Stop College Refs Before We All Foul Out

[00:00:00] At Alabama Take Projection

[00:00:36] A Hard Fought Road Victory Early In The Week At Oxford Against Ole Miss.

[00:00:43] Had to come from behind, slow start, which was a little surprising given that they got, you know, the weapon they took at Kentucky last weekend.

[00:00:51] You figured they might want to come out on fire, but they didn't.

[00:00:54] But fought hard and I saw a crazy stat on that.

[00:00:59] You know, they were down.

[00:01:01] What was it like five points or whatever?

[00:01:04] With five minutes ago and maybe 10 points with five minutes ago in the first half.

[00:01:09] And from that point on to the last 25 minutes of gameplay, they scored 80 points.

[00:01:17] It's crazy. It shows the explosiveness of the offense, the Alabama offense.

[00:01:24] And then last night, a little bit of different story.

[00:01:29] Tough loss at home in Tennessee.

[00:01:32] A hard fought game.

[00:01:34] They went on a 12-0 run in the first half and take a one point lead into the locker room, but they came out really cold.

[00:01:42] I think missed 11 of their first 12 shots.

[00:01:46] Only made two threes the entire second half.

[00:01:50] It was just a tough loss.

[00:01:52] They needed that kind of extra edge against the team, the quality of Tennessee and they just couldn't find it.

[00:01:57] So what do you make of this week's results, Greg?

[00:02:01] Well, you know, like you said, man, that second half in Oxford was epic.

[00:02:07] I mean, when we put up 60 some points, I mean, we're down with four at halftime and just totally took over the second half.

[00:02:15] Obviously, whatever Natoes told them in the locker room definitely worked because they put in work in the second half.

[00:02:24] Man, last night though, you know, it was frustrating.

[00:02:28] I mean, it was a game of runs.

[00:02:30] I mean, Tennessee got out to a pretty quick lead there.

[00:02:34] Then we bounced back, went on a nice run at the end of the first half to go up to half.

[00:02:40] And you know, we had a couple, you know, back and forth runs.

[00:02:45] We go up in the second half they had hit it.

[00:02:47] Unfortunately, their run at the end kind of put us out the game there.

[00:02:53] You know, it was a bad shooting night.

[00:02:57] Crazy thing is, they really wanted a defense that kept us out of the game.

[00:03:00] I thought last night the defense actually, you know, that as always the week prior, I mean, they held their own.

[00:03:07] I thought, you know, they helped one of the better players in America with 13 points last night and connect.

[00:03:15] You know, but you know, the shooting was bad.

[00:03:21] You know, Tennessee just seemed to, every loose ball and every, you know, a lot of loose balls Tennessee got there quicker.

[00:03:30] And they just, and then a lot of second chance points as well there.

[00:03:39] But the effort was there.

[00:03:41] You know, honestly, I think right now, you know, Tennessee just unfortunately a better team than us.

[00:03:49] Top to bottom, you know.

[00:03:53] Yeah, I think that's what it came down to ultimately is Tennessee is a final four caliber team.

[00:03:59] They could still snatch a one seed if you know, like say Arizona loses above them and they finish off when the SEC regular season in the tournament.

[00:04:10] But they just have that one extra edge that the tide couldn't, that extra gear that tide couldn't find last night.

[00:04:18] And then you mentioned they played well defensively.

[00:04:20] They, you know, Dalton connect they held him to like five of 14 shooting.

[00:04:28] It just didn't happen.

[00:04:30] Right.

[00:04:31] They definitely had opportunity to win.

[00:04:34] You know, we had we were up and then you know the last seven, eight minutes of the game where we have like two field goals like it was.

[00:04:43] We just, it was definitely rough.

[00:04:47] The shooting was definitely all far.

[00:04:49] We definitely miss rent Nelson's presence just because of the, you know, he was in foul trouble alive and then, you know, some of the guys that have been thrown in our side of time for a while there.

[00:05:02] I mean, the guys they clear him.

[00:05:04] He had a big night.

[00:05:05] I swear he's been in Tennessee for like 20 years.

[00:05:10] And then said other guy, I can't even think his name right now.

[00:05:16] He's been, he had some big rebounds and stuff.

[00:05:19] Last night.

[00:05:23] I can't even think of his name right now.

[00:05:26] But yeah, I know you're talking about.

[00:05:32] Oh, yeah, that's Santiago Vazco.

[00:05:35] Yeah, he had some, he had some big, big buckets.

[00:05:40] So, you know, you know, it's a disappointing loss.

[00:05:43] But at the same time, we still have a lot to play for a lot going on.

[00:05:48] I mean, obviously, but still big week coming up because you want to stay at the two seed.

[00:05:56] I mean, currently after at the two seed big game Tuesday night on the road in Gainesville.

[00:06:03] So, I mean, we haven't been very good on the road.

[00:06:07] You know, a lot of our quality games against decent opponents we've been blown out unfortunately.

[00:06:14] So hopefully we see something different there Tuesday and then of course closing out Saturday against Arkansas.

[00:06:24] Who's had a just a horrible season.

[00:06:28] But you know, you hope that we can win both of those just so we can stay at that two seed.

[00:06:32] One plate. So what, Friday then in the SEC tournament.

[00:06:38] So yeah, I mean, obviously we're going to get the double by regardless but I would much rather be there to the move move down anymore there.

[00:06:46] So most crazy things happen.

[00:06:48] We're not going to win the SEC again unfortunately.

[00:06:51] And we had our chance there and it was an epic crowd.

[00:06:54] I mean, the crowd really showed up last night.

[00:06:56] The atmosphere seemed great.

[00:07:00] Just sadly came much shorter than happened very much for us in Tuscaloosa.

[00:07:05] I mean, we're solid home team so disappointing loss.

