October 14, 2024 • 34 mins
With Basketball right around the corner ( College and the NBA) Former player Shelvin Mack joins me to talk about What is going on in New York with the Knicks, and the Lakers with Lebron and Son. Also, look at the state of college sports and how College Football could potentially change college basketball further.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Five, four, three two one. What's up, everybody, General Brown
here for another episode of Heavy in the Paint. As always,
you can catch me on Serious XM NBA Radio every
Saturday ten am to one pm, as well as on
the Nightcap on Matt Dog Sports Radio. Getting the opportunity
to start talking about just obviously the world of college basketball,
(00:22):
but also sprinkling some NBA. Here's a gentleman again, part
of the Cinderella Darlings. Have probably the coolest last name,
because I know he has a cool name. College basketball analyst,
former NBA player, mister Sheldon Matt joining me here Heavy
in the Paint, shelving pleasure to have you on first
(00:43):
and foremost. This is the time of the year that
training camps are happening. What are some of your fondest
memories of being in this position with this time of
year with training camp on the horizon.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, and I'm very excited, especially having a big trade
over this weekend. Anthony Towns going to New York, Julius,
Ramda going to Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
You have a lot of storylines coming into the season.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
It's great.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
You know, over the next ten or fourteen days, you know,
you get some chemistry with your teammates. You know, some
guys show up in September, some guys don't, so you
get to figure it out over the next few days,
you know, getting back to playing basketball.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I'm great.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I'm grateful and thankful that you know, we've got the
Celtics and Denver playing Friday night, I mean Friday sometime.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I know they'll oversee so, you know, getting the juices back.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
And Forwing, the Olympics was great.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
I'm ready to see know some NBA basketball, And the
biggest thing I remember is just spending the time with
your with your teammates.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
You know, a lot of times they being a pro
you always go home.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
As you see this year, a lot of teams are
taking training camp on the road. You got the Clippers
in Hawaii, so you can build some of that team chemistry.
You got Cleveland down in Florida, Dallas in Las Vegas.
There's different teams all over the place, so you can
build some chemistry no head.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Into the season. Yeah, what are your thoughts on that trade,
if you will, in regards to just how surprised were
you with the deal with Karl Anthony Towns Going now
to the Knicks and Julius Randall and Dante g Vicenzo
headed back to the Timberwolves.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yes, I think it's a great trade for both teams.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Honestly, I know in New York it's kind of a
got a lot of players, everyone wants to play, everyone
has to eat. Same thing in Minnesota when you have
your three centers Najrid Rudy and Karl Anthony town something.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Has to shake up. Overall. Thing is just it worked out.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
For each team agency Julius Randall in a different role,
also playing alongside a bonafide super superstar at Anthony Edwards
and then seeing if Karnton Towns will come in and
kind of fit in, you know, with the great and
grind of New York Knicks.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Yeah, I'm gonna say it, since you gave the politically
correct answer, I still have my questions about for the
next you know, Yes, I used to be a form
ball boy for the Knicks and again a lot of
history with the Nick Obarkers. I still have my my
reservations because again you're talking about Jaylen Brunton being a
pick and roll guy with Isaiah Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, those
(03:12):
guys roll into the basket, having those lanes to you know,
free up and attack the basket. But now you bring
in a guy that's a pick and pop guy, where
now he's a guy that's gonna be on the perimeter.
And yeah, look three, he's a going it's gonna be beautiful.
But now that pick and roll is not there. And
then on top of that, from the defensive standpoint, you
had guys in Hartenstein, Robinson, defenders, rent protectors. Yes, Karl
(03:38):
Anthony Towns wasn't that in Minnesota. And that's not a
knock against him, But it's gonna take some time. And
I just wonder, especially being in the New York Tri
state area. Nick fans, they're expecting the championship to be
one on game number one. They don't want to hear
about him having an adjustment period all that stuff. It's
(03:59):
winning championship on game one. They don't want to hear
those slumps and stuff like that. So I'd be very
curious to see how he handles but more importantly adapt
to that type of scenario.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yes, I say, the good thing for him with coach Tibbs,
if you're in the rotation, you're gonna play the whole time,
so he'll be able to figure it out.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
You know coach Tivs is a great defensive minded coach.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I think he'll put Karl Anthony Town in situations to
be successful.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
But no, as a guard, you love playing a with a.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Big that can spread the floor, as you see this
pasture with Boston having presingis and also how Al Horford.
It just gives your guard so I mean, opportunities to
get get downhill, touch the paint, kick it out for threes.
And I think a lot of people are forgetting about og.
OG's a very talented, gifted player. You know, it allows
(04:50):
him to get downhill. But Hartstein was a major piece
for them last year. I think he doesn't He didn't
get a lot of credit from fans, but you know
with the hey, he got a lot of credit for
everyone stands he's putting in the work.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
And that's all that matters. You know what he got
credited where it really really counts, and that'll be in
his pockets. Let's switch gears and get right into this
college thing. And Shelvin, you know, a big, big fan
of your success and accomplishments at Butler, and you know
recently just been having a lot of conversations because the
(05:24):
dynamics that are in college sports is one that sort
of in a sense trickles down from the NBA down
to college And I got to say it, you know,
great friend of mine's little brother, Penny Hardaway, you know,
and Memphis and stuff, and just seeing the landscape of
everything that's going on in college basketball, and really it
(05:45):
stems from college football. Just recently, Gonzaga now goes to
the Pac twelve. They don't have a football team, So
you know, I'm trying to figure this out, and it's
really sad because what we're witnessing is really the destruction
of essentially college basketball and maybe college you know sports
(06:09):
where you got to have a football team. And it's
sad to say because your alma matera is a part
of the Big East right now. And I said that
there's a possibility between the next five to ten years
we could see potentially the Big East no longer existing
when you look at just the landscape of all these
institutions with football programs trying to clamor to get into
(06:32):
these Power five conferences. When you look at this thing,
starting with the Gonzaga situation going to the Pac twelve.
It's great for basketball, but they need to move to
really a track for football programs. When you look at
the overall landscape of college sports and college mainly college basketball,
how taken back are you at just how much movement
(06:53):
has been made and really just geographically it doesn't even matter.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah, there's been a lot of movement over the years.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Actually my three years of covering college basketball, no return
from overseas, coming back, getting into the transition. Even you
can go all the way down to the players. Players
are leaving universities left and right. You know, the alignment
is kind of crazy to me. As you know, I
live here in Atlanta. I'm driving down the I seventy
five and I see a California.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Billboard and the ACC.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Now, so they're trying to get the fan base up
there is this is this very weird to kind of
see that, But I think it's overall should be. It's
gonna be great. No, You're kind of getting all the
best teams playing against each other. As you can see
right now with college football, you got Georgia versus Alabama.
The following week you might have Alabama versus Texas. This
is things that people want to see. But this is
(07:46):
gonna be kind of different with the big East being
one of the conferences that does not have a football team,
and I saw some talks and some consideration that ukond
Of might be leaving to join another conference.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That would be tough.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
You know, Big East is just strictly basketball basketball conference.
