Rocky: 0:01

I'm excited to talk Sweet 16 basketball tonight. I got the coaches in the green room waiting to come on with me. I got MVCC boys men's basketball coach. Coach Fuller is going to join us. You'll remember I had him on this past weekend on the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch, fresh off a national championship. I got a friend of the show. This is the first time he's been on the podcast, but he's been on with us on the radio for a long time.

Rocky: 0:22

Coach Pasiak's going to jump on in just a minute. Pete Pagliaro, coach Pag from the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch he's going to jump on with us as well. I'm not sure if we're going to have Coach Medesis or not, but Coach is going to jump on. We're going to get the coach's thoughts from the first weekend. We'll talk about the Sweet 16 games coming up this week and then at the very end make sure to stay tuned We'll get into our predictions and much more. So stay tuned. We'll be right back here on the Rock Pile. So welcome back and, without further ado, let's bring the coaches on. They've been waiting patiently here tonight, so let's bring them on one by one. There's Coach Pasiak right there. What's up coaches? What's going on tonight?

Coach Pags: 1:19

What's going?

Coach Pasiak: 1:21

on.

Coach Pags: 1:21

Jonah.

Coach Pasiak: 1:21

A little lull in the action.

Rocky: 1:23

I know I'm really excited I got my Gonzaga shirt on. I'm a little disappointed that I thought they were. I don't think they were seated appropriately but it was a great game to watch last week. But I'm thankful to have you guys on Coach Fuller back from the weekend. We talked on the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch and this is Pags' first time on with us in a long time.

Coach Pags: 1:44

Long time Finally back.

Rocky: 1:47

Yep. So Pags, welcome. And Coach P, you've been on the radio with us for a while and this is the first time on the podcast, so welcome back.

Coach Pasiak: 1:54

Yeah, good to be on with you guys. Got to get the technology figured out and everything. So congratulations to Harley on a national title. I was telling you guys before we got on that I remember him as a player at Cobleskill when I was coaching at Onondaga back in the day.

Coach Fuller: 2:07

Thank you so much. I appreciate it, man.

Coach Pags: 2:09

Yeah, I got to say kudos to that too. I'm a MV grad, so it was nice to see a national champion come out of MV like that, especially for basketball man. It's my favorite sport, so go Hawks.

Coach Fuller: 2:21

I'd love to see the mohawk. Alum love to see it.

Rocky: 2:23

That's awesome so, guys, I don't know if we're gonna have coach medesis may jump on in a little bit. He's trying to get to uh the kids down for bed. So if he jumps on, great, we'll dive in with him as well. But you know, I want to get your guys thoughts because I I'm a sports radio junkie and so far you know, after the weekend and yesterday and today, all I hear on the radio is there's no true Cinderella in this Sweet 16.

Rocky: 2:46

And some people are saying it's not great for the tournament. Others are saying the Blue Bloods are in it and talking about the NIL where you're not getting the mid-majors like the Valparaisos. That would get the kids to stay for four years and can compete with the Blue Bloods. But I want to just get your early thoughts on the opening. You know a couple rounds and what your guys' thoughts were on the NIL and where we're at with no Cinderella. And don't tell me Arkansas is a Cinderella with John Calipari. But we'll get into that and more. So, pags, I'm going to open up to you what were your early thoughts.

Coach Pags: 3:19

Well, you know, to me it's March Madness, right, whenever Thursday comes on and there's all those games on and you can you get to watch all those games. To me that's exciting, I mean I'm. It brings me back to when I was a kid, you know, skipping school on Thursday and Friday to watch those games. Yes, it was. It was a lot more chalk this time around, but I think, if you look at it now, like I mean, we all like to see the Cinderella and the big shots and that's what March Madness is.

Coach Pags: 3:44

But I think you're going to see some really good matchups this coming week and it's because of the chalk, I think because of the teams that won this week. Now you're seeing those matchups Because a lot of times those Cinderella teams I mean, once in a while you'll see that 15 seed who makes a run, but for the most part after that second round, when they get to the Sweet 16, then you start seeing the teams that really are dominant win those games. So I think you're going to see better games this weekend, so sooner. So to me it's still exciting. I mean it hasn't been as exciting, but it's March Madness, you can't go wrong.

Rocky: 4:16

Coach P. What did you think? What were your thoughts?

Coach Pasiak: 4:26

Well, you know I think you hit on it a little bit with um. You know I've seen a couple things where the you know the death of the mid-major cinderella and I think that's a direct um reflection of the transfer portal and the nil money and whatnot. And you know to the to the point you alluded to like it used to be, like the great equalizer would be. You would see the power conference teams that had, you know, the, the nba draft picks, the one-and-done, the one-and-two-year guys, and the equalizer was the mid-majors, usually with good guard play and experienced veteran roster that had been together. Those things kind of neutralized one another which led to some great games and some great upsets.

Coach Pasiak: 5:00

And this go-around, you see 16 teams, 16 teams out of you know Power 4 conferences. I think even you know I had the Johnnies go into the national championship game, great pick that turned out to be. But you know, I think even it's going to be very interesting going forward for a conference like the Big East that, like right now with the structure, they can't keep up with the Power Four teams financially but they're going to have a little bit of an equalizer, which maybe we'll get into later with this NCAA settlement and without major conference football, they'll be able to direct some money to basketball that maybe, you know the Power Conferences won't. So you know that landscape will be interesting going forward, but for right now it's certainly. You know, money talks.

Coach Pags: 5:46

And, coach, you mentioned the four power conferences. I mean seven SEC teams, I mean. So that shows you where the money, you know where the money comes in right.

Coach Pasiak: 5:54

Yeah, like I really had an issue. You know, 14 teams from one conference. You know, my thing is I don't care how good your league is If you can't finish in the top half of your league, you got no business playing for a national title, in my opinion. You know, unless you manage to, you know to get there by winning your conference tournament. But like I mean that's, you know almost a quarter of the field from one conference, that's a bit much, I think.

Rocky: 6:18

Harley, what'd you think?

Coach Fuller: 6:21

I I think even with the NIL, obviously, the NCAA tournament. They have that sneaky little thing they do every year where they create their own storylines within the tournament. You know you see McNeese State playing against Clemson and Will Way was the manager there and he's involved in that job. And you know you have the Dukes playing against Baylor and their starting point guard is there, you know is coming back from that team and you know they're still doing a good job with those storylines and and, uh, you know without kind of those cinderella teams.

Coach Fuller: 6:45

But I like obviously calipari. You know bill self in that first round. And then you know obviously patino I'm a big patino guy myself. I had I had the johnnies going all the way to the final four as well. So you know there's still those storylines. But, like you guys said that you alluded to earlier, there's so many good matchups in this sweet 16.

Coach Fuller: 7:03

You know I Mark Pope on how, how good a coach is he right now? How he has those guys playing so versatile. You know shooting the basketball kind of a different style. You know just even some of the guys you see him recruiting right now for next year. It's like that's not a typical Kentucky guy but he's doing it his way. So it's kind of interesting seeing him, you know, navigate through this.

