🏀Men’s March Madness Bracket Preview Extravaganza: Picks, predictions for ALL 67 games ✍️

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Hey there! I am Gary Parrish. Welcome back to CBS Sports,

I own college basketball podcast where we sometimes discuss camel fighting.

Yo, no birds, leaky blacks. Matt Norlander is here with me. He's hiding behind a bracket.

If you're watching on YouTube, honor Brandon Davies. Smash that like button. And if you haven't yet

subscribed to the I own college basketball podcast, please also do that wherever you subscribe to

podcasts like Apple and Spotify. Let's get into it. This is our annual bracket preview show,

which is not to be confused with our annual bracket breakdown show. Two very different things.

Sunday night equals bracket breakdown. Is it Monday? Monday afternoon equals bracket preview.

And I want to start by circling on. I think Tuesday we're going to have

a bracket look ahead. First round look ahead. There's another one coming. Don't even know yet.

I'll figure that one out when we're done with this one, but it's going to be different. We're

giving you as much content as possible. Yeah, I think we've got to the point in the season where

we're going to think we'll go figure out the next thing when it's time to do the next thing.

Right now we just trying to get through this thing. So let's take it one at a time.

Bracket breakdown late Sunday. Done. Bracket preview. Right now in progress. Whatever happens tomorrow

happens tomorrow. I want to start by circling back to this Florida Houston situation down in the

South. Yeah, I will say I heard from a few folks and it's it's split. I heard from I say

few. I say four to agree with me to agree with you. So there we go. I didn't look at the chat

with any sort of detail, but I glanced at it at some point and I saw I saw both of these things.

I said man, Parrish is an idiot. And then I saw man. Norlander is an idiot. And so they were

you know, and then I saw like I agree that I saw Parrish is right. And then I saw Norlander is

right. So like, you know, a good conversation I guess. On that note, by the way, we can get rolling

here. I don't I don't I really don't use IG a ton like I post here and there, but I know like

now that we're in game pick and season bracket season like they're they're doing the collabs

and they're pulling videos of you and me and all of our CBS crew here. And so they had me do all

this stuff for social, pick your bracket, give me your Cinderella all this. And as always, just

don't read the comments because my wife, my wife gets a kick out of it. Like my brother has shared

a few things I think on on Instagram and all this. And she goes, how much of the call on you? And

did he that was like, I don't even look. I already know it's there. But I was like, you know what?

Just for you. I'll bring it up. And instantly I bring up. I think it was, oh, it was my team ranking.

So that I ranked the one to 68 field. They put in graphic form. It looks beautiful. It looks

wonderful. And like the first three are all gifts and memes of this guy's an idiot. Here's a guy

who doesn't know ball. Like it's just one after another after another drag me as long as you need to.

I don't even care. I'm about to pick 67 games on this podcast. And it's going to be a disaster.

That is part of the fun you lean into the bit. This is where I have a real like blind spot for

the way the world works today. Because I cannot imagine myself jumping on Instagram and calling

anybody an idiot for any reason. I just don't care enough. But whatever you're saying or doing

on Instagram, I don't care enough to weigh in. The best you're going to get out of me is a heart.

If it's a cute picture of your kids, I'll get you a heart. All right. I might type congrats

if you had a baby. But outside of that, I got nothing to say. And yet every day I wake up and

just strangers. Just call you the worst thing. I can't. I don't understand. I'm healthy for

the planet for sure. Yeah. It's evidence. It's evidence that the planet's definitely heading in

the right direction. All right. Let me tell you what we're going to do today. Here's what we're

going to do today. We're going to pick every game real or hypothetical

that we have in our brackets that have been published at CBS Sports.com. Yeah. One of us will

stick to the bracket that you might have seen on CBS Sports.com. One of us will definitely not

be doing that. And one of us will just, you know, say opposite things that way he can, you know,

always say he was not playing little sides. He had it right somewhere. You know, I'm going to

make some slight tweaks today. And you know what? I'm going to probably make some more tomorrow.

So you're going to get what I'm getting right here. As always, the CBS Sports app, CBS Sports.com

expert bracket picks where I land, call it midday Wednesday, then we're good to go. But I,

and all seriousness, I think the majority of what you will hear me say on this show today is

going to be what my final bracket is. I reserved the right to maybe tweak one or two more after this.

Okay. So if there's one thing I know about how this works, you pick UMBC on the podcast,

you pick Howard on the website. You can say, yeah, I had Howard. I had UMBC, whatever you want to,

whatever you need to say, you can say it. I know you, hey, you ain't, you ain't so slick. All right.

We're on to you. We're on to what, what you're up to. Hey, let's start the East because it's

the one in the top left. And that's the way my brain worked. So here's what we're going to do.

Start the East top left. Then we'll go counterclockwise. And eventually we'll make a complete circle.

And by then we will, we will have each pick 67 games. Some of them real, some of them hypothetical.

And by the end, yes, you're going to know who we think's going to the final four, who we think's

went in the national championship. My intention is to go 67 and oh, well, that won't be happening.

You don't, you don't know. I do know. Don't put a ceiling on me. We'll actually bet my life on it.

People have been putting a ceiling on me my whole life. People have been down.

People have been down. Now look at me. Look at me now.

I mean, look at me now. I mean, if you can pull off 60 wins, it's going to be all time or stuff.

I'm going 67 and oh, don't put a ceiling on me. I've been doubted before.

It's the guy who once said you come and never lose again.

I didn't think they were the way that you, Com fans were talking.

I mean, the coach was saying he's the best coach in the sport and the fans were like,

yes, he is. I was like, I guess they'll never lose again.

I was wrong. What do you want? I was wrong. What do you mean? Anyway, I put on going 67 and now,

but you can go first in the east if you want to.

Let's bring up that bracket. Josh, if you're watching on YouTube, you can

produce interactive stuff as we go along here. Right into the east we go. That is our inner,

that is our interface, by the way. That's the UX for the bracket stuff at cbsports.com

on the cbsports app. We will have, I'm glad I'm glad I thought of it now. We are going to have as

always a eye on college basketball bracket games group on CBS sports. We will send links out to

that on every social channel. Josh, if we actually have the capability in this podcast description

after the fact, if need be, go ahead and send folks a link. If there's even possible in the chat,

I don't know if it is, let them know we want to compete against you, see how you can do. We've

had some really, really, you know, crowded entries to pass few, a few seasons. Let's do it again.

Let's get rolling. I will compete against anybody in a bracket challenge except Miami, Ohio.

I'm not going to play them. I'm not going to play. I refuse to let them. It is against

NCAA rules for people that play for Miami and coach at Miami to participate in our bracket

games. So I think we're good to go there. All right, let's go to the east. Duke versus Sienna.

You know, where I'm going here, we don't need to talk too much about it. Duke, it's done. Moose on

along. Okay, Ohio State TCU. You got the Hornfrogs team that has had some really nice wins the season,

some interesting losses. Hornfrogs are 43 at Kenpama, Ohio State going into this game. But guys,

26. There's a, there's a market difference there. TCU's got some good defense to it. I love David

punch. He's a sophomore, 67, super smart forward. He's really the guy that if TCU is going to win

this game, I think can have a huge, huge impact. He has much watch. I'm going to go Ohio State.

It's got a better offense. It's not just Thornton who's really good. John Mobley is a 42% 3 point

shooter from deep between those two. There's excellent, excellent range overall. In Kristoff's

daily, he's been getting better as the season been going along as a seven footer inside. So I'll

take Ohio State to move along going on down. I'm going to take Johnny's here over Northern Iowa.

I thought Northern Iowa is going to land as a 13. They get there as a 12. Ben Jacobson is a really

nice coach. But boy, I mean, with the way that Johnny's have been playing in their physicality,

I don't see the 12 over five there. Kansas versus Cal Baptist. I'm going to go J-Hawks. Now,

Cal Baptist has a player who was the February USBWA mid major player of the month in Dominic Daniels

Jr. He was a stud and can really fill it up. He's top five in the country in scoring nationally.

