Beating The Book: Alan Boston, NCAA Tournament Round of 64 Day 1 Morning Session

This is a numbers game with Gil Alexander, broadcasting only on the Vegas Stats and Information Network build Gidiots who believe in analytics and analytics, statistics and more are used to win wagers and Gil has every number you need to cash your tickets now live from the Visa in studios in the South Point Hotel and Casino. It's Gil Alexander. It is the numbers Game right here at Visa the Vega Stats and Information Network series XM Channel two four, Visa dot Com, the Visa App, Fubo TV. It is

Gill Alexander. New producer Jeff Parls is here. Good morning to Jeffrey, Good morning Gil, how are you today? I am doing fabulous listen. First of all, thank you to the law firm of Stanko and Peterson for the great show yesterday, going through every single bracket, March Madness today.

It simply does not get better than this. Our number two, Bill Crackerburger, will be here, so Chris Felika, the Bear from ESPN's College Game Day, we will talk with him, also star one of the stars of Daily Wager, They're the Daily Gambly show over at ESPN. But First Hour thrilled to have him back, and I do mean that sincerely, thrilled to have him back. An American original, uh, an originator of his own picks, um maybe the greatest college

basketball handicapper there is. He will be modest about that. I will say that he is Alan Boston back on the show. Good morning to Allen. Oh yeah, good morning Allen. A rather uh rather high praise and uh likely not true, but I've been pretty consistent over the years, so we'll go with that. I knew you'd be honest about it before we get to your honesty always you are always anyway, before we get to your pixire, Alan, which I think

is what people are really excited about. I did want to get some they are I wouldn't I want to get to give in the last couple of weeks. I wouldn't be anyway. Yep, some reaction to h the selection committee because I have said this week on the air that it is a virtually impossible task for you to get folks together and put a bracket out that won't get complaints from any from from anybody. There's going to

be complaints no matter how you put this together. Would you agree that generally speaking, the committee get did a good job. And whether you agree with that or not, where could we quibble in this year's brackets? I don't know. I I really didn't look at the brackets. So it's just it's just games to me. But here, here's the deal with the committee is they send a bunch of people who know nothing about sports into a room and try to decide who's in and who isn't, and who

should play who and who shouldn't and who's better than who. Meanwhile, there's something called ken palm that's been around for years now. Back in the day when I was doing you know, when I went right after the odds came out and I became a little known I I said, there's no reason why they shouldn't contact me, and I could send them my top sixty four teams or whatever and they

could do what they want with it. There's ways of finding out who the best teams are without using all the horseship that they use with Quadrant one and Quadrant two wins and all the rest of this nonsense that amounts to nothing. You want the best teams and then whatever other factors you decide, you can tweak the best teams. Since Ken Palm has been around and is respected and his numbers are close to good, they're good enough, let's put it that way, the better than any the committee

is gonna do. Take his ratings kick out. You know, after after the automatic bids are given, I would find the next next number of teams that you want, want to forty, let's say, and then look at one of the factors that you think are important scheduling or road wins or whatever nonsense. It means absolutely nothing that they want to look at and and put it together like that.

At least you have a more accurate reflection of who should be in because really you want or you want close to the best teams, and I'm not so sure you always want the entirely the best teams in, but you want close to the best teams in. And they have a very simple solution. They had Jeff Sagourin's ratings for years. They have the Ken Palm ratings, which are,

like I said, wildly respected. And you don't need three days of horseship behind closed doors, where in my opinion, that is trying to you know, construct ways to to knock out the mid majors and and and get their brethren along, uh for a good ride that I don't really think they are about who who gets in and who doesn't. But anyway, that's that's it. They have a

very simple solution. They choose not to use it. They choose to continue with all kinds of small talk that means nothing, and and they go up close to the time anyway. I mean, when you see that, you get it in a few years ago, I think it was four years ago they got into they they called that Tony goaltending call and they were playing smu I believe, uh. They said, you see why did you see that get in? Well the head of committee said that cost the eye test.

Of course that was a new one, the eye test. That had nothing to do with any of the seventeen parameters that they had written. So really they kind of just do whatever the hell they want. And the reason that they don't have something simple like ken palm is because they want to do whatever the hell they want. And they want to do whatever the hell they want because this is a big business. Would a b billion in the television contract and any time is big business?

