Sweet 16 Showdown

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Basketball's brightest minds gather to dissect the Sweet 16 matchups in a tournament that's breaking tradition. This year's bracket features zero mid-major Cinderella stories – a direct consequence of NIL money and transfer portal dynamics reshaping college basketball's competitive landscape.

The coaching carousel takes center stage as we examine how John Calipari transformed Arkansas from an 0-5 start into a Sweet 16 contender, while his replacement Mark Pope has Kentucky playing inspired basketball. Chris Beard's redemption arc at Ole Miss provides another fascinating subplot in a tournament defined by coaching excellence.

Florida emerges as perhaps the most complete team remaining after dethroning defending champion UConn, while Duke's dominance behind potential top NBA pick Cooper Flagg makes them the most intimidating force. Houston's physical defense creates matchup nightmares, and BYU's clash with Alabama promises tournament-defining excitement.

We break down every Sweet 16 matchup with detailed analysis on playing styles, key personnel, and strategic advantages. Which coaches have the tactical edge? Can Tennessee finally break through to its first-ever Final Four? Will Calipari complete his redemption arc at Arkansas? The basketball conversations dive deep into X's and O's while examining the tournament's most compelling storylines.

After dissecting each matchup, our panel of coaches provides their predictions for every Sweet 16 game. This basketball breakdown combines insider coaching perspective with passionate analysis for anyone wanting to understand what makes March Madness truly special.

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Episode Transcript

Rocky (00:01):
I'm excited to talk Sweet 16 basketball tonight.
I got the coaches in the greenroom waiting to come on with me.
I got MVCC boys men'sbasketball coach.
Coach Fuller is going to joinus.
You'll remember I had him onthis past weekend on the Mohawk
Valley Sports Watch, fresh off anational championship.
I got a friend of the show.
This is the first time he'sbeen on the podcast, but he's
been on with us on the radio fora long time.

(00:22):
Coach Pasiak's going to jump onin just a minute.
Pete Pagliaro, coach Pag fromthe Mohawk Valley Sports Watch
he's going to jump on with us aswell.
I'm not sure if we're going tohave Coach Medesis or not, but
Coach is going to jump on.
We're going to get the coach'sthoughts from the first weekend.
We'll talk about the Sweet 16games coming up this week and
then at the very end make sureto stay tuned We'll get into our

(00:44):
predictions and much more.
So stay tuned.
We'll be right back here on theRock Pile.
So welcome back and, withoutfurther ado, let's bring the

(01:07):
coaches on.
They've been waiting patientlyhere tonight, so let's bring
them on one by one.
There's Coach Pasiak rightthere.
What's up coaches?
What's going on tonight?

Coach Pags (01:19):
What's going?

Coach Pasiak (01:21):
on.

Coach Pags (01:21):
Jonah.

Coach Pasiak (01:21):
A little lull in the action.

Rocky (01:23):
I know I'm really excited I got my Gonzaga shirt on.
I'm a little disappointed thatI thought they were.
I don't think they were seatedappropriately but it was a great
game to watch last week.
But I'm thankful to have youguys on Coach Fuller back from
the weekend.
We talked on the Mohawk ValleySports Watch and this is Pags'
first time on with us in a longtime.

Coach Pags (01:44):
Long time Finally back.

Rocky (01:47):
Yep.
So Pags, welcome.
And Coach P, you've been on theradio with us for a while and
this is the first time on thepodcast, so welcome back.

Coach Pasiak (01:54):
Yeah, good to be on with you guys.
Got to get the technologyfigured out and everything.
So congratulations to Harley ona national title.
I was telling you guys beforewe got on that I remember him as
a player at Cobleskill when Iwas coaching at Onondaga back in
the day.

Coach Fuller (02:07):
Thank you so much.
I appreciate it, man.

Coach Pags (02:09):
Yeah, I got to say kudos to that too.
I'm a MV grad, so it was niceto see a national champion come
out of MV like that, especiallyfor basketball man.
It's my favorite sport, so goHawks.

Coach Fuller (02:21):
I'd love to see the mohawk.
Alum love to see it.

Rocky (02:23):
That's awesome so, guys, I don't know if we're gonna have
coach medesis may jump on in alittle bit.
He's trying to get to uh thekids down for bed.
So if he jumps on, great, we'lldive in with him as well.
But you know, I want to getyour guys thoughts because I I'm
a sports radio junkie and sofar you know, after the weekend
and yesterday and today, all Ihear on the radio is there's no

(02:44):
true Cinderella in this Sweet 16.
And some people are saying it'snot great for the tournament.
Others are saying the BlueBloods are in it and talking
about the NIL where you're notgetting the mid-majors like the
Valparaisos.
That would get the kids to stayfor four years and can compete
with the Blue Bloods.
But I want to just get yourearly thoughts on the opening.

(03:04):
You know a couple rounds andwhat your guys' thoughts were on
the NIL and where we're at withno Cinderella.
And don't tell me Arkansas is aCinderella with John Calipari.
But we'll get into that andmore.
So, pags, I'm going to open upto you what were your early
thoughts.

Coach Pags (03:19):
Well, you know, to me it's March Madness, right,
whenever Thursday comes on andthere's all those games on and
you can you get to watch allthose games.
To me that's exciting, I meanI'm.
It brings me back to when I wasa kid, you know, skipping
school on Thursday and Friday towatch those games.
Yes, it was.
It was a lot more chalk thistime around, but I think, if you
look at it now, like I mean, weall like to see the Cinderella

(03:42):
and the big shots and that'swhat March Madness is.
But I think you're going to seesome really good matchups this
coming week and it's because ofthe chalk, I think because of
the teams that won this week.
Now you're seeing thosematchups Because a lot of times
those Cinderella teams I mean,once in a while you'll see that
15 seed who makes a run, but forthe most part after that second
round, when they get to theSweet 16, then you start seeing

(04:03):
the teams that really aredominant win those games.
So I think you're going to seebetter games this weekend, so
sooner.
So to me it's still exciting.
I mean it hasn't been asexciting, but it's March Madness
, you can't go wrong.

Rocky (04:16):
Coach P.
What did you think?
What were your thoughts?

Coach Pasiak (04:26):
Well, you know I think you hit on it a little bit
with um.
You know I've seen a couplethings where the you know the
death of the mid-majorcinderella and I think that's a
direct um reflection of thetransfer portal and the nil
money and whatnot.
And you know to the to thepoint you alluded to like it
used to be, like the greatequalizer would be.
You would see the powerconference teams that had, you
know, the, the nba draft picks,the one-and-done, the
one-and-two-year guys, and theequalizer was the mid-majors,

(04:49):
usually with good guard play andexperienced veteran roster that
had been together.
Those things kind ofneutralized one another which
led to some great games and somegreat upsets.
And this go-around, you see 16teams, 16 teams out of you know
Power 4 conferences.
I think even you know I had theJohnnies go into the national

(05:09):
championship game, great pickthat turned out to be.
But you know, I think even it'sgoing to be very interesting
going forward for a conferencelike the Big East that, like
right now with the structure,they can't keep up with the
Power Four teams financially butthey're going to have a little
bit of an equalizer, which maybewe'll get into later with this
NCAA settlement and withoutmajor conference football,

(05:32):
they'll be able to direct somemoney to basketball that maybe,
you know the Power Conferenceswon't.
So you know that landscape willbe interesting going forward,
but for right now it's certainly.
You know, money talks.

Coach Pags (05:46):
And, coach, you mentioned the four power
conferences.
I mean seven SEC teams, I mean.
So that shows you where themoney, you know where the money
comes in right.

Coach Pasiak (05:54):
Yeah, like I really had an issue.
You know, 14 teams from oneconference.
You know, my thing is I don'tcare how good your league is If
you can't finish in the top halfof your league, you got no
business playing for a nationaltitle, in my opinion.
You know, unless you manage to,you know to get there by
winning your conferencetournament.
But like I mean that's, youknow almost a quarter of the

(06:15):
field from one conference,that's a bit much, I think.

