EPISODE 2.1 - March Madness Bracket Picks & Analysis

The Right Read duo gives in-depth initial analysis from each first round matchup all the way down to the national championship final score and final play...don't miss a chance at a $50 FREE bracket entry by subscribing to our channel and following us on TikTok @RightReadPodcast.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Let's just start with the hardest region.

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Let's just knock it out and just kind of give hardest region according to who, though, because you and I are split on that one. That's a little bit of a split coverage we got there. Um, you think obviously that East region with Duke is going to be the hardest. I I think the West with uh Arizona. Why don't we just start with East and Duke? Uh that's kind of the order that the selection committee uh get went with for us.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

So um yeah, then we'll bounce over to the second hardest. We'll go right over to the west uh on what on who you think is the toughest uh region. So yeah, so fair enough. Fair enough. We got the one versus 16 seed here. We got Duke and Sienna. Um, it's Duke. Any chance any chance we see a 16 versus one upset this year? Hello, Virginia. Isn't I think UMBC's in here, right? The team that has Virginia, the one vice.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

They're in the play-in game. Uh scrolling real quick. Yeah. Oh. They wait a second.

SPEAKER_00 1:20

Okay, so I'm gonna be rooting for Howard pretty dang hard. Um for that for the for the first that's fair. Um but no, I got I got Duke, and it's not close. Yeah, I I completely agree.

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Who do you got for the Ohio State? Ohio State and TCU. Tough matchup here. All these eight nines are gonna be pretty tough. I actually really liked Ohio State, the the finish to their season. Um, I would have loved to see him beat Michigan, of course, in the Big Ten tournament. Uh, I think that would have actually put him on a seven seed. And I guess, you know, I I think they could have been a seven seed, to be honest with you, looking at some of the other ones. I'm gonna pick Ohio State here. Uh, I have a little bit of a Big Ten bias, not because that's where my team is uh affiliated with, but because I think the Big Ten is a pretty deep league this year. We have the top end teams, obviously Purdue and Michigan, and we got some pretty good teams in the depth as well. So I have Ohio State here. I know TCU is a tough matchup for them, um, but I think you know, Bruce Thornton, he he's one of those bigger guards. He's he's a senior, he's got the experience. I think he'll be able to, again, he'll will them. He has what it takes when the packs against the wall. Um, so Ohio State's my pick here. What are you going with?

SPEAKER_00 2:30

See, this was a coin flip one for me. Um, Michigan saw TCU early in the year, um, and Michigan went to TCU and struggled. Um, and TCU just plays really sound defense. Um, they are ranked, I think, 22nd in the country in defensive efficiency. Um, but then you have Ohio State who ranks in the top 20 for offense. Um, so it's really gonna be, you know, pick your poison. I I think I have to agree with you on this take, just because of the backcourt. I I think Mobley and Thornton are gonna be the difference makers. And then in March, the backcourts, if you have a even if you even if you have one, but let alone two um strong guards, I think that's gonna be the difference. I think this is gonna be a really close one, though. I I'm not 110% sold that Ohio State wins this. I could see this going either way, but I think I'd just, you know, got gunpointed ahead, and I would go with Ohio State here.

SPEAKER_01 3:26

Yep, right there with you. St. John's, Northern Iowa. This is, I believe, northern Iowa's first ever time dancing in March. They are going against a pretty strong five-seed St. John's Rick Petino, Hall of Fame coach, went to the final fourth, however many teams he's done it with. Uh, this is going to be St. John's penciled in for me. Uh, I don't see a 12-5 upset, which I know you have some stats on in terms of how popular that upset has been in the recent years, but I don't see this as being that area where it happens.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

Yeah, I I think I'll get to the fun stats when it's actually a more of a upset type of game. I I think St. John's has this one pretty easily.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

Yeah. Okay. Kansas and California Baptist. We got a 413 matchup here. What are we thinking?

SPEAKER_00 4:11

Yeah, um, this is another one of those where it's like the 413 has gone in in ways where the four seat goes down here, but Kansas um they have that star power. They have Darren Peterson, um, which you know, I hopefully he shows out this tournament and actually plays. Um, and when he does, he's he's electric. He's gonna be either your first or second overall pick in the NBA draft. Um, so I got Kansas here. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:37

I I could see this one just because of of the inconsistency and and health and just availability uh of Kansas and their star player. Um, I don't think it's necessarily gonna happen. I think they got enough talent. I think Bill South is he's a great coach as himself, upon intended. Uh, I I have no problem penciling Kansas here.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

Gotcha. Gotcha. Now we got Louisville and South Florida. So this is this is your team right here.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

Louisville is the one of one of the teams for sure.

SPEAKER_00 5:06

Yeah, yeah. So uh South Florida's tough. Um, they are they're a tough team. Um, but Louisville, um they have Conwell, who's who's you know, I know he when he played at, I think it was last year. I know Michigan went up against him. Um it might have been it was one of the teams. It was either Providence, Seton Hall, one of those teams in that in that um conference, but he's he's he's a great scorer. Um hopefully Mikhail Brown comes back from his injury. I heard he's injured right now. Um that can play pretty pivotal. I mean, brings 18 points a game um to the table. So if he's out, that you know this game could shift a little bit. But I I think you know the top 25 rule doesn't lie. Um, and I think Louisville will take down South Florida um in advance to the next to the round of 32. Where do you got with that game? I mean, obviously, I I I I kind of feel where your sleeper Cinderella team is.

SPEAKER_01 6:05

Um, yeah, I just I I gotta follow the data a little bit with this one. Um, I also you know, for what it's worth, I think this is a tough matchup for Louisville. If they had any other 6'11, I would feel a lot more comp confident. But USF uh winning their conference tournament, they they just look the part, you know, of a team that can upset a team or two in the big tournament. I just think Louisville, you know, maybe uh maybe the injury does impact him. Um, but we don't know uh based on the write-up that we had here. We don't know if he's gonna miss the the actual tournament or not. Uh so kind of TBD on that because I've talked so much about injuries in this one, but uh I'm I'm good penciling in Louisville here. I refuse to let anybody choose the North Dakota State upset over Michigan State. Um, I actually don't I you can pick that if you want. This is definitely not a penciled in pick. I just think that there is something about the team that'll be a little bit more riled up after coming out so sluggish and slow and bad against UCLA. We have good depth even with some of the injuries we've had. Um, and I think eventually we'll be able to dominate the boards, we'll be able to defend North Dakota State, and and I think we can we can escape with the win in this first round.

SPEAKER_00 7:16

Yeah, let's need to let's pencil Michigan State in. I'm not gonna give you guys too many compliments. We'll keep we'll keep going through. All right, bet. All right, all right, bet. All right, so UCLA UCF. Um this one, this one's one of your tough ones. I I know everyone's on, you know, I we were talking UCLA, you know, they're they are great. I just I'm a little nervous with their injury concerns right now. Um, you know, you got the 10-7 matchup, um, where there's a you know, it's a pretty much a 60-40 split. So 60% of the times the seven seed wins, 40% of the times a 10-seed win. So it's it's it's a dang near coin flip there, too. Yep. Um UCLA Bilado got injured against you guys. Um, it sounds like he should be possibly ready for the uh first game. Uh Donovan Dent was also um against Purdue. He went out in the first first half. Um they said it was an ankle injury. At first, they said you know, they said lower lower leg injury. Um, they said at first it was hamstring, I guess. You know, who knows what it is. Um so with those, with them, if they have those two, I don't think I would pick against UCLA, but I think if they're down one of those two players, I'd be big. I I think I would lean UCF. Um, so I think this is the one where it's like we don't know who's gonna be playing for UCLA. I if there was a clear cut, I you know their players are returning, they're gonna all be playing. I I think I'd take UCLA, but I think with the unknown and the health status of their two best players, I think I'm gonna go UCF here. Um I'm open to discussion and hearing from you on, you know, if you have objections, is if you can win me over, I'll be like, UCLA, we'll do it. I think I think that's more of this.

SPEAKER_01 9:10

Uh here's here's what I'll say. Um, even if they play, they might be playing through an injury, and that could be detrimental in itself, even if they're fully recovered. Here's the thing about UCLA, they were so good at home this year, uh, they struggled mightily uh on the road in Big Ten play. In my theory on that, and there's some research from the March Madness tournament to back this up, teams that are traveling multiple time zones east, which they will be traveling east from California all the way over. I forget where their actual matchup is, but it's in the East Coast, eastern time zone. That's gonna be maybe an adjustment for them. And they struggled to make that adjustment in the regular season. Um, they did fly to central time zone in Chicago to beat Michigan State um in the Big Ten tournament, but I think that might be another trend. I think right now UCLA is gonna be a hot pick based on how they've played recently. Uh, and I'm fine penciling and UCF here. I think there's gonna be some instances where those hot picks, those hot teams aren't always gonna pan out. There's gonna be something that comes up. I think injuries could be the one, and I think traveling across three different time zones, I think is another one. I'm I'm cool with penciling and UCF here.

SPEAKER_00 10:19

Okay, yeah, we'll we'll get our we'll get our first 10, seven up seven upsets. Let's do it. And that's it's a good stat to kind of highlight too is that you know, since 1985, the seven seeds have never swept the 10 seeds. So I think right there, you know, we're we're we're working for this perfect bracket right now for you guys, and I think we're kind of trending in that direction with kind of getting that right with getting a 10 seed in there over seven. But uh, next matchup, I got you, Conn. I don't think there's much to speak on here.

