little interest I have

in the story of SMU head coach,

and it's the last time we're mentioning SMU and Andy N. Field

until hopefully until next year,

or never again,

that they, like,

that they, you know,

worked the NCAA Tournament Committee that their play,

their Edwards was going to be able to play in this game.

Who cares?

I don't care at all.

Here's what I know.

The idea that Miami Ohio was some sloppy team,

that Miami Ohio actually let me tell you what,

what a great thing piece this is.

This is like that tweet.

Actually, let me tell you why ice cream socks.

I have arrived today.

Me.

I woke up this morning,

and I said to myself,

you know,

I have an opinion that I need to share with the world

in pretentious fashion.

Here's why pizza stinks.

Here's why puppies actually suck.

Well, actually,

all these things you like are all bad.

Here's my think piece.

The team that won every single regular season game

actually sucks.

Could you imagine?

Could you imagine that this is something that's actually been said?

This team sucks.

Miami Ohio.

Yeah, they're terrible.

Yeah, 31 to 0.

That didn't lose a regular season.

Yeah, they're terrible.

Yeah, they're awful.

They suck.

You're right.

You're right.

They stink.

The team that doesn't lose that lost one game

leading up to the tournament,

let me actually tell you why they're bad.

This is a thing that actually happened.

Seven and a half point dogs last night against SMU.

We told you yesterday on the show.

Miami Ohio plus the points.

We told you yesterday on the show.

Miami Ohio money line and God willing

and the gambling God's willing.

They were able to keep up that streak

without the NCAA tournament because damn it.

If that's the case, I might just retire.

Spoiler alert.

It won't happen.

None of us.

None of us are that.

None of us are that lucky.

And now on Friday, tomorrow, you know,

the day after today, Miami Ohio will take on Tennessee.

Bit of a step up in class for Miami Ohio.

That needs to be said.

The falls 11 and a half point favorites tomorrow

against the Red Hawks.

And I'm going to tell you something right now.

I'm betting Miami plus the points.

I don't know if I'm thinking Miami out, right?

There's Rick Barnes as an 11 and a half point favorite

against the team that never loses.

I'll take the points with Miami of Ohio coming up tomorrow.

And Miami Ohio last night.

And the fact that Miami Ohio,

but not not for you.

Not the Miami Hurricanes.

Not the team that went to the national championship game

in college football and lost in Indiana.

No, not Ohio state.

No, Ohio.

Miami, Ohio.

The fact that Miami, Ohio,

the fighting Wally's Erbex, that this is the team

that has taken center stage.

And that this is the team that I am discussing

in the opening segment of NCAA tournament Thursday

here on you better, you bet on Westwood one sports.

Only in March.

Only in this great tournament.

And last night's game.

It's like, you know, you go to dinner at a steakhouse, right?

And the stakes, the main events.

There's no question about that.

The piece of steak, whatever you get for me,

it's bone and ribeye.

Yeah. Yeah.

Give me that bone and ribeye.

Give me that son of a bitch.

Numb, numb, numb, numb, numb.

The stakes, the main events.

But you want to get an appetizer, right?

Maybe you want to get, uh, doing a tartar.

A little crab cake.

Seafood tower.

A nice wedge salad.

Love the wedge.

Let me get this salad drenched in Caesar dressing

and coated with bacon.

The way the Lord intended for salad to be eaten.

Last night.

Just a mere appetizer.

Before the greatest dinner you've ever had as a sports fan.

And not even a full appetizer.

That's like one oyster last night.

I had a big dinner going to be served to us over the next four days

in the NCAA tournament.

Shout out to Travis Steele.

Shout out to Miami, Ohio, who came out last night and said,

you think we're going to play tight?

You think we're coming out here?

And we're not going to let it all hang out?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Shootin' threes with reckless abandon.

Not pulling up for 20 seconds.

Like running in the clock out.

No.

Let's chuck it up.

I loved it last night.

10 out of 10.

No notes.

As a game.

As a viewing experience.

As a performance by Miami, Ohio.

A little later in today's show.

I'm finalizing my bracket.

Oh, yeah.

