Who is Breaking Out in the 2024-25 College Season? w/ Michael McGee

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome into another episode of They've Got Now.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm really excited to be joined today by one of
the people I think I spend more time talking about
basketball with than just about anybody.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
And that's no joke. That's Mike McGee, my guy, Mike,
first and foremost. How you doing, Oh, doing good? Doing great.
It's a pleasure to finally, you know, meet you via video,
but also to be chatting some some women's college hoops
since yes, we do spend you know, about a one

(00:36):
hundred and fifty five percent of our time, you know,
talking to women's women's college basketball WNBA. So yeah, man,
excited to chat with you and chat about some awesome players.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
Likewise, Man, I think, yeah, we've been kind of have
this in the worst for a while.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Just making it work.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Scheduling has been annoying because I'm terrible at scheduling things sometimes.
But we're here to talk about the start of the
season because I think there's a lot to dive into.
I think the fun part is like you don't always
know what's real right away. You just kind of get
glimpses and you get to kind of envision stuff off
that and wonder what it's going to look like when
it matters more, you know, when you get a little

(01:14):
bit deeper into the season. But I think the way
we approach this was looking at it almost as like
a you know, what is a breakout player? You know,
what does it mean for a player to break out?
What does that look like? How do you kind of
define that? And so we spent a very long time
on a Google doc kind of breaking that down and
defining what that is. And I think our our ultimate
definition was a player who has never been first team

(01:37):
All Conference. I think we have some stipulations where a
second team All Conference players is included, but for the
most part, it's like somebody who is like, okay, not
necessarily fully in the ether, somebody who, if you're like
a diehard college basketball fan, yeah, you probably know about,
but there's still tip of the iceberg in terms of
getting that sort of recognition and are stepping into that frame.

(01:59):
So we're gonna start off by talking from the bottom up.
So talking about our honorable mentions are the players who
I think would be at the top for most people.
Our honorable mentions are going to be a lot of
the players who are more of like, you know, we
know who they are. Some of them have been around,
some of them are are players that are you know,
coming onto the scene very hot right away because they're
that level of talent. And then we're gonna build our

(02:21):
way up to looking at the players who we think
are prime to make the biggest jump that we have
seen thus far. So yeah, I think we can start
with looking at just looking at our honorable mentions or
did you did you have anything you want to add
about breakout players and what that means?

Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, No, I think you nailed the the priority definition
of a breakout player. If I would add anything, it
would be players you know, including the definition you stated,
but also players that just are making that quote unquote

(03:00):
like a large leap in production and importance to their team.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
That would be like kind of a secondary level of
like they are known names within their you know, teams,
fan base within their conference. If you know a lot
of you know, women's college troops fans have a favorite team,
but they also know that conference really well, but they
haven't been a starter or you know, key players you

(03:28):
know went to the w or you know, playing pro
basketball or just have graduated and now they have this
role where you know, a fan may have known them
for one, two, three years, but now they have a
big oppority the look, you know, the most opportunity to
make an impact. So a few players that I've included
on the lists, where are I think, you know, for
those die hard fans, for those you know, people that

(03:50):
have been in tune with the game, they might know
their name seeing them play, but you know, I'm hoping
this year that they become like more of that national name,
you know it once we get towards you know, next
spring into the tournament. So that's what I would add
on the kind of how we're categorizing these breakout players.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
Absolutely, well, let's start and just talk about some of
these freshmen who have been pretty insane to start off. Yes,
I think there's a lot of ways we can go
in terms of looking at that, but I want to
start by talking about obviously Sarah Strong Joyce Edwards, the
number one and two players in the class. Do you
want to talk about Sarah or Joyce first? I'll go

(04:32):
I'll go with Joyce.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
You if you want to, Yeah, let's talk with Joyce
first because she's played the more.

Speaker 2 (04:37):
Competitive schedule so far. Obviously, Ukon's going to have a
hell of schedule coming up. But yeah, I think part
of what's been really fun with Joyce is like, and
especially again, like when you are looking at a first
year player, it's impact through the lens of like this
is their first time playing.

Speaker 1 (04:54):
Meaningful basketball at this level.

Speaker 2 (04:56):
You know, Like obviously the turnovers have been a thing,
but I think that's kind of what stands out is
like in spite of the turnovers, she has still been
that level of phenomenal. It's like she's at one hundred
and ten percent speed and once she cuts down that
that timing to like being herself on court, that's kind

(05:19):
of mesmerizing to think about where she's at already. I mean,
I just think about like it. I mean, NC State
right now is kind of figuring out where they're at
with the post kind of post by committee with River
Baldwin gone and then Caitlyn Wimer, who is going to
be one of their big villains, has been hurt to
start the year, and Joyce Edwards just kind of made
mincemeat of NC State's interior yesterday during that game. Even

(05:42):
if I don't even remember what her final stat line was,
it wasn't anything crazy, But like, I still think in general,
like when you when you look at how much strain
that put on NC State's defense and just her ability
overall to be a force on the interior I was.
I mean, that's the kind of stuff that you get
really impressed by because it's not always easy to find

(06:03):
those kinds of things. That's a reason why she's, you know,
the second best player in the class arguably the first,
you know, obviously depends on how things play out. But
and it was her first start ever yesterday playing against
number nine NC State, So yeah, pretty big deal.

Speaker 1 (06:19):
Yeah yeah, I mean obviously, like you know, you go
back to last year when she was still before she
made her final decision, and you have all this chatter
about like where she's gonna go, and you know, even
if you didn't know who Joyce Edwards was, you knew
how important she could be and why, you know, the
top programs in the country wanted her. And it's interesting

(06:41):
because I think we're in this time where we have
big time. I mean, we always had incredible you know,
women's college basketball players, but just as you know, social
media becomes just larger and larger in this in this game,
you have these high profile first players coming in and

(07:02):
like with Juju Watkins you know, last year, and like
her role, like she immediately came into USC and just
became the entire universe of that of that uh you know,
that program, and just her on the court, uh you know,
with the you know, just the volume that you know,
she has the you know, the time she has the
ball in her hands, and so you see Joyce Edwards

(07:23):
and like she's another top you know, one, top two recruit,
and some may think like, oh, she's gonna do the same,
She's gonna be the same way on the court. And
so I lead with that because like her stet you mentioned,
her stat line was not you know this Juju esque
thirty five points on you know, you know, twenty plus
shots and all that. But just her impact across the

(07:47):
court is what gets me. You know, at the beginning,
it's less about you know, like, yes, the turnovers, but
also they've played you know, a spry Michigan, a surprise
Michigan that I don't think any many people thought Michigan
was going to really you know factor in that game
and it was a four quarter you know battle, and
then a top ten program at NC State who they

(08:09):
played in the you know final four last year, and
she had the surprise start, and yet you know, here
she is in her second game and she just she
puts the ball on the floor too. She moves, which
is really impressive. It's not just they I'm just gonna
be in the post and wait for for the ball.
She's active, you know, you know, full court. And so

(08:30):
that's what's exciting to me is that there's she's a
different type of number one, number two recruit and that's
exciting for me as well. And so I would hope
that people allow her you know, more than a week, uh,
to to to figure it out. The stats are gonna come,
but just what she's shown already, Uh, it makes it

(08:51):
makes complete sense as to why South Carolina wanted to
keep her in the state. This South Carolina you know
front court is going to be different. I mean we're
used to Aliah Boston, We're used to Camilla Cardero, so
like we're loose used to these you know, more quote
unquote traditional air quotes for the podcast listeners of you

(09:11):
know what we expect, especially in the women's game, like
you know, the you know simple you need a great
you know, big post, uh to be successful. Uh. And
Joyce is going to be different, and I'm excited about
that that difference in how you know, Don and the
coaching staff uses her her talent. So yeah, I've I've
been impressed with how Joyce has approached these first couple

(09:35):
of games, uh, and excited to see, you know, just
as their schedule continues. I mean they, you know, next
to Yukon, have the probably the toughest non comp schedule,
and so yeah, really pumped to see you know how
she continues to grow in her role and get more
comfortable as the season goes on.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
Likewise, and I think part of the reason that I
really want to do this and I was excited that
you one to you too, is because like and like,
I don't know, I framed it poorly with the stats
the beginning, but the points like you're saying, like, Okay,
it's and it's not pitting anybody against each other, but
it's just saying like impact and stats are not the
same thing. Like obviously stats can be incredibly meaningful and important,
but also again, South Carolina plays very differently. They have

(10:19):
different kinds of talent. It's a different way of playing
compared to what USC does or what Yukon does. Or
what South Florida does, Like there's it's just different and
so you know, equating that is the fun part. But
moving from Joyce because I think part of what Joyce
and Sarah Strong have in common that's really fun. There
are two players where like if they get the ball
in the slot and can play one on one against

(10:39):
the forward or find ways to attract help, that's where
they're so deadly and lethal. And that's why they're exciting
as prospects because it's not easy to find players who
come in right away that are so.

Speaker 1 (10:51):
Deadly doing that.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
And that's what's been really fun to see with Sarah Strong,
with Yukon so far, I think just a very different
look at the four spot than they've had in prior
years in terms of like a player who can really
shoot it. She's already taken. She's taking for a game
right now. She's gonna command the respect of a defense
where I think there were times last year where as

(11:15):
good as a Leah Edwards was, like, there were times
where it was like okay, not that she was playing
the four because they played downside the time, but like
you think, okay, even the year prior, when's you know
it'll be a playing more at the four, like okay, cool,
well we can just you know, work to kind of
play against this offense in a different way and you
have to attack in the pocket like that, and we
have different ways.

Speaker 1 (11:34):
To spend it.

Speaker 2 (11:34):
But now it's like, Okay, there's a real stretch threat here.
But she also is an incredible passer, which I think
has been really fun to watch you three and a
half a sis per game.

Speaker 1 (11:44):
She's just like I would have been exciting.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
To see her go to South Carolina, but I wanted
her to go to Yukon because I watch her game
and I'm like, that is the exact kind of player
that is going to thrive at Yukon, like somebody who
can really just trigger offense, play inside out like that,
stretch the floor and then attack on the inside.

Speaker 1 (12:02):
And that's what I even mentioned that Her defense.

Speaker 2 (12:04):
Has been awesome to start, Like, I think her hands
have been really good obviously moves her feet very well,
but also brings She just has a ton of lengths,
so she can do a lot as a as.

Speaker 1 (12:14):
A shot blocker.

Speaker 2 (12:15):
Two, I'm just excited to watch her keep growing with
this team because again, the poise, the composure that kind
of stuff as a freshman is just like not super
common to see.

Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah. Yeah, no, I haven't had a chance to see
you can play a full game yet this year. I
know they're they're playing North Carolina this week, right, are
they playing North Carolina? Yeah? I think that should will
be a fun matchup also with fun first year players
over in North Carolina that we may get to in
this conversation. But yeah, I agree with everything you said.

(12:53):
Just kind of check in some of the highlights and
stats and also just seeing a lot of Sarah Strong
play just you know, you know, USA basketball and you
know different kind of you know, high school kind of
all star games. I just love if it feels like
she and this is not the first time someone has
said this about you know, a you know, quote unquote

(13:15):
post player, but like she plays like a guard or
like I see her like she's she has the confidence
of a guard, you know, if I can you know,
if that makes sense. But just the way she shoots
the ball. She shoots like she's five eleven and everybody
knows she's forty five percent from three. Like just the
way that she just like just lets the ball fly.

(13:36):
You wouldn't think that someone you know, uh, you know
with her, you know, a heightened size would be that
comfortable just shooting. And we're obviously the game is changing,
you know, at a macro level, so you're seeing that
a lot. But I just love just her confidence and
her skill set, and that's something that, especially at the
college level, is still not common. Like we have increasingly

(13:59):
talented play but you kind of see people who are
fighting their talent or they're they're mental like they're more
confident than the talent is there yet and they need
more time. Where Sarah knows she's really good and she
can be consistent with that. So I'm just hopeful for
Yukon that they're still working through some injuries right and

(14:22):
getting players healthy. I hope obviously for everybody we talk
about and just you know college basketball in general, that
you know, no major injuries can happen, But for Yukon,
they've obviously just been hit so hard over the last
really three four or five years with injuries, and the
more that they can be healthy, I'm excited to see
her in the flexibility, the versatility that she offers and

(14:47):
not having to be put either in a position where
she has to stay out on the floor all the
time because they only have six players, or you know,
she's stuck in a role because as they have no
one else in that role. So yeah, hopeful that you know,
we can see the full kind of range as soon
as possible, or keep it consistent as the season goes on.

Speaker 2 (15:09):
Absolutely, I think a lot of great insight with that.
Let's talk really quick about Kate cabal Over at Notre Dame, who,
speaking on injuries like has been has stepped into a
larger role than I.

Speaker 1 (15:22):
Think was anticipated right away for.

Speaker 2 (15:24):
Notre Dames starting off the bat because they I mean,
I think what they had like seven or eight active
players yesterday. Liza Carlin is out after getting injured against
Mercy Hurst or wait was she? Was she even before
mercy Hurst? I can't remember off that. I think she
got injured during their scrimmage. He didn't play against Purdue,

(15:45):
so yeah, I know she didn't play against Purdue obviously.
I mean Maddie west Bowl is still out. There's there's
a lot of injuries on this team currently, which is unfortunate.
I hope this is just getting it out of the
way early. But point point being and looking at Kate,
I think part what's been really fun. Is again a
player who I think is and I was out in

(16:06):
South Bend about a month ago and got to see
her in person. I think part of what's really fun
and watching her play is like you can tell she's
not there yet in terms of like being acclimated to
that level. I think she like she's obviously very talented,
with a five star incredible talent, but I think it
speaks to the value of just having a player with
size and skill, because I think very much a player

(16:28):
who is still kind of slowing down acclimating to the game,
getting comfortable at the college level, but has just been
wildly impactful when she's on the court. And I think
it's something that you can kind of undersell if you
don't think about it sometimes because like you watch things
happen like Washington PREDI giam Yestery.

Speaker 1 (16:44):
Did she have a great game?

Speaker 2 (16:45):
No, but still finished with eight points, ten boards, four assists,
and four blocks, like yeah, And it's not even just that,
but it's the impact of like, oh, we have a
player who's six foot five that you have to worry
about all the time. And I think there were times
last year where when Notre Dame was dealing with injuries,
it was like okay, cool, well they were just getting
switched on a lot, or they just had a lot

(17:06):
of issues with Okay, well, when we can't really get
anything out of the post or at the five spot,
then we're just in like a little bit of a
bind and it's sorry we have this six five kid
from New York that you have to worry about, not stop,
and it just changes the calculus a little bit. So
that's been really fun to watch because just a very
a very different look than this team has had, Like

(17:28):
they really have never been a traditional post team, even
going back through and watching all the way to like,
you know, twenty fifteen, like you think about when Maddie
West Bolth' sister was there even then, like she wasn't
a big time three point shooter Catherine, but like very
much a Princeton style player who can you know, play
inside out, hit the mid range, make make the right pass.

