Former Gonzaga All-Americans Dan Dickau and Adam Morrison preview the Bulldogs' matchup with McNeese State on Talking Zags
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Talking Zags for Gonzaga Nation, episode 21.
00:10 It is the episode where Adam and I
00:12 start breaking down the NCAA tournament.
00:13 We'll share a few of our memories,
00:16 some of the things that we're looking for
00:18 in Gonzaga's matchup with McNeese State,
00:20 as well as other games around the NCAA tournament.
00:23 So, Mo, welcome back from Vegas.
00:27 I know we were both down there calling the WCC.
00:29 - It's been a long time.
00:30 - Yeah, I mean, it feels like forever ago,
00:32 'cause you get home after watching Gonzaga
00:35 in the tournament, and literally,
00:37 it seems like every other conference is still going.
00:39 - Yeah.
00:40 - Is that a positive or a negative in your eyes?
00:42 - I think it's devil's advocate situation.
00:46 If you're hurt, you know, you got banged up injuries,
00:48 you're grateful for the time off to get healed.
00:52 If you're rolling, and let's say you went
00:54 through the conference tournament,
00:55 and you know, we're kind of on a downslide,
00:58 and you got hot, you wanna keep playing, obviously.
01:00 So I think it works both ways.
01:02 I prefer the rest.
01:04 I think it helps our guys.
01:07 You can get enough cardio and all that stuff,
01:09 Division I athletes, to stay fine-tuned.
01:12 You know, but again, there is some value to,
01:16 like I said, if you're playing this last Sunday,
01:18 and let's say you're in New Mexico,
01:20 or some of those teams, NC State,
01:21 who played on Saturday, I believe, are hot.
01:23 They're like, "Schedule a game right now."
01:25 - They had to play five games in five days.
01:27 - I know, but you're like, "Let's schedule a game.
01:29 "My team is ready to go, and the guys feel good,
01:31 "and they're letting it rip," and all those things.
01:34 So I think it goes both ways,
01:35 but I think the rest, in the long run,
01:38 would have more value.
01:40 - No, and Gonzaga and the staff,
01:42 because the WCC's always played so early in the week,
01:44 they understand how to balance the rest,
01:47 versus staying, you know--
01:50 - Sharp.
01:50 - Sharp, both individually and team-wise.
01:53 So we don't need to go too in-depth
01:56 on that St. Mary's game,
01:57 'cause we wanna talk about the NCAA tournament,
01:59 but my thoughts were, bad first four minutes,
02:03 four turnovers in four minutes,
02:04 and then that kinda dug a hole,
02:07 where that and getting dominated on the glass,
02:10 those were the two things for me.
02:11 What did you see?
02:12 - Minus 17 on the glass definitely hurt.
02:14 That was an emphasis before the game.
02:16 It's not like our guys didn't try,
02:17 but we knew St. Mary's was gonna be extremely physical.
02:21 I thought, if you're being in totality of the game,
02:24 they got the better whistle,
02:25 their style was allowed to play.
02:27 It was very physical.
02:28 Doesn't mean it wasn't like the first game at home,
02:30 where it was really egregious calls
02:32 that affected the end of the game,
02:33 but they were allowed to bump and play.
02:36 And that's expected in March,
02:38 but sometimes you get a quicker whistle.
02:41 Mahaney finally had an efficient game against us.
02:45 Not that he has played terrible,
02:46 but he had 36 points on 36 shots,
02:50 I think was the number in the previous three games
02:52 he's played us, so not very efficient.
02:54 He was difficult.
02:56 And then we didn't have a great flow offensively,
02:59 no rhythm.
03:00 So it was a tough one, but it was funny.
03:03 If you really sat back and looked at that game,
03:07 I think it was somebody in our support staff,
03:10 I'm not gonna say who, but said,
03:12 "This game really doesn't affect,"
03:14 not on the actual staff, but in the athletic department,
03:17 said, "This game will affect these teams no way,
03:20 "either win or loss."
03:22 Like they're tied for the net.
03:24 They're probably gonna get a 5-6-7.
03:26 We obviously got a 5, they got a 5.
03:28 And so it was kind of like when he said it before the game,
03:31 I was just thinking, this is kind of crazy,
03:33 it's pretty true, and it turned out to be spot on.
03:35 - Yeah.
03:36 Well, I was actually shocked that Gonzaga got a 5-6.
03:41 I was thinking 7, maybe 8,
03:44 because how they were talked about
03:47 by all these bracketologists even three weeks ago
03:50 as being out.
03:51 So if you're a 5, you're clearly entrenched
03:54 in the tournament.
03:55 - Yeah, no, I was a little bit shocked,
03:59 or surprised, I guess is the right term.
