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The 14 Teams With the MOST On the Line

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The 14 Teams With the MOST On the Line

The Field of 68: After Dark Podcast

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The Field of 68: After Dark Podcast — The 14 Teams With the MOST On the Line. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

Today's episode is brought to you by Apple Ads. Ads on Apple Maps are changing the way local businesses get discovered. Reach customers when it counts. Right when they turn, I'm looking into I'm going. Bear in decision-making mode, actively searching for businesses like yours and deciding where to go. Customers can easily call you, visit, and more from the same place they're viewing your ad. And all of this happens on Apple Maps, a privacy first environment that respects customers and helps them discover new places. Get started with ads on Apple Maps today, and for a limited time, receive 15% credit back on your monthly ads spend for a year, up to $1,000 per month, terms apply. Head to ads.apple.com slash maps to get started. Try business like never before with ads on Apple Maps. Instacart makes grocery shopping easier, and just because you're not doing the shopping yourself,

doesn't mean you don't care how it's done. With Instacart Shopper Notes, you can get particular about what you want right in the app. Like, rotisserie chicken that's extra crispy, steak with marbling the Romans would have loved, and lettuce you'd actually pick yourself. Just leave a note for your shoppers so they can get it right for you without having to ask. That way you can get groceries just how you like. Download the Instacart app and shop today. Hello and welcome to another episode of the Field of 68. We are live in Alan, Texas at UAC media day. We just spent about what five and a half hours getting with the coaches, talking with the players, talking with the commissioner down here, and it was great. But making your ass impeccable. Don't forget that. You did. You did. You did. Be me and pick up the the single sport that you spend your entire life on. And it was that first time that I've spent that I've even seen. If you play. I'll say this. If you played 365 straight days,

you still wouldn't be me. If I played 365 straight days, I would be dead first. I would I would do a header off of a bridge. But you would still not be me. I would rather. You're your your skills, your mobility, your agility. It's just you cannot talk about anybody's mobility or agility. Those are the three things you can't do. Anyone who's agility is pretty good. Rick Patino for his age. He's going to have to be agile with the roster that he has. So the reason why we're recording this right now is there was a ruling last night in Indiana that cleared trade white that clear. Sam out of San Alexis for now that cleared Kenyane Charleston, which is all state for now that cleared Malik, but I am. For now that cleared team ellipsy to I know state along with the number of other players. Yeah. And it got me thinking because between the lawsuits for fifth year players and the unknown eligibility status of a number of

the European international and when it comes to one of the guys for St. John's the the lawsuits for their eligibility. There are a lot of teams that have a lot in the air and I kind of wanted to go through I've the 14 teams that I've determined have the most that they have to figure out between now and when the season starts or whenever this eligibility stuff ends. You did some real research. I did some I did some real research. So number one on my list. The team with the most on the line. I'm not going with the way Nellis you to me to me at his St. John's. Because if you give me every player that is currently committed to St. John's and they play. Yeah. I think that is a national title. I don't think we're talking enough about how good a team with Quinnellis. Two days of who Key Sean Hall, Bob a car, Sonnet. Agreed. Rebelly. Who's the big the big guy with the sideshow Bob here. I'm blanking on his name. Who? I'll think of it. Keep talking. But I think that their national title. Go with those air being be Willie. Probably would be number one for me. Just because like

there may not be a team. If he gets nobody eligible. Like out of those guys, all the international guys and the Robin. Robin prey was the name I could try shooter. I mean, Ellis, you could literally have like six dudes and a couple injuries would make it so air being be Willie would have to play the walkouts. What air being be Willie? I just what did it just ridiculous. Why? Why is it ridiculous? Just the ridiculous name. Air be Willie. That's my new name for him. I just feel like the I get it. Yes. You're right. St. John's goes from a final four contender with everybody potentially. We don't know. We don't know how good some of these guys are going to translate. I think they're pretty damn good. I think it everybody to where yes, if they don't have Quinn Ellis, Bob, Karosane, Keishan Hall, those three specifically you're talking about team that's probably yeah. They're probably

fourth, fifth in the league and a borderline NCAA tournament team. I'm just telling you LSU if they don't get anybody eligible. I mean, not have a team. It's those two. They legitimately may not have a team in February. It's those they may have to forfeit. It's those two programs overall. And Ellis, you the names that they're waiting on Donovan, Den, Sky Clark, are fifth year guys, Arjun Lewis is a completely different deal. But he is also another lost. He's the one that shouldn't of all these guys. He's the one that to me has no case, no case. All the other guys, you can make a case again. I don't love it right now because of the chaos that it's created with college basketball. But I understand it. If you want to tell me that Keishan Hall should get another year with all these classes, 2022 is that the NCAA screwed up by when they when they announced it, the five or five argument mind with that. I'm okay with it. I just feel like we are now in the end of September. And we don't know like there's just something wrong with all this. My