Rocky (06:18):
Harley, what'd you think?

Coach Fuller (06:21):
I I think even with the NIL, obviously, the
NCAA tournament.
They have that sneaky littlething they do every year where
they create their own storylineswithin the tournament.
You know you see McNeese Stateplaying against Clemson and Will
Way was the manager there andhe's involved in that job.
And you know you have the Dukesplaying against Baylor and
their starting point guard isthere, you know is coming back
from that team and you knowthey're still doing a good job

(06:42):
with those storylines and and,uh, you know without kind of
those cinderella teams.
But I like obviously calipari.
You know bill self in thatfirst round.
And then you know obviouslypatino I'm a big patino guy
myself.
I had I had the johnnies goingall the way to the final four as
well.
So you know there's still thosestorylines.
But, like you guys said thatyou alluded to earlier, there's
so many good matchups in thissweet 16.

(07:03):
You know I Mark Pope on how, howgood a coach is he right now?
How he has those guys playingso versatile.
You know shooting thebasketball kind of a different
style.
You know just even some of theguys you see him recruiting
right now for next year.
It's like that's not a typicalKentucky guy but he's doing it
his way.
So it's kind of interestingseeing him, you know, navigate
through this.
But I do like the Caliparisituation too.

(07:26):
You know it's kind of he playsit so well in the media but it's
so interesting hearing him talkabout it and how.
You know he's talking aboutjust taking it one game at a
time.
You know typical coach talk butit's like you know he loves
having the ability to come outthere year one.
You know guns blazing and kindof make a statement.
So you know a lot, of, a lot ofreally good matchups.
Um, I'm excited to see.

(07:46):
My biggest one, you know, inthis sweet 16 right now is that
that florida and marylandmatchup.
I think it's going to beinteresting because you know
maryland was, you know your onepossession away and that
momentum you know that you getfrom a shot like that, you know,
at the end of a game, canusually propel teams to a round
or two, you know, regardless ofthe level.
But obviously the NCAAtournament, momentum is king.

Rocky (08:05):
So you know I look at the coaches and and we'll get into
the games here in just a minute.
But you know I get into thecoaches and Harley you mentioned
.
You know some of the guys.
But I look at, like you know,the pressure that that Calipari
had at Kentucky and basicallyyou know, I know he left on his
own but we all know that he wasprobably pushed out of there.
And you you look at, you knowthe success he started 0-5, you

(08:26):
know, at Arkansas he's won agreat run.
They're getting healthy at theright time.
And then you look at thepressure that Mark Popes had
filling in for Calipari.
Kentucky hadn't been to thesecond weekend in, I think what?
Five, six years, maybe evenlonger than that.
And then you look at ChrisBeard, who's a guy who has
gotten in a little trouble inthe past but all the guy does is

(08:46):
win games.
So I love the coaches in thisthing.
You've still got Tom Izzo there.
We'll get into that matchup Ithink is good.
The Maryland, a lot of goodmatchups.

Coach Pags (08:56):
You've got Bruce Pearl at Auburn right.

Rocky (08:59):
Yep, you've got Bruce Pearl at Auburn.
And then you see you mentionedthe Will Wade who accepts the NC
State job in the middle of thetournament while his team's
still playing.
And I just look at these guysthat they got themselves in
trouble and here they arelanding big jobs and taking
these teams deep.
So I love the coaching matchupsin these, but I think these

(09:19):
guys are all good coaches to getto this weekend.
So I'm excited.
And why don't we start in thesouth guys?
And I want to just kind of pullthese things up here and we'll
get into it.
So in the south, the AuburnMichigan game, michigan right
now.
I got the lines up here becausewe'll pick the games at at the
end.
I think the job again thesecoaches have all done, you know,

(09:40):
great jobs, I think with DustyMays done and and you guys can
speak to it better than I canfrom the basketball side but he
starts two seven footers, um,and and the first thing I think
of and maybe you guys canexplain this to me is you know
when you start two seven footersand what, what the way
basketball is now with thesedrive, you know these driving
handoffs, the up and down.
We're shooting threes gettingyour seven footers.

(10:02):
They got to get out andtransition and run the floor.
How are they doing it with thetwo big guys?
Coach P, I'll start with you.
I mean, how does he do it withtwo seven footers?

Coach Pasiak (10:11):
Well, I think he's a guy who's always, you know,
even before coming to Michigan.
He's always a guy who's been alittle bit creative, you know,
as far as maximizing hispersonnel and there's something
to be said for kind of swimmingagainst the flow and playing in
a little different way with alittle bit different type of
lineup than you know.

(10:31):
The trend in basketball hasbeen to get smaller and space.
You know space and kick and youknow the game's all about the
analytics and you know shootingthe three and whatnot and
getting up and down the floor.
But I mean he's got some, youknow, got obviously a lot of
mileage out of playing a littlebigger.
Now, that said, they were thetrendy pick to get knocked off

(10:53):
early and really almost did inthe first round by UC San Diego.
I think they got their work cutout.
This round Auburn's good.
I think this could be the endof the road for Michigan this
round.
Auburn's good.
I would be.
I think this could be the endof the road for Michigan this
round.

Rocky (11:10):
It's funny because you look at a year ago, this team
was 8-24 a year ago.
Again, the transfer portal,some of the guys they mentioned
I know he had a couple.
The big guy came from FAU withthem.
They mentioned three or four ofthose players that are playing
in the Sweet 16.
And I just go back and say howgood was that FAU team that he

(11:31):
had when he was there.
That took him to the Final Fourand I think that team could
have won a national championship.
But they were 8-24 a year ago.
And here they are.
I picked them to lose the firstgame for sure.
Was it 10-seeded UC?
What was it?
The Tritons, tritons yeah.
The Tritons.
I had them losing that game,but again, I think the job that
he's done.
I mean I think their end'sgoing to run here.

(11:53):
I think Auburn's a really toughmatchup for him but you know, I
think it'll be fun to see.
I think Auburn's peaking at theright time.
And Hardy, I'll ask you this,but Auburn, at the end of the
season they lost three of thelast four games they limped into
, you know, march Madness.
But you know I think they'replaying well at the right time.

Coach Fuller (12:09):
Yeah, there's just so many talented pieces on that
team.
You know they have.
They probably, in my opinion,have the highest ceiling of
anybody in this tournament whenthey're, you know, outside of,
maybe, duke, when you knowCooper Flagg.
But you know Jani Broome, youknow that Pettiford, tahaad,
pettiford, those two guys, Ithink if you're having a draft
with all the players in the NCAAtournament, most of the coaches
are going to go towards JaniBroome and obviously the

(12:31):
experience that he has.
But just so versatile andPettiford, they got five stars
coming off the bench on thatteam.
You know there's just so muchtalent and obviously they
stumbled.
But you know, as you guys knowwell, that sometimes those
little, those, those hiccupsalong the way can kind of propel
you.
You learn a little bit more inthose losses than you do in any
of those wins and things getcovered up.
Um, but you know I definitelylike auburn in this game.

(12:52):
But just to kind of touch onyour michigan, you know, with
danny wolf and, uh, you know hehad, uh, he had the big there,
vlad golden with him at f, yes,at florida atlantic too.
I mean, they're setting ballscreens with a seven-footer to
seven-footer and they're justhitting the roll all the time
Like how do you even guard that?
You know.
So you know.
If we learned anything withDusty May is he's creative

(13:12):
enough to find a way to givehimself an opportunity in this
game, regardless, you know, ofhow talented Auburn is, but you
know Auburn shoots a ton ofthrees too, so they also have
the ability to shoot themselvesout of a game as well, you know
they get a little bit chaotic attimes and typically their
talent just overwhelms people.
But you know, dusty may teamsplay the right way.
So you know, that's why I thinkthey give them a chance.

Rocky (13:32):
I still, I still think it's a two or three possession
game at the end yeah, I, Iactually thought, um, you know,
the big thing to me was to seeauburn, because I thought they
really struggled late in theyear, I mean the three out of
four games that they lost.
They played really good teams,but defensively was the question
for me, how well can theydefend?
They rebound the hell out ofthe ball and I think right now
they are playing really well.

