010 - Eric Adelson seg1 032426

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Eric Adelson, EA, good morning. How are you?

Good morning, Sam. I'm great. How are you?

I'm doing great, man. So, um, you know, just a big picture question

about the NCAA tournament before we get a specific about teams,

Michigan, of course, being foremost in the discussion.

How do you feel about the transition in this era of college basketball

and the NCAA tournament about the, the, the posity of upsets, um, you know,

just the, the notion that Cinderella is not as, uh,

is not as inevitable as it once was.

Is that, do you lament that or is that something that you are a fan of?

No, I lament it. Uh, I, I think that that, I mean, that's what madness is.

That's why it's called march madness. It's, it's, it's, it's not really

because there's a lot of games in the short amount of time.

It's because it's completely unexpected.

And so when you have something that's, becomes more expected, um,

then I think it loses, uh, a lot of the flavor, um, and excitement.

Um, so, um, you know, this year's a little different

because, uh, I'm cheering for chalk. I want, uh, I love seeing Michigan win.

Um, but overall in general, um, I, I think that the, the, the gap between the

halves and the half knocks, uh, becoming greater and greater.

It's not good. It's not good in football.

It's not good in basketball.

It's really not good in anything.

And the other thing to keep in mind is that, you know, several years ago,

they were, uh, there was people in the media complaining that, uh,

you know, women's basketball is too top heavy.

Uh, that you kind of is not good for the game.

Well, well, well, now it's, it's turning into something different where

women's basketball has a little more parity.

And men's basketball is, is, is more, is more top heavy.

And, and, you know, the, the, the, the response is, is notable.

Um, so I don't, I don't like the way it's going.

Um, I don't know if it's going to go back.

Um, but when you have a high point, um, winning, uh,

the first round game and then you have its coach saying what, what, what he says, um,

it resonates with me. I, I think he's right.

Yeah. So high point, you know, obviously pulled a huge, huge upset.

Uh, I had to down goes.

Frazier reference yesterday when it came to, when it came to Iowa,

but high point was the original in this tournament down goes.

Frazier, but we'll get to that.

I just short your impressions of, of Michigan, thus far in the tournament.

They start out, uh, it's kind of a nipped tuck affair with Howard in the first half

and then they blew their doors off in the second half.

And then they go out and they are, uh, at least in my opinion,

and I wonder if you agree, uh, they go out and they put forth their best effort, uh,

as a team since, uh, since clinching the big 10 championship against Illinois

in that game against St. Louis.

Yeah, I, I, I want to, uh, I, I want to be a little bit more cautious in my

praise, uh, not because the team didn't play well.

I thought it really did.

I just thought it was a really bad matchup for St. Louis.

I mean, if you, if you watch the first game, uh, this is a team that doesn't

really have the outside shooting, uh, that you need to beat Michigan, uh,

a team without really reliable outside shooting is not going to be Michigan

in any circumstance in this tournament.

Um, they, they were a, uh, uh, a paint team, uh, a low post passing team, uh,

and that is just not going to work against Michigan.

And I think that, that, that that was a part of the, the, the issue in this game.

That, again, I don't want to, you still have to win these games.

You still have to beat very good teams and St. Louis is a very good team.

And Michigan did that, um, but, uh, uh, people who are a little bit panic

to the beginning of the Howard game.

Um, and then, and then those fans sort of needed to be a little more, uh, courageous.

I would say, and those same fans who are kind of popping their collars now, uh,

also have to consider the, um, the, the, the type of team they beat.

So Alabama will be, I think, a little difficult, more difficult, um,

because I think that they, they shoot fairly well.

But the other thing is, and I, you know, I, I don't want to be overconfident.

Um, but, but these, these really aren't teams that going to defend somebody like

Marawell, uh, or, or Yaxelwell. Um, this is another matchup problem, I think,

for a team like Alabama. Uh, so the draw is really helping Michigan out.

They still got to do it. They still got to do the job.

Um, but in terms of the types of teams they're playing, they really have not been, uh,

faced with any kind of, anything close to kryptonite yet.

Yeah, Michigan has seen teams like this, uh, the closest to it is Nebraska.

And I thought that the second half of that Nebraska game showed a great adjustment

by Michigan, um, you know, with how hard their guys fought two screens.

How connected they were on switches.

How they played up on ball screens a lot better.

Uh, and really got out and, and contested those three point looks with much more

vigor in the second half of that game.

And we, we saw that come to the four.

I even know St. Louis might not be, or I think aren't the kind of three point shooting team

like a Nebraska or Arizona.

We saw, excuse me, Nebraska or a, um, or an Alabama.

We saw the characteristics that need to be present defensively for you to, uh, limit a team.

You can't limit their attempts.

EA, you can only limit the quality of the looks.

And I think Michigan has the formula for that.

Yeah, uh, this is really going to be the key in any, in any game is that they have to play

really good perimeter defense.

Um, and they have to do without losing their bread and butter, which is, which is the,

the, the interior, um, they've been really strong.

Um, Mar has been, been great.

The axles have been great.

And, and the guards.

I mean, I think that the guards, um, have, have stepped up as they, as they need to do.

I just think that it's pretty clear now to everybody that a team that's going to be

Michigan is going to have to shoot very well, uh, and Michigan is going to have to basically

counter that or, or pre-plan for that.

Uh, and if they can do that, they're in a really good shape.

So, um, I agree with you.

I, I think it's pretty clear, um, and, uh, I, I, I think Michigan is in a good place in terms

of the draw in terms of how, how, how they're playing.

And now I think we're getting a little bit more of the dusty effect where we've seen what

he can do in a tournament.

We see what he can do in that narrow window between a Friday, Sunday or a Thursday, Saturday.

Um, that's what great coaches are able to do.

Um, beeline was great at this, uh, and so there's another kind of not so secret weapon there,

which is the coaching and the, and, and the ability for, uh, the staff to get ready for a

different style of team in the short amount of time.

Yeah, it was, um, you know, you mentioned yaks and we're talking to Eric Adelson this morning

here on the Michigan insider on the big 1050 WTK online at the big 1050.com.

You know, um, this team has been an exercise in unselfishness, right?

It has been phenomenal in its ability to just win in different ways with different guys leading

the way. But yaks is the best player. Um, he's the most talented guy on the roster, uh, right now.

And there are times EA in the postseason where that has to shine through

where he has to be the alpha. And so in the aftermath of the big 10 tournament,

one of our talking points was he's got to work harder without the ball because of, uh, if he doesn't,

he won't get the ball. That was talking point number one. Talking point number two was,

you know, after the Howard game, you know, his attempts are limited. He, he got some shots of it,

but like he's got to be more assertive whether it's working off the ball with just mentality-wise,

realizing I got to be more aggressive. And both of those dusty talked about after the,

after the high point and I excuse me after the St. Louis game, he talked about how active yaks was

without the ball. And he himself said, Hey, I realized I've got to take over at times. I don't

want to be the reason we don't progress. And so I'm going to do that now. I think these are a

couple of the biggest takeaways for Michigan moving forward. When you really need care, you need 24-7

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I completely agree, Sam. I think you said it perfectly. The unselfishness, the teamwork,

the ways that they all show up literally for the post game interview, but in general they show up for

each other. But somebody has to take over, down the stretch. It's going to happen. There's going to be,

maybe it's this weekend, maybe it's against Arizona and April, but somebody is going to have

to demand the ball and take over. I'm just not sure. It might be a guard, but I'm not sure it's

going to be a guard. Also, the other thing about Yaxle, which I think may be very valuable here,

is that he's trained in several different positions on the floor.

You know, Maris obviously going to be a five and McKinney is going to be a one, two.

Yaxle can play three, four, maybe even a five. One through five. Yeah, he was the point guy.

Yeah, so even better, right? And that's something that it gives them scalability throughout the

game. It makes them harder to defend overall. And I guess it's a little bit like Kade. Maybe I'm

just watching Kade too much or missing Kade too much in this case. But when you have that kind of

player, you really have to take advantage of the advantage. And Michigan has a clear five and

clear one too. But if you can have somebody like that, it just makes the planning for that team

so hard. And he has observed that and then lean into it. And it's some, I mean, we've seen Michigan

go to the final four. There's always been a guy. Whether it's Glen Rice or Tray Burke, there's

been guys, but there's always been the guy and he's the guy. And I think that that doesn't mean

that more as can't can't have the game of his life or Maris not going to be a secondary role.

It just means that when it's close, somebody's got to step up and he's got to be, I think it's

got to be him. Yeah, there were some games in 89 where Sean Higgins was the man. I think about

that Virginia game, obviously to put back against Illinois. But you know who showed up every game,

E. A. Right. That's right. That was the guy every night out. Yeah.

Little time zone, Glen Rice man was just that's what it's got to be this time of year.

Let's let's look around at some of the other sort of thrilling matchups. You mentioned high

point. I had Wisconsin as one of the teams that you had to look out for. Like they were going to

seriously threaten Arizona in the sweet 16. I thought because I had them beating Arkansas too.

That's going to be Arkansas. Now, but you mentioned high point high point, you know,

they knock off Wisconsin and they're right there with with Arkansas. You just have a

an unbelievable freshman from Detroit cast Tekken Darius A cup over there.

Yeah. And this is exactly what we're talking about. He was the guy. He was the person who stood

up and said, no, no, that's that's it. That's it right there. And I did love the high point

story. The thing, you know, I don't want to be a hater, but I mean like high points also very

blessed in terms of they have a lot of money. They have a beautiful campus. This is this is this is

not a as much of a Cinderella, certainly in seed and and take nothing away, but they they have

advantages too. I don't think we're we've seen the last of high point in terms of being in the

tournament successful successful. But yes, that's where it ended for them. And we don't have all

chalk, but we got a lot. We got a lot of chalk. And I think we're going to have even more chalk

with I just don't see what our Arkansas is going to be Arizona. I mean, I'm just not sure how that

works. But your point about Wisconsin is interesting because big 10 has been great. I mean, the big 10

has been superb in this tournament. The best the best conference. But Wisconsin just cannot figure

this out. And and that that's that is the surprise on top of this that it's really been the big 10

show. And then they were the team. If I'm listing all the teams that I didn't think could get through,

it would not list Wisconsin. I was with you on that. But that's where the madness is, right? And

and and that's kind of they were a victim of the madness in the in the year that there's there's

not as much madness. I don't think we're a matter though. I don't think anybody on that side is

going to be Arizona. Although, although I would I do want to I continue to be impressed with Purdue.

And I would love to see I listen. I didn't watch the game. I was driving. I listened to the whole

game. Sam. I still think that there's anybody who can beat Arizona to keep them out. I do, I do

like Purdue. I like the mix of players to have. Yeah. I just think, you know, Arizona is is the team

they that of the final four teams. Other than Michigan or the top team and the other than Michigan

at Purdue just doesn't want to see because if they play like they're so good defensively. And they

can match Purdue. Unless unless the reps are letting in an ordinary amount of physicality go

like they did in the big 10 championship game. Right. And and Arizona is off. I just I just don't

think they're talented enough. I mean, they do a couple of things really well. Like, you know,

you got a talented guy, a talented banger and and trade coffee and ran and brain Smith is is elite.

But just the pieces around them don't match up with the other top teams in my opinion. And I just

as much as I love Matt Painter, I think that that winds up being their undoing if not in the

three 16 certainly in an elite eight matchup with Arizona. But you got some other entry you can get

EA talk about the big 10. I don't know that I've ever seen a more improbable victory than Iowa

over Florida. Not that we haven't seen like a one nine ups and that's not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about how I will win that game. They won that game shooting under 30% from three.

They won that game with their best player. Benister is going five for 16 from the field and

over nine from three point range. They won that game matching Florida on the glass. And they finished

over 51% over 50% from the field because they were elite from two point and we're talking about

one of the best two point defenses in the country this year in Florida. I just don't know.

I still I'm wrecking my brain like how did Iowa win that damn game?

Did we lose EA? Maybe he just can't answer that question.

Can you hear me? There we go. I think you just didn't have an answer. It has to how Iowa won that game.

Yeah. Uh, I, uh, well, okay. So we all watch Michigan at Iowa at the end of the season,

right, the end of the last game. That that was a, um, relative, uh,

slog for Michigan. Uh, I mean, the Iowa kind of undid Michigan, the Michigan we know. And I

think that's their game. I think that's their what they're able to, it's, it's a little bit of Iowa football.

So I'm not that surprised. Uh, I'm not that surprised because if you have a good defensive sound

fundamental team that, uh, that there's willing to, I was going to say willing to punt the ball,

but, but, but, but, but basically willing to be physical and slow it down, um,

these, these talented high flying teams are going to panic. And I feel like that's kind of the,

Iowa will make you beat yourself. Uh, and, and it almost happened to Michigan. Uh, I thought

Michigan kept its composer down the stretch, but that was, that game could have gone anyway.

Uh, it, it, it almost went sideways late. Um, and, and that's about as similar to a team as Florida,

as, as I was going to play. So, uh, I'm, I'm not that surprised. Um, I am, I am impressed overall with

the big 10. And I, I mean, you guys may have talked about this already, but, um, this is the team.

How many do they have that's made to the street six six seven six six six teams. Michigan beat

every single big 10 team they played this year. That's obviously never been done before. I don't

know if it's going to be done again. It doesn't necessarily mean that Michigan's going to go all

the way, but I mean, this, this is remarkable resume that Michigan has already, uh, the street

16, I think is kind of expected, but to beat every single team in a, in this now expanded conference,

it's in six out of this top 16 teams in the tournament. Uh, I think we have to sort of stand back

and appreciate that, uh, because it's really amazing. This is Mike Voileau of Lexicon Valley.

And I'm Bob Garfield. Are you one of those people who sometimes uses words? Do you communicate

or acquire information with, you know, language? Hey, us too. So, join us on Lexicon Valley to

true over the history, culture and many mysteries of English plus some ice cracks. Find us on one of

those apps where people listen to podcasts. You guys know how much I really, really love golf,

and I think every week would be dope to post on the golf channel. I want to get a lot of guests

on here. So, Liam's going to take leave. I'm down to being it. It's not really work to play golf.

Join the party on the golf course. I was like, let's go to the range.

So, what are we putting on it? We said 10k, right? 10k. All right. We probably bet more than all

the other golf channels, right? 10k. Nine holes. Those guys bet for like cookies. So, I'm going to

shank it. This guy's been trading like a Navy seal when it comes to golf. I'm very, very excited.

Yeah. Bullsen golf. Follow and listen on your favorite platform. Yeah, it is.

Barry Will said, you know, Iowa, they're the antithesis of what they were under Framacafry,

where defense was, it wasn't even optional. It was non-existent. They didn't play D.

Yeah, they were going at all. Just we're going to chuck up as many shots as we can, right?

This is the antithesis of that with Ben McCollum, given them a new identity. They still shoot

threes, but to your point, they vary their style. And they won this game a different way,

which was really impressive. Meanwhile, you got the Battle of the Chromudgins.

In Michigan State, Yukon, I guess it's the second Battle of the Chromudgins, right? Because you

had Tom Ezo versus Mitt Kronin. Now you got Tom Ezo versus Danny Hurley versus Dan Hurley.

And Yukon, Michigan State, and you got the commentators, the basketball pundits,

fawning all over just, oh my God, did you see the coaches in the East? You got Rick Patino,

and you got Tom Ezo. You got Dan Hurley. And they're just like, oh my God, I be EA.

I think that when you look at that side, I still think Duke is going to be the team that comes out.

Yeah, I agree. St. John, this is a really good story.

The Kansas, I mean, they were just kind of underachieving all year. I thought that they were

overrated as a four. I thought that they were just overrated the whole season.

So that doesn't shot me as much. Michigan State,

we've seen that it's a very good team. It's a very capable team. I don't know if it's a complete

team in this sense in terms of getting to the final four. Yukon, though, I'm always wary Sam of

the teams that have been to the final four or the final two recently. That's part of why I like

Purdue. And I feel like it's been a decade since we saw Purdue, almost win the title,

but hasn't been that long. There is some kind of institutional memory there,

even in a sport where basically you start fresh with it with a new group every year. And Yukon,

the same. So I do think Yukon has a shot against Duke. I think if there's a team that can

game plan against Booz or it's them. It could go, I mean, those are the media pundits are right.

This is a really interesting bracket. There are four very capable game coaches here.

There are more than just their reputations in terms of the camera loves them and they're

good with a quote and all that. So all four of our very, very good watchable teams and very

well coached teams. But I agree with you. I think Duke once they escaped the early Sienna issue,

I think that they were fine. And I think that they're able to sort of put pedal down. I think that

they will get past eight Johns. I think they will get past whoever's waiting for them in the next

and the weekend also. But I just think in this era, especially in this era, when you have a team

that has some of this deep tournament experience, that's a team you want to give a few points to

in the matchup. And they might get Caleb Foster back as early as this weekend. Wow. That's what

they're saying. They said that they might he might be back this week. He might be able to play

Friday. And my guess is no, but they think he can be back as soon as this weekend. That would be

amazing. That would be amazing. The guy's the phrasing is he has an outside chance to play Friday.

But then they move forward. Yeah. That's crazy. Uh, I gotta get, you know, Rick Patino maybe, you know,

he may be uncirly, unseemly, you know, he may be surly, maybe unseemly, he may be that guy who

had a brothel to help propel a team to a national championship. But that dude can coach.

Yeah, I mean, he's done it too many places where that said not be the reality of the matter. He can

coach his Taylor. Yeah. I mean, the guts of going with the guy who had not had any made shots

in the game. That's sort of just that's sort of just next level. And I mean, he's been there. That's

the thing is that I really feel like that that filters down to everybody is that you look to that

guy who's a legend who's been coaching successfully your entire life so that they were born in before

including the NBA. It's just, you just sort of like, okay, well, he's got to be right. I just

think that that suppresses any second-guetting, any panic, any worry on a bench that, well, I mean,

this guy knows. And I think that these are all athletes who are on social media. They know the

other teams. They know they talk to each other. If there's any kind of skepticism or cynicism or

doubt, they express it or they think it. And it's really hard to doubt this guy. And I think you

saw that when he called his final play. All right. So EA final question on the tournament.

Getting back to Michigan. Alabama is their next game on Friday. If they win that game,

they likely will have to take on Iowa State. The talk is that Joshua Jefferson could be back

this week, but they handled his absence just fine when we get with you next. Will we be talking

about a Michigan team in the final four? I think so, but Iowa State is very dangerous. I

Iowa State is high too, I would say. And I've watched them a little bit extra just because of

the conference that they're in. And I'm down at UCF, so I follow that a little bit closer.

And they are absolutely legitimate. And if they get their star back, then I think that gives

them a job. I do think it's Michigan though. Michigan is as talented as any other team in the

bracket. And the way, like you said, they share the ball. I feel like the Axel and Mara just

are stepping into their roles even more so than before. I'm skittish about the guard play, but

we've seen it. And we've seen it grow. We've seen it get better. And they've been prepped by their

conference. I mean, the conference play, they've seen pretty much every style. They've seen

the toughest teams. So I definitely give an edge to Michigan to get through to the final four.

And then I guess if they do, it's probably going to be Arizona, right? That's the team that they're

going to play. And that would be wild. Yeah. Yeah, it would be. It would be great. I hope that

that's the case. Can't wait. But we got to get to a break. We come back on the other side. EA will

shift gears. This piston team minus K cutting hand. Wow. Last night, we got to get into that. We're

returning here on the Michigan insider on the big 1050 WTK online at the big 1050.com.

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