Talking Brackets & College Hoops w/ Dalen Cuff

0:00What's going on? I'm Archmaning, Viori athlete and college quarterback. Whether I'm running, training, traveling, or just unwinding at home, I love doing it in my core shorts from Viori. With a breathable box or brief liner, a quick to dry, super versatile, and stand-up to even my most intense training sessions. Plus, they come in three inseims and a ton of colors. Ready to try pair? Go to Viori.com, slash arch, and get 20% off at checkout. I think you're going to love them as much as I do. That's V-U-R-R-I dot com slash ARCH, and get 20% off your first order. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns. Have a great day. The Bleacher Report app is your destination for sports. Right now, the NBA is heating up, March Manus is here, and MLB is almost back. Every day there's a new headline, a new highlight, a new moment you've got to see for yourself. That's why I stay locked in with

1:00the Bleacher Report app. For me, it's about staying connected to my sports. I could follow the teams I care about, get real-time scores, breaking news, and highlights all in one place. Download the Bleacher Report app today so you never miss a moment. Gone South has been a podcast about crime in the American South, but for our new season, we're widening the lens. Follow and listen to Gone South Season 5, wherever you get your shows. On the Odyssey, I heart radio and tune in apps. Search 1057, the fan.

2:02Live lines, late games, and breaking angles. Bed MGM tonight with Brad Evans and Pat Boyle Welcome back, Bed MGM tonight with one in sports. He's Brad Evans and Pat Boyle. We'll take your phone call as soon as we finish up with Dallin Coffee. It is 310-840-4910, but first, the Cavanaere Twins are facing off the court of Legends game and you can enter our pick a twin-to-win free-to-play game for a chance to win a share of $2 million in bonus bets. How to get this offer in three easy steps. Number one, opt into the pick a twin-to-win free-to-play game. Number two, select which Cavanaere Twins, Haley or Hannah, you think will win the court of Legends one-on-one basketball game hosted at the bank at Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada. And three, if the twin-you select wins the game, you'll win a share of $2 million in bonus bets. All right, let's bring on Dallin Cuff, a broadcaster and a soccer lobbyist and he's a contributor

3:04to the field of 68 TNT, CBS, Westwood One, sports. He's everywhere. You can follow him on Twitter at Dallin Cuff. Dallin, thanks for joining us, man. How you doing on this Monday here before the madness begins? Oh, Pat, Brad, I'm good. We're doing a lot of talking. It is talking season for us, but that is a good thing because that means that March madness is here and the bracket is before us. There you go. Right on. Let's start with Alabama, who are never short of making headlines, whether positive or negative. I've got an interviewing cardinal sin here for you out of the gate, a three-pointer, but I'll try to make it easy. First, NATO said last night, he's disappointed that Alabama got a 4C despite making the big dance for a program record tying six straight time. They lost the Ole Miss, who was the 15-seat in the SEC attorney just a few days ago. Do you think NATO's is right to be disappointed or do you think Bama was correctly given a 4-seed? Second part, what happens now with Aiden Holloway? Their second leading score arrested this morning on a felony drug charge with first-degree

4:07possession of marijuana. Pete Dammell reporting that he is not with the team as they goes through the investigation process from the University of Alabama. I don't know if he's going to suit up on Friday when the tide play Hofstra. That's what I was going to ask you, but I don't know if you know, and then third, should Bama be on upset alert versus the Hofstra pride? A triple barrel out the gate. Yeah, first and foremost, they are appropriately seated, I feel like, so I'm not sure what NATO's complaining about there. Secondarily, bro, I have no clue what's going to happen here. I know it's a big deal. It's your second leading score, the week of an incident tournament. I'm not sure it's a felony charge at his day with the amount of marijuana he had in his possession, so who knows what that entails, how this is going to operate. And the weird thing is, we talked, I started a brat about this last night on Feel of 68. I like Hofstra with the number to begin with. This is before we knew what this had happened, before this had happened, so Hofstra's a team, when you try to, when you have to have upsets,