(13:52):
So Bruce Pearl's teams arealways tough.
I'm a Bruce Pearl guy.
I'd love to see Bruce Pearl getto a final four and and have a
chance to win a national title.
But I see, it seems to me thatevery year we say the same thing
about his teams.
They always play well and thenthey get into march madness and
they just, they, just, theystumble, they run into somebody
and I don't know if ifmichigan's going to be able to

(14:13):
get them.
But it should be a really goodgame, a lot of good matchups in
all these regions, pegs.
What do you think?

Coach Pags (14:19):
yeah, I agree with you guys.
I think I think auburnobviously has more weapons.
I think that I I think they'llcontend with the size.
I mean, they got that DylanCardwell and that room kit that
you mentioned.
But I think one of the thingstoo is that Michigan is really
turnover prone.
So I think what you're going tosee from Auburn is they're
going to try to push the guards,to try to make plays and then,

(14:40):
if Michigan turns the ball over,I think it's going to be a lot
harder for them to win this game.
So I think Auburn's going tobeat them, but I think maybe
you're going to see them try topush Michigan towards those
turnovers that they've beenprone for all season long.

Rocky (14:54):
Yeah, the other one, guys in the South.
I think it's going to beanother good game.
They're both really hard-nosed,they play good defense.
They both rebound the ball.
That's Michigan State Ole Miss.
I won't lie to you guys, Ididn't have Ole Miss getting
through into this game.
I had them losing.
I forget who they had in thefirst game, but I had them
losing that 6-11 game right outof the gate.
So what's your guys' thoughts?

Coach Pasiak (15:17):
Coach P, what do you think?
I think you know Ole Miss hasbeen.
You know I thought they'd loseto Carolina.
I'm with you there.
Carolina was a team that allthe abuse they took, I thought
they'd get a round or two in.
But the thing that reallyimpressed me the other day I

(15:39):
thought Iowa State was a sneakygood team and they really Ole
Miss.
That win over Iowa State was tome one of the more impressive
wins anybody's put on the boardthis tournament.
It's a team that I thinkthey're under the radar and a
lot of people thought they'd beout early.
But I think they're a team thatseems to be peaking and playing
their best basketball the firstcouple rounds.

(16:00):
They're a low turnover teamwhich is going to keep them in
games.
I didn't expect them to be hereright now.
They're playing a little bitwith house money.
I think they got a reasonablygood shot against Michigan State
.

Rocky (16:15):
Harley, I think that one of the things Michigan State
does well they rebound thebasketball and they play
relentless on defense.
One of the things with Ole Missthe front line is not very big
for Ole Miss, so they're goingto have to make shots and get
out in transition and run.
But is Ole Miss going to beable to keep up with Michigan
State?
Is this a bad matchup for them?

Coach Fuller (16:35):
I think that the tempo is going to be really
important for them.
But I mean Ole Miss can get upand down the floor and score it
too.
But you saw Michigan State kindof in those first rounds.
When they get out in transitionthey can pitch ahead and they
start getting their 6-7 athletesflying all over the place.
I mean it's not a matchup thatmost teams can put up with.
But I mean every single TomNizzo team, you know, is gritty,
tough, physical.

(16:55):
You know they're not going togive a game away to anybody.
If Ole Miss wins it's going tobe because they take it.
But I will say with old miss Ilike the sean padua, the guard
from the virginia tech transfer.
He's just so tough, you know,you see a little bit more uh
edginess to him, I think whenhe's on old miss and he was on
virginia tech, which I get akick out of watching with him
he's kind of he's talking alittle bit more.
He's got a little bit of a achip on his shoulder.

(17:18):
But I think having thoseveteran guards in the tournament
uh will be interesting.
But I will say I think it wasJace Richardson that yeah the
freshman I mean it just showsyou know how tough and gritty
Michigan State is For him tohave a bad game, you know
scoring-wise in that game, andthen still be able to overcome
it.
I mean I think that shows kindof I mean you could talk.

(17:39):
Everybody says the word culture, but you know Michigan State's
culture is what it is.
You know culture, but you knowMichigan State's culture is what
it is.
You know there's just someoneelse is going to step up and you
know Izzo seems to always get acouple of those five-star guys
to go, with all the grittyphysical guys that he always has
to to give himself a chance.
So I think I'm gonna the housemoney for me.
I would.
I would take Michigan State, Ithink, just because, just
because Izzo, I think it's gonnafind a way to get it done.

(18:00):
But I mean Beard's beenunbelievable.
What a second coming for him,you know, after that situation.

Rocky (18:06):
Well, I was on here a couple weeks ago and an
interesting stat first, before Iget into my take here.
But an interesting stat Ithought was that there's been no
number two seed that's made itto the final four.
That started the year outsideof the preseason top 25.
Michigan State was outside ofthe top 25 and there were two
seeds so.
So they're going to have to getthrough history here, which I
thought was an interesting statline, because I didn't.

(18:28):
I forgot that Michigan statewasn't ranked to start the year.
So but I want to get.
I want to stay on the ChrisBeard thing just for a minute.
I was on here a couple ofweekends ago and I said and I
don't know what you guys thinkabout Beard, I'm not a huge

(18:51):
beard guy but I, the guy, cancoach.
I said if I was indiana I wouldhave made three phone calls.
One was to brad stevens, whothat wasn't happening.
The second one, um for me wouldhave been to um steve alford
and uh, there was a bunch oftakes um on the radio.
Why, steve alford, uh wasn'tasked to, you know, offer the
job or at least ask theinterview.
And the third one to me waschris beard, just because the
guy's won everywhere he's been.
If he can just stay out of thelimelight and stay in a straight
path, the guy can flat outcoach.
So I just want to ask you guys Iknow I'm off topic, but what's

(19:14):
your thoughts on Coach Beard?
And I know the job he's donethis year.
He's playing with house moneyat Ole Miss this year.
The season they've had isunbelievable.
What's your guys' thoughts onhim?

Coach Pags (19:25):
I agree with you.
I think he's a hell of a coach.
I think he should have got ashot at the Indiana job, but I
mean he's in a good spot withwhat he's doing here.
I mean so you know, I alwayslook at like you know you've got
to give these guys chances.
I mean they're all human,they're going to make mistakes.
I mean, obviously Chris Beardhas a little bit of a past, but
at the end of the day it's likeyou know.

(19:45):
I know he represents youruniversity, but can he coach
basketball?
I mean that's what I want.
I want a guy who can coach thegame and I think he knows the
game very well.
I mean I would love to have himat Indiana if I were one of the
fans there.
But you mentioned I know Ican't remember who it was, but
someone has a beef with himthere and I think that's why

(20:06):
they're not hiring him, bringinghim back.
But I mean Alford should be acoach who, like you said, the
first phone call should go tohim.
I mean being an alumni of thatschool.

Rocky (20:15):
Isn't Ole Miss, though, guys, when I look at this and
I'm a football guy, so you guysknow the X's and O's for
basketball a lot better than me,but I always use the example as
if, like I was a big DaveClaussen guy.
As Pags knows, I played forCoach Claussen when I was at
Fordham and he was at Wake for along time and just kind of
stepped down this past year.
But I always said if you can goto a school and we can use Ole

(20:38):
Miss where you get to the NCAAtournament, you can probably
stay at Ole Miss as long as youwant.
Maybe it's a football school,you know, we can probably debate
that.
Chris Beard would debate that.
But you know these guys inthose other jobs going to
Indiana or going to, you knowthe Dukes of the world and those
big programs if you don't winwithin the first couple years,
you're out of there, right, guys?

(20:58):
So I think Ole Miss to me is,when I look at this, I say to
myself Chris Beard can coachthere for a long time.
He's making good money at OleMiss, he gets to the tournament,
he's a hero there.
That's kind of the path that Iwas going down.
What do you guys think?