feeling is hey guys, love you, class of 2022. I understand. Yes, you maybe got didn't get what everybody else got. But you know what you got? You got the best goddamn four years of compensation. I hear you ever. I hear you. So like be grateful for that. And I tend to agree. If I was them, I would also be fighting of course for the Keishan Hall, the ability to make three million or go make 50 grand overseas. Yes. I don't. The only thing that is kind of I was I was more firmly on your side. And then someone said to me the other day, the argument was like the 2022 guys signed up for four years and they got there four years. That's right. But 2023, 2024 and 2025, I ended up for four years. Yeah. And they're going to get five. And that's the one where it's like, yeah, I never really thought about it from that specific angle. But so I think St. John's and LSU at the two with the most on the line. St. John's, I mean, I think you could put Gensag in that that. Well, that's why I was

going to go to three dudes. That's where I was going to go to next. But I just on on LSU, I what does he do? Like when it comes to St. John's, they don't get those guys eligible. You're going to be starting like a Columbia transfer at the point. Your mediocre in the you know, it's going to be so upset. And again, the international guys are right now. Quinn Ellis was a Euroleague player who probably made I'm guessing here. But let's call it a million dollars last year in the Euroleague. It's 24 years old. Now a lot of these international guys, if they made basically the numbers around 30 grand a year, if they made less than 30 grand, they're eligible. They're fine. They're already cleared. Like most of the guys are like Pepperdine. They got a bunch of international guys. Most of them are clear ready to go. These guys that made real money overseas, which some people will take issue with me saying real money. But those who made 500 million, whatever it is, and are 24 years old. Yeah, the NCAA is basically saying, you know what, we're not rushing to do

this. We're not going to rush it all. We're going to wait, wait, wait. And we'll probably deny you. And some of them will probably make you pay the money back. You know, whatever was over the necessary expenses. And then we might maybe they'll suspend in some. Maybe they'll rule some and eligible. Maybe they'll just make some pay back the money to charity and you're fine. You're good to go, depending on how much it was, the tears. But I think they're also hoping that a lot of these international guys, I get to a point one of them said it did it the other day, where they just say, you know what, I'm going back home. I'm going back to Serbia. I'm going back to Croatia. I'm going back to Russia, wherever it is. And I'm going to take my 200 grand now, because that's a burden of hand. As opposed to, hey, I'm going to wait and risk not being able to play here. Yeah. The, the, my base issue was just the age thing, right? Like, were you old with one year of eligibility? You're, you're, you're renegades like, no, no, no, no, we don't want to college. We don't want you. And I don't want you. The, the whole, I understand that this is now a professional endeavor

with the money that is involved. But I still think that the core of what we want college athletics to be is giving people opportunity to make educational component. Maybe some education, but giving, but giving Americans, not just Americans, but giving people opportunities and giving it the, the 18 year old opportunity to come in and develop and grow and not being, but we don't need 24 year old higher guns for a year. No, no, we absolutely do not. 23 20. I care. If you've got, I think it should be in, it'll probably not happen ever. But I think it's one where like, hey, if you don't, if you only have one year of eligibility left and you're coming from international, no, you're not, you're not even eligible to play college basketball. Yeah. So number one, the number two on my list are St. John's and LSU. Okay. So St. John's, let's go through it for a minute here. Let's go through it. I'm like, again, we just said expectations with Quinellis, with Boba Carsane, with Keeshaan Hall, with Rick Bettino as a head coach. Is this a final

four caliber team? Yeah. Bob Carsane, by the way, Armando Baycott told me this kid is a stud. It could be an all-league player. To me, it's not even a conversation. Yeah. Right. Like if you have Quinellis, you have Tunde S for your Boba Carsane, you have like that, that trio alone. Keeshaan Hall, who, me, if anybody can figure Keeshaan out and make him a winning basketball player, it's Rick Bettino. Yes. Is it not? You give me, you give me those four guys, and then you throw on the EN Jackson, then you throw on the Rubin Prey, then you throw on the Rebellion. Yeah. Like that is, that's a team that can win a national championship with Rick Bettino coaching him. Yeah. I don't know how good Quinellis is, but I know he played high level Euroleague. It doesn't, like, he's, that's not even somebody compared him to team in the Lipsy. But I don't even think you need him to be great. You just need him to be like a good solid 24-year-old point guard. Like you just be a grown up in the room. Right. You got enough around you. Be a grown up in the room with a bunch of guys that are going to go out there and check up shots. Like Keeshaan Hall's out there to score. Yeah. That's going to check. Neil and John and Tunde yes, those guys are out there to score. So