And I'm repeating myself, but it's fact. There is evil, and the evil spreads, and it's spreading all the way down to high school, you know, where they're recruiting kids when they're you know, nine, ten, eleven years old. It's just it's completely lunacy. And uh, but that's what big money does. It does it to our government, and it does it to two big corporations, and and and it does it to the n c A tournament, which used to be a very pure and very normal endeavor and

has become a complete sham. Really, Uh, it's an event that can't be ruined. Get out there. That's some dog sitting. That's Alan's dog dog sitting right there. That that not aland dogs. Be leieve me, they're not aland dog dog sitting. Let me interject right here for a second, Alan, we the dogs have given me a moment to get in here. You tweeted this out too, which I think is a is a good tweet because for me, the fact that they got Belmont in there, I let a lot of

other things slide. And here's the tweet that we had out here. If we could put that out on Visa dot Com, the Visa, NAPA, Fubo TV. Let's credit this to who it was out whoever I put out there. But Alan tweeted as well, because I want to get the name and give credit where it's due. But what at least they did do right is and I think you agree with this is it seemed like Indiana, which had fifteen chances at a quad one win right and got six of those as as win six and nine

overall quad quadrant one. They didn't um they didn't hold that against Belmont. Friends that they only that they won only two but only had four overall shots. At least they got that much right this year. Would you agree with that? Yes? No, I think they did a better. I honestly think they did a better job this year. But like I said, they could do a better and even better job by by this kick, you're real simple. Here, here's the top forty teams. These thirty two teams are in.

There's a top cookie teams. Whatever you want to take, and you know, we'll figure out what to do from there, because they have numbers that indicate who who's better than who. Belmont shouldn't anyway, they're they're they're really good. I mean that, you know anyone think they have good? Wasn't watching that game very close to last night? Yeah? Belmont Belmont three and a half point dogs against Maryland. By the way, in round one, lets to give Jeff who who's that tweet? Responsior?

You just say it on the mic? Who's that tweet? Front? That was from Patrick Stevens at at D one scores. Okay, there we go. We just want don't want to let that slide, all right, Alan, So let's yeah, that's it's kind of the same stuff I've said for a long time. It's they've they've always they've always found ways to slant

it towards the power schools. Always every single thing they look at helps the power schools because those are supposedly the people, the schools that make the money for him, those are the ones that play the games on U boats and and supposedly fans want to watch. And I mentioned this before that the head of the whole UH network that that carries this didn't want Loyal Chicago last year. He wanted Kentucky, claiming that the ratings are hier arch

when Kentucky's on there. But a study showed someone Actually there was a big, long article on it that I read, and the guy compared UH Loyal Chicago games in their time slot on whatever station they were on, some of which are rather hard to find UH. And it turns out all the games were rated higher than the norm by lot every time. So the the the idea that big name schools draw bigger ratings is by this study horshit. In fact, it is Cinderella that has always talked about.

It is Cinderella that that draws the interest. That is Cinderella. You know who knew about Sister Jean. I did because I read an article that Mark Siegler when San Diego State planned out OILA during the season, and he poked fun at the whole at the whole thing. He's He's the best place writer in the country now that Dick Gerard is retired. Mark Siegler, who covers San Diego State is brilliant and must be read anyway that that's what was talked about. When George Mason made the Final four,

that's all you heard about. Alaron Anger, who wasn't known very well all of a sudden is is is a cult hero. And Gonzaga back in the day, that's all you heard about was Gonzaga. The Princeton Georgetown game in nineteen whatever the hell that was the one verse sixteen that wants to the wire that was the highest rated game ever on ESPN. It's always the underdog that that generates the interest in this uh in this event and

and and makes it the amazing event it is. Ah So this pretense that that that you want to person North Carolina final and do first Kansas Final is a croc and and and until these people get that through the heads, you're gonna see some very very corrupt draw

backdoor meetings that go on. They did better this year, but that they get it right, of course not because you can just do better in a very simple way, and they choose not to, especially in an ear and hour analytics and and and you know, I don't know the terms, so ignore me if I say something stupid. But they have numbers out there that are accurate and can be gotten very simply, and they choose to ignore it, and that that's not what's happening in the world today.

I choose to ignore it because I don't understand it and I'm old. But they certainly they're in college. They could find someone to explain it to him, you know. So that's hit for that, I will say, ironically. Uh, the one thing that I noticed immediately, and again I didn't really look at the bractet because I don't pick a bracket. I just try to pick the winners of games. I didn't notice that two very dangerous mid majors Virginia commolf in central forward managed to find themselves in any

first round game. They both defensive minded, grind it out, uh, you know, just absolutely brutal play against teams that that you're just going to be completely slide at the end of this game. And they're playing each other in the first round. Now, what a big surprise that one of those is gonna knock the other one out and then the winner gets to play who Duke? Of course, so Duke gets the worn out mid major on short rests and now they get to knock call those majors out

who have actually pretty dangerous too, really big money schools. Again. You know, I don't think that's coincidence. No, that's coincidence. Anyway, that's my one little Uh. Okay, Alan, let me step in here at it. I guess I'm really are gonna drawn up I did. I'm sure I get poles in it from here to eternity. Let's do it like, let's take a break and let's get to your picks. We'll do it. Uh, We'll get as many in as we can.