And I got some.

I got a couple wacky thing.

Last year, I had all 4-1 seats turned out to be right.

Spoiler.

I do not have all 4-1 seats coming up this year.

I will finalize the bracket at the end of the show.

I'll talk through it with Tyler and Kenny,

our college basketball gurus here around you better you bet.

We'll find some betting opportunities.

We'll talk about the big pivot points in the bracket.

Very much look forward to that a little later in the show.

But what I will not do is belabor the big points.

Capital B, capital P for those scoring at home.

My national champion.

2026 NCAA tournament.

The Arizona Wildcats.

Give me Arizona to win the national championship.

I said it to all of you on Monday.

When we had the bracket following selection Sunday.

The most unimpeachable of all the one seats is Arizona.

Florida, housed by Vandy in the SEC tournament.

Michigan losing an embarrassing fashion to Purdue in the big 10 tournament final.

Duke wins the ACC tournament.

But down a couple players.

Arizona enters with studs.

Like Jaden Bradley, big 12 player of the year in a league that housed AJ Dabonson, Daren Peterson.

Burries, co-apete, so much depth.

Healthy.

Big 12 tournament champions, regular season champions.

I think they're the best team.

And you know what?

Even if you wanted to argue that they're not the best team.

And you think Duke might be better.

Maybe you think Michigan's better.

You can have that opinion.

Arizona doesn't have to win.

I think Arizona is better than Michigan.

And I think Duke's not fully healthy.

And I don't think Duke's not fully healthy.

I know.

Duke's not fully healthy.

Now, perhaps you hear me say this about Arizona.

And what you will say, what you should say is if you are a non-believer in the Arizona Wildcats.

Which is a perfectly reasonable opinion to have.

I was convinced Duke was going to win it all last year.

I was obviously wrong about that.

If you are anti Arizona or don't think Arizona is going to win the title.

The number one thing that you should be looking at and pointing to and screaming from the mountaintops.

Is that Tommy Lloyd might not be a big time tournament coach.

And to this point in time, there's nothing I can say.

That debunks and dispels that opinion.

The facts are the facts.

Tommy Lloyd has not gotten past the sweet 16 four NCAA tournaments with Arizona.

And has an embarrassing first round blemish against Princeton under his belt.

But here's the thing about college basketball coaches like Tommy Lloyd.

Right?

And this does not mean what I'm about to say.

That Tommy Lloyd has to join the ranks of these men that I'm about to mention.

It does not mean that.

But what it does mean is that Tommy Lloyd is just another in a long line of coaches that didn't win until he did.

Now he hasn't yet, but the point I'm about to make is that history tells us that they can't until they can.

Think about the legendary Jim Bayheim.

87 title game loss to Indiana.

96 title game lost to Kentucky.

Will they ever get it done?

Here's Carmelo Anthony in 2003 getting them over the hump.

We all remember Roy Williams winning national championships at Chapel Hill with North Carolina.

But we forget all the final four exits at Kansas can Roy Williams win the big one.

How about John Calipari?

Can he ever win the big one?

Couldn't until he could 2012 at Kentucky.

How about Jay Wright?

Can Jay ever win the big one?

He couldn't until he did.

And then he did it again or another Arizona coach.

The legendary the silver Fox.

Ludolson who couldn't win until he did in 1997.

Arizona's healthy.

Arizona's firing on all cylinders.

In 1997.

Simon said championship.

In 2026.

Lloyd will say.

We're there man.

Give me the Arizona Wildcats.

Cut down the nets and win the national championship.

Who is your national champion in college basketball?

Do you agree with my take on Arizona?

YouTube dot com backslash at the costos on Twitter at the costos THK OS TOS 310 840 4910 310 840 4910.

On the other side.

We have breaking news in the NBA as it regards.

One of the top players on the top teams in the league.

You are not going to want to miss this stick around.

That breaking news of the analysis of it.

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Now that to you better you bet with Nick Costos on Westwood one sports.

All right, the breaking news in the NBA.

We're going to have the sound for you momentarily.

All of this happening in real time here on this Thursday morning.

