Pick'em Pros

Full March Madness Bracket Predictions + Duke Injury Crisis & NBA Title Debate

• Pick'em Pros • Season 4 • Episode 147

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Huge episode of Who Ya Got as Derrick Thompson and Diego Thompson break down the biggest storylines across college basketball and the NBA.

With March Madness tipping off, we’re making our full NCAA Tournament bracket predictions and debating which teams are real contenders, which are pretenders, and who the dangerous sleepers might be.

Segment Breakdown

🏀 NCAA Men's Bracket Picks
We go region-by-region through the entire tournament and make our picks for who advances, who gets upset, and who reaches the Final Four.

🔵 Duke Injury Concerns
After winning the ACC Tournament, can Duke Blue Devils men's basketball survive March Madness with only a 7-player rotation? Do they still have enough depth to make a championship run?

🏀 NCAA Women's Bracket Picks
We break down the entire Women’s Tournament and give our predictions for which teams will reach the Final Four and who could win it all.

🔥 South Carolina Women Under Pressure
Can South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball beat the elite teams this year after tough losses to UConn Huskies women's basketball and Texas Longhorns women's basketball?

☘️ Boston Celtics Championship Chances
Does Jayson Tatum give the Boston Celtics enough firepower to win another NBA title?

⚡ OKC Thunder Strategy
Are the Oklahoma City Thunder playing chess while the rest of the league plays checkers? Now that their full roster is back, they look like one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA.

If the tournaments started today…

Who Ya Got?

Chapters:
2:30 - Welcome to March Madness
5:45 - East Region Predictions (Men)
8:00 - South Region Predictions (Men)
10:45 - West Region Predictions (Men)
15:10 - Midwest Region Predictions (Men)
19:00 - Can Duke Win w/ 7 Players?
24:00 - Men's Final 4 & Championship Picks
26:10 - Fort Worth 1 Predictions (Women)
27:30 - Sacramento 4 Predictions (Women)
28:30 - Sacramento 2 Predictions (Women)
30:15 - Fort Worth 3 Predictions (Women)
32:15 - Can SC Women Beat Elite Teams?
35:30 - Women's Final 4 & Championship Picks
38:40 - Boston Celtics & Jayson Tatum's Finals Chances
50:00 - OKC Thunder Playing Chess NOT Checkers

#MarchMadness #NCAATournament #BracketPredictions #CollegeBasketball #DukeBasketball #WomensBasketball #NBAPlayoffs #Celtics #OKCThunder #SportsDebate #PickemPros #WhoYaGot

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Cold Open And March Madness Setup

SPEAKER_05

I would love to take your phone and offer you $100 if you could name one player on Michigan.

SPEAKER_07

I'll take it. I'd make that deal.

SPEAKER_06

You didn't know anybody with Michigan a few weeks ago. But you've done all of it.

SPEAKER_08

Maybe I don't know anyone now. Maybe I don't.

SPEAKER_05

And this is Derek Thompson from Pick'em Pros. You can catch us on all podcast platforms, including YouTube and now 104.5 WCCG in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00

We're gonna up to go touchdown. This is not real gold.

SPEAKER_05

All right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back. You know who it is. I am Derek Thompson.

SPEAKER_09

And I'm Diego Thompson.

SPEAKER_05

I'm Christopher Davis, Austin SCP. Yes, and who are we? The Pick'em Pros with the Pickin' Pros coming at you live here from our studio Relevant Media Solutions with our main man Joe Carey, North Carolina, coming at you across YouTube and also now 104.5 WCCG in Fayetteville, North Carolina. What's going on, y'all? That's good, man. No, that sounds very low. Come on, what's good, man?

SPEAKER_09

Jam doing great, man. How are you? All right, I'm great. It's March Madness, man. Good day. March Madness.

SPEAKER_03

March Madness is starting. You know, a lot of teams from the Carolinas are in. Yes. Let's turn up. Let's see what's going on. Let's go.

SPEAKER_05

Well, let me let me go into what we're going to talk about today first, and then we'll go into it. So, of course, March Madness, you know that's what it is. So we're going to get into that. We're going to give you our predictions for the men's bracket. So we're going to dive into that. Okay. We're going to talk about Duke. They're shorthanded, playing with seven people. Can they go all the way and win the title? We will see. We'll talk about that. All right. We're going to cover the uh women's bracket, give you our picks there, tell you who's going to win, debate about that. We're going to uh also spotlight the South Carolina women. So they they've taken some L's, some big L's against some of the elite teams. We're going to see can they ride the ship? Can they make a run? They're number one seed. Then we're going to switch to the NBA. We're going to talk about the Boston Celtics, Jason Tatum. He's coming back, came back early from the Achilles injury, is looking great, actually. So we're going to talk about that. Is that enough to put them over the edge? And then we will close with the OKC Thunder, the team that I said would win the championship last year. And uh they did that. And it looks like they might be playing chess, not checkers.

