It is March Madness, and here we are to give our incorrect NCAA tournament picks. Who here is excited? You have a bracket in your hands? How about that? Wooo it by my hands? Ah? You mean on my computer? Then yes, it's on the screen in front of you. Welcome to the Inside the Paint March Madness Bracket Pick Show. So we just wrapped recording on another show that featured our recap and preview of the Jayhawks draw
specifically and SAMASKCARCV questions mixed in there. Go check that out if you're looking for a more specific Kansas analysis, the same format that we normally do, because this is our once a year special where we are just going to talk bracket. There's no questions, there's no Jayhawk games, there's no previews, there's no recaps. It is just us going through the bracket and making our selections, so you know what to fade accordingly. This is inside the Paint
on Rockschalkflog on spreaker dot com. I'm Ryan Landris, I am Matt Painter watching his favorite episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, knowing nothing will go wrong this time. And I am Rick Barnes who fell asleep during the middle of Curb your enthusiasm. Two coaches who are in the Jayhawks region. So it'll be interesting to see if we have either one of them breaking their long lasting,
embarrassing runs. But now we don't have a lot to do. Nick's gotta go to bed before before too long here, and I'm not gonna waste anybody's time. I'm gonna go ahead and blow this air horn, and then we're gonna talk all about these picks. All right, So we'll go region by region here. Should we go ahead and pick the entire round of thirty two or should we do one region to the final four and then move on to the next one. What do you think, Nick, I'm good with either
at a time. All right, let's do a region at a time. I will lead off and m see the East region where we see the number one overall seed. By the way, I'm making these picks live, I have a blank bracket in front of me, so this is just a completely site red thing. I haven't read any articles, i haven't listened to any analysis. I'm just gonna go with it and see how how this goes. You guys have already filled out your bracket and you've been thinking about it for
a couple hours. Is that correct? You guys have your answers locked in? Uh? Yeah, And I looked at it just to make sure I wanted to stick with all my picks. I decided why not, even though it's clearly incorrect in several places. That's fine. I'm just gonna roll with it off the cuff. Nick, You've had yours done for a little bit, right. You've in the past been mister fill out twenty five brackets, dude, this year you only have one. I did it about an hour
ago. All right, then, both of you guys, what's the correct number of brackets that you fill out? I'm only doing one. I think you can only submit one per pool. I think you can fill out multiple brackets if you want in different pools, but you can't be having like five brackets in an individual pool, right. Yes. And in this particular case, the Jayhawks, the Jayhawk rock Chalk Blog itp pool. Make sure you
join that link on the Twitter and the Facebook page Jayhawk Nation. If you also look up rock Chalk Blog inside the Paint Pool on ESPN, you should find it in the public groups. Bonus points if you name your entry after your favorite ITP moment looking forward to seeing who is Landon has never won pick them this year. There's always somebody with it. So in the East region, that's where we'll begin with top seeded Yukon. They draw Stetson, who
occasionally goes into coach K's house and loses in a bye game. I assume we're all going with the Huskies, the defending champs, to win tournament game number seven in a row. Right, yeah, I think they'll least get that far. All right, Well, we'll roll with that, and then we immediately move on to the first huh decision by the committee. Two teams that a lot of people wondered if they'd be on the bubble instead, they're safely in as an eight to nine game Florida Atlantic, who played in the
Final four last year. Three of the four final four teams last year all in this pod in the Northwestern as the nine seed, a team some people thought was gonna be left out entirely. What do you think here? The Owls are one of the hardest teams to assess here. We know they have that championship pedigree they did this last year. I also have a lot of stinker losses this year going up against a team that was pretty consistent and finished
third in the Big Ten, and I'm going with the Northwestern here. I think Florida Atlantic has been wildly inconsistent. You definitely could bet on their experience, and I think a lot of teams are a lot of people will which makes sense. But yeah, I think FAU just a really strange team. They are very difficult to pick. But I'm gonna go with the UH with what I just told, they're the Wildcats. They're the Wildcats podcasts. Yes,
I agree. I think Northwestern bo Boi, I think they're better than this FAU team, Like you said, Ryan, very streaky this year. I think they're Cinderella Magic's gone. I am gonna go with the Owls. I am gonna do what Landon said, which is trust that experience. I'm never too keen on Big Ten teams here. And ultimately, this is an easy spot to pick an upset if you think one's gonna happen, because most likely you're gonna have whoever wins this game losing to Yukon anyway. So it's
a good opportunity to try to snag some points. Not a lot of people will. I think most people will pick Fau, So it's an interesting Uh, it's an interesting call for you guys. Boom Byuy's really good, but ultimately I'll go with the Als in that experience. They play at a fast tempo. I think they overwhelmed Northwestern's offense all right. In the five to twelve game. San Diego State made the National Championship Game last year as a
five seed, and they draw an Alabama Birmingham. What are they? The Dragons? That's a cool Namelie the Blazers, that's right. The logo is a dragon. Are we going with the Aztecs to continue their run it Back tour? Here? I'm not. I'm picking the Blazers. Okay, give me some give me some analysis. Just looking for a five to twelve. This is one of those good five to twelve teams. UAB has been kind of hot lately, and I think San Diego State this has been a mediocre
San Diego State team. We just talked off there before this that the Mountain West may be a little overrated, even having six teams in maybe an up year for them, but overall, some cannibalism in that conference I don't think San Diego State's very good this year. I like UAB two win in this game. Okay, Landon, I'm going to Astex. I'm going to Astex. I think I think they'll take care of business here. These have a
sturdy group UAB. Yeah, they have played well. Obviously, they won the AAC, which a good tournament to win, but I'm gonna I'm gonna say San Diego State ends that run. So the thing with UAB that I've heard in the few hours that I've been hearing them because they won their tournament today is they get to the free throw line a lot, and they play really good defense. Well, San Diego State is one of the best defensive
teams in the country. Typically, whenever you have a similar clash of styles going up against each other, you're gonna go with the more superior team. I like the San Diego State assignment here, and they also made that they were a pretty good three point shooting team early in the year. They've struggled a lot. I think this team is like eight and six in their last couple several weeks worth of plays or whatever. But yeah, I'll go with the Aztecs to win a game. They are the better team. Here's an
interesting matchup the four to thirteen game. First, with the thirteen seed, you have Yale, who won the IVY League barely. They needed a buzzer beater to get there, Otherwise it would have been like a six and seventeen to start the year brown team. That would have been the IVY League gotto bid first year the IVY League tournament, and there was plenty of madness. They will take on the four seed Auburn, the SEC tournament champion here,
who has gotten really hot as of late and has a scary offense. Clash of styles that Yale plays good defense, Auburn overwhelms you with offense. We all like the Tigers to advance. I do. I know that could be a game for sure, I said, I do. That's why your pause. Oh okay, gotcha. Auburn is the pick here. I think they are. So this field, this little quad, this little region, I guess, is what it's called. This region has four top four seeds.