I think everyone loves that and appreciate it, especially with
the coaches and the program's history.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Now, hopefully that can that can stay the same and
stay solid.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Now when you look at what you guys were able
to do at Butler, and I mean obviously that was
truly amazing. Which was even more impressive is to be
able to go consecutive years back to back. I think
obviously just in the landscape of things and how things
have transpired. I mean, look in this today's climate. You know,
if you guys would have went to the Final four
(08:31):
that that first year, you guys would have had N
I L money. Can you originally from Louisville, Kentucky, you
would have had the Cardos at your at your doorstep
with the Wildcats with a nice huge bag to say,
shelving come on home.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
You know, I tell Coach Stevens all the time we
had N I L back in the day, I would
not be here at hinkle Field House.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
When you look at that, what was the key ingredient
for you guys to make those two improbable runs and
really get a stones throw away from winning the championship.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yeah, I think it's this chemistry. Coach Brad Stevens. He
first off, we had an unbelievable staff. You have Terry Johnson,
head associated coach at for Due, Michael Shrewsbury the head
coach you know to day, and then Matthew Gray is
the head coach at Indianited State. This hearing that alone
lets you know the kind of caliber coaches he had
on staff.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Then also, like recruiting your players.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
I know you've seen a lot lately with Dan Hurley, Like,
I don't recruit the players. I recruit the parents. You know,
the parents is good. I can deal with everything else.
And I think we just had a family atmosphere. Everyone
wanted to see each other one be successful. It's very
different than most college basketball team.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
We didn't have eight to ten.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Guys all thinking they're going to the NBA playing at
the next level that we had a few. Me and
Gordon included that we all had a common goal to
accomplish that. So whenever you have a group of guys
who understand, like this is a goal to get it
done and we're not worrying about my draft status.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
You able to accomplish some great things.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Yeah, you guys win in there. But come on, Shelvin,
get me the real man. Come on, you running for
office and stuff. How do you guys lock in make
that improbable run to the final four and come back
and follow it up? Because now you guys go from
the hunted to the hunters and you're not surprising anybody.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, I said that a lot of people don't didn't
realize like we were good our freshman year. I think
we won like twenty two straight games, made the tournament.
We lost the LSU with Marcus Thornton, so we have
the same team coming back. I think a lot of
people underestimate the value of we all came in as freshmen.
Our nucleas was played together for three years straight. You know,
(10:51):
you're not getting that in this day and age in
college basketball, someone's transferred for nil purposes or playing time
and all that.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
You know, a lot of my teammates knowff it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Out, thug it out.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
But we were really good and really talented, and you know,
the only time.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Did tell As you see, we have Gordon Hayward, one
of the best players in college basketball history and also
a really great NBA player.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
We had Matt Howard.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
He doesn't get a lot of credit for the things
he was able to do on the court to help
everyone be successful. Ronald Nord, NBA assistant coachs So when
you look at the actual pieces of the puzzle, it's
a really good team and really good staff.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
So we was able to accomplish a lot more.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
If you was able to take some of the teams
we played against and put our resume up against theirs,
you'll realize, like, all right, this team's supposed to win. Yeah, yeah, No,
I mean, look, you know, clearly the success you guys
had really pull vaulted.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
You guys going into the Big East. And I'll ask you,
when you look at a school like Butler, and I
mean there's no disrespect at all, do you think in
the current landscape and the current climate that we're in,
do you think that we would be able to see
something like that once again, just with everything that is
transpired in college basketball in general, Yes, for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
We sawid a few years ago with fau Florida Atlanta
getting to the championship. I think it with all the
transfer in the NIL, it kind of even the plan field,
I would say, so instead of no, I tell people
all the time, like back in the day, you have
your Power five, the big schools, they all had the
practice facility, the chef. Now every school has that, Like
(12:32):
now is it about the money? Is the coach is
gonna make you better? Now we all want to even
plan field. Uh No, this year is gonna be It's
gonna be great with all the all the teams playing
team stack. So I think I think the plan field
is very, very equal. Butler coming from the the Horizon
(12:52):
League to the A ten to the Big East. No,
there's definitely been a transition, and I think we're on
the right path to get it going. If you remember
or five years ago, he was ranked top five in
the country playing in the Big East. Yeah, No, some
points you have up and down years and that's kind
of where we're at right now with the transition.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Yeah, but do you think that you guys, do you
think that we will see a team be able to
accomplish what you guys did in terms of just going
back to back because you know, look, Florida Atlantic. You know,
obviously had that run and getting to the Final four
and stuff like that, and then obviously following it up.
But at that point in time, their head coach, Dusty
May became a hot topic, a hot you know, commodity,
(13:32):
and now he's at Michigan and everybody just obviously went
their different directions and stuff like that. So just based
upon the NIL and its success, do you think that
we will see a team that's able to do what
you guys did going multiple years back to back to
the final four or is that a thing of the past.
I think it's going to be a thing of the past.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
With the NIL situation, our soul, a whole situation was
very unique. This even going to the final four, going
back the second year, having a whole team intact, and
I left, the whole team came back, Brad Stevens was there.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
You know a lot of.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Times these coaches leave once they make on a deep
round that you see bestly made going to Michigan, So
it doesn't give your team opportunity. And also we're speaking
about Johnny L. Davis I believe it's his name. Yeah,
he probably had another year at FAU, went to the
final four, made a d run of tournament. He's gone
same thing I would have probably done if I was
(14:29):
in school at this time.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
So I think it's gonna be very difficult to pull off. Yeah,
he goes to Arkansas and definitely in the transfer portal
and stuff like that. And obviously when you just look
at the landscape of things, you know, the newest thing
now is the exhibition games and stuff. Where do you
see this thing going in terms of just the impact
(14:52):
of NIL, Like, a lot of people were very critical
on the football side of the UNLV quarterback I think
his name is Matt Sluka deciding to opt out red
shirt the rest of the season because they did not
fulfill the so called promise of an NIL deal I
think of a one hundred thousand dollars And he left
and a lot of people said, oh, he quit on
(15:13):
his team. He did all this stuff, And I said,
you know what, bravo to the young man, because this
is the nature of the business and the nature of
the beast right now. But it just clearly shows that
there is a major issue with this NIL but more
importantly just with college sports in general, because there's no
way you can call these young people student athletes no more,
(15:35):
they are professionals. This is business transaction. But where do
you think we would ultimately end up with the nil
and obviously combined with the expansion of these power foul conferences, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Think it's going to turn into every team having a
salary cap.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
No, you have your fifteen.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
So they moved it from thirteen scholarships to fifteen, and
you kind of kind of fulfill your roster out that way.
You can have fifteen players if you want to, you
can have ten. You can allocate the money to another player.
I think it's the best way you can probably handle that.
The UNLV guy I saw that. I also saw the
running back step step down as well. No, I'm very
(16:16):
familiar with this. You know, playing two years overseas, you
kind of see this a lot with players and teams
not filling their obligations. But you know, if the coaching
staff told them this is what's going to happen and
it didn't happen, I'm pretty sure something's wrong with that.
