February 23, 2022 • 31 mins
Coach Chris Walker of CBS @CWalkerSports joins the podcast. Coach and Gus discuss: Texas Tech, Hofstra, The Mountain West, Beyond the Boxscore Broadcasts, Big Body Roddy, Providence and Villanova. Please explore Coach's book The Ten Super Powers and The BIG Big East Podcast...cheers!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:16):
Welcome to the Screen the Screen orCollege Basketball podcast with your hosts Mike Randall
and Gus Kearns. Welcome and listenersto the Screen, the Screen or College
Basketball podcast where we're always talking everythingcollege hoops. Could have been anywhere else
in the dial, but he choseto be here with us Mike and Gus,
and today we have a special guest, Chris Walker. Coach Chris Walker.
(00:36):
You have probably seen his face atthe desk on CBS and maybe even
on the call for a few MountainWest games a coach. Thank you so
much for giving the podcast a littletime here. How's everything going on your
end? Oh? Everything is greatsitting here and there. I always say
the great state of New York,even though I'm from Texas, having a
(00:57):
great view right now the Empire StateBuilding the Hudson River. So and I
had a day off today, sogladly glad to spend it with you guys.
So I appreciate you guys give mean opportunity to come on absolutely and
please give coach a follow over atSea Walker Sports on Twitter. And please
check out the Big Biggie Show podcastthat Chris is involved with in co hosts
(01:19):
so definitely check those couple of placesout. Coach, let's just dive right
in. You have covered an unbelievableamount of ground during your college basketball career
arc and you've been voluminous, forlack of a better term, We'll try
to touch all the bases. Let'sstart with the recent success over at CBS
Sports. You've been on the callfor some of the finest Mountain West teams
and players. We love David Roddyover here. Give us a player scouting
(01:42):
report or what team you think isreally March ready within that conference since you've
seen them firsthand. That's a goodone, obviously. I love I want
to take credit for it, eventhough other people are now naming him big
Body Roddy. I think I wasthe first one to call him that last
year. Okay, but but Ilove David Roddy had some time again.
(02:02):
I did the Fresnel State Colorado Stategame, and he was a joy to
spend time with. A tremendous kid, I mean, a very good player.
I'm telling me, if you've gota chance to spend five minutes with
him, I told him, notgetting my job, so stop that,
you know, because you're very,very very loquacious and elocutes his points well.
So he's a great kid. Butyou got to talk about Graham e
K and Hunter Mooninado from Wyoming.Obviously, Orlando Robinson a big time player
(02:28):
even though Fresnels stay the struggles.As of late, I recruited Matt Bradley
at cal Berkeley and he's the oneshining light of San Diego State, which
seems to be hitting their stride now. And how can we not forget about
Bryce Hamilton who put forty two onColorado's State at home and actually just they
just beat them the other day,so I mean like they're they're really playing
(02:50):
well. So I hope I don'twant to leave anyone out, but justin
being a walking double double, Imean, there's just so many good players,
and the Mountain West, I'll tellyou this has caught people by surprise
this year. You know, everyonewas talking about the WCC, No one
was talking about Arizona when Tommy Lloydgot the job and the thirteen freshmen,
and all of a sudden, theMountain West. Now obviously President State hasn't
(03:14):
helped their case the last few weeks, but they've been playing in tough games,
you know, there's a chance towin quad one games, but there's
also a chance you're playing really goodteams. So and I'll tell you the
team that people need to watch outfor you on nov They're starting to play
well and guess what the Mountain WestTournament is in Vegas. I don't know
if they will be a bit,they won't be a spoiler for the league
(03:35):
because I think boys, the stateis firmly in, Colorado State is firmly
in. San Diego State's got somework to do, but I think they'll
be in, and Woman's definitely in. UNLV has to win the tournament to
get in the space that but theycould they could hurt somebody if it gets
tight, and that maybe Colorado Stateif it gets really tight. Well,
we just saw that UNLV finished theseason sweep for Colorado State. And you
(04:00):
mentioned Bryce. He went bananas inthat one game. I think you know
you mentioned he dropped a forty spot. He is an absolute game changer and
he could be a tournament wrecker ifyou know, if he gets on one
of those roles. Again, Um, excellent scattering report, and you were
right, like Utah State got offearly and then Fresno State had their moment
and was in the discussion. Andnow those two teams find themselves battling almost
each other, and you are correctly, stutely pointed out there's an opportunity that
(04:25):
exists in South the Mountain West thatdidn't exist in seasons prior. So the
fact that these teams could get rightwith themselves, I think only enhances that
particular conference. I'll tell you this, I coached that league in two thousand,
coach with Steve Alford in that leagueat New Mexico coach Jared Gettings.
I don't know if you remember beingwith er, Yeah, Darrington Hobson and
(04:46):
for a few years, and wehad great Cameron, Cameron Barstol. They
had great success Kenda Williams and Ithink they got five in like twoy thirteen,
and this may be a year thatequal that. But I think this
Mountain West, this is the mostcompetitive year the Mountain West has ever had.
For sure. I couldn't agree withyou more, Chris. I think
(05:06):
that that that New Mexico team gotthat three seed. I don't know if
you're going to see a Mountain Westteam that gets see that that's hot that
high, but we will see.I think the cumulative factor of the of
the conference, like filling up theBracken March, which will be great to
see. I'm a huge fan.All right, Chris, you launched the
Big Biggie Show Good podcast for collegebasketball listeners out there. Please go give
(05:30):
that a listen and a follow.Your Nova roots and your knowledge are really
enhancing this podcast. So let's let'sjust break down the Big East of tiny
bit here. First question is isProvidence for real and are they the team
that might surprise in MARCHA? Doyou have your have you identified another team
withinside the Big East that maybe couldget things rolling. I'm going to really,
really, really really be very honestand fight my bias about the Nova
(05:56):
Wildcats and Jake there. I admirethe bat having worked there, but you
know, Ed Cooley's a friend.He's done a tremendous job. The transfer
portal has helped a lot of people, right. The COVID year has helped
people, and that is what hashelped Providence with Norah Herckler and Nick Watson,
those two kids, I mean,you lose those two kids. Providence
(06:17):
isn't the same. No disrespect toEd Cooley, but it has changed the
game you know, and so keepingthat stability, uh inside, and look
what's happening for their season, whichmeans that having seniors matter, you know,
having upperclassmen matter. And I thinkthat they have a chance now.
They've been you know, teetering on, you know, being upset by De
(06:38):
Paul and Butler. But it's alsothe mark of a good team where you
can your guys go in like,oh, we're gonna get this done,
and they just fight through it andget it done. You know. That's
that's the mark of a very goodprogram. Or you can say, you
know, I don't know if I'mbuying these guys now, what's going to
happen? Is to your point orto your question, can Providence upset people
(07:00):
in the NSA Tournament? The questionthat the answer is yes, because as
I mentioned before, their experienced,right, they're very experienced, and I
think the guard play really helps themas well. They can make shocks and
again they have a bunch of guyswho's been there before. And I think
that the Providence fans are ready toget to the second round of the NSA
Tournament and make a Sweet sixteen runlike they've done in years past. But
(07:21):
as far as the team that hasthe highest sailing. I think it's Villanova
without question. There's a huge gameif they whole serve and Providence whole serve.