Coach Fuller: 7:23

But I do like the Calipari situation too. You know it's kind of he plays it so well in the media but it's so interesting hearing him talk about it and how. You know he's talking about just taking it one game at a time. You know typical coach talk but it's like you know he loves having the ability to come out there year one. You know guns blazing and kind of make a statement. So you know a lot, of, a lot of really good matchups. Um, I'm excited to see. My biggest one, you know, in this sweet 16 right now is that that florida and maryland matchup. I think it's going to be interesting because you know maryland was, you know your one possession away and that momentum you know that you get from a shot like that, you know, at the end of a game, can usually propel teams to a round or two, you know, regardless of the level. But obviously the NCAA tournament, momentum is king.

Rocky: 8:05

So you know I look at the coaches and and we'll get into the games here in just a minute. But you know I get into the coaches and Harley you mentioned. You know some of the guys. But I look at, like you know, the pressure that that Calipari had at Kentucky and basically you know, I know he left on his own but we all know that he was probably pushed out of there. And you you look at, you know the success he started 0-5, you know, at Arkansas he's won a great run. They're getting healthy at the right time. And then you look at the pressure that Mark Popes had filling in for Calipari. Kentucky hadn't been to the second weekend in, I think what? Five, six years, maybe even longer than that. And then you look at Chris Beard, who's a guy who has gotten in a little trouble in the past but all the guy does is win games. So I love the coaches in this thing. You've still got Tom Izzo there. We'll get into that matchup I think is good. The Maryland, a lot of good matchups.

Coach Pags: 8:56

You've got Bruce Pearl at Auburn right.

Rocky: 8:59

Yep, you've got Bruce Pearl at Auburn. And then you see you mentioned the Will Wade who accepts the NC State job in the middle of the tournament while his team's still playing. And I just look at these guys that they got themselves in trouble and here they are landing big jobs and taking these teams deep. So I love the coaching matchups in these, but I think these guys are all good coaches to get to this weekend. So I'm excited. And why don't we start in the south guys? And I want to just kind of pull these things up here and we'll get into it. So in the south, the Auburn Michigan game, michigan right now. I got the lines up here because we'll pick the games at at the end.

Rocky: 9:36

I think the job again these coaches have all done, you know, great jobs, I think with Dusty Mays done and and you guys can speak to it better than I can from the basketball side but he starts two seven footers, um, and and the first thing I think of and maybe you guys can explain this to me is you know when you start two seven footers and what, what the way basketball is now with these drive, you know these driving handoffs, the up and down. We're shooting threes getting your seven footers. They got to get out and transition and run the floor. How are they doing it with the two big guys? Coach P, I'll start with you. I mean, how does he do it with two seven footers?

Coach Pasiak: 10:11

Well, I think he's a guy who's always, you know, even before coming to Michigan. He's always a guy who's been a little bit creative, you know, as far as maximizing his personnel and there's something to be said for kind of swimming against the flow and playing in a little different way with a little bit different type of lineup than you know. The trend in basketball has been to get smaller and space. You know space and kick and you know the game's all about the analytics and you know shooting the three and whatnot and getting up and down the floor. But I mean he's got some, you know, got obviously a lot of mileage out of playing a little bigger. Now, that said, they were the trendy pick to get knocked off early and really almost did in the first round by UC San Diego. I think they got their work cut out. This round Auburn's good. I think this could be the end of the road for Michigan this round. Auburn's good. I would be. I think this could be the end of the road for Michigan this round.

Rocky: 11:10

It's funny because you look at a year ago, this team was 8-24 a year ago. Again, the transfer portal, some of the guys they mentioned I know he had a couple. The big guy came from FAU with them. They mentioned three or four of those players that are playing in the Sweet 16. And I just go back and say how good was that FAU team that he had when he was there. That took him to the Final Four and I think that team could have won a national championship. But they were 8-24 a year ago. And here they are. I picked them to lose the first game for sure. Was it 10-seeded UC? What was it? The Tritons, tritons yeah.

Rocky: 11:47

The Tritons. I had them losing that game, but again, I think the job that he's done. I mean I think their end's going to run here. I think Auburn's a really tough matchup for him but you know, I think it'll be fun to see. I think Auburn's peaking at the right time. And Hardy, I'll ask you this, but Auburn, at the end of the season they lost three of the last four games they limped into, you know, march Madness. But you know I think they're playing well at the right time.

Coach Fuller: 12:09

Yeah, there's just so many talented pieces on that team. You know they have. They probably, in my opinion, have the highest ceiling of anybody in this tournament when they're, you know, outside of, maybe, duke, when you know Cooper Flagg. But you know Jani Broome, you know that Pettiford, tahaad, pettiford, those two guys, I think if you're having a draft with all the players in the NCAA tournament, most of the coaches are going to go towards Jani Broome and obviously the experience that he has. But just so versatile and Pettiford, they got five stars coming off the bench on that team. You know there's just so much talent and obviously they stumbled.

Coach Fuller: 12:42

But you know, as you guys know well, that sometimes those little, those, those hiccups along the way can kind of propel you. You learn a little bit more in those losses than you do in any of those wins and things get covered up. Um, but you know I definitely like auburn in this game. But just to kind of touch on your michigan, you know, with danny wolf and, uh, you know he had, uh, he had the big there, vlad golden with him at f, yes, at florida atlantic too. I mean, they're setting ball screens with a seven-footer to seven-footer and they're just hitting the roll all the time Like how do you even guard that? You know. So you know. If we learned anything with Dusty May is he's creative enough to find a way to give himself an opportunity in this game, regardless, you know, of how talented Auburn is, but you know Auburn shoots a ton of threes too, so they also have the ability to shoot themselves out of a game as well, you know they get a little bit chaotic at times and typically their talent just overwhelms people.

Coach Fuller: 13:27

But you know, dusty may teams play the right way. So you know, that's why I think they give them a chance.

Rocky: 13:32

I still, I still think it's a two or three possession game at the end yeah, I, I actually thought, um, you know, the big thing to me was to see auburn, because I thought they really struggled late in the year, I mean the three out of four games that they lost. They played really good teams, but defensively was the question for me, how well can they defend? They rebound the hell out of the ball and I think right now they are playing really well. So Bruce Pearl's teams are always tough. I'm a Bruce Pearl guy. I'd love to see Bruce Pearl get to a final four and and have a chance to win a national title. But I see, it seems to me that every year we say the same thing about his teams. They always play well and then they get into march madness and they just, they, just, they stumble, they run into somebody and I don't know if if michigan's going to be able to get them. But it should be a really good game, a lot of good matchups in all these regions, pegs. What do you think?

Coach Pags: 14:19

yeah, I agree with you guys. I think I think auburn obviously has more weapons. I think that I I think they'll contend with the size. I mean, they got that Dylan Cardwell and that room kit that you mentioned. But I think one of the things too is that Michigan is really turnover prone. So I think what you're going to see from Auburn is they're going to try to push the guards, to try to make plays and then, if Michigan turns the ball over, I think it's going to be a lot harder for them to win this game. So I think Auburn's going to beat them, but I think maybe you're going to see them try to push Michigan towards those turnovers that they've been prone for all season long.

