It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! (March Madness!!!)
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It's Opening Day of the 2022 March Madness Tournament, we preview this year's matchups, break down the brackets, who are favored in each region, and talk way too much about the Tennessee Volunteers!
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Hosts: Bob Kelly, Joe Malkin, Rayshawn Buchannan
Producer: Craig D'Alessandro
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Welcome everyone, to I guess our second annual NCAA March Madness tournament break down the real BK Bob Kelly air ratio on Buchanan. Joe Malkin. We're gonna break down everything March Madness over the next. I don't even know who knows how long this could go over the next long while as far as snubz as far as teams that you know should have been seated higher. We're going to break down each region get into a few pics is my favorite time of year guys. I'm so goddamn excited for this I have been. I don't know if you guys could tell by the messages in the discord or not. But but but how are you guys feeling? What do you guys think about about this tournament this year? Jealous? Yeah,
Joe Malkin:I mean, it's a good tournament. I think I think the nice thing about it this year is that it's back to normal. We have fans in the stands and everything's covered and you know, basketball isn't there's some surprised teams that got it. There's that one conferences that are in some interesting teams that we've never seen before. This is this is why I love this week in college basketball because you get to see the Texas a&m Corpus Christi is the Texas Southern will just play do you get to see Wyoming play piano in Indiana used to be you know, a team that would be a one C five, you know, top a top 10 See the top seven seen every year and now they're in a playing game. So this is the best tournament in well. This is the best tournament in all of college sports because it's televised that way the college baseball tournament is just as exciting is this and so much fun to watch.
Rob Kelly:The College World Series is pretty dope I was gonna do for a second but then I was like I look. Yeah.
Joe Malkin:It's just the way they do. And honestly, the worst postseason format in in all of the NCAA is football. And that's
Rayshawn Buchanan:and then FA is something. Yeah,
Joe Malkin:that's about a lot of money. Now, now this, this is about money too. But I mean, I love this tournament. It's so much fun. You have a lot of your normal number ones you have a lot of teams that are sneaking in again, the play in games, it's just I just love this tournament. And everybody does and this Thursday and Friday are the two best it might be the two best days in sports hands down. I mean, yeah, we got the Super Bowl and the Stanley Cup and the World Series in the College World Series in the national championship. But there's there's nothing like the first two days of the NCAA right like 12 o'clock comes around and literally the next 12 hours it's just all basketball and it's it's absolutely insane. It's so much fun to watch there's upsets there's there's their stories, their Cinderella's there's, you know, you just don't get the same things you get. I mean, you know had had Butler never gotten to where they did you know Brad Stevens isn't sitting in the front office of the Boston Celtics. It's just it's just the way to look at it right like I mean he did such a great job with that program you have there's just there's just so many storylines I'm trying to think of the what was the school with the sister and was that her name well, Leila
Rob Kelly:oil Chicago they're still there this year. Yeah.
Joe Malkin:With sister Jean so I know Sister and same thing. SR G you know, I mean a guy that would burst into flames if you walked into a church so um, but yeah, this this is so much fun and I and I you know what, it's so funny because you guys are the basketball guys like right right? Ray is like the Mr. Historian of basketball, especially
Rob Kelly:on the quagmire of March Madness, um, the quagmire March Madness, right, disappear.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, like I just, I just love this. They just showed sister Jeanne on TV too. So this is just great. I'm getting ready to watch Wyoming play Indiana here on a Tuesday night. Like, this is just so much fun. I really I'm not as into it as I am other sports a year round. But when it comes to this, everything kind of stops and if you walk into my office on Thursday or Friday, you better bet you're gonna hear basketball on the on the computer and don't tell me to shut it off because nothing happened.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, man. So that's that's that's my favorite part about March Madness. There's no doubt about that. That's Thursday to Sunday. Is is unmatched in sports. Like you said, like, I think probably 70% of real basketball fans disappear for four days. But you guys the quagmire skit from Family Guy where he finds out about Internet porn. He comes out with just like a gigantic muscle on his arm. Yeah, that's an and about 80% of basketball fans after this weekend so that that's that's all I can say about that. Rayshawn How are we doing bro? March Madness man we made it we made it another year.
Rayshawn Buchanan:My arm is already there so Joe said I'm no story as a mom was already there
Joe Malkin:I'm gonna see my way out. Yeah.
Rob Kelly:Rachel way to take that joke and run with it bro. I love it. Great.
Rayshawn Buchanan:You got you got Samantha that's you know it's almost like we've done this before. No I'm I'm excited for the tournament to like I mean I I haven't watched it as much because I was disappointed with how UNC did this year now granted they kind of caught fire as the season went on since we sent the coach Hey, Coach K home with a loss in his final game and Cameron Indoor Stadium. Yeah, as you see what a big smile on my face that that was my crowning moment of the year. So hopefully we can go when did I teach him it over in that but
Rob Kelly:now UNC military bro. Oh,
Rayshawn Buchanan:okay, I need to see where I last the way early. I didn't see what they made today should have today went by 2588
Rob Kelly:in the eight in the top right? Well, we'll go to they'll
Rayshawn Buchanan:play Marquette. Yeah, that's what that's about. That's, that's that's about right for what they were of this year. I will see what a Mondo Baker does. We'll get into that later on. But yeah, like you guys said, You guys have alluded to it already. You know, it really is the best time but one of the best times of the year. Um, you know, new new scenarios are born, new stars are born. Some guys are going to increase their job stock to a new level or even maybe even decrease it right some guys that were maybe in the top five or top 10 You know, I was talking to Joe earlier on on Discord about some guys, you know, to look out for and we'll get into that later on. But yeah, I'm just excited. I'm excited to see how those guys are going to play. I'm excited to see which 13 would be the two. I'm excited to see what 12 is gonna be the five but 13 being the four. You know, you know, you know we kind of we have gone on the rabbit hole yet but you're speaking of that dad's hole for autism and that's all for the top five. You remember back in the day when Vermont blue Syracuse You know that guy telling copper raft was hitting through Yeah, parking lot. Like oh, yeah, you know, you know, Syracuse man, so that that was always you know, moments like that always, always live. live up to the hype. And, you know, this sucks that we don't hear God's Johnson on there. I know. He does stuff for Fox now. But, uh, you know that that was that was the best part of it too. Later. Yeah, shot. This is March Madness like that, that that's, you know, those are moments you'll never forget. So, um, but you know, you know, we all we've all rambled so far, but you know, we're gonna ramble some more, but, you know, he will say I'm excited. So let's, let's, let's, let's get into it.
Rob Kelly:It's the madness, bro. So we do just a little teaser for everyone. That will not be the last time the Vermont Catamounts are mentioned on the show.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right. Yeah, exactly. I know. I know. I know.
