March Madness Deep Dive with Ryan Hammer: Contenders, Coaches & Draft Risers

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continuing on with the March Madness previews

who better to bring in than the king of the castle, Ryan Hammer himself.

Hammer, how you doing? Have you slept yet?

How's it going, brother?

Dude, surprisingly enough, I feel good.

I feel rested, which is very rare.

My sleep scores on my war ring are not great,

but I'm running out of fumes and good fumes.

Chooses, you know what I'm saying?

Oh, yeah, it's that time of year, baby.

It's the most exciting time of year and dare I say,

maybe the most exciting sporting event in all of sports.

So let's just get right to it, man.

We have a segment on our show, how they win, how they lose.

And we'll give you the teams and you'll just give us the reason

why they think they could win it all at the end

and the reason you think they can lose.

Okay, so how they win, how they lose for contenders

that do not fall in Ryan Hammer's trapezoid of excellence.

So no duke, no Michigan, no Gonzaga, no Arizona,

and no Iowa State.

Let's start off with Dan Hurley's Yukon Huskies.

How do they win? How do they lose?

How they win through the Yukon standard

and how they were in the non-con slate.

People think that they didn't play well in the Big East

in Big East Conference play and that's kind of indicative

of what's going to be in the tournament

and the opposite for St. John's.

But I think it's the complete opposite.

We saw it last year, maybe not for Yukon,

but saw St. John's fall flat because they play that Big East style.

The March national landscape style is better suited for Yukon.

So them just playing at their peak hitting shots.

Obviously he's going to be a massive point for them

and Tara's read.

I think it's going to be a huge piece.

How they lose is how we have seen them lose multiple times

when they get stone cold on offense

and they start turning the ball a lot.

Turn the ball over a lot.

Okay.

What about a really fun team that I like?

I always fall in love with the three seeds.

The fighting align eye.

How do they win?

How do they lose?

They win through big skill.

They're big that are skilled.

And it's just too much for a lot of other teams

and the path clears up for them.

It'll need to because Houston Houston

or Houston Florida to get the final fours tough, obviously.

How they lose and how they likely will lose

is because of their interior defense.

It is Swiss cheese way too often.

Okay. What about maybe the most interesting team

in the bracket?

The most talked about player in college basketball?

DP or some people like to say DMP for the Kansas J-Hawks

and Bill Self.

How do they win?

How do they lose?

They win by him being everything you want

in Darren Peterson.

And then playing at their peak.

When they've played at their peak this year,

they've looked as good as anybody in the country

and they're on fire.

How they lose is inconsistency.

And or Darren just not just being the end in the DMP, you know.

So.

Yeah.

Okay.

This is like one team that is like the hottest, coldest,

toughest to predict how they'll do in March.

Talk to me about the Purdue Boyle makers.

How do they win?

How do they lose?

They win how they won this week.

They went through offense and just like,

I feel like it's intensity with them, right?

Like the last 15 games of the year in Big East,

in the big template, they look just like so out of it so often

and they look the exact opposite and so in it every ounce

during the Big Ten tournament run.

I don't, there's something Amy that's not trusting them.

So like how they win is how they did in the Big Ten tournament.

They win through offense and they win through intensity

and how they lose is through defense and lack of intensity.

Therefore.

Okay.

What about Darius A cuff?

John Cal now in Arkansas.

How do they win?

How do they lose?

They win through the two.

They win through those two Darius and Malik.

They'll need a lot from Trevor Brazil in the front court realistically.

They need they will win through Darius scoring 30 game

and the front court being consistent every single game.

Because they're going to have a tough right in the first weekend

and going on.

They have a really tough path.

How they lose at some point they will run into a buzz saw

that even if it's Wisconsin shooting the lights out or Arkansas or Arkansas

or Arizona or whatever it's going to be.

Okay.

What about Vandy team they played in the SEC championship?

How they win taking care of the basketball.

Efficient offense and efficient shooting.

I mean, they're not going to the national championship

but how they win their games.

How they lose and when they lose.

I think it'll just be a team that is just way too big

and athletic and dominant in the interior.

I think I think it will be Florida.

How about the biggest constant in March madness.