SPEAKER_01 10:46

Don't have to talk too much about this one. Yep, yep. Uh again, do we think a long island upset over Arizona or do we have another one seed moving on? We get another one seed, a pretty dominant one seed moving on. Yeah, okay. Villanova, Utah State. So I I'll be the first to say I don't know a ton about these two teams. Um, all that I know about them are some of the stats I've seen on paper and some of the selection show committee members, what they said based on some of their comments. I think I like Utah State in this one based on how they can score. And um, I think Villanova, I know it's not supposed to happen, but they might be uh relying on a little bit of their brand name uh to maybe get that eight seed and maybe get favored a little bit here. Um I I think I've pencil in Utah State, but this is one where I'm pretty ignorant in the matchup. Um, what do you think?

SPEAKER_00 11:35

Yeah, you got I mean Utah State coming off of their Mount West tournament championship. Um, and they also won their regular season um title. They won the they won both um the tournament and the regular season. Um they ranked 28th um in the offensive efficiency, and they're also at uh I think 11th in the nation in uh two-point field goals. Uh so they're efficient on offense, and you know, Villanova, they shoot the D-ball pretty well. Um, I I just don't think they have the guards, the guard play to do much. Um and I I got I got Utah State winning that one as well.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

Yeah, okay. One of the streakier teams, hotter teams that has definitely challenged Michigan in the last couple days, but also beat Michigan earlier in the year, Wisconsin versus a very high powered, pun intended, high point team. What are your thoughts on this matchup here? 5'12, maybe into a potential upset?

SPEAKER_00 12:35

Yeah, yeah. So this is the one I've had to think uh quite some time on this one. I was going back and forth in my head in my head on who who I thought would win this one. High point. I think they're ranked third in the country in points per game. I think they're at about 90 points per game. They're very high octane offense. Um, but I saw Wisconsin twice this year. Um, I watched they played against Michigan twice, and they're they're their guard play with Boyd um and Blackwell, and they got big guys too that can stretch the floor and shoot. Um, I mean, rap on Wisconsin just tore hit six straight threes against us and literally just pulled Wisconsin back. They're down 15, put them up by three within a few minutes of just hitting six threes in a row, and that's their center. Um, I I think just the test and the battle that the Big Ten has given a lot of the Big Ten teams are gonna set them up for success in this tournament. I think it's gonna be close, but I got Wisconsin uh beating high point.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

I I agree. I think uh Wisconsin's one of my dark horse. They were one of my dark horses to win the Big Ten tournament, and they I feel like they came pretty close. You know, if they got through Wisconsin, nobody knows what would happen against Purdue, but or if they got through Michigan, I mean, um, I I think they they got the guard play. We'll talk a lot about guard play in March. Um, a lot of good guards on this in this west bracket. I think they'll sustain the high-powered offensive high point because they can match them. You know, I think if they were a team, you know, if Michigan State drew high point, I'd be a little bit concerned because high co high point could put up 40 points and a half, 45 points and a half, and Michigan State might just not be able to kind of climb out of that like UCLA. But I'm I'm cool with Wisconsin for this next matchup. Uh, I know you have Arkansas as a potential dark horse. How do you like their matchup against Hawaii?

SPEAKER_00 14:20

Yeah, I I didn't put much thought into this game. Um, I think Arkansas, I I think they're just they get they're getting hot at the right time. Um, yes, you know, just SEC tournament, um, just coming out, winning that. Um, didn't have to go through Florida or anything, but it's just they're getting hot at the right time. They're getting they're gelling. I watched today's game against Vanderbilt. They look good, they're coached really well. Um, so I got Arkansas beating Hawaii pretty easily.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

Yeah, this is one uh one of the interesting things I saw on Twitter earlier today is Hawaii and their style of defense. So they play a no-help defense. So when you run a ball screen against Hawaii, they will not help on that backside towards racing. And it works for some of those smaller conferences because the guards aren't at that elite level of turning the corner, having uh multiple you know, tricks in their bag of how to score, how to dish it out. I think Darius Acuff could score 40 points against these guys if that's how they're gonna play him. And if that's how they played all year, I don't know if they got another strategy. So uh good for Hawaii on making it. I I just see Arkansas as a buzzsaw right now. Totally agree.

SPEAKER_00 15:24

Gotcha. Yeah, so this brings us into that the you know, the first four in um when it comes to Texas, and I I think North Carolina State breaking that game down. Um I think who who's your who's the transfer um for Michigan State? Doesn't he play for North Carolina State? Trey Holoman. He plays, that's for sure. He he goes on the court. I don't know how much of an impact he makes, but man, he's there. But yeah, so I I think North Carolina State wins the first game. Um, and I think it'll be North Carolina State versus BYU. Um this one was another one where I had to think about it a little bit longer. Um, BYU's just been so inconsistent up and down, relying on AJ Demonsa. If if they you know if a team stops him, you know, they got Rob Wright that can take over as well. He's a really good scorer. Um with a Saunders injury for BYU, I think that hurt them quite a bit. He was their lethal three-point shooter, um, was a really good score. I think he was averaging 15 points a game um at the time, and losing to him, I think, just you know, is kind of the reason why BYU is a sixth seed because they were you know cruising, you know, on the top. I mean, they came into the season highly ranked, um, and and we're was sustained in that throughout the year. And then, you know, the last you know, stretch of the season, they kind of hit hit a bump. Um but I'm still picking BYU. Um, through all that, I just I don't think these two teams, I mean, the lat you know, the they got into the tournament, they're gonna have that game. Um, I think BYU sneaks by um North Carolina State. Where are you at on this one?

SPEAKER_01 17:06

I I I think um I think Texas takes the game against North Carolina State. I'll I'll start with that one. Um, and I you know, I could see him beating BYU, and I know I talked about that top-end talent uh that they have uh it just that inconsistency might come into play. Um Texas might have some of the guys because they can recruit. They got some guys on their team that might be able to just figure some things out. I don't necessarily need to pick an upset, I don't need to completely uh strong arm you here on it. I I could see it happening. These are also matchups every year in the bracket I have a hard time with because if Texas wins, I think I would pick Texas to win against BYU. But if NC State wins, I think I'd pick BYU. And that's a lot of risk in terms of like which one do I go with? So I'm cool with Pennsylvania and BYU. I think, like I said earlier, um that stat where all the past national champions have the top end talent. I don't think BYU is gonna win at all, but I think that that talent can get them at least to the the round of 32. Gotcha. Gonzaga, Kennesaw State. Any thoughts here on a 14 or 3 upset? I personally don't see it happening. I I see Gonzaga pretty well prepared uh for this level of competition um and kind of just controlling the pace of the game throughout.

SPEAKER_00 18:22

Yeah, let's get the Zags uh penciled in on that one. Um Miami, Missouri. So this one, um this one is you know, that 10-7 matchup where it's I you know I can't say I have watched either team too much. I know Donaldson from Michigan does play for Miami and he's been tearing it up. Yep. Um I personally um you know I they have a good backcourt, you know. They got it's I think their coach for Miami is the first year, I think it's their first, I think it's his name's like Lucas, it's his first year. Um, because they went seven and twenty four last season. So the turnaround, you know, they they made a big turnaround. They finished third in the ACC, and the ACC's nothing to really rap about. Um I I think with Missouri being an SEC and um just being battle tested, SEC had 10 teams in the tournament, um, the most out of any conference. Um, they have an elite score in Mark Mitchell. Um, I personally I think that Missouri wins this one in a close one. Um, but where are you at on this one?

SPEAKER_01 19:28

I I actually am right there with you. Uh, I know we had the 10-7 upset for UCF. That's more hinged on injuries for UCLA. Um, I think this one just straight up, I think Missouri comes out and wins it. I think they're they're like you said, they're more battle tested. I think they got the better guys. I think Miami's a good story, but I this is one of my upsets that I got. So we're totally aligned on that one. Awesome. And then we got Queens. Purdue and Queens. Not gonna say anything there. I will say I I don't know anything about Queens. I assumed this college was in the Queens borough of New York. It is actually in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fun fact for all of our listeners who did not know that. Uh, doesn't really make a difference. I was thinking, yeah, definitely wasn't had no clue. So, all right, we got this one filled out. We'll go ahead and go down to the bottom half of the bracket here and keep it going. Uh, might try to speed up some of this. I know this is kind of getting through here, but there's just a lot to break down here. We just love this stuff. This is exactly, you know, I don't want to say it's what we live for, uh, but man, this week of the year is one of the best. Uh, let's go ahead and go to the Midwest here. Uh, the easiest bracket, according to both of uh you and I. Do we see Michigan choking in that first game if UMBC makes it in, or do we just go ahead and pencil them in?

SPEAKER_00 20:44

We're penciling them, man. We don't care. Uh bring on UMBC at this point. I know I said bring on Howard. I want UMBC. We'll we'll show them what a real no one's gonna be. You want the Ramblers. Yes, we'll take them on.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

Um Georgia St. Louis. I'll be honest, it's another one, these eight-nine matchups. Some of them I don't have a lot of knowledge on. Uh, I know Georgia's battle tested in the SEC. I I look at the lines here sometimes, the odds. They're only one and a half point favorites over a St. Louis team that doesn't have the brand that a lot of these other teams do. That tells me that is a pretty evenly matched game. Uh, do you have any thoughts, any any hard leans this way? I remember I know we all remember Robbie Avila from Indiana State. Uh, was it last year, two years ago, the kind of March Madness sensation? Might be something to say about that. What do you think?