[00:07:09] First home league loss in what two years I think.

[00:07:15] No, it's a yeah, it's a like you said a tough loss disappointing loss nothing to hang your head about though.

[00:07:20] Just had your chances.

[00:07:22] Yeah, playing without Grant Nelson the last what six seven minutes was rough.

[00:07:28] As per usual college basketball the refs you know made sure everyone heard their whistles.

[00:07:33] I think there were 44 fouls called in that game last night.

[00:07:39] 54 free throw shot by the teams.

[00:07:42] Yeah, it's a little too much and a lot of those files they were pretty ticky tacky.

[00:07:50] Yeah, both ways a little bit too but it did seem that we didn't get the home cooking that you would expect.

[00:07:57] You would hope for it.

[00:07:59] But yeah, I don't know then doesn't seem very new.

[00:08:03] I mean that seems to have happened quite a lot to Alabama honestly.

[00:08:07] We get the respect and then we should at this point.

[00:08:11] I will say the biggest bright spot I saw last night was Nick Pringle had a great game.

[00:08:16] I was just going to mention.

[00:08:18] He was a good footballer for rebounds.

[00:08:20] You know he got his ugly points but I mean he you know got to free throw line a lot late he was grabbing rebounds being physical.

[00:08:29] And if we could get that Nick Pringle for the rest of the season, that would be great.

[00:08:35] That's huge yeah huge present to have inside he was battling.

[00:08:37] And you know one thing we didn't mention for whatever reason a lot of those 50-50 balls just did not end up in our hands.

[00:08:47] We were trying it was just the ball was not bouncing.

[00:08:50] They got every loose ball they seem to come up and then they would hit a big shot.

[00:08:57] Yeah, yeah.

[00:08:59] Oh my God.

[00:09:00] And that's what championship teams do in Tennessee right now looks like one of the favorites to you know make a run to the final fours much as we hate it.

[00:09:10] I was say yeah tough to take the sweep on the air from arrival like that.

[00:09:17] Of course not as big as the basketball rivalry as it is on the grid iron but still.

[00:09:22] Yeah.

[00:09:23] Yeah still but maybe you maybe you'll see him again in the SEC tournament or maybe you see him in the NCAA tournament.

[00:09:29] Right who knows but we still have a chance.

[00:09:33] Have a lot to play.

[00:09:35] But yeah.

[00:09:37] Yeah you can't slow down can't slip up now because you don't want to mess around and I think there's still is a slight chance we could even drop out of the double buy in the SEC tournament if we I think we'd probably have to lose both of our game.

[00:09:52] Yeah but and there's a slight chance that we could still win the SEC Tennessee would need to lose both their games this week and it's not out of the realm of possibility they play at South Carolina Wednesday and then next Saturday they host Kentucky so those two tough games right there.

[00:10:11] Those are two definitely tough games.

[00:10:14] South Carolina you know got a big win yesterday at home came back against the game there.

[00:10:20] Have a good good atmosphere going for him but I don't know Tennessee just tough right now.

[00:10:25] It is yeah and South Carolina another tough week you know they host Tennessee then they turn around and end their season at state which was always a tricky.

[00:10:34] Yeah.

[00:10:35] Tripped Starkville arms yeah.

[00:10:38] The other contenders this week let's see so that you know South Carolina is in third Kentucky.

[00:10:45] So you know right now it's Tennessee at first 13 and three Baman South Carolina two and three at 12 and four and then you got Kentucky and Auburn at 11 and five.

[00:10:56] This week.

[00:10:59] Let's see a few Tuesday games this week Auburn goes to Missouri so when less Missouri you should.

[00:11:05] It should be fine.

[00:11:07] Yeah it should be fine you lose there then that's not good.

[00:11:13] Kentucky host Vanderbilt Wednesday so again that's something but yeah they should win that.

[00:11:22] And then Saturday you know we mentioned South Carolina goes to state we mentioned Kentucky goes to Knoxville Auburn host Georgia so again those two winnable games for the Tigers.

[00:11:33] As they try to get on that double by train.

[00:11:39] Of course Alabama ends after that Tuesday trip to gain so they in Coleman mixed Saturday hosting Arkansas very winnable game.

[00:11:51] Definitely and be senior senior day for Mark Mark Sears and Brian Nelson and you'd hope that they would come on get the big win there it's early one but.

[00:12:02] It's Arkansas team and they are bad.

[00:12:06] Yeah they've they've struggled.

[00:12:09] I have not played them yet this year have we know no one there'd be the first time.

[00:12:15] Surprisingly but no yeah.

[00:12:18] Not a good husband team in is.

[00:12:21] Do know yes Sears but doesn't.

[00:12:23] Did I read somewhere that Sears actually might have another.

[00:12:27] Does he have another one.

[00:12:30] Because of the covid year.

[00:12:33] I'm not sure if that's something to him or even Nelson or some but I don't know you know all these.

[00:12:39] It's so hard to keep track of now but that would definitely be talk about a boost for next year.

[00:12:45] Yeah if you wanted to stay but you know I'm sure.

[00:12:50] I mean I don't know if his stock will ever get higher than what it has been this year.

[00:12:54] You know I don't know what is in NBA prospect to look like necessarily but if he's ever want to go to the lead this is a time to go because.

[00:13:04] He's put on quite quite a season now.

[00:13:07] Yeah and he definitely it seems like he just won't win SEC play of the year but dammit he he should.

[00:13:16] If not he absolutely deserves every first team honor he gets.

[00:13:22] Put him on the all American team you know like 13 whatever I don't know how many all American teams are but.

[00:13:29] There's at least three he definitely deserves one of them.

[00:13:32] Absolutely not first team but second and third most definitely I mean he's had an epic season for sure.

[00:13:39] I was on 20 20 20 a game there.