Speaker 1 (17:50):
Like but not really a five.

Speaker 2 (17:51):
So it's it's interesting in seeing this new blendt I
think Kate is still getting the hang of what you know,
her placement is in a.

Speaker 1 (17:58):
Princeton style offense.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
But when it does click, man, that's gonna be tough
because and I think in some ways not you know,
obviously don't want to like say like blessings in the
skies or some shit, because I think that stuff is
like way overconflated. But you know, her getting this kind
of minute load already, like played fifty six minutes in
two games instead of like, okay playing I think what
it would have been expected, like thirty minutes in two games.

(18:22):
Maybe having that ability to just get reps early is
going to be really a big time for development. So
I'm excited with.

Speaker 1 (18:31):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean kind of just that opposite
of what and we were talking about with Sarah Strong
and you kind of injuries, like on the flip side,
Notre Dame another team that's experienced, you know, serious injuries
over the last couple of years. But the positive thing
from that, it, you know, is Kate is getting a
lot of minutes. And yeah, I watched a good chunk

(18:54):
of that Purdue game, and I think the beauty with
Kate's situation is that, well, she has arguably like three
first team All Americans in the backcourt, along with so
many other top ten fifteen recruits. Even with that roster

(19:14):
that has been impacted by injuries. So if there's any
place where you you have the ability to get the
reps and kind of figure it out. It's nice that
it's Notre Dame, you know, when you have you know,
Olivia Miles and Hannahidalgo and Sony said Tron like you know,
and so many other talented players. Like it's just I

(19:37):
think she'll have the time to, you know, take the
rest of you know, this calendar year before they really
get into serious acc play, and it'll it'll do her,
do her a lot of good. And like you said,
she's still what six ' five and can move and
and block in past, so I think the aclamation period

(20:01):
won't take too long for Kate. Yeah, I think the
one thing.

Speaker 2 (20:04):
I don't mean this as a negative, but I'm just
fascinated to watch because she was a really solid shooter,
particularly in the mid range, was starting to expand a three.

Speaker 1 (20:13):
At low high and in AAU.

Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, and I don't know why, but she's she started
taking her guide hand off like really early and never
used to do that, and I need it. I just
wanted to stop because you can tell it's messing with
the trajectory of the ball and like it just is
like it's an unnatural ship shooting form for her. So
I haven't really understood that. I hope that that gets

(20:35):
cleaned up because I hate y Hey.

Speaker 1 (20:39):
If there's any yeah, if there's any program where they
will you know, help with you know, player development and
and getting her on track. I mean also again it's
this is where we're talking about breakout players and we're
you know, obviously, you know, starting this conversation talking about
you know, first year players. You know, they're still very young,

(21:00):
and it's like the first week, so like nerves even
if they're not playing, you know, they're not South Carolina
playing a top ten team right away. You know, she's
got to figure you know, they got to figure it out.
And so we know the talent that that Kate brings,
you know, like I've been you know, following her for
the last few years and it is super excited wanted

(21:22):
her to go to Notre Dame because knowing what that
what her talent could could bring to that team. Uh So, yeah,
I think she'll figure it. I honestly, it's a plus
for me that she's you know that you've noticed that.
I know that they've probably noticed that with their shooting,
so again, it's is and it's another reason, you know,

(21:44):
on a kind of a separate topic of you know,
non conference schedules and you know, fans especially always wanting
of course, we want to see great matchups early, but
there's also a flip side of like, if you're a
top program, you know, there's different priorities that go into scheduling,

(22:05):
and so it could be good too to have some
some you know, matchups where you're not pressed going into
the fourth quarter and you have some time to kind
of figure things out with live game rep action. And
so I think that is helpful in a case like
Kate's and others that we may talk about. You know,
there's gonna be plenty of tense, high pressure basketball this year.

(22:31):
It doesn't need to start November first and extend all
the way out through you know, April. So yeah, yeah,
I'm excited, really excited for her, and you know, I
think we're going to look back on it and like, oh,
was there ever a time that Kate had a slow
start because her her skills set will show?

Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah, I love you mentioning that, because I think that's
such a good point. It's just everything is different. Every
program is in a different spot. I think like obviously
there was a level of like, Okay, we know there's
going to be injuries to start the year. We had
to kind of start slow, and hey, they still play
USC in thirteen days, so have fun.

Speaker 1 (23:07):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (23:08):
Speaking of Notre Dame though, breaking news actually, and I
don't mean this is some bad but Notre Dame just
lost out on a top fifteen recruit in the upcoming
twenty twenty five class. Deny A Prowl, a five star
wing out of Canada, has committed to Tennessee, which actually,
it's fun. I think Denial would have been a really
I don't know how much you've watched of her. I

(23:29):
think she would have been her name, yeah, because she
was her final three were Baylor, Notre Dame, in Tennessee.
I think she would have been a really good fit
at all three programs. But I like Tennessee for I
am a right about that tonight, but just wanted to
get that out there.

Speaker 1 (23:43):
But hey, we got breaking news and they had to
have to I just saw it.

Speaker 2 (23:47):
So But continuing on the Notre Dame track and starting
to look at you know, uh more of like getting
into talking about some of our you know, senior year
veteran players. Lea two King has been phenomenal for Notre
Dame and somebody who I was I don't want to
say that, I was like, quote unquote concerned. I was

(24:08):
interested to see what her impact would be like coming
to Notre Dame. I knew she could come in and
play a role. I wasn't sure entirely what it would
look like, because pitt was just in a tough spot
as a team that with a lot of turnover last
year to very clearly somebody who is talented and can
can make an impact, But I wasn't sure what it
would look like, you know, transitioning to a higher level
in the ACC.

Speaker 1 (24:31):
And she has just been unreal man.

Speaker 2 (24:33):
Like the rebounding, Like she has single handedly changed the
rebounding for them as a team. And granted we have
to watch it against better competition, of course, but like,
defensive rebounding was one of the biggest issues for this
team last year and she's just hairing a completely tearing
the glass apart, getting every board possible both directions. But

(24:57):
also like I've been really impressed watching the she's played
in transition to like this team noticeably, and I think
part of that is with Olivia coming back, but like
there they want to run, run, run, run, run, and
she plays a big part of that. Like she's been huge,
ripping boards, getting out herself, pushing outlets, getting just getting

(25:19):
out in general. And I've really enjoyed that from her.
I think she's been in really well in Princeton, quicker
than I thought. I do want to say that again,
I want to see how it looks like in the
half court against teams that are able to match up
a little bit better. But I mean her ability to
just quickly attack. She's averaging four offensive rebounds per game

(25:39):
right now, thirteen as a whole. And then her defensive
IMPACT's been phenomenal, Like she's a really good rotational defender.

Speaker 1 (25:47):
She can play one on one. Like just having a
player who's played over one hundred college games that can
step in and be this level of player for them
has been huge. Do you know what she's shooting for
the floor right now? Well, while you were leading in,
I you know, on the big screen. Oh no, it's
my side. I pulled up the stats again because I've

(26:08):
seen I know she scored over twenty at least once,
and I saw I know she has had some big
rebounding performances. But yeah, I've now pulled up the game
log and yeah, the stats you didn't even undersell them.
But still somehow looking at the actual steels like yeah, exactly,
it is actually under sold. How much of an impact
she's made on both sides.

Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, shooting eighty percent from the floor so far, Yeah,
it's pretty good.

Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah, she she had a horrible shooting performance of seventy
five percent from the field after shooting eighty four point
six percent from the field, So you know, really really
slacking there, you know on the shooting percentage. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (26:44):
Absolutely, And it's it's interesting too, like I don't think
Purdue is going to be bad this year. Like I
think Purdue is going to be better than they were
this past season. Obviously they had some time over, but
they made some good moves in the portal. Like that
wasn't just like we're playing.

Speaker 1 (26:57):
Nobody, No, they had a they started off. I watched
the kind of the condensed game earlier today to just
catch back up. And you know, it doesn't help when
you know, notre Dames starts off shooting, you know, lights
out and you miss like your first you know, ten
twelve shots that's probably not going to be a good
recipe to compete against Notre Dame. So you know, they

(27:21):
after it was like thirty two to nine, they kind
of locked in and kind of made it kind of
even then. You know, Olivia Miles hits a half court
buzzer beaters. You know, what can you do? What can
you do? It's good experience for Purdue. So excited to
see their pieces come together too. But yeah, Leo two,
like she she's incredible. It doesn't always work, and you know,

(27:44):
we may talk about more transfers as this conversation goes on,
but especially when you the situation in that pit that
you noted, but also just being that focal point and
then going to another program where there are you know,
now multiple focal points and how you can fit in.
I think this might also be another situation where because

(28:07):
of the early injury impact, she's been able to settle
in quicker and also have a pretty substantial role sooner
than maybe even she would have expected. And so that's
allowed her and also it's been very helpful for Notre Dame.
I think that as much as their you know, their
guards are, it arguably is the best you know, uh,

(28:30):
you know backcourt in the country, at some point this
year they may get locked up or have foul trouble,
and having another player who's used to being that person
where you know, shotcot going down, I can make a play,
I can get to the line, or I can play
great defense and score and transition, I can get boards

(28:53):
on both sides. You know, as much as talent has
grown across the country, the best team have the best rosters,
and you need as many great players as you can.
You know, you can field on a roster. And so
what excites me about even a limited Notre Dame is that,
like all of their top players can do like four
or five things really well. They're not just great three

(29:15):
point shooters, they're not just great passers, they're not just
great defenders. They're all of those and more. And she's
just another one that has been added to that list.
So it's the rich gear richer. But it's also fun
for US fans to watch how this goes and also
for her, like you know, the programs that almost every
player that has not played another Dame has played at

(29:37):
a program that has not been as successful as the
Fighting Irish, So it's cool for her to be playing
this well on a national contender, and so I'm happy
for her, you know, with this you know, hot start
and hopefully it continues.

Speaker 2 (29:50):
Yeah, so I'd add to like I was thinking about
it earlier before the season season started, but now watching
it play out, like somebody who I think sneekly could
like really make it as a pro.

Speaker 1 (29:59):
Obviously need to.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
There's always going to be aspects of like continuing to
develop as a player, but like just I mean a
ninety ninth percentile type hustle player who is just able
to you know, outplace some one of of the things
that come with like oh well too small this that
I'm like, I don't know, man, Like I watch a
player who can do that, and there's a role for
that kind of player, whether the W or overseas is

(30:21):
a conversation, but I'm excited for what for.

Speaker 1 (30:24):
Sure just a quick kind of edition there like kind
of talked about it or alluded to it a little
bit with Joyce, but like there's something to be said.
I might just be making this up on the fly
right now, which might be the first of many things
in this in this conversation, but like she's six foot
or listed as six foot and I'm a big fan
of players that can they have skill sets that would

(30:47):
be like, oh, that's a five eight to five eleven
guard that is really does really well at that or
excels at that. And then someone with a skill set
that's like, that's a six two to sixty five player
that can do that, Like she's getting what four board
four offensive boards a game or whatever like that. How
many players listed at six feet do that? You know?

(31:08):
So like I think a player that plays, you know,
outside of their listed height or whatever their kind of
physical attributes are, that's gonna play obviously in college basketball
and of course at the pro level. So and also
for Leat two, I got when the transfer preseason transfer

(31:30):
list came out, like who's the top ten who's gonna
make the biggest impact of being of course Notre Dame.
You know, did really well in this offseason getting you know,
Leatu as well as e Liza Carlin, who I'm a
big fan of Carlin and seeing her at Marquette. Want
her to get healthy because she's another critical addition to
this team. But there wasn't as much press for Leat too,

(31:55):
and so I guess it's cool to see like she
deserves the spotlight as much as anyone else. If you've
watched college basketball, you know or her abilities. So just yeah,
hopefully this hot start can continue. I totally agree.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
Well, speaking of more players who have kind of been
able to keep running with that, I want to talk
about Jordan Hobbs now University Michigan, someone who I'm really
high on for next level impact. Had her on the
film room before the season started, and obviously Michigan took
on South Carolina right away to start the season, And

(32:34):
part of what was really fun in that game for
me is, like I think there's a tendency to look
at Michigan and like their team that plays a little
bit slower, they're more methodical, it's very set heavy, but
watching them like it's a very pro style offense, like
it's a ton of like handoffs, flares, like doing a
lot of multi screening actions. And I think part of
what was really fun in that, I mean, they played

(32:55):
Jordan at the four primarily in this game, and you
got to see her really put like South Carolina's biggest
trouble was defending those actions when she was coming off
to take a shot or screening herself, and I think
part of what was really fun is watching all the
different things so that Michigan did to get her going.
She finished six to twenty two in this game, like

(33:16):
obviously got to shoot better than that, but I also
think that kind of under sells her impact in that game.
Just a player who has gotten demonstratively better every season
really took a step last year. And I think I'm
just wildly excited to watch her keep growing this year
because there was a real chance for her to, like,
you know, it's always difficult when you were she was

(33:37):
the her and Greta Camps Trader the only two seniors
on the team, well, the only two seniors from last
year's team out of I believe three players who were
still on a roster after last year, and you just
kind of never know where that's gonna go, right, Like,
do you with this this kind of freshman class for me,
and do you step up and you're able to like
really become that vocal leader and be somebody who can

(33:59):
do more court takes what's there for you, And she's
really seeming to run with it so far. So I'm
just excited about that for her because it's taken double
digit shots in both games it felt like she rarely
did that last year or just in general the prior
couple of years. So again, just watching her come up
has been really fun and I'm excited to see what

(34:20):
she can keep doing for a Michigan team that I
think is just going to be better than people anticipated,
not even just based off that that sc game, I
think just talent wise overall, this is going to be
a really fun team to watch in the Big Ten
for sure.

