September 9, 2023 • 43 mins
Germany stunned the United States in the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup soon after Serbia ousted Canada. With Luka Dončić's Slovenia also losing in the quarterfinals earlier this week, this naturally became a World Cup-heavy show, with Mavericks radio play-by-play voice Chuck Cooperstein and Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević joining Marc as this week's special guests.
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(00:04):
Welcome to the Saturday Stein Line withMark Stein, presented by Panini Trading Cards
and Collectibles. On ninety seven one, The Freak, the official homes all
Dallas Nevericks Games, hosted by legendaryNBA reporter and publisher of his substract,
The Stein Line. Here's Mark Stein. Welcome in, friends to another edition
(00:28):
of the Saturday Stein Line. Younever know who you're gonna run into at
the Freak Studios, and poor ChuckCooper Stein, radio voice of the Dallas
Mavericks, we're in the studio atthe same time. He didn't realize this
was going to happen. But guesswhat, because he's here, I have
(00:48):
somehow negotiated for him to join mefor segment one and segment three. In
segment two, we'll be joined byNikolavuchevitch of the Chicago Bulls. But we
have so much to get to becauseif you want to see this addition of
Team USA of the United States seniormen's national basketball team, if you want
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to see this team play one moretime this year, you're gonna have to
be up in the three o'clock hour, Dallas time Sunday, because the United
States loses Friday to Germany, andnot Dark Nevitsky's Germany, the modern Germany,
which honestly deep team, versatile team. You know, these guys are
(01:34):
all the airs of dark Navitsky.But man, I wish, for Dirk's
sake he had a team as versatileand dangerous as this. And Chuck,
I'm I know you love your feeblehoops, so I do love my feeble
hoops. And I have been wakenup in the middle of the night.
And you know, I did watchSerbia on Friday morning, just really take
(01:56):
apart Canada, and it did surpriseme. And I just didn't see,
you know, Canada falling victim tothe physical play of Serbia the way say
Slovenia fell and Luca got so frustrated, you know, playing against the physical
play of Canada. But maybe it'slike the bully in the sandbox, right,
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you throw sand on and right,all of a sudden, he's not
very happy. And that's kind ofwhat happened to Canada. But but the
USA game, you know, Mark, I saw this coming, saw it
coming. You could have seen itcoming if you had paid attention to the
to the run up games in AbuDhabi. The Americans needed a huge rally
in the fourth quarter to win thatgame. Anthony Edwards was absolutely out of
his mind. He tried it againtoday. It didn't quite work out the
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same way. But you look atthe games that they struggled with in the
run up and in the World CupLithuania, Germany, Spain, all these
teams are really physical. They're big, and they're physical, and they play
basketball more in a more traditional way, quite frankly, as opposed to the
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way we're seeing the NBA play playing, where we're playing small and we're playing
five out. We're doing all thisstuff, and frankly, size matters in
Feba. It really does. AndI think not just the fact that they
lost today, but what everything elsethat's happened. I think it's an indictment
on the process that Grant Hill andSteve Kerry used to put the team team
(03:30):
together, and I really think theyneed to think about how they're putting that
team together next year for the Olympicsin Paris. Well. I wrote this
in twenty nineteen when the Americans losttwo games in China and slumped all the
way to seventh place the World Cup. When when you play in the World
Cup, when you put to,however, you are associated with the World
(03:52):
Cup team. For the United States, the World Cup team is only remembered
when things go poorly. Nobody remembersthe World Cup teams that win. And
that twenty nineteen team coached by GregPopovich seventh place, worst finish in program
assistant on that team too, worstfinish in program history with or without NBA
players, And now four years later, two losses. Again, it's the
(04:15):
third straight tournament the United States haslost. In second straight World Cup,
the United States has lost two games. And defense, I mean defense has
always been what bails the United Statesout. Pressure, athleticism, these are
the things that the United States hasrelied on because it doesn't have the continuity
of a Germany, of a Serbiawithout Yokitch in tomorrow's final, because they
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have so many guys who've played togetherfor years and FIBA Bogdon, Bogdan Bogdanovich
of the of the Atlanta Hawks isjust a monster. I'll tell you what
the you wonder, Like you seeBogdon playing, We've seen obviously, We've
seen it. We've seen in theNBA. He's a really good NBA player.
Like, why doesn't why don't theAtlanta Hawks take more advantage of him?
(05:00):
Well, why are they starting DeAndreHunter? I mean, what's what's
the deal with? Why? Frankly, why is Trey Young holding onto the
ball so much when this guy canreally do some damage there? You watch
the FEBA game and you see guysthat clearly are capable of being very,
very good players, and yet forsome reason they get into an NBA situation
(05:25):
and they get slotted and they justare not allowed to flourish in a manner
that they probably should be allowed to. Sou But man bugged On was absolutely
fit. He's been fantastic the entireterm. He's one of those guys Shrewder,
Evan Fournier shrewder Right there, there'sjust these guys who play so much
(05:46):
better for their country than they doin the NBA. And and that's the
thing I mean. Now, youknow, as I've been I've been talking
a ton about this Germany team becauseI really didn't think Germany was Europe's best
team, and they should win thegold medal game with no Yokis there.
But I think this tournament more thanany other I can remember. Don't take
anything for granted, don't assume anythingbut this German It's it's amazing to think
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about what's been going on with thisGerman team because there was the whole squabble
between Shrewder and Moxi Kleiba, andso Moxy's not even on this team.
You know, I'm sure I wonderwhat he's thinking now and what I'm guessing
he wishes he was there because thisteam has a chance to bring a gold
medal to Germany. But if you, if you, if you rewind even
(06:32):
further back, the conversation during theNBA season was that Germany was trying to
get Austin Reeves to play for Germanyand play on this team. And now
the way things work out, AustinReeves is on the US squad that Germany
beats. And you know, Dirkwas like a proud papa on Twitter as
soon as that that buzzer went.Well, you know, Austin Reeves has
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had a very good tournament for theUnited States. He really he has shown
that he is worthy of the contractthat he received from the Lakers, and
quite frankly, you wonder why.And his name had been associated with San
Antonio through much of free agency andthe Spurs and nothing but money to spend.
Why they would not have spent alittle bit of money on Austin Reeves
(07:15):
to help out their their new lookteam. But that really is on the
offensive end. On Friday, youknow, he got cooked. I mean
he got cooked defensively, and frankly, I'll blame Steve Kerr for this,
but Steve Kerr is just part ofthe issue in the NBA when it comes
to defense. Nobody wants to playdefense in the NBA. I mean,
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they were automatically switching everything so youhave you know, they had Michail Bridges,
who's a terrific defender, trying toguard Shrewder, get into him,
make his life miserable, and thenyou know, Isaac Monga would come up
and set a screen and there'd bean automatic switch and here's Reeves playing against
Shrewder and Shrewder's eating that up.It made absolutely no sense, and we've
(08:01):
seen in the NBA all the time. It makes no sense to me.
Somebody a lot smarter than I amhas to be able to explain this to
me, because there's just too manytimes where teams are hunting mismatches and they're
trying to create mismatches. I mean, and you see it from a Mavericks
standpoint, mark you see with Lucaall the time, you know, the
one five switch on the pick andwall and he's playing against some center.
He's got the center on skates.Like if you're if you're the defensive team,
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why would you do that? Like, why would you if you're Oklahoma
City, why would you not wantLuke Dort on him at all times?
Why would you not want mkhial Bridgesif you're the Brooklyn Nets on Luca at
all times? It makes absolutely nosense to me. Where is Brad Davis
to explain this to us? Well? Starting October five, maybe I'll have
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to ask him that, especially whenthey're playing Anthony Edwards and or the Maverick's
going to be switching on him inthe preseason unexpected treat for us this morning
on the Saturday Steinline, mass playby play voice Chuck Cooperstein, who you
will soon hear be calling all eightytwo games for the Mavericks and beyond,
if there is a beyond. Righthere on ninety seven won the Freak Chuck
(09:09):
joining me in studio here on theSaturday Stein Line presented by Panini, You
wake it up at four thirty tomorrowmorning to watch this USA Canada game.
That I mean we all not weall, but in North America many many,
many, many of us wanted USACanada. But in a third place
game at four thirty eastern three thirtylocal, Uh no, I'm not going
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to I'm going to watch the final. But no, it's it's I mean,
you know what if I if mydogs wake me up at that particular
time, which they are wont todo, then maybe I will watch.
But I'm not setting the alarm clock. Let's put it that way. Yeah,
And I'll be interested to kind ofsee the reaction to this, because
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you know, again, it justhistory tells us that when when these teams
lose in these competitions, they areremembered because we know it's going to be
a much stronger team at the Olympics. And you know, this used to
be an exclusively American way of thinking, but you can't even say that anymore.
We see it with Serbia. Yokiis taking the World Cup off to
rest this summer, presumably will playnext summer. Even I think with the
(10:13):
European teams and teams abroad the Olympicsin basketball the Olympics is the event everyone
wants to be a part of.And and do you think that's true in
Europe though? Yeah? Still youdo know for years it's always been in
North America and we always heard thatthat that abroad. No, the World
Cup is bigger. But I thinkthat NBA mentality has changed it. You
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see, no Demontus Sabonis for Lithuania, no Yokich for Serbia. I mean
Jamal Murray for Canada. And youknow Canada was asking its players to give
a three year commitment. Jamal Murraydid go to camp with Canada this summer,
did you know there was a levelof participation, but ultimately skipped this
tournament in Canada. They could addJamal Murray and Andrew Wiggins for next summer.