Every year they're always there.

Is those Michigan State Spartans?

How do they do it, baby?

How do they not?

They win through the Michigan State style.

The iso style of just like nastiness and intensity.

I actually love their path to get out of to the first weekend

the second weekend.

Even maybe even beyond that.

How they lose at some point cold shooting.

Do you feel do you feel the same about them that you just

stated about Vanderbilt where you don't think that team

can cut down the net at the very end?

In April, not yet.

No, I think there's like six teams who can do it.

Okay.

What about Florida?

How Florida wins is through.

It's not it's through the front court,

but they would win the national championship

because the guard are consistently good every single game.

How they lose is the exact opposite of that.

We've seen both sides of the spectrum for them in this season alone.

They've been so good for the last two months of the year.

They win through the front court,

but they will win because of the guard play.

Okay.

How about a team that has great guard play?

One of my favorite guards in the country, Mr. Flemmings.

And dare I say like maybe my favorite coach in college basketball.

And maybe the most underrated coach in all of sports.

The Houston Cougars, the team you're rocking.

How do they win?

How do they lose?

He's the best dude, right?

He's just, he's just awesome.

They win through Houston culture and through Kingston Flemmings

and in the annual sharp, I think is the big one,

just absolutely turning up and being stone cold.

I think they lose in just a game where they're not the,

they're just a team that's on fire and just playing better than them.

It could be Florida.

Maybe it's Illinois on a really on day.

I don't know.

They're one of the few teams that they beat themselves

and like they're never going to play poorly per se.

But on a non-great day, they can be beaten by a few teams.

Not many.

Okay.

Last one.

My hometown team.

Not your, your Jersey guy.

Yeah.

Correct.

Okay.

So technically not your hometown team.

Not rockers.

Not rockers.

Not your hometown squad.

But my hometown squad.

St. John's.

Patino.

God.

Let me just say this.

I was texting my boys.

And like mine and tosses boys could obviously both win to Texas.

I was texting them the minute like I knew he was going to go to St. John's.

And I'm like, I just wish we threw him a blank check.

Because I know disrespect to Sean Miller or, or Eradney.

Like, I just wish we had him because I love Patino.

But how does St. John's win?

How does St. John's win?

How do they lose?

I'll correct myself.

By the way, my hometown team would technically be mom.

If in West Long branch, not from West Long branch,

but the Hawks at the Georgia Shore.

St. John's will win through physicality and the front court.

They will lose because of the guards and because of the style they play.

And I think they will lose earlier than people think because that.

Okay.

Yeah.

Just so we know which of the teams that we just listed out are a part of that core six that you talked about.

That you truly believe can win at all.

Houston of Florida.

That's it.

Okay.

Yeah.

I think that's pretty fair.

Honestly.

I'll just throw a couple of stats at you.

I mean, give you a true false.

I just want to paint the picture a little bit here.

Since 2000, 15 mid major teams have made the final four.

Eight of those 15 were five seeds are higher.

The remaining seven were six through 11 seeds, no 12 through 16 seeds, which is not a surprise.

Four of those teams, ironically, are no longer mid majors, right?

Marquette, Yukon, Louisville and Houston.

So with that.

And with college basketball where it is true or false.

With recruiting internationally, mid major plucking, the portal and NIL where it is.

We will not see a mid major below a five seed ever make the final four again.

I say false because to project that that is a forever thing indefinitely, I think it's crazy.

It's kind of like when you fill out bracket and you're like, oh, I hate this match up for Houston against Florida.

And the elite eight, who's to say Florida even gets there like it's projecting way too far out.

Listen, it's a problem.

I'm worried.

I'm not overly worried yet.

I think if we see another year of just chalk and those mid majors really struggling to get out of the first weekend.

Then it's a conversation of two years of data in a row.

But things need regulation over time.

The sport has never changed this much in one collective season and period altogether.

And that's just college athletics, not just basketball.

It's football.

There's a lot of things in the mid majors are starting to figure it out a little more.

How to retain, how to compete.

St. Louis is starting to do it.

They're investing in their coach.

They have a ton of money and bill and billions, millions of dollars to invest into the program.

There will be even majors to figure it out.