Speaker 1 (34:33):
For sure, it was an unknown. Obviously Michigan over the
last what five, you know, four or five years, has
you know, been one of the most consistent Big Ten
teams is just as well as you know, just teams
around the country, and a lot of those players that
created that new level of expectation for the Wolverines are

(34:54):
playing in the w or have graduated, So you didn't know,
I just didn't know what it would be like. Obviously,
having you know, a very talented first year class come
in was exciting. But then they had you know, a
key you know transfer Leislophilia, you know, going to Texas
and it we knew there would be opportunity and so yes,

(35:17):
that that South Carolina game was a surprise on Jordan
Hobbs obviously. Uh for those you know who will be listening,
who are listening to this episode, Like I'm a huge
Jordan Hobbs fan. Uh, you know hashtag Jordan Hobbs hive. Uh,
just watching her just as a big ten fan for
the past few years. And even when Michigan had you know,

(35:40):
a veteran uh you know, roster, she popped out, you
know to me because she has always had that confidence,
like she's always played like she knows she's really good. Uh,
and she's gotten better from there. And so even in
the South Carolina game, like, yes, she did shoot six

(36:00):
or six for twenty two, most of those were threes.
I think he was like, let me see if I
took sixteen, like five for sixteen from three, we're just
like thirty one percent. Not horrible. There's plenty people who
shoot worse. And also, if there's any game where you're
going to be inefficient from the field, I'll give you

(36:21):
a pass if you're if you're doing it against South Carolina,
there's not many that have an efficient especially if they're
you know, guards or shooting from the perimeter. Think in
the Lehigh game, she was like she shot seventy percent.
Obviously Lee High is now South Carolina. But what I
loved about that game of watching it, and this has
been consistent with watching Jordan over the last couple of years,

(36:44):
is that you know, like in football, when a quarterback
or someone makes up a bad play, they throw a
pick or they you know, a penalty, and it's like,
you know, wipe it, move on to the next play.
Like Jordan is one of the best I think at
that Obviously I can't see into players' minds, but like
just watching her, like her confidence. When you have confidence

(37:08):
as high as Jordan and you make a mistake, some
can really drop down and like not be aggressive. But
Jordan literally comes back after she like maybe airballs are three,
She'll come back the next possession that she has an
open shot and she'll shoot it, and she made it,
like every one of her I think she shot a

(37:28):
lot of free throws. Maybe in that game I can't
or she had shot two free throws, but the six
shots that she did make, I don't know, they felt
like they were more than just one shot made. She
was probably the key reason that that game stayed close.
There's a few runs that she just started by herself,

(37:49):
especially in the second half where South Carolina, I thought like, okay,
first half was close. South Carolina's going to get this
to ten points and then kind of ease away. Every
time they got to like six to nine point lead,
Jordan Hobbs will make a play and then there's a
time out on the court and Jordan Hobbs is like
running back to her her sideline and jumping up and

(38:11):
you know, celebrating with their teammates. That is still close.
So yeah, big fan of Jordan. Hope she keeps that confidence,
and especially with you know, the young talent around her,
if they can keep you know, growing and improving, then
that only makes you know, her job easier and hopefully,
you know, will you know, keep Michigan going. I think

(38:32):
they they could definitely compete for you know, one of
those bubble spots or you know, they can you know,
maybe shoot a little higher during the regular season. So
excited to see a play.

Speaker 2 (38:41):
Out likewise, And I just love what you mentioned about
like the confidence. I think that's such a key part,
like having that confidence to keep doing what you do,
especially as a player who like your primary role is
like being a player who can take and make shots
and and play off of that, and like, obviously I
want to see her keep getting because she's a player
who can into the paint and continuing to get better

(39:02):
at that. Like I want to see that because she's
a really good passer. But I also thought defensively, like,
she played really well in that game defensively, and I think,
to me, like, that's the thing I look at because
so often people look at a big player who's a
shooter and they're like, ah, can they defend him?

Speaker 1 (39:14):
Like she's like that.

Speaker 2 (39:16):
You can definitely say that she's a little bit more slight,
especially as kind of afore she's a little bit more
of a tween her at the three four. But I
don't know, man, I just think there's a role for
players like that in the pro. So I'm excited to
watch her keep growing.

Speaker 1 (39:29):
Let's talk now about somebody who has just been For
those who have not.

Speaker 2 (39:33):
Been paying attention to Rutgers basketball, Destiny Adams has maybe
one of the craziest stat lines to start a season
that anybody has in the country right now. Mavers doing
twenty seven points and fifteen rebounds to start the season
while shooting pretty well from the floor of forty nine
percent Rutgers has won three games to start. They haven't
played a massive game yet. I think they have a

(39:53):
couple of good non conference games coming up, but like
that kind of production is noteworthy Again for people who
weren't paying attention. She really took a leap this last
year playing at Rutgers, and I thought it was notable.
Like I always liked her at North Carolina. I thought
that she was a real impact player, somebody who could
make something happen, but like some other players, like just

(40:14):
didn't quite fit the way that they played. And I
think watching her go to a team that plays with
more pace and tempo at Rutgers, like she has been
so dynamic. So what have you thought of Destiny so
far this year and just in general from from the
past couple of years.

Speaker 1 (40:32):
Yeah, yeah, also huge. You know, there's probably not a
player that we name on this podcast that I'm like, oh,
I'm not a huge fan of them, but you know, Destiny,
you know, watching her in North Carolina, seeing the moments
where she did you know kind of you know, pop,
I was very curious about how it would work going back,

(40:56):
are going back, I think, you know home, she's from
that area. To ruts and yeah, I think she just
needed kind of space on the floor. I mean, it's
just a lot of great talent at North Carolina and
she was one of those talented players and she went
to Rutgers. And I think the best way that I
can describe Destiny is like work rate, Like she works,

(41:17):
like she works so hard on the court you can
see it, like she's crashing the glass on both ends.
She you know, plays you know, up tempo, like she
has you know, a high energy, and she just her persistence,
her resilience on like each possession. Sometimes it can result

(41:40):
in two fouls early in the first but if she's
on the floor, she's producing, like I'm sure, like you know,
her per possession, you know, to get into the you
know analytics or whatever, like she's probably up there. And again,
like you mentioned it, like these are efficient games. I
think her the first game she might have you know,
scored like fourteen or fifteen, but the last two games

(42:03):
these are like video game numbers, like I think thirty
six and twenty two. Like I don't care who the
opponent is like that that is activity. So I'm just
really happy for her to get this opportunity. Obviously, Rutgers
in the in the in the Big Ten. Most nights

(42:23):
they're gonna be playing against a really good team. So
I'm excited to see if this can translate to conference play.
I haven't looked at their schedule and see if they
have a you know, other notable non pomp matchups. But
she is a key part of that program that's you know,
trying to get back, you know, trying to rebound and
get back up to you know, conference in national prominence.

(42:46):
And just couldn't be more excited for her to just
kind of have the space, the opportunity to showcase a
very dynamic skill set. And she's shooting threes. I don't
think she made think she was zero for three and
the thirty six point go she could have scored. You know,
she hits a couple of threes, so she can score.
She's more than just a post player. So excited to see,

(43:07):
you know, if this can continue. Yeah, she can really
face up to and attack the basket. I think that
really stood out this last year and for reference to
in terms of talking about the per possession stuff, the
player currently leading the NCAA and field goals made, field
goals attempted, free throws made and attempted Destiny Adams look
at that. I had a feeling. I had a feeling.

(43:29):
You know, I'm not the biggest analytics person in terms
of knowing how to work it, but sometimes you just know,
like she has to be up there. So that's awesome. Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (43:40):
Yeah, I think they have a Rutgers has Virginia Tech,
Princeton Marquette in a ten day stretch from the nineteenth
to the twenty ninth, So that'll be a good litmus
test all three teams that are going to be vying
to be in the NCAA Tournament this year. Yeah, so that.

Speaker 1 (43:54):
Would be fun to watch and we're gonna learn a
lot more about Rutgers. Obviously.

Speaker 2 (43:57):
Kemy mcmiller has been very fun to watch, So yeah,
a lot to check out with that. Moving forward, moving
on to another player, uh we okay, let's talk about
Madison Connor right now over at TCU, because yes, obviously
again somebody who I think, unfortunately like just due to
injury went under wraps last year, had the massive forty
plus point game early on in the year, but then

(44:21):
just gets injured before I think it was even like
maybe a couple games into big twelve play.

Speaker 1 (44:26):
It wasn't long, but it's.

Speaker 2 (44:28):
Back and it's still just bombing away from deep averaging
nineteen five and six.

Speaker 1 (44:33):
Right now, what did what did? What? What did you
want to talk about with Madison? What had you most
excited for this one? Yeah? I mean even going back
to Arizona, you know, I remember watching some some random
Arizona game and then all of a sudden, this you know,
guard gets subbed in and just starts bombing threes and

(44:54):
I'm like, who is this person that is just averaging
eleven and a half threes per game right now? About? Yeah,
it just changed it. And so then transferring to TCU
was excited because just you know, more opportunity. Like you
mentioned last year, such a hot start for a team

(45:15):
that was basically you know, Frankenstein together with a bunch
of transfers, and then it went from that to we
need walk ons and to feel to field a roster
that can play. And so last year, you know, with
that great start kind of became a wash and they
kind of tried to you know, put it together towards
the end this year, getting even more incredible talent from

(45:38):
other conferences and teams, and so I think it's resulted
in giving it's not so much pressure on Maddie to
have to do all the roles like she can. She'll
have space to shoot, and of course some nights is
gonna be one for eleven, but other nights she's gonna
set a record for most threes in a game, and
she's gonna probably do it before the end of the

(45:59):
first half. So for me, like I was just thinking
about this earlier today, I like, Maddie deserves like a
March like March Madness moment where like people have not
seen her play. It's some first or second round game
and she has like twenty five points in the first

(46:19):
half or something because she's hit seven threes. Like I
want that for her. That's the type of player she
can be. Every team wants a player where it's like
they've hit five threes, they're six out of seven, they're
nine out of twelve. And so I'm excited about the
roster that TCU has and the opportunity that can give

(46:43):
you know, Maddie. And she also I think she's averaging
or she has a you know, seven assists, five assists,
like she's facilitating as well. I was watching the highlights
of a game. And again they're not playing the top
competent yet, but she can put the ball in the deck.

(47:03):
She's not just you know, a spot up shooter. She
can catch and dribble and facilitate. And that team now
has you know, Donovan Hunter, you know Hayley van Lyt,
you know a couple other guards that can average five
to eight assists a night. So really excited for her

(47:23):
not only to have more opportunity to shoot open or
close to open threes, but also an opportunity to showcase
you know, her full skill set, you know as a guard.
So yeah, hopefully they can stay healthy. Excited to see
what the Big twelve is this year with you know,
Texas and Oklahoma leaving, but there's you know, still great

(47:44):
teams in that conference and new teams coming in. So yeah, big,
big Maddy Connor fan. I think I heard in the
game that I don't know if this is every day,
but like she shoots like she has to make five
hundred threesy. I heard a real the wild stat and
I'm like, you know what, that's wild for most players,
but I could totally see Maddie Connor you know, being

(48:06):
like I can't leave this gym until I hit five
hundred threes. So that's her dedication. Not surprising this see her,
you know, breaking records.

Speaker 2 (48:15):
Yeah no, and I was I misspoke to so she
actually played the majority of the Big twelve season last year.

Speaker 1 (48:19):
I forgot that she was late when she got injured
in that. Yeah, I think that. Yeah, either she was hurt.
There was definitely some injuries there for her. And like
they're obviously the team. So yeah, but hopefully this year's
is different than you know, January through early March.

Speaker 2 (48:37):
Absolutely, and we're gonna learn a lot about this team.
This week they play NC State on either Saturday or Sunday,
whatever day the seventeenth is. I can't do days in
my head right now, So that will be again a
good that.

Speaker 1 (48:50):
Will be an interesting matchup. Yeah, very excited for that one. Okay,
moving to.

Speaker 2 (48:58):
Our next player, This can kind of transition to us
talking about the sophomore year players as well.

Speaker 1 (49:04):
To Stanford Cardinal. Like, wow, I.

Speaker 2 (49:08):
Was speaking again like a team very clearly that still
had talent even with everyone transferring out. They had some
really good transfers in, but they have just completely changed
play style to a degree, like they are playing faster
they are very clearly emphasizing threes.

Speaker 1 (49:26):
They're sixty first in.

Speaker 2 (49:27):
The country in three point attempts per game, currently second
the country, and makes per game at fifteen, which is
just Again, it's just been a stark difference from this,
you know, past season. Again, the smaller team not obviously
very different when you don't have Kikirioffen Area Fen and
Cameron Brink on the same team. But it's been really

(49:47):
fun to just watch them play kind of different and
especially too, like they're playing guard by committee. They're playing
like five guards that are all like averaging pretty significant time.
So it's just been very cool to watch them all
play in this way, particularly like we didn't even have
her on the list. I did just want to shot
out really quick because she's been fun to watch. But

(50:08):
Jania Harriel playing as well as she has has been
very fun. She's contributed highly to bombing for three. She's
at shooting almost seventy percent from deep on five times
per game.

Speaker 1 (50:18):
And they haven't played a bad schedule like they They
ripped through Gonzaga, they destroyed get Washington State.

Speaker 2 (50:26):
This has been fun. But I want to turn it
over to you to talk about Eleanor Vaskana who has
been like I mean, when you're looking at most improved
if the PAC twelve still existed, most improved player of
the PAC twelve averaging seventeen and six.

Speaker 1 (50:41):
Right now, Yeah, yeah, I mean I they're one of
the teams I've caught up with over the weekend. Obviously,
you know, was excited to see on Sunday there's you know,
great matchups and then you know conference or championship soccer
games go over time, and so the TA TV coverage

(51:01):
got all thrown off and so they were kind of
one of those that got bumped to a different channel.
But then I checked in and it was twenty six
to four Stanford Overganzag and I'm like, whoa, I was
not expecting that. Then I watched the game again or
the full game today, and yeah, I mean Stanford, it's
still early. But once again, like last year, you know,

(51:25):
with the transfer, like you know, Lauren Betts to UCLA,
and they were, you know in the preseason polls and
early polls like Stanford was what in the you know,
fifteenth third, you know, close closer to twentieth, and then
you know they have that Indiana blowout and everybody's like Oh,
Stanford's really good, and they race all the way up
to you know, the top five. A different kind of

(51:47):
surprise this year is just like you mentioned in terms
of play style, like it feels like it almost feels
very Stanford, just because it's a great, you know, college
institution that they would do something like this. You know, uh,
you know tar Van you're retires. Uh, there's you know,
all these questions based on players coming out, transfers coming in,

(52:10):
and then you watch the first couple of games and
it's like almost everyone is shooting threes, and not only
are they shooting threes, but they're making like they're swishing
these threes. These aren't like lucky like their ball is
rolling and out or having some fun bounces. Like they're
making threes like they shoot, you know, hundreds a day.