The last game of the year,I think they play at the cat
House and either the fan or wellSpargo for the for then not for the
championship. It depends on what Providencedoesn't. Bill Over does, but that
that game will be huge and bigEast in the Big East. But I'll
(07:44):
say this, billan Over and Italked to Jerry Palm the other day when
we're in the bullpen a CBS.Let's say, Jerry, we're gonna disagree
on a lot of things. Okay, you and your numbers. I get
it. You know. He wrotesome things down to me that made zero
sense, that made zero sense.And I say, that's why you have
this your spot and I have mine. But what I will say, does
Villanova have a chance to be onthe one line? And I said,
(08:05):
he said it will take a lot. I said, okay, Villanova one
out one of the biggist one ofthe Big East Tournament. Do they have
a chance to build a one linecoming from the league with seven bids?
And they just said it will takea lot, and I'm gonna tell you
something. I'm tell you something.A lot's going to happen between now and
then, so we don't see whathappens. But you don't want to play
Jay Wright in the final four?Come on, I mean not in the
(08:28):
end State tournament. You know,Hall of Fame coach, very discipline,
they don't beat themselves, they makethrees, They're very experienced. So I
would have to say again my bias. I kept it back as long as
I kept the baby as long asI could. But Villanova's easily the team
that has a chance to make noise. They make the most noise in the
Big East. We appreciate the battleagainst you did all right. And by
(08:50):
the way, when speaking Jerry Pottamand the bracket release show, we saw
that Villanova was slotted to play atPhiladelphia in the Wells far Ago if they
are in that particular region, whichwould be an unbelievable advantage for cash fans
everywhere. Yeah, oh it willbe. I listen, I'm just telling
you right now. But here's atrick to it. I don't want to
(09:11):
make this Villainova centric. But jayWright played the hardest schedule. I believe
in the country. He played Ucla, Ucla, he played per Due as
well, and he played the Knicks. I think so he played everybody that
he could play, knowing that thiswas going to be a tough season.
They don't have the star power theyusually have. But in the Antia Tournament,
you don't need star power. Youneed experience, and you need a
(09:31):
very experienced coach, and he needssome toughness and guys that can make shots,
and that's what they can do.They do, they certainly have that.
Let's stick in the Big East,Chris, what player do you think
that you've seen cross paths with,seen in person, Botch some film on
that could just blow up a gameor a bracket in March? What player
(09:52):
holds that type of skill set andthat type of will where his offensive influence
or defensive influence absolutely blow up agame, create an upset, or maybe
even blow up a bracket. Youknow, I was gonna say, when
you practace the question that way,I don't know if Saint John's will make
the tournament and they have to doa lot of a lot of damage.
I was gonna say Julian Champenney,because I mean, he's just an old
(10:15):
school player that could get it done. But if you're talking about the teams,
I think that's firmly in the tournament. Someone who has a chance to
make an impact. I gotta gowith Julian Lewis from Marquette. I think
that he is a superb player,NBA style type, body, can make
shots. I think Shock has foundhis willhouse at Marquette. They're sending everything
around him, and it's so interesting. They lose THEO John, the duke,
(10:39):
they lose the big kid I forgethis name, not Da Garcia unc
and look what's happened. And that'swhat happened. Happens in college basketball and
what makes it so different than theNBA. You can lose a player,
or you could not have your bestplayer and you can still go on the
road and win. You can't doan NBA. That's what the that's the
(11:01):
pageantry and the nostalgia of college basketball. And when you got eighteen to twenty
year old kids, you never knowwhat's going on between ear to ear,
you know what I'm saying. SoI'm going to say that for sure,
I would say Dlewis from Marquette isa chance to really, you know,
make an impact in the NCAA tournamentand pull off upsets. I agree with
Lewis and in the Champagny's game islike multilayered. But Lewis, he's he
(11:26):
had you mentioned he has that NBAbody and Shoka that's like just his type
of guy. Yeah, and itseems like he's got a good vibe going
on there with Marquette. They're gonnabe dangerous, and they've been dangerous.
They proved they've been dangerous all season. I always loves seeing that, like
team that gets picked like eighth orninth preseason and then they come out and
are actually a threat to win.The whole thing in conference was awesome.
Doc has been through the Final fouras well, so I mean, like,
(11:48):
so they're not new to him makinga push like that, So you
know, I'm you know again,I don't like he un ceremoniously was shown
the door of Texas, which isa tough job for anybody, just asked
the football coach. But at theend of the day, he's getting it
done at Marquette at a high level, all right, along with dropping dimes
as a player at Villanova, coachingmultiple college programs and you know, and
holding down the desk with Gary Parrishand the great Renee Montgomery. Your pencil
(12:13):
and your notebook have been really busyas well. Do you think you can
share with the listeners a few elementsconcerning your new book, The Ten Superpowers
and congratulations on finding the finish lineon such an ambitious project. Yeah,
thank you. And like I wastelling people that there's a pandemic and there
was the Plan Demic. So duringthat time, I had a chance to
do a lot of things. Thatwas the second of the two books that
(12:35):
I finished. First one was calledThe Elephant in the Room, Conversation of
Race and Sports in America, andthen I pinned this other book, as
you mentioned, Ten Superpowers of AuthenticLeadership, And what it was is I
looked at all the different guys thatI have, great coaches that I worked
with, and what I took fromthem, you know, whether it was
I played for or coach with,or coach for or work for. I
(12:58):
took certain elements for them, andI wrote about those things in a book.
It's a great it's a great read. I mean, here's the other
thing about leadership. It's nothing thatnone of us don't have. So basically,
what I say is when I meetpeople that says I want to get
make you the best you you canbe. That's what I would say to
you or anybody else. And thingsthat are inside of you you just may
(13:20):
not that trigger may not have beenturned on, that lights which may not
have been turned on. So Ijust provide examples of things that happen in
my life or examples that happen inhistory that or that'll pen to Hey,
you could be an authentic leader aswell if you choose to do X,
Y and Z. So that thatwas the origin of the book. And
like I said, it's a goodread, but you know, hopefully you
(13:41):
can find something out of it.All right, So listeners out there if
you're dialing up Amazon. Definitely keystroke in the Ten Superpowers and coach Chris
Walker. All right, speaking ofthose superpowers, do you feel like there's
a team, a program, acoaching staff that holds one of those superpowers
(14:01):
that might translate to march success?A team that's really impressed and caught your
eye the season, whether it beat the desk or maybe even calling the
game. You know, it's funny. Again, we'll keep it to teams
that have a chance to make thetournament for March Madness, and I will
say the one team, and peopleare like, ah, whatever, that
was the obvious. I'm gonna sayKentucky. And the reason I'm gonna say
that is because and I'm gonna usethe one superpowers persistence. They've had injuries
(14:26):
after injury, right, and theyfound a way. You're talking about all
the pressure unless you've been to agame in Lexus and I coached at Vanderbilt.
I coached against Rick Patino and TubbySmith at Kentucky, and obviously Kyli
Perry has taken it to a stratosphericlevel where you just expect them to win
every game or every dude on theirteam is going to the NBA, and
(14:46):
that hasn't been the case as oflate. He's even you know, made
a detour to the transfer portal,but even he has realized the tide in
turn, I mean, the toneof what's going on, and he's made
a shift, a seizement shift tobring it in transfers Tavia Wheeler or Kellen
Grady who's come from Davidson and Daveyand Mints who came to put some from
(15:07):
Crayton So and Shibue, who couldbe the college Player of the Year.
So four their top players are transfers, through injuries, through change into his
whole philosophy, and the pressure ofBig Blue. I think Calla Perry has
done the most unbelievable job where peoplesay he may be a one seed and
have a chance to win. Hehasay tournament, but injuries. That's the
one thing that I worry about withKentucky. Well, you mentioned the transfers
(15:31):
and be we should also include theJacob Toppin in that, especially after what
will be redeeming factor in the dunkcontest. But yeah, he's played unbelievably
well for them as well. Onthe wing, has been really valuable.