Coach Pasiak (21:12):
I just I think you're right about that.
I think if he like, he's nevergoing to get canned at Ole Miss
right, no.
For basketball reasons.
Now, if some of the you knowsome of the away from basketball
stuff clears its head, then allbets are off.
But you know, it's the kind ofthing, the flip side of that as

(21:34):
a coach and as a competitor, oleMiss it's still going to be a
football school perception-wiseand can you compete for national
championship consistently atOle Miss versus in Indiana or
something like that.
So I think that's somethingthat he'll have to and probably

(21:57):
is and will be wrestling withhimself.
You know, does he want to becomfortable at Ole Miss?
Kind of stay there, and I meanthey're going to be in the mix
because he's a great coach andyou know he's never going to be
under a super whole lot ofpressure compared to some other
jobs.
Or, you know, does he want togo somewhere where he thinks
he's you know, basketball isking and he could win a national

(22:19):
title?

Coach Pags (22:20):
yeah, coach, don't you think, though, a lot of
these guys who are in thesepositions I mean obviously
they're super competitive, Imean they all want the biggest,
the biggest job that's out there, the biggest challenge.
So I would think like I mean,once in a while you're gonna
have a guy who who settles inand just wants to stay at their
school.
Um, but when you got, when yougot the blue bloods out there
that are out there, I wouldimagine a lot of these guys,

(22:41):
like chris spear, are going towant a shot at bringing bringing
glory to that big school againthey said that mark pope and,
and this is, and, and I'll justkind of echo this and say I me
personally, I mean he's probablymaking good money.

Rocky (22:54):
He's in the I don't don't know two, three million or more
.
You go to Indiana where youknow you got to follow, you know
the history there with BobKnight.
He was on Bob Knight's staff,but it almost reminds me of
Coach Cal, which I still thinkCal Perry's a great basketball
coach, one of the best you knowin the game, who they basically
wrote him out of Kentucky.
And in comes a guy like MarkPope, who people said last

(23:15):
weekend if Pope didn't getthrough the weekend, they were
calling for his job at Kentucky.
So it's like these guys go tothe big programs and I'm with
you, coach P.
They go to those big programswhere they got all the resources
in the world and it's like ifyou don't win right away they're
going to get rid of you.
But now with the transfer portal, the NIL, you can flip a roster
real fast and I think that'swhat Beard's done at Ole Miss

(23:38):
and some of the other guys too,I think in the first couple
years.
I mean again, we're talkingMichigan Dusty May they were
8-24, and here they are in theSweet 16 because he flipped that
roster.
So again I go back and say tomyself stay at Ole Miss, where
you're going to be there for 10,15 years.
You're in the Sweet 16 thisyear.
The world of the NIL and thetransfer portal he can

(23:59):
potentially build a team herethat can get to a Final Four.
Can they win a nationalchampionship?
I don't know the way the worldis today.
Anything's possible.
But I think the pressure, rightHarley, the pressure of going
to the Dukes, the Indianas Imean look at Hubert Davis at
North Carolina.
You know they signed him tothat long contract and many
people wanted him.
I didn't think he'd survive atNorth Carolina, but I mean that

(24:22):
pressure just mounts on you,right, coach?

Coach Fuller (24:24):
Yeah, I definitely think so.
I think with Beard to me, whenhe took the Ole Miss job, I
thought that was the perfect jobfor him, like you said it's.
You know they're not going tofire him because he's too good
of a coach.
He's not going to lose a ton ofgames there.
He was following, you know,kermit Davis I believe it was
there.
I was Kermit Davis whostruggled for, you know, a few
years.
So you walk into that job andnow the SEC.

(24:44):
You know, with 14 teams in thetournament, you're starting to
see that football money, youknow, really starting to make
some of those other jobs morevaluable.
You know the pressure.
But I was, I think.
I think if Beard, in my opinion,I think if it was one more year
or maybe two more years beforeIndiana opened, I think some
people might have swept it alittle bit more under the rug.
But it's a little bit toorecent to kind of have you know
that that be his first job.

(25:05):
But I mean Beard's one of theold school guys.
So I mean I remember some ofyou guys may have been the final
four before watching him run apractice and most of those
coaches at the final four when Ido the open practice for
everybody.
It's like they're not reallygoing through stuff.
Right, it's a way up lines, it'sa couple jump shots, it's
messing around.
Every time he blows the whistle, the entire team and every
manager sprints to him like he'sthe king of the world and

(25:27):
they're, they're in his face.
Everybody's dead silent, likeplay.
So he's kind of like.
The reason I say that isbecause he's kind of one of
those the last of the Moheganstype deal, where it's like he
does it his way.
You know he's got that BobbyKnight edge to him.
You know, I think he was aBobby Knight manager, I believe
right.
It was something along thoselines.
So he's got that, you know,kind of old school, you know

(25:47):
toughness, edginess to him andhe's.
And then he's navigating theSEC.
He's his way with all thesetalented athletes.
I mean you can't bet againsthim, you know, obviously with
all that money there too.
So you know he's, he's, youknow, doing a great job.

Rocky (26:00):
Definitely playing with house money.
So, guys, let's get into theWest Harley.
You mentioned in the beginningof the show you were talking
about Maryland, and I thinkFlorida is a team for me and,
again, this is the first yearthat I'm going to say this and
I'm going to openly admit this.
I went chalk this year.
Right now I have 12 out of the16 teams and I have all four
final four teams.
I put all the one seeds in thefinal four, which I never do,

(26:23):
never do.
But I just thought those fourteams were better than anybody.
And I want to start real fastwith Florida first, because
Florida proved to me this past.
I wanted to see them in a dogfight.
I wanted to see them in a dogfight in a really close game to
see how they would react.
And you know, I thought UConnreally controlled most of that
game against Florida and the kidI think it was the Clayton kid

(26:45):
right, walter Clayton had somebig shots and I think they're
probably the best team.
Duke's got the best player.
We can probably agree to that.
Maybe we disagree, but I thinkright now, the ways florida's
playing after that game, um,they looked really good against
connecticut guys, yep, I agree,I think florida is is the best

(27:06):
team out there.

Coach Pags (27:06):
They're so big.
I mean, you know, having threeguys, uh, they're that big.
That's the biggest challenge, Ithink, for most people, and I
think that you know the the gameagainst uconn.
I mean, I think uconn in a way,gave that game away a little
bit.
I mean they had a lead and Ithink, because you can't I just
heard it today on the radiobecause you can't is the
powerhouse that they were.

(27:27):
They were, they were trying toput them away.
Instead, they I think theyshould have shortened that game
a little bit maybe, and maybethey would have been in a better
, in a better position to winthat game.
But I think florida is so goodbecause they have so much size,
I think, and that's going to betough because as you go through
this, these brackets, there'snot a lot of teams that they can
, they can defend that.
So I think it's going to be achallenge for maryland for sure,

(27:48):
um, but I think, even as theygo further down the brackets,
it's going to be tough to stopflorida.

Rocky (27:54):
Coach P.
What do you think?
Do you think Maryland can keepthis thing close?

Coach Pasiak (27:58):
Probably not.
I think.
You know, if you kind of lookthrough tournament history, you
know, with very few exceptions,you know most teams that get
through somewhere along the linethey get really tested.
And you know I thought UConndid that.
I thought that was a game IfFlorida was going to lose.
You know I thought UConn didthat.
I thought that was a game IfFlorida was going to lose.

(28:19):
Her, you know, prior to likeFinal Four, I thought that was
the game that maybe they couldget tripped up going in.
You know, and UConn played, youknow, with championship
pedigree and you know I thinkhad every opportunity to win
that game.
You know Florida kind ofconquered that Might be the most
talented team in the field, Ithink you know between them and
Duke as far as best team in thefield.

(28:41):
And you know, I think now thatthey're through that kind of
game, my gut feeling saysthey'll be clicking on all
cylinders.