(52:31):
They legit have like six to eight quality three point shooters,
and I might actually be underselling that. So it's really fascinating.
It It's funny you mentioned the six what sixty first
and threes attempted but second in the country and three's
made Like obviously you would think I'm gonna say that

(52:53):
they're going to have some negative regression and they're not.
Going to be shooting like seventy percent. Yeah, but again,
like they're they're you you got the x's and o's.
I I don't understand all you know, sets in formations
and strategy and like how they you know, attack it,
you know, an opponent. But they're getting quality looks. These

(53:14):
aren't like contested threes. I haven't really seen many of those.
So yeah, I'm I'm excited to see this Stanford. I
think maybe they're their biggest enemy might be flights and
can't made play when they have to fly across the
country and how the scheduling. I haven't looked at the
scheduling and see if they can, like you know, if
they're they just stay on the East coast for two

(53:35):
weeks and then they get to go home for a week.
But it just might be jet lag that could doom
them and that would be a shame. But yeah, Elena,
it's gotta she's another player like a Jordan Hobbs that
when there are more, you know, are players that had
more usage. Uh, and she was a role player. She

(53:55):
didn't get as much opportunity, but the opportunities she did get,
you'd be like, WHOA, who's this player? Like she's what
six two, six three. She can obviously shoot, but she
has you know, three level ability. She hasn't had to
use it, but she can. She can hit mid range,
she can drive. Obviously, her outside her perimeter shooting is

(54:16):
you know, what she's best at. But with the change
and roster, she's obviously early in the season taken advantage
of it and also just a senior so that that
veteran presence been at Stanford understands, you know, what's expected
and can be a leader for these you know, younger players,
you know, the sophomores that are there now, the transfers

(54:37):
that have come in, and someone that you know, I'm
a believe for me, like I root for everyone. So
anybody that like has a really good game or it's
like six two and above, I'm like, hey, there's a
case she can play pro basketball. Let's just play it out.
Why not, Let's have some fun. So yeah, like she's
I think she's still scratching the service of what she

(54:59):
can do, and thankfully, you know, for her, with just
more opportunity with you know, outgoing players, I think that
you know, she's she's intriguing. She's intriguing to me and
if they can keep shooting of these guards, very talented guards,
by the way, Like I remember seeing a lot of
these names on you know, the ESPN Hoop Girls Top

(55:21):
one hundred, and they're all like top thirty players, so
it's no surprise that they're starting to play well. But
she is definitely one where this is a year she
can make a lot, especially playing ACC gonna be playing
a lot of great teams consistently, and so a great
opportunity for her to get her name and game out

(55:44):
there for more fans. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (55:47):
One of my favorite players to mention and part of
why I wanted to pairless with looking at the next
group is New New Aghra. Like I was really excited
watching her last year. She only played like twelve minutes
per game impact twelve play Yeah, but like every time
she came in, it's like, ah, there's New New Ghara.
Like she get a keyboard key put back. But what
stood out to me is I'm trying to remember which

(56:09):
game was I want to say it was the Iowa
State game when she played like some awesome perimeter defense
when they were really struggling to defend Emily Ryan and
I remember watching that game like Wow, Okay, Like this
is like you can see the vision, Like, yes, she's
a little bit smaller at the four at six to two,
but like can really move her feet, has a good
feel for the game, and she's just exploded for them

(56:31):
because to me, like I think the biggest thing I'll
be looking for is like how does this continue out?
Because right now, so New News averaging thirteen field will
attempts per game, but then they have nine players who
are all averaging like three or more shots per game.
Most of them are between like the seven, like the
six to seven shots range, So it's kind of like

(56:51):
it's a lot of scoring by committee right now, and
it's really hard to do that when you don't have
a player who is taking and making a lot of
shots that can really a focal point.

Speaker 1 (57:01):
And New New has been that so far.

Speaker 2 (57:02):
Like that's what's been really fun because similarly to like,
it's not like they're like world beating changes compared to
last year, but they're just playing with more speed, They're
playing with more intentionality to spread the court, and you
can see what that opens up for a player like
New New, like so much of her her scoring has
come out of that same area that that Kiki and

(57:23):
Cam scored out of like playing out of the pocket,
playing you know, from the slot in and attacking the basket.
And it's been fun because she's just attacking different kinds
of posts in different ways.

Speaker 1 (57:34):
And hey, she's shooting it more too, Like she she
took some threes last year. She's taking over to a
game right now.

Speaker 2 (57:40):
Again it's been like seven shots total, but still that's something.
So I'm gonna I'm gonna hit it until I until
the day I die. But then she's also really getting
into her bag as a passer and like showing stuff.
She's actually leading the team in the sister game right now,
which again I think that's the other thing I'll be
looking for, because they don't have a player averaging more
than than two point seven assists per game, which is interesting.

Speaker 1 (58:02):
They're all the too busy making threes, marking, too busy making.

Speaker 2 (58:07):
Threes to yeah exactly, but it's but it's been good
bum movement, Like I don't want to understand that, no
point being, she's just been really good like and this
doesn't feel like a fake leap, like this very much
feels like, oh, hey, I'm in this.

Speaker 1 (58:21):
New role, I'm stepping up, I'm ready to go.

Speaker 2 (58:24):
Like, I don't know if she's going to average seventeen
in a game for the entire calendar year, but I
feel pretty confidence saying she's going to be really good.

Speaker 1 (58:31):
Oh yeah, I agree, I agree, surprise, surprise, I agree
with everything Mark is saying. Uh, but I think she
is the most important player on that team. You know. Again,
it was a shocker of a comment for like a top
ten you know, you know, high school recruit coming in.

(58:54):
But her ability to have if she can create this gravity,
you know, within the three point line and obviously if
she you know, shoots two you know, two, three, three
is a game and can make you know, one to
one point two five whatever the proper percentage will be.

(59:17):
So I'm thinking about the ACC and like there have
been some great posts, uh that have been there, but
this year, I don't know. I'm trying to think through all.
However many a SEC teams there are, and I don't
know if they're like some dominant like Liz Kittley is
not in Virginia Tech anymore. And you know, uh, I

(59:39):
think even with her you know, you know, playing in
the post being six to two, I feel like she
can she's not gonna potentially, I mean, who knows what
conference play will will will show us. But if she
can command that gravity within the paint, and like you
already mentioned, she's she's facilitating, uh, they're moving the ball.

(01:00:00):
I think she could really make this work. Not when
they're just playing you know, a non comp opponent where
they know they can win by forty, but in those
games where the perimeter players get locked up a bit
or you know they're having trouble moving the ball, you know,
she can get to the line, she can put the
ball on the floor. Like you mentioned, she can attack

(01:00:21):
from different spots in the half court. You know, if
you want, if you needed a player to be like
we need you to be important, I would put I
would be very happy to have new New be that
player for me. Yeah. So yeah, I'm really excited to
see Stanford. I'm trying my best not to underestimate Stanford
early again like I did last year. That's the big,

(01:00:42):
that's the big big in me. I didn't want Indiana
to get beat by forty in that game. And then
they're playing Indiana coming up, so going to Bloomington, So
we'll see how that goes. But yes, Stanford surprising in
a very positive way so far.

Speaker 2 (01:00:58):
Yeah, And I think it's funny because I'm just looking
through the a SEC right now and like, really, Notre Dame,
Uh yeah, Notre Dame's kind of the only team that
really is going to play all that big looking at
everybody in the AEC, Like Miami has some size ecs
more like length, not really size.

Speaker 1 (01:01:20):
Same thing with Georgia Tech.

Speaker 2 (01:01:21):
Clemson is going to be pretty small, cal small, Pittsburgh same.
North Carolina is a little bit bigger.

Speaker 1 (01:01:28):
But yeah, I see the young but the teams that
have like the size maybe advantage or like young talent
still trying to we'll see how, you know, they get
acclimated to college ball. But yeah, I mean there's opportunity.
I mean I think I was, you know, had all
the conference preseason awards and rankings up and you know

(01:01:49):
most of those are tatters by January of this those seasons,
but they had Stanford pretty low on the list, or
lower than a Stanford would be in a preseason you know,
here's where the team rank. So I feel like Stanford
could surprise there. Again, They're they're not gonna shoot seventy
percent from three, you know, every game, but the way

(01:02:12):
they're playing and that the looks they're generating, if they
keep that consistent, they're they're not gonna be sixth or
seventh in the ACC. You know, would be my hot
take there. Yeah, no, I I agree with that completely.

Speaker 2 (01:02:28):
I was that was like my my biggest thing looking
at the initial A people, not this week's one, but
the one that came out before the season, I was like,
I just think Stanford should be ranked, Like I understand
why people didn't rank them after Like, yes, Kiki's gone,
Cam's gone. They always have a player who breaks out
and kind of like there's just too much talent there
and especially Washing just new offense.

Speaker 1 (01:02:48):
Yeah you see it. Yeah, moving ahead, continuing.

Speaker 2 (01:02:54):
On our sophomore year breakout candidates, want to quickly hit
on caasan prosper who has she's healthy, she looks like
she's added some meaningful mass on which has let her
play kind of three and four. And what was really
fun yesterday in that Perdue game was getting to watch
her and Emma Rish both play together. Who just like
two players who have not gotten a ton of court time,

(01:03:16):
and I thought they both looked like you can see
the potential of like there's a lot of length, a
lot of ability to just kind of play multiple positions,
shut things down and switch. And I thought Cassan had
some awesome defense last year. Like there were so many
times where she's like so athletic so long where like
she just gets herself into foul trouble or out of
position because she's just so capable of like being reactive.

(01:03:38):
And yesterday I was like, you can really see your
sitting down and offending things, and I was like, that
is exciting for me, Like, without even thinking about offense.
I was like, that kind of defense at what I
think Cassan six to two, Like being able to do
that at that size and just having like a healthy
player who can be an impactful part of that defense phenomenal.

Speaker 1 (01:03:59):
So I was excited about that yesterday. Yeah. Yeah, and
the quick points I'd ad for her. I mean, like
you said, very athletic, but also came to Notre Dame
extremely young. I mean when she was seventeen, you know,
and that came like you know, there was an accelerated
kind of timeline to get her to South Bend and

(01:04:20):
so kind of looking back on that to now, like
it was awesome to see her hop immediately with the
offensive talent, and you could just in her athletic ability,
you could just see like wow, Like I totally understand
why they would want a seventeen year old to try
to get into college or you know early and contribute.
But with that you may lose things in terms of

(01:04:43):
and then health obviously is a key factor there too.
But sometimes you can bring the skills you're already really
good at, but then you're you're not able to develop
and kind of have that game the full game slow down.
So the fact that like now she's healthy and then
you're seeing the other parts of her game coming to
focus is really exciting for her. And so again she's

(01:05:04):
still very young. It's cool to see, like I had
to check you know online, like she's still listed as
a sophomore. It feels like she's been head Notre Dame
for three or four years now. So I'm excited for
her to have a healthy year and the more rep
she can get is also Emma Rish big fan athletic,

(01:05:26):
can hit threes like it's just and then she's kind
of the forgotten recruit even though she was like top fifteen,
Like it's just these recruits that are, you know, top twenty,
but like, oh they've been hurt or they're on the bench.
It's like, yeah, they were dropping forty plus a night
in high school and we're like McDonald's all Americans, Like,
you know, she just needs to get on the floor.

(01:05:48):
So excited for both of them, you know, this season
definitely let's talk now about Addie Brown over Iowa State.
Going through and watching her clips today was really fun
for me because I hadn't gotten to watch Iowall State
yet until today. And they're still obviously working through all
the new players on their team because they added a

(01:06:08):
lot and a lot of meaningful depth to But I
think the fun part is like, and I'm glad you
listened to Addie for us to talk about because she
just looks like complete, you know, like not that she
was a bad athlete last year. I think very clearly a.

Speaker 2 (01:06:21):
Good athlete, but you can tell watching she's like that
much more comfortable on the court. She just looks that
much more sure and like her movements and everything she's doing, And.

Speaker 1 (01:06:31):
I think that's gonna be big.

Speaker 2 (01:06:32):
Obviously again, having more tests coming up will show us
a lot more, but I think has really cut down
some of the turnover stuff, and it's starting to just
continue to see things really well, taking more threes. Like,
there's just a lot there to be excited about as
a player that can kind of play everywhere and be
such an impactful player at the forward spot.

Speaker 1 (01:06:51):
Yeah. Yeah, I just wanted to remind myself of where,
you know, the media and coaches coming into the season
had players and teams and the Big twelve still has
so much talent, you know across you know, with this
Kansas State, TCU, Baylor, you know, Colora Colorado like great,

(01:07:18):
great players still, but she was not on the preseason
Big Twelve list, and that to me feels, you know,
feels kind of criminals, especially with how she finished the year.
She was she was great, you know, especially for a
first year player what you can ask for. She exceeded expectations,
but she she it looked like the game was starting

(01:07:39):
to slow down for her as they got into the tournament,
and you never know if that it can be that
can sustain and then you build from that. Like sometimes
there's sophomore dips and we're only you know, a weekend,
so still a lot of a lot of you know,
games to be played, but I don't understand you know

(01:08:02):
how you know she can be left off any any list,
like you know, she's definitely on the you know, short
list for all Big twelve, you know, potential Big twelve
Player of the Year, like you know, for me, that's
no question. So excited to see her and that team
come together. I think the depth, no matter how long

(01:08:25):
it takes for them, is going to be a to gel.
It's gonna be an added benefit for her and Audie Crooks.
Like I mean that that's a very exciting team and
they should be you know where they are in the polls.
And yeah, I just had to had to give you know,

(01:08:45):
Downtown Andie Brown some some love on the podcast episode.
I mean, come on, I mean, yeah, she's the sky's
the limit for her. So I'm not gonna be the
one We're not gonna be the ones that underestimate her. Yeah,
big fan, big f.

Speaker 2 (01:09:01):
I guess i'd been so tapped out but that I
didn't realize that she wasn't selected pre season Big Twelve.

Speaker 1 (01:09:06):
That's crazy to me. You know, I don't know much,
but that's not something I would do. That's not something
that would especially Yeah, yeah, they can't just one Iowa
State player on the list, Like not this that doesn't
sit right with me.

Speaker 2 (01:09:19):
I concur Okay, well, let's transition to close out on
our sophomore breakout players. Talking about Clara Strack at Kentucky.
Who watching Kentucky has been like pretty fun, Like again
a team that I want to see play more and
just getting into the teeth of their schedule, but like
it's just like they are different with what they're putting

(01:09:42):
on the court right now. I mean playing Clara Strack
at the four, and like she hasn't looked bad either,
which has been what's interesting, Like when she plays before.
I mean like this looks very good on court, but
like just has like not looked out of place playing before.
I think part of what was so fun with stra
because like was very i mean obviously a high level recruit,

(01:10:03):
but like she was very productive in her minutes at
Virginia Tech last year. Obviously, like you know, it's tough
to come in and be a freshman in that offense,
but I think that stands out and like what she
was able to do still, but now like you can
tell like again kind of like we just talked about
with Addie, like that much short in some of the
things she's doing. One of the things I'm most excited
about is how well she's shooting at the free throw line.

(01:10:24):
She really struggled when she did get to the line
at all last year, and she's shooting shoot like almost yeah,
almost eighty five percent.

Speaker 1 (01:10:33):
It looked good. Yeah, I've watched him look good.