Less than three hours from the start of the NCAA tournament.

Detroit Pistons.

Star guard.

And MVP candidate.

Kate Cunningham.

Has a.

My the.

I don't know what the verbiage is that.

Sham Sharani is just used on ESPN again.

We'll have the audio here for you in a second.

But Kate Cunningham diagnosed with a collapsed lung.

A mild collapse lung.

I don't know what makes a collapse lung mild versus severe.

A mild collapse lung for piston star guard.

Kate Cunningham.

And he will be out quote.

And extended period of time.

So again, the breaking news is all happening in real time.

Detroit Pistons star point guard.

Kate Cunningham.

My old collapsed lung out for an extended period of time.

The NBA playoff start.

Literally less than a month from now on April 18th.

Today is Thursday March 19th.

We have the audio here.

This was ESPN.

NBA insider Sham Sharani a moments ago on ESPN.

Breaking this news on Kate Cunningham.

Take a listen and listen to the words that he uses here to describe the injury.

Sources tell me that Detroit Pistons superstar.

Kate Cunningham has been diagnosed with a mild collapse lung.

And he's expected to miss an extended period of time.

The Pistons are not quite sure exactly how long could be could be could be a period of weeks.

Obviously the playoffs are about a month away.

There is some optimism that he's going to be back for the playoffs.

But this is a situation now in injury that he's going to be fighting rehabbing the Pistons,

their doctors, their medical staff.

They're all going to work together to get more information in the next few days as far as treatment and potential recovery here.

Okay, so I'm going to give you my interpretation of this and things can change.

And again, this is all happening in real time, right?

My interpretation of this is that he's probably going to miss some time in the playoffs.

I can't guarantee that I can be wrong about that.

But the fact that extended period of time is used implies that this is not two weeks, right?

That's the implication here.

I'll ask all of you, right?

And this is all up to interpretation.

There's no right answer to this question.

Who the hell knows what's going to happen?

What does extended period of time mean to you?

To me, like that's at least a month.

So maybe, maybe you want to paint this rosy scenario, right?

And Kate Cunningham's back for, you know, game one for the Pistons.

And the Pistons are the one seed in the NBA playoffs.

Maybe, maybe that's the case.

But maybe it's not.

So that's something to consider.

Something else to consider is that we are now at a spot where the Pistons have played their 49 and 19.

That is what this, so there's 14 games left in the regular season.

14 games left.

They are three and a half games up on the Boston Celtics with Jason Tatum now back in the lineup.

Is it possible that the Pistons without their best player, not just their best player,

like the full-on engine of this team, where you can make a case in Boston.

If the Celtics, like, didn't have Jason Tatum the entire year, they're awesome, right?

Or if the Knicks go down like one of their stars, not Brunson.

But the Knicks, I guess even without Brunson, you could still make a case that the Knicks would be decent.

Where the Pistons, like, lose their whole team identity, basically.

And yes, they're physical, but cades the engine that makes this team go.

That makes the offense go certainly.

Are we in a spot now where the Pistons are going to yak away the one seed through a Boston Celtics?

Because think about what we've been saying about the Pistons this entire NBA season, right?

And while acknowledging that this has been a great season for them,

and that they are on their way to being a legitimate championship contender,

what I have said consistently here on this show is that they are ahead of schedule

and that they're not yet ready to contend for an NBA championship.

And that I don't even think they're coming out of the east this year,

much less losing in the NBA finals.

And the reason is, is because once you get Pascade Cunningham,

who do you feel really confident in to score the basketball in a big spot and a big playoff game?

Who is it?

Jalen Durin's awesome. Yes, Jalen Durin's a center.

Who do we count on to score the basketball in ISO in a big spot?

Who can make the big three pointer for the Detroit Pistons?

Does this person exist?

And now if Cades going to miss time?

If Cade Cunningham is going to miss time, the Pistons could lose on the first round potentially,

if he's not going to play.

I mean, as it stands right now, I have the standings up here.

Like, what if it's as of right now?

The Miami Heat are the seven seed.

They would be in the plan.

The Atlanta Hawks have won 11 straight games.