Rocky (28:53):
And you know, if that's the case, they got too much for
Maryland Harley.
How about you?
You think any chance Marylandcan keep it close.
I think Maryland's going tomatch the size I think
Maryland's front court is.
Is is pretty good, but I meanoverall talent.
No, but if you keep it close, Imean the final two, three
minutes.
If you're within what?
10, six, eight, 10 points yougot a shot.
Can they keep it close?

Coach Fuller (29:11):
I think they're just going to have to junk it up
a little bit.
You know they're gonna have tobe physical, gritty and tough
and try to get into some ofthese guards.
I think walter clayton, likeyou guys said, I mean he, he
might, he's one of the bestguards in the tournament.
You know, if not the best guardin the tournament left, he can
create his own shot.
You know, they have so muchshooting out there.
I mean, todd golden puttogether an unbelievable roster,
um, you know.
Or the sec money put together aton of an unbelievable roster,

(29:33):
I guess.
But, uh, but, but he runs somegreat stuff too.
So I always enjoy the coachesand all these things.
That's where I kind of go backto.
But, yeah, no, I think Floridagets this one done.
I don't think it's going to be.
I think it's going to be adouble-digit, you know, win for
them.
I just think Florida's going to, you know, just overwhelm them.
To be honest, I think too muchsize, too much versatility and
then, uh, you know, a greatbackcourt.

(29:54):
You know they they're two andthree men shoot that, shoot the
crap out of the ball with will,I think will richard, I don't
remember the other guy's name,but there's another shooter they
have as well.
Um, that really shoots itreally well on top of clayton.
Oh uh, leah martin, elijahmartin, uh those two guys just
yeah, they shoot the ball sowell.
Um, again, a big, big claytonfan he was at.
He was at iona.
Um, you know, back in the day Iremember watching him play,

(30:16):
coming out of junior college.
I think he was a junior collegemajor for one year, but he's
just so tough.
He was a football, he was aquarterback, so he's kind of got
that physical toughness to himtoo.
I think Maryland will try tomake it a rock fight, but I
don't think they're going to beable to do it against a
well-coached Florida team.

Coach Pags (30:40):
All against a well-coached Florida team.
All right.
Million-dollar question WasDerek.

Coach Fuller (30:40):
Queen?
Did he travel?
I watched the video on it Undertoday's day and age no.

Coach Pags (30:43):
But old school yes.

Coach Fuller (30:46):
I watched the guy who comes in on the broadcast
talk about it a little bit andhe explained why it wasn't a
travel and I still didn't reallyagree with him, but I'll take
his word for it.
When they usually go to inthose takes.

Rocky (30:57):
Coach P, was it a travel?

Coach Pasiak (30:59):
Yeah, I mean real time.
I didn't think so.
When they played it back I cansee where he could call it.
A travel Referee would havetook a lot of stones for a
referee to call travel in thatsituation.

Rocky (31:11):
Yeah, I would definitely agree.
I think it was a fascinatingshot.
I mean I was all pumped up.
I'm like we haven't seen abuzzer beater, we haven't really
seen that dramatic play and Ialways think it's fascinating.
As a coach, I don't know howyou guys watch these games, but
when I watch these games I lovewatching these guys coach the
last two minutes.

(31:32):
Again, I'm a Zags homer but Ithought the last minute of
watching Mark Few and CalvinSampson go at it and see the
different style that Mark Fewhad to play with the Zags, you
know, to just try to getthemselves back in the game,
even the way they bandage guygets two fouls out of the gate.
What do you do?
You know some coaches haveplayed guys, some coaches take

(31:52):
guys out, but I just always findthe last two minutes of these
games how these coaches can drawup these out-of-bounds plays,
the different schemes, thedifferent styles.
To me it's always beenfascinating to watch these guys
do it.

Coach Pags (32:05):
And that's where they earn their money honestly.

Rocky (32:10):
Yeah, that is correct.
All right guys.
So I want to get into TexasTech, arkansas and some people I
keep saying don't tell me that,because Cal Perry's a 10 seed,
they're Cinderella.
But I think this is a reallygood Arkansas team.
They're getting healthy at theright time.
I think Cal's done a reallygood job.
Many could say this may be hisbest coaching job.
You know they started theseason 0-5, and people were

(32:34):
saying, oh geez, his first yearhe's not going to make the
tournament.
Here they are playing well andthey run up against a Texas Tech
team.
That's really good too.
Very similar styles.
So I'll kind of go around thehorn.
Harley, I'll start with you.
What's your thoughts on thisone?
Arkansas is a five-and-a-halfpoint underdog.
Can Arkansas keep this thingclose and have a chance to win?

Coach Fuller (32:52):
Yeah, I think, like you said, I think this is
his best coaching job.
I mean, he's always kind of hadthe talent, but he's kind of
built this roster a little bitdifferent.
He's got a few older guysJanelle Davis, which is huge.
He was coming off the benchbefore Boogie Flynn got hurt,
which is crazy to see him comeoff the bench.
But he's got some experience onthis roster too and I just

(33:14):
thought today they brought backAdo Fierro.
He's back.
He's back, he's going to beplaying in this game.
I mean, so I just think theyhave so much talent and they
also have experience now too,which you know some of those
Calipari teams have lacked inthe past.
So no, I think this is Calipariis going to get this one done.
I definitely have a lot ofbelief in them in this game.
Mccaslin's a great coach,though another guy.

(33:35):
There's so many great coachesin this Sweet 16.
You saw what he did in NorthTexas and they play the right
way.
They have, I think, the poppingkid super talented.
They kind of do it by committee, but he's kind of the head of
the snake for them.
But I just think Arkansas isgoing to kind of Texas.
Tech shoots it much better thanSt John's does.
I think us four going out inour driveway shoots it better

(33:56):
than St John's does right now.
But I think Arkansas is justgoing to be way too talented for
them.

Rocky (34:03):
Coach P.
What do you think?

Coach Pasiak (34:04):
Yeah, I think Arkansas wins this game as well
and you know, I think as long asCal's at Arkansas like this
landscape of college athleticswith the NIL money and the
transfer portal you know, he's aguy that was ahead of the curve
back with the, you know, withthe one and dones, and caught a
lot of heat for it andeverything.
But I think this currentlandscape of college basketball

(34:25):
I think he's a guy that you knowto me it's kind of tailor-made
for and he's going to adapt toand you know people better get
them now because I think they're, you know, as long as he's at
Arkansas, I think that's a teamthat's going to be in the mix
year after year in the directionwe're heading with college
sports.
But you know I'm with Harley.
I think they, yeah, I thinkthey win this one outright.

Rocky (34:45):
Yeah, you know we're talking about coaches and like I
just always go back to all thesports right, and I say there's
coaches that I think are justgood fits.
Like I look at cal, at arkansas, and he just looks like a good
fit.
He looks like he's, he's havingfun again.
But maybe the weight of youknow the kentucky faithful and
all that pressure over the yearsto get to the final four and
win championships.
But, um, he looks muchdifferent and, and listen,

(35:08):
coming into this, they had one.
I think it was like 12 is 17 or13 of 18, something crazy like
that.
But, harley, you mentioned theand I think all four of us on
here could shoot better thanwhat St John's and I'm a big
Patino guy but Texas Tech's onlyshot 25% from the field in
their first few games andthere's no way they're going to

(35:28):
beat Arkansas shooting 25% fromthe field.
So we'll see if they can shootit better.
But, peg, do you think you'rerolling with Arkansas too?

Coach Pags (35:35):
Oh yeah, I think I think I don't think this game is
going to be, I mean, withhaving JT Toppin there and the
other kid on the inside I thinkit's Darian Williams.
They'll give him a shot, but Ithink I think there's too much
for Arkansas.
And I you know, I know youmentioned before there's no
Cinderella in this tournament.
A coach Calipari team aCinderella.
But this is kind of theCinderella story of the

(35:56):
tournament, I think.
I mean we're all kind ofcheering for Coach Cal to do his
thing, but I agree, a Coach Calteam is never a Cinderella, but
this is one of those situationswhere maybe he'll play the
Cinderella role.