Speaker 2 (01:10:37):
She hasn't made a three yet, but she's taking them
and she just looks I mean, she looks phenomenal on
both then she's really mobile at six five TH's just
done some good stuff as a passer, like the defense,
stands out all all around, like, she just looks very
good and ready to be a big in the SEC.

Speaker 1 (01:10:56):
Yeah, and I would I'm excited to talk about her
is that she is another player. You know, we're talking
about breakouts and you know it's only been you know,
two three games, you know, calendar week into the season,
and there have been some incredible you know, first and

(01:11:17):
second year performances, but Clara was took another path. Like
Clara took the more traditional I'm you know, first year
player in a big time program. She did not come
you know, bursting out of the gates last year. She
some games she didn't even play. Most games she played

(01:11:40):
I think maybe seven to twelve minutes and was to
kind of this to spare you know, Liz when she
got in the foul trouble or if the game was
you know, in hand, and so you could see Kenny,
at least when I was watching the games, you can
see Kenny make a deliberate effort to not just throw
her in to the deep end. Not to say that

(01:12:01):
that is the wrong strategy for every coaching player or program,
but you don't need to do it with everyone. Like
I think, you know what's going through the top one
hundred recruitment rankings, and she was like ninety fifth in
the twenty twenty three class, Like that's still really good.
You're one of the top hundred players. But it's not.

(01:12:23):
It's not surprising, you know, or shocking that a ninety
fifth ranked player doesn't make an impact in their first year,
second year, or third year. But as the season went on,
and of course with Liz's you know, ACL injury late,
but because of that work that they put in, slowly
building her minutes, slowly getting her in the system by

(01:12:46):
the time it got to March, when unfortunately that injury happened.
They had already had a lot of minutes with her
on the court in developing the top level case was like,
oh wow, like Liz and Clara could work together because
they were, you know, a top five, top ten team
up to that point. But when Liz went down, Clara

(01:13:07):
was able in emergency kind of minutes. At the end
of the season put some stuff together to the point
where I remember Twitter being like, oh, she scoring fifteen
to seventeen points, why wasn't she playing more minutes? And
it's like, not every player can do that. You can't
just come out of the gate and score fifteen to
twenty points a game against top ten, top fifteen opponents. Like,

(01:13:29):
not every first year is going to do that. I
watched Claire last year in November December. Clara had a
couple of plays that were like, Wow, that's really good,
and then she'd have other plays where she was a
first year player, and that was the mistakes that those early,
you know, rookie players made. So just to just one
score for hey, not every you know, first year player

(01:13:52):
is going to come out of the gates storming and
you know, putting up double doubles. You can really see
that she's put in work early in this season. Like
I watched you know, a couple of the Kentucky games
and there was one I think she had eight assists,
eight nine, ten assists. You can see her in Georgia
figuring out like the pick and roll, uh and seeing

(01:14:15):
you know, Clara make decisions, you know, at the perimeter.
Obviously having Clara Silva with six seven you know player
the two Clara's Silva, Sylvan Strack. I'm working on nicknames.
They're gonna there's gonna be something the duo. But she
she looks she looks like she's put in work, looks
like she has some experience under her belt now. And

(01:14:38):
I'm very excited to see they have a matchup coming
up in the next week or two. I saw one
of these on Friday. There we go. Yeah, so little
in state rivalry there, but yeah, I'm really excited to
see how she, you know, kind of goes against these

(01:14:59):
you know, big time programs, uh, you know in you know,
non COUMPT but also in the SEC. But yeah, it's
just score one for development, you know, player development getting
better each year in the season. Development. So yeah, very
excited for Kentucky, you know, if the guards, if the
guards can they had there a little light on the

(01:15:19):
guard place. It's a lot on Georgia in Lawrence right now.
But if if they can score with that front court
is with Tianni key all, it's very exciting to see
what they put together this year.

Speaker 2 (01:15:31):
Yeah, And I do just want to mention Tianiki really
quick as well, because watching them play like she has
been fantastic, Like the athleticism completely pops.

Speaker 1 (01:15:41):
She's shooting.

Speaker 2 (01:15:41):
It hasn't made a ton yet, but it's just like
you can tell there's confidence in it, gonna do a
ton for them defensively.

Speaker 1 (01:15:49):
Like I'm I've always liked her game.

Speaker 2 (01:15:51):
Again, like just a player who I think like didn't
quite fit at UNC, obviously dealt with a ton of injuries,
but very excited for her. Yeah, but after talking about Shrack,
I mean, we got to talk about Clara Silva now
in terms of looking at our first year breakout players,
because like I mean, I remember watching her at at
U eighteen euro Basket and I believe she played I

(01:16:13):
don't know now she didn't play you twenty. I don't Yeah,
I don't think she No, she did play you twenty.
She played you twenty and you eighteen year old basket
and was probably not even probably, I mean, she was
the best player there at both events, playing, as you know,
quite a bit younger than something like some of the
players at U twenty have played pro ball already, some
of them have played in the NCAA already, I believe.
Actually I think one of us Boscana might have played

(01:16:36):
at at U twenty for Greece, I can't remember. But
point being like just utterly dominate and in so many
ways that make you so excited looking at a player
like her, because she's legitimately six seven, that's the wild part.
Like Clara Strack legit six five, exact same height as
Lis Kitley and Clara Silver Silva Silva Silver Jesus Christ.

(01:16:57):
Clara Silva is very clearly taller than her. Yeah, watching
them stand next to each other. And what was so
wild watching at EuroBasket and already at Kentucky too, Like
number one, the size and length, but also the mobility,
like she moves her feet really well, like probably I mean,
one of the best movers I've seen at that that
kind of size and frame. But then she also has

(01:17:21):
an incredible feel for the game, like a really good
passer and to self plug. Again, like when I talked
with Georgia Aymore before the season started, like she was
right away she was like, that was just different for me,
Like I've never played with a post who can pass
like that before. It's really caught me by surprise. And
I think that's something you're gonna see this year. That
stood out already. She just is so good at making

(01:17:42):
the right play when when help gets drawn, and then
she's just wildly efficient like she is again like shooting
seventy five percent from the floor right now. I think
she has the potential to keep expanding her range as
a as a shooter, and it's just I mean overall
like a domin many dominant players averaging five and a
half blocks per game right now, which again we'll see

(01:18:04):
how that holds up moving forward, but still like I
think she's gonna be I mean, she is an incredible
room protector, like very mobile, but also times things will
seize things Well that's gonna translate like I think this
front court, like again, there might be some games where
you know it's not as easy to play as big
as they are going.

Speaker 1 (01:18:23):
To be, but like ye, I think it's gonna be
fascinating to watch them.

Speaker 2 (01:18:27):
The teams in the SEC have to match up with
what Clara Silva and Clara Shra can do, because yeah,
it's like they both play with physicality too, Like it's
not just like uh, you know, getting into fadeaways or
be easy to push them off their spots. Like there's
a lot there with them, so it is very fun.

Speaker 1 (01:18:45):
Yeah yeah, you know, could just be a captain obvious statement,
but like it's helpful to be six seven for the
reason of like one of my pet peeves, and it's
more of like I'm fan. I haven't played competitive basketball
in a very long time, but as someone who you know,

(01:19:06):
prided themselves on defense in the later years when my
offense wasn't where I wanted it to be. Uh, post
players jumping up in the air when they have a
size advantage and then getting a foul, you know, getting
a foul call of them because they've lost the advantage
always you know, you know, quote unquote grinds my gears.

Speaker 2 (01:19:26):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (01:19:27):
What I love about Clara is that she's six. She
don't need to jump. She can just stay planet and
swat it and is keep her or keep her hand
shridd in the air, and because her wingspan is what
you know, eight nine ten feet, it's gonna make it
hard for uh, you know, players to score. So the
five and a half blocks does not surprise me. Uh

(01:19:48):
maybe for the simple reason that her and Clara Strack
don't need to jump so much to try to swat
something out. You can just you know, put a little
finger up and swatt of guards, you know, a driving layup.
So that's been excited for me. But she has, like
her efficiency is not just very easy layups, like she's
doing the little you know, turnaround one you know, the

(01:20:09):
Dirk one step fadeaways or whatever you can tell that
you can tell a Kenny Brooks led team like he
really works and it's been early, so she also had
this before, you know, joining Kentucky. But the moves that
they have, like they really work on him and and
you know, in the practice gym and then you and
he's really big on like from what I've seen him

(01:20:31):
with Georgia and Liz, you know, it's like we're working
on these moves so you could use them. We're not
just working on these moves so they look cool or whatever,
Like this is what I want you to use in
the game, and so it's fun to see while they're
still gelling and trying to figure it out. Also, the
high low game between the Clara's have been very exciting

(01:20:54):
and like they've swapped so they're clearly trying to be
as versatile as possible. It's just really funny and exciting
to see very two tall, like tall people passing to
each other at some points. Again, the competition will rise,
but it's just unfair to like, there's no one that
can compete with these high low passes because it's six

(01:21:15):
five to six seven or six seven to six five,
and Clara Silva has been, you know, on point with
these passes. So very excited for Kentucky and definitely curious
to see, you know, how this le level matchup goes,
as well as just their sec play.

Speaker 2 (01:21:31):
No likewise, as another quick one off of just in
general with like mentioning your O Basket a player who
hadn't really been on my radar until like I knew
that she was going to UCLA, but wasn't fully on
my radar until I washed euro Basket, and that's Alena Arnosalo,
who is from Finland, was just like and then we've

(01:21:51):
had like quite a few good finished basketball players, but
like she has popped early, you know, especially with Keiki
Rice sideline currently, she stepped in as a starter, which
was just not something I anticipated. I figured she would
play a small role this year as Charlie sudgeer Walker
is still getting back to health, but especially with Kiki out,

(01:22:11):
like Alena has been good. Like again we can always
talk about the turnovers. Has been a little bit rough,
but you see, again a freshman coming in and playing
her first time, Like watching her play against Louisville was
really impressive to me because yes, you could see some
of the all right, well, there are ways that this
could be more efficient or like you know, you can't

(01:22:32):
force it here with the pass, but relieve is one
of the hardest seems to play against, just in general,
with like I mean, they want to put you an island.
They want to make things hard. They're always physical, they
have a ton of length. It's like a very almost
pro esque way of playing defense. And I think seeing
Alena just like kind of pick them apart at points

(01:22:52):
and be able to get into the paint too, just comfortably,
like she's not an above the rim type player, but
it's just so comfortable with her hands and her ability
to get where she wants that I think gives this
team something they didn't have last year, Like as good
as Kiki is in terms of like getting into the
mid range and playing like that, Like I don't think
this team really had a player who could kind of

(01:23:13):
just sit down and play point last year, at least comfortably.
In my opinion, I think as good as Christmas Osborne
and Kiki are like their combo guards, like they're best
playing at the two more often than not.

Speaker 1 (01:23:24):
And having a player like Leno who has been like
this good, it just kind of setting things up, settling
things down. And she's had quite a few like wow
passes too, Like it's not just like the easy laydowns
and stuff, like, she's done a lot of high level things.

Speaker 2 (01:23:38):
So I've been I've been impressed with her early on.

Speaker 1 (01:23:41):
Yeah, yeah, no, I mean the beauty of this and
being a fan is that you know, I can just
have you know, wild and especially wildly positive takes off
of like limited sample sizes. So I first saw her
because I read I forgot that the UCLA Louisville game

(01:24:01):
was on. I turned it on, and like right when
I turned it on I saw her score like six
points in a row, and I'm like, who is this person?
And then I immediately assumed like, oh, she's some transfer
from some smaller school and she's a junior or senior.
And so when I looked through up and saw that
she was, you know, freshman, I was like what And

(01:24:21):
so I was immediately sold. So I only saw a
small sample size. I have seen no turnovers. She's basically
perfect in my mind, mark of like she's made no mistakes.
She's going to, you know, compete for Freshmen of the
Year in the Big Ten. But slight jokes aside. I've
she really popped, not only with her driving ability and

(01:24:44):
against Louisville, like we know and everyone who's who is
a fan of college basketball knows how tough it is
to play, especially against Louisville's defense. I mean she carved
through them like in that and you know, key moment
of the and that's another thing that game. Then watching
the replay, like it was not a you know, eighty

(01:25:06):
five eighty four offense was just plentiful. Everybody's getting their
shots like it was a tough grinder of a game,
which was what she would expect with the UCLA and Louisville,
but there was a stretch, a key stretch in the
third quarter I think when I tuned in where she
was the only one scoring, and it was like the again,
the confidence. And we're talking about breakout players, a common

(01:25:27):
trait is that they're going to be confident, but just
to be a first year player and to have that
and then you know, again, I think they played Colgate
coming out. Obviously Louisville's not colegate and vice versa. But
I mean she's making she's making plays, she can score,
she can facilitate. I mean, I think one moment of
the Louisville game, I mean she had like a big block,

(01:25:49):
like she she plays taller than she is. Like I
think it's really cool to see. Maybe a better way
to explain it is like how Leoni Fhoebich it was
like a rookie and made the raw rookie team, but
like she's had professional like international experience. Kind of feels
the same way with Alena, Like she's played in games
where she's dropped thirty plus in tournament play, like she's

(01:26:11):
not new to competition and so yeah, especially with injuries, Uh,
you know, in the backcourt, with UCLA. I mean, I
know they're glad to have her, and I'm very excited
for her hopefully to continue, you know, even when Keky
comes back and they get some other players back. Like
this early experience in key moments. You know, you love

(01:26:34):
to see that if you're UCLA, if you're UCLA fan.
So yeah, I had to put her on the list
there because I'm like, I'm I'm sold. I'm in. Let's,
you know, take this rocket ship all the way to
the moon. She everybody's going to know about her by
the end of the year.

Speaker 2 (01:26:52):
To do just a quick one because I don't have
a ton to add. I think just because we haven't
got to see Texas play a whole ton yet. But
Brianna Preston very much brings the what if Lightning the
Queen were.

Speaker 1 (01:27:04):
A basketball player.

Speaker 2 (01:27:07):
She is incredible, man, Like watching her highlights against Southeast
Missouri State because I didn't watch that game in full.
I did watch the first game in full, but Southeast
Missouri State didn't watch the full game.

Speaker 1 (01:27:17):
But like she is, like.

Speaker 2 (01:27:21):
Her first step is insane first off, but then secondly
like just unreal shift with the basketball. Also way, I'm
totally wrong Southeast Missouri State was their first game. I'm
all over the place today.

Speaker 1 (01:27:37):
It was a see I think, yeah, there's a yeah
s E m O South yea yeah or Missouri. Yeah.
They played only once, so yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:27:44):
But her her transition play was pretty special, just everywhere
all the time in that game when she was put in.
I don't know what her role is gonna look like
this year, but she was an absolute last and somebody
that I'm excited to watch grow moving forward because you
totally Texas for.