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You know, I'm curious because whenthe Americans lost in the Olympics in
Greece in two thousand and four,Jerry Colangelo and Mitchachevski came in and the
whole three year commitment process began.Why did they get away from that?
Why why did the Americans and evenColangelo to a certain degree because he ran
(11:22):
the program until well, Americans,the Americans are forced because they They're not
getting three year commitments from anybody theAmericans, but they were. But why
were they able to win the verybrief window of time? And I think
it only happened because in two thousandand two, the United States finished sixth
at the World Cup that they hostedin Indianapolis, which was the previous embarrassment
before China and twenty nineteen, andthen came back and in two thousand and
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four only came up with the bronze. Argentina the only other nation besides the
United States to win this to winan Olympic gold medal in the NBA era.
So the results were so bad Ithink for a brief time that Jerry
Angelo could insist on those commitments.But that's the thing. They just putting
the team together that they put together. I know what a struggle it was,
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and this team just does not havethe defend I mean, in the
same week to give up one hundredand ten to Lithuania and one hundred and
thirteen to Germany, it's staggering.It's unfathomed. The problem really. Frankly,
as a point guard, I mean, Jalen Bronson wasn't good enough.
It was not good enough all theway through the tournament. And Tyrus Aliburn's
a terrific offensive player. I mean, he gets where he wants to go
(12:31):
when he's got that funky look andpush three point shot that he shoots a
really good percentage with. But hedidn't guard very well either. And they've
you know, when they're thinking aboutputting that team together for next summer,
they need that and they probably needto find some way to get Joel Embiid
away from France and not bugs meso much like it bugs me. It
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bugged me last summer when Spain naturalizedLorenzo Brown, a very good EuroLeague player
who ended up winning MVP at EuroBasket. But Lorenzo Brown has never even played
a game in the Spanish league.You know, just think, but just
even think about the idea of theAmericans, the United States of America.
We didn't invent the game, wasinvented by a Canadian. But we're the
(13:15):
best at it. We've been thebest at it forever, certainly since nineteen
thirty six when international basketball really started. And we're trying to recruit a foreign
player, yeah, to pay toplay for US. I don't like it,
you know, I just I justdon't like it. And I understand
they want to keep Joel embid awayfrom France because basically Joel Embiid born in
Cameroon, he has a French passport, he has an American passport. I've
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been writing about I've been writing sinceOctober about this recruiting battle. But the
rebounding has become such an issue.And we'll talk about this more as we
roll on. But one of thestats that just amazes me. The last
three years in the NBA, therehas only been one American in the top
ten and rebounds for game just one. It's staggering how poorly we rebound the
(14:01):
basket. We have no size becauseall of all of our so called bigs,
they don't want to play around thebasket, but we have a little
size. They just don't rebound.I mean, Kessler's seven one, Sharon
Jackson Junior is six ten. Theseguys should be rebounding better than but they
don't. But they don't play nearlynearly around the rim. And also,
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I mean, given the NBA game, the NBA game with no uh ability
to play a zone or any kindof defense you want, forcing biggs to
have to come up and play inthe pick and roll game all of a
sudden. You know, at thatpoint they're away from the basket when the
shots go up, so it's harderfor them to rebound. All right,
let's get a break. Next upwhen we return, a visit with Nikolavuchovitch
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of the Chicago Bulls, and thenmore coop with me here in studio and
segment three, lots more of theSaturday Steining Line. Next here on ninety
seven one The Freak. This isthe Saturday See Line quiz Mark Stein presented
by Panini Trading cards and collectibles onyour official homes Waldellas Mavericks Games see the
(15:07):
Freak. Yes, Indeed, Friends, the Saturday Stein Line rolls on onto
the interview portion of the show.MAVs play by play voice Chuck Cooperstein kind
enough to sit in with me forsegment one, and he'll be back in
segment three joining us now though aspecial guest from the Chicago Bulls coming to
(15:31):
us all the way from far awayMontenegro. Two time All Star and he
just helped his country, Montenegro toits best finish in the World Cup,
the smallest nation in tournament history toreach the final sixteen joining us now making
his debut here on ninety seven one, the freak Nikolavochevich vooch. It is
(15:56):
great to have you with us,my friend, good to be here.
How are you guys? Well,we're good now because I want to talk
some hoops with you. I thoughtyou'd be the perfect person actually to connect
with on this we're reaching the laterstages of the tournament now. As I
mentioned, you just helped your countrytoo and eleventh place finish. No other
NBA players on the roster. Youguys gave Team USA it's first real scaring
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this tournament Montenegro ultimately losing eighty fiveseventy three, but you personally hit the
Americans with eighteen sixteen two blocks.You can tell me now since you're back
home and away from the tournament.Among you and your teammates, what was
the confidence level going in that youcould beat these guys, you could beat
(16:41):
this version of Team USA. I'mnot gonna say we had the confidence we
could beat them, because I don'tknow if we like truly had that,
but we are really I mean,we had the approach of payless, you
know, go and just play,relax, just put our best efforts and
then see how that goes. Andand uh, you know, for a
lot of guys you know on myteam, especially younger ones, you know,
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they're had a little bit of theyou know, wild factors the US.
All of these players they watch onTV and things like that. So
I understand that. But like,regardless of like you guys brings their biggest
superstars are like you know, Imean, all those all great players,
but then all the biggest names,like it has that effect, you know,
the midst of the USA team.And so but I thought that once
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the game started and once you know, things were going pretty well, I
thought, we've started feeling like wehave a chance. I will say this,
at the end of the game,we like we're happy because we play
well, but we're a little disappointedbecause we felt like we had a chance
to at least, you know,play better in the end, and who
knows what happens. You kind ofyou know, blew it in the end
and it ends up being like atwelve point game. So it's like but
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overall, I mean, like yourreaction back home and people that we're watching,
we're like really really proud of us, and it was a big thing
for us. First game against youguys, ever and all that, I
mean, I don't think there's anyquestion that your team size hurt the United
States. And when you take theMontenegro game in the Lithuania game, when
you combine those two, the UnitedStates outrebounded ninety two fifty eight in those
(18:10):
two games. Second chance points inthose two games thirty nine five for your
team combined with Lithuania. So there'sno question that size gave the United States
problems. Size is one of ourbiggest strengths and fire issues always kind of
been like we always had like toomany bigs and enough guards. Now it's
a little more balanced, so that'swhat we were able to play better as
well. But in the past isa big big issue for US. We
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never like we'd go to tournament likesix bigs and like six guards and you
can't have started play, but justthe way it is, you can't.
So we knew that was a bigadvantage for us, and we were going
to explode that and also try touse that to slow the game down a
little bit. And then also Ithink for the one thing I think for
the players there, for the USplayers, you know, obviously they're all
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very young and it's the first timeplaying FIBA, and FIBA is a little
like sort of say, like dirtiergame than ABA, you know, where
much cleaner, you know, anfeed but you can you know, push
and shove a little more. Youcan you know, check a little more.
It's like it's different games. SoI think they weren't used to it,
and like I could really tell fromplaying like some other teams and like
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for example, playingly twin a gamebefore where you know, it's very like
physical there's just no easy like noopen space, it's no nothing. The
paint is crowded. Like with theNBA, it was very with the Against
the US, it was very youknow, guys were very you know,
the paint was open, there wasa lot of space. They were playing
like NBA style. So it fitus because we had to play really the
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real FEEDBA style, so we're ableto use that to our advantage. I
think that's where else about the reboundinggame, because we're really trying to like
push and shove and go inside end. Plus you know, we had a
side advantage, and so they weren'tlike I think they didn't realize they could
do the same things. They werelike still playing NBA rules under feed rules.
That makes any sense, If thatmakes sense. Nikola Voutovitch from the
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Chicago Owls joining us here on ninetyseven one the Freak on the Saturday Steinline
presented by Panini America. And Ican assure you no one is happier to
hear you on this show on ourair than my friends at Carmine's Pizza on
Spring Valley. They love Nikolavuchevich.They love Dino Radoncich. They love to
(20:25):
tell me when we go there,and we go there quite a bit because
my youngest son, Aaron, it'sbeen one of his go to spots his
whole life. They love to tellme how they watched your father play.