It's just going to be less of them.

I'll say false because at some point, I think things will regulate and get back to a fun level that.

Yeah, I mean, it's a fair answer, especially given that 2021 really is when like.

N I L era that the portal era that gets enforced, right?

And then in 2023, you look at San Diego State, sure as a five seed, but Miami is a five seed.

I know it's not a mid major, but I'm just teams that you didn't necessarily think we're going to be there in FAU.

The number nine seed was coached by Dusty May.

Sometimes all it takes is a great coach and one really good player.

And in a good system around them to like take that team to the final four.

Like we've seen it time and time again.

Yeah, and how dare you bring up that Miami team.

I was all in Texas that year.

I mean, it's over.

Obviously.

I know you are.

My glory.

It's at the bar.

I think my brain.

Surge a bar.

You're right.

My glorious king.

Marcus car.

The pump.

The pump take master's land.

Well, no, it's okay.

I mean, we just now Jordan Miller is doing things for the Clippers, right?

Like guys that just kind of like have taken the next step.

Isaiah Wong obviously had a phenomenal tournament.

He was unbelievable.

They were.

He's not like 100% in the lead A game which ridiculous.

He's a pro though.

But he's really.

He's really good player.

He's great.

I was so much in the second half.

It was such a disaster.

That game was over.

I was like, I'm going to the final four.

I was like, Texas is my national championship pick.

I was like, I'm ready to go to the final four room for Texas.

Let's go.

Boom.

We were ready to.

Right.

Next one here.

Fun one that we do.

We call it sports scantron.

You remember the old test taking days back back in the day.

Which of coach cows elite freshman guards were excluding Derek Rose?

Would you pick to lead a team to a title?

A.

Darius A.

Cup.

Junior.

B.

Tyrick Evans.

C.

John wall.

D.

Deer and Fox.

And use process of elimination to make your selection here.

Okay.

Tyrick Evans.

Wow.

I.

My gut.

Goes to not Tyrick Evans right away.

Okay.

So I'll take him off.

So John wall was amazing.

I don't think that he had the same impact on a team that these other two had to be fair.

Deer and Fox on his own.

Probably does less than John wall does for that Kentucky team.

Yeah.

So with Malik monk and bam, I'll take Deer and Fox off.

And then I will take John wall off.

I have truly don't think I've ever seen a player like Darius A.

Cough, a freshman guard for Cal that being said, his team around him is not the same.

He's not the same kind of team.

Therefore, they won't win the national championship.

But if I had to pick one guard and then build their team around him and figured out I would go Darius A.

Cough.

Okay.

So the.

The lapses defensively that you get with A.

Cough are not enough, which you won't get with the length and the size of John wall.

Right.

He does offer a little bit of a difference on that side of the ball.

But the court mapping, the distributing, getting working guys into open spots and really like making these.

These big shine.

I mean, I watch Arkansas.

I'm like, another lob not surprised.

Another lob not surprised.

Yeah.

He's literally insane.

He's unbelievable.

I love this kid.

He's so good.

He's my favorite basketball.

I probably college in the last two years.

Certainly.

And the way he uses his body is amazing.

Like he's so stout.

Like he's so big.

Like he just feel.

He doesn't feel like six one.

Like you're like realistically probably is.

But you're watching him.

I'm like.

Like Tray Young felt like six one.

And we saw him.

Right.

And he was unbelievable.

This does not feel like that at all.

And watch is like.

I look at his face when he plays.

That I he.

But very rarely even like smiles.

Like it's sometimes he'll celebrate or whatever.

But he's the kid is so poised at all times.

It can be screaming every fan in the building going absolutely nuts.

And it's a last shot and over time.

He had 50.

Like he.

It doesn't matter.

It does not matter.

Or he's going crazy.

He's unfazed.

Nothing.

He's so even keel.

And Kyle speaks about him like that.

So it resonates even more.

And suggests that that.

So that's so true.

He's crazy.

He's insane.

You know how hard it is to play basketball.

Do one thing that he does hit a step back.

Three on someone and not make a face.

And like not like yell at the crowd and be like.

Yeah, I do that.

Like it's just so normal to him.

It's normal.

Okay.