SPEAKER_09

I was not, I think I said Thunder will win too. So I mean I we both said that. We both. You're trying to dive into that. Okay.

SPEAKER_05

We said that. The question is C Payne.

SPEAKER_03

Who would you have? Oh, I had the team that took him to seven. And if there wasn't an Achilles injury, there might have it might have been a different story. But you know what? We don't hate it. We don't hate it. Hey, Shayers. Hey, Pacers, my goodness. Took them again, seven games. Uh Halliburton got injured. But again, again, there's still listeners. I'm not going to discredit Shay or a great team. Okay, an Achilles injury beaters. You know what? Yeah, we're not going to get all the way into that.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, come on. Fine. I did pick the Pacers. Put some dirt on it.

SPEAKER_03

Fine. I'm putting the dirt on it. I picked the Pacers. You know, and we see what they look like without out Halliburton this year. So that's all I'm going to say.

SPEAKER_09

Oh, they're tanking.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, for sure. For sure.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, they're banter. Definitely. Taking advantage of it. See, they're being smart, actually. Doing what a lot of teams should do. When star player gets hurt, you can still have a good season, but you know, they're just going all out. All out. They're not going to be contenders.

SPEAKER_05

All out. They're they're they're doing the San Antonio Spurs. Just tank, just go all the way and get your generational points. It worked out for them. It did. It did work out for them. All right. All right. Well, let's get into it.

East Region Duke Leads Debate

SPEAKER_05

Let's start with the NCAA brackets. Thank you everybody for checking us out. Keep those comments flowing, and we will uh try to uh comment and reply to as many as possible. But let's get into it. So the men, let's start with the east bracket. We got Duke in that number one seed in the East. Diego, let's start with you, man. What's gonna happen in the East?

SPEAKER_09

Uh yeah, in the East, Duke's winning the East. Um, I don't think that should be a debate. I've seen people say that uh the East is a gauntlet. Oh, the East is very tough. I'm like, I don't really see it. I mean, you got Kansas with uh Darren Peterson that plays about a good 15 minutes a game and calls it quits. You got UConn, they got the experience, they got the coaching, but they don't have the rosters like like previous, like their championship seasons. Um yeah, they St. John's is pretty good, but I think they're becoming a bit overrated. And um, yeah, yeah, just nobody I think that really scares Duke, even with the injuries, I'd say.

SPEAKER_05

Okay, okay, all right. We'll see. And we we see you, Brandon, and and Mr. Shannon with a lot of the comments. So keep those, keep those coming. We appreciate that. Thanks for checking us out. All right, so yeah, um, but before I go, C Pain, what what's your take on the East? Is it like Diego says, is it a sure thing with Duke being shorthanded?

SPEAKER_03

All right, it's March Madness, so it isn't a sure thing, but I will say Duke has the best chance, I think, with all the times that they have, even despite the injuries, I still trust it. Now, St. John's, yeah, Rick Fatino does scare me a little bit, just a little bit. But I'm still taking the Blue Devils. I'm still taking them.

SPEAKER_05

Okay, still, still taking them. Yeah, yeah, I'm with you guys. Yeah, St. John's. Now that that is a scare for sure. Rick Patino is uh great coach, has them, you know, looking good. So that that's a scare. I why why are you making the face together? I'm I'm not worried about St. John's. You're not worried about St. John's? Okay, all right, all right. You need to be a little bit about St. John's, but all right, you you're you're young, you're young. But uh, but I'm I'm a side with you guys. I am going to go with Duke out of the east to come out of the east as well. Um, I did circle, uh yeah, yeah, I think St. John's. St. John's is about the only one here. I mean, Yukon is, you know, can be for formidable there, but it's just Duke's depth. Duke's depth is the the key, and uh, we'll see what what uh happens there. But I got Duke as well. All right, okay.

South Region Why Houston Advances

SPEAKER_05

Well, let's move on to the south. Uh the south, a little more, a little more balance here. You got Florida as the number one seed. Uh, Diego, take us through the uh south and tell us what you see coming there.

SPEAKER_09

Yes, well, in the south, I actually got Houston coming out of the south. Um, I know their defense isn't as good as as it has been in the past, but still, they still do have the culture of the great coaching and the defense there. And they have more offensive talent, which could, you know, which raises their potential higher than in previous years. So I do have them. Uh Florida's a solid team, but I mean that that when it that loss against Vanderbilt um in the SEC tournament has me worried. But they do have a lot of pieces that could cause them to go far. So yeah, overall, I just got um I got Houston. You got Houston. H-Town. H Town stands up.

SPEAKER_05

H Town and I did see the comment uh that Brandon said Michigan State actually is Michigan State and yeah, Michigan Brandon's got Michigan State coming out of the east. So just wanted to mention that. So before we pass over that. Okay, all right. But you got H-Town coming out of the uh South. C Pain, who do you have coming out of the South? Or just tell us about the South.