So I wonder if you can actually get going and really heat up here. I wonder if this one might

be a little close down the stretch. This game is in San Diego. Cal Baptist doesn't have to travel

that far. GP, you good with that? Kansas got to go out to San Diego and Cal Baptist taking a

quiz bus ride there. You good with that? I don't I don't love it. I mean, you really put in Bill

Self at an incredible disadvantage against Rick, against Rick Croy. That's correct. Rick Croy.

So I'll coach, by the way, might be in the mix of pepper nine. We'll see how that works out.

I will go, okay, let's talk through this here. I so we make our picks on the show on Sunday night.

And I was feeling so good about South Florida. And I still am. But GP, I get home late last night.

I'm sifting through the reactions, reading a bunch of different stuff, checking what some people

have posted. Is there a single person in the media picking Louisville to win this game? This is so

this to me has scorned so far in one direction. It's making me hesitate significantly. Bulls are

good. They they have been playing extremely well over the past two months. Hodgons are very good

coach. I am truly torn what to do here. I just don't want to go. I hate going all chock. All right,

I'm going to stick with USF. But if Louisville wins this game by 14, I'm going to be furious.

Pat Kelsey. Do I even have the glasses? Yeah, I do. I got to listen. Don't think. I don't think I

can't go Pat Kelsey at a moment's notice here. But I'm going against them. Look up GP. Look at us.

Look at us. You and me. Who thought? We're twins. We're basically twins now. There we go. I'll go

South Florida. I'm doing it reluctantly. I swear, I will not change this pick. But it bothers me how many

people are picking the bulls in that game. I will go Michigan state to beat NDSU. I feel like I

might be seeing a little bit of some North Dakota state action. We'll see on that. I don't see it

personally, but never know. UCLA over UCF. This is a no hesitation one for me. UCLA has been playing a

lot better. It's too best player should be available for this game. UCF gets in. Gets in and doesn't

even go to date and where I thought it was going to go. UCF is the lowest rated at large team that

is not Miami University. It's 21 and 11. It's program has dropped four of its final five. It's

not good defensively at all. I don't hesitate here, which means I'm probably going to be wrong.

Nothing less going to UCF. And then I will take Yukon over for man. For man. So hot right now,

but not hot enough. Bob Richies team can't get it done in Philly on Friday. Huskies move along.

Let's go back up to the top here and talk second round. I'll try and move a little bit more quickly.

Duke over Ohio State. How can you not Ohio States? You know, that'll be a successful season for

sure for year two for Jake Debler. But even with the inter-situations, I'm going Duke there.

I'm going St. John's over Kansas. Feels like more people than not are also going

Johnny's here. I think that's an impact of the Big East devil sweep. Zubie edge of four and how

well he's played this season and played himself into an all-american status. So I'll go Johnny's

there. That is a cross-country trip. You know, get through the first game. Hopefully it doesn't

have any wear on you. But those are in San Diego as a reminder. And then South Florida Michigan

States. Last that I had South Florida. Do I want to stick with this? This is a Michigan State

team that was almost a two. South Florida doesn't have a top 60 offense in the country. It is good

on the offensive glass. West Enis is a very solid guard. I like the match up there just in general

with Jeremy Fears. This game's in Buffalo. There'll be a Michigan State fan should show up plenty.

Boy, GP. What do I do? MSU's drop two in a row. But it was at Michigan understandable by 40 UCLA.

This is Nizo on a two-day turnaround. You're not picking against Tom iso here. Get on with it.

And I hate this, though. Am I really going to do this just chalk nonsense? No, give me the

bulls. I'm going to be wrong, but whatever. Put them through. Put them through.

Bulls on parade. Let's go.

We're doing it. Give me the bulls on the sweet 16. How many people out there going that zesty?

Come on now and then I will go Yukon over UCLA. Nick Cronin goes one in one in the eastern

time zone in the entirety of the 2526 season. Here we go. I'm going to stick with this one.

A battle between the two best bigs in college basketball. Camp Booser,

Zubie edge of four. It's Rick Patino. It's John Shire. Game would be in DC in the East Regional.

I'll take St. John's to get to the elite eight and upset Duke in the sweet 16.

And then in the bottom half, I will go Huskies over bulls. And this is now I'm not doing this

for the clicks or the reactions. I did this in real time and I'm going to stick with it. We are

getting a fourth, fourth game between Huskies and Johnny's. And I'm going to take the Yukon Huskies

to go to Indianapolis, which I feel like is kind of a counterculture pick right now and

understandably so. I'm not overly confident in this. This feels like a good,

it feels like a good, good value play here in your office pool. They got, they got a coach

who knows a thing or two about winning a march. And a lot of people are going to take Duke.

I think you could see some Michigan state love. You might even see some some St. John's love here.

So I will go Yukon. It's all you. All right. Yukon in the final four out of the East region for

Norlander. I'll keep us moving a little. Yeah. And you know, you know, I'm going to be long

when I'm fine with it. I'm sitting, you know, I could just sit here and, you know, text people

and stuff. I'm fine with it. Don't worry about it. Duke, Sienna, fun coaching matchup. John

Shire, Jerry McNamara, two guys who are famous college basketball players, both one national

champion chips, both scored more than 2000 points. Quick question. Quick question. Whose career would

you rather have had as at the college level? McNamara is wasn't as good of a player as Shire,

but they're both one national titles, but Syracuse, there's not as many legends as there is at Duke,

which one would you rather be? I think and I'd be happy to be corrected by Syracuse fans or Duke fans,

but it feels like Jerry, the coaching thing might change it because like John Shire is about to be,

but I think Jerry McNamara as a player resonates more at Syracuse than John Shire as a

player resonates at Duke. I think that's true. And yet Shire was the better player,

but it's just something I thought about earlier today. I wanted to throw a tee on the show.

Obviously, but one of these guys coaches Duke and the other one coaches Sienna. So like,

although they could be coaching against each other next season, we'll wait and see how that goes.

You think it's going to go that way? I think there's a chance. How about this? I'll say 50 percent

during McNamara as the next Syracuse coach right now. Yeah, I've been I've been peppering my Syracuse

colleagues up here. They're they're eager to find out Ohio State TCU. I'm going to take the book

eyes. Bruce Thornton in the NCAA tournament. So we never have to do that thing where can you believe

he led the school and scoring, but never played in the tournament. He's going to play in the tournament.

I think he's going to win, but TCU is six of one in the past seven. Sort that data top 30 in the

country in that stretch. St. John's over Northern Iowa. Johnny's are 19 and one in the past 20

two wins over UConn in that stretch. Two wins over Villanova in that stretch. Kansas over Cal

Baptist. I don't love the idea that Rick Koy so Rick Roy so close to home. I don't I you know,

I feel about that kind of stuff, but Bill self there in Peterson. One way or another they'll get

through that. I in the bracket, I feel that I do have Louisville over South Florida. So I am maybe

I'm the one person picking Louisville or South Florida, but I did circle back. I might be I did

circle back and I found the Brian Hodgson press conference from yesterday after it was announced.

They're going back to playing Buffalo and that was really sweet man like that. That makes me you

ready for this. I picked Louisville, but I would be happy to be wrong if Brian could share that moment

with his father in in person. If you haven't seen the press conference, I thought that was a sweet

moment. Go find it. I'll take Louisville over USF Michigan State over North Dakota State North

Dakota State 27 wins 17 and two in their past 19, but I'll take the Spartans to advance UCLA USF.

Where's this game? Phil and Elfia. This game. It's of course. He's going to he's

microne and complain about the statue of liberty. Now he's going to complain about the statue of

Rocky. Imagine imagine you you go to Philly and you decide you want to do the like you climb the steps

and get it all on video. You should do that by the way. Like Mick lean into it. Like go do that.