All of them won their conference tournaments. And it's always interesting to see how that works because we've seen teams in the past like Iowa State or Texas in the Big Twelve where they win it, and then they're really flat and in that first game and they lose. So we got four of them here. We got Yukon, we got Auburn, we got Illinois, we got Iowa State. All won their tournament. They're all going to go here. I think Auburn wins. I think Auburn is one of the biggest threats to Yukon
in this challenge. They didn't win a lot of quality games throughout the course of year, but their ceiling is as high as just about anybody's. I think they win. I will go with a chalk first four matchups Number six b Yu, who should have been a five seed, but because they are not able to play on Sundays, the committee had no choice but to put them in the highest available seed line that could take care of that, and
that is a sixth seed. So they are seated down and they draw number eleven to Kaine, who makes the NCAA tournament for the first time in almost fifty seasons. Are we all going with the Cougars in our first big twelve draw? Yeah? I am gonna go with them. Yes. I think Byu we said a couple of weeks ago. BYU's taken down someone. They're upsetting somebody, and it's a pretty tough region to be able to call that, considering who they'd have to beat from a chalk perspective. Should they get
moving, But yes, I think BYU wins. They are the more experienced team and also a bit of a home court advantage out there. It's going to be in in Omaha, so you'll have a much more heavy amount of the BYU fans. And then number three Illinois draws Number fourteen morehead State Alini are as hot as anyone right now. Terrence Shannons junior just scored almost ninety points in three games in the Big ten tournament. I assume we're all going
with the ALIGNI right, they're the impressive group. In the seven to ten game, we have Washington State, who almost won the PAC twelve and they draw Missouri Valley champion Drake, who won Arch Madness over Indiana State and sent home one of America's darlings. I am gonna go with Drake the Bulldogs here taking down a Washington State team who has really underwhelmed over the last few weeks. They flamed out early in their PAC twelve tournament. I like Drake style
I think the offense is too much. Never been that impressed with the Pac twelve. I'll take the ten over the seven here, I agree, I don't. I'll take Washington State, and then we have Iowa State in the two fifteen game. They will play TJ. Alzberger's former team, the jack Rabbits of South Dakota State. Not a fantastic draw for them, considering this is an Omaha. That fifteen seed's gonna have a lot of fans there, But overall, it's tough to see Iowa State going down to a fifteen,
right, Even though Landon you said maybe I was tempted. If I was gonna take any fifteen, I think this would be the one that I would shoot the shot on. But I don't think I can bring myself to do it. So yeah, I'm gonna take Iowa State here. All right. Now, let's go back to the top of the bracket. Here, number one Yukon against the winner of number eight Florida Atlantic at number nine Northwestern.
I think you gotta go with the Huskies to the sweet sixteen, to the top seed either one of you have Northwestern challenging the Huskies here, not quite. No, I don't think Northwestern challenges Yukon. I do think Florida Atlanta could. We saw them beat Arizona early in the year. They are a volatile bunch. They are giant killers at their best and really underwhelming at their
worst. So we'll see. But overall, yes, Yukon wins. Who we have advancing to play Yukon in the sweet sixteen, I will go chock and say Auburn advances to play the Huskies. Yeah, I have all right, And in the six to three game, I really want to take BYU to beat Illinois. We said they're gonna pull an upset, but I just like Illinois too much. I like Terrence Shannon Junr and what he's been able
to do in the last week. They are a team that nobody wants to play right now, even though they have disappointed in the past under coach Underwood. In the tournament, I'll give them another shot and say they go to the sweet sixteen. I agree, yep. And then do we all have Iowa State advancing beating the winner of Washington State Drake and moving this week sixteen? I do. I don't like Iowa States. It feels like that they really never make deep draws. In March. Even though we always sit there
and talk ourselves into it. They're playing a different style now, but I'll go with it, I guess, all right. And now we have a sweet sixteen in that region, Yukon, Auburn, Illinois, Iowa state. Is that everybody's here's sweet sixteen? All all right? All chock, give me a sweet give me an Elite eight matchup. I got Yukon Illinois as well. I do too, and I will go with the Fighting A line to make the final four and upset the number one overall seat. I have
Yukon in the final four, I do as well. Ballsy, we are here an inside the paint. We love picking this. Just wait, all right, all right, I'm excited for it, all right. So that is the East region. You guys both have the Huskies making out of it, and I will go with the Fighting A line. I to eat my words whenever they lose to freaking BYU in the seconder fair Chick fil A was doing a pick the final four and win like I don't know, one sandwich
or something I don't know. And I had Yukon and Illinois in the final four on that before I knew region. So Illinois. If they didn't draw what I think is the clear favorite in the tournament, they very well may have been in my final four. This is also what people said about Illinois in twenty twenty one, the year of COVID, the year after COVID, and they flamed out to Loyola in the round of thirty two in the one
v. Eight game. So who honestly knows at this point, But I think they have one of the five best players in college basketball, and I think that matters. Also, yes, Yukon is statistically the most likely team to make the final four. If they played Illinois, they would be an underdog. Do I love that matchup? Of course not. But everybody's gonna have Yukon making the final four. Here. I don't want to make it
to the bracket pool and tie with sixty other people in points. If I'm gonna make a shot at a bracket and a pool, it's gonna have over one hundred names. You gotta be a little different, and I will go with Illinois here. Okay, Landon, think it's your time to drive. Let's do the South region, which is right on the other side there. Yeah, let's do it. Houston and Longwood, Longwood and Morehead State. I have no idea what those two schools can have in common. Roberts.