SPEAKER_03

I would just say, honestly, Houston for me, SBA, and honestly, I'm running because Derek's riding with them. Smart. So honestly, but actually, nah, if this ends up being a reverse jinx like how you've done me with all the Lamar Jackson stuff, I feel like hey, I can get some sweet revenge on it. So, yeah, that's why I'm picking Houston. Because last time you reverse jinxed me two times, man. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_05

You're gonna try to double, the, the double reverse pump value. Nah, that doesn't work. That doesn't work back. Nah, nah, nah. But uh yeah, y'all know you already know. I've been riding with Houston for years. Uh, so I'm definitely have have Houston coming out of here. Now, the only thing is that their defense isn't as strong. The defense isn't the same Houston defense that we've seen in the past. I feel that, you know, if you take last year's Houston team, they would easily come out this year. But, you know, they have a little more offense, but that some of that offense had to sacrifice. Those of the defense had to sacrifice for the offense. But I think they're they're balanced enough to where they will most certainly come out of the South, no doubt. Um, you know, Florida, yeah. I'm not really worried about anybody here in this Bracken.

SPEAKER_09

Vanderbilt could be interesting. I mean, they did go to the SEC championship. Yeah, they got that one dude, number three.

SPEAKER_05

That was I I love what Vanderbilt is doing overall between their football program, basketball program. Uh love what Nashville is doing. Nashville is booming, but no, they they don't have anything for my age down Houston Cougars. No, no chance. None at all. Oh wow. All right. So a lot of conflict. A lot of confidence, a lot of confidence. All right. Well, let's move on to the next one.

West Region Arizona Or Arkansas Upset

SPEAKER_05

The next region we have is the West, all right, which has the number one overall seed out of all of uh the NCAA for the men, Arizona. Really? So yes, believe they are the number one overall seed, Arizona. Uh it is not Duke, although that that's your squad. And we are repping Duke with 104.5 WCCG. If we've not mentioned that before, shout out to them. Official carry of Duke, which we are now. But with that said, Diego, can anybody beat Arizona in the West?

SPEAKER_09

Uh yes, definitely. I have Arkansas coming out of the East. I mean the West, actually. Okay. Um, yeah, Arizona, they're a good team. They got uh some really good players, but I just think what I've seen from Arkansas recently, especially in the SEC championship with you know, Darius A. Cuff, he's a baller. I'm forgetting that Wendy's name, but that 6'10, that like 6'10, 6'11 forward jumping out of the gym. Like he's he's the X actor. He's nice. And I mean, there's yeah, some good teams here. BYU with AJ DeBonza averaging 25 a game and less leading the whole nation. And uh, yeah, they got some Robert Wright on their on their team. Wisconsin's pretty dangerous, but um, yeah, I got our I got Arkansas at everybody. Okay. Oh, oh, so you have Arkansas coming out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I got them beating Arizona in the season.

SPEAKER_05

Okay. All right, okay. Man, man, okay. Let us know in the comments who uh you guys have coming out of the West. Uh okay, so Brandon saying Arizona win the West over Purdue. Okay. All right, okay, we got that. All right. Hey, yeah, so Mr. Shannon, you have to let us know who you have coming out of there as well. No, you've been commenting here. Okay. Uh C Pain. Who's coming out of the West?

SPEAKER_03

I'm rolling with ACOF because of everything that he's proven. I'm scared. Listen, listen. I'm rolling. I do think that BYU, though, they're scary. And again, Arizona. Like, again, I think this is the more balanced out of the entire bracket. So I'm just wondering what the upsets will be. That's where I'm wondering what's going to be the what's going to be the more surprising moment that we'll see because some teams just gonna get hot and go on a run. So that's where I think that this whole thing could get busted really quickly. So I'm hoping that it is Arkansas because of Darius Acuff star powered how much we've seen him grow throughout the season. But yeah, we'll see.

SPEAKER_05

Oh man, okay. Wow. Uh man, that that's a lot. So yeah, I would say, man, that's and then Mr. Shannon has Arkansas coming out as well. So uh yeah, really surprised, really surprised to see all y'all have it, man. It is crazy because so I'm pulling for Arkansas. I love to see them win it because I just love the way they hoop and love uh Kalapari. Wish he came to NC State back in the day. So that that sore subject. But man, I can't, I I can't go against Arizona here. Uh I'm gonna have to go Arizona. I'm gonna have to play it safe in this bracket here. It's March Madness. I'll play safe in March Madness. I'll give Wild later. I'm playing it safe for this particular bracket.

SPEAKER_09

See, you're you're gonna play it, you're gonna risk it all for NFL NBA, but for March Madness, where anything is the most random thing. You're just playing it safe. This is the one thing not to play it safe.