That situation just unfortunately that they had to impact all
of his teammates as well, who's been sitting there, no
(16:37):
competing every single day. And then I think it was
the first time they've been branking a long time, Top
twenty five in the country the same week.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
It was just a bad a bad ball, just rolling
downhill at that time. It's just unfortunate for everyone involved. Yeah,
you got to get your money. So again impact and
look he walked out, gave him opportunity. They didn't get
the money and stuff. Going back to you, your journey
and stuff like that from your basketball journey, obviously leaving
(17:04):
school early going into the NBA. When you look back
on your NBA experience, what are some of the things
that you walk away from, not only getting there, but
obviously playing and staying there, I believe eight years and having,
you know, a tremendous experience and stuff. What is your
biggest takeaway from your NBA journey?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Now, just my relationships. I was fortunate enough to play
for Hall of Fame coaches. Played for Frank Bogel coach
Bud Taylor, Jingis and Memphis right now, Charles Lee, the
head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
That's one of my guys.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Darvinham, Flip Saunders, I was just JB bigger staff. I
was just fortunate enough to play for a lot of
great coaches and be able to pick their mind and
see the game in a different lens in the way.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I was taught and how I was brought up. That
but also no relationships.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
I started relationships with a lot of my teammates to
this day, you know, as we all get or have kids.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
See each other at AU tournaments, little league football, practice
and stuff. It's just something you just don't get unless
you know playing it in Uh, in the NBA, you're
in the locker room and you know, we have an
unspoken language.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
We all understand what everyone's going through, uh, you know
with the retirement life. So still get together, try to play,
hang out, create that locker room by But that's the
that's the one thing that I've gained.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Most from that man who was your rookie, who was
your vet when you came in. There's a rook.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
So my bad arms with sear Lewis, oh Lewis and
Roger Mason. I still talk to those guys today. I
see him, but Sharle Lewis has his AAU program, his
son plays basketball, daughter plays softball.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
He's really involved. Then I see.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Roger Mason in New York often, no on his journey, No,
in the in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yeah, that's good. Uh, Sheldon. If you had an opportunity
to basically be now as the commissioner for college basketball
or just in general college sports, what was to be
some of the adjustments you would make to college sports
and specifically football and basketball, the two highest grosses of
(19:13):
grossing revenue sports.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Are we talking on the action on field or court
or just in general it.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Just in general? Like, what would be some of the changes.
Would you basically merge some of the power conferences? You know,
I'm hearing something. Maybe he's not out there, but I'm
here in Memphis. Is going to go to the ACC,
you know, turn down the PAC twelve. They're going to
the ACC. So now what we're doing is now it's
just going to be shuffling to the point where, look,
(19:42):
the Big ten has more than ten teams, right, the
PAC twelve has, they're gonna be the PAC twelve. They
only have eighteens nine, So names don't have any impact.
And then obviously the game itself, you know, you know,
I'll say it. You know, I've been very, very somewhat
concerned about the AAU level of basketball, where again it's
(20:05):
a mirror image of what is being seen in the
NBA from isoball stand around the perimeter. There's no ball movement.
You know. Now the high school kids are being furthermore
squeezed out because older is better. You know, you get
an older kid and stuff like that. You gotta win.
But there's so much pressure now because of the NIL,
(20:28):
because of the power conferences and stuff from college football.
You can't afford to have a down year. You gotta
win to keep the fans and the boosters happy. What
would be some of the adjustments would you make so
the commissioner.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So having like an AAU program and help a lot
with these high school kids.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
They all struggling right now to get a scholarship. They
used to didn't be like that. Some of them have
to wait until May the junior figure out where they're going.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I don't know how it sounds, but I probably would
throw an age limit on the NCAA the games last year.
I know some few guys are twenty six and twenty
four playing. Unfortunately, I think it just missed your time.
You know, the kids have been put in the work
for a while, should have that opportunity with college basketball.
This in general, I will speed up the shot clock
(21:16):
a little bit more. I would probably do it to
twenty five instead of thirty. Also, we debate about this
a lot in the studio. Advancing the ball. You kind
of do it like feb You don't have to everyone
get on the court, have a timeout, but advancedball and
see it. But they also what takes away from March
madness from college basketball? You just never know what can
(21:37):
happen from seventy five feet. Someone can hit a crazy shot,
so you kind of take that aspect away. With the football,
I love what they're doing right now with the college
football playoffs as I'm tired of watching the BCS show
every year, and I have a few teams that I
like and I cheer for it. They don't make it
because they have one loss and the other team one
(21:59):
is I know, let's make it fair and even no
lay of eyes tell the test, like I think last
year was kind of difficult with them with Florida State
being undefeated and then not get in.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Now you see what happened with that program so far
this year.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Is this a lot that can happen to your program
just by fixing these little tweaks here and there. But
I think the college football playoffs should be great, and
you're having all those teams playing and get a chance
to compete, so you don't have to hear about anyone
saying I'm not getting in. You're not one of the
top twelve teams in the country and you're thirteen, fourteen, fifteen,
like you're there for a reason.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Yeah, I think I think that makes a lot of sense.
I would throw in that, you know what, it's kind
of piggyback on what you're saying. I would expand the
college football playoffs, not to something that's identical to the
college basketball march madness, but really expanded maybe the sixteen
and eighteen teams and now utilize the non bowls in
(22:58):
some of these bowl games, and utilize those bowl games
as regional destinations for first round, second round, whatever, because
now you allow the Gator Bowl just to be an example,
or the Cotton Bowl to really now holst a relevant game,
and thus you eliminate, perhaps to a smaller scale, of
(23:21):
the athlete that's saying, hey, look, we're not playing for anything,
and we're not playing in the BCS or whatever the playoffs.
I'm not suiting up. I'm going to go train and
get ready for the NFL. So now it adds meaning
to these bowl games kind of similar to what March
Maddeness does. That's just a thing that just really really,
(23:42):
it's just baffling, mind boggling that the fact is is
that college football doesn't try to look at what the
basketball side has been able to do, especially now when
the fact of the matter is it's all money travel,
all that stuff is out of the window and stuff.
Now you talked about AAU basketball and you've been a
part of it obviously and from a standpoint of playing
(24:05):
and now overseering the program. When you look at it,
you talked about the older age stuff. What are your
thoughts just overall on the on the court sort of
the on the court style of basketball and the play
that is really demonstrated in AAU basketball.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I honestly think it's in a bad space right now.
I think a lot of people are playing way too
much basketball and not working on their the craft in
a game. You know, it's it's a you gotta find
a perfect blend of perfect balance when the workout and
win the train. You know, it's a lot of camps.
I have a few kids right now. Top top players
(24:42):
in the country. They played AAU all summer, then August
they hit all the big camps, the c F three camps, Tatum,
the Damian Lillard. They never had a chance to let
their bodies rest. I think it's one of the main
reasons why we see a lot of injuries in the
NBA from players at a young age. It's too much basketball,
not taking care of your body. Uh, and it's a
(25:02):
lot of a lot of bad basketball. I would say
that preach preak no planning NBA. The travel we did
going from city to city and being able to play,
I can't know. We had everything first class, no private
playing charter bus. You know, some of these kids are
in cars for eight to twelve hours, hopping out, trying
to play to possibly get a scholarship. But that's being
(25:26):
taken away because the dude who's ten years old are
still playing. So it's in a rough space. That's all
all the way around.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I feel like, you know, I would say and shout
out to a great friend of mine, mister Gary de Caesar.
