March 17, 2025 • 18 mins
Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News and Fox Sports joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain to talk about North Carolina shockingly making the NCAA Tournament, the SEC’s amount of teams in, bubble teams left out, one interesting 5-12 game, and the 1 seeds.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for the latest on the madness of March.
Here's Hall of Fame college basketball writer for The Sporting
News and Fox Sports lead bracketologist Mike Decorsi, brought to
you by Northwest Handling Systems. From forklifts to pelletras conveyors
to loading duck equipment, we sell, rent and service all
your warehouse he needs. Request a quote today at NWHS
(00:23):
dot com or give us a call at four two
five two five five zero five hundred. Now with Mike Decorsi,
here's Softie and Dick.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
All right, big thanks for our friends at Northwest Handling Systems.
Check them out NWHS dot org on the web. Always
appreciate their help with the radio show. And this is
why Mike de Corsi, right now, right here today gets
paid the big bucks for moments and performances like this.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
When the whole world is listening.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
And screaming and yelling about their team getting screwed, underseated, overseeded,
left out entirely of the NCAA tournament, we turn the
voice of re and our friend Mike de COURSI.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Michael, how are you man?
Speaker 4 (01:04):
I am doing very well and I will tell you
guys that you have referred to the Big Bucks in
the past, and you refer to my outrageous demands.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
But I want to point out that, having.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Just learned that I finished in the top dozen of
the Bracket Matrix Challenge for the second time in four years.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Yes, that might that price might be going up. Guys,
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know what. I'll have our people talk to your people.
We'll figure it out. Because you're a you're a treasurer.
We can't lose you, we can't let you go. Well,
let's start at the top with the biggest story. Seemingly
right now. West Virginia's mayor is upset. He's threatening a lawsuit,
he wants an investigation. Mountaineers are out, Indiana fans are angry.
North Carolina, despite a one to twelve quad one record,
(01:52):
makes the NCAA Tournament, and apparently this is an outrage
across the country. Mike, that Carolina got in your thoughts.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
Well, it's pretty outrageous.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I mean, if we're going to do this, we should
be doing it right and placing a team into the
field that literally beat one other team that made it
and had literally eleven opportunities to do so, and beat
one of them, what are we doing?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
I mean it, it was.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
It was preposterous. Now, on Saturday, when I did my
bracket for Fox, I did daily up I do. I
do two a week starting in late December, and then
I do one every day starting Wednesday of selection week.
And when I posted my update on Saturday, I looked
through the numbers and I said, here's where they're gonna
stick it to everybody. They're gonna look at their predictive metrics,
(02:41):
to Ken Palm numbers. Uh, sort of like your it's
more of your performance, not whether you win or lose,
And they're gonna look at those and they're gonna say
that's why they're in. And so I put them in
the bracket. And then overnight Saturday night, I said.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
They can't be that bad. They can't do it. It's
so bad. The resume is sous.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
And I've been doing this for Fox. I've been doing
it for six years. We only had five tournaments. My
first year was twenty twenty, so I've been doing it
for six years. So I've been deeply, you know, all
neck deep in it then. But I was always at
least waist deep in it because I've covered college basketball
nationally for thirty years and on a daily basis for
(03:22):
three covering three different major programs before that, and so.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
It's always been something.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
And I can tell you I never remember a team
with less qualification to make the NCAA tournaments and that
large team than this.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I love that. Well, there's a that's that's a huge statement.