SPEAKER_05

Ah, summer, buddy. Yes, yes, yeah. Yeah, I I have to I have to play it safe with this one. Uh the the way Arizona looked, like I said, the way that they looked against Houston, that that showed me everything that I need to see. I don't think Arkansas quite has enough to uh to to beat them. So yeah, see, Brent Brandon's with me. Brandon has Arizona in the uh in the final four as well. No, they are Houston, he Houston's definitely all that. But nah, I don't see um I don't see Arkansas beating Arizona. That's a tough one. I would love to see it though. I love that that team would love to see that, but I'm gonna have to play it safe for my bracket on Arizona. So I'm going smart money. I'm going smart money. Smart money on that one.

SPEAKER_03

I've seen some of the most egregious hot takes with this when you're playing it safe. Playing it safe on this one. Playing the safe on this one.

Midwest Sleepers And Michigan Doubts

SPEAKER_05

All right. Well, let's go to the last bracket here. The Midwest, all right, for the men. Uh Michigan's the number one seed. We got some other seeds in here. Iowa State's been looking good, especially at home. Virginia are some of the main ones that stand out here. Uh, shout out to Howard. They're in this one as well. But uh, Diego, why don't you start us off, man? Midwest. What's gonna happen?

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, um, we obviously Michigan's a great team. They got uh some talent there, some good guard play, some good size. But uh, I'm gonna go Iowa State, actually. I like what I've seen from the whole season. Okay. Um interesting. I mean, they've beaten Houston earlier this year. That was a really good game. Um, and I just think they can match the size of Michigan and they can, and they got the shooting that Michigan doesn't. So yeah, Texas Tech is dangerous in here. Yeah, okay. You have some good teams. Alabama's pretty dangerous, but overall I'm gonna go Iowa State.

SPEAKER_05

Okay. Wow. Wow, Iowa State. Ooh, I have not, I have not heard that one. Not heard that one.

SPEAKER_09

Anything possible.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, I mean, Iowa State, they're talented, but I think they they are great at home. They have an amazing home court advantage. These are neutral courts, so I don't think they're gonna quite play like they did um, you know, like they did in the regular season, because a lot of those games are at home where they, you know, look good and had some upsets, but okay. But I like the I like the risk there. Our safe better is Michigan. I'm just oh now you're playing it safe. I have to play it safe because Michigan.

SPEAKER_03

I just gotta say, why aren't they playing it by old school, bro? I've heard about how it has to be. Yeah, that's a tough draw, man. Michigan. Yeah. How do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_05

Uh what what's coming to mind is I would love to take your phone and offer you $100 if you can name one player on Michigan.

SPEAKER_07

I'll take it. I'll I'll make that deal. I'll make that deal. You want to make that deal?

SPEAKER_06

You you I'll make the deal. You didn't know anybody with Michigan about a few weeks ago. But you've done some whole thing.

SPEAKER_08

Maybe I don't know anyone now. Maybe I don't. I mean, I I can't think.

SPEAKER_09

I mean, maybe now that I think about it, man. I don't think I know no one.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, man. They are the most no-name top seed team about that I've ever seen in my life. I think you you could poll people on the street, and I don't think you find many people that can name one person on the Michigan roster.

SPEAKER_09

I mean, I think he's saying the same with Arizona. I mean, except for like Bryce James.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, Bright, yeah, probably Bryce would be the one. Yeah, yeah. Interesting. Interesting. Okay, so okay, Midwest. I have, okay, so Michigan's number one seed. Yeah, grew up loving Michigan, Fab Five, and all that. But I was very impressed with what I saw by Virginia. Their size, they've got a shot blocker. I like Virginia. I've got Virginia as a sleeper coming out and making the final four and rounding it out. So see, not playing it safe.

SPEAKER_09

I think I'm getting first rounded. Wow, what? By Wright State, yeah. You are you are crazy. I mean, I had it's right here.

SPEAKER_05

You are man, please. Yeah, you're you're bragging this.

SPEAKER_03

You are what you've seen something from right state that just I mean, boom. Or you're just like picking one upset, you're just picking one upset, and that's just your upset.

SPEAKER_05

They they almost beat your Duke Blue Devils.

SPEAKER_09

Uh yeah, but we were short-handed. And we and we played them earlier this season, so like they had the experience of losing to us. So, like, you know what I'm saying? Rematches are harder to win against. So, like, and the first time we played them, we won by 30. So, I mean, you know what I mean? It was the only reason it was that close was because it was a rematch game.

SPEAKER_05

All right, well, we'll see. We'll we'll see if you're on to something.

SPEAKER_09

And that just shows the Duke's gap from all these, like, that's this is a three seed right here. Really?

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_09

Beating him.

SPEAKER_05

We will we will definitely see. We will definitely

Duke’s Seven-Man Rotation Pressure

SPEAKER_05

see. Well, we're gonna transition on to uh Duke. We're gonna talk about Duke more specifically here. Uh again, want to mention uh 104.5 WCCG in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They are um official radio station of Duke uh for football, basketball. So now we and our Who You Got show, which is what this is, we will have a Duke segment for every single show. So this show airs weekly. We will have a Duke segment. So today we are talking about a they've been playing seven in the tournament. That is very, very slim. Um, and so they've gotten away with it. They were able to win the ACC tournament, but Diego, man, we what can they can they do as far as going uh going all the way?