We started, you know, legendary high school basketball coach in
New York. Hey. You program, you're just talking about the
fact of the matter is you know, and myself coaching
and having a son in that spot looking for the
scholarship and just understanding that, you know, it frustrates me
(25:56):
with a lack of ball movement. You know, I will
disagree with you somewhat in terms of the fact that
is that, yeah, kids are playing a lot. I go
back to saying, Hey, I played in Harlem, New York
growing up, and all we did was played on the
concrete and all this stuff. But there was a level
of teaching that has disappeared from the game. And I
(26:18):
don't blame the kids so much because they're only imitating
what they see, which is lack of ball you know,
lack of ball movement, a lot of ISOs in the NBA,
and that's we're having a problem because now the game
has has ascended to international even furthermore, where you have
(26:39):
two kids. The top two players in this past draft
combined the average under twenty points the game. So it
really just again an eye opener. And the fact of
the matter, it's less teaching, which is a combination of
playing so much and the fundamentals and people being able
to teach the game and instill knowing and explaining. I
(27:01):
know that you do have some pockets of programs that
do that, but I think as a whole, teaching has
gone out of the window and it's just basically, you know,
sheer athleticism, figure it out, and the IQ of the
game has really really significantly dropped out.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
And one thing I've noticed too, like over the years,
back when I was playing, like if I was fifteen,
I was trying to play up play the seventeen in eighteen.
But now and it's like if you're if you're a senior,
you're like nineteen and you're trying to play.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Down against a level competition. I think that's kind of
messing a game up as well. Yeah, it's been a lot. Listen, Shelvy, man,
appreciate all that you've done. Before I let you get
on out of here. Man, give me your top five
teams coming into this college basketball season. I know you're
gonna pick the blue bloods, but give me your top
five and give me a sleeper. And I'm just hoping
(27:53):
that you show some love to the Memphis Tiders of
my madpenion.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Memphis will not be on my left stead off. Uh
So I'm gonna go with Kansas for sure. I thank
Bill South. Uh you know, had a came out to
the gates last year stumbling with the suspension and a
lot of stuff going on with the program he got.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
He's got an oldie, but Goody out there too, right
is it a hundred Dickinson still yet?
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Hunt Digison is still there and they also got the
re guard the transfer.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
A j store. Yeah, yeah, you can't.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
You cannot not the big East champs, Yuka because early
as those guys were from Roland uh Alice Carabman coming back.
I think he's a big piece to their teams, the
glue keep everyone together and also working on CBS.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
I do a lot of late late night games of
the w c C. So it's so guy y'all. Everyone's
gonna see him this year.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Aiden Mahine come from Saint Mary's really really good tough.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
I love his game.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
You can do a lot of a lot of things
on the court, putting people in position to be successful,
whether it's hitting the pocket or scoring himself. Duke, You're
gonna see what all the freshmen are about.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
We're gonna see I have a kid there as well.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
It's gonna be very interesting to see Cooper flag dynamic
and all the tensions like wise when Zion was there,
and then who I'm going with is Alabama. I just
love the way. I love the way they play, getting
up and down the court. Mark Sears left the baby,
Jalen Brunton coming back.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
He's special.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
They have a few transfers coming in, but the guy
average twenty points a game last year. I want to
say it was a one eighty guy too, like fifty
forty nineties. He's very, very, very talented, and they have
the experience, you know, having players back in the same system,
and the way they play is up and down.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
They had a chance to win it out last year
in Magnt in a final four.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Mm hm, my dark horse. Don't say Arkansas, please come on,
don't do that.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
The odds are stacked against coach Caliperry. I think he
can be able to pull it off. Uh, trying to
trying to try and see. I always like uh No Marquette,
I like shocking Cam Jones.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Another veteran point guard come back, Lefty.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
I think he had kind of a down year last
year with Tyler Kolak being there, but with him being gone,
I think you can step into more of a dominant
ball factor league guard and you know, coach Shock is
gonna give you that GIA a rope to go out.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
There to freedom, go do what you need to do.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Yeah, wow, I got I.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
Gotta throw some big East teams in there. I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
I couldn't go with with North Carolina. I don't really
like North Carolina, Baylor. I'm not really feeling Iowa States
popping up on a lot of people's radar just because
the way they're able to play defense.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
No, Houston, Houston, they just I love what they do.
They dogs. I mean, look, hey, hey, hey, hey, I've
been fished through and through definitely, you know. Yeah, I
mean you need dogs, man, I need some points.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
That's why I need points at the end of the
at the end of the season, when everyone's banged up,
who's gonna give me twenty points?
Speaker 1 (31:38):
We can make sure we get this win.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yeah, that's why, like Alabama, you got Mark series.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Yeah, that makes a lot. And final question, what's next
for Shelvon mac? What is what is Shelvion Mack? Uh?
What is Shelvon Mack aspire to do? Obviously you're doing
a great job on the broadcasting side, playing in the
n b A and obviously having an AAU program.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
What's the name of the AAU program. So I used
to run on TSF, the Skills Factory. I'm no longer
a part of it, but I had had it for
about five or seven years, had a lot of great
players come through. I also did a lot of pro training.
But right now, you know, just focusing on myself, trying
to be the best analyst I can be. Just grinding
(32:25):
out doing a lot of research, you know, tap into
the job. You know, understand how much reading you have
to do to keep up with things and pay attention,
you know. As a player, No, people's always interviewing you.
You never know, like how to come up with this
question and why. Now I'm on the other side, I'm
able to see that it's been blessed to still be
around the game and part of the game. You know,
(32:46):
I missed the locker room cracking jokes, know, people showing
up lade this, this, this, and that, hanging out with
your friends, team dinner. But trying to stay around the
game as much as possible. And then also coaching. Have
a coaching debut coaching kindergarten and second grade football.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
So I'm working on I'm working on my next saving
approach right now. So that's that's what I got planned
for the year.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Hey man, Hey look, hey man, don't be having those
kids out there running the wing office and all that stuff.
We got.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
We got the wildcat and if you trumble, you got
ten up, ten up downs.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Oh my goodness, listen, Shelby A big, big fan of yours, man,
and what you were able to do on the basketball court,
especially in college, and seeing you playing the pros man,
and uh, now you're on this side of the mic
and stuff. I definitely really admire what you're doing, man,
and keep doing it, brother, and do it as long
(33:48):
as you can, and definitely a sin as high as
you can and reach for the stars. Always a pleasure.