Speaker 6 (03:41):
There is a lot of onus, a lot of iyre
being directed at ad Bubba Cunningham of North Carolina being
the committee chairman, and I'm thinking, well, what Bubba didn't
know when he took this job that his team was
gonna be on the bubbles.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
So I guess I don't understand the iyre towards him.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
He's a convenient target. It's not his fault.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
He didn't vote, he wasn't participating in the deliberations.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
It's the other's fault.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
It's eleven, the other eleven people that were in that
room that got it wrong. And you know, honestly, you know,
people talk about if you look at on the on
the on Twitter now, they'll say people like to do
nice things for their friends, and that's kind.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Of but like I'll be honest with you. I mean,
I'm gonna be totally honest with you.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Like Sean Miller is somebody I have known for more
than thirty years.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
I covered him in high school, I covered him at pitt.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
You know, I really like him and and I'm probably
closer to him than all but one other coach in
terms of our you know, relationship is really good.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
And I didn't think Xavier belonged. I wouldn't have put
them in.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
I didn't have them in my bracket at any point.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Once they lost a marquette. I didn't think that they
that it warranted it. I got a lot of.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Guff from Xavier fans, but I mean, I just think
certain point, you don't do what's wrong just because it
benefits your friends.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
And I think that that's what happened here.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I think they did it because it was close and
they could do a solid for them.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I just still wonder if the UNC name carries too
much weight. Man, if it was Kansas State or San
Diego State that had that resume, would they be.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
In well, I mean san Diego State almost did.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
I mean, it wasn't that right.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I'm just saying, I'm just saying it not now, but
just I'm just picking two other teams besides, I know,
I mean, I'm just.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
But you know, Indiana is a huge name too, and
they like they were in the first four in twenty
twenty two, they played St.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
No not same marries. They played Saint Mary's after they
won that game, but they can't remember who they played
in the first four. It was a good game of
a lot of people watch it relative to the typical
first four audience.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
First four audience on a good day about a million
and a half people with Indiana, and it was close
to three and so they so that's a pretty big
attraction too.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
So I think that's part of it.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah, but I think I think it was more driven
by the fact that when he comes back in the room,
they all have to look him in the eye.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
And I don't think anybody wanted to disappoint him. But
first of all, because he's a really good guy.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
I mean, I've known him for twenty years and he's
a terrific guy. But even though I like him, I
still would say, Bubba, your dam wasn't good enough.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
Right, Yeah, Well, last thing on usc UNC, why do
you have him winning two games in the tournament your
bracket then?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Because these you know, honestly it's sort of the it's
sort of a half baked theory that I have, and
they happen to be in the right place in the
bracket for it to sort of deal good, to feel
somewhat good about it.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
Is that the team everybody gripes about the most.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, it's not.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
It always seems to win at least one the world
like that always works.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
Yeah, some of that. And they're not I mean, like
they're not awful at this sport. I mean they're not good,
but they're not awful.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
It's but they but they played in an awful league
and they beat off teams, sure, and when they played
good teams, they didn't beat them.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Well, I mean there's you know, do they belong in
the bracket and can they win a game or two?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Those are two different questions right now, no question.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
And one of them is to play an obviously, and
when and when.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
It happens that I'm to turn out to be right
about that and they win the game.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Yeah, two or maybe even three.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Don't believe it when everybody says, see that prove they belong.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
No, there, As you said, they're two different things.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Just because you don't you're in there doesn't mean you
deserve to be there and just need to win a game.
Doesn't prove that they will, right, It just proves that
you got the chance that someone else should have got
a hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Well, Mike de COURSI with us courtesy of our friends
at Northwest Handling Systems, and fourteen of the sixteen SEC
teams made the tournament. Eleven of sixteen in the Big
East in twenty eleven was the previous record. Now fourteen
in the SEC, And Mike, there's people out there that
just simply put think it's too many from one conference.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So what do you think.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
I can't I can't.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
I had Texas in I thought that they were done
after they lost to Oklahoma on the final day of
the regular season, and I.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
Thought that that was something.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
There's no elimination game, and as long as there's a
conference tournament, he played. But I thought that was that
was an innor out game at the time.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
And but then it.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Came back and they beat two tournament teams the week
of the SEC tournament, and they their resume compared to others,
and they beat seven NCAA tournament teams. Carolina beat one
with Xavier. I believe might have beaten two the numbers
on those It says to me, you know, some people say, well,
(08:40):
it's just because of the opportunity, but you got to
win the game, and it's not easy to do. And
when you're playing at a conference that's that deep and
every game is a grind like that, it's really hard.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
And what's probably going.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
To happen is a lot Well, first of all, there's
a lot of those teams, the Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas included,
are seeded to lose. But the other thing that often
happens when you're in a conference like that, as you
get into this deal and you're wood, you are exhausted,
you've got nothing left and that So like in twenty eleven,
you mentioned the Big East got eleven teams, they only
(09:16):
had two left by the Sweet sixteen, and interestingly each
of those played another Big East team to get there,
so it could have been zero, but it had to
be two.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
So it's it sort of shows historically.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Over time can palmerly his theory on this, and he's
noticed the same phenomenon. His theory on this is more
orienta toward the teams are getting worse.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
I don't think they're getting worse.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
I just think they're getting worn out when you have
to play in a league like that, and what ends
up happening is that you end up having to be
the absolute best version of yourself every night to have
a chance to win. And what you miss is the
ability to be flexible, the ability to.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
Say, Okay, what do we do on this night? What
do we do on that night?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And that's you can do that when you don't have
to survive every night.