Speaker 1 (01:28:06):
Sure, and another again another one where it's like I've
seen one game and it's you know, it's early in
the season. I think, honestly, this is better that we
did it now that we've at least seen some play
versus just going totally off of projection and maybe where
they played in high school for these first year players.
So of course there's a small sample size, but if

(01:28:27):
you watch a lot of basketball or whatever sport you
care about, sometimes you just know it might not the
outcomes might not materialize exactly how we see it. But
I've only seen one game of her, and she's coming
in with a once again Texas surprise surprise has like
a you know, a notable you know, top probably three

(01:28:51):
recruiting class. You know at Jordan Lee, Justice Carlton, who've
been in the scene and people have known about them.
I think Brianna Preston's like thirty eighth in the class.
And again rankings and numbers that they're not they don't
always match where they are in that in that class.
But she was bringing the ball up, she was playing point.

(01:29:11):
She she was at the you know, you know, tip
of the spear on both ends for Texas. Uh. And
if you know Texas, you know Vic Schaeffer, like he
doesn't put people out in the court lightly like you know,
you got to earn it in practice before you ever
get on the court. So the fact that she's out
there again with these other and you know, Jordans paid

(01:29:33):
some awesome plays. Uh, you know Justice, you know was
out there and played some minutes. But the fact that
Brianna's out there and she, yeah, her energy just leaps
off of the you know, the court, the screen. Ah
to see her with you know, Madison Booker, with Rory Harmon, Like,

(01:29:55):
I'm really hopeful that what she showed in that first
game can continue. I am again one game, that's all
I need to see I'm all in. I'm all in
like that energy, and again you need that energy, especially
on both ends of the court. So yeah, big fan,
big fan, I will you know, if I see another

(01:30:15):
game she does the same thing, then we will move
to hive status that we can do this. So yes,
big big Brianna pressing fan assemble very fast they do.
I don't you know you got to get ahead of
these things. You know, you got to go ahead of
these things.

Speaker 2 (01:30:30):
You gotta be first first. The plant the flag is extremely.

Speaker 1 (01:30:33):
Yeah, it's it's fun. It's fun when it works, man,
it's so fun. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:30:38):
All right, let's talk now too about let's talk about
Kaylee Heckle and Kennedy Smith, two players who I think
have a real shot to do Kennedy.

Speaker 1 (01:30:46):
I'll do Kaylee if okay, I'll do Kennedy Justice, Yes, Kennedy.
Kennedy Smith to me is like.

Speaker 2 (01:30:54):
She was never gonna like I mean, is a very
She was a five star recruits, so I don't want
to understand that, but like a player who probably didn't
get enough shine and excitement for what she can do
because she is just like walking in. I mean, she
was probably USC's best player in that game, in the
opening game against OMUS. If you're talking two ways, like

(01:31:16):
I think obviously Kiki did a lot of really great stuff.
Obviously Jujie did as well, but I think Kennedy watching
her impact in that game was nuts. Her first college
basketball game playing in freaking France and like played like that,
Like was phenomenal on the glass, was everywhere on defense,
made timely shots. That is who Kennedy Smith is. I

(01:31:36):
think Kennedy Smith is like one of the only players
I will ever say in my life can actually guard
one through five. There really are not very many players
who can do that. Because if when I call you
one through five, I mean you can consistently do it
and do it well, that's Kennedy Smith. She's one of
the best all around defenders I've ever seen play basketball.

(01:31:56):
Unreal competitor, and she might not like have All American numbers,
but she's going to be one of the most impactful
players on the court at any given time always, and
she's going to be, in my opinion, injury barring injuries,
she's going to be one of the best role players
in the w NBA for like a decade plus. Like
that's the kind of player Kennedy Smith is. She is phenomenal.

(01:32:20):
I am excited to watch her get to play again
in more high stake games because she's just that's where
she thrives.

Speaker 1 (01:32:27):
Yeah, yeah, see, this is why I wanted you to
talk about you. I appreciate it, but no, I've watched
you know, I've seen you you know, uh you know,
uh talk about her and show showcase her skill set
and you're right, like she again, that's this is just
the byproduct of excitement and the talent that has come
in at all levels of women's basketball. That's someone as

(01:32:50):
good as Kennedy playing for a high in a high
profile program, high school program and playing, uh you know
in these all star games. It's just so much talent
that oh she was just like the number six overall
recruit and just just air quotes California Basketball Player of
the Year, you know, like that's all. And she goes

(01:33:12):
to USC and immediately makes an impact and like you
mentioned her one, her stats are not going to pop
off the screen on a nightly basis just due to
having arguably the National Player of the Year as a teammate,
but her impact is there like that old miss game again,

(01:33:35):
you know, if you're a fan, and you a fan
of old miss or you have watched them, you know
what type of game it's gonna be. And it's fun
to see. Teams have to try to figure that out.
And every time I would look, she'd be grabbing a
board or making a steal or hitting a key shot
when there had been turnovers and misshots. Having that level

(01:33:57):
of composure as a first year player in your first
game in a different country, you can yeah. And the
really key thing you said at the end there is
that like you can already see where she can make
an impact in the W and you know she's the
first week, first game of her first year in college,

(01:34:18):
but Kennedy Smith is a known name. She's come in
with a lot, even under the radar, She's still come
in with a lot of expectations, and it seems like
the way she played really seems like she's already ahead
of the curve. There. So completely concur with Kennedy Smith

(01:34:39):
and really excited again Big Big ten apologists loved that
USC loved that UCLA or in the Big ten. We
need all the help we can get. So happy that
Kennedy Smith is in the B one G because I
will be. I'll be cheering her on this year. I
do also need to go back. I think saying that
she was USC's best two way player was.

Speaker 2 (01:35:00):
Probably maybe a little too far, because scoring does matter.
You know, Kiki and uh Juju combined for forty nine plus.

Speaker 1 (01:35:06):
We're talking about breakout players, Mark, But I just I
got you know, yeah, they're they're you know, come on,
we they they're great. Of course they're great. But we're
talking about first year you know, on different breakout players.
It's okay to get ahead of yourself for this episode's
gonna give you, you know, as much as that counts
or anything. Grace, right, But yes, Kennedy, Kennedy brings this

(01:35:31):
out of us. So that just shows how great she is.

Speaker 2 (01:35:33):
No, precisely, all right, get us aboard the Ki Heckle trade.

Speaker 1 (01:35:36):
Oh my goodness that I know that you're the conductor
of Yes, yes, definitely have already. I mean this is
almost what two years in the running of the Kaylee
Heckle hype train. Uh you know, Kate go ball teammate.
So that's another reason why I'm big on Kate uh
Silas Swords, you know, I mean, I talk about a team.
Oh my goodness. Yeah, I mean, uh, what's us he's

(01:36:02):
uh coach. She said that Kaylee's like the fastest player
she's ever coached, which you don't really hear that in
basketball a lot. You know, you might hear that in
like football or some other sport. But uh again, I'm
gonna go back to confidence confidence confidence. Uh, she's really
or maybe a better way, it's like she plays with

(01:36:25):
no fear. That's what I've noticed about her since seeing her,
you know, play, uh in high school and playing these
you know, all star you know games she plays. I mean,
what's her what's her height? What was she maybe like
five six or something. Maybe I'm even she might be
smaller than that, but she plays downhill. She's got incredible vision. Uh,

(01:36:50):
she can make threes. I don't think she shoots them
like she's a three point specialist, but she can make threes.
But really, for me, it's her ability to play on
and off the ball, and also she's feisty on defense,
like she's she will get on the ground. Again. It's
it's just so kind of like a Rory Harmon kind

(01:37:10):
of quality where it's like, so what if I'm the
shortest player on the court, right now like you're gonna
you're gonna feel me, You're gonna understand, you're gonna know
that I'm here. Uh, And Kaylee will go twenty two
miles an hour into the paint and either dish it
somewhere or get contact for an hand one. I'm excited

(01:37:32):
to see her her flexibility and her versatility with usc
like you know, when we watched Juju last year and
knew the role and you you know, we're part of
leading this crusade of like contextualizing Juju's volume and because
you knew what she had to take on, but we

(01:37:55):
also knew this recruiting class with they're the number one
recruiting class, you know for twenty and twenty four, Like
we knew what was coming. And Kennedy and Kaylee are
just two of the four or five top one hundred
recruits that they're they brought in this year. But yeah,
I'm excited for Kaylee. She just you can't even though
she's probably the shortest player on the court, in almost

(01:38:17):
every game, you won't miss her like you were going
to see her on the court on both ends. She
is a brilliant point guard. I'm excited for her to
see this how she operates when she's not in that
PG role. But yeah, I don't in another player where
like Kennedy, just because of the way they play, they
have two Player of the Year candidates that are starters.

(01:38:40):
She's probably not going to have the stat line that
she would have she played in another program where she
could easily score fifteen and have seven the tennis sists
a game. But she's going to make an impact along
with Kennedy. I mean, they got Avery, how, they got
a couple other really credible first year players, So I

(01:39:02):
was really excited she picked us. Uh and you know,
first couple of games, can already see that impact. So
even with all those words, I'm under selling Kaylee, Heikel
or Heckle. She she's gonna be awesome. And so I'm
gonna be glued to every USC game, even if it
is on Big ten plus. Uh. And I gotta figure

(01:39:23):
it out.

Speaker 2 (01:39:24):
Yeah, that is the only misfortune of the Big ten
expanding is more having to be on Big ten plus.

Speaker 1 (01:39:31):
Big ten plus works great on the desktop, not so
much in the phone app. Yeah, I trust me, I'm
the leader in emails to Big ten plus. And also
there's no TV like how do we not have a
TV app? Like what is how are we that far behind?
Has a TV app? And Big ten doesn't, Like if
you want another three hours, I can definitely talk about that.

Speaker 2 (01:39:53):
But yeah, okay, I echo everything you say. Let's talk
about another guard who just played yesterday, Zam Jones over
at NC State. Yes, somebody who's very clearly going to
have a big role this year. I obviously, like, I
think part of what's interesting is, like, again, the difficult
part in being in those games is like you can

(01:40:14):
see like, all right, it's still a freshman, but then
you also see like the moments of brilliance, like you
see the shot making, you see the confidence, but you know,
you could also tell she got a little bit gas
out in that game, and that takes time, you know,
to get used to that and playing at that kind
of level of braining defending champions. But one of my
players who like, just like you talk about playing in
just any of the All American games, I think it

(01:40:36):
was a McDonald's game where you like, she's just so
fun man, Like every place she makes is fun. Like
that's the best way to describe her. Like she just
plays with a very creative style. Wants to attack, and
she gets down on defense too, like she plays hard.
It's not like she's just a one way player.

Speaker 1 (01:40:54):
So I am. I'm a big fan and also been
around and Zam has been around for like six seventy years.
I mean, she was making she was highlights on social
media back when she was like probably like in sixth
seventh grade or something like, she's just been it's it's
it's actually kind of surreal that she's actually playing in
college now because you know, if you've watched or followed

(01:41:15):
women's you know, college hoops or just basketball in general,
you've just known her name and seen her on so
many you know, highlight you know videos, and so it's
cool to see her in college playing against South Carolina
like on you know, ESPN, and then that fourth quarter,
like you know, that game was done and she was like,

(01:41:35):
nope's gonna make this. I'm gonna make this spicy, and
it's like she's the exact player. Like again, there's going
to be those uh, those learning cars is going to
be those first year mistakes, those rookie mistakes, but you
cannot quantify the impact of having a player like that
that can go from zero to one hundred and bring

(01:41:56):
put your team back in the game against defending champions.
They had won thirty nine in a row, and they
were good about to romp to forty and she and
like you know, obviously, you know, Aziah James was great
defense and facilitation to you know, to help you know,
create some of those shot opportunities. But Zam brought them

(01:42:18):
back in that game to make it interesting and it
make South Carolina have to close it out. So you
just every every program wants a player obviously like Zam,
but for that reason, like she did not have a
perfect game through all four quarters, but for a player
like her, it doesn't matter, Like she can, you know,
erase those memories by just going like I'm gonna score

(01:42:41):
twelve straight points against the best team in the country.
Like it's like that's hard or something like she can
just she can just do that. So excited for Zam,
I put in the dock that like, I don't know,
I don't all a SEC teams and starting lineups are
gonna adjust. But she's currently not starting, I believe, because
they have a pretty good starting lineup. But if she

(01:43:04):
stays coming off the bench, like I would not be
surprised for her to be in six Player of the Year,
you know, contentions so excited for Zam for more people
to see how awesome Xam is. I agree, she is
somebody to keep watching. They just have.

Speaker 2 (01:43:20):
I'm gonna be fascinated just as a side to see
how NC State keeps putting this together because they're almost
in a spot where like I won't to say that
they have too many guards, but like getting them all
to the mash.

Speaker 1 (01:43:28):
Is gonna be really interesting because that was the biggest
issue yesterday.

Speaker 2 (01:43:31):
South Carolina played really good defense, to be fair, but
they also like they really struggle to just get into
stuff and like play with pace and speed and like
when you have the many.

Speaker 1 (01:43:41):
Guards on the floor, that's what you need to do.

Speaker 2 (01:43:43):
It's like hard to and again, like it's a very
like a lot of the same players from last year,
but not having river Ball, but not having me Me Collins.
There's just a lot like the role hierarchy is a
little bit harder to figure out when you don't have
some of that positionality on court.

Speaker 1 (01:43:57):
Yep, Yeah, a great experience. I mean playing against South Carolina, well,
if you take it the right way, it can really
help you improve. It can also be demoralizing warmer will
be for NSI State, and they don't have much time
to you know, to dwell on that because they got
tough ones coming up.

Speaker 2 (01:44:13):
Absolutely, all right, let's talk lastly in freshmen. Let's talk
about Johanna Cambridge, who had one of the best debuts,
if not the best debut that anybody's had in the country,
thirty one points, six assists, five steals, and two blocks
against Cleveland State, who is a very good mid major team.

Speaker 1 (01:44:34):
She is like a perfect fit in Ohio State.

Speaker 2 (01:44:36):
Somebody with incredible control of the ball gets down and
is just like electric playing at the top of a press.
Top notch competitor. I mean, she's Jordan Cambridge's sister. Of
course she's going to be that top match competitor. That's
exactly what Jordan brought to Vanderbilt. Yeah, I mean, like again,
there's always going to be like.

Speaker 1 (01:44:56):
Quote unquote freshman stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:44:58):
But I think when you look at like we've talked about,
like okay, it's so much of this is where you go,
what your fit is, what your role is, Like Jelan's
player could go and contribute at another school that is
in like okay, like if she's a usc in a
similar role to like Keiley Hackol or something like that. Well,
like this is when you give somebody the keys and

(01:45:19):
they get the opportunity to do that, and it is
very exciting to watch through one game and I'm excited
for more.