5:09you got to do a couple things right. You do a style play that you can impose on, you can impose our power conference team. Well, for Hofstra, they play one of the bottom 50 tempos in the country, ironic, given their coach's name, nick name is Speedy, but they play a bottom 50 tempo in the country. They shoot it really well. They don't take a boatload of threes, but it's the top third of the country, but they shoot it at 30, almost 37%, the top 30 in the nation and shooting threes, they're making, I think they can make this thing into a half court game. Cruise Davis is the CA player of the year. He's a guy that can lay shot clock, go get your buck or whatever needs to happen. He can go make it happen. He also has a running mate back there and press an Edmied freshman in the year in the conference, just the kids are studed and the sad part is he probably won't be with Hofstra next year. This is a big time shop window for him. He's already performed well enough during the year, but I think this is a big opportunity for him. And they have some, they read, they often to rebound the ball. Defensive, they're going to have to clean it up, but this one thing that Alabama doesn't really have, they've got great guard play. That's why I'm listening in Holloway, your second best guard is problem, but they don't really have this physical bigs that will dominate them. And then that's been their issue all year. And when you're playing a high major

6:13team, a little bit of mid major team, and you can't exploit that physicality advantage you might have that side of Scott given things, that could be problematic. So I really like Hofstra with the number. I loved it last night. I love it now. And I think Alabama could be an infer in for a tough one to say the least. Yeah, talent. I think that number is going to shrink and shrink rapidly based on that Holloway news. Another keynote here, folks, just a piggyback on what down selling Hofstra number one and effective fugal percentage defense at all of college basketball over the last 30 days. Keep that in mind. All right, down a long time. No, talk me, amigo. People always fall in love with the Cinderella this time of year. Give us your favorite and true Cinderella. So we're not talking about ten seats. How we ain't talking about 11 seats. I need you to go deep into your bag. A number 12 or lower seat. You feel has the best chance at dawn. A glass of a slipper. Who is it? I think it's the best team in the back. And if you haven't seen the best team in the back for the

7:15last five or six weeks, and that's accurate. I think they're better than my only Ohio. They lost on the road to the Red Hawks by four points. And they've only lost one of the time system. And was out of conference. They went down to play Troy in the true road game. We know Troy is good. Troy is in this field winning the sundown. And they lost that game by a couple points. But they can Johnson is an outstanding and outstanding guard. But they're a veteran team. They shoot the heck out of the ball. They play at pace, which I think they can get up and down and be comfortable in that situation. They played other big high major teams. Some they've given a little bit of a scare. Produced game was closer than that score indicates. And I think they're in a good spot with Texas tech. We obviously know JC Topham. We don't know what's going to happen. Christian Anderson, they say he's coming back, but it would capacity, you know, the soft muscle issues growing, hammies are always kind of questionable. So I think they're they're capable of of hanging with them from physical standpoint. They can score with them. And I really like their match. If I like their experience, the first straight time they've been in the tournament, John Gross is a really good coach. And I like their match. I like their spot right now. So give me Akron to win and give him what I

8:17just said about Alabama or Hofstra. And Hofstra could be a potential upset. We could be looking at a 12 13 game in even as 12 for against Hofstra and Akron. Man, there'll be a ton of points and a lot of three's in that game. But Alabama is a make miss team part of the same thing. If they're off, anybody can beat them. So yeah, I think Akron could be the shot and it's a little bit by process of elimination because I like as much as I like Akron, I have to move forward in my bracket winning one game, not two. There aren't other 12 pluses that I'm really into. And I do think that's more speaks to the nature of college basketball right now, where if you're a good mid major player, you don't stay there and build on that career and then threaten teams in the NCAA tournament, you just leave and you go up a level to the high major level. So if they are taking all the best players, you're you're having a bigger separation. So I think there's less teams in that 12 plus line that I really think can win a game here. But I really do like the zips. Yeah, I'm totally with you, my man. Based on the bracket they review last night, I think you when I are extremely symbiotic and a lot of our picks and that brings me into the next question.