We've seen how injuries have decimated otherteams and especially a key positions like the
lead guard position like they've had andwithout Taie time, without severe like that,
(15:52):
that's tough to figure out. Butthey've definitely persevered and figured out.
And you're right, they're in line. If they X, Y, and
Z, they could be that oneseed that you referenced earlier. Yeah,
no question about it. And likeI said, you know, look at
Auburn, zep Jasper and uh comingback planning and coming back. But again,
you know once it's this time ofyear, and even cal of Paris
(16:14):
that were shutting them down doesn't matter, and they still get a big win
of versus Alabama. But my thingis, you know, the one thing
I love about college basketball. Oneof my good buddies, Kyle Neptune,
as a head coach of for them. He lost his two top players,
who the top five scores in theA ten, and they're still winning games.
So what I say, in collegebasketball, coaching matters, but more
importantly, culture matters. When youhave kids that follow you and believe in
(16:38):
what you're doing, you can believewhatever you want. Doesn't mean that you're
gonna work. It's gonna work asyou honest anaton of the answer the POOPO
or against Steph Kurry, you canbelieve all you want, right but against
in college basketball it matters because thegame is different. And again there's more
camaraderie. That's home court at Bandage. It's just different. In college basketball,
(17:00):
you kind of nail it. They'rewhere the coaching influence definitely is a
little bit. The percentage to winsand losses is definitely higher than as in
the NBA. You know talent Trump. Talent Trump's everything the NBA. But
you're right, that influence, thatinfluential coach like Highlands Forum has been live
every game inside the A ten.That's unbelievable job. Unbelievable job. And
that's what I'm saying. Like it'seven like him, English who they just
(17:22):
beat, has done a great job. And the thing is, I say
this for young coaches. The Transformportal has made college basketball like the NBA
when it comes to free agency andyou are walking a very like where do
you balance it? Where do youbalance it? But here's at the end
of the day, guess what thead and the fan base want. They
want you to win. It's yourjob to figure it out. You can't
(17:45):
legislate morality. You can only regulatebehavior. And as a great doctor King
says for black history, but itcomes down to if Kentucky's doing it,
what they're doing with transfers, andyou could talk about you can go through
every single program in the country youwill find Look at look at Texas Tech
transfers average day is twenty two yearsold. Look at Texas all transfers number
(18:08):
one defense in the country. Somethingis changing. Look at Auburn. Yeah,
they got great players, Window Greentransfer, Katie just a transfer,
Walker Kessler transfer. Yep. Yeah. I think you're outlining the change in
the roadmap to success in college basketball. Where it used to be let's get
in as many five stars as wecan, let's give them the ball and
(18:30):
put them in successful positions, orlike you mentioned earlier, let's have a
core group really coach them up andreaped the benefits there. But yeah,
the roadmap has definitely altered, andit's taken a couple of detours, no
doubt. Yes, yes, allright. You mentioned Texas Tech coach,
and that's one of the places whereyou had a head coaching stop. The
program that you once guided appeared inthe CBS bracket preview on the number three
(18:52):
line. No one defends at anelite level like they do. Is this
success really sustainable for the rest ofthe Big twelve and on into March without
the traditional point guard in the startinglineup? Oh? Absolutely. Mark Adams
tremendous coach. I had a chanceto coach. As you mentioned before,
his son played for me, LukeAdams get out, Yes he did so.
(19:17):
I was on Mark a long time. Chris Beard, I actually worked
with at Texas Tech before I tookover, so there's and I still have
some ties to Lovebock, and Ihad a great time there, and Kirby
hole Cutt gave me an opportunity ofa lifetime to be the head coach.
But what they're doing there, loveIt reminds me. I'm trying to think
of the places that Lubbock reminds meof, going to U Mass back in
(19:37):
the day. Who wants to goto Western mass Lubeck is a place like
I used to laugh and I recruitedat Texas Tech. I said, So,
let me get this right. Everyonesays Lovebuck's the worst place in the
world, But it's bigger than Columbia, Missouri. It's bigger than Stillwater,
it's bigger than Dorman, it's biggerthan Manhattan Castes, Like, why love
it so bad? It's because ofproximity to Texas the UT. So when
(20:00):
compare it that way to Texas andTCU and all those schools, you're like
even bigger than Baylor. But Baylor'sclose to Dallas in between. Donald Sauson,
so Loock's a great place football wiseand basketball wise. And Mark Adams
just say you know deepest travels becauseyou're gonna stand deepens travels no matter where
you go. Look look at whatthe blueprint. Chris Beard, he's a
(20:21):
Texas to the number one defensive teamin the country. They came from.
They have hand hung their hat ondefense. And if you now, I
know, I'm an offensive guy.I believe deepens travels. I'm an offensive
guy. But if you can getpoints off turnovers, if you can keep
their score down, and you're ateam that shoots a high percentage and get
points in the paint, offensive reboundand get points off turnovers and get to
(20:44):
the fire line, basically what I'msaying it's be a very physical team.
You can mitigate the three point shotsand not having a traditional point guard.
And that's what they do. They'rejust bullies, you know what I'm saying.
Their bullets and they every loose ball. You know what it's like.
It would be like NFL teams andthey go to overtime and they do the
coin flip coin flip and the otherteam win. They're all happy, well
(21:04):
the love it or the ute Imean Texas Texas kind of when they win
the coin flip, they can havethe ball we'd rather play defense. That's
what they are. We we gota better chance of you get to intercept
you're getting the fumble, or hithim in the mouth. We don't want
to take the ball first, youknow what I mean. Like that's the
way they play, and that's Imean that that's the type of style that
tucked into the championship game just afew years ago as well. And I'm
(21:27):
with you, Mark Adams is doingunbelievable stuff there with the roster that he
had totally had to reconstruct, andhe's on an unbelievable job. There no
just supers. Yeah, they'll they'lljust keep getting transfers. That's a form
like there's no reason. Even Beardalways had one guy that was a stud
that was a first round draft pick. They Terrence Shannon I thought could be
the guy. He's not gone tobe a first round draft pick. And
(21:48):
they find a way to make itwork without that. But the formula is
just get experienced guys in that believein the culture. That's it. And
when you're that, we got agreat chance to win. And their culture
is like we're just gonna play everybodythat's you know six four or six five
six six, six seven. Everybody'sgonna defend. Everybody can dribble, everybody
can pass, everybody's gonna crash thereports. It's it's really impressive what he's
(22:11):
done there. I'm I'm I'm aTexas tech red Raider believer and stock buyer,
no doubt. All Right, Chris, this is interesting and I checked
it out for the first time thisseason, You've been involved with the Beyond
the box Score broadcast for CBS.For those of you know, for those
college basketball fans that haven't, youknow, totally dip their toe into that
(22:34):
experience, do you want to justmaybe highlight one or two things that they
can get out of that broadcast andsome of the different things that they might
experience as a fan. Yeah,and not to make it be too high
level. I honestly believe, justfrom my standpoint that college basketball is going
to be shown. That's the lensin which college basketball will be shown in
a future. Great numbers analytics,and just a quick aside when I say,
(22:57):
hey, guys, when you watchtelevision, Jerry Jones won't pay them.
Jerry Jones, I'm a good cowboyfriend. Jerry Jones won't pay that.