That would be a huge a huge win. No, I was going to say you're just a random Rocky fan doing it.

And then you look back at your video a few days later and you notice in the background it's just

microne standing over there by the statue just pissed off just mad as hell at the whole thing.

And then down there cussing out the liberty bell.

He goes and looks at the liberty bell and says over under 0.5 liberty 0.5 liberty bell mentions by

microne and for the entirety of the trip. Are you raising your bill? Are you raising your bell at me?

Are you are you raising your bell at me? Are you raising your bell? I think it gets one liberty

bell reference. Be it day before media availability. It's we're getting it.

So I'm going to know. Are you raising your bell at me? What if he takes what if he takes issue with

the liberty bell? Are you raising your bell at me? And be amazing. We're all rooting for something

like this. Let's be there. There is no way you feel like a win a game in the Eastern times on

that's crazy. This is a setup. All right. This is a setup. Johnny Dawkins to the round of 32.

You confirm it. You confirm it. You know how I you know how I feel about Bob Richie.

But I actually don't but we can keep it moving. Let me tell you how I feel about Bob Richie.

You kind of advances. All right. So now we back up. This is where we've got to get interesting,

buddy. Sounds like Bob Richie is GP's Niko. I bet if you follow me.

I would I wouldn't mind seeing Bob Richie get out of that. But it's just a tough ask, you know,

to get past the Huskies. Okay. I got Duke Ohio State. Round of 32. I'll take Duke there. Bruce

Thornton. Man, you had a hell of a career. St. John's and Kansas taking the red storm. 19 and

one in the past 20. I don't trust Kansas. You put him in Allen Field House. Anything can happen.

You take him out of there. I just I don't think they played enough together. Darren Peterson

and the rest of those guys. I'll take the red storm to get out of there. I've got Michigan State

overluable Yukon over Central Florida. Now we're in the sweet 16.

Oh, buddy. I don't know if you heard. There's this one dude. He had St. John's number one in a

precinct. He got up to a rough start. Yeah. That's coach five seed. By the way, just so we're all

clear. That coach started hating his team. Then I started hating his team. And and that was it.

We just sort of left it there. But now here we are matched up for the sweet 16 me in my red storm

against the number one overall. The number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Come on, Duke.

But they're hurting. But they're hurting. Caleb Foster is surgically repaired, but not ready.

Patrick Gangba ain't played in a minute. They hurting. They hurting.

Give me the red storm. Straight up. They're advancing to the elite. I don't agree. Oh, no,

this is terrible. Did I maybe spend four months looking like an idiot predicting St. John's

to be the best team in the country? Yeah, maybe I did. Maybe I did. But they're 19 and one in the

past 20. And I've got them getting past shorthanded, Duke. It's unfortunate that John Shire can't catch

a break. Michigan State and Yukon, sweet 16. We're going to advance the Huskies to the elite eight.

We've got the fourth match up between St. John's and Yukon. I think that's a squirrel.

And I'm well aware of what I'm doing to myself squirrels squirrels squirrels person squirrel

squirrel. I think that's a squirrel. What do we got? I know how this is going to go. I've walked

this path before. But Rick Patino and St. John's will get past Yukon in the elite eight. And the red

storm will fulfill their prophecy. The red storm will make it where they always were supposed to make

dating back to the off season top 25 and one. Rick Patino with a team he used to hate, but

now loves because that's what 19 and one can do to our relationship. The red storm go to the final

four out of the East region as a five seed. Rick Patino continued to make his case. It's not

only one of, but arguably the greatest college basketball coach of all time and would perhaps have

the accomplishments to back that up if he had never been lured away to that evil NBA.

The world is a vampire. All right. Wow. You actually did it. Five seed St. John's to Indianapolis.

Isn't it just more fun this way? This is one of the biggest takeaways from this show,

particularly. We are going to lean into the fun of the picks. He claims he's trying to go 67.

I know we just learned that's not going to happen. He's all right. It's already over. It's over for

you. But if you don't have a little fun, what's the fun of it all? We know that a lot of these are

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them moving. We're going to the south. I think we go to the south. Check out that south region. Let's

bring it up on the screen. I'll take a tour through it, try and move a little bit more quickly if

that's okay by you. We can't say we're going to move a little more quickly and then go slow.

All right. It also might happen. Honestly, that's part of the show. We sound like a recently

higher basketball coach. We're going to play fast. We're going to get up and down. And then

they come out and they're like 289th in tempo for their entire career. And then Tony Bennett on

the show right now. I think it's like Tony Bennett. It's like Tony Bennett. Tony Bennett,

get a new job and be like, we're going to play fast. Like we always get up and down the

court. It's like, hold up. You're not the fact. You're not the play fast guy. You're great.

You're not the play fast guy. I'm going to try to be the play fast guy. I'm going to get in my

net oats a little bit going forward, but you didn't handle however you want.

And again, I think the plan is for our Tuesday show to have a little more of an in-depth look at

some of the first round stuff. So we can keep it moving. I'm not trying to get in depth. I don't

like getting in. I will be ready. I'll have notes and nuggets. Okay. I don't really want to get

notes and nuggets. I got you. I got you tomorrow. Okay. Florida is going to move along in the first

round over Prairie View or Lehigh. I'm going to take I'm going to take Clemson to beat Iowa.

Who the heck knows, man? Iowa runs everything through Sturts. Is that going to be enough?

Clemson's got more physicality. I'll go Tigers there. Those games are going to be in Tampa,

by the way. Vanderbilt will play McNeese in Oklahoma City. These games will be on Thursday.

Vandy, as a reminder, got the short end of the stick as a five. And with the difficult 12s there,

Comma doors, I just think with the way they've been playing, the offense that they have McNeese

and legit team. They've got some dudes. They've got some physicality. They've got an endless

array of wings. But I will take Vanderbilt in this spot to get it done. And what could be a pretty

damn entertaining game? Doors move along. And then it's Nebraska. We already know GP's taken to

Nebraska. I'll take Nebraska as well. We need to see this program finally experienced an

instant double tournament win. I think it will. I have to note, though, the playing Troy,

this team did make the tournament a year ago. It wasn't that competitive. It lost a Kentucky,

if you've forgotten. Scott Cross still there. And you know, maybe maybe they've got enough

experience to make it interesting. But I don't really hesitate too much on that one. So Nebraska

moves along. UNC VCU. We've seen an 11 see the VCU matched up against a blue blood from the ACC

on the six line before. That was 07 shafts to Eric Mainer. VCU was a very trendy pick.

And they won. I remember I because I picked them that year too. I'll do it. I'll do it here as well.

Film Artelli Junior's team has won loss since January 10. It was that St. Louis.

It's not an elite group really in any facet, but they play so well together. And they've got real depth.

They're hard to beat. And I just wonder where North Carolina is after losing two in a row.

Understandable losses, but no Caleb Wilson. You're recalibrating with that.

I guess that's me back to back 11 over 6. It's why not. Let's have some fun here. Illinois to beat Penn.

I don't think it'll be close. St. Mary's A&M is, I mean, that is so interesting because these teams

do not like each other at all. St. Mary's is a defensive grinding team that is more than OK,

beat new 62 to 57. It's the best free throw shooting team in the country. By the way, St. Mary's

is in between Mikey Lewis and Paulus Morowskis. Those are two guys that they just like the way they

play. Like I've probably seen, I don't know, I've probably seen St. Mary's play five or six times this

year. I love, I love the way they work on the floor as a unit. Meanwhile, A&M up and down the floor,

full court press, you know, will launch without abandon loves to take the three. You're really

diving in the resume. They, they don't have a lot of really good wins against NCAA tournament level

teams. I will go, I will go gales on that one. And then I'll take Houston to beat Idaho. I think

that will be the biggest two over 15 blow out of the first round going up back to the top. Give me

the gators over Clemson for sure. And then Vandy Nebraska is a tough one for me. I will, I don't

know, man. This, I'll go Vandy. I'll go Vandy here either way. See, to me, either one, you're getting,

like no matter what team gets out of there, doesn't matter. Vandy, McNeese, Nebraska, Troy,

what there's only going to be one of those four teams that's going to get out of Oklahoma City

into the regional semis in Houston. It's an awesome story. So I love that. No matter what,

we're going to feel good about it. I will go Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles, Tyler Nickel and Co

to get it done. Mark Bienton gets to the sweet 16 bottom half. I'll take Illinois over VCU.