9:22I already know the answer, but please share with the audience. Most analysts who cover college basketball across the country seem unified in their chalk belief. Where do you stand? On the number one sees reaching Indianapolis this year, who is the most vulnerable? And what team of the vulnerable takes it down? So what are your what are your thoughts on the chalk and and a team that could exit stage left before reaching circle city? Yeah, I have three of the four ones in my final four. I feel excellent about two of them. That's Arizona and Florida. I think Arizona's have the highest floor all season long. I feel like they're definitely going to get their life there draw a lot too. Anything the weakest two and produce the weakest three in Gonzaga. They do have a tough four or five game Wisconsin or Arkansas. I happen to have Wisconsin in that sweet 16, but overall I think Arizona's got a good spot. I like where U.S. is as well. My challenge with Duke and Michigan and I'll start with Duke as an injury related concern more than anything else. We know there's no Caleb Foster. We know we wonder what Patrick Gumbos going to look like. I've said for weeks he is their most important player. Nobody can approximate

10:22what he does. Defensively for them in terms of all three shots and controlling the paint. Nothing similar on the defensive glass on the offensive glass. His rim running. He's a difference maker and we've seen this in games throughout the year. He's in foul trouble. That team is a little bit different, especially in the defensive end of the floor up to see how good he is. Where he's at. Now I do think they're their draw. Brad has, you know, has all these big brand names and some of its brand names, some of it's real. But I think it's more like they're eight nine game. I think that's the hardest eight nine game. T.C. or Ohio State. I think that's that's a tough spot. Obviously, after that, it's St. John's or Kansas. Kansas is the most enigmatic team in this tournament. I have no idea what to expect from these guys. If they guard at an elite level like they did for parts of this season, and you mix in Bill Self and Melvin Council is doing his thing. And then Darren Peterson actually is efficient. He was really efficient in the games running the play at 18 to 20 minutes. I've been a crush him on. And then when he's played these 30 plus minutes, he's been very inefficient. So I don't know what we're going to get into them. But if they see them in a sweet 16, that's top or could St. John's. It's tough. I think the bottom bracket is a little weaker. I like Michigan State there. But I think Duke has

11:22to have a lot of minefields and it begins with their own health and then it's the team. So that are them concerned about them. I have them surviving it, but don't love it. Michigan, I have going out to Iowa State. I like the top part of Michigan's bracket. They have a lot of teams that can bomb some threes, which we saw Wisconsin do that to them in the regular season and beat them in Ann Arbor. The game last week was a little bit different. But you have Michigan and Iowa State that's your one, two matchups. Iowa State top five in the nation and defensive turnover rate. We know that's one of Michigan's issues is turning the ball over the 17% of possessions. That's 14th and big 10, bottom half in the nation. This is how they keep the cyclones doing. They can keep you on one side in terms of ball screen coverages. They will blitz ball screens. They will pressure early at Kadoa and other guards. And outside of Kadoa, there's no real ball handler. So they're really good. I mean, the act of all American, but he's not actually handling the ball all the time where you want him to handle the ball through ball screens that are blitzing you. But there's no backup now. I'll take case in injuries. I think it's significant. And with Kadoa struggles, and they can pitch it all over the yard a little, but the team can struggle. So give me the

12:25cyclones knock it off, Michigan. That's the team, I think, is the most in concern as it relates to reaching any apples. Oh, I heart you, Dallan. Oh, good stuff. Thug with Dallan coffee, here on Ben Mg on the night on Westwood one sports. He's Brad Evans on Pap oil. Dallan is a contributor to the field of 68 broadcaster for Westwood one sports right here on this varying network. I mean, you can see him on TNT sports Yahoo sports as well. Follow him on Twitter at Dallan cuff. Down Miami of Ohio drew a fiery debate amongst the country as to whether or not they should get into the big dance. Despite the undefeated 31 and 0 regular season, and they got bounced in their first game in the Mac tournament to UMass. Ultimately, they were one of the last four in despite a net rating in the 60s and a Ken Palm rating in the 90s. However, they're playing in Dayton in the first four against SMU on Wednesday. Just a quick reminder, Indiana state got left out two years ago despite a top 30 net rating and a top 40 Ken Palm rating. Do you think the