04:02 But as far as that St. Mary's game,
04:04 it just like, it turned out to be great on them
04:07 for having a great season,
04:09 winning regular season and then the tournament.
04:12 It was kind of like nothing changed for either team.
04:15 I think that was gonna be the case, even if we won,
04:19 it would have gave us one more quad one win,
04:21 but it also was a good quad one loss.
04:25 And so I think that the margin
04:26 just would barely go like that.
04:28 - Yeah.
04:28 It's funny because we've talked about Gonzaga,
04:32 St. Mary's, and then BYU never being able to break through.
04:35 The funny one that I heard,
04:36 and I understand why they're a 6 seed
04:38 because of not playing on Sundays.
04:41 They think they, a lot of people said,
04:43 well, they should have been seeded
04:44 if higher than Gonzaga and St. Mary's,
04:48 if their net was higher and a tougher conference,
04:50 and they're a 6.
04:51 - Yeah.
04:52 - It's just one of those kind of funny quirks.
04:53 - Yeah.
04:54 We'll dive into some of the seeds.
04:57 Everybody's talking about how the net,
05:00 it should be the defining thing for the committee.
05:06 But if you look at some of those big East teams
05:08 that got snubbed, they had a really good net.
05:10 And then so people are starting to scratch their heads.
05:13 There's no perfect formula.
05:14 This is the best sporting event,
05:17 large sporting event that goes on for a period
05:20 besides like the World Cup, if you want,
05:21 you know what I'm saying, on the planet.
05:23 So they got it figured out.
05:25 Somebody's always going to be left out.
05:27 But if you're saying, hey, metrics and analytics,
05:31 and this is the formula, and then the teams adhere to that,
05:34 and they still don't get in, or they get a lower seed,
05:37 or a higher seed, I should say, I get the frustration.
05:40 - Yeah, and we'll touch on the bracket a little bit,
05:43 'cause there were a couple of really weird seeds in my eyes.
05:47 But let's talk about Gonzaga as the five
05:48 against McNeese State, the 12.
05:51 There's only three teams in the country with 30 wins,
05:53 Houston, UConn, both won seeds,
05:55 and McNeese State out of the Southwind.
05:57 Now they're not at the level competition-wise
06:00 throughout the year, but to win 30 games,
06:04 you're pretty damn good.
06:05 - Yeah, it's obviously a great season for them.
06:08 I'm gonna make one quick point.
06:09 Is it McNeese State or is it McNeese?
06:11 'Cause I know some schools drop the state,
06:13 and I've seen McNeese only.
06:15 I'm just curious, do you know?
06:16 'Cause I've always heard it McNeese State.
06:18 - I've always seen McNeese State,
06:20 going back to Joe Dumars.
06:21 - Yes, but now it's just, when they list them,
06:24 they just say McNeese.
06:25 So some teams drop the state anyway.
06:27 - Interesting.
06:28 No, that's a good point.
06:29 - So we'll find out, but yeah, a fantastic team.
06:32 It likes to get up and down, score the basketball.
06:34 30 wins, I don't care where you're playing,
06:36 Division I basketball.
06:38 It's cool that they had 30 wins
06:40 and then they won their conference tournament,
06:41 'cause sometimes you hear about these--
06:43 - You get snubbed.
06:44 - These smaller schools that,
06:46 like the team out in Cheney at Eastern,
06:50 you feel bad they losing the first round
06:51 and they had a great season again,
06:53 but it's gone.
06:55 So it's gonna be a fun matchup.
06:58 Those 5'12", 4'13"s are always interesting.
07:03 We're not immune to that either.
07:05 So I think it's a great matchup for television.
07:08 It's two teams that like to get up and down and score.
07:10 What'd you say, Ferris?
07:12 Four guys shoot 40% from three?
07:14 - Four guys shoot 40% from three.
07:15 - That's a crazy number.
07:17 So obviously guarding the three line's gonna be paramount.
07:20 And then Graham E.K., our inside guy,
07:22 is gonna have to dominate,
07:24 because they don't have the interior defense
07:26 of the personnel.
07:28 - We'll just quickly kind of dive into them this morning.
07:30 I watched a few minutes of one of their games,
07:32 looked at their stats and the size.
07:35 I think it's gonna be which team imparts their will
07:38 on the physicality of the game.
07:40 Is it gonna be a bruising inside game
07:42 with E.K. and Braden Huff when he comes in?
07:45 Or is it gonna be a handsy physical game on the perimeter
07:49 where you can kind of get away with some things?
07:50 'Cause their leading scorer, Shahada Wells,
07:53 actually was on TCU last year when Gonzaga played him.
07:56 He averaged three steals a game.