have the grown up in the room that can settle things down. Yeah. And that's what you need. So that, that is a team that can win a national championship. And without him, we're both agreeing that they're like, if all four aren't there, they're like an NCAA tournament. Rick Bettino is not going to coach a team that doesn't go to the tournament. Here's the craziest thing. All right. So St. John's could be a final four team. If none of those teams are eligible, Quinalis, Bob Carzane, Keeshaan Hall, Reed Bailey, and Donnie Freeman. Because don't forget Donnie Freeman, but he's injured. So the five guys that they have committed that wouldn't play, where would that team rank for you nationally? They would just throw those like a top five team right there that wouldn't be able to play the D.H. Yeah. And I guess you're right. Like you're losing five guys off. Again, you can have 50. I don't know what they have rostered. But all right, let's keep this, let's keep this moving. Because the number three on my list, you just mentioned. And that's not going to we're just skipping over Airbnb Willie of like what the realistic expectations are. If he's got a full team, I mean, skip it over. No, I want to know what you think. Top 25.

Top 25. You don't think Donovan Dent Sky Clark, let's throw RJ Lewis out. Because I don't think like he's different. He's different. But everybody else, the internationals, and the big question is like, are these all international guys going to be cleared? Let's, we're arguing. Let's say, let's just say they have everyone's including RJ. No, I'm not including RJ. Everybody else, three internationals Dent and Sky Clark, which is your back court. And then the other guys they have I think they're sweet 16 team. Will Wade teams to think they can win the whole thing. I guess that otherwise, I don't think he would have went this route. And he's on a polygetic about it. But he's, it's well, he's going to lean all the way in. I don't, I don't like it. I'm not a fan of it. Do you think I respect the fact that he's, he's just to get the backfires. I will say this. I don't like that that this is the way that he's going. I get it. He's going tentals in. And if you were one of the people to have now, what I'm saying is if you were on that roster, then you would, if I was a

LSU player, I'm riding with that guy all day. Like he's, he's tentals in on what he's doing and riding with us. I wonder if I don't like it from the SEC on RJ Lewis if they step in. That's what I think I would think the SEC left up in a man. Yeah, let's keep this on track. Okay. All right. Because we're at the end of a long day. Yeah. This is going to get off track. I think Donovan Dez guy Clark, Salud, uh, Soudunian, Abdubish here, Modi, Abate, Bryce Desert, Michael Ruzic. Yeah. That's, to me, that's top 25 good they can get to a second weekend. Yeah, I agree. I think there's sweet 16 team with everybody, not name RJ Lewis. And I think if they don't, what? It's just, I'm just saying I don't, I don't include him in the same group. I know, I know. It's just, it's just funny. Um, I think without those guys, let's say they don't have Dan Clark and a couple of the international guys get denied. Yeah. I mean, I think they're, they're basically what

Matt McMahon did. And the question I have for you is if it backfires and will wait, says, well, we'll start over next year. Who cares? We've stuck anyway. That's what he said yesterday. He did. We still can't anyway. Matt McMahon sucked. Matt McMahon at least didn't cheat. It just did it the right way. Yes. Um, but yeah, I don't think I think there's zero pressure on them. None. Like job security stuff. As long as like Kiffin wins. As long as like Kiffin's good. It's, it's basketball. It's a bonus. It's a side. If they don't win, he tried to do something. And it didn't work. Like it, it is what it is. Number three on my list. So I think, I think number three and number four are also kind of arguable that we can debate about. For me, number three is Gonzaga. Cause I think so much of what a Mark few offense needs is a great point card. Cause it's going to be, you're going to put them in ball screens. You're going to get big guys to seal.