Rocky: 14:54

Yeah, the other one, guys in the South. I think it's going to be another good game. They're both really hard-nosed, they play good defense. They both rebound the ball. That's Michigan State Ole Miss. I won't lie to you guys, I didn't have Ole Miss getting through into this game. I had them losing. I forget who they had in the first game, but I had them losing that 6-11 game right out of the gate. So what's your guys' thoughts?

Coach Pasiak: 15:17

Coach P, what do you think? I think you know Ole Miss has been. You know I thought they'd lose to Carolina. I'm with you there. Carolina was a team that all the abuse they took, I thought they'd get a round or two in. But the thing that really impressed me the other day I thought Iowa State was a sneaky good team and they really Ole Miss. That win over Iowa State was to me one of the more impressive wins anybody's put on the board this tournament. It's a team that I think they're under the radar and a lot of people thought they'd be out early. But I think they're a team that seems to be peaking and playing their best basketball the first couple rounds. They're a low turnover team which is going to keep them in games. I didn't expect them to be here right now. They're playing a little bit with house money. I think they got a reasonably good shot against Michigan State.

Rocky: 16:15

Harley, I think that one of the things Michigan State does well they rebound the basketball and they play relentless on defense. One of the things with Ole Miss the front line is not very big for Ole Miss, so they're going to have to make shots and get out in transition and run. But is Ole Miss going to be able to keep up with Michigan State? Is this a bad matchup for them?

Coach Fuller: 16:35

I think that the tempo is going to be really important for them. But I mean Ole Miss can get up and down the floor and score it too. But you saw Michigan State kind of in those first rounds. When they get out in transition they can pitch ahead and they start getting their 6-7 athletes flying all over the place. I mean it's not a matchup that most teams can put up with. But I mean every single Tom Nizzo team, you know, is gritty, tough, physical. You know they're not going to give a game away to anybody. If Ole Miss wins it's going to be because they take it. But I will say with old miss I like the sean padua, the guard from the virginia tech transfer.

Coach Fuller: 17:06

He's just so tough, you know, you see a little bit more uh edginess to him, I think when he's on old miss and he was on virginia tech, which I get a kick out of watching with him he's kind of he's talking a little bit more. He's got a little bit of a a chip on his shoulder. But I think having those veteran guards in the tournament uh will be interesting.

Coach Fuller: 17:21

But I will say I think it was Jace Richardson that yeah the freshman I mean it just shows you know how tough and gritty Michigan State is For him to have a bad game, you know scoring-wise in that game, and then still be able to overcome it. I mean I think that shows kind of I mean you could talk. Everybody says the word culture, but you know Michigan State's culture is what it is. You know culture, but you know Michigan State's culture is what it is. You know there's just someone else is going to step up and you know Izzo seems to always get a couple of those five-star guys to go, with all the gritty physical guys that he always has to to give himself a chance. So I think I'm gonna the house money for me. I would. I would take Michigan State, I think, just because, just because Izzo, I think it's gonna find a way to get it done. But I mean Beard's been unbelievable. What a second coming for him, you know, after that situation.

Rocky: 18:06

Well, I was on here a couple weeks ago and an interesting stat first, before I get into my take here. But an interesting stat I thought was that there's been no number two seed that's made it to the final four. That started the year outside of the preseason top 25. Michigan State was outside of the top 25 and there were two seeds so. So they're going to have to get through history here, which I thought was an interesting stat line, because I didn't. I forgot that Michigan state wasn't ranked to start the year. So but I want to get.

Rocky: 18:32

I want to stay on the Chris Beard thing just for a minute. I was on here a couple of weekends ago and I said and I don't know what you guys think about Beard, I'm not a huge beard guy but I, the guy, can coach. I said if I was indiana I would have made three phone calls. One was to brad stevens, who that wasn't happening. The second one, um for me would have been to um steve alford and uh, there was a bunch of takes um on the radio. Why, steve alford, uh wasn't asked to, you know, offer the job or at least ask the interview. And the third one to me was chris beard, just because the guy's won everywhere he's been. If he can just stay out of the limelight and stay in a straight path, the guy can flat out coach.

Rocky: 19:11

So I just want to ask you guys I know I'm off topic, but what's your thoughts on Coach Beard? And I know the job he's done this year. He's playing with house money at Ole Miss this year. The season they've had is unbelievable. What's your guys' thoughts on him?

Coach Pags: 19:25

I agree with you. I think he's a hell of a coach. I think he should have got a shot at the Indiana job, but I mean he's in a good spot with what he's doing here. I mean so you know, I always look at like you know you've got to give these guys chances. I mean they're all human, they're going to make mistakes. I mean, obviously Chris Beard has a little bit of a past, but at the end of the day it's like you know.

Coach Pags: 19:45

I know he represents your university, but can he coach basketball? I mean that's what I want. I want a guy who can coach the game and I think he knows the game very well. I mean I would love to have him at Indiana if I were one of the fans there. But you mentioned I know I can't remember who it was, but someone has a beef with him there and I think that's why they're not hiring him, bringing him back. But I mean Alford should be a coach who, like you said, the first phone call should go to him. I mean being an alumni of that school.

Rocky: 20:15

Isn't Ole Miss, though, guys, when I look at this and I'm a football guy, so you guys know the X's and O's for basketball a lot better than me, but I always use the example as if, like I was a big Dave Claussen guy. As Pags knows, I played for Coach Claussen when I was at Fordham and he was at Wake for a long time and just kind of stepped down this past year. But I always said if you can go to a school and we can use Ole Miss where you get to the NCAA tournament, you can probably stay at Ole Miss as long as you want. Maybe it's a football school, you know, we can probably debate that.

Rocky: 20:50

Chris Beard would debate that. But you know these guys in those other jobs going to Indiana or going to, you know the Dukes of the world and those big programs if you don't win within the first couple years, you're out of there, right, guys? So I think Ole Miss to me is, when I look at this, I say to myself Chris Beard can coach there for a long time. He's making good money at Ole Miss, he gets to the tournament, he's a hero there. That's kind of the path that I was going down. What do you guys think?

Coach Pasiak: 21:12

I just I think you're right about that. I think if he like, he's never going to get canned at Ole Miss right, no.

Coach Pasiak: 21:22

For basketball reasons. Now, if some of the you know some of the away from basketball stuff clears its head, then all bets are off. But you know, it's the kind of thing, the flip side of that as a coach and as a competitor, ole Miss it's still going to be a football school perception-wise and can you compete for national championship consistently at Ole Miss versus in Indiana or something like that. So I think that's something that he'll have to and probably is and will be wrestling with himself. You know, does he want to be comfortable at Ole Miss? Kind of stay there, and I mean they're going to be in the mix because he's a great coach and you know he's never going to be under a super whole lot of pressure compared to some other jobs. Or, you know, does he want to go somewhere where he thinks he's you know, basketball is king and he could win a national title?