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, seven's pretty slim, but I mean it's college basketball, sort of shorter games. So I mean, I feel like it's doable for a little bit, but I mean, I don't think it's doable for um the entire tournament. Uh because but I but I'm I mean the center should be back um by by when they need them. I say probably sweet 16, maybe even next round if if they feel like they need him. But um obviously Caleb Foster is out for the year, but um I I do I think that um that with with the seven for at least the first two rounds, they'll be okay. So yeah, I'm I'm confident they'll be okay for the first two rounds.

SPEAKER_05

First two rounds, okay. All right, but we're not talking first two rounds, because after this, we're gonna we're gonna say who's gonna win the whole thing.

SPEAKER_09

Oh, well, he said they're winning the East. I mean, I think the center is probably coming back like sweet 16. I think they'll be they'll hop right in there, then there'll be eight-man rotation, and and that that's about perfect. So okay.

SPEAKER_05

So so Duke is poised to go all the way. You think they can go all the way? Yeah, yeah, definitely. Okay. Definitely. All right. What about you? You got anything on this one?

SPEAKER_03

I just I'm nervous. You're nervous. Because again, it's March Man, it's and with the seven-minute rotation. You could like something, some fluke injury, something could really go left with one of your star players and you don't know. So that's where my big concern is. But I do think that I don't have I hope that they can, but it's I don't know, the wear and tear plus the high intensity, that's my concern. Yeah. So I do think that if it's a team that could do it, it is Duke, but that's a lot large odds tacked against him.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah. So with with Duke, they have they have the talent, and I feel that they even have enough to go all the way. What I'm concerned about with Duke is uh the hero ball. What I saw in the ACC championship game, seeing Boozer, Cameron Boozer, shooting threes, right? I don't think that's the formula to ultimately women winning. They were able to get away with that against Virginia, but I don't think that's gonna fly when you get to the final four and get deeper, right? To me, their X factor is Nicholas Jaminia. They have to utilize him, number 14. He's knocked down shooter. Um, he is really, really coming on strong, and I feel that they need to drive and kick and get him more involved. If they can get him more involved, then I feel like they're a more a more dangerous team, a more balanced team. But if it's gonna be just two people, Isaiah Evans and Cameron Boozer shooting threes, they can lock that down. That's not gonna fly ultimately. But again, if they can get Nicholas involved, then I think they they have a chance to go all the way. So I think he's actually the X factor to do success this year.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, so that's a pretty good take. That'll be just a pretty good take, huh? Pretty good take. He he he is a he is a very good shooter, and I think that that'll help. Because I mean, obviously Isaiah Evans can he can be hot, he can he can get colds. And if Isaiah Evans has a cold day and we got Nick to make some threes, that that can help out.

SPEAKER_05

Right, right. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, I I think I really, really feel he's the key after, you know, studying them, watching them. And I like the dog in him. I like how he reacts when he makes a play. And I I like it. I like everything about about what he brings to the table. So he's next year. Yeah, all the time. Yeah, he's gonna be nice. Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah. And they already have some some uh big people coming in.

SPEAKER_11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05

So shout out to to Brianna, pick and pros correspondent. She is in uh Arizona and just interviewed uh the guy that's a McDonald's All-American that's coming in, coming in this year. So, yeah, yeah. So we're really hyped about that. So, see, man, we we got dupe cover. From all angles. We got them covered from North Carolina. Got people out in Arizona where the uh newcomers are coming in. So we got Duke cover from all angles. All right. All right. Well, let's move on to the NCAA. Um, actually, you know, you know what? One more thing. You can keep it on the Duke slide. Before we do that, let's actually give, we didn't give our championship

Final Four Picks And Title Winner

SPEAKER_05

pick. All right. So, Diego, you have, we know for your final four, mention your final four and who you got winning it. Let's let's do that real quick because I want to make sure we have that for the record.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, so I got Duke out the east, Houston out the south, Arkansas out the west, and Iowa State out the Midwest. And um, between Duke and Houston, I got Duke. And between Arkansas and Iowa State, I got Arkansas. So that's Duke and Arkansas in the final.

SPEAKER_05

Duke and Arkansas in the final. All right. Yeah, and I'm gonna go with Duke to win it all. And Duke winning it all. I would love to see that final, but yeah, I don't I don't see that. But okay. We'll see. Duke, Arkansas. All right, and I think you have the same, right?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, and I have Duke winning. I have Duke winning.