I don't know if you want to go through everyone in rapid fire, if we want to pick the ones that you like the best. Either way, we'll go region by region and we'll do it that way. We'll just do it game by game. And by the way, Alan is a percent right, that is what the beauty of March madness is. Right. It's the David Goliath and the Princes in Georgetown game. By the way, Jeff, that he refers to that was game. It was a sixteen one.

Princeton lost to Georgetown fifty to forty nine. And this is the Alonso morning to KEMMI Ma Tumbo version of Georgetown in those years, I think, but Tumbo was still there. But Morning ended up swatting away the final shot of that game. Uh. And that's how Georgetown preserved because that would have been the first one sixteen upset of all time. But that that's say the Ivys automatic bid, by the way, that's right, that game saved. The schools are automatic bid.

That would not be very good right now, given how strong heavily is. Uh. Anyway, Pete, Pete kill with the back door plays for Princeton was just amazing that year. Follow Allen by the way on Twitter at Boston Red eighty eight. We will come back. We will do his picks here first round n C Double A tournament, the great Allen Boston on a Numbers game right here at Visa. Now back to a Numbers game with your host Gil Alexander, broadcasting live from our visa in studios in Las Vegas.

Let you know, Jeff, because that Princeton game spark memories for me nineteen five four years before that. This is the this is the Patrick Ewing led Georgetown juggernaut. Georgetown was national champions in eighty four, beat Houston and La Juan and Drexler that year eighty five, Georgetown was just a goliath. Uh and before the tournament. Now, I keep in mind, I don't even know what betting lines are when I'm a kid here, but I made bets just innately, right,

this is just how you grow up. I made bets innately with all my classmates. I grew up at d C. I took Georgetown, gave them the field, and they would have to pay me five to one. I'm sure I was getting the best of it at that point, without even knowing that I would get the best of it. And all went well until the championship game, and sure enough Villanova one of the three teams in the final

four from the Big East that year. Villanova shout, I want to say, seventy nine from the field is either seventy or seven eight point and beat Georgetown by a bucket, dashing all my hopes to the miserable day for me. Anyway, That's how I was as a child. Let's bring him in so generous once again with his time, and we really do appreciate it. What's that say again? It put a real, a real not not the greatest human Rowley Massimino on the map. And number two. Bob Hoggans talked

about that game in a press conference. He and and now West Virginia is a team that plays very fast. They like to press, they like to to go up and down the court rapidly. But Bob Hoggans said so he wouldn't mind the thirty second'clock. Right. Yet, Hoggans spoke about that game with reverence. He said, to all these people who think we need some thirty second clock to make the game, you know, wonderful, to keep it high scoring or whatever, go back to that game and how

many shots were taken in the second half. Not a lot, by the way, and yet you had one of the more riveting games of all time, a game that's you you just brought up thirty four years later, you know, as as something really one of the best finals ever.

H Right, So this whole idea that you need to get up and down the floor and make this a glorified uh NBA minor league is really another bunch of horseship that that again once again favors the Tower schools, right, the wolf possessions, the better chance they have of of of winning the game. And it's really, it's really, it's really a sad commentary on on the on the whole game of basketball. Uh. Like I said, big money causes evil.

I've been saying it for probably twenty years. Uh, when it did shows out in Vegas twenty years ago, I started talking about all this and and it's it's gotten worse and worse and worse. Yes, they did a better job this year, but it's still it's still a really Uh it's a pretty sad state of affairs. Talking to Alan Boston. And if they ever truly if they ever truly investigated what goes on, uh you know, uh, they would they would probably shut down the whole the whole fiasco.

The star of the Odds, Chad Millman's book, The Best of It, that documentary, Alan Boston, the Star, both of those things, Um just great, uh great different multi media. One won a book, one a movie, and kind enough to join us on the numbers game. Here a visa this morning. Alan. Let's let's just go to whichever game you want to. Let's do it that way. Let's start with some of your best. Go ahead, they're kicking the top and go and give me the line and we'll talk.

