Florida Storms Back and Duke Dominates Alabama On Our Elite 8 Sat Show | CBB Coast to Coast Podcast

Host T.J. Rives and co-host Jason Powers are recapping the evening/night in the 2025 NCAA Tournament's "Elite 8" from Saturday in San Francisco and Newark, NJ!

The Florida Gators behind Walter Clayton stormed back from nine points down late to defeat Texas Tech in the West Regional Final. The Gators are back in the Final Four for the first time since 2014. We hear from T.C. Martin of the Vegas based "T.C. Martin Show" who was in the Chase Center in San Francisco to tell us more.

Also, Matt Zemek of USA Today's CollegeWire.com site is back with his analysis of Duke dismantling Alabama. Their freshmen don't look or play like freshmen right now. Matt has more and also looks ahead to Sunday's Auburn-Michigan State and Houston-Tennessee matchups for the final two spots.

 And, also Ari Russell is back from on scene in Newark, NJ, as he saw the Blue Devils put it on the Crimson Tide Saturday night to make their 18th Final Four and first in three years. Ari gives his take on just how good Duke appears to be?

It's all part of "College Basketball Coast to Coast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to our pod feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Well, well, we have two teams that are in the
final four for San Antonio on this Elite eight Saturday
night of the Men's twenty twenty five NCAA Tournament. I
am merely TJ Reeves. He is Jason Powers, my wingman.
We are back on College Basketball Coast to Coast and
the live platforms on YouTube, on Facebook, on Twitter x

(00:24):
and also if you're hearing us as well on tune in, etc.
Podcast form, Apple, Spreaker, Spotify. Thank you for finding us.
We now know that the Florida Gators have won the
West Regional rallying great comeback. Jason Powers to beat Texas
Tech and Duke tonight too much for the other SEC
team Alabama just stifling them. Duke looks the part of

(00:48):
being the national champion. Can anybody take them down? We're
ready to talk all about it. We're here to break
it down. We've got many guests that are going to
be popping in. Jason gets first dibbs, my wingman here
in the Tampa s Clearwater area in Florida. We are
in Gator country after all.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Good to be with you.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
Some opening thoughts from you on the Duke win and
the Florida win.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
He made a great point about the defensive Duke. I mean,
just a complete team. They got sized, they got length,
they've got offense, and they've got a pretty good defense
and a good coach. So they are gonna be the
four guys in double figures tonight. I mean, Kannepel was excellent.
Flag didn't have to carry the load. They got options
and whether it's in the post, on the perimeter, whatever

(01:32):
it is. And that's for Florida. Walter Clayton showing why
he's an All American. And again Texas Tech will rue
the day that they could make two front ends of
one and on. So I mean, just you hate to
say it, it comes down just to the little things
like that. They had two opportunities and what do they
win the game? We don't know, but there's way more
pressure on Florida if they're down three possessions, if they

(01:52):
at least make one of those two free throws in
both those situations.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
We will talk more about how much was it a
melt down by Texas Tech. It's the same thing we
talked about on Thursday night. How much was it a
melt down by Arkansas? How much do you credit Texas
Tech now? It's role reversal. How much do you credit
Florida versus the meltdown by the Red Raiders. We'll talk
more about that in a couple of minutes. Again, I
will tell you up front here on College Basketball Coast

(02:19):
to Coast in the live show, I will go to
a recorded interview from earlier tonight with TC Martin of
the TC Martin Show. Our mutual buddy Jason, who's out
in the West. He was in the Chase Center in
San Francisco right there, and watch that Florida come back
better than you and me. We'll hear from him in
a couple of moments. So let's back up to what
just ended with Duke and Alabama. It's easy to say

(02:42):
this right now, but this just looked like with how
much Alabama rained in the threes the other night, how
good Duke looked one to nine in their roster, this
just looked like a bad matchup. And throughout the first
half I was sending you messages others messages that this
looked like men and boys, and it was a matter
of how much are they gonna win by it. In

(03:04):
the end, they won by almost twenty Right, your thoughts
on Duke going back to the final.

Speaker 4 (03:08):
Four, here's the difference. Duke has an inside game.

Speaker 3 (03:11):
Alabama has no sense, no inside presence to where they
can dump the ball in and rely on two point
field goals. They're either going to live and die by
the three point shot. Today, I think eight of thirty
two for the three point line. They just, you know,
and hate to say it. They played their a perfect
eight plus game two nights ago, and just by analytics
and by the statistics, they were gonna regrets back to

(03:34):
the mean, and they did not shoot the ball really
well to I think a lot of that was to
Duke's credit defensively and Alabama defensively, they've struggled all year
and they had no answer for just the the Cooper
flag element, plus the ability for them to utilize Malawatch
on the lobs so many times he just had uncontested
dunks on the lobs because of what flag, how much

(03:55):
attention flag draws when he gets inside the lane.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
And the amazing thing is that Flag and Maliwatch and
Kannepel are all freshmen.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
It's scary.

Speaker 1 (04:06):
I don't think, I mean, you could say it now,
they're not freshmen at this point. With as many games
as they played. They've won an ACC tournament championship. They've
now played four NCAA tournament games. They played like a
veteran team. These young guys heads up plays, help defense
make the right decision on go to the basket versus
throwing the lib.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
They don't play like freshmen. Jason just follow up.

Speaker 3 (04:29):
No, you're right, and you know with as much aau
ball as these guys play iving and Duke plays a
We think Duke is an up and down team, but
they played pretty structured. They have a lot of good
concepts on offense. They get everybody involved. It's again they
get guys shots. I mean the Seon James kid, he's
a perfect number four guy, perfect kind of glue guy,
does some of the dirty work. Kannepel, He's a perfect

(04:51):
number two or number three guy for them to supplement
what Procter and what Flag can do.

Speaker 4 (04:57):
And then he got the big man in the middle.
How many shots does this guy?

Speaker 3 (05:00):
I mean, he's not a great skilled offensive player, but
he's a wide body, he rebounds, he plays smart, he
doesn't foul a whole lot. So again, they got the
full packaging. They are gonna be a tough.

Speaker 1 (05:12):
Out kanneppl twenty one officially seventeen for Tyrese Proctor. He's
really played well in this tournament. He's one of the
old men. He's a senior as the point guard Leander
seventeen for him, sixteen for Cooper Flag in the final analysis,
to go along with nine rebounds. In the game, you

(05:32):
look at every measurement, Duke shot fifty four percent. Alabama
shot thirty five percent, including just eight of thirty two
from three point range. Duke out rebounded them. Duke had
more turnovers than john Shire would have won, but it
didn't matter. They won by twenty tonight in that matchup again,
we're live here on college basketball.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
Coast to coast.

Speaker 1 (05:55):
Let's segue to the Florida win in San Francisco. We'll
hear from TC martin a cup the moments. Who was
there in the arena. Florida was in trouble clearing with
trouble next to his tech putting it on him. And
then how and why in your mind did they turn
it around Florida. In the final five minutes of the game.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
Thomas Hout made two of the biggest threes of his life,
back to back possessions. They were down nine. Clayton found
Hawk on the first one, made three. He hit two
in a row to get him back from nine to
three after that time out, and then he saw the
misfree throws, I mean, and then and then Walter Clayton
when they got within three, two, three, four points, Walter

(06:35):
Clayton took the game over.

Speaker 4 (06:36):
The play where he was in the.

Speaker 3 (06:38):
Middle of the lane basically took three dribbles out to
the line. Didn't even look like he looked at the
rim when he hoisted the three point shot.

Speaker 4 (06:46):
There was like a turnaround three. Yeah, I mean crazy.

Speaker 2 (06:49):
He's just a total playground move.

Speaker 1 (06:52):
But it worked out and they just made shots, and
you've got to give them credit. How much do you
also look at Texas Tech and TC's gonna bring this
up and say, not only did they get rattled, maybe
they ran out of gas a little bit at the
end of the game. After the overtime game Thursday night,
do you buy that Jason Powers, I.

Speaker 3 (07:12):
Mean, those guys played a lot of minutes. I mean,
he ran those the primary guys. They did get the
one guy back today, Chase McMillan, who they weren't expecting
to play, so that helped the minutes distribution a little bit.
But yeah, I mean, how many times did Williams back
down in the low post. That takes a lot of
energy every time you back a guy down the low
post and bang, bang bang and then dude a turnaround

(07:35):
jump for me. So I think they were fatigued a
little bit. And let's talk about the hidden stat in
this game. How about Florida's free throw shooting. They came
into the game one hundred and eighty third in the
country and free throw percentage and where they go twenty
five of twenty seven.

Speaker 1 (07:49):
To Night twenty five of twenty seven, and I think,
if I'm not mistaken, they made either eight in a
row or ten in a row late in the game.

Speaker 3 (07:58):
And oh they were nineteen for Night team to start
the game, nineteen for nineteen to start.