SPEAKER_05

Man, if both of y'all have Duke winning. Okay, okay. We're affiliated with Duke, and I'm gonna be the only one not picking Duke. We have to be balanced. We have to be balanced. All right, all right. We have to be balanced here. So, you know, that's where where I come in. So, yes, you know, pulling for Duke, love Duke, but at the same time, I have to be objective on what I see here, give a balanced take. So I see Duke and Houston playing in one Final Four. I've got Arizona and Virginia in the other. So I have Arizona and Houston for Big 12, Big 12 rematch. Wow, and Houston will get them this time. I think Houston's gonna be able to win this championship. Yes. There's no way. Yeah, yeah. Nah. They have they have enough defense.

SPEAKER_09

Maybe, maybe last year, but nah. It's it's more of an even matchup. And you see, Duke's been slapping the floor now. Like ever since that UNC game, we've been slapping the floor. Slapping the floor. We got Dame Sarr uh picking up a big defensive role.

SPEAKER_05

They may want to save some of that energy slapping the floor. It builds up the energy, especially if they only have seven. They may not want to be slapping the floor.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, we'll be all around.

SPEAKER_05

All right, all right, cool, cool. And Summer, thanks for keeping the slides going. So I know we fell behind, but thanks for keeping the scurred. Okay.

Women’s Bracket Picks By Region

SPEAKER_05

All right, so let's move on to the women's bracket here and let's dive into these. So we've got Fort Worth one, Sacramento Four, Sacramento II, and Fort Worth three. But we're gonna start with Fort Worth one. I don't really understand the names and the numbers and the correlation. I'm sure that means something. I'm not sure. Brandon, I'm sure you can educate us on the naming of how they went with this. So you may have to school us on that, my man. But let's go Fort Worth one here. Okay. Diego. I think that one has UConn in it. Yukon undefeated. I mean, the story of this whole thing is gonna be can anybody beat Yukon? Uh, I think Mr. Shannon already said UConn's gonna take it. But uh, hey, tell us, uh, give us your take on this for Fort Worth one.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna go UConn. I mean, there's nobody really, I feel stop, I see stopping them in this bracket. I mean, they're they're undefeated and see them just keep it, keeping it going. At least they are in their bracket. Ridiculous. Ridiculous. Okay.

SPEAKER_03

So some of us are on Yukon, right? It's like Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I don't think as much.

SPEAKER_05

I mean, you got Vanderbilt in this um bracket as a number two, which I think would be the only competition, but still not enough from what I see. So yeah, we can we can just go on and we can go on and move on to Sacramento Four, I believe. We'll just go ahead and give UConn that one. Give them that respect. So uh let's see, Sacramento Four. We have uh South Carolina led by Don Staley as the number one seed. Um, got a couple other dangerous teams in here, but uh Diego, tell us about Sacramento Four.

SPEAKER_09

Uh yeah, I'm gonna go with South Carolina uh overall. Um I know USC would be interesting, but I know they um Juju isn't there. Yeah, they're right. Yeah, so they're not I see, but yeah, yeah, I'm gonna go with uh I'm gonna go with South Carolina. I'm gonna go with South Carolina.

SPEAKER_03

I'm gonna go with South Carolina as well, but that USC game is very uh scary. Okay, it's scary. That's why I'm like, yeah, I can't fully go there. But um uh yeah, okay. What's going on?

SPEAKER_09

No, TCU is solid. That that's who I have highlighted.

SPEAKER_05

I I have them in the Elite Eight. Yeah. That's that's who I have highlighted. I think that's the only competition. Yeah, uh, still don't think they have enough, but yeah, I'm going South Carolina to get to the final four for sure. Okay. All right. Then we have Sacramento two here. Um, UCLA, number one seed, 31-1. I believe their only loss was to Texas, if I'm not mistaken. I think that's that's who they lost to. Uh, got Duke here, got LSU. So this is uh pretty tough bracket. Got some got some dogs here. Um so Diego, tell us about this one. Sacramento two.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, this might be the toughest bracket, but I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go with LSU to go to win this bracket, actually. I mean, okay, USC, USC's got some talent. They've they've been a really good team all year, but um Duke's been Duke's been solid this year also. Um, but yeah, I'm gonna go LSU to beat Duke and UCLA to go to the Final Four.

SPEAKER_03

Okay, all right. Return of Glory. Nice. I'm going UCLA.