And then I will take Houston to get past St. Mary's maybe in a game where we're dialed in late.

And, and it's a close one, but the Cougars ultimately get it done. And then, okay, so here we go.

Then we get the rematch in the sweet 16 between Florida and Vanderbilt. They just faced each

other. Vanderbilt was able to up and up in Florida in the SEC semis, the one 91 74.

And Florida won earlier in the season. They got it done when that game was in Gainesville,

but it was a four point margin. So if we do get this matchup, you plenty of intrigue with it.

They played different styles. Vanderbilt is kind of successful because of what it can do with

its guards led by by Tanner more than anyone else. And meanwhile, we know what Florida can do with

its front court. I will go gators in this spot. But I kind of think that Florida Vanderbilt has a

chance. There's a lot of potential sweet 16 games that could be incredible, incredible. That one

feels like it could be a top four or five matchup in a regional semi bottom half. I've got Illinois

versus Houston. Oh, boy, that is a grown man varsity game Houston with its defensive capabilities.

And then you've got the Kingston Fleming's factor against Keaton Wogler. Please give me this

game. Please. That would be awesome. I will go Houston with this spot. Illinois seems to be a

team to me that not just when you look at its region, but you look at what it's done over the past

month. It's a team that's gone four and five down the stretch defensively. Now it's 28th overall

in Ken Palm offensively. We don't have that many questions about it. It gets it done. It's not

just Wogler. Merkovich is a really good player. Thomas Loffa V-Sitch is, you know, among the better

bigs in the country, 7-1, like a real present to their kind of Boswell. He can do a lot defensively

Boswell and Fleming's could be must see TV. I'll go Houston there. Florida Houston in the

regional semi or excuse me, the regional finals. And then I will take Houston to beat Florida.

Home court advantage. Home court advantage. Last season's national title game on an elite eight

stage cougars with the benefit of the arena and their backyard. Get it done and make it all

the way to Indianapolis. Home court advantage. Home court, looking forward to seeing home court

advantage come into play for the two seed over the one seed. All right. I'm told that I'm sorry

about that. Yeah, some of the chats corrected me. Florida won the game at Vandy, not in Gainesville.

Might be sorry about that. Back check. Appreciate it. All right. All right. Florida advances.

No matter the opponent that goes without saying. Clemson Iowa two teams like

Iowa's three and seven. They're past 10. Clemson's four and six in their past 10.

But somebody's got to win. Yeah. Well, here's the deal. Someone's going to have a sour taste in their

mouth and they're going to be like, man, we had something going and it and it kind of went the

wrong way. And then the other teams would be like, you know what? At least we're able to salvage it

and get a win in the tournament before getting wrong by Florida. Okay. Let's say Clemson with the

sour taste and and Iowa with the salvage. Yeah. Iowa advances. Shout out to Bennett Sturts. Vanderbilt

McNeese Bill Armstrong 28 and five. First year at McNeese. Okay. Question. Yep. Does this count

as a Scott Drew coaching tree? He was at Baylor for one year. That's a good question. I'm going to

say no. We give Josh Paster to John Calipari. Was that one year? Yes.

I'm going to say yes. But he's got this guy. He's got a gruel. Let's still.

Are you sure? Text Scott. Ask out what he thinks.

No, let's ask Bryce. This is Bryce. I don't care. I assume Bryce would not care whether Bill Armstrong

is considered part of the Scott Drew tree or not. He couldn't care less. Okay. Good not

care less. Vandy five and two in their past seven. I'll take the commoners to get past McNeese.

Nebraska Troy Scott Cross. Great story. Fired at UT Arlington doing great things at Troy.

But I mean, I'll be very, very, very surprised if he's not the coach at Georgia Tech, by the way.

And how much do you fill up your UT Arlington? You fired an alum who's going to go on to be the

coach at Georgia Tech. Yeah. Maybe I don't know who I don't I don't remember who made that

decision, but looks like a poor one. I think with the benefit of hindsight, we can call it a

poor one. Although I remember correctly in real time, it was seem confusing. Anyway, my heart will

not allow me to pick against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have to get their first win in NCAA tournament

history. I think it comes at the expense of Troy. UNC VCU. I'm with you. VCU 16 and one of their past

17. I'll take VCU straight up. I just think it's I know I don't Carolina kept its head above water

for the most part in the absence of Caleb Wilson, but at some point that matters. And

maybe it's not the round of 64, but in my quest to go 67 and 0, I will take the Rams over to

North Carolina. I got Illinois over pin, but she has to frame a referee for even being in this

position. By the way, he's already interrupt. Yeah. If Fran McCaffrey wins this game, he's one in

eight in his last night against Brad Underwood. It was already decided today on Twitter. If Fran

beats Illinois, Tom Fornelli has to sit on the eye on college basketball podcast for a full hour.

So that is his punishment. Just sit there and just sit there silently. He will he will he will

speak when called upon. Okay, you'd always speak when spoken to. Yes. I like that. That's kind of

the way I like to do shows. Yeah. Fornelli, we fully expect your team to win and to

uncomfortably, but we got to see it first. That is a TNT tip Thursday night, approximately 9.25

out of green bill. By the way, I got Saint Mary's over Texas A&M spoiler. I'm going to have

three WCC teams advancing. I want I want three of the final 32 to be from the West Coast Conference.

I've got Houston over Idaho. I like a good Vandal. I can appreciate a good Vandal. I know that's a top

five. I might be a top five moniker in the bracket, by the way. The Fandals is great. Love it.

Love the Vandals, but I don't think they can deal with Houston. While Houston's on its way to Houston,

Florida, Iowa. I've got Florida over there. Like Bennett Sturch is just one dude. And Florida's

got a lot more. Florida's got a lot more players. The caliber of Bennett Sturch than Iowa does.

Iowa's got like one Bennett Sturch caliber player. Florida's got more than one. The game is

advanced. Vandy Nebraska. Come on, Fred Hoyberg. Get you a second win. Go ahead and get you two.

Go ahead and get you to Nebraska. Not only gets its first win in the end of the tournament.

It goes to its sweet 16 first sweet 16 in school history. Illinois VCU. This is where I do have

it ending for the Rams. Brad Underwood to the sweet 16. I've got Houston over St. Mary's.

Florida over Nebraska. Fred Hoyberg magical season ends in the sweet 16. Todd Golden back to the

elite eight. I've got Houston over Illinois. Yes, I've got it set up. One versus two in the South

region final. Florida playing at an incredible disadvantage that I fundamentally think is unfair.

loses to the Houston Cougars. Calvin Samson back in the final four. Calvin Samson two wins

away from a national championship. Florida fans complaining all night about why they had to play

a road game as the one C and don't ever forget. I was I was arguing on your behalf on March 15

and Matt Norlander tried to shame me with bracketing principles.

That's the left side of the bracket. We we agree on the the team out of the South. We both

got the coups and part of fans if you if you don't like the way this is going and you would like

your voices heard. You could get in there in these little chats in these little comments sections

where all the Houston fans are yelling at me even though Houston's like my favorite team.