Rocky (36:08):
for now, so, guys, if we switch over to the East and I
don't know if there's too much,I don't know if many people are
really giving Arizona a chance.
I mean, duke's got the bestplayer in the world and they've
looked really good.
I think their winning marginover the first two games is the
highest and I think intournament history they were
saying but any chance that TommyLloyd and Tommy Lloyd, a former

(36:30):
Mark Few assistant, I meanCoach P, I'll go with you first.
Can Arizona keep this thingclose?
Or is Duke just that good?
Coach P, I'll go with you first.
Can Arizona keep this thing?

Coach Pasiak (36:37):
close or is Duke just that good?
Duke has played like the bestteam in the country the first
couple rounds, I think if theystay close to that level I don't
see Arizona really staying withthem and making it much of a
game.
We talked a little bit aboutFlorida kind of had their moment
where they had to overcome alittle bit against UConn.

(36:58):
You know you would think thatsomewhere along the line that's
going to be Duke.
You know, maybe it's Arizona,but gut feeling tells me that
Duke wins big again.

Rocky (37:09):
Carly, how about you?

Coach Fuller (37:12):
I was a Duke fan growing up, for sure, so I have
a little bit of a bias for Duke.
But I just think they're goingto be too much for Arizona.
Caleb Love, you know he'splayed great in this tournament.
He was unbelievable in theirlast game.
But I just think you knowCooper Flagg just overwhelms
them.
They have enough shooting wherethey can spread the floor and
you can't focus too much on himas well.
I just think this is maybe oneof the more complete Duke teams

(37:34):
in the last few years and maybethis is the upset, the crazy
upset everybody's been waitingfor.
But I think the smart moneywould be on Duke.

Rocky (37:44):
You know who's been good for Duke.
I mean they're all good, but Ithink Proctor's been really good
for them shooting the ball fromthe arc defending.
I think he's only a junior butI think he's stepped in too.
I agree, I think Duke's only ajunior but I think he's stepped
in too.
I agree, I think Duke's beenplaying the best.
I think Florida's probably thebest all-around team.
Maybe they'll collide somebody,maybe somebody will knock

(38:04):
somebody off.
But I mean Houston's playingreally good too.
I mean, calvin Sampson seems toget his teams really close
every year.
They just can't get over thehump.
They're really good defensively.
They're good on the hump.
They're really good defensively.
They're good on the boards.
I think it'll be interesting tosee he gets through.
I think Duke.
Unfortunately, I think theykeep things going.
Let's jump over to one of myfavorite teams to watch.

(38:27):
I do have BYU.
I got the whole East regionright.
I had BYU in this game againstAlabama.
Coach Medesas will get on me.
I'm not a huge Nate Oates guy.
Coach Medesas loves Nate Oates,loves the style that they play.
Alabama's got to shoot the ball, I think really well.
I think BYU is going to matchup with them at pegs.

(38:49):
I'll start with you first.
In this game, can BYU keep itclose and have a chance to upset
Alabama, or do you think?

Coach Pags (38:58):
Alabama's playing too good right now?
I don't think so.
I think Alabama is just toofast for BYU.
I think BYU can try to slowthem down a little bit.
But I just think the way NateOates runs that offense, how
fast they run, I think it'sgoing to be too much for them.
I think they'll hang with themfor a little bit, but I think
they'll pull away pretty quickly.
I don't think those games aregoing to be that close.
I like Alabama here.

Rocky (39:17):
So BYU plays the same style.
I mean, when Mark Pope wasthere it was a little bit
different, but BYU is going toget up and down too, so this is
going to be a really fast game.
Byu has got some shooters.
I've seen a lot of BYU over theyears, just from being in the
West Coast Conference.
I think this game is going toAlabama.

(39:37):
I think I have Alabamaadvancing, but I think BYU can
beat them.
Coach P, what do you think?

Coach Pasiak (39:43):
I think this is going to be one of the fun games
of this round.
I think I think this could beone of the more entertaining
games.
I think BYU will hang.
I like Alabama to win the game,but I think it's going to be a
fun watch.
Really, I'm with Medesas.
I like Nate Oates as a coach.
You know I have a lot ofrespect for him, but you know, I

(40:07):
think in terms of entertainmentvalue, this could be one of the
better games of the weekend.

Rocky (40:12):
Harley, what do you think ?

Coach Fuller (40:14):
So I think the biggest thing with Alabama you
know again that experience MarkSears, who's been in this moment
before I think it's going to behuge.
But obviously the tempo andathleticism that Alabama puts on
the court every time they walkout there is huge.
They play at such a fast paceand they have such good
athleticism.
But I'm going to take BYU to bean upset, be the Cinderella in

(40:35):
this game.
I think this tournament needs aCinderella.
I don't necessarily want themto win this game.
I love Nate O Cinderella.
I don't necessarily want themto win this game.
I love Nate Oates.
I love the stuff that he runs.
I just love his style ofbasketball.
But I'm going to take BYU asthe upset to the Elite Eight and
kind of give the world theCinderella back here.

Rocky (40:52):
So the BYU coach who replaces Mark Pope is in the
Sweet 16.
Pope leaves for Kentucky he'sin the Sweet 16.
Cal leaves Kentucky and goes toArkansas he's in the sweet 16.
Cal leaves kentucky, it goesarkansas he's in the sweet 16.
So, like all these coaches did,okay, I think it all worked out
.
So if I'm the athleticdirectors, I'm sleeping good at
night saying all the moves thatwe made all panned out, we're
all in the sweet 16.

(41:12):
So, uh, it worked out.
So, all right, guys, let's justget to these last, these last
two, and then we'll get into ourpicks here and I won't keep you
guys too long tonight.
The Midwest Houston, purdue.
I'm not really sold on Purdue.
I know they have what they havethe Smith kid who's one of the
best point guards in the country.
Houston, really, really, to me,I think, is just so physical.
They get on, they get on theglass, they can defend you.

(41:35):
I think if Houston can knockdown shots in this game, I think
this is going to be a lopsidedgame.
I'm not really high on Purdue,harley, do you think Purdue can
keep this thing close?

Coach Fuller (41:46):
I think it'll be a close game.
But obviously they have somedepth at the guard spot.
But one of the better shootersin the country his name's
slipping my mind right now thepoint guard for Purdue.
He'll give them a chance.
One of the best coach teams inthe country.
But I've watched Houston.
I've only seen Purdue play afew times this year, but I've
watched Houston play a tonBraden.

Rocky (42:07):
Smith.
Yeah, braden Smith, bradenSmith, yep.

Coach Fuller (42:10):
Yep, yep, huge, huge LJ Cryer fan.
Juwan Roberts is so tough andphysical.
They rebound the ball so wellI've enjoyed watching a few
clips that I've found just withHouston and how they deal with
rebounding in practice and howthey just make everything a war
and how every possession is awar, and you can see that's how

(42:30):
they attack everything.
So I think their physicality,their toughness, and then
obviously LJ Cryer and EtuanRoberts there I think it's yeah,
Roberts, you know those guysare just going to be too much
for Purdue in this game.

Rocky (42:42):
Coach P.
What do you think?

Coach Pasiak (42:44):
Yeah, I like Houston's toughness, Like
Houston has always been likereally physical, hard-nosed,
built around defense andrebounding.
I think the one difference withthis Houston team I think they
shoot the ball quite a bitbetter than Houston teams in a
recent past.
So you know, I don't thinkthey're.
You know, the thing that'sbitten them in a tournament in

(43:06):
the past is they run into thatgame or that stretch in a game
where they just can't make ashot and like I think this
Houston team is better equippedto kind of sustain and maintain
offensively.
You know, I think for thatreason, that reason I think
their physicality, I think it'sgoing to be a little bit too
much for Purdue to deal with inthis one.