SPEAKER_05

UCLA, yeah. Thanks, Brad. Yeah, yeah. Summer, what did uh what was up there on the screen just a second ago? Women's Final Four. Oh, okay. Brandon's put his there. So he's got he's got UCLA coming out of here. Okay, all right, cool, cool. All right, Mr. Shannon, you have to show us yours as well on who you have coming out of here. I know y'all are engaged in the chat. Appreciate that. Appreciate the love. Okay, um, yeah, man. I mean, I've got to go. And we got Duke number three. They'll be dangerous. They always play really well, tournament time, but UCLA, man, they've got, yeah, I I don't see anybody beating them um until Final Four at best. So I probably have them going to the championship round. Um, but yeah, I UCLA definitely going far here. I think they're on a they're they're on a mission. I oh man, me, I think that that's the only team that might give UConn a run, you know, would really be UCLA. But yeah, I've got UCLA going there. All right. So let's move on to Fort Worth three. That is the other bracket. We've got Texas. Texas has been the giant killers uh this year. They've had some big wins. So they've had three losses overall, but some very, very big wins. So beat South Carolina twice, I believe, blew South Carolina out in the SEC championship game, was the one team to beat UCLA. So they they've had some big wins on their schedule this year. So definitely deserving of the number one. Got NC State in there as the number seven. They always have good guard play um and are kind of rebuilding a little bit. But uh tell us about the Fort Worth 3 uh region, Diego.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, Texas all day. I mean, they they show they can beat all a lot of top teams, but like you said, South Carolina. Um yeah, yeah. I just think there's no competition in this bracket for they they easily go to the final four. Easily go. All right.

SPEAKER_05

What about you, C Pine?

SPEAKER_03

Oh, with Texas as well. Texas, okay. I think that this it's just going to be all the ones. That's where I'm at with it because I do feel like the gap with Texas. Now again, I am interested to see Texas and South Carolina in the final four because is Don gonna conquer her again. So we're gonna talk about that, but um that's what I'm excited for for real.

SPEAKER_05

Oh, yeah, yeah. That's uh that's gonna be a good one. We'll yeah, I have Texas coming out of here as well. So I think we all think we all have, so we all have UConn, we all have South Carolina, we all have Texas, yeah, and then you and I have UCLA, C Pain, Diego has LSU coming out of Sacramento too. So we'll come back to this and give our final takes on this bracket. But um uh let's see, y'all. Brandon said UConn's unbeatable. Yeah, they're looking like that. But let's talk about South Carolina here for a

South Carolina Versus UConn Questions

SPEAKER_05

minute. So let's go to to uh to that slide and go there and um hit South Carolina. So with South Carolina, they have um you know dominated over the last several years. They had the great mix of height, guard play, and whatnot. But last year, they took a very big loss to um Yukon in that championship game. It was was not even close. And then this year, they take some pretty big defeats. I mean, Texas blew them out. Um and uh I think they had a they had another pretty pretty bad one. Um, so you know, they it I'm getting concerned about them against like the you know, the top two, three teams in the nation. Diego, what what's your take on South Carolina, man? And we know their number one seed and can get to the final four, but what's your take on them beyond beyond that?

SPEAKER_09

Um, yeah, uh, I just think they're gonna need to Don Saley's gonna have to be at her A game. And uh they're just gonna man they got the experience of the coaching. So I mean, they just they just need to really lean into that and um just kind of play play fundamentally the best. I think that's the way they go far. Yeah. Just lean into the coaching and experience that they have.

SPEAKER_05

Okay, okay. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think they definitely have to do that. I mean, my only my only hope is that she's playing chess. You know what I mean, which she's more than capable of. Don Staley's more than capable. You know, that's my favorite coach just in anything. And so they may have a plan. I know two years ago they had an excellent game plan um when they when they went against UConn. They have a great scout team. There's some things that maybe they didn't want to show. You know, I I'm definitely, you know, giving her every benefit of the doubt, and they're going in. So thing is, so in the semifinal bracket, they would play UConn. That's I mean, that's gonna be tough. Now it's in the whole final four is in Phoenix. So uh not really any geographical advantage to either team there. Um, if we look at the other bracket, we have UCLA, Diego. You have LSU, UCLA would have a little bit of um advantage there being there, and then Texas, we all have Texas coming out of there. So let's let's go to UCLA, Texas. So do we all have who do we have uh between UCLA and Texas? I got LSU. You have LSU, who do you have coming out of there between them and Texas?

SPEAKER_09

I have LSU being Texas.

SPEAKER_05

You have LSU, you have LSU going to the championship. Yep, yeah. Okay. Dang, what about you? I'm taking Texas. Oh, you're taking Texas? Man, okay. So you have LSU in the finals, you have Texas, I'm going UCLA.

SPEAKER_10

Okay.

SPEAKER_05

So we all have a different save in that bracket, all right? So the question then is man, oh my gosh. UConn and South Carolina. Man, what do we what are we thinking there? You go, Diego.

SPEAKER_09

Hey, I got I got South Carolina. You got South Carolina. Yeah, okay. I think they'll pull through.

SPEAKER_05

Don Dawn is playing, she's playing chess.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think they got a game plan for that.

SPEAKER_03

No, yesterday I picked UConn. Dawn. But Dawn, bro, like this has to be. I feel like she has there has to be a team that falls, and that's where I'm like, yeah.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, I just I just don't know if they're as stacked as they've been in previous years. Like, even last year's team that had like better, like they had more good players than I think that dude now. I just think they've been they've been on a roll all year, but I just yeah, I just think they they can be beat if you put it in the right approach.

SPEAKER_05

Uh yeah, you you guys are trying trying to do that.

