NCAA Tournament Day Five Reaction + St. John's / Duke Preview

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Obviously the Yankees had a day after their easy win last night so the New York teams get off well unless they give you the baseball thing first before we get into the tournament.

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Now I didn't wait for the late games because they're both blowouts Arizona blowing at all because I wasn't surprised anybody they were odds on the win that bracket.

I think they'll win in the regional final and make the final four I thought they had a very good chance to win it Arizona has been superlative all year.

Duke was sensational until they got injured losing their point card Arizona is a little better to Michigan those two were ahead of everybody then comes Duke but obviously Duke has struggled since they've lost the point card and that will play into St. John's tomorrow but first a word on the four games tonight first of all we got two great early games.

I showed me that a great job with Texas Texas made so many shots in this game they made so many outside shots to stay in that game heartbreaking loss on the tip and they played really well they had a couple players drag in their legs but really they played their hearts out I thought that would be a fairly close game I thought for do would win that game didn't surprise me I thought I would win Nebraska had a couple of rough moments like not having everybody on the court.

I was superbly coached what a great run for them great win too exciting terrific games and the amazing thing about both those games today is they you know a lot of times in these games and we see it all time with St. John's because they can't shoot but these teams in the first games today all made shots they all shot a high percentage I mean they were making threes they were making shots I mean they're there.

They're numbers were outrageous I want to see if they all finished above 500 let me see 50% the 79 77 Purdue win.

Purdue shot 48 for and Texas shot 51 8 still very good numbers in the.

Iowa Nebraska game.

I was shot 51 9 Nebraska really tailed off in the second half they were 52 and a half they shot 42 for the game they shot 34 from three they made 13 threes Iowa made 13 threes both of them shot a lot of threes Iowa shot 30 Nebraska which always shoots a lot shot 33 8

But I thought the shooting was very and the offensive execution was very good in those games so congratulations to Purdue congratulations to Iowa Arkansas and Houston Houston the surprising one up down 15 Illinois is playing since basically Illinois listen I loved Illinois about a month with all season about a month to go

I saw them play a couple games even better once and they blew a 20 point lead tonight I bet on them and I I know that bothers you when it happens but their defense really was awful the rest of the season and I said I don't know if they play good enough defense to get to a final four now they're very talented there they got size obviously using the Eastern European players

and with having you know waggle from you know as a freshman making the shots he makes I thought Houston would win a ugly game it is an ugly game from the Houston standpoint Houston shooting 25% from the floor I mean that's scary Illinois shooting now only 40 they were shooting better than that they've made seven threes

Houston's only made five Houston this year was better offensively weaker defensively but they haven't done it tonight now one thing about Houston they're not totally out of that game I'll keep an eye on it because they're home and they have a habit of being gritty they're now down 13 with nine minutes left I'll keep an eye on it Arizona is been coasting in a high scoring game you knew that would be high scoring

and you knew that the bigs would score all they wanted the question was would a cuff go off and score a million and would they hit a bunch of threes and they down 16 points in the second half now let's get it tomorrow great games tomorrow especially obviously in DC

Alabama Michigan Alabama you know their game is to run and gun and try and outscore you that's who they are they are going that game is going to look a lot like the Arkansas Arizona game the only way Alabama stays in the game is if they light it up from three Michigan is so much vastly superior in size and the size will make a big difference

and it's quality size so I think Michigan wins that game comfortably Tennessee Iowa State I have respect for Tennessee usually loses this game Tennessee is is a talent they're physical they play good defense if Iowa had stayed at Jefferson I think they win this game going away I don't know what's up with Jefferson yet they said he's worked hard to win this game

they said he's worked very hard to try and get back this week I don't know if he's going to try to play or not play I just don't know so it's just stay away from the game because I don't know what Jefferson is going to do I really don't now the lines only Iowa State three and a half because of the fact and they've been one of the best teams in the country all year because of the fact that Jefferson's heart dangerous game now to the two classics in DC I mean absolute classics in DC

what else could you ask for it is also if you've paid attention the hardest regional ticket in the history of the NCAA tournament they are scalping tickets lower level seats for thousands of dollars usually doesn't happen in regionals thousands of dollars