They are big fans of Borislavvuchevich,a lefty if I have my facts right,
and so I know we are makingthem happy with this discussion. We're
taping this actually on Thursday night yourtime in Montenegro, so it's before the
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United States play plays Germany. Iactually think, and you know, we'll
see how smart we sound when thisthing airs Saturday, and we'll know the
results by then, because I tendto think that the same final game against
Germany is the toughest test remaining forthe United States. I think it would
be even tougher than playing Canada orSerbia in the finals. I think Germany
(21:10):
has been that good they had.It's the best German team they've ever had,
and I think even dark Navitsky wouldsay so. They just have more
weapons around Dennis Ruter, more depththan Dirk's teams ever had. Based on
you know, you played in thistournament, what you've seen is the United
States still the favorite. Was theUnited States still the favorite going into the
(21:32):
semifinal matchups? Well, I thinkyou know telling why I was. Yeah,
I think one through twelve that hadthe deepest team, the only thing
that kind of and it's been anissue. For example, in China,
that was an issue for them whenthey like especially in those like delimination games,
a lot of times the game wasslowed down quite a bit, become
(21:56):
really become really feeble like. Sohow are they going to adjust to its
kind of the big thing now Germany, I mean, I think Germanys are
pretty sent match up for them,because they don't they will still play you
know, pretty open, a littlemore like kind in between the US style
and FIVA style. So I thinkyou could fit the Americans, but I
(22:17):
would still think that, you know, I would put them as favorites,
but not like clear clear flavorites.I think all four teams now have a
chance. I would think it's inthe kind the good part about this World
Cup there's no clear favorite. Youknow, a lot of teams kind of
income at full strength, which openedup the door for a lot of the
teams, which makes it fun.So I like all four teams, you
know, I know, like thereare a lot of question marks with Serbia
(22:38):
with yell kids not going and meetteaching some other players as well, but
they've been playing well and they kindof started playing really well at the best
time now, like beating like twenty, who's probably the best team so far
in the World Cup, and theyreally did, I mean they beat them
by twenty. Germany is good,you know, they have I mean,
I was some good player with Dennisobviously Fiva Dennis is really good. And
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then U the Wager Brothers been playingwell, ties to a lot of the
other guys has well been playing wellfor them, and then Canada has been
good too. So oh it's it'streaty to pick out a favorite I do
think the US have a change tobe Germany. I think that especially if
they they runn into Canada, Ithink they'll probably have a better chance.
For canad they have a play similarto them, and I think they just
(23:21):
have more talent. I would nevercount out Serbia because you know, they
have them tough mentality and the onebefore to know what it takes, and
they having experienced coaches as well.So I do know it's it's it's a
tricky one. But give I'll givethe US a little bit of you know,
a little bit of an advantage.No, I think you put it
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the way you said it was smartthat you know at this point going into
the semifinals that were Friday, andagain by the time this interview airs,
it will be Saturday, so willhave known the semifinal results and we'll see,
well, we'll know exactly who wasplaying in Sunday's final and who is
in the third place game. Butyeah, all four teams in the final
four had the ability to win itall. The United States would be the
(24:07):
favorites based on having twelve NBA players, but Canada Serbia, even without Yokich,
have been really tough. I meanthe way that you know, Lithuania
feeling is good about themselves as theypossibly could. Lithuania beats the United States,
turns right around, runs into aSerbia team without Yokich, without mitchiche
as you said, and still stillSerbia wins by almost twenty So I mean
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that was definitely an eye openering Canadahas you know that this is the best
team they've had in almost twenty fiveyears. And I really have been impressed
with Germany. So all of theseteams capable, and Germany has been a
really good question, no question,I think a big factor it also is
you know, Germany has been there, they just played last year to You're
(24:51):
a basket it would pretty much thesame team, so they know what it
takes. Same for Serbia tour forthe Canada and US, it's kind of
new territory. So how will theyadjust to you know, if comes a
tough closed game, how are yougonna you know, reacts So that it's
kind of what's going to be interestingto see that. So Mavericks fans probably
don't know this or may not knowthis, but you are very close with
(25:11):
Luca don chich At every time theBulls and MAVs hook up. Always see
you guys visiting, and I youknow, I know, one of my
great regrets from from all our timein the bubble was that I didn't find
a way to sneak to where thefamous dinner was where all the Balkan players.
I would I would have loved tohave been a fly on the wall
for that one. But just assomeone who knows Luca's game really, really
(25:34):
well, tell me what you've seenfrom Luca in this tournament. Obviously,
Slovenia very disappointing exit to Canada inthe quarterfinals, but this is a weak
or Slovenia team than they've had.I mean, my my argument would be
just getting to the quarterfinals was apretty strong achievement for them, No for
sure, for sure, even gettingthere was big for them. And I
(25:55):
thought they played really well most ofthe tournament. I mean, it's you
know, they're led by Luca andall depends on him. I think they
kind of ran out of gas againstCanada, especially in the second half.
You could tell even Luca was alittle worn out and he could you know,
be at his best. But weactually played him in an exhibition game
(26:15):
in Slovenia early in August and lookedat a great game. But I know
for him, I think, youknow, it means a lot to play
for Slovenia, and he takes alot of pride in it and plays a
lot of emotions and I mean heI mean, you know, he leaves
that team and the kind of liveand die by him, and I mean
he's obviously their best player. Andthey're also missing a few big players like
Chant from Nuggets, unfortunate Gates Ordanhis scl that was big. He lost
(26:38):
Rundo, a couple of the guysas well. But uh yeah, I
mean, you know, Luca hasjust been Luca pretty much, you know,
kind of similar to what he doesin the NBA and what he's been
doing for the last couple of years, just really good at you know,
controlling the game and you know,leading his team and finding ways to involve
everybody and himself as well. So, uh just you know, it's a
(26:59):
little tough because you know, ifyou know, once teams really start focusing
on him like Canada did, andand it's difficult, you know, if
I think somebody else's and get goingaround him. Yeah, I mean,
still I think quarter finals was hugefor them, big success especially now that
they're missed a couple of big playersfor them that could have helped a lot.
There's still a big thing and youknow, obviously for Luca, I
(27:22):
know it means a lot. Ourlast few moments here on the Saturday Steine
Line with Nicola Bouchevitch from the ChicagoBulls, of course, the show presented
by Panini America. My apologies toBulls fans who might be tuning in.
You guys probably wanted me to aska bunch of questions about the Bulls upcoming
season, But so many international topicsand actually some some Dallas topics that intersect
(27:47):
with Voots here that I can't resistask him out. And so let's let's
end on this because I think yourperspective here is important. Dark Nivitsky just
went into the Hall of Fame.You're from the generation of Europeans who up
watching Dirk become a star, andI know he holds a special place in
your basketball development. Just walk methrough it what it was like to see
(28:12):
dark Novitsky go in with one ofthe most star studded Hall of Fame classes
we've ever seen. And it wasfor me, you know who growing up
Dirk was my idol and I wantedto be like him. Why was Dirk
your idol? I mean, hewas just not good. I don't know,
I was kind of at that moment, I was when I started really
(28:33):
liking him. That's when I'm soI don't think a lot of people know.
But when I started playing basketball,I started off as a point guard.
I wasn't a toss on. Myteam's kind of in the middle of
hight. Why the coach at thepoint guard? So I played like points
for two years and then I movedto the two, then the three,
then the four, and then endup being a big man. So when
I moved from three to four,I was thinking like fourteen, yeah,
(28:57):
fourteen, And then you know Ithey had the eure A Basket and in
the Belgrade and celebrity Serbia, andso uh, Derek was killing the whole
tournament. He took you know,an okay German team to the finals.
He ended up losing the Greece,but he was really killing that. I
(29:18):
mean it was nominating and so Iwas watching it. I was just like,
wow, I would buy it.And that's the moment when he became
a favorite player. And then sincethen I was just watching them and I
was a four man at the time, so I mean I saw and I
was like, hey, this's whatI want to be like. And then
since and then I was just wantingto be like him. Fortunately the fade
Away Ever kind of came together thesame essays. But I actually told him
(29:41):
I was a big fan of hisand everything he was. He was very
humble about it, and he gaveme his jersey, signed it and we
got to play at all start together. So when I got to know him,
I could really see what it was. But yeah, I mean just
you know, he was such agreat player, and then for us,
especially in Europe, you know,you're ping guy in the NBA playing that
well, doing everything he was doingas a big man, completely revolution realized
(30:06):
the game at before you know,it was just for me. I just
you know, fell in love withhis game and so it became a big
fan and then that was he was. I think he was the only guy
that kind of really star stroke.As you know, when I played Lebron
Kobe like a team Duncan, Ijust guys like, I had that feeling
a little bit. But like thefirst time I saw Dirk, I was
(30:29):
like, Wow, I got tobe on the court with dirt no whiskey.
That was like the biggest star strokemoment I had for sure, and
actually had a really good game.He actually killed us sincerely too, but
actually had a pretty good game too, so I was really happy about that.
Well, if Bulls fans are listeningand they hear that answer, they'll
now know why I had to aska dirt question instead of a question about
(30:51):
season ahead. Unfortunately, we areout of time. As happens in every
single show and in every interview Ido this radio stuff goes way too fast,
and I had five or six morethings for you that we won't be
able to get to. But Ireally appreciate you doing this. Congrats on
your new three year deal with theBulls, wishing you great success the season
ahead. And once again, justthanks the ill for doing this from this
(31:14):
is your off time, so Ireally really appreciate it. No problem at
all. Thank you for having methere, he goes Nikolavuchovitch from the Chicago
Bulls. Next up, kop rejoinsme for more of the Saturday Stein line
here on ninety seven one, TheFreak, This is Dirk and Whiskey and
you're listening to the Saturday Stein Linewith my guys Steiny on ninety seven one
to Freak. Thank you Dirk,and thanks for sticking with us here on
(31:38):
the Saturday Stein Line presented by PaniniMAVs play by Playboys Chuck Cooper Stein.