07:57 So that shows you they're aggressive
08:00 on that end of the floor guarding the perimeter.
08:01 - Well, you know this.
08:02 Like in the NCAA tournament, this is not a crazy take,
08:05 but you have to implore your style,
08:07 because there's obviously a million different styles
08:10 and different conferences, and the whistles are different
08:12 everywhere you go in the country.
08:14 So imploring your style right away is key.
08:17 We didn't do that against St. Mary's.
08:18 Their style was allowed to prevail,
08:21 and it slowed the game down.
08:23 We scored 60 points.
08:24 So it's gonna be key for us to obviously guard the three line
08:28 and then be able to play physical, but still play fast.
08:31 And we have a good mix of that, but we can't,
08:34 I don't think we should be getting into a track meet
08:35 with a team that has nothing to lose, right?
08:38 And they can shoot the ball really well.
08:40 So it's gonna be interesting to see how we defend them
08:43 and then how we attack them offensively.
08:45 - And they're a team that, their head coach, Will Wade,
08:48 is as creative as they get.
08:50 He's a really good coach.
08:52 He took over VCU for Shaka Smart, got him the tournament,
08:55 then went to LSU.
08:56 And then before all the rules of paying players changed,
08:59 he got popped for quote, paying players,
09:02 making a strong ass offer.
09:04 But it's only a matter of time before he's a coach again
09:08 at a power, power school.
09:09 He's that good of a coach.
09:11 He's put this group together.
09:12 I mean, literally they went from,
09:16 I think it was under 10 wins last year
09:19 to he takes over in year one.
09:22 30 wins in the NCAA tournament.
09:23 So it shows you how good a coach he is.
09:25 - Yeah, coaching obviously matters.
09:27 He's gonna have a great game plan.
09:28 And then, you know, these coaches at the smaller universities
09:33 are auditioning again, or, hey, he's saying,
09:36 hey, I can still coach at the highest level.
09:39 So it's like a big money grab in that regard.
09:42 You know, it's like an audition and God bless him.
09:45 It just shows you how much coaching does matter
09:47 at the collegiate level.
09:49 You know, you gotta get guys to buy in,
09:51 but then stylistically you gotta be able to change.
09:54 And then understanding game plans and how to scout for that.
09:58 I'm guaranteed they didn't do that the year before,
10:00 obviously.
10:01 So he's turned that program around.
10:02 It's gonna be a good, it's a really good matchup.
10:05 Going back to what you said, surprising 5C.
10:08 I would have bet money that we were a 7.
10:10 I thought they were gonna go Arizona 2, Gonzaga 7.
10:13 So they match up for TV and all the storylines and stuff,
10:16 in which I would not,
10:18 I think that would not help either program,
10:20 just 'cause it's just nothing good comes out
10:22 when you play your friends.
10:23 - You want that matchup in a Final Four.
10:24 - Exactly, I think, yeah, you're spot on.
10:28 But a 5C, but if you really look at our net,
10:30 we were what, 17, 18, right?
10:33 And then strength of schedule was the only thing
10:35 that was lacking compared to--
10:38 - Once you get to league,
10:39 there's nothing you can do about it.
10:40 - Nothing you can do about it.
10:41 And then two of our losses were against one seeds.
10:44 So if you throw that out,
10:45 and then San Diego State makes a tournament,
10:47 throw that out.
10:49 Like our only bad loss, if you really look at it,
10:52 is Santa Clara at their place.
10:54 And then, what's, why am I blanking on this one?
10:57 UW, you do it, but good place.
10:58 - UW's net actually ended up being okay.
11:00 I think they were 62 or something.
11:02 - Exactly.
11:03 So like, when people are questioning,
11:06 it's like, if you really look at the totality,
11:09 we had a really good year.
11:11 Everybody's lost to Purdue and UConn.
11:14 And people have gotten their tails whipped against them.
11:17 So anyway, it was obviously cool
11:20 that we didn't have to sweat.
11:21 It came on right away, basically.
11:23 It's like, all right, we're in.
11:25 But what a fascinating year so far,
11:29 because like you said, three weeks ago,
11:31 people had us on the outline,
11:33 and they have no chance to get back into it
11:35 unless they win the tournament.
11:37 - Shows you what they know.
11:38 - Five seed, yeah, it's crazy, it's five seed.
11:40 - And that's where, like, if you've,
11:41 you and I have talked to Coach Pugh
11:43 at different points about seeding,
11:45 and he always has these unique comments,
11:48 like, well, those are for the outsiders
11:50 that really don't know.
11:51 I mean, and I think it goes back to
11:53 control what you can control,
11:55 and he and staff controlled, let's get our guys better.
