NCAA Men's and Women's March Madness Sweet 16 Preview 2024

In this episode of the "Call Your Shop Podcast,"  Alix Harris and Drew Moore dissect the electrifying first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, focusing on both men's and women's basketball. They kick off with a deep dive into the men's tournament, where underdogs stole the show in an unprecedented fashion, marking the most upsets since 2001. Then, they shine a light on standout performances and Cinderella stories, like NC State's commendable journey, and emphasize the unpredictability and excitement that March Madness is renowned for. Transitioning to the women's games, they highlight the dominance of teams like South Carolina and USC, discussing potential upsets and the impact of key players. The episode is a comprehensive analysis of the tournament's thrilling upsets, strategic plays, and predictions for upcoming games, encapsulating the essence of what makes NCAA March Madness a must-watch for basketball fans.

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Welcome to the Call Your Shop Podcast, your weekly sports recap podcast, where we break down the hottest headlines, dissect the latest injuries, and serve up our own hard-hitting analysis of the past week in sports. But that's not all. We're not just here to talk about the past. We're here to predict the future as well. On the Call Your Shop Podcast, we boldly predict the outcomes of the upcoming week's games. Hello everybody. Thank you for listening. This is the Call Your Shop Podcast with your host, Alex Harris, and Jermore. Today's episode we're going to go over. the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament for men's and women's as we had a lot of upsets in the men's not as many in the women's but we're going to get into as much as we can so Drew was anything from the men's side that you wanted to get into first you know other than you know DJ Burns and NC State doing what we thought they were going to do. I mean it was an interesting start to the tournament also side note about a little bit of a cold right now so if you hear me sounding kind of like Alex or whatever, then that's the main reason why. But we're going to try to power through this just like MJ did with this blue game. Same kind of deal, same kind of person. Moral of the story is, in the first round with the men's tournament, what we ended up seeing was a lot of the underdogs coming through and winning these games outright, which ended up being the most underdogs to win outright since 2001. So they went 12 and 20. And again, most since 2001. Also 14 double digit favorites ended up going 11 and 3 which is the best ever since the start of the tournament. And as well as going into the Sweet 16, this is only the fifth time ever that we have both number 1 or all the number 1s and all the number 2s in the tournament still. So it started out with the underdogs but then ultimately... As time went on, ended up just being the story of the chalky favorites getting there, the public just absolutely hammering the books and guys like Alex taking advantage of it right now. So yeah, he was it was clear to me and as we talked about earlier, I think that the Drew is in last place and in both of the in both of the I'm like second, but you know, it's also it's based on it's not just yet. Hold on. that you don't you don't win the bracket based on how you do it the first round you win the bracket as the points progress they increase and so as long as we're doing good as it goes on like i said we need houston to come out on top and uh you know so far i think that they'll be able to get the job done but it'll be kind of uh kind of sus going forward to be honest but they'll get a job yeah as you mentioned though we had so many double digit seeds Upset in the first round, we had Yale Grand Canyon, James Madison, NC State, Oakland, James Goukia out here looking like Steph Curry and stuff. Bro, I saw like a lot of like social media posts that him and his team are doing because they were getting so much notoriety and stuff. And they're saying that Oakland's apparel site crashed the night of and everything like that just with all the attention that they were getting. They were trying to have all these marketing agencies reach out to them to promote their products and all this kind of stuff. So it was kind of crazy. Kind of like the Cinderella stories that happened just from the first round. That was just the first round. So we had 10 threes against Kentucky who were out of like people that weren't like the number one and two seats. I feel like Kentucky was one of those like kind of elite teams that people predicted could have gone far. I think they're like top six or seven when it came to odds going into the tournament. So they were probably the most surprising upset of the of the round so far and of the past two rounds for me. Yeah. But I mean, you know, they were one of those teams, though, that. that were the one dimensional teams that were historically ended up resulting in a first weekend exit and or losing in first round or second round. So they did match that criteria. However, the teams that were able to sneak away, obviously NC State, and then also Illinois. with my pick, Moorehead State. And then at the end of, towards the end of the game, second half, it just turned into a bloodbath. And, you know, Moorehead State could just not keep up. They were just too big. And Illinois, regardless of what their defense was doing, because their defense is the main weak point for them, but their offense, when they're clicking, it's damn near impossible to get them stopped. They got so much length down low. They're one of the bigger teams in the tournament still. And also they have that experience with the seniors as well too. So I just think that if they're able to play that well on offense, it's not going to really matter what they're going to do on defense. But that being said, it still is part of the criteria where typically those teams