We got to get you, Rick Mahorn, and now I
gotta get you on the bottom line Sports you on series,
sex him and stuff like that. And don't be afraid
because if Rick the bad boy say something, sell he
like he might be aggressive, but you know what, Rick
(34:08):
ain't like that no more. You know he's a bad boy,
but he's a soft boy. Right now, I can't wait
to get on the show. Always a pleasure, man, All
the best of what you do. Many er, Thanks for
having me anytime. Shelvy matt here heavy in the pay
Five, four, three two one. What's up, everybody, General Brown
here for another episode of Heavy in the Paint. As always,
you can catch me on Serious XM NBA Radio every
Saturday ten am to one pm, as well as on
the Nightcap on Matt Dog Sports Radio. Getting the opportunity
to start talking about just obviously the world of college basketball,
(00:22):
but also sprinkling some NBA. Here's a gentleman again, part
of the Cinderella Darlings. Have probably the coolest last name,
because I know he has a cool name. College basketball analyst,
former NBA player, mister Sheldon Matt joining me here Heavy
in the Paint, shelving pleasure to have you on first
(00:43):
and foremost. This is the time of the year that
training camps are happening. What are some of your fondest
memories of being in this position with this time of
year with training camp on the horizon.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, and I'm very excited, especially having a big trade
over this weekend. Anthony Towns going to New York, Julius,
Ramda going to Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
You have a lot of storylines coming into the season.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
It's great.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
You know, over the next ten or fourteen days, you know,
you get some chemistry with your teammates. You know, some
guys show up in September, some guys don't, so you
get to figure it out over the next few days,
you know, getting back to playing basketball.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I'm great.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I'm grateful and thankful that you know, we've got the
Celtics and Denver playing Friday night, I mean Friday sometime.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I know they'll oversee so, you know, getting the juices back.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
And Forwing, the Olympics was great.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
I'm ready to see know some NBA basketball, And the
biggest thing I remember is just spending the time with
your with your teammates.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
You know, a lot of times they being a pro
you always go home.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
As you see this year, a lot of teams are
taking training camp on the road. You got the Clippers
in Hawaii, so you can build some of that team chemistry.
You got Cleveland down in Florida, Dallas in Las Vegas.
There's different teams all over the place, so you can
build some chemistry no head.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Into the season. Yeah, what are your thoughts on that trade,
if you will, in regards to just how surprised were
you with the deal with Karl Anthony Towns Going now
to the Knicks and Julius Randall and Dante g Vicenzo
headed back to the Timberwolves.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yes, I think it's a great trade for both teams.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Honestly, I know in New York it's kind of a
got a lot of players, everyone wants to play, everyone
has to eat. Same thing in Minnesota when you have
your three centers Najrid Rudy and Karl Anthony town something.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Has to shake up. Overall. Thing is just it worked out.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
For each team agency Julius Randall in a different role,
also playing alongside a bonafide super superstar at Anthony Edwards
and then seeing if Karnton Towns will come in and
kind of fit in, you know, with the great and
grind of New York Knicks.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Yeah, I'm gonna say it, since you gave the politically
correct answer, I still have my questions about for the
next you know, Yes, I used to be a form
ball boy for the Knicks and again a lot of
history with the Nick Obarkers. I still have my my
reservations because again you're talking about Jaylen Brunton being a
pick and roll guy with Isaiah Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, those
(03:12):
guys roll into the basket, having those lanes to you know,
free up and attack the basket. But now you bring
in a guy that's a pick and pop guy, where
now he's a guy that's gonna be on the perimeter.
And yeah, look three, he's a going it's gonna be beautiful.
But now that pick and roll is not there. And
then on top of that, from the defensive standpoint, you
had guys in Hartenstein, Robinson, defenders, rent protectors. Yes, Karl
(03:38):
Anthony Towns wasn't that in Minnesota. And that's not a
knock against him, But it's gonna take some time. And
I just wonder, especially being in the New York Tri
state area. Nick fans, they're expecting the championship to be
one on game number one. They don't want to hear
about him having an adjustment period all that stuff. It's
(03:59):
winning championship on game one. They don't want to hear
those slumps and stuff like that. So I'd be very
curious to see how he handles but more importantly adapt
to that type of scenario.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yes, I say, the good thing for him with coach Tibbs,
if you're in the rotation, you're gonna play the whole time,
so he'll be able to figure it out.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
You know coach Tivs is a great defensive minded coach.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I think he'll put Karl Anthony Town in situations to
be successful.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
But no, as a guard, you love playing a with a.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Big that can spread the floor, as you see this
pasture with Boston having presingis and also how Al Horford.
It just gives your guard so I mean, opportunities to
get get downhill, touch the paint, kick it out for threes.
And I think a lot of people are forgetting about og.
OG's a very talented, gifted player. You know, it allows
(04:50):
him to get downhill. But Hartstein was a major piece
for them last year. I think he doesn't He didn't
get a lot of credit from fans, but you know
with the hey, he got a lot of credit for
everyone stands he's putting in the work.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
And that's all that matters. You know what he got
credited where it really really counts, and that'll be in
his pockets. Let's switch gears and get right into this
college thing. And Shelvin, you know, a big, big fan
of your success and accomplishments at Butler, and you know
recently just been having a lot of conversations because the
(05:24):
dynamics that are in college sports is one that sort
of in a sense trickles down from the NBA down
to college And I got to say it, you know,
great friend of mine's little brother, Penny Hardaway, you know,
and Memphis and stuff, and just seeing the landscape of
everything that's going on in college basketball, and really it
(05:45):
stems from college football. Just recently, Gonzaga now goes to
the Pac twelve. They don't have a football team, So
you know, I'm trying to figure this out, and it's
really sad because what we're witnessing is really the destruction
of essentially college basketball and maybe college you know sports
(06:09):
where you got to have a football team. And it's
sad to say because your alma matera is a part
of the Big East right now. And I said that
there's a possibility between the next five to ten years
we could see potentially the Big East no longer existing
when you look at just the landscape of all these
institutions with football programs trying to clamor to get into
(06:32):
these Power five conferences. When you look at this thing,
starting with the Gonzaga situation going to the Pac twelve.
It's great for basketball, but they need to move to
really a track for football programs. When you look at
the overall landscape of college sports and college mainly college basketball,
how taken back are you at just how much movement
(06:53):
has been made and really just geographically it doesn't even matter.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah, there's been a lot of movement over the years.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Actually my three years of covering college basketball, no return
from overseas, coming back, getting into the transition. Even you
can go all the way down to the players. Players
are leaving universities left and right. You know, the alignment
is kind of crazy to me. As you know, I
live here in Atlanta. I'm driving down the I seventy
five and I see a California.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Billboard and the ACC.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Now, so they're trying to get the fan base up
there is this is this very weird to kind of
see that, But I think it's overall should be. It's
gonna be great. No, You're kind of getting all the
best teams playing against each other. As you can see
right now with college football, you got Georgia versus Alabama.
The following week you might have Alabama versus Texas. This
is things that people want to see. But this is
(07:46):
gonna be kind of different with the big East being
one of the conferences that does not have a football team,
and I saw some talks and some consideration that ukond
Of might be leaving to join another conference.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That would be tough.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
You know, Big East is just strictly basketball basketball conference.