SPEAKER_03

I'm just trying to explain you too we're trying to do that.

SPEAKER_05

And I'm the ultimate doll Staley. She doesn't even need an apologist. But uh for lack of a better term, I say that, but man, I don't know. UConn is gonna be gonna be tough. It's gonna be tough. I mean, right now, if I'm filling out, so it's Wednesday right now. We're a lot. If I'm filling out my bracket right now, I've got UConn in there. So we'll see. Maybe maybe I might change it right before the submission deadline. I might flip back, but as of right this second, okay, I'd have to put UConn in there, man. I'd have to put UConn in there. And probably to win it all. Like I said, the only team I see possibly beating them is UCLA. That's the only team I see equipped to possibly beat them. Yeah. So who do you have winning it all?

SPEAKER_09

Oh, yeah. South Carolina LSU. I'm going to South Carolina. Oh, South Carolina? Okay.

SPEAKER_03

And he I would have I see winning it all. I know I switched, but I'm I'm rolling with Don. I think now it's a revenge season. Damn, both of y'all. I'm with it.

SPEAKER_05

I'm with it. Hey, I I'd love to see it. I love to see it. Come on, Daw. Come on, Dawn. Don't hold it against me. Don't hold it against me. And I might change it. I might change it. So I this is not official. This is unofficial for me for this particular pick. All my other picks are in pen. This one is in pencil right now, until the the deadline. And then I might I might switch.

SPEAKER_09

You're so confident. If you're you're a big you're big on Don Staley, I think you should trust trust her to win it all. You know what I mean? We we we trust her goodness your job. You're the one that's supposed to be the South Carolina guy. That's true.

SPEAKER_05

See, she can only do so much. Right now, that's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_09

She can only do you're repping them. You're not even picking them.

SPEAKER_05

That's true. Yeah, I do have the the burgundy. Also, I wasn't thinking about South Carolina with this. But yeah, man, I don't. I mean, I just don't know. It's just with the size. I don't know if they have the size. They they they're a better shooting team now, so they've improved there because that was their weakness. They didn't, I don't feel like they evolved with shooting the three-ball the way they needed to. I feel like they shoot it well enough, but they still they just haven't had the same inside presence since they lost the center that they had, the six-seven center that went to Chicago. Yeah, yeah. They just haven't had that same presence since then. And so I feel that they need to regain that. Now, Dawn, she's gonna continue to recruit. I feel in a year or two they'll be back there dominating it, but I don't know. I I think they they need another piece, is what I would say right now. So, all right, all right. Well, we'll see. Well, yes, get your get your brackets in, participate, keep those comments coming. And uh, yeah, we're gonna we're gonna enjoy this. All right, where we're gonna stay with basketball, okay, but we're switching to the NBA.

Celtics Outlook With Tatum Back

SPEAKER_05

All right, so we're gonna switch on over to the Boston Celtics. We're gonna finish with the Celtics and then OKC before we get on out of here today. But um, with the Boston Celtics, Jason Tatum has come back, is looking looking better than I think any of us expected. Um, you know, wasn't running completely, you know, smooth the first game or two, but was still effective um after that, really that first half of the first game. Um, I don't know if he made a made a shot, but once he had that dunk, he got stuffed at the rim with the first dunk. It wasn't dunk in like 10 months.

SPEAKER_03

It was listen, it ain't it wasn't gonna be easy for him. I think that like he had to get his sea legs, it was the crowd, it was the moment.

SPEAKER_05

Absolutely, yeah. But he I think he took off too far. But after that, you know, that that uh dunk that he made, he's been he's been uh looking good since then. So big props to him to come back as soon as he has in less than a year, like 10 months, to come all the way back and putting up the numbers he's doing. Man, that's that's just incredible uh for the doctors and also for his hard work. But um, so man, what what does this mean, Diego?

SPEAKER_09

Uh yeah, Celtics, this means they definitely can win it all. I mean, this duo, we've seen it, we've seen them do it before. We've seen them get to the finals uh multiple times. And um Jalen Brown, I think the other thing that helps them, he's playing at his best MVP level. And um, yeah, you add Tatum to that, playing, playing like typical Tatum right now. And I mean, I think they can really do it. And they got the reloaded crew kind of of supportive pieces like Peyton Pritchard, like they're younger, yeah, all around.

SPEAKER_05

I like them all.

SPEAKER_09

I think they made the perfect moves around them to do and they got rid of Holiday and Forzing's when they need to. Yeah, I think they that they definitely can win it all. They definitely have had what takes.

SPEAKER_05

Interesting. Okay, I have a follow-up, but let me get get your take, Chris, first.

SPEAKER_03

I think because Jason Tatum is slowly ramping up and he's still looking this good. I also would say that now it's looking like Tatum, it's really like he's cooking in the third, and then they're like, JV, you've been our guy all season, turn up in the fourth quarter. That's what I like to see. I that's where I want to see how they play