I'll throw out if I have any Okay, let's do that. U let us start. Let's do them chronicle in chronological order starting tomorrow morning. Let's do it that way. Minnesota. There's a team I don't know how they got in this tournament, Minnesota Louisville the Patina. Yeah, Louisville by five in then in fifteen am Pacific twelve fift pm Eastern tip off to kick off March Madness tomorrow morning, there's the five or five and a half. I thought it

was a couple, a couple of a couple. I think, Uh yeah, New Minnesota astarily doesn't belong in this tournament. They're probably the lowest rated team to get an out large bid. Belmont would be favorite over him, by the way. Uh actually, Temple was probably the lowest team to get in. It was the gut out lugged. But you know, I think that was an homage to fran Duntee and I didn't mind that at all. He's one of the class acts of of the sport. And uh, you know, never

mind he coached tun for seventeen years. But that's maybe a little biased, but no, he's a really a really good coach and a really good guy. And his wildly respected down there, and they fired Bill Martelly yesterday at St. Joe's rather rather disgusting. So it was a really bad day for the Big five something I uh am very uh fond of and uh yeah uh point Louisville with all the fewer down there with Patino and his uh his parties uh for his recruits, got a little bit

of trouble and they hired Chris mac. Chris Back is an unbelievable basketball coach. The talent at Louisville this year is marginal at best. It is nothing close to what louis will typically get. Chris Back has created a team that plays to a very high level. They had Duke twenty three down before they played not to lose and lost. They had Farida State beat it Florida State. They have a myriad of of monster games that they've played. Yet

the talent really isn't that great. Uh. Minnesota had high hopes for this year and probably about played to the level they typically played too. So uh nothing nothing great or nothing bad about what they did during the year. So what happens here? I think the line is slightly high, But more importantly, uh does Chris max Wizardry continue to allow this team to play to this really boded level given the talent they have and typically in an n

c A tournament game. Uh A better way to look at this is this is quart of a sort of like a Virginia or a Produce kind of thing where you know, they reached their maximum level and the only way they can go is down. And I would say that that, you know, Richard Bettino is no dope, He's he's probably better coach and his dad for sure. Uh My. My thinking is that Louisville probably even if they played at their level, they're gonna have a tough time covering

this number. But it's more likely they flatten out and and kind of play more than the talent level. Given the importance of these games and and and how much is put into it, you know, how much scouting has done and everything. Uh So I would definitely have a strong lean to the underdog here. I didn't bet it, but I probably should. It kind of feels like it should be their game. I mean, if this game was played at the beginning of the year of Minnesota would

have been favored that. That's that's how good, that's how good a job Chris macis done. But again, you know, teams kind of seek their level, and and his Xavier teams always overachieved during the year and kind of crashed out during tournament for the similar reason that he just gets so much out of these teams definitely only have one place to go but down, you know. And that so that's my quick thought there next. All right, strong, lean,

lean to the dog. You know what, I might bet them? Okay, all right, that's why that's why I scoot the talk sometimes it makes any sense. It is a good little multitasking here while we're doing the talk. All right, So let me give you a group of four games here that follow that now, and you can gravitate towards the one or two that you want to. Yale l s U L s U favored by seven and a half against the Ivy League champ Yale Bulldogs. Auburn's got New Mexico State. I'll leave it at those two, and you

can go at those. Auburn is a five and a half point favorite right now over the Aggies, who thirty win team this year only lost four first. Yeah, I bet Yale. Uh. I think the line is seriously, I think we were I think we took eight and a half. The line is uh pretty pumped up there. Even this is not your typical IVY league, you know, a bunch

of smart guys who you know, run beautiful offense. This is uh a Yale team with a pro and only and a fringe pro h and an unbelievable coach and a team that's that's that, that's deep and experienced, and uh did not get a great draw. LSU had a home run year, a young team that that forished and and played to a high level of the entire season. Uh, winning in Kentucky, as I recall, not an easy task, really winning a lot of big games. They led Houston by seventeen early in year, and how good does that

look now? So this is a very very good LSU team. However, it is kind of a young l s U team, and their coach Wade, is suspended and the guy taking over is the old Texas coach. I forget his name, but he says he's not he's not a very good coach. So in the X and o's department, as the game goes on, you know, as a huge manage the the main concern for Yale is, yes, it is an improved