but look what you have here you have Duke and they all want to come to the game and it's a close trip you got Michigan State which is a big time program has a real shot in the game has a big following so they want tickets you have Yukon their fans we know how crazy they are we've all seen them a million times

and obviously they have a right to always puff their chest out just like Duke in recent years even more so and then you have St. John's which has really I have to admit they were they were louder and more boister sent more numerous in San Diego than I thought they would be and my understanding is a lot of them want to go down for this game but tickets are very very expensive now obviously they're all using their own

compartments that goes to you know but that doesn't help all you know they're going to let some kids come you know they all have their student body stuff but they're going to obviously take care of their guys who donate to the program which is what you can't expect them not to do that that's how they make money

it is the hardest ticket my understanding is downstairs lower bowl right hundreds you want to call them whatever you what you would call the hundreds in the garden and above you know meaning the core side seats are going for thousands of dollars

so I mean the fact that they be going for more than 500 would be outrageous going for a thousand would be outrageous I hear some of the good ones

courts you know that are in the middle of the quarter going for two thousand that's incredible but you have a great double header Michigan State Connecticut that is not an easy game for Connecticut I know everybody wants the fourth match up

now this week I know everybody's jumping on the St. John's bandwagon it's gotten very crowded okay and hey why not

you knew they pick up enormous steam once they got to the sweet 16 plus they're playing Duke plus they've lost one game since January 3rd and it's patino against Duke in the whole thing okay but a lot of people who have oh St. John's going to win St. John's going to win a lot of them first we'll don't watch a lot of college basketball

but the ones that do I'm surprised a lot of them are on the St. John's bandwagon here and think oh they're going to hey this is not listen I said it for a turn and started I didn't have a problem if Duke was sitting on in St. John's way

did not have a problem because of the loss of the point card this is not a deep Duke team it's a very talented Duke team now let me just point this out to you

about how hard this is going to be St. John's went up against Kansas which is obviously always have to get a player is going to be drafted I don't know where he's going to be drafted but a lot of people think you can get drafted first I don't know how they're going to deal with him a lot of it's going to have to be how he convinces people what he is and what he's not in but physically they say he's in you know it would be worthy of being the number one pick we know that he's been a highly erratic personality and highly erratic

in the court okay now St. John's had everything go their way against Kansas they turn Kansas over embarrassed them all they Kansas Kansas couldn't get the ball and bounce they threw the ball away at a million times they almost had 20 turnovers they never got their offense going until the final two minutes of the game

St. John's they challenged them to hit threes St. John's hit some threes now they didn't hit a lot except obviously for Hopkins who made six of nine threes that you know he hadn't made I don't think one three in a game this year

now I know they're encouraging to take it he has taken a bigger offensive approach in recent weeks I understand that

but he made six of nine which is you know you can't expect that again professor it's not going to get treated the same way

where they just said shoot it secondly I mean it's just you don't expect it okay you just don't expect it

with all that with all that going their way Hopkins hitting three Kansas looking putrid turn it a ball over with all that that games tied at 62

okay I mean tied at 65 there was 65 61 and they tied it up and they obviously got the last basket so they've tied the game up

with seconds remaining as we know they got that game tied and everything went St. John's way

until the last three minutes when Kansas started to wear St. John's down their size really warmed down now in the second half

St. John's had trouble driving the ball for the most part on Kansas because they their size

and they didn't get a lot of outside play like they had nothing out of sellers and nothing out of sign and they got some points out of Jackson once they needed

and then darling who had done nothing makes the last basket of the game we know that

Hunter was great Mitchell did a good job and Zubi made a lot of big plays now

it's going to be hotter against this team this team is better than them

this team is better than them and better on the front line in them

and much better defensively than them and much smarter than them but they don't have their point guard

and that's going to be critical now this is going to be an incredible incredible front line matchup

okay an incredible front line matchup the Zubi Booza matchups going to be really terrific because

they both have led their team and everything and Booza has really had to take so much responsibility in the

playmaking role since the point guard's gone out now Booza has in the games since the point guard left

he has shot 42% and he has averaged 4.4 turnovers per game it has hurt his game

his brother's picked up the slack obviously they need other guys to help handle the ball

but St. John's knows this is not a deep Duke team that St. John's has more numbers if the guys play well

and if they make some shots and I will say this okay

they need they need to win this game I believe they need a game out of sellers

sellers is the one guy who every time he shoots a three you think he can make it is the only one