Yeah, we're all in Houston. Yes, Houston's style is just gonna overwhelm this poor Longwood team. It'll be very short Woods. Yes. And then a much more spicy matchup in the eight and nine Nebraska and Texas. A and M like Nebraska, Okay, Nick, Nick likes nebrasketball, what say you, Landing. I'm gonna I do like Nebrasketball. I'm gonna go with the best individual player on the floor, which I think is Wade Taylor, and I'm gonna take the Aggies. I am too. I like Nebrasketball.
I do, but the Aggies are a much better defensive team. And whenever you have the Hoiberg style of score, score score score score, I don't know. Also, this Houston cannot be thrilled about this matchup. Shooters are day tough battle. It is either way, because A and M gave him hell for forty minutes in that neutral site game and only lost to him in a game in December by a few and Nebraska knows how to shoot the hell out of the basketball. So this is not an ideal eight nine scenario for
the Cougars, but I will say it's the Aggies. I will go with Buzz Williams. Love both the coaches in this matchup, but I will say A and M wins and then a very interesting I'm very intrigued to what you guys have here. Five twelve, four point thirteen Wisconsin and the thirty the thirty one and three, thirty and three, Yeah, thirty one and three. James Madison Dukes. I am taking the Dukes one of the great two sports schools. To be quite honest, James Madison football is a juggernaut most
of the time. James Madison basketball is an outstanding season. I'm taking the Dukes in the upset here, agreed. I like James Madison. I will pick a Duke to win in this first round, but it's not gonna be the Blue Devils. I think it's James Madison who upsets an overachieving Wisconsin team and kind of following remember Florida Atlantic last year. They won a lot of games early and then they kind of sputtered in league play, got hot,
won their tournament and look what happened. Just saying James Madison thirty one wins, no Fluke, they win. Nick, I disagree. I think everyone's gonna pick James Madison because they see that thirty one in three record. I think Wisconsin takes care of business. Nobody's on a longer winning streak right now than James Madison. They've won thirteen games in a row and they shot better than fifty five percent inside the arc in Big twelve play. They can overwhelm
teams. We saw Wisconsin's biggs get into foul trouble all through the Big Ten tournament. I think James Madison jumps on them and puts them in a hole early, and I don't think it's ever really that close. James Madison by ten and Ryan already previewed his next picks. Yes, say Ryan tipped his hand here, but we have four duke versus thirteen Vermont, so you're going
with the I am going to continue to pick Vermont. Every year they're in a four v. Thirteen game and everybody picks them and they lose this time. Third time is the charm. Vermont plays at one of the slowest paces in the country. They also protect the ball top ten in turnover rate on Ken Palm. Duke struggles to protect the ball. They're more inexperienced. Vermont
hasn't come through in this spot before. I think this year is different because they are the more experienced theme in this matchup, their defense frustrates Duke, and they ultimately win the game. Here. I think john Shire goes home in the first round. I agree, No, I'll take Duke. Wow Land and really give me some insight. I don't like Duke. I think Duke's been very overrated. I agree with your Vermont logic. Like they're They've been a very good mid major team for a long time. They've had their
shots, they haven't got them. I think eventually they're gonna have to get one like this, uh and yeah, like if you if you play slow, like you know, like Virginia who wins everything, you know, I think I think that could frustrate Duke for sure. It'll be interesting. It'll be interesting. I think Vermont, though they have to be one of the more interesting picks. They don't have a great record against good teams, which
they never have. They always schedule really tough. It's like what Texas Southern does. But I I think I think Vermont is going to eventually really the more logic here is that Vermont has been in the spot many times, and I think they are more due to get one uh than not. And I think this Duke team is highly underwhelming, so I think I think the catamounts
prime for an upset. I saw the freaking a couple of mock drafts that one of them has Kyle Philipowski as a lottery pick, and I'm just trying to figure out how in the world that's gonna happen, Like, all right, sure, if you think he's gonna save you, go for it. I think Duke got a brutal draw here, because if they get out of the Vermont game, then they're gonna flace either a Wisconsin team that can fill it up out of nowhere and Duke's not great on the defensive end, or
James Madison team that gives no f's Like this is a brutal man. I see the draw that Kansas got, and some people are and some people are are complaining about it. I would much rather be in Kansas's spot than Duke's dropping down to the bottom half of this region. We got Texas Tech and NC State who won five in five five games in five days to get to the NCAA tournament at all. They're the eleven seed. Nick, do they keep that streak going? I do? I think they beat Texas Tech,
I too really see. I think they're out of gas here. Tech is just a freaking pain in the ass to play. This is a Texas Tech team that, unlike a lot of the ones in the past, can score a lot better. They're a little banged up, but they get some time to recover. I think Tech wins, and I don't think it's particularly close. North Carolina State wasn't good until this last week. That that magic's gonna run out? Okay? Interesting? Uh, a team with some magic that
we all think we all we all think will run out eventually. Kentucky they're playing fourteen Oakland. Any upset hopes here? I'm feeling I was gonna say, is that Nicks Cally's been hinting at boy, I was really tempted to do this one Land, And I don't know about you, not for a single second. I don't know, man. I think Oakland they fill it up like this is an Oakland team. What's what's Oakland's official stats? Here?
We know how bad Kentucky is defensively and oak Sea. Yeah, that's not that's not as much as I thought they They don't shoot the three ball particularly well. It's it's not a great draw for for them. With a team that can, I'll go with Kentucky. I yes, but I'm not super. Everybody's saying Kentucky's coming out of this region and going to the final four. I don't know that's psycho. I don't actually think that's that's that likely. Okay, I'll throw them a bone. Caliperi. By the way,
Landon, I know that you saw this in the notes. Sean Calipari has two postseason wins in the last five years. That's crazy. I do think he gets third, but that is wild. One in the SEC tournament, first time ever that they have not won a SEC tournament game, and back to back seasons, and only one in the NCAA tournament they've only won. They made the Elite eight and twenty nineteen and lost in the Sprint Center. UH. And they've won one NCAA game since then, and it was
Providence last year. UH. And then the seven to ten matchup, we have Florida and we've come into our first playing matchup here as Boise State will take on Colorado. Anyone wants to play in team or do the Gators take care business? I do. I like the playing team. I do too. I think it's I think it's gonna be Boise. I think it's gonna be Colorado. Okay, interesting, I think that Boise's underseeded Colorado. It is a PAC twelve thing for me, that's fair. I think either one
of them. Though. Florida's starting center just today in the SEC title game had a fractured leg, just a brutal injury, Like they're gonna feel the effects of that at some point. I think the playing team. We always see a playing team winner go a little further than they're projected. I think that's what this is here. I like Florida. I think I think Florida's a little slept on. I like the state of Florida. That's my favorite. But I don't think the basketball team. I like this. It's my
favorite. Okay. And then Marquette, Oh, hold on, before we picked that last game. Is Florida not the best state? It is not close. Okay. Where's Florida rank on the best states list? I haven't been there, but it's certainly worse than every other state i've been to. Oh, that's just you can't even rank it though if you haven't been there. Though I haven't been there, but I'm quite confident that it's worse than most of the states I've been to. I was born to be a Florida
man. I want to be a Florida like you're walking through molasses air, Nick, You're right. They do have no which is so overrated. Nick, you do have no income tax or no state taxes. That is nice. However, they make up for it by doubling your property tax every year. Funny how that works. Insurance. Yeah, I think there is that too, the State Farm and a bunch of those companies I've pulled out of Florida because we can't have any small businesses like State Farm not maximizing profits.
All those family businesses the Royals want to keep in business by tearing down those mega corpse downtown. Anyway, Yes, Marquette beats Western Kentucky, even though if there was a coach that was good. Hasn't there been a two seed lose to a fifteen three years in a row. I think that's right. Yeah, because Oral Roberts beat Ohio State, Saint Peter's beat Kentucky and then last year Arizona lost to Princeton. Yeah, if there was one that was
gonna happen, it's this one. But Marquette wins. I agree, and then let's go back up to the top. I have hugeon and Texas, A and M. I think Houston gets out of that, though probably a close game. I agree. I think Houston's gonna be Nebraska. Yep, Yep, yep. I'll keep saying it till Landon talks. Hmmm, Lonardy went, I said, mine, I know. I said, yeah, I'm not driving this segment. Oh oh are you? Are you not taking Houston? I said yep about five times, but it must have cut out
on all of them. Did you cut out? It did? Yep? Anyway, all right, now we're back. I have a twelve thirteen SODA's Ryan. I'm taking the twelve James Madison to get sweet sixteen. Yep. Gotta love the Dukes. I think Duke loses in this round of thirty two to Wisconsin. I have the badgeries moving on. Duke and Wisconsin have played some barn burners out of the years, like it feels like they always play high profile games. Uh so that would be an interesting matchup. I'd rather
see. This is the part where we all want to watch Duke lose. But a Wisconsin Duke game would be much better than Vermont James Madison, So it's kinda and whenever they're Duke could be in that game. Yeah, no, you're you're that I guess, Yeah, I get it. James Madison to the Sweek sixteen, screw it? Uh? Do we all like Kentucky to get through? Yeah, they're gonna be in NC State. Nope, Texas Tech beat the Wildcats. I'm not. I'm the Texas Tech can fill
it up. We've seen Texas Tech score. They're one of the better three point shooting teams in the country. What the hell have you seen from Kentucky that makes you think they're going to beat a team that scores that much? You haven't played the past few games? What say again? Interesting? Uh? Florida Marquette, I have an upset here. I'm taking Florida to dig down the Golden Eagles. Shaka chokes the game away. Imagine, Yeah I
had Marquette. Yeah, I think Marquette wins. It's all in the arms of Tyler Kullak, who should play the oblique injury has some people scratching their heads. But I think he's gonna play. He almost played in the Big East title game and they held him out. I think Marquette wins even though Shaka. I don't believe Shaka has made the second weekend of the NCAA tournament since twenty eleven at VCU. Yeah, who did he beat in that one? Oh? Yeah, I don't know who he beaten that matchup? Anybody?
Oh it says this is a hint. Damnit Nope, still don't know. Is a guy that hit only like one three? I think, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it. That was the worst bill self tournament loss ever. That by the way, he says, a very similar style to the one that that Samford is going to try to throw out him. Havoc pressing and threes and then Sweet sixteen Houston James Madison is what I have, and I have Kentucky Florida on the bottle.
I have Houston and Florida. I think Florida takes down the Wildcats in the Sweet sixteen. All right, Nick, I have Houston and Kentucky. Yeah, landon you and I have the same idea, but different teams. I like the Red Raiders of Texas Tech one of the best seed. I think Texas Tech is one of the best kept secrets in college basketball. They were in that game with Houston the other day untill they got bopped in the
second half. But I think that this is different. Kentucky and Marquette are two teams that you can score on, and I trust Texas Tech's defense more than either of those teams. I like the Red Raiders draw. I actually think the North Carolina State game is the one that concerns me the most about this path. I think they make the Elite Eight and we get a Big twelve rematch there for the right to go to the Final four, and then who do you have? The Cougars? I think they have go ahead.
Sorry, I think the Cougars are the best team in the bracket. I think they go to the Final four. I also have them in the final four. I am gonna pick Please turn on curb your enthusiasm. Oh, I'm so on this. I think John Calipari is making the Final four this year. Oh clip it, cut it. Whatever you need to do, so you have to play it. I don't care this is my last season. I'm going all out. My nuts are on the table. Get that son of a bitch of the podcast. Now, sir, we have done
this, sow we go. I don't care. It's gonna get worse. This is even my most surprising pick in the final four. It's gonna get worse. Just hey and care. If you remember from twenty twenty two, I kind of like play hockey. This year I got I kind of reform this year. We're all on Kentucky the final four. I also have Kentucky my national championship, Kentucky over Kansas seventy nine, seventy three. I got a big blue. I got Kentucky for another championship, unbelievable, and they
didn't even win one. They got peacocked. That was hilarious. We watched the game together too. I was at your Yes, yes we did. And this was the mood after during that game, because that was sexy to watch a peacock take down who else except for Penis? What's wrong with that? Wales have Penis says no, but I'm pretty sure Red Raiders do. Nixt. This won't be chaotic. I applaud your I applied me to take the coveted Midwest. Yes, let's do it, all right, I'm just
gonna go ahead and give it to you. Here's who I like in my final four and land are interesting. Do you agree Landing? No I do. I'm not being serious. I have not picked this region, so maybe, but I am mainly being funny because you know, has his head so much that's hard to pick him to go far. All right, Well, let's start in the top of the bracket with Matt Painer, a perennial champion in the in the NCAA tournament, never lost in the first round. They
will be playing either Middle what is MTST. Sorry, it doesn't stay on here, Middle Tennessee State, isn't it? I think? Isn't it? Or they'll be playing Grambly In the States it is Loading Loading Montana State, Montana State. Yeah, I don't care. We both have to do right. Yeah, I think they at least get farther than last year. Zachiati will shoot two hundred free throws in the winner of this winner of this next game will play for due the eight seed Utah State out of the Mountain West.
Mountain West champion will play the Horned Frogs, who kind of slid off towards the end of the season. Luckily maybe to get a nine seed with what eleven or twelve losses? Who do we have getting out of this eight nine matchup. I like the Horny Frogs here, I do. I think they'll show up once at least see I don't at all. I TCU didn't have any better resume than Kansas State did down the stretch. I can have
a Utah State team that won twenty seven games this year. They're one of the best offenses in college basketball, especially inside the arc, which is we all watched Hunter Dickinson shred TCU. We all watched the Houston front court just wreck TCU. I think that this is a team that beats the horn Frogs. I'm not real big on the Big twelve, and I'm huge on the Mountain West. So I will take the Aggies winning this game. I will take the Toads, all right, you guys, and the next the next
matchup we have. This is a good one here because we as we know, an overseeded Gonzaga team is the five seed. They'll be playing the twelve seed McNeese State, an upset favorite here early on from a lot of people because you know, guys, they played the Alabama School of Ladies or whatever. That school is called the Mississippi Vale. Yeah, we know that McNeese State is good because they meet Mississippi State Valley for Women ninety three to twenty
three or something like that. Pick you, guys, I smell upsets from both of you. Guys. Are you guys gonna pick the Zags to play Kansas? Maybe? No. I think Gonzaga. I think Gonzaga wins. I think it's gone a little too far. Like McNee State is really good at one thing, and that shooting threes, and they got hot down the stretch they did. The thirty wins is gonna put a lot of people over the edge. But we read that like five of those games were against the
two teams. Guys. Gonzaga is an athletic team that plays through their bigs. No team in the country allows more No team in the country allows fewer two point shots and baskets than McNeice. They do a very good job slowing the game down while also shooting a very high percentage of threes. I think in Zaga style, is gonna win out and they're gonna speed up this team to a pace. They're not used to playing in Gonzaga pretty careful with the
ball, which is a strength of McNee State. I think in Zaga wins. I think we've gone a little too far with this, all right, I have I have the Zags, all right, we've already picked this game, and we all have the Jayhawks getting to play the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Jayhawks put Stamford in a body bag. Don't worry about it if loses in this round of thirty two game. Ryan has to lead urcb uh No, I do though. I don't like that. You said something a couple of
years ago that probably would get you in trouble. You mean you mean Lustig and Zaga. Okay, I get it. Yes, yes. And then in the next game, number six seed South Carolina we're facing Oregon at the eleven seed, who's snuck in after winning the Pac twelve tournament. Do we trust Dana Altman and his Ducks in the tournament again or are we gonna go with the game Cocks, Lanta, What do you think the Ducks? Hey? I do too. This feels like a clash of team that's been there,
coach that's been there. South Carolina hasn't I think the wrong teams. I actually, let me look up what the line in this is right now, would surprise me if Oregon's favored. So the line opened up at South Carolina minus one. That feels about right. I think Oregon wins. I also like the Ducks. Okay, moving on to the three seed matchup. Three seed Creighton will be taking on fourteen seed Akron No Lebron James on Akron.
So you like Creighton, right, yeah? This is also that people like Akron, and I think Creighton'll win this by like twenty Yeah, I was gonna sayon Creighton should all have the Blue Jays. And then on to the seven to ten matchup. Rodney Terry the Hood Harry Potter himself might be playing the Virginia Cavaliers. Gouge your eyes out with something. If they're playing Texas on the twenty first at five point fifty pm, they also might play Colorado State. Do you think that Texas will win? Nope? No,
I don't. I was so ready to pick against Texas and that my hand was forced by Virginia, So I am gonna take the long horns against Virginia would be beat by Colorado State Virginia is gonna beat Texas if they get there. You're taking Rodney Terry over Tony Bennett if that matchup happens. I refuse to pick Virginia. I do too, but I also hate Texas, and I've been saying all your Texas doesn't matter. I'm gonna say Texas. I've been saying all year They're not gonna win an NCAA game. I don't think
they win an NCAA game. I don't think it matters who they play. Give me the ten seed, all right, guys. In our final of this Midwest Region, number two seed Tennessee and Rick Barnes have to face the mighty fifteen seed again, Saint Peter's Peacocks from twenty twenty two. Yeah, twenty twenty two. Rick Barnes is quaking in his boots having to think about playing the only fifteen seed to ever make the Elite eight. Are we trusting
that the Saint Peter's or will Tennessee peter out? Tennessee's got to bounce back right there. They were a one seed until this week. They have the best player in the region. And yes, I know what I know. Purdue's here. They have the best player in the region Tennessee Big Yeah, I think so. All right, Okay, back up to the top. We're getting horny against Purdue. It looks like for everyone's picked TCU. Do we like the Frogs the sneak over Purdue orre We're gonna go with the boiler
Makers in this one. I like Purdue, really, are you ever gonna pick a one seed to lose? You have yet to pick a one seed to lose, and we've done two to the final four. We'll see what happens. I'm real, real tempted on this one to have Purdue going down to Utah State, but I just don't think you can do it, Like, I really don't. I think Perdue like it's a tough draw. You screw it, you know what, screw it Mountain West to the Sweet sixteen.
I don't think Purdue. I don't think Purdue really is that much to ride home about. I'll go with the eight seed to take him down, and you know what, you know what will happen. If that happens, We'll be sitting there going like, oh my gosh, it's opening up amazing for the Jayhawks. Guys, all they have to do is be twelve seed, make me State, and we'll be off to the elite, which, speaking of, is exactly what I have happening. God, no, please,
no, I have Purdue winning in this game. Gonzaga Kansas. Ryan. Remember remember when Ryan said he do something really bad if Gonzaga ever beat Kansas. Yep? Was it like he had to drink toilet water or something? Oh? Did I say that. I don't normally make bets like that because I'm well aware that I'm usually wrong on that stuff. So I feel like I try to not make those decisions. But you know what, nothing to worry about. It's not gonna happen. I will take the I will
take the Jayhawks. They will beat Gonzaga. I think they're better than Gonzaga. I'm trying to find paths to not pick Kansas going too deep, but I think the Jayhawks get past Gonzaga and go to the sweet sixteen. I Kansas what okay? Mcnease State averages eighty points and they have their BP. I was like fifty three, which is Kansas, isn't That's not the team that's gonna beat Kansas. Kansas is not in see KU season ending loss is not gonna be to an offensive power. It's gonna be to a team that
holds him to fifty six points. That could be two, but four of mcneice's five starters, uh shoot better than forty percent from three, or four of the top five scores shoot forty percent from three, and that's pretty horrifying. Will Wade's a pretty good coach despite his cheating ways. I just kind of refuse to take Kansas outside the round of thirty two, So sorry, I okay, okay, We'll dropped into the bottom side of the bracket.
Oregon in Creighton would be like close, but I'll take Creighton. I like the Jays as well. And then Lanta'd you pick? Yeah, Creighton. It's Landon's only picking shock unless it's Kansas. That's like the only thing that's making him. Got Florida to the lad eight, and Florida and James Madison in the sweet sixteen in the last region. I'm still waiting on you to
pick a one seed to lose open all right. And then in the Rick Barnes Rick Barnesy moment here Tennessee, Brian and I have played either UVA or Colorado State, and Lannon thinks that they'll be playing Texas. Do you trust Rodney Terry or Rick Barnes, Landon just Rick Barnes more than just Rodney Terry. Yes, Tennessee beats Virginia at this point. That's I think Tennessee is the best team in the Midwest. So we both have Creighton. We all
have Creighton and Tennessee in the Elite eight. Who's getting the Final four or getting from the Sweet sixteen to the lead eight? Sorry doing Tennessee. Of course, of course I could have guessed that Kansas and Tennessee one into Kansas and one spoiler alert the Jack Kansas. I have Kansas beating Perdue in the Sweet sixteen, and I have Creighton beating Rick Barnes because it's his moment. You're gonna give a little bit of hope from Rick Barnes and he's gonna completely
poopee down his leg. And Kansas will face Creighton in the tournament again, shades of twenty twenty two. They will play in the Elite eight. YEP, I think Kansas beats now. I think Kansas gets to the Elit eight and plays Tennessee. Go Nick, look at us, Go all right, Lannon, Who's getting to the final four? Tennessee, I will go with Tennessee to beat Kansas. I think that Dalton connect is the best player on the floor. I cannot freaking believe I'm picking Rick Barnes to go to the
Final four again, But I'm gonna do it, guys. I'm picking kau to go to the final four. Oh Nick, Hey, Nick, I told you show prizes, yep. I told you this would be full of surprises. But I genuinely like their path And if this is all contingent, if Kevin mccohler is a little banged up or he doesn't play like I totally understand that they're not going to but I'm actually on the assumption that they're both back, yeah, okay to play. And if that's the case, I
don't see this team losing these games. They're way better than people think they are. They've lost a bunch of games late season because they have not been healthy, and it's because they're such a thin roster. But if they can get some health and they can get all guys together and have their starters play their starters minutes, this Kansas team has played with the likes of Yukon.
They beat Yukon at home this year. They've played a lot of good teams and won a lot of good games, and I think teams have people have recency bias, and I think this Kansas team has the pieces to get to the Final four out of this region. I'm gonna I usually don't pick Kansas to get out of the region. Last year I picked Arkansas correctly as well, but I do think this is my last season on ITP so might as well go out with the Jayhawks finishing strong. So I think they make the
final four. Kansas had seems so likely to lose to Samford than make the Final four. Such a sad take. I don't think they make the final four because I'm gonna go with Tennessee to win that game. But I'm with you. I think that Kansas has a better chance than people think of making a run. I think they got a nice draw. This is obviously contingent on McCuller and Dickinson being healthy, but when they were healthy, this team was a top five team in the country. And I don't trust Purdue and
I don't really trust Tennessee, so shrug. I don't want to have Kansas coming out of this region in the Rock Chalk Pool It's one of my main lines of thinking because everybody's going to but yeah, I think the Jayhawks have
a better chance than a lot of people think. All Right, in the West Region, our final squad here, we all want North Carolina to beat either of the sixteen seeds they could play right, yep, yeah, eight nine Mississippi State and Michigan State. The ESPN website says, to the favorite in this game is MSU. That does mean no help, guys, they're both MSU. We all think that the Spartans are really overseeded, but I
think they win this game. I don't think Mississippi's is better than them, and Tom Izzo has one about seventy percent of his games in March when he's the lower seeded team. I will go with the Spartans, as everyone else in this bracket will. I'm going Bulldogs. I will too. Okay, I'll go Michigan State number five, Landon, go ahead, Oh Mary, thank you. Saint Mary's will take on the fighting tie on Grant Fosters Grand Canyon. Are they that the Antelopes? Is that right? The lope?
Is it just the lopes? Are they the antelopes? That's a nick question. He knows all this. The Lopes, Okay, the Lopes, and I think ti On leads him to an upset. I don't think the WCC is worth two eggs. I will take Grand Canyon to beat Saint Mary's in the twelve over five. I was, well, I am taking Saint Mary's landon one more time for good measure. You're taking oh Mary, Nick yeah? Nick yeah? Under thirty two, I'm taking Grand Canyon, Nick yeah.
Let me before never that once all twenty nine wins they have not And then who do you guys like here? Number four Alabama draws number thirteen Charleston. I think it's gonna be wrong place at the wrong time for Charleston. Okay, all right, I like it Atlantic in Alabama? Alabama, I am too. I thought about this a lot. Alabama is not playing well right now and their defense is terrible, but I don't think the offense that gets them is going to be Charleston. I'll go with the Crimson Tide.
Number six Clemson taking on number eleven New Mexico. I will continue my love of the Mountain West and go with the Lobos. Give me PJ. Holl and, Joe Girard Clemson, I like New Mexico. I think New Mexico is a better team straight up than Clemson. Do you know New Mexico is actually a three point favorite in this game to open this being the eleven. Yes, so I think I just think they're better. I don't trust the ACC as far as I can throw it. Number three, Baylor takes on
everybody's favorite toothpaste. Every year we see Colgates sneak in here and they never do a damn thing. So I will take Baylor to win. Yep, I will too. Seven to ten matchup in this bracket is Dayton, considered by a lot of people to maybe be a first four team. Instead they are a seven seed and Nevada as the ten seed. This is another one
that feels like that the better team is the lower seeded team. I'm just gonna load up on Mountain West teams, I guess, and I will go with Nevada, who, despite being the ten seed, is the favorite in this game. I think they beat the Flyers. I'm gonna take the Flyers. I am gonna take the Flyers as well, and then the two to fifteen game. Arizona lost to a fifteen last year. I don't think it's
two years in a row. Even though Long Beach State is fired up playing for their still fired question mark coach, I'll take the Wildcats, same same, all right. So now we fast forward to the next round. North Carolina for me over Michigan State to make the Sweet sixteen. Yeah, Pale State. Give me Mississippi State in the upset eight over one. Wow, there you go? All right? So Leiden, you're not feeling you inc Is this just you trying to make an upset or are you really not a
believer in the tar heels? Uh? I actually like North Carolina, but I do agree with their vulnerability, and I definitely agree with the acc being majorly sus so. I've seen missip stated a couple times this year. I thought they were pretty good. They can definitely beat good teams, and I think that's what's gonna happen here. So I definitely need the upset pick.
I like the upset pick, but I definitely think North Carolina is susceptible, all right, and then I am gonna go with my second twelve seed to the sweet sixteen. I think Grand Canyon one of the best offenses in the country. Alabama meets their match because they can't stop anybody. Give me the Lobes to move on to the second weekend. I agree, Wow, I've got Bama. I like Alabama's roster, but the defense is hell of sus In the bottom half of this bracket, Baylor beats New Mexico State. For
me, I think the Bears move on IY Baylor. I do too, and then we're all going with Arizona to make it. I think Arizona Nevada is a really intriguing game. That's not the geographic advantage that Arizona thinks they're gonna get playing down there, but I think that they probably have enough to get past Nevada. I like Arizona all right, and in the Sweet sixteen, I don't like North Carolina to the Elite eight that much. However, I think they got a pretty weak draw, so I will take the tar
Heels to move on to play Baylor, who upsets Arizona out West. I had Missippi State Grand Canyon. I'm taking Mississippi State to the Elite eight. Wow. I am taking Alabama to the lad Day over North Carolina. And I also think that Arizona tops Baylor. I'm as we stay Arizona. I have Arizona bating Baylor and then Arizona getting to the Final four and then in the elit eight. Yes, you guys both. Every year Arizona is the favorite to go to the final four every year. I don't think it happens
this time. Either Scott Drews Bears make the final four, giving me a final four of Illinois, Houston, Tennessee, and Baylor. I have Yukon, Arizona, Houston, Tennessee. I have Yukon, Arizona, Kentucky and Kansas. It wouldn't be an ITP bracket without one of us getting Kentucky and Kansas both into their final fours. And then it was just like deja vu for me because Yukon I picked last year and they one. Arizona picked three
years ago and they lost in the first round. Kentucky, no allegiance to them, this is the first ever had them in the final four, and then Kansas so and then okay, let's right, who's your championship game, guys, Let's pick the final four. Yeah, I have Houston versus Illinois. I have you Con in Houston, I have Arizona in Kentucky. Wow, Nick Nick, Nick, Nick Nick, You've never ever been burned by these teams before. I'm getting redemption. I'm getting you. Just wait,
I'm getting redemption. Okay, Okay, I'm pretty sure Nick has lost with both of those teams by picking them to win it all by having them eliminated in the first round before. Okay, guess what, I'm picking Arizona win the title. So all right, all right, I am gonna go with the Houston Cougars. I am nervous about this pick because I think they're susceptible to the officials. I think the tighter games are called, and their depth
makes me nervous. We saw what happens when they're not playing offense and they get crushed. But I think they are the toughest team in the field, and I think they have a dynamite leader running at the controls for them. I think Houston cuts down the nets. I think they're the best team. I've watched every team play this year. I think Houston at their best is
truly the best. I think Yukon size and guard play is going to take down Houston in the National Championship. I think Houston might struggle with a team that can play with him a little bit on the outside that well. So yeah, I think Yukon becomes the first team to go back to back since six o seven Florida. I was gonna pick you Kin again, but I don't think. I don't think any team's gonna go back to back anytime soon again, So yeah, it's rare. The last time, Land, and
I'm sure you know this. The last time that a team one or the last time that a defending champ made the second weekend was that seven Florida team, right or no, Duke did it in sixteen. That's the last time a defending champ made the Elite eight. It's hard to do. The last time a defending champ made the second weekend Duke in twenty sixteen. That was eight years ago. So it doesn't happen very often. It is not,
but I'm rolling with it, all right. So all of you guys, I see Nick in here, Land, and I don't see you yet, but I'm sure that you'll add it here pretty soon. Make sure to get your bracket entry in the Inside the Paint The official name of the pool is rock Chuk Blog Slash Inside the Paint Pool. So if you're listening, there's a couple different ways you can join one, look that up in the public pools. Two, go to the Rock Chalk Blog Twitter or the Jayhawk Nation
Facebook and there'll be a link. Make sure to get your entry in compete your bracket against Landon myself Nick, all three of us, uh, and see if you can beat us. You very likely will. Adding now adding that first one, and there we go land and sell or land itself as tarn it. Let's try it again, Landon Fields stubborn ass. There we go, Land itself. Land itself sounds like a bad guy in a movie that steals cars under the table, and like he sounds like a villain in
the Fast and Furious franchise. Sounds like Michael scorn. Well, you suck ass. That's what we said all year about Pickham. That's true, so you should not listen to me. Maybe and Nick, who is a golden god and Pickham has the Jayhawks going in the final. Don't forget I won I won the bracket challenge last year too. Yeah that's right, he did. Nick correctly got Yukon last year's So this year I'm just going completely crazy
with my picks because I don't care. I don't think I've gotten the national champion and a bracket right since twenty twelve Kentucky and that means nothing because everybody had that right. Yeah, that was a very good team. But yeah it's been a while. Nick got it last year, all right. So Inside the Paint we'll be back after the Jayhawks first round game, after the first round raps, probably a Friday night recording session and a Saturday morning drop.
Assuming the Jayhawks are able to win, they would play on Saturday in Round two, So we'll make sure to have a show coming out then for you. But thank you for listening to the show. Make sure to subscribe to the show on all of your favorite places where you get your podcasts. Inside the Paint. This is the end of the eleventh season of this show and we are still going strong. I'm Ryan Landreth, I am number one
Kansas Optimist Landon Fields, and i am John Calipari fanboy number two. That is the first time Landon Fields has said Landon Fields on the show this year. That's true. Oh that is so indicative of Kansas l Yeah, this is where the crashing against Kansas the entire postseason again. Yeah, that's right. He did that. Well he did this year and look what look what might happen. That's true. I only picked him to win once. They're
absolutely making the making the whole thing. All right, everybody behave Nick kudos. You gotta go to work early tomorrow and you're up recording major applause for you, sir. They have like five more shows left in me, so hey, if they lose, if they lose the what's it? What's their face? Samford, you might only have two gross. I mean, I wouldn't be disappointed, but yeah, all right, bye, see you guys. Enjoy the dance we fought. Maybe