PMT DB
PMT DB
Jon Rothstein on Bracket Breakdown and Drew Brees Retirement
It is officially the best week of the sports year. After two long years without a bracket, Big Cat and PFT finally have the paper in their hands and ink on their fingertips. The energy is high, even if Hank spent a significant portion of the opening segments battling for his life in the bathroom after some questionable Chinese food.
Conference Tournament Chaos
Conference tournament weekend delivered everything we wanted: Nate Oats telling LSU to get off his court, Juwan Howard nearly fighting Mark Turgeon, and Georgetown going on a Cinderella run that Big Cat isn't quite buying into. While the media is falling in love with Patrick Ewing's Hoyas, Big Cat is ready to fade them immediately.
Big CatGeorgetown is not 'back' just because they won four games in the Big East tournament
The love affair with Patrick Ewing was disgusting this weekend. He got hot against a really bad Marquette team, a Nova team that basically is all injured... this idea that he's building something and this is the culmination. They had a good week. They had a good four games... I'm going to bet against Georgetown in the world.
Speaking of coaching, PFT has seen enough of the Steph Curry effect trickling down to the college game. He’s calling for a return to fundamentals when the game is on the line.
PFT CommenterCoaches need to stop calling isolation plays and start calling real sets at the ends of games
I'm just stating facts in the interest of fairness, Big Cat. Coaches need to call actual plays at the ends of games. They need to stop with the ISO, and then the guy has the ball, dribbles it three times between his legs, and then shoots from 25 feet because Steph Curry ruined basketball.
The guys also looked at the First Four, specifically the heavyweight matchup between Michigan State and UCLA. While they both have had rocky seasons, PFT is looking at the Spartans as a value play now that the pressure is off.
PFT CommenterMichigan State will be a good bet in the tournament because there are no expectations on them
I think I am going to bet on Michigan State this year. I think something about Izzo. January, February, Izzo, April, we sleep in May. There's no expectations on Michigan State this year, except maybe to win that first game.
On the flip side, Big Cat is at an all-time low with his Badgers. Between the scoring droughts and the lack of defensive intensity, he’s already bracing for a short stay in Indianapolis.
Big CatWisconsin will lose to North Carolina in the first round
Wisconsin is not going to beat UNC. It's the lowest I've ever felt about a Badger team going into the tournament. I can't even be hurt.
Jon Rothstein’s Bubble Breakdown
Our good friend Jon Rothstein joined the show from the Indy bubble to provide his signature brand of hyper-specific analysis and movie analogies. Rothstein has named his regions after Indianapolis steakhouses, though he hilariously admitted he hasn't eaten red meat in years.
Rothstein is high on the Pac-12 this year, specifically a 12-seed out west that he thinks is essentially a high-major team in disguise.
Jon RothsteinUC Santa Barbara will upset Creighton in the first round
I've got Santa Barbara over Creighton in the 12-5. [They have] an American Athletic Conference caliber roster at Santa Barbara. They've got high major transfers... I've got Santa Barbara over Creighton in the 12-5. That's spicy.
He continued his Pac-12 love by labeling Dana Altman's Oregon squad as the team the selection committee missed on the most.
Jon RothsteinOregon is the most under-seeded team in the 2021 NCAA tournament
The most under-seeded team in the 2021 NCAA tournament is Oregon... Dana Altman, the master of the Rubik's Cube... This team is more talented than its seed. I think they're a very difficult matchup for Iowa. I have a big Pac-12 breakthrough... I've got Oregon going to the second weekend.
When it comes to the heavy hitters, Rothstein thinks size will be the deciding factor in the South. He’s looking at Dan Hurley’s Huskies to pull off a major second-round upset over the Crimson Tide.
Jon RothsteinUConn will beat Alabama in the second round behind their size and defensive prowess
I think Connecticut, if Connecticut can get to match up with Alabama, Connecticut has the size and the defensive prowess to slow down and give Alabama fits... I'm looking right there at that UConn team with the healthy James Bouknight... to be a dangerous matchup for Alabama. I like Texas against Connecticut in the Sweet 16.
As for the Final Four, Rothstein is calling for a Shaka Smart resurgence. He believes the Longhorns have found a gear that most teams can't match, led by a breakout star in the paint.
Jon RothsteinTexas will make the Final Four behind a breakout performance from Jericho Sims
I am going to go with Shaka Smart 10 years after VCU gets to the Final Four, taking Texas to the Final Four. The guy that's blossomed the last week... has been Jericho Sims of Texas. He has completely went to a different level... If Jericho Sims can play three quarters as well as he did during the Big 12 tournament, Texas has an outstanding chance to go to a Final Four.
Ultimately, Rothstein thinks the undefeated dream ends on the final night. He's picking the Fighting Illini to cut down the nets in a battle of titans.
Jon RothsteinIllinois will beat Gonzaga to win the 2021 National Championship
Illinois... They're the team I'm going to pick to win a national championship. I have Illinois beating Baylor and then beating Gonzaga. Gonzaga will get to 31-0 and then fall to Illinois.
Drew Brees and Taysom's Monopoly Money
Before letting the weekend go, the guys had to address the end of an era in New Orleans. Drew Brees officially retired, which Big Cat admitted is a personal loss because he can no longer tweet about Brees being washed up to annoy Saints fans.
Big CatThe connection between Drew Brees and New Orleans is a unique player-city relationship that will never be replicated
I don't think we will ever see a player have a relationship with a city as unique and as deep as Drew Brees has with New Orleans. It's very rare for there to be that perfect set of events... what he did for that city and the pride that I think that city takes in Drew Brees... it goes beyond sports.
However, the Brees news was almost overshadowed by the funniest contract in NFL history. Taysom Hill signed a "$140 million extension" that is essentially just a giant pile of voidable Monopoly money. Big Cat was quick to credit the agents for a world-class finesse of the media.
Big CatTaysom Hill's $140 million contract extension is 'made up money' and a victory for his agent
This is Shefty's masterpiece of bowing down to the agents and tweeting whatever they ask him to tweet... I'd be mad that Shefty tweeted this... It says $140 million, all years voidable, and he has $12 million guaranteed. He signed a $140 million contract for $12 million.
Finally, with Cam Newton re-signing in New England, the vision for the Patriots' future is becoming clear. Bill Belichick might be heading back to the 1940s to find his next offensive edge.
Big CatThe Patriots will run a Navy-style triple-option offense with Cam Newton to prove Bill Belichick is a genius
I have a feeling that they're just going to become like the Navy offense. Getting Trent Brown back and then being like, let's run with Cam Newton. I wouldn't be shocked if Belichick was like, I'm going to prove how much of a genius I am. We're bringing back the triple option. We're going to run the ball 60 times in the game.
If you see any tweets from Billy’s burner today, just remember he definitely didn't report Chris Long for wishing dehydration upon him.
