Beating The Book: The 2019 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 with Adam Stanco and Greg Peterson

up right here on the Beating the Book podcast. Enjoy This is a number game with Kil Alexander and broadcasting only on the Vegas Stats and Information Network and Bill Gidiots who believe in analytics and analytics, statistics and more are used to win wagers and Gil has every number you need to catch your tickets now live from the

Vision Studios in the South Point Hotel and Casino. It's Gil Alexander, our number two of the numbers game right here a Visa the biggest stats and Information network series Sexit Channel two at four Visa dot Com, the Visa app, food Boat TV. Jeff Parls is here too, Jeff uh We're honored to have not only Roxy last hour, which is huge. But we're gonna do our roundtable thing here momentarily with Adam Stanko and Greg Peterson. We did it

for the Round of sixty four with Greg and Adam. Uh, and we're gonna do it for the Sweet sixteen as well. Game by game doesn't have to be as harry this time. Obviously, that was just a two hour time management exercise when we did it the first time. Greg is here. Good morning Greg, Good morning Gil. How are you? I'm doing great. How's your weekend? Man? How's the betting? H Saturday was rough, Sunday was actually very good. Most most people, you know,

It's funny. Anecdotally most people say Saturday was the was the rough day for them. Yeah, and sadly. I was actually on the right side of that Kentucky game. I was very excited when Tyler Hero went to the free throw line. Russia is all good. I had Wofford that day, so that wasn't good. But uh, Friday was huge for me. Saturday was not good and yesterday and I was. Yes. I was telling you this in the first segment. I overcame a number of of just horrific outcomes to usually

have a winning Tennessee was one of them. I was I had a u c F plus seven first half. Duke was up eight literally two times in that game. One of them was right at halftime, so that was a babby. And then in the NBA Jeremy Lamb beat me with a hoisting forty seven footer. You're just like and as I was saying, if you're just like a casual better and those three things happened to you in one day, you will just retire. How about the Houston

under Yeah, right that as well. A little let's flash up this tweet because before we go into these Sweet sixteen games by game by game with you and Adam Adam staken from the Cash and Shoot podcast, let's put this into some perspective here. This is Matt Noorlander who tweeted this out the parallels of this n C Double A Tournament through the first two rounds to that of the d C Double A Tournament ten years ago in

two thousand nine. Look at those seatings one to three four, this region by region now one one to three, four, one to three, five, one two, three twelve, exactly like it was in two thousand nine and in two thousand nine, wasn't it Arizona that was at twelve seeds, So it's a pack twelve team. Once again, that's a twelve seed. It's a matter of fact. Let's go to the next tweet, Greg, you are opprescient. Uh. This tweet right here is from

Mike Rutherford at cart Chronicle. The parallels from those two years two thousand nine two thousand nineteen are creepy. Only years with three one seeds from the same conference talking a CC now in this year's case, Virginia, North Carolina and Duke only Cinderella both years is a pack twelve power. There you go, Greg ore Agon, this time around Arizona ten years ago, the number one overall seed would play

the two seed Michigan State in the Elite eight. There's that parallel and the number one seed outlier wanted all this year. So I'm loading up on gonzag And now I guess that's his own little little editorial right there at the end. But yeah, creepy, I think is I don't think that's overstatement, very interesting, and I was just mentioning I have the uh, do we have the tweet with all my futures up by the way, do we

have that ready to go. Anyway, one of my props is I had the under eleven and a half some of all seeds to make the final four. Oh there it is, okay, right there? Do we update it? I think we did. No, we didn't quite updated because I don't see my Houston future on there. But anyway, um uh, Texas Tech is alive and Houston is alive in terms of futures, but Buffalo is now out. Obviously Texas Tech

played Buffalo yesterday. But the under eleven and a half seating some of all seas that looks pretty darn good assuming Oregon. Oregon is the only team that can really do that to you, and they're gonna be having to face Virginia, which that game probably gonna be played at a pretty slow pace in Oregon. Obviously. Coming on with that said, I think it would be a very very mighty task for them to be able to take down Virginia. We'll get into it game by game here before we

bring in Adam though. One question for you then, so with all the games, just take the four days and stuff to take all four days because you you obviously your brain works in a way where you remember the weekend more than you do clearly Thursday Friday. But what's your big do you have a big takeaway? Was there one game in particular? Obviously the Duke u c F game was just out of control. Anything that you seized on where you're like, this was just unbelievable to me. Uh,

Tennessee bowling at lead. I thought that was pretty unbelievable to an Iowa team that I know that they were able to knock out Cincinnati, but coming into this tournament they were scuffling so bad, And how about how good in general the Big Ten. Look, they've lost one game in the round at six four, and that one game unfortunately my Wisconsin Badgers. So no, I think you're right. So five a CC teams, four SEC teams, three Big Ten and then you have Gonzaga, Texas Tech, Houston and

Oregon Oregon. Um, but you're right to me that list it's the three Big Ten. Obviously Michigan and Michigan State had a shot. UM, So maybe it's not as crazy as as one with things, but the manner in which Perdue just blasted to get there, um and the Big Tent comported themselves well beyond that, right, Minnesota won that game against Louisville the Iowa, even in defeat, obviously comporting themselves very well. I was, let me raise my hand.

I was crushing the Big tent up to this point, right up to the tournament, I was like this, everybody stinks they looked very good and they deserve a shadow. They certainly did. And you knew that one of those Big ten teams were gonna lose in the round of thirty two because you had Michigan State in Minnesota going up against each other. So right, there's no way you can have both of those seemed advancing. Yeah, I think so.