This is a fun one.

You've probably seen on our pages before.

Would you rather.

I'm going to give you this.

Guy or that guy.

Let's do it.

Who would you rather have at their best for a tournament run?

Cam Booser edition.

Cameron Booser.

Duke Blue devil forward.

He's been crushing it this year.

Probably the best player in college basketball.

Cam Booser.

Or Luca Garza.

Cam Booser without a doubt.

The defensive capability.

He has no doubt.

Cam Booser or Palo Ben Carroll.

Cam Booser.

I think he's.

They're similar players.

In college.

Palo a little more perimeter based.

Cam a little more big based.

And defensive for sure.

So I'll take him.

Cam Booser Blake Griffin.

Well, we're going back.

That's good stuff.

I'll go.

I'll stick on Cam Booser.

Yeah.

Cam Booser Frank Kaminsky.

Defensive prowess.

I'll take Cam Booser.

Even though Frank was.

Frank the tank was a menace.

Menace.

Cam Booser.

I'm going back.

That's good stuff.

I'll go.

I'll stick on Cam Booser.

Yeah.

Cam Booser Frank Kaminsky.

Defensive prowess.

I'll take Cam Booser.

It's a momentous.

Cam Booser.

Her Los Angeles Lakers legend now.

Sure Timmy.

Thank you, Timmy rocks.

Um.

Drew Timmy never.

He did sniff a little bit.

The defense is over huge disparity for that.

I keep the heart beat.

The same thing about all go.

Cam Booser.

Cam Booser or Cooper.

Flag.

I would rather.

Have Cooper flag.

I think the defense.

Is.

just as good if not better.

It is better on Cooper Flag.

He's more mobile.

He's more versatile where you can play him

on the perimeter of the point and down low.

He's more athletic and agile.

He can just offer you a little bit more.

And they should have won the national championship last year.

They didn't and Cam might.

And obviously we'll see how this looks in like four weeks.

And I'll be like sure, I'm gonna do it.

But I'll take Cooper Flag.

I think it's a fair pick.

Cam Booser or Zach Edie.

Oh God.

I'll take Cam Booser.

It's easier to build a team around him and Zach,

you never got it done.

Cam Booser or Greg Odin.

Greg Odin was a monster, man.

For the nostalgia, I want to say Greg Odin,

but I'll go Cam Booser.

Great.

Last three here, I think you're gonna be pretty tricky.

Hopefully.

Cam Booser or Zion Williamson.

Zion was a much more freakish and talented player.

But there's a reason that team should have lost

in the round of 32 to Taco Fall and UCF.

This team will not be losing to Taco Fall and UCF

in the second round or come close to that.

TCU is good though.

I know how state is good too.

I will say that.

I will take Cam Booser.

If you're saying it's to win a national championship.

Yeah.

Then Cam Booser.

Okay.

Cam Booser.

Okay.

Cam Booser or a Mecca Okafore.

Damn, that's a legend.

I'll stick with Cam Booser at this point.

What's the harm?

Yeah.

Josh and I were texting about Okafore yesterday.

I forgot that as a sophomore, he averaged four blocks per game.

It's literally insane.

Just ridiculous.

Yeah.

Okay.

Last one here.

Yup, two.

Man, who it is?

Cam Booser, Tyler Hansbro.

I thought I was gonna be someone else.

Two-time national player of the year.

Back-to-back.

They never won one.

Did they?

Those two years?

They won a seeded one.

They won one.

He won one.

Oh.

Man, I grew up watching Tyler Hansbro.

I'll go Tyler Hansbro.

He was like a rude menace against other team.

It was like a problem.

It was like forceful also.

So I'll take Tyler Hansbro.

Okay.

Yeah.

I mean, sometimes it's like.

He gets a little bit more ammo, right?

Because he played all four years.

So you've got to see him more in those moments.

Yeah.

Senior year hands, bro, or freshman year Cam Booser.

Give me senior year Cam Booser.

Yeah.

Who did you think it was gonna be?

Who did you think it was gonna be?

Who did you think it was gonna be?

Who did you think it was gonna be?

Who did you think it was gonna be?

Who did you think it was?

I don't think that one's...