Speaker 1 (08:03):
To know, that's how you survive in advance. And again
you you touched on it. The two front ends of
the one and ones. I know our colleague Matt Zimmick
will be here in a little bit. He talks free
throw Awareness Month at March, his free Throw Awareness Month,
and that burnt ends. Missed front ends of the one
and one will kill you. They had two of them.
Texas Tech in the final three minutes of the game

(08:25):
to their.

Speaker 3 (08:26):
Best two players, Yeah, Williams and Williams and Topping.

Speaker 4 (08:29):
I mean, I mean they're not great.

Speaker 3 (08:31):
I mean, Williams is a good free throw shooter, but
I know Toppin's not great. But and I don't think
they were even trying to foul. The first foul by
Hawk at mid court, he wasn't trying to foul. He
just kind of ran up his back on accident fouled them.
They weren't even I don't think they were. That was
not an intentional.

Speaker 4 (08:45):
Foul at all. I don't think that was the case
at all.

Speaker 3 (08:48):
So they got fortunate Williams missed the front end and
then they did foul Topping when he when he got
the rebound or whatever. And for the time on the
second one. But you have to make those front ends.
You don't have to make them both because they were
up six. Do you make one of them. You're up
three possessions now, And that changes Florida's strategy.

Speaker 2 (09:04):
Ay Man.

Speaker 1 (09:04):
And it opened the door for Florida to go and
gun into three. So as you see on the screen,
if you're with us on video, It's the first Florida
Final four since twenty fourteen. They were regularly in the
final four in the two thousands and the early twenty tens,
but they have not been there in eleven years. Todd
Golden gets them there. That's interesting. So they are there.

(09:27):
Duke is there for.

Speaker 2 (09:28):
The eighteenth time. By the way, this is the first
time since twenty twenty two eighteen final cours for Duke.

Speaker 1 (09:35):
So the Blue Devils are back all right again. We
rock on on college basketball coach to Coast, Jason stand By.
Let's go to an interview from just earlier this evening,
at the conclusion of the Florida tremendous comeback over Texas Tech,
Our colleague T. C. Martin of the TC Martin Show
was inside the Chase Center in San Francisco to watch

(09:56):
the West Regional final. Let's get his thoughts what TC saw.
How much is it collapse by Texas Tech? How much
of it is the Gator comeback and crediting them? And
I get TC's thoughts as well on the Gators being
in the Final four. Let's go to that conversation right now. Doctor,
you were right there for the Florida Gator comeback.

Speaker 2 (10:18):
Was it a Texas Tech collapse?

Speaker 1 (10:19):
We're kind of debating, what's your take from the Chase
Center on what we saw earlier tonight?

Speaker 2 (10:24):
As Florida goes to the final four, I.

Speaker 5 (10:26):
Think got to give all the credit in the world
to the Gators because much like on Thursday night when
we were going to leave Texas Tech for dead, I
think the Gators were left for dead with about three
minutes to go on this contest. But you know, they
got a couple big threes from how and then Clayton
came back to do his thing and just like that,

(10:47):
You've got four threes within about a minute and ten seconds,
and next thing you know, the Gators are cutting down
the nets here at the Chase Center in San Francisco
and ready to go to San Antonio coming up on Saturday.

Speaker 1 (10:58):
And another thing we know is fundamentals Texas Tech missing
two front ends of the one and one and just
like the Doctor, Florida twenty five of twenty seven from
the foul line. That's how you survive in advance right.

Speaker 6 (11:12):
Absolutely correct, making your free throws.

Speaker 5 (11:14):
And again, you know what I saw from Texas Tech
tonight and that beautiful comeback that they had on Thursday,
you just kind of felt like, maybe they're gonna be
a little bit gassed because I mean, you know, basically,
you had you had Tappen, you had Williams, you had Hawkins.
All those guys played forty plus minutes in that overtime game,
and it seemed like they did seem to wilt a
little bit in the final you know, five minutes or

(11:35):
so of this game. But you just gave Florida a
little bit of an open door and they cracked it down.
But it did look meek for the Gators, like it
looked meek for Texas Tech two nights earlier. It just
goes to show you how quickly things can shame change
and with the rides of emotion. And I'll tell you, you know,
it was a predominantly Gator crowd here in San Francisco today,

(11:56):
and those Gator fans really will them, you know, to
the victory. But you know, like you said, TJ twenty
five or twenty seven, the free throw line, and when
you have the right guys going to the free throw
line too, you know, when you have you know, guys
like Clayton and Richard and Martin, I mean, that's who
you want to the ball in their hands at the
end of games.

Speaker 6 (12:16):
And remember, I mean they weren't the double bonus at
any point in time.

Speaker 5 (12:19):
They had to make those one and ones, and like
you pointed out, you know, with a top of and
Williams missing the front end, those are game changers right there.
And those are literally, you know, four and five point swings.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
I know, the doctors women.

Speaker 1 (12:31):
For another couple of moments, you have a relationship with
Todd Golden when he was the San Francisco coach. How
great a coaching job is this? They win the SEC tournament,
They're going to the final four.

Speaker 6 (12:40):
Yeah, I'm really happy for Todd.

Speaker 5 (12:41):
And again, you know, this is kind of a homecoming
for him, you know, being in San Francisco, you know,
coaching USF, and again the success that he had at
USF for those years propelled him to get the Gator job.
And you know, all you know, sincerity and we talk
about this, you know, when he left San Francisco's like, wow,
this is a big, a big task and you know,
hopefully you'll be able to do well with it. And

(13:03):
you know, I'm a little bit surprised. And if he's
honest with you, he's a little bit surprised as well,
but very very confident. He got himself some great players
and heroded some great players. He's done a really good
job of recruiting and work on the transfer portal the
last couple of years.

Speaker 6 (13:16):
So I am extremely happy for him. Just get the
job done.

Speaker 5 (13:20):
And again, you know, when you have you know, guys
like Walter Clayton Junior and Elijah Martin on your team.
And as we talked about it every year, TJ, when
we're at the final four in the championship games, right,
what wins championships for you?

Speaker 6 (13:32):
It's the guard player being able to knock.

Speaker 5 (13:34):
Down shots, take care of the basketball in French time,
and then convert your free throws, hit big shots.

Speaker 6 (13:40):
And you know that was the story tonight for the Gators.

Speaker 1 (13:43):
Okay, one more, the final one. They're headed to the
final four. You saw them up close for these two games.
And you've been watching all these other teams like an Auburn,
like a Houston, like a Duke, you know, Alabama, Michigan State,
the whole mix. Is Florida a legit contender to win
the whole thing. From what you saw your eyeballs in
San Francisco, I.

Speaker 5 (14:03):
Still think they have some flaws, especially up front, you know,
and the big physical teams like specifically Houston and maybe
even Auburn, they're going to give give Florida some some trouble.
And you know, your guards are the key. There's no
doubt about it that you have to get production from
your bigs inside. And they are very inconsistent and they
are soft and you know, playing and simple. They've got

(14:24):
the size, but again, they wore down a tire Texas
Tech team and Florida has a slightly deeper bench, but
they're going to need to get better production from the guards,
you know, right now. So right now, I think, you know,
they're a little bit lucky to escape, but you know,
credit their will to win and the guard played and
hitting the free throws that they got and how to
how does not you know this kid doesn't even average

(14:46):
ten points per game, but he came up big tonight. Yeah,
you know, with the rebounds as well too, and did
a fairly good job on.

Speaker 6 (14:54):
Williams as well too.

Speaker 5 (14:56):
So uh, you know, I would just say little pauts
were concerned. And my opinion right now, Houston Duke looks
like the top two teams, but watch out for Florida.

Speaker 6 (15:04):
Watch out for Auburn. You know, we'll see what happens there.

Speaker 5 (15:06):
But we know one team has got their ticket punch
and they're gonna be joining us as San Antonio, Florida Gators.

Speaker 1 (15:12):
You can't win the whole thing if you're not there.
They are there, You will be there. I will be there.
I look forward to being with you in San Antonio.
Thank you, t C Martin to the TC Martin Show
from San fran with the intel.

Speaker 2 (15:24):
We appreciate it.

Speaker 6 (15:25):
Thanks Brovanda in TC again.

Speaker 1 (15:29):
TC Martin joining us earlier in the night tonight from
San Francisco. TC based out of Las Vegas. We know
well and all right, so I'll put the same question
to you. We don't know, but we're about to see
Florida get the opportunity at either Auburn or Michigan State.
More on that game a little later. But is this

(15:51):
Gator team a team that can win two more in
your mind? Or are they flawed, especially on the defensive
end where this is about as far as they go.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
What's your assessment, Jason?

Speaker 4 (16:02):
I think they can win. I think they can can
they beat Duke?