11:59 Let's get our team better.
12:00 Let's be playing our best basketball
12:01 at the end of the year.
12:02 And then they knew if they did that,
12:04 there wasn't gonna be a concern on selection Sunday.
12:07 - Yeah, I mean, I think for me,
12:09 if you're a one seed, two seed,
12:12 the matchups obviously matter,
12:15 'cause you're thinking national championship,
12:16 not that anybody can't get there, whatever.
12:19 But when you get into the four, five, six, sevens,
12:21 it's just like, all right, who,
12:23 you know what I'm saying?
12:24 Like, you're just kind of like,
12:25 'cause if you're a one seed,
12:26 you're going, all right, stylistically,
12:29 who do we potentially gonna play
12:30 and who's gonna give us problems,
12:31 or who can we just, you know,
12:33 not dominate, but like, hey,
12:34 we have a huge advantage over them personnel-wise.
12:38 When you get into the four, five, six, sevens,
12:41 you kind of just let it rip, I think, at angle play.
12:43 So I'm happy with a five seed.
12:46 I think it's a little bit higher than I expected,
12:48 like I said, but seven, six, five,
12:52 there's not really a massive difference.
12:55 - Favorite NCAA tournament experience
12:57 for you as a player?
12:59 - I mean, I think going to the first time
13:02 was the coolest, just 'cause everything's new.
13:04 I was a freshman and we played Valpo the first round,
13:07 and I got one of my only like, lob dunks in my career.
13:11 I think I had two and I was in one of those.
13:12 It was just cool, you know, I was like,
13:14 oh, I'm in the NCAA tournament,
13:14 I get the lob from Blake Stepthroat to me on two on one,
13:17 and I was scared I wasn't gonna complete it.
13:19 (laughing)
13:21 - Blake might've been the best lob thrower
13:23 in the history of the program.
13:23 - He was great, yeah, and he finally threw,
13:25 he threw one to me and we played Maryland
13:27 and Baltimore earlier that year,
13:29 and I had an and one dunk.
13:31 That's a hidden highlight that nobody ever sees.
13:34 Yeah, I swear to God.
13:35 - See, we can't find that one.
13:36 - I told my kids, I know, somebody needs to find it
13:38 and send it to me on YouTube.
13:39 But yeah, that was cool, just the feeling
13:42 of playing in the NCAA tournament first.
13:43 I mean, I remember being like, nervous,
13:46 but in a good way, but like, trying to like,
13:49 not be so hyped.
13:51 You know, it's just like, I gotta calm down.
13:53 You have a normal routine, you don't spike blood sugars.
13:56 I was just trying to, my dad was like,
13:58 you need to calm down, man, like, get ready to play,
14:01 but like, don't go out there and piss down your leg
14:04 'cause you're so excited.
14:05 - Yeah, no, I mean, I was lucky enough
14:08 to be a part of five NCAA teams, two at U-Dub.
14:11 My sophomore year, I didn't play 'cause of injury
14:12 and then sit out in the redshirt year.
14:13 So for me, it would've been my junior year
14:16 being able to play again for Gonzaga,
14:18 because that was right after the initial group
14:21 went Elite Eight, Sweet 16, and my junior year
14:25 was Casey Calverie as a senior, we were like,
14:26 we don't want it to end on our watch.
14:29 You know, to kind of be that group,
14:31 so, you know, playing in the NCAA tournament,
14:33 there would've been the memory.
14:34 We played Virginia in the first round,
14:36 and I think we were 12th, and we were supposed to lose,
14:40 'cause Virginia is a big, bad ACC team,
14:43 and we stuck it to 'em early and then just kind of
14:46 hung on for the win.
14:47 Alex Hernandez had, no, Casey had the putback,
14:51 and then Alex Hernandez, I think,
14:52 grabbed a rebound at the buzzer to seal it.
14:54 But yeah, those are fun when you look back at those.
14:57 How about as a broadcaster, 'cause you've been calling
15:00 the games on the radio for some time now.
15:02 - Yeah, I mean, obviously I was there
15:04 for the Final Four thing with Jalen.
15:06 I mean, that is definitely gonna be
15:08 an all-timer for anybody.
15:10 The first year we did it, I think we were in Boise,
15:13 is when Snacks hit that three against Greensboro,
15:16 and that was crazy, 'cause Huddy and I
15:18 were looking at each other like,
15:20 we're gonna go home, I think we were the three seed,
15:22 and it was like, this is gonna be a major upset
15:25 for this program, and the pundits are gonna love this one,
15:29 and he hits, remember it was like a first side entry, too,
15:32 where the play wasn't even for him,
15:34 and he just shot it.