don't end up making it past the first weekend. They made it past the first weekend this time. And so every time after that, I'm going to be looking for spots to bet against them. But right now... It's looking like a good spot to back them coming up here against Iowa State. Same with NC State. I might be jumping on the bandwagon there with you. All right. I changed my mind. I we don't we don't want you. We don't we don't want you. You know, it's fine. It's fine. I get it. You were so confident. You so confident in Texas Tech. I go to Texas Tech. You then actually have to go against a good team as if they didn't beat UNC and Duke like. a week before that. Yeah, we're just out here acting like it was that's who they were. It's not who they were the whole season. Like they just started pulling the start the season. Okay, but that has no I think it showed that they had the pieces. They went through their little midseason slump as a lot of teams do. And you want to get high at the right time shows whether it be the NFL, whether it be basketball, college basketball and stuff like that. They're getting hot at the right time. And everybody's working together. DJ Burns is elite and they have a good surrounding cast around him. And I I think that they can pull off the upset. And like I said, I'm mad that I didn't choose them over Kentucky. Kentucky didn't even get to the second round, but I had Kentucky beating them in the second round just because I didn't think that they would be able to match up with them guard wise. But I mean, now they don't have to. And now they're on to Marquette, who is what did we say? They are currently a six point six and a half point underdog against Marquette. So you're saying that you would take you would take those points and take NC State. I mean, I'm afraid that Oh, really? I already know. Okay. We already won the Texas Tech bet, you know what I'm saying? So we going with it. Until they get to Houston. I think that Houston's going to beat Duke. So if NC State were to have to go against Houston, I think that could be some issues. I mean, but again, you know, the things that scare me are NC State's defense, right? Initially, when the tournament started, they were at like 98th or so when it came to their defensive efficiency. Now, according to Ken Palm, they're 75th. So now they're inside that criteria that is able to make it to the Sweet 16 and then also potentially have a chance to make it to the Elite 8. So they do fit that criteria right now. However, when it comes to offensive efficiency for Marquette, they are 19th in the nation and they've shown that. And then there are also 21sts in the nation on defense. So I mean, you got a team that's damn near top 20 in offense and defense of efficiency. That's going to be real hard for NC State to get past that. But team that almost lost Colorado. Yeah, exactly. And arguably, they probably should have lost except for that. They ended up going on that run. And that's part of what Marquell can do is they can just blitz you on offense and then of threes go in and then all of a sudden next thing you know you're down 10. So I don't know it's gonna be an interesting game for sure. I'm not really seeing too many weaknesses on the defensive end where NC State can make it out like bandits except for maybe down in the like with DJ Burns just posting up and body and people but they're like NC State's not really a three point shooting team. Granted. Uh, you know, that's one of the weaker points for market, but you know, NC state doesn't really capitalize on those, on those opportunities. Um, and in terms of on offense, I think that market can get the shot off pretty well, but again, I gotta, I just have to, I gotta stick with the hot hand. Like you said, I'm jumping on the wagon. I think that, I think that this is, this is too many points, um, to give a market team. Like we said before, they, arguably should have lost to Colorado. And, and I think that NC State has shown that they can hang with these teams. And as like there's some like, okay, you can be there you go. Relax. But, you know, I'm not saying that they're gonna win outright. I'm not crazy like you. But I will say that, that they will at least cover. That's what I'm at least predicted on this one. Yeah, no, go ahead. As we mentioned, yeah, we have all these number one seed still in so out of all four of these upcoming matchups Who do you feel has the best chance to upset a number one seed? Obviously, we got you converse San Diego State North Carolina versus Alabama Houston versus Duke who we both talked about I think that probably would be the closest one in my eyes and Purdue versus concept I mean also Purdue looks good. Usually Purdue always gets knocked down stuff like that They look at Zach Edie out here dominating with 30 and 20 like he's will Chamberlain. So I think that I talked to you about this before we got on here. I do think that Gonzaga is going to be one of those teams that's going to be able to knock off, or at least have the best opportunity to knock off one of the one seeds. I mean, you know, Purdue had a pretty, pretty nice cakewalk to where they're at right now to be able to play against Gonzaga. And Gonzaga is right, riding underneath the underneath the eyes of most people right now usually. We have Gonzaga in the favorite role. You know, they're like 30 and 30 and 20 or whatever, 30 and two. And, you know, they are favorite, favorite favorites in just about every game. Typically now, you know, we're seeing them in this underdog role and Mark few. Granted, did they lose to them earlier on in the season twice? Yeah, sure. But that's not, that's beside the point. The point is. The point is now, this is a different Gonzaga team than they were back during, I think it was like the Maui Invitational when they initially played and then I forgot what the second time was but this is a different Gonzaga team. Now they're playing more as a collaborative team. Their offensive efficiency is seventh in the nation. Their