13:27committee got it right with the Red Hawks? And do you think we will see something like this again any time soon? No, we won't see anything like this again. This is only the seventh time we've seen this since 1979. Now, all those six other teams were one seed and they were high-major teams where they sent from Wichita State, which was just, but hey, don't just say they had what three pros on the roster. So a little different situation. It was unique in the fact that they couldn't either couldn't get scheduled or did not schedule a high-major game or as we call a guarantee game when the high-major pays you X number of dollars, 70, 80, 90, thousand dollars to come play. You usually take your beat and then you go back home. They tried to play some of them. I think they should have tried to play harder to get some on their schedule, but they didn't it benefited them. Here's the deal. The regular season has to matter for something. And you can only play who's in front of you and you can only play your league and you can play your non-confer schedule which you have more control of. That said, they didn't lose a single game within league play. 28 Division 1 games, 31 games overall. If we're not rewarding that, this isn't football where we have 12 spots. We have 37 at large bids, 37. So one, you can give up one to see, does this team

14:33deserve to be? Is it team good enough to be here? We didn't really get to measure them the way we wanted to during the year against other high majors or teams, other tournament teams. They played Akron. As I mentioned before, they beat Akron at home. That was their one quad to win for quite some time. And then I believe right state, it's the very last week right state edge-to-head of the number they needed to have in terms of not breaking to making two quad one games and two quad one wins. But all that said, they deserve to be there because they won every single game. Now we get to answer some questions. I was surprised they put them in Dayton though, guys. I thought they would want the story. I thought they would say, you know, we're just going to plug them right in the Wednesday. Third, they want to fill this up all week. But honestly, they went about their process in an appropriate way. The team deserves to be there. But where they should be seated. Well, given their resume, they should be seated and date. So I appreciate what they did. I didn't think they would do it, but I'm glad that they went through their process and the numbers bear it out. They got to play themselves in. Now it could be a good thing for them at the end for them because you get what's called a unit. The multiple teams you get in there. And the unit is amount of money you get just for being an attorney. And each win, you get another unit. Well, this year's the unit's going to be somewhere between six and seven hundred thousand dollars.

15:35So that's a significant amount of money for a mid major team. They get two units for two Mac teams. And now having this opportunity to play in Dayton, a more like-minded opponent, a opponent that made you can beat more than a six-eleven game. Okay, roll it out there. If you win, you get more money for the program. Now you're in the big dance. You grow, you're growing your popularity because the public is hammering them right now in terms of betting lines. When it came out of seven and a half, and I think it's down to six and a half, I love SMU in the spot, but nonetheless, I'm glad the right hawks are there. Let's let them toss it up and see what they can do. Yeah, person, I think wins that game. I should be a very exciting one to say the least. Now, the last one for me, me, me, me, go, big blue nation. Jumped all over Kentucky immediately in its seven-ten match up against Santa Clara, the Midwest region. The idea of field blue-colored glasses are swaying their view negatively. I can't a herb syntax squad. Spring to mild ups at despite the early tip at 11.30 PM Eastern time on Friday. Right now, Kentucky is paired by three

16:36and a half points on Betim GM. Dalin, fade or follow the Wildcats, laying the three and a half. I am fading the Wildcats here. I like Santa Clara in this spot. I think that obviously a line movement was opened at two and a half right away, and then I think people, it's the public bet in these brand names. I mean, you get it. Kentucky is one of the biggest ones. It's not the biggest one. So they got hammered and that moved up to four and a half. You told me not to down to three and a half. I like Santa Clara. I think they're, I've seen that, again, can you shoot the ball? Can you score the ball? Can you hang with these guys athletically? I think that's a Kentucky team that has some issues. They need to be need to play defense. They have a small margin of of of error. And if they defended a high level and they and they are able to, you know, get play inside out where I mean, by that it's not throwing necessarily balls to to to marina or marina or or garrison the block. It's they need to get feed the paint away attacking. Aberdeen attacking feed the paint play from there. Score in there, kick out from there. They can be good. The problem is they fall in love with some three sometimes. I think they also retain that a little mentality issue. Maybe they hear