Santa can make some trees and he's listen Santa Jackson never saw a shot didn't like we all know that

they come off the bench chuck him sellers will stay in that game forever and not take a shot

that can't happen if he's out there on that floor he has got to and he's going to be

last game was a very light game for him minutes wise he has got to take shots he has got to get

open and be aggressive with the basketball because he's got he is the best shooter and they need

that from him in this game this Duke team these are quality I mean these are these are big time

players they have size St. John's going to have a hard time driving the ball on them and they are

going to guard them on a perimeter a lot differently than Kansas did and they are going to try and

make this a half court game because they know that's what St. John's doesn't handle and I've seen

them defensively just shut down teams in the half court now they're not the same teams they lost

their point guard that's why I picked him now I've watched St. John's play I've seen him in person

three times this year and I've seen every game they've played this year I have watched virtually

live every I don't think I've missed one game it might be one game I had to watch on tape I've

watched every game basically live all year and notice team inside now I know what it can do and

nobody can't do and what you're banking on is that your three bigs are going to do what they always

do now if they have a game like they had up in Yukon what you can go home I mean you can just go

home they can St. John's can't survive that they need good numbers from those guys now lately

Hopkins has been very good offensively Zubi Boozmatsum is going to be fascinating foul trouble is

going to be the whistle is going to be very interesting there and obviously with Mitchell what

you're looking for him to do is play defense be the distractor on defense start some breaks

penetrate and be the originator in the open floor and then you take your feel with the gods

based on how they're playing I mean that's what Patina has done so masterfully since this since

he realized what this team was an inserted after the Providence Lawson inserted Mitchell

he realized hey I have to give I have to play basically a point forward I don't really have a point

on and and the only problem Mitchell is he has to come out of the game because he can make a foul shot

and he can always assert don't like his darling is not afraid to take a shot as we have learned

again the other day and he will make his free throws usually so he can handle that position late in the

game but you're still going to run Mitchell in and out offense defense offense defense okay that has

to happen and he's going to interchange the gods based on what they're doing that's why he didn't

bury Jackson even though he's he's not nearly given him the minutes he had earlier in the season but

still he didn't bury him because he knew there were going to be games like last game where he needs

his offense and he'll he'll tolerate him as long as he's not killing him by not boxing out by not

playing in their defense by not doing the things he always has trouble doing turn the ball over in the

middle of the court the things that drive Patina nuts and make him pull him right out of the game

if you notice when things aren't going well we'll go to San and say okay let me see if you're

going to be hard tonight let me see if you're going to make your shot so you're not going to make your

shots go say that okay he'll give sellers the most minutes because sellers is the most complete

of those players because they'll play some defense he'll keep moving he just isn't aggressive enough

taking his shot and looking for a shot and they don't look for him enough the bigs don't look for

sellers enough to make threes and that's the guy they should look to seek out because he his

threes always have a chance they always have a chance

and that's critical absolutely critical especially against team like Duke

now this Duke team boozes a sensational sensational talent he's tough he's smart he's rugged he

lets the game come to him you know all the things he does the key guy for them where they need

to scoring now now the other boozes has lifted his game without the point guard there and he's

not afraid to go to the basket he's not a big outside shooter he'll penetrate

but Evans is a huge key for them and in the last couple of games he has really picked up the

Slark he's had 2016 and 17 in the last three games he is not afraid to take a three he's taken

eight in each of the last three games he understands that he has to take shots he has taken 14 shots

and eight threes in each of the last three games he is going to be a critical guy here but they

also have guys who were tough and have sides the frontline matchup is going to be sensational the

question is how much does Duke terrorize the St. John's gods who can be woefully inconsistent

and that's where if St. John's is not getting turnovers and easy baskets

fast break baskets they're not going to get a ton of offensive rebounds against Duke it's not

going to happen Duke's frontline they have size and athleticism they are not going listen that's

a matchup St. John's couldn't push his hands it's around they can't push Duke around

but they have the numbers to wear Duke down it'll be interesting to see if you know goes for that

in the first half and I think Duke is going to try and temple the game knowing that if they break

the initial press that St. John's backs off then they will tempo the game offensively and they are

going to try to make St. John's plan they have caught because in the have caught it's advantage Duke