Brain Huff is perfect for roll until the rim, pinning a guy under the basket. Massamba job is perfect for doing kind of the chat home grid stuff in that 2021 team that almost went undefeated. I think Davis Fogel is going to be one of the breakout stars in college basketball to me. I love the fit of Isaiah Harwell as like your third or fourth guy who's just going to kind of come in there and do a job. Yeah. You got a, you got a bunch of role players internationals that won't have to do too much if Given Bennett, Choncy Wiggins and Zabian Leigh get cleared. Should also mention Nathan DeSouza, who is the euro that they have running the point. And I also want to mention the reason they're in this spot is because Jack Kale, who was a top 40 pick in the NBA draft was committed, decided that Juni is going to stay in the draft. And then Mario Sound Supere, who was supposed to be their starting point guard. Everything was the end of July. Took some money and went back and is playing at Baleancy. Now I was going to be a starting point guard in the ACB. So you know he's a stud with Zabian Leigh, who I think is a perfect fit for

what Mark Fue wants out of a point guard. And Given Bennett and even Choncy Wiggins, I think this is a top five team. Oh, top five. Top five potential. I'm sorry. I think that like three season, top 10, not 15. I'm not ready to top five potential. I think they're capable of getting to the final four. I'll set the overhunder for their seed line and the tournament at 2.5. I just say that I don't be good. Kits are in the pack 12 and they'll be good in the league. What would my point is without them? I still don't think like Zabian Leigh is good, solid point guard. What do you act like Choncy Wiggins is like, was PJ Hall? It climbs it? No, I'd say Zabian Leigh is on Bennett. It's the point guard. It's point. Yeah. And then around it, they got good players. They're not overpowered. They're good. They're good. Their Gensag is to me a top 10 to 20 team with all those guys without them. They're in trouble. No, not in the pack 12, but they're going to be in trouble as far as they're not going to be a top 25 team without without those guys. I'd be surprised. Again,

in the pack 12, they might be and they might be good. Oh, so here's here's my question then. Are we overreacting to the impact of Zabian Leigh who by the end of last season was kind of like the sixth ish man. He's good. Here's the thing. He'll be very good in that league. But then when you get him out of that league and they're playing against high level to me, high level athlete, like I think he got exposed last year going from the the IV to the SEC. I think he got exposed. He's a good player, but you're going to need him to be more than a good player right now. It can tag because frankly, they don't have a star around them. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. 10 to 20 with everybody. I think you got to start a stud. I'd bet too much. I'd bet 10 to top five potential. I would have them somewhere like the 10 to 15 range in my season ranking. I think you got a stud and brain huff at the post. I think like I said, Missamba job. Go on. No, who they play and then I conference to Gonzaga Red. A lot of people there, B&B Willie.

B&B Willie. Yeah. So Gonzaga's potentially number three. It sounds like you might be higher, make ranked the other team that I have as a potential number three. And that's Texas test. Yes. Because they have Darren Williams. Yep. They have Donovan Atwell and they have Jameikol Stillwell, who are still all up in the air. And I believe all three of them are in the Texas lawsuit. They go they go to it. Honestly, they're they're a fine of four caliber team if they get everybody. They're a final four caliber team. They brought in Cruz Davis, who's awesome from Hofstra. Drake Gibbs, Lollhorn. If you could tell me that. Yeah, that JT top and that will be yes. Obviously. If he's ready in February, he's just got to be like 95% in February. And this team holy shit, they could be. I don't think it wouldn't the whole thing, but they could be in the equation if everything I don't think right. I don't think that they're that far away. Right. Me either. Because JT top and if he's healthy is like player of the year caliber. Yeah. Right. RC Hadam is

like player of the year last year for a while before he got hurt. In this role, Darren Williams was an all-American caliber player. Right. He doesn't you can't. He's the number two guy. He's the number two guy. Donovan Atwell might be might as well be the best like spot shooter that you're going to find in college basketball. Cruz Davis and will throw and drag Gibbs Lollhorn absolute buckets at the point. And we know that's all that. Grand wants at the point. Yep. Yep. So I think you know what? I think that they're number three. Actually, I'm going to go by right now. They are. Number three. Side is higher to me than Gonzaga's. They're upside is higher. LSUs that the kind of we don't know. But we know here. We know we know exactly what everyone's going to give you pretty much because we've seen it. So and we know Grant Macousen is on a lead coach. Yeah. Like a really, really good coach. huge home court advantage and Lubbock that United Supermarket Serena. I think Texas Tech becomes yes in that top tier in that top tier with everybody eligible. And healthy. And healthy.