I think that's big. Obviously. I went off a little earlier about how the end sequence, not only the end sequence, but why coach k didn't go into hacka Taco. It's playing off the hack a shack from back of the day. Why you're not hacking Taco every single time, especially on the Delorier missed free throw. Why you don't have your team prepped now worked out for Duke in the end, but why you don't have it prepped, Like as soon as Taco comes down with that rebound, you foul him immediately.

But it's like it's like Coach K wasn't even there. It's the weirdest thing to me. We've been talking about this for so long. Coach K. He does a great job of preparing. It seems in game he's not very good. It's actually you're right, it's actually not weird at all, because this is the thing that's right. It's the first Again, if you even if you didn't hear my Lee High story for many years ago, even if you didn't listen to Alan Boston talk about, Hey, when's the last time

he uh he ever drew up a play? Go back to that game? What was the game where Reddish had the flu or was sick, couldn't play? Scuse Syracuse Trey Jones got hurt in the first quarter, right, and they lost. The Syracuse and Coach K press conference after that game will never get it. They went to him and he sort of was like, you know, well, when you lose those two players, the game plan goes out the window.

And I remember thinking about, no, dude, like, do you there's a game to coach while you're there it's happening you don't. That's not an excuse. I mean, I get it, you're hamstrung, but like you can coach, try to coach your way out of that. And what I really want to see is if Duke versus Michigan State plays in the Elite AIDE and someone in Duke is in fell trouble, what happens because we're seeing this Duke team has no doubt. Yeah. Well,

and that's what we've been saying, right. So the one thing about one and done teams, right, and Duke is a glaring example of that is that the depth is where that is where your achilles heel is. And so that's why and I said this last week. When you give me Duke in North Carolina who I have meeting in the finals, Um, Carolina to me is the team that is much less susceptible to the bad game like they have. They have enough moving parts where they can

overcome any sort of such foul trouble thing. Duke man, any one of these games, they could be behind the eight ball, you know, because of that. Here's this isn't This is a total observation. That is just me just sort of picking up what I what I thought I picked up based on the games I watched. But did you notice generally speaking, I don't know if anybody else did that. The refs, generally speaking in this tournament swallowed the whistles big time in the first half, and then

the second half they went crazy with whistles. That was another thing I was. I did notice that as well. I thought it was very weird because we're just here, like if you're taking first half overs and everything like that, it's like, and these seems are getting to the free throw line. One in the world that's happening here. So I thought that was a very good observation by you. Especially in that Tennessee versus Iowa game. We saw the whistles come out there, and then of course when you

got Dian Williamson and the double charge. Nothing there, double charge. And I will say this, the uh was it the Tennessee game? Yeah, for those of us who were in Tennessee, Yes, it was the Tennessee game. Because I want to say it was Bohannon who shot that three and they called and Tennessee blocked it, and then they had the run out which would have been a breakaway lamp. Instead they called they call a foul. They actually caucus the refs afterwards. Hey,

was that was that fouls? Okay? Was that they call it? And so it's basically a five point swing in that game because of course Bohndon hits all the three the three free throws, and I is that was that the game where that happened, and so that was another one of these players. You're like, oh my god, like that game. That's that's everything in that game, and it forces overtime eventually, where Tennessee does almost cover. It should be mentioned in overtime.

Um anyway, just a number of amazing listen, March. Here's the thing about March medis and again I will stand by this. I think you have the more than any other year. I will say this that the quality of teams is less than it ever has been, but it still doesn't matter. The event can't be messed up. It's that great of an event. And I think it goes back to the point that myself and so many other people were saying as well, the difference between the top

eight teams and everyone else, the disparity is huge. But then after that it seems to be pretty tight. Even though we saw those three those four seeds all be able to survive in advance, we did see a lot of nip and tuck games one to three four, one to three, four one three, five, one to three twelve. Wow, And I was gonna say, has there ever been a time we're all top three seeds got in ten years ago, two thousand nine, exact same seeds. Let's bring him in.

Adam Stanko from the Catch and Shoot Podcast. Adam, sorry about the time confusion this morning all me, dude, I'm sorry. No, no, there's no apologies necessary. I'm just excited to be on with you guys. Well, let's let's do two games here before the break. We're gonna get to all eight games in the Sweet sixteen. Let's start in the East Region.

We might as well Duke. This is in d C. By the way, this regional is that the UH is in Washington, d C. It's Duke against VA Tech, the one in four in the East Region a c C battle two of the five a CC teams um that are still left in the tournament. This is actually going to be a Friday night, late night game. But we'll do these region by region. Duke is a seven and a half point favorite here at the South Point Hotel Casino.

Duke got here by beating by dispatching North Dakota State and then as we've talked about UH numerously on numerous occasions already this morning, they're amazing escape job against u c F, which feature to again Aubrey Dawkins not being able to handle that alley that which would have put up which would put you see of up six instead

cam with the three. Uh. Then after UCF goes up three again after Delorier misses a couple of free throws, the amazing Zion Williamson drive to the whole where he gets foul Taco fouls out, he misses the free throw. R J. Parrett puts in the tappen, and then Aubrey Dawkins somehow can put the follow up to win that game. So Duke is here. Votech beats the Billikins in the first round and then have trouble with Liberty early for about half of this game, and then they pull away

in the second half Duke by seven and a half. Greg, we start with you your thoughts here on this one. This is one that I think is gonna be so interesting because Duke is in a little bit of a revenge spot here, but the pieces are so different from the last time these two teams played. Justin Robinson wasn't in the game when Virginia Tech played Duke. Justin Robinson looked quite good in their game against Liberty, coming off

