Takes

The Final Four should always be played in Indianapolis

The Final Four should always be in Indianapolis. It should be its forever home. They make it such a big event. They care about basketball to a level that it's the only thing that's going on. You could feel it. New Orleans and Indianapolis are the only two... when the Final Four is in Indianapolis, that is the thing. It's the perfect place for it.

Duke was the best team in the country and should have easily won the tournament

I said on this show a month ago, Duke was the best team in the country and they should easily win the, the NCAA tournament. They were similar to last year's team... I will be front of the line saying, guys, I fucked up. You got it wrong.

Duke players suffered severe concussions from the UNC court-storming earlier in the season

I think it's also important to remember that Duke likely had several players that were suffering from severe concussions after the storming of the court that UNC had against them... it's sad that they were forced to continue playing for the rest of the season after such a violent act happened to 'em.

Arizona is the best team in the country

Arizona just showing that they are probably the best team in the country because they absolutely whooped Arkansas.

Miami of Ohio 100% deserves to be in the NCAA Tournament despite their first-round loss

I think a hundred percent they should be in. We need to just focus on the fact that there, I believe 31 and one and not do anything about strength of schedule. If you're able to go an entire season without losing a game that's hard to just wake up every day and not stumble once. I wanna see what happens when they play their first quad win one game in the middle of March.

If Tom Izzo makes this year's Final Four, I will admit I was wrong about him being overrated for the last 10 years.

I think it just feels like it's Izzo. He's gonna go out in the Final Four. He's gonna get there. This is for whether or not he's overrated or not. I will admit that I was wrong. I had 10 years of being wrong about Tom Izzo if they make it to this Final Four.

Purdue will win the 2025 College Basketball National Championship in Indianapolis

The boilers have the pieces to, to cut down the nets and could do it in their home state. That gives me chills. [Purdue is my] top [team] right here, right now.

Duke will win the 2025 National Championship

I have been saying for a month and a half now that it is Duke's year. And I do fully think that they are, they feel like even though it is a loaded Final Four, they feel a little step ahead. I will not be rooting for Duke, but I am also resigned to the fact they will probably win.

Buzz Williams moving to Maryland is a smart move to reset his coaching clock.

So this move, I believe was a smart move by Buzz in the fact that the SEC has gotten a lot better. He has kind of maxed out what he's got at Texas A&M... So why not move and reset the clock?

The 2025 Final Four features the four most deserving and dominant teams in the country.

I don't think you can name a fifth team that this year deserves to be playing for the national championship more than the four teams that are, are alive. And there's something really, really good about that.

Cooper Flagg should opt out of the Final Four to protect his draft stock

If I was Cooper Flagg, I would sit out. Yeah. And don't get hurt. You're gonna be playing against grown ass men. Sit out, opt out, and then just wait to enter the NBA draft and make money.

Duke is going to win the NCAA Tournament

I think Duke's gonna win it all though. I'm pretty set in that thought. I mean, winning a second round game by the way they did against Baylor. Just not competitive.

Maryland needs Florida's Clayton to sprain an ankle to win the Sweet 16 matchup

I think we need Clayton to sprain his ankle. Not badly, not bad. I'm not rooting for it and I'm not rooting for an injury like that guy's got such big balls... Maryland needs to play its best, the best be the best version of itself and I think they can win the game.

Duke will win the national championship.

Who do we got winning all now that we're at the Sweet 16 re-bracket? I don't know, I think it's just gonna be Duke. I think Duke's gonna win it all.

Tennessee is the best team that nobody is talking about in the tournament.

I picked Tennessee before so I'll stick with Tennessee. I feel like that's the team that has the best shot that no one's talking about.

Bill Self is on the hot seat after losing in the first round as a preseason number one

Is Bill Self on the hot seat? I don't know if he's on the hot seat... Kansas also, they became the second AP preseason number one to lose in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Obviously Bill self not on the hot seat, but it's fun to have the conversation.