The reason why I don't have not today. Yes. Not today. But I think Topin's going to be fine for January. Yeah. I hope so, man. I hope so. The big 12 as a whole has so many moving. I didn't realize this. It's like sat down on the look to the big 12 as a whole has so many moving parts. Because I think RJ got free. I'm going to have a hot take coming up. Hold on. All right. Let me go. Let me go. Let me go through this list and you can give you a hot take. RJ got free at Arizona. Yep. If he is eligible and can play, I think that that changes so much for them. That makes them be national title good as opposed to being like. Well, it makes their biggest weakness. It feels their biggest weakness. It feels the it feels a hole that is not bad. They have a co-op beat sized hole and RJ got free can be, you know, the Walmart version of co-op. Yeah. It's all you really need. Good college player. Yeah. That's what he is. And that's probably all you need in that role. Fifth year RJ got. I'm checking off. It's awesome. Fifth year RJ got free. Freshme your co-op are not all that different. No, you probably has players. You're probably

right at that point. The same thing would be Jackson Kohler. Jackson Kohler would be one of these. Conversation. I think Kohler means a lot more to BYU than I think you did a month ago. I don't if you change your tune a little bit. But I think with Kohler a lot, I would just have I think RJ got free. I think that's a good thing. RJ got free. Yes. Arizona's upside is a little is higher. With God free Arizona becomes a final four contender. I don't think with Kohler. I'm not saying BYU is a final four contender. I'm saying they go from a team that I have a lot of questions about without Kohler to like with Kohler. I think they're a sweet 16 team. Yeah. Bear. Yeah. You're probably a little more bullish on them than I am. But yes, your point is. I mean, they got a freaking really good point guard who it's his team now in Rob Wright. Right? No, I'm not saying Bruce Branch. Bruce Branch is like he's getting it. They can get there. I think that they're more of a top 25 is team to me than I'm. They generally take a while too. You know, BYU will take a while. I think if Bruce Branch comes on like Nate Aement did last

year. And I think they're similar in some ways by February BYU could look like a completely different team. Yeah, but they have to have Jackson Kohler. Yep. So you have those you have those two. Yep. Uh, Taman Lipson. I was why you a tournament team in your opinion without Kohler. French? I would not bet against 76 teams. I would not bet against Kevin Young and Robert Wright doing enough to be able to get BYU's at the tournament. Yeah, they'll get in. I just I think that it might be like a playing games newsfest. They're not there by the weekend. One of the goals that we had when we launched the field of 68-60 years ago was simple. Midnight basketball. Midnight madness marked the start of practices many years ago. More recently, the season began with ESPN's 24-hour college basketball marathon, which featured games being played throughout the night. And after years of building up to it, we had the field of 68 are thrilled that we have officially brought back the marathon a new kind of midnight madness. Beginning at the stroke of midnight on Monday, November 2nd and running for a full 24 hours, the field of 68

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tool a try. Take this stress out of shopping and find coverage that fits your life. On your terms, progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. Then Iowa State obviously with Damon Lipsy, which is a different conversation. I'm in my hot tech. I know you have some of that here in a little bit, but I also want to mention Kansas, a team that might have the most talented player in college basketball this year, and a guy that you think might be the national player that your entire instokes. Has tray white, perfect complimentary role guy, and Melvin council, perfect complimentary role guy, both in the middle of lawsuits trying to get in. We have reached a world where tray white is trying to go to the same college for two years in a row. Think like that. I don't know how council, I mean, I talked to somebody recently. I don't see how council gets eligible, but again, these days who the hell knows, right? Well, it's why it would be huge for Kansas, because they could play small. They're going to play small anywhere because they're five men,

or probably the worst five men that that bill sells ever had a Kansas. They just are. I love how you have the negative spin of it. They're just dirt, roaches, they're the worst, they're the worst five men that ever have. You couldn't just say, they're, I don't think that they're five men. They're the worst five men. Anyway, I think then with tray white, you could play more small ball. They're already going to play some small ball. But now with tray white, yeah, if they get them in get them eligible and all that and the ifs and what's in whatever, yeah, I think Kansas is then, but I still don't think it accomplishes what bill is going to need, which is, you know, a high high level five men. I just don't think palm Maya and Christian Reeves together. I just don't know enough. I don't I think Kansas. It's just going to be good, but they will always be good under bill, but we talked a lot about Piran's going to have to be the national player of the year for Kansas. We talked a lot. We talked a lot last year, especially this was because of what Rick Patino said, the sweet 16,

about whether or not blue blood still exists. And I think for the most part, for Duke, for Carolina, for, for Kentucky, for Yukon, you haven't really seen a drop off because they've been able to raise the money that they need. And well, the program like Yukon probably doesn't have as much money. This is the three they have the coaching that they need to be able to make it work. Whereas I think with Kansas, you are seeing the impact of of players preferring to go to a place where they can make the most money as opposed to going to the place that can have the most place. But see, okay, yes, I hear you, but what do you think Yukon has this year? I would guess 17ish somewhere around there that they paid somewhere in that vicinity, 17, maybe 18. It's right. Give it, give it a million either way for what for what they are. Yes. Yeah, yeah. Kansas probably had 60. Okay, not that big of difference. Now, Yukon, you're getting more a little bit more discount right now.