Ivy League squad. Yes, they have a prominent team and and maybe even too, but the still a talent gap is pretty enormous because l s U has you know, UH four and five star wards. Well, I don't know if they have anything. I don't know, I don't know who, but they have strong recruits down there. Let's put it that way. They're playing an IM league team. You know, it's a it's a it's a football basketball UH breeding

ground verse an academic legendary academic school. So you're can have a bretty pretty big down cap they now, can the coaching overcome that? I say yes, and I say the talent gap, maybe he isn't as big as it may seem. Also, all as she relies on several freshmen, and freshmen have a tendency to hit a wall at

the end of the year. And l s U losing that game to Florida UH and the SC tournament, although probably will work in their favor as it gives him a couple more days off, maybe a sign that they're flattening out a little bit. Tony met in a bett and I think that's the guy's name was coach, So I think Yale has all a chance to win this game. As for Auburn New Mexico State, you know the obvious is ha ha, it's Chris James verse Bruce Pearle. So let's go to Mexico State. How how the hell they're

gonna lose this game? Uh, Aubrey completely embarrassed themselves last year in the turnaround. I have no idea what what transpired going into that game, but it looked like they didn't care. H. I actually talked about a fire poll right after that game. That was that was that was ridiculous. It was it was a complete nine evidence almost like they dumped. Uh. So is that what happens again this year or did they take that as as fuel too to show the world, Hey, you know we're gonna we're

we're we're better than that. In New Mexico State, they get a team that tends to play fast, in fact, almost always plays fast. That's what Auburn rebels in. Uh. The athle that a gap is ginormous. So even though Auburn prone to taking bad shot after bad shot and playing rather more on ball against a team that does nothing wrong at any moment during the game, I think the the fact that New Mexico State will likely not get Auden into a half court game, will play into

Auburn's hands. Wait too much for your Mexico State do overcom and I definitely would lean to the favorite there, although my buddy putting money on Bruce Pearl against Christians and and and and the thought of losing that game would would would probably cause me too many sleepless nights to make it worth it. But the line is definitely too old. So there you go. This is great, Alan, Let's do one more here before it is no trust me, this is great. Vermont and Florida State. I feel bad

for the world. The world loves this. Vermont Florida State. Leonard Hamilton's against the Catamounts at Hartford, Florida State by nine. Here on the line, I took eleven with Vermont and again really kind of not not a great matchup for Vermont. The you beat Vermont with athleticism and and and Farida State's got that in spades. Uh And I don't mean that in in any kind of uh yeah, I always say that because the world has gone anywhere. I don't I don't mean that in any kind of racist manner.

That is meant to be a joke by the way. Uh, the the oh boy, we're gonna get in trouble now. The uh it's a term people, you know, that's what's wrong with the world right then and there. Anyway, So anyway, you got these uh a team order with athletes that gets up and down the floor as fast as any team in the country. Against Vermont, who was gonna want to play a half court game? So who wins the tempo battle? Vermont is gonna have a very hard time

keeping this game under control. However, two years ago, a Vermont team played Perdue and the game was a an absolute war. H Granted, produce more more prone to play half court basketball, but they're also a better team than for the fart State team that that that Vermont is playing here tonight. And this Fartes State team is pretty comparable. This Vermont team is pretty comparable to that Purdue team.

So if you want to take a little powow, they had Perdue in a lot of trouble in that game, and then the best player got hurt and Perdue finally warmed out at the end. I think they won by seven or eight. Uh. If Vermont stays healthy here and Leonard Hamilton's team does what they usually do, which is UH plays uh little all the holes in their game. Uh Vermont could get what they want almost every time down the floor. Uh and if that's the case, this

game could go right for the wire. If Vermont panics with the athleticism that's thrown at them, then the game could get away from them in a hurry, or they could get worn out as the game went along. I think the former, I think uh Becker is a great coach and and and UH that that he'll he'll he'll find a way to his team's experienced enough and played enough tough, tough venues to where they won't be overwhelmed

by the athleticism that's that's shown here. And uh and there's also a chance of partist they can take them a little lightly to UH. So I'll take uh Vermont to uh possibly even pull the upset here. Uh. It wouldn't it wouldn't shot me. If there was a thirty five second clock, for sure, this would be uh, this would be stealing money. But unfortunately, like I said, they put that thirty second clock in there to allow teams

like Fartnes State, not to Louis to Vermont. And that's that's really the sad part of this whole thing, not not because I'm a gambler, because I'm a fan. You know, money is just a way of of making your life a little easier. But you know, the real joys are watching a really good basketball game and and watching that team pully upset and and and that that doesn't happen anymore, unfortunately. It's the real joy for sure. So Yale of the of the two bigger dogs that we talked about, Yale

live to win it out right in your opinion. Vermont a little less so, but possible. Yeah, both possible, Well, both not likely because that thirty second clock. But I would uh, I would say Yale is is definitely the more likely the winner of the two. I could see how as you really falling off there that the coach leading them is not is not the best. Alan will do me one favorite. Let's let's hang out one more break here. I apologize for commercials at IS Radio. We'll

come back. We'll do the rest of the morning session tomorrow. Four more games. Love your thoughts on this. It is the one and only Alan Boston right here exclusively on a numbers game at feast and coming right back. Support for today's show has always comes from Bookmaker dot eu. I've at it before, I will say it again because I made it. Bookmaker DOTU an industry leader too close to thirty years. The three things that set them apart.