[00:13:43] Leader of the team.

[00:13:44] And just what he I mean just the you know transition from last year I mean he was good but I mean you never I mean just for whether his role was last year you weren't sure if he was going to be able to become the guy that he's becoming man he he's well overachieved or what I thought his season was going to be coming into the season so.

[00:14:14] Yeah.

[00:14:18] Want to mention two before we get off of them.

[00:14:21] What a week for Davin Cosby Jr.

[00:14:24] Yeah it was coming out party against Ole Miss hit five threes and he has just got the green light to pull that trigger.

[00:14:34] And he is a guy that kind of stepped up in the absence of the trail right right sell.

[00:14:39] And if he can keep getting minutes even when right so hopefully returns.

[00:14:46] That could be huge addition to the team.

[00:14:49] Speaking of right sell to it's very his presence definitely missed.

[00:14:54] For sure.

[00:14:55] So you hope he can get back and then you're looking at all these guys on our roster for senior day next week it's Nelson Pringle.

[00:15:06] So.

[00:15:07] Sharnowski you know bench guy.

[00:15:11] Strada Sears and right so so not sure which of those guys still have you know COVID year eligibility left would love to see you know basically all of those names return.

[00:15:24] Yeah.

[00:15:24] You will love it because the crazy thing is.

[00:15:28] No we have a lot of new faces from a lot of timely coming into Tuscaloosa mixture.

[00:15:34] It basically a whole new new team again there.

[00:15:39] Yeah you like to keep as much consistency as possible.

[00:15:45] Yeah you know you got a course you know just quickly looking ahead you know it's guys like the about a.

[00:15:54] Stevenson wag wagyu Sam Walters Cosby we mentioned Rylan Griffin you know there's plenty of.

[00:16:03] Talon guys yeah Talon.

[00:16:06] Now the recruiting in age then whether we have like two to my downs all Americans coming like we got should have a very talented team next year but.

[00:16:16] A lot of young guys so.

[00:16:19] Interesting steps up there.

[00:16:21] Yeah.

[00:16:23] But yeah you know bracketology I do believe I saw that it dropped the loss dropped Alabama down to the four seed line.

[00:16:35] Unfortunate but you know hey time to time to win your way back to three seed.

[00:16:41] Yeah.

[00:16:42] And then see elsewhere around the country a couple other big games yesterday Baylor beat Kansas Crayton beat Marquette.

[00:16:52] It just kind of goes just more what we've talked about all year there is no clear cut number one team.

[00:16:59] There's a few top teams but even they're susceptible you know Kansas and Marquette are considered into the.

[00:17:05] Top teams in the country and they both went down.

[00:17:11] So it's just it's going to be a really fun March.

[00:17:17] A basketball man.

[00:17:20] And is it.

[00:17:23] I mean even those you know even your like your top three say teams that are.

[00:17:33] You know your Yukon's your Purdue.

[00:17:39] And Arizona.

[00:17:41] Yeah Houston you know they're great they're winning Houston had a big win yesterday.

[00:17:46] Yeah.

[00:17:48] But they're all beautiful though I mean there's no one like me.

[00:17:52] You can get them there everyone's there to be got you know.

[00:17:56] Yeah.

[00:17:58] It's gonna be really fun time.

[00:18:00] Of course this week starts Championship Week.

[00:18:04] The college game that's always fun.

[00:18:08] You know Ohio Valley Conference in Big South will be your first.

[00:18:14] Tournaments to kick off.

[00:18:16] Yeah on the sixth the Missouri Valley tournament is this week the seventh starting the seventh the Atlantic Sun.

[00:18:24] This week Sun Belt the Southern Conference Horizon League Northeast.

[00:18:31] CAA the West Coast Conference.

[00:18:35] You know how did that game end up last night actually I did not finish watching at that St. Mary's.

[00:18:39] I blew them out.

[00:18:41] Gonzaga Wow no perfect conference year for St. Mary's.

[00:18:46] Oh they did win the conference still course we have to still win the conference.

[00:18:51] Gonzaga's really come on there is a some talk earlier in the year that they might have been on the bubble.

[00:18:57] Yeah.

[00:18:58] Now what I think now that they must are they into the season high they're going to I think determine for what the Rita.

[00:19:08] I sure was it now one of it was at least the 20th year in a row that they've gone to the tournament or something more.

[00:19:18] It's been an epic run against I can just what they've done.

[00:19:21] I mean they went from a you know mid major was a cute story to and their their powerhouse and ball.

[00:19:30] But you know I'm sure we'll probably see that St. Mary's Gonzaga match up again.

[00:19:36] You know some that's some actually some decent fun tournament West Coast Conference one.

[00:19:42] I like to watch it.

[00:19:43] Yeah yeah no it is absolutely a great one.

[00:19:47] You know I don't know see looking here so it's looking like you know they'll be at a two bid league this year but San Francisco.

[00:19:59] They have a decent record but the thing they do.

[00:20:04] I just don't know how strong they consider the conference.

[00:20:10] Yeah so I wonder if maybe they they messed around and won that conference tournament if the West Coast would be a three bid lead.

[00:20:19] You know you have to think that the two normal ones are in with St. Mary's Gonzaga.

[00:20:26] The Don's yeah they've had a heck of a heck of a season they've actually had some decent couple of decent seasons in a row but I mean 22 and 9 11 and 5 and the West Coast.

[00:20:37] I don't know if that yeah I think they probably have to win the whole thing for sure to get in.

[00:20:44] But we said some conference tournaments start this week other teams vying for bubble birds.

[00:20:55] It's that really fun time with college basketball.

[00:20:58] Definitely is you know you really love it for the the conference tournaments especially for the little guys that the only way they get in is winning their conference tournament.

