Finding Our Juju: An NCAA College Hoops Preview

With college hoops season upon us, Sarah gets you up to speed on the stars, stakes, stats and stories you need to know. She breaks down the preseason favorites, tells ya who's where with "old faces in new places," and shares her five burning questions as the season tips off. Plus, streaking for veebs, falling back in love with the game, and the fastest way around the city is on your feet.

• Check out the Fan Flare app here 

• The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [e-mail] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're headed
to the polls to vote. Okay, okay. So Illinois may
not have an election today, but Chicago is known for
its creative approach to politics, so you never know. And
more than thirty states do indeed have elections today, so
get out and vote. Local and state elections have a
huge impact, so make sure you do your part. It's Tuesday,

(00:22):
November fourth, and on today's show will begin you up
to speed on the biggest stars, steak stats and stories
to keep tabs on this college basketball season, from preseason
faves to old faces in new places, and five burning
questions as the season tips off. Plus streakin' for vibes,
falling back in love with the game, and the fastest
way around the city is on your feet. It's all

(00:44):
coming up right after this welcome back slices. Here's what
you need to know today. Let's start with volleyball and
the AU Pro Volleyball Championship, which concluded on Sunday following
a four week season. Two time Olympic medallist Jordan Thompson
was crowned season champion in her AU debut, finishing the

(01:08):
season with three thousand, five hundred and sixty three leader
board points in Lighter for championship. Thompson credited AU with
more than just giving her a place to play. Quote,
this I think really helped me fall in love with
the sport again. Professional careers come with ups and downs,
so moments like this are really important and so impactful,
I think to keep us going end quote aw, we

(01:29):
love to hear it. Ahead of the final weekend of competition,
AU also honored seven athletes for excellence throughout the season
with spots on the league's All Position Team. Honorees were
set in Natalia Valentin Anderson, Libero Morgan Hence, opposite hitter
Jordan Thompson, middle blockers Molly McCage and Tory Dixon, and
outside hitters Reagan Cooper and Danny Drews more Vives. Nebraska

(01:50):
is the only remaining undefeated Division one NCAA team after
Number two Texas fell to Number nine Texas A and
M in five sets on Friday, and then got swept
by No. Number three Kentucky on Sunday. The Sunday sweep
mark the Longhorn's first three set loss at home since
twenty twenty three. No such troubles for the number one
Nebraska Huskers this weekend. They're now twenty two to oh

(02:12):
following a three set win over Oregon on Sunday. In
addition to their undefeated streak, the Huskers have also swept
their last thirteen matches, meaning they've won forty straight sets.
For those of you look into stay up to date
on the college volleyball scene, remember you could check out
the fan Flare app, co made by friend at the
Show and art but Maked Sports creator l J. Raider.

(02:32):
The app, which officially launched last week, features daily schedules
and score updates, with many more features to come in
future editions. We'll link to it in the show notes
to the Streets of NYC, where Kenya's Helen o'berri won
the New York City Marathon on Sunday, breaking a twenty
two year old course record in the process. Her two
nineteen fifty one was nearly three minutes faster than the

(02:52):
previous NYC mark. Meanwhile, American Susanna Scaroni won the women's
wheelchair race to take home her third career at New
York City title in four years. She bested second place
finisher and absolute legend Tatiana McFadden, who's won the race
five times. Two hoops. Yesterday saw the start of the
college basketball season with over one hundred and forty games
on the schedule, including number sixteen Baylor defeating number seven

(03:15):
Duke fifty eight to fifty two behind twenty four points
from Talia Scott out in Paris, France. The action continues
today with a bunch of teams tipping off that includes
number one Yukon take it on, Number twenty Louisville at
the US Naval Academy, and number nine NC State hosting
Number eight Tennessee. We'll link to the full college hoops
schedule in the show notes and stick around for our

(03:35):
college basketball season preview later in the show. To soccer,
the first ever North American edition of the World Seven's
Football AKAW seven F Tournament is coming up. The seven
v seven footy tournament will be held from December fifth
through seventh in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is set to
feature the NWSLS, Kansas City Current and San Diego Wave,

(03:56):
with players competing for a five million dollar prize pool.
Tournament will also feature Canadian teams AFC Toronto, Mexican teams
Club America and Tigrisfeminil, Brazilian team Club de Regattas do
Flamengo and Colombian team to Portivo Cali Feminino. We were
super curious about the rules that allow NWSL players to
participate in an offseason tournament like this, so we reached