Mississippi State will beat Baylor because Hubbard can shoot over the zone

I'll stick with the SEC. I'm gonna go Mississippi State. [Hubbard] leads, I think he shoots nine over nine. Threes a game and [Baylor] plays zone over 20% of the time and Hubbard will just shoot over it.

The UConn vs Oklahoma game will go over 147.5 points

I'm gonna take the over in this game and here's why. UConn and Oklahoma are both elite free throw shooting teams... we're gonna get a lot of trips to the line. And these, both these teams know how to make their free throws... I love the over here.

UNC will beat Ole Miss because the matchup favors the Tar Heels' lacks of bigs

Carolina, you watch them and the biggest jarring thing, they don't have any bigs that are like pros... But Ole Miss doesn't have any bigs really either. So I love the matchup for Carolina here and yeah, it's probably a conference pride deal.

BYU is a legitimate threat to win the National Championship

BYU's a team that everyone's picking against, but they they were on the list. [PFT: BYU can win the national title?] Yes.

Take the under on Michigan State's team total

Michigan State. I look at their team total under, because they don't care how they win. They're like, alright, we know we gotta shoot some threes, but you know what, you're not gonna make threes. So we're gonna slow it down and make it methodical. But they're not interested in scoring high numbers.

Alabama and Tennessee are the two best bets to win the National Championship

I'll give you a they're on the same side. Alabama and Tennessee. I do feel different about Tennessee... they're better offensively. It's not even a question.

Michigan State will make the Final Four as a quintessential Tom Izzo team

I settled a, so I have Michigan State going to the final four because I think Auburn's gonna get tripped up somewhere... I do think Michigan State's gonna go to the final four. I think I settled on, they are on a, a typical Michigan State tournament run, but it just started in November.

St. John's will make the Final Four

I picked St. John's as the final four. I do believe in that... I do believe this St. John's team is special... When the clock hits zero and you think you've beat them, you better make damn sure you've actually beat them.

Duke is the best team in the country and has no weaknesses

I believe Duke is the best team in the country. I believe Duke has no weaknesses... I think that they're a little bit better than every other team in this field. So I, I'm, I I, I have Duke coming out of the east and I have Duke winning the national championship.

Louisville will beat Creighton in the first round because Chucky Hepburn will stifle Steven Ashworth

Louisville being an eight seed, but if Louisville wins their first game, which I actually kind of like them to win that game. 'Cause I think Chucky Hepburn's gonna put Steven Ashworth in a torture chamber.

Yale will upset Texas A&M in the first round

I also kind of like Yale is over [Texas] A&M. Yale's a good team. I feel like Yale also just, that's just a Yale does it every year kind of guy.

Michigan State will win the South region

I have Michigan State winning this bracket [South Region].

St. John's is going to win the National Championship

St. John's win it all. I filled out my entire bracket. It's kind of, it's a weird final four... Michigan State. St. John's. BYU. Kentucky.

Duke is going to win the National Championship

I've come to the realization that I think Duke's gonna win the whole thing. Doesn't matter [about Cooper Flagg's injury]. They're so good. I they're gonna win it all. I've just come to accept that. I it would, they're just so well-rounded, so deep.

Oregon will beat Arizona in the second round and Caleb Love will shoot 3-for-21

I have Oregon, beating Arizona in the second round. Because that will be, I think that's gonna be the Caleb Love masterpiece. Yeah. I think he'll go three for 21 for 14 points.

The winner of the East region will win the National Championship

I think whoever wins the East winning it all.

Alabama will beat Auburn in the National Championship game

In this bracket... I have Bama beating Wisconsin and then Duke on the way to the Final Four... And they're going to beat Auburn to win it all.

Tom Izzo and Michigan State will return to the Final Four this year

I've got Auburn against then Michigan State in a regional final Atlanta. And I've got Tom Izzo getting back to the final four.