17:38the Santa Clara talk that helps them. But seeing a Santa Clara pose across from them as a tendency to pose to another high major team, I think is is not good for their psyche. I think Santa Clara is good man. I think they as in the shoot it. They share it. They don't turn it over. They turn you over. They can speed up some guys. I really like their team. I like their spot. I like them with the number. I have been my bracket. I like it more with the number. I took it a four and a half last night once a new duck. I felt like that was going to come back down. But I like the situation there. In right now in a force of your big blue nation. If this team got to a sweet 16, it would be a massive win for this Kentucky team. They are still playing without the two best players. They have for a long time now. But they found out something about themselves that you've got to play hard and compete. They weren't even doing that early in the year. So that's like table stakes for them. And sometimes they don't do it. And if they don't do it, even on the tournament game, you're in real trouble. Good breakdown. Talking to Dalin coffee for another two to three minutes or so unbed MGM tonight here on Westwood one sports. Dalin, maybe you don't foresee a two seed going down to a 15 seed this year. We saw it in 21, 22 and 23. But is there a two seed who could be in

18:45big trouble in a second round game? I know Brad just asked you about Santa Clara versus Kentucky. Are there other seven verse 10 matchups where you think the winner could pose a huge threat to either Houston, Yukon Iowa State or Purdue. And I'll take out Iowa State because I know you said you have them knocking out Michigan. So do you see Houston, Yukon or Purdue may be in trouble in a second round. Yeah, I think Purdue is the weakest two seed. I think they're in a dangerous spot. This is and I know we just watched them win the big 10 tournament. We have a recency bias. Those were good wins. They performed well. That said, I can't forget the 12 games prior to that where they were six and six and defensive. They were getting carved up and they lost at home, you know, multiple times. Now, we know Illinois is good and you've got other teams like the Illinois was constant or good, but you lost those games. Those are home games and sometimes you got kind of dominated with them. They're a team that doesn't guard that well, but I think it's good as Braden Smith is in pick and roll situation when you put more athletic physical bigs on him. He can be in some trouble. So I think Mizzou. Bear my Mizzou is playing at home guys. I'm playing at St. Louis.

19:50That is the smallest line I've seen on any of these games right now. I was a point and a half Missouri Miami. I like Mizzou as a dog, but the straight-money line in that play, I think that Miami have to they're playing through their bigs. They are playing through Uday. They're playing through Renault and the one thing Mizzou has is some size. They are physical at the 3, 4, and 5 spot. They're big to physical. They can get in you. They can disrupt you. I like their spot situation right there and I like them playing at home for sure. I think that stuff can matter in a situation like this. Secondarily, when they play Purdue, I think that same stuff factors. Your offensive rebound, the ability, they get to align 8 tonne. Purdue doesn't tend to file a lot, but you need teams to take it at them and I think that's what Mizzou is going to be able to do. And defensive, I think you're going to see a team that's able to guard them and guard and disrupt a little bit breaking Smith with their length and athleticism in their guards and he's going to have a problem. You can get into him a bit. You can change the game that you can get at him when he's on defense. Now you've really changed the game. I like where they're at. Missouri did not finish the season playing that well, but they had a tough road toward the end there. I like them winning this game. I like them beating Purdue. That's my upset pick.

20:53And there's a pretty large price. I think I'll go last night. I think it's 12 to 1 to get to the sweet 16 to get through Miami and Purdue, but give me the Tigers at home. Wow. Oh, hi. Good stuff down. We appreciate the time, man. It'll be here before we know it. I mean, 24 hours from now, we'll have a first four game, but in less than three days, it'll officially begin. We appreciate you so much, man. Thank you. Anytime. Be well, guys. Thanks, Alan. There you go. Alan Cough, big fan of the Mizzou Tigers. 20 and 12. They are the 10 seed in that West region, or anything's they beat Miami, and then he thinks they can knock off the second seed Purdue Boilermakers. Not enough love for the big Oscar Cough, but I get it, man. Missouri's got some size as well. And I think that's a there could be a guard disadvantage there. They could take away the advantage that Britain Smith normally brings. All right. We'll take a short break. 310 840 4910 is