Atlanta's the eight.

The Philadelphia 76ers are the nine.

And what happens when Paul George comes back?

Are they going to have Joe LNB healthy for the postseason?

They have Maxi Edgecomb? Are they going to be ready to go?

The Charlotte Hornets are the ten.

Charlotte has been one of the best teams in the league over the last couple of months.

If the Pistons don't have Cade Cunningham in the first round of the post,

they can absolutely get upset.

And I don't even think they're making the finals anyway.

So this is without knowing the full extent of it.

Is he going to be back?

Maybe.

We don't know.

It feels like to me he's out at least the rest of the regular season.

And maybe he's back for game one of the postseason.

But this is something that could absolutely sink the Pistons before they even try and like take the ship out from Harbor

into the ocean of the NBA playoffs.

Where if you're Detroit, even if the Pistons don't make a long playoff,

even if they don't make the conference finals, but they win a first round series.

Or maybe they make the conference final and maybe they beat the Knicks in the second round.

Or they beat the Cavs in the second round.

And they get that experience before they lose to the Celtics or whomever in the conference finals.

That is valuable experience for this team to build on.

And if they lose that opportunity because of this unfortunate injury to Cade Cunningham,

and again, collapsed long for Cade Cunningham out for quote and extended period of time.

We don't know how long that will be a crying shame for the Detroit Pistons.

In the betting market right now at Ben MGM.

And I'm just going to refresh my screen here to make sure that I have this right for everyone.

Because again, this is all happening in real time here.

Detroit 17 to one to win the NBA championship.

The Pistons still have shorter odds than the Knicks to win the Eastern Conference.

Detroit plus 400, Knicks plus 425.

I don't understand that given that, you know, Cade Cunningham has a collapse long.

And Jalen Brunson doesn't.

Seems to me like the Knicks are more likely than Detroit.

So you're betting advice for everybody.

Like choose your fighter in the Eastern Conference out of the three top teams.

Boston, Cleveland and the Knicks.

And this was my betting advice prior to this because I didn't like Detroit.

Now with Cade Cunningham, collapse long.

However mild you want to call it.

I don't know how you like Detroit in the Eastern Conference.

And again, the big thing here, two takeaways here, big ones.

Number one, the Pistons could absolutely lose the one seed now without their best player.

Over the last 14 games of the regular season, three and a half games up on Boston.

And number two, if they don't have Cade Cunningham, they are absolutely ripe for a first round upset.

And that is a terrible, terrible, terrible thing for awesome Detroit Pistons fans.

I say it all the time.

Even if I don't think the Pistons are going far in the postseason,

even if I don't think they're going to the finals, the NBA is way better

when the Detroit Pistons are good and the Detroit Pistons are relevant.

This sucks for Cade.

This sucks for Detroit.

And honestly, it sucks for us as sports fans.

We hope that Cade Cunningham gets better and that he's back on the basketball court sooner rather than later.

Collapsed long for Piston Stargard, Cade Cunningham.

We'll take a quick break here on a Thursday.

Westwood One Sports with Nick Costos presented by Ben MGM.

And on the other side, we're going to talk some NCAA tournament, some NFL,

and this Cade Cunningham breaking news with our pal, Danny Parkinson's.

First things first on Fox Sports One, right after this.

You can take you to the matchups today.

Give you the predictions for who's going to win, how we're going to get there,

what your bracket should look like, and then Laura, what is going to play?

Are you smarter than Drake toll?

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And he's expected to miss an extended period of time.

Now, back to you better, you bet with Nick Costos on Westwood One Sports.

The voice of ESPN MBA insider, Sham Sharania, about 20 minutes ago on Get Up Brick.

Up as long as it seems like a collapse lungs.

It's bad out a quote extended period of time.

Danny Parkinson, first things first on Fox Sports.

One will join us in just a moment to discuss that.

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Danny Parkinson's with us now and Danny is hashtag one of us.

Danny loves to buy on some brackets, survive or contest, place some bets.

So to you, I say my friends, happy NCAA tournament Thursday.

One of the high holy days on these sports calendar.

How are you my man?