We caught Anthony Davis and mellow.

Man, I think Davis, dude.

No, he's the best.

I was at that game, that final four.

So I watched that final four with him and the national championship live.

It's a good point.

It's like a little bit too easy.

Because there's like the best one and done's ever.

And they won the national championship.

And yeah.

He's such a good defensively.

It's like that's like your game experience that you went to.

I'm sure Ronnie has been to a ton.

My one March match game I've gone to was Texas versus Northern Iowa.

And I was under the hoop.

Literally second row under the hoop.

When Jess person hit that half court heave.

And it was such a night.

That's crazy.

Yeah.

That's a crazy one.

All right.

In game.

Who would you rather have as your coach for a 20 run?

John Shire edition.

Ooh.

Oh boy.

Shire a dusty May.

I'm sorry.

By the way, the dogs going crazy.

You guys hear that?

They're very excited.

They've got the segment.

It's awesome.

It's awesome.

Yeah.

You're good.

Shire or dusty May.

Oh, neither have done it except for they both have the final fours.

Dusty May with FAU.

As of right now, I will take Shire.

Okay.

Shire or guys totally reinvented another program.

Fred Hoiberg.

I love Fred Hoiberg.

I'll take John Shire.

Shire or the tobacco river.

Yeah.

I love Fred Hoiberg.

I'll take John Shire.

Shire or the tobacco road rival, Mr. Davis.

It's pretty comfortable.

We, John Shire.

John Shire or TJ Olsenberger.

Tucking up my heartstrings on that one.

They're very similar in terms of the inexperience for now.

TJ hasn't cracked a big enough seal yet.

What he has done at Iowa State of talking about rebuilding a program is second to none.

Shire is so intelligent and politically schematically.

I like his intensity also.

I love John Shire.

So I'll go with him.

Yeah.

And that's honestly very fair by you because they just showed you a great time.

Your Iowa State content was great.

So I respect.

I love TJ.

I know TJ.

I don't know Shire.

So.

Yeah.

Respect that.

What about John Shire?

The guy that beat him last year.

Todd Golden.

I'll take Todd Golden.

There is something to be said about putting the right kind of roster together to be able to actually close it out.

So.

John Shire and Matt Painter.

Love Painter.

Amazing coach.

I think there's a clear ceiling.

So I'll take John Shire.

I like that response.

John Shire or Tom is out.

In 2026.

I'd rather have John Shire.

Oh, wow.

That doesn't sound nice.

I think John Shire.

John Shire.

John Shire or slick Rick Patino.

John Shire.

John Shire or Coach Cal.

Definitely John Shire.

Coach Cal.

Let the boys hoop at some point.

Not going to work.

Great recruiter though.

John Shire or last one.

Dan Hurley.

I will take Dan Hurley because.

At some point like.

I think overall Shire is just as good of a coach right now.

And his teams are going to be consistently more elite and more consistently elite.

But.

There's something to be said about more success.

I want to turn it around.

Dan Hurley has got something in the DNA.

I'll take Dan Hurley.

Do you think in five years they'll have the same number of national championships.

Hurley has two.

Yeah.

In five years.

10.

10 years.

Yeah.

They'll win too.

And they'll at least win one.

And I think he only has to win one to be in that conversation because they're going to be a top five team every single year.

Without a doubt, Duke will be top five to top 10 every single year for the next 10 years.

Yeah.

Yeah.

One more form toss.

Yeah.

Yeah.

One more.

You got it, buddy.

Okay.

All right, Ryan.

Who are five non-lottery projected players who can improve their draft stock with an impressive 20 run?

We know who like the big lottery guys are, but who are five non-lotto guys that can really take their stocks to new heights.

Let me pull up.

Bracket.

I need to see what makes sense.

Yeah.

For sure.

Yeah.

A lot of these guys late first round early second, like there might be a consideration for them to stay, right?

And get some more seasoning.

But if they have a great attorney, all the sudden things change.

Yeah.

That's fair.

I think one of them for sure is definitely me long mom Chulavitch.

Iowa State's got all the DNA of a tournament run to a final four.

I have literally never seen a six foot nine shooter like this man.

It is absolutely ridiculous.