the bench for a little bit under thirty minutes. He was able to chip in some points to a good job dishing out the ball. And then obviously Ian Williamson didn't play for Duke. This is the one in which I think that is going to be able to win. But right now we're seeing the line sitting at seven and a half. This one actually got to eight and a half and a couple of shots around here in Vegas last night. Obviously there was some sharp money that came in on the Hokeys, But at this point I

would still look at Virginia Tech. I think they keep this game within five six points. Yeah, and again we're doing these out of chronological order. We're doing him by bracket form here Adam Duke and votech there. Well, you know you brought up a point, Gil about the idea that you know Duke is is sort of more you know, uh app to have some of those games where where things get tight because of their outside shooting and because they don't really run much offense. Steth Greenberg tweeted about

it and was getting crushed. But he's right. They really don't run much of an offense and they were completely reliant on their stars. That being said, in a weird way, Duke is actually very equipped to handle tight games because they have guys that can break you down off the dribile. They have a cup all of them obviously in absolute superstars in in Zion and and Barrick Um and I and I agree with Greg's point, the idea that justin

Robinson's playing, I think his health is important. The big key though for this game for Virginia Tech is carry blacks here. It's it's it's a question of, you know, how effective is he how much can he score? Because he has to have a huge game, and they're also gonna have to have a huge game from Nikil Alexander Walker, because you know, we saw him, you know, being we've seen him be inconsistent. He can have a good game and then you know he's had a six point game

in the tournament. He needs to be huge. But I think ultimately I think it's a wake up call for Duke. I think, with some time to prepare, I think it's a revenge game for them, the fact that they lost to Virginia Tech. I think Duke Uh. I think Duke handles this one actually rather easily, and I think they're all going to be super motivated. Sometimes a wake up call like this is just what you need in the tournament. And Duke at all they could handle and in UCF

and and they handled it. Yeah, the wake up call thing we'll get into with Virginia coming up as we go through these. Also in d c UH, this game precedes the Duke Votch game on Friday. It's l s U, the number three seed in the East against the number two seed Michigan State. This region went to form in terms of seating according to form L s U here after they beat Yale in the first round, beat him, but have to had to stave off a spree of threes from Yale. Late Yale actually cover that game, but

L s U beat Yale by five, didn't cover. Then L s U beats Maryland, surviving the tight rims on the right side of the court there in the second half. L s U gets it done by two. For those of us who got in earlier, had l U minus one, we cash uh. Some did not, but L s U beats Maryland in just a niptuck game down the stretch. Maryland deserved a lot of credit. In my opinion, Michigan State is here on a cake walk. I guess Bradley

wasn't a cake walk. Bradley gave him some trouble there for the first half plus of that game, but then Michigan State pulled away late uh in that game, so I shouldn't say that about Bradley. Michigan State ends up winning by eleven, but that's more cosmetic than an anything. They do beat Minnesota handily by twenty. So it's Michigan State l s U. The Spartans greg favored by six. By the way, on the duke game, did you have a play on the spread or no? I was going

Virginia Tech with the points, with the points? All right? What do you think about this one? Here? This one is so interesting because you've got possibly the biggest coaching miss man you've ever seen a sweet six scene game, Tony Bedford, a interim head coach for l s U that was started into this position a couple of weeks ago against Tom Zoh. And what's really interesting about Michigan State Ever since Tom Azo got to Michigan State. He's had one senior class not make a Final four in

their four years. If Michigan State doesn't make it this year, this would be their second. I think Michigan State is gonna be able to win this game. At six. It's a sharp line. I would probably look at L. S U in this spot, just because with L. S U you've got a front line of four different guys that presents something so different. Nas Read is able to be a seven footer at'sable shoot three Sterius Days offered some versatility as well. You've got more of a shot blocker

in Cavell bib Williams. Emmett Williams is able to do just a good job of being able to palm the glass. And then you've got Tremont Waters, one of the best players in regards to being able to gather steals, and we've seen Cash Winston get a little bit loose with the ball. This is a game in which I think Michigan State should win. But if I had to play aside as of right now, I would look at the

points with all of you. Traymont Waters, by the way, that winning lay up against Maryland took about three and a half or four steps on that. Did you see the replay? Yeah, that was a travel. Yeah, I didn't see it with the naked eye. I was with the refs. I didn't see it with the naked eye. But on the replay, good lord. A lot of steps there, but a great shot by him as he sort of like scooped it up from down low to beat Maryland with

just over a second left in that game. Adam Stanko from the Catch and Shoot podcast, who's joining us this morning? Your thoughts on this one? I love L. S U in this game. Um, I'm a huge water span and while he did travel on the play, I think the refs were checking for contact. I think that's what they were looking for. Uh. But I do think that L.