Coach Pags: 22:20

yeah, coach, don't you think, though, a lot of these guys who are in these positions I mean obviously they're super competitive, I mean they all want the biggest, the biggest job that's out there, the biggest challenge. So I would think like I mean, once in a while you're gonna have a guy who who settles in and just wants to stay at their school. Um, but when you got, when you got the blue bloods out there that are out there, I would imagine a lot of these guys, like chris spear, are going to want a shot at bringing bringing glory to that big school again they said that mark pope and, and this is, and, and I'll just kind of echo this and say I me personally, I mean he's probably making good money.

Rocky: 22:54

He's in the I don't don't know two, three million or more. You go to Indiana where you know you got to follow, you know the history there with Bob Knight. He was on Bob Knight's staff, but it almost reminds me of Coach Cal, which I still think Cal Perry's a great basketball coach, one of the best you know in the game, who they basically wrote him out of Kentucky. And in comes a guy like Mark Pope, who people said last weekend if Pope didn't get through the weekend, they were calling for his job at Kentucky. So it's like these guys go to the big programs and I'm with you, coach P. They go to those big programs where they got all the resources in the world and it's like if you don't win right away they're going to get rid of you.

Rocky: 23:31

But now with the transfer portal, the NIL, you can flip a roster real fast and I think that's what Beard's done at Ole Miss and some of the other guys too, I think in the first couple years. I mean again, we're talking Michigan Dusty May they were 8-24, and here they are in the Sweet 16 because he flipped that roster. So again I go back and say to myself stay at Ole Miss, where you're going to be there for 10, 15 years. You're in the Sweet 16 this year. The world of the NIL and the transfer portal he can potentially build a team here that can get to a Final Four. Can they win a national championship? I don't know the way the world is today. Anything's possible. But I think the pressure, right Harley, the pressure of going to the Dukes, the Indianas I mean look at Hubert Davis at North Carolina. You know they signed him to that long contract and many people wanted him. I didn't think he'd survive at North Carolina, but I mean that pressure just mounts on you, right, coach?

Coach Fuller: 24:24

Yeah, I definitely think so. I think with Beard to me, when he took the Ole Miss job, I thought that was the perfect job for him, like you said it's. You know they're not going to fire him because he's too good of a coach. He's not going to lose a ton of games there. He was following, you know, kermit Davis I believe it was there. I was Kermit Davis who struggled for, you know, a few years. So you walk into that job and now the SEC. You know, with 14 teams in the tournament, you're starting to see that football money, you know, really starting to make some of those other jobs more valuable. You know the pressure. But I was, I think.

Coach Fuller: 24:53

I think if Beard, in my opinion, I think if it was one more year or maybe two more years before Indiana opened, I think some people might have swept it a little bit more under the rug. But it's a little bit too recent to kind of have you know that that be his first job. But I mean Beard's one of the old school guys. So I mean I remember some of you guys may have been the final four before watching him run a practice and most of those coaches at the final four when I do the open practice for everybody. It's like they're not really going through stuff.

Coach Fuller: 25:18

Right, it's a way up lines, it's a couple jump shots, it's messing around. Every time he blows the whistle, the entire team and every manager sprints to him like he's the king of the world and they're, they're in his face. Everybody's dead silent, like play. So he's kind of like. The reason I say that is because he's kind of one of those the last of the Mohegans type deal, where it's like he does it his way. You know he's got that Bobby Knight edge to him. You know, I think he was a Bobby Knight manager, I believe right.

Coach Fuller: 25:42

It was something along those lines. So he's got that, you know, kind of old school, you know toughness, edginess to him and he's. And then he's navigating the SEC. He's his way with all these talented athletes. I mean you can't bet against him, you know, obviously with all that money there too. So you know he's, he's, you know, doing a great job.

Rocky: 26:00

Definitely playing with house money. So, guys, let's get into the West Harley. You mentioned in the beginning of the show you were talking about Maryland, and I think Florida is a team for me and, again, this is the first year that I'm going to say this and I'm going to openly admit this. I went chalk this year. Right now I have 12 out of the 16 teams and I have all four final four teams. I put all the one seeds in the final four, which I never do, never do. But I just thought those four teams were better than anybody.

Rocky: 26:27

And I want to start real fast with Florida first, because Florida proved to me this past. I wanted to see them in a dog fight. I wanted to see them in a dog fight in a really close game to see how they would react. And you know, I thought UConn really controlled most of that game against Florida and the kid I think it was the Clayton kid right, walter Clayton had some big shots and I think they're probably the best team. Duke's got the best player. We can probably agree to that. Maybe we disagree, but I think right now, the ways florida's playing after that game, um, they looked really good against connecticut guys, yep, I agree, I think florida is is the best team out there.

Coach Pags: 27:06

They're so big. I mean, you know, having three guys, uh, they're that big. That's the biggest challenge, I think, for most people, and I think that you know the the game against uconn. I mean, I think uconn in a way, gave that game away a little bit. I mean they had a lead and I think, because you can't I just heard it today on the radio because you can't is the powerhouse that they were. They were, they were trying to put them away. Instead, they I think they should have shortened that game a little bit maybe, and maybe they would have been in a better, in a better position to win that game. But I think florida is so good because they have so much size, I think, and that's going to be tough because as you go through this, these brackets, there's not a lot of teams that they can, they can defend that. So I think it's going to be a challenge for maryland for sure, um, but I think, even as they go further down the brackets, it's going to be tough to stop florida.

Rocky: 27:54

Coach P. What do you think? Do you think Maryland can keep this thing close?

Coach Pasiak: 27:58

Probably not. I think. You know, if you kind of look through tournament history, you know, with very few exceptions, you know most teams that get through somewhere along the line they get really tested. And you know I thought UConn did that. I thought that was a game If Florida was going to lose. You know I thought UConn did that. I thought that was a game If Florida was going to lose. Her, you know, prior to like Final Four, I thought that was the game that maybe they could get tripped up going in. You know, and UConn played, you know, with championship pedigree and you know I think had every opportunity to win that game. You know Florida kind of conquered that Might be the most talented team in the field, I think you know between them and Duke as far as best team in the field. And you know, I think now that they're through that kind of game, my gut feeling says they'll be clicking on all cylinders.

Rocky: 28:53

And you know, if that's the case, they got too much for Maryland Harley. How about you? You think any chance Maryland can keep it close. I think Maryland's going to match the size I think Maryland's front court is. Is is pretty good, but I mean overall talent. No, but if you keep it close, I mean the final two, three minutes. If you're within what? 10, six, eight, 10 points you got a shot. Can they keep it close?

Coach Fuller: 29:11

I think they're just going to have to junk it up a little bit. You know they're gonna have to be physical, gritty and tough and try to get into some of these guards. I think walter clayton, like you guys said, I mean he, he might, he's one of the best guards in the tournament. You know, if not the best guard in the tournament left, he can create his own shot. You know, they have so much shooting out there. I mean, todd golden put together an unbelievable roster, um, you know. Or the sec money put together a ton of an unbelievable roster, I guess. But, uh, but, but he runs some great stuff too. So I always enjoy the coaches and all these things. That's where I kind of go back to.