Number one, I want to guarantee because the biggest, a lot of what the big east is doing, the biggest programs. It's better. So you see where it's coming instead of saying, we have to raise this and we can get you this. Do you think, and I haven't thought about this before, but it just hit me, do you think that the question of is Bill self going to be there? Has any impact? Yes. Well, it's a year by year thing. So you still, you do, you think it has an impact on them getting us? Well, we were having conversations about that. When guys were, wow, the portal stuff was going on. So yes, that 100, he put out the, yeah, he put out the statement at the final four that he was coming back, but we're leading into that. You're right. There were a lot of kids that had already made the decision, but it was also like even he made the statement. But I mean, you're, if I'm hearing it, then no, you are too. It wasn't like, there wasn't like a, everyone was saying, yeah, yeah, he's going to be there for a long, they were still some like,

well, it could, it could be gone in the April stuff. You just never, you just never know, I mean, again, you never know how it was. What's going to happen? But yeah, I would say, you know, to me, Kansas high end, could they make a final four? I mean, I think it'd be hard with those, those pigs, but if Tyron Stokes ends up being the 99th percentile outcome of what he could be, yes, they can make a final four because the dude is the he's, he's in MF. He's, he's the like, yeah, take away all of the outside factors and maybe some of the, I don't want to say personality factors, but like a lot of the, the red flags that come with Tyron Stokes, when it comes to just talent, he is not quite at the level of a Cooper flag or a cam booster and AJ DeBonza, but like he's in that conversation when you have to have that conversation. All right, as soon as you're done piring off this text, we need your Iowa State Taiman Lipsy hot take. So my, my hot take is without Taiman Lipsy, if they don't have them. And I think the deal with

Taiman was like, he didn't really want to do this. You know, he's, he's, he's got a exhibit 10, making, calling 100 grand. Let's call him. Obviously, he can make a million dollars going back to Iowa State. I think his whole deal was like, I don't want to put my name out there until I absolutely have to like, I don't want to show up on campus until I know this thing is 100%. And it's not, but I think he felt like at some point I got to put my name in one of these, one of these deals. But the difference with Lipsy and all these other guys is Lipsy could show up on November 2nd and TJ could just hand him the ball. And like, he doesn't have to be there any day before that and hand him the ball and be like, all right, let's go. I mean, again, the kids different. He, he's everything that's right about college basketball. So like, I kind of want to see Taiman Lipsy back. Like, there aren't many of these guys that I want to see back. The thing about it is coming back to the place that he's been, he's done it the right way. He hasn't been paid millions.

He's just, I don't know. That's the one. That's the one where it's, it's a little bit of a different scenario than like, I don't want to throw Keishan Hall under the bus. But like, he's been at four places in four years, right? He's on hall, chased the bag every single year and treated it like a professional endeavor. And like, it was a college basketball player. He's good for college basketball. He is everything that's right about college basketball. And that's, I think eventually, if we ever get this to the point where like, did the, we get this under control, the incentives need to be staying in a place for more than one year. You can make more money or something. That's not a separate word. It has to be collectively barging, which is, what oh, student, he again, so with, let's call it with Lipsy, I would say I was staker's back to being what they've been. You know, sweet 16 type team, top 20, top 15, maybe top 10 team with Lipsy, once you get Torrey back. Now, if they don't have Lipsy, remember, killing Torrey's

out till at least January. It's like, here's my hot take. Iowa State is not a top 25 team until killing Torrey gets back. They are not a top 25. I will not put them. Now, you may win out here. And it goes against everything that I've said, which is any team coach by T.J. Altsenberger. I just, I just, I just, I'm not painter. I'm bringing up their roster to so I can have in the front of me. So, right. This, our rule has been like any team coach by T.J. Altsenberger, Matt Painter, we put in the top 25. Don't we preseason pretty much? And there's probably a couple of other guys like that is. So I'd have, I'd have Iowa State top 25. It would, no, let's say, if you're lying to be a Kwan Johnson, sophomore year, Jamarian Bateman, Leon Bond, Trace Singleton, you can't, and maybe you throw Ryan Prader instead, but you give me only because T.J. is coaching. Well, yeah. Okay. Fine. I'm just telling you that roster is not a top 25 team without killing Tori or Tame and Lucy. It's not. It's not. It's not. Again, we can put them