Speaker 3 (16:05):
I think Duke's the one other team that can beat them,
but I think they they have the guard play to
do it. They need some more production out of will Richard.
In my view, I think Martin's playing pretty good. We
know Clayton's playing great, with even Will Richard to produce
a little bit more in Condon. He had the ankle
injury in the in the in the Sweet sixteen game.
One thing I love about the Florida Biggs. They provide

(16:26):
opportunities to keep possession. They hustle man. How the Patrick?
What's on one?

Speaker 4 (16:32):
You guy? That you chin you Lou? I mean they're hustlers, man.
They're hustlers, man, and they they keep the balls alive.
I mean, how many offensive rebounds did they have today?
And how many times did they get two and three opportunities?

Speaker 3 (16:45):
I know Texas Tech was undersized, but they're gonna need
every bit of that size against Auburn, who they've played
twice this year, and obviously if they were to match
up with a Duke or Houston, potentially, that size and
that beef is what they need. And I think they
got enough of it. They got enough rotational guys on
the front line. I think they can outscore some teams.
And when you got Clayton at the end, He's as
good as there is in the country as far as

(17:06):
being a closer.

Speaker 1 (17:08):
Dan Jason Powers hanging here with me as we're recapping
these games our colleague Matt and zim at Great college
Basketball historian, national writer College Wire on the USA Today
website family of websites. He will be with us in
a few minutes with some analysis on Florida and Duke.
Making it two more pieces to go. That is the

(17:28):
Midwest Regional up first tomorrow, Houston the top seed Tennessee
the two seed, same thing. The top two seeds in Atlanta,
Auburn the one Michigan State, the two in the South Regional.
Those two teams will join Duke and Florida. While we
have a moment as well, let's tell you about one
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(17:52):
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(18:16):
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(18:41):
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You and I go back to Duke and the staff
that I gave. They've now made their eighteenth men's Final four,
first time since twenty twenty two. How about the fact

(19:46):
that for most of these guys, if you're doing the calculating,
they were either a freshman or not in high school,
depending for Cooper, Flag, Conkineppel and Maliwatch.

Speaker 2 (19:58):
It's crazy.

Speaker 1 (19:59):
Malatch out of South Sudan and the North African Developmental
program for the NBA and college basketball.

Speaker 2 (20:05):
Right crazy that they have.

Speaker 1 (20:07):
Been brought in along with Proctor along with Scion James,
who are older players in and around the team. Capell
brought in, Flag brought in, Mallawatch brought in and they
look like a veteran team with the way that they play.
That's the takeaway for those that are just joining us.

Speaker 4 (20:24):
I agree.

Speaker 1 (20:25):
Now scary, scary that those guys this is their first
year of college basketball and how veteran they look.

Speaker 3 (20:31):
Do you think, do you do you get the thought
process now that Alabama will they change their style of
play a little bit? Do you think or do you
think nad Oas is just going to continue to play
this style of play where it's threes and layups and
nothing else. And especially on the defensive end of the four,
you gotta play better defense if you're Alabama throughout the
I mean, I know you. It's running gun I get it,

(20:53):
and you're and you're thinking you're gonna beat people by
volume of shots and possessions. But at some point you
got to play some better defense. More the functional defense.

Speaker 2 (21:02):
There's the key.

Speaker 1 (21:03):
And they seduce you into playing how they want to
play and bombing the threes tonight. Their threes were not
falling where they were on Thursday. But here's what's tough
to argue with. And you know this, they won an
SEC tournament a couple of years ago in Tampa playing
this way and got in the NCAA Tournament as a
one seed and got to the sweet sixteen in San

(21:25):
Diego State beat him all right, So last year they're
a little more of an underdog, but they go all
the way to the final four playing this way.

Speaker 2 (21:34):
Now, they have a really good year in the SEC. Again.

Speaker 1 (21:37):
They didn't win the regular season, but they did beat
Auburn and Auburn at the end of the regular season
again the semifinals of the SEC tournament. They win three
games in this tournament. It is tough to argue with
the success, but I think if you are criticizing, I
think you can make the argument there's only so far

(21:58):
in the NCAA tournament, in the big Dance that you're
gonna go playing this way if you do not defend
better and if you can't win by scoring some of
the time.

Speaker 2 (22:10):
Seventy mid range game has got to be there a little.

Speaker 1 (22:15):
But tonight, I mean again, we may look back on
this in about ten days, when it's all over ten
to eleven days and say nobody was going to beat
Duke anyway, Jason.

Speaker 2 (22:24):
By that we may be looking at that right.

Speaker 4 (22:27):
I think Duke's still gonna have a game to play.

Speaker 3 (22:29):
I think Auburn's gonna give him all day if they
if they were to see Auburn. But again, you make
a great point, Duke is just you know, the the
maturity of those freshmen are just what's what's very impressive
to me, Kinneppel. They don't play like, they don't play scared,
they don't play like they've not been in this moment before.

Speaker 4 (22:46):
All those guys, and they played together very well.

Speaker 3 (22:48):
There's not the hero ball where you would think, if
anybody would want to do it, Flag would have the
green light to say, get out of the way, I'm
gonna shoot. But he doesn't seem to do that. He
seems to always make the right for the right pass.
A lot of resemblances meet mentally of a guy like
Larry Bird.

Speaker 4 (23:05):
Again, he's more physical and more athletic.

Speaker 3 (23:07):
Than Larry, but makes the right pass, rebound, block shots.

Speaker 4 (23:11):
I mean, he's not afraid to get in there. And
you know how about to play.

Speaker 3 (23:14):
I mean you would think that when Grant Nelson blocked
his dunk attack tonight, you would think that maybe get
him flustered. Nope, he went down the court, played defense,
kept contributing.

Speaker 1 (23:26):
Then you're right, and he made a couple of more
big plays after that. What a block by Nelton, one
of the defensive plays of the entire tournament, to block
that guy on the way to a Tomahawk dunk and
not falling yep yet, But Duke was not rattled. Tonight,
again they were too much for Alabama. The Tide began
the game. What two of twelve I think from the range,

(23:47):
that's a far quite different from Jim shooting gallery that
it was in Newark on Thursday night with Byu and tonight,
a lot of that had to do with Duke Duke
gard in the transition, not giving him open look, not getting.

Speaker 3 (24:01):
The first possession of the game, shot clock violation, first
possession of the game, they held up them and they
threw up a desperation shot at the buzzer airball. I mean,
so that that just set the toe. And when your
best player, I hate to say this too, when your
best player scored six points Mark Sears, you're not gonna
win the game.

Speaker 1 (24:18):
And he was flustered, and he was guarded as well
throughout this game. So credit John Shire the game plan
they had over the last couple of days. By the way,
you can give us some comments live on this Saturday night.
My buddy Travis is watching us tonight. He is a Gator.
He is smiling ear to ear about the Florida win.
They're back in the Final four for the first time

(24:39):
in eleven years. Travis even says he wants Michigan State
instead of Auburn.

Speaker 2 (24:44):
You may get your wish.

Speaker 1 (24:45):
Let's see, that's gonna be a Titanic showdown in the
late game on Sunday. Lisa, by the way, is saying
thank you. Lisa's in Memphis. He says, thank you for
the promo. Coach, He's passing it along. Do that with
ticket Smarter, the ticket Smarter mobile app. I don't pass
up the opportunity to promote Jason Powers. Let's promote again.
Here's what we're talking about on the video screen. If

(25:06):
you're just joining us, use ticket Smarter, the ticket Smarter
mobile app.

Speaker 2 (25:10):
Use the code Coast twenty.

Speaker 1 (25:12):
This is good for the NCAA tournament, for the Elite eight, tomorrow,
the Final four, the Women's Final Four that's coming to Tampa.
Good for the start of the baseball season, any events, concerts,
whatever you want to do cost twenty on ticket Smarter
with the promo code. Utilize it. I'm not passing up
another promo opportunity.

Speaker 3 (25:30):
Brother, that's a great promo again, and you can use
it for any entertainment activity.

Speaker 4 (25:36):
Yes, that's out there.

Speaker 1 (25:37):
Anything you want to see Barry Manilow at the Westgate
in Las VEGASO pound ticket smarter and use the code
Coast twenty of my Mad Powers.

Speaker 2 (25:48):
We wanted to see all.

Speaker 1 (25:49):
The different shows. Did you see tonight? You saw Pitbull
in concert in Vegas?

Speaker 2 (25:55):
What about three weeks weeks ago?

Speaker 4 (25:56):
Two weeks ago? Yeahs Ago yeh.

Speaker 1 (25:59):
Is playing the Friday night concert in San Antonio. The
huge over to the public concert.

Speaker 4 (26:05):
Here we go.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
You are a pit Bull believer.

Speaker 3 (26:08):
I expect to see you TJ in the front with
TC martin Friday nights.