SPEAKER_00 21:31

Yeah, I I this one was another tough one for me. Um, I mean, you have Georgia. I mean, coming from the SEC battle tested, um, they ranked fifth nationally in scoring um at almost 90 points per game. Um, they run a very high tempo type of offense. Um so I think it's gonna come down to St. Louis's uh are they gonna be able to slow them down? Um, because St. Louis um does rank 13th nationally and Defense. Um, so is that gonna translate to being able to slow down Georgia and play St. Louis and how they want to play the game, or are they just gonna let Georgia dictate how they get the ball up and down the court without allowing St. Louis to get into their defense? Um, with all that being said, I still I'm gonna go with St. Louis. Um, I I think St. Louis is gonna win this game. Uh, I think Avila, you know, that he he he's the face of that team. Um, and uh and I think I think they'll take take down Georgia.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

Yeah. Yeah, I'll side with you on that one. Like I said, I I like the idea of a high-powered offense maybe being able to overwhelm someone like St. Louis, but I also think that that experience of having someone who's been there deep in the tournament, knows how to prepare for that first round game, knows how to be the underdog in some of the matchups. Um, I'm good with Pencil in St. Louis to take on Michigan. Awesome. Akron, the the Mac Champions, the two-bid Mac League, uh, the Mac Champions going against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, without, of course, one of the best players in the league, JT Toppin. What do we think here? I I have some thoughts on this one, but curious about what you're thinking.

SPEAKER_00 23:11

Yeah. Uh two two great guards on both teams for Texas Tech and Akron. Um, I think I think this is another one where it could go either way. Um, you know, I don't know enough about both teams. I know JT Topping is out, but they have Christian Anderson who's been stepping up. Um I I think I'm still leaning Texas Tech, and I know a lot of you know the analysis is going towards Akron and a lot of the upset picks are going Akron's way, but I think Texas Tech finds a way to get out of it. I think they just Big 12 was another powerhouse conference, and and I I think Texas Tech, you know, they they've been they found ways to win without Toppin. They've had plenty of time to kind of adjust um into how they want to play without him. It wasn't like a last minute right before the tournament, like they've had plenty of games to play without him. And I think team like Akron, you know, great, great story, you know, 12 seed making it into the tournament, but I think Texas Tech takes this one.

SPEAKER_01 24:13

Yeah, uh that that's exactly how I'm feeling. I think Texas Tech is strong enough still, well-oiled team. Uh, guys who have been there. Uh, Christian Anderson's absolutely been been taking as much of that on his shoulders as he can. This is one where I wanted to pick Akron. I think Akron's a dangerous team in this tournament. I wouldn't be too surprised to see this upset. But here's the thing if I saw Akron match up against Alabama, the four seed right underneath him, I'd pick Akron. If I saw Akron match up with Tennessee, the six seed, I'd pick Akron. If I saw them match up with Virginia, the three seed, I'd pick Akron. I just think Texas Tech has, like you said, they figured it out. They still got the guys, they still got the top end talent. Battle tested Houston, Arizona, Kansas, the whole Big 12 gauntlet that they got that went through this year. Um, I I think I don't want to, you know, go on record, but I think they'll win this one with relative ease in a bit of a surprise, like you said, because this might be a pretty heavy upset pick.

SPEAKER_00 25:08

Yep. And for this one, I got I got Alabama. I got Alabama winning their offense is is great. Um, I I think their defense is gonna come come, you know, come by to catch them. Um, with you know, not maybe defending the ball too well, but I think the offense, I don't know much about I don't even know how to say the team, Hofstra is how it's pronounced. Um, yeah, I don't know anything about this team. Um, and I know Alabama's just got the best offense in the country. Um, so I think that's what's gonna help them prevail and move on to the round of 32.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

Yeah, I just I don't know much about him either. Uh just reading this ESPN overview here. It says they do lean on a dynamic backcourt. Uh they're good defensively, but they are they highlight that being inside the arc so the two-point defense and really heavy rim protection. I think it's a bad matchup for them because Alabama's not gonna maybe they'll drive dribble drive to kick it out, but they pride themselves on that three-point shot. They got the guys who can make it. Uh I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of the higher scoring, like 100 to 70, you know, final score games that we have in the first round. Gotcha.

unknown 26:15

All right.

SPEAKER_01 26:15

Tennessee versus the other play-in games. We got the Miami of Ohio Red Hawks and then the SMU Mustangs. Uh, start with that matchup. How do you feel about the what are they 32 and one now? Miami Redhawks going against SMU and then their matchup against Tennessee.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

Yeah, I I think uh Miami, Ohio, great that they got in. Uh, but they are going against a very good SMU team. Um and unfortunately, I think they're, you know, I think that's where the road's gonna end. I don't even think they're even gonna have a shot to play Tennessee. I think SMU will beat Miami of Ohio. Um, but then you know, even with the then you kind of match up, you got SMU Tennessee. Um, Tennessee's been dealing with injuries, but it sounds like they're fully healthy, um, at least from reports. Um, they got Galepsi or Gilepsy, I don't even know how to say his name. Galepsky, yeah. Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Yeah, he he he's very experienced, great guard. Um, I I think Tennessee wins over SMU. Um, but I was I was trying to like in my head somehow come with a way Miami Ohio is gonna win that against SMU and then beat Tennessee and make this just like crazy running.

SPEAKER_01 27:29

I don't see it. I don't see it. I I think there's something to be said at some point about who they have played, who they've beaten. You know, that they're just not as battle-tested as a team like Tennessee coming out of the SEC. Tennessee's got the guys. A lot of Miami and Ohio wins this year are close. I think they deserve a chance to dance. I'll be the first to put my hand up and say I was completely wrong with them, but I agree with you. I think SMU handles them in that first four matchup. Uh, and I don't think SMU necessarily has the steam to keep up with Tennessee. Rick Barnes and a Tennessee squad as a six-seed in March Madness, they seem like another six seed that might be able to do some damage. We talked about Louisville in the other region, but yeah, um I'm good with Tennessee here too.

SPEAKER_00 28:11

Yep, and that moves us on to the 314 matchup with Virginia and the right state. Um Virginia is an interesting one. They're always it's it's like that team that just is is it's a very gritty team. It's something about Virginia, even when they had Tony Bennett uh at their coach, um, they're just a very like defensive-minded team. Um they played Duke, they did play Duke tough in that in that championship game. Um, and and I it could have gone either way, yeah. Duke shorthanded, but Virginia is gonna win this one, um, and they're gonna get past Rice State. Um, and I think they're gonna hold Rice State to probably under 60, and I think that's what yeah, like 45 points or something crazy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:56

All right, that takes us to a 7-10 matchup. We have picked the 10 seed in the first two 7-10 matchups, Kentucky versus Santa Clara. I like the upset here also for Santa Clara. That's gonna be something where I don't know if I want to go through this and pick all the 10 seeds, but I for some reason, you know, that Kentucky squad. Um, again, I look at the line here, the game odds. Sometimes Vegas knows more than us, no matter how much we research. They're basically calling this game a wash, just a toss-up. And for them to say that, for Vegas to say that is pretty telling. Um, I know Kentucky's got some guys, but Mark Pope hasn't seemed like he's been able to fully gel with this team the last two years that you would expect a coach of Kentucky. You kind of see Calipari leave, and he immediately takes Arkansas to the levels that he took Kentucky to almost. Um, I think Santa Clara uh has has a potential for an upset here. What about you?

SPEAKER_00 29:57

Yeah, I think Santa Clara is probably the best 10th seed in the tournament. Um, so I you know, you think about Kentucky, um, and it it's this is I don't know, there's just not that go-to player on their team, and they've just been too inconsistent, like you said. Um, Pope, uh, you know, their coach. I I I think he has, I think this is probably his last year. I think I think he's gonna get an early round exit, and I think he's gone. I don't think he's he's fitting the mold of what they want at Kentucky. Um they've just been too inconsistent. I I got Santa Clara. Um, I think it's their first time being in the tournament like 30 years. I think they're gonna use a little bit of their juice um to make a little bit of a run, um, prove their point, and just get that upset of that 7-10 matchup. That's pretty common to happen each year.

SPEAKER_01 30:48

Yeah. Bottom uh right, here we got Iowa State as a two seed taking on Tennessee State, the 15 seed. I think the Cyclones are suffocating on defense, kind of like Virginia, uh, up a couple games up over in this bracket. I I see them being able to suffocate anything that Tennessee State tries to throw at them. I think we saw some of their performances against Arizona being able to really play at that high octane offensive level while also being able to somewhat contain a very high octane offense themselves. I don't see a 15-2 upset here. Yeah, yeah. It's Pencil and Iowa State with ease. All right. Last region, we got the South region. Florida Gators are the fourth uh number one seed. They will be playing either Prairie View or Lehigh. Both of these teams are some of the worst rated on Ken Palm. I don't see there any chance of any upset happening here.

SPEAKER_00 31:45

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:46

We go Gators quick on that one. Yep. How do we get the eight-nine? Yeah, another eight-nine.