Now I got Houston fans yelling at GP. Don't you know Houston had to play Purdue and Indian. Yes,

I know. We said it in the stupid clip. Okay, but there's 18 people who type it in the comments

without recognizing. No, ignore the comments without wreck it. Hey, this guy covers college basketball.

He probably is aware that Houston played Purdue last season. Let him get ahead.

All right, let's go. I just saying part of fans. I'm out there. I'm not fighting on your behalf.

I'm fighting on the behalf of what I think should be new and improved bracketing principles.

But if you want to call Houston fan, if you want to get in there and call Houston fan names on my

behalf, I wouldn't I wouldn't object. This is Gary Parrish. I have a confession that confession

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to learn more. Let's reach in top right of your bracket. These games are going to have San Diego,

Portland and St. Louis feed into the regional. All right, I'd love to see that Josh just as we're

absolutely cooking with gas on this live episode on a Monday afternoon. Love to see it everyone

watching right now. Smash that like button like your Brandon Davies. There's more of us that should

be reflected in the number of likes as we go along here. I will go Arizona obviously moving along,

but I do love that we have Rod Strickland, coach and L.I. You in the sharks. They got to take the

circuitous route. By the way, sharks. That's a long you got to take what canal we going through

that the Suez. If you go if you go from Long Island, you got to swim there as a shark. We go

into the Suez Canal. The only one I know about now is that straight. We're all the war comes

with. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I'm man. By the way, wow. I'm I am atrocious. The Suez Canal is

between Africa and Asia. That is awful by me. Man, that's straight boy. That seems like an

it's a wild scene up and it's straight. It is the Panama Canal. You have no

adult Suez. The Suez Canal. Suez Canal. I guess theoretically you can get there some way. If you're

a shark and you got to go from a Long Island to San Diego, which is by the way where the games

are going to be played, you got to take the Panama Canal. I love it. Oh my gosh. Let me ask your

question. I've got Arizona winning the game for the record. Has anybody thought about trying to

like, can we just move the oil through the Suez Canal? Would that work? Maybe we should have

to give up on the Suez board all options. The straight seems a little dangerous these days.

Maybe we should try the Suez Canal. All right. Second our first round, second game in the bracket here.

Who's calling me? Sorry, I can't pick it up right now. All right. Villanova versus Utah State in

the eight nine. Seems to me, Utah says the overwhelming pick here. Do I just go counter here? Do I?

I don't know. Should I do it? Should I flip a coin? Do I even have a coin?

GP, who do you have in this one? Spoil it for me. Utah State or Villanova?

You think I'm going to step to two o'clock every Tuesday watching the Mountain West and then

pick against MJ Collins? What are you talking about? You know, I stay up with MJ Collins more

than I stay up with my family. What are you talking about? I'm flipping it. Give me Nova. I've

had Utah State. There's way too many people on Utah State. I'm running counter. So when this is

Utah State, this happened. I think the past two times the past two years on the show. There were

some eight nine, some seven, ten where I had it. I was like, nope, I'm switching it and I was

going to be wrong. This is going to happen to me again. I'm stupid. All right. Wisconsin high

point. I picked high point last night. Wisconsin's playing so well. High point is

92 at Kenpon, 30 and four on the season, longest win streak in the country, 14 in a row.

It's top five in the country and not turning the ball over and turning teams over. It's deep.

It has not played a tough schedule. It's not a big team. It's got some shooting ability.

One loss since December 14. Got a little, a little. Got to have some fun. I think Wisconsin's

going to probably win the game, but whatever. I'm sticking with it. 12 over five. High point gets

it done. This game will be in Portland, by the way. So I'll stick there and then I will go

Arkansas to beat Hawaii. Just for fun over under Darius Acuff. 29.5 points in this game, GP.

Oh, over. Everything I always say about Darius Acuff is going to be over.

Yeah. Oh, I was something I don't know that I'd be sure to accept. Here's the thing. They

could be up 23 and you pull them with seven minutes to go. That's true. That could be on the

table. Hawaii is your automatic bid champion out of the big West and they won that late Saturday.

This game is Thursday. There's no way in hell that team went back to Hawaii. So I'm curious

what they what the packing situation was there because they would have made no sense for them to

hop on a plane and fly home Sunday and return. So they must have been they had to legitimately pack

for a week and a half a long trip or on Gano coach of the bows. We'll see if they can do something.

They get the benefit. Stay in the West Coast. Portland for for the Hawaii rainbow warriors there.

Also in Portland, BYU will play the winner of NC State Texas.

NC State Texas. I will go Texas in that game. Sean Miller coasted into the year ago.

Interesting note. Sean Miller had never coached a team that was truly on the bubble until last

season. He's now had to do it two years in a row and has had the good fortune of breaking through

two consecutive seasons. NC State. It's got a variety of guys who I had a note on.

NC State, that was going to toss you. You know what? I'm saving it for save it for tomorrow.

I'll go Texas to win that and then I'll take BYU in age of debons to beat Texas. I think we mentioned

this on the Sunday show. That would be debons are going against his idols Alma Mater. I'll have BYU

into the second round. Gonzaga over Kennesaw State. Big question with Gonzaga is Bradenhof.

When is he going to be available and when he is, how effective is he going to be? So Gonzaga is a

three and deservingly so, but I don't necessarily believe that it is a threat to get to the final four

if it's not going to have Huff available kind of a tough deal there. They've done, they've been

able to manage mostly without him, but he's been missing for a bit here. Miami versus Missouri is

going to be in St. Louis again. That's Missouri. A 10 in St. Louis. I'll still take the Keynes.

I like them in that matchup. I think they have more overall talent.

Jay Lucas did a really good job in year one. I'll take Miami to move along and then obviously

Purdue over Queens in the first round back up to the top. Arizona get past Villanova.

It's a fun little battle to write into the bracket. By the way, you write out Zona, you write out

Nova. It's very, very fulfilling. Real ones know what I'm talking about. Wisconsin, I have losing,

so I'll have high point Arkansas. How can I not take Arkansas? You know, and sometimes the tournament

has a way of doing this to us where we've got either a player or a team and going into it

in the leading two or three weeks. They've just, the vibes are tremendous. They're looking good.

You're like, how could I not possibly pick this team to win at least two or three games, right?

Arkansas is an exact example of this. And if it didn't make the sweet 16, I would be fairly shocked,

but sometimes the tournament, that's what nature of the beast man. So held on a swivel, I don't think

it's an automatic. The hogs get there, but I'm writing them through a regardless to get to

to get to the West Regional where I will be in a week and a half or a little less than that.

I will take the cougars of BYU to beat Gonzaga with the idea that Huff isn't playing. And the

defense that I saw show up in the big 12 tournament on BYU's behalf still gets it done. And that

means back to back sweet 16 runs for Kevin Young. And then I'll have Purdue over Miami,

getting it done there. Braden, but by the way, Braden Spitz is going to break the all-time

assist record Bobby Holy's record in the Queen's game. He needs two to set that record. That's an

inevitability. Sweet 16, I will go Arizona over Arkansas, Acuff, Buries, Bradley, Pete,

Malik Thomas, Billy Richmond, the amount of talent on the floor in that game. Please give it to me.

I really, really want to see that game in the sweet 16. That could be as good and as entertaining as

maybe any on the on the board here, GP. And then yeah, this here we go. This is this is this is

this is how I just torched my bracket. I'm going to go BYU over Purdue. I'm going to stick with this.

I'm going to say DeBonza doesn't score under 30 in any tournament game. I'm going to say the

the defense shows up in a significant way. Rob Wright pulls it together. I know there's no Richie

Saunders. That's a problem. But you're going to see Kebuketa hit a new level. Cunard Davis steps

up, even shoots beyond his current averages from three point range. And the role players improve

all the more. So I'm very aware that I could be picking a team that will lose to its first round

opponent coming out of the first four. But it's got a little take a big swing. And I will have the

Cougars versus the Wildcats in the elite eight. I just so happen to see these two teams play each

other in Provo back G's GP. That's been six seven weeks Arizona won that game. It was close 8683.