Rob Kelly:So so. We'll, we'll get into it here. So the NCAA tournament came out Sunday. One seeds for this tournament. I think they got in pretty much right. We got Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas and Baylor Baylor's the only one that possibly could have been off of there, Joe. I got I gotta say that so the biggest so before we get to any surprises or anything like that, the biggest travesty of this entire seating of anything that happened is how shafted that team got that's on your chest right there, man. The Tennessee Vols as a three seed is the most blasphemous thing I've ever seen this tournament do I so do water? Or wine? I got I got you. I got you. I don't Duke right. Duke so so NCAA they are they break it up into separate quadrants to how good teams are. That's how they break out like how good you are at like, you know how good you are this type of team at this quality team and this quality team. Right. So what we'll start with, we'll start with Tennessee, right? Tennessee, against quadrant one teams, right? Had 11 wins so far this year. That is most among all NCAA tournament teams, right? Between quadrant two and quadrant four, which is like mid major, you know, pretty good teams. They did not lose one game the entire year. Their net ranking was eight, seven, and four. And they ended up as the I think was the 15th ranked team or the 14th ranked team and to the tournament in my opinion, they're closer to a one seat than they were a three seat. Now turn around and look at do all right. Duke ranking 1312 Strike the schedule of 67 quadrate one wins six. So they had five less than what Tennessee had
Joe Malkin:about how many losses against quadrupling teams to do kava and I'm not I'm not speaking against Tennessee, but it's it so I'll let you finish and then
Rob Kelly:finance so what what really drives this home to me though, is The Quadra To the four losses to Caz four, so far this year, including one the pit, and pit is just, it was all over again. It was a great game great game. But pit one won eight games this year nine as one of the best teams in the country. You cannot. You cannot do that. Let's listen. Tennessee, Tennessee, Tennessee random table won the SEC SEC tournament
Joe Malkin:as the guy as the guy wearing the Tennessee shirt. Let me let me give some insight before Ray gives some himself. It's crazy what Hang on. So Tennessee ends up as the 10th overall seed in the tournament. Auburn also in the SEC at 27 and five with technically a better win percentage than Tennessee at 26. And seven is a two seed and they didn't win the conference. Right? So this this might so so this is where I'm gonna agree with you that the the way that they see teams may be slightly off. It may be slightly off like, like I look at this, this game coming up here as we record between Indiana and Wyoming. Why is there why is there a 12 C to play in because they couldn't decide which one? Why the playing games honestly to me, there should be still before one in each region. And it should be between 216 teams to tell me tell me the team that almost didn't get in is playing another team that almost didn't get in to see who officially gets in. Now granted, Bobby, you said it in the pre show. Yeah, great. You know, Texas Southern is going to beat Corpus Christi, to go to earn the right to go lose by 40 points to Baylor. I'm sorry, not to Baylor, they're going to play again, right? Yeah, you're right. It's Kansas. It's Kansas that they're gonna go get to play. So. So I mean, from that standpoint, like that's one thing to me, that should not be all 16 seeds, because then at least those teams that are pretty much almost guaranteed a loss. Because we've seen like Ray said, we we've seen multiple twos beat 15th We've only seen a 16 beat a one once. Right? So it's only happened once ever in the tournament. So why aren't the six teams getting that opportunity? So you get some of those lower seeded teams that are they're going to get an opportunity at two games. But anyway, so so back to Yeah, sure. Everything comes back to money. But like, you know, do Indiana and Wyoming deserve to be in over a Texas a&m Corpus Christi? Absolutely. Absolutely. So you know, now Texas Southern is getting to go to play a one seat. But one of these 12 seats isn't going to get to go on to play play the the the seven, five. I'm sorry, the five so math math. Hard. I could I literally could have just counted it. I'm looking at the brackets. I want to get to get back to your point about why Duke is a two and Tennessee's a three. It's a Duke. Duke is Duke in Tennessee is Tennessee. Like that's crazy man up and coming right but Nancy's been up and coming and obviously with Pat Summitt. The Tennessee women have always been the Lady Vols have always been a powerhouse, right. They've always been really good. They've been up there with the Dukes and the Baylor's in the in the women's game. Now in the men's game, Tennessee is still technically up and coming and the SEC is not looked at as a basketball conference, but it's great. But it doesn't matter up until 10 years ago, when you looked at the SEC and you thought basketball they can't play basketball the SEC schools weren't it's a big 12 ACC big 10 PAC 12 sport I mean that's what it's always been so now that the SEC teams are getting good I mean look at the amount of SEC teams in the tournament Arkansas Alabama, Kentucky always seen so like Kentucky was always that one outlier right so now mop Kentucky was always that one outlier that that jumped in and there are two seed now I have a bigger problem with Tennessee being a three seed under Auburn than I do Kentucky because that's where the that whole Kentucky is Kentucky, Tennessee, Tennessee thing comes in. You know, I mean, like perennially, we expect Kentucky to be a top, a top four seed a top five seed. And by top four, I mean, overall, we expect them to be a one or a two and it comes down to money. And also Tennessee's head coach isn't retiring after the tournament. So so that's another thing. So you know, they're going to give Duke a slightly easier road through the tournament and that and that makes sense. I mean, I get it, it's fine, like whatever. Um, from my standpoint, Tennessee just winning the SEC and getting in and putting them back on the map for a sport other than baseball, softball, because football they haven't been on the map since Phillip Fullmer who's I believe still there ad, you know, and Bobby as somebody who has served on granted, it was at a much lower level than in a different sport than basketball who has served on one of those committees that comes up with the regional rankings for a sport in college. It's really difficult to look at it because it's it's so interesting, you get like that. So I'll give you a little insight, I did it for a sport where MIT the number one school in the region. And it was without a doubt, they were the number one school in the region at the beginning of the rankings. And then two weeks in, they had lost to a school that was also in the top 10. So now that the conversation was do we put that school above MIT, and and it does come down to, like you said, strength of schedule, it comes down to RPI wins and losses. So that's kind of your quadrant, right? Like, they broke it down between RPIs in between one and 50, and then 51, and 100, and then 101, to 150. And then 51 plus a 151 plus. And that's the way they look at it down. At this level, they did do the same thing at the division one level, because they do the same thing at all, all, all all of the levels within the NCAA. And at some point, there was a discrepancy between Tennessee and Duke that made them say, well, Duke is going to be the number two seed and we're going to put Tennessee in a completely different region, and have them be the three I know that's a lot of blabbering and a lot of stuff that may not make sense, but not to you guys to the listeners, but it's really what they do. They look at all those metrics to see what's going to make sense. And they got to do it for 64 teams. When I was doing it for this sport, we were doing it for seven out of out of like 25 schools like that, that was a lot easier.
Rob Kelly:Boonie think about so it's just I don't know, man, if you're gonna put two teams that are in Tennessee's conference, who just won the literal SEC tournament champion there that they are the champions of the SEC. And you're gonna put two people in the SEC. ahead of them. This team played 20 teams in quadrant one. Do plate eight. And and who's the other one I was comparing him to Auburn played Auburn plates. They were seven and six. So I've played 13.
Joe Malkin:So Tennessee, so Tennessee played Kentucky in Auburn. Right. Now what I want to know is, so here's another factor that goes into it too, right? So when, when the NFL schedule is made, right, and you look at let's let's go, let's go on your fandom side. And let's look at the cowboys and the Giants. They literally have, so they have 12345678. So they have half more than half of the same opponents each season. Because they're playing within their division, and then they play the opposite division in the NFC. Actually, that's yeah, that's more so they'd have data 12 of the same opponents, where if you look at go look at Tennessee's non conference schedule, and then go look at Auburn's non conference schedule. You know what I mean in like, is our Auburn and I we're going off on one team, but this this does apply to every conference. You know, is is Tennessee playing. They play Kentucky they play Arkansas, they play Auburn, are those teams ahead of them? Are they considered quadrant one teams is Tennessee considered a quadrant one team.
Rob Kelly:So home games versus RPI teams ranked in the top 30 neutral games first one through 50 away games through 175.
Joe Malkin:And you know, RPI? It, it means something right? Like, but it's like an average. It's like a few year average they look at to rank these teams in that point based on the strength and schedule and everything else. So
Rob Kelly:that's just blasphemous. And that was it this year, this year. And what I completely understand what you're saying about dukkha and we will move on to you. Right. What do you think, man? What do you think?
Rayshawn Buchanan:Whoa, I mean, I think that I think Joe was right. So Duke Duke is going to get that notoriety because of what they've been. Also, there's a sentiment attached to what's going on. This is Coach kids last season, you know,
Unknown:petitioners
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, no, I listen, I feel
Joe Malkin:it doesn't matter. Because
Rob Kelly:I know it doesn't listen, I know what you guys are saying and that's why they did it. Right. Yeah. Yeah,
Rayshawn Buchanan:it's the same thing to call a football player. You know, it's saying Right right. They weren't they weren't they weren't started teams then I just started thing so for one for ratings and two they get in there because of their name Auburn that day. Did you travel? You said you want to miss out this year? Well, this year they were kidding. They were good. Right so what was the last time August no good yo. Awesome. All of you good.
Joe Malkin:How could we name it they can leave it on and off for a while. I mean, they
Rayshawn Buchanan:might know I'm saying in basketball day none of us was in existence. The last time they were considered a religion powerhouse. You mean
Rob Kelly:before like before they became this, this new powerhouse of their now
Rayshawn Buchanan:why but I mean, I can't even say new power is only they've been in number one see the last four or five years? It was like this is
Rob Kelly:that's like, what, two, three years? Yeah, I
Rayshawn Buchanan:mean, yeah, sure. But you know, I know they had some talent come out of there. But, you know, there was a time. Yeah. But some guy named Charles Barkley led them to 16 in the early 80s, you know, some person or was it mostly person, one of the person brothers played, played with the play with Chuck back in the day. So the dad, that's what they were, you know, at their height, you know, as a team on the basketball side. So for ascendancy goes, I changed my tune. I thought she was going against Tennessee being three. But to me, they know they deserve to be three because they won. That was them giving them their flowers. They were saying, Look, you read through the SEC conference. So instead of us putting you at four or five, No, give me what top three seed
Rob Kelly:their weight limit. Let me just break this down for you guys real quick. All right. So Tennessee so far this year, beat Arizona, one seat, Kentucky, their tune one against Kentucky to see they beat Auburn to seed. They beat Arkansas LSU and then won the SEC tournament. So you're talking they beat they beat a they beat the a one seed. They be they they had a winning record against Kentucky was ranked ahead of them. Right. Then you have they beat Auburn also ranked ahead of them. They won the tournament that they play in with those two teams.