SPEAKER_00 31:53

Um, yeah. What do we yeah? This one was this one was another tough one. I mean, I I you know Michigan played Iowa. I I've seen Iowa play. Um, and it's like the Bennett Sturts team. I mean, that that's all it is. I mean, he is they had a crazy stat that said he was averaging, I think, 40.1 minutes uh a game. I mean, that's more than a full game. I mean, because you're adding in the case.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

He's playing through overtimes, too.

SPEAKER_00 32:21

Yeah, he's not taking a break. I mean, this guy is playing every second of every game, which is insane. Um, and Iowa's offense, you know, they can get hot, especially from three. I mean, I think they're ranked 25th in offense. Um, and then you have a team like Clemson that plays more bully ball type of game in the paint, um, with Godfrey. Um, but you you you have an offense and a defensive battle here. Um, because Clemson is more of your get down, get dirty type of team. And you have Iowa who's just like, I'll just I'll just spray it from three with Bennett Sturts. Um, so with Clemson's defense, um, you know, they're they're ranked 20th, and then you have Iowa who's 25th in offense. Um, this is a coin flip type of game, and obviously you see here it's pretty much you know, America's thinking similar, leaning Iowa. Um let's hear your pick first. I I think I'm a little stuck on this one. I I this one's a little back and forth still.

SPEAKER_01 33:24

Yeah, this one's a tough one. Uh I'm looking at the notable results here that ESPN provides us. Both of these teams really lost a lot of their notable games, right? They really lack that signature win that's like showing the high potential. Um, they both have a couple decent wins. Clemson does have the Louisville Cardinals on their win sheet, um, which is obviously one of my dark horses. I think it's gonna come down to this. Iowa doesn't have the depth, and Bennett Sturts is gonna play every minute. Clemson, in their little note here, they have nine players that average 18 plus minutes per game. They will be rotating guys in. I think they'll be able to use that to their advantage in this setting. And if they can maybe press, if they can stretch the floor, if they can attack Bennett Sturts, I think they'll be able to get Iowa on their heels and just continue to throw bodies at them. It's kind of what Michigan State is supposed to do when things are working well, where you just throw so many bodies and guys who are willing to get down and dirty, like you said. I'm picking up uh Clemson here as a I think it's a technical Vegas upset uh because I was favored by a point and a half. Um, but it's a it's an eight for seed versus a nine seed, essentially always a toss-up. I'm gonna go Clemson. Do you have any hard objections?

SPEAKER_00 34:38

No, I was leaning in Clemson through my explanation with you, but I wasn't it and I want to. You had to get my confirmation to feel real good.

SPEAKER_01 34:45

I I get it. I get it. All right, Vanderbilt McNeese. Uh, Vanderbilt's one of your teams you mentioned as a potential dark horse. They looked really good in the SEC tournament, came up a little bit short against Arkansas. Uh McNeese is also kind of a sneaky good 12 seed. What do you think here initially?

SPEAKER_00 35:00

Yeah, yeah. I I think Vanderbilt with the matchup is it's not, you know, with it with it being my sleeper team, it's like I'm not like too confident with the matchup. Um, just because Mc McNeese they are is a solid team. Um so I'm gonna stick with my Cinderella sleeper pick with Vanderbilt. Um, just you know, I I think they are, I mean, they got through the SEC tournament and made it all the way and just ran into my other sleeper team, Arkansas. Um and I think they've gotten some good quality wins this year, faced some tough teams, seen seen it all in the SEC. Um, so I do have Vanderbilt overcoming. I think you know it'll be close in the beginning. I think Vanderbilt pulls pulls away by you know a double-digit win.

SPEAKER_01 35:45

Yeah, that I'd have a hard time going against that too. I like McNeese that maybe a different matchup, I'd pick them. Uh, notably, I will call out at least that this 10 and a half spread for Vanderbilt feels a little low. It feels like with the way Vanderbilt rolled through that SEC tournament, and uh Duke Miles played really good today. Tyler Tanner did not in that game. I think that was essentially the difference maker. Um, if Tyler Tanner made, I think he at one point he was shooting less than like 15% from the field. Uh, if he kind of started a little bit hotter, I think that game might have been a little bit different. Um, so just something to keep in mind there a 12-5 potential upset. I just think Vanderbilt can continue rolling with that momentum.

SPEAKER_00 36:21

And then we get to the Corn Huskers. Are they going to be able to get the case? Hey, I know it's hard to go against Troy. Um, but Nebraska, I mean, a long time coming. Uh, is this gonna be their first ever NCAA win? And it is, it's going to be think so. Pencil in the Nebraska Corn Huskers. You know, they they started the season 20 and oh, um, was you know, just like wow, like is this, you know, this team is really good. Is this for is this real life? Yeah, is this real life? Nebraska 20 and oh. Um, and yeah, they they slow, you know, they ran into the the you know the juggernauts of the Big Ten, you know, uh Michigan, Purdue, Illinois. Um, I know they beat Michigan State in the beginning of the year. If they rematch, it'd probably go Michigan State's way. But Nebraska playing, you know, a 13 seed in Troy. I think Nebraska will get their first ever NCAA win here. Yeah, this is one uh not not ever, but in the tournament.

SPEAKER_01 37:21

Yeah, this is one where I honestly, in some of my brackets, maybe in more brackets than not, I will pencil in Troy here as an upset. I actually think Nebraska has cooled off mightily. Uh, I know they did play juggernauts in the Big Ten, but they didn't seem like they had some answers when they were given tests by some of the bigger teams. And I like to believe that even the smaller schools have film, watch film, study these teams. I think you give Troy this week to prepare for Nebraska and be able to exploit what they can exploit. I think Nebraska, if we line up all the four seeds and top five seeds, honestly, they probably have the least amount of talent just in terms of like who are the guys on the court, who's gonna go get you a bucket, who's gonna be that like top 10 NBA pick type of thing. So I'm cool with Penciling, the cornhuskers in here because I love the story for you know, big 10 bias. I'd love for them to get that first March Madness win. Um, but just notable thing, keep in mind, let's see what the spread is here, actually. Um, okay, 15 and a half is a good number for Nebraska. Vegas isn't too worried, but I don't care what Vegas says sometimes. I might be picking Troy in some of these matchup brackets. Yeah, North Carolina VCU. Uh Tar Heels obviously lost Caleb Wilson uh for the season, who is gonna be a very good NBA player, at least very good NBA prospect. VCU won their uh, I think A10, Atlantic 10 conference championship. Um, I will go ahead first and say I like the VCU Rams here to actually upgrade North Carolina Tar Heels. Uh, I think there's something to be said with teams like Texas Tech who figure out how to adapt without their star players. I don't think North Carolina has essentially elevated to that level. And I think VCU's playing good, they can score the ball really well. Um, I think it's gonna be something that 11 and 6 isn't too big of a shocker. Um, but I I think this is one where I can see it happening. And yeah, you heard you say you agree.

SPEAKER_00 39:20

Yeah, um Caleb Wilson out. I think that was that that was your player you went through. And I don't think they've still figured out. I mean, when you have a talent of Caleb Wilson that you don't have, no, you don't have anymore, um, they don't really have a second guy that could step up. Um VCU's won 16 out of their last 17 games. Like they're on a heater right now where they're rolling. I you know, maybe if you match them up against a different sixth seed, possibly um a more healthy six seed, maybe they get, you know, maybe they you know lose out um in that six-leven uh matchup. But I think with North Carolina being short-handed without Calebolson, I got VCU with the upset there as well.

SPEAKER_01 39:59

Yeah, all right, nice. We're pretty in alignment here. This is this is nice. Uh, I know this next matchup has got one of your darlings that you've been a fan of, uh, just in terms of uh thinking they'll win, not necessarily rooting for them or anything. Illinois against Penn. I'm gonna make this one quick. I think the Alliani actually handle Penn very easily. I know Fran McCaffrey coached in the Big Ten at Iowa a couple years ago. He's going against Illinois, Brad Underwood, he's had multiple matchups with. Uh I just think the Alina, they do have the high-powered offense. They might start to come together. Kind of like we saw Purdue uh come together with a team that's got the pieces. They do they might start figuring it out. I also did take a sneak peek at this line. 20 and a half is huge for a 3 and 14 matchup. Uh, I would have expected the Illinaye defense to kind of be susceptible to an upset, especially with what Penn did today in their conference championship. Um, and I forget the name of the gentleman who absolutely went crazy for 40 points, but uh that would be my one sketchy part of Illinois. But seeing Vegas so confident in them just winning by 20 points, essentially, I'm gonna go ahead and say Illinois. Do you have any objections to your darling?

SPEAKER_00 41:10

No, no, Illinois winning. Penn got lucky to even make it in the tournament, if I'm be honest with you. Um, you know, they I think they were playing Yale in the championship. Correct me if I was wrong. Um, and Yale was up by three and they allow Penn to shoot a three and not. They didn't foul. Yep. Yeah, they should have fouled and Penn shouldn't even be in here. I got Illinois just taking down Penn by 20 plus. Yep. All right, moment of truth here.

SPEAKER_01 41:35

Will our perfect bracket have every single 10 seed upset a seven seed? I'm gonna say no. I think St. Mary's goes ahead, dominates the boards against Texas AM. I think they do have a well-rounded team. We're in agreement here.