Speaker 1 (26:13):
Oh my god. If that is the case, all right,
all great stuff. I need to bring sanity back to
the show. You know how we do that. We go
to the West Coast Bureau Chief. He's paced in Arizona,
but he covers the college game and we love him
for it.

Speaker 2 (26:25):
Hello, Matt Zimmick, clean this up a little.

Speaker 1 (26:28):
Bit here on a Saturday night where Florida and Duke
have advanced to the Final four.

Speaker 2 (26:33):
Good to have you back with.

Speaker 1 (26:34):
Us, all right, thoughts, give me thoughts first on Duke
and what you saw against Alabama.

Speaker 2 (26:40):
Welcome, my friend.

Speaker 7 (26:41):
Well, we talked about it after the Sweet sixteen, right
that you know, Alabama emptied the clip against BYU, and
it was it just never seemed likely that Bama was
gonna make threes with the volume needed. It just doesn't
ordinarily happen, right that you go bonkers from three point

(27:02):
range two straight games. And of course let's also simply
say Duke's defense just a tiny bit tougher than BYU's.

Speaker 4 (27:11):
Uh absolutely, So, you know, just going from.

Speaker 7 (27:14):
A game in which everything goes right against a weaker
opponent and then you make that step up in weight class,
you know, it just wasn't the progression. And we were
reminded that, you know, a year ago, think about it,
and this is something I didn't mention Thursday night, but
should have a year ago. Alabama had to play the
max out game on the Thursday Game one to beat

(27:37):
North Carolina, get you know, the number one seed out
of the way, and then Alabama could play Clemson in
the Elite eight and it didn't have to be absolutely
spectacular in all facets. Well, this was just the inverse
that Alabama needed to play the max out game against
the one seed you know, gotten by with an ugly

(27:58):
game against BYU and still one. It just never seemed
like the right way for Alabama to enter this game.
If it had been a different set of circumstances, you know,
it might have been a different conversation. But really, in
the end, Alabama needed to hit a ton of threes
to win, and you need to be any duke component,
you're gonna need to shoot the three pointer really well

(28:21):
to have a chance. Didn't happen for Alabama. End of story.

Speaker 1 (28:26):
Just to follow up on something Jason and I were
talking about. Want your opinion here. It is scary that,
as we see on the screen, Canneppul had twenty one
flag a pretty good game, not a great game. Maliwatch
is such an athletic player above the rim at both ends.
We have to remind ourselves those are three freshmen. How

(28:48):
scary is this team with those three young guys leading it.

Speaker 7 (28:55):
I really liked the point both of you guys made
just before I came on. These guys don't get rattled freshmen,
but they don't get rattled, you know what Jason was
saying about Cooper Flag, So spot on that you know,
just move on to the next play, don't worry about
getting swatted, you know, defend, rebound, be a good teammate,
make winning plays. It's such an apt point by Jason

(29:17):
that you know, these guys just move on to the
next play, that they do play beyond their years. That's
why Duke is definitely in this position. And hey, you know, TJ,
you're going to San Antonio next week. We can make
those reservations right now. It's going to be Florida in
game one at six o nine, so five oh nine
in the Alamo City, and Duke's going to be in

(29:39):
that late slot at seven pointy, and you can just
lock it in right now.

Speaker 1 (29:43):
Yeah, there's no doubt they will be in the late game,
just as they were tonight. Jason Powers, you got something
from Matt Zimmick either on the Duke win.

Speaker 2 (29:50):
Or the win as well.

Speaker 4 (29:52):
I think an interesting part of this game was how
Duke got ahead early.

Speaker 3 (29:55):
You remember, if you remember b Yu and Alabama, they
were making so many threes early Alabama. The freedom that
those guys get when you make a couple and you're
up seven, eight, ten points, where tonight it was completely
flipped the script Duke was up eight ten points within
the first three minutes or so, So put a little
more squeeze on the ball for Alabama, a little tighter
on the shots, not as much freedom or I think

(30:17):
of Alabama would have had the lead tonight.

Speaker 4 (30:19):
I think the flow of the game would have been
a little different than it was because they could never
ever get over the hump.

Speaker 3 (30:25):
They got within five or six a couple times early
and second half we could never get They could never
get it rid of that lead of.

Speaker 4 (30:30):
Eight nine points that Duke had virtually all night.

Speaker 7 (30:35):
You know, Jason, what you said made me think of this,
and I think it's this is pretty fascinating. On one
half of the bracket, the Florida, Michigan State, Auburn half
of the bracket, you have the teams that have been
fooling around and they get behind and they trail, and
then like Duke, Alabama and also Tennessee Houston, those are

(30:55):
the teams that have been getting ahead. Now Houston is
a little bit particular, and that Houston wobbles late. Houston
will get that ten twelve point lee and then we'll
stumble trying to get to the finish line. Like this,
Houston team has felt the nerves, but generally Duke Bama Houston, Tennessee,
they've been the front runners. And on the other half
of the bracket Florida, Michigan State and Auburn, it's the

(31:19):
teams that stumble around for twenty five minutes before finding
the finishing kick.

Speaker 8 (31:24):
So it's gonna be fascinating to see if these two
halves of the bracket retain their personalities in terms of
being front runners for one side and second half demons
on the other.

Speaker 1 (31:36):
And by the outside of Matt Zimmick here with us
on a Saturday night, Jason Powers also hanging with me.
TJ Reeves. If you're just joining us live, we're talking
about the Duke win. We'm talking about the Florida win.
We will talk more about the two games on Sunday
a little bit later on. We're also efforting Jason and
Matt to have Ari Russell join us when all of
the postgame stuff is over with press conferences and in

(31:57):
the locker room where he does great work at the
Produce Center in Newark. We look forward to him joining
us here in a little bit live on this Saturday. Jason,
you had something else go ahead for you TJ.

Speaker 4 (32:07):
I know you've been a proponent of this guy all year.
John Shire.

Speaker 3 (32:10):
He tied I think the record the most wins ever
by a first year through three years of a first.

Speaker 4 (32:16):
Time head coach.

Speaker 3 (32:17):
I think he tied Brad Stevens and one other guy
tonight with his eighty ninth win in his first three
years at Duke. So I know you've been a big
proponent of John Shire, the job he's.

Speaker 4 (32:26):
Done all year.

Speaker 1 (32:27):
How do you go against what this guy has done?

Speaker 4 (32:30):
Two final fours?

Speaker 2 (32:31):
Well, yeah, they didn't get to the final four last year.

Speaker 1 (32:34):
Lead eight, first final four for Dukes at twenty twenty two, right, right, right,
I mean he's won a lot of They won the
ACC tournament and I thought it was interesting tonight what
they were revealing.

Speaker 2 (32:45):
And Matt get in here on this point two.

Speaker 1 (32:47):
Which is that it haunted them how badly they played
basically fifty two weeks ago in the Elite eight game
with n C State, a team that, help me, Matt,
NC State had also beaten them. I think in the
ACC tournament. Maybe I'm wrong, but clearly they were favored
against the wolf Pack no matter what. And Shire's line

(33:11):
to the CBS Turner Crew was that's the worst thirteen
minutes we played all year was in the Elite eight game.
And it made me really reassess the mental outlook of
my team, the makeup of my team. And here we
are fifty two weeks later. They followed through. They beat Alabama.

(33:32):
They surpassed what they did a year ago. What about
that Matt Zimmick on Shire and growing up some as
the coach and using the loss in the Elite eight
game last year as the motivation.

Speaker 7 (33:43):
You know, it's true, the Cooper flag is special. He's generational.
He's going to be a number one draft pick. But
you know what we can compare this to Let's make
that twenty nineteen comparison, right, twenty nineteen, Duke gets to
the Elite Eight as a one seed with a presumptive
number one pick in the draft, and that Duke team

(34:05):
did not play the complete game against Tom Izzo and
Michigan State in Washington, d C. This team just took
took control, got ahead early, and was always in charge
of this game. Alabama always second best. So it's definitely
true that, Hey, as special as Cooper Flag is, you know,
we've seen Duke teams with number one picks coach k

(34:26):
and Zion not get it done, and so you know,
these freshmen do seem to be special, but like, yes,
the coach definitely has something to do with that, right
when these players don't get rattled and it's a consistent,
steady thing. You know, how many times have we seen
in marches over the years a great number one seed

(34:47):
runs up to the Elite eight. And the Elite eight
is the most pressure packed game of the year, far
more than Monday Night, the National Championship game, because you
play all year to get to the final four. Elite
eight pressure did not get to this team, and that
is definitely a product of the head coach providing calm,
reassuring leadership. You know, we remember one more twenty nineteen parallel,

(35:11):
you know, Virginia fully learning the lesson from UMBC the
year prior and Tony Bennett making the psychological adjustment with
his team. So here we see John Shire making the
psychological adjustment from that nightmarish Elite eight against NC State
one year ago.