[00:21:07] So I mean when they you know get actually you know cutting down the net and just what it means because I mean that's a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of these guys.

[00:21:17] You know it's not very often you know they get that big spotlight on them.

[00:21:24] You know just with the money in those programs and just you know a lot of them.

[00:21:30] Some of them you barely can even afford to get to the tournament.

[00:21:33] It's crazy you know at times when they like you know when St. Peter's went on their run two years ago just their stories of how they struggled to even be able to get to the you know tournament games.

[00:21:43] It's just you know just crazy.

[00:21:45] You know some of those mid majors and those smaller schools just how fun it is.

[00:21:51] But then also the thing that you know of course is just where we are at and always been like that.

[00:21:58] You feel bad though for the you know the teams that win the regular season and then slip up somewhere in a tournament and then they're kind of just out you know they don't know where to really go.

[00:22:10] So it's like almost like the regular season in some of these conferences really doesn't matter.

[00:22:17] But it's kind of where it's.

[00:22:23] Yeah elsewhere in the college whoop swirled Caitlin Clark set the all time NCAA record this weekend she passed pistol Pete Marovitch.

[00:22:34] I think I saw she's like 20 points away from the all time college record someone in the AI AW that holds that.

[00:22:42] So so yeah right next game.

[00:22:48] So yeah congrats to her just just a baller shooter score.

[00:22:55] Epic career.

[00:22:58] And she also announced this week that she's entering the WNBA draft so she's probably your number one pick right there.

[00:23:04] Yeah you would have to think so.

[00:23:06] And you know this interesting thing you know as the college women's game has become so much more popular you know with her and Angel Reese and you know what South Carolina has been just getting a much more national

[00:23:21] you know just more national appeal.

[00:23:24] It would be interesting to see if that has any effect of if you know that makes the WNBA more popular going forward or if it'll still be the same.

[00:23:32] Same old for the league.

[00:23:35] Yeah the bigger star power.

[00:23:37] Yeah.

[00:23:40] The WNBA has at its best moments that's what that's really driven them kind of like the NBA is they've had massive stars you know you're down to Rossi's Lisa Leslie's Teresa witherspoon you know

[00:23:53] Yeah.

[00:23:55] You know I am more and more recently of course Candice Parker for a while.

[00:24:00] Yeah.

[00:24:02] But I think that you know as far as the college women's game you know that's the thing that really is driving it is because you know these players just you know there's not even after freshman year so

[00:24:13] you know that's a fan we get to know these folks because they're there three years.

[00:24:18] You know they're there three four years so you know the names that we see you know and Katelyn Clark they grow on you because you're seeing them three four years.

[00:24:26] And I think that that has really helped the women's game because it's really become much more of a national thing of course you know you get your ABC games you get your national ESPN games it's not as

[00:24:41] regionalized as the WNBA was you know for the longest there was Tennessee, Yukon and people popped up every now and again but it was nothing like what it's become.

[00:24:52] Yeah.

[00:24:57] Yeah.

[00:24:58] No, well said.

[00:25:00] It's funny it's something that you know 20 years ago when we're in school, you know I used to tell people yeah that was my as my kind of sexist thing is like a women's basketball was born.

[00:25:12] I didn't want to watch it and the game has just made leaps and bounds in terms of excitement and exposure and hope it continues you know for sure.

[00:25:25] And,

[00:25:28] Summon will see Katelyn Clark in one of those three point showdowns in the near future.

[00:25:33] I am sure.

[00:25:38] Yeah meanwhile while you know College Hoops is doing good things you know college college football people are meeting for the playoff their talks of expanding it to 14 teams and SEC and big 10 each getting.

[00:25:52] Yeah already we haven't even had a 12 one yet 12 team one yet three automatic beds each for the big 10 and SEC to each for the AC which I mean would they even play the conference title games in because what's the point.

[00:26:11] I know the big 10 and the SEC already lined up their champions would be to get the buys automatically.

[00:26:19] I mean, probably gonna what happened that way but I'm like I mean is everybody's really going to be okay with that like I don't know.

[00:26:29] Yeah and if they're not is it just a case for the SEC and big 10 just take some more teams they you know cherry pick some teams from the conferences they want and they just break off and do their own thing.

[00:26:40] Yeah, which none of us want.

[00:26:43] Right.

[00:26:44] So yeah.

[00:26:45] You know 14 team I mean I'm sure eventually we'll get on that get there because I mean that's just what what the world we live in there more football more money.

[00:26:58] You know, but man we haven't even played at 12 to see what it's like and we're already trying to expand again it's like chill out.

[00:27:06] Let's just see what happens.

[00:27:07] Yeah, let's just chill the fuck out.

[00:27:12] Sorry getting distracted watch it got this UAB Memphis game on the background here and you may be one is killing Memphis they're up 18 at the end of the first half here but saw a familiar site.

[00:27:26] Javon Quinterley course former Bama transferred to Memphis this past year and he drove the lane only to get his shot rejected into the fifth row.

[00:27:37] I know there's a lot of Bama fans that don't miss that site.

[00:27:42] I do miss it you know the head add in his guard play with all you know maybe it would take away from Sears and Strada to a degree but you know, yeah, couple a couple of possessions later he made a beautiful drive and a spin move to get away from a block so

[00:27:59] he's definitely a guy

[00:28:01] Oh, here comes the three pointer from the logo.

[00:28:03] Oh, just drained a three pointer from the logo at the half time buzzer

[00:28:08] but he's the guy that will frustrate the heck out of you but then he'll do some stuff you're leaving that wow.

[00:28:15] Yeah.

[00:28:17] Yeah, the JQ experience is all over.

[00:28:21] One thing is you can never question that man's heart.

[00:28:25] He has a lot of it.

[00:28:26] Absolutely not.