Coach Fuller: 29:40

But, yeah, no, I think Florida gets this one done. I don't think it's going to be. I think it's going to be a double-digit, you know, win for them. I just think Florida's going to, you know, just overwhelm them. To be honest, I think too much size, too much versatility and then, uh, you know, a great backcourt. You know they they're two and three men shoot that, shoot the crap out of the ball with will, I think will richard, I don't remember the other guy's name, but there's another shooter they have as well. Um, that really shoots it really well on top of clayton. Oh uh, leah martin, elijah martin, uh those two guys just yeah, they shoot the ball so well.

Coach Fuller: 30:10

Um, again, a big, big clayton fan he was at. He was at iona. Um, you know, back in the day I remember watching him play, coming out of junior college. I think he was a junior college major for one year, but he's just so tough. He was a football, he was a quarterback, so he's kind of got that physical toughness to him too. I think Maryland will try to make it a rock fight, but I don't think they're going to be able to do it against a well-coached Florida team.

Coach Pags: 30:40

All against a well-coached Florida team. All right. Million-dollar question Was Derek.

Coach Fuller: 30:40

Queen? Did he travel? I watched the video on it Under today's day and age no.

Coach Pags: 30:43

But old school yes.

Coach Fuller: 30:46

I watched the guy who comes in on the broadcast talk about it a little bit and he explained why it wasn't a travel and I still didn't really agree with him, but I'll take his word for it. When they usually go to in those takes.

Rocky: 30:57

Coach P, was it a travel?

Coach Pasiak: 30:59

Yeah, I mean real time. I didn't think so. When they played it back I can see where he could call it. A travel Referee would have took a lot of stones for a referee to call travel in that situation.

Rocky: 31:11

Yeah, I would definitely agree. I think it was a fascinating shot. I mean I was all pumped up. I'm like we haven't seen a buzzer beater, we haven't really seen that dramatic play and I always think it's fascinating. As a coach, I don't know how you guys watch these games, but when I watch these games I love watching these guys coach the last two minutes. Again, I'm a Zags homer but I thought the last minute of watching Mark Few and Calvin Sampson go at it and see the different style that Mark Few had to play with the Zags, you know, to just try to get themselves back in the game, even the way they bandage guy gets two fouls out of the gate. What do you do? You know some coaches have played guys, some coaches take guys out, but I just always find the last two minutes of these games how these coaches can draw up these out-of-bounds plays, the different schemes, the different styles. To me it's always been fascinating to watch these guys do it.

Coach Pags: 32:05

And that's where they earn their money honestly.

Rocky: 32:10

Yeah, that is correct. All right guys. So I want to get into Texas Tech, arkansas and some people I keep saying don't tell me that, because Cal Perry's a 10 seed, they're Cinderella. But I think this is a really good Arkansas team. They're getting healthy at the right time. I think Cal's done a really good job. Many could say this may be his best coaching job. You know they started the season 0-5, and people were saying, oh geez, his first year he's not going to make the tournament. Here they are playing well and they run up against a Texas Tech team. That's really good too. Very similar styles. So I'll kind of go around the horn. Harley, I'll start with you. What's your thoughts on this one? Arkansas is a five-and-a-half point underdog. Can Arkansas keep this thing close and have a chance to win?

Coach Fuller: 32:52

Yeah, I think, like you said, I think this is his best coaching job. I mean, he's always kind of had the talent, but he's kind of built this roster a little bit different. He's got a few older guys Janelle Davis, which is huge. He was coming off the bench before Boogie Flynn got hurt, which is crazy to see him come off the bench. But he's got some experience on this roster too and I just thought today they brought back Ado Fierro.

Coach Fuller: 33:15

He's back. He's back, he's going to be playing in this game. I mean, so I just think they have so much talent and they also have experience now too, which you know some of those Calipari teams have lacked in the past. So no, I think this is Calipari is going to get this one done. I definitely have a lot of belief in them in this game. Mccaslin's a great coach, though another guy. There's so many great coaches in this Sweet 16. You saw what he did in North Texas and they play the right way. They have, I think, the popping kid super talented. They kind of do it by committee, but he's kind of the head of the snake for them. But I just think Arkansas is going to kind of Texas. Tech shoots it much better than St John's does. I think us four going out in our driveway shoots it better than St John's does right now. But I think Arkansas is just going to be way too talented for them.

Rocky: 34:03

Coach P. What do you think?

Coach Pasiak: 34:04

Yeah, I think Arkansas wins this game as well and you know, I think as long as Cal's at Arkansas like this landscape of college athletics with the NIL money and the transfer portal you know, he's a guy that was ahead of the curve back with the, you know, with the one and dones, and caught a lot of heat for it and everything.

Coach Pasiak: 34:21

But I think this current landscape of college basketball I think he's a guy that you know to me it's kind of tailor-made for and he's going to adapt to and you know people better get them now because I think they're, you know, as long as he's at Arkansas, I think that's a team that's going to be in the mix year after year in the direction we're heading with college sports. But you know I'm with Harley. I think they, yeah, I think they win this one outright.

Rocky: 34:45

Yeah, you know we're talking about coaches and like I just always go back to all the sports right, and I say there's coaches that I think are just good fits. Like I look at cal, at arkansas, and he just looks like a good fit. He looks like he's, he's having fun again. But maybe the weight of you know the kentucky faithful and all that pressure over the years to get to the final four and win championships. But, um, he looks much different and, and listen, coming into this, they had one. I think it was like 12 is 17 or 13 of 18, something crazy like that. But, harley, you mentioned the and I think all four of us on here could shoot better than what St John's and I'm a big Patino guy but Texas Tech's only shot 25% from the field in their first few games and there's no way they're going to beat Arkansas shooting 25% from the field. So we'll see if they can shoot it better. But, peg, do you think you're rolling with Arkansas too?

Coach Pags: 35:35

Oh yeah, I think I think I don't think this game is going to be, I mean, with having JT Toppin there and the other kid on the inside I think it's Darian Williams. They'll give him a shot, but I think I think there's too much for Arkansas. And I you know, I know you mentioned before there's no Cinderella in this tournament. A coach Calipari team a Cinderella. But this is kind of the Cinderella story of the tournament, I think. I mean we're all kind of cheering for Coach Cal to do his thing, but I agree, a Coach Cal team is never a Cinderella, but this is one of those situations where maybe he'll play the Cinderella role.

Rocky: 36:08

for now, so, guys, if we switch over to the East and I don't know if there's too much, I don't know if many people are really giving Arizona a chance. I mean, duke's got the best player in the world and they've looked really good. I think their winning margin over the first two games is the highest and I think in tournament history they were saying but any chance that Tommy Lloyd and Tommy Lloyd, a former Mark Few assistant, I mean Coach P, I'll go with you first. Can Arizona keep this thing close? Or is Duke just that good? Coach P, I'll go with you first. Can Arizona keep this thing?