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Good luck to you a million dollar perfect bracket over a bookmaker dot eu slash marsh hyphen Madness, and again the bonus that you're looking for bookmaker dot eu slash kill Down. Back to a numbers game with your host, Deil Alexander, broadcasting live from our visa in Studios in Las Vegas. Back on the Numbers Game right here at Visa Deil Alexander. Yesterday we did at bracket by bracket. Today we're just doing chronological order beginning with the early games. Tomorrow.

We're gonna get through as many as we can't get through the whole morning session hopefully. Here we continue with Alan Boston Allen, love you for doing this, man, thank you again. Really appreciate it. And I speak made most of my bets, so it's it's it's not a big deal. The problem I had on the last time I was on your network was they asked me to go the

games and I hadn't back yet. And that makes sense, makes it can't give all games until I bet it just just just in case someone's listening who has some influence on the line. It just be stupid to me. I'm trying to earn a living son doing this after you know, pretty much after everything's done in the Minnesota. But you know, as I was talking about it, it it kind of made sense. My numb on the Minnesota game was four, so I wasn't gonna take five or five and a half. But I think that you might might

have a little bit of a a clinker. Really, Minnesota probably has more talent than them. Anyway, go ahead. Minnesota getting a lot of great free throw benefit over the weekend and the Big Ten tournament. If you look at the box scores in their games, they were just getting way more free throws than their opponents. We'll see if that trend continues here. Bradley Michigan State. This is a two fifteen, meaning a two seed fifteen seed game not relevant for our purposes here, but this is a ten

and a half right now in favor of the Spark. Yes, the lines of smitioned high, but Bradley was twenty one down to Northern Ire in the finals of the Missouri Valley. I don't need to say any more than that. I would never ever, I think the lines is a little high, but I would never bet Bradley, so pass for sure. I would expect this to be some sort of ball.

The value is way down and and again that's a that's a function of of the big money game because Creton and both Creton and which Talk, who were in the valley for years, I can't stay in the valley and continue to get ten and eleven seeds the way the committee had done it. I mean, there was one year which State was a top ten team in my rankings and we're playing a playing game. You know, that's

how that's how wrong they got it. And I'm not claiming to be the do all end all, but if I have a team in the top ten, they're probably in the top ten, and you know, yet they are playing some playing game. That's how wrong the committee can get it at times. And that's what that's why I

which us they couldn't stay in the Missouri Valley. And so, you know, so the whole game of college basketball, which is you know, Barry Hinson just retired from Southern Illinois and he did it cheerfully, and as he was talking about his love for the valley, he broke down. Because that's the way basketball was when I was around you. You took pride in your team, you took pride in your league. Uh you were right on top of the court,

really being mean to the the the opponent's teams. There was some wildly creative stuff done by by I wasn't one of them, by the way. I just watched the game. But people could be pretty brutal, but it was fun. It was you know, you're going to college. It's not it's not a glorified NBA. And and unfortunately, you know, I keep saying that, but that's that's the sad reality of what this is becoming. Until really someone puts their foot down and says, all right, you know, we're gonna

go back to the purity of this game. There's normal one and done. If you want to go to college, You're going to college. Uh, that's it, so you can go right to the pros. The onason they had one and done is because they could promote him right a year. About any time you've seen it in a Zion Williamson, I mean the sneaker bowls up and it was a dull endall. No one no I talked about how how does a sneaker ball up? Or or then why does

he get some special sneaker after that? You know, I mean, it's just it's the whole thing, just you know, it's ridiculous. That's sort of some sort of advantage. And by the way, why they're playing games. There's no other major event with his playing games. Wimbledon has a hundred twenty eight have qualifying rounds, but you could pretend the conference tournaments. So the qualifying rounds Wombleton is the top seeds get a benefit by playing a weaker player, but it's an equal

number of wins for every one. And the thing speaking of has qualifiers, but they all play the same four rounds. The playing games will put in there to help again the big game schools. So the whole of the whole thing is a sham, but it's still a great champ. Well, you tied me up for because we we land right on the Belmont game. Then next in chronological order, Belmont, which dispatched Temple last night in the playing game, they got Maryland now out of the Big ten. Hard to

remember that Maryland's in the Big ten. Maryland four point favorites against Belmont. I'm guessing you're all in a big tent. Where else would they be, Well, they were in the a CC. My whole life up to this point, that's where, no kidding, Yeah, the whole thing, the whole thing is just ridiculous. It's it's just, you know, Paul West, Virginia's in the Big twelve. Like every coach. I tell Huggins, I don't know how you do it. Like we we make one trip here, you guys gotta do it five