Rocky (43:27):
I think Purdue's going to have to knock down shots.
I'm not sure they really havethe rim protection either.
So, smith, who's the best point?
I think the other guy's namewas I think it's Trey Kaufman,
who was the other guard forPurdue.
They run a lot of high ballscreens so they're going to have
to shoot really well.
But, coach P, I'm with you.
I think this is probably CalvinSampson's best shooting team
he's had at Houston.
So if they can shoot the ballwell and defend how physical

(43:50):
they are and they get after iton the glass, they'll be a tough
out.
Pags, how about you?

Coach Pags (44:05):
I was just going to say, defensive they're so, um,
defensively they're so good.
I think that's that's thebiggest key for houston in this
game.
I think, um, I don't, I don'tthink it's gonna be close.
I think just, uh, houston is so, just so good defensively and,
as, as the guy said, they'rethey're so tough.

Rocky (44:11):
So I think, um, I don't see it being a close game so
guys, this last one, and Ididn't know this that uh,
tennessee beat, or kentucky beattennessee twice, twice uh, in
the regular season, um, which Ithink is crazy.
I didn't, I did not know thatum, and I've I always pick
tennessee to get to the finalfour, because I feel like rick
barnes's teams are always inthat two slot, that two or three

(44:33):
.
They're really good defensively, they play really hard nose and
I feel like when we're talkingabout these teams, and probably
when we get to the final four,I'm going to say the same thing
again.
The football guy, I mean thefootball coach, says defense
wins championships.
And I feel like everythingwe're talking about these teams,
we're saying they're reallygood defensively, they're
physical, they rebound thebasketball, and I think this is

(44:56):
another one where Tennessee'sgoing to get after Kentucky.
But I don't know, it's tough tobeat a team twice, it's tough to
beat a team three times.
Can Tennessee do it?
Or Kentucky do it again for athird time?
Harley, can they beat themthree times?

Coach Fuller (45:11):
I think you know, sometimes in basketball it's
about matchups, right, andcertain teams just don't match
up with.
It's not so much thatKentucky's so much better than
Tennessee, it's more so.
Kentucky's just a bad matchupfor Tennessee.
You know, kentucky had six guysthat average in double figures
I was just looking at thatearlier.
Six, six guys in double figures.
Tennessee defense, you know,like crazy.

(45:32):
They're physical and tough andobviously have one of the best
coaches in the country but veryguard dominant.
You know they, I think they're,they're starting backcourt the
Lanier kid, chaz, lanier andZiegler, two guys that are, you
know, as good as any guards inthe country.
But I just think Kentucky, theway they can spread the floor
and the way they play theirstyle of basketball, just
presents a lot of problems forTennessee.

(45:54):
You know, I think, like yousaid, I think I play into that a
little bit with beating themthree times in one season but,
like I said, I think the matchupis just not a good matchup for
Tennessee.

Rocky (46:04):
Coach P, if Tennessee were to get through this, then
they've got to probably playHouston, which you're going to
have to go through Kentucky,who's one of their rivals, and
then have to turn around andprobably beat Houston.
But can they get it done thistime?

Coach Pasiak (46:17):
Well, I'll tell you what if they do and you get
Tennessee against Houston, ifyou really like two teams that
guard and are, you know,physical and tough, like
Tennessee might be the bestdefensive team this side of
Houston.
So you know, if that matchuphappens it'll you know people

(46:39):
that, like you know, like alldefense and physical play, will
really enjoy that game.
That said, I think Harley'sspot on with matchups.
I think Kentucky's got a littlemore balance offensively and
kind of tough to take all ofthat away from them.
They don't have to lean in oneparticular place, shoot the ball
.
Pretty well.
To me this is a tough game tocall.

(47:01):
If you held a gun to my headI'd probably lean.
To me this is a tough game tocall.
If you held a gun to my headI'd probably lean to Tennessee.
But like, to me, this is apick-em game in, like you know,
one of the matchups this weekendthat you know wouldn't shock me
to see it go either way.

Rocky (47:16):
Pegs interesting stat line here 27 times.
I'm reading this off my sheet27 times in program history
Tennessee has made the NCAAtournament Ten times.
They've reached the Sweet 16.
Twice they advanced to theElite Eight.
Never once have they made aFinal Four, which I thought was
crazy.
As many good teams as you know,rick Barnes and Tennessee's had

(47:38):
over the years, they haven'tbeen able to get there.
Similar again to Mark Few whenthey said he couldn't get to a
Final Four.
So, pags, what's your thoughts?
Can Tennessee?

Coach Pags (47:47):
get it done.
I think that trend continues.
I don't think they get it done.
I think, like Coach Harley wassaying, chaz Lanier, in the two
games that they've alreadyplayed in Kentucky, he had his
two worst games against them.
For them to be able to winthey're going to have to play
their best game, but I thinkhe's played his best game.
He hasn't played well againstKentucky and I think there's a
reason for it.
I think it's matchups.
I think it's one of those gamesthat it's close.

(48:11):
I think he can pick either one,but I just think all those
coaches know winning three timesis hard, but I think Kentucky
pulls it off here.

Rocky (48:19):
All right, guys, let's have some fun, let's pick these
games and then we'll have to seewhat's going on over the next
week or so to break down theFinal Four.
Let's get these picks in.
We'll kind of go around thehorn with everybody.
Harley, I'll go with you first,we'll go around Coach P, then
Pags and I'll pick a secondAuburn Michigan.

(48:40):
Michigan is actually plus 8.5.

Coach Fuller (48:45):
Harley, who do you like?
I'll take Auburn in that game.
I think they win by probably 12or 13.

Rocky (48:51):
Coach.

Coach Pasiak (48:52):
P.

Rocky (48:55):
I'll go with Auburn.
Yeah, I think I'm with you guysas much as I.
It's funny because I'm adiehard Michigan football guy
but I'm a Gonzaga hoop guy.
But I'd like to see this thingclose, but I want to see Bruce
Pearl keep going.
So I'm going to ride withAuburn.
I think Auburn is going tocover that eight and a half Pags
.
What do you think?
Who you got.

Coach Pags (49:12):
Yeah, I like Auburn as well here.

Rocky (49:14):
And we're all on Auburn.
Okay, I like that.
All right.
How about Michigan State, OleMiss?
Coach P, who are you rolling?

Coach Pasiak (49:20):
with Tough call here, I'll go with Ole Miss.

Rocky (49:25):
Oh okay, Harley, who you?

Coach Fuller (49:28):
got Michigan State Going to stick with Izzo in
these big moments here.

Rocky (49:32):
Pags.

Coach Pags (49:33):
Yeah, I want to go Ole Miss, and I think Ole Miss
can pull it off, but it's hardnot to go with Izzo in March man
, so I'm going, coach Izzo,michigan State.

Rocky (49:41):
There's January, february and Izzo, so I am going with
Coach Izzo and Michigan Statehere to win this one.
All right, so let's go to thisone here.
We got Florida and Maryland,maryland's six and a half.
The spread is, for this one,pags.
I'll start with you.

Coach Pags (49:58):
That one's easy, I'll go Florida.
I don't think Maryland has achance here.

Rocky (50:03):
Harley, you're rolling Florida.
I'm thinking we're all going toroll Florida here.

Coach Fuller (50:06):
Yeah, I'm sticking with the Gators for sure in
that game.

Rocky (50:08):
Coach P.

Coach Pasiak (50:09):
Yeah, Florida big.

Rocky (50:12):
I'm on Florida too.
I was just trying to think thegambling guy that I am when I
get on FanDuel later in the weekto see if that line moves, if
the six and a half goes up.
But I think it's going to be adouble digits.
I think it's an easy one.
I like Florida, all right.
So let's go to Texas TechArkansas.
This is a weird line.
Arkansas is getting five and ahalf in this one and again

(50:34):
they're the 10th seed.
Coach P, you're rolling withCoach Cal.

Coach Pasiak (50:38):
Yeah, I got Arkansas here.
I think they get it done.

Rocky (50:42):
Harley, how about you?

Coach Fuller (50:43):
I think Cal Perry definitely.
I think Arkansas is going towin this one.
The spread scares me a littlebit because these guys know what
they're talking about, but I'mgoing to stick with Arkansas
anyway.