I'm great.

I'm devastated that I have to work today and tomorrow.

This is where we they're like you work in sports and I'm like, yeah, but like.

Kind of like you know, I feel like I work in sports, but like objectively, but like today.

I can't just drink Moscow mules from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. and fire bets.

I have to be on the air talking about whatever we're going to talk about on FS one this afternoon.

And so I will watch games, but it's just it's different than being at the bar, taking time off, being with the boys, fire and 15 bets.

And then like counting your stats at the end of the day when they give you the tab.

And it's like we took down 180 wings, but 67 mules and nine buckets of beer.

Good job guys.

Well, you know, as I just I miss that and like the group chat is going for all my boys back in Chicago and the bar they're going to tomorrow.

So like it is a holiday and I have a big boy job and I'm very grateful for it.

But you know, maybe I'll get the flu tonight.

I have to miss tomorrow's show.

Who knows?

I don't know.

My guess would be that wouldn't happen.

And you forgot, by the way, smash smashing the pen like it owes you money.

I would add to the list with the Moscow mules and the bucket of beers.

And just to say this, because this is my first tournaments in this time slot right early.

And we were talking off air.

And it's great because I'm off the air noon.

And I get to watch all the games today, which is awesome.

How about like when when when you better, you bets a full on betting show.

And I'm on the air during the games and literally just like there are long swaths of time during the show.

The last however many years that I am just like patatonic on the air and just like not speaking.

Because everything everything is gone to hell.

It's like I'm not sure what you want me to say here right now.

Like San Diego State has just missed four free throws at the end of the game.

And that is swung my account balance for the day.

How would you like me to now analyze the next slate of games?

How am I supposed to do that?

Yeah, but at least that was endearing because it was a gambling show.

When I would be on the air in Chicago doing afternoon drive.

And it's like a pro town market.

But they would have like go go to a bar because some bars paying for us to be there to like promote the NCAA tournament.

But it's like you know Cubs opening day is eight days away.

And then like Dayton and Syracuse are in a game and it's just they're fired up bricks left and right.

It would come on.

I just not paying attention to whatever guests we have on the air.

You know, these are these are very very very high class problems.

But yes, happy holidays to you and yours.

It is a weird the tournament is changing before our eyes, I think with Cinderella and NIL and favorites and all of that.

But these four days going from 64 down to 16, no matter how we get there is still very special.

I'm just I'm laughing as you're talking thinking about like Danny on the air in Chicago today.

Like watching like the end of like the six 11 game needing a three pointer to go down.

And here's like like Joe in the burbs being like, you know what?

I'd like to talk about Drew Dolman retiring and Garrett Bradbury.

Like coming over as the new center for the Chicago.

I wouldn't.

Yeah.

Right.

Other day.

I got to know about high point.

Yeah, it's just it's ridiculous.

And like I said, yeah, well, I said at the start of the show, you know, maybe in a previous life, you know, at the high point would describe my state of mind in addition to the team that's playing Wisconsin coming up a little later today.

Before we talk about tournament, get your final four.

Cade Cunningham collapse long for the Detroit Pistons.

We were talking about this off air a little bit.

I would say extended period of time, which is the verbiage used by ESPN MBA insider, Sham Sharania.

To me, Danny, that indicates that we ain't seeing Cade for the rest of the regular season.

About 14 games left.

They're three and a half games up on the Celtics for the one seed.

Your thoughts on this Cade Cunningham news obviously very unfortunate for all parties.

Yeah, right.

So I mean, you know, I didn't know that collapsed lungs could be mild.

I'm not a doctor, but it that sounds bad and sounds scary.

Three and a half game lead with 14 to go and just looking at the schedule.

A decent number of tanking teams in their path, you know.

So in theory, you know, they play the box.

They play the Pacers.

They play Washington.

So a decent spot to feel like they can probably hold on to the one seed and maintain that three

and a half game lead over Boston.

But Cade's usage is so high and he's such a high percentage of their offense.

It'll be interesting to see if their offense just completely collapses.

No pun intended.

Sorry, that's in bad taste.