at 25. We put them at 25. If you want to do that, we can do that same thing with like Purdue and the roster that they put them at 24. Yeah. But like they're, they look at their not top 25 rosters yet. But if you look at top 25 teams, all of them are their coaches. Yes. Okay. What's there? There. Yeah. Like that's again, I would not put them in the top. But that's the value of coaching. There's a lot of guys where it's like you rank them higher than maybe what the talent level is because of the coaching. I would make the argument right now that if you look at UConn right now, and you look at the production that these guys have made and who the names are, that the idea of ranking that team as a potential top four or five team in the country based off of what those guys have done is kind of crazy. But you're going to put them there because I would say it's best player off the team in Tory right now. Correct. When you say they're highest upside guy. He's often, he is not playing until he's anywhere, which is why you wouldn't have him as like the top 10ish team that everyone's going to have him with him. But I'm having top 10. There's,

I'm just never going to bet against TJ Alcoburg or funny. You're not able to just tell in you. Look at the roster that he had the first year he got there and he got them to the sweet I know. I know. I can you know what 25 25. Well, you can doubt. We'll agree to put him at 25. TJ TJ, I just want you to remember that when good men, when Jeff Goodman here at UAC Media Day said that you aren't good enough to get your team to the top 25. Remember who had your back? Remember, I am the guy that recognizes how good this Iowa State team can be. Not Jeff Goodman. Just remember that. A couple more I'm going to throw out there. I don't know if you have anything to say about the BYU Arizona or the big 12 as a whole. Like I think. Well, here's what I'll say about the big 12. Here's what I'm going to say is I think of all the leagues. The big 12 was the best what did they say? Second best, you know, league in America after the NBA. They said that a couple of years ago. It was. Right. Okay. That's fair. I don't think it'll be the best league in college

basketball. I'm not sure it'll be top two this year. No, it's going to be the SEC in the big 10. I just the money isn't there in the big like unless Texas Tech gets these guys eligible. Now if they get their Williams and at well and still well, all eligible, I assume their number will be over 20 million. If they don't, I don't think we'll have or any of these guys are eligible. I don't think we'll have any team in the big 12 that will have a budget and then I'll budget over $17 million. That'll mean that I don't think they'll have a team probably in the top seven or eight in terms of overall spending and I'll us. I think there's going to be more than the member we asked Sean Miller about how many teams are going to have 20 million dollar rosters and he said 20 or 25. Yeah. I don't know if it'll be that high without these additions. I don't know if it'll be that high. I think I think about a 15 over 20. But again, Sean will be one of them Louisville, one of them Indianers

want you know, like yeah, there's a bunch there. A lot of them are in the the big 10. The SEC. Yeah, ACC certainly has a couple with Louisville and and Duke's obviously over 20. We know that. So all I'm saying is I think the big 12 will be hurt the most this year. I think they will look the be the league that drops off even though they have unbelievable coaches. If these guys that we're going through right now that you just mentioned, you know, the Texas Tech Arizona with God for BYU with Colour Kansas with their guys Iowa State with Lipsy. Like if those guys are on the eligible, I think the yes, the big 12 will take a hit this year. I do. Yeah. I agree. A couple more I want to roll through Louisville. So is waiting on South Trimble, which I think that it will help them. I still think Louisville is going to be pretty fine without them. Florida and Denzel Aberdeen with him. I don't think anyone can have saying anything about them. Being the preseason number one team in the country without him. I still don't think anyone should

be saying anything about them not being preseason number one, but you think you think without Aberdeen. They're a clear number one. Yes. Interesting. They were the best team in college basketball for like six months last year and they bring back the core of the team that was on that run. Boogie Flan, Urban Clav Char, Tommy Hawk, Alex Condon, Rubin Chigaloo with some of what version of Boogie Flan we get. I think. Right? No, it matters. It matters. I hear you. I hear you. If bad Boogie shows up for the entire year, like, well, it's not here. It's here. It's here for the entire year, but even that, like, you can't be like that. I mean, I know I hear you. I just the good thing is you know, you know, Tommy Hawk's going to be Tommy Hawk, no matter what, no matter how much money he's getting paid. The biggest thing is even without Denzel, it's the bench. It's Isaiah Brown. Yeah, Isaiah Brown's got to be good. He's got to be the kid whose dad blanker on his CJ. I don't think he's going to be a huge huge factor. I think Isaiah Brown's going to be the guy, but it's AJ. Big guys are going to shoot it.