I love Arizona winning that one again. And the Wildcats my first one seed into the final four.

All right. I'll be quick or at least quicker. Arizona over L.I.U. fins up wonderful story. But it

ends right here. Villanova. Oh, and four against Yukon St. Johns. Only two quadrant one wins.

Zero in the year 2026. What did I do?

They didn't beat nobody in forever. And they barely beat anybody all year.

I made it. Have I made a great. I made a grave mistake. I mean, who's picking Villanova?

There are dozens of us. Okay. Me and him. I don't call him. Me and him Jay Collins. I can't tell you

how many nights we stayed up all our man. I may change this pick back before we get to Thursday.

I'm letting you know right now. I spent too many nights up late with MJ Collins to pick against him now.

Utah State over Villanova. These these down. Wisconsin high point. I'll take Wisconsin to get out of that.

But high point is 90 second at Kenpon. 30 and four. Like it's I don't that would be if I were like a

middle of the pack power converse team. Like the I'd rather play another middle of the pack power

converse team than then somebody that won 30 times. I just I don't like I mean, Wisconsin will be

physically and all that stuff. But 30 and four. Top 100 team. Like that's a that's a real game.

I'll take Wisconsin to get by him. Arkansas. Hawaii. A cup is on a roll right now. I don't have Arkansas

spoiler alert going to the final four. But he is the type of guard who could go on one of those

Kimber runs. She baths Napier runs and get a team somewhere in the bracket. Further than

the number next to it's name suggests was the likely scenario. Certainly got him getting out of

the first round. Acuff could he could take them anywhere. BYU Texas. I've got Texas getting

past in C state. Then BYU over Texas. I'd like to get that game just because I like here in

Sean Miller talk about NBA players. He was a great on Acuff. I'd like to hear what he says

about the Bonsa here. Gonzaga, Kenna saw state the Braden Huff thing. Remember the initial timeline

was four to eight weeks. We're past that. We're past the eight. And so this has not gone well. I think

we talked about it either when I was in Spokane or right afterwards. And I sort of noted I wasn't

hearing good things about it. Hopefully he's back in uniform sometimes soon. But I don't like

the idea. I mean, you will. If he's healthy, you're going to play him. He's super talented. But

just dropping somebody into a rotation after they've been gone for eight, nine weeks in a single

elimination tournament. It's unfortunate that it's played out this way. But it's not going to

cost him in the round of 64. I've got Miami over Missouri. Jay Lucas gets his first win in the

NCAA tournament. Purdue over Queens. Don't mess this up. Purdue. Prade and Smith. College

career could not end with one of with one of those. Now we're in the round of 32. I've got

Arizona over Arkansas. That just that Arizona team. The sweet, the sweet 16. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay.

I've got Arizona over Utah state. Okay. Arkansas over Wisconsin. Then I'll get Arizona over Arkansas.

We'll get back to there in a minute. I've got Gonzaga past BYU. DeBonsa is great. I just don't.

And I know they want a game here or there in Richie Saunders absence. But broadly speaking,

that has not been a very good basketball team since he went down. I will take Gonzaga to get past

BYU. I've got Purdue over Miami back up Arizona over Arkansas. So Arizona into the elite eight.

I've got Purdue still winning after securing the big 10 tournament title over the weekend,

advancing to the elite eight. And then I've got Arizona over Purdue. Arizona. My first one seed

also in the final four. And if you were to ask me, and I know you didn't, but if you were to

ask me of any of your final four picks or one seed picks, which one do you feel best about getting

to Indianapolis? It is Arizona. I think that's the safest pick in this bracket to get to the final

four based on caliber of team and caliber of possible obstacles along the way.

You've got Purdue in the elite eight. And if it was five days ago, I don't think you would

necessarily have Purdue in the sweet 16. I think I would always have them in the sweet 16 out of

respect for the program. But, but, but I'm not somebody who can get all the way to the point where

I just watched them win the big 10 tournament. Now they're what they were supposed to be.

That team was really bad defensively for an extended stretch. And they they have been better

and can be better, but they're not going to turn into elite defensively. All of a sudden

and that Duke Michigan Arizona trio. If we're talking about national championship

contenders and and that's what Purdue was described as heading into this thing. Like those teams are

are one, two, and three in all the metrics, but also specifically adjusted defensive efficiency.

You've got to be able to guard to win this tournament, I think. And I don't know that they

guard well enough to win this tournament. But I do think they can play well enough

to go to the elite eight and, you know, maybe even the final four, but that national championship

goal. I'm not ruling anything out, but it's hard to see. I guess I put it that way.

Yeah, that's the a couple of folks in the chat pointed out as worth mentioning for our audio

listeners. There are some there are a couple teams here that can play some defense for a lot of

teams in this region are way more offensively focused. Like there are some teams that have some

real lack of defensive prowess. And you almost wonder if it's a race in that regard to see who gets

out and gets to Indianapolis out of the region. But Arizona will definitely be by by nature of

being Purdue at the two being Gonzaga at the three that's not a full strength. And even like Arkansas.

Good team, but but not, you know, it's a team with eight losses. Arizona is going to be the

overwhelmingly popular pick to get to the final four out of this region in your office pool.

And it will be in my opinion, the most popular one seed picked into the final four. Let's go to

the Midwest region bottom right of your bracket. These games are going to be played in Buffalo Tampa,

Philly and St. Louis as they feed into Chicago for the regional. The regionals I should say Michigan

will obviously beat UMBC or Howard. We can have a little bit of fun with UMBC if it beats Howard in

the first four. Getting given that's another 16 one situation there. But and I'll be actually

curious is if UMBC wins the line going to be bigger wider than it was when UMBC defeated Virginia

back in 2018. Georgia St. Louis does feel to talk about no defense. This feels like a race to 100.

St. Louis actually has good effective field goal percentage defense. And St. Louis has been slipping

28 and five record. But they know how to score like they're a very good second half team. They

run good stuff. They can get they can get to the 10. They've got guys who can shoot from deep.

They rank second and three point percentage in the country. St. Louis does. Meanwhile, Georgia,

let me pull this up right now real quick here GP. I think Georgia is second end points per game.

Let me bring this up. Georgia right now. Oh, no, they have dropped 89.8. They're down to seventh.

There was a there was a good chunk of the season where Georgia was scoring more per game than

anyone in the country. And if it wasn't Georgia was actually Miami you. I will go slew here.

But I don't love it. Georgia's got some got a couple of dudes kind of catchings. To me, he's

just he's already a good player, but like he's going to hit another level. And then Wilkinson's

good as well. I will go slew there tech versus Akron. I'm going to go tech. This is the kind of

game I feel like I usually fall into a trap with. Texan deserving five. I think that's that's

that's fine for them. Three and three since top and went down in the midst of that Arizona state

loss on the road. Still a really good three point shooting team. And it's not just Anderson.

Donovan Atwell is even better from beyond the arc. Jalen Petty can hit from deep. If you get some

good contributions at a low on watts there. Just the cast is a really good coach. Grocer as well.

For sure. 29 to five team. Top 70 at Ken Palm. Like Akron can win the game. They have one loss

since January 3rd, but I will I will go with tech. It's it's got I don't know man. It's got it's got

so much more to me physicality and it's not like immensely bigger, but it's got Akron's a smaller

team. That that being said that team they've got they've got a lot of experience. That's a fun

one there. I'm going to go Alabama to beat Hofstra reserve the right to change my mind on this.

Since we've gone live. Tuscaloosa police say Holloway is going to Holloway who was arrested.

You know early on Monday I suppose will be charged with first degree possession of marijuana

not for personal use. He was caught with essentially a pound maybe a little more than a pound.