There's.

I don't even understand how he's not even a lock to be a first round pick.

They go on any kind of tournament run.

He'll push himself towards lottery status.

He's like, there's no way he's not a good NBA player.

And he might stay another year.

He's got one year left.

He might just come back because things don't look good.

A good tournament run will be with his help.

And that will be an easy one for him.

If he lasts to get started, cut you before he gets the rest of the list.

If he lasts the 20s.

I promise you I will be rooting for him as a Boston Celtic next year.

I promise.

He's not an ever.

There is no time.

I might be so unfair, so unfair.

I will add a day, Mara from Michigan.

He is like a late first, I think right now.

Like that man's made for the NBA.

He's massive.

He can pass.

He's starting to show a little bit of spacing ability and just like adaptability to playing on the perimeter,

even as a hub of top.

He's literally massive.

It's great shot blocker.

Good instincts.

International flare also.

Again, really underrated pastor.

I think if Michigan goes in the run that they anticipate,

Yaxel is already in that conversation a little bit,

and I think a day Maher will have the biggest rise.

Marez could too,

Marez Johnson could also,

but I think he'll have the biggest rise of that.

Tom's Halk is probably close to lottery status,

but say Florida went back to back.

He had a huge rise last year,

where he could have went to the draft

and tested waters a little bit,

but he decided to come back for another year.

To back the back titles,

off of him being this elite role player,

and then now elite star for Florida,

teams will be like, okay,

we gotta, like, let's get on with this right now,

lottery status for sure.

I think Isaiah Evans is a massive one.

I do, he is like in early second,

maybe late first status,

and coming into the year,

people saw him as a lottery prospect,

but they dipped off of that.

I think he is all about big moments

and the intensity, elite shooter,

he's big, he's lengthy,

he defends relatively hard also.

He's got much better in that sense,

and I think a great shooting clinic,

leading Duke or helping Duke

to a Final Four national championship

would put him on the map really well.

And then other than that,

I'll try to pick one more somewhere.

I think Florey Badunga is another one I'd watch out for

because Kansas can make a tournament run.

They can beat Duke.

They can't go to a Final Four,

and contend, like, they're a dark horse,

Final Four contender sniffing a title,

but they probably won't get there.

It'll be off the back of not Darren Peterson,

because obviously they need him to be great,

but they need guys like Florey to step up and be awesome.

So I think Florey could be a good guy too.

Yeah, he reminds me a lot about of like an Isaiah Jackson type,

where he's just got so much energy.

He's an undersized, but he's a really good rebounder

and he's a really good rim protector.

He could definitely talk about two that are like,

why, like Isaiah Evans, like you turn on Duke

and you're like, when he's on,

it's like, what are, what are,

what am I missing that these NBA, you know,

talking heads are taught you?

Like, what am I missing?

And it's such a, such a disparity in distance

from like the people like that.

I think it's just his shooting volatility and variance

that is like, when he's not shooting,

what are you getting out of him?

Not much offensively.

So that worries me a little bit.

It's just like it lights out.

It's like a Joaquin's run when they,

when you come around the run.

So they don't know him yet, too, is the other thing.

I, I, I think Duke is primed for a deep, deep run.

Obviously what Caden would bring to the table

and what they would need out of him

is going to change, you know,

people's minds on him as a prospect.

And as much as I like Evans,

I might like Thomas Sarmore.

I think he should probably stay,

because I think if he can take that Thomas out,

like elevation and kind of be given the keys a little bit,

he could be a, I mean, his, his wingspan, his athleticism,

his, his tenacity defensively like he's,

he's like a true wing in the NBA

if everything works out for him.

So it's, it's hard to pass on that type of prospect.

Yeah.

Great, great callouts.

Amazing, amazing, amazing stuff, Ryan,

speaking of a deep run, one person or entity we know

will be making a deep run this March is you, my friend.

So excited to see what you bring.

And with a little cheese, why not?

So much fun, man.

Thank you for coming on, love you on again

and enjoy March, man.

Keep kicking ass.

Appreciate you.

Appreciate y'all.

You guys too, keep kicking ass, all right?

Thanks, man.

Thank you.

You guys.

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