15:35 - No, that's funny you mention that,
15:37 'cause that was gonna be my favorite call as a radio,
15:40 'cause I called the NCAA tournament for Westwood on radio,
15:42 so I had that game as well, and you're right,
15:44 it was a broken play. - It was a broken play.
15:46 - But Zach was one of those guys where
15:49 he just steps up to the plate.
15:51 He would make big shots when it was least expected,
15:55 because he had the swagger.
15:57 He's like, I don't care, I'm open, I'm going for it.
15:59 - Yeah, I think it was a first side entry, too,
16:03 and I think it was a UCLA, and they were supposed to pop,
16:06 and he just shot it and went in,
16:08 and then the funny part, and you'll understand this,
16:12 like seeing Kyle Bankhead after the game,
16:15 'cause he had the scout, he had us dead to rights,
16:20 and this is me not pitying him or whatever,
16:24 but just seeing how frustrated he was,
16:26 not in front, but I was like, man,
16:28 just the look, I was like, dude, you had us, man.
16:32 He knew all our tendencies, you know what I'm saying?
16:34 And he did a master class at the scout,
16:37 and just got completely unlucky,
16:39 and I'm saying this as a friend,
16:41 it was like, hey, man, great job,
16:43 I'm glad we won, the Zags will prevail.
16:46 But that was a fun one.
16:47 I mean, all the NCAA tournament stuff,
16:49 the atmospheres are great.
16:51 I mean, I was there for the Julian Strother
16:54 Trail Three against UCLA.
16:55 I mean, I've been lucky enough to be a part
16:59 of some really good ones.
17:00 I mean, even the Florida State game the year after
17:04 when we kind of took it to 'em,
17:05 but even the game that we lost was a fantastic game.
17:09 You know what I'm saying?
17:10 I've been to some classic ones,
17:12 and been lucky enough to call 'em.
17:13 - Yeah, there's nothing like calling an NCAA tournament game.
17:16 - It is, it's crazy, 'cause the atmosphere's so much
17:19 different, and then the energy.
17:20 Like, every, from media timeout to media timeout,
17:23 it's like an absolute battle.
17:25 Not that it's not in the regular season,
17:27 but it's just, it's different.
17:28 - It's almost like, if they're two evenly matched teams,
17:32 it's almost like, just break 'em up into four-minute games.
17:35 Let's win four-minute games until we go
17:37 to the next media timeout.
17:38 So, Gonzaga's in Salt Lake City.
17:41 That should be a good sight.
17:43 Gonzaga's been there a number of times.
17:45 But, you know, it's one of those things where,
17:49 I remember as a fan, when they were a one seed,
17:52 and they went down there and they played Southern
17:54 as a 16. - Yeah, I was lost.
17:56 - And they almost lost, and you felt the shift
17:58 in the crowd, I think about the 12-minute mark,
18:01 where all of a sudden, people were going against Gonzaga.
18:03 That was unique, and those are things
18:04 that can happen in a tournament.
18:05 - Yeah, I mean, everybody likes the underdog
18:07 until it gets to the Final Four, right?
18:09 You know, everybody likes to watch it,
18:10 but it is definitely something that you have
18:13 to be cognizant of as a program.
18:16 If you're a higher seed, that people are gonna turn on you.
18:18 It's fun to watch the bully go down.
18:21 But I think Salt Lake's great for our fans.
18:23 We have a good, you know, contingency in Salt Lake.
18:26 It's easy to get there if people are going to the games.
18:29 Like you mentioned, familiarity is also good.
18:32 Familiarity to the, I know it sounds funny,
18:35 but to the elevation.
18:38 I played BYU last year a ton, Provo.
18:41 That's a real thing.
18:42 You know, like, where's McNeese even at?
18:44 - Lake Charles, Louisiana.
18:46 I've been there one time.
18:47 - So, sea level, right?
18:48 I mean, it's a real thing.
18:51 So, that may, you know, play a small part in the game,
18:54 but Salt Lake's great, and then we got Tommies there
18:57 with Arizona, Munson's there with Long Beach State,
19:00 which is cool.
19:02 So, it'd be a good pod to go watch some games.
19:04 - Yeah, that's gonna be a fantastic pod to watch games,
19:06 'cause I was gonna ask you now
19:08 about the Tommy in Arizona being there,
19:10 playing against Long Beach State and Dan Munson.
19:13 You grew up here, so you saw Dan Munson as a head coach.
19:15 I committed to Dan Munson before he headed to Minnesota.
19:19 So, that's a fascinating matchup,
19:24 but I think it's also unique in the fact
19:27 that Long Beach State fired Dan Munson on Monday,
19:30 told him to keep coaching.
19:32 He battles his butt off,
19:34 gets his team in the NCAA tournament.