I think everyone loves that and appreciate it, especially with
the coaches and the program's history.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Now, hopefully that can that can stay the same and
stay solid.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Now when you look at what you guys were able
to do at Butler, and I mean obviously that was
truly amazing. Which was even more impressive is to be
able to go consecutive years back to back. I think
obviously just in the landscape of things and how things
have transpired. I mean, look in this today's climate. You know,
if you guys would have went to the Final four
(08:31):
that that first year, you guys would have had N
I L money. Can you originally from Louisville, Kentucky, you
would have had the Cardos at your at your doorstep
with the Wildcats with a nice huge bag to say,
shelving come on home.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
You know, I tell Coach Stevens all the time we
had N I L back in the day, I would
not be here at hinkle Field House.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
When you look at that, what was the key ingredient
for you guys to make those two improbable runs and
really get a stones throw away from winning the championship.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yeah, I think it's this chemistry. Coach Brad Stevens. He
first off, we had an unbelievable staff. You have Terry Johnson,
head associated coach at for Due, Michael Shrewsbury the head
coach you know to day, and then Matthew Gray is
the head coach at Indianited State. This hearing that alone
lets you know the kind of caliber coaches he had
on staff.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Then also, like recruiting your players.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
I know you've seen a lot lately with Dan Hurley, Like,
I don't recruit the players. I recruit the parents. You know,
the parents is good. I can deal with everything else.
And I think we just had a family atmosphere. Everyone
wanted to see each other one be successful. It's very
different than most college basketball team.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
We didn't have eight to ten.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Guys all thinking they're going to the NBA playing at
the next level that we had a few. Me and
Gordon included that we all had a common goal to
accomplish that. So whenever you have a group of guys
who understand, like this is a goal to get it
done and we're not worrying about my draft status.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
You able to accomplish some great things.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Yeah, you guys win in there. But come on, Shelvin,
get me the real man. Come on, you running for
office and stuff. How do you guys lock in make
that improbable run to the final four and come back
and follow it up? Because now you guys go from
the hunted to the hunters and you're not surprising anybody.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, I said that a lot of people don't didn't
realize like we were good our freshman year. I think
we won like twenty two straight games, made the tournament.
We lost the LSU with Marcus Thornton, so we have
the same team coming back. I think a lot of
people underestimate the value of we all came in as freshmen.
Our nucleas was played together for three years straight. You know,
(10:51):
you're not getting that in this day and age in
college basketball, someone's transferred for nil purposes or playing time
and all that.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
You know, a lot of my teammates knowff it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Out, thug it out.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
But we were really good and really talented, and you know,
the only time.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Did tell As you see, we have Gordon Hayward, one
of the best players in college basketball history and also
a really great NBA player.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
We had Matt Howard.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
He doesn't get a lot of credit for the things
he was able to do on the court to help
everyone be successful. Ronald Nord, NBA assistant coachs So when
you look at the actual pieces of the puzzle, it's
a really good team and really good staff.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
So we was able to accomplish a lot more.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
If you was able to take some of the teams
we played against and put our resume up against theirs,
you'll realize, like, all right, this team's supposed to win. Yeah, yeah, No,
I mean, look, you know, clearly the success you guys
had really pull vaulted.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
You guys going into the Big East. And I'll ask you,
when you look at a school like Butler, and I
mean there's no disrespect at all, do you think in
the current landscape and the current climate that we're in,
do you think that we would be able to see
something like that once again, just with everything that is
transpired in college basketball in general, Yes, for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
We sawid a few years ago with fau Florida Atlanta
getting to the championship. I think it with all the
transfer in the NIL, it kind of even the plan field,
I would say, so instead of no, I tell people
all the time, like back in the day, you have
your Power five, the big schools, they all had the
practice facility, the chef. Now every school has that, Like
(12:32):
now is it about the money? Is the coach is
gonna make you better? Now we all want to even
plan field. Uh No, this year is gonna be It's
gonna be great with all the all the teams playing
team stack. So I think I think the plan field
is very, very equal. Butler coming from the the Horizon
(12:52):
League to the A ten to the Big East. No,
there's definitely been a transition, and I think we're on
the right path to get it going. If you remember
or five years ago, he was ranked top five in
the country playing in the Big East. Yeah, No, some
points you have up and down years and that's kind
of where we're at right now with the transition.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Yeah, but do you think that you guys, do you
think that we will see a team be able to
accomplish what you guys did in terms of just going
back to back because you know, look, Florida Atlantic. You know,
obviously had that run and getting to the Final four
and stuff like that, and then obviously following it up.
But at that point in time, their head coach, Dusty
May became a hot topic, a hot you know, commodity,
(13:32):
and now he's at Michigan and everybody just obviously went
their different directions and stuff like that. So just based
upon the NIL and its success, do you think that
we will see a team that's able to do what
you guys did going multiple years back to back to
the final four or is that a thing of the past.
I think it's going to be a thing of the past.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
With the NIL situation, our soul, a whole situation was
very unique. This even going to the final four, going
back the second year, having a whole team intact, and
I left, the whole team came back, Brad Stevens was there.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
You know a lot of.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Times these coaches leave once they make on a deep
round that you see bestly made going to Michigan, So
it doesn't give your team opportunity. And also we're speaking
about Johnny L. Davis I believe it's his name. Yeah,
he probably had another year at FAU, went to the
final four, made a d run of tournament. He's gone
same thing I would have probably done if I was
(14:29):
in school at this time.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
So I think it's gonna be very difficult to pull off. Yeah,
he goes to Arkansas and definitely in the transfer portal
and stuff like that. And obviously when you just look
at the landscape of things, you know, the newest thing
now is the exhibition games and stuff. Where do you
see this thing going in terms of just the impact
(14:52):
of NIL, Like, a lot of people were very critical
on the football side of the UNLV quarterback I think
his name is Matt Sluka deciding to opt out red
shirt the rest of the season because they did not
fulfill the so called promise of an NIL deal I
think of a one hundred thousand dollars And he left
and a lot of people said, oh, he quit on
(15:13):
his team. He did all this stuff, And I said,
you know what, bravo to the young man, because this
is the nature of the business and the nature of
the beast right now. But it just clearly shows that
there is a major issue with this NIL but more
importantly just with college sports in general, because there's no
way you can call these young people student athletes no more,
(15:35):
they are professionals. This is business transaction. But where do
you think we would ultimately end up with the nil
and obviously combined with the expansion of these power foul conferences, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Think it's going to turn into every team having a
salary cap.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
No, you have your fifteen.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
So they moved it from thirteen scholarships to fifteen, and
you kind of kind of fulfill your roster out that way.
You can have fifteen players if you want to, you
can have ten. You can allocate the money to another player.
I think it's the best way you can probably handle that.
The UNLV guy I saw that. I also saw the
running back step step down as well. No, I'm very
(16:16):
familiar with this. You know, playing two years overseas, you
kind of see this a lot with players and teams
not filling their obligations. But you know, if the coaching
staff told them this is what's going to happen and
it didn't happen, I'm pretty sure something's wrong with that.