21:54the phone number to join the show 310 840 4910 when we come back. We'll talk a little NBA, and then we're going to get right back to the brackets. So there is a couple of big NBA games coming up. We'll preview a couple of them. We'll take your phone calls as well, though. On the march, man, there's a 310 840 4910. We got a lot more bracket, brackets, picks, predictions coming up for you all throughout this show. So don't go anywhere. He's Brad Evans. I'm Pat Boyle. This is Ben MGM tonight at Westwood One Sports. We are your official home of the NCAA tournament. Listen to every free, every dunk, and every buzzer beater. Download the free Westwood One Sports app now and catch every second of March Baptist. Westwood One Sports. At Navy Federal, we're a trusted partner of the military community, and we're here to guide you through these uncertain times. Help you diversify your portfolio and take control of your finances. We offer a 13-month special certificate with a rate more than double the national average, and members can access financial advisors from one of America's best financial advisory firms

22:56awarded by USA Today. Learn more at NavyFederal.org slash save more. Navy Federal credit. Our members are the mission. Saving products insured by NCAA investment products are not insured, not obligations of Navy Federal and may lose value. Check engine, ABS or maintenance light on. Take the guesswork out of your warning lights with O'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASC certified master technicians. And if you need help, we could recommend a shop for you. Ask for O'Reilly Veriscan today. Texting roles you in recurring automated marketing text messages can sit in our required to purchase message and data rates may apply. The team's looking good this season. High things so. Man, I miss playing football. Ever since I turned 40, I just can't find that fire I used to have. Think it could be lower testosterone? What do you mean? I was feeling the same way. After 40, the body has less testosterone. And men lose their edge. That's why I take new genics Total T2. That's the testosterone booster, right? Yes, but Total T2 is their brand

23:59new formula. That sky rocket's nitric oxide levels in as little as three hours. Since I started taking it, I've been lifting like when we played for Coach Carter. My energy is way up, and it even spiced up things between me and the Mrs. Are they still given out complimentary bottles? Yep, just in the text. Text meter to 42424 for your complimentary bottle of new genics Total T2. The next generation testosterone booster text now and will include a bottle of new genics thermo X our newest most powerful vet burner ever. Absolutely free. Text meter to 42424. That's M-E-T-E-R to 42424. The statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose treat cure or prevent any disease. What's going on? I'm Arche Manning, Viori athlete and college quarterback. Whether I'm running, training, traveling, or just unlining at home, I love doing it in my core shorts from Viori. With a breathable box or brief liner, a quick to dry, super versatile, and stand-up to even my most intense training sessions. Plus, they come in three inceems and a ton of colors. Ready to try a pair? Go to Viori.com, slash arch, and get 20% off at checkout. I think you're going to love them as much as I do.

25:03That's V-U-R-I dot com slash ARCH. Get 20% off your first order. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any US or yours over $75 and free returns. Have a great day. The Bleacher Report app is your destination for sports. Right now, the NBA is heating up, March Manus is here, and MLB is almost back. Every day there's a new headline, a new highlight, a new moment you've got to see for yourself. That's why I stay locked in with the Bleacher Report app. For me, it's about staying connected to my sports. I could follow the teams I care about, get real-time scores, breaking news, and highlights all in one place. Download the Bleacher Report app today so you never miss a moment. We get it. Attention spans just aren't what they used to be. Heds in social media and eyes on Netflix. But what do people do with their ears? Well, for one, they're listening to audio. Americans spend 4.4 hours with audio every day.

26:05Oh, and you want the proof? Well, you just sat through this ad that's now approaching 30 seconds. What could you say to a potential customer in 30 seconds? Let Odyssey put together a media plan tailor-made for your unique marketing needs. Advertise with Odyssey. Visit ads.odyssey.com