Speaker 6 (10:10):
Mike de Coursey joining us, brought to you by Northwest
Handling Systems. Mike, how about the conference that may not
have gotten enough in? There are only four teams that
are seeded one through forty eight in KEMPALM that didn't
get in. Three of them are from the Big Ten,
the conference that you cover on a weekly basis.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Did the Big Ten get screwed?
Speaker 5 (10:31):
Well, certainly Indiana did.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Indiana should have been in along with West Virginia and
Xavier and North Carolina should not be in.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
I do think. I do wonder. Let me put it
that way.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
I do wonder if the fact that Indiana had already
made a move on its coach led them to say
they're not that happy with their team. How should we
be that happy with their team. Now that maybe a
little bit of that, but I thought that, I mean,
it's that shouldn't ever enter into it. I mean, Trey
Galloway didn't fire the coach, Anthony Leo didn't.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
Those guys played really hard to try to get in.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
They played, They got a match up in the Conference
Urnam against Oregon, which.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Is a better team than they were.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
They played well for a while and dadd late because
Oregon's better, and I thought by the end of that game,
they'd at least shown they were still competitive, and they'd
also shown through the course of the season that they
were if not, they certainly weren't the best team, but
they belonged among the.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Thirty seven at large teams and were not selected.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Okay, So either A, you're getting a ride on the
cart with the flashing light at the airport, or be
the flashing light cart just drove right by you.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
That's the gate. I think the gotch.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
I got Mike, the course is with us joining us
from the airport.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
He's obviously traveling.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
But Mike, let me ask you about where the upsets are,
because you know, Dick and I are looking for matchup
Nightmares for teams. Matchup problems for a team, and I
think we've found one with this twelve five u SE
San Diego Michigan game, where they're twenty five and seven
against the spread u SE San Diego. They're fourth in
the nation and steals. They average ten steals a game
(12:13):
and Michigan is terrible at handling the ball. If we're
looking for a bad matchup for Michigan at a twelve
to five winner, is that it right there?
Speaker 5 (12:22):
That could be one. I do think that they are
somewhat vulnerable.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
They have turned the ball over a lot. They did
not do it as much over the weekend. They have
been better in that department over the last month. They've
backslid a few times, but for the most part, they
have been better over the last month in that area.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
But Danny Woolf has to be great. I think he's
one of.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
The most underrated players in the country. To me, he
and Kadari Richmond are the two most underrated players in
the country because I don't think the ability to make
plays at a plus size. For Kadari at Saint John's,
he's a six to six point guard. For Danny's a
seven foot forward who can who creates offense, he has
to be great. And and when he is as he
(13:06):
was he was, he was brilliant on Saturday, and he
was very good yesterday. When when he does those things,
they're hard to take away. And I don't think that
that San Diego has seen anybody like him, No, unless
you've played against them, no one, No one has. So
that will be a challenge for the Tritons. I think
that's how you pronounce it. One of the unusual nicknames
(13:27):
in the in the conference, in the tournament.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
Excuse me, but.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I'm I'm looking forward to that. I'm I mean, I'm
looking forward to the match up but six' eleven Between
missouri And. Drake missouri a team that has scored over
one HUNDRED i believe twice in the last three, weeks And,
drake which is the True drake is the literal slowest
team in college. Basketball they also are thirty and. Three
(13:52):
and when you the difference between when when you when
you want to slow a team down as a basketball, Team,
uh it's, hard you know.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
You it's hard to speed those slow teams.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Up, yes a slow team can speed, up can slow
down a fast, team but a fast team can't speed
up a slow, Team so the battle of pace is
probably going to be won By.
Speaker 5 (14:12):
Drake and how Does mazoo deal with?