Which that's a felony. It's a classy felony. There's this thing with the tax stamp. I'm out of my

element Donnie. I don't even know, but he is out. He had $5,000 bond. The question is will he be

available? Will he even travel with the team? Alabama's got to get on a plane to fly to Tampa. I don't

know. I'll take him to beat Hofstra for now, but I genuinely want to see how this story of

all over the next 24 to 48 hours. It's a wild one, man. I mean, you've got to play or

bust it for having a hole. It's in Alabama, like having a whole bunch of whole bunch of marijuana.

Just a huge stash. I mean, go like basketball. It never ceases to a maze, bearish.

Like this was the thing where like a lot is a busy Monday, right? Not as busy as it has been,

but we're just getting stuff together. We're prepping. We're doing hits all this. And you see this

hit the timeline and you're like, hold on. Am I reading this correctly? Is this actually happening

of all the programs at Alabama? What is happening? What is this charge? And it's a felony.

I don't know. I would assume if a felony charge is against you,

for allegedly, like, if I'm reading this correctly, this is this it was four. It was not for

personal use. So by nature of that definition, you're looking to distribute.

Are you about to have a party? One of the two. You either you were either distributing

slash selling. I'm assuming that wasn't from medical use. I'm guessing we don't have a glaucoma

situation with Alabama starting point card. If I hang on, I ain't gonna speak on that. But

I mean, that's either a party or you're distributing one of the two. In all seriousness,

and I'm not trying to bring up old stuff. I'm just trying to provide context for

the conversation we're having. Keep in mind, Brandon Miller never missed any time for the incident

he was involved in a few years ago. You can google that if you want. And you know,

Nate Oates is like on the record, different, different topic, but is on the record making it clear

this year. When he was justifying and rolling Charles Betiaca, he more or less said,

my job is to win basketball games. That's what I'm here to do. And that's why I get paid.

And if you apply that same logic to this, what do you do?

Hey, let me find out soon. Let me just so there's no wiggle.

If this were my alma mater, I would not want this young man

representing us on a national stage in the same week where he got a felony charge.

And I want to be clear. It's also 2026. I got no problem with weed anymore. I got no problem

with a young person's smoking anymore than I got a problem with a young person drinking.

Like I don't care. But like if my adult son got busted with a pound of weed in his apartment,

I would be like, yo man, I ain't mad that you had weed really, but like a pound? What are you doing?

Like what are you doing? And like you put yourself at real risk by just making a poor decision.

It's one thing to have a bag, you know, a bag of edibles. It's another thing to have a

felt something that could be leading to a felony charge. So listen, I'm not going to

preach. I was young too and made tons of poor decisions. But you are a basketball player getting

ready for the NCAA tournament and you have created with a poor decision at best a poor decision.

You have created a negative headline for your university and put your coaching

athletic director in a really bad spot. They can do whatever they want. I promise I won't

care one way or another too much. But I think if I were running the program, I don't think

he would play. At least not in, I don't know. I'd have to talk it through, but this is,

this is not ideal. Let's just put it that way. I initially thought this was for like some minor

possession. And so my answer reaction was like, he's going to play and why wouldn't he? It's 2026.

What are we doing? And then you learn what's actually happening here. It's like, okay.

That does change the perspective on a little bit. Just one hell of a headline, man, of all the

schools. Okay, Tennessee, you're going to play the winner of SMU and Miami. I'm not, when I got

home late GP after we podcasted, I flipped on bracket breakdown on CBS Sports Network,

watched a good 3045 in this as I tore it through. And I did hear you talk about this game. We

are in lockstep. Sure. Pick SMU. And I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to everyone listening.

Like there are seven and a half points. I get it. I'm going to lean into the story. Like if we're

if we're wrong, who cares? Like I'd love to see it happen. So I'm going to pick Miami to beat SMU.

And yeah, what the hell? Why not? I don't care. I'm taking Miami to win a game. Josh, click him over.

Yep. Miami beats Tennessee. That is a long shot. I am very aware. Miami is going to need to shoot

better than 40% from three. And Tennessee will destroy that team on the offensive glass. It will

be carnage. But stranger things have happened. We once saw the smallest team in the country. Be

a team that was the number one seed with Zach Edie. So it wouldn't be the biggest shocker.

Nevertheless, we'll lean into it and and have a little fun. I will take Virginia to get past

right state with Ryan Odom. Man would have start for that team in that program in year one 29 wins

and almost certainly going to get the 30. That's good stuff for for the Wahoo's Kentucky Santa Clara.

I'm still here. I'm still here as I was 24 hours ago. I got no idea on this game. I got no idea

whatsoever. I think I've got Santa Clara in my CBS bracket. Yeah. Let's go Gales. Gales. Let's see.

Let's see. Let's go Broncos. Let's go Clara. Get it done. All right. Santa Clara,

end of the second round in the Iowa state. Back up to the top. I'll go Michigan over slew. I will go.

Whew. Man. I've got tech versus Bama in this spot right now.

I'm going Texas tech right now. I guess subject to change. But for the purposes of the show right now,

yes, I will go. I will go Texas tech to the sweet 16. And then I'll have Virginia moving along to

the regional semis beating Miami. And then I will have Iowa state moving along as well getting past

her Sunday's team. And then man, I didn't want. What do I have here? It's too much chalk. Whatever.

All right. Give me Michigan. Michigan. And then I give me Iowa state to get past Virginia.

And then I will go Iowa state, which I've had from the get go. My final four teams, I won't change.

I think I'm going to stick with this. I'll go down with the ship. I'll go Iowa state to Indianapolis.

All right. Michigan obviously advances out of the round of 64. I've got them playing St. Louis

in the round of 32. I've got St. Louis over Georgia. But St. Louis is like kind of like went from

this incredible story. No. And like four and four in their past eight. I know there's a total

flop last year in the tournament. I think they played Gonzaga. They were in no show. Now this

little bit of a different team, but I kind of can't get that out of my head. I'll take Texas tech

over Akron and Alabama over Hofstra. Then yeah, I've got Tennessee knocking out whoever it plays

Miami Ohio SMU. Like you said, I don't know that outside of like the national championship contenders,

anybody has more pressure on them. In this tournament than Miami Ohio, just in terms of

perspective, there's going to be a whole army of folks who can't wait to tell them they were

never any good that they never belonged if they don't win a game. And so I'd like for them to not

have to hear that for the rest of their lives. So I'll take Miami Ohio for the sake of the story

over SMU. But then I've got them eliminated in the round of 64 by Tennessee. I've got Virginia

over Wright State Santa Clara over Kentucky. That's going to be one of those that's going to sound

like a big upset. It's not like those teams cost different amounts of money. But they're not

really different caliber of teams based on the way they've played through 19 weeks of the season.

I told you earlier, I'm going to have three WCC teams in at least the round of 32.

That means I had to get Santa Clara past the wildcats in the round of 64. I've got Iowa State

over Tennessee State circling back Michigan over slu. I've got Alabama over Texas Tech in the

bracket that I filled out. But given that Halloween news, I'll flip that to Texas Tech. Texas Tech

over Alabama. I've got Virginia over Tennessee Iowa State over Santa Clara. Then Michigan over Texas

Tech Michigan to the elite eight Iowa State Virginia should be terrific. But I got Iowa State

getting past the Cavaliers. Then I've got Michigan over Iowa State another one seed. So my final

four is St. John's Houston Arizona Michigan two one seeds a two seed and a five seed. I like that

you got the five seed there. It's something about the Midwest to me that region. I'm smelling chaos

and I didn't have it in my picks, but I'm smelling a little bit of something there. Okay, let's get to

our final fours. Actually, before we get to our final four, one quick thing, a whole bracket,

take a look at it, take a look at it, which even though it's not likely, and I want to dive into

this a little bit more on tomorrow's podcast, which team? How about which team that is 12 or

worse? Do you give the best chance to get to the sweet 16 12 or worse? I'll go first because I've

got South Florida right now so that doesn't count there in 11. I think of all of them on the board

because we get we typically we get this in a in a given tournament. We didn't get it last year.