I didn't mean it with the collapse log.

But like if the offense just completely goes away without Cade Cunningham, you know, you could

silver lining it and say maybe someone else will have to step up into the role and help shoulder a little bit of the burden for their offense without him.

But, you know, I wasn't much of a believer in Detroit being able to come out of the West anyway.

I just think it's too much on one guy.

And I think that we see this all the time in the NBA where there's like a try hard game that gets the one seed in the regular season

because they're approaching the regular season with a playoff like intensity.

And then when the rest of the league starts approaching the playoff with a playoff like intensity, that gap just like, you know, evens out.

I've seen it with an Atlanta Hawks team before we've seen it with a Chicago Bulls team a couple of times.

The Rackers.

But it was a little pronto.

Yeah, exactly.

And so I just, I think that there's a ton of reason for it's been a crazy fun season, fun team to watch.

You know, multiple all stars, crazy bright future.

I would be very surprised if this team came out of the East with Cade healthy.

And now this obviously throws a wrench into it.

And we're just, we're just guessing on what extended period of time is.

And like, if my point is, if there would have been 19 games left in the regular season, you would have been like, well, maybe he's coming back for game one of the playoffs.

But there's 14 games left.

So we're like, well, maybe he's coming back for game one of the playoffs.

What happens if he misses, if he has to miss round one, like that's obviously on the board.

Can I throw this out to you then?

Because I played this out also.

So as it stands, right, I think this is fascinating to think about right now.

Obviously, if Cade plays, it's different.

So this is more of like, Cade doesn't play or Cade's being eased back in.

These are the four play in teams right now in the East like seed seven through ten.

These are not like slappy curtain jerk and jabroney teams.

I'm not saying they're championship contenders.

But you have the Miami Heat, the Atlanta Hawks who have won 11 straight games.

The sixers who obviously have the downside to like lose to any team on any given night,

but the upside if everyone's healthy to beat anyone on any given night if everyone's going to play.

And everyone's darling the Charlotte Hornets.

If Cade misses the first round, I think they could lose to any one of those four teams in a seven game series.

Hot take or just right.

No, just right.

And I mean, you know, go one step further because Atlanta is, you know,

so Orlando is half a game up on the six seed.

I mean, what if Orlando falls into a play in situation and stumbles down the stretch

and then you've got to deal with Sugs and Bancaro in a spot where you're in that.

You know, so I think all of those teams are live and I don't think that's this respectful to Detroit.

I think it's respectful to Cade.

Like in terms of how amazing he is and how much he's like he would be in my top five MVP ballot this year

because of what he's doing for that team and because they're the one seed.

So yeah, I, I think it's a very tenuous time obviously for Detroit basketball.

But then again, we just have to, we should do the glass at full set.

Maybe extended time is 10 games and he misses three weeks.

And he gets a few regular season games back for a two and up to knock off.

And he rust and get his cardio back up and they're just fine.

And you know, we see them in the second round of the playoffs in a real series against, however, that matchup shakes out.

So, you know, it's a huge, it's a huge wrench to throw into the NBA season.

Disco close to the playoffs.

You better, you bet on the Thursday Westwood one sports.

Danny Parkinson's our guest first things first on Fox Sports 1 on Twitter at.

Danny Parkinson's.

I know you got a bracket. I know you've got bets.

Do you think this is going to be a chalky NCAA tournament?

How do you see it playing out?

You know, I do and I, I hate that that is such a mainstream opinion.

I did my monologue on first things first on this yesterday.

And, you know, the data is pretty overwhelming.

So we've had NIL players in the tournament starting with the 2022 tournament.

From 2000 to 2021.

We had 24, either 23 or 24.

I'm doing this from memory.

10 Cedar higher mid major schools advanced to at least the sweet 16.

So more than one per year.

In the four tournaments where we've had NIL players, we've had two.

Two mid major double digits higher, make it to the sweet 16.

And in the last two tournaments, we've had zero.

Last year, the big four conferences, big 12, big 10 SEC ACC won their most tournament games ever combined.

I did, there was not a single 13 Cedar lower that won a single game in last year's tournament.