Speaker 6 (14:15):
That mike give us The cooper flag injury Impact and
should he just sit game one of the tournament against
the sixteen, seed regardless if he if he could go or,
not just to give him a couple extra days with that.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
Ankle, YEAH i think THAT i think he.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Could he could just get a little time in that.
One they, Should they should handle it with no. Trouble
BUT i do think it would be good for him
if it's if it's not, bad then it would be
good for him to get a little. Time at the very,
least he has to Play. Sunday, yes they you. Can't
you you can't expect to put a player like that
back into the, lineup back into the, rotation back into
(14:54):
his role in the sweet sixteen, level and, Expect, okay
everything's going to be. Great now we're going to be
the same team for four games as we were for
forty before.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
This you can't do.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
That so if they're going to win, it he's got
to Play. Sunday if he doesn't Play, Friday i'm not.
Bothered but if he doesn't Play, sunday then my pick
For duke to win The National championship starts to.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Wobble Houston Duke florida At, auburn which number one seed
does not survive the, weekend in your, opinion.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
Not survive this.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
WEEKEND i think if if one of them doesn't, SURVIVE
i think it might be. OFFERED i think they all,
HONESTLY i think they all will make, it AND i
think goburns a tremendous. Team BUT i thought their matchup
WHEN i saw, IT i, mean there's a possibility they
have to play the single most other than the teams
that were left, out the teams that are in the
(15:46):
field Of louisville is the most underseeded by probably three,
lines two to three. LINES i think the consensus had
them at a. SIX i had them as a, five
and they wound up an. Eight an egregious, decision not
obviously as egregious as not being allowed to play in
(16:07):
it if you were, qualified but one that's inexplicable for
a committee that, said oh, gosh just walking into the
gym and THE acc is so good that if You're.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
Carolina you get.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
In, meanwhile the team that excelled in the league and
played in the conference final and Gave duke a game
for a, while gets an eight, seat and it didn't
make any sense at. All their resume metrics were averaged
out to eleventh best in the country and they got
the equivalent of the twenty ninth best.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
Seat who Like who's doo in the mass?
Speaker 6 (16:38):
There mike the streak of nine straight years For gonzaga
in The sweet, sixteen at least, statistically says it's going
to come to an, end potentially Against houston in the second.
Round does it come to an? End or or do
they have a puncher's chance against The? Cougars?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
OH i think the fact that they have really good
players like Nem hard and grahamy K uh so many.
OTHERS i think they have a. CHANCE i, mean did
did The Saint mary's thing happen Because Saint mary's just
didn't have it for a third? Time or did we
finally see The gonzaga that we've been waiting to see
(17:14):
all year because they've got good, players but they have
not been they HAVE i don't think there have been many.
Times this is this is maybe the first time ever
said this about a. Team mark Coach, Uh they they
at this point have it took so long for them
to find, that for them to find that that.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Feel so maybe that's who they are.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Now and it's possible because they've all played together a ton,
NOW i mean E k has been together with, Them
hart and the rest of those. Guys, uh they've got
veterans who've been there for four. Years so maybe they
figured it. Out and that's the danger really For. Houston
If gonzaga figured it. Out houston got a tough.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
Draw but at the same, time that's where The. Zags
that's what The zags. EARNED i MEAN i had them
as an eighth for a month and a. Half that's
what they. Earned but it is a tough, deal no,
doubt potentially For.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Houston, Hey, mike before you, go we got like thirty.
Seconds do you have your final? Four can you share
it with?
Speaker 5 (18:12):
US i?
Speaker 4 (18:13):
CAN i Have, Florida Michigan, State tennessee And, duke and
THEN i Have duke Playing florida for The national championship
And duke hanging the.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Band?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Gotcha all, Right we'll see great, stuff, Man we're talking a, week,
buddy appreciate.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
It poal travel, safe all, right, thanks thanks. Fellas All,
Right mike.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
De corsi with us on the radio show Of, Florida Michigan, State.
Tennessee duke is his final. Form by the, way just
for giggles here at the Embra Quin, Casino Michigan, states
plus twenty five hundred to, win the whole thing might
be worth ten. Bucks with the, hell we need help
in filling out our bracket because we're gonna give some
prizes away courtesy of THE. Eqc we'll do that next
on ninety three three kJ arfm
It's time for the latest on the madness of March.