Speaker 1 (35:31):
Love it, Matt's with us for a few more moments
here on this Saturday night. From a historical standpoint, eighteen
final fours for Duke now first one since twenty twenty two.
You cover the UCLA Bruins for UCLA Wire on the
USA Today website. John Wooden and company other coaches too,

(35:53):
combined for twenty one final fource.

Speaker 2 (35:56):
That's the all time record, Duke with eighteen of them.

Speaker 1 (35:58):
Interesting that at you've got Shire as a first time participant.
You've got Todd Golden as a first time participant.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
If Rick Barnes.

Speaker 1 (36:08):
And Tennessee make it and it's the first time participant,
but then you've got.

Speaker 7 (36:13):
Kelvin whoa Barnes made it in two thousand and three Texas. Yes,
it would be Tennessee's first final four. That's that's the hook,
the Saints.

Speaker 2 (36:23):
First final My bad. So Barnes has been there. So
now let me make the further point.

Speaker 1 (36:27):
So you got Shire, you got Todd gold Now the
other four coaches have all been there, Rick Barnes, Kelvin
Sampson there in twenty twenty one. That twenty nineteen final
four had Bruce Pearl and had Tom Izzo.

Speaker 2 (36:42):
That's his last final four.

Speaker 7 (36:44):
So let's not forget Kelvin Sampson. Let's not forget Kelvin
Sampson in two thousand and two with Hollis Price and
the eb Arah and Oklahoma.

Speaker 2 (36:56):
Yes, how about that name.

Speaker 1 (36:58):
Pull that name out for the Oklahoma Sooners and the
Final four in Atlanta for that goal around. But you
got veteran coaches out of the other four teams that
are playing in the games tomorrow, which is interesting. I'll
prop another guy, I mean, Jason Powers. I know you're
big on Sean Farnham. I am too. I know Sean
personally from ESPN and he's a former player with UCLA.

(37:25):
Sean Farnham put this on social media tonight when Florida
made the Final Four, that he was sitting on an
interview with Jeff Goodman and the Field of sixty eight crew.
They do a tremendous job on the online platforms. Farnham
was sitting in New Orleans in April of twenty twenty

(37:47):
two when Todd Golden got hired by Florida, and he said,
to those guys, this guy's the real deal as a coach.
I believe he can win a national title, and I
believe it will happen with in the next six years.

Speaker 2 (38:01):
I believe in the next.

Speaker 1 (38:02):
Six years he'll be in the Final four and win
a national title. And they laughed at him when he
was saying that three years later, Todd Golden is in
the Final four with the Florida Gators. Will bowed as
Sean Farnes of ESPN here tonight he called it three years.

Speaker 4 (38:22):
Ago and nothing.

Speaker 3 (38:24):
I didn't realize, Matt, I didn't realize Todd Golden played
at Saint Mary's.

Speaker 4 (38:28):
I didn't realize St. Mary's.

Speaker 1 (38:31):
Randy Bennett, correct, yes, go ahead, pick it up, West
Coast Bureau Chief.

Speaker 7 (38:36):
Well, I mean, you know, it just shows that he
learned from a master. And and yet Randy Bennett style
basketball and Todd Golden style basketball are two different, very
different things. So it just that reinforces that coaching is
not so much playing a specific style. It's having complete
knowledge and being able to implement any system for any roster,

(38:58):
for any situation, and you know, knowing what works in
certain contexts and knowing what works in others. You know,
Saint Mary's destroyed the West Coast Conference each of the
last three seasons, but then getting out of conference, you know,
the gaels lack of elite athleticism gets exposed. So like
Bennett is a master at beating familiar opponents that are

(39:21):
not several notches higher. But then what's been the struggle
has been to beat those elite, top tier teams. So
like Todd Golden had a front row seat for that.
He was aware of that story. And why is Florida.
Hear a lot of things, but really the roster construction.
I remember Tju saying mentioning Adam z Agoria's quote, Florida's

(39:44):
like Noah's Ark two of everything.

Speaker 2 (39:46):
Yes, you know, yes Todd.

Speaker 7 (39:48):
For Todd Golden to be able to put all these
elite pieces together with that kind of depth, balance, versatility,
and no one caring who gets the credit, Like, you
don't do that as a young coach unless you've really
learned from the masters such as Randy Bennett and other mentors.

Speaker 2 (40:05):
Go ahead, Jason, Then I've got something on the guards
of Florida. Go ahead, Jason.

Speaker 4 (40:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (40:09):
I was gonna say his biggest move as the head
coach might have been the ability to get Walter Clayton
not to go with Rick Patino to Saint John's and
bring him back home. He grew up about an hour
from Gainesville in Lake Wales, Florida. Walter Clayton did, and
that move I know he didn't have a great year.
I mean, he was good last year, but boy, that
move triggered all the other things in the ability to

(40:31):
fortify the front line and the guard play.

Speaker 1 (40:33):
You know what else triggered it? The three letters INN, I, L.
This is not a joke. An SEC school that could
pay him significantly.

Speaker 2 (40:42):
He's a guy. And we'll give a geography lesson, Matt.
You're in the West.

Speaker 1 (40:45):
We're here in Florida, Lake Wales. Florida's about what would
you say, Jason, Maybe a four or five stoplight.

Speaker 2 (40:52):
Area in the middle of the state of Florida.

Speaker 3 (40:55):
It ain't littletown, USA, buddy, littletown USA.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
That's where Walter Clayton is from.

Speaker 1 (41:00):
He's the former Florida high school player of the Year
in his classification. And Rick Patino prided him out of
Florida and got him the tiny IONA to play for
a couple of years. IONA in the NCAA tournament two
years ago with Walter Clayton, and now here he is
at Florida in a final four making those huge shots. Hey, Matt,

(41:22):
follow up on a couple of ridiculous shots that Clayton made,
one of them falling away on the left wing and
the other one where he retreated on his own out
of the lane, out to the top of the key,
where most Gator fans were going, no, no, what are
you doing? Yes, the three pointer goes in. Huge shots
from Walter Clayton, big reason why Florida's still alive.

Speaker 7 (41:43):
Yeah, And you know, I rake John Calipari over the
calls for not running Texas Tech off the three point
line late in the Sweet sixteen. This was not the
same thing. This was Walter Clayton coming up with the
circus shots, you know, remarkable shots against good defense. This
was not easy, wide open case action shoot with the
with an Arkansas defense losing focus. These were amazing shots.

(42:06):
You know, Texas Tech the foul line. That's where this
game got away, you know, missing two front ends. I
mean maybe maybe one, but not two. That's two zero
point possessions.

Speaker 1 (42:19):
Say your line about free throw shooting, what will it destroy?

Speaker 7 (42:22):
It's it's well. Bill Raffre says, free free throws can
destroy a family and uh and and we celebrate National
free throw Awareness months because friends don't let friends miss
front ends.

Speaker 4 (42:37):
And there.

Speaker 3 (42:39):
Go ahead, Jason, I was gonna say, Matt to me,
the two biggest I mean, Clayton made big shots, but
the two biggest shots in the game were how if
how doesn't make the two threes in a row down
nine again, that changes the strategy of when Florida starts to.

Speaker 4 (42:54):
Foul and at Texas Tech and milk the clock. Those
two shots for me were the two get shot to
the game.

Speaker 2 (43:02):
All right right out there.

Speaker 7 (43:05):
I would just say that. You know, we talked about Arizona,
Illinois two thousand and five on Thursday night, So this
was a late scramble.

Speaker 2 (43:15):
You know.

Speaker 7 (43:15):
This was Walter Clayton playing the Darren Williams role. And
then another Elite eight late scramble Arthur Lee of Stanford
in nineteen ninety eight. So Florida basically occupied the Stanford
role against Jim Herrick and Rhode Island. So just thinking
about amazing Elite eight comebacks and late scrambles to win

(43:39):
games that teams had no business winning, those are the
two that came to mind most most readily.

Speaker 4 (43:46):
Mike Montgomery reference from Stanford.

Speaker 1 (43:48):
Mike Montgomery, Hey, I'll go you. I'll see that, and
I'll go you a couple better. We're thirty one years
removed from Dan Cross and Cred Brown. I'm speaking the
Jason Powers language of the nineteen ninety four Florida Gators,
Dimitri Hill Saint Petersburg, Florida three hundred pound power forward

(44:09):
Demeat Hook. Lon Krueger's Florida team was the first one
to make the Final four in nineteen ninety four. Billy
Donovan had a barrage of them, including two national titles
two thousand and six, two thousand and seven. Now Todd
Golden is the latest Florida coach in twenty twenty five
to have them there. They love to scream and it

(44:31):
often gets obnoxious. I'm not a Florida Gator. I didn't
go there. My wife's not a Florida Gator. They often
scream relentlessly. Matt Zimmick, it's great to be a Florida
It's great. They're singing it all weekend right now for Florida, Matt.
Before you are gone, touch on the two games tomorrow.