defense efficiency is 41st, which isn't ideal, but it's much improved. from, I believe it was at like 60 or 70s before the tournament started. So they're able to dominate not only on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end. And I think that Mark Fuse can have an answer for Zach Eaddy down low. Because I mean, sure, the guys, you know what, seven, like eight feet tall. So I was gonna say, yeah, so he's eight feet tall, essentially, you round up. When anything over seven feet is eight. That's just how the math works. Don't ask me. But moral of the story is, I think that they're going to have an answer for him down low. And Purdue is not going to be able to be playing against a, you know, 16 seed or, you know, like a Utah State of the world to where Utah State wasn't supposed to win that first game, honestly. Like I told you, I told you about the stat where they I mean, but I'm just saying, man, they are not a team that should be in the tournament period. They looked, I'm not gonna lie, they looked better in the first eight, I mean, it's eight minutes, but in the first eight minutes against Purdue, I think it was like 22, 22 before Purdue went on the ginormous run to close out the half and they actually looked okay. And they're kind of like, approached and how they were going to match a big in Zach Eady and blitzing him wasn't terribly bad, at least to start, but then, you know, they were able to add them in just an adapt. I mean, they're playing against like six footers, you know, like exactly spending six footers. So like, like how what are you going to do when you're when you're playing against them like that? You know what I mean? It's gonna take as big as like, like six, seven, six, eight. I mean, that's bigger than six foot. And also, but I also do I also do trust Mark for you. I think it's just it's a it's a coaching mismatch as well too in this game. Mark few through and through is going to be is going to out coach produce coach. Nine times that same. Sure, maybe Purdue wins just on talent alone, and maybe they're able to put up a few more threes than Gonzaga is, but I do think that ultimately, when it comes down to it, Mark Fue is gonna have the answer for Zack Eady, and they're gonna force the others to beat them. Granted, easier said than done, because Purdue is also the number one team when it comes to three point percentage. However, you know, Gonzaga is seventh in the nation when it comes to two point percentage, whereas Purdue is only sixtieth at defending the mid-range to around the basket area. So I think that is an area that Gonzaga can have some success now. Again, Easier said it done because that mug is big, you know what I'm saying? So pulling up for committee, but also getting him in the pick and roll, getting him into foul trouble was going to be the best way to attack this guy because, I mean, it looks like he's moving in mud anytime he's in the pick and roll. So I think that Nemhard putting him in the pick and roll is going to be probably their best bet to win this game. And having those knockdown shooters in the corners. on the kickouts, that's going to be the best way to get it done. Yeah, that's what the commentators, a lot of people, are talking about when the small glimmer of hope that Utah State had to possibly beat Purdue is they're going to have to hit those mid-range shots. They had per Zach Edie out in the perimeter a lot. I don't know why. If I was Purdue, I would just try to switch everything, keep into the pain as much as he could. But they try to have fun the perimeter. But when they did do that, then they're taken advantage of. And then Utah State was able to score. So if they do that against Gonzaga, which I don't think that they will, cause I don't think it'll bode well, then you know, Gonzaga could have a chance. Um, but they're going to have to hit those middies. And I think that's kind of like the test to beat Purdue. You kind of have to hit your mid range shots cause you're not going to be able to go into paint. And if the three's not falling, then they're just going to. You know, they're going to gobble up every rebound because Zach Edie is literally averaging like 19 rebounds a game so far in this tournament. So it is going to be a tough matchup for Gonzaga, but you know, they had two convincing wins Kansas who you know kind of was on and off throughout this season ended up being a four seed still. I think was a pretty good team. They beat them very convincingly by 21 points. So now they go against Purdue and we'll have to wait and see with that another one you did talk about was Houston and Duke. Oh, you said what's a real quick. How's it real quick? Nine times, not nine times, 10 times out of 10, I'm going to fade a team that just dropped a hundred and called it a basketball game. So like that's just like, that's just an outright area where, okay, they had this giant barrage of an offensive performance. Blitz and a half. Yeah, like I'm going to, I'm going to fade the hell out of them. The next game that they play, regardless of who they're playing, what the spread is or anything like that, I'm automatically just going to be on the other side. Not to mention they also shot a 47.8% from three point range. that's not going to be repeated again, especially not against Gonzaga and Mark Fuse team. So I think, yeah, I think people know that too. They're only a five and a half point favorite, I mean, against Gonzaga. So for being, you know, the number one seed against the number four seed, I mean, I don't think that that's too big of a spread. True. Yeah. I mean, I believe there were like, uh, four and a half or so, or three or four, um, in that game in the malumvitational, uh, before. So, uh, and I mean, you know, that was also technically on a neutral. Um, but. Yeah. They lost by Purdue one by 10 in that game. So. We'll see how the rematch goes. I don't really have any worries. Knock on wood against you, Khan in San Diego State. I think North Carolina, Alabama and Houston