[00:28:29] But yeah, still a still big deficit for the Tigers they going down 15.

[00:28:36] Yeah.

[00:28:38] And what I'm thinking probably a Muslim game for both teams is they fight for some bubble birds themselves.

[00:28:47] Staying on the hardwood moving to the NBA kind of big story this week LeBron James passing 40,000 points.

[00:28:57] Yeah just insane.

[00:29:01] Another you know notch in his argument for you know best ever of course we've talked about on the show before there's no wrong answer.

[00:29:13] If you're an MJ guy, you're probably right.

[00:29:18] If you're a LeBron guy, you're right.

[00:29:21] If you're an old school Bill Russell or something guy, you're right then to you know the different areas of the game.

[00:29:27] That's just where we're at.

[00:29:30] I mean there's definitely going to be opinions there.

[00:29:34] It is kind of what it is.

[00:29:37] I mean we're never going to folks are never going to agree on that either.

[00:29:41] Have you know the MJ LeBron, you know there's a Kobe guys.

[00:29:45] I mean, I mean it's fun to argue but then no matter how you feel about LeBron.

[00:29:51] I mean what just what his career has been has been exceptional.

[00:29:56] You know just a pressure.

[00:30:00] You just think about the pressure when he came into the league of being the next guy that was going to get the you know the next guy was going to carry the week.

[00:30:10] I mean if he had done what he did for 10 years that would have been extraordinary.

[00:30:15] But he's on year 20.

[00:30:18] And I mean the Lakers are up and down.

[00:30:21] But I mean you know the performance he had last night, I mean he had a huge game.

[00:30:26] You know at any night he could throw a 35 on you.

[00:30:29] I mean it's crazy.

[00:30:34] Yeah you mentioned it's the versatile and the longevity is the most impressive part of his career.

[00:30:45] And what slowed down for him is that you know we see it you know he's not that of course the same LeBron that he was.

[00:30:52] But he compared them to other guys at the end of their career and they were no where he even stars.

[00:30:58] No one near what he is right now.

[00:31:00] It's crazy.

[00:31:06] Yeah elsewhere in NBA a huge Celtics today.

[00:31:11] 52 point win over Golden State.

[00:31:18] That's about all you can say for that is just.

[00:31:21] Yeah.

[00:31:23] Celtics playing good ball right now.

[00:31:25] Yeah far and away the best team in the east.

[00:31:30] That they are.

[00:31:33] They have the other night with that Friday night.

[00:31:39] Yeah.

[00:31:41] Just.

[00:31:41] No one means.

[00:31:43] After going into the also breaking the start of the week and now we're three in a row and.

[00:31:50] Now we're an eighth in there in the in the West.

[00:31:54] Now where somewhere you want to be right now so in the West at the bottom is tight.

[00:31:59] It is.

[00:32:01] Yeah game and a half up on Golden State there for that loss here and there and you drop four or five you could drop four or five spots.

[00:32:09] Yeah between the Pelicans in fifth and the Lakers in 10th only three and a half games separate all those teams the six teams so.

[00:32:20] But yeah you definitely trying to get above that play in line which right now.

[00:32:26] Phoenix is in that six spot half a game ahead of San Francisco Sacramento.

[00:32:33] Because one thing you don't want to do is you don't want to.

[00:32:37] You don't want to play a step for LeBron and the one game elimination thing above them.

[00:32:43] The seven or eight and LeBron or steps I don't want to be in that.

[00:32:48] It's not one of the seven and eight seed.

[00:32:52] Yeah if you're in that play and you want to be the seven or eight you want to win that first game just get that seven seed and.

[00:33:00] Take it home with a you know as of right now Golden State in LA at least would play each other.

[00:33:07] And knock one of the other out but.

[00:33:10] They're always lurking right there yeah.

[00:33:13] I would not want to be playing them on the final final game of the regular season.

[00:33:18] Who's going who's going to be in the playoff you know get out there playing.

[00:33:22] Yeah I would not who you might play against that from LeBron and a one game elimination.

[00:33:29] Nice.

[00:33:30] Yeah absolutely not.

[00:33:34] And speaking of teams just kind of.

[00:33:37] We mentioned the log jam you know in the east it's pretty.

[00:33:41] You know we know we know Boston's gonna be the one seed you know Cleveland and Milwaukee are going to be right behind them.

[00:33:47] And you got the Nick Sixers he magic Pacers all kind of right there fighting for that.

[00:33:55] Four five six seeds and then the first two play in spots.

[00:33:59] And you got a little bit of a fight for the jumping in those last two play ends you got Chicago and the Hawks.

[00:34:07] The Nets and a little bit the Raptors right there they're they're far out but they're still in it.

[00:34:14] In the West though Denver winners a six in a row seven in the last 10.

[00:34:22] Did it to the Lakers again the other night.

[00:34:26] And they own the Lakers.

[00:34:28] They do it's crazy and it just looks like one of those things where it's like they've decided like OK it's time to get serious about this now.

[00:34:38] Just bad news for the rest of the league.

[00:34:40] Yeah because and yeah they're right now Denver is just that team until somebody beats them.

[00:34:46] There's really no reason to pick against them in a seven game series.

[00:34:50] So you see it actually happen.

[00:34:52] I'm not picking play over Denver.

[00:34:55] They're just who they are right now.

[00:34:58] Yeah it's good as the Celtics have looked like maybe they're coming out the East but still you don't pick against the champs when they're playing just as good as they did last year.

[00:35:08] The beating them four games is going to be tough.

[00:35:12] They're healthy outside of injury.

[00:35:15] I just don't see anybody really beating them in the seven game series.

[00:35:19] It's just tough.

[00:35:21] No yeah it's not something that you expect to happen.

[00:35:28] That's the elsewhere around the world sports this week.