Joe Malkin:But this is what's amazing about college sports. And this is where sometimes they get it right. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, before we before we spend the entire episode on this, because we're over 20 minutes already. We spend the entire episode on this. This is the greatness of college basketball and this tournament because I appreciate you, you defending my volunteers. But at this point, there are three seats, they're going to play the Longwood Lancers of the Big South, I don't think knock on wood. They're going to have a big issue with the Longwood Lancers. I just don't think that that's going to be a problem. So and also the fact that their name is Longwood. But the the other point here is that what again, go back to the to the NFL, and, you know, this is why it works in the NFL, it's like alright, what what is your record? Done? That's the that's the question in the NFL, the NBA, right, like, what is your record done? That's it. That's the only question to ask. But in the in college basketball, there's over 300 teams in division one basketball. So now it comes down to Alright, who did you play? So like this Longwood Lancer team is 26 and six, they have a better win percentage than the than the Tennessee Volunteers that they're gonna play. They have an 813 one percenters they want 15 and one in their conference. You know, you see what I'm saying? So, so what what I'm saying here is like, you know, oh, well, I'm sorry. So yeah, they have a better they have a better now they have a better a better overall record. And overall win percentage. So I look at that and I go Alright, well, then how come long woods a 14 seat and not a not a tendency. Well, who else who's in front of them who wins they played so they may have beat Kentucky and they were good enough to beat Auburn. They they beat the it doesn't matter, Bobby This is where you get into your your tunnel vision. But it's
Rob Kelly:not even tunnel vision. It is short term vision. But listen, if you go out is not my tunnel vision. If you go out and you look at anything that anyone saying about this bracket, Tennessee is so under seated is not even funny. And they're they beat they literally had a winning record against five of the 10 teams ranked ahead. You know what I mean? Like, and won the tournament that they're all in together. They won the same time. They were in a tournament last week, won that tournament, and I got ranked below those teams just crazy.
Joe Malkin:So they they be so there's two teams above them and they beat in a tournament. Right? So so so right now they're the 10th overall scene. So they you think let's get let's go by this math. You think and I don't know why we're focusing on Tennessee. I guess I shouldn't have won the shirt tonight.
Rob Kelly:No, because this is a big this was a big thing when the bracket came out is this.
Joe Malkin:So you think that Tennessee should be two spots, at least? At least the two seats, so that would be the last so that so so the difference. So let's again, I'm gonna I'm gonna put it this way to you. You think you think based on what you're saying right now that they should be a two seed right now they're the 10th overall seed, which means they are the second highest ranked number three seed in the tournament. So you think that they should be above the two teams they beat in their tournament? Let's just leave it at that. Now they're the eighth overall seed which makes them the last two seed. So instead of playing the Longwood Lancers, they would be playing the Delaware fighting hands.
Rob Kelly:They just deserve better. That's
Joe Malkin:it Do you see what I do you know we're gonna move on because we've spent way too much time on this but the but do you see what I mean? Like like it's kind of it's kind of silly honestly to be like no they should be the last to see not the second three see
Rob Kelly:they just deserved it I thought they appreciate but anyway so so I'll the other snobs really none of them really surprised me too much less than Notre Dame I don't think they deserve to get in over Texas a&m with the Texas a&m play but I can't really grab too much. So let's just get into the regions. So we got in the east region, so East region top four seeds, we Baylor, Kentucky, Purdue, UCLA, other notables we got 31 and to Murray State. San Francisco dons they're very good underdog team, the ACC champion, Virginia Tech hoagies and the Wyoming Indiana winner and now playing game I think they're a good sleeper. We got some good NBA some good NBA talent coming out of this bracket. It wasn't just us saying to me, he's real. He's gonna be something but so we'll jump right into the game share ratio, we'll go with you first. The first round game you're most excited for you so you look at look at all those games you got right there. Which one jumps off the page? Do you have one that you think is gonna be a barnburner one that's gonna keep you glued to that TV?
Rayshawn Buchanan:Oh, not necessarily be a barnburner but I've talked to you about him off the air as he saw the job earlier today. I'm looking forward to JD and IB under Purdue I think he is the real deal. I think he should go number one and the drive not not not the kid from Duke you know big Terrell I'm sorry. JD I've been maybe I said my bias is showing because I've been using six for Garda, jump out the building. I'm taking Jaden IV to me, he's gonna be the most outstanding player of the tournament, in my opinion, like I'm going to Purdue on to have a serious run and we're going to find out how good junior year is, in my opinion. So as they say, he's like that it has the gall to say he is like that, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to find out how good ideas you know, the drugs served me so I to me to ask him to stop. I was waiting for you to get to this because that's the only that's the only person I'm really, really focused on all those other guys we'll talk about but I'm focused on JD not being MCs progression throughout the tournament.
Joe Malkin:Couldn't agree more Jaden IV that gene. I think he's scary. They're the they're the third number three seed Bobby, by the way they get they get to take God and the smart kids from from New Haven in Yale. He has better than you think. But I'm that's why I'm saying that the smart kids I bet the Ivy League teams always give a run. They always give somebody a run. And that's what's great about this tournament. I mean, Purdue could lose Jaden gene, it could be on the first round. I mean,
Rob Kelly:if they've done it before they've for this
Joe Malkin:kid, this kid is really, really good from South Bend, Indiana ended up at Purdue. I know it's same state but nonetheless I like this Purdue team. I look at the the, you know, the top three seeds in each region. Purdue is one that excites me because they're an at large bid out of the big 10. And they're fun to watch. And they have a seven. They have a seven for a forward. I don't even know if he's our center. But he is he's so fun to watch. Just awkward out there at seven foot four is
Rob Kelly:Ed. Ed right? Yeah, Eddie, Eddie.
Joe Malkin:Is it so you know, of course you got the Baylor's in the Kentucky's but I'm not here for the ones in two seats. Three isn't below like give me give me Marquette North Carolina on Thursday. You know that that's going to be such a that's such a that's a fun. Yeah, I
Rayshawn Buchanan:didn't want to show my bias I want to want to you're talking about obviously I'm gonna get along and go crazy, but
Joe Malkin:it's great. It's a great mark. It's one of those teams that know the good sagas and the Dukes and the Baylor's and the North Carolina's Marquette was a was a powerhouse in the tournament in the 80s and 90s. I mean, they were around for a long time the golden eagles do I mean, they're they're they're a fun team to watch. So they could be a surprise, I want to say at nine is a surprise over an eight. But North Carolina always plays above their, their their seating. So you know, again, give me give me St. Peter's in Kentucky and like let me see St. Peter's beat Kentucky you know what I mean? So San Francisco Murray State to happen.
Rob Kelly:I mean,
Rayshawn Buchanan:there's a few Kentucky people that I know that always talk crazy around this time of the year. And I'm like, once again, Coach cow has had all the booster talent in the world. And it's only been, you know, one championship out of that. So
Joe Malkin:Oh, Kentucky people not not people being fans of teams of schools that they didn't they didn't attend now and who would never do that?
Rob Kelly:Never. Yeah, well, yeah.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Bulldogs. Yeah. No, who do you? Yeah.