Somehow sneaked him into the studio withme. That'll teach him to run into
me in the hallway here. It'salways happy to help here at ninety seven
one the Freak. All right,let's get a little more local with our
feeble World Cup analysis. Luca donleading a very limited Slovenia team. He
(32:01):
got them to the quarterfinals, whichto me was a huge achievement. But
the quarterfinals, I think everybody knowsthe story by now, Slovenia losing,
flaming out, fading away against Canadaand both Dylan Brooks and Luca don Chich
ejected from that game. Luca takena lot of criticism for his on court
(32:22):
comportment in that game. And thenmaybe even more surprising, playing the qualify
the not qualify, I'm playing theconsolation bracket games after that, just you
know, as a you're like everybodyelse. Thirty seven minutes not even just
that he played thirty seven minutes.He didn't come out in the second half.
(32:45):
My goodness, what are we doinghere? Well? And look,
you know, obviously I think MAVsfans, given their druthers, would have
liked to see Luca not play asingle second after Slovenia's elimination from the quarterfinals.
But look, as I understand lucascaptain for the first time of this
team, this means a ton tohim and he I think he's also talked
about the fans in Manila, wherehe is loved, and so you know,
(33:07):
to me, it's him pushing toplay as much as anything. I
don't think it's Slovenia's coaches. Andwe know if the MAVs had a vote,
he wouldn't be playing. This isLuca playing because he wants to slash.
Somebody has to be the bigger manthough here right in the administration,
something some and you know, I'mjust curious moving forward, if some type
of compromise could not be reached.You don't tell Luca not to play for
(33:30):
Slovenia. That's that's absurd. Butthey have to be games that matter,
they have to be the ramp upgames. To get his team ready to
play. It's the games and theactual tournament. But once his team is
eliminated, hey, you know,Luca, you did you did it,
(33:50):
you did your part, and nowyou know you gotta help us. And
look, sometimes the consolation games canmatter in terms of Olympic positioning, but
in this case they did not.Europe only gets two tickets to the Olympics,
and Germany and Serbia were the twobest European teams, so there was
nothing. There was really nothing toplay for in these consolation games, whereas
(34:10):
in other situations sometimes that that thatwe can see a consolation game that decides
an Olympics, right, But youryour previous point, though, what really
struck me about this tournament and Lucais how huge Luca is around the world.
I mean, he he is theface. If he's not the face
(34:31):
of the NBA, he absolutely isthe face of FIBA and and and in
the international of the of the internationalgame. I mean, it's like every
time he touched the ball, itwas like it was like you know,
John Paul George and Ringo coming out, you know, and playing for the
Beatles at Chase Stadium in nineteen sixtyfour. It was nuts. It really
was, and so I'm sure thatthere was there was a lot of pressure
(34:53):
on him externally because of that,and sure his own in Turtle Clock that
says, hey, I need todo everything for my team, and my
team in the month of August isSlovenia and September, and I need to
be able to do that. Andlook, he performed fantastically. The win
over Australia massive an Australian team withnine NBA players and Slovenia only had one
(35:20):
because Denver's Latko Chanshar suffered the ACLinjury in the lead up to this FIBA
World Cups. I mean, tremendousachievement to get past to Ko Australia,
to get to the final eight.But look, I mean the you know,
the criticism is has been loud,and it's it's not going away because
of how that Canada game ended.And you know, we know Luca is
(35:43):
one of the five best players onthe planet at worst and maybe top three
and and has the ability to betop one. But you know, what
are the two things that everyone alwayspoints to about where he can improve.
You know, his conditioning, whichhe's clearly worked on this summer and clearly
addressed and has you know, lookedtremendous because he is not at one hundred
percent he's playing he's still playing throughsomething with that quad that didn't bother in
(36:06):
him since the spring. But itagain on court compartment, to put it
politely, that is where people wantto see improvement, and we did not
see improvement for the second successive tournamentlike in EuroBasket. You know, Luca's
last game ends an ejection. Again, not that this guy's on the same
level as Luca, but didn't Wealways used to look at DeMarcus Cousins that
(36:28):
way. DeMarcus Cousins a hell ofa player, now, I mean,
you know, when you can averagetwenty five and ten in the NBA,
you're really terrific. But DeMarcus Cousinscouldn't control his temper, couldn't control his
emotions even when his team really neededhim to be able to do that.
And really, you know, it'sI mean, do you look at that
(36:49):
as a tangible or an intangible butit really is the next step for Luca.
And now I'm sure there are peoplewho were thinking, you know,
this is who he is, he'llnever change. And you know, my
feeling is because this happened on theinternational stage that everybody in the basketball world
(37:12):
saw this. It's not like aJanuary game in Detroit where you get thrown
out, or even you know,if he picks up his sixteenth technical in
the in the NBA and he getssuspended for a game. This is entirely
different. And I wonder Mark,if this is not the moment where it
fought, the light finally goes onfor him as I can't do that,
you know, because he said Iknow, I can't do this, but
(37:35):
he's never really been able to followup on that. Is this the moment
where it really happens? And ifthis is not the moment, then it
becomes somewhat problematic. Does no.I think it's a great point. I
think, you know, and that'sthe thing. You're right, a lot
of people are saying he can't changeand this might be that crossroads occasion.
To me, it's really reminiscent ofwhat people used to say about the Mavericks
(37:55):
early in the Mark Human era,that Mark Cuban was known for the complaining
and that this is something that bringsthe MAVs down and it's something that they
have to shed and they finally youknow they Cuban famously went quiet as quiet
as he as he possibly could beduring the title run of twenty eleven.
So, you know, let's seekind of how Luca responds to to uh
(38:19):
to the attention for this, becauseobviously, you know, a Dylan Brooks
ejection and a Luca don ejection.Canada is going to make that trade every
day they and twice on Sunday,every day of the week. MAVs play
by play voice Chuck Cooperstein joining mein studio on this edition of the Saturday
Steinline presented by Panini. You knowanother reason I'm glad to have you join
(38:45):
me here because it's Saturday, earlyin the college football season. You know,
I don't speak that language. You. When I think of people who
love college football, you are literallythe first local resident who comes to mind.
I know you, just you.This is your time of year.
And yeah, I'm good for thethirteen hours on Saturday, from from the
time that Lee Corso puts the headgear on at little after eleven until sometime
(39:09):
after midnight went packswell. Day afterdark is settled up one way or the
other. Yeah, see, andI am not I will never be a
thirteen hours on a Saturday college footballguys. So assuming that you would,
you know what, but you wouldbe a thirteen hours soccer guy. See
that's see we both have like,we have this sport that we love and
that allows us to have a livingbasketball. But then we have our real,
(39:31):
like our true passions, right,your true passion is is soccer?
International soccer ball? Well, mygut instinct is that there are more listeners
like you than me. Something Mythought was, at least on one of
these saturdays, can I can Igive two minutes of college football games set
up Texas Alabama for me? Shouldwe talk? I mean, that's that
(39:51):
probably has the most appeal locally.Just give me some flavor of what has
it had on this college football satura. And obviously Texas Alabama is monstrous.
It's it's the ultimate proving ground gamefor Steve Starcasian where it is his program.
You know, he he's had theknock ever since he was at Washington
USC that he's an eight win coach. That's that's all he is. He's
(40:14):
recruited a whole lot better than that. Of course, Tom Herman recruited a
whole lot better than that and reallyhad only one great season, and then
Stark came in. He's got anNFL first round quarterback playing for him,
who uh certainly looked the part againstAlabama last year before he got hurt.
And the feeling I think for mostpeople in the state of Texas anyway,
was that if quinn Ewers didn't gethurt, that Texas would have won that
(40:37):
game against Alabama and Bryce Young.Texas is really good upfront, their defense
is outstanding. Uh, the offensiveline at Lows is a little bit iffy,
and of course that's where Nick Saban'steams are always great. I think
it's gonna be a low scoring gameand mistakes are probably going to be the
telltale sign here. H Two othergames that really are notable Baylor and Utah.
(41:01):
You know Utah again be Florida lastweek and they're still way short on
personnel. You know, Baylor andabsolutely horrible loss to Texas State. Dave
Randa's program is kind of listening rightnow. Went to the Sugar Bowl a
couple of years ago, but youknow, around that year the results have
not been great. I mean,this would be a tremendous win for Baylor
(41:22):
and SMU at Oklahoma. You know, SMU is on a high emotionally with
their moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Oklahoma looked great last week against the
Little Sisters of the Poor otherwise knownas Arkansas State. But you know they
have Oklahoma is something to prove afterthe way they finished last year. Too.
That's a really good game. Ithink that's a fourth quarter game.
Also, that is definitely the mostcomprehensive and informed college football talk that will
(41:46):
ever be on the show until youreturn. But you're a New Yorker,
so like you're not a native Texan, Like, how did this? How
did college football? Because when Iwas picking schools, there was no way
that I was not going to goto a college that didn't have a football
team to root for on Saturday.And originally my first choice was North Carolina.
(42:07):
I needed Harvard like boards to getin I didn't have them, and
and Florida was the next choice.And actually it was a basketball related reason
why I wound up there, Butbut I wanted a big time school to
root for, and Florida was abig time school, even if they hadn't
won a Southeastern Conference title before then. Well, this was awesome to have
MAVs play by playboys Chuck Cooperstein andas I said, synonymous for me with
(42:31):
college football expertise. The man lovesit. Great to have you here,
and you know what, there iscollege football on this station today four forty
pm. The coverage starts. Kickoffat five thirty pm North Texas at Florida
International. Right here, four fortypm pregame show, five thirty kickoff.