Florida will play St. John's in the West regional final

I have Florida, UConn, Colorado State, Maryland, Drake, Texas Tech... I've got St. John's against Drake in the Sweet 16. And I've got Florida against Maryland in the region of Prestige. I'm going Florida over St. John's in a regional final.

Duke will play Wisconsin in the East regional final (Elite Eight)

I've got Duke, Oregon, Wisconsin to the Sweet 16 to take on Alabama. And then I am going to take in a rematch of the 2015 national title... Duke over Wisconsin in Newark to go to the final four.

Houston will win the National Championship

I got Houston going on the final four... Houston against Duke on one side. Houston comes outta the region of toughness on the other side... I got Houston finally breaking through under Kelvin Sampson and winning the national championship.

Illinois will beat Tennessee and Houston to reach the Final Four

I'm gonna take Illinois against Tennessee in the Sweet 16 and I'm gonna take Illinois against Houston in the Elite Eight. And I got Houston going on the final four. [Correction: He says Illinois over Houston at 1:48:02, but then says Houston in his Final Four at 1:48:10. Transcript is slightly contradictory but he later says Houston wins it all].

Wisconsin will make a run to at least the second weekend of the tournament

Wisconsin has enough here to at least get to the second weekend. I know you live and die with that team and they got the best off guard [in] America.

Villanova's Kyle Neptune has to be fired

Villanova has been dumped to the next, not even next four out. Just the next, out, out, out, out, out. Kyle Neptune's gonna get fired. Great guy, great guy, but yeah, he's gotta go. He's gotta go.

Auburn and Duke are the only two teams capable of winning the National Championship this year

Auburn is just really fucking good... They went into Kentucky and they whooped the shit out of Kentucky. I keep trying to figure out who else could win. And it's gonna be Auburn and Duke.

Wisconsin will bounce back from their loss to Oregon because Greg Gard will rip them apart

Best thing that ever happened to Wisconsin was that [loss to Oregon]... they're gonna go back in the lab. Greg Gard is going to rip his team apart over the next couple of days. Wisconsin can still be trusted.

St. John's can make the Final Four this year

St. John's can make the Final Four and the statistical data backs it up... This St. John's team plays a lot like those Louisville teams [Rick Pitino's]... They are a real threat to make it to San Antonio this April.

Maryland is a dark horse to reach the Final Four

I think much like Greg Gard and his staff, Kevin Willard and his staff went to the lab... they're dangerous. They're not over-reliant on any one or two pieces... Maryland can go deep.

If forced to choose, I would take Duke or Auburn to win the National Championship over the field

Right now, if you force me to take Duke slash Auburn or the field today, I would take Duke slash Auburn.

T.J. Otzelberger will be the next head coach at Indiana

If I had to make a prediction right now, I would say T.J. Otzelberger... I think he makes a lot of sense. I think he's done a phenomenal job at Iowa State... He should be the guy that Indiana pursues the most.

The Wisconsin Badgers are good enough to make an Elite Eight run

I officially believe that this Badger team could make a make a run... They're projected a three seed. I fully believe they could be a like, elite eight team and that's always a disaster for me.

St. John's is going to be a force in the NCAA tournament

Johnnys are good people. Your defense is legit. I was looking at some numbers the other day and their profile is like, you know, it was like an Elite Eight or a Final Four team. Johnnys are good... They're gonna be a force in the tournament.

The Wisconsin Badgers are playing well enough to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

I have started to believe in the Wisconsin Badgers who are ranked and their offense is actually awesome and they wap threes... I actually believe that they could make a, a run.

Marcus Johnson is a future star who should be in the NCAA Tournament

I dunno if you guys have seen Marcus Johnson on Bowling Green, but he's, he might be better than DJ Burns. He's a big man who shoots threes and he's fucking awesome. He looks so smooth doing it. ... We need to get Bowling Green... into the tournament. 'cause he's, he, he's got. He's doing everything.