Speaker 1 (01:45:24):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I've already said it. With a
couple players of like you know, small sample size, I
will extrapolate the most grand things. And Jelena Cambridge like
she is my number one, Like I saw she's my
number one. I saw enough. She's taken over. Is happening.

(01:45:46):
But because of the points you brought up mark like
she was certain number three in the class or like
you know, depending on the ratings he was at one
point she was number one, number two, number three, doesn't
It doesn't matter because there's great players, you know, Joyce
is incredible, Sarah is incredible, Keke Cabal incredible. You can
go down down the list, but it also fits and

(01:46:08):
opportunity is key. Like Sarah, based on where Yukon is
right now, doesn't need to you know, score twenty five
thirty A games. She's probably gonna have those games. Joyce
is probably gonna ask some games where she scores you know,
twenty five plus because she's eleven of twelve from the field.
It just is on one. Uh, Jealoney Cambridge, like she

(01:46:34):
you look at the stat line only and don't look
at that game and you're like, oh, like they're playing
and you don't know Cleveland State. You're like, oh, like
twelve or fourteen, but they're probably just a ton of turnovers.
And she was just you know, fast break transition layups.
She was making float all kinds of even saying floaters
is not even doing her justice. Like they were you know,

(01:46:55):
above above the free throw line floaters. They were you know,
five to seven foot flows as they were side high
off the glass. She was making fast break three pointers.

Speaker 2 (01:47:05):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (01:47:05):
She was at the tip of the spear of both
offense and defense. I got you know, I was thinking again,
context is important. I am all in on jeelo Ony
Cambridge being like the star that breaks out and everybody's
talking about her. J C. Sheldon one of my favorite
college players. You know, over the last three or four years.

(01:47:27):
It is almost impossible to replace J. C. Sheldon and
her impact at Ohio State. Also, she just joined the
fro the staff of Ohio State. Very exciting but Like,
what better candidate than Jeloony Cambridge, Like in terms of
being that three level player, uh that is making this
offense coming and opening up the offense for so many,

(01:47:49):
you know, other talented players. Cody basically had so much space,
more space than Cody. Cody might have more space than
she's ever had at Ohio State with Jolni Cambridge in there.
So it wasn't just that she scored thirty one. It
was how she scored thirty one and then all the
other stats that are with it, the six assists, the
five boards, the steals, her speed, her play like she

(01:48:13):
knows she's one of the best players in the country. Uh,
and she's not going to always shoot. She's rarely gonna
shoot twelve or fourteen. She started out seven for seven,
so she actually got cold when she missed the other
two shots. I think she is not a lot because
nothing's a lot. But it's crazy to think that she

(01:48:35):
won't be in strong consideration for like first team All
Big Again, all these conferences have so many great players.
We need a third team All Conference for all all
of these conferences. That's one of my like plant your
flag plants just in general, there's going to be because

(01:48:56):
you know, social media gets you know, it's even getting
more chaos the as the days, weeks, and months go on.
But there's going to be some very very strong, heated
debates about all conference teams All American. It's just too
many great players and her name was not anywhere on

(01:49:18):
She's not on the All Big list. She's definitely not
on any All American lists that I've seen. You know,
let me know if I'm wrong. I think she has
the ability to be first team All Big Big Player
of the Year All American at least, I don't will
mentioned if not second team. I mean, the preseason list

(01:49:38):
is loaded, so it's gonna be hard to get in
there without some external things happening. But if Juju did
it last year and you have Page and you have
Kaitlin Clark, I mean joel Onie's talent, I mean she's
up She's up there with them, Like you watch that game.
You can't say like, oh, well she can't do this.

(01:49:58):
She did. She hit three, she drove, she played defense,
she was she's quick, she's athletic, she has the size.
I am completely in. If you can't tell you're not
watching it on video, you might not be able to tell.
But Jelony Cambridge, surprise, it's good at basketball. And I
think she's in a perfect She's in a perfect spot.

(01:50:19):
You mentioned she's in a great spot at Ohio State.
Like and they play a tempo, if they're high pressure,
press defense works. I don't know, man, it's she's not
gonna average thirty points a game, but this is not
her last thirty point game. I'll be safe there. I'll
say and say that. So that's my that's my Johnie's

(01:50:40):
gonna take over college basketball. Rant. Yeah, I think she's. Yeah,
she's I'm glad she's at Ohio State. I'm glad she's
in the Big Ten because usually that's a player that
terrorizes the Big Ten from outside. You're like, oh, I
wish we had a player like that. We have multiple
players you know, like that across Big So, uh, we

(01:51:02):
got to catch it in this year. Big Ten's got
to win a national title. I'm I'm continuing talking Mark,
and now I'm saying the Big needs to win a Natty.
I don't want to say pressures on, but I do
think this is like a year where you look at it, Yeah,
I'm putting the pressure Mark. You don't put I'll put
the pressure on. We got it's Kiki's one year at USC.
I think there's pressure on the u c L as

(01:51:24):
the worst. The worst though, is that they but I'll
say this, the worst is that they beat each other up.
But I kind of hesitated to say that because SEC
fans would be like, well, this is every year for us.
You know, we have you know, talented teams, so I
need the big to you know, iron sharpens iron. They

(01:51:44):
got to make each other better and not beat each
other up so that they get upset. But I mean,
you know you have USC, U c L A, Ohio State, Maryland.
You know, it's these top four, and you know other
teams could to creep up in there. You know, Michigan
State are you know favorite, one of our favorite teams

(01:52:06):
with a lot of great players. So uh yeah, just
outside of the breakout players, these breakout players need to
also you know, help their teams compete for a Natty.
So it's got to be this year.

Speaker 2 (01:52:18):
Yeah, I mean, speaking on Michigan State, we can transition
to talking about some players who we think have a
real shot to make a like a an actual conference
awards list this year. Yeah, and or just are in
award contention. We should say for sure, we already talked
about Ellen of Boscona, who we have as somebody who

(01:52:39):
could potentially make that lead to being an All Conference player.
But with Michigan State Grace van Slutin, who I don't
know if you've gotten to watch any of Michigan State
with their their new look team. Obviously we both loved
what they did this past year, and I think we
were both very excited adding a player like Grace who
was going to play the five for them, just to

(01:53:00):
a role that's going to make a lot more sense
for her, I think, in a system that's really going
to get the best out of her, and she adds
so much to what they do as well, like I
think just her ability to like this team like they
love playing kind of post in to open things out,
and they really struggled at times last year when they
weren't able to create out of the post, and I

(01:53:22):
think you add a player in like Grace and that's
just going to like it just adds a very different
element in dynamic because last year, I believe their tallest
player was six ' to one for the majority of
the season, and now you have Grace. You have other
players with length on the team, like they added a time.
We both love Emma Shoemate and rightfully so, because she's
fantastic and has looked really good as a starter so
far for the Spartan's Like, there's a lot of great

(01:53:45):
stuff here, but I think Grace is just again a
player who like if you weren't watching Oregon, which I
get it last year, you missed a lot of the
forest year the trees if you're just looking at box score,
because she is really talented and is going to make
a huge imp act on this team.

Speaker 1 (01:54:01):
Yeah. Good good use of force for the trees there.
Just you know, with a nod to Oregon's court that
I will always go to for I love it so much.
Anybody they add more trees right like I feel like
they feel this is incredible. Also great win for Oregon
and again you know, welcome to the big welcome to

(01:54:22):
the b one g Oregon way to represent taking down Baylor. Uh,
I respect that a fun game, early candidate for what
it was worth worth staying up for. Honestly, Yeah, I
was watching football or something else. Uh and then I
saw you uh sweeting about it and let me checking
on this game and it was like right when Baylor
had made the comeback. So a very fun game. But yeah,

(01:54:47):
Grace been a big fan of Grace, another highly talented
high school recruit going to a big program was you know,
based on what was going on in Oregon injuries and
just you know, just changing uh, you know, a roster
and landscape, like she immediately was kind of thrown into
the deep end and uh, just a change of scene ory.

(01:55:10):
Another reason why I love the rule shift change to
allow players to transfer. You know, if coaches can transfer,
you know, quote unquote transfer, players should too. Uh, And
so it gives an opportunity for you know, a player
like Grace to just have another chance somewhere else. And uh,

(01:55:32):
I think when she went into the portal, there are
not many people that were generally in the no thinking
she would pick up a program like Michigan State. But
like we we are in the nowork and we knew
that she could she could, you know, uh go there,
and how exciting that could be. And again early they're playing,
I think they're you know playing uh tonight right now. Yeah,

(01:55:56):
well in State Battle and you know they're they're doing
really well in the first half of games, like there's
like fifty eight eighteen or you know, fifty five twenty two.
Like you know, again, the competition will will increase as
the season goes on. But yeah, I'm really excited for her.
She is similar to like a Destiny, you know Adams

(01:56:18):
in terms of like work great, Like Grace always works
so hard, almost too hard sometimes, and like she has
kind of reined the energy in so the efficiency can
go up. But I think that was also a product
of her having a lot on her shoulders and feeling
like she had to be the one, you know, on

(01:56:40):
a previous team to be like, I have to be
great tonight, I have to score twenty five thirty. With
Michigan State, there's talent all around her, there's versatility around her.
Hopefully that translates into her kind of settling in working
within the system and really showing her talent. Like I
mean again, she was. She was a top ten and recruit,

(01:57:00):
maybe even top five recruit coming out of high school,
and so there's nothing to say that she can't really
show showcase why we were so excited for her to
join the college games, so excited for her. She would
have been in the big regardless if she stayed at
Oregon or not, but excited for her to go to
Michigan State be under Robin Freelik, Like what's year two,

(01:57:23):
Robin Frey, Like, I mean, it's just excited to see
that a team and they still have Julia at Aroll
and Hallick. They got a lot of exciting players that
made you know, sixth Player of the Year you know
awards or first team All Big Julia last year. So
Michigan State eight people came out you know today this

(01:57:45):
morning on Monday, and they were right outside. They're another
team that should be ranked in my opinion, Like they
should have been ranked coming into the season. I get
why they weren't, but they're gonna be ranked and they're
gonna make some noise I predict non count but also
in the big as we get into early next year.

Speaker 2 (01:58:04):
Absolutely, let's transition out to talk about Tamayra Poindexter over
at Kansas State, who like, yes, for people who hadn't
watched Tulsa, like she's just such a versatile scorer and
forward I be least six foot one, but also plays
with like physicality too, like can play the four, can
play the three, and watching her at k State so far,

(01:58:27):
Like particularly the Belmont game was sick like, I mean,
she just went nuclear in that first half, finished with
twenty three points. I think she had nineteen in the
first half though, was just like absolutely unquirking. And but
I think it's so fun because you see how she
can add stuff offensively, but also just with her defense.

Speaker 1 (01:58:48):
Like that team is big.

Speaker 2 (01:58:49):
They have a ton of length, a ton of size.
Even if Ayoca leaves off the court. I love Kennedy Taylor.
Their their backup center. They brought it from Missouri State.
She's been really good. But with Tamaira just like a
player who honestly has the chance to get drafted if
she keeps playing like this, Like I think obviously she'd
stayed at Tulsa too, they would have been a chance
with that. But getting to see her come to this

(01:59:11):
level and produce early obviously, want to see that. I mean,
they played two good major teams in Belmont and green By.
Want to see that in higher Kampa like can block shots,
is going to be able to sit down and get
steals on the perimeter and play like that. But yeah,
I've I've really loved her addition.

Speaker 1 (01:59:26):
To this team so far. Yeah, Yeah, another player similar
to Grace that had to shoulder a lot at their
previous school where it was like we need you tomorrow
to drop twenty plus, like you to keep us in
these you know games where we're going against you know,
Power five schools or just a tough in conference opponent.
When she was at Tulsa and kind of going back

(01:59:51):
to you know, Yatu king in the transfer top transfer,
who's going to be the top transfer tomorrow was like
virtually on no lists. Part of that's because there's a
lot of great players transferring to other schools and it's
a lot of excitement around that. But I remember, you know,

(02:00:12):
being you know online and just waiting to see what
decisions you were making. When she picked k State, there's
a tweet out there somewhere. It's getting harder to search
for old tweets. Yeah, maybe that's a good thing. But receipts,
I'm a receipt I'm a big receipt person. I will
quote tweet myself into oblivion being like I said this
eighteen months ago, and I remember being excited about her

(02:00:34):
coming to K State and yeah right away, I mean
that Belmont game, I mean Aoka Lee didn't play I believe. Yeah,
And so Tomorrow got the start and Bellmont came out spicy,
like they were up the first in the first quarter,
they were, they were up on k State, and then
Tomorrow just said, Okay, I'm gonna take this game over.

(02:00:56):
And then she just went She just went off. And
if you didn't know who she was, you'd be like,
who is this player? Who? What what is she doing?
Like she's switching threes, she was playing with she was
playing with swag. She she turned that game around. And
that's only part of her game. Probably the game that
you know, the outside shooting that people don't even know.

(02:01:19):
And she's got this whole post repertoire, you know, in
there in defense making an impact. So yeah, again another
player that was like Addie Brown was not on the list,
and I get it, there's a lot of great players,
but she, whether she starts, whether she comes off the bench,
KSE State needed a player like I'm a big fan

(02:01:40):
of transfers now that we're in this transfer era of
like matching the gaps or strengthening an area of need
like based on I was a big k State fan.
I was early on k State last year. But what
doomed them last year was like shooting and being able
to you know, make those kind of keys stops when
Ayoka was in foul trouble or you know, just the

(02:02:03):
offense was jammed up, and having a player that is
as versatile as her, like I think, and other just
the improvement of other players around them around her, Like
I'm a big fan of k State. Those teams in
like ranked eighth to thirteenth right now are like really
good teams. Sometimes that group is like, eh, they're more

(02:02:25):
like a twenty to twenty five in the rankings, But
Iowa State, Maryland, Kansas State like those those are some
exciting teams with a lot of intriguing kind of breakout
you know, prospects.

Speaker 2 (02:02:39):
I agree a lot to believe in with that team,
especially to like, I mean, you know how I feel
about Sprience and del I think she's incredible and going
to be very good at the next levee.

Speaker 1 (02:02:47):
We're a big Serena fans, Yes.

Speaker 2 (02:02:48):
How could you not be? But yeah, to go on
to our next player, I do just want to talk
briefly about Gretchen Dolan because she was really good in
ill Noise first game against Florida State, and I just
think from a like you're talking about with a pure
like fit and need standpoint, like it Won really struggled

(02:03:09):
with bench scoring last year and just like having a
scoring punch outside their starting lineup and seeing Gretchen like
there were moments with her last year, like she really
showed progress as the year went on, and to see
her get to this point where it's like, oh, okay,
like you can like legit carry some offense for us,
and she just looked comfortable and confident and also did
some really good stuff defensively as well. I'm excited for

(02:03:31):
that because that's i mean, a big reason why Illinois
to and over right now against two pretty solid opponents.