Rob Kelly:So Murray State San Francisco. Joe, you just said that bro. That's mine. That's that's that's the game of this region to Mesa. 13 to Murray State versus a really good San Francisco team and a lot of people don't know about San Francisco Don's obviously because they're out in the west coast, most of their games. And exactly most most of their games are starting almost 11 o'clock at night. So it's like, you know, most people don't get a chance to watch them. If you guys got a chance to watch this game, please do it. It's gonna be a really fun game. Mercedes 120 in a row I still haven't decided I'm gonna pick this one I'm thinking Go Murray State Jaws Jaws alma mater keep an eye out for that game that's gonna be a good one. Martin you
Joe Malkin:know it's funny looking at Murray State schedule cuz that that conference is actually sneaky good. I mean they had to beat number 23 Tennessee State you know the Austin P UT Martin. I mean they had to go through some you know lower level top 25 teams to get where they are and I mean to be 30 and two they have their only two losses were against East Tennessee and number 12 Auburn one of those teams that Tennessee beat so
Rob Kelly:you know, but ranked ahead
Joe Malkin:but ranked by rank
Rob Kelly:keep hitting me that
Joe Malkin:it frustrates you and then ratios like these white boys going off on these tangents. Oh, frustrated,
Rayshawn Buchanan:right? No, it's usually in this bracket.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, five feet. Not not in this specific bracket. No, not in this one. There.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I'll wait. I'll wait to get my take longer again. Alright, yeah. Okay.
Rob Kelly:So yeah, the only other one I like is the Texas Virginia Tech game. Just because Virginia Tech so hot. Texas was one of those highly touted teams that is very, very low right now as if they've lost four to the last five. So I love those kinds of matchups where you have like, a kind of upset team who's hot versus a team who should be better who's kind of cold see who wins out Well,
Rayshawn Buchanan:shouldn't shouldn't Virginia Tech be higher
Rob Kelly:yet? resection I broke down.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I'm just gonna go
Rob Kelly:Yeah, never say they'd be
Rayshawn Buchanan:Rob. I've never been but they might you be on Monday. Do you want to ACC tournament? You should be higher than whatever.
Rob Kelly:So So exactly my point they beat the almighty Duke and they're still a fucking 11 seed. So how is that we're gonna go right out of this bracket, right? Any double digit C's that you guys could see in the sweet 16 Joe in the Sweet 16 So we're getting past that first weekend.
Joe Malkin:So you got to get past I mean I don't know Virginia Tech's got too many losses. I mean, I agree with you on the Wyoming Indiana and this game is moving slow, very slow team sport. What one of those team you know, whichever team gets through here could could see themselves in the sweet 16. I mean, they're gonna have to face off against St. Mary's. I don't think St. Mary's is a shoo in there. They're always a good program. They always play well in the tournament. But they're they're one of those teams that that main falter. So I think Wyoming or Indiana could get past. You know, that first game I don't know about the first weekend. I don't really like anybody else to get past the first weekend. And in that that's a double digit seat. I mean, San Francisco might upset Murray State. I mean, Murray State had to go through a tough time in their in their conference tournament, but they really kind of had an easy schedule through the regular season with the exception of playing Auburn. Didn't you just say the opposite? No, I said that because Tennessee beat Auburn. Okay. Yeah, Tennessee beat Auburn. And Murray State beat Auburn. So who would win between Tennessee and Murray State? That's what I want to cancel the whole tournament.
Rob Kelly:Just putting together Jesse. Dewayne tomorrow.
Rayshawn Buchanan:What? Over? What What's that? What's actually happened though? You know, once again, Joe, Joe just stole some random karma out there.
Rob Kelly:Just Google just Google. Once I show you how many articles you get about how many people disagree with it, all right. That's
Rayshawn Buchanan:That's good. That's that's gonna happen for sure. But that question, I'm gonna go with Virginia Tech. You know, once again, when you listen to today's you see at a time was the premier conference, and college basketball. If you say otherwise, I don't know to tell you what it was. And so for Virginia Tech, they were there. There's their first conference title and your school's history. So first ever I think I think they're they're riding high right now. I think they they played defense like they locked at Duke down. But it wasn't a battle. It wasn't I was watching it that banners. Um, they they lock them out of sponsor how small they are not sponsored. Like dad lock them board down. So I was like, oh, yeah, so but for the fact that a b Duke alone, I'm rooting for them to at least get out this. This rounds the pork to get into 32 and maybe even into the sweet, you know, 16 so I'm excited to see what they do out of that region.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, that's the pic. VA tech is so hot right now. They didn't just beat Duke. They handled Duke they they they took care of business in that game and won that game wired wire. I don't know a lot of fun. For over and out there. You guys remember the Wofford run a few years ago. Virginia Tech has a transfer from that team who was a very prominent part of that team. It's actually three of them. Kiva Luma and two others. I can't I can't find her names right now, but they're from that Wofford name from that Wofford team. One fun fact for you.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Okay, what do we got cyber warfare today be USC? Hmm. So let's talk about
Rob Kelly:warfare. Thanks for that.
Joe Malkin:Let's the next region we're going over here. And rabbit holes.
Rob Kelly:what rap is fine, yeah. Whoa,
Rayshawn Buchanan:let me pass that. No, we're
Rob Kelly:good. So wait, one last thing. So for this region? Who's getting out of it? Who's your final 14 from this region? And why?
Joe Malkin:I'd like for it to be Purdue. I'd like for it to be Purdue. Who do I think it's going to be? Probably Kentucky. Yeah, that's that's I know, right? I'm sorry, man. I'm sorry, man. But let's say
Rayshawn Buchanan:no, i Good. Good. Good. That's the problem. Good. It's all the fucking time bro. And
Joe Malkin:somebody to check on your way after?
Rayshawn Buchanan:No, but seriously, every fucking year, bro. Every fucking year they do something. It's like, Yo, like, what is what is the body's kids? I want to know. Where do you find these kids? Where I want to know Coach Kyle, what do you find them? How much do you slotting into their pocket goes?
Rob Kelly:He goes he goes to the front door. He's like, Hey, do you not want to go to college? Cool. Come play basketball for me.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Man. Yeah, yeah,
Unknown:pretty much done, man.
Rayshawn Buchanan:But he does. Everyone's wonderful. He says, like, it's crazy. You know? I mean, yeah. And it's funny cuz he sucked in the NBA for the fact that once you drive to carry girls over Kobe, but that's another topic for another day. Don't
Rob Kelly:carry titles right now. Keep going, keep going. Keep going, keep
Joe Malkin:going over.
Rob Kelly:So who do you think what do you think So who's your team? Right?
Rayshawn Buchanan:I said Purdue. That's going yeah, I'm gonna Yeah, Purdue. I'm writing. You know, I like a fighter jet. I have a jersey. I went well, I think he's, he's, he's that guy, in my opinion. So I'm excited to see what he does.
Rob Kelly:You might be able to No, no, wait, am
Rayshawn Buchanan:I right. Exactly. That sound and I deal with me. No, yeah. I don't get paid. You know, but I know, but no, I mean, he wouldn't be your first to do guard that I got excited to watch in the tournament.
Rob Kelly:It'll be better. Right now. We're gonna keep going.
Rayshawn Buchanan:It'll be better. It'll be better. So we'll leave it at that. Hey, you guys had your ranch. Let me good. It's all good.
Rob Kelly:My package UCLA there. I think there's so under the radar right now, man. They made that Final Four run from that 11 to last year. Literally, the whole team is still there. No one's talking about them. They got it as a four seed. Johnny juice gang is healthy. I can't think of the other guy's name. But there's another guy who's playing really well for UCLA right now as well. UCLA is my team. They're kind of like my upset final for
Rayshawn Buchanan:Josh Shipp is not walking through that door. I'm just right.
Rob Kelly:It took a killing Suggs, half court shot last year to take down UCLA in the race so crazy.
Joe Malkin:Doesn't matter how it falls as long as it falls. Yeah, that's true. Right so the Midwest,
Rob Kelly:so Midwest, we have top seeds, Kansas, Auburn, Wisconsin Providence notables undefeated Iowa as a five that we have. San Diego State Creighton that's going to be a great game, Miami at the 10 and the biggest underdog of this bracket or the to South Dakota State and Richmond. Richmond just won the A 10 South Dakota State is the best three point shooting team in the country. Look out for them. They're really fun. That's not a soccer to be there. They're a really really fun t.
Rayshawn Buchanan:So it's talking to me,
Joe Malkin:I don't know what's worse in this bracket. The fact that Providence is the fourth seed or the the fact that the committee put them into the same region as the team that spanked them in the Big East turn oh
Rob Kelly:my god, bro that was so brutal.
Joe Malkin:Creighton basically took Providence out back and and beat them
Rob Kelly:3030 30 Point
Joe Malkin:winning in the biggest tournament and Providence was the number one seed having a pretty good year. I mean, they're 25 and five. I mean, we're not talking about a you know, a bad basketball team. I don't think they're I don't think they're a four seed and I and to give you an upset. I don't think they may not get bounced by Richmond, but but they could get bounced by Richmond.