(42:53):
That is going to do it forthis edition of the Saturday Steinline. Will
be back with you next Saturday
Welcome to the Saturday Stein Line withMark Stein, presented by Panini Trading Cards
and Collectibles. On ninety seven one, The Freak, the official homes all
Dallas Nevericks Games, hosted by legendaryNBA reporter and publisher of his substract,
The Stein Line. Here's Mark Stein. Welcome in, friends to another edition
(00:28):
of the Saturday Stein Line. Younever know who you're gonna run into at
the Freak Studios, and poor ChuckCooper Stein, radio voice of the Dallas
Mavericks, we're in the studio atthe same time. He didn't realize this
was going to happen. But guesswhat, because he's here, I have
(00:48):
somehow negotiated for him to join mefor segment one and segment three. In
segment two, we'll be joined byNikolavuchevitch of the Chicago Bulls. But we
have so much to get to becauseif you want to see this addition of
Team USA of the United States seniormen's national basketball team, if you want
(01:11):
to see this team play one moretime this year, you're gonna have to
be up in the three o'clock hour, Dallas time Sunday, because the United
States loses Friday to Germany, andnot Dark Nevitsky's Germany, the modern Germany,
which honestly deep team, versatile team. You know, these guys are
(01:34):
all the airs of dark Navitsky.But man, I wish, for Dirk's
sake he had a team as versatileand dangerous as this. And Chuck,
I'm I know you love your feeblehoops, so I do love my feeble
hoops. And I have been wakenup in the middle of the night.
And you know, I did watchSerbia on Friday morning, just really take
(01:56):
apart Canada, and it did surpriseme. And I just didn't see,
you know, Canada falling victim tothe physical play of Serbia the way say
Slovenia fell and Luca got so frustrated, you know, playing against the physical
play of Canada. But maybe it'slike the bully in the sandbox, right,
(02:19):
you throw sand on and right,all of a sudden, he's not
very happy. And that's kind ofwhat happened to Canada. But but the
USA game, you know, Mark, I saw this coming, saw it
coming. You could have seen itcoming if you had paid attention to the
to the run up games in AbuDhabi. The Americans needed a huge rally
in the fourth quarter to win thatgame. Anthony Edwards was absolutely out of
his mind. He tried it againtoday. It didn't quite work out the
(02:42):
same way. But you look atthe games that they struggled with in the
run up and in the World CupLithuania, Germany, Spain, all these
teams are really physical. They're big, and they're physical, and they play
basketball more in a more traditional way, quite frankly, as opposed to the
(03:07):
way we're seeing the NBA play playing, where we're playing small and we're playing
five out. We're doing all thisstuff, and frankly, size matters in
Feba. It really does. AndI think not just the fact that they
lost today, but what everything elsethat's happened. I think it's an indictment
on the process that Grant Hill andSteve Kerry used to put the team team
(03:30):
together, and I really think theyneed to think about how they're putting that
team together next year for the Olympicsin Paris. Well. I wrote this
in twenty nineteen when the Americans losttwo games in China and slumped all the
way to seventh place the World Cup. When when you play in the World
Cup, when you put to,however, you are associated with the World
(03:52):
Cup team. For the United States, the World Cup team is only remembered
when things go poorly. Nobody remembersthe World Cup teams that win. And
that twenty nineteen team coached by GregPopovich seventh place, worst finish in program
assistant on that team too, worstfinish in program history with or without NBA
players, And now four years later, two losses. Again, it's the
(04:15):
third straight tournament the United States haslost. In second straight World Cup,
the United States has lost two games. And defense, I mean defense has
always been what bails the United Statesout. Pressure, athleticism, these are
the things that the United States hasrelied on because it doesn't have the continuity
of a Germany, of a Serbiawithout Yokitch in tomorrow's final, because they
(04:40):
have so many guys who've played togetherfor years and FIBA Bogdon, Bogdan Bogdanovich
of the of the Atlanta Hawks isjust a monster. I'll tell you what
the you wonder, Like you seeBogdon playing, We've seen obviously, We've
seen it. We've seen in theNBA. He's a really good NBA player.
Like, why doesn't why don't theAtlanta Hawks take more advantage of him?
(05:00):
Well, why are they starting DeAndreHunter? I mean, what's what's
the deal with? Why? Frankly, why is Trey Young holding onto the
ball so much when this guy canreally do some damage there? You watch
the FEBA game and you see guysthat clearly are capable of being very,
very good players, and yet forsome reason they get into an NBA situation
(05:25):
and they get slotted and they justare not allowed to flourish in a manner
that they probably should be allowed to. Sou But man bugged On was absolutely
fit. He's been fantastic the entireterm. He's one of those guys Shrewder,
Evan Fournier shrewder Right there, there'sjust these guys who play so much
(05:46):
better for their country than they doin the NBA. And and that's the
thing I mean. Now, youknow, as I've been I've been talking
a ton about this Germany team becauseI really didn't think Germany was Europe's best
team, and they should win thegold medal game with no Yokis there.
But I think this tournament more thanany other I can remember. Don't take
anything for granted, don't assume anythingbut this German It's it's amazing to think
(06:12):
about what's been going on with thisGerman team because there was the whole squabble
between Shrewder and Moxi Kleiba, andso Moxy's not even on this team.
You know, I'm sure I wonderwhat he's thinking now and what I'm guessing
he wishes he was there because thisteam has a chance to bring a gold
medal to Germany. But if you, if you, if you rewind even
(06:32):
further back, the conversation during theNBA season was that Germany was trying to
get Austin Reeves to play for Germanyand play on this team. And now
the way things work out, AustinReeves is on the US squad that Germany
beats. And you know, Dirkwas like a proud papa on Twitter as
soon as that that buzzer went.Well, you know, Austin Reeves has
(06:54):
had a very good tournament for theUnited States. He really he has shown
that he is worthy of the contractthat he received from the Lakers, and
quite frankly, you wonder why.And his name had been associated with San
Antonio through much of free agency andthe Spurs and nothing but money to spend.
Why they would not have spent alittle bit of money on Austin Reeves
(07:15):
to help out their their new lookteam. But that really is on the
offensive end. On Friday, youknow, he got cooked. I mean
he got cooked defensively, and frankly, I'll blame Steve Kerr for this,
but Steve Kerr is just part ofthe issue in the NBA when it comes
to defense. Nobody wants to playdefense in the NBA. I mean,
(07:39):
they were automatically switching everything so youhave you know, they had Michail Bridges,
who's a terrific defender, trying toguard Shrewder, get into him,
make his life miserable, and thenyou know, Isaac Monga would come up
and set a screen and there'd bean automatic switch and here's Reeves playing against
Shrewder and Shrewder's eating that up.It made absolutely no sense, and we've
(08:01):
seen in the NBA all the time. It makes no sense to me.
Somebody a lot smarter than I amhas to be able to explain this to
me, because there's just too manytimes where teams are hunting mismatches and they're
trying to create mismatches. I mean, and you see it from a Mavericks
standpoint, mark you see with Lucaall the time, you know, the
one five switch on the pick andwall and he's playing against some center.
He's got the center on skates.Like if you're if you're the defensive team,
(08:24):
why would you do that? Like, why would you if you're Oklahoma
City, why would you not wantLuke Dort on him at all times?
Why would you not want mkhial Bridgesif you're the Brooklyn Nets on Luca at
all times? It makes absolutely nosense to me. Where is Brad Davis
to explain this to us? Well? Starting October five, maybe I'll have
(08:46):
to ask him that, especially whenthey're playing Anthony Edwards and or the Maverick's
going to be switching on him inthe preseason unexpected treat for us this morning
on the Saturday Steinline, mass playby play voice Chuck Cooperstein, who you
will soon hear be calling all eightytwo games for the Mavericks and beyond,
if there is a beyond. Righthere on ninety seven won the Freak Chuck
(09:09):
joining me in studio here on theSaturday Stein Line presented by Panini, You
wake it up at four thirty tomorrowmorning to watch this USA Canada game.
That I mean we all not weall, but in North America many many,
many, many of us wanted USACanada. But in a third place
game at four thirty eastern three thirtylocal, Uh no, I'm not going
(09:30):
to I'm going to watch the final. But no, it's it's I mean,
you know what if I if mydogs wake me up at that particular
time, which they are wont todo, then maybe I will watch.
But I'm not setting the alarm clock. Let's put it that way. Yeah,
And I'll be interested to kind ofsee the reaction to this, because
(09:50):
you know, again, it justhistory tells us that when when these teams
lose in these competitions, they areremembered because we know it's going to be
a much stronger team at the Olympics. And you know, this used to
be an exclusively American way of thinking, but you can't even say that anymore.
We see it with Serbia. Yokiis taking the World Cup off to
rest this summer, presumably will playnext summer. Even I think with the
(10:13):
European teams and teams abroad the Olympicsin basketball the Olympics is the event everyone
wants to be a part of.And and do you think that's true in
Europe though? Yeah? Still youdo know for years it's always been in
North America and we always heard thatthat that abroad. No, the World
Cup is bigger. But I thinkthat NBA mentality has changed it. You
(10:35):
see, no Demontus Sabonis for Lithuania, no Yokich for Serbia. I mean
Jamal Murray for Canada. And youknow Canada was asking its players to give
a three year commitment. Jamal Murraydid go to camp with Canada this summer,
did you know there was a levelof participation, but ultimately skipped this
tournament in Canada. They could addJamal Murray and Andrew Wiggins for next summer.