or six times a year. It's not fair to the kids, It really isn't. It's just uh, anyway, I'm not gonna keep parping on that. I made my point. So it's kind of so Beaumont a little bit unfair that they have to play in Dayton and travel to Jacksonville on one day and Meanwhile, you know, Marland's watching them play, so Malin gets the benefit of being there and and and watching Belmont play their game so that their prep

is a lot simple and a lot better. Meanwhile, Beaumont has to deal with travel, and I'm much short of prep for Merland. H Does that mean well and should before or Belmont? I don't think so. Uh, technically the lines you're probably closer to. Uh. Pick on Marlan one. The Belmont center was definitely hobbled last night, and it definitely affected his place somewhat. But he still had a huge game, and I would expect that treatment ball tonight tomorrow and before the game will enable him to maybe

play a little better. If not, they could be in a world of ship. Uh. They matched up very well with Temple. They do not match up well at all with Melon. Uh. Malin's probably gonna kill them of the boards and and there were moments there where you could see temples athleticism causing Belmont some problems. Uh. So where am I going with this? I still I'm gonna bet

Ricky Burr against Mark Church on every day of the week. Uh. Temple actually defended Belmont fairly well, and Belmont still shot a high percentage because Bird always figures out a way to get it done. Uh. The fear is is just Malin just murders his team on the boards and and and gets a lot of freebies on putbacks and and eventually Belmont breaks from that. But uh, church On is Uh has has failed miserably h many a time. Uh in these situations. And Uh the coaching edge is probably

a little bit too big here. And I would definitely prefer Belmont plus four. That's where I thought, if all things were being equal, I'd be betting a lot on it. But you know, with the center being a little hobbled and the travel and the the prep time being a little lesson the matchup not being that great, I would definitely temper the bed a little bit. So Northeastern and Kansas right after that. Alan Kansas highly overseated here, I

think by most people's assessment, this opened it. Yeah, they've overseated for the last thirty years. This opened at eight. And the betting public like, I'm not kidding, I don't make this ship up. I know you're not. No, I know you're not. It's very true. I'm laughing at They go in there and and some teams just get an automatic pass and that's it. However, they didn't. They didn't do Kansas any favors here. I promise you that this is a Kansas team that starts for a freshman. This

is a Kansas team that was very, very erratic. Because of that, they still have the lead athletes. However, Uh, Northeastern is deep experienced and there aren't many better coaches than Bill ConA on the country. They run a very intricate offense the likes of which Kansas hasn't seen. Uh. Bill soft is a good guy. I love listening to him. I think he kind of gets it. However, his coaching is a little shaky, maybe not even that good. Uh, it's a complete coaching mismatch. The talent gap is pretty

big for Kansas, however. Uh it's uh been experienced Northeastern team against a freshman laden Kansas team, and I think Kansas gonna have all the time stopping Northeastern's offense, which is really beautiful to watch. Uh, very good chance at the upset here. I know it's kind of a a uh what's the word that when everyone kind of falls on the same Oh yeah, yeah, sort of a darling

pick by too many people. So that's other way I was thinking of about you know, my my My Cats game didn't come back good, so this could be a sign of things to come. Unfortunately I'm not. Don't laugh, it's the truth. Yeah. Uh so if I'm if I'm babbling, if I'm a babbling idiot. Next year, you know that the als Armers is kicked in. Uh anyway, it's a yeah, it's a darling pick. Whatever the word is that I can't think of at this time, which is really kind of shitty, so uh, you know, let me try to

block that thought. Anyway. Yeah, I didn't get this game because the line, you know, the line really is you really aren't getting nothing here Kansas dot Eastern typically be and you're only getting six and a half, so you're really doing getting shipped here. But it will be a fun game to watch, and we'll see how the referees can bail Kandas out because they've they've done that before

and they'll probably have to do it again. Gonna have a really hard time stopping uh North Eastern here North Eistern is got got completely healthy at the end of the year for the first time all year. They have been banged up all the year. They finally get every single body back, uh, including the asset, the best defender. Uh. And and and kind of a glue guy for them. Uh, this is a really really good team. They toyed with Hofster and the finale you sawid Hofster you know should

have beat ny State last night? What could have beat ny State last night? So you know this is a this is a very good North Eastern team and and and not and not a great Kansas team. And and it's young versus old. And it's Bill saltpers Bill Cone and uh, interesting enough, it's Bill and full at his burst,

Bill and full it or something like that. Symmetry rains and opposites also rain and h. I would definitely uh enjoy watching this game without a bet and and expect North Eastern to have a good shot to warn little out game for you there, Let's do one more because when we're talking about a Darling pick or an in vogue pick, a popular pick is what we're getting at here. And I I to him, Uh, the word is eluding me.