SPEAKER_00 41:53

This is not gonna be the year the 10 sweet the sevens. No, nope, nope. I got St. Mary's winning this one. I mean, they got their front court, they got two 7-1 guys. Um, they're gonna just not allow Texas AM to get to the rim. Um, and I think Texas AM is one of those surprise teams where it's like, you know, they're 21 and 11. Um, you know, they play at a fast pace. Um, St. Mary's doesn't play at a fast pace. I just don't think Texas St. M is gonna be able to get in the paint and score with two guys that are over seven foot. Um, they're gonna get you know, out rebound Texas AM. They're gonna, you know, that two-point field goal percentage is gonna be pretty low for Texas AM. And I think St. Mary's is going to be Texas AM here. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:41

And the final uh matchup of the first round, we have two seed Houston Cougars against the 15-seed Idaho. I think they're the Cyclones. That's embarrassing that I don't know what their mascot is, but I think Houston is one of my teams that can take it all the way to win it all um based on the criteria we showed, based on their experience from last year. Kelvin Sampson does a great job. I don't see an upset happening here. Um, I I wouldn't even let you tell me that there's going to be an upset happening here. No, Houston, Houston by 100. Okay. So we have all of our first round games picked now. Uh, if you have made it this far, thank you. Don't forget, in order to submit your entry uh into our bracket contest, make sure you are subscribing to our YouTube channel. Make sure you are uh following us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, all of the social medias. Um, and we will then provide you with our password to then enter this and winner of our bracket challenge will get$50. Uh no strings attached.

SPEAKER_00 43:40

Straight out of my pocket. You don't have to put any money in. You just do the following. Just you few few clicks and you have a chance to win fifty dollars. Why not?

SPEAKER_01 43:47

Few clicks, take a few minutes out of your day, and and we'll get you get you right.

SPEAKER_00 43:51

And support the right read because we because we'll always bring you the right reads. Um, but we're jumping into the round of thirty two. We'll kind of go back to the east side of the bracket. We have Duke and Ohio State. And I think we'll just kind of go through more of the picks. And just based on, you know, I think a lot of these teams now we've seen, we've watched throughout the year, and we have a pretty good pulse on, you know, these matchups. Duke is just, I mean, the number one overall seed. And Ohio State's done great to finish out the season, make it in the tournament, but Duke ends it um and heads to the Sweet 16.

SPEAKER_01 44:30

Yep. I totally agree. I actually think just based on matchups, um, if TCU were to beat Ohio State here, I like their chances against Duke better. Don't think they necessarily win. I just I like the Duke matchup against Ohio State, how they can guard, how they can score. I think is a little bit easier of a matchup for Ohio State. And I I think going back to what we've said, I I think these top and one seed, two seed teams are gonna kind of flex their muscles throughout this tournament.

SPEAKER_00 44:55

Yeah, this is a fun matchup here. Uh St. John's and Kansas. Um this one's a tough one.

SPEAKER_01 45:02

Five versus four seed here.

SPEAKER_00 45:04

Yeah, this one is a tough one. Um, there's just so many variables that go into it. Um, so I'll let you I you know I grabbed the Duke one pretty quick. Um, I think this one's more of a toss-up for me here. Um, who do you got for St. John's and Kansas?

SPEAKER_01 45:18

Yeah, this one I'm I'm gonna go with St. John's. Um, Kansas is a team where if if they get to the final four, I'm not gonna be surprised. Uh, I might be less surprised than if St. John's gets to the final four. But in this particular matchup, I think the way that Rick Petino coaches his teams to be ready for the moment, to be prepared for what the other team is going to throw at you in terms of sets, in terms of uh tendencies, in terms of strategies, and also in terms of best players, I think that Darren Peterson might get just negated essentially in this game, uh, and he might not be able to take over. That is assuming he's even, you know, 100% healthy. I know he's been dealing with stuff. Um, I I like St. John's here. I think if you switched their seeds and told me St. John's was a four and Kansas was a five, I'd be like, yeah, okay, I believe that. I think St. John's got a pretty bad seed, probably because of the the weak big east that they were in. Uh, what do you think about Pencilin and St. John's over Kansas year?

SPEAKER_00 46:16

Yeah, I think I was leaving St. John's. I mean, you got the historic coaches of Bill Self and Rick Patino. I I think if I recall, they played last year as well. Um, so they're matching up again, uh, kind of a rematch. Um, and I think St. John's just I think they're catching fire. Um, and I think that's what's so so important about this tournament is who's gonna catch fire um and kind of ride the the wave of momentum into the um tournament. And I think that's exactly what St. John's is doing. I think Kansas did the opposite. Um, I think so I I got I'll I'll pencil in St. John's there with you as well.

SPEAKER_01 46:52

Yeah, I think that's gonna be quite the defensive game. Uh Kansas, I at least how I think of him, is typically high octane, high-powered guards who can score at least the big guys. You know, you think of Embiid and some of the guys coming through there who can get a bucket at will. Um, this team is very much prided on their defense, just like St. John's. They get down and gritty. I'm excited if that matchup happens. The next matchup, I don't know if I'm too excited if it happens because my team is involved, and we do have, as you mentioned at the start, this intersection of two of the teams that meet the Ken Palm top 25 criteria of historical past champions. Louisville, sixth seed versus Michigan State, three seed. I will defer to you as the non-Michigan State fan to go ahead and give your thoughts first.

SPEAKER_00 47:37

Yeah, yeah. This one, this is gonna be quite this round of 32 matchup. Um, maybe the best one out there um to tune into. Um, you know, I I I sketched up my own little um bracket prior to you know jumping on this um with you, Rob. And I just it it hurts my soul, but it's also just just the way it is. It's hard to pick against Izzo and Michigan State, um, just due to preparation, um, how good of a coach Izzo is over a I think a second, I think it's second year at Louisville, um, possibly. Um, I think it's gonna come down to coaching. Like that's how close and similar these two teams are when you go to that, you know, the top 25 rule. Um, I think it's gonna come down to coaching. I think Michigan State gets out of this in uh a two-possession type of game. I think you guys will take this um and and beat Louisville.

SPEAKER_01 48:35

Yeah, man, this is uh this is a tough one for me. I I see vulnerabilities in my Michigan State squad. I I know Tom Bizzo's done what he's done in his career. I know we got the depth. I know Jeremy Fears is a super high-end scorer, um, super high-end in terms of our team, high-end scorer, high-end, uh, obviously passer, kind of just trendsetter, playmaker. There's a pretty big drop-off, though, after him. And I worry about foul trouble, uh, especially with him. I mean, don't even have to get into the extracurricular stuff that's happened, but I worry about that a little bit. I worry about how we might have maxed our season out when it comes to what we have on the on the roster, just in terms of the guys, you know, you let me talk about it throughout this whole thing. But uh I I'm okay with penciling them in. Um, you're gonna see some of my brackets have this one as Louisville getting past us, though, and just being uh uh kind of the end of the road uh for this Michigan State uh team. But we'll go ahead and pencil them in for now and then move down to the 10-seed UCF Knights versus our two seed in this region, Yukon. I see Yukon here handling business. Um, even if UCLA makes it to this point, uh, I think Yukon is as a pretty strong two-seed here. Uh, and I think they'll they'll make it on.

SPEAKER_00 49:53

Yeah, yeah, I agree. We can pencil in pencil in Yukon and head over to the West region to break down the round of 32 over there. Um, so we you know, starting at you know, one seed Arizona versus Utah State. Um, you know, I was even going a little bit back and forth with Utah uh state and Villanova, but Arizona is just a no-brainer. I I and it they're such a good team. Um, so that's that's an easy, easy win over Utah State. Um, and you probably don't have much to argue against that because you know the Wildcats are dominant.

SPEAKER_01 50:28

Yes. Another four or five matchup, four seed Arkansas versus five seed Wisconsin. I my eyes will be glued to the TV if we get this matchup in this round of 32. The backcourt talent in this game, the guards for both teams are just gonna be off the chart. Maybe the best matchup of guards we could have actually have throughout the whole entire tournament if you pick any two teams. Uh I think this is one where I feel a little bit more confident in Arkansas because of their consistency, and Wisconsin's reliant on the three-pointer can take them as far as Indianapolis. You know, like again, if you told me they get there, I wouldn't be surprised. I think the the coaching from Calipari with Arkansas, Darius Acuff, I still think as good as Blackwell and Boyd are for Wisconsin. I think Acuff is just he's he's one of the elite guys, you know, top three in the whole game right now. I would feel comfortable penciling Arkansas in over Wisconsin for those reasons, but do you have any objections?

SPEAKER_00 51:25

Yeah, I think when you when you look at the bracket too, and you and you think about it this way, like we were discussing more of the Wisconsin high point matchup and not even being like 100% sold on Wisconsin beating high point just due to how you know their offense runs with high point. And you know, if you if we have Wisconsin moving on here and they do go out against a very high-powered offense and high point, then you mean your your sweet 16 is already screwed up right there. Um and Arkansas is a very well-coached team. Um, and I think Acuff is going to just show out. Uh, I think this is his last year in college, he's gonna be going to the NBA after this. Um, yeah, I think Arkansas just overall, they just they're more athletic. Um, and I and I think they'll find a way to slow down uh Boyd and Blackwell, unfortunately, and I think they'll move on in Arkansas.