S U is better offensively. I think Waters creates so well, and I think Greg rings up an interesting point the fact that Waters defends and he's sneaky good in terms of picking picking your pocket as a point guard. He's gonna make Winston work and the issue with with Michigan State, and I believe this for a long time is outside of Winston, I don't know who else creates their own shot, you know, Aaron Henry got a ton of attention because

of you know, is a coming down on him pretty hard. Um. But I think Henry needs to be one of those guys that's going to have to create his own shot. They really don't have guys like that outside of Winston. Winston creates the whole offense. So if he's bothered by Waters, um, you know, getting in his grill and really pressing up defensively against him and picking the ball away, it's gonna be tough for Winston to be creating for others. And I think on the flip side, I think L s

U has some offense. Skyler Mays had some big threes we've seen when Nods reads capable of, and of course Cavell Bigbie Williams controls the paint defensively, So I think Michigan State has the edge defensively. But I think the fact that L s U has some more guys that can create on their own, and I think the fact that Waters create havoc defensively, I give the edge cells you. I think they win this game out right, all right,

out right. Uh. Certainly two votes against the spread for L s U and Stanko calling a shot with l s U outright, Adam, you did these wonderful capsules for all sixty eight teams before the first round. Um, are you doing this for the Sweet sixteen as well? Yeah, put out a little bit longer capsules on each of

these matchups. So a little breakdown of each of these which will be out today on Pure Hoops Media dot com Pure Hoops Media dot com for those If you want to dive even deeper with Adam Stanko, we'll come back. We'll do the other three regions in the Sweet sixteen, the West, the South, and the Midwest. Greg Peterson Adam Stanko a numbers game right here at Visa down back to a numbers game with your host Gil Alexander, broadcasting live from our visa in studios in Las Vegas. Jeff,

do I get credit by having enough? We've gone through almost, uh you know, a show and a half here, and I have not once mentioned the Showtime documentary Action that debuted last night, four part docuseries, which they were kind enough to include me in brief lee yesterday, So we will have tomorrow on the show. David Check, the show runner, he will talk to us about the uh the four Park docuseries on Showtime called Action. Bill Crackenburger our Buddy

prominently featured. So we'll get into that with Dave Check tomorrow. Continuing with the Sweet sixteen UH, the winner of the East, which we just went through, we'll take on the winner of the West. According to the brackets, UH. These will be played Thursday night in Anaheim, beginning with number one seed Gonzaga taking on the four seed Florida State in that region. Gonzaga here by virtue of their blasting Fairley Dickinson and then beating Baylor by twelve UH in the

second round. Let me just say this about that Baylor game. If you were on Gonzaga against the spread, that Baylor performance down the stretch was one of the weirdest things ever. Like all these other games, teams will foul to you know, to to try to get the teams in a one and one. They'll shoot threes to try to narrow the gap. Baylor was doing neither. Baylor was not shooting threes. Baylor was not fouling anybody. Baylor was just driving to the whole.

It was the weirdest thing. Was like Baylor was just concerned about covering. If you didn't know any better. That was the strangest thing to me. Whenever anybody else was was who had Gonzaga was thinking that very thing? Were you on? Gonza? I was on the over in that game, So that was just so strange, like are you guys playing?

What are you doing? That was the strangest thing. Uh. So that's the first Gonzaga will take on F s U F s U here by virtue of the fact that they beat the Catamounts Vermont Vermont in the first round. I had a little trouble with Vermont for a while and then they broke away late. Uh. And then they played Murray State and I had Murray State first to fifteen. I had at Parlay over at MGM first fifteen with Wafford. Both cashed, but the Murray State won to fifteen. They

got to fifteen. I pumped my fist because I won the bed. I walked away maybe for twenty seconds, and like Murray State was down six in like ten seconds and never looked back. FS. You crushed John Moran and Murray State after that. Jaw great and defeat, of course, but it's Gonzaga in Florida State. What's the number that we have on their six and a half, so earlier it was the always rare six point six we had on the screen. That was an error, obviously six and

a half in favor of the Zags. Greg, you know what, at six and a half, I don't know what I would have done with it, But at six and a half, you know what, I think we're gonna go with gonzag here. This is a team that I really like, and they're gonna be out for blood in this game. Keep in mind last year when these two teams played in the Sweet six scene Killy and Tilly we all remember, was ruled out like minutes before the game, nobody knew about it, and then all of a sudden, Florida States able to

get that win. I will say this about Florida State. They've got tremendous length, which is gonna give guys like Zach Norvelle Jr. And Kiss Spur some trouble out there trying to shoot those threes. But what Gonzega does really well. They get the ball down low. They are the top team in the country and regards to offensive efficiency and being able to meet their two point shots. Christ Coumagi down low. He's a guy that he's got size obviously, but I just questioned whether or not he's gonna be

able to match up physically with Brandon Clark. I look at Gonzegga being able to win this game prize right double digits. If Leonard Hamilton's and f SU pull this off, will you give him credit? Please? I will give him credit? Alright, alr just check it. Adam Gonzaga favored by six and a half here. I really like Gonzaga in this game. They have so many weapons that they can throw at you. And you know the thing with Florida State, I mean Gregg's right, I mean Camagi underneath is all of seven

foot four. Uh fanu. Kevin Gilly is a special talent, I mean a sixth man, but he's an NBA player. He's turning himself into a first round or he's become a dominant force. There's so long, but the issue with Florida State is outside of Terence Man, where's the offense

coming from? Kevin Gilly and Man have to have provided offense in this tournament, but everyone else has been shooting poorly and has down the stretch, and and so that length and that size can can get away with a lot for a while, but eventually you're gonna have to make shots. And Gonzaga has so many weapons and the fact that Kissburg has scored and we haven't really seen

it from Norbell yet. You know, he's do for a breakout game, Billy until he has been you know, he had a two point game, that a seventeen point game. Mark few has so many weapons on his team, and ultimately they score down low because of the fact that Perkins is really excellent with his entry passes. So I think Gonzaga, with all of their weapons, they can run with Florida State and they can also bang with them. Brandon Clark's been unbelievable. So we haven't even mentioned ruey

A Tremia. This team wants this game. They've been waiting for this game. I think Zaga, you know, goes on a big time run and like, I think they're a double digit winner as well. Alright, winner of Florida State, Gazaga will take on the winner of the two three game in the West again in the second straight region where it went to form. According to seed for HM anyway one to three four. This is Texas sect the number three seed against the number two seed Michigan Wolverines.

Neither of those two teams has really been that text UH and in Texas text case, after they beat the Northern Kentucky Norris in the first round, the four teen seed, they beat Buffalo and beat him pretty handily. If there was any sort of surprise that might have been at the margin of victory, Texas Tech U ends up winning that game against Buffalo by twenty fifty eight. And then there's Michigan. UH beats Montana by nineteen, beats Florida by fifteen.

So you have two teams that have really coasted into the Sweet sixteen, the Wolverines favored by two greg. This is interesting because you've had two of the better defensive teams that you're gonna find out there in college basketball. And with Texas Tech they are number one in defensive efficiency. And I look at Texas Tech on the money line in this spot because I think the guard play is better. You've got Jared Culver leads a team in points, rebounds,

assists for an over eight teen per game. But then you've got more ready, a guy that shoots over from three, does a very good job of being able to hit his free throws and The guy that I think is a little bit of an X factor for Texas Tech is the fact that you're getting so many blocks out

of Tariq Owens. He averages over tou per game. He's not necessarily the biggest guy, but he's very, very lengthy and wiry, and I think he's gonna cause some issues for a Michigan team that likes to be able to drive it to the whole that you'd like to be able to take a lot of. I guess you could call them random long two pointers, which we all know that those aren't very efficient, and Michigan doesn't do a very good job of game to the free throw line either.

Think about the four games we've just gone through Duke votech l s U, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Florida State, and now Texas Tech Michigan. Those are four sweet I mean, no pun intend, but those are four great games right there. And by the way, if you're in survivor pools like I am, and you've played it correctly and are still alive,

all of these teams are still available to you. If you have not you shouldn't have used any of these really up until this point, um so just again, that's part and parcel with having a very chalky sweet sixteen Adam Michigan Texas Texas there, Yeah, and Kail, you bring up an interesting coiner. I mean, these are if you think about it, they're all the best teams in the

Power Conference. Yea. Ultimately that's what we've narrowed it down to, especially Oregon, which will obviously get to because they've been the best team in the Pact twelve. I think with Texas Tech in Michigan, Gregg talked about at the Idea that the defense for both teams is exceptional. We know that. I think Texas Tech certainly has the edge in terms of the offense. I mean, Jared Culver is a is

a lottery kick. He's been fantastic. Twenty two points nine boards picks us this an attorney thus far, I'm one of the best players in the tournament that we've we've seen. He's a special talent and I think he's a difference maker. I mean, Michigan Superstars pres dicis he's only a freshman and we could see the inconsistency with him in terms of his offensive output. So I think Culver gives them an edge because having that go to guy they know they can depend on to score and create is huge.

So I do have the edge in that department to Texas Tech, as well as the fact that they, you know, we talked about Tarikohen's and then Mooney are both guys that are playing at their third school. Tough to believe, but so they're an older team, their experienced. The issue though, that worries me about Texas Tech is that John Beelon has a few days to prepare, and I just that scares the heck out of me. So I give Texas Tech the edge. I think it's gonna be a close game,

and I think it comes down to the wire. I trust Culver. I think it's gonna be about a two point game Texas Tech. But I'm just terrified of the fact that, if I'm a Texas Tech fan, that John bee Line has multiple days to repair because when you put a coach like that in that situation, it's a nightmare for opponents. Yeah, and I have a future on

Texas Tech. I'm highly vested in them. But Michigan think about bee Line for about twenty years, Uh, they didn't get to a Sweet sixteen, and now in seven years they've gotten a five of them with be Lin. Think about that. We'll come back. We'll do the other two regions, including the Virginia Oregon Dream game for Stanko. Oh my god, he's in heat on this one. It's coming back. It's

a numbers game right here in Vicent. Support for today's show, as always, comes from Bookmaker dot eu and industry leader for close to thirty years. Pro players consider them a musk because of three huge reasons. Their first to post outs, they take the highest limits, and they pride themselves on never having kicked out A winning player. Cannot emphasize that last part enough. That is the rarest of commodities. And right now Bookmaker once again offering you exclusive welcome BOTUS

of up to three hundred dollars. Just visit Bookmaker dot eu slash gill that's Bookmaker dot eu slash g I l L. They'll hook you up over there where the lines originate, because chances are the sports book at which you've been betting follows their lines. You know this, We've been over it, and now here's the main thing for this week. It is the Sweet sixteen bracket. It is still in play twenty dollars an entry five thousand dollars to first place, to second, one thousand for third. Every

completed entry win Surprise. All the details at bookmaker dot eu slash second Hyphen Chance, Hyphen Brackett Hyphen contest. Long way to go for that U r L. But if you go there, well worth your while. Bookmaker dot U slash gill for all the hookups. Hook it up enjoy at bookmaker dot eu slash gill Down Back to a Numbers game with your host, Gil Alexander broadcasting live from

our b Sen Studios in Laws, Vegas. Back on a numbers games for those of you listening in Spanish, Ski Alexander J. Prawls is here serious sex Some Channel two four Visa dot Companies and a Foobo TV going through the Sweet sixth Name with Greg Hoops Peterson, Greg what's the name of the podcast? College Troops Overtime Betting and then you also have That School with Steve Heightener. The both of those podcasts drop at midnight Pacific three I'm Eastern.