That situation just unfortunately that they had to impact all
of his teammates as well, who's been sitting there, no
(16:37):
competing every single day. And then I think it was
the first time they've been branking a long time, Top
twenty five in the country the same week.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
It was just a bad a bad ball, just rolling
downhill at that time. It's just unfortunate for everyone involved. Yeah,
you got to get your money. So again impact and
look he walked out, gave him opportunity. They didn't get
the money and stuff. Going back to you, your journey
and stuff like that from your basketball journey, obviously leaving
(17:04):
school early going into the NBA. When you look back
on your NBA experience, what are some of the things
that you walk away from, not only getting there, but
obviously playing and staying there, I believe eight years and having,
you know, a tremendous experience and stuff. What is your
biggest takeaway from your NBA journey?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Now, just my relationships. I was fortunate enough to play
for Hall of Fame coaches. Played for Frank Bogel coach
Bud Taylor, Jingis and Memphis right now, Charles Lee, the
head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
That's one of my guys.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Darvinham, Flip Saunders, I was just JB bigger staff. I
was just fortunate enough to play for a lot of
great coaches and be able to pick their mind and
see the game in a different lens in the way.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I was taught and how I was brought up. That
but also no relationships.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
I started relationships with a lot of my teammates to
this day, you know, as we all get or have kids.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
See each other at AU tournaments, little league football, practice
and stuff. It's just something you just don't get unless
you know playing it in Uh, in the NBA, you're
in the locker room and you know, we have an
unspoken language.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
We all understand what everyone's going through, uh, you know
with the retirement life. So still get together, try to play,
hang out, create that locker room by But that's the
that's the one thing that I've gained.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Most from that man who was your rookie, who was
your vet when you came in. There's a rook.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
So my bad arms with sear Lewis, oh Lewis and
Roger Mason. I still talk to those guys today. I
see him, but Sharle Lewis has his AAU program, his
son plays basketball, daughter plays softball.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
He's really involved. Then I see.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Roger Mason in New York often, no on his journey, No,
in the in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yeah, that's good. Uh, Sheldon. If you had an opportunity
to basically be now as the commissioner for college basketball
or just in general college sports, what was to be
some of the adjustments you would make to college sports
and specifically football and basketball, the two highest grosses of
(19:13):
grossing revenue sports.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Are we talking on the action on field or court
or just in general it.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Just in general? Like, what would be some of the changes.
Would you basically merge some of the power conferences? You know,
I'm hearing something. Maybe he's not out there, but I'm
here in Memphis. Is going to go to the ACC,
you know, turn down the PAC twelve. They're going to
the ACC. So now what we're doing is now it's
just going to be shuffling to the point where, look,
(19:42):
the Big ten has more than ten teams, right, the
PAC twelve has, they're gonna be the PAC twelve. They
only have eighteens nine, So names don't have any impact.
And then obviously the game itself, you know, you know,
I'll say it. You know, I've been very, very somewhat
concerned about the AAU level of basketball, where again it's
(20:05):
a mirror image of what is being seen in the
NBA from isoball stand around the perimeter. There's no ball movement.
You know. Now the high school kids are being furthermore
squeezed out because older is better. You know, you get
an older kid and stuff like that. You gotta win.
But there's so much pressure now because of the NIL,
(20:28):
because of the power conferences and stuff from college football.
You can't afford to have a down year. You gotta
win to keep the fans and the boosters happy. What
would be some of the adjustments would you make so
the commissioner.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So having like an AAU program and help a lot
with these high school kids.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
They all struggling right now to get a scholarship. They
used to didn't be like that. Some of them have
to wait until May the junior figure out where they're going.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I don't know how it sounds, but I probably would
throw an age limit on the NCAA the games last year.
I know some few guys are twenty six and twenty
four playing. Unfortunately, I think it just missed your time.
You know, the kids have been put in the work
for a while, should have that opportunity with college basketball.
This in general, I will speed up the shot clock
(21:16):
a little bit more. I would probably do it to
twenty five instead of thirty. Also, we debate about this
a lot in the studio. Advancing the ball. You kind
of do it like feb You don't have to everyone
get on the court, have a timeout, but advancedball and
see it. But they also what takes away from March
madness from college basketball? You just never know what can
(21:37):
happen from seventy five feet. Someone can hit a crazy shot,
so you kind of take that aspect away. With the football,
I love what they're doing right now with the college
football playoffs as I'm tired of watching the BCS show
every year, and I have a few teams that I
like and I cheer for it. They don't make it
because they have one loss and the other team one
(21:59):
is I know, let's make it fair and even no
lay of eyes tell the test, like I think last
year was kind of difficult with them with Florida State
being undefeated and then not get in.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Now you see what happened with that program so far
this year.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Is this a lot that can happen to your program
just by fixing these little tweaks here and there. But
I think the college football playoffs should be great, and
you're having all those teams playing and get a chance
to compete, so you don't have to hear about anyone
saying I'm not getting in. You're not one of the
top twelve teams in the country and you're thirteen, fourteen, fifteen,
like you're there for a reason.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Yeah, I think I think that makes a lot of sense.
I would throw in that, you know what, it's kind
of piggyback on what you're saying. I would expand the
college football playoffs, not to something that's identical to the
college basketball march madness, but really expanded maybe the sixteen
and eighteen teams and now utilize the non bowls in
(22:58):
some of these bowl games, and utilize those bowl games
as regional destinations for first round, second round, whatever, because
now you allow the Gator Bowl just to be an example,
or the Cotton Bowl to really now holst a relevant game,
and thus you eliminate, perhaps to a smaller scale, of
(23:21):
the athlete that's saying, hey, look, we're not playing for anything,
and we're not playing in the BCS or whatever the playoffs.
I'm not suiting up. I'm going to go train and
get ready for the NFL. So now it adds meaning
to these bowl games kind of similar to what March
Maddeness does. That's just a thing that just really really,
(23:42):
it's just baffling, mind boggling that the fact is is
that college football doesn't try to look at what the
basketball side has been able to do, especially now when
the fact of the matter is it's all money travel,
all that stuff is out of the window and stuff.
Now you talked about AAU basketball and you've been a
part of it obviously and from a standpoint of playing
(24:05):
and now overseering the program. When you look at it,
you talked about the older age stuff. What are your
thoughts just overall on the on the court sort of
the on the court style of basketball and the play
that is really demonstrated in AAU basketball.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I honestly think it's in a bad space right now.
I think a lot of people are playing way too
much basketball and not working on their the craft in
a game. You know, it's it's a you gotta find
a perfect blend of perfect balance when the workout and
win the train. You know, it's a lot of camps.
I have a few kids right now. Top top players
(24:42):
in the country. They played AAU all summer, then August
they hit all the big camps, the c F three camps, Tatum,
the Damian Lillard. They never had a chance to let
their bodies rest. I think it's one of the main
reasons why we see a lot of injuries in the
NBA from players at a young age. It's too much basketball,
not taking care of your body. Uh, and it's a
(25:02):
lot of a lot of bad basketball. I would say
that preach preak no planning NBA. The travel we did
going from city to city and being able to play,
I can't know. We had everything first class, no private
playing charter bus. You know, some of these kids are
in cars for eight to twelve hours, hopping out, trying
to play to possibly get a scholarship. But that's being
(25:26):
taken away because the dude who's ten years old are
still playing. So it's in a rough space. That's all
all the way around.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I feel like, you know, I would say and shout
out to a great friend of mine, mister Gary de Caesar.