Rob Kelly:You know what you mean? South Dakota State right, Providence
Joe Malkin:or they sell to go 1234 Yeah, South Dakota State Sorry. Sorry. Again, bad counting, they could get bounced by South Dakota State that it can it could happen. It could absolutely happen. Honestly it could happen against Richmond or South Dakota State. So who cares? Like it doesn't get right in Richmond Spiders the worst. We have Scott in college sports I grew up in this this Providence team is is tough. They're not bad, but they're they're numbered. We've seen what Creighton can do to them and how they crumbled I think I think crate I agree with you to give you the game of the of the bracket and kind of just run through this. It's crazy. Diego state it's I mean, that's gonna be wild. I love those eight nine games sometimes you get one where somebody gets blown out, but the committee going back to our original conversation, the committee generally gets this right. I think they got Providence wrong but I think they got San Diego State and Creighton right because that's gonna be a hell of a
Rob Kelly:game. It is gonna be a game couldn't agree more. With the Providence South Dakota State take Providence runs one of the slowest offenses in the league. South Dakota State once runs one of the fastest offenses in the league and they hit threes Providence has that has that tendency to not be able to keep up a team to run that fast right game game in the bracket or region
Rayshawn Buchanan:no so I mean we you know so let's say I gotta go that province want to I forgot the name of that high of a seed dead dead definitely we did 13 For upset that that's they're gonna go on what's the I've seen much of South Dakota Yeah, I've seen some some games have seen enough of Providence to yes he said Yeah, but yeah, you see the problem so I'll give it to you once again. Certain guys that want the team to pass or whatever to that door um, so we can't we can't say that they're going to do well on I think they almost purposely picked it like this so they could be the team that kid gets upset at four but the team I'm looking at on on that on that side of the bracket is Kansas I think their their their do their due Bill stuff has been there forever. And today on the obviously they haven't won see I graduated high school and so I was an eight. And he's had crazy talent come through Kansas as well. And it's time it's time though. Well, you got to once again the big 12 you read the big 12 The Census issue Bender Big Dawg like it's time for y'all to at least get at least to the Final Four again, and then potentially, you know winning so I'm excited to see what they what they do. They're at Kansas. I can't think of any players they have ever had. I know that once he but
Rob Kelly:Kansas got a chai I bhaji
Rayshawn Buchanan:large Okay, yeah. So everyone it was we'll see we does Illinois and this bracket. And then another
Rob Kelly:one. Illinois, and I don't know which itself. There. We'll get some. Oh,
Rayshawn Buchanan:good. Okay, cool.
Rob Kelly:I got about COVID. Yeah,
Rayshawn Buchanan:yeah, cool. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
Rob Kelly:But so yeah, no, I agree. I like Kansas a lot in this bracket. I think this is this is one of the ones that is going to be a one too when it comes down to the Midwest or comes down to the Midwest Regional. I love Auburn, Jabari Smith. Future number one pick in the NBA Draft. This man possibly number one pick in the NBA. That's right. Yes. He's something that he can carry them 100% The entire way to the tournament and then they still have other pieces that can do it too. But I think Auburn is a very good pick out of this bracket if you're looking for that that pick who's not the number one Auburn Auburn is definitely the team to go with in this one jacket
Rayshawn Buchanan:can they be Tennessee don't
Joe Malkin:don't don't get them started no more
Rob Kelly:you know what you know all right here already enter enter and already Kill Kill there anyways. Just go ahead and Google Tennessee three seed and tell me that's fine Bobby,
Joe Malkin:but there's gonna be a faction of people. That is not even a faction it's not it's not everybody because I disagree. I think they should be number three see that again? It's like should they be the not to rehash it? Should they be the fourth number two seat or the second number three seat like, at the end of the day? I don't I don't think it's gonna matter. But I guarantee you there's people out there that LSU should be hiring that 60 Like, you know what I mean? Like there's there's people everywhere that are going to I know listen, dude, you say you get paid which way more money than we could ever imagine. To cover this all think Tennessee should be at least a Tuesday possibly. So what they should do is take the fact that they're a three seat and go when the goddamn tournament. I agree with you. Or pay
Rayshawn Buchanan:us to be part of this lesson. Right? Yes, that would
Joe Malkin:be I will come down and we can find a pressbox and Nealon stadium and we will do this in all orange. I will wear an orange jumpsuit and an orange Tennessee hat. And I will I will sing Rocky Top until my vocal cords are raw If you know I mean I would love to go honestly that just got me way too excited. Back to the tournament. I don't think Auburn is going to I think Kentucky or or Iowa are going to come out of this.
Rob Kelly:I like I like Iowa. Okay that that I think
Joe Malkin:I think there's a chance ah doesn't make it out of the first week because because I think Miami I think Miami and UFC will be able to be off and now it's on we're going to get past Jacksonville State. I watched Jacksonville State play in their conference tournament their offerings you know what a Jacksonville State we're not even talking Jacksonville, Florida. This is Jacksonville Alabama. Right Yeah, it's right next to green bow. So it's that was a Forrest Gump joke by her I got I think, I think the seven or that if
Rob Kelly:you didn't get it, if you didn't get it, you didn't deserve to get it. That's right.
Joe Malkin:I think UFC or Miami can can can beat up on Auburn. I think Iowa can get past Richmond and I think that Richmond team is strong. But if Iowa can get past Richmond and South Dakota State can get past providence. I could see Iowa then going up against they would go up against Kansas if that's the way we see it. So you know, and I think that's the game for the region. And Kansas says Kansas has the pieces they have the dude's i think i think i was played bass this year. I think they've had a great year. And it's not something we normally see from an Iowa Hawkeyes team. You know, they're one of those teams they
Rayshawn Buchanan:love. So yeah, I
Joe Malkin:think those were not just the big burly farm boys. That's what they what was it play basketball
Rob Kelly:guys? In Indiana right now. What's his name? Oh, he's in Detroit, Luka Garza look guys, exact case in point of what you just said. 100%
Joe Malkin:just just keep that push their way through. And they play fast. They play hard, they can shoot from anywhere. I like Guy Well, I think I agreed with you. When you said when we got to this to this bracket, they're they're, they're a sleeper. And I mean, granted, they're five seed, right? Like, I figure if you're a top six seed in any region, you have an opportunity to to make a good run. So I think in the in the sweet 16 That would be the sweet 16 Right? Yeah, if Kansas and Iowa mean the sweet 16 that that'll be the game for that bracket for that.
Rob Kelly:Sweet 16 He Yeah, right. Yeah, it
Joe Malkin:would be. Yeah, okay.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I'm not gonna lie. I forgot about your voice. But I forgot that he was on all devices. So he's definitely nice ally by on the wireless. I just, my memory is skipped. He was he was on their team. But needless to say, I still think that as Rock Chalk Jayhawk and that they're going to do what they need to do. Mike said, Bill, your dude was there for 10 years, you do broke and once again, they de de facto went over there. They've had some groups of progressive great coaches over there. And so they're les Brown's the, you know, Roy Williams, you know, they expect to win over there. So,
Joe Malkin:you know, they don't want to lose out
Rob Kelly:as you do to win if it's been 15 years, or is he just not gonna win?
Joe Malkin:I mean, I think basketball has just gotten so much better while he's been there I think but but he keeps
Rob Kelly:getting back but he keeps getting he does keep getting back he doesn't
Rayshawn Buchanan:say Yeah, it's like at some point he's got a breakthrough bro like what's what's the what's the deal with him on that day had he? I'm exaggerating but I feel like he was there for like eight years he was like he had a boy had I forget what number he left let's say it was Alice or whatever but knew played like for like 90 seconds on my bro like, just gonna be a graduate assistant. Like it's over like it's okay. Like your hair was going over?
Joe Malkin:Well now now with it now with the COVID years these guys can play for like eight years.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, I mean, maybe I need to go back. But
Joe Malkin:I'll go back your windows closed right
Rob Kelly:now. Right That ship has definitely sales
Rayshawn Buchanan:has been closed since 2008. Honestly,
Rob Kelly:so I got Auburn. Joe, you got Iowa. I can't say you got Kansas. Yeah. All right. I like it. I like it. Everyone picking someone different.
Joe Malkin:Alright south or west?