(44:53):
Let's get a quick little Sunday preview in from you.
Start with Auburn and Michigan State. A thought or two
from you, as Tom Izzo is going for a ninth
Final four. Bruce Pearl and Auburn one of the prohibitive
favorites to win the whole thing. Thoughts on the South
Regional final in Atlanta.

Speaker 7 (45:13):
What I love about this game is that both teams
are coming into this game after playing similar semi finals.
They were both down eight to ten points rallied in
the second half. They've both been second half monsters in
this tournament, so like they're they're coming in on the
same footing and with the same tendencies and trends. So

(45:34):
it's gonna be fascinating to see if one team falls behind,
will it be able to dig out of trouble against
the opponent and the opponent being a good second half
team either way, you know, so it can can can
one team afford to fall behind? I don't know, but
that's gonna be interesting. I think the single most important
player in this game to Hod Pettiford, because you know

(45:54):
you've been talking about Duke's freshmen not being rattled and
playing beyond their years. Well, Pettiford has really answered the
bell for Auburn in this tournament. He did so against Creighton,
he did so against Michigan. I think if Todd Pettiford
plays great, Auburn very very likely wins, and if he
plays poorly, Auburn very very likely loses and tom Izzo

(46:15):
gets back to the Final four.

Speaker 2 (46:17):
It's gonna be a wild game.

Speaker 1 (46:18):
That's the second game of two, and quickly for me
talk Houston, Texas. That's the first game up on Sunday afternoon,
just after two Eastern time, as they will play in Indianapolis.

Speaker 2 (46:30):
Again.

Speaker 1 (46:30):
Kelvin Samson and Houston have been one of the prohibitive
Final four favorites. They're the top team out of the
Big twelve. Tennessee no slouch out of the SEC. Breaking
news again, the SEC's really good. Do not be surprised
if Tennessee wins this game, but your thought on Houston Tennessee.

Speaker 7 (46:47):
So Tennessee's played great. I was shocked that they dismantled
Kentucky the way they did. So if Tennessee wins, I
won't be surprised. But this is where my theme of
ugly semi final, great final or great semifinal might not
have enough left in the final. It sets up Houston.
Because Houston had to play a road game that was

(47:09):
a really tough environment for the Cougars and they got
through it. I think they might exhale, they might puff
up their chest, they might relax, play better, and then
it's hard for Tennessee to play any better than it
did against Kentucky. So you get back to that dynamic
similar to Alabama. Do you have two great games in
you on the same weekend, And of course Houston's great

(47:30):
at making you play bad, so can Tennessee play another
great game against Houston? So I'm definitely leaning Houston. But
Tennessee's a really good team playing really well, so I
wouldn't be shocked if Tennessee wins. But I'm definitely leaning
to Houston here.

Speaker 1 (47:47):
And if I'm not mistaken, you cover both the usc
Trojan's wire website for US Today and the UCLA Wire website.
They are both in the Elite eight. If I'm not mistaken, correct,
give me the Women's breakdown. They're both there still, even
usc without Juju Watkins has survived on so life good

(48:09):
still for those sites and the interest from the USA
Today family of websites for the women's tournament real quick
before you depart, right.

Speaker 7 (48:16):
Yeah, you know, no one's gonna give usc A a
snowball's chance in a mushroom cloud against Yukon without Juju Watkins,
but to win a sweet sixteen game without her like
that just says it all about this team's toughness and heart.
It's going to be a very special memory for me
personally and for a lot of people who care about
the program and have been following the program. Might not

(48:38):
get to the final four, you know, because Yukon just
might outgun them, but what a special display of perseverance.
And at USC they say fight on, Well, this team
truly did fight on naturally special. And now for UCLA.
One year ago, which team beat UCLA in the women's
NCAA tournament. It was Kim Mulky and Lsu. So guess
who UCLA has to play to reach the programs forever

(49:02):
women's final four? It's Kim Mucky and Lsu. So it
is pure Hollywood with that regional final in Spokane.

Speaker 9 (49:11):
My name.

Speaker 2 (49:13):
From a team except from a team that's near Hollywood.

Speaker 1 (49:16):
Ucla and Lauren Betts, the big player in the middle,
about six', five very. Athletic they got a couple of
other good players. Too UCLA's never been in the women's final.
Four they've been in twenty one.

Speaker 4 (49:27):
Minutes it's hard to.

Speaker 2 (49:28):
Believe has all.

Speaker 1 (49:31):
The, Stats, jason we got to Let Matt, zimmick run
here while we have a, moment my. Friend great. Stuff
we look forward to having you back on On sunday.
Night we will know the final four tomorrow. Night let's
have you back tomorrow. Night keep up the great coverage
on THE Usa today family of, Sites, collegewire Dot, com et. Cetera,
YES i thought you were gonna say a snowballs chance

(49:54):
In Lake, Wales florida In july where it's slightly hot
every summer in the middle of the state Of. Florida Mad,
zimmick have a good, Night thank, you my, friend see you.
Later there he, goes And Jason. Powers we will segue
to our, Man Ari russell live from The rock from
The Prudential, center and he's In, Newark New, jersey where

(50:15):
he's watched The Duke Blue devils go to the final.

Speaker 4 (50:17):
Four sortside courtside each.

Speaker 1 (50:20):
Time ari's courtside right there inside The Prudential. Center after
everything is over all, right welcome on the live. Show
your impressions of what you. Saw we've been talking for
the last forty five minutes About. Duke talk about him
some more and what you saw, well they.

Speaker 9 (50:34):
Executed the game plans as well as he possibly, could
obviously putting pressor keeping. Them you, know The Alabama sinceton
tied off of a transition, offense and they did just.
That they weren't able to get many buckets from, transition
obviously got using their length and, strength As i'd like to,
say on the, perimeter making it very difficult to get
in the. Open look perfect game. Plan they scouted The

(50:58):
alabama and they asked you to the dust scouted plan
as well as you possibly. Can and then also on
the offensive, side using their side and their strength again
to be able to get into the. LANE a lot To,
nipple a really impressive player you saw live to. Night
he's the top ten potential fifth in THE. Nba drop
that WHY i had an unbelievable. Game he's six, seven

(51:20):
but he's also built like a, brick you know WHAT
U and between you know him And Syon, James Keon,
james those two guys are really they're kind of built
like defensive ends in THE, nfl but they got great
handle and. Athleticism so they really showed out. Tonight even
Though peoper slide and they have not had his best
game as a college. Player uh that those other guys

(51:42):
got involved and we see how talented THE tuc nearly is.

Speaker 1 (51:46):
Again ari is with us at The Prudential center In,
Newark New. Jersey it's a little difficult to hear. You
we can hear you if you can adjust your. Audio
we're doing this live on the. Fly if you can
adjust your audio for a, second that made the helm.
THINGS i know there's probably some interference two in and
around you with what you're doing and you're trying to hear.
Us we do this Live Jason powers on the fly

(52:06):
on college basketball coast to coast and all the.

Speaker 2 (52:09):
Platforms look at.

Speaker 1 (52:10):
The walk and talk from my Man Ari, russell who's
been hustling in and out of The duke locker. Room
can you hear us a little better right? Now and
let's see if we can hear you a little better right.
Now we heard most of what you were. Saying there
are a couple of moments. Ago let's try it again
and pick it up On canneple and flag and. Mallowatch
they don't play like, Freshmen, ari that's the.

Speaker 9 (52:33):
Reality can you hear me better?

Speaker 2 (52:37):
Now we can hear you.

Speaker 1 (52:38):
Better try again on the audio walk in the bowels
of The Prudential center In.

Speaker 2 (52:43):
Newark you're liking your familiar spot for the other.

Speaker 1 (52:46):
Night what about The duke players that are freshmen that
don't play like. Freshmen that's the point That i've been
making throughout the. Night you got something on that we'll
see if he's able to hear. Us it's a live, show.

Speaker 2 (53:01):
All, right go for.

Speaker 1 (53:01):
It try again on The duke, again am asking about
The duke freshmen and how they don't play like.

Speaker 2 (53:07):
Freshmen we can hear. You go for. It go, ahead
hear me.