Here's Hall of Fame college basketball writer for The Sporting
News and Fox Sports lead bracketologist Mike Decorsi, brought to
you by Northwest Handling Systems. From forklifts to pelletras conveyors
to loading duck equipment, we sell, rent and service all
your warehouse he needs. Request a quote today at NWHS
(00:23):
dot com or give us a call at four two
five two five five zero five hundred. Now with Mike Decorsi,
here's Softie and Dick.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
All right, big thanks for our friends at Northwest Handling Systems.
Check them out NWHS dot org on the web. Always
appreciate their help with the radio show. And this is
why Mike de Corsi, right now, right here today gets
paid the big bucks for moments and performances like this.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
When the whole world is listening.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
And screaming and yelling about their team getting screwed, underseated, overseeded,
left out entirely of the NCAA tournament, we turn the
voice of re and our friend Mike de COURSI.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Michael, how are you man?
Speaker 4 (01:04):
I am doing very well and I will tell you
guys that you have referred to the Big Bucks in
the past, and you refer to my outrageous demands.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
But I want to point out that, having.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Just learned that I finished in the top dozen of
the Bracket Matrix Challenge for the second time in four years.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Yes, that might that price might be going up. Guys,
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know what. I'll have our people talk to your people.
We'll figure it out. Because you're a you're a treasurer.
We can't lose you, we can't let you go. Well,
let's start at the top with the biggest story. Seemingly
right now. West Virginia's mayor is upset. He's threatening a lawsuit,
he wants an investigation. Mountaineers are out, Indiana fans are angry.
North Carolina, despite a one to twelve quad one record,
(01:52):
makes the NCAA Tournament, and apparently this is an outrage
across the country. Mike, that Carolina got in your thoughts.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
Well, it's pretty outrageous.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I mean, if we're going to do this, we should
be doing it right and placing a team into the
field that literally beat one other team that made it
and had literally eleven opportunities to do so, and beat
one of them, what are we doing?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
I mean it, it was.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
It was preposterous. Now, on Saturday, when I did my
bracket for Fox, I did daily up I do. I
do two a week starting in late December, and then
I do one every day starting Wednesday of selection week.
And when I posted my update on Saturday, I looked
through the numbers and I said, here's where they're gonna
stick it to everybody. They're gonna look at their predictive metrics,
(02:41):
to Ken Palm numbers. Uh, sort of like your it's
more of your performance, not whether you win or lose,
And they're gonna look at those and they're gonna say
that's why they're in. And so I put them in
the bracket. And then overnight Saturday night, I said.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
They can't be that bad. They can't do it. It's
so bad. The resume is sous.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
And I've been doing this for Fox. I've been doing
it for six years. We only had five tournaments. My
first year was twenty twenty, so I've been doing it
for six years. So I've been deeply, you know, all
neck deep in it then. But I was always at
least waist deep in it because I've covered college basketball
nationally for thirty years and on a daily basis for
(03:22):
three covering three different major programs before that, and so.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
It's always been something.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
And I can tell you I never remember a team
with less qualification to make the NCAA tournaments and that
large team than this.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I love that. Well, there's a that's that's a huge statement.
Speaker 6 (03:41):
There is a lot of onus, a lot of iyre
being directed at ad Bubba Cunningham of North Carolina being
the committee chairman, and I'm thinking, well, what Bubba didn't
know when he took this job that his team was
gonna be on the bubbles.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
So I guess I don't understand the iyre towards him.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
He's a convenient target. It's not his fault.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
He didn't vote, he wasn't participating in the deliberations.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
It's the other's fault.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
It's eleven, the other eleven people that were in that
room that got it wrong. And you know, honestly, you know,
people talk about if you look at on the on
the on Twitter now, they'll say people like to do
nice things for their friends, and that's kind.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Of but like I'll be honest with you. I mean,
I'm gonna be totally honest with you.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Like Sean Miller is somebody I have known for more
than thirty years.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
I covered him in high school, I covered him at pitt.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
You know, I really like him and and I'm probably
closer to him than all but one other coach in
terms of our you know, relationship is really good.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
And I didn't think Xavier belonged. I wouldn't have put
them in.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
I didn't have them in my bracket at any point.