I just think like the wealth inequality gap is growing in this country.

I think the resource gap in college basketball is growing significantly.

And the formula for the mid major in the past was.

Maybe you have a player that they missed on, you know, the big guys missed on.

And they got to stay two, three, four years and develop chemistry with their teammates for two years.

Like imagine to your point, like Steph Curry's at Davidson or like Wally Zerbiex at Miami, my, my Ami Ohio.

Yeah, as soon as they show that they are Steph Curry or Wally Zerbiex in November and December,

the power five teams are circle on the water.

And as soon as they get eliminated their freshman year, they've got a seven figure offer to go join a power five school.

And so when we saw with Florida Atlantic, right, they made that run and then they didn't bring back the team.

Because everybody transferred out after that great final four team from a couple years.

Dusty May went to Michigan exactly.

Right. The coach of course. So like, so I just, I think that the formula for that type of team,

it's so much harder because their young talent gets coached.

There's so much money at the top that I do think it could make for a better tournament late.

Because these teams are better. They more resemble pro teams.

Guys are staying in school longer.

You get to see blue bloods face off against each other, giants going against giants.

But I think the early upset, I think it's not extinct, but I do think it's going in danger.

All right. So we'll see how we get madness today and tomorrow.

Do you agree? Do you agree with the theory by the way?

I mean, because you watch more regular season college basketball than I do.

Like, do you at this point in my career with what my job is?

Like, do you, do you agree with my theory that the gap is wider?

I don't, I don't even think it's a, I think it's kind of factual.

I wouldn't even call it a theory.

I don't think there's much to disagree with honestly.

So, so then like do you, in your bracket, do you have anyone below a three in the final four?

No.

Okay. Okay. Me neither.

Do you have anyone to want to?

Yes.

Is it Illinois?

Yes.

Me too.

Now, now I, I, I will say, so I, I have a couple of different brackets.

Um, all of them, I have to do losing early.

This is a little preview for what I'm going to do next hour in the show.

I can just if I'm, while acknowledging to any Duke animal in the tail.

Let's, but if Gang but us and come back, we know Caleb Foster is not coming back.

And is it St. John's? Is it Kansas?

Is it Michigan State or is it Yukon that comes out of that region?

So, um, I do have Michigan State in one of my brackets making the final four.

And I do have a bet on Michigan State to win the region.

That would be the other three.

I don't see it in the Arizona or the Michigan brackets.

Yeah.

I will be forward if Michigan doesn't make the final four.

Yeah.

I agree with that.

That they, I thought got an incredible draw with like test injuries.

Obviously, Iowa State could shoot their man to some of that Iowa State Arizona game.

Alabama second player just got arrested.

You know, because he's Nate Newton or Sir Smoke a lot.

Yeah, this is all stuff that that should be taken into account.

Yeah, it just, it feels like they, like everyone in their region is,

he's like a small team, an arrested team, an injured team.

I guess I will be absolutely gobsmacked if Michigan doesn't end up in the, in the final four.

Who's your champion? 10 seconds.

Michigan.

Because I just think it's the safest bet to get there to be playing for the games.

Obviously, battle tested in the big 10 and an overwhelming amount of size.

So I went with Michigan.

What is your favorite first round bet this could be today or tomorrow, 20 seconds?

I think that Kansas has a really tough second round game.

But I think they could win by 50 tomorrow night.

I think with, with the embarrassment of the big 12 tournament,

Peterson being motivated.

I think Kansas legitimately could win that game by 50 points tomorrow night against Cal Baptist.

Just John, John's great, great, great grandson, Cal Baptist.

I don't, yeah, that's tough to disagree.

They're like in the can.

I do like Kansas to cover as well coming up tomorrow.

I'll give my bets at the end of the show looking forward to that.

My friends, happy March.

I look forward to turning on FS1 tomorrow and seeing you on the show.

I'm going to, I'm going to give you like a worst code distressing signal with my eyes.

And I'm going to laugh when I see it.

Danny Parkins, our favorite team.

High points.

Our one done, our two for you coming up on the other side.

My bracket being finalized.

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