(04:18):
out to the Players Association for clarification, and Megan Burke,
friend of the show and executive director of the PA,
let us know that the PA agreed to a one
time exception so Kansas City and San Diego players can
play in the tournament, with the stipulation that each player's
participation must be optional, though Burke added that she expects
most players will opt in. Per Burke quote, you might
describe our position as one of curiosity. We're interested to

(04:40):
see how this kind of competition lands for our players.
Even though the timing here during their off season wasn't ideal,
it's a cool concept that by allowing it this one time,
gives us more data, both quantifiable and anecdotal, to work
from as the calendar continues to evolve. End quote. Any
prize money that an NWSL team earns from the tournament
will be split with the players fifty to fifty and

(05:01):
given the big purse that could result in a very
nice payday. The winning team will be awarded with a
check for two point five million dollars, So if an
NWSL team wins, that comes out to about fifty six
thousand dollars per player once the team takes his fifty percent.
Thanks to Megan for helping answer our questions. We're excited
to watch the tournament, but you know, first the NWSL playoffs,

(05:24):
we got to take a quick break. When we come back.
Everything you need to know for the start of the
women's college hoops season. Okay, maybe not everything, but the
important stuff stick around. Welcome back, slices. It's time for
a little NCAA women's basketball preview. We're gonna do it
in three parts. I'll look at the AP preseason faves,

(05:46):
a breakdown of some old faces in new places, and
my five burning questions to start the season. Let's start
with the preseason faves and the team's topping the preseason eight.
People look pretty familiar because the top four were all
in last year's final four. So let's briefly remind you
what the AP's top five did last year and why
hopes are so high. For them this year, coming in

(06:08):
at number five LSU. Last year, Kim Maulkes Tigers finished
thirty one and six before losing in the Elite eight
for the second straight season. Flage Johnson, who averaged eight
point six points per game last year, and fellow guard
Mikaela Williams, who put up seventeen point three points per game,
are going to be joined by my Lesia ful Wiley,
who transferred over to LSU from rival South Carolina. Full Wiley,

(06:30):
a dynamic and exciting player with a ton of flair
tour game, had eleven point seven points in just under
nineteen minutes per game for the game Cox last season.
Biggest loss for LSU, double double machine Anissa morro is
now off to the w coming in at number four.
Texas coach Vick Schaefer's Longhorns finished thirty one and four
last season before falling to South Carolina in the final four.

(06:53):
They returned their two most important pieces preseason SEC Player
of the Year Medicine Booker, who had sixteen point three
points and six point six rebounds per game last year,
and preseason All SC second Team fifth year point guard
Rory Harmon, who had nine point three points and five
point nine assists per game last season. That dynamic duel
will get help from returning players Jordan Lee and Kyla Oldacre,

(07:14):
plus three transfers who averaged double digit points for their
previous teams last season, Bria Cunningham heading to Texas from Arizona,
Ashton Judd formerly of Missouri, and Taya Sidbury who was
at Boston College. Sitting at number three UCLA now this
was probably the best regular season team last season start
to finish, though Corey Close and her UCLA squad couldn't

(07:36):
get the title. They returned superstars Keiky Rice and Lauren Betts,
and at another Bets Lauren's six foot four younger sister Sienna.
Last season, the elder Bets was the Naysmith Defensive Player
of the Year. Lisa Leslie Award winner for the nation's
best center, was a first team AP All American and
put up twenty point two points and nine point five
rebounds per game, while Rice was first team All Big

(07:57):
Ten and had twelve point eight points in five I
have assist per game. And they add Gianna Neepkins from
Utah and Charlie Ledger Walker previously at Washington State now
UCLA did say goodbye to guard London Jones and Janiah Barker,
last year's Big Ten sixth Player of the Year. Both
of them lost to the Transfer Portal. Coming in at
number two South Carolina, The game Cox finished last season

(08:20):
thirty five and four before falling to Yukon in the
championship game. But this year's team is going to look
very different. Not only did the game Cocks lose Tohena Poupow,
bre Hall and Senaia Fagan to graduation, Chloe Kits is
going to miss the season due to an ACL tear,
and Ashlyn Watkins is sitting out the season. On top
of all that, the Cox lost Malaysia full Wiley to LSU.