Coach Pasiak: 36:37

close or is Duke just that good? Duke has played like the best team in the country the first couple rounds, I think if they stay close to that level I don't see Arizona really staying with them and making it much of a game. We talked a little bit about Florida kind of had their moment where they had to overcome a little bit against UConn. You know you would think that somewhere along the line that's going to be Duke. You know, maybe it's Arizona, but gut feeling tells me that Duke wins big again.

Rocky: 37:09

Carly, how about you?

Coach Fuller: 37:12

I was a Duke fan growing up, for sure, so I have a little bit of a bias for Duke. But I just think they're going to be too much for Arizona. Caleb Love, you know he's played great in this tournament. He was unbelievable in their last game. But I just think you know Cooper Flagg just overwhelms them. They have enough shooting where they can spread the floor and you can't focus too much on him as well. I just think this is maybe one of the more complete Duke teams in the last few years and maybe this is the upset, the crazy upset everybody's been waiting for. But I think the smart money would be on Duke.

Rocky: 37:44

You know who's been good for Duke. I mean they're all good, but I think Proctor's been really good for them shooting the ball from the arc defending. I think he's only a junior but I think he's stepped in too. I agree, I think Duke's only a junior but I think he's stepped in too. I agree, I think Duke's been playing the best. I think Florida's probably the best all-around team. Maybe they'll collide somebody, maybe somebody will knock somebody off. But I mean Houston's playing really good too. I mean, calvin Sampson seems to get his teams really close every year. They just can't get over the hump. They're really good defensively. They're good on the hump. They're really good defensively. They're good on the boards. I think it'll be interesting to see he gets through. I think Duke. Unfortunately, I think they keep things going.

Rocky: 38:23

Let's jump over to one of my favorite teams to watch. I do have BYU. I got the whole East region right. I had BYU in this game against Alabama. Coach Medesas will get on me. I'm not a huge Nate Oates guy. Coach Medesas loves Nate Oates, loves the style that they play. Alabama's got to shoot the ball, I think really well. I think BYU is going to match up with them at pegs. I'll start with you first. In this game, can BYU keep it close and have a chance to upset Alabama, or do you think?

Coach Pags: 38:58

Alabama's playing too good right now? I don't think so. I think Alabama is just too fast for BYU. I think BYU can try to slow them down a little bit. But I just think the way Nate Oates runs that offense, how fast they run, I think it's going to be too much for them. I think they'll hang with them for a little bit, but I think they'll pull away pretty quickly. I don't think those games are going to be that close. I like Alabama here.

Rocky: 39:17

So BYU plays the same style. I mean, when Mark Pope was there it was a little bit different, but BYU is going to get up and down too, so this is going to be a really fast game. Byu has got some shooters. I've seen a lot of BYU over the years, just from being in the West Coast Conference. I think this game is going to Alabama. I think I have Alabama advancing, but I think BYU can beat them. Coach P, what do you think?

Coach Pasiak: 39:43

I think this is going to be one of the fun games of this round. I think I think this could be one of the more entertaining games. I think BYU will hang. I like Alabama to win the game, but I think it's going to be a fun watch. Really, I'm with Medesas. I like Nate Oates as a coach. You know I have a lot of respect for him, but you know, I think in terms of entertainment value, this could be one of the better games of the weekend.

Rocky: 40:12

Harley, what do you think?

Coach Fuller: 40:14

So I think the biggest thing with Alabama you know again that experience Mark Sears, who's been in this moment before I think it's going to be huge. But obviously the tempo and athleticism that Alabama puts on the court every time they walk out there is huge. They play at such a fast pace and they have such good athleticism. But I'm going to take BYU to be an upset, be the Cinderella in this game. I think this tournament needs a Cinderella. I don't necessarily want them to win this game. I love Nate O Cinderella. I don't necessarily want them to win this game. I love Nate Oates. I love the stuff that he runs. I just love his style of basketball. But I'm going to take BYU as the upset to the Elite Eight and kind of give the world the Cinderella back here.

Rocky: 40:52

So the BYU coach who replaces Mark Pope is in the Sweet 16. Pope leaves for Kentucky he's in the Sweet 16. Cal leaves Kentucky and goes to Arkansas he's in the sweet 16. Cal leaves kentucky, it goes arkansas he's in the sweet 16. So, like all these coaches did, okay, I think it all worked out. So if I'm the athletic directors, I'm sleeping good at night saying all the moves that we made all panned out, we're all in the sweet 16. So, uh, it worked out. So, all right, guys, let's just get to these last, these last two, and then we'll get into our picks here and I won't keep you guys too long tonight.

Rocky: 41:20

The Midwest Houston, purdue. I'm not really sold on Purdue. I know they have what they have the Smith kid who's one of the best point guards in the country. Houston, really, really, to me, I think, is just so physical. They get on, they get on the glass, they can defend you. I think if Houston can knock down shots in this game, I think this is going to be a lopsided game. I'm not really high on Purdue, harley, do you think Purdue can keep this thing close?

Coach Fuller: 41:46

I think it'll be a close game. But obviously they have some depth at the guard spot. But one of the better shooters in the country his name's slipping my mind right now the point guard for Purdue. He'll give them a chance. One of the best coach teams in the country. But I've watched Houston. I've only seen Purdue play a few times this year, but I've watched Houston play a ton Braden.

Rocky: 42:07

Smith. Yeah, braden Smith, braden Smith, yep.

Coach Fuller: 42:10

Yep, yep, huge, huge LJ Cryer fan. Juwan Roberts is so tough and physical.

Coach Fuller: 42:17

They rebound the ball so well I've enjoyed watching a few clips that I've found just with Houston and how they deal with rebounding in practice and how they just make everything a war and how every possession is a war, and you can see that's how they attack everything. So I think their physicality, their toughness, and then obviously LJ Cryer and Etuan Roberts there I think it's yeah, Roberts, you know those guys are just going to be too much for Purdue in this game.

Rocky: 42:42

Coach P. What do you think?

Coach Pasiak: 42:44

Yeah, I like Houston's toughness, Like Houston has always been like really physical, hard-nosed, built around defense and rebounding. I think the one difference with this Houston team I think they shoot the ball quite a bit better than Houston teams in a recent past. So you know, I don't think they're. You know, the thing that's bitten them in a tournament in the past is they run into that game or that stretch in a game where they just can't make a shot and like I think this Houston team is better equipped to kind of sustain and maintain offensively. You know, I think for that reason, that reason I think their physicality, I think it's going to be a little bit too much for Purdue to deal with in this one.

Rocky: 43:27

I think Purdue's going to have to knock down shots. I'm not sure they really have the rim protection either. So, smith, who's the best point? I think the other guy's name was I think it's Trey Kaufman, who was the other guard for Purdue. They run a lot of high ball screens so they're going to have to shoot really well. But, coach P, I'm with you. I think this is probably Calvin Sampson's best shooting team he's had at Houston. So if they can shoot the ball well and defend how physical they are and they get after it on the glass, they'll be a tough out. Pags, how about you?