What's the first thing that that agentgoes to the QBR, look at
his numbers, look at his numberstowards that people, and that is the
way decisions are made. But that'salso the way decisions are made when it
comes to scouter reports and who doyou play and who and the way you
(23:18):
defend. You talk about Texas takea minute ago. They look at numbers,
numbers decide everything. Who gets totake some most shots? You know,
what are your points per game?What's your offensive rating? So what
we do is we give the fansa bird's eye view under the hood of
how decisions are made. Obviously inthe NBA is why this person makes more
money than that person. It doesn'tdebron. There are the easy ones to
(23:41):
figure out, but there are guyson the friends. Why would they pay
that guy this and that? Well, you know, they match the numbers
up, they match his ratings,they look at his wind shares, they
look at his you know, hisPR. And we got John Hollinger who
invented PR from the member who workedfor the Memphis Gridgy front office, who
works with me. He's does atrue in a job, but I'm an
(24:02):
see over analytics company myself. SoI firmly believe that one day that I
can and I believe this even Ido a game, like I can literally
get a statue, look at it, look at all their box scores,
and I can tell you what I'llever watching the tape, who's good,
who's bad, how they should play, without even seeing them ever playing the
floor. And that's what I believeis going to be the future of basketball.
(24:25):
So we try not to make atwo high level. But at the
end of the day, people ifpeople understood, for instance, when I
do a game, and I'm notso stat heavy when I do a game,
just because I don't want to confusepeople because I want to call the
gamest so your wife and your girlfriendcan listen to your grandmother. So if
I say he shoots forty one percent, no one knows what that means.
They do no good shooter, badshooter. He's a good shooter, he's
(24:47):
a bad shooter. They should guardhim, they shouldn't guard him. That's
simple. But when I say fortyone percent, or what is forty one
percent mean? Or what is thiseffective field shooting percentage versus his true shot
shooting percentage? So there's things thatyou know, we're going to do a
much better job of explaining. Butit's just really Baseball does the best job
of it. Football is coming alongand basketball is just one of those sports
(25:10):
has fought it and we're really tryingto bring it to the forefront. But
I love it, and uh,it's it's it really explains everything if you
really are into if you're really intobasketball, and if you're you know,
if you're a math person in yourin your head operates in numbers, not
necessarily the dialogue, then that isthe broadcast for you. I've really enjoyed
it a couple of times I've hoppedin, So keep doing the unbelievable job
(25:33):
with it. And those people thatlove the metrics, it's right up the
mallet, right up. Yeah,you know, you know the people who
really love it, the people wholike the wager. If you know what
I think, you just keep Chrissmart man coach. All right, let's
get out, let's get you outhere. On this final question, do
you have a team that is definitelygonna surprise, not like your Kentucky or
(25:59):
You're again Zaga in about a month. What's one of those teams that's gonna
just jump off the screen into people'sliving rooms the next month or so,
where fans might just scratching their headlike, Hey, who is this team
and why are they here? Howdid they get here? What team did
you think that might be a flyinga little bit under the radar that we
think might surprise maybe in the oralRoberts fashion from last season. Yeah,
(26:23):
so obviously that's a good one.What jumps out of me think about last
year's Oregon State? Did you lookat what's happening in this year and you're
like, how they heck? TheOregon State win the Pac twelve Tournament,
go to the Final War and lookwhere they are now. But they had
transfers and they had a really goodpoint guard in Thompson. But I would
say piggyback in. I mean goingback to what we said before about what
(26:45):
team was surprisingly meta Providence And Iknow they've lost yesterday, but I would
say Rutgers is one because you neverhear Rutgers when you think basketball. If
they get in right, they've proventhat they can do things. You know,
because in the ends of the term, you gotta win Thursday Saturday,
or you gotta win Friday Sunday.You have to be able to win and
they've been able to do it whenfour straight games. Going back to your
(27:06):
point a minute ago about the MountainWest, don't be surprised Leon Rice and
his group with Boise State, You'renot a great offensive team, but they
stop you. In the Inn StateTournament, everyone gets tight. Possessions are
tighter. So if you if youare nervous about, oh, this team
scores eighty points a game, itwill not happen to the NSTA tournament.
(27:26):
So who are the teams that arecomfortable playing in the fifties and the sixties.
That's very important. San Diego Statesstay with the Mountain West is another
one. They're comfortable playing in thefifties and sixties, and that's very important.
So if you're talking about an outlierthat has a chance, I would
look in those leagues for it.I mean, you want to say San
Francisco, you know, I'm not. I don't like or b Yu.
You know, the Mountain West.Those Mountain West teams I think have the
(27:51):
best chance. Loyalst Chicago. I'mkind of like off them a little bit
as far as like an upset team, but I would I would say,
I would say se and they wouldagain and another one, Wyoming Boys and
Stake San Diego State. Those arethe teams that I will watch as far
as like having a chance to youknow, turn people's heads. Yeah,
I totally agree with you there.We've been paying close attention to the Mountain
West as well, just like youand you know, been on of course,
(28:11):
enjoyed some of your calls with those, and we've loved watching my own
Wyoming kind of like morph into thiskind of monster, not dissimilar from Providence
where they were picked I don't knowwhat seven, eighth, ninth preseason the
conference and and now they're they're youknow, naturally ranked. Rutgers was close
last year. They gave Houston prettymuch all they wanted to handle and then
(28:34):
Houston went on to a Final four. So Rutgers kind of knows the blueprint
and has you know, run throughthe hurdles before last March with that,
and yeah, they can beat anybodyanytime, especially but your Point lost two
or three key transfers. So that'swhat the job is. The title,
and and Jacob Young goes to orlike the job that they've done to I
(28:57):
mean, they got Ron Harper Jr. He's nothing like his pops straight so
agree, You're like, you know, Morey is doing a great job,
and like a great job I coachhis staff, what you gotta think,
great job because they're doing it ina big ten period and that's impossible.
And you mentioned you mentioned Boise andbasically since Spence that freshman Deacon Heart,
(29:19):
Yeah put into the starting lineup,they've been absolutely unbelievable. He talked about
the efficiency in the metrics, likehe's probably a guy who you're highlighted on
one of those broadcasts as well insidethe box score. But yeah, they
are comfortable playing that slow pace,are not bothered playing in that at all,
the space of like in the forties. Yeah, speaking to beyond the
(29:40):
box score, we have the nextbeyond the box scores this week a loyal
Manmouth versus by U. Two teamsthat's on Thursday. Two teams. We
had them both last year. They'revery very very very strong analytical teams.
Mark Pole, Stan Johnson, tworeally really good coaches, user metrics like
crazy. So there'll be some goodinformation and then they'll really inform families,
(30:02):
au coaches, the casual viewer ofwhat the players and coaches see and why
what's happening on your screen is happening. It properly places value on what helps
winning basketball. Correct, right not. I always tell people all the time,
it's never personal. It's never Thenumbers are never personal. The numbers
(30:25):
don't lie. Now. Bias isa reason why things go south. Right,
numbers. We don't ignore the numbersnow. The numbers are always the
always the simple language. They're thesimplest language that we could hope for.