[00:35:33] Unfortunately news today a long time ESPN NFL guy Chris Mortensen passed away.

[00:35:41] Guys in our age groups especially just grew up.

[00:35:46] He joined ESPN in 91 and if you watched anything they did on the NFL he was a guy.

[00:35:53] Chris Mortensen was the guy.

[00:35:56] He was the original news breaker guy before Shifty.

[00:35:59] Yeah he was.

[00:36:02] He was the go-to guy for everything NFL related and it seemed like a real classy guy good guy all around.

[00:36:10] You know beat the throat cancer he had.

[00:36:14] The same stuff but yeah it's a tough loss for the sports world for sure.

[00:36:21] Yeah just a guy who've been around forever wrote at the Atlanta Journal Constitution back in the day before joining ESPN.

[00:36:36] Just great in the world of broadcasting and sports broadcasting.

[00:36:41] No doubt.

[00:36:43] Elsewhere around the NFL this Combine week this week Xavier Worthy broke the fastest ever 40 times 421 just lightning quick.

[00:36:57] Barely beat out our boy Dallas Turner just picking it up putting him down the line what was his like a 446.

[00:37:04] Yeah.

[00:37:05] And he was swerving a little bit.

[00:37:09] Shaved another 10 through 2 off of each state straight line but.

[00:37:13] He put up numbers.

[00:37:16] Dallas Turner earned himself a few extra million dollars this week.

[00:37:22] The first team is not taking a quarter.

[00:37:26] The first team is looking to defensive guy not taking a quarterback or one of the wide receivers.

[00:37:30] You would have to think Dallas Turner is your guy like he's.

[00:37:35] Absolutely it's hard to see him not being the first non quarterback guy also non Marvin Harrison guy.

[00:37:43] Even then I mean great it is passing league that's what would make me put Marvin Harrison junior over him.

[00:37:50] Is that you can't in the way this the game is today pass up that kind of talent at receiver.

[00:37:56] The way she on town you know but yeah Dallas Turner I mean you build your defenses around the edge guys and just.

[00:38:05] Man.

[00:38:08] And it seems like Atlanta seems to a lot of stuff right now he seems to be kind of the land in spot but we'll see how that plays out because the land is done doesn't weird stuff in the draft.

[00:38:23] Another than that in it was franchise week I think the only really notable one T Higgins got a franchise tag from the Bengals.

[00:38:31] So he will they will at least play with that dynamic duo and receiver one more year if not longer if they work out a.

[00:38:40] And extension with them or maybe even a trade who knows.

[00:38:45] But yeah and then of course everybody just prognostic hate and where.

[00:38:50] Top three agents going to land.

[00:38:55] Yeah until it happens you know that's just kind of what it is.

[00:38:59] All speculations kind of like a draft everybody speculated has a has a thought about.

[00:39:05] You know we're all so it happens.

[00:39:07] Yeah.

[00:39:10] Spring training keeping on rolling for the major leagues.

[00:39:20] Always scary in Atlanta.

[00:39:23] Ronald Acuna is knee.

[00:39:26] He's being shut down for the rest of spring training they don't expect him to be out for opening day but they are going to get further evaluations on the knee.

[00:39:37] Just yeah it's never anything you want to play with.

[00:39:41] It's the same knee he tours ACL in so.

[00:39:45] Coming off his monster MVP year last year the Braves definitely want him full strength.

[00:39:52] Sure for sure.

[00:39:54] That's a thing being with just with the baseball season there.

[00:39:58] Well first just with how long the season is of course we shut it down.

[00:40:03] But you know just those injuries that just can change change your whole season.

[00:40:10] So you hate you hate to see a star.

[00:40:13] You know get hurt especially that there in the years off with things good there because I mean he's just so fun to watch whether your braves found or not.

[00:40:21] I mean he's just one of those birds you love to watch because he's going to give you something good every night.

[00:40:29] Yeah.

[00:40:31] Elsewhere in baseball Matt Chapman one of the few remaining big name free agents signed with the Giants this week.

[00:40:41] Third baseman gold Glover.

[00:40:44] Good deal for them.

[00:40:47] So you still got your few guys that are still free Blake Snell.

[00:41:02] Let's see who is it's Blake Snell.

[00:41:06] I think Montgomery maybe a couple of guys still out there.

[00:41:09] I'm shocked now still out there honestly.

[00:41:13] Yeah it's weird it's just something with his I guess what he's looking for.

[00:41:17] You know the reigning Cy Young winner it's kind of a it's crazy.

[00:41:25] You know but they'll obviously get snatched up before opening day.

[00:41:31] For sure.

[00:41:33] But yeah other than that trying to think don't really think anything huge in the world of sports this week.

[00:41:45] Not too much I mean I will say is crazy.

[00:41:49] Oh use the softball team streak ended today Louisiana beat them and seventy winning streak came to an end.

[00:41:58] That's just crazy.

[00:42:01] Yeah that's what I'm saying.

[00:42:03] We've talked at length before about the dynasty that is Oklahoma softball and they deserve more recognition.

[00:42:11] Oh yeah.

[00:42:13] But they're first loss in 71 games in Norman too.

[00:42:18] So I mean that's for the Louisiana team.

[00:42:21] That's an epic win for that program but you still think when it comes down to it in June there in Oklahoma City he'd be shocked at the Sooners.

[00:42:32] Right where they have been for what seems like quite quite with five five years.

[00:42:39] And they just run through it probably the biggest home home field advantage ever there playing in Oklahoma City.

[00:42:51] Yeah.

[00:42:54] Yeah right that'd be like if Nebraska had a powerhouse baseball program or something there or Crate and Crate and space to know more.

[00:43:03] Yeah they're in Omaha.

[00:43:05] Yeah.

[00:43:07] But yeah so I guess that should do it.