Rob Kelly:We're going south next.
Joe Malkin:Let's go Yeah, so
Rob Kelly:south south we got so we got Arizona one scene. Nova two scene. My guys. Tennessee three seed for Illinois. This region is so fucking loaded. Wow. For Illinois, five Houston's Yep, literally one through 11. One one through 11 is loaded. Six Colorado State seven Ohio State frauds. Eight Seton Hall. Nine TCU. While Chicago as we all know the perennial underdog, Michigan, a team that was ranked top five as beginning of the year. So literally one through 11 In this bracket are which legit basketball teams this still this bracket is low. This is to me. This is the best bracket in the tournament. It's just top to bottom.
Joe Malkin:They have the most automatic so yes, you When you look
Rob Kelly:at so even even like a Houston you look at a Houston a Houston as a top 15 team that you know what I mean? Like they're their perennial team who's there every single year and it's just like in their five seasons.
Rayshawn Buchanan:That's why I wanted to I wanted to touch on them right and Illinois right so here's Susan Jones phenomenal conferences. So if I if I say, yeah, they're the American Athletic.
Joe Malkin:I'm just throwing out there for your garbage conference.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, exactly. So my At what point do they dream nervous when they move because they constantly got no they had Nathan, Nate and Nate the hitch and he's out he's out in the NBA but he was really good lash out. I don't think they got said to him last year. They might have lost earlier I think but um, gave consistently had good talent in that in that program last few years. I mean, obviously we know we used to was in the 80s. We know we're Drexler logic on your flight FAIA, semi geminate and losing to Jim Joe, Jim Valvano, or Jimmy V at NC State day. It's like damn, like, what what? I feel like they need to they need to change conference. Because, like, I just I feel like they're not getting challenged in that conference. And I feel like they've had good talent come through there. So why not tested in the big 12? Why not tested in? I don't know. And another car maybe sec, who knows. But, um, it's wild to me that Illinois goes obviously you know what half of that group left last year with ao dishonor was up in Chicago killing it right now. He's kofi. Cockburn. Who's the center. He's He's a mother, fucking monster, monster. Monster. Like the dude dude is the absolute BS down low on AI to me, and you can hear my excitement. So you could tell what are we gonna pick? As unlike this, this guy, and I think he should be a top 10 Pick. And this year and this upcoming draft. Um, but I said, you know, Houston likes the Houston Illinois, two teams I'm W looking out for and in this region, for sure.
Rob Kelly:Before you go to Houston, is the number one reason why there are five seed is literally because of their conference, this team was there to their two best players at the beginning of the season. They're both out for the season with injury, they still went 30 and two, because they're in the American Conference, and they play absolutely no one all year, the best team that played all years, literally Memphis and Memphis is an AC. Oh, so yeah, I don't believe Alabama kind of fucked me last week. So I'm down on Alabama. Last night like fucking 1200 bucks.
Joe Malkin:Here's why Houston, here's why Houston doesn't move conferences. It's it's hard for one sport, especially at the division one level to move conferences. You know, there's a lot of schools that have a D one hockey program that, you know, there's not there's not a lot of D one hockey conferences like Arizona State has has a a hockey team,
Rob Kelly:think St. Cloud State is D one.
Joe Malkin:But they're not. But they're not in the Pac 12 Hockey conference, you see what I'm saying? So like, you're not gonna see Houston move out of the American Conference, because then then all their teams have to move. And Houston is one of those schools that is living large outside of a power five conference. And they're living large because they're, they're having the seasons that they are, and they're still getting five seats. And their football team is still winning eight to 10 games of season. And they're still going to big bowl games, you know what I mean? So it would be hard, it would be a hard sell for Houston to go to another conference. Because if they went to the SEC, they they wouldn't be a five See, they may not even be in the tournament, if they went to the SEC. You know what I mean? Like, there is that much of a different now. Now again, and this is the great thing about college basketball, there are five C's, they're going to compete, they're gonna they're probably going to win their first round matchup. And they and they may compete against some of those higher seeded teams, those teams that are in the big 10 The big 12 Right, right. Right. But like this is the point where they're going to compete with them. So they like to build up to that so that that's where I'm with Houston staying in the American Conference because they are in such a perfect situation. It makes it makes no sense for them to leave you UK
Rayshawn Buchanan:you causing that conference too, right?
Rob Kelly:Yeah, you can't you guys the American Yeah, it's the old Big East. It's been the whole thing.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, that's that's really that's the real that's the real part. That's Josh right. Now obviously, you know, does a documentary on
Rob Kelly:Mr. Big, man. It's really
Rayshawn Buchanan:hair. Like that's, you know, I mean outside obviously I'm a tarios fan but Big East basketball man listen, that guy used to be some serious man, Georgia Globa Syracuse St. John's like, I don't know like they they really messed up by
Joe Malkin:by me but there's still that conference like prominence. Villanova. He still got credit ratings in the Big East like Khan cradle have but Creighton is one of those programs cradles like a Houston to me like Creighton is one of those teams that Gonna give people fits and they, and they do it in every sport. They're a good division one made major program. And there's a lot of there's a lot of teams. And at the end of the day, that's probably a good thing because then we get to have this conversation of when are they going to move? They're not, you know, like the the amount of schools that are moving. It's it's getting almost out of hand. And we're seeing it at every level that teams are moving in sometimes because there's schools that are closing especially down the Division Three level, there's small private schools that are closing those big D ones. And I mean, University of Hartford is going to Division Three in 2025. Because of money, you know, it's like there's just so much going on so but in this in this in this region before I go off on another tangent, I'm going to say that the the game in this region for me is Loyola, Chicago against Ohio State. I think Loyola Chicago wins that game and I think they go on another run the team that I think will come out of this region is Arizona. The team that I want to come out of this out of this region is Tennessee. I think Tennessee can do it but the thing just same way I feel about Auburn I feel about Tennessee, they get to this they come out of the SEC and if you come out of the SEC in your names Kentucky you never really progress all that far not in recent years. Anyway. So I think Arizona comes out of this I think Loyola Chicago may get to the Sweet 16 And I think I think Tennessee is gonna make a run
Rayshawn Buchanan:but as far as Eric I know you said everybody Arizona this I mean once again it's not a knock on well maybe there's enough because I guess you used to know certain guys in their program but but I unless you're hardcore like I can't even name someone on this Arizona team that can think of off of red bright most other teams you can think of a guy that you could go to they're all really really easy but I'm just like you know I don't know what a coach is over there. Okay, I know they have some issues over here but I know obviously they love the Andre and a few years ago I know this team has it been in this position
Joe Malkin:really avoid first season formula. Okay,
Rayshawn Buchanan:so they haven't had they haven't been in this position really since? Oh, maybe 12 to one to win a
Rob Kelly:lot as a one seed yet. Arizona.
Rayshawn Buchanan:The guy he said go
Rob Kelly:to Stottlemyre was in town I'm pretty sure was last time. Wow.
Rayshawn Buchanan:So we thought a wire? Oh my god. One out there. No, but no that that was that was even before Celine actually. But that was where Richard Jefferson and Gilbert Arenas and Jason goguides. Right. This is when this guy was at USC.
Rob Kelly:There once you'd back and 14 Okay. Oh, gotcha. Okay. Yeah.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, gotcha. It's been a while since they've been in that and in this position. Um, so I don't I don't think they make it all the way to the Sweet 16 early age, I think they lose before then. Once again, we started off this segment saying this is the most stacked most most stacked region so I just felt like whatever the top seems like it's kind of your jockeying for that position, but I can easily see one of those top four teams maybe getting on you know, getting getting beat because one of the lower teams started to rise. Um, so I'm watching Joe I think that 10 Seven matchup between the literal at Ohio State you know, I look just just just for the senators this is the thing I liked. I liked how they played in the tournament and everyone's kind of rallied on you know, behind them um, but I had to say this I did I said Joe, Bobby Hugo, Michigan's leaving Michigan's gonna leave with something. So he isn't gonna leave it when are they go they go leave with a flight they don't go leave a stop Okay, that's what's gonna happen so you can rest a sore Michigan walking out of there with something you can you guarantee
Joe Malkin:that so right just just to kind of go back to Arizona and what you said about their youth they have one senior he's actually a grad student and then they have two juniors hmm that's that's that that's that number one seed with a first year head coach three I mean they're they're a well put together team but I'm whether it's like, but see these are the teams to be afraid of. These are the these are the teams to be scared of in this tournament. It's like the Loyola Chicago's the butler's it's almost like Arizona has that kind of a team as a number one seed. It's that's that's gonna seem
Rob Kelly:like that doesn't
Rayshawn Buchanan:that's fair. That's true. That's true. Yeah. And Joe
Rob Kelly:to say, Man, I don't think I've ever agreed with you more on the show, bro. And that's, that's insane. is crazy to me. Now you're gonna you've been on fire tonight go to Chicago over Ohio State is the pick for this bracket. I don't think I can stress enough that Ohio State and Michigan State we'll get there in a second. Fraud, central fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud fraud. That team is is is garbage anytime this year. They played Anyone good. They had a big game. They had a must win game. They didn't just lose. They got snacked oh how stay I can almost lift. If Vallejo Chicago loses that game against Ohio State I will be shocked. I will be shocked and my pockets will be a lot lighter.
Joe Malkin:I can be one of those teams. It's the same thing to me like an Auburn, they don't scare me in basketball like Ohio State, you play Auburn and Ohio State in football and you're like, This team's probably going to beat us. You play them in basketball and they're kind of a, you know, where I was saying that I was kind of like a big, you know, they got the big farm boys that can move and shoot. Ohio State just they they they're clunky. They're they've always been clunky in basketball. And they've always had that's why they're gonna lose.
Rob Kelly:They've always had you think about the people that come out of there. Right. So think about Ohio State. I'm staring soldier, Evan Turner. You know, you go down the line of these dudes who play or do we know for sure. But they're not. Whoever Turner soldier they're. Yeah, I haven't heard of it. So yeah, so people
Rayshawn Buchanan:forget because what happened is real but added how he was different. Yeah, I'm just saying was that
Rob Kelly:of course shot. Let's just
Joe Malkin:put it this way to close. And Bobby, you can close out the West Reading however you want. But my close with the West region is there's only one team in this tournament and in this region that has SR gene and it's not Ohio State.
Rayshawn Buchanan:That's fact like that. Oh, that's a perfect way to end.
Rob Kelly:Yeah. Well that that in beside Tennessee is coming out of this region. That's, that's listen. And I mean that I really do me number two, three seed that listen. I see Tennessee as a second one seed in this bracket. Like I don't have anyone seeds in my final four. But I rationalized it as when Tennessee was there. I was like okay, they're my one seed because that's honestly how I see them. I think Tennessee comes out of this bracket best ratio. What do you always say about defense, bro? What is your quote about defense? Defense travels.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Oh, yeah, he's gonna tell us right.
Rob Kelly:The best defensive team in the country is no literally volunteers.
Joe Malkin:You know, where the Longwood Lancers are the to
Rob Kelly:see volunteer Longwood? Well, he said, I'll give you I'll give you
Joe Malkin:I'll give you a clue law. The Longwood Lancers are from a town that has the same name as an app of a simulation farming game that we used to play.
Rob Kelly:Oh seven snow Smallville,
Joe Malkin:Farmville, Virginia. Farmville, Farmville, Virginia. I'm not scared of the Longwood Lancers from Farmville, Virginia.
Rayshawn Buchanan:So that then we're gonna win like 8272 Now,
Joe Malkin:I know. I know. Tennessee and I'm gonna come back on here. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna come back on here and go see Bobby. That's why they're forced.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, you know what the name of this episode shows he's gonna win going to tell him
Rob Kelly:the last. Really the last thing I'll say on this is look out for shadnagar I know that sounds crazy. It locks the Moxa good.
Joe Malkin:Chattanooga. Chattanooga.
Rob Kelly:Did I say Chattanooga? I think you said chateau. Chad. What Joe just said what Joe just said look out for them have they have a lot of offensive firepower? And I think that that's going to be a better game than a lot of people think a little more confidently Okay, don't get me I'm not saying they're gonna win. I'm saying Illinois at one point in the second half is going to look up at that scoreboard and go oh shit, it's a go but don't worry. It's coming. So West. We're going over this one for last on purpose. So we got one seed Gonzaga to seed Duke three Texas Tech for Arkansas. Five our guys over in Connecticut Yukon, six Alabama, seven Michigan State other notables we got Davidson at 10 The play in Notre Dame and Rutgers I love both of the I love rockers not so much Notre Dame Vermont number 13 is a lot of people should be watching Yeah, what do you guys think first first game? What's the one that excites you most? I know I know which one jumps off the page at me. But what do you guys think?
Joe Malkin:I like i It's actually funny because I was like Why did you save this one for last but it's actually interesting that you did because I really like Vermont Arkansas. I think Vermont can win that game I like to play in Game of Notre Dame rocker see this is the point where I'm like I just advocated for all the six teams been playing games but now you're telling me that we get to watch Rutgers hit Notre Dame battle to see who gets to who gets to play the who's at the
Rob Kelly:six seat who's gonna go beat Alabama?
Joe Malkin:Yeah, who's gonna go beat Alabama right so I think that Boise State Memphis game could be fun. There's going to be a lot of blue in that gym for that game on both sides. I think that that's just a it is a fun bracket. You know you you got some some fun to and you don't normally see you get the Georgia state's the Cal State Fullerton, the Montana states, it's really cool to see these teams through. I think that, you know, Gonzaga and Duke are really the ones like this, this. Brett, this region doesn't really jump off the page at me. It's just gonna be a fun bracket to watch. But when it comes down to it, Duke and Gonzaga are going to play to go to the Final Four like that. That's how I feel about this one that that elite eight game is going to be between Gonzaga and Duke to the fall for
Rob Kelly:if there's any team in this bracket that screams I'm going to lose to a double digit seed is to do boo boo devils. They've lost it Fullerton. No no, not not. 50 I hope so. Listen, they've done it before. Who did they lose to before though? Who was it Mr. Belmont and they lost a Mercer? Remember? Yes. Yeah. No. Mercy. No. So so it's not unprecedented that that happens. Cal State Fullerton one of the best baseball schools out there. Yeah, back. Because I love seeing them in I see asphalt and I'm not gonna lie, but I saw them get announced. I was like, Hey, see asphalt and let's go. I think Duke was done. Davidson. I'm not gonna lie. I think Davidson beats Michigan State because also Michigan State's frog. And Davidson ends up being Duke because if you just look at this Duke team, man, I think they have so much pressure on their backs right now with Coach K retiring and then need to give them the send off. You can see it when they have those big games. You know what I mean? Like what could that game were Coach K was getting sent off and Cameron. They got smoked by UNC smoked, smoked, ran out of the court, ran out of the court against Virginia Tech, again, smoked wire to wire Virginia Tech had that game, there was never in doubt. So I just see that like, listen, they're gonna be Cal State Fullerton as soon as they hit a team that can punch them in the mouth. dukes up. That's I think my leader is Texas Tech and Gonzaga. I I still stick by like Ray what you said, Man, defense travels. Texas Tech plays some badass defense, man.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I mean, good. Just because I get defense too. So I get I get why you pick that far as you say Michigan State as far as I'm not counting on a Tom Izzo team. I'm sorry, Tom, Tom, is those one of the best coaches we've ever seen, no matter no matter the level, and those guys always seem to play hard for him when it matters most. So. Right. He's another way he's in that subcategory too. He's also do right it's been a while since Michigan State has been at that cuminum crop but he's been there forever. You know, I know they want to title back in the day with a you know,
Rob Kelly:don't say his name. But
Rayshawn Buchanan:you know, like I moved Pete You know, back into the head man. So, you know, that had to bring it up. But, um, you know, another name that I want to bring up too because we haven't talked about him yet. Because we had a BBS team. I did a 16 this year in Listen, Alabama, led by Javan quarterly. They whoever they face as LMC, they want to be in the first round. So you can book it, you give me want to post this on my page. That's fine. Javan quarterly is another guy to watch and just tournament and his brand this region, they're going to be whoever they're facing. And that first round, I had to actually have them going up to at least at least 16. I think I think you can lead them that far. They were good last year. And let's say they kind of before we didn't go for the draft. So he wanted to come back and see what they could do this year in college. But yeah, quarterly is a problem. I'm hoping to do those those down. For sure. I need that to happen as a Tar Heel supporter. But yeah, I so I'm excited to see how it all unfolds. But I think in the end who exactly is going to be the team on MARK FEW has been really the model of consistency. And you know, here's another one you know, you're talking about job he's not a mid major guy. Good. Obviously they're in there. What are they in the Pac 12 conference? It's all it's always MSA marry right.