Duke are going to be two very interesting games. So do you have any potential upsets in those games for Alabama or Duke or are you still going to go with the number ones? I'm going to go with the number one. Oh, side note real quick. Also it was they were five pretty was five point favorites in that same game. in my imitation of when they lost by 10 there. But yeah, I mean, I think this might be one of those seasons where a lot of the chalk gets there. It's, it's, I hate to say that there's so many upsets, but like, you know, like you said, everything basically that brought to reality in the second round, they're like, okay, you had your fun Cinderella story. Unless you're NC State, you know. Like we said, in the beginning of the tournament, a lot of the dogs won and then after that, it was just all chalked. And so people are going to be looking at that trend and be like, oh, well, now they're due. Now the dogs are going to start barking here in the Sweet 16 and going on forward, which is not necessarily the case. I guess not necessarily how you want to make bets is that, oh, well. They like all the favorites one so now it has to come back to the mean so we must take some dogs here now. But that being said, I do like UConn in this situation. I had talked to you about this before. I wrote this down on the little sticky note. I heard this on a podcast, followed the money. Shout out to them. San Diego State has made the Sweet 16 four times in their history. Only one time had they had a team where they were a single digit seed that they had played. So in that scene that they played, yep, that was Kawhi Leonard's scene in 2011 when they played against Temple. All of the other teams that they played have been double digit seeds. Like how, they've been very lucky each time that they've made it to the Sweet 16 in their history. In 2011, they played, like we said before, they played against Temple who was a number nine seed. And then they played against Northern Colorado who was a 15 seed. And then 2014, they played against New Mexico State, which is a 13 seed. And then North Dakota State, which is 12. 2023, they played against Charleston, who was a 12 seed. And then Furman, who's a 13 this year, played against UAB, who's a 12. And then Yale, who's a 13. So I mean, props to them last year for also beating Alabama, I believe it was, to end up making it to the national championship. But at the same time, they have been extremely lucky in these matchups. And I think that they're going to run into a major problem, which is Yukon and Dan Hurley, who is honestly kind of a scary guy. And he thinks that it's the world against him, which it, I mean, maybe it is, because he also was on his conspiracy theory BS where he thinks that the committee set him up for failure essentially. And I mean, to be fair, that bracket is pretty brutal. But I mean, you have Auburn going out in the first round right there. Don't have to worry about BYU who was the sixth seed. Um, and I mean now, yeah, sure. You have to play against, uh, the team that made it to the championship last year. But at the same time, I mean, they're not the same San Diego state team that they were last year. Uh, they lost their big, um, and they're, I don't want to call them flugasy, but they're, they have a lot of, they have a lot of, uh, Houston in them to where they're not going to be able to. keep up with the scoring that you can has and you can really doesn't have any weaknesses anywhere at all. And and so it like 11 points honestly might not be enough. I'm going to lay the 11 and be happy about it too. So I think that you know, still think 11 is kind of rude and a large madness game. I understand this you can you can is the team that I have to win the national championship but the way that the runs have been working and going in. I'm not going to take it. I don't have to but like, good luck. Yeah, yeah. Good luck with that. Alabama and Duke are both four and a half point favorites against UN, or four and a half point underdogs against UNC in Houston. I have the talk on both those games as well. So anything else that you wanted to get to in the men's before we venture off into the women's side of the brackets? No, that's the main thing. I guess just a quick recap of at least who I got is Illinois. Moneyline and then we got UNC minus 11 or sorry, uh, you con minus 11, uh, UNC minus four. Um, I'm just going to go with Moneyline with that one. They UNC scares me sometimes. Um, I like, I like Clemson to at least cover in this matchup here. Um, uh, what's the, what's the chef's name again? Uh, Scheffelin. Yeah. I think that that's, that's hilarious. So, um, Yeah, I feel like that's a bit much a little steep for me So I think that I think that's seven and a half I mean honestly Clemson's been shooting lights out this game to or this tournament to and the radar And Arizona is one of those teams to word that I don't trust as far as I can program And they can be bailored to honestly like I was surprised by that. They kind of control that game Exactly. And I mean, that was one of the things with Baylor that we knew is that their defense is not the defense that they used to have before, where they can lock teams down. They can also keep up with the scoring as well. But this year, it was just only scoring and they were just brick and free throws left and right. And it was honestly kind of ridiculous. So I think that for this team, so for Arizona to be laying in this spot. And then I like the Zags plus five and a half, Tennessee Moneyline, they were just putting up bricks left and right. I don't think that that's going to happen again in the matchup against Creighton. And Creighton is also coming off of a double OT game where arguably they probably should have lost, but Oregon just ran out of gas essentially. And I feel bad for any wolf. I also had a bet on Oregon. That was the only game I lost that night. But they ended up losing not being able to cover any number. And they just, like I said before, they