SPEAKER_01 52:17

Yeah. Next up, we got the six seed BYU Cougars going up against Gonzaga as the three seed. Uh, we didn't give much thought to Gonzaga in their first round matchup because that you know they've been here, they're prepared, they got a good system. I think a lot of it's true here in this matchup, too. But BYU, you know, they're one of those, you know, potentially sneaky good teams because of some of the talent they have. What are your initial thoughts if this matchup were to happen in the round of 32?

SPEAKER_00 52:45

Yeah, this is this is another one to highlight too. It's you know, me and you kind of went back and forth on that first uh round matchup, BYU, uh North Carolina State, um, potentially going either way where Texas could beat BYU if Texas does handle North Carolina State. We're kind of we're kind of going back and forth on that matchup. I don't feel comfortable moving a team into the Sweet 16 if we're not on the same page with who we think's even gonna win that first matchup. Um Gonzaga's just they're a March team, uh well coached, and I think they will be um BYU and move on to Sweet 16.

SPEAKER_01 53:19

Yep. Bottom matchup here in this West region, Missouri 10 seed uh versus Purdue, the Big Ten champions, two seed. I'll go ahead and say I Purdue's one of my favorites just to go all the way, just because of their recent turning the corner after they kind of hit that wall. Preseason number one, Braden Smith as the point guard, lawyer as the shooter, TKR as the kind of down low post. Um I I really think they got it all. I don't see a 10 seed, even if Miami gets there as a seventh seed. I don't see them getting knocked off here.

SPEAKER_00 53:52

Yeah, I got Purdue here too. They got their they even Clough down low with TKR. Yeah, um, three dominants down low, and then they got two dominant guards, really. Lawyer Fletcher Lawyer has been stepping up from three. He's been he, I mean, he's he's automatic from three, and then you just have a facilitator in Smith. So yeah, they'll get the job done against Missouri.

SPEAKER_01 54:10

Yeah. All right, going down to the Midwest here, Michigan and St. Louis. Uh, I will take this one first as the non-Michigan fan. I think they're good. I think they're one of the best teams. I don't think St. Louis would challenge them. I think Georgia could maybe get them out of their element if Georgia wins that eight-nine matchup uh and maybe makes them a little bit confused for the first half. But we've seen it time and time again, Michigan can just overwhelm people with their defense and their switchability on defense. Um, it seems like in this Big Ten tournament and even in their matchups against Michigan State, everyone gets a bucket for these guys. You know, like you got role players coming in that just look like they would be an absolute star on 90% of the other college basketball teams, uh, unless you anticipate some kind of nasty upset here on Pencilin and Michigan without giving it much thought.

SPEAKER_00 54:59

Yeah, yeah. Michigan, Michigan rides and smoke St. Louis. Or I got a ride with my dogs. Yep, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 55:07

Texas Tech, Alabama, uh, another 5'4 matchup, Texas Tech being the five seed, Alabama being the four. Go ahead, give me your thoughts on this one.

SPEAKER_00 55:15

Yeah, this to speed it up a little bit. Um, I will take Bama um just with the JT Toppin. If they have JT Toppin, I'd take Texas Tech there. Um, that's how much that impacts. Like I said, we did discuss, you know, them figuring out a little bit. Um, yeah, they can figure out against Akron, but I don't think they have enough to overcome Alabama.

SPEAKER_01 55:38

Would I be able to convince you in any way to take Texas Tech here over Alabama? I Alabama's one of those teams uh the defense, we know the defense in March can be really a telltale sign. And if you can't stop an offense, uh especially one that Texas Tech has figured it out in terms of having Christian Anderson step up with some of their recent games and how they've been able to handle Arizona, handle Iowa State, handle Houston. I mean, this is very much a very good Texas Tech team. I I Alabama scares me to pick them to do anything. Uh yeah, they could go cut down the nets, and I guess I wouldn't be surprised, but I don't love them too much. Could I convince you Texas Tech here?

SPEAKER_00 56:22

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 56:23

I I mean I think we can keep them in, but I'm gonna go on record here and say I like Texas Tech over Alabama in this particular match.

SPEAKER_00 56:32

I think this one was one too where it's kind of a coin coin flip. Um, so we we can yeah, we can change it up to Texas Tech. And I think for the audience watching, I think that's just how close it is between these two teams where you're just gonna have to go with your gut. Um maybe check out the first game, see how both teams look, um, and kind of make a decision from there. But yeah, I'm fine switching up Texas Tex. I don't think it matters once they play Michigan. Either team is not gonna be a good one. I was just gonna say that 16.

SPEAKER_01 56:58

Um I think it's all for just one more game, you know.

SPEAKER_00 57:01

Yeah, yep. And then that ring brings us down um the 6-3 matchup with Tennessee in Virginia. Um, so this one's uh this is when it gets tougher. You know, we had the you know, we were kind of able to breeze through that round of 64. Um, then we get into round 32, where you know this is another tough uh matchup. Um I'll I'll let you go here. I you know, I have a pick in mind, but I kind of want to hear where you're at with this one.

SPEAKER_01 57:27

Yeah, my pick, you know, just based on if we have a healthy Tennessee team, uh, I'm going with Tennessee over Virginia. I I think the battle tested nature of the SEC, I think Gillespie as a guard, I know Virginia's tough. They're obviously the three-seeded higher seed here. Um, I just like Tennessee. I like Rick Barnes teams. I like the way that they're coached. I like the guard play that they have, I like the way they can defend matched Virginia in that regard. I would pick Tennessee here as a six over three upset. Uh, but obviously, this is another one where if you if you feel passionately, we can pencil in Virginia.

SPEAKER_00 58:02

Nope, nope, that's that's exactly where I was leaning at. I I need a little more convincing from you to be able to be.

SPEAKER_01 58:08

That's fair. That's fair. All right, you mentioned Santa Clara 10 seed, uh, being what you think is the best 10 seed in this tournament. They are going up against the Iowa State Cyclones as a two-seed. This is a tough matchup for Santa Clara. Do you see this being a matchup that they can actually come away with against Iowa State? I do not.

SPEAKER_00 58:28

I think Iowa State keep it simple. Yeah, keep it very simple. I think Iowa State um is solid um on both ends, and um though they're gonna suffocate Santa Clara. You know, uh, you know, when I can say confidently against Kentucky, but Kentucky's nowhere near Iowa State. Um, and Iowa State's been through enough battles to be able to overcome a round of 32 matchup with Santa Clara.

SPEAKER_01 58:53

For sure. Moving into the South, final uh region here. Florida one seed, Clemson eight seed. Do we see an upset uh at any one seed in this round of 32 or is Florida moving on?

SPEAKER_00 59:08

Florida's moving on. Um, this is you know, kind of the analysis I kind of want the audience to think about too is you know, when you're going back and forth on that first uh that round of 64, you know, matchup, and and you could go either way with a coin flip of Clemson or Iowa. Um, I feel like it's hard to go unless you're confident in that first pick. Um, you can't you can't ride out that team, and Florida is a number one uh seed, and they've proven wide throughout the year. So I got Florida beating Clemson.

SPEAKER_01 59:37

Yep. Vanderbilt, Nebraska. I'm gonna go ahead because I know you are on the Vanderbilt train, and I'm on the Nebraska non-train. I think Vanderbilt Hill would be able to handle Nebraska. I think they'll continue to roll. Uh, I'm gonna pencil them in without too much in-depth analysis. Yep, I agree. Vanderbilt. VCU and Illinois. Uh, I'll tell you what, I'll go on record here just by by way of saying I don't like the Illinois team makeup. I think they're susceptible, they haven't won the games, they have, they've blown double-digit leads. VCU is on a heater, they can score with Illinois in my brackets. More times than not, if this matchup happens, I'm picking VCU, but I know you're a big Illinois guy. What do you think on this? Can we pencil in an 11-3 upset, or do you think Illinois turns the corner and figures it out?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:26

Uh, I think I let you override the the Alabama-Texas tech game pitch. Um, I I don't think um I can let you do this one. Um, I don't I don't know what the passion I've I have no love for Illinois. I I don't like Illinois whatsoever. Um, but I think they're you know, Waggler could get hot. They got Boswell back now. They're bigs, are are great shooters. Um, you can have it's kind of like that Michigan team where you don't know who's gonna be their leading scorer. Um, you have anybody that could take over that game for Illinois. Um, yeah, they've blown you know double digit losses, which they got to figure out uh for this tournament. But I think Brent Brett Underwoods, yeah, I think he's a great coach. And I think Illinois just takes out BCU. They're their fire, their their hot streak they're on is gonna come to an end against Illinois, the round 32.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:17

That's fair. Illinois is also uh going by the sports books odds for the national title, um, which only means so much, but they're up there. You know, they're in the top eight, I believe. And as a three-seed, they're the only three seed that's that high. Um, so Vegas is confident in them. Uh, I just man, I gotta believe my eyes at some point. But we'll go ahead and put Illinois in there. Final matchup in the round of 32, seven seed St. Mary's versus two seed Houston. I like St. Mary's as a seven seed in this tournament. I just think Houston Cougars are a buzzsaw. They made it all the way to the championship game last year. I think they'll kind of have that same energy throughout this tournament. I like them here against St.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:52