That's gold Monday through Friday. And then College Troops Overtime Betting breakdown every side and total for every game on the betting board. Every day without fail. Man, what's what's like a length of one of those podcasts right now? The College Rooms Overtime betting one is right around an hour ish now. When it was when the marathon games where you have like a hundred games on the betting board on Saturdays, those would get to be three and a half and four hours. Jesus. This guy at g

UNIT Underscore eighty one is Greg's Twitter. We should probably mention that we'll refresh your memory on what Adam is doing as well, because Adams doing capsules as well. So these guys are prolific. Let's get to the South region. Uh, this is going to be in Columbia, South Carolina, and uh these are gonna be Thursday as well. Thursday. No, no, So I'm sorry in lou In Louisville, Kentucky, I'm sorry. I was looking at the first round Louisville, Kentucky for

the regionals. Uh, everybody in Louisville is like, wait, what they're done here? Virginia the number one seed against the number twelve seed Oregon. Uh, this is the only double digit seed left in this tournament. Are the Oregon Ducks Pack twelve Attorney title champs Virginia favored by eight in this game. Now uv A is here after beating Gardner Webb, the sixteen seed in the first round. And let me

just say this. I joked all last week, if you remember, I was like, could you imagine if Gardner Webb was like in this game? Like tight at halftime? Gardner Webb was up six at halftime, if I'm not mistaken, six right, But then the wah who's just blasted them in the second half. I don't know what was said in the locker room at halftime, but man, Virginia came out smoking in that second half. They dispatched Gardener Webb. Then Virginia beats Oklahoma by a dozen yesterday, which was pretty much

most to coast cruise for them. So Virginia gets there, and it is often interesting how if you have that scare, how that might turn it for you. And we'll see how far the Cavaliers can get. They're taking on Oregon, Oregon after winning the Pact weal attorney. Uh. They beat Wisconsin in round one months to Greg chagrin. Uh. They beat Wisconsin by eighteen and then they beat you see Irvine basically twice last night they beat him in the

first half. Then the ant Eaters came out and we're absolutely ridiculous when the when the second half started was like a sixteen oh run something like that, fourteen nothing I'm sorry, fourteen nothing run, and then Oregon both raced them after that. So it's uh u v a Oregon. Let me let me start with Adam for this one, because this is a matchup close to his heart, big Virginia guy. He's been calling this late season run by Oregon. You got honors Adam on this one. Well, I appreciate it,

Gil Uh. Usually I love when Greg Hoop Speederson has the floor first, but but I'll take it. I think for this, for this matchup, it's it's fascinating. You talk about the psychological impact. I think for certain teams, uh, the scare helps them because it wakes them up. I think with Virginia, obviously that Gardner Webb game wasn't a wake up call. I just think the weight of the

world was on their shoulders. I don't know that a team has ever had more pressure going into the tournament when they were the favorite, uh than than Virginia did. That was incredible. They I can't believe those kids even survived, especially when they were down fourteen in the first half, but I think the resiliency was there. I think now that that's gotten out of the way, we're seeing finally again the Virginia team that we were used to all

season long. Uh, the team that was dominant defensively and terrific really um in terms of their offensive efficiency, and I think the fact that they have so many weapons. They're doing this without Kyle Guy shooting well. I think he's one for fifteen from beyond the arc, which is crazy to think really struggling with his shot. But obviously Ty Jerome's a pro, DeAndre Hunter's a lottery pick. I love their offensive talent that at what Oregan is doing

on the defensive end is remarkable. Kenny Wootton is eleven blocks in two games, changing everything, and Peyton Pritchard has been phenomenal Bolton Pact Welth Tournament and in the n c A Tournament. I think this one is going to be close. I think Virginia has the edge, but I expect a really I expect a nail biter because both these teams are so good defensively, Virginia's offensive efficiency and the fact that they have more weapons offensively than Oregon

does is going to be the difference. But this Oregon defense is terrific. And I'm not surprised that they're in the sweet sixteen right now. And let's not let that moment slide, because I think it deserves one more mention. Virginia was losing to Gardner Webb by fourteen, a year after they lost first team ever to lose to a sixteen seed UNBC, and here they were in a second straight year, and when they were down double digits, me and my buddies were we were saying to each other.

I'm sure everybody was having the same conversation. If they lose this game, like, will the alumni, will the boosters ever speak of this team like for the next year? Right, it would get to the point where it would be so egregious that you just there was there's no equivalent for it, like what you can't take them seriously ever? Again? Still and still, here's here's the thing, too. I don't need to cut you off at least, I mean you and I discussed this. The idea that both of us

we're receiving because we enjoy watching Virginia play. We're receiving tons of texts and hearing from people, and I'm getting texts from basketball people saying it's Tony Bennett going to get fired if they lose this, thinking how insane is this?

But yet your your point is well taken, and all I could think, and I and I continue to say, if if we were hearing this and we were feeling this heat, just because we appreciate Virginia, what do you think the players were going through what it has been like the last few weeks, so to get that monkey off their backs, I think there's a huge sense of relief. Whereas I think with like you compare that to the

Duke victory. I think with Duke it was a wake up call of Okay, what you're doing is not going to work against against some of these teams in the tournament. To wake up Caul, you have to play alert, you have to play high energy all the time, all those types of things. With Virginia, I think it was strictly a case of pressure and it's remarkable. I think the win is even more remarkable than the fact that Gardner Webb was winning at half done. Yeah, I I can't

disagree with any of that. As my Buddy E would text me pac line, schmackline, Gil. That's as big text. He keeps saying your thoughts on this game. And you know what's interesting is I actually had the chance to talk to Dan Walkin on my podcast, who was there for the regional. He talked to Tony Bennett after the game, and exactly what Tony Bennett said when his team was down at the half is apparently there was no peeling paint off the walls, there was no raw ros beach

or anything like that. He was just very calm. He said, we're fine, we got the jitters out of us. Now let's play our brand of basketball. And we saw them almost cover that game against Gardner Webb because they were so good in the second half. When you take a look at this game, though, I do think that Virginia is gonna be able to win this game. I do think that they're gonna be able to survive in advance. But I like the way this Oregon team is playing.

Keep in mind, they've got a point guard in Payton Britchard. He started on a Final four as a freshman. And you've got so much length with this Oregon team. Louis King and Paul White are too big man, they are able to step out and shoot the three. And then it was brought up by Adam that Kenny Wooton has been so good at being able to block shots. I believe he has a weaven. In the team's first two games,

he has been absolutely sensational. This is a spot where I think that Oregon is gonna be able to hit some threes. I think Kyle Guy gets a little bit hot. So taking a look at total of one nineteen, I think both teams get to sixty in this game. I think we see a little bit of a higher scoring game than expected. I think Oregon probably loses this game.

I'm thinking sixty sixty. Okay, so Virginia wins but doesn't cover you like the over at one nineteen alright, winner of uv A. Oregon takes on the winner in the south of the two three game per due the three seed produced there by virtue of beating the Old Dominion Monarchs by thirteen. Then they destroy Villanova Man by twenty six. That was a over race. That game was never in doubt,

super due representing the big ten there. In the Sweet sixteen against number two Tennessee, we talked about Tennessee earlier on the show, they'd be coal Gate in the first round, and then we're up twenty five on Iowa and had to survive over time to get by the Valls and the boiler Makers Tennessee by one, Greg And if you like under, Tennessee has not treated you well, especially that bank three if you got the late number against coal Gate. But with that said, I do think that Tennessee is

a better overall team in this one. Perdue got a very good performance out of Matt Harms in that game against Illanova. We all focused on the forty two points of Carson Edwards, but in that game Matt Harms had eighteen points, did a great job on the glass. But we've seen Matt Harms be hit or miss all year long. You just don't know what Matt Harms you're gonna get. I think that Grant Williams is gonna be able to

do a good job against him and Carson Edwards. He'll shoot you into games, he'll shoot you out of games. He attempts nineteen point one shots per game, most of any player entering the n C Double A tournament. I think that Tennessee is a more well rounded team. Jordan Bone has an assessor turnover ratio three. Ryan Klein is a fishing with the ball as well, but he just doesn't do as much as Bone and Bowden do. I have to just lean to the better team here, and

I think that's Tennessee. I like Tennessee to Adam. Yeah, I like Tennessee, but I would say this, if you're all stan I'd be terrified that Carson Edwards has gotten as hot as he has, I mean average in thirty four game in the tournament, including that that forty two point point outing. The big thing for Produe is where is the other offense coming from? Greg mentioned harms. But it's gotta be other guys outside of that, whether it's Ryan Klein hitting shots or iffort Uh. They need some

other offense outside of Carson Edwards. They were best actually when Edwards was scoring and finding people. If he's the only guy going offensively, then it's going to be tough for him because there's so many weapons on Tennessee. Admiral

Scofield has been terrific. It was shocking to see him not playing overtime and gave a weird answer that Rick Barnes said it was because scope Yield himself that he didn't want to play um and that you know, he was worried he was going to pick up his fifth foul. But it's you're in overtime, and who cares if you pick up your fifth foulure out like you're not playing anyway. So I thought that whole thing was was a little

bit odd. But I but I do think the fact that they have multiple weapons, the big key, of course is is Grant Williams, because if you can get Grant Williams out of the low post where he does so much damage operating, and when he can face up or go back to the basket, that's when you you have a shot against against Tennessee. And I think I don't know that Matt Harms there anyone else on Ford is

ultimately going to be able to do that. They're gonna switch multiple guys on him, They're gonna double him in the post. But I think there's just too many offensive weapons for Tennessee. So Carson Edwards has been hot. He's gonna set it up for everybody else. But I think without the other guys stepping forward for for Purdue, I think Tennessee wins wins this game. I'm so glad you brought that up at him, because, again, for me, the

two weirdest things of the weekend. I mentioned Baylor against Gonzaga earlier, not shooting threes and not fouling down the stretch was the weirdest thing, like every other team is doing. That was like, no, we're good, we just want to cover this. Uh. And then it's the Admiral Schofield thing at the end of that Tennessee uh Tennessee Iowa game. I completely agree by the way Brian Anderson and Chris Webber were on the call in that game, they never

brought it up. I think one slate they sort of mentioned and oh, hey, he's not in the game, but they never really got into like this is this is mal practice? What is Rick Barnes doing? And you're so right. It's like, oh, this is the end of the game. Who here's what he gets his fitful? Have him been there? And then after the game, Scofield was kind of like, no, no, no, it's good. Uh, you know, my teammates and whatever. He said that he sort of tried to pass it off

it was not a big deal. It was a big deal. That's a big deal. Was one of those things. For better is you gotta file that away. With Rick Barnes coming back, we'll do the Midwest. U n C, Auburn, Houston, Kentucky. Man, these games are good. Greg Peterson Adams tako right here on a Numbers game at Visa. Back to a Numbers game with your host Gil Alexander, broadcasting live from our Visa in studios in Las Vegas. Alright, Midwest region, we

gotta get to it. This is in Kansas City, Missouri, or as the old schoolers call it, Missouri because they refused to pronounce the eye. I don't know why. That's how they did it. It's U n C and Auburn. This is Friday night. That's where it starts. The number one seed tar Heels, who beat Iona in the first round and then beat you dub the Huskies in the second round by twenty two. As it turns out, they're taking on number five Auburn. We talked about this earlier

with other teams. You get that first round scare and then all of a sudden, that's like carte blanche to blast your next opponent. So Auburn gets that scare against New Mexico State. Remember the Aggies had that chance to lay it into force overtime. Instead, they kick it out for the three. Shooter gets foul, he only hits one of three free throws, then misses a wide open three, and Auburn survives. And then Auburn just destroys Kansas. They were up fifty one twenty five at the half of

that game late Saturday night. So it's Auburn and u n C. Tar Heels favored by five. Greg you mentioned that Auburn fourteen point win against Kansas. Honestly, it wasn't even that now it's not at all. But you take a look at this game. North Carolina has actually been playing some better defense as of I think that's going to present a little bit of an issue for Auburn because one thing that we know about Auburn is this team is now very good on glass. Awesome. Whitey might

be actually their best low post player. He's been seeing some more minutes. I think that could help them out. But with North Carolina, you've got Luke may down low this year, Little coming off the bench, Garrison Brooks doing a good job. There's just too many big bodies for North Carolina. I know that they are a team that likes a running gun, but I think that they might actually try to slow this game down a little bit more because Auburn in regards to steals per possession on

defense number one in the country. So you gotta think that North Carolina is really going to value the ball here, and I think that if they're able to do that, they're able to win and cover. And I look at this totally continues the climate at one sixty two and a half. I think North Carolina is gonna try to take a little bit of arrow the ball for the reasons I just said. And I'm looking at this under as well. Mr Stanko, sir, well, what makes for great games,

obviously is when teams love to play fast. Is always a lot of fun and great point guard play, and we're getting both of them in this matchup. And as a as a as a point guard connoisseur, if you will, I love this matchup between Jared Harper and Kobe White. They're two of my favorite players in the country. Harper I think is phenomenal and uh and Kobe White more of the same. I think he's he's on his way to superstar him He's gonna be in the lottery when

all is said and done, I'm convinced of it. Um. But the difference in them is Harper's five eleven Kobe White six five, And ultimately, I think the difference in this game. Greg brought up the defense North Carolina is playing. I think that's been huge. I think Auburn did have a case psychologically of that wake up game that we talked about with that with the opener and how poorly they played down the stretch against New Mexico State, especially Harper.

But I think the big difference with this one is is really the play in this year Little. He gives North Carolina another option, another guy who can score, to go along with May and to go along with Cam Johnson. Um, they just have a bunch of weapons. They don't have a lot of guys that can break you down off the bounce, but Kobe White gets them into their offense.

And so I just think with all the weapons North Carolina has, with this yere Little playing at the level he is for really the first time all season, he's playing like we all expected him to do when he came in as a freshman. I think that that just puts North Carolina on a different level. So as much as I like Auburn in their back court, I gotta take North Carolina in this one. And I think it might even be double digits. Kobe White is six five. Let me just repeat that, because most people when they

process a Carolina game that they're like six five. What yeah, six five. I think he's a future lottery pick as well.

Winner of view n CEE Auburn will take on the winner of the game later Friday night in the Midwest region, also in Kansas City, Houston and Kentucky the three seed in the two seed Houston here by virtue of their wins over Georgia State and Ohio State yesterday Georgia State and Ohio State, and then Kentucky here beat Abilene Christian Bad in the first round and then get the cover on Wafford by virtue of late free throws much of the chagrine of Wofford backers uh on Saturday. So Houston,

Kentucky Kentucky favored by two and a half. Great. I hate to be a little bit wishy washing here, but this all comes down to the health of PJ. Washington. If PJ. Washington is not in the fold, I'd probably go with Houston on the money line here. If he isn't, I think they Kentucky is gonna be able to have a big size advantage on Houston, and I would lay the points with Kentucky. This is wait and see mode for me. Yeah, I know, I agree with you. Kentucky

doing it without PJ. Washington in the hardcast, We'll see, We'll see if he can play in this game on Friday night, Adam, Yeah, I like Kentucky either way. To be honest with you, I keep talking about the fact that NBA talent reigned supreme in the NIA Tournament, and certainly in this case, it's it's completely lopsided. Kentucky has more UH players who will be playing in the NBA than anyone else in this field. Um. And you know, even though Houston does have Dejonjarrou who comes off the

bench and and it's going to be a pro. He's a special talent. But I just think Kentucky has so many different weapons they can throw at you. Greg just mentioned the length and defensively, what Kentucky is doing on the defensive end is special, and I think they just have way more weapons offensively. So even if PJ. Washington doesn't play, they've already played a couple of games without him, the fact that there's an unknown that Houston has to

prepare for for this week. I love Vin Sampson as a coach, but I just think there's there's too many uh there's too many question marks there for Houston, and I think Kentucky has a big advantage. All right, Adam Catching Shoot podcast? Where can people see your capsules for the Sweet Sixteen? Where's that? You can see it on Pure Hoops media dot com. Matchup of each of the teams you can learn about in UH in less than two minutes time, and then they're also available um wherever

podcasts are found. Just look up Pure Hoops Quick Hitters and find them there. Greg your podcast, College Over Time Better Greg, Adam, thank you. Enjoy