19:36 It shows you how messed up the world of coaching is.
19:38 - Well, it's crazy, because I think the thought process,
19:42 now, he's been there 17 years, done a great job,
19:45 is you notice how on some of the other programs,
19:49 they fired their coaches before the conference tournament,
19:51 so something like this doesn't happen.
19:54 It happened years--
19:56 - Romar and Leonard Perry.
19:58 - Yeah, exactly, and then with, excuse me,
20:01 with Wayne Tinkle, who made the Elite Eight run
20:05 a few years ago, then they had to extend him.
20:07 So, good for Munson to kind of stick it back to him,
20:10 good for his team to get him back,
20:12 or kind of rally around it, and it's pretty cool.
20:15 And then he gets to kind of play his buddy,
20:18 which is kind of crazy, and familiarity.
20:21 So, it'll be interesting.
20:22 I watched Long Beach State live, actually,
20:24 this year at Portland.
20:26 I was down there for something, and they looked good.
20:28 Obviously, Portland got the win, but they looked hard.
20:30 They got some big bodies and some good players,
20:33 and so it'll be fun.
20:34 - Awesome, well, let's take a quick look at this bracket,
20:37 and just spotlight a game or two.
20:41 Looking at the East, is there a team that you like,
20:43 or who do you like coming out of the East,
20:46 and then is there a first-round matchup
20:48 that you're gonna definitely tune in to watch?
20:50 - Well, I think UConn, obviously.
20:52 I think they're the heavy favorite.
20:53 That's not a big-time hot take,
20:56 but I think San Diego State, if they can get to UConn,
21:01 will be interesting, 'cause we play both those teams,
21:03 both physical, big-time guards on the perimeter,
21:06 and then play kind of like,
21:08 "Hey, we're gonna put our hands on ya
21:10 "and guard the heck out of ya."
21:12 So, that'll be an interesting style
21:13 if it gets down to that.
21:15 And then Washington State's in that region,
21:17 so hopefully they can make a run.
21:18 Kyle Smith's done a fantastic job,
21:20 and they deserve to have some postseason success,
21:24 which they haven't had in a long time.
21:26 - No, I'm right there with you.
21:27 I like UConn advancing to the Final Four out of this.
21:30 The one that's interesting to me
21:33 is the first-round matchup is Auburn and Yale,
21:36 and that's here in Spokane.
21:38 Yale gave Gonzaga some problems the first game of the year.
21:41 They're an Ivy League team, they're very experienced,
21:44 they shoot the heck out of it,
21:46 and they're more athletic than your typical
21:48 Ivy League school.
21:51 So, Princeton made the Sweet 16
21:53 out of the Ivy League last year.
21:55 Who knows, maybe they can make a run out of it this year.
21:58 - I like Yale at the start of the year.
21:59 They kinda didn't have a great season,
22:01 obviously won their conference tournament,
22:03 but we were counting on them to be kind of a quad one,
22:07 quad two, which might have turned out to be that,
22:10 but they had NCAA tournament look
22:12 at the start of the season when we played them.
22:15 I think in the West, I like Arizona,
22:18 and that's not even biased.
22:19 I think Carolina's a good program, obviously,
22:22 but the weakest one, if you can, whatever,
22:25 that's how you define that.
22:27 So I like Arizona coming out of there.
22:29 I want some post-season success for Tommy Lloyd.
22:33 I think he's done a great job.
22:34 They had that early round exit last year,
22:36 and there's a lot of pressure at that program,
22:37 so hopefully they make a run and he can get them going.
22:41 - Yeah, no, in the West, I would love to see Tommy
22:44 make a run, but I like Alabama.
22:48 I really like Alabama, and the game that I think
22:51 is circled for me would be St. Mary's against Alabama
22:56 in the second round.
22:56 - Crazy different types of styles.
22:59 - 100%.
23:00 And that game will be in Spokane,
23:02 and I'll be calling all those pods for radio,
23:06 but you're exactly right.
23:07 St. Mary's grind it out, slow it down.
23:09 Alabama plays as fast as anybody,
23:12 and analytically, it's paint touches, layups,
23:15 and threes, and get to the free throw line.
23:17 And so that will be a fascinating matchup in my eyes.
23:22 - South?
23:23 Man, I always like to pick Houston,
23:26 but I always think they get bogged down offensively
23:28 in the NCAA tournament once a year,
23:31 and it just, they can defend, they play their tails off.
23:35 Kelvin Samson's awesome coach, great dude as well,
23:39 played for him at a college thing years ago.
23:42 I just feel like sometimes they get bogged down offensively,
23:45 and they just can't put the ball in the basket.