Rocky (50:51):
Pags.

Coach Pags (50:52):
Yeah, I like Arkansas too.
I want to go Texas Tech, but Idon't think you can go against
Coach Cal here.

Rocky (51:02):
Yeah, I mean.
Yeah, I mean again, texas techshot 25 the first two games.
I just don't think they'regoing to be able to shoot like
that against arkansas.
I, I like coach cal, and thenwe're going to say coach cal is
the cinderella riding into theelite eight, possibly into the
final four.
So I'm going to go arkansas andI'm going to take the five and
a half points in that game too.
So all right, pags, we'll gowith you here.
We'll go duke arizona'll goDuke Arizona Arizona plus 8.5.
That's a big line too.

(51:23):
What do you got?

Coach Pags (51:24):
Pags Best player in the country.
I mean, they got so many bigsthere at Duke.
I think Duke wins this oneeasily.

Rocky (51:30):
Coach P.

Coach Pasiak (51:31):
Yeah, duke, best player team playing the best?
Definitely Duke here.

Coach Fuller (51:36):
Harley?
Yeah, I'm going to stick withthe same thing.
I, harley?
Yeah, I'm going to stick withthe same thing.
I think the Blue Devilsdefinitely win this one.

Rocky (51:41):
Any chance, though, that they keep it within that 8.5?
I mean, I think it's going tobe double digits, but any chance
?

Coach Pags (51:48):
I don't think so.

Coach Fuller (51:49):
I think it's in that 12 to 14-point range down
the stretch and everybody'sbiting their fingernails
watching it.
We took Arizona.

Coach Pasiak (51:57):
If it is, it'll be like the backdoor cover, where
it's, like you know, a 12,14-point gain to hit a couple
shots late and ends up covering.

Rocky (52:04):
Yeah, that's my luck.
That always happens when theyshould just dribble the clock
out and a guy heaves one up fromlike long range and makes a
three, and I'm like God darn it,I had the over or under on that
.
So, all right, let's go to thenext one.
Let's go to BYU.
Alabama, coach P, I'll go withyou.
First, alabama minus five and ahalf.
Who do you like?

Coach Pasiak (52:23):
Fun game.
I'll take Alabama, but I thinkit's going to be a fun watch.

Rocky (52:28):
Harley, how about you?

Coach Fuller (52:29):
I'm taking BYU in that one, I think Alabama to end
their regular season.
I think they lost three out oftheir last five or three out of
their last six or something likethat.
They give up a lot of points.
They don't always defend at ahigh level.
I think, byu, the way theyshoot the basketball makes it
interesting.
I'm going to take them Pags.

Coach Pags (52:45):
I'm a little surprised by the picks on this
one.
I know BYU runs the same style,but I think Bama is going to
lay it on them and they're goingto beat them handily.
I don't think it's going to beclose.
I got Bama here Really.

Rocky (52:56):
Really, I'm going BYU.
I think BYU is going to keepthem going up tempo.
I think they're going to knockdown shots.
I think they're a little bitlengthier than Alabama at the
guard spot.
So I'm going to take BYU.
I'm going to take them with thepoints Now in my bracket.
I have Alabama advancing inthis game, but my pick's on here
tonight I'm going to go withBYU.
I'm going to ride with theformer West Coast Conference

(53:17):
team.
All Alright, Harley, I'll startwith you on this one Houston
Purdue, Purdue's plus 7.5.
Who do you like?

Coach Fuller (53:25):
I'll take Houston Calvin Sampson, the way they
guard their toughness and hisexperience, I think he'll get to
the next round.

Coach Pasiak (53:32):
Coach P Houston and take the under.

Rocky (53:35):
Houston and the under.
Okay, I like that.
I didn't see what the under wasyet, but I'll be on there later
in the week.
Pags, how about you?

Coach Pags (53:42):
Yeah, good defensive team.
I like Houston here too.

Rocky (53:45):
Yeah, I just don't think Purdue's going to make enough
shots and rebound the basketball.
I like Houston big.
I think they cover that 7.5.
And I think probably that we'vetalked about this, but I think
this might be the game of theweek here in the Sweet 16.
Game of the week here in theSweet 16.
I think Kentucky, Tennessee,Tennessee is minus four and a
half in this one.
Again, we talked Kentucky beatthem twice in the regular season

(54:07):
Pegs.
What do you got?

Coach Pags (54:09):
I like Kentucky here .
I think this one might be oneof the closer games that we'll
see but I think in the endKentucky pulls it out.

Coach Fuller (54:18):
How about you Harley, kentucky?
I think again.
Just the matchup is a weirdmatchup for Tennessee and you
know the personnel kind of atthis point in the year is the
personnel.
So I think Kentucky gets itdone.

Rocky (54:26):
Coach P.

Coach Pasiak (54:27):
Toughest game to pick this round for me.
But like I said when we wentaround and broke the games down,
I've done to my head.

Rocky (54:35):
I'm going with Tennessee.
Yeah, I'm going to go withTennessee.
Harley, you talked about thematchups.
I think there's teams, even atthe high school and whatever
college, whatever sport it is,there's just a bad matchup.
Sometimes this may be the badmatchup for Tennessee, but part
of me thinks that Tennessee'sgoing to get this thing done and
that I really want to see whatwould be Tennessee and Houston.
We said if that matchup were tohappen.

(54:56):
Man, that would be a physicalgame.
I'm going to take Tennesseelaying the 4.5.
I can't believe that they'relaying the 4.5 after Kentucky
beat them twice in the regularseason.
I feel like that line should bethe other way.
So we'll see.
Vegas usually knows best andthat's why I always lose money.
So I'm going to ride withTennessee on this one.

(55:17):
Well, listen, guys, I appreciateyou guys taking your time on a
on a tuesday night.
And, um, harley, I know you hadto put put your son down.
My daughter's still up overhere.
My wife's gonna absolutely killme that she's still up right
now.
But um, coach p, I I appreciateyou coming on.
You, I think you were on withus the radio, for we were on the
radio 10 years.
I think you were one of thefirst guests that we had, um,

(55:38):
talking some hoops, so Iappreciate you coming on.
Pags, good to have you back on.
Uh, it's been a while sincewe've had you on and I don't
know what your guys scheduleslook like over the next week.
Um, but after sunday we'll havethe final four.
So if we wanted to do anythingand break down the final four
and do our picks for that, forthe national championship, I am
always open to do it, guys.
So just let me know and I'llreach out to you guys and we'll

(56:01):
go from there.
But I really appreciate youguys tonight oh, it's a lot of
fun.

Coach Fuller (56:04):
Thanks for having me on.

Rocky (56:05):
I appreciate it yeah, it was great great, no problem guys
talk oops to you guys we'll doit again soon sounds good,
sounds good so that was awesometo have the coaches back on.
it was great to have coach pback on and and coach pajak was
one of the first guys we had onthe Mohawk Valley Sports Watch
on WKAL 1450.

(56:26):
I appreciate him coming on.
I hounded him to come on withme here tonight and he made it
happen.
And Coach Harley was great thispast weekend Love and joint
listening to him and Iappreciate him coming on tonight
.
And it was good to have Pagsback on.
We haven't had the MohawkValley Sports Watch the original
crew on in a little while justbecause of our kids' schedules

(56:48):
with sports and all that.
So I appreciate Pags coming on.
I appreciate everybodylistening here tonight and
hopefully we'll get the guysback.
We'll see if they can runthings back.
Next week We'll break down thefinal four.
We'll give our nationalchampionship picks.
We'll see how we did with ourpicks from this past week.
So I appreciate everybodytuning in tonight and I hope
everybody enjoys Thursdaythrough Sunday.

(57:10):
I can't wait.
We'll all be locked and loadedto watch that.
So appreciate that.
So thanks for tuning in tonight.
Everybody have a good rest ofthe week.
Enjoy some March Madness andthanks for tuning in tonight to
the rock pile.