Arkansas was a 10 and was the only double digit seed. I think among you got to be a 12 or worse.

I'm taking into their their potential matchups with this as well, Parish. I feel like the answer

is McNeese. If they can get past Vandy, I could see them matching up well with Nebraska.

There are 12 in the south and the bottom after your bracket. This is admittedly some dart throwing,

but I just off the top of your head, which one do you think might be my team to do it?

Okay, so there's two. Let me be clear. I don't think any I don't think anybody's seeded 12 or

worse will be in the sweet 16. But best chance to do it. Look at the team like Akron because in the

round of 64 you get a Texas Tech team without JT Top and I know they've still been good in moments

without JT Top and but they're still without their best player. And then in the round of 32 if you

win that one, you could play short-handed Alabama or at least Alabama dealing with some distractions.

So perhaps that's set up for them. The other one again not predicting it, but could I see it

high point getting past Wisconsin and then you know every once in a while,

the John Calipari has gotten caught early in an NCAA tournament. Again, I'm not predicting it,

but if you're looking for 12 seeds or worse, high point Akron might make some sense. So here's

what we're going to do. Norlander, you're going to give me your teams that are going to advance to

the title game. You're going to give me your national champion. And then we're going, we have to.

I'm sorry. Then we're going to take one more break and then come back and I'm going to give you my

my teams that are playing for the title and my national champion. And then we'll shut out

Devon Downey and then I'm going to take a nap probably if we're being honest. How's that sound?

And for everyone watching on YouTube, they're going to get to see chat GP. As you got

dead last night in the chat, we're going to get to hear chat GP. Oh, I hope so. Yeah, I hope so.

I'm really looking forward to that. You realize every time we do that, I go, let's hear a word from

our partners. And then I go rip my ear out, go down here, but I'll have to deal with it. I don't

want to deal with it. It's too good. All right. Let's bring up that bracket again, Josh. If we could

my final four, this will not change. I guess I promise. I hope I think I've got Yukon and Houston

on the left side of the bracket playing in India. There's a couple of two seeds. I'll take the

cougars to get it down against the Huskies and win and get back to the national title game.

If we get Dan Hurley and Calvin Samson and and matching what's in that game, that would be

outstanding. And by virtue of this, I have Huskies three times and four years making the final four.

And I do admit that with the way that Yukon has looked coming down the stretch, it's a little

bit harder to sell. Again, I just think it happens to be a good value play to get him to the final four.

As always, we'll see and I'm very, very willing, able and ready to be wrong on the right side.

I've got Arizona against Iowa State. And what do we have here, folks? What do we have in this

incredible unforgettable epic season that we've got and been gifted with so far? I have not by

intention. It's just I filled out the bracket and then I realized on the desk last night, look what

I've got. I've got a rematch of probably the best game of the entire season, which just went

down last Friday in Kansas City, Arizona 82 Iowa State 80, Jane Bradley with the buzzer beater,

incredible play up and down the floor. Both sides, Milan, Mom, Chilavitch had eight three

pointers in that game. We saw Jane Bradley be an absolute stud. Anthony Delorso had his career high.

I've got these teams squaring off again in the final four Cyclone fans. I know you're thrilled.

I got you the final four. At least I would think, but I got you losing here. I got Arizona

getting it done. So I have yet another big 12 matchup. And yes, I have another battle between

Houston and Arizona. This is a rematch of the big 12 championship game. It would be the third

matchup between these two teams, not just this season, but when it happens, it would be the third time.

And I think seven weeks span Arizona wanted Houston back in February. It won against Houston by five

in the title game. But I don't have them going three and no. Give me the cougars to win the national

championship and beat Arizona in a classic. Kelvin Samson gets his title and gets, I guess,

Avengers fulfills after a year ago, being one shot away, they get it done here. I find Houston

to be one of the best value plays as a two seed to pick to win your office pool. You're going to see

a lot of people going with Duke, casuals that don't know about the foster situation. You'll see a lot

of people pick Florida because they won the title of a year ago. They're going to see Florida with

a one next to its name again. And that's going to obviously make plenty of sense why they're going to

do that. You're going to see Arizona because Arizona is going to be the most popular title pick

of any team in this bracket. And you'll see Michigan because Michigan's a huge brand from Big 10

that's on TV a lot and has won a lot of games in high profile fashion by destroying other teams.

They're all viable. They can all win the national title. And my opinion Houston is just as capable,

has the experience, has the talent, has the coaching. So why not take a shot, give me the cougars to

cut down the nets. Norlander with Calvin Samson at the age of seven, beginning a national championship.

So my final four is, of course, St. John's Houston, Arizona and Michigan. Yes.

We only agree on one team, two teams. Sorry, Houston and Arizona. You know how I feel about my red

storm. But you also know, I do, you say you claim to hate them. No, that's old. No, we're back

together now. We're back together. We got back together. This usually works out well, volatile

relationship. You didn't hear we got back together. We went through counseling. We went, we got

some help. We needed to get some help. Okay. But we were on good terms now. All right. It was bumpy.

Everybody knows it was bumpy. But we're on good terms now. We're back together. Me and the red

storm. You know how I feel about my red storm. But you also know how I feel about my kelvin Samson.

I'm taking Houston over St. John's, the red storm's magical run. It is right there.

On the other side, I've got Arizona and Michigan 2-1 seeds. These are two of the three teams

that have been at the tip top of the sport, basically the entire season. I could see either one winning.

I've got Michigan advancing. I've got Michigan and Houston playing for a national championship.

And if I could write it, I think the best story you could write in this NCAA tournament.

Outside of Bob Richie. We do not have the same title. What are we doing?

I think the best story would probably be Bob Richie getting it done for Furman. All right. But

short of that. Give me shot clock off. Down to. We're in Indy. Houston's got the ball.

A manual sharp comes off a Kingston Fleming finds him. And he pulls true buzzer beater.

Bang J. Wright style. After not being able to get a shot off in the final seconds of the title

game, a year ago, a manual sharp, berries it, Houston national champion, Kelvin Samson,

national champion, a manual sharp, most outstanding player in the final four, Kingston Fleming's

future Memphis Grizzly. Okay. Didn't need that part, but okay. Do we dare dream? Yes, we did.

I would be as storybook as it possibly gets in a tournament and in a sport that empowers such

incredible stories to happen. We'll see if we're, see if we're right. You and me, same title winner.

Three or four of the past six tournaments, we have actually been on the same page with some of

these title picks. I could be entirely wrong. Hey, we're going to be the smartest podcast

of the dumbest podcast. And I'm ready for both. I'm pretty sure I know which one. I'll stay.

Either way, I'm pretty sure I know which one. We're going to be back tomorrow with another

one. So with that in mind, that's a show. Yes. Hey, nobody else get to hear my voice the rest of the

night. I will not talk. Even if I go to dinner, I'm just going to text my orders. No talking for

me. Got to rest my voice. Rest my voice for March. You know, real TV people actually do like

rest of voicing stuff. Yeah, I don't. I don't rest. I don't rest my voice at all. I'm going to try

tonight. Shasta Devon Downey. Shasta Chester South Carolina. Shasta Terry Tigo. He's a legend,

Hark Ann Larr now. Thank you guys once again for watching and listening to the I own college

basketball podcast. If you're not subscribed, please go subscribe. Anywhere you subscribe to

podcast Apple and Spotify. More of us than there are them. That should be reflected in the comments.

So do that and we're going to talk to you again on Tuesday Tuesday. Thanks. I'll figure it out.

Tuesday on Wednesday. I don't know. It's coming one way or another. I don't know when it's coming.

That's what she said. We'll see you at some point real soon. Bye bye.

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