Speaker 5 (04:51):
Once they lost a marquette. I didn't think that they
that it warranted it. I got a lot of.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Guff from Xavier fans, but I mean, I just think
certain point, you don't do what's wrong just because it
benefits your friends.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
And I think that that's what happened here.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I think they did it because it was close and
they could do a solid for them.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I just still wonder if the UNC name carries too
much weight. Man, if it was Kansas State or San
Diego State that had that resume, would they be.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
In well, I mean san Diego State almost did.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
I mean, it wasn't that right.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I'm just saying, I'm just saying it not now, but
just I'm just picking two other teams besides, I know,
I mean, I'm just.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
But you know, Indiana is a huge name too, and
they like they were in the first four in twenty
twenty two, they played St.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
No not same marries. They played Saint Mary's after they
won that game, but they can't remember who they played
in the first four. It was a good game of
a lot of people watch it relative to the typical
first four audience.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
First four audience on a good day about a million
and a half people with Indiana, and it was close
to three and so they so that's a pretty big
attraction too.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
So I think that's part of it.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah, but I think I think it was more driven
by the fact that when he comes back in the room,
they all have to look him in the eye.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
And I don't think anybody wanted to disappoint him. But
first of all, because he's a really good guy.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
I mean, I've known him for twenty years and he's
a terrific guy. But even though I like him, I
still would say, Bubba, your dam wasn't good enough.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
Right, Yeah, Well, last thing on usc UNC, why do
you have him winning two games in the tournament your
bracket then?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Because these you know, honestly it's sort of the it's
sort of a half baked theory that I have, and
they happen to be in the right place in the
bracket for it to sort of deal good, to feel
somewhat good about it.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
Is that the team everybody gripes about the most.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, it's not.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
It always seems to win at least one the world
like that always works.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
Yeah, some of that. And they're not I mean, like
they're not awful at this sport. I mean they're not good,
but they're not awful.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
It's but they but they played in an awful league
and they beat off teams, sure, and when they played
good teams, they didn't beat them.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Well, I mean there's you know, do they belong in
the bracket and can they win a game or two?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Those are two different questions right now, no question.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
And one of them is to play an obviously, and
when and when.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
It happens that I'm to turn out to be right
about that and they win the game.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Yeah, two or maybe even three.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Don't believe it when everybody says, see that prove they belong.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
No, there, As you said, they're two different things.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Just because you don't you're in there doesn't mean you
deserve to be there and just need to win a game.
Doesn't prove that they will, right, It just proves that
you got the chance that someone else should have got
a hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Well, Mike de COURSI with us courtesy of our friends
at Northwest Handling Systems, and fourteen of the sixteen SEC
teams made the tournament. Eleven of sixteen in the Big
East in twenty eleven was the previous record. Now fourteen
in the SEC, And Mike, there's people out there that
just simply put think it's too many from one conference.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So what do you think.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
I can't I can't.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
I had Texas in I thought that they were done
after they lost to Oklahoma on the final day of
the regular season, and I.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
Thought that that was something.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
There's no elimination game, and as long as there's a
conference tournament, he played. But I thought that was that
was an innor out game at the time.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
And but then it.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Came back and they beat two tournament teams the week
of the SEC tournament, and they their resume compared to others,
and they beat seven NCAA tournament teams. Carolina beat one
with Xavier. I believe might have beaten two the numbers
on those It says to me, you know, some people say, well,
(08:40):
it's just because of the opportunity, but you got to
win the game, and it's not easy to do. And
when you're playing at a conference that's that deep and
every game is a grind like that, it's really hard.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
And what's probably going.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
To happen is a lot Well, first of all, there's
a lot of those teams, the Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas included,
are seeded to lose. But the other thing that often
happens when you're in a conference like that, as you
get into this deal and you're wood, you are exhausted,
you've got nothing left and that So like in twenty eleven,
you mentioned the Big East got eleven teams, they only
(09:16):
had two left by the Sweet sixteen, and interestingly each
of those played another Big East team to get there,
so it could have been zero, but it had to
be two.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
So it's it sort of shows historically.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Over time can palmerly his theory on this, and he's
noticed the same phenomenon. His theory on this is more
orienta toward the teams are getting worse.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
I don't think they're getting worse.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
I just think they're getting worn out when you have
to play in a league like that, and what ends
up happening is that you end up having to be
the absolute best version of yourself every night to have
a chance to win. And what you miss is the
ability to be flexible, the ability to.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
Say, Okay, what do we do on this night? What
do we do on that night?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And that's you can do that when you don't have
to survive every night.