We started, you know, legendary high school basketball coach in
New York. Hey. You program, you're just talking about the
fact of the matter is you know, and myself coaching
and having a son in that spot looking for the
scholarship and just understanding that, you know, it frustrates me
(25:56):
with a lack of ball movement. You know, I will
disagree with you somewhat in terms of the fact that
is that, yeah, kids are playing a lot. I go
back to saying, Hey, I played in Harlem, New York
growing up, and all we did was played on the
concrete and all this stuff. But there was a level
of teaching that has disappeared from the game. And I
(26:18):
don't blame the kids so much because they're only imitating
what they see, which is lack of ball you know,
lack of ball movement, a lot of ISOs in the NBA,
and that's we're having a problem because now the game
has has ascended to international even furthermore, where you have
(26:39):
two kids. The top two players in this past draft
combined the average under twenty points the game. So it
really just again an eye opener. And the fact of
the matter, it's less teaching, which is a combination of
playing so much and the fundamentals and people being able
to teach the game and instill knowing and explaining. I
(27:01):
know that you do have some pockets of programs that
do that, but I think as a whole, teaching has
gone out of the window and it's just basically, you know,
sheer athleticism, figure it out, and the IQ of the
game has really really significantly dropped out.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
And one thing I've noticed too, like over the years,
back when I was playing, like if I was fifteen,
I was trying to play up play the seventeen in eighteen.
But now and it's like if you're if you're a senior,
you're like nineteen and you're trying to play.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Down against a level competition. I think that's kind of
messing a game up as well. Yeah, it's been a lot. Listen, Shelvy, man,
appreciate all that you've done. Before I let you get
on out of here. Man, give me your top five
teams coming into this college basketball season. I know you're
gonna pick the blue bloods, but give me your top
five and give me a sleeper. And I'm just hoping
(27:53):
that you show some love to the Memphis Tiders of
my madpenion.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Memphis will not be on my left stead off. Uh
So I'm gonna go with Kansas for sure. I thank
Bill South. Uh you know, had a came out to
the gates last year stumbling with the suspension and a
lot of stuff going on with the program he got.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
He's got an oldie, but Goody out there too, right
is it a hundred Dickinson still yet?
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Hunt Digison is still there and they also got the
re guard the transfer.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
A j store. Yeah, yeah, you can't.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
You cannot not the big East champs, Yuka because early
as those guys were from Roland uh Alice Carabman coming back.
I think he's a big piece to their teams, the
glue keep everyone together and also working on CBS.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
I do a lot of late late night games of
the w c C. So it's so guy y'all. Everyone's
gonna see him this year.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Aiden Mahine come from Saint Mary's really really good tough.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
I love his game.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
You can do a lot of a lot of things
on the court, putting people in position to be successful,
whether it's hitting the pocket or scoring himself. Duke, You're
gonna see what all the freshmen are about.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
We're gonna see I have a kid there as well.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
It's gonna be very interesting to see Cooper flag dynamic
and all the tensions like wise when Zion was there,
and then who I'm going with is Alabama. I just
love the way. I love the way they play, getting
up and down the court. Mark Sears left the baby,
Jalen Brunton coming back.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
He's special.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
They have a few transfers coming in, but the guy
average twenty points a game last year. I want to
say it was a one eighty guy too, like fifty
forty nineties. He's very, very, very talented, and they have
the experience, you know, having players back in the same system,
and the way they play is up and down.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
They had a chance to win it out last year
in Magnt in a final four.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Mm hm, my dark horse. Don't say Arkansas, please come on,
don't do that.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
The odds are stacked against coach Caliperry. I think he
can be able to pull it off. Uh, trying to
trying to try and see. I always like uh No Marquette,
I like shocking Cam Jones.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Another veteran point guard come back, Lefty.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
I think he had kind of a down year last
year with Tyler Kolak being there, but with him being gone,
I think you can step into more of a dominant
ball factor league guard and you know, coach Shock is
gonna give you that GIA a rope to go out.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
There to freedom, go do what you need to do.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Yeah, wow, I got I.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
Gotta throw some big East teams in there. I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
I couldn't go with with North Carolina. I don't really
like North Carolina, Baylor. I'm not really feeling Iowa States
popping up on a lot of people's radar just because
the way they're able to play defense.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
No, Houston, Houston, they just I love what they do.
They dogs. I mean, look, hey, hey, hey, hey, I've
been fished through and through definitely, you know. Yeah, I
mean you need dogs, man, I need some points.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
That's why I need points at the end of the
at the end of the season, when everyone's banged up,
who's gonna give me twenty points?
Speaker 1 (31:38):
We can make sure we get this win.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yeah, that's why, like Alabama, you got Mark series.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Yeah, that makes a lot. And final question, what's next
for Shelvon mac? What is what is Shelvion Mack? Uh?
What is Shelvon Mack aspire to do? Obviously you're doing
a great job on the broadcasting side, playing in the
n b A and obviously having an AAU program.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
What's the name of the AAU program. So I used
to run on TSF, the Skills Factory. I'm no longer
a part of it, but I had had it for
about five or seven years, had a lot of great
players come through. I also did a lot of pro training.
But right now, you know, just focusing on myself, trying
to be the best analyst I can be. Just grinding
(32:25):
out doing a lot of research, you know, tap into
the job. You know, understand how much reading you have
to do to keep up with things and pay attention,
you know. As a player, No, people's always interviewing you.
You never know, like how to come up with this
question and why. Now I'm on the other side, I'm
able to see that it's been blessed to still be
around the game and part of the game. You know,
(32:46):
I missed the locker room cracking jokes, know, people showing
up lade this, this, this, and that, hanging out with
your friends, team dinner. But trying to stay around the
game as much as possible. And then also coaching. Have
a coaching debut coaching kindergarten and second grade football.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
So I'm working on I'm working on my next saving
approach right now. So that's that's what I got planned
for the year.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Hey man, Hey look, hey man, don't be having those
kids out there running the wing office and all that stuff.
We got.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
We got the wildcat and if you trumble, you got
ten up, ten up downs.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Oh my goodness, listen, Shelby A big, big fan of yours, man,
and what you were able to do on the basketball court,
especially in college, and seeing you playing the pros man,
and uh, now you're on this side of the mic
and stuff. I definitely really admire what you're doing, man,
and keep doing it, brother, and do it as long
(33:48):
as you can, and definitely a sin as high as
you can and reach for the stars. Always a pleasure.
We got to get you, Rick Mahorn, and now I
gotta get you on the bottom line Sports you on series,
sex him and stuff like that. And don't be afraid
because if Rick the bad boy say something, sell he
like he might be aggressive, but you know what, Rick
(34:08):
ain't like that no more. You know he's a bad boy,
but he's a soft boy. Right now, I can't wait
to get on the show. Always a pleasure, man, All
the best of what you do. Many er, Thanks for
having me anytime. Shelvy matt here heavy in the pay
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