Coach Pags: 44:05

I was just going to say, defensive they're so, um, defensively they're so good. I think that's that's the biggest key for houston in this game. I think, um, I don't, I don't think it's gonna be close. I think just, uh, houston is so, just so good defensively and, as, as the guy said, they're they're so tough.

Rocky: 44:11

So I think, um, I don't see it being a close game so guys, this last one, and I didn't know this that uh, tennessee beat, or kentucky beat tennessee twice, twice uh, in the regular season, um, which I think is crazy. I didn't, I did not know that um, and I've I always pick tennessee to get to the final four, because I feel like rick barnes's teams are always in that two slot, that two or three. They're really good defensively, they play really hard nose and I feel like when we're talking about these teams, and probably when we get to the final four, I'm going to say the same thing again. The football guy, I mean the football coach, says defense wins championships. And I feel like everything we're talking about these teams, we're saying they're really good defensively, they're physical, they rebound the basketball, and I think this is another one where Tennessee's going to get after Kentucky.

Rocky: 44:59

But I don't know, it's tough to beat a team twice, it's tough to beat a team three times. Can Tennessee do it? Or Kentucky do it again for a third time? Harley, can they beat them three times?

Coach Fuller: 45:11

I think you know, sometimes in basketball it's about matchups, right, and certain teams just don't match up with. It's not so much that Kentucky's so much better than Tennessee, it's more so. Kentucky's just a bad matchup for Tennessee. You know, kentucky had six guys that average in double figures I was just looking at that earlier. Six, six guys in double figures. Tennessee defense, you know, like crazy. They're physical and tough and obviously have one of the best coaches in the country but very guard dominant. You know they, I think they're, they're starting backcourt the Lanier kid, chaz, lanier and Ziegler, two guys that are, you know, as good as any guards in the country. But I just think Kentucky, the way they can spread the floor and the way they play their style of basketball, just presents a lot of problems for Tennessee. You know, I think, like you said, I think I play into that a little bit with beating them three times in one season but, like I said, I think the matchup is just not a good matchup for Tennessee.

Rocky: 46:04

Coach P, if Tennessee were to get through this, then they've got to probably play Houston, which you're going to have to go through Kentucky, who's one of their rivals, and then have to turn around and probably beat Houston. But can they get it done this time?

Coach Pasiak: 46:17

Well, I'll tell you what if they do and you get Tennessee against Houston, if you really like two teams that guard and are, you know, physical and tough, like Tennessee might be the best defensive team this side of Houston. So you know, if that matchup happens it'll you know people that, like you know, like all defense and physical play, will really enjoy that game. That said, I think Harley's spot on with matchups. I think Kentucky's got a little more balance offensively and kind of tough to take all of that away from them. They don't have to lean in one particular place, shoot the ball. Pretty well. To me this is a tough game to call. If you held a gun to my head I'd probably lean. To me this is a tough game to call. If you held a gun to my head I'd probably lean to Tennessee. But like, to me, this is a pick-em game in, like you know, one of the matchups this weekend that you know wouldn't shock me to see it go either way.

Rocky: 47:16

Pegs interesting stat line here 27 times. I'm reading this off my sheet 27 times in program history Tennessee has made the NCAA tournament Ten times. They've reached the Sweet 16. Twice they advanced to the Elite Eight. Never once have they made a Final Four, which I thought was crazy. As many good teams as you know, rick Barnes and Tennessee's had over the years, they haven't been able to get there. Similar again to Mark Few when they said he couldn't get to a Final Four. So, pags, what's your thoughts? Can Tennessee?

Coach Pags: 47:47

get it done. I think that trend continues. I don't think they get it done. I think, like Coach Harley was saying, chaz Lanier, in the two games that they've already played in Kentucky, he had his two worst games against them. For them to be able to win they're going to have to play their best game, but I think he's played his best game. He hasn't played well against Kentucky and I think there's a reason for it. I think it's matchups. I think it's one of those games that it's close. I think he can pick either one, but I just think all those coaches know winning three times is hard, but I think Kentucky pulls it off here.

Rocky: 48:19

All right, guys, let's have some fun, let's pick these games and then we'll have to see what's going on over the next week or so to break down the Final Four. Let's get these picks in. We'll kind of go around the horn with everybody. Harley, I'll go with you first, we'll go around Coach P, then Pags and I'll pick a second Auburn Michigan. Michigan is actually plus 8.5.

Coach Fuller: 48:45

Harley, who do you like? I'll take Auburn in that game. I think they win by probably 12 or 13.

Rocky: 48:51

Coach.

Coach Pasiak: 48:52

P.

Rocky: 48:55

I'll go with Auburn. Yeah, I think I'm with you guys as much as I. It's funny because I'm a diehard Michigan football guy but I'm a Gonzaga hoop guy. But I'd like to see this thing close, but I want to see Bruce Pearl keep going. So I'm going to ride with Auburn. I think Auburn is going to cover that eight and a half Pags. What do you think? Who you got.

Coach Pags: 49:12

Yeah, I like Auburn as well here.

Rocky: 49:14

And we're all on Auburn. Okay, I like that. All right. How about Michigan State, Ole Miss? Coach P, who are you rolling?

Coach Pasiak: 49:20

with Tough call here, I'll go with Ole Miss.

Rocky: 49:25

Oh okay, Harley, who you?

Coach Fuller: 49:28

got Michigan State Going to stick with Izzo in these big moments here.

Rocky: 49:32

Pags.

Coach Pags: 49:33

Yeah, I want to go Ole Miss, and I think Ole Miss can pull it off, but it's hard not to go with Izzo in March man, so I'm going, coach Izzo, michigan State.

Rocky: 49:41

There's January, february and Izzo, so I am going with Coach Izzo and Michigan State here to win this one. All right, so let's go to this one here. We got Florida and Maryland, maryland's six and a half. The spread is, for this one, pags. I'll start with you.

Coach Pags: 49:58

That one's easy, I'll go Florida. I don't think Maryland has a chance here.

Rocky: 50:03

Harley, you're rolling Florida. I'm thinking we're all going to roll Florida here.

Coach Fuller: 50:06

Yeah, I'm sticking with the Gators for sure in that game.

Rocky: 50:08

Coach P.

Coach Pasiak: 50:09

Yeah, Florida big.

Rocky: 50:12

I'm on Florida too. I was just trying to think the gambling guy that I am when I get on FanDuel later in the week to see if that line moves, if the six and a half goes up. But I think it's going to be a double digits. I think it's an easy one. I like Florida, all right. So let's go to Texas Tech Arkansas. This is a weird line. Arkansas is getting five and a half in this one and again they're the 10th seed. Coach P, you're rolling with Coach Cal.

Coach Pasiak: 50:38

Yeah, I got Arkansas here. I think they get it done.

Rocky: 50:42

Harley, how about you?

Coach Fuller: 50:43

I think Cal Perry definitely. I think Arkansas is going to win this one. The spread scares me a little bit because these guys know what they're talking about, but I'm going to stick with Arkansas anyway.

Rocky: 50:51

Pags.

Coach Pags: 50:52

Yeah, I like Arkansas too. I want to go Texas Tech, but I don't think you can go against Coach Cal here.