(10:58):
You know, I'm curious because whenthe Americans lost in the Olympics in
Greece in two thousand and four,Jerry Colangelo and Mitchachevski came in and the
whole three year commitment process began.Why did they get away from that?
Why why did the Americans and evenColangelo to a certain degree because he ran
(11:22):
the program until well, Americans,the Americans are forced because they They're not
getting three year commitments from anybody theAmericans, but they were. But why
were they able to win the verybrief window of time? And I think
it only happened because in two thousandand two, the United States finished sixth
at the World Cup that they hostedin Indianapolis, which was the previous embarrassment
before China and twenty nineteen, andthen came back and in two thousand and
(11:46):
four only came up with the bronze. Argentina the only other nation besides the
United States to win this to winan Olympic gold medal in the NBA era.
So the results were so bad Ithink for a brief time that Jerry
Angelo could insist on those commitments.But that's the thing. They just putting
the team together that they put together. I know what a struggle it was,
(12:09):
and this team just does not havethe defend I mean, in the
same week to give up one hundredand ten to Lithuania and one hundred and
thirteen to Germany, it's staggering.It's unfathomed. The problem really. Frankly,
as a point guard, I mean, Jalen Bronson wasn't good enough.
It was not good enough all theway through the tournament. And Tyrus Aliburn's
a terrific offensive player. I mean, he gets where he wants to go
(12:31):
when he's got that funky look andpush three point shot that he shoots a
really good percentage with. But hedidn't guard very well either. And they've
you know, when they're thinking aboutputting that team together for next summer,
they need that and they probably needto find some way to get Joel Embiid
away from France and not bugs meso much like it bugs me. It
(12:52):
bugged me last summer when Spain naturalizedLorenzo Brown, a very good EuroLeague player
who ended up winning MVP at EuroBasket. But Lorenzo Brown has never even played
a game in the Spanish league.You know, just think, but just
even think about the idea of theAmericans, the United States of America.
We didn't invent the game, wasinvented by a Canadian. But we're the
(13:15):
best at it. We've been thebest at it forever, certainly since nineteen
thirty six when international basketball really started. And we're trying to recruit a foreign
player, yeah, to pay toplay for US. I don't like it,
you know, I just I justdon't like it. And I understand
they want to keep Joel embid awayfrom France because basically Joel Embiid born in
Cameroon, he has a French passport, he has an American passport. I've
(13:37):
been writing about I've been writing sinceOctober about this recruiting battle. But the
rebounding has become such an issue.And we'll talk about this more as we
roll on. But one of thestats that just amazes me. The last
three years in the NBA, therehas only been one American in the top
ten and rebounds for game just one. It's staggering how poorly we rebound the
(14:01):
basket. We have no size becauseall of all of our so called bigs,
they don't want to play around thebasket, but we have a little
size. They just don't rebound.I mean, Kessler's seven one, Sharon
Jackson Junior is six ten. Theseguys should be rebounding better than but they
don't. But they don't play nearlynearly around the rim. And also,
(14:22):
I mean, given the NBA game, the NBA game with no uh ability
to play a zone or any kindof defense you want, forcing biggs to
have to come up and play inthe pick and roll game all of a
sudden. You know, at thatpoint they're away from the basket when the
shots go up, so it's harderfor them to rebound. All right,
let's get a break. Next upwhen we return, a visit with Nikolavuchovitch
(14:46):
of the Chicago Bulls, and thenmore coop with me here in studio and
segment three, lots more of theSaturday Steining Line. Next here on ninety
seven one The Freak. This isthe Saturday See Line quiz Mark Stein presented
by Panini Trading cards and collectibles onyour official homes Waldellas Mavericks Games see the
(15:07):
Freak. Yes, Indeed, Friends, the Saturday Stein Line rolls on onto
the interview portion of the show.MAVs play by play voice Chuck Cooperstein kind
enough to sit in with me forsegment one, and he'll be back in
segment three joining us now though aspecial guest from the Chicago Bulls coming to
(15:31):
us all the way from far awayMontenegro. Two time All Star and he
just helped his country, Montenegro toits best finish in the World Cup,
the smallest nation in tournament history toreach the final sixteen joining us now making
his debut here on ninety seven one, the freak Nikolavochevich vooch. It is
(15:56):
great to have you with us,my friend, good to be here.
How are you guys? Well,we're good now because I want to talk
some hoops with you. I thoughtyou'd be the perfect person actually to connect
with on this we're reaching the laterstages of the tournament now. As I
mentioned, you just helped your countrytoo and eleventh place finish. No other
NBA players on the roster. Youguys gave Team USA it's first real scaring
(16:21):
this tournament Montenegro ultimately losing eighty fiveseventy three, but you personally hit the
Americans with eighteen sixteen two blocks.You can tell me now since you're back
home and away from the tournament.Among you and your teammates, what was
the confidence level going in that youcould beat these guys, you could beat
(16:41):
this version of Team USA. I'mnot gonna say we had the confidence we
could beat them, because I don'tknow if we like truly had that,
but we are really I mean,we had the approach of payless, you
know, go and just play,relax, just put our best efforts and
then see how that goes. Andand uh, you know, for a
lot of guys you know on myteam, especially younger ones, you know,
(17:03):
they're had a little bit of theyou know, wild factors the US.
All of these players they watch onTV and things like that. So
I understand that. But like,regardless of like you guys brings their biggest
superstars are like you know, Imean, all those all great players,
but then all the biggest names,like it has that effect, you know,
the midst of the USA team.And so but I thought that once
(17:25):
the game started and once you know, things were going pretty well, I
thought, we've started feeling like wehave a chance. I will say this,
at the end of the game,we like we're happy because we play
well, but we're a little disappointedbecause we felt like we had a chance
to at least, you know,play better in the end, and who
knows what happens. You kind ofyou know, blew it in the end
and it ends up being like atwelve point game. So it's like but
(17:47):
overall, I mean, like yourreaction back home and people that we're watching,
we're like really really proud of us, and it was a big thing
for us. First game against youguys, ever and all that, I
mean, I don't think there's anyquestion that your team size hurt the United
States. And when you take theMontenegro game in the Lithuania game, when
you combine those two, the UnitedStates outrebounded ninety two fifty eight in those
(18:10):
two games. Second chance points inthose two games thirty nine five for your
team combined with Lithuania. So there'sno question that size gave the United States
problems. Size is one of ourbiggest strengths and fire issues always kind of
been like we always had like toomany bigs and enough guards. Now it's
a little more balanced, so that'swhat we were able to play better as
well. But in the past isa big big issue for US. We
(18:33):
never like we'd go to tournament likesix bigs and like six guards and you
can't have started play, but justthe way it is, you can't.
So we knew that was a bigadvantage for us, and we were going
to explode that and also try touse that to slow the game down a
little bit. And then also Ithink for the one thing I think for
the players there, for the USplayers, you know, obviously they're all
(18:55):
very young and it's the first timeplaying FIBA, and FIBA is a little
like sort of say, like dirtiergame than ABA, you know, where
much cleaner, you know, anfeed but you can you know, push
and shove a little more. Youcan you know, check a little more.
It's like it's different games. SoI think they weren't used to it,
and like I could really tell fromplaying like some other teams and like
(19:17):
for example, playingly twin a gamebefore where you know, it's very like
physical there's just no easy like noopen space, it's no nothing. The
paint is crowded. Like with theNBA, it was very with the Against
the US, it was very youknow, guys were very you know,
the paint was open, there wasa lot of space. They were playing
like NBA style. So it fitus because we had to play really the
(19:37):
real FEEDBA style, so we're ableto use that to our advantage. I
think that's where else about the reboundinggame, because we're really trying to like
push and shove and go inside end. Plus you know, we had a
side advantage, and so they weren'tlike I think they didn't realize they could
do the same things. They werelike still playing NBA rules under feed rules.
That makes any sense, If thatmakes sense. Nikola Voutovitch from the
(19:59):
Chicago Owls joining us here on ninetyseven one the Freak on the Saturday Steinline
presented by Panini America. And Ican assure you no one is happier to
hear you on this show on ourair than my friends at Carmine's Pizza on
Spring Valley. They love Nikolavuchevich.They love Dino Radoncich. They love to
(20:25):
tell me when we go there,and we go there quite a bit because
my youngest son, Aaron, it'sbeen one of his go to spots his
whole life. They love to tellme how they watched your father play.