just ran out of gas. And then NC State joining the wagon. And then Houston Moneyline to finish off is what I'm going to go with there. So yeah, I pretty much have the same thing except I'm just not touching that you come game. Yeah, I agree with you with the Texas, Tennessee. They were able to squeak out the victory 62 to 58, but they only shot 36% from the field and they couldn't get any shot to fall. So I don't feel like they're going to have the same problem against Creighton who even though we basically have like a few days between the different rounds in this situation are still coming off that double overtime loss. So I would still take Tennessee over on that game as well. So moving on to the women's talk about chalk. This has been pretty chalky as well. I think other than other than Duke in Baylor, everything has been chalk. Were there any surprises so far in these first two rounds for you and do you have any changes going forward based off those first two rounds? Yeah, I got a few notes here. You know, I've gotten a little bit of nowhere. But yeah, so like you said before, it's pretty chalky on the women's side. So far in the tournament, it was 36 and 4 straight up, and 19 and 21. That was before last night's games, and then updating it to now, it's now 44 and 4 straight up, and 23 and 25 ATS. interesting enough that even though the favorites are winning these games outright and sometimes it's not even close, I see you out there South Carolina, but at the same time the bookmakers are doing a pretty good job of balancing out the action and the dogs are actually slightly ahead here with going 25 and 23 if you flip it there. So like you said, I think that the biggest thing is that... those four teams that did have those upsets were Middle Tennessee that beat Louisville, which surprised me, was honestly one of the bigger surprises of the tournament here. They ended up winning 71-69. Jaylen Gregory, she just balled out in that game and had 24 points, four assists, three rebounds, was five of eight from the field. She was four of seven from three. 10 of 11 from the free throw line talk about make your free throws when it matters most They only won by two and so I mean it's one of those things take note of that Texas A&M the reason why you lost is because you shot 64% from the field Or from the free throw line there as opposed to even though you shot 45 free throws, which is ridiculous Anyways, sticking with Middle Tennessee here, they also had Savannah Willer, excuse me, Savannah Willer, who had 22 points, two assists, two rebounds, was six of 14 from the field, and was three of five from three point range, and went seven of eight from the free throw line. Make your free throws, boys and girls out there. Also, 20 of Savannah's 22 points were in the second half of the game. And they were at one point down by 18 points to this Louisville team. And they ended up marching and charging. Turn me up. Exactly. And and getting that W there. The other the other surprise upset was like you mentioned before, was Duke over Ohio State. I mean, that was very surprising, honestly. Like I thought Cody McMahon would be able to do enough. But I mean, I was clearly wrong. Reagan Richardson, sorry, Reagan, oh my God. Reagan Richardson was able to drop 28 points with seven boards, and she was 11 of 18 in the field, shooting three of three from downtown. She shot 51% overall, or they shot 51% overall as a team. And I mean, I think one of the main reasons why Ohio State lost this game, they were one of 11 from three point range, and they got out-rebounded. 38 to 20 in this game. So I mean anytime you have that going on is not gonna like that's just a bad combination They're not gonna be making your shots and you're also gonna get out rebounded by 18. Like that's a recipe for disaster there um and I mean the other game that we that they had the other night was Stanford that near that narrowly Um, got upset last night that you were talking about that, uh, Creighton should have won. I mean, I mean, I don't know if they should have won, but at the same time, I do think that, um, you know, the, the addition of, of Lauren Betts on, uh, UCLA team is going to be massive. It was, it was kind of funny watching in the first half there. Um, as soon as she checked in, uh, they, they had, uh, they were just going to, going to her, right? and she'd back them down, spin move, drop step, layup. Okay, go to other shoulder, drop step, layup. And she was getting buckets. But then, then Creighton was like, no, we ain't playing that. Not only did they double team, they triple team, they triple team her. They're like, anybody else, anybody else. And at the time, at the time it was working because they couldn't throw a skittle into the ocean. UCLA that is. And... It was a bad combination for them because Creighton was hitting everything. They were swapping threes left and right. And eventually, obviously, as most things do, progressed to the knee. And even though Creighton was up, I believe by, at one point they were up by 10, UCLA, never scared, never wavered, ended up coming back, ended up winning that game. And I think that ultimately, you know, you got to give... You got to give Emily Ryan, or sorry, I'm thinking of a different game here. But you got to give the cyclones their flowers for playing a hell of a game and keeping it close and respectable. The game I was about to mention was the near upset of Stanford again in the round previous of that, which was against Iowa State. Where your girl... ended up not having as big of an impact as some might have thought. How she had a good, she had a big impact. It was, it was just negative. It was bad. I mean, I mean, you just go from dropping 40 points and shoot 90 percent from the field to go in three of 21. It's never that. And then falling out. It's not a recipe for success. And then Stanford on the other end with the key key. Do you love me dropping 41 herself? So. Mm hmm. And that was the biggest takeaway from this