St. John's has got to have they're going to have to make some outside shots because they're not going

to get a bunch of rebound baskets and I can get enough of them to fuel them the question is

can they turn Duke over if they can that's where their big advantage is because it gives them pace

and it gives them easy baskets and it makes Duke have to play differently

fascinating to see because the thing about St. John's is you just don't know game to game

what the gods are going to give you

Santa can hit you know Santa can go out there and hit four in a row

okay he can go out there and and all of a sudden be a huge factor in a game like the seat and whole

game he went out there he had 15 points being being three he made with killers the other day

went one for eight tellers is the guy who has to give you the game and then you know he's going

to go to darling and he's going to give Jackson a call in the game he's going to give him his chance

in the game now what he gives you in the game remains to be seen you know he got 20 minutes because

Kansas got 10 points that was big that was big those were big baskets he made the three's he made

the baskets he made going to the basket he's not afraid to go to basket because he could drive on

anybody the guy could do the guy could go to basket on anybody we know that they they haven't buried

him for that reason but he could give you one point or he could give you no points he could give you

15 points same thing is true as Santa sellers darling who did nothing the whole game was and then

makes the basket to win the game he has lived with this all year and then obviously the major

minutes that's the big three are going to play they're going to play major minutes you know they're

going to play 35 minutes each unless they're in foul trouble St. John's can absolutely win this

game I think they can wear a date down I have not liked the way Duke is looked

in any of their games I don't care that they broke open the last game

that game was not easy against TCU and it just it got away from TCU it didn't have to

and I'm telling you see Anna if Dori hadn't heard his ankle that game would have gone right to the

wire because they couldn't handle him change it doesn't have a guard who can score like that

not like that and let's be honest Rick has encouraged he has encouraged Hopkins to shoot

Hopkins has been you know 18 points 13 points 18 points you know he has been far more aggressive

he has played better he's played with more confidence and then you know he made two threes in

the Yukon game he made two threes in the Northern Iowa game and then he goes out there and makes

six of nine now they basically challenged them to shoot those none bigger than the one he made to

put St John's up for because without that cushion I don't think St John's wins I thought the two

biggest sequences was when Zubi scored and then stole the ball from Peterson and then he scored

again that was around the four and changed Mark and then the three the last three Hopkins made

where they left him open a challenge and they looked at him they looked at him they looked at him

boom he knocked it down and that was a huge play in the game absolutely a huge play but remember a

lot of things went right in that game and they still were all out to win it this team's better

this game do not go in there thinking it's going to be easy against you it's not this is Duke

they're not a hundred percent they haven't been the same team since they lost the point guard

but they are beatable on St John's best day and it's going to take a really good day even a better day

than the Kansas day but I'm looking forward to it and then in the other game flip a coin flip a coin

I actually right now give Michigan State a little edge I think they're playing better and more

consistent than you can as they are going to be the one thing is their lead god it's a bit of a

whack job as we know and how he plays whether he goes off whether he goes off in the bright lights

whether he does something really stupid that upsets the game he's capable that he's talented but I

don't trust them and that's the only thing that scares me about Michigan State Michigan State's got

the talent it would not be to me it would not be even a little bit a little bit of a surprise

if if they win the game would not not surprise me the least I think the games are toss up absolute toss up

and would it be great if we got St John's and you kind of get it would be unbelievable it would be so

fitting it would mean the biggest team going to the final four but also it would be so fitting for

round four it really would it would be great and hopefully hopefully hopefully that's the case

you know let me update you five and a half minutes left and Arizona's already got

let's see what they're shooting they they probably have a million points in the paint it

cups got 26 but so what you know really so what five minutes left Arizona has shot

68% for the game I eventually they have 20 dunks or three-foot shots in the paint

they've shot six-three is they've made five they've shot 34 foul shots 34 foul shots

they have one two three four five six six guys in double figures six guys with 14 and more points

they have it a party at Arkansas it's expense the score right now 99-77 okay

the other game is down to seven you know Houston would try but it's only 50 seconds left

the down seven points they're not going to catch them obviously they shot and only got

this shooting up to 35% for the night Houston but that's a bad loss for Houston really tough

loss tough loss to swallow listen Illinois's a tremendous team tremendous team a team we all

know could win it all they're a very good team and give them credit for tonight's game I mean

really give them credit this is going to be a tough game to win a tough game to go in and play