I think there is something else we're looking for. But Murray States, Murray State, Marquette, um, everybody on Murray State. I'm on Murray State, but I have said out loud here Alan it worries me that everybody's on Murray State. This is down to three and a half here at the south point, but it's four consensus in favor of the Golden Eagles right now in this game John Morant and Murray State the dogs. Well, the reason I think the line is dropping, uh is the health of Marquette

right Uh. They had as they had a twelve point lead against Seton Hall and Marcus Howard hurt his wrist and the lead quickly disappeared. He came out in the second half was completely useless. The money coming in on Murray State would indicate that Marcus Howard drift is probably not there yet. Uh. I've only had a little bit of risk problems. That took a shot and it took a few days off. That's just from working out there, not from shooting a basketball a hundred and fifty thousand times.

I doubt that he'll be a hundred percent for this and if not, Marquette's offense UH is in serious jeopardy of of of collapsing. Uh. They did a complete collapse against Seaton Hall. Uh. With without this kid, uh tinley tough guy, right, yeah, Marcus Howard. I won't comment on the fact that the insest thing is finally prepped because uh, I was yelled after that. Uh. Anyway, the so all that money coming in is likely the health of Howard being less than and and that's that's it. If he's

a percent, the line is too low for sure. Marquette had a fantastic year this year, with a lot of really big wins and impressive wins. But but you know, Morant is a freak. He has the ball in his hands for forty minutes, really makes a wrong decision. Uh. The talent surrounding him isn't overwhelming, but it's good enough. Whereas Shoski is another coach k assistant who isn't who isn't any kind of genius at all. Uh And and with Howard being a little iffy and maybe more than that,

that's probably the whole thing. If he's a dent, I don't think Murray State can beat him. But if he's if he at all, then Murray State probably will beat him. Either way, you get to watch Mourant play basketball, which is it's a pretty special thing to watch. So Uh, yeah, I'm not involved, but I'm not surprised that the money's coming in on Murray's state. Yeah, we'll keep an eye on Marcus Howard for sure. There with that injury. Alan, listen, we've run out of time today. I'm good at I'm

gonna a wow. Sorry. I would have talked a little faster. No, no no, no, that's I'm gonna ask you something now which you are per And let me just preface it by saying it's wrong of me to ask this all in the air. You are perfectly allowed to say no, absolutely not or I don't know, and no one should get mad at you. Would you have any interest in doing this? Would you have any interest in doing this for the Friday morning shows, for the Friday Morning games

tomorrow morning? On the show? Uh no, I don't mind. I thought, I don't mind. I mean, but I don't know. It was an honest answer. I didn't know what to tell you. I had an offer from Sports Illustralia. What did you want me to tell you that on the air. No, I didn't want. I didn't want anyone to know that. It's not anyone's business. I don't know what it means. I don't know. I don't know what else is supposed

to say. But I'm not sure what I'm doing with my life dealing with Uh, I'm dealing with a whole new situation in my life. And and I don't have my dog anymore. And I was having a very good year in basketball. I didn't know what I was gonna do even if I was getting him to finished the year. I really didn't. I was losing my mind. So you didn't want to hear about me having breakdowns over a dog, nne. But no idea if I was gonna finish the year out none. So I didn't know if I'd be able

to do the show. So that the honest answer, no, we appreciate. So if one if one fucking idiot wants to get on Twitter and start commenting who happens to be a piece of ship anyway? Uh, and start this whole bruhaur where it was one person a crack called being told me there was one person that started the whole thing. Uh. And and he's not well like to the industry anyway, he's a real beauty. Uh. Yeah, he's

a piece of ship. All the use I work for Mr Walters, the Walter is only complained about one person, that person who started all this nonsense over the I don't know. So there you go, people, you know Allen, let's do this again. I'm gonna spout de bullshit. No, I don't mind coming on and doing a show. I don't mind at all. Okay, let's do it again tomorrow morning. It's it's just I don't have a I on any

of these shows. I just whateverything I say is just take it for what it is, and because that's what it is. It's true. Alan, love you for let's have Let's talk tomorrow morning. We'll do Friday morning games tomorrow morning. We'll talk same time tomorrow. Very good, take care, Thanks man, Alan Boston at Boston read On at Twitter and American Original. We really appreciate him coming on the show and giving insights,

really uh special insights when it's from that guy. He'll be very modest about it when he talks about but really, honestly, getting insights from him on college basketball is very special. We should be privileged, or you know how portunate we are to have a