game. Not only do we got to give our flowers to Emily Ryan on Iowa State who had 36 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists on 12 of 21 shooting and dropped 6 threes too. Absolute hooper and in her career as a cyclone right there. Shout out to her. But also notable is Cam Brink. They at times were... trying to like, we know who can't break is right? Like, you can run the offense through her, but not every time because everybody knows everyone in their mom knows the ball's gonna go to her. It was just kind of like the Lauren Betts effect is that they we know who the ball is going to go to like Zachie, we know it's going to go there. It's just a matter of whether or not you're going to stop it or you how are you going to defend it when the ball gets there. And ultimately, they did a pretty good job and they might have actually shown part of the game plan or part of the blueprint. to how you're supposed to defeat Stanford. And now I think that ultimately, even though Cam Brink was held to only eight points and eight rebounds and ended up fouling out ultimately, I think that Kiki, like you said, do you love me, she ended up dropping 41 and had a modest 16 boards as well and throwing a four assist. And you know, why not have three blocks and a steal as well? Um, I am Anthony Davis. Oh, also make your free throws boys and girls nine of nine from the field or from the free throw line. So I think that, uh, you know, you can stop one, but you can't stop them all. And I was going to use the bag. I was going to make a Pokemon reference there for a second. So that was like, yeah, Definitely think that Stanford showed their versatility individually and as a team. So when Brink wasn't able to get things going, she still was, you know, a good force defensively. She is on crooks most of the time ended up having five blocks, even though she ended up filing out against her. So we have that. And then you, like you said, we had Kiki and Hannah still able to drop points for Stanford, who I think that they look good for going to well, who are they playing against in this round? You're talking about Stanford, Stanford. NC State. Oh, oh, oh. They go. Yeah, they're going against your alma mater. Something might be in the water. Hey, no. Wazoo is my alma mater. You know, they played, they played tough. They got the second round. Hey, man, that's all we can ask. Don't worry about that. Yep. And the, one of the other games too, that's kind of, that's kind of fun to watch was Tennessee. taking on NC State, your NC State team. And Rekia Jackson, absolute dog out there dropping 33 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome your NC State Wolf Pack team where they ended up. Okay. They had a more solid team approach to the game with Brooks, Rivers and Baldwin out there, all in double digits. And I I think it was Sonia Rivers that I was sending to you. I was like, dude, she out here hooping. Like she out here making kids look just dumb. Like take them look like little girls and stuff. It was crazy. She is an absolute hooper, baller, supreme, absolute bucket. But ultimately, I think that, you know, the right team won. Tennessee didn't really have any other offense outside of Rekia Jackson. And your NC State team was just a little bit too much in that, in that role there. Um, the, uh, one of the other, um, uh, upsets that happened was, was Baylor over VOTEC and I mean, I don't, I don't really call it that much of an upset. Um, because for one, yeah, I mean, but also it was, there were 1.0 dogs. So like, they, and everybody. Yeah, and the writing was on the wall. Everybody knew what was going to happen in this game. Surprised that it was this close, honestly. But, you know, we talked about it last time with Vortex, best player, you know, third in the league, third in the nation in scoring. Yeah, literally. Elizabeth Kentley, you know, she was out hurt. And without them, scoring is kind of Yeah, they had her childhood best friend out there who was also being able to get buckets But ultimately it wasn't enough they end up ending their season in a loss to Baylor 75 to 72 Any any comments on anything in here so far sir No, other than that was pretty much it. Obviously we had the juggernauts in South Carolina doing what they do USC looks good with Juju and LSU still looking good. I'm still surprised that you have UCLA beaten both LSU and Iowa, if Iowa obviously were to take care of business against Colorado for the Elite Eight, but I mean, that still kind of gets me. You just want them to be the villain in this situation. You talk about like, oh, this viewership and we want these ratings and all that kind of stuff. Angel Reese and then they gonna come up there and take care of Caitlin Clark before she even gets to the Final Four. Well last season with Iowa. I mean, it's just like I was telling you before, right? It's that outside of Caitlin Clark, who is there who's going to step up? Sure, the guy you know, Gabby Marshall, I forgot the other gal's name. But they haven't sure. You know, they have a couple of folks outside of Caitlin Clark. But at the same time, you see what happens. Like, granted, I do think that there was a little bit of scripting going on with this West Virginia game. But I do think that we saw what happens when you have a team that I wouldn't say that they shut down Caitlin Clark, but they sure made life a lot more difficult. Yeah, a little inefficient. Yeah, and so I think that ultimately, while again, they didn't shut it down, they made life more difficult, but I think that they were able to show that, you know, make somebody else beat you and you're going to be, you're at least going to have a chance to win. And now West Virginia didn't necessarily have the best players to do that, but they showed that you put together a solid defensive game plan and I mean not that the world is yours but you're at least going to be in the game and have a chance to win versus some of these other teams out there they're just getting boat raced