Chris, thank you so much,really fun. Please don't forget to give
coach a follow at see Walker Sportsover on Twitter. Definitely check out Beyond
(30:48):
the box Score broadcast on CBS Sportsand you can find Chris obviously at the
desk holding it down. Please checkout The Big Biggie Show to get everything
need from the Big Yeast podcasts.And congrats on the new book ten Thanks
superpowers. Hey listen, man,you did a great job. I'm gonna
hire is my agent. I gota great agent, but I'm gonna fire
and how you. I appreciate thejob you've done, no question about it,
(31:11):
No no problem, Chris. It'sgonna joy of doing this. And
no, your guy, Chris isa great job. So you want to
keep him right where he's at.Cheers. Cilantro gots a lot to everybody side
Welcome to the Screen the Screen orCollege Basketball podcast with your hosts Mike Randall
and Gus Kearns. Welcome and listenersto the Screen, the Screen or College
Basketball podcast where we're always talking everythingcollege hoops. Could have been anywhere else
in the dial, but he choseto be here with us Mike and Gus,
and today we have a special guest, Chris Walker. Coach Chris Walker.
(00:36):
You have probably seen his face atthe desk on CBS and maybe even
on the call for a few MountainWest games a coach. Thank you so
much for giving the podcast a littletime here. How's everything going on your
end? Oh? Everything is greatsitting here and there. I always say
the great state of New York,even though I'm from Texas, having a
(00:57):
great view right now the Empire StateBuilding the Hudson River. So and I
had a day off today, sogladly glad to spend it with you guys.
So I appreciate you guys give mean opportunity to come on absolutely and
please give coach a follow over atSea Walker Sports on Twitter. And please
check out the Big Biggie Show podcastthat Chris is involved with in co hosts
(01:19):
so definitely check those couple of placesout. Coach, let's just dive right
in. You have covered an unbelievableamount of ground during your college basketball career
arc and you've been voluminous, forlack of a better term, We'll try
to touch all the bases. Let'sstart with the recent success over at CBS
Sports. You've been on the callfor some of the finest Mountain West teams
and players. We love David Roddyover here. Give us a player scouting
(01:42):
report or what team you think isreally March ready within that conference since you've
seen them firsthand. That's a goodone, obviously. I love I want
to take credit for it, eventhough other people are now naming him big
Body Roddy. I think I wasthe first one to call him that last
year. Okay, but but Ilove David Roddy had some time again.
(02:02):
I did the Fresnel State Colorado Stategame, and he was a joy to
spend time with. A tremendous kid, I mean, a very good player.
I'm telling me, if you've gota chance to spend five minutes with
him, I told him, notgetting my job, so stop that,
you know, because you're very,very very loquacious and elocutes his points well.
So he's a great kid. Butyou got to talk about Graham e
K and Hunter Mooninado from Wyoming.Obviously, Orlando Robinson a big time player
(02:28):
even though Fresnels stay the struggles.As of late, I recruited Matt Bradley
at cal Berkeley and he's the oneshining light of San Diego State, which
seems to be hitting their stride now. And how can we not forget about
Bryce Hamilton who put forty two onColorado's State at home and actually just they
just beat them the other day,so I mean like they're they're really playing
(02:50):
well. So I hope I don'twant to leave anyone out, but justin
being a walking double double, Imean, there's just so many good players,
and the Mountain West, I'll tellyou this has caught people by surprise
this year. You know, everyonewas talking about the WCC, No one
was talking about Arizona when Tommy Lloydgot the job and the thirteen freshmen,
and all of a sudden, theMountain West. Now obviously President State hasn't
(03:14):
helped their case the last few weeks, but they've been playing in tough games,
you know, there's a chance towin quad one games, but there's
also a chance you're playing really goodteams. So and I'll tell you the
team that people need to watch outfor you on nov They're starting to play
well and guess what the Mountain WestTournament is in Vegas. I don't know
if they will be a bit,they won't be a spoiler for the league
(03:35):
because I think boys, the stateis firmly in, Colorado State is firmly
in. San Diego State's got somework to do, but I think they'll
be in, and Woman's definitely in. UNLV has to win the tournament to
get in the space that but theycould they could hurt somebody if it gets
tight, and that maybe Colorado Stateif it gets really tight. Well,
we just saw that UNLV finished theseason sweep for Colorado State. And you
(04:00):
mentioned Bryce. He went bananas inthat one game. I think you know
you mentioned he dropped a forty spot. He is an absolute game changer and
he could be a tournament wrecker ifyou know, if he gets on one
of those roles. Again, Um, excellent scattering report, and you were
right, like Utah State got offearly and then Fresno State had their moment
and was in the discussion. Andnow those two teams find themselves battling almost
each other, and you are correctly, stutely pointed out there's an opportunity that
(04:25):
exists in South the Mountain West thatdidn't exist in seasons prior. So the
fact that these teams could get rightwith themselves, I think only enhances that
particular conference. I'll tell you this, I coached that league in two thousand,
coach with Steve Alford in that leagueat New Mexico coach Jared Gettings.
I don't know if you remember beingwith er, Yeah, Darrington Hobson and
(04:46):
for a few years, and wehad great Cameron, Cameron Barstol. They
had great success Kenda Williams and Ithink they got five in like twoy thirteen,
and this may be a year thatequal that. But I think this
Mountain West, this is the mostcompetitive year the Mountain West has ever had.
For sure. I couldn't agree withyou more, Chris. I think
(05:06):
that that that New Mexico team gotthat three seed. I don't know if
you're going to see a Mountain Westteam that gets see that that's hot that
high, but we will see.I think the cumulative factor of the of
the conference, like filling up theBracken March, which will be great to
see. I'm a huge fan.All right, Chris, you launched the
Big Biggie Show Good podcast for collegebasketball listeners out there. Please go give
(05:30):
that a listen and a follow.Your Nova roots and your knowledge are really
enhancing this podcast. So let's let'sjust break down the Big East of tiny
bit here. First question is isProvidence for real and are they the team
that might surprise in MARCHA? Doyou have your have you identified another team
withinside the Big East that maybe couldget things rolling. I'm going to really,
really, really really be very honestand fight my bias about the Nova
(05:56):
Wildcats and Jake there. I admirethe bat having worked there, but you
know, Ed Cooley's a friend.He's done a tremendous job. The transfer
portal has helped a lot of people, right. The COVID year has helped
people, and that is what hashelped Providence with Norah Herckler and Nick Watson,
those two kids, I mean,you lose those two kids. Providence
(06:17):
isn't the same. No disrespect toEd Cooley, but it has changed the
game you know, and so keepingthat stability, uh inside, and look
what's happening for their season, whichmeans that having seniors matter, you know,
having upperclassmen matter. And I thinkthat they have a chance now.
They've been you know, teetering on, you know, being upset by De
(06:38):
Paul and Butler. But it's alsothe mark of a good team where you
can your guys go in like,oh, we're gonna get this done,
and they just fight through it andget it done. You know. That's
that's the mark of a very goodprogram. Or you can say, you
know, I don't know if I'mbuying these guys now, what's going to
happen? Is to your point orto your question, can Providence upset people
(07:00):
in the NSA Tournament? The questionthat the answer is yes, because as
I mentioned before, their experienced,right, they're very experienced, and I
think the guard play really helps themas well. They can make shocks and
again they have a bunch of guyswho's been there before. And I think
that the Providence fans are ready toget to the second round of the NSA
Tournament and make a Sweet sixteen runlike they've done in years past. But
(07:21):
as far as the team that hasthe highest sailing. I think it's Villanova
without question. There's a huge gameif they whole serve and Providence whole serve.
The last game of the year,I think they play at the cat
House and either the fan or wellSpargo for the for then not for the
championship. It depends on what Providencedoesn't. Bill Over does, but that
that game will be huge and bigEast in the Big East. But I'll
(07:44):
say this, billan Over and Italked to Jerry Palm the other day when
we're in the bullpen a CBS.Let's say, Jerry, we're gonna disagree
on a lot of things. Okay, you and your numbers. I get
it. You know. He wrotesome things down to me that made zero
sense, that made zero sense.And I say, that's why you have
this your spot and I have mine. But what I will say, does
Villanova have a chance to be onthe one line? And I said,
(08:05):
he said it will take a lot. I said, okay, Villanova one
out one of the biggist one ofthe Big East Tournament. Do they have
a chance to build a one linecoming from the league with seven bids?