(08:42):
Now they'll look to sophomore Joyce Edwards, who led the
team in scoring as a freshman last year with twelve
point seven points per game. Also, Raven and Tessa Johnson return,
and the team has added a deadly bucket the leading
scorer in the nation to Nia Latson, who had twenty
five point two points per game last year at Florida
STATELA for me about this team and how much of
this number two ranking is based on last year's finish,

(09:04):
But of course Don Staley at the Helm is enough
to give AP voters a bit of confidence. Finally coming
in at number one Yukon. They posted a thirty seven
and three record on the season last year and closed
things out with an emphatic eighty two to fifty nine
win over South Carolina in the national title game to
win it all. The Huskies welcome back Tournament Most Outstanding
Player Azy Fudd, who put up thirteen point six points

(09:26):
per game last season, and Sarah Strong, who was a
second team AP All American in her freshman year last year,
averaging sixteen point four points and eight point nine rebounds
while finishing second in all of Division one ball in
player efficiency rating. Kk Arnold, Ice, Brady, Jana l Alfie,
and Ashland Shade are all back for Gino Oriama squad,
and he added coveted senior transfer Sarah Williams from Wisconsin

(09:49):
and guard Kaylee Heckel from usc The Huskies will have
to go without their graduated standouts Pagebeckers and Caitlyn Chen
though all right slices. So those are the preseason favorite teams.
And I've already mentioned a few of the biggest names
on the move, but let's recap those and add a
few more players that entered the transfer portal this pass offseason.
Because this is your much needed update on who is where,

(10:11):
It's old faces in new places. We'll start with Tanaia Latson,
last year's leading scorer in all of Division one hoops
who I mentioned earlier, is now playing for Don s
Dale at South Carolina. She reunites with high school teammate
Raven Johnson. The duo overlapped for three years at Westlake
High School in Atlanta, so Latin two sc meantime, Mylesia
ful Wiley left the game Cocks to join LSU, creating

(10:33):
a new big three with Flaje Johnson and Mikayla Williams.
Watch out for that trio On offense. I mentioned UCLA
picking up two big names in Gianna Neepkins, who missed
the twenty twenty three twenty four season to a broken
foot but then bounced back last year averaging nineteen point
three points for Utah. She also shot over fifty percent
from the field, forty four point eight percent from three
point range, and eighty nine percent at the free throw line.

(10:56):
And Charlie Ledger Walker, who actually transferred UCLA last year
after being a four time All Pack twelve selection at
Washington State, but had to sit out that season while
she rehabbed an ACL injury. I told you about Sarah Williams,
a two time All Big Ten first teamer who won
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season at Wisconsin.
She's taken her talents to Yukon along with guard Kaylee Heckel,
who last played at USC. Notre Dame standout Olivia Miles,

(11:19):
a three time All American who put up fifteen point
four points, five point six rebounds, and five point eight
assists for the Irish last season. She's now at TCU,
and you might remember it was the Horned Frogs who
upset her Irish in the sweet sixteen. So can't beat him,
join him, I guess. Janiah Barker, last year's Big Ten
sixth Player of the Year at UCLA, has joined Tennessee,
where she'll team up with transfers Niya Robertson from SMU

(11:42):
and Jersey Wolf and Barker, who played two seasons at
Arkansas and then last year at LSU. Kara Dunn, an
All acc first teamer at Georgia State last year, has
left for USC, where she'll be joined by London Jones,
who hopped across town from rival UCLA to join the
Trojans as well. All right, is your head spinning yet? Yeah?
I think seeing some of those players in new unis

(12:02):
is going to take some getting used to. And as
the season tips off with these new look teams and
these players in new places, We've got five big burning
questions about what's going to happen between now and the
final FOURIGN Phoenix next April. Burning question number one just
how great can Sarah Strong be? She was second to
only pagebackers and assists per game last year for the Huskies.