Mary's. Yeah, Samson, great coach for Houston, turn around that program really quick, and they're gonna take care of business against St. Mary's and move on to Sweet 16.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:02

All right, that concludes the round of 32. We'll we'll kind of breeze through some of these sweet 16 matchups now because we have talked about all these teams at least twice already. Uh, Duke versus St. John's. What do we think about this one seed versus five seed matchup in the Sweet 16?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:16

Yeah, I I got Duke in this one. Um, I think I think it's just just playing Duke this year, Michigan playing Duke. Um, I think goes a long way in just my bias towards how I mean it's not even bias, it's just proven just stats and facts that Duke's is just their dominant team. Um, and I just don't think many teams can beat them. Maybe once we get into the final four, we'll have better matchups um to kind of discuss, but I got Duke over St. John's.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:45

Yeah, no, no argument for me here. Uh Duke's just rolling. They've been wire to wire, one of the best teams all year. Um, and and I think they won't have a problem here. Michigan State versus Yukon. Um, as the Michigan non-Michigan State fan, go ahead. Give me your thoughts again here first.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:01

Yeah, this one uh this one sucked for me even. I know you mentioned Michigan State and you know the struggle they could go against Louisville. And I think that's the only reason I'm gonna pick Yukon over Michigan State is just because you, as a Michigan State fan, you know your team better than anyone. Um, definitely better than I do. Um, if you think that there's a shot that they even lose Louisville, I don't feel confident in moving them to the Elite Eight when they could be out in the round of 32. Um, so I got UConn um beating Michigan State in Sweet 16.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:31

Yeah. Uh for what it's worth, I like the chances of Michigan State beating Yukon more than I like the chances of beating Louisville. Um, for what it's worth, but I I do get it. I don't think that they'll have a ton of legs in this tournament, so I'm fine with Yukon in here. UConn's a damn good team. Um, but we'll go ahead and move on to the West bracket, the hardest uh that I called the uh hardest at the start of this Arizona uh versus Arkansas. We have maybe the best team in the country versus maybe the best player in the country. What do we think here between these two absolute powerhouses right now?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:07

Yeah, I think Arkansas unfortunately just got a bad draw here um running into Arizona in the Sweet 16. Arizona's just been dominating pretty much every team that's been in front of them. Um and you know, beat Houston a few times this year. Um, so I just think Arizona is is just too good um to be losing in the Sweet 16. I think Arkansas um will lose that game.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:32

All right, then we have three seed Gonzaga, two seed Purdue. Are we gonna go full one seed, two seed into the Elite Eight here on the top half of this bracket? Is Purdue gonna take down Gonzaga?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:43

I I know I whenever I see that I'm like, did I just like did I not think this through enough? You know, the if I have all ones and twos in there, and it just seems so chalking. I and it's and it's easy to go chalk, but it's prove it's proven the last you know 10 years of the tournament. I mean, it's just it is very chalky. I mean, they the ones, twos, three seeds are just the dominant teams in in the brackets. Um, but you know, this is a 3-2 seed. Um, I I got it, we got a taste of Purdue today. We played Gonzaga in the beginning of the year, beat him by 40, um, beginning of the year, but overall, uh, Purdue is getting hot at the right time, and I will take Purdue over Gonzaga here.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:26

Yeah, I I'm I'm cool with that because I I think Purdue could be, you know, once we fill out this bracket, they might be the ones cutting it down. We'll we'll see about this matchup when we get back to it. I'll have Gonzaga in some of my brackets here. Um, I think they're just one of those teams. Again, they don't have the target on them right now. The spotlight is not on Gonzaga, it's on Purdue. Maybe it comes with extra pressure or just some stressors. Uh, and Gonzaga's a damn good team. They can score it. They obviously have the system, they know how to keep up with a team like Purdue. Um, so it would be an amazing game to watch. Would it would be absolutely uh thrilled to have that matchup? Sweet. And then now Texas Tech in this Midwest, the easiest region that we call it. We talked about the Texas Tech Alabama matchup for a bit and said it's not ultimately going to matter because we do think Michigan's going to move on. So we'll pencil them in. Then we got our six-seed Tennessee Volunteers versus the two-seed Iowa State Cyclones. We could just go ahead and pencil in Iowa State Cyclones because of how dominant they have been, or we could get a six-seed upset. What do we think here?

SPEAKER_00 1:06:28

We're going to pencil in Iowa State. As much as we've kind of raved on Tennessee, they are they're a great team. I don't think their record proves, you know, actually how good they are. But Iowa State's been doing it all year. They've stayed healthy, which I think is is key. And they've all played together all year. So I got Iowa State advancing to play Michigan in the fair enough.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:55

And then we'll moving on to the South bracket. We have the one seed Florida Gators, five seed Vanderbilt Commodores. I know Florida just, yeah, I was gonna say, I know Florida just lost to these guys in a pretty ugly fashion. I don't know if it's gonna happen again. I think Florida is gonna come prepared, come ready. I you know, there's something about the conference tournament, some weird things happen sometimes. Um, Florida won it last year. They're gonna be looking pretty hungry to repeat, I think, or at least get back to the final four. I I think this is where Van Dy's run ends. What do you think?

SPEAKER_00 1:07:29

Yeah, um, you know, with them being my sleeper team, I you know, I was going back and forth on this one, and I think with Florida losing that game, I think they're gonna come for revenge, and you know, just they have that March magic or uh, you know, like they did it last year. Um, and I think Golden's a pretty solid coach, and I think Florida will be Vanderbilt, and I think that's where my Cinderella run ends, right there. Yeah, not too crazy long of a run, but yeah, um, you know, enough where they're running into the one seed.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:02

Yeah, Illinois Houston. Uh great matchup. This one would be if it happens. Uh go ahead, give me your thoughts.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:10

Yeah, uh raving about Illinois all year. Um, you know, I thought they were gonna win the Big Ten tournament. Um, didn't end up happening right into Wisconsin. Um this one, I I I don't think we would see eye to eye on, um, and I don't have a strong enough argument um to pick Illinois over Houston. Um put on record here as well, I think Illinois beats Houston. Um, but I think with me and you in agreement, I I think um, you know, Houston I don't I just don't have a big I don't have enough argument to pick Illinois over Houston. So I'll I'll go with Houston with you, but I can see this one going Illinois's way. So this is one where for the audience you guys just gotta watch the games leading up to it and kind of determine from there. Um, you know, you kind of think about the previous matchups, um, kind of dissecting Illinois and you know, seeing which team you think's gonna win. Um, but I think we'll probably pencil in Houston and go one-two across to all regions.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:09

See, here, here I'm gonna be devil's advocate. I think if Houston's one of my favorite teams in this tournament in terms of like how they're built, how they can win. If Illinois gets through the first round of 64, beats VCU or North Carolina in the round of 32, and gets to this matchup, that means they're clicking. That means they haven't unraveled. They'll be on fire. I mentioned they're in the top eight favorites to cut down the nets at the end of the season. Vegas likes Illinois, they have all year. There's something to be said about that. Ken Palm loves Illinois, the advanced metrics do. They all love Houston just as much, if not more, as well. For the sake of not having a one and two complete chalk tournament, I'm going to Pencilin, Illinois here. I know they're the Garlings. Uh, we're gonna go with them. I think if they can get this far, it'll be just a toss-up, essentially. And I like them uh to score enough points and create enough juice to get past Houston.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:04

Awesome. All right. I'm happy, I'm happy with that. Uh, I like that.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:08

I know I figured it would be. I was waiting for you to get done, and it'd be like, all right, fine, we can go with Houston, and then I drop the ball on you.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:14

So we'll go back to the little bit too much before letting you get get into word on that. I should have just gone with Illinois and you're good.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:22

I I was waiting for it. I was kind of building up the suspense. I loved it. All right, we have our elite eight matchups now. We have Duke one seed, UConn two seed. Uh, this is one where you know, will the Bucks stop for Duke here? I think this is a tough matchup for them with Yukon. I just don't see a team necessarily dethroning Duke unless it's honestly Arizona, Houston, Michigan. Um, I think I'm I'm going with Duke here. Any any thoughts otherwise? Yeah, no, I got I got Duke in this one as well. Okay. Arizona Purdue might be the best matchup we get all tournament. Uh, this could be the national championship game based on how Purdue has played in the last week, but I personally think that that could have been a little bit lightning in a bottle type of thing. They just kind of caught fire at the right time. Arizona did the same thing in their conference tournament, they've done the same thing the whole year. I again don't see anybody beating Arizona other than a Duke, other than a Michigan, other than a Houston or those teams. Um, how do you feel?

SPEAKER_00 1:11:25

Yeah, it's Purdue. They always they'll they'll lose their spark at some point in this tournament, and I think it it ends in the Elite Eight when they go against Arizona. Um, they just like I said, I mean these one seeds have just been dominant this year. Like it's yeah, it's just been going through their conferences and just dominating. So I got Arizona over Purdue as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:45

Yep. Okay. So our first two teams in the final four in Indianapolis, we have Penciled in the 2-1 seeds. Uh, no surprise, Duke, Blue Devils, and Arizona Wildcats moving on to the Midwest region. We have the Michigan Wolverines, Troy's team, and the Iowa State Cyclones uh as a two-seed. Go ahead. And I know we typically let the other non-fan go first, but I'm curious if Michigan gets matched up against Iowa State. How do you see that matchup going for them?