Speaker 9 (53:10):
Now, okay much. Better so you, know, basically they don't
play like, freshmen as you, said they play like sophomores
or juniors that played a lot of. Basketball they're very
instinct they play with a tremendous amount of poise and.
Focused this is a very well coached team as, Well John,

(53:30):
Shack i'm very IMPRESSED i was able to put it.
Together this is a great. Class, again they probably have
perhaps three lottery picks potentially on this, team all. Freshmen
but they got other guys as. Well, obviously you've Got
procter who's been has a lot of experience as, well
and it's At. Duke you've got guys Like Seon james

(53:52):
who has experienced, elsewhere but has a lot of minutes
that he's logged at this level as well as a
graduate transfer and uh and that guy uh, so so
you've got kind of that great mix of experience at key.
Positions and then you've got obviously the three superstar freshmen
in in To nipple and uh flag and the center

(54:14):
big guy so. So so it's a great. COMBINATION. Uh
well coached, team very disciplined AND uh tonight we saw
the ability to execute a game plan uh that they
set out for and uh it was a remarkable. WIN
i wasn't expecting it to be that dominant of a,

(54:35):
win but they really took the wind out of the
sales early on and pretty much led this this thing
from tip to to the to the. Buzzer Uh and
and it didn't really ever seem like it was ever in.
QUESTION i don't know from what you guys, watched but
from inside the, arena didn't feel that there was any
kind of. Crest. Uh The arizona, GAME i felt like
put a lot more pressure On dukes and than the

(54:56):
game tonight Against.

Speaker 2 (54:57):
Bama, yeah they were.

Speaker 1 (54:58):
Awesome, jason get a quick ques uh in For ari
because we've got to let him go as. Well he's
trying to get into the locker room to talk to
a couple of duke players in a couple of, Moments,
jason you got something real.

Speaker 4 (55:06):
Quick, yeah just talk about.

Speaker 3 (55:08):
Again we Mentioned, shire what a great job he did
putting the game plan, together his coaching staff and a
bunch of duke.

Speaker 4 (55:14):
Guys Yet Chris carrowell. There just talk about, that.

Speaker 3 (55:17):
And he's he built his roster differently everybody else around
the country's loading up in the transfer. Portal he kind
of went a different route with. Freshmen just talk about
that dynamic of roster.

Speaker 9 (55:27):
Compilation, yeah, yeah that's that's the challenge. Again you, know
having like a key guy Like, procter who is a bridge,
there has a lot of experience at this. LEVEL i
think he plays a huge role in being able to do.
That but these guys are that they brought in are
are kind of built differently than than most. Freshmen flag
is obviously still. Different he's, like, okay BUT i was really,

(55:51):
impressed to be honest with, you with With kinnipple's, game
And i've been impressed with him since since the beginning
of the, tournament even prior to, that until an acc
play for the last couple of. Games he's showing me
a tremendous amount of ability skill. Employee uh and and
on both ends of the, ball being committed and did
it in the. Hustle so there's a character that these

(56:13):
this team, has uh that THAT i think it doesn't
matter if they're. Freshmen AND i think That John shires
Remember John Staman, Suddy he was A he was a very,
physical he was a very active player who did a
lot of, hustle kind of remember The Sea Boy Ja.
House he's kind of like that next generation of, seed you,
know slapping the. Floor he was that kind of. Intensity

(56:34):
and you see these guys you see like The nipple
And flag have that type of intensity on this. Team
Uh and just because of their, freshmen it doesn't matter
they're coming in with that type of. Energy and uh,
YEAH i think it's part of the testaments to, coaching
but also for these young men out here as, well
for them to be able to pick it up and
place focused in that type of. Energy you got to
give credit to these young guys because they really bring it.

Speaker 1 (56:56):
All, Right russell's bringing. It you got to go in
a moment BECAUSE i know you want to get in
the locker. Room we're trying to get your internet to
hold up to In newark at The Prudential. Center give
a quick thought On Auburn Michigan. State the winner of
that game is going to play coming up here in
the final Four Houston tennessee and the other.

Speaker 2 (57:14):
Game who do you do you like the chalk you
like the two one?

Speaker 1 (57:17):
Seeds who's got the better chance at maybe beating one
of the one?

Speaker 2 (57:21):
Seeds quick thought On sunday Are, YEAH.

Speaker 9 (57:25):
I Picked Michigan state in this. Bracket but it's but
the More i've watched them and the More i've Watched, auburn.

Speaker 10 (57:35):
SO i think that it's it's this is a close.
One this is When i'm still gonna stick With Michigan.
STATE i just think that they have this grittiness to.
Them they've got a lot.

Speaker 9 (57:45):
Of guys they can bring off the, bench.

Speaker 10 (57:48):
And they've Got Jave, richardson WHO i think who's been
playing had a GREAT i mean she was shot like.

Speaker 11 (57:54):
What you know.

Speaker 10 (57:56):
Against the in the last game that they.

Speaker 2 (57:59):
Played it's all miss, yeah well miss he scored.

Speaker 11 (58:01):
That, yeah he was like six for eight or.

Speaker 10 (58:03):
Something it was as efficient as it was coming off
a game where he didn't hit, anything, so, uh you
know that's gonna be. Good and then SO i, just,
YEAH i think.

Speaker 11 (58:14):
That auburn obviously has the advantage in the.

Speaker 10 (58:17):
Paint, uh but either you never can discount the physicality
that is those teams have the mental toughness that those
teams have at.

Speaker 11 (58:25):
This point of the.

Speaker 10 (58:26):
Year So i'm still gonna lean Towards Michigan state and
kind of stay two to my. Backet but, again if
you're trying to make, money don't come to me.

Speaker 1 (58:33):
And Ask, Houston tennessee chalk or is it maybe THE
sec getting another team in the final?

Speaker 6 (58:42):
Four every everyone.

Speaker 10 (58:43):
Says that that it's like The superman, meme you know
That Spider man, mean rather where they're Pointing Spider man,
like you, know they are kind of mirror images of
each other to a. DEGREE i think kenn And vince
was mentioned this the other. Day Vince ferras mentioned this
the Other matt you know last night THAT i just
Think kennedy is a little bit more offensively competent per,

(59:04):
Se they've got more weapons, offensively.

Speaker 11 (59:07):
But it's just really difficult for me to go Against
Kelvin sampson at this.

Speaker 10 (59:11):
POINT i just think THAT i just think that this particular,
team they've won so many games in a, row they
JUST i think they can weather enough with the storm
and figure it out to make enough stops For. TENNESSEE
i mean to make tops Against. Tennessee So i'm still
gonna stick With, houston who is also in my. BRACKET

(59:32):
i have them going to The final, four and this
matchup in particular was one THAT i always.

Speaker 11 (59:38):
Had an eye.

Speaker 10 (59:38):
On BUT i just Think i'm gonna go With Kelvin.

Speaker 11 (59:41):
Sampson on this, one just BECAUSE i think that.

Speaker 10 (59:43):
He'll draw something up and we saw that at the
end of the, day if it's one possession, game what
a beautiful play call that they. Made So i'm gonna
go With Kelvin sampson on this. ONE i think that
this is a Great this is a great matchup and
a great kind of just looking at it on paper
and what we've see from both of these, teams very
well played and a lot.

Speaker 11 (01:00:04):
Of experience between the two of. Them it should be
a fun. One But i'm gonna stick with H town
on this.

Speaker 10 (01:00:08):
One all.

Speaker 1 (01:00:09):
Right they are having the press conferences right, now AND
i know you're trying to get in the locker room
For duke and the. Win keep, Hustling Ari, russell we'll
check back in. Now you will be with us as
well In San, antonio where we already know That duke
And florida are two more participants coming out Of, Auburn Michigan, State, Houston.
Tennessee great, work keep it, up keep it, up keep.

(01:00:30):
Hustling all, right, man you see you.

Speaker 2 (01:00:32):
Later there he is.

Speaker 1 (01:00:33):
On college basketball coast to. Coast he's making every. Effort
and again The duke guys are on the podium right
now With John shi are talking to the, media and
the locker room may be open here in a few.
Moments for already get some. Interviews he's got it up
on the YouTube.

Speaker 2 (01:00:48):
Channel those.

Speaker 1 (01:00:50):
Interviews he talked To Tyree proctor the other night after
the win Over. Arizona jason for the, audience it's with.
Us we'll stay here for a few more. Moments say
something again About duke with just a. TRUMP i, mean
they look the, part and it's easy to say right.
Now is it something where they've lost one game To

(01:01:10):
clemson in literally like four months going back To. December
they look the part of the national. CHAMPION i don't,
know out Of, Auburn Michigan, State, Houston, Tennessee, florida who beats?

Speaker 2 (01:01:23):
THEM i really don't at that.

Speaker 3 (01:01:25):
Point, YEAH i Think florida has the best chance because
they've got bigs and they've got confident. GUARDS i think,
AGAIN i Think florida would have to win a higher
scoring game against. Them BUT i Think florida has enough
firepower that they can match, them AND i think they
got enough beef on the inside that they could help
Neutralize Mala watch a little bit And flag a little.

Speaker 4 (01:01:45):
Bit so to, me It's Florida duke in the.

Speaker 3 (01:01:47):
Final, AGAIN i, THINK i think that's gonna be your
matchup On monday night and when you're there Next monday.
Night but you, know as you, know in this, tournament
one turned ankle one a couple quick whistles by the,
officials And flags got two, fouls and you never, know you,
know two quick fouls On, flags you never.