And they just said it will takea lot, and I'm gonna tell you
something. I'm tell you something.A lot's going to happen between now and
then, so we don't see whathappens. But you don't want to play
Jay Wright in the final four?Come on, I mean not in the
(08:28):
end State tournament. You know,Hall of Fame coach, very discipline,
they don't beat themselves, they makethrees, They're very experienced. So I
would have to say again my bias. I kept it back as long as
I kept the baby as long asI could. But Villanova's easily the team
that has a chance to make noise. They make the most noise in the
Big East. We appreciate the battleagainst you did all right. And by
(08:50):
the way, when speaking Jerry Pottamand the bracket release show, we saw
that Villanova was slotted to play atPhiladelphia in the Wells far Ago if they
are in that particular region, whichwould be an unbelievable advantage for cash fans
everywhere. Yeah, oh it willbe. I listen, I'm just telling
you right now. But here's atrick to it. I don't want to
(09:11):
make this Villainova centric. But jayWright played the hardest schedule. I believe
in the country. He played Ucla, Ucla, he played per Due as
well, and he played the Knicks. I think so he played everybody that
he could play, knowing that thiswas going to be a tough season.
They don't have the star power theyusually have. But in the Antia Tournament,
you don't need star power. Youneed experience, and you need a
(09:31):
very experienced coach, and he needssome toughness and guys that can make shots,
and that's what they can do.They do, they certainly have that.
Let's stick in the Big East,Chris, what player do you think
that you've seen cross paths with,seen in person, Botch some film on
that could just blow up a gameor a bracket in March? What player
(09:52):
holds that type of skill set andthat type of will where his offensive influence
or defensive influence absolutely blow up agame, create an upset, or maybe
even blow up a bracket. Youknow, I was gonna say, when
you practace the question that way,I don't know if Saint John's will make
the tournament and they have to doa lot of a lot of damage.
I was gonna say Julian Champenney,because I mean, he's just an old
(10:15):
school player that could get it done. But if you're talking about the teams,
I think that's firmly in the tournament. Someone who has a chance to
make an impact. I gotta gowith Julian Lewis from Marquette. I think
that he is a superb player,NBA style type, body, can make
shots. I think Shock has foundhis willhouse at Marquette. They're sending everything
around him, and it's so interesting. They lose THEO John, the duke,
(10:39):
they lose the big kid I forgethis name, not Da Garcia unc
and look what's happened. And that'swhat happened. Happens in college basketball and
what makes it so different than theNBA. You can lose a player,
or you could not have your bestplayer and you can still go on the
road and win. You can't doan NBA. That's what the that's the
(11:01):
pageantry and the nostalgia of college basketball. And when you got eighteen to twenty
year old kids, you never knowwhat's going on between ear to ear,
you know what I'm saying. SoI'm going to say that for sure,
I would say Dlewis from Marquette isa chance to really, you know,
make an impact in the NCAA tournamentand pull off upsets. I agree with
Lewis and in the Champagny's game islike multilayered. But Lewis, he's he
(11:26):
had you mentioned he has that NBAbody and Shoka that's like just his type
of guy. Yeah, and itseems like he's got a good vibe going
on there with Marquette. They're gonnabe dangerous, and they've been dangerous.
They proved they've been dangerous all season. I always loves seeing that, like
team that gets picked like eighth orninth preseason and then they come out and
are actually a threat to win.The whole thing in conference was awesome.
Doc has been through the Final fouras well, so I mean, like,
(11:48):
so they're not new to him makinga push like that, So you
know, I'm you know again,I don't like he un ceremoniously was shown
the door of Texas, which isa tough job for anybody, just asked
the football coach. But at theend of the day, he's getting it
done at Marquette at a high level, all right, along with dropping dimes
as a player at Villanova, coachingmultiple college programs and you know, and
holding down the desk with Gary Parrishand the great Renee Montgomery. Your pencil
(12:13):
and your notebook have been really busyas well. Do you think you can
share with the listeners a few elementsconcerning your new book, The Ten Superpowers
and congratulations on finding the finish lineon such an ambitious project. Yeah,
thank you. And like I wastelling people that there's a pandemic and there
was the Plan Demic. So duringthat time, I had a chance to
do a lot of things. Thatwas the second of the two books that
(12:35):
I finished. First one was calledThe Elephant in the Room, Conversation of
Race and Sports in America, andthen I pinned this other book, as
you mentioned, Ten Superpowers of AuthenticLeadership, And what it was is I
looked at all the different guys thatI have, great coaches that I worked
with, and what I took fromthem, you know, whether it was
I played for or coach with,or coach for or work for. I
(12:58):
took certain elements for them, andI wrote about those things in a book.
It's a great it's a great read. I mean, here's the other
thing about leadership. It's nothing thatnone of us don't have. So basically,
what I say is when I meetpeople that says I want to get
make you the best you you canbe. That's what I would say to
you or anybody else. And thingsthat are inside of you you just may
(13:20):
not that trigger may not have beenturned on, that lights which may not
have been turned on. So Ijust provide examples of things that happen in
my life or examples that happen inhistory that or that'll pen to Hey,
you could be an authentic leader aswell if you choose to do X,
Y and Z. So that thatwas the origin of the book. And
like I said, it's a goodread, but you know, hopefully you
(13:41):
can find something out of it.All right, So listeners out there if
you're dialing up Amazon. Definitely keystroke in the Ten Superpowers and coach Chris
Walker. All right, speaking ofthose superpowers, do you feel like there's
a team, a program, acoaching staff that holds one of those superpowers
(14:01):
that might translate to march success?A team that's really impressed and caught your
eye the season, whether it beat the desk or maybe even calling the
game. You know, it's funny. Again, we'll keep it to teams
that have a chance to make thetournament for March Madness, and I will
say the one team, and peopleare like, ah, whatever, that
was the obvious. I'm gonna sayKentucky. And the reason I'm gonna say
that is because and I'm gonna usethe one superpowers persistence. They've had injuries
(14:26):
after injury, right, and theyfound a way. You're talking about all
the pressure unless you've been to agame in Lexus and I coached at Vanderbilt.
I coached against Rick Patino and TubbySmith at Kentucky, and obviously Kyli
Perry has taken it to a stratosphericlevel where you just expect them to win
every game or every dude on theirteam is going to the NBA, and
(14:46):
that hasn't been the case as oflate. He's even you know, made
a detour to the transfer portal,but even he has realized the tide in
turn, I mean, the toneof what's going on, and he's made
a shift, a seizement shift tobring it in transfers Tavia Wheeler or Kellen
Grady who's come from Davidson and Daveyand Mints who came to put some from
(15:07):
Crayton So and Shibue, who couldbe the college Player of the Year.
So four their top players are transfers, through injuries, through change into his
whole philosophy, and the pressure ofBig Blue. I think Calla Perry has
done the most unbelievable job where peoplesay he may be a one seed and
have a chance to win. Hehasay tournament, but injuries. That's the
one thing that I worry about withKentucky. Well, you mentioned the transfers
(15:31):
and be we should also include theJacob Toppin in that, especially after what
will be redeeming factor in the dunkcontest. But yeah, he's played unbelievably
well for them as well. Onthe wing, has been really valuable.