SPEAKER_00 1:12:14

Yeah, I I think the size for Michigan is gonna be the difference in this game because I think it is gonna be a really, really close game. Um, you know, it's it's one of the ones where it could go either way, and that's coming from a Michigan fan that obviously, you know, wants to easily pencil in Michigan to the final four. I'm still gonna pick them to win this game, um, but I think it's going to be a very, very close game. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:39

This is one I think Iowa State's dangerous. I I think they could go in and beat anybody because of how they can swarm you and suffocate you on defense. I just, I know I've been on record. I think Michigan's still the team to beat. I know Arizona's got the talent. We'll we'll get to that final four matchup. We got three seeds in them right or three, one seeds in them right now. So we'll talk a little bit more uh after we do this last final Elite Eight matchup of the Florida Gators, defending champs versus our kind of darling, maybe the Cinderella team, if you can call them then, the the Illinois fighting alliani. Man, what do you think? Can they dethrone the defending champs, Florida Gators, uh, to move on to the final four as the only non-one seed in our bracket?

SPEAKER_00 1:13:20

Yeah, so I think this comes back to that top 25 rule. Um, I think we're back at it where I finally have to just go with Florida over Illinois here. Um, as much as you know, they could make it to the final four and the metric still holds true. Um, I I think Florida is going to over overcome Illinois. I think they just something about March, like I mentioned, I I think uh Florida ends Illinois' run here in the Lee Eight.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:48

Yeah, I I think this is one where, you know, if Illinois gets this far, I could also see them beating Florida. You know, I could see them get, I think Florida's obviously the weakest one seed. So if there is a chance for someone to sneak in, I think it would be potentially Illinois or Houston coming out of this um, what is this, the South region. So I I think that I could see it for the sake of just having this uh all kind of chalked like last year, um, using the historical markers. Uh, I think we'll leave in Florida and have the most boring, chalked final four that we possibly could have. But this is maybe where uh some of the some of the juice comes in because now we got all the one seeds going against each other. Duke and Florida, who's gonna have the upper hand in that matchup?

SPEAKER_00 1:14:31

Yeah, yeah. Like you, like you mentioned, Florida is the the weakest one seed out of out of these four teams in the final four. Um, you know, Duke just with Boozer. Um, and I know I know they're down Caleb Foster, which is a big, pretty big blow. Um, you know, he's not your your takeover type of guy, but it's just an extra body that Duke doesn't have. Um is the stage gonna be too big for Boozer? Um, you know, some of these freshmen, Isaiah Evans, um, is it gonna be too big? I don't think so. Um, Boozer is just a dominant force. He's just uh, I mean, he when he wants to take over, like I watched the Virginia game, he he grabbed, he grabbed every board he wanted to get. He went to the rim and scored at will. Yeah, no, they just couldn't stop him. And that's a really good Virginia defense that they have. And yeah, he just took over. And I don't think the stage will be too big, and I think Duke will um head to the national championship.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:26

Yeah, I I agree. I think if this is the matchup, or even if it's not the matchup, honestly, whoever comes out, I I don't love Florida to come out of their own region. We just talked about it, right? Maybe it's Illinois, maybe it's Houston. Um, I honestly think those teams might give Duke a a more uh of a challenge. Uh, I just think, like you said, Boozer can take over. Shire has absolutely kept that program at the elite level that Coach K left it at um when he went out. Um, moving on then to the next Final Four matchup, Arizona Wildcats for sure, Michigan Wolverines. If I see the run ending for Michigan, I see it ending here. I think Arizona has turned the corner from a really good team to one of the best by far. And they have elevated their game in every way. They've played so many different styles of play in the Big 12, and they have handled all of their tests very, very well. I I think the difference for me in this one is how Arizona looked going against the top end talent in their conference tournament versus Michigan, not necessarily handling Purdue. Um, and you know, if we just use the transitive property of Arizona beating Purdue in the Elite Eight matchup and Purdue beating Michigan in the Big Ten tournament championship, um, I would pencil in Arizona here just because of that. But I will give you the floor to make the case for the Wolverines going all the way to the national championship.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:52

Well, you know, it's funny. This is Final Four on my birthday. Okay, so it's a it's it'd be Oh yes, it is what a great birthday gift. Uh, if Michigan could just take the dub over Arizona and reach the championship game. Um, but I don't think it happens. Um, I I think we look back at it, just coming from a you know, a fan that's watched every single game. Um, LJ Kasen, I think, is the the team just hasn't looked the same since LJ Kasin went out. Not as dominant, not as dominant. Um, you just don't have anybody to relieve Cadot if he gets into foul trouble. When Codot is off the floor, the team just doesn't have that facilitator, someone to run the offense. When Kasen would come in, they really wouldn't lose a beat, um, even with Cadot off the floor. And I think that's the difference maker. I think if LJ Kasen is still with the team, still playing, I think I would give the edge to Michigan here. Um, because I think they would have, you know, I'm not gonna make excuses, so I won't speak on it too much farther, but I think the LJ Kasen injury is going to hurt them. And I and I think Arizona does beat Michigan, unfortunately. And I don't get my birthday gift, and I'm pretty upset on my birthday. So that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:04

Oh man, well, you know, your birthday gift can be the fact that they they are cutting down sub nets and getting to go to Indianapolis as a final four team. Yeah, I know that's not winning at all, but that's that's a win in some stretch uh of college basketball. And I think uh, you know, we've talked about injuries in this tournament with the teams, uh, how they affect not only the top end production you get, but also the depth and how that affects rotations, how that affects uh game planning. Um, and and I think, you know, Arizona hasn't necessarily dealt with anything like that. Uh, and I think if they stay healthy and they are able to ride the wave that they have, uh, I can see them dethroning Michigan, not dethroning, uh, but taking down Michigan here, advancing to play Duke in the national championship, where this would be two absolute heavyweights going at it in this fight. Uh I don't know who I would go with in this one. This is a phenomenal matchup. I'd love to hear your thoughts who we got cutting down the nets in the end.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:04

Yeah, so I I think this is where the experience comes into play. Um, I as much as I wanted to ride Duke the whole way, win it all. Um, I think like you mentioned, Arizona went from, you know, one of the top teams to like elite. Um, I think Duke and Arizona are your two elite teams right now um going into the tournament. Um, and then you know, Michigan a little bit behind them, but I got Arizona beating Duke in the championship and cutting down the nets as your new 2026 national champions.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:36

I have to agree. I love the point about the experience. Uh Duke or Duke's led by Boozer, obviously. Um, he seems like he's been in college for four years, just absolutely dominating, and he might continue to play like that. He might not ever skip a beat. I just think Arizona's got the talent, they got the freshman talent, they got the the upperclassman talent. Arizona's been a team, man. I feel like I've been on their high horse the last few tournaments and a few of their times where they're they're super highly rated. They're they got the the momentum, they got the advanced metrics, and then they've gotten bounced a couple times. And so they're kind of like they're supposed to be on my blacklist of teams, like pick them to get upset early. But I almost just gotta like, I gotta ride with it. You know, I picked them so many times, I've been burned by them so many times. If this isn't the year, uh, I don't know if they do have the year. So I'm good with Arizona versus Duke. How many total points scored will make this easy? Uh, let's say the final score is 73 to 70, and we have 143 final points. I mean, okay, I don't I don't think, yeah, I don't think we gotta like spend too much time analyzing that. Um, but you know, in case we have a tiebreaker, uh, this could come into play. That's just a really common college basketball score. Uh, and we'll say, we'll give the whole scenario for the audience. It's gonna be 70 to 70 tied, five seconds on the shot clock. Bradley's gonna get an inbound pile. He's gonna take the three-pointer, he's gonna make it. Duke's gonna take a half court at the end, not make it in, and that's gonna be the national championship, Arizona Wildcats. We'll go ahead and submit this bracket into the right read podcast bracket group. Um, but this is, you know, kind of what we thought live. You know, this is just a few hours after brackets have been revealed. Uh, still a lot of information in terms of injuries and game times. I think that could maybe uh sway some of this. So obviously do your own research, but this has uh been a pleasure to be able to walk through this uh with you guys. Um, I don't know if there's anything uh else that you wanted to add, Troy, about any of the uh the bracket things or anything like that, but uh go ahead if there is.

SPEAKER_00 1:21:48

No, no, I I we got we got Arizona winning it all. Um, like like Rob said, um, to enter into the R bracket group. It is Write Read Podcast is the name of it. Um, I'll give you all the details, the passcode to get into that um bracket group. Um, just making sure that you are subscribing to our YouTube and also following our TikTok, um, which is write read podcast on TikTok. Um, once you do um get both those done, you can leave a comment on our TikTok post that we will have up later. Um, we'll also have a Twitter um post up later that you can comment on as well, and then I will um direct message you um for that passcode for you to join into our um bracket group.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:33

Yeah, well, that was awesome. Let's call it a wrap on those great discussions we had today around the bracket. Again, one of the best weeks of the year are upon us. I am so excited. If you viewers love this, if you even hated it, if you thought we were way off on some of our predictions, make sure to leave a comment, engage with us, tune back in next week after all of our brackets are already busted. We'll have our next episode ready, reacting to the first weekend of games and a look ahead at our Sweet 16 matchups. Thanks, y'all, and we'll see you next time. See you guys.