Speaker 1 (01:02:08):
KNOW i would say one to Nine duke is the
most one to nine, players first Player flag and all
the way to the ninth. Player Probably duke's the most,
talented most impressive. Team auburn might be right there with.
Them one to, nine all, Right auburn may not even
get the chance to play them. Though stay. Tuned i'm With.
ARI i Think Michigan state very. Much i'm staying true

(01:02:30):
to my. BRACKET i Think michigan this game On. Sunday stay.
TUNED i don't Think houston has the one to nine
to beat that nine. PLAYERS i don't Think tennessee has
the one to. NINE i agree, That so stay tuned On,
Duke we'll stay here for a couple more. Moments let's
tell you about another one of our. Sponsors that is
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(01:02:54):
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Speaker 2 (01:03:23):
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Speaker 4 (01:03:57):
You're a sports. Official if you're a sports, official you are.
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Speaker 1 (01:04:02):
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pickleball for the, elbows for the.

Speaker 2 (01:04:07):
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Speaker 1 (01:04:10):
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(01:04:33):
Tennessee look ahead To sunday for me for just a
moment On Houston. Tennessee After houston's last second win Over
purdue and Now tennessee Beats kentucky to reach their Second
elead eight in a. Row tennessee's never been in The final,
Four houston looking to get back there for the seventh
time as a. Program Thoughts, JASON.

Speaker 3 (01:04:55):
I Think matt And zema made the point about learning
from last year And tennessee was at this. Point last
year lost a, HEARTBREAKER i believe To, purdue and that
was that The elite eight last year To, PURDUE i believe.
CORRECT i THINK i think this is A this is
a team that's gonna figure out a. Way they got older.
Players they Got ziegler's been there. Forever lanier's a really good,
player May. Shack they've got guys that have been there

(01:05:16):
from last year and felt the heart the.

Speaker 4 (01:05:17):
HEARTBREAK i think this Is tennessee's.

Speaker 3 (01:05:20):
Year Rick, BARNES i think they got more guys that
can score fifteen plus Than houston. Does AND i think
Za Kai ziegler is gonna gonna direct that.

Speaker 4 (01:05:28):
OFFENSE i think he's gonna be the difference.

Speaker 3 (01:05:30):
Maker H he won't, score he may not score a,
ton but distributing the, ball.

Speaker 4 (01:05:34):
Getting the right guys the right. SHOTS i think get
a close.

Speaker 3 (01:05:37):
ONE i Like tennessee And Rick barnes to get to
get to The final four for our Guy Vince ferrari.

Speaker 1 (01:05:43):
Two and how about for the for The Houston cougars
having to play in that hostile situation With purdue and
they come through it.

Speaker 2 (01:05:53):
Again what kind of atmosphere is gonna be?

Speaker 4 (01:05:55):
There, yeah nf Pro tennessee.

Speaker 1 (01:05:58):
Crowd it's, configured thirty five thousand. People they were hoping
they won't admit. This to Have kentucky and Or purdue
with all the, Tickets i'll be in the in The
Sunday regional final in The Midwest. Regional neither one of
them are. There how Many tennessee fans got? There houston
travels a. Little how wild is it gonna be? Though

(01:06:20):
if The cougars get this win and they're only about
ninety minutes depending on how fast you drive From San
Antonio houston to come To San antonio as a fan
base for The final, four.

Speaker 2 (01:06:31):
Stay tuned on.

Speaker 1 (01:06:31):
That by the, way we have something else on college
basketball coast to. Coast let's see IF i can make
this happen through the technology on the video. SCREEN i, Mean,
jason as you, Know i'm working about eighteen different things
while we do this live producing the.

Speaker 2 (01:06:43):
Show the graphics you see, whatever.

Speaker 1 (01:06:46):
Our Colleague Adam zagoria did survive anas in the first
half of The duke went Over alabama. Tonight let's see
IF i, can IF i can successfully show this right
now here as part Of College Basketball coast To.

Speaker 4 (01:07:05):
Coast there you, go should be able to see.

Speaker 1 (01:07:08):
On the screen live with us that That's Adam zagoria
right there with kN Ka nipple coming over the scorers
table and into the media.

Speaker 2 (01:07:17):
Area right by Official Roger.

Speaker 1 (01:07:20):
Eyars earlier, Tonight adam's laptop right in front of him
did survive With kannepple in his. Lap That's adam's head
right above the guy arts, outstretched light.

Speaker 2 (01:07:31):
Blue, sleeve Long steve.

Speaker 1 (01:07:33):
Shirt That's adam's head right there canneppl Almost So.

Speaker 2 (01:07:37):
Adam did survive.

Speaker 1 (01:07:40):
Tonight we do confirm that on College Basketball coast To
coast he'll be.

Speaker 2 (01:07:44):
Backward we'll see if we get him on.

Speaker 1 (01:07:45):
Tomorrow he's been working postgame duties FOR nj dot Com
ye and The duke win. Tonight man That Auburn Michigan
state game is going to be something else in the late, game.

Speaker 3 (01:07:57):
Be a, factor because we saw the other night when
they went on that huge Run offern that crowd was
blowing up and that arena was on fire when they
made those when they made that big run midway through
the second.

Speaker 1 (01:08:10):
Half twenty to two run crowd in the, game and
that and that comeback Win.

Speaker 2 (01:08:16):
Avalan, yeah they will feed off the.

Speaker 1 (01:08:19):
Crowd but you, KNOW i LOVE i Know izzo's got some,
youth BUT i love the toughness Of Michigan.

Speaker 2 (01:08:24):
STATE i know they tuned for.

Speaker 3 (01:08:26):
That watch this Matchup Denver jones On Jace. Richardson Denver
jones is their defensive. Stopper richardson's their offensive, guy their
three point. Shooter look for that. Matchup AND i don't
Think Jani broom's gonna Let auburn lose. Tomorrow you've Mentioned
cooper flag not letting do. CLUES i don't Think Jani
brooms Letting auburn lose. Tomorrow in that building against the

(01:08:48):
front line that's a little vulnerable For Michigan.

Speaker 4 (01:08:50):
STATE i Think broom's a.

Speaker 1 (01:08:52):
Difference, listen we've had a busy show thanks to T
C martin for THE Tc Martin show out In Las.
VEGAS tc is on scene In San francisco In Northern
california for The florida win Over Texas.

Speaker 2 (01:09:06):
Tech who was, valiant But florida comes four and.

Speaker 1 (01:09:08):
BACK i mean that was all time stuff in the
final three minutes To, bena, yep nine points down and
come back and win that. Game, Yeah fulda back in
The final. Four duke back in The final four with
a win to night Over. Alabama very. Impressive two more
spots on the line Tomorrow, Auburn Michigan, State, Houston. Tennessee
thanks TO Tc martin for being with. Us Matt zimick

(01:09:30):
OF Usa Today's College, Wire Ari russell hustling FOR us
On College Basketball coast To coast at The East regional In.
Newark why don't we do this again tomorrow in about
sixteen hours when it's all said and, done maybe seventeen,
hours about seven or Eight eastern. Time why don't we
come back and we'll know the final two pieces On

(01:09:51):
College Basketball coast To coast of The Final?

Speaker 2 (01:09:53):
Four sound?

Speaker 3 (01:09:54):
Good, remember, folks it's earlier start times, tomorrow two o'clock
and five o'clock earlier in the DAY. Cbs both games ON,
cbs so don't forget two o'clock start time, tomorrow not nighttime.

Speaker 1 (01:10:06):
Games Houston tennessee up first In indianapolis At Lucas Oil
stadium and then The Atlanta Hawks Arena State Farm arena
is Where auburn And Michigan state will. Play we've only
had one Other final four where all the number one
seeds made it since the field expanded to sixty four
now sixty eight.

Speaker 2 (01:10:22):
Teams that was two thousand and eight.

Speaker 1 (01:10:24):
Where Jason powers Where San antonio is where the four
number ones made it that. Year that Was North Carolina,
kansas My Memphis tigers IN. Ucla two number ones are
there now With florida And Duke Can auburn And houston
join them. Tomorrow stay.

Speaker 3 (01:10:43):
Tuned Tie THE sec could tie The Big east from
nineteen eighty five with three out of four If tennessee
were to get it done And auburn gets it.

Speaker 4 (01:10:51):
Done let's.

Speaker 1 (01:10:52):
See, listen my, friend great, Stuff thank you you hung
with me for a full hour. Night let's do it
tomorrow night when we know the final two. Pieces thank
You Jason, Powers let's. Go we thank you for watching
on all the. Platforms if you're just listening on the
tune in streaming feed on The College Basketball coast To
coach channel in podcast, Form thank you for finding. Us

(01:11:13):
find the video show on, YouTube while the video content On.
Facebook On, twitter we're done for. Tonight duke And florida
and two more teams join Them. Sunday we'll be here
to talk about It sunday night On College Basketball coast
To coast