[00:43:11] I did talk last week mentioned floating some crazy ideas at Greg and seeing what he thinks about sports world.

[00:43:19] I figure maybe we could actually save those for maybe the summertime or something when there's only baseball to talk about.

[00:43:27] It will be a couple of spots in June and July where we don't have a whole lot going on.

[00:43:38] Yeah so I'll save those for episodes when we're done talking after 20 minutes and don't have anything right now our clock reads 42.

[00:43:46] That's a good episode for this time of year.

[00:43:51] Looking ahead.

[00:43:52] We said that's the last week of the regular season and Kyle troops on the men's side conference tournament starting for some of the smaller leagues and then starting for everyone I think on the women side of things.

[00:44:06] Yeah we were in the tournaments with kickoff this week.

[00:44:12] You know it's time out the women's game.

[00:44:15] South Carolina another perfect regular season.

[00:44:19] Second trade in a row and that's crazy in itself especially how good the SEC is as a women's conference.

[00:44:26] You know you'd be shocked if they don't do what they do what they've done for a quite another epic one for them.

[00:44:36] I saw the Alabama women one attend to me be a name today.

[00:44:44] The first 10 win SEC season since like 97 98.

[00:44:52] That's kind of big for the women some looks like a.

[00:44:57] They just biggest thing with them is they're just in that right below the power houses but they're not on the power houses level you know they're not on the other North Carolina level but overall very solid program from what they have been for quite some time.

[00:45:14] No yeah they're the four seed in the SEC tournament so they'll get that double buy.

[00:45:21] They play the winner of Tennessee versus the winner of the Georgia Kentucky game so.

[00:45:28] Nice.

[00:45:29] Yeah so yeah maybe.

[00:45:30] Two weeks ago so.

[00:45:32] That's good yeah so maybe a couple of.

[00:45:36] Couple of tourney teams you know Alabama basketball really looking up.

[00:45:39] Yeah.

[00:45:42] Haven't really paid attention honestly about the baseball or softball teams just yet.

[00:45:53] I know the other baseball team was so undefeated that beat Arizona yeah I'm not sure what they did today.

[00:46:01] There might be to be playing honestly.

[00:46:04] My biggest concern with the softball team that they've only lost one game this year so far but same thing has been with the last couple of seasons they don't know how to put up points.

[00:46:14] Yeah I got a score runs.

[00:46:17] Yeah.

[00:46:18] So it's tough yeah if you can do that.

[00:46:24] Looking at yeah the sorry I was going back finding the Alabama women right now are projected as a nine seed.

[00:46:33] Which yeah you don't like that only because you know you look on who you're probably playing and that one on that one line and yeah.

[00:46:44] Yeah solid team but not on that one one level.

[00:46:50] Yeah if this were to ring true they'd be they would have to play Stanford if they.

[00:46:56] When their first game so.

[00:46:58] Yeah.

[00:47:00] Things have happened but yeah.

[00:47:04] But yeah like I said so we're looking forward to a great week of college hoops all around.

[00:47:11] We'll see like I said if anything steps up in the NFL off season.

[00:47:16] Which I believe free agency officially starts tomorrow doesn't it.

[00:47:21] Yeah it does.

[00:47:23] That would be fun.

[00:47:28] Fun season.

[00:47:30] I'm sure.

[00:47:34] Of course all the draft draft taco really pick up now that the.

[00:47:39] I mean it's been going but now that the.

[00:47:44] The compound is over you know we'll get all our continued coverage there of course a big thing of course in the quarterbacks but.

[00:47:52] The overall I mean it's a lot of.

[00:47:56] I'd say if you're looking for a wide receiver this is your to get a good there's a lot of talented wide receivers out there even if you don't necessarily.

[00:48:05] Have to get them in the first round but this is a deep wide receiver class and you need wide receivers.

[00:48:11] Yeah absolutely.

[00:48:14] And on the free agent side I'll be interested what I'm really.

[00:48:19] Particularly it's Ravens fan but just in general that the running back market is very interesting this year.

[00:48:26] You got Derek Henry of course out there say quam buckley Josh Jacobs.

[00:48:32] You know just yeah let the league and rushing two seasons ago had off year last year but.

[00:48:40] You know I think had some injuries and you know he did hold out a camp.

[00:48:44] In the preseason.

[00:48:48] Yeah that's a huge name out there you're course in a lot of talk that the Ravens are going to get one of those guys.

[00:48:54] You know of course love to see Derek Henry or Josh Jacobs.

[00:49:00] Yeah you know Derek Henry is getting up there but he hasn't fallen off that cliff yet you know a second in the league last year.

[00:49:07] He's got some talent I mean.

[00:49:10] Well and an offense on a roster like the Ravens to because they'll you know Keaton Mitchell their you know a superstar.

[00:49:18] Undraft a free agent last year you know he'll probably be out a few weeks into the season or he's coming off the ACL injury.

[00:49:26] Gus Edwards J.K. Dobbins both free agents maybe they bring back one of them Justice Hills there Derek Henry doesn't have to be.

[00:49:34] That work horse.

[00:49:36] Yeah that 25 carry a game guy in Baltimore now granted he is one of those guys that kind of feeds on you know more carries but he can adjust his game.

[00:49:46] Really be that bruising closer that that offense.

[00:49:52] Especially I mean you look at it too I mean if you man if you have put them on a on the goal line package.

[00:50:00] Yeah yeah when you're a defender and you have to look at the backfield and make a choice between you know if they're doing zone reads between Lamar Jackson and Derek Henry.

[00:50:11] That's frightening.

[00:50:14] But all that said even some part of me man if the price is right.

[00:50:19] Josh Jacobson and some purple and black.

[00:50:23] His all around talent he's got that power he runs angry.

[00:50:27] He's got speed.

[00:50:28] He's a weapon in the passing game if teams would use them.

[00:50:33] Yeah.

[00:50:37] He just he's just one of those guys I feel like NFL offenses.

[00:50:42] They don't use them right.

[00:50:44] Yeah I mean it's helpful what the NFL is one to do with running backs these days so yeah it's just not a human rights system that they're creating to put them in the right spots.

[00:50:55] But he definitely can get a person to go.

[00:51:00] Yeah and then say Juan Barclays another name is thrown out there a lot of people kind of fantasizing him and Lamar in the same backfield which again for the right price.

[00:51:09] Yeah come on.

[00:51:13] Memphis making a run to start the second.

[00:51:16] 18 oh run Jesus three minutes.

[00:51:19] Yeah and three minutes 20 seconds into the second half as you've already scored 18 points.

[00:51:25] Yeah.

[00:51:27] And that means that you know but the biggest thing of course it's a one of course is his health.

[00:51:33] He's healthy this past year but you know overall that's been his biggest downfall and you hate it for me when he plays as a hell of a running back but you know what it what is his durability level at.

[00:51:46] But then if you know if you have one of the better pro you know one of the better franchises get them.

[00:51:52] I mean obviously you know like a Ravens or you know if anybody else is not marketing them don't necessarily have them to be the workhorse so that could open up things for him and you know better chances and healthy so that yeah we'll be

[00:52:15] going to see how the league currently feels about running backs and paying them so yeah that'll be the big thing like you know if they don't you know if he doesn't get the money he's looking for you know what Derek Henry retired who knows.

[00:52:30] Right.

[00:52:33] And then that's not even mentioned in other names you know Austin Neckler Tony Pollard DeAndre Swift Zach Moss.

[00:52:40] Autumn backs.

[00:52:41] There's possibilities that a guy's like Nick Chubb and Alvin Kamara are salary cap cuts you know.

[00:52:49] That's crazy to think about those guys just a salary.

[00:52:55] I mean yeah there's a lot of talented backs out there.

[00:52:59] It's just weird because everybody's going to cheap route and feel like they could draft the next guy and you know give them the cheap cheap rookie deal.

[00:53:10] And it works out but yeah it's a risk.

[00:53:14] Yeah and I think we've talked about it before like we get it it's not you know it's not the day when you draft a running back number one and you pay him you know 100 million dollar contract those days just aren't the league's not there anymore but

[00:53:30] One you know just being you know on the player side as we are we want to see those guys get paid.

[00:53:35] Yeah it sucks to get drafted player rookie contract.

[00:53:39] Oh you a B coach who's Andy Kennedy's and who's coaching him now he is hot.

[00:53:45] Right.

[00:53:46] Players having to hold him back.

[00:53:48] Oh man.

[00:53:49] He just pushes on coach out there.

[00:53:51] Oh Lord.

[00:53:52] Oh man.

[00:53:53] Ah.

[00:53:54] When in the world.

[00:53:57] He is.

[00:53:59] And he's usually a pretty level headed guy.

[00:54:05] Maybe he's trying to get his team fighter up to he get the boot.

[00:54:09] Yeah he got the boot.

[00:54:10] He definitely got the boot.

[00:54:11] Oh yeah.

[00:54:13] Oh man.

[00:54:14] If you're a I guess we're not live so I can't tell you to tune into the UAB Memphis game but hopefully you have watched that by the time you listen to us.

[00:54:25] Oh well we're talking about.

[00:54:31] But yeah.

[00:54:33] Yeah so that'll do it for us this week.

[00:54:36] We'll see you again next week I believe.

[00:54:40] Was I say that and then I got questions.

[00:54:44] See I'm not doing any weird 10th.

[00:54:47] No yeah okay.

[00:54:48] I had I had like some vision as like wait a minute I thought I was going to be somewhere I'm not I'll be here.

[00:54:53] We'll be here to talk to you.

[00:54:55] Thank you once again for listening.

[00:54:57] Do subscribe give us good ratings tell your friends tell your rich friends about us.

[00:55:01] Check out all of the podcast on the Alabama take family of podcast you can find them all at the alabamatech.com along with anywhere you get your podcast.

[00:55:13] And keep it done up real good out there yourselves this week for oh wait.

[00:55:17] Oh did my whole spiel we didn't do done up real good for us great what's been done up real good for you this week.

[00:55:22] And I would probably say the weather.

[00:55:25] I mean we had a very mild February for the most part here in Nebraska you don't ever know what you're going to get.

[00:55:33] A lot of days in the 60s started March in the 70s so I can't complain loving the weather how about you.

[00:55:41] Yeah probably the same thing I might have said that even last week but no it's no more.

[00:55:47] I think we're out of the nights where it dips in the 30s.

[00:55:53] You hope anyway but yeah it's just been nice springtime here in Birmingham and

[00:56:04] and then I'll say as much as I obviously love my wife and my son they are out of town for a couple nights so I get some

[00:56:14] uninterrupted just nice.

[00:56:17] We alone time sleep for the next couple nights so hey you know what has always done it real good.

[00:56:24] Little man woke us up at about quarter to six this morning so you know.

[00:56:30] Yeah it's nice to early just get a little reprieve you know for sure that's the funniest thing about being an adult.

[00:56:40] You know once you have kids you know when you get those nights whether you're with your wife by yourself and

[00:56:47] you think oh we're going to do this and this and even if I watch the TV and fall asleep by right now.

[00:56:54] We've heard those guys.

[00:56:57] Yep have become yeah.

[00:57:01] But yeah so now you can go back and listen to my spiel that I just said before I'm not going to repeat it.

[00:57:08] You guys know the deal.

[00:57:10] Keep it done up real good everybody out there Greg take it easy buddy.