so that's the main thing for having them getting bounced. As for LSU, yeah. They're alright. They're cool. They haven't been sold yet. Well, I mean they had their strongest throughout the season and stuff like that but I mean these have been some. Obviously the rice game was 10 points or whatever, but after that was a very convincing win against MCSU. But I mean They were also an 11 seed. So Yeah, and And also I think that the Bruins are just a more well-rounded team and I just cannot get the image out of my head that it literally took three people to Body up Lauren Betts like there's a reason why she was like one of them like one of the most highly recruited players in the country when she first went to Stanford and then she transferred to a Crosstown rival in UCLA. So yeah, and so I think that the addition of Lauren Betts in this tournament is going to be absolutely pivotal for them going forward. And we saw that as soon as she's on the court, all the attention that was drawn onto her and after that, they just got to make their shots. because they're going to be open regardless. Like you can't guard everybody. And that's just going to be the nature of the beast is that there's going to be more options on offense for UCLA than there is for LSU. And I think that defensively LSU has, or at least 40 and slips, man. I think that defensively UCLA is going to have... more answers for what LSU has to throw at them. Granted, Moki, great coach and everything. There was something going on with like, do you work for like the press or something? I don't know what that was, but. Oh yeah, like, yeah, she said that some, they're supposed to release a news report or some people have been gathering like news for over the past two years and that it was going to defame her and that she was going to sue if they, you know, she's like, try me type. So I don't know what they got. They got something. Yeah, that's a. That's interesting. I mean, with Malky, there's always something going on underneath the rug, so to speak, or you got a few skeletons in the closet. But it's friendly, you know, I can't deny greatness, but it is kind of sus that they have all this information on her out there. That's all I'm saying. And I think with all those distractions, that's going to bode well for a UCLA team, which is, you know, for the most part, has their head on a straight. And doesn't have a bunch of people out in the media saying this, that, and the other, have all this drama going on. I think that, like I said, granted, they got all these all-Americans over there, Van Lyft, Morrow, and Angel Reese. They're all great. They're great. Champions. That's cool. That's cute. I'm not Van Lyft, but yeah. Exactly. And so she ain't got that experience. But like I said before, the dynamic duo between Kiki Rice and Lauren Betts. is going to be too much for LSU to stop. And like I said before, again, they have an answer for Angel Reese and they have an answer for Van Lith. So I think that their defensive prowess is going to be too much for LSU to overcome. The and Iowa, apparently. But the way you talk about it makes them sound like MJ Pippen duo. So, you know, why don't you just have them going all the way? Being Carolina, go ahead. Just say it. Well, see, that's the problem. The problem is it's the South Carolina. Bring up South Carolina, you'd be starting to step in. You can't bring up that team. It's like talking about Voldemort, you know what I mean? It makes me a little nervous bringing up that team because it's a South Carolina invitational pretty much. They haven't lost in basically two seasons essentially, except for their loss last season. So They're mad, they're angry, and they're looking for revenge. And I think that ultimately they're going to get it. But do I think that maybe USC, or USC, do I think that maybe Oregon State or Notre Dame can compete with them on their way to the Final Four? Probably not. But like I said, it's possible. The Pac-12 is a much better conference than what you got going over there in the SEC. Because you have all these teams that are in the tournament right now. And you see one how high of seeds they are to how well they're doing in the tournament and three That the success of the pack 12 Okay, you know i'm saying just saying you know they made it further than Barely um, and so I just think that overall the pack 12 has been a better conference Um, and I mean, you see that with USC and Juju over there. You see that with, uh, Lauren Betts and UCLA, you see that with, uh, Oregon state as well, in Stanford too. Um, and so I just think that overall UCLA is battle tested. They've, they've been there. They've done that. Maybe LSU is it, but in terms of playing against these high caliber teams on a night in night out basis. because they are in the same conference as these elite teams. Fair. And so I just think that, you know, UCLA, they got the height, they got the strength, they got the shots. And they're going to be open too, because I just cannot get that visual out of my head where they literally, not one, not two, but they had to have three people trying to defend Lauren Betts for them to access treatment. And so is it like, yeah, go ahead. No, I was gonna say, would you have them beating USC in the final four and you have them beating Juju as well? I do. Well, while I, you know, while I am a fan of my Trojans, I, I do think that they ultimately are the better overall team. And sure, you know. USC has juju but juju's been struggling as of late here, right and also I don't think that they have the defensive prowess to contain UCLA the way that Creighton was able to do last game and then also Iowa State was able to do the game before or something of Stanford in that game, but the way that Creighton was able to the great more or yeah where they're able to slow them down there. So I don't think that the USC necessarily has that, that kind of influence on them. But I do think scoring wise, if it turns into a shootout, USC is gonna win. But if