We've seen how injuries have decimated otherteams and especially a key positions like the
lead guard position like they've had andwithout Taie time, without severe like that,
(15:52):
that's tough to figure out. Butthey've definitely persevered and figured out.
And you're right, they're in line. If they X, Y, and
Z, they could be that oneseed that you referenced earlier. Yeah,
no question about it. And likeI said, you know, look at
Auburn, zep Jasper and uh comingback planning and coming back. But again,
you know once it's this time ofyear, and even cal of Paris
(16:14):
that were shutting them down doesn't matter, and they still get a big win
of versus Alabama. But my thingis, you know, the one thing
I love about college basketball. Oneof my good buddies, Kyle Neptune,
as a head coach of for them. He lost his two top players,
who the top five scores in theA ten, and they're still winning games.
So what I say, in collegebasketball, coaching matters, but more
importantly, culture matters. When youhave kids that follow you and believe in
(16:38):
what you're doing, you can believewhatever you want. Doesn't mean that you're
gonna work. It's gonna work asyou honest anaton of the answer the POOPO
or against Steph Kurry, you canbelieve all you want, right but against
in college basketball it matters because thegame is different. And again there's more
camaraderie. That's home court at Bandage. It's just different. In college basketball,
(17:00):
you kind of nail it. They'rewhere the coaching influence definitely is a
little bit. The percentage to winsand losses is definitely higher than as in
the NBA. You know talent Trump. Talent Trump's everything the NBA. But
you're right, that influence, thatinfluential coach like Highlands Forum has been live
every game inside the A ten.That's unbelievable job. Unbelievable job. And
that's what I'm saying. Like it'seven like him, English who they just
(17:22):
beat, has done a great job. And the thing is, I say
this for young coaches. The Transformportal has made college basketball like the NBA
when it comes to free agency andyou are walking a very like where do
you balance it? Where do youbalance it? But here's at the end
of the day, guess what thead and the fan base want. They
want you to win. It's yourjob to figure it out. You can't
(17:45):
legislate morality. You can only regulatebehavior. And as a great doctor King
says for black history, but itcomes down to if Kentucky's doing it,
what they're doing with transfers, andyou could talk about you can go through
every single program in the country youwill find Look at look at Texas Tech
transfers average day is twenty two yearsold. Look at Texas all transfers number
(18:08):
one defense in the country. Somethingis changing. Look at Auburn. Yeah,
they got great players, Window Greentransfer, Katie just a transfer,
Walker Kessler transfer. Yep. Yeah. I think you're outlining the change in
the roadmap to success in college basketball. Where it used to be let's get
in as many five stars as wecan, let's give them the ball and
(18:30):
put them in successful positions, orlike you mentioned earlier, let's have a
core group really coach them up andreaped the benefits there. But yeah,
the roadmap has definitely altered, andit's taken a couple of detours, no
doubt. Yes, yes, allright. You mentioned Texas Tech coach,
and that's one of the places whereyou had a head coaching stop. The
program that you once guided appeared inthe CBS bracket preview on the number three
(18:52):
line. No one defends at anelite level like they do. Is this
success really sustainable for the rest ofthe Big twelve and on into March without
the traditional point guard in the startinglineup? Oh? Absolutely. Mark Adams
tremendous coach. I had a chanceto coach. As you mentioned before,
his son played for me, LukeAdams get out, Yes he did so.
(19:17):
I was on Mark a long time. Chris Beard, I actually worked
with at Texas Tech before I tookover, so there's and I still have
some ties to Lovebock, and Ihad a great time there, and Kirby
hole Cutt gave me an opportunity ofa lifetime to be the head coach.
But what they're doing there, loveIt reminds me. I'm trying to think
of the places that Lubbock reminds meof, going to U Mass back in
(19:37):
the day. Who wants to goto Western mass Lubeck is a place like
I used to laugh and I recruitedat Texas Tech. I said, So,
let me get this right. Everyonesays Lovebuck's the worst place in the
world, But it's bigger than Columbia, Missouri. It's bigger than Stillwater,
it's bigger than Dorman, it's biggerthan Manhattan Castes, Like, why love
it so bad? It's because ofproximity to Texas the UT. So when
(20:00):
compare it that way to Texas andTCU and all those schools, you're like
even bigger than Baylor. But Baylor'sclose to Dallas in between. Donald Sauson,
so Loock's a great place football wiseand basketball wise. And Mark Adams
just say you know deepest travels becauseyou're gonna stand deepens travels no matter where
you go. Look look at whatthe blueprint. Chris Beard, he's a
(20:21):
Texas to the number one defensive teamin the country. They came from.
They have hand hung their hat ondefense. And if you now, I
know, I'm an offensive guy.I believe deepens travels. I'm an offensive
guy. But if you can getpoints off turnovers, if you can keep
their score down, and you're ateam that shoots a high percentage and get
points in the paint, offensive reboundand get points off turnovers and get to
(20:44):
the fire line, basically what I'msaying it's be a very physical team.
You can mitigate the three point shotsand not having a traditional point guard.
And that's what they do. They'rejust bullies, you know what I'm saying.
Their bullets and they every loose ball. You know what it's like.
It would be like NFL teams andthey go to overtime and they do the
coin flip coin flip and the otherteam win. They're all happy, well
(21:04):
the love it or the ute Imean Texas Texas kind of when they win
the coin flip, they can havethe ball we'd rather play defense. That's
what they are. We we gota better chance of you get to intercept
you're getting the fumble, or hithim in the mouth. We don't want
to take the ball first, youknow what I mean. Like that's the
way they play, and that's Imean that that's the type of style that
tucked into the championship game just afew years ago as well. And I'm
(21:27):
with you, Mark Adams is doingunbelievable stuff there with the roster that he
had totally had to reconstruct, andhe's on an unbelievable job. There no
just supers. Yeah, they'll they'lljust keep getting transfers. That's a form
like there's no reason. Even Beardalways had one guy that was a stud
that was a first round draft pick. They Terrence Shannon I thought could be
the guy. He's not gone tobe a first round draft pick. And
(21:48):
they find a way to make itwork without that. But the formula is
just get experienced guys in that believein the culture. That's it. And
when you're that, we got agreat chance to win. And their culture
is like we're just gonna play everybodythat's you know six four or six five
six six, six seven. Everybody'sgonna defend. Everybody can dribble, everybody
can pass, everybody's gonna crash thereports. It's it's really impressive what he's
(22:11):
done there. I'm I'm I'm aTexas tech red Raider believer and stock buyer,
no doubt. All Right, Chris, this is interesting and I checked
it out for the first time thisseason, You've been involved with the Beyond
the box Score broadcast for CBS.For those of you know, for those
college basketball fans that haven't, youknow, totally dip their toe into that
(22:34):
experience, do you want to justmaybe highlight one or two things that they
can get out of that broadcast andsome of the different things that they might
experience as a fan. Yeah,and not to make it be too high
level. I honestly believe, justfrom my standpoint that college basketball is going
to be shown. That's the lensin which college basketball will be shown in
a future. Great numbers analytics,and just a quick aside when I say,
(22:57):
hey, guys, when you watchtelevision, Jerry Jones won't pay them.
Jerry Jones, I'm a good cowboyfriend. Jerry Jones won't pay that.