Rocky: 51:02

Yeah, I mean. Yeah, I mean again, texas tech shot 25 the first two games. I just don't think they're going to be able to shoot like that against arkansas. I, I like coach cal, and then we're going to say coach cal is the cinderella riding into the elite eight, possibly into the final four. So I'm going to go arkansas and I'm going to take the five and a half points in that game too. So all right, pags, we'll go with you here. We'll go duke arizona'll go Duke Arizona Arizona plus 8.5. That's a big line too. What do you got?

Coach Pags: 51:24

Pags Best player in the country. I mean, they got so many bigs there at Duke. I think Duke wins this one easily.

Rocky: 51:30

Coach P.

Coach Pasiak: 51:31

Yeah, duke, best player team playing the best? Definitely Duke here.

Coach Fuller: 51:36

Harley? Yeah, I'm going to stick with the same thing. I, harley? Yeah, I'm going to stick with the same thing. I think the Blue Devils definitely win this one.

Rocky: 51:41

Any chance, though, that they keep it within that 8.5? I mean, I think it's going to be double digits, but any chance?

Coach Pags: 51:48

I don't think so.

Coach Fuller: 51:49

I think it's in that 12 to 14-point range down the stretch and everybody's biting their fingernails watching it. We took Arizona.

Coach Pasiak: 51:57

If it is, it'll be like the backdoor cover, where it's, like you know, a 12, 14-point gain to hit a couple shots late and ends up covering.

Rocky: 52:04

Yeah, that's my luck. That always happens when they should just dribble the clock out and a guy heaves one up from like long range and makes a three, and I'm like God darn it, I had the over or under on that. So, all right, let's go to the next one. Let's go to BYU. Alabama, coach P, I'll go with you. First, alabama minus five and a half. Who do you like?

Coach Pasiak: 52:23

Fun game. I'll take Alabama, but I think it's going to be a fun watch.

Rocky: 52:28

Harley, how about you?

Coach Fuller: 52:29

I'm taking BYU in that one, I think Alabama to end their regular season. I think they lost three out of their last five or three out of their last six or something like that. They give up a lot of points. They don't always defend at a high level. I think, byu, the way they shoot the basketball makes it interesting. I'm going to take them Pags.

Coach Pags: 52:45

I'm a little surprised by the picks on this one. I know BYU runs the same style, but I think Bama is going to lay it on them and they're going to beat them handily. I don't think it's going to be close. I got Bama here Really.

Rocky: 52:56

Really, I'm going BYU. I think BYU is going to keep them going up tempo. I think they're going to knock down shots. I think they're a little bit lengthier than Alabama at the guard spot. So I'm going to take BYU. I'm going to take them with the points Now in my bracket. I have Alabama advancing in this game, but my pick's on here tonight I'm going to go with BYU. I'm going to ride with the former West Coast Conference team. All Alright, Harley, I'll start with you on this one Houston Purdue, Purdue's plus 7.5. Who do you like?

Coach Fuller: 53:25

I'll take Houston Calvin Sampson, the way they guard their toughness and his experience, I think he'll get to the next round.

Coach Pasiak: 53:32

Coach P Houston and take the under.

Rocky: 53:35

Houston and the under. Okay, I like that. I didn't see what the under was yet, but I'll be on there later in the week. Pags, how about you?

Coach Pags: 53:42

Yeah, good defensive team. I like Houston here too.

Rocky: 53:45

Yeah, I just don't think Purdue's going to make enough shots and rebound the basketball. I like Houston big. I think they cover that 7.5. And I think probably that we've talked about this, but I think this might be the game of the week here in the Sweet 16. Game of the week here in the Sweet 16. I think Kentucky, Tennessee, Tennessee is minus four and a half in this one. Again, we talked Kentucky beat them twice in the regular season Pegs. What do you got?

Coach Pags: 54:09

I like Kentucky here. I think this one might be one of the closer games that we'll see but I think in the end Kentucky pulls it out.

Coach Fuller: 54:18

How about you Harley, kentucky? I think again. Just the matchup is a weird matchup for Tennessee and you know the personnel kind of at this point in the year is the personnel. So I think Kentucky gets it done.

Rocky: 54:26

Coach P.

Coach Pasiak: 54:27

Toughest game to pick this round for me. But like I said when we went around and broke the games down, I've done to my head.

Rocky: 54:35

I'm going with Tennessee. Yeah, I'm going to go with Tennessee. Harley, you talked about the matchups. I think there's teams, even at the high school and whatever college, whatever sport it is, there's just a bad matchup. Sometimes this may be the bad matchup for Tennessee, but part of me thinks that Tennessee's going to get this thing done and that I really want to see what would be Tennessee and Houston. We said if that matchup were to happen. Man, that would be a physical game. I'm going to take Tennessee laying the 4.5. I can't believe that they're laying the 4.5 after Kentucky beat them twice in the regular season. I feel like that line should be the other way. So we'll see. Vegas usually knows best and that's why I always lose money. So I'm going to ride with Tennessee on this one.

Rocky: 55:17

Well, listen, guys, I appreciate you guys taking your time on a on a tuesday night. And, um, harley, I know you had to put put your son down. My daughter's still up over here. My wife's gonna absolutely kill me that she's still up right now. But um, coach p, I I appreciate you coming on. You, I think you were on with us the radio, for we were on the radio 10 years. I think you were one of the first guests that we had, um, talking some hoops, so I appreciate you coming on. Pags, good to have you back on. Uh, it's been a while since we've had you on and I don't know what your guys schedules look like over the next week. Um, but after sunday we'll have the final four. So if we wanted to do anything and break down the final four and do our picks for that, for the national championship, I am always open to do it, guys. So just let me know and I'll reach out to you guys and we'll go from there. But I really appreciate you guys tonight oh, it's a lot of fun.

Coach Fuller: 56:04

Thanks for having me on.

Rocky: 56:05

I appreciate it yeah, it was great great, no problem guys talk oops to you guys we'll do it again soon sounds good, sounds good so that was awesome to have the coaches back on.

Rocky: 56:17

it was great to have coach p back on and and coach pajak was one of the first guys we had on the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch on WKAL 1450. I appreciate him coming on. I hounded him to come on with me here tonight and he made it happen. And Coach Harley was great this past weekend Love and joint listening to him and I appreciate him coming on tonight. And it was good to have Pags back on. We haven't had the Mohawk Valley Sports Watch the original crew on in a little while just because of our kids' schedules with sports and all that. So I appreciate Pags coming on. I appreciate everybody listening here tonight and hopefully we'll get the guys back. We'll see if they can run things back.

Rocky: 56:57

Next week We'll break down the final four. We'll give our national championship picks. We'll see how we did with our picks from this past week. So I appreciate everybody tuning in tonight and I hope everybody enjoys Thursday through Sunday. I can't wait. We'll all be locked and loaded to watch that. So appreciate that. So thanks for tuning in tonight. Everybody have a good rest of the week. Enjoy some March Madness and thanks for tuning in tonight to the rock pile.