it turns into like, you know, slow the game down, playing the half or more. If somebody's gonna take advantage and control the game, you think it's gonna be UCLA. Yeah, I do think so. And it's too much talking about UCLA for them for you not to just say that they don't go all the way. Is that what I'm saying? Like if you're going to beat, that's going to be, that's going to be the three. So you have the four best, that's literally, I would say the four, the three best teams in the tournament other than, uh, South Carolina, you're just going to have them run through all of them in their quest to get to the championship and be like, you know what, all of this is a great talk. All this dynamic duo and the MJ and Pippen and the shack talk and stuff like that. Well, you know, nice second place trophy. waiting for you guys at the top. Well, again, it's the South Carolina Invitational. So if they beat these teams, if they if they beat us or if they, you know, have the LSU, then they beat Iowa, then they beat USC. You're still not going to choose them over South Carolina at that point. I can't. I can't. Like, bro, are you going to bet against? No, I don't. I don't have this, you know, borderline Cinderella. Borderline center up there number two seat. Oh, yes. I don't think that they were in the top five for favorites to win the championship so and as a travesty Okay, okay Like it's not it's not about Anything else other than the fact that like one through five South Carolina is dominant at every position and I forgot the freshman gals name But she was basically talking about imagine, basically like talking about imagine being somebody that could score on anybody. And then also being the same person that nobody can score on. And I was like, well, shit. I was trying to go by her. I'm her. Sorry. So yeah, I just, it's gonna be a lot for them to try and... for them to try and, or it's going to be a lot for UCLA to try and get by them. But ultimately I do think that, you know, like I said before, the combination of Kiki Rice and Lauren Betts, it's going to get the job done. And you know, it's, it's going to be, it's going to be a close one in some of these matches. I ain't going to lie. Isn't that accurate? I genuinely think LSU is going to win that game. Like we've been I think we've been given too much respect to you say I genuinely think that you are that you are going to beat them and You're crazy. How close is that? Oh their favorite it went for point favorites Everybody's crazy What do you mean? LSU's favorite it. Yeah, that's cute. Okay I'm just saying It's because of the notoriety and the popular it's like it's like the it's the same treatment that the Lakers get If it's basically a pick them the Lakers gonna be favored regardless of I'm just saying I'm just that's exactly the point is that people always have they have this perception of Them being this you know juggernaut team sure, you know, they won it last year But if they're the if they're this juggernaut team, then why are they? Whether they succeed or something like that LSU is a three seed. Three seed? Might as well be the six seed. I'm thinking of Tennessee. I mean the only reason that UCLA is the two seed is because they're number one in the PAC 12 and stuff like that. LSU has a bitter record. Um, last time I checked, USC won the conference tournament though. Oh, well that's true. I don't know why UCLA is a two seed. That's ridiculous. Because they're better. That's what I'm saying. They're better teams. And they're underdogs. That's fine, man. Okay, your NC State are they the better team NC State? Yeah, but they yeah, but they're them You see LA's UCLA NC State is them like I told you that from jump and They beaten like okay, so if UCLA would have played like, you know I guess what's that Wednesday? I ain't gonna give them no more credit. I gotta see it against LSU and I gotta see it against Iowa then I gotta see it against USC and then all that talk for them to be like, yeah, y'all about to get Molly to the championship. I don't hear it. I hear all that you're saying but moral of the story is Mr. Harris, the Pac-12 is going to win unanimously in this round coming up here. We're gonna see Oregon State win. We're gonna see USC win. UCLA win and I mean they're not technically part of the The pack 12, but they're on the West Coast. We're gonna see Gonzaga win as well. God damn it All right, we're gonna see all of these teams. Don't forget about Stanford my bad for my Stanford out there You see all these teams on the West Coast prove that they are the best coast And that is the moral of that story So yeah, there's no champion didn't come out of s you don't came out of SEC, but you know Pac-12 had a hell of a sweet 16. It was great. Way to go, guys. Go drop the banner. But fair enough. Anything else that you wanted to get into within March Madness before we get out of here? One last thing is just going to be that we've got to give our flowers to Mackenzie Forbes. Shout out to her, giving us a like on our post there. Back to back 20 plus point games for her. Perug as usual when it comes to being a walking bucket had 20 points against Kansas last game and the game before that had 23 points. So just another day at the park like that. Exactly. And so you know had six threes just because just why not. And I think that you know going forward USC is going to need her to continue to put up these kind of performances. They're going to want to make it deep as well as the other nerds out there as well. So Um, yeah, shout out to them. Definitely. Well, everybody, thank you for listening. This has been the call your shot podcast with your host, Alex Harrison, drew more. If you like this podcast, or if you're watching on YouTube and you like this episode, make sure to give it a like, share to follow us on Instagram to basically get the links to all of our social medias and to our YouTube page. Um, and we're going to go from there. So we'll see y'all next week and it will be final four. Alrighty.