Houston two miles from their campus they didn't make any excuses about it their coach said hey I

used to drive a van 14 hours to go play a game you think I care who I'm playing and that's a great

attitude to have that is really not whining about oh I can't believe you have to play Houston and

Houston like a lot of coaches would do he said hey and when they asked Samson about it he said hey

we still got to play really well the beat this team and they didn't the team was bigger they made

more shots they played really well defensively they out rebounded them by 11 Houston doesn't get

out rebounded by 11 this team beat him up on the back boys tonight made shots inside did everything

they had to do give them credit give them credit I mean that is you know just give them a lot of

credit that's all of us to it they did the job Arkansas had a good tournament they want to they

want a couple of games nobody expected them to beat off as a beat Arizona so right now it's

104 to 80 with five minutes four minutes left Arizona's the juggernaut they obviously can win it

all they've only lost twice this year and they've played I believe 12 teams that were ranked

which is the most any team has ever played before the final four so they've beaten quality teams time

and time and time again listen I've watched the St. John's team go from being awful in December

with a million problems where there was nothing alike to watch Patino piece this together a real big

part of it was obviously taking Mitchell and putting him in and inserting him and giving him

major minutes along with Hopkins and Zubi in the three forward setup and then

understanding and this is I think where his gift comes in I'm not going to let the gods kill me

game in and game out I'm going to use them to the best of what I think their ability is and what

I think they can do I'll play the hot hands I'll throw a lot of the minutes based on merit

and based on matchups there's certain guys certain times darling can't play in the game there's

certain times he needs certain athleticism in the game there's certain times he's going to test this

guy get he'll always give Santa the chance to come in and make some shots because he's tricky

he'll obviously sell this is going to get the major minutes of all them but he needs to be more

aggressive he can't he cannot play in a game like last week and take three shots he's an early

three and they didn't take a shot they took one of the shots the rest of the game can't do that

they need him to shoot the ball I don't think he can take a bear three he's the best

form the best looking shooter he's the best looking shooter on the team and give Hopkins credit

because he's opened his game up and opened his game up and now when they give him a three in a matchup

he's going to shoot it and he shot at what confidence last week because his six and nine

was enormous other than that st John shot 20% from three that six and nine carried the day

that was a huge factor in them winning an enormous factor in them winning

no question about it an enormous factor in the morning

do I think they're going to win tomorrow I think it's going to be a very close game I think it's

going to be a game that's not going to be played in high in the numbers I wouldn't be surprised if

the game doesn't hit more than 70 I don't think it's going to be one of these games where there's a lot

of scoring I think it's going to be a rugged game with a lot of defense and very physical I think

Saint James has a really good chance to get past them if they had the point guard I don't think

Saint James would beat them they have not been the same team since they lost them

they have not and Boozer has been asked to do so many things that you know the other day

he didn't even score in the first half then the second half he won crazy but this is a kid who's

smart this is a kid who knows hey if I have to do it by getting to the line 15 times in the second

half I'll do it he knows he plays like a season pro if you haven't seen him he does everything

really patiently and very smart that's going to be a fascinating matchup tomorrow the front line

matchup is going to be fascinating tomorrow and the way that building has now with what's going on

with the tickets and the double header and everything else with such a great double header and so

much anticipation it's almost it's like a mini final four it really is it's almost got the it's

almost got the buzz it's almost got the heat of a final four that's saying a lot

his regionals don't usually feel like that with this one special obviously so if you're

heading down enjoy it if you're already down there enjoy it you waited a long time if you're

a St. John's fan if you're you kind of fan you're already spoiled you know what you're walking

around with your national championships sweatshirts on we understand you've been great

but this team is not that team that's two-time champion team that was great

that was one for the ages but be careful you got you got your hands full of more

that's going to be a heck of a game heck of a game i would miss that double header for the world

i thought about going down for a variety of reasons i might get into i you know just

with logistics and who's traveling in the family and everything else i couldn't do it so

i'll be watching i'll be watching i did i tell you right now i did think about going down i mean

that's a double header worth seeing it really is enjoy we'll talk to you tomorrow after the game

thanks for listening to the mic princess of podcast on the bet rivers network