They are big fans of Borislavvuchevich,a lefty if I have my facts right,
and so I know we are makingthem happy with this discussion. We're
taping this actually on Thursday night yourtime in Montenegro, so it's before the
(20:48):
United States play plays Germany. Iactually think, and you know, we'll
see how smart we sound when thisthing airs Saturday, and we'll know the
results by then, because I tendto think that the same final game against
Germany is the toughest test remaining forthe United States. I think it would
be even tougher than playing Canada orSerbia in the finals. I think Germany
(21:10):
has been that good they had.It's the best German team they've ever had,
and I think even dark Navitsky wouldsay so. They just have more
weapons around Dennis Ruter, more depththan Dirk's teams ever had. Based on
you know, you played in thistournament, what you've seen is the United
States still the favorite. Was theUnited States still the favorite going into the
(21:32):
semifinal matchups? Well, I thinkyou know telling why I was. Yeah,
I think one through twelve that hadthe deepest team, the only thing
that kind of and it's been anissue. For example, in China,
that was an issue for them whenthey like especially in those like delimination games,
a lot of times the game wasslowed down quite a bit, become
(21:56):
really become really feeble like. Sohow are they going to adjust to its
kind of the big thing now Germany, I mean, I think Germanys are
pretty sent match up for them,because they don't they will still play you
know, pretty open, a littlemore like kind in between the US style
and FIVA style. So I thinkyou could fit the Americans, but I
(22:17):
would still think that, you know, I would put them as favorites,
but not like clear clear flavorites.I think all four teams now have a
chance. I would think it's inthe kind the good part about this World
Cup there's no clear favorite. Youknow, a lot of teams kind of
income at full strength, which openedup the door for a lot of the
teams, which makes it fun.So I like all four teams, you
know, I know, like thereare a lot of question marks with Serbia
(22:38):
with yell kids not going and meetteaching some other players as well, but
they've been playing well and they kindof started playing really well at the best
time now, like beating like twenty, who's probably the best team so far
in the World Cup, and theyreally did, I mean they beat them
by twenty. Germany is good,you know, they have I mean,
I was some good player with Dennisobviously Fiva Dennis is really good. And
(23:00):
then U the Wager Brothers been playingwell, ties to a lot of the
other guys has well been playing wellfor them, and then Canada has been
good too. So oh it's it'streaty to pick out a favorite I do
think the US have a change tobe Germany. I think that especially if
they they runn into Canada, Ithink they'll probably have a better chance.
For canad they have a play similarto them, and I think they just
(23:21):
have more talent. I would nevercount out Serbia because you know, they
have them tough mentality and the onebefore to know what it takes, and
they having experienced coaches as well.So I do know it's it's it's a
tricky one. But give I'll givethe US a little bit of you know,
a little bit of an advantage.No, I think you put it
(23:44):
the way you said it was smartthat you know at this point going into
the semifinals that were Friday, andagain by the time this interview airs,
it will be Saturday, so willhave known the semifinal results and we'll see,
well, we'll know exactly who wasplaying in Sunday's final and who is
in the third place game. Butyeah, all four teams in the final
four had the ability to win itall. The United States would be the
(24:07):
favorites based on having twelve NBA players, but Canada Serbia, even without Yokich,
have been really tough. I meanthe way that you know, Lithuania
feeling is good about themselves as theypossibly could. Lithuania beats the United States,
turns right around, runs into aSerbia team without Yokich, without mitchiche
as you said, and still stillSerbia wins by almost twenty So I mean
(24:30):
that was definitely an eye openering Canadahas you know that this is the best
team they've had in almost twenty fiveyears. And I really have been impressed
with Germany. So all of theseteams capable, and Germany has been a
really good question, no question,I think a big factor it also is
you know, Germany has been there, they just played last year to You're
(24:51):
a basket it would pretty much thesame team, so they know what it
takes. Same for Serbia tour forthe Canada and US, it's kind of
new territory. So how will theyadjust to you know, if comes a
tough closed game, how are yougonna you know, reacts So that it's
kind of what's going to be interestingto see that. So Mavericks fans probably
don't know this or may not knowthis, but you are very close with
(25:11):
Luca don chich At every time theBulls and MAVs hook up. Always see
you guys visiting, and I youknow, I know, one of my
great regrets from from all our timein the bubble was that I didn't find
a way to sneak to where thefamous dinner was where all the Balkan players.
I would I would have loved tohave been a fly on the wall
for that one. But just assomeone who knows Luca's game really, really
(25:34):
well, tell me what you've seenfrom Luca in this tournament. Obviously,
Slovenia very disappointing exit to Canada inthe quarterfinals, but this is a weak
or Slovenia team than they've had.I mean, my my argument would be
just getting to the quarterfinals was apretty strong achievement for them, No for
sure, for sure, even gettingthere was big for them. And I
(25:55):
thought they played really well most ofthe tournament. I mean, it's you
know, they're led by Luca andall depends on him. I think they
kind of ran out of gas againstCanada, especially in the second half.
You could tell even Luca was alittle worn out and he could you know,
be at his best. But weactually played him in an exhibition game
(26:15):
in Slovenia early in August and lookedat a great game. But I know
for him, I think, youknow, it means a lot to play
for Slovenia, and he takes alot of pride in it and plays a
lot of emotions and I mean heI mean, you know, he leaves
that team and the kind of liveand die by him, and I mean
he's obviously their best player. Andthey're also missing a few big players like
Chant from Nuggets, unfortunate Gates Ordanhis scl that was big. He lost
(26:38):
Rundo, a couple of the guysas well. But uh yeah, I
mean, you know, Luca hasjust been Luca pretty much, you know,
kind of similar to what he doesin the NBA and what he's been
doing for the last couple of years, just really good at you know,
controlling the game and you know,leading his team and finding ways to involve
everybody and himself as well. So, uh just you know, it's a
(26:59):
little tough because you know, ifyou know, once teams really start focusing
on him like Canada did, andand it's difficult, you know, if
I think somebody else's and get goingaround him. Yeah, I mean,
still I think quarter finals was hugefor them, big success especially now that
they're missed a couple of big playersfor them that could have helped a lot.
There's still a big thing and youknow, obviously for Luca, I
(27:22):
know it means a lot. Ourlast few moments here on the Saturday Steine
Line with Nicola Bouchevitch from the ChicagoBulls, of course, the show presented
by Panini America. My apologies toBulls fans who might be tuning in.
You guys probably wanted me to aska bunch of questions about the Bulls upcoming
season, But so many international topicsand actually some some Dallas topics that intersect
(27:47):
with Voots here that I can't resistask him out. And so let's let's
end on this because I think yourperspective here is important. Dark Nivitsky just
went into the Hall of Fame.You're from the generation of Europeans who up
watching Dirk become a star, andI know he holds a special place in
your basketball development. Just walk methrough it what it was like to see
(28:12):
dark Novitsky go in with one ofthe most star studded Hall of Fame classes
we've ever seen. And it wasfor me, you know who growing up
Dirk was my idol and I wantedto be like him. Why was Dirk
your idol? I mean, hewas just not good. I don't know,
I was kind of at that moment, I was when I started really
(28:33):
liking him. That's when I'm soI don't think a lot of people know.
But when I started playing basketball,I started off as a point guard.
I wasn't a toss on. Myteam's kind of in the middle of
hight. Why the coach at thepoint guard? So I played like points
for two years and then I movedto the two, then the three,
then the four, and then endup being a big man. So when
I moved from three to four,I was thinking like fourteen, yeah,
(28:57):
fourteen, And then you know Ithey had the eure A Basket and in
the Belgrade and celebrity Serbia, andso uh, Derek was killing the whole
tournament. He took you know,an okay German team to the finals.
He ended up losing the Greece,but he was really killing that. I
(29:18):
mean it was nominating and so Iwas watching it. I was just like,
wow, I would buy it.And that's the moment when he became
a favorite player. And then sincethen I was just watching them and I
was a four man at the time, so I mean I saw and I
was like, hey, this's whatI want to be like. And then
since and then I was just wantingto be like him. Fortunately the fade
Away Ever kind of came together thesame essays. But I actually told him
(29:41):
I was a big fan of hisand everything he was. He was very
humble about it, and he gaveme his jersey, signed it and we
got to play at all start together. So when I got to know him,
I could really see what it was. But yeah, I mean just
you know, he was such agreat player, and then for us,
especially in Europe, you know,you're ping guy in the NBA playing that
well, doing everything he was doingas a big man, completely revolution realized
(30:06):
the game at before you know,it was just for me. I just
you know, fell in love withhis game and so it became a big
fan and then that was he was. I think he was the only guy
that kind of really star stroke.As you know, when I played Lebron
Kobe like a team Duncan, Ijust guys like, I had that feeling
a little bit. But like thefirst time I saw Dirk, I was
(30:29):
like, Wow, I got tobe on the court with dirt no whiskey.
That was like the biggest star strokemoment I had for sure, and
actually had a really good game.He actually killed us sincerely too, but
actually had a pretty good game too, so I was really happy about that.
Well, if Bulls fans are listeningand they hear that answer, they'll
now know why I had to aska dirt question instead of a question about
(30:51):
season ahead. Unfortunately, we areout of time. As happens in every
single show and in every interview Ido this radio stuff goes way too fast,
and I had five or six morethings for you that we won't be
able to get to. But Ireally appreciate you doing this. Congrats on
your new three year deal with theBulls, wishing you great success the season
ahead. And once again, justthanks the ill for doing this from this
(31:14):
is your off time, so Ireally really appreciate it. No problem at
all. Thank you for having methere, he goes Nikolavuchovitch from the Chicago
Bulls. Next up, kop rejoinsme for more of the Saturday Stein line
here on ninety seven one, TheFreak, This is Dirk and Whiskey and
you're listening to the Saturday Stein Linewith my guys Steiny on ninety seven one
to Freak. Thank you Dirk,and thanks for sticking with us here on
(31:38):
the Saturday Stein Line presented by PaniniMAVs play by Playboys Chuck Cooper Stein.