Speaker 6 (10:10):
Mike de Coursey joining us, brought to you by Northwest
Handling Systems. Mike, how about the conference that may not
have gotten enough in? There are only four teams that
are seeded one through forty eight in KEMPALM that didn't
get in. Three of them are from the Big Ten,
the conference that you cover on a weekly basis.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Did the Big Ten get screwed?
Speaker 5 (10:31):
Well, certainly Indiana did.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Indiana should have been in along with West Virginia and
Xavier and North Carolina should not be in.
Speaker 5 (10:41):
I do think. I do wonder. Let me put it
that way.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
I do wonder if the fact that Indiana had already
made a move on its coach led them to say
they're not that happy with their team. How should we
be that happy with their team. Now that maybe a
little bit of that, but I thought that, I mean,
it's that shouldn't ever enter into it. I mean, Trey
Galloway didn't fire the coach, Anthony Leo didn't.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
Those guys played really hard to try to get in.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
They played, They got a match up in the Conference
Urnam against Oregon, which.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
Is a better team than they were.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
They played well for a while and dadd late because
Oregon's better, and I thought by the end of that game,
they'd at least shown they were still competitive, and they'd
also shown through the course of the season that they
were if not, they certainly weren't the best team, but
they belonged among the.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Thirty seven at large teams and were not selected.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Okay, So either A, you're getting a ride on the
cart with the flashing light at the airport, or be
the flashing light cart just drove right by you.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
That's the gate. I think the gotch.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
I got Mike, the course is with us joining us
from the airport.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
He's obviously traveling.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
But Mike, let me ask you about where the upsets are,
because you know, Dick and I are looking for matchup
Nightmares for teams. Matchup problems for a team, and I
think we've found one with this twelve five u SE
San Diego Michigan game, where they're twenty five and seven
against the spread u SE San Diego. They're fourth in
the nation and steals. They average ten steals a game
(12:13):
and Michigan is terrible at handling the ball. If we're
looking for a bad matchup for Michigan at a twelve
to five winner, is that it right there?
Speaker 5 (12:22):
That could be one. I do think that they are
somewhat vulnerable.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
They have turned the ball over a lot. They did
not do it as much over the weekend. They have
been better in that department over the last month. They've
backslid a few times, but for the most part, they
have been better over the last month in that area.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
But Danny Woolf has to be great. I think he's
one of.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
The most underrated players in the country. To me, he
and Kadari Richmond are the two most underrated players in
the country because I don't think the ability to make
plays at a plus size. For Kadari at Saint John's,
he's a six to six point guard. For Danny's a
seven foot forward who can who creates offense, he has
to be great. And and when he is as he
(13:06):
was he was, he was brilliant on Saturday, and he
was very good yesterday. When when he does those things,
they're hard to take away. And I don't think that
that San Diego has seen anybody like him, No, unless
you've played against them, no one, No one has. So
that will be a challenge for the Tritons. I think
that's how you pronounce it. One of the unusual nicknames
(13:27):
in the in the conference, in the tournament.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
Excuse me, but.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I'm I'm looking forward to that. I'm I mean, I'm
looking forward to the match up but six' eleven Between
missouri And. Drake missouri a team that has scored over
one HUNDRED i believe twice in the last three, weeks And,
drake which is the True drake is the literal slowest
team in college. Basketball they also are thirty and. Three
(13:52):
and when you the difference between when when you when
you want to slow a team down as a basketball, Team,
uh it's, hard you know.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
You it's hard to speed those slow teams.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Up, yes a slow team can speed, up can slow
down a fast, team but a fast team can't speed
up a slow, Team so the battle of pace is
probably going to be won By.
Speaker 5 (14:12):
Drake and how Does mazoo deal with?