23:48 So I kinda like Marquette, or maybe Kentucky
23:51 in that region, Kentucky as well has played good,
23:54 and I think they got the firepower.
23:56 Now it's can they play defense for six straight games,
24:00 you know what I'm saying, for stretches.
24:02 But offensively, they're one of the most dangerous teams
24:04 in the country, and so the South, I'm kind of,
24:08 I like either the two or the three, Kentucky or Marquette.
24:11 I think Houston will at least get to the lead eight
24:13 and play in that playing game, and then I think
24:15 a Marquette or a Kentucky can beat 'em.
24:18 - Yeah, no, I agree with you on Houston.
24:20 Defensively, they're unbelievable.
24:22 But there's always a year where they score like 48 points.
24:26 - They'll go a stretch of like six minutes,
24:28 and they'll get a four. - Can't score.
24:29 Can't score, so that's what always worries me about 'em.
24:31 But I would not wanna face 'em.
24:33 They're one of those teams that just takes away
24:35 all your actions, can do everything defensively,
24:37 super tough, they play like 10 deep too,
24:40 which is pretty rare for late in the season.
24:43 I think in the Midwest, Purdue, obviously I like Gonzaga.
24:48 Purdue would be the favorite if I didn't have a dog
24:51 in the fight, but hopefully our guys can make a run
24:54 and get a rematch against Purdue,
24:55 'cause we had 'em on the ropes.
24:56 - Yeah, we were up at half, right?
24:58 - Yeah, we were up at half and then had that 0 for 16
25:00 stretch from the three line.
25:03 This was in Maui, Honolulu early in the season.
25:06 But it would be interesting to play them again
25:08 because I thought the game plan against them
25:10 wasn't terrible. - It was good.
25:12 - It was way better than the year before
25:13 when we were at PK 80, when we had no chance.
25:16 - Now with us playing more of a big lineup,
25:19 and Braden Huff's now more experienced.
25:22 I mean, that was one of his first games
25:23 at the college level.
25:24 I don't remember him having much effectiveness.
25:27 So I would imagine he would be better there.
25:29 But yeah, in the South, I like Kentucky,
25:33 'cause if Marquette, if their point guard's out,
25:36 which he missed the Big East Tournament,
25:37 that could hurt him.
25:39 And then in the Midwest, did you say Purdue or Gonzaga?
25:44 - Well, I think, obviously I'm gonna pick Gonzaga,
25:47 but if you're just going blind,
25:49 Purdue and UConn are those two type of teams.
25:52 But I like our chances.
25:53 I think, obviously we talked about McNeese,
25:56 but I think Kansas is down.
25:58 - Two injuries. - Two injuries.
25:59 So I think we have a great opportunity to make it to,
26:03 I think it'd be nine straight Sweet 16s.
26:06 - That hasn't been done since UCLA.
26:08 - It'd be a pretty cool feather in our cap,
26:11 and then anything can happen after that.
26:13 But it'd be funny also to be,
26:16 we're first four out, this team sucks.
26:18 We've heard around all town, and we have a great fan base,
26:21 but there's been some whispers.
26:23 I mean, you're from here, and I'm from here, obviously,
26:26 and just going to play poker, and what's wrong with the team?
26:29 I'm like, we're 20 and five, what are you talking about?
26:32 Well, and you're just like, it's like, okay.
26:36 - If you add up the total, if you add up the losses,
26:38 the only game they really weren't in was UConn.
26:40 - I know. - Everything else
26:41 is like a single point game.
26:42 - Exactly, and Purdue's beating the crap out of everybody.
26:45 UConn beats the crap out of everybody.
26:47 So those two losses right away are like, okay,
26:49 and then San Diego State obviously made the tournament.
26:52 Like I said earlier, it's like,
26:53 if you really look back at the losses,
26:55 Santa Clarke should've won, make front end,
26:58 and that's not against Nem Har,
26:59 but he'd probably say the same thing,
27:00 and make front end, we win.
27:02 The U-Dub one's the only one that stunk.
27:04 That was bad.
27:05 - Well, I agree with you.
27:08 I mean, I'd love to see Gonzaga make a run,
27:09 and I think if they get by McNeese with Kansas
27:12 having some injuries, it opens the door.
27:15 Tennessee at the bottom to me,
27:17 they lost in the SEC tournament, but Dalton Connect,
27:20 have you seen him play at all?
27:21 - Watched him a couple times. - He's great.
27:23 - Fantastic player, tough to guard.
27:25 You know, big frame, can shoot it, put it on the deck.
27:31 Great story, we won't get into it,
27:32 but great story of like late bloomer.
27:34 You know, like, hey, keep believing in yourself.