Yes. They just have all of these guys. I think with Denzel. Yes. We're cut number one. We're cut number one. Mark Mitchell at Missouri. I think makes them borderline top 10 without him. I think that they're like a top 25 ish kind of a team. I think he is that I agree with that. Because I agree with that. It's secondary shot creation. It is what he brings toughness wise. It is the defensive versatile. It's the same reason why if he was Hector Tucky right now, I might have Kentucky in the top five. Malik Renaud Miami just elevates their seal. They're going to be they're going to be very, very good without him. Imagine him. Imagine them would remember no. Yeah. But with him back, could they be dare I say it? Could Miami be a final 14 with Malik Renaud? Yeah. Maybe. Maybe. Yeah. I think it'll interest in to see what a canalus is like this year. Jay Lucas with with some pressure. Because last year, let's face it. Like came out of nowhere. Nobody expected anything from them. I don't think Jay Lucas feels pressure.

No, but like pressure. I guess maybe the players feeling pressure. It's a little bit like player expectation. I think yeah, like wrong. Yeah. Like Malik Renaud had had expectations of pressure at the end. I think that that dude's wire different. You want my hot take? Yeah. My hot take is that Jay Lucas will be at a blue blood in less than five years. Could be in the NBA in less than five years. Could be the NBA. You may go straight from Miami. I am planting Eric Holdra. I'll throw Oklahoma in there. BJ Edwards and Duke Brennan. Those two dudes get out as well as the difference maker. Big ones. Minnesota and K Tyson. I throw in there. And the only one that I haven't mentioned number 13 on my list. Yeah. That maybe. I don't know. Maybe we're reading too much in. Yeah. Providence. Providence maker on on. You can't believe what you say. I think they're waiting. No, I just opinion and they're waiting on Derek Simpson. And if you get those three, I think that that is a top 25 caliber team and should be a tournament team. And without

them, I think you're looking at that. And that is that's one where I think that they'll be good enough. But we've seen in the past years because the big east is not as deep as maybe it's been in the past where they you looked like a top 20 feet 25 team and you're on the wrong side of the bubble. Now, maybe it'll help that you get 76 teams into set of 68. But you remember two years ago, St. John's Providence and Seaton Hall were all like top 72 teams in the country. But they happen to be 70, 71 to 72 when he came to the tournament and they didn't get the dance. So I think that yeah, I don't know what's going to think. Pay we don't know Simpson. You know, opinion, conchute it. Simpson was he brought in its kind of insurance policy. And kids that don't get paid. I don't know. I've talked to Hudson about that. But yeah, you're right. Like if Providence has everything here, they're clearly a top 25 team. And then honestly, it could be in the teens. Yeah, it could be in the teens at that point. And I mean, the biggest if St. John says all their

guys and Providence is all their guys and Xavier gets their guy trying to cool else in the leak right now is waiting on somebody. Crating. I'll be talking about. I think crating's waiting on one or two. Biggest has got a bunch of guys too. Now they're not quite as impactful as the big 12 other than you know, St. John's. But that's where like Dan Hurley's sitting pretty of like, and I hate to reuse the word sitting pretty with Dan Hurley. It is column Porter at Marquette. We have MJ Benson and Vince Uichukwu at Georgetown. We have Phillip or Vichinin as Xavier. Fred King and Brody Robinson at Crating. And it's right. Reed Bailey, Keeshawn Hall, the four guys at St. John's, Elijah Fisher at Seton Hall. And then Derek Simpson's opinion and Ding Payne. I would say then the biggest again, I think the biggest in right now the big 12 are the two leaks that have the most again with all these guys who are up in the air. And you know, to me,

probably I don't think I don't. Providence has a lot. I'm with you. I don't think DCC is that far behind. Yeah, no, agreed. Agreed. Yeah. Well, that's that's my rankings. You do a lot of that's my time. A lot of homework for you. I think it was actually the problem was I did all that homework and I did the math wrong. I was I didn't mention 14 teams. It's a top 14. But yeah, there's a lot of teams a lot of one. You can't add. It's right in by they're trying to teach you the pickleball scoring system. That's not too complicated, man. It's too complicated. Listen, this has been the field of 68. We are live here. UAC Media Day in Alan, Texas. We got to go catch a flight. We will see you guys on the next episode. Toyota's easy choice sales event is on whether you're looking for the performance of the camera, the versatility of her app for the efficiency of a Corolla or all electric driving in the BZ. There's a Toyota that's just right for you. And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy

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