What's the first thing that that agentgoes to the QBR, look at
his numbers, look at his numberstowards that people, and that is the
way decisions are made. But that'salso the way decisions are made when it
comes to scouter reports and who doyou play and who and the way you
(23:18):
defend. You talk about Texas takea minute ago. They look at numbers,
numbers decide everything. Who gets totake some most shots? You know,
what are your points per game?What's your offensive rating? So what
we do is we give the fansa bird's eye view under the hood of
how decisions are made. Obviously inthe NBA is why this person makes more
money than that person. It doesn'tdebron. There are the easy ones to
(23:41):
figure out, but there are guyson the friends. Why would they pay
that guy this and that? Well, you know, they match the numbers
up, they match his ratings,they look at his wind shares, they
look at his you know, hisPR. And we got John Hollinger who
invented PR from the member who workedfor the Memphis Gridgy front office, who
works with me. He's does atrue in a job, but I'm an
(24:02):
see over analytics company myself. SoI firmly believe that one day that I
can and I believe this even Ido a game, like I can literally
get a statue, look at it, look at all their box scores,
and I can tell you what I'llever watching the tape, who's good,
who's bad, how they should play, without even seeing them ever playing the
floor. And that's what I believeis going to be the future of basketball.
(24:25):
So we try not to make atwo high level. But at the
end of the day, people ifpeople understood, for instance, when I
do a game, and I'm notso stat heavy when I do a game,
just because I don't want to confusepeople because I want to call the
gamest so your wife and your girlfriendcan listen to your grandmother. So if
I say he shoots forty one percent, no one knows what that means.
They do no good shooter, badshooter. He's a good shooter, he's
(24:47):
a bad shooter. They should guardhim, they shouldn't guard him. That's
simple. But when I say fortyone percent, or what is forty one
percent mean? Or what is thiseffective field shooting percentage versus his true shot
shooting percentage? So there's things thatyou know, we're going to do a
much better job of explaining. Butit's just really Baseball does the best job
of it. Football is coming alongand basketball is just one of those sports
(25:10):
has fought it and we're really tryingto bring it to the forefront. But
I love it, and uh,it's it's it really explains everything if you
really are into if you're really intobasketball, and if you're you know,
if you're a math person in yourin your head operates in numbers, not
necessarily the dialogue, then that isthe broadcast for you. I've really enjoyed
it a couple of times I've hoppedin, So keep doing the unbelievable job
(25:33):
with it. And those people thatlove the metrics, it's right up the
mallet, right up. Yeah,you know, you know the people who
really love it, the people wholike the wager. If you know what
I think, you just keep Chrissmart man coach. All right, let's
get out, let's get you outhere. On this final question, do
you have a team that is definitelygonna surprise, not like your Kentucky or
(25:59):
You're again Zaga in about a month. What's one of those teams that's gonna
just jump off the screen into people'sliving rooms the next month or so,
where fans might just scratching their headlike, Hey, who is this team
and why are they here? Howdid they get here? What team did
you think that might be a flyinga little bit under the radar that we
think might surprise maybe in the oralRoberts fashion from last season. Yeah,
(26:23):
so obviously that's a good one.What jumps out of me think about last
year's Oregon State? Did you lookat what's happening in this year and you're
like, how they heck? TheOregon State win the Pac twelve Tournament,
go to the Final War and lookwhere they are now. But they had
transfers and they had a really goodpoint guard in Thompson. But I would
say piggyback in. I mean goingback to what we said before about what
(26:45):
team was surprisingly meta Providence And Iknow they've lost yesterday, but I would
say Rutgers is one because you neverhear Rutgers when you think basketball. If
they get in right, they've proventhat they can do things. You know,
because in the ends of the term, you gotta win Thursday Saturday,
or you gotta win Friday Sunday.You have to be able to win and
they've been able to do it whenfour straight games. Going back to your
(27:06):
point a minute ago about the MountainWest, don't be surprised Leon Rice and
his group with Boise State, You'renot a great offensive team, but they
stop you. In the Inn StateTournament, everyone gets tight. Possessions are
tighter. So if you if youare nervous about, oh, this team
scores eighty points a game, itwill not happen to the NSTA tournament.
(27:26):
So who are the teams that arecomfortable playing in the fifties and the sixties.
That's very important. San Diego Statesstay with the Mountain West is another
one. They're comfortable playing in thefifties and sixties, and that's very important.
So if you're talking about an outlierthat has a chance, I would
look in those leagues for it.I mean, you want to say San
Francisco, you know, I'm not. I don't like or b Yu.
You know, the Mountain West.Those Mountain West teams I think have the
(27:51):
best chance. Loyalst Chicago. I'mkind of like off them a little bit
as far as like an upset team, but I would I would say,
I would say se and they wouldagain and another one, Wyoming Boys and
Stake San Diego State. Those arethe teams that I will watch as far
as like having a chance to youknow, turn people's heads. Yeah,
I totally agree with you there.We've been paying close attention to the Mountain
West as well, just like youand you know, been on of course,
(28:11):
enjoyed some of your calls with those, and we've loved watching my own
Wyoming kind of like morph into thiskind of monster, not dissimilar from Providence
where they were picked I don't knowwhat seven, eighth, ninth preseason the
conference and and now they're they're youknow, naturally ranked. Rutgers was close
last year. They gave Houston prettymuch all they wanted to handle and then
(28:34):
Houston went on to a Final four. So Rutgers kind of knows the blueprint
and has you know, run throughthe hurdles before last March with that,
and yeah, they can beat anybodyanytime, especially but your Point lost two
or three key transfers. So that'swhat the job is. The title,
and and Jacob Young goes to orlike the job that they've done to I
(28:57):
mean, they got Ron Harper Jr. He's nothing like his pops straight so
agree, You're like, you know, Morey is doing a great job,
and like a great job I coachhis staff, what you gotta think,
great job because they're doing it ina big ten period and that's impossible.
And you mentioned you mentioned Boise andbasically since Spence that freshman Deacon Heart,
(29:19):
Yeah put into the starting lineup,they've been absolutely unbelievable. He talked about
the efficiency in the metrics, likehe's probably a guy who you're highlighted on
one of those broadcasts as well insidethe box score. But yeah, they
are comfortable playing that slow pace,are not bothered playing in that at all,
the space of like in the forties. Yeah, speaking to beyond the
(29:40):
box score, we have the nextbeyond the box scores this week a loyal
Manmouth versus by U. Two teamsthat's on Thursday. Two teams. We
had them both last year. They'revery very very very strong analytical teams.
Mark Pole, Stan Johnson, tworeally really good coaches, user metrics like
crazy. So there'll be some goodinformation and then they'll really inform families,
(30:02):
au coaches, the casual viewer ofwhat the players and coaches see and why
what's happening on your screen is happening. It properly places value on what helps
winning basketball. Correct, right not. I always tell people all the time,
it's never personal. It's never Thenumbers are never personal. The numbers
(30:25):
don't lie. Now. Bias isa reason why things go south. Right,
numbers. We don't ignore the numbersnow. The numbers are always the
always the simple language. They're thesimplest language that we could hope for.
Chris, thank you so much,really fun. Please don't forget to give
coach a follow at see Walker Sportsover on Twitter. Definitely check out Beyond
(30:48):
the box Score broadcast on CBS Sportsand you can find Chris obviously at the
desk holding it down. Please checkout The Big Biggie Show to get everything
need from the Big Yeast podcasts.And congrats on the new book ten Thanks
superpowers. Hey listen, man,you did a great job. I'm gonna
hire is my agent. I gota great agent, but I'm gonna fire
and how you. I appreciate thejob you've done, no question about it,
(31:11):
No no problem, Chris. It'sgonna joy of doing this. And
no, your guy, Chris isa great job. So you want to
keep him right where he's at.Cheers. Cilantro gots a lot to everybody side
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