Rob Kelly:Now, they're not even there. Yeah, no,
Joe Malkin:it's kind of like Houston. But
Rayshawn Buchanan:But bigger. No, but I mean, no, but that's, that's that's not necessarily true. Bobby, like you said,
Rob Kelly:they just got the number one recruit last year. Like they, they continually do too. They got Jalen Suggs, they got changed
Rayshawn Buchanan:one a couple years ago, like they didn't see and they were they were the almost team all the time. And they finally got there a couple years ago and I finally want it remember that we beat them in 2017 someone looked a lot at him in 2017 like so they always got there and he they got there you know until you're gonna get played there a while ago, but you know, they just over the last 10 years or so started to become more of a
Joe Malkin:now they've lost they they're not like Butler.
Rob Kelly:Everyone know they lost, they lost two.
Joe Malkin:They got to the national champion, they got
Rayshawn Buchanan:to wait it either way. So that that that bolsters my point then so he It's just yeah it's the old moves doesn't count you know, Psalter Brennan is almost doesn't count. So he's he's on the clock as well. He needs to get it. He's a fun way to get it done. Um, but I do think this is really if there's ever a time to such, you know, I said channel likes that channel I know you think he should you should go number one we talked about it right you say you should go number one. Yeah,
Rob Kelly:I yeah, I do. i He is such a good all around game and Chad Hohokam can score from anywhere on the court. He can defend anyone on the court.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I just did to his Christian Lehmann 2.0 And I know that when people listen to this, they get offended. Um, oh, well,
Rob Kelly:because he's white and tall. No, not not
Rayshawn Buchanan:even I just think that remember Krishna? Krishna the best basketball player college basketball ever seen? Ever, ever. Regardless the era like maybe outside of the marriage, you know, you can listen to that show with Steve ball Pat in the show notes but like Christian leader was the guy and once again he got silly I think was a one time all star and he basically flopped most of his career on the flop like following but it he was a bust. So yeah, I can I can totally see that happening. So he's either gonna be Christian later or he's gonna be closer to dark. It's not gonna be it's not gonna be missing
Rob Kelly:in the in the scary events of the census on a Christian later, Grant. Yeah.
Joe Malkin:One of the lessons I wanted to say is Wait Contrary to popular belief this about this. This is okay. Cool, cool. Contrary to popular belief, Gonzaga, his nickname is not the sags they are in fact, the Bulldogs. Just so everyone knows. They're not the zags. They are the Bulldogs. And that's just that's just me. Kind of like that. Yeah, like inside. It's like no, no, that it is fun, right? Like why haven't they changed it yet? It's like Long Beach State. The baseball team goes by the dirtbags. There's a whole story behind that. We'll get to that on another day when we're talking about college baseball, which everyone seems to have forgotten about now that Major League Baseball is back. I haven't. But besides the point, Gonzaga Bulldogs. I'm with you, Ray, they come out
Rob Kelly:of the womb. If Christian lair is in today's NBA, he'd be way better.
Rayshawn Buchanan:So that's true. That's true. That's true. You're right. So
Rob Kelly:Rima so Vermont, to me is is a big upset in this region. I'm going to get you guys again. I think Texas Tech comes out of this region, man. I love the Red Raiders. I love the defense they play. I just love their brand bath fourth
Joe Malkin:number three seed.
Rob Kelly:Ish. Listen, I
Joe Malkin:love it. Well, they actually are the 12th overall seed that's why I keep saying that because the the document I'm doing I know Yeah. As the overall seeds like the given saga is the number one. Dukes the number eight. Texas Tech is the number 12.
Rob Kelly:Okay, so CS for this region, I got Texas Tech. You guys both got Gonzaga. So we're down to it here. We got we got through the regions. What do you guys think is taken this thing? Jeff?
Joe Malkin:It's always it's always easy to pick a team this time, like right now. Right? Like it'd be easy to just pick a number one seed and say that they're gonna win it. And that's why I'm gonna go with Gonzaga. I think this is the year that they do it. And for all the reasons why we just said I mean, they're 26 and three, two coming out of the West Coast Conference, really the only in conference competition. They have is St. Mary's, they they've had a head coach there that's been there for 23 years. And Mark few they're chomping at the bit for for so many years now. And while I think this is one of the best fields and maybe one of the best tournaments we're ever going to see, I think in Zaga is going to rise to the occasion because their region doesn't scare me. As much as every other region and the Baylor's the Kentucky's the produce are going to have to fight each other to get out of the east. The Tennessee's the Villanova is the the Arizona's the Loyola Chicago's are gonna have to fight each other to get out of the south. The Kansas is the Auburn's Providence is even maybe I don't know, because I think they get beat in the first round. But those teams are gonna beat up on each other. And then Gonzaga I think has the easiest route. Now I'm not saying that these teams are bad. I just think they have the easiest route because I think this is the the bracket the region where we're going to see the most upsets. So you know, I could like I said, I could see a Memphis beating of Boise State of Davidson beating in Michigan State, Rutgers or Notre Dame beating Alabama, Vermont could beat Arkansas. So it's like there's four right there that we could see as quote unquote, upsets. Again, I don't count a nine over an eight and upset I really don't count 10 over seven, it's upset, but for all intents and purposes, they're upset. Right? So I think that this is the where Gonzaga is gonna have the easiest road to the national championship and I think they win it who gets there with them. A rain might not like it, but I think Kentucky I think Purdue I think Nova and Kansas are probably the teams that one of those teams is going to meet them in the championship game and I think Gonzaga wins.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Right? Oh, so he got one half of the equation right? I think that there's a good guess they're two bucks. I'm gonna go with Purdue loadable and makers.
Joe Malkin:That would be such a great national championship game.
Rayshawn Buchanan:I listen, it's it's Jaden, it was time. And my pay less I'm gonna ride that bandwagon until I can't anymore. Like I'm gonna be able to get 72 and it's not gonna stop just now but um, you know, especially we find his way up to Carson street. Oh my god. You think you think Bobby was all paying pushes? He was on his bandwagon baby. You ain't seen nothing
Joe Malkin:yet? It is what we're calling it now is bandwagon. Yeah, yeah.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Yeah, my my my future for good a year Jaden IV baby.
Rob Kelly:Nobody cash in cash to take it now baby.
Rayshawn Buchanan:Exactly. MLP most outstanding player that's coming. But yeah, I'm gonna go Purdue because Agha and I'm gonna go work for Duke man national champion.
Joe Malkin:won a national championship game that would be just because like, it's Gonzaga like, right again, like we just said, they're not really a mid major anymore. They're getting there. Purdue could be be considered maybe just a rung above a mid major fight and you're gonna and you're gonna have Purdue and Gonzaga. They're like, we're not talking Baylor Kentucky, Duke, Villanova, Arizona, Kansas, the teams that always get there. Oh, that would that that blows my mind. This is gonna be such a fun time. And not just the first four days like, sometimes I lose my way through like, after we that like the Thursday and Friday of week two. I would love to see Purdue guns. I'm gonna jump on that been like, hey, go.
Rob Kelly:There we go. Love it. I can never call Gonzaga, Mich Bay major guys, or are you not anymore.
Joe Malkin:They used to be they're not anymore.
Rob Kelly:They're now they're now a blue chipper. They are now on the bonafide tournament team right there on the level of of those top teams now the my, I gotta go. I gotta do it. I got UCLA winning this whole thing, man. Well, I think UCLA is gonna take this that'll do. The point list of last year, guys. They they were they were. So Gonzaga was this unbeatable team last year for so long, right? unbeatable. And this team was a half court shot away from Jalen Sox from taking them down as 11 seed. They have another year together. Literally all of them are still together. They're all healthy. And now that that was coming off the four seed, they're more confident. I really think jozankei is going to lead UCLA to the glory lab. Man. I think they're gonna be Texas Tech in the finals. I really, really believe that not Texas Tech. tech stack in the Final Four. And they're going to be Auburn. So it's going to be Auburn versus UCL threw myself off Arbor versus UCLA in the finals. And again, geez dang man. We doing to the glory land. It's happening. So I'm the real BK Bob Kelly. For Jomo Ken Rayshawn. Buchanan is March Madness, the NFL fuck this whole episode just been madness. We're out