27:36 There's always a path to where you wanna get,
27:39 and sometimes you gotta take the harder one,
27:42 or take the one that gives you the most opportunity.
27:44 - He played JUCO for two years,
27:46 and then played at Northern Colorado.
27:47 - He was second team All-Big Sky last year,
27:50 and then he's the SEC player of the year.
27:51 So I'm wondering what these Big Sky coaches
27:54 last year voted on.
27:55 - They didn't win last year.
27:58 But which is also crazy.
28:00 I don't know the Northern Colorado staff,
28:01 but like, how did you not win with this kid?
28:04 You know what I'm saying?
28:05 Like, so it's always interesting, but anyway,
28:07 he'd be a nightmare of a matchup.
28:10 Not saying we don't, we won't have a plan,
28:11 but he's been tough for everybody to guard.
28:14 Played 6A, can shoot it, can score it a little bit.
28:16 So it's gonna be a fun tournament.
28:18 I think the league, or the community got most of it right.
28:22 Man, we talked about the Big East a little bit earlier,
28:24 but if you look at, there's not too many,
28:27 there's always snubs.
28:28 - Yeah, there's always gonna be a couple.
28:30 - I think the weirdest one, though, honestly,
28:32 is the Mountain West, and then how they're all seated
28:36 is a little bit higher, and then our guy Leon
28:39 getting that-- - That one's terrible.
28:40 - That first four-in game is tough, man.
28:43 - Well, I cover the Mountain West for CBS Sports,
28:46 so I've called the number of games throughout the year,
28:48 all teams, and the fact that you hit it on the head.
28:52 Boise State's a 10-seed playing against Colorado,
28:55 who's in the play-in game.
28:57 Leon and Tad Boyle are great friends.
29:00 Billy Greer, assistant at Colorado,
29:02 used to be here, great friend.
29:03 So that's gonna be unique, but they were,
29:06 I mean, that shows you, like,
29:09 the Mountain West wasn't valued,
29:10 'cause New Mexico won their tournament title,
29:13 they're an 11-seed, so they would've been out
29:17 had they not won it, I would imagine,
29:19 and they were 27 in the net going into the championship game.
29:22 So, very undervalued league by the committee this year.
29:26 - Yeah, it's one of those leagues that's better
29:29 than it looks, and then the teams just beat the crap
29:33 out of each other.
29:34 What did Colorado State, that's the--
29:34 - Colorado State ended up being a 10-seed as well.
29:36 - 10-seed as well, so.
29:38 - They play Virginia in the Midwest bracket.
29:41 But the other thing about that, though, is you look at,
29:44 the Mountain West has struggled to win games
29:48 in the tournament until last year with San Diego State.
29:51 So you wonder if in the back of your mind,
29:53 they're thinking about that.
29:54 So this could be a big opportunity for them
29:56 to entrench themselves as a legit league
29:59 in East Coast bias minds moving forward.
30:02 - Well, again, it's one of those leagues
30:04 that just beat the crap out of each other all year.
30:06 And it means it's a great league,
30:08 but the counter to that is you're not gonna get a high seed
30:12 'cause there's 10-plus losses sometimes,
30:14 but you're a really good club.
30:15 So go Leon Rice and Boise State,
30:19 and hopefully they can make a run too.
30:21 And we love Tyson Dagenhard as well from Spokane, so.
30:25 - Anything else?
30:25 'Cause this is the best time of year.
30:27 I mean, I'm looking forward to filling out
30:28 probably 10 different ones of these,
30:29 and I won't hold myself accountable to any of them.
30:31 - Yeah, I'm just, yeah,
30:33 I'm looking forward to calling the games.
30:35 I'm proud of our guys of getting in.
30:37 I know it sounds, you know,
30:39 "Oh, they get in every year."
30:40 This was a varsity year,
30:41 and they didn't listen to the noise,
30:43 and they got in, and they have a legit chance
30:45 to make a deep run.
30:46 I mean, McNeese is gonna be a tough one, obviously,
30:49 the second round, potentially, most likely Kansas.
30:53 But it'd be cool to play Purdue again.
30:54 It's hard to beat a team twice,
30:56 and we'd probably not go for 16 from the three.
31:01 - I wouldn't think so,
31:02 the way they shot the ball down the stretch of the year.
31:04 So, there you have it for "Talking Zags,"
31:07 Adam Morrison, Dan Dickow,
31:09 breaking down a little bit of the NCAA tournament.
31:11 Zags open, again, as a five seed
31:14 against McNeese State in Salt Lake City.
31:17 The game will be on TV.
31:18 Adam will have the radio call,
31:20 and we'll catch you again real soon.
31:22 (upbeat music)
31:24 (upbeat music)