Speaker 1 (02:03:38):
Yeah. Yeah, I'll just add that she's like Zam and
the acc again not starting lineups, and you know they'll
be shifts and changes and again hopefully not due to
two major injuries or players missing time. But if she's
the first one coming off the bench, obviously that you know,
Illinois has definitely one of the best backcourts in the

(02:03:58):
Big Ten and if they play to their potential, one
of the best backcourts in the country. Uh. And they
have Gretchen b number four, who also has that size,
to drive, and to to score at all three levels
play you know, match up against you know, uh, you know,
great scores from the opponents. She she could be a

(02:04:20):
sixth player of the Year in the Big in the
Big Ten. Again, there's other great candidates. But if I'm
fully on my my my hopium and like full breakout,
Gretchen has that talent. Another great highly you know tider
recruit in Illinois, Shauna's you know, Shawna's bringing some talent

(02:04:41):
to Champagne. So I'm I'm very excited about Gretchen Dolan.
I think that Florida State performance is really just, you know,
kind of the start of something special, not an outlier
of performance at all. And I think the message that
coach Green has gotten through to like shoot the ball, uh,
be aggressive, sounds like Gretchen is picking up that message.

(02:05:04):
So very excited if you're a Line I fan Big
Ten fan to see if they can keep it consistent
with Illinois. That's the key is like that bench scoring.
But if their players have their players have to play great.
They can't have up They can't really have off games,
you know. Kendle Bastik, Mkhiro Cook like one of them can.

(02:05:24):
But like not to So yeah, like that's the thing
with Illinois is like when they're all cooking, it's like
you know, like the teenage mutant Ninja Turtles or whatever.
It's just like the superpowers are just you can't stop
all of them. But when they're not clicking and kind
of making mental mistakes, that energy can can drop off,

(02:05:45):
which is why Gretchen becoming a contributing factor to this
team just relieves the pressure you know, from their from
their starting guards. So very excited for Gretchen.

Speaker 2 (02:05:56):
Yeah, that makes two of us because she is Yeah,
just I think I think especially too with talking on
the sixth player aspect, like so much of being a
six players like being good on a good team, and
Illinois starting off like this, it just it gets it rolling.
Let's goes out talking about Donovan Hunter, who, again another

(02:06:17):
player that we both love. Tall guards, but tall guards
that are confident in what they do and like really
are guards.

Speaker 1 (02:06:25):
She's kinda in my opinion, like she's.

Speaker 2 (02:06:28):
The kind of player who I think is going to
be the unsung hero to a degree of this TCU team,
much like she was for Oregon State last year. Like, yeah,
just a player who never played like a freshman at
all last year. Was very steady, very consistent, can take
on pretty much any defensive matchup and do it well.
Is going to be capable of knocking down open shots
on offense and also like just creating good effective offense

(02:06:51):
with the ball in her hands when running things herself.
And I'm really excited to see her play in like
a more uptempo system because obviously Oregon State's a lot
more like ball control playing and slow used to use
high pace, high tempo a lot of Like obviously Oregon
State was a very well balanced team, but like doing
it differently in a team that's going to prioritize more

(02:07:12):
of what they can do, you know, playing outside and
with movement, Like I'm very excited for Donvan with that,
and also like again not to make everything about going
to the pros, but like Donovan's a player I'm very
excited about as a pro because she is just she's
got a lot of stuff you can't teach.

Speaker 1 (02:07:28):
So I'm excited for this. Yeah, yeah, I mean another
player like some others we've talked about are right, Kennedy
Smith and like certain players that are very talented, but this,
if you just look at the game logs, the stat
lines of their games. They may not depending on that
that night, pop off the screen, but the intangibles and

(02:07:53):
the impact on both ends of the court. If you watch,
you will come away of being like, oh, yeah, she
might have scored six points, but she was clearly the
key to the to TCU being in that game, pulling
off that upset, you know, winning that game. What I
love is the I just was going through TCU's Twitter

(02:08:16):
women's basketball Twitter account, and there's just this one highlight
of Donovan Hunter this guarding a point guard just full
court or just like you know, they just have a
video of like forty five seconds of Donovan Hunter just
like looking into the soul of this opposing point guard
just guarding her. Like that's the highlight, the highlight. She
didn't steal it or anything, but she was just menacing, like,

(02:08:39):
you know, just scaring this you know, poor point guard
from you know, some team, and like that just kind
of represents Donovan Hunter for me. Like she can score
fifteen to twenty points a game. I mean, and she's
already had one game where she shot like seven threes.
She can dish out six to eight assists or more.
She can have four steals, she can block, but she

(02:09:01):
has that defensive intensity, just that overall intensity to our game,
the things like you mentioned, the things you can't teach.

Speaker 2 (02:09:09):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (02:09:09):
And she's just a sophomore, you know, And so if
if you're already saying like you can see skills that
translate to the W and she's got you know, another
two three years, it's pretty exciting. And so yeah, with
other guards that bring in at TCU that either have
more experience and or have more kind of national brand awareness,

(02:09:31):
you know, like a Hayley van Lift or Maddie Connor,
who's you know, a senior, she can kind of get
lost in the shuffle, but if you watch the games,
you will see her stand out. So very excited she
landed at TCU. Very excited to see you know what
she brings this season.

Speaker 2 (02:09:48):
Yeah, getting back to like just looking at so now
looking at players who are going to be at the top.

Speaker 1 (02:09:53):
So like, thinking of your.

Speaker 2 (02:09:55):
Players you might make first team All Conference, players who
are going to be ge attention to first of me,
bigger awards, not that these players aren't, but I think,
you know, and looking at some of that higher stuff.
I want to talk about Silas swards and what she
has done so far. And I also just talk about
that Michigan s C games all because we're also going
to talk about Klee Kids as our last player.

Speaker 1 (02:10:15):
But like with Sila, I mean, I think, to me,
I don't want.

Speaker 2 (02:10:20):
To sound like elitist, but like I'm not really surprised
by anything she's done, because Sila is just an incredible
basketball player. Like part of what's so fun with her
is that, you know, watching her at Louhigh, watching her
with the Canadian national team, watching her, you know, anywhere
she's played, her poison.

Speaker 1 (02:10:36):
Composure is just like ridiculous.

Speaker 2 (02:10:38):
I think that's what stands out about with her, stands
out with her always, like that stood out with her
against SC. I think like one of the most telling
things kind of like you mentioned with Jordan Hobbs off
the top, like when a player misses what happens, and
I think that's so telling, and watching her, like just
early on in the game, as Si has an awesome
drive to the rim, misses the layup but then right

(02:11:00):
away and gets it right back in and like little
things like that. It sounds small, but like seeing a
player who doesn't visibly get frustrated in a game like that,
like one of it's the game everybody was watching that day,
and like you're the recruit that everybody's watching that day,
and like being able to do that means a ton
tons of moments like that throughout that game. Her slashing
is like unreal, and I think part of what again,

(02:11:21):
she is like a true wing And I feel like
so many of the players you come in to the
W to the NCAA as in general, like aren't really
like built as wing players, Like they don't grow up
playing on the wing. They either have the ball in
their hands either via the post or as a lead
guard coming up, and like they don't always have the

(02:11:41):
I've been a wing my whole life type mentality, and
it's just very different, Like you don't think about it,
but it's different, Like you know, you you have different
ways of doing things and attacking and playing. And Silo
just knows how to play off the ball, but also
on the ball, Like she's very good out of ball screens,
already showed the stuff with confidence in her ring engineer
shot in general, and like always brings it on defense

(02:12:03):
and on the glass as well, like an all around
player who I think I mean is on track to
be a potential All Big Ten first team player this year.
It's gonna depend highly on how successful Michigan is, but
like I mean, absolutely contention for Freshman the year two.

Speaker 1 (02:12:18):
Like not saying that that I'm not, don't come at me,
but like that is very possible.

Speaker 2 (02:12:22):
Like with how well she's playing, She's she Sarah Joyce
all on like the same level. So I'm gonna be
fascinated to watch that continue playing out.

Speaker 1 (02:12:31):
Yeah, yeah, not too much to add. You've nail, you
nail pretty much all of it. Another one that had
international experience, and I think that that you can't account
for that and just how impactful that is, and just
to how the confidence and how she plays when you've
played against people that are five ten years older than
you for more than one game. Also just shout out

(02:12:53):
to Olivia Olsen, another highly recruit, you know, highly tated
recruit coming in. Like I think just the two of them,
paired with Jordan Hobbs and just that program, they're going
to have opportunity. And so it's exciting to see just
that next play mentality, that hard work, ethic, the combination
of those two things. So yeah, again, proud to have silent.

(02:13:15):
The Big Ten is very very good times here we are.
We are rich with talent.

Speaker 2 (02:13:20):
Absolutely, Let's close out now on Chloe Kids, who has
been played one game but has clearly been one of
the breakout players of the season so far. Obviously, I
mean South Carolina has so much that they can work
with in their front court, but I think again, continue
to have like you're not going to replace Camilla Cardoso,
but having somebody who can, who can be even more

(02:13:41):
of a focal point in the front court is going
to be fun to watch movie forward. And I think
Chloe showing what she did in that Michigan game, I
mean big reason that they won that game nineteen to fourteen.

Speaker 1 (02:13:49):
In that game was pretty much.

Speaker 2 (02:13:52):
Unstoppable against a slightly smaller front court in Michigan, but
still a good rebounding team.

Speaker 1 (02:13:59):
What did you like about her performance.

Speaker 2 (02:14:01):
And what she showed you know that she maybe hadn't
yet in her first two seasons, or that she's growing
in consistency with.

Speaker 1 (02:14:07):
Yeah, I mean again just kind of going to the
checking the preseason lists seeing who's on there. No disrespect
to the plus speciality SEC players like Madison Booker, who
I was on before she even got on campus last
year at Austin and being like Madison Booker will be
one of the most impactful first year players, and she

(02:14:28):
was you know, Flage, Anissa Morro all these great players.
SEC even does his second team, which not a lot
of conferences do. Chloe wasn't on that either. So like
I think Chloe just having another highly tied of recruit.
She was what, you know, seventeen to twenty that ended

(02:14:50):
the top twenty range of her class, a lot of
great players She's had to play behind, you know, and
so she can kind of get lost in the shuffle.
But her confidence, her range, her physicality, she's always had
the energy. She's always played like like I'm not scared
of anybody. But her skill set it continually gets better.

(02:15:13):
And anyone anyone who can do nineteen and fourteen in
a high profile game. And it wasn't like this like
how power, Like where is this coming from? Like you know,
there's just super efficient. It was like, oh, looking at
the end of the game stat line, I go, oh,
of course she got nineteen fourteen. It could have been

(02:15:35):
twenty eight, twenty. You know, I think she I like
players who come in highly I put a you know,
a high number on their recruiting line, but then because
of who they're playing with, they kind of get lost
and then fans are like, Eh, this person's washed or whatever,

(02:15:56):
like they don't give him a chance. And Chloe's one
of those players where it's like you forget Chloe is
a very good player, and now she's got opportunity, and
I think she has the ability to be the most
important player on that team, a team that has incredible players,
the most incredible players. I just think that her energy,

(02:16:21):
her ability to knock down outside shots when she can't drive,
her energy on the glass. I think she has the
ability to play. There's nothing that she can't do, like
at least at least average, but there's so many parts
of her game that are above average, and there's a
number of things where she's elite, and it's hard to

(02:16:43):
find that in one player that's been in one of
the best, if not the best system in college basketball.
So if she's out there, you're going to see her,
you're going to feel her. I got Chloe like first team,
you know, all SEC Like that's been my flag plant
for a player that's not on a preseason list. That's

(02:17:05):
gonna look, really, you know, stupid that they weren't on
a list. Is Chloe Kiits so all in, Chloe, let's
do this. Yeah, she's gonna be doing the work. I'm
gonna be watching, but I'm gonna take part of the
part of the you know, the win if she she
comes through.

Speaker 2 (02:17:22):
Well, yeah, it's funny because obviously, like we've talked about
a bunch, like I think, I mean, Chloe had the
numbers in that game. She's gonna have numbers throughout the season.
But like you're saying, like, I think, it's just frustrating.
I feel like so often these lists are done off
of numbers instead of impact, and like, granted, like you
have to you have to know and understand what you're
watching the assess impact, which I think is part of

(02:17:43):
it with respect, but like exactly like you watched the
numbers match the impact with with what she did in
that game. So I love that shout, and I agree.
I think absolutely somebody who should have been an All
SEC nomination before the season is looking very much so
like she's going to be on track for that this year.

(02:18:05):
But yeah, obviously we could not get to every single
player that we wanted to. I think if you and
I did that, this would have been like a five
six hour pod, maybe a little bit longer. If anybody
needs proof, we have a Google doc that shows that
that is the case.

Speaker 1 (02:18:20):
We It's only eleven pages and it could be more.
It could be more.

Speaker 2 (02:18:23):
Only eleven, but I mean to everyone listening, thank you
for listening. We had a great time doing this. Mike,
is there anything you want to plug before you get
out of here?

Speaker 1 (02:18:33):
Uh, Shay Holley, I'll use my plug. We gotta we
gotta mention Shay Holly listen. I wanted to, but we
were running. I was already seen, like there's more you've
already We'll be covering you know, you will definitely be
covering her. That's my plug. Is that Shay Holly. It's
gonna be amazing senior year player at Texas. Uh. And

(02:18:56):
this will not be the last time you hear about
her when it comes to bestball. Keep playing basketball, Shay.
That's my pitch, do not give up. There is a
pro future for you. Plug is a Shaye Holly plug. Yes,
one of my favorite Shas. There's a couple other Shaws
in the game, but you'll see that on Twitter. Yeah,

(02:19:18):
I think the other thing will be just at Michael
McGee on Twitter. If you want to see me talk
to myself about players I enjoy in teams I enjoy,
that would be the one plug. But this has been
a pleasure to finally be able to chat over video
and podcast about players that we've talked quite a bit about,
you know, on Twitter, DMS. So just so excited for

(02:19:41):
this season.

Speaker 2 (02:19:42):
Likewise, my man to everyone listening again, thank you for listening.
If you haven't already, go subscribe to the pod.

Speaker 1 (02:19:47):
Wherever you listen, hit subscribe down blowing YouTube channel.

Speaker 2 (02:19:50):
Be sure to like comment that really helps with us
getting seen more, and most importantly, enjoy the rest of
your day.

Speaker 1 (02:19:54):
We've got a lot of great games ahead.

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