Speaker 6 (14:15):
That mike give us The cooper flag injury Impact and
should he just sit game one of the tournament against
the sixteen, seed regardless if he if he could go or,
not just to give him a couple extra days with that.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
Ankle, YEAH i think THAT i think he.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Could he could just get a little time in that.
One they, Should they should handle it with no. Trouble
BUT i do think it would be good for him
if it's if it's not, bad then it would be
good for him to get a little. Time at the very,
least he has to Play. Sunday, yes they you. Can't
you you can't expect to put a player like that
back into the, lineup back into the, rotation back into
(14:54):
his role in the sweet sixteen, level and, Expect, okay
everything's going to be. Great now we're going to be
the same team for four games as we were for
forty before.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
This you can't do.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
That so if they're going to win, it he's got
to Play. Sunday if he doesn't Play, Friday i'm not.
Bothered but if he doesn't Play, sunday then my pick
For duke to win The National championship starts to.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Wobble Houston Duke florida At, auburn which number one seed
does not survive the, weekend in your, opinion.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
Not survive this.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
WEEKEND i think if if one of them doesn't, SURVIVE
i think it might be. OFFERED i think they all,
HONESTLY i think they all will make, it AND i
think goburns a tremendous. Team BUT i thought their matchup
WHEN i saw, IT i, mean there's a possibility they
have to play the single most other than the teams
that were left, out the teams that are in the
(15:46):
field Of louisville is the most underseeded by probably three,
lines two to three. LINES i think the consensus had
them at a. SIX i had them as a, five
and they wound up an. Eight an egregious, decision not
obviously as egregious as not being allowed to play in
(16:07):
it if you were, qualified but one that's inexplicable for
a committee that, said oh, gosh just walking into the
gym and THE acc is so good that if You're.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
Carolina you get.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
In, meanwhile the team that excelled in the league and
played in the conference final and Gave duke a game
for a, while gets an eight, seat and it didn't
make any sense at. All their resume metrics were averaged
out to eleventh best in the country and they got
the equivalent of the twenty ninth best.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
Seat who Like who's doo in the mass?
Speaker 6 (16:38):
There mike the streak of nine straight years For gonzaga
in The sweet, sixteen at least, statistically says it's going
to come to an, end potentially Against houston in the second.
Round does it come to an? End or or do
they have a puncher's chance against The? Cougars?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
OH i think the fact that they have really good
players like Nem hard and grahamy K uh so many.
OTHERS i think they have a. CHANCE i, mean did
did The Saint mary's thing happen Because Saint mary's just
didn't have it for a third? Time or did we
finally see The gonzaga that we've been waiting to see
(17:14):
all year because they've got good, players but they have
not been they HAVE i don't think there have been many.
Times this is this is maybe the first time ever
said this about a. Team mark Coach, Uh they they
at this point have it took so long for them
to find, that for them to find that that.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Feel so maybe that's who they are.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Now and it's possible because they've all played together a ton,
NOW i mean E k has been together with, Them
hart and the rest of those. Guys, uh they've got
veterans who've been there for four. Years so maybe they
figured it. Out and that's the danger really For. Houston
If gonzaga figured it. Out houston got a tough.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
Draw but at the same, time that's where The. Zags
that's what The zags. EARNED i MEAN i had them
as an eighth for a month and a. Half that's
what they. Earned but it is a tough, deal no,
doubt potentially For.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Houston, Hey, mike before you, go we got like thirty.
Seconds do you have your final? Four can you share
it with?
Speaker 5 (18:12):
US i?
Speaker 4 (18:13):
CAN i Have, Florida Michigan, State tennessee And, duke and
THEN i Have duke Playing florida for The national championship
And duke hanging the.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Band?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Gotcha all, Right we'll see great, stuff, Man we're talking a, week,
buddy appreciate.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
It poal travel, safe all, right, thanks thanks. Fellas All,
Right mike.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
De corsi with us on the radio show Of, Florida Michigan, State.
Tennessee duke is his final. Form by the, way just
for giggles here at the Embra Quin, Casino Michigan, states
plus twenty five hundred to, win the whole thing might
be worth ten. Bucks with the, hell we need help
in filling out our bracket because we're gonna give some
prizes away courtesy of THE. Eqc we'll do that next
on ninety three three kJ arfm
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