(12:22):
She was one of only four players nationally last season
and the only freshman to average at least sixteen points,
eight rebounds, and three assists per game. She also did
it in the least amount of minutes per game and
had the highest field goal percentage of the four players
who did it, shooting fifty eight percent. If Strong could
improve on last year's stellar start, her second season could

(12:42):
be one for the Ages. Burning question number two is
this the year to bets on Ucla? With returning stars
Keiki Rice and Lauren Betts, plus Baby Bets aka Lil Sis,
Sienna and transfers Ledger Walker and Neepkins. They are going
to be dangerous. They were dominant last year until their
final four defeat. Can they be even better and finish

(13:02):
things off this year? And with seven seniors on the roster,
can coach Corey close take advantage before major turnover next year?
Ps My side quest is going to be to try
to hear all the stories about the Betts sisters trying
to navigate playing and pursuing a title together. Burdon question
number three? Can usc find their juju without juju? With
no juju, Watkins and Kiki Eria fin off to the pros,

(13:25):
this is going to be a different looking Trojans team.
Kara Dunn arrives to be at the transfer portal from
Georgia Tech after an all acc season. London Jones joins
from rival UCLA, and top twenty twenty five recruit Jazzy
Davidson is set to form a formidable tandem with sophomore
Kennedy Smith. There is a lot of pressure on Jazzy
from those in the know. Really high hopes for the

(13:46):
six foot one forward who average twenty eight point five points,
eight point seven rebounds, three point six asses, three point
eight steals and two blocks per game in her senior
year at Clackhamus High School in Oregon. There are even
some saying that a Juju esque first year isn't out
of the question for Jase. Burning question number four. Will
all the losses to injury and graduation? Keep South Carolina

(14:08):
from being a true contender? Can Joyce Edwards step up
and be the team's true go to star with more
minutes at a bigger role this year? And can Deny
Latson become a well rounded player under Don s Dally
not just a score. Okay, that was several burning questions,
But I've got a lot of questions about South Carolina
this year, all right? Burning question number five? What's in

(14:31):
store for Notre Dame this season? The Irish lost four
starters from last year, and though they return to ACC
preseason Player of the Year Hanna Hidalgo, she can't do
it alone. And I'm thinking this seat might be getting
a little hot for head coach Neielle Ivy. In five
seasons at the Helm, her teams haven't made it past
the sweet sixteen, a notable drop off from the success
of her predecessor, Muffett McGraw. Ivy also saw four players

(14:54):
depart via the transfer portal after last season, including the
great Olivia Miles, leaving no Jelly's like me wondering if
there's some tea worth sipping in South Bend. Anybody got
any follow up info on that Miles and Hidalgo heated
exchange at that early season WNBA game. If you do,
you know how to reach us all right, now that

(15:16):
we've devolved into hot goss, I think this preview is over.
Stick around, though, because when we come back, let's hear
it for the boys. Welcome Mac Slices. We love that
you're listening, but we want you to get in the
game every day too, So here's our good game play
of the day. A few of you sent some great
suggestions of players, coaches and storylines that you'd like to

(15:38):
hear from and about this college hoop season, including trying
to get some rival players on together. We love that,
and you want an updated look at NIO that's in
the works, so don't you worry, Slices. We want some
more suggestions, so send us your thoughts email good game
at wondermedianetwork dot com, or you can leave us a
voicemail at eight seven two two oh four fifty seventy,

(15:58):
and don't forget to subscribe ive Rate and review. It's
easy watch a few good men, rating five stars to
all the major men's leagues stepping up review. Over the
last few weeks or so, all of the players associations
for America's major men's professional sports leagues, the NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL,
and NFL, have all issued statements in support of the

(16:20):
WNBA Players Association as their CBA negotiations continue. The NBA
Players Association posted on Saturday, quote, we stand with the
women of the WNBPA as they work toward a collective
bargaining agreement that reflects their value and impact both on
and off the court end quote. A few days earlier,
the NFL Players Association posted quote pay them what you
owe them. The NFLPA stands in solidarity with the WNBA

(16:44):
and its fight. They continued, quote, it's time for fair compensation,
proper working conditions, and a future that puts players first.
End quote. Among the things, the MLBPA posted quote, We're
standing with players who are standing on business end quote.
Love to see it now. It's your turn, y'all, Rate
and review. Thanks for listening. See you Tomorrow, Good Game,

(17:06):
Jordan Thompson, Good Game, Men's Leagues, h you Darkness? How
can I be expected to stay productive past five pm?
If the black of night is calling me to the
couch for a blanket? And The new season of the
morning show Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart
women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.

(17:28):
You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,
our producers are alex Azzie, Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and
Lucy Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz,
Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rudder,
Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from Avery Loftus

(17:50):
and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain