PJ Carlesimo Joins the Show!

0:00Hey, this is John Rothstein, the host of Inside College Basketball Now, part of the CBS Sports Podcast Network reminding you that our show is going ramp up over the next two months. That's because we're counting down a selection Sunday and March Madness. We will be coming to you each and every week with multiple episodes, featuring exclusive interviews with the biggest and best names in the sport. It's the all-you-can-eat buffet for college basketball junkies everywhere. Follow and listen to Inside College Basketball Now on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. Has the news been getting you down? I'm Megan McCartle and I'm here to help. I'm the host of a new show from Washington Post Opinion, called Reasonably Optimistic. And it's an antidote to the pessimism that's riddling America right now. Every Wednesday, I'm going to talk to people who see a path forward. It does seem to me that there is some awakening of a desire to act together to solve problems where they are. You know, I am a believer in America and it's worth fighting for. Join me Wednesdays on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

1:01Football is fun! Why shouldn't your football podcasts be the same? Follow and listen to Heed the Call NFL Podcast with Dan Handsos and Mark Cessler wherever you get your podcasts. This message is sponsored by Trees for the future. Welcome back to You Better You Bed on Westwood One's Boards. Chris Mackin for Knit Costos today. Here on You Better You Bed on Westwood One's Boards live across North America.

2:03On Sirius XM Channel 375, breaking down the tournament from absolutely every single angle. If you missed any of it, that's why you can always go back and check out the show in podcast form. Search You Bed wherever you find your podcasts, including right there inside the Odyssey app. And Westwood One, of course, your home for every single game of the NCAA tournament. That includes this weekend in San Diego when the great PJ Carlisama will be on the call with Kevin Kugler of the games being played out there on Friday and Sunday and he joins us now here on You Better You Bed. Good morning PJ. Thanks for making the time. We appreciate it. Are you ready to go? This bracket looks stacked where you're going to be out in San Diego. Chris, I like it a lot. We got obviously one little pod from the West and we got one from the East, which to me are the two best brackets, the West Regional and the East Regional. I mean, there's never a bad group in an NCAA tournament, but I really like the East and I love what we

3:05have out West. And selfishly, I got a couple of good friends coming out, which is good. We just did the biggest tournament together in New York over the weekend and we got St. John's and Villanova both coming out from there. Kevin Willard, we had last year Rick Patino, as long as he's in college, we have him every year somewhere along the way. So I'm really looking forward to what we've got going in San Diego. Yeah, I want to talk about that East region and St. John's in particular that you brought up after you got to see him this weekend, but you've been a one seed before. You've gone to the national championship game. Those are expectations for this Arizona team. They are incredibly talented, a deep rotation, but the one knock against them has been the ability to hit the three consistently. If there's an Achilles heel for this Wildcats team, PJ, as you look at him right now, what is it for Arizona? Well, they don't shoot a lot of threes. I mean, it's interesting who the two teams that are playing each other, Arizona and

4:08L.I.U. are similar in that one thing. They're three point metrics are just not very good. They don't shoot them very well. They don't shoot very many of them, which I think is a good idea. Arizona just kind of bludges you. They're incredible. I think if anything, they're underrated defensively. People talk because they have some really spectacular players starting, of course, with Jane Bradley. There's a tendency to talk about that, and there's a tendency to not appreciate two things about them that are really surprising to me. How young they are. First year guys, and how good they are defensively. People talk about the other aspects of their game. No, they do not shoot threes well, but when you go through the big 12 and you win the regular season and you win the tournament, I don't think it's a concern. I think Tommy Lloyd in the perfect world. Yeah, he'd love it if he had four or five really good three point shooters

5:11out there, but they don't. It's just not in their DNA. It's not something that they're all of a sudden going to start doing well right now. If you're a coach like Tommy Lloyd in the position where he's been, where maybe Arizona has fallen short the last few years, BJ, how do you keep that from entering the narrative in the locker room and at practice as you're getting ready for these games? You can't keep it from entering the narrative because knuckleheads like me and you know, all the people covering him. It's what he deals with all the time. So he's heard the questions from preseason that goes with the territory at Arizona. I mean, all Tommy does every year. It's like he keeps breaking records for, you know, most wins by the first three years of your career, most wins the first four years of your career, most wins the first five years of your career. You can't do a much better job than Tommy's done at Arizona, but at Arizona, I don't want to say it's quite, you know, UCLA yet, but it's not when it was the same thing with Sean Miller was there.

6:15Sean Miller did a very good job too, but if you, you know, you don't get to a final fourth, you know, international championships, you know, it's not enough. Tommy's used to it. I think the good news, you know, in my mind, what turns it around. He's got so many young guys, so many first year guys like, you know, I don't know if they come out and say it, but like if I was them, I would tell them, if I'm, you know, Nate Whiteers or their SID, I would say, what are you talking to me about? Therefore, I wasn't here. I just got here. This is my first year. We won the regular season, big 12. We won the tournament, big 12. What are you asking me about what they've done in the past? So I don't think it concerns the players, which is good news. You got transfers and you have first year guys. And the other thing is they heard two schools and Chris, I'm sure you followed it when Houston and Arizona, among others, went to the expanded big 12. The narrative was well, it's a little different now. This isn't the back 12. This isn't the south, but you know,

7:16like all of a sudden, these guys are going to struggle them. Well, they've dominated the big 12 since they've gotten in there, both of these programs. So I don't think they're concerned with the narrative. Nobody wants to get to the final four or win a national championship more than Tommy and the Arizona Wildcats. But I just think objectively, when you look at the tournament, they have been one of the best three all year. You know, I'm always going to top out a little bit. I'm not saying that there's one, you know, and everything got distorted the last week. You had all these teams losing the other teams in there, you know, like Michigan was invincible. Florida was invincible. You know, they got beat. Connecticut, you know, was going to make around. You can't tell. And when you when you play teams in your own league, in the old days, it was the third time. Sometimes now it's only the second time you're playing them. You're going to get upsets. You get teams that know each other really, really well. Coaches that know each other really, really well. That's out the window to an extent in the NCAA tournament. So I mean, Arizona,

8:22I know he's going to have him focused. I know everybody's looking by Rod Strickland who I was lucky enough to coach a hundred years ago in Portland. But you know, it's it's you got to win six games. And my experience has been very seldom do you dominate, you know, even no, no bad team ever wins the NCAA tournament. But the best team doesn't always win because you got to win six. And usually there's one game along the way, whether it's somebody rolls an ankle or you get three files. I'm one of your better players or, you know, you just have a strange game. I think I gave you talking about three points. All of a sudden you run into somebody to make the whole slew of freeze on a given night. You got to dodge your bullets somewhere along the way. I don't think L.I.U. is going to be Arizona's bullet, but they have not been able to navigate that six game path yet. And it's not easy to do. But I like Arizona's chances. Like, you know, if you're going to give me a team, I don't mind if Arizona's the team you give me that that's a

9:26that's a pretty good team to believe in this year. PJ Carlisimo with us here on you better, you bet on Westwood one. He'll be out in San Diego, calling games this weekend alongside Kevin Kugler here on Westwood one. You've got Arizona. You've also got in that other San Diego pod. You mentioned it. Some big east action with St. John's. And there are a couple of us here on the show, PJ, who want to be all in on St. John's knowing that they may have Kansas in the second round. Kansas has been up and down. And obviously if they get through to the sweet 16, there's probably Duke sitting there waiting for them. Can how how do they avoid those cold spells that they've had to deal with so often offensively this season? I actually think they're a little better this year offensively. I wasn't sure, but watching him in New York, I actually think they're a little bit better from the perimeter. And I think they're a little bit more consistent. I like their offense more. Zuby edge and for for one thing is an even better offensive player than he was last year. Oziah sellers got them off to a huge run

10:33early in the in the Connecticut game. I know I'm not saying it's going to come down to those guys, but Joe sat in San and Oziah sellers. The guys coming in the three point shooters have got to do the job for them. We may see left terrace leotopolis more than we saw in the big east because if they are struggling, it may not come down to just the defensive. It may come down to who can make some shots. I think they have more possible options in Jackson's another one. So I like this team from an offensive standpoint better. I think the combination of Zuby edge and for and Bryce Hopkins is one of the best big man combinations. I think the best front line in the NCAA is in Florida. I don't think there's any question about that, but I don't think from a versatility standpoint, there's two bigs. I mean when Zuby and Bryce get a rebound, they leave the fast break and they're pretty good at it. I'm not going to say it's LeBron James coming down

11:36the court on a transition fast break, but they're exceptionally good. The two of them are both under 30% just under, but under 30% from free. And yet I think they made four, they made three, at least three. It might have been four three quarters between them in the UConn game. I think Rick put in Dylan Darling back in the starting lineup. However many games ago, we did that. I'm going to say six or seven games has really helped the team. Dylan Darling is a really good point card. He does a really good job running that team. And he's a threat. He's a legitimate three point threat. He's streaky for sure. He'll go over five, but then he makes three in a row. And the thing I've always liked about him, I had Dylan. He was a freshman at Washington State when we were doing the Pac-12 network and doing the tournament for Westwood one. He's a good, he can be a very good shooter. He broke all out of Morris and scoring records in the state of Washington when he was a high school player. So I think Rick's got more weapons this year. You

12:39know, Archie Lewis was such a special player last year, but I liked the balance on this team more. Zuby and Bryce Hopkins blow me away with their versatility and what they can do. And he's got a bunch of other guys that he can throw at you. You mentioned what could happen when you get to Washington in that regional with, look at the East. You got, Josh Shire hasn't won a national championship yet, but it's only a matter of time. Rick's got two. Bill Self, I think has two. Danny Hurley's got two. Tom Isos got one. They're in that same group. Are you kidding me? Duke's the number one overall team in the bracket and look what they got waiting for. Look what they probably have waiting for them when they get to Washington. It's incredible. I just love the East region. I'm so happy we got two of those games. We got St. John's in Northern Iowa. Ben Jacobson, a lot of people thought, this is the third time I've been with Ben. I was with him in OKC when Rick beat him as a matter of fact, Louisville beat him. Terry Rozier had a big

13:43game and I was with him when Jasperson hit that shot to win the game at the buzzer in Oklahoma City and then they lost the next round. They blew a big lead to Texas A&M. They're a good team out of the Valley and that the Valley is a great basketball league. It's always been, but Ben Jacobson's really good and Kansas. Nobody's talking about, I mean really, you know, like if you can take Kansas for granted, there are four seed. They've been there. They have obviously one of the best freshmen in the country. They have one of the best coaches in the country. They got Cal Baptist, Rick Roy. Their Cal Baptist is in the tournament for the first time. I love that pod and I love the other pod. Kevin Wheeler, I've had Kevin. Last year we had him in Maryland, won two games in Seattle and then played really well before they got beat in San Francisco. Utah State has been a dominant team in the Mountain West. They're coming into the new Pac-12 next year. I'm really happy with the games we have at the AAS Arena in San Diego.

14:50PJ, I know you got four games to call on Friday and another pair on Sunday, so I don't want to run your ragged here. One last thing before I let you run. I got to ask because you've coached at both levels. You've coached the team to the national championship game in the NCAA. You've won rings in the NBA as well. You were ahead coach at the NBA level and Darren Peterson's story with Kansas this year was all about the transition from the NCAA to the NBA because he's going to be a lottery pick. What did you make of that earlier this year? I'd been more fascinated as a wrong word. Confused. I don't know what the hell is going on. He's such a good player. At times you just didn't know whether he was going to play or not play. I hope he's 100 percent now. I don't know if he can get to 100 percent right now physically. He's a really talented player. He's going to be so good. It's just, it's so tough. I give guys like Cameron Booz and the two obvious, I give you three examples. They're very similar. Palmer Ben Carroll is from right here in

15:54Seattle where I live and Cooper Flagg and now this year with Cam Booz. They're men. They're ready to make the transition. There's so many young guys coming into the NBA. It's so difficult. I think for guys, for young guys to come in. I just think that the guys that are bigger and stronger and are fortunate, relative to health are better off when they come into the league. Haven't said that. How good is he? I mean, his breathtaking. When he's played and when he's played the way he's capable of playing, I mean, he is scary good. You have to be concerned, though, you know, if you're front office in the NBA, like you got to say like, you know, what's going on is that can we count on Darren to be there plus 82 times it and a lot of people just don't understand the difference between a college season and what you're in for when you come into the NBA. And it's not just playing the 82 games in the travel. And again, I know

16:58there were charters. I know they're standing great hotels. It's brutal. Chris, you're being kind of me because I'm losing my voice already before I get to San Diego. St. John's and L.I.U. have to go from New York to San Diego. So, going over has to go from Philadelphia to San Diego. That's a tough trip. And that's something college guys don't do that much. They do well. I shouldn't say they didn't do that much. Some of the crazy leagues you have now they do do with some every once in a while. But to make the transition to playing 82 games in the NBA and the difference in the 82 games, all the guys you're playing against are men. They're bigger. They're stronger. They're quicker than the guys you played against in college. I don't care what league you're in in college. When all of a sudden you start lining up in an NBA practice or NBA games, it's like whoa, all these guys are big. All these guys are strong. All these guys are quick. So the physical

17:59attributes of a player very much come into play. You have guys like KD. I was so lucky to coach Kevin here in Seattle 100 years ago. He still looks, you know, so thin. You wonder against that center. What's he going to be like? He's really thin. Does he have a frame that's never going to get big? It hasn't bothered Kevin. Kevin's still, Kevin's a lot stronger than he was when he came out of Texas years ago, but that's my concern with Darren. And I want to be fair to him. I haven't even seen him in person, but I'm saying like I know the NBA guys from talking to them. They're a little, some of them say, well, this is great. I'm glad other people are backing off. I know what this guy's ceiling is. We really believe in him and other people are going, I don't know. We can't afford to miss on a guy or have it take two or three years for him to get used to playing in the NBA. So it's that that the draft is going to be fascinating this year. Everybody talks about how important the draft is. Booser to me, that it takes me a split second to analyze him. He's ready.

19:03He's ready right now. Cooper Flagg was ready right now. I thought Paolo Bantaro and he came out was ready right now. PJ, great stuff, man. We appreciate you joining us this morning. Enjoy being on the call down in San Diego. The first couple rounds and we'll check you out in the regionals as well. Thanks again. All right, Chris. Thank you. Very good with you. Absolutely. PJ Carlisimo here on you better you bet on Westwood. One will be alongside Kevin Kubler on the call in San Diego this weekend. As you heard, I mentioned Arizona L.I.U. Villanova, Utah State, St. John's U and I and Kansas Cal Baptist all on Friday in both the West and East regions. We appreciate him making the time here on Westwood one, which will have all of your NCAA tournament games. Don't forget that MGM has got you as well. The Cavendor twins facing up in the court of legends game and you can enter our picket twin to win free to play game for a chance to win a share of two million dollars in bonus bets opt into the picket twin

20:05to win free to play game. Select which Cavendor twin you think will win the court of legends one on basketball game hosted at the bank at the Bellagio in Las Vegas at the twin you select wins. You'll win a share of two million dollars in bonus bets with bet MGM make it legendary this March. Speaking of bets, I mentioned this one earlier one I got in earlier this morning and it's gone up a point since I got in on the over at 157 and a half. It's now 158 and a half. I'm all over the over in Texas and NC State tonight in the second half of the double header in Dayton as a part of the first four. What a day and we've still got really 48 hours to go until the tournament kicks off in full. Nick will be back tomorrow. He and the guys will break down everything. Pillar to post on what to expect in the field of 68 which will be down to 66 as of tomorrow and of course when

21:10things really get going and earnest on Thursday with all of that said let's get you to three best moments of the day on today's show are three stars of the day. Three. They're going to play it out. Bradley trying to do it himself. He does. He hit it. Jaden Bradley's buzzer beater in the big 12 title game against Iowa State Saturday night dance showman on ESPN. I play that because Arizona was a big part of our conversation today. A lot of folks Kenny and Tyler included believe that Arizona is a national championship caliber team and they haven't going all the way. I'm not saying they're not a national championship caliber team. I'm just saying when you combine a couple of different aspects of this A the lack of three point shooting that I think is crucial in March especially in the tournament and then

22:10you combine the path Utah State is frisky if they play them in the second round. Wisconsin or Arkansas in the sweet 16 Gonzaga or Purdue or maybe even AJ DeBonza and BYU in the elite eight. It's a lot of speed bumps in Arizona's way. I don't know if they just coast their way into the final four as some people expect even as good as they are. Speaking of paths to the final four our number two star of the day. Two. A lot of people are saying oh my god dude got the roughest draw of any team in the tournament. Stand down relax take a chill pill that not remotely close. I know there's brand names there but Duke I feel has the easiest road oh to get to the circle city. Brad Evans of bed MGM tonight earlier talking about Duke in that east region of blue bloods including Yukon Michigan State Kansas Saint Johns a couple teams we just got done talking about with PJ Carly Samo saying no. Duke's got one of the easiest if not the easiest

23:16paths of all the ones to find their way to the final four and our number one star of the day. One. I think Rick's got more weapons this year. You know our dealers was such a special player last year but I like the balance on this team more Zuby and Bryce Hopkins blow me away with their versatility and what they can do. PJ Carly Samo with us just a few moments ago talking about St. John's now this PJ have maybe sort of an in bread big east bias from his years at Seton Hall. Sure was he at the tournament at the garden this past weekend watching the big east yes does he have relationships with some of those guys including Rick Petito who he was just talking about there at St. John's yes man you don't have to twist my arm very hard to jump on this St. John's bandwagon. My only question is where it hits a bump in the road. I obviously see

24:17them winning in the first round against Northern Iowa. I see him beating Kansas in the second round to go into the sweet 16 and then it's just a question of can Zuby edge of four maybe out dual Campbell's or is that a possibility and take St. John's to the elite eight oh it's the reason the bracket is still written in pencil until the very last minute and if you're constantly updating yours right up until the moment you submit it you want to be right here on you better you bet thanks to Kenny Henderson thanks to Tyler Morales thanks to Bill Zimmerman thanks to each and every one of you for joining the show as well Nick Costos back tomorrow Chris Mack thanking you for joining you better you bet blacken of doll and next here on westwood one sports this is westwood one scores some of my friends over at pure talk have been sending me customer feedback from consumerofairs.com

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26:21going to be a phenomenal march so be sure you are tuned into the show we're going to be publishing at least four shows every week follow and listen to i on college basketball free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast march is coming has the news been getting you down i'm Megan McCartle and i'm here to help i'm the host of a new show from washington post opinion called reasonably optimistic and it's an antidote to the pessimism that's riddling america right now every wednesday i'm going to talk to people who see a path forward does seem to me that there is some awakening of a desire to act together to solve problems where they are now i am a believer in america that's worth fighting for join me wednesdays on youtube or wherever you get your podcasts do you have a dark curiosity follow and listen to heart starts pounding on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts