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This week on Check the Net, Impact89’s College Basketball Podcast, join Colin, Kylee, and Derrick as they show off their bracketology skills while discussing both college basketball as the tournament gets closer! Their final analysis can be found on the Impact89FM website at https://impact89fm.org/122059/podcasts/check-the-net-the-bracketology-episode-2024/
We also have a very exciting announcement! Next week, we will not have a normal episode. Instead, we will be going LIVE FROM THE BASEMENT OF HOLDEN HALL for a bracket reaction show on Sunday night! More information about that will be posted on the Impact89FM website, Facebook, and X later this week.
Creators & Guests
What is Check the Net on Impact 89FM?
Are you a fan of college hoops? Check the Net is a podcast that covers everything about the world of college basketball. Whether it is discussions regarding top teams and weekly rankings, updates on transfer portal and coaching news, or commentary on the latest major stories from around the game, Check the Net has got you covered. The podcast covers both men’s and women’s basketball across all Division I conferences. Check the Net is available through Impact 89FM’s website, as well as via all major audio platforms.
Welcome everyone to check the net impact 89 f m's college basketball podcast. I'm your host, Colin Pearson. I'm joined today by my cohost, Kylie and Derek. How you guys doing today?
Kylee Tabler:Slay.
Derrick Mitchell:Amazing.
Colin Pearson:This week is a very special week for us here on Check That because it is our first episode of the most exciting saga in college basketball. Welcome to March, guys. Yeehaw. Let's do this.
Derrick Mitchell:We're here, baby.
Colin Pearson:So this episode, we have created a bracketology for you guys. And we're gonna be giving our few predictions about conferences, seatings, which teams we're really watching out for, or last minute stamps of approval, all that kind of stuff. It's also worth noting that our brackets will be posted with this podcast on the impact 89fm website, impact89fm.org. For anyone who wants to take a peek at our full predictions, because we are definitely not gonna go through everything we put together today. And then speaking of going through everything, we have a very special announcement.
Colin Pearson:Next week, we will not have a normal episode. Instead, we will be going live from the basement of Holden Hall for a bracket reaction show. More information about that will be posted on the Impact 89 FM website, Facebook, and x in the coming week, but look out for that. Join us. It's gonna be a lot of fun.
Colin Pearson:We're gonna just give a bunch predictions and make our brackets and all that. So should be a lot of fun.
Kylee Tabler:We gonna be live.
Derrick Mitchell:We're gonna be live with the cameras.
Kylee Tabler:Oh, the cameras.
Derrick Mitchell:Oh, wow. That means
Colin Pearson:no screwing up for our parts. That means Here
Derrick Mitchell:comes the memes. No pressure, man. But it's gonna gonna be
Kylee Tabler:a while. Face for real. You can put our voices, like, together with what we look like.
Derrick Mitchell:That is gonna be great. I wonder what they think we look like.
Colin Pearson:I don't know.
Kylee Tabler:I wonder if they're gonna mix us up, Derek.
Derrick Mitchell:That's impossible.
Kylee Tabler:I don't know, man. We look pretty similar.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. I mean, there's I wish I wish
Derrick Mitchell:I wish you guys the audience could see my face when she said that. It was just just think about me with utter disappointment, but we can keep going.
Colin Pearson:Alright. Let's just get into the women's side, I guess. Brief. We're gonna talk one seed's last four in, first four out, mid majors to watch, and then some power teams on Upsetler. We're just gonna, kinda, rock through these.
Colin Pearson:Just, kinda, wander and see where the time takes us.
Kylee Tabler:Oh my gosh. We're in the Wild West. We wander into Morgantown. Wild West.
Colin Pearson:Alright. So let's start with the one seeds. I don't think there's any controversy on 2 of these. Realistically, South Carolina is a one seed. Stanford is a one seed.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:It's hard to go against that. Whether they win their tournament or not, South Carolina is still undefeated. Stanford has had one of the best seasons ever.
Derrick Mitchell:Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. You can't fight those 2. For sure. The other 2, we've got some mixed opinions here. And so I'm gonna read mine off first.
Colin Pearson:I've got Yukon and Iowa. And really, Iowa, it's whoever wins the big 10 tournament. Yeah. I think Iowa's gonna win that. But if Ohio State wins it or Indiana wins it, they're a one team.
Colin Pearson:That's who it is. Yukon is the other question here. I don't
Kylee Tabler:I simply disagree.
Colin Pearson:I don't see a world in which UConn is not a one seed in this tournament. I I
Kylee Tabler:don't think so. I I just don't. Not I mean, they've had a little bit and their record's good. It's still good, like, really good. I just think they've struggled a bit more than past years.
Kylee Tabler:So I think it could be end up end up being someone, like, probably Texas is gonna be my best bet if they win the big
Colin Pearson:twelve tournament. Here's here's the other thing I have with Yukon. Alright. First of all, they're 1st in the big east. Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:And also, they've really kinda come back from a very rough start to the season Yeah. And proven themselves and found their groove and just gone crazy.
Derrick Mitchell:Yes.
Colin Pearson:Just in the conference play, we didn't talk about it a lot because we were going, okay, they, you know, they lost a few rough ones early on. Well, they haven't lost almost any since then. Their one loss was to South Carolina, the undisputed number 1. And that was a little under a month ago. Like, I I think they're a good enough team that they deserve this.
Colin Pearson:They're scoring they're outscoring teams by, like, 40 to 50 in their conference play right now in the Big East, which is crazy. Like Mhmm. I see a U KON that deserves a one seed right now.
Derrick Mitchell:I know they had a couple iffy games and bad moments, but I think them bouncing back should show something to the committee in my opinion on why they should be 1. Because the team that goes to adversity to me is a better look when you're looking at placing them, so that's probably why I would put them at 1. But, I mean, some people could
Colin Pearson:think different. See them at a 2 c.
Kylee Tabler:You can make the same argument for LSU. Else on a one. Because LSU has a better record. Are you has a better record.
Colin Pearson:But not against not against better teams.
Derrick Mitchell:That's what I was gonna say after that. Not against better teams.
Kylee Tabler:That's fair. But they've also overcome adversity from the beginning of the season as well. So I guess I mean and they're ranked higher than
Derrick Mitchell:them. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Adversity in the AP so far, but I will say, I disagree with the AP on that. The net, I believe has it right with Yukon at number 2 in the net. Or number 3, I don't remember which. Hold on. Let me double check that statistic.
Colin Pearson:But the net has Yukon much, much higher than the AP does. Yeah. Number 2.
Kylee Tabler:I see Yukon as a as a safe, probably the best 2 seed. Like, if they're not gonna be a 1 seed, they're gonna be, like Yeah. The best like, the top 2 seed.
Colin Pearson:For sure. Could be an interesting one. Definitely worth watching. Kylie, who do you have instead? Texas.
Colin Pearson:Oh.
Kylee Tabler:Because if they win I think if they win the big 12 tournament, they're there.
Colin Pearson:If they win the big 12 but yeah. But They're there. And then I also Will they win the big 12? That's the question. That's the
Kylee Tabler:big question. Who knows?
Colin Pearson:Right now I'm feeling Baylor. I love the way Baylor's been playing. And truly I think they're just a better team, especially at the end of the season. But continue with your Texas. You know?
Colin Pearson:What do you what do you want?
Kylee Tabler:I I don't know. I think I think if they win the big twelve, they'll be a one seed. I could also see if US is here's the thing. If USC or UCLA, we talked about this, if either of them win the Pac 12 tournament, I think they'll end up being a one seed, and then you'll also have Stanford. So you'll have 2 Pac 12 one seats.
Colin Pearson:Okay. Okay.
Kylee Tabler:And then keeping with South Carolina and and then whoever wins
Colin Pearson:the big 10. Okay. Interesting. I can see that logic. I Yeah.
Colin Pearson:I don't
Kylee Tabler:got, like, probably LSU, Yukon, Texas at, like, 2 2 seeds.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. That that seems pretty reasonable to me. Yep. Yeah. Notre Dame, 2 seed.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Yeah. Because they're probably they'll they'll win. Yeah. Their conference more likely.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Yeah. That's where we're at.
Derrick Mitchell:I chose South Carolina, Ohio State, Stanford. I put a question mark by Yukon, but I'm kinda thinking about that now because of my argument earlier. So I'm probably gonna rock with I think they're gonna be a 1 seed, but they could be the best 2 seed. But I think they're gonna be a 1 seed. And I think Iowa's gonna win the big 10 tourney.
Derrick Mitchell:That's kinda why I put them, but that's kinda up in the air for now.
Colin Pearson:I think, genuinely, it depends on who wins the big ten tourney.
Derrick Mitchell:Absolutely. It's who gets that bid.
Colin Pearson:But you think Ohio State's won no matter what?
Derrick Mitchell:Could be. I know I put them there. I was just thinking about that, but I think Ohio's I think it could be Ohio State. I'm gonna rock with the Ohio State pick. I'm gonna rock with your Ohio State pick.
Derrick Mitchell:That's what I
Colin Pearson:wanna work with. I think on any other day,
Kylee Tabler:Ohio State beats Iowa.
Colin Pearson:The the whole matchup really plays a big difference
Kylee Tabler:for Drew. It does. And and just, like, that was the day Caitlyn Clark was beating the record. So that there's a whole lot of factors going into it.
Colin Pearson:For sure. Yes.
Kylee Tabler:For that day in particular.
Colin Pearson:But it's not Iowa played their best game ever either.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah.
Colin Pearson:That game. That was an ugly game to watch.
Derrick Mitchell:For sure.
Kylee Tabler:Ugly wrapped game also.
Colin Pearson:Ugly wrapped. Ugly
Derrick Mitchell:Yes.
Colin Pearson:So I don't think that's a good representation. I think Iowa would have won either way, but I don't think we get to see that.
Kylee Tabler:So you think Ohio State even with the like, so you think the only reason Ohio State won the first time was for because of home court advantage?
Colin Pearson:Yes. Interesting. Okay. That's, that's not a bad take at all. I probably I'm not gonna jinx it.
Colin Pearson:You know what? There's a possibility we see him on a neutral court I in the big 10 tournament here.
Kylee Tabler:We will, isn't it?
Colin Pearson:And Well, depends on if they win. Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. That is true.
Colin Pearson:Because Michigan State and Indiana are both
Kylee Tabler:Love there.
Derrick Mitchell:Yay. You
Colin Pearson:know? Yes.
Derrick Mitchell:Yes. Yes.
Kylee Tabler:They're ready.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. Even, like, heck, Penn State is, like, really
Kylee Tabler:They're yeah.
Colin Pearson:Close-up there.
Kylee Tabler:They're tough. They're tough.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. I mean, we have our differing opinions on Penn State. We can talk about that in a second. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:Yep.
Colin Pearson:Because I have Penn State as a 6 or a 7 seed. Kylie's Kylie's sticking with them at 11. So Yeah. You know what? You guys good if we move on to the last 4 in?
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Here. Yeah. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Kylie, what you got? Why why, why these 4?
Kylee Tabler:So, basically, I don't know, because it's it's just really hard to determine this on by my own whim. So Penn State I think Penn State's gonna make the turn I think they'll make the tournament for sure. I don't know who they're matching up with next in the big ten tournament.
Colin Pearson:Okay. Is it
Kylee Tabler:I think it's I don't remember. It's someone. They're playing someone again. I think they make it in, but I truthfully think this might be the only way they make it in.
Colin Pearson:Is winning the big 10 tournament?
Kylee Tabler:No. No. Oh, as last 4 in. Yeah. As last 4 in.
Kylee Tabler:Not winning the big 10 tournament.
Colin Pearson:Like, woah.
Kylee Tabler:No. No. No. No. No.
Kylee Tabler:No. As last 4 in. I think that's where they'll end up, if they're in. ESPN agrees with me.
Colin Pearson:I
Kylee Tabler:think I think Green Bay should make the tournament regardless of if they win the Horizon League or not. Mhmm. They'll make it obviously if they do win. And then I think at the same time, if, like, if they do win and Cleveland State doesn't win the Horizon, like, I think Cleveland State should make it in. Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:So last 4 in. I four in it. Yeah. Vandy, I can see. Vanderbilt totally can see that.
Colin Pearson:Mhmm. I four in it. Yeah. Vandy, I can see. Vanderbilt totally can see that.
Colin Pearson:Mhmm. Especially with the start of the season they had. Yeah. Auburn, I The
Kylee Tabler:only yeah. I I looked heavily at, ESPN's bracketology. They have Auburn being the last 4 bye. I don't think they're up for that. So that's why I think that probably last 4 and, like, where they where where they would fit better.
Colin Pearson:I I do think they're they're a buy there.
Derrick Mitchell:Why? No. I'm just curious, genuinely. Why?
Colin Pearson:Because why not, Derek?
Derrick Mitchell:That was genuine.
Colin Pearson:I feel like their schedule is set enough. You know, they play an SEC schedule. The SEC is great. And that's that's my one thing there, but I totally get putting them in that last 4 end. Green Bay, I do also wanna comment.
Colin Pearson:I did not put them in my last 4 end simply because I think Horizon League winner gets a 12 seed, not an 11.
Derrick Mitchell:Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:I don't they're gonna be stuck in that kind of bubble.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Green Bay, frankly, could get in even if they don't win the Horizon League.
Kylee Tabler:That's yeah.
Colin Pearson:Because they are a good enough team, and if if Cleveland State does win the Horizon League, I think Cleveland State's a solid 14 seed, and I think Green Bay gets putting that last 4 in 11. Yep. But right now, I'm feeling like Green Bay might just take the horizon, in which case, they'll probably be at 12.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. It's one
Colin Pearson:of those weird situations where I think them winning their conference tournament would actually put them at a lower seed.
Kylee Tabler:Would hurt them a little bit.
Colin Pearson:I don't think that hurt them at all. I'd much rather play a 5 than a
Kylee Tabler:That is true.
Colin Pearson:Turn a 4.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Well, depending on who the fours shake out to be. I mean, who knows?
Colin Pearson:Yep. Like, that's that's just my thought process, though, is where that's shaken up.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. I completely get pretty free banded. For real.
Derrick Mitchell:That would be nice. Yeah. That would be nice. That would be nice.
Colin Pearson:Derek, you've got Texas A&M. I've also got Texas A&M, but I wanna hear your thought process here. So
Derrick Mitchell:I chose Syracuse, Green Bay, and Texanum. I like Texanum. Brachycardology kinda says that they should be the last 4, and I agree with it personally off of some of the games that they played as well. I think they should be in, so that's kinda why I think they should be last for. But Yep.
Derrick Mitchell:You have them, but Kylie doesn't.
Colin Pearson:So I also have them.
Derrick Mitchell:I get choose them.
Colin Pearson:That SEC schedule, I my thought process was it's either Texas or Auburn or Texas A&M or Auburn. I start Auburn out, Texas A and M in, but, like, who knows? Yep.
Derrick Mitchell:But the committee will do that.
Colin Pearson:I'm not out of the committee. Not out of
Derrick Mitchell:the class. You know?
Kylee Tabler:I'm interested to see why do you guys have Syracuse as the last 4 in and not just, like, in?
Colin Pearson:You know I think
Kylee Tabler:they've had a really good year.
Colin Pearson:They're my top of the last 4 in. Yeah. But, like, the ACC just is not as strong this year. Mhmm. And I don't think they have you know, the net sticks them somewhere in the forties, fifties, because they really just haven't played a whole lot of crazy teams.
Colin Pearson:Mhmm. You know, they played a lot of ranked teams, but they haven't beaten a lot of ranked teams. They're just kinda sitting there somewhere in the middle. They have great record. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:But,
Derrick Mitchell:you know In a league conference.
Colin Pearson:They beat a lot of the teams they're supposed to win. They lose to a lot of teams they're supposed to lose to. You know, they're somewhere in the middle. I think they still deserve to be in it. They've had a great season.
Colin Pearson:But do I think they deserve an 8 c to 7? No. They're an 11 in my mind. Maybe
Kylee Tabler:This one has a meta of 5.
Colin Pearson:Which is absurd. That's
Kylee Tabler:I think that's also too high.
Colin Pearson:That's not gonna happen. That is just unreasonable. I just don't see enough on the record to make it Mhmm. To convince me that they're that good.
Derrick Mitchell:Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. That's what I got there. Yeah. I will say you guys were a little taken aback by my 4th. I picked TCU and I really picked them because of how they've kinda proven themselves in the second half of the season even with a completely different team.
Colin Pearson:Mhmm. Mhmm. I think that, you know, the first half of the season speaks for itself. They went undefeated and then had injuries and Mhmm. Had open tryouts.
Colin Pearson:And everyone was like, well, there goes TCU. That's the end of the season for them. And frankly, I don't think it was. They picked up enough people, they've won games still. They're still, you know, competing in the big twelve.
Colin Pearson:They're obviously not at the very top where they were. Mhmm. But I think they're still solidly a tournament team. And the net says that they are because of their first half of the season, but I say that they are because of the second half. You know, they've really proven something here.
Colin Pearson:Wow.
Kylee Tabler:I think they won't I think the committee won't take them because they are not the same team that was dominating the first half of the season.
Colin Pearson:That's what worries me as well. Yep.
Kylee Tabler:That like, that's where I think it's really gonna come down to, like, I guess, their perception of, like in, like, perspective of, like, what happened.
Derrick Mitchell:How much does it weigh them being as good in the first half and then them being not as great in the second half? How much is that gonna weigh in the committee's mind?
Kylee Tabler:Because, like, they're still good.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. Of course.
Colin Pearson:But I don't know
Derrick Mitchell:how much it's gonna actually Yeah. Weigh their minds. Should they take them because of the first half and then not being as good? Because a lot of other teams have been consistent.
Colin Pearson:Mhmm. And that's that's true.
Derrick Mitchell:A lot
Colin Pearson:of teams have been consistent.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. And that's pretty important when you're trying to pick teams to go in a tournament and actually make a run or who absolutely could make a run when
Kylee Tabler:you pick a new team. It's a big change too Yeah. Them bringing in a bunch of new players. So it's like yeah.
Colin Pearson:That's definitely the case. Mhmm. But I just look at, you know Yeah. They've won 4 of their last 5, you know? Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:And they've still competed with ranked teams in that. You know, they beat Cincinnati. They beat BYU, who is a perennial powerhouse on the women's side. You know, they beat Houston, they beat Texas Tech and all of those were convincing wins. I I just see it as, like, yeah, they had a little bit of a downfall because they lost their best 4 players.
Colin Pearson:But
Kylee Tabler:To mysterious injury bug. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:But they found a way back, and they've still won games. And I I Mhmm. I don't know. That's where my mind is at, but I can completely understand.
Kylee Tabler:Favorably upon the selection committee. You look you're too optimistic.
Colin Pearson:Look. I I suppose this is more of an optimistic pick and not a realistic pick.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. But and I'll acknowledge that.
Kylee Tabler:But, hey, you know.
Colin Pearson:But I hope the committee's listening and goes, oh, yeah. He makes a great point.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Committee, if you're listening, listen to us. We know what we're talking about.
Derrick Mitchell:We know ball.
Colin Pearson:Should we talk first four out?
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. I guess.
Colin Pearson:I don't wanna hate on any of these teams, but
Derrick Mitchell:One of them might, I do.
Kylee Tabler:We know you do. Go ahead.
Colin Pearson:Go go Garrett. You you have your opinions. Go for it.
Derrick Mitchell:I'm just gonna talk. I'm just I just really don't like I mean
Colin Pearson:Across the board, there are 3 that are the same on all 3 of ours. Yeah. And then each of us have a different 4th. So I'm just gonna talk about
Derrick Mitchell:the school down the road, the school that, I
Kylee Tabler:personally don't like.
Derrick Mitchell:They have a nice stadium, but Real. Team for
Kylee Tabler:me is
Derrick Mitchell:just not I'm not really walking with the town. They have I have a couple of good players on my team. They have good talent. I've seen them. But they just when I just look at them when I watch them, they don't they're not hungry enough for me.
Derrick Mitchell:When it comes to, like, a tournament, but I don't think they should get it because of that reason. To me, the hunger and, like, how they look compared to other teams in the big ten just isn't it isn't there for me.
Colin Pearson:Yes. They don't they don't compete against the top teams in the big
Kylee Tabler:They did. They'd Ohio State.
Colin Pearson:Play really, really well against the bottom. Yeah. But, like, they don't.
Derrick Mitchell:They can't take that leap. That's my point.
Colin Pearson:They haven't. Yeah. Mhmm. And it's a little too late in the season now.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. You can't take an ounce,
Colin Pearson:so I'll just let
Derrick Mitchell:you to get in.
Kylee Tabler:They indeed peaked with their win against Ohio State.
Colin Pearson:Yep. Yes.
Kylee Tabler:Their rivalry. I don't know. I think experience has a lot to do with it. They're a very experienced team in the tournament, and they have a very good coach. She slays.
Kylee Tabler:Yes. So I think that puts them at a lower seat in the tournament, not necessarily out, but, like, I get what you're saying. Like, they're they have not stunted in the big ten at all this year. So Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:Kylie, you have Arizona in there. I'm a little curious about that one.
Kylee Tabler:Their record's 17 15. Like, I know they're in a tough conference. It's just, like, even, like, their out of conference record's not great.
Colin Pearson:Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:So I think that's the big thing about it.
Colin Pearson:I'm not saying that. I'm saying I wouldn't have even stuck them in the first four out. They're just convincingly out to me.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. I they I think they could make an impact. Again, it would you know, they lost already, though, I believe, in their tournament. So it's it's not
Colin Pearson:like They did. Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. I don't know. I think they'll be close. It might be grasping for straws, but, like, they'll be close.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. Grasping for straws.
Colin Pearson:Well, my different team is Miami, Florida.
Kylee Tabler:Weren't than even on my radar.
Colin Pearson:I I know they are. They're, you know, the first team out of the ACC did not make it right now. ACC, being the weak conference they are, I don't think Miami has enough, you know, enough pull with the committee to say, hey, we were in a hard conference. We had a good record. Nah.
Colin Pearson:You know? They have a good record, but they weren't in the hardest of conferences, and so I just I couldn't reasonably put them in. I believe they were 9th in their conference. Like, it just it doesn't feel right. It just yeah.
Colin Pearson:That's that's all I got there.
Kylee Tabler:That's fair.
Derrick Mitchell:That is fair.
Colin Pearson:The teams we all agree on, Mississippi State and Villanova.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Unanimous decision. And then I can also agree with Marilyn. Both of you guys picked them. Yeah. I can totally see them.
Kylee Tabler:It's interesting because they have them as a, like, last, like, buy.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah.
Colin Pearson:And I'm like, I don't think so. I don't see that.
Derrick Mitchell:I don't see it.
Kylee Tabler:Not, like they're not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but I just don't think
Colin Pearson:They're not that good. No. Exactly. Same same thing as with Michigan. They're The big ten, you know, it there's a drop off.
Colin Pearson:There's a very steep
Derrick Mitchell:drop off. Yeah. Once we get to a couple, maybe 6, 7. Online. Exactly.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. After Nebraska, it's all kinda like it was like
Colin Pearson:It's very much dry. Well yeah. Because you get Penn State, Michigan, and, Maryland.
Kylee Tabler:Maryland. Arguably, all 3 of them are kind of on the same playing field. So to be fair, any 3 of those could, like, substitute in for each other in the tournament.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. But are any of them still in the big ten tournament? Yes. I think Which of them?
Kylee Tabler:Michigan
Colin Pearson:I don't know.
Kylee Tabler:And I believe Penn State. Because Michigan beat Minnesota
Colin Pearson:last night. They Beat Minnesota, so they are still in.
Kylee Tabler:I forget who Penn State just beat.
Colin Pearson:I totally understand.
Kylee Tabler:Beat someone. Yeah. Literally don't remember.
Colin Pearson:I've been focusing on Michigan State in the big 10 tournament. That game is today at 3 PM, and I'm very excited.
Kylee Tabler:Yes.
Colin Pearson:Which is also why we're rushing with this podcast because we have to be out of the studio for them to broadcast.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. Shout out, Jodes and Jacob.
Colin Pearson:Love them. It's great.
Kylee Tabler:They're gonna say tune in everybody, except, you know, it's Friday. So
Derrick Mitchell:They're not gonna hear. Yeah. Tune in if you want, if you can time travel. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Let's go mid majors. What do you guys got? Kylie, Toledo. Got it. Cool.
Colin Pearson:Next.
Kylee Tabler:Hey. Hold on. Hey.
Derrick Mitchell:Do not skip Toledo. They're on my list too.
Kylee Tabler:Yep. I've got reasoning for this because they upset someone in the tournament last year. Why do I think it was Michigan? And then they beat Michigan again this year. I think they have at least one game in them for an upset.
Kylee Tabler:Maybe 2, honestly.
Colin Pearson:I can see it. They're definitely an underrated team this year for sure.
Kylee Tabler:They are Slay. I love
Colin Pearson:them. They play strong every year.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. They're always good when they get to the tournament. Like, really,
Derrick Mitchell:they do a bit. They play really well. But they play up, though, when they get there. Yeah. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:That's kinda why I put them on my list as
Colin Pearson:well.
Derrick Mitchell:I think they can actually play up. If they make it, they'll put on the show. That's mine. Yep.
Colin Pearson:Yep. I think we all
Derrick Mitchell:win game in them.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. We all also put the Horizon League winner. Yeah. Because Green Bay and Cleveland State I mean, we talked a little bit about Green Bay earlier being, like, that last 4 in if they don't win their tournament.
Kylee Tabler:Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:I think both those teams have easy potential to go Yes. Do something crazy.
Kylee Tabler:Oh, yeah.
Colin Pearson:For sure. Maybe I'm I'm not gonna say it, but, you know Don't
Kylee Tabler:change it.
Colin Pearson:Maybe go a round or 2.
Kylee Tabler:That'd be great.
Derrick Mitchell:That'd be great.
Colin Pearson:They also could just get out 1st round. They will be, you know, the the smaller team. But Mhmm. They've both got a chance. Whoever wins that tournament is gonna be a fun one to watch.
Colin Pearson:Derek, you and I both picked Middle Tennessee. I'm curious what your thoughts were there because I
Derrick Mitchell:know what my thoughts I like Middle middle Tennessee. I'm not gonna lie. I had to choose them. I had to back off a con a little bit. I just kinda like I just like what I see from the team.
Derrick Mitchell:Kylie, be quiet. It's like I can't speak, but she's just laughing the entire time. That's so funny, bro.
Kylee Tabler:Mabhi. Sorry. Go back to your reasoning about why you chose Collins Middle Tennessee.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. I wanted to choose Collins Middle Tennessee. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:Thanks.
Colin Pearson:You're welcome. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:You're welcome. Be quiet,
Colin Pearson:Kylie. I'm just looking at them. Like, they they went 15 and o in conference play. You know?
Derrick Mitchell:So stupid.
Kylee Tabler:Man did his research.
Derrick Mitchell:Yes. Man did his research.
Colin Pearson:You know, the they have one loss at home only all season, which is great. Only 2 losses away. That's very impressive.
Derrick Mitchell:15 win streak is nuts. Yeah. That's cool.
Colin Pearson:They went 11 and 2 away record right now. I want you to be quiet. 11 11 and 2 away record is just absurd for a team It's
Kylee Tabler:in private. It's really
Colin Pearson:impressive. Like Middle Tennessee.
Derrick Mitchell:For sure.
Colin Pearson:That's that's pretty cool. And so we know they know how to play on the road, and the tournament is like no other road atmosphere out there. So if there's a team that can do it, that's, in my mind, that's them.
Kylee Tabler:Okay. Colin Sleigh.
Colin Pearson:UNLV, we all picked. Yeah. They're ranked. Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. They've been upset in people. I mean, I think they have it in them.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. Mhmm.
Kylee Tabler:For sure.
Colin Pearson:They're they might not even be, like, a low seed. They'll probably be, like, 5, 6, around there. That. I don't even know if he'll be an upset at that point, you know. True.
Colin Pearson:I just don't deserve to be there. I think they're they're also kind of on my upset alert list in a way. But
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. I mean, that double edged sword.
Colin Pearson:It just depends on who they get put up against, but I think they're a solid team. They could do it. Absolutely.
Kylee Tabler:Based upon this, they are an 8 seed.
Colin Pearson:Let's see. So Kylie, you got Drake in there. Yep. What about it? What about it?
Kylee Tabler:I don't know. I just think that, you know, they can they can do well for sure. We talked about a little bit earlier in the season about how, like, they had a kind of strong showing. So They did. Yep.
Kylee Tabler:Okay.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. Yeah. I've got Fairfield in there.
Kylee Tabler:Okay, Slay.
Derrick Mitchell:I like it.
Colin Pearson:It's hard to pick against the team with one loss the entire season.
Kylee Tabler:I'm so excited.
Colin Pearson:Buy 3 points to Vanderbilt, who we've been talking about for a while. Mhmm. Yep. You know, one of the better SEC schools.
Kylee Tabler:What? Shout out to Fairfield.
Colin Pearson:Wish out to Fairfield.
Kylee Tabler:Love them. First time ever in the top 25 in program history. It's so exciting. I was so I was really happy to see that this week. It made my week, actually.
Colin Pearson:So My question is not whether they make the tournament. It's what seed they get put in.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. It's where at.
Colin Pearson:And, frankly, 8 or a 9, but they also, as an 8 or a 9, could be the team to upset the 1 at that point. And if there's, again, if there's any teams do it, this is the kind of team that would do it. They play insane offense and they play, like, scrappy defense. Yeah. It's fun to watch.
Colin Pearson:Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:Those teams are the best in the tournament.
Colin Pearson:Great to
Derrick Mitchell:see you. Shock people with how they play. I love that. So I'm excited.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. Should be should be fun. I think that's all of our mid majors to watch. Yeah. What about some power teams on Upsetler?
Colin Pearson:I've got 1. Kylie, you've got 3. Derek, you've got 1. Who wants to start?
Kylee Tabler:I have 3. I'll start.
Colin Pearson:Go for it.
Kylee Tabler:Nebraska, I guess they're not, like, really a power team, but They're
Colin Pearson:a power team.
Kylee Tabler:They're gonna base this mentally off of the big twelve tournament. Like, I'm looking into the future, and and I'm basing it yeah. Literally. And I'm basing it off of the, the big 12 tournament. I was watching, their highlights against, oh, I forget who, and, just kinda listening and, like, listening to some of the analysis, and they said they've been kinda a little bit up and down recently.
Colin Pearson:They their game today or yesterday for you listeners, they won by 11 points only over the 12 seed in the tournament. Yeah. Texas Tech.
Kylee Tabler:So Up and down performance.
Colin Pearson:Definitely. Up and down. Definitely, you know Mhmm. Not their best showing.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. And then I have Yukon just because they're plagued with injury, always for some reason. I feel really bad for the team.
Derrick Mitchell:We've been talking about this all season. Everything.
Kylee Tabler:Feel awful for them. And yeah. But it I think it depends on whatever c whatever team they're gonna match up against because
Colin Pearson:Realistically, it does. Yeah. Yes. And that's how all of this goes. That's how it's
Kylee Tabler:If you got if you got a strong lower seed, then I think there's a pretty good chance.
Colin Pearson:Yep. For sure. Definitely.
Derrick Mitchell:But if you get if you get messed up with somebody who's just like a powerhouse, it's like, And then you yeah. Ugh. Okay. It's just kinda how the because the numbers with the bracket.
Colin Pearson:You really don't wanna go up against, like, Fairfield, middle Tennessee, v, you know, the team
Derrick Mitchell:that's nowhere gonna be super slow. Like, that's Toledo. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:It's a Horizon League. You know?
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Or whoever doesn't win the Horizon League. Horizon.
Colin Pearson:Realistically, yeah. Yes. Derek, you also had Baylor.
Derrick Mitchell:I chose Baylor. I like that.
Kylee Tabler:My guy. My
Colin Pearson:guy. They have
Derrick Mitchell:6 game win streak. I know that 11 doesn't look good, but if you actually try to look at the game, you could probably see how different they played and how more aggressive they actually played. The score doesn't tell the story every single time, so you kinda have to see how they played in certain stretches. So I'm gonna rock with Baylor. I like their record.
Derrick Mitchell:24 and 6 is just great. They're not that good at away games, which is gonna be a problem for the tournament, but that's something probably the committee will actually look at. But, hopefully, I think they could do some actual damage if they get in there, though.
Kylee Tabler:Interesting. Yeah. Interesting.
Colin Pearson:My team that I picked was Stanford, and I know that sounds controversial. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:I know it does. Wow. But You're gonna
Kylee Tabler:doubt Cameron Brink. How dare you?
Colin Pearson:I am. Because I've been watching their scores as of late. Mhmm. And they've been really, really struggling. Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:Especially against teams they shouldn't be struggling against. They lost to Arizona last week.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Almost lost to, you know, ranked Oregon State, but almost lost to them. You see a lot more competition coming out of Washington state than you should have, you know. Stanford has kind of been struggling just a little bit against the teams that they really shouldn't be. And I don't know what it is with them right now. Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:They struggled against California last night. And then they play Oregon State today in the Pac 12 tournament, and I don't know if they're winning that, quite frankly.
Kylee Tabler:It'll be a game.
Colin Pearson:It's gonna be a great game. But my one worry for them is they are falling off at the wrong time.
Kylee Tabler:That is true.
Derrick Mitchell:Yep.
Colin Pearson:And so all season, they've been super strong and, like, they're still winning, just not by very much anymore. And so that concerns me quite a bit. Mhmm. Mhmm. Just looking at the trend.
Colin Pearson:And so that's my upset alert there. I don't think they're going out to a 16 seed, frankly.
Kylee Tabler:No. No. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:No. If they do, congrats. If they do,
Kylee Tabler:I hope that 16 seed wins the tournament.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. Congrats. However, I could see an 8 seed taking them down. I could see, you know, someone later on. Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:I don't know if they're making final 4.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. That's it. That's it. I'll I'll
Colin Pearson:make that pick right now.
Kylee Tabler:Okay, Colin.
Derrick Mitchell:Okay, Colin.
Colin Pearson:On the men's side, let's move on because we got stuff to talk about. We do not have a lot of time to talk about it. Yeah. ASUN tournament's been crazy. Mhmm.
Derrick Mitchell:I don't even
Colin Pearson:know what to think about that. Jacksonville nearly had it. Womp womp. We we almost would have had I think the top seed in the ace zone tournament, if Jacksonville had won it today, would have been a 5 seed left. We still have Setson in.
Colin Pearson:They're a 2 seed, but they won by a one point. And I don't know if they're winning that tournament.
Kylee Tabler:That's a thumbs down right there.
Colin Pearson:So Ace on it is gonna be crazy. I don't think it's a bid stealer. I don't think the one seed from that tournament is going to make it in. But Mhmm. It could be a very interesting 16 seed.
Colin Pearson:Oh. One seed. We've got 3 that are the same. Derek and I have the exact 4 that are the same. Kylie has one different.
Kylee Tabler:I do.
Colin Pearson:But, realistically, realistically, it could go a few different ways, I think. Houston, Yukon, Purdue, all one seeds. I don't think there's debate there. No. They there have been they've been back and forth all season between the 3 of them.
Colin Pearson:They've been the top 3 all season. Mhmm. Yep. You can't can't argue with any of them.
Kylee Tabler:My dream is putting Purdue at a 16 seed.
Derrick Mitchell:No. No. That's never gonna happen.
Kylee Tabler:Never gonna happen. That's my dream.
Colin Pearson:Kylie, guess what? They get pissed. 16 that upsets the one and that, for sure.
Derrick Mitchell:They would be the 16 that upsets the
Kylee Tabler:one and that's what I get swept by the
Colin Pearson:one team. They'd be the first 16th seed. The sweet 16th, I think. I'm
Kylee Tabler:just a hater. I'm a hater. No foundation with them. I'm a hater with no foundation.
Derrick Mitchell:Some I hope they're calling a 3 second in the keys in the tournament because that'd be nice.
Colin Pearson:Travelers.
Kylee Tabler:Do that. Travels as well. Fouls.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. I always hear the screeching of the shoes when he's dragging that pivot leg. I'm like, oh, I see that.
Kylee Tabler:Looks like a crab moving. Crab. Like, literally, his yeah. His legs, bro. Come on.
Kylee Tabler:Keep a foot on the ground, please.
Colin Pearson:Kylie, I wanna ask, though. You have your 4th team at North Carolina. Why? Yeah. I see them as a 3 seater.
Kylee Tabler:I do not. I see them as a 1 or a 2. I see them as the low one, high 2. I'm I'm a fan. I believe in that RJ Davis, Armando Bacot connection.
Kylee Tabler:I believe. I believe in him. I don't know. I just one
Colin Pearson:of the weakest I've ever seen the ACC. Yeah. I don't feel
Kylee Tabler:You really don't think so,
Colin Pearson:really? Reasonable.
Kylee Tabler:You don't think think that blue blood is gonna seep into the freaking committee? No. No. I don't. Okay.
Derrick Mitchell:I think it's changing for the first time that, like, the blue bloods don't, like Mhmm. Aren't as effective as I used to be compared to other years.
Colin Pearson:They don't have as much of an argument anymore.
Derrick Mitchell:Yep. That's what I'm saying. There's a lot more
Colin Pearson:You look at last year or the year before, the teams that are left out, all of a sudden, it's it's the blue bloods left out. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:They're not as dominant as they used to be. It's kinda like going on history. That's why they get so many bids. Like, that's so he's at the
Colin Pearson:They don't have the same coaches they used to, and I think that's a big thing.
Derrick Mitchell:People that are retiring, and that's a big thing.
Kylee Tabler:Huge thing.
Colin Pearson:When coach k retired, you know, that was huge.
Kylee Tabler:The fall off.
Colin Pearson:The fall off of the blue bloods. Yeah. And and now we're putting Duke at a 3 seed probably, but the fall off the fall off.
Kylee Tabler:Such a fader of them too. I don't know. I think I was just basically glancing at it purely on record most of the time. But, again, tournament outcomes are gonna be big because I think if Tennessee loses in their turn, they're not gonna be a one seed still. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:So
Kylee Tabler:I think that spot's just, like, up for grabs. For anyone, like, any other, like, big conference tournament winners, that's spots we up for grabs if if Tennessee doesn't win.
Colin Pearson:Mhmm. Yeah. I can see that.
Kylee Tabler:So I was just throwing North Carolina. I was like, yeah. They they'll probably win the ACC. So
Colin Pearson:Mhmm. I I get that completely. Yeah. Especially if they win the ACC. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:If they don't Yeah. I can't see it. Yeah. Derek and I both had Tennessee, I think, for the same reasoning, except SEC. Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:You know, replace everything we just said about ACC with SEC, and you get the exact same thing. Yeah. You get the Kentuckians, the Duke. You get it's, like, literally
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:It it's, like, verbatim. We're, like, it's it's
Derrick Mitchell:So true.
Kylee Tabler:It's just all the same.
Colin Pearson:Those two conferences are copy paste of each other. Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. The top, like, 3 teams that are really good this year, the 4th team that's a traditional
Kylee Tabler:pay copy paste. On pace every year.
Derrick Mitchell:Every year. Every year.
Kylee Tabler:We it's not like we're mad about it or
Colin Pearson:anything. That's crazy though.
Kylee Tabler:Like we're done with it.
Derrick Mitchell:It's it's just scratching me. I'm scratching my head.
Colin Pearson:So yeah. Anyway, Houston, Purdue, Yukon. Great. Okay. Let's go last 4 in because that's more fun to talk about.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah.
Colin Pearson:We all had Oklahoma in here. Mhmm. I wanna hear you guys' thought process because I didn't have any.
Kylee Tabler:Formerly ranked team. That's my only thought process. Formerly, like
Colin Pearson:That
Derrick Mitchell:was
Kylee Tabler:top, like, 10 ranked team. They have fallen off, but I still don't think they're like, I still I still think they're a tournament team.
Colin Pearson:They haven't fallen off enough. Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:They're they have not bent out of the dumps. Like, it's okay.
Derrick Mitchell:Like, their record isn't horrible. It's just not amazing. That's all I'd say. Yeah. So they've fallen off a little bit, but they're still they still should be able to get a bit in my opinion.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. Okay. Good enough. Come in. That's why I put them.
Kylee Tabler:Okay. Real.
Colin Pearson:What else, guys?
Kylee Tabler:Virginia, obviously, is making the tournament every freaking year. I
Derrick Mitchell:Come on.
Kylee Tabler:Come on, Colin. Be a believer.
Derrick Mitchell:I have to get in, so I lose in the 1st round. I have to get in. It's tradition, Colin.
Colin Pearson:Yes. I am sitting here
Kylee Tabler:They have to lose in the first round.
Colin Pearson:Hardcore manifesting that they will not make it in. I think they lose in the 1st round of the ACC tournament, and that's it for them.
Kylee Tabler:No. I think no.
Derrick Mitchell:I think no way that that's possible. I mean, that's gonna happen. I mean, it's a possibility, but I'm not agreeing with it.
Colin Pearson:You know how I'm manifesting that? I'm putting Wake Forest in. That's fine. Oh, okay. Okay.
Derrick Mitchell:I think
Colin Pearson:I think Wake Forest
Derrick Mitchell:feeling himself today.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. He is.
Colin Pearson:Oh, yeah. No. But
Derrick Mitchell:yes, you are.
Colin Pearson:Not really. It's I I have no particular reasoning other than I don't want Virginia, and I think Wake Forest is very much in the exact same position. Mhmm. So I put Virginia in my first four out, but, like, what's the difference?
Kylee Tabler:Wake Forest is not Virginia, which
Derrick Mitchell:means Wake
Colin Pearson:Forest is not Virginia.
Kylee Tabler:Virginia will be getting into the tournament.
Derrick Mitchell:That's crazy.
Colin Pearson:You you make a great point there.
Kylee Tabler:I don't
Colin Pearson:I hate it because
Kylee Tabler:That's so sad but I know. The city drives
Colin Pearson:me nuts by doing that but yeah. Yep. Derek, you and I both talked about Nebraska. You can't go wrong with some Nebraska ball. You can't
Derrick Mitchell:go wrong with those Nebraska ball.
Kylee Tabler:I just don't think they're last 4 in, but
Colin Pearson:You think they're higher than that? Good. I'm thinking they're higher
Kylee Tabler:than that. Slightly higher than that. Not by a lot, but, like, a little bit.
Derrick Mitchell:I think last 4 in is a good spot for them. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Because they
Derrick Mitchell:have some stretches that
Colin Pearson:are way.
Derrick Mitchell:Good and some stretches that weren't, so that's probably why I'd put them in.
Colin Pearson:I think they're 11 seat.
Kylee Tabler:I don't know. Win the rest of their season.
Colin Pearson:I see. Yep. Yeah. I can see that. They being 11 seed, but not last 4 in.
Colin Pearson:I can see it.
Kylee Tabler:Slightly higher.
Colin Pearson:You know? Or even a 10.
Kylee Tabler:I believe in Nebraska. It's okay, guys. Yeah. Okay. We're all believers.
Colin Pearson:Me feel a little bit better about Yeah. Your, you're not picking them.
Derrick Mitchell:For sure.
Colin Pearson:Kylie, you did pick Drake. Yep. Curious what's your thought process there?
Kylee Tabler:I think Drake and Indiana State are both good enough to make it into the tournament, personally.
Colin Pearson:Alright. So here's my thought process. Okay.
Kylee Tabler:Colin's gonna trash me for
Colin Pearson:I am not about to trash you. I agree. Yay. However, I don't think the committee will do that. Wow.
Kylee Tabler:No. That's true. I just want the committee to stop being a bunch of haters about it.
Colin Pearson:Yes. They they won't, though. So what I think needs to happen is I think Drake needs to win the Missouri Valley, and Indiana State will make it in either way.
Kylee Tabler:You think so?
Colin Pearson:I really do. Wow.
Kylee Tabler:I'd be completely fine with that happening.
Colin Pearson:Indiana State is, like, 21st in the net. Yep. Yeah. You can't really There's such a tough team that play
Derrick Mitchell:team. That's what I'm saying.
Colin Pearson:Will not make it in.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. They did dispute that.
Derrick Mitchell:And they'll be such a underdog if they do get in. That's that's gonna be a matchup that nobody nobody playing them is gonna wanna see them.
Colin Pearson:Exactly. Simple. So I really do think that Drake has to win their tournament to make it in.
Kylee Tabler:That's fair.
Colin Pearson:I think they're gonna be in the next 4 out.
Kylee Tabler:They're probably. I think that's legitimately where they have them. But the next four out.
Colin Pearson:There's a chance and I'd say it's a pretty good chance. So we'll see.
Kylee Tabler:Why is love?
Colin Pearson:I have a very similar opinion about Villanova. I'm a no. Where they they could technically make it in, and I think they will because Villanova, the name. Reason.
Derrick Mitchell:I think I their history is gonna carry
Colin Pearson:them. They're not an
Derrick Mitchell:amazing team, pretty mid on the conference record, but, like, they I think the name's gonna push
Kylee Tabler:them in. Of that mid.
Colin Pearson:Yep. Also, the big east is strong this year. Yep. Mhmm. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:Derek, you got Mississippi
Derrick Mitchell:State. That's I know.
Colin Pearson:I know. Where's a pretty good question? One, my friend?
Kylee Tabler:Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:I like it, though. They're not a I think putting a team like that in the tunnel will be actually fun.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. And it will
Derrick Mitchell:be a team that nobody would really like to see because of their team now. Like
Kylee Tabler:They've got some good wins.
Derrick Mitchell:They have good wins. They have some really great wins. Couple players in the team that have really bad losses. Size as well. But they do have bad losses.
Derrick Mitchell:That's the thing. Mhmm. But, I mean, you gotta judge them at their highs and not their lows. That's why I'd say.
Kylee Tabler:Put them in. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:That's my opinion.
Kylee Tabler:That's You
Colin Pearson:know what? I I can see that take. Mhmm. Kylie, you've got a different SCC school. You got
Kylee Tabler:South Carolina. Basically just because as of late.
Colin Pearson:Yep. Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:I mean, they've been doing really well. So
Derrick Mitchell:Yep. That is that is a hot that's a good take.
Kylee Tabler:I think I think they're gonna get in. It's if it's not last 4, and they're getting in regardless.
Colin Pearson:But Yeah. Mhmm. I don't know. Oh, yeah. First four out, I've stuck Virginia in there already.
Colin Pearson:I already said. Boom. I think Pitt Boom. Is in that first four out.
Kylee Tabler:I agree.
Colin Pearson:I think Northwestern's in that first four out. I think Cincinnati.
Derrick Mitchell:Uh-oh. Interesting.
Kylee Tabler:I don't know, man.
Colin Pearson:I have no particular reasons other than they are just below the threshold in their conference. Mhmm.
Derrick Mitchell:Yep.
Colin Pearson:And that's that's kinda what I've got right now. Mhmm. They they all play good basketball, but not great.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. And, honestly, like, Cincinnati
Colin Pearson:And I think there's gonna be enough bid Steelers that they don't
Kylee Tabler:get in.
Colin Pearson:Yep. That's my other thought process.
Kylee Tabler:Cincinnati's in
Colin Pearson:such a tough like, their conference is
Kylee Tabler:so tough this year, but they've still fared
Colin Pearson:They fared really well.
Kylee Tabler:Really well.
Colin Pearson:For the big twelve. Yeah. But I don't think they're quite at that level. So many big 12 teams are gonna
Kylee Tabler:be funneling in there.
Derrick Mitchell:Absolutely. How many can it actually take for them to get a get a bid?
Colin Pearson:I don't know how many Yeah. We have 9 in our bracket right now.
Kylee Tabler:We might as well take the the whole conference at this
Colin Pearson:point. Put them in there. 9 of 14. Like, that's absurd. Mhmm.
Colin Pearson:I could see one more. I could see Cincinnati theoretically, unreasonable. I'm just saying. It's really unreasonable to ask for, and so I don't think it's something that's gonna happen. And that's no diss on Cincinnati.
Colin Pearson:They probably would win a game,
Kylee Tabler:frankly. Definitely.
Colin Pearson:But they're just not Mhmm. At their at that level in their conference. Kylie, you've got Villanova in there. We already talked about them a little bit. Yep.
Derrick Mitchell:Yep. Pitt
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Wake Forest Yeah.
Colin Pearson:You're pretty much taking all of my last four in and sticking them in your 4th first four out.
Kylee Tabler:We're flip flopping here.
Colin Pearson:You know? Though. I get that. Yeah. Colorado, though.
Colin Pearson:Colorado is an interesting pick.
Kylee Tabler:I'm a hater. What can I say? No. I just really don't think they I just don't think they have it.
Colin Pearson:Really? No. Why not? I I'm sticking them at, like, an 8 seed right now.
Kylee Tabler:Interesting.
Colin Pearson:Derek, I don't know about you. Like, actually, they're pretty I think they're like a reasonably okay team. Yes. They're 3rd in the Pac 12. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:I think that should say something
Kylee Tabler:about that. Don't know how many how many bids they're taking the back 12. Like I can't
Colin Pearson:see a world where they
Kylee Tabler:take less
Colin Pearson:than 2.
Derrick Mitchell:Like, that's
Kylee Tabler:That's insane.
Colin Pearson:Taking 2 is crazy.
Derrick Mitchell:So they they they should be on a lot. Maybe on
Colin Pearson:a lock, but they should be Look. They have 2 ranked teams right now. I don't see a world where a power conference like the Pac 12 doesn't get a 3rd at minimum. Yep. You know?
Colin Pearson:And Yeah. Colorado, I think, makes it in. If not Colorado, maybe Oregon, just depending on how the tournament goes.
Kylee Tabler:That's, yeah. Mine was like tournament focused.
Colin Pearson:But, like, I see Colorado in. Okay.
Derrick Mitchell:I like that.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. Derek, you've got Texas A&M on there in Providence.
Derrick Mitchell:2 different takes. I'm a talk about Texas.
Colin Pearson:I'm a talk about takes. I'm a
Derrick Mitchell:talk about Texas A and M, though, because their away record is bad, but I'm looking at the overall play. They're 11 and 3 at home. That's really good in my opinion. I think they can actually pull this out. I mean, the conference that they're in is not is not the w two side.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. So, I mean, it hasn't been as good as it has other years, but I think they can actually do something about it in my opinion. So I like Texas A&M.
Colin Pearson:Providence, what you got? I'm that's the one I'm more curious about because I can see Texas A&M. You know, I was considering they're probably in my next four out. Mhmm. But Providence.
Colin Pearson:I think you could give
Derrick Mitchell:them a chance, Colin. I think you should give them a chance. They may have they're a good team. They played a couple of good players good teams as well. I think I can give them a chance.
Derrick Mitchell:That's my opinion on it.
Colin Pearson:Okay. But I feel like the Colin hate's
Derrick Mitchell:gonna come in. No.
Colin Pearson:No. It's about to come in.
Kylee Tabler:I was basing it so yours so the the one I'm looking at has Providence in the first four out. Mhmm. So they also have Colorado, so I need y'all to stop hating on me. But okay, Colin. Go ahead.
Colin Pearson:I first of all, I don't think Seton Hall is getting in, let alone Providence. Okay. Seton Hall has 2 more wins in the conference than Providence. Providence has 109 in the conference. They are 47 away.
Colin Pearson:They are 14 and 3 at home. Like, this is not a team that I see, like
Kylee Tabler:Derek's a believer.
Colin Pearson:They just lost to Villanova.
Kylee Tabler:Boom.
Colin Pearson:They literally just Boom. They lost, like, almost 30 to Marquette. They've lost to Butler this season. Okay. They lost to Villanova twice.
Colin Pearson:They lost at home and away. Like, I just don't see this team being one that they pick over Villanova. I don't see it being a team.
Derrick Mitchell:With them losing twice to Villanova, I can agree with that.
Colin Pearson:Like, I just don't see it. I don't see it.
Derrick Mitchell:But I'm still rocking with my team, though.
Colin Pearson:Alright. Yep.
Derrick Mitchell:Don't hate and appreciate, Colin. No cap.
Colin Pearson:Respect for, like, holding with. You know? Even if I disagree, you can you can have opinions. That's You're you are allowed to have opinions on this podcast. I like
Derrick Mitchell:my opinion. Alright. Let's get the wrong back. Opinion.
Kylee Tabler:Of course, Colin's got McNee stayed in here. He's he's a fan.
Derrick Mitchell:My god.
Colin Pearson:And you know what? I don't care who they're going up against. I'm picking up in the first
Kylee Tabler:round. Okay.
Colin Pearson:I I take that back. That's heat. I take that back. If they go up against, like, a duke
Derrick Mitchell:Colin,
Kylee Tabler:I'm still
Colin Pearson:pick up. They're screwed. I still pick up.
Derrick Mitchell:No. That's crazy.
Colin Pearson:But most teams, I think, they could be, in that, I think they could be, you know, if they're a 12 seed, they could be a 5 seed. I think Okay. You know, I think that's the kind of team they are. UC Irvine, I also picked.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. I agree with you on that a 100%.
Colin Pearson:They've been so dominant. Even like, I get it. They play nobody. But, like, they've been so dominant against those nobody's. But that's, like, makes me you know, it turns some heads.
Colin Pearson:Mhmm. We all put Drake or Indiana State.
Kylee Tabler:You got them.
Colin Pearson:Do we need to do we need to talk about that?
Derrick Mitchell:No.
Colin Pearson:Not. Those 2 teams will be just wild to watch.
Kylee Tabler:So excited.
Colin Pearson:Put some respect on the Missouri Valley. Put it put some respect on
Derrick Mitchell:it right now.
Colin Pearson:Vermont
Derrick Mitchell:is not
Kylee Tabler:for it. That's not a bad that's not bad at
Colin Pearson:all. That is horrible. Yeah. Sleeve because they play very different style of basketball than literally everyone else Mhmm. That's going to be in this tournament.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. They play almost all defense.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Teams hate that.
Colin Pearson:All defense, all rebounding. It's all it's like the absolute else in the country knows how to compete against that.
Kylee Tabler:No. That's a 100%.
Colin Pearson:And so that's why I stuck Vermont in there. I'm, like, they still shoot really well, but they rebound, like, crazy, which Power 5 teams don't do right now.
Kylee Tabler:No. Even in
Colin Pearson:the big twelve, like, where it's top rebounding, like, that's not Not the yeah. Is gonna be, like Mhmm. Give them a run for their money if they get set up against them on the defense front. Yes. Now it's definitely possible that they get completely outscored because they're not the best offense.
Kylee Tabler:The game is gonna be, like, 18 to 20 at the end of it.
Colin Pearson:It's gonna be a wild game. I think
Derrick Mitchell:it's 20, 60 turnovers each time.
Colin Pearson:But that's that's a team that I'm watching out for, just because of how different they play. Yeah. And I don't think anyone's prepared to play against a team like that.
Kylee Tabler:That's fair.
Colin Pearson:True.
Derrick Mitchell:That is fair.
Colin Pearson:Yep. Kylie and Derek, you guys both had the same other team, and I almost picked up, but I wanted to
Kylee Tabler:Yes. You have to be guys bro. My home, my my Toledo Rockets.
Colin Pearson:Is anyone surprised? No. Why would you be? Okay. Great.
Derrick Mitchell:She's been talking about, you know, all her life.
Kylee Tabler:All my life. All my life. It's where I be living. You know?
Colin Pearson:I
Derrick Mitchell:think that's what I see out of the TV.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. I'm not going for sure. Yeah. I was
Derrick Mitchell:I was gonna lead up with that, but I actually like what I see out of this team.
Kylee Tabler:Great record. Only if they get over the hump of the MAC tournament.
Colin Pearson:Give me ball state. Ball state.
Derrick Mitchell:No. No. No.
Colin Pearson:No. Good grief.
Kylee Tabler:CMU is not looking bad either, but No.
Colin Pearson:CMU is a challenge, bro.
Kylee Tabler:I need I need Toledo to pull it out for the city, bro.
Colin Pearson:For me. For the city.
Kylee Tabler:Go Rockets.
Colin Pearson:Give them a chance.
Kylee Tabler:Yes. Every year, we fumble in the back tournament. Yes. This is our time.
Colin Pearson:To lead, that's that's the reason I did not pick them because I genuinely think they have a good chance of winning the MAC tournament this year.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah.
Colin Pearson:But first of all, they're just bad in the postseason. It does not matter how good they are. They will always fumble in the postseason. You know?
Kylee Tabler:I'm hoping this year they will not.
Colin Pearson:It's it's Usually history repeats itself.
Kylee Tabler:It's been repeating itself for so long.
Derrick Mitchell:I'm tired
Colin Pearson:of it. And Toledo losing in the Mac tournament. Like, those are the 3 consistent No.
Derrick Mitchell:Not those 3 getting put in the same time. Death and taxes.
Kylee Tabler:That's crazy. Cooked. We're cooked.
Colin Pearson:But if they do make it, I think they're a challenger.
Kylee Tabler:I think I think they're definitely a a potential upside team.
Colin Pearson:I completely get that. You guys, let's look at some upset alert.
Kylee Tabler:Yes. Yes. Yes.
Colin Pearson:I stuck Wisconsin on there because
Kylee Tabler:obviously.
Colin Pearson:I'm just watching this basketball. Fraud.
Kylee Tabler:Fraudulent. Literally.
Colin Pearson:Total fraud, but they're probably still gonna be a topper, higher seed. 6 seed, I think. Probably the have on. Yeah. Because of their start of the season, and they have fallen off so hard.
Kylee Tabler:So hard.
Derrick Mitchell:So Thanks for finishing that.
Colin Pearson:That's that. My other one, Kentucky.
Kylee Tabler:That's a very fair one.
Derrick Mitchell:Very fair
Colin Pearson:one. Young team. Mhmm. They play insane offense. They're one of the best offensive teams in the nation.
Colin Pearson:One of the best offensive teams I've ever watched. Yeah. So fun. First of all, they don't know how to play defense, and second of all, their coach doesn't know how to coach an offensively minded team. Yeah.
Colin Pearson:He's been coaching defense for the last 30 years.
Kylee Tabler:Mhmm. So They're I that's a that's listen. I agree with you. But here's the thing. They're either gonna turn up and go far They're gonna go.
Kylee Tabler:Or gonna fall or go yeah. Go all the way Yeah. Or they're they're done. They're done
Derrick Mitchell:after all. Middle with them. They're either gonna shoot out the gym and, like, literally, everybody's gonna go crazy.
Colin Pearson:Put up
Kylee Tabler:a 100 20 points on a team
Derrick Mitchell:Or they're just gonna completely sink. There's there's literally no in between with Kentucky as
Colin Pearson:high as
Derrick Mitchell:it's gonna be.
Colin Pearson:Frankly, they might put up a 120 points and lose.
Kylee Tabler:That honestly
Derrick Mitchell:because if they play no defense then They played literally
Kylee Tabler:no defense. No defense team?
Colin Pearson:And so you play up for an Atlantic. Yeah. You're going down a 120 to a 115.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Literally.
Colin Pearson:No over time. No nothing. Just straight up shake shooting. That is funny. You know, that's my mind with Kentucky right now.
Colin Pearson:Kylie, you've got 3 teams. Derek, you got 2. Derek, what do you got?
Derrick Mitchell:I'm gonna say Purdue because for a couple reasons. Bap bap. The referees in the tournaments are a lot different than the referees in the regular season. Yep. They call different things.
Derrick Mitchell:They're a lot more neutral based. So in my opinion, that's why Purdue's not gonna get certain calls, and they're gonna have to rely on their guards a lot more.
Colin Pearson:And that's how they lost last year.
Derrick Mitchell:Exactly. And if they and if their guards don't come to play, I'm really talking about lawyer right now. If he doesn't really come to play, he's a kind of a guard that's a little bit of a sleeper. He can shoot the ball well, but if he's not shooting well and Edie's gonna be off and Smith's gonna be doing his thing, but if he Smith
Colin Pearson:will continue to do his thing.
Derrick Mitchell:He's gonna play well.
Colin Pearson:That's how
Derrick Mitchell:he is. But if Moyer isn't shooting the ball like he used to last year, it's gonna be a problem.
Colin Pearson:Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:So that's why I think they're gonna they might flame out.
Kylee Tabler:I they're gonna they're gonna get less calls for them, probably more calls against them. So that's gonna be a huge factor in the tournament.
Colin Pearson:I could see Zack Eady fouling out.
Derrick Mitchell:I could see him
Kylee Tabler:fouling out.
Colin Pearson:I could
Derrick Mitchell:see him getting a lot of, like, different fouls called on him and different, like, travels called on him as well. A lot
Colin Pearson:of turnovers I see coming.
Kylee Tabler:I need them to really look at 3 in the key.
Derrick Mitchell:Drags his foot a lot, and he stays there.
Kylee Tabler:3 in the key.
Colin Pearson:They need to look at very much said they're going to be They
Kylee Tabler:need to crack down.
Derrick Mitchell:That. I need them to crack that on it now. That's, like, the thing. If if they say you're gonna do it at the beginning of the season, they
Colin Pearson:said they were gonna change it. That's a rule they've emphasized Mhmm. You know, in their rule books. And so when it comes to actual NCAA reps instead of Big 10 ones, I think they're going to be a little bit more strict on that.
Kylee Tabler:I think that would
Derrick Mitchell:be a big deal.
Kylee Tabler:My big thing is, like, I know how much I hate on Zack Eadie and stuff, but, however, the refs in the big 10 big 10 have failed him, have completely failed him. He Purdue is a good enough team to where if he was, like, conditioned and learned this stuff and, like, knew what he could and couldn't do, they could easily make Yeah. Win. They could win.
Derrick Mitchell:For sure.
Kylee Tabler:But they failed them.
Colin Pearson:Right now, I don't see that happening. Nope. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:If he goes to the NBA, he's gonna get a rude awakening. That's all I'm gonna say about that because people are people are faster, stronger, quicker in the NBA. And if you stay in the pain, you're gonna get out of it, or you're not gonna
Kylee Tabler:You have
Colin Pearson:to be
Derrick Mitchell:able to move. Out. You have to be able to move a little bit and have a actual skill set outside of 5 feet of the rim. Yep. That's just my opinion.
Derrick Mitchell:You can't in this day and age of basketball, shooting is important in the NBA. In the NBA. Especially in the NBA. I'll let him passing is important. He just doesn't have that skill set.
Derrick Mitchell:Nope. Yeah. So, yeah, feed him in the paint and let him work. It's just not gonna work at any other level that he goes
Colin Pearson:to past college.
Derrick Mitchell:Mhmm. Exactly. Because he's in that certain situation. He's catered to play that way. Mhmm.
Derrick Mitchell:And he's gonna excel. But once he goes anywhere else, it's not gonna work like that.
Kylee Tabler:And he's gonna face guys that are as tall or taller
Colin Pearson:Stronger.
Kylee Tabler:And who are stronger.
Derrick Mitchell:So And more nimble.
Colin Pearson:Playing a big 10 schedule to
Kylee Tabler:So much.
Derrick Mitchell:Big 12. So much.
Colin Pearson:That that man used to be very much like Zack Edie, very much similar
Kylee Tabler:to style. Bit further range, could move a little bit
Colin Pearson:better, but now, I mean,
Derrick Mitchell:his game completely
Colin Pearson:will. I mean, he is insane when he goes off.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. I'm I have him on upset alert.
Colin Pearson:I know you do. That's why I wanted to transition that way.
Kylee Tabler:I I have him on upset alert because they they're so they're such a frustrating team. Because if you ask me at the beginning of the year, they're my national champion. They're my national champion at the beginning of the year. That's who I have. However, now their losses are so consistent and so bad.
Kylee Tabler:Like, I don't know what to say about it.
Colin Pearson:They're over here. They lose to the worst teams in the big twelve and beat the best ones, and I don't understand how that works. Yeah.
Derrick Mitchell:That is so confusing.
Kylee Tabler:They're so inconsistent. I get a lot of their team is young.
Colin Pearson:Yes. I think they're they prepare more for the
Kylee Tabler:Home games. They their away record, abysmal. Yeah. Garbage.
Colin Pearson:Like And so the neutral tournament could be an interesting spot there.
Kylee Tabler:To be able to win anywhere, anytime, any play. Like,
Colin Pearson:any day. Right now, they are
Kylee Tabler:not proven. They are not that. Yep. That's why that's the main reason why I have them, frustrating because, again, I probably would have put them to win at the beginning of the season.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah.
Kylee Tabler:So
Colin Pearson:Yeah. And they're a great team.
Kylee Tabler:They are. Uh-huh.
Colin Pearson:They definitely have those struggles.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah. Me and me, Derek will have Marquette.
Colin Pearson:I just think completely understand why.
Derrick Mitchell:Yeah. I just think they have some really bad losses, and they're fraudulent. That's kinda my opinion on them. Last
Colin Pearson:year, they really get yep. Exactly.
Derrick Mitchell:Last year, their size kinda scared me, but this year, it's like they've kinda tamed down a little bit. So I'm not as scared of them in the tournament as I was last year.
Kylee Tabler:I think a lot of their players aren't playing well or, like, good enough. And if they don't have Tyler Colic, they're not
Colin Pearson:question is whether they have Tyler Colic. 100.
Kylee Tabler:Because I don't I don't know if they are. I don't know what the rules on anything, like,
Colin Pearson:around that are. Everything. Mhmm. Yeah. You know?
Colin Pearson:I don't think they
Kylee Tabler:know yet. Yeah. No one knows.
Colin Pearson:This is this is a big giant question mark hanging in the arrow for Marquette. For sure. If they get Tyler Kolig back, I'm not as worried about them.
Kylee Tabler:I I still think they could be an up settler, but just not as, like, not as high Yeah. And on my radar.
Colin Pearson:Yeah. So Exactly. But, yeah, without Tyler Kolick, they're
Kylee Tabler:They're done. They're cooked.
Colin Pearson:They're cooked. They're the 5 losing to a 12, and that's, you know Yeah. App State or JMU or Go JMU. Against let's
Kylee Tabler:go JMU.
Colin Pearson:Uh-uh. Go App State.
Derrick Mitchell:Thank you. Let's not do that.
Kylee Tabler:I will do that.
Derrick Mitchell:Not with not with what they did to Michigan State
Kylee Tabler:earlier. I'm not
Derrick Mitchell:I'm not I won't forgive them for that.
Colin Pearson:I'll forgive
Kylee Tabler:them if they can upset some good teams in the tournament.
Derrick Mitchell:That's true. That's a good one.
Kylee Tabler:That's the forgiveness.
Derrick Mitchell:I'll jump on that. But
Colin Pearson:Yeah. Or they put they get put up against us in the tournament. Revenge story. We need the we we need
Kylee Tabler:the revenge story right now.
Derrick Mitchell:I want. That I want.
Kylee Tabler:And we deserve that.
Derrick Mitchell:It won't happen.
Kylee Tabler:No. It won't happen.
Derrick Mitchell:Be down to see it. I
Colin Pearson:love the lie. We love the storyline.
Kylee Tabler:To match up at some point.
Derrick Mitchell:Absolutely. I need a I need, like, a
Kylee Tabler:Final four?
Derrick Mitchell:I need them to go to
Colin Pearson:Can we do a preseason game?
Derrick Mitchell:Oh my gosh.
Colin Pearson:Imagine. That would be wild.
Derrick Mitchell:So am the narratives around that game
Colin Pearson:so good.
Derrick Mitchell:I'll shed a tear. Real.
Kylee Tabler:Yeah.
Colin Pearson:It'd be crazy. Mhmm. Yeah. So, anyways, I think that's our bracketology. We'll post the brackets with this on the Impact 89 FM website.
Colin Pearson:Google it. It'll be under check under podcasts, sports podcasts, check the net, just like all of our other podcasts.
Derrick Mitchell:Boom boom boom.
Colin Pearson:You can check it under there. No pun intended. And, yeah. It's gonna be crazy, crazy week. We've got a live show next week on Check the Net.
Kylee Tabler:So excited.
Colin Pearson:Live on Twitch from the basement of Holden Hall, Sunday night, doing bracket reactions. Should be a crazy time. We're gonna make our bracket picks. Oh. It
Kylee Tabler:must be so fun.
Colin Pearson:I like picking up sets. Kylie likes picking for real. Sharyn gonna
Derrick Mitchell:do a little bit of both.
Colin Pearson:They're a
Derrick Mitchell:little bit
Colin Pearson:of both. Fun. It's gonna be a fun time. So yeah. I have my guys.
Derrick Mitchell:Screen going on right now.
Colin Pearson:I'm I'm I'm I'm so excited, man. Thank you guys for joining us on this week's episode of checking that on Impact 89 FM. Let us know what you guys think with by connecting with the station on Facebook, x or Instagram at wdvmand@impact89 FM. And it's March, guys. It's exciting.
Colin Pearson:The tournament is almost here, and we can't wait to talk about it more. Next week, live from the basement of Holt Hall
Derrick Mitchell:Yes. Yes.
Colin Pearson:On Jackson That. Thank you, guys, all for listening, and have a great week.