Somehow sneaked him into the studio withme. That'll teach him to run into
me in the hallway here. It'salways happy to help here at ninety seven
one the Freak. All right,let's get a little more local with our
feeble World Cup analysis. Luca donleading a very limited Slovenia team. He
(32:01):
got them to the quarterfinals, whichto me was a huge achievement. But
the quarterfinals, I think everybody knowsthe story by now, Slovenia losing,
flaming out, fading away against Canadaand both Dylan Brooks and Luca don Chich
ejected from that game. Luca takena lot of criticism for his on court
(32:22):
comportment in that game. And thenmaybe even more surprising, playing the qualify
the not qualify, I'm playing theconsolation bracket games after that, just you
know, as a you're like everybodyelse. Thirty seven minutes not even just
that he played thirty seven minutes.He didn't come out in the second half.
(32:45):
My goodness, what are we doinghere? Well? And look,
you know, obviously I think MAVsfans, given their druthers, would have
liked to see Luca not play asingle second after Slovenia's elimination from the quarterfinals.
But look, as I understand lucascaptain for the first time of this
team, this means a ton tohim and he I think he's also talked
about the fans in Manila, wherehe is loved, and so you know,
(33:07):
to me, it's him pushing toplay as much as anything. I
don't think it's Slovenia's coaches. Andwe know if the MAVs had a vote,
he wouldn't be playing. This isLuca playing because he wants to slash.
Somebody has to be the bigger manthough here right in the administration,
something some and you know, I'mjust curious moving forward, if some type
of compromise could not be reached.You don't tell Luca not to play for
(33:30):
Slovenia. That's that's absurd. Butthey have to be games that matter,
they have to be the ramp upgames. To get his team ready to
play. It's the games and theactual tournament. But once his team is
eliminated, hey, you know,Luca, you did you did it,
(33:50):
you did your part, and nowyou know you gotta help us. And
look, sometimes the consolation games canmatter in terms of Olympic positioning, but
in this case they did not.Europe only gets two tickets to the Olympics,
and Germany and Serbia were the twobest European teams, so there was
nothing. There was really nothing toplay for in these consolation games, whereas
(34:10):
in other situations sometimes that that thatwe can see a consolation game that decides
an Olympics, right, But youryour previous point, though, what really
struck me about this tournament and Lucais how huge Luca is around the world.
I mean, he he is theface. If he's not the face
(34:31):
of the NBA, he absolutely isthe face of FIBA and and and in
the international of the of the internationalgame. I mean, it's like every
time he touched the ball, itwas like it was like you know,
John Paul George and Ringo coming out, you know, and playing for the
Beatles at Chase Stadium in nineteen sixtyfour. It was nuts. It really
was, and so I'm sure thatthere was there was a lot of pressure
(34:53):
on him externally because of that,and sure his own in Turtle Clock that
says, hey, I need todo everything for my team, and my
team in the month of August isSlovenia and September, and I need to
be able to do that. Andlook, he performed fantastically. The win
over Australia massive an Australian team withnine NBA players and Slovenia only had one
(35:20):
because Denver's Latko Chanshar suffered the ACLinjury in the lead up to this FIBA
World Cups. I mean, tremendousachievement to get past to Ko Australia,
to get to the final eight.But look, I mean the you know,
the criticism is has been loud,and it's it's not going away because
of how that Canada game ended.And you know, we know Luca is
(35:43):
one of the five best players onthe planet at worst and maybe top three
and and has the ability to betop one. But you know, what
are the two things that everyone alwayspoints to about where he can improve.
You know, his conditioning, whichhe's clearly worked on this summer and clearly
addressed and has you know, lookedtremendous because he is not at one hundred
percent he's playing he's still playing throughsomething with that quad that didn't bother in
(36:06):
him since the spring. But itagain on court compartment, to put it
politely, that is where people wantto see improvement, and we did not
see improvement for the second successive tournamentlike in EuroBasket. You know, Luca's
last game ends an ejection. Again, not that this guy's on the same
level as Luca, but didn't Wealways used to look at DeMarcus Cousins that
(36:28):
way. DeMarcus Cousins a hell ofa player, now, I mean,
you know, when you can averagetwenty five and ten in the NBA,
you're really terrific. But DeMarcus Cousinscouldn't control his temper, couldn't control his
emotions even when his team really neededhim to be able to do that.
And really, you know, it'sI mean, do you look at that
(36:49):
as a tangible or an intangible butit really is the next step for Luca.
And now I'm sure there are peoplewho were thinking, you know,
this is who he is, he'llnever change. And you know, my
feeling is because this happened on theinternational stage that everybody in the basketball world
(37:12):
saw this. It's not like aJanuary game in Detroit where you get thrown
out, or even you know,if he picks up his sixteenth technical in
the in the NBA and he getssuspended for a game. This is entirely
different. And I wonder Mark,if this is not the moment where it
fought, the light finally goes onfor him as I can't do that,
you know, because he said Iknow, I can't do this, but
(37:35):
he's never really been able to followup on that. Is this the moment
where it really happens? And ifthis is not the moment, then it
becomes somewhat problematic. Does no.I think it's a great point. I
think, you know, and that'sthe thing. You're right, a lot
of people are saying he can't changeand this might be that crossroads occasion.
To me, it's really reminiscent ofwhat people used to say about the Mavericks
(37:55):
early in the Mark Human era,that Mark Cuban was known for the complaining
and that this is something that bringsthe MAVs down and it's something that they
have to shed and they finally youknow they Cuban famously went quiet as quiet
as he as he possibly could beduring the title run of twenty eleven.
So, you know, let's seekind of how Luca responds to to uh
(38:19):
to the attention for this, becauseobviously, you know, a Dylan Brooks
ejection and a Luca don ejection.Canada is going to make that trade every
day they and twice on Sunday,every day of the week. MAVs play
by play voice Chuck Cooperstein joining mein studio on this edition of the Saturday
Steinline presented by Panini. You knowanother reason I'm glad to have you join
(38:45):
me here because it's Saturday, earlyin the college football season. You know,
I don't speak that language. You. When I think of people who
love college football, you are literallythe first local resident who comes to mind.
I know you, just you.This is your time of year.
And yeah, I'm good for thethirteen hours on Saturday, from from the
time that Lee Corso puts the headgear on at little after eleven until sometime
(39:09):
after midnight went packswell. Day afterdark is settled up one way or the
other. Yeah, see, andI am not I will never be a
thirteen hours on a Saturday college footballguys. So assuming that you would,
you know what, but you wouldbe a thirteen hours soccer guy. See
that's see we both have like,we have this sport that we love and
that allows us to have a livingbasketball. But then we have our real,
(39:31):
like our true passions, right,your true passion is is soccer?
International soccer ball? Well, mygut instinct is that there are more listeners
like you than me. Something Mythought was, at least on one of
these saturdays, can I can Igive two minutes of college football games set
up Texas Alabama for me? Shouldwe talk? I mean, that's that
(39:51):
probably has the most appeal locally.Just give me some flavor of what has
it had on this college football satura. And obviously Texas Alabama is monstrous.
It's it's the ultimate proving ground gamefor Steve Starcasian where it is his program.
You know, he he's had theknock ever since he was at Washington
USC that he's an eight win coach. That's that's all he is. He's
(40:14):
recruited a whole lot better than that. Of course, Tom Herman recruited a
whole lot better than that and reallyhad only one great season, and then
Stark came in. He's got anNFL first round quarterback playing for him,
who uh certainly looked the part againstAlabama last year before he got hurt.
And the feeling I think for mostpeople in the state of Texas anyway,
was that if quinn Ewers didn't gethurt, that Texas would have won that
(40:37):
game against Alabama and Bryce Young.Texas is really good upfront, their defense
is outstanding. Uh, the offensiveline at Lows is a little bit iffy,
and of course that's where Nick Saban'steams are always great. I think
it's gonna be a low scoring gameand mistakes are probably going to be the
telltale sign here. H Two othergames that really are notable Baylor and Utah.
(41:01):
You know Utah again be Florida lastweek and they're still way short on
personnel. You know, Baylor andabsolutely horrible loss to Texas State. Dave
Randa's program is kind of listening rightnow. Went to the Sugar Bowl a
couple of years ago, but youknow, around that year the results have
not been great. I mean,this would be a tremendous win for Baylor
(41:22):
and SMU at Oklahoma. You know, SMU is on a high emotionally with
their moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Oklahoma looked great last week against the
Little Sisters of the Poor otherwise knownas Arkansas State. But you know they
have Oklahoma is something to prove afterthe way they finished last year. Too.
That's a really good game. Ithink that's a fourth quarter game.
Also, that is definitely the mostcomprehensive and informed college football talk that will
(41:46):
ever be on the show until youreturn. But you're a New Yorker,
so like you're not a native Texan, Like, how did this? How
did college football? Because when Iwas picking schools, there was no way
that I was not going to goto a college that didn't have a football
team to root for on Saturday.And originally my first choice was North Carolina.
(42:07):
I needed Harvard like boards to getin I didn't have them, and
and Florida was the next choice.And actually it was a basketball related reason
why I wound up there, Butbut I wanted a big time school to
root for, and Florida was abig time school, even if they hadn't
won a Southeastern Conference title before then. Well, this was awesome to have
MAVs play by playboys Chuck Cooperstein andas I said, synonymous for me with
(42:31):
college football expertise. The man lovesit. Great to have you here,
and you know what, there iscollege football on this station today four forty
pm. The coverage starts. Kickoffat five thirty pm North Texas at Florida
International. Right here, four fortypm pregame show, five thirty kickoff.
(42:53):
That is going to do it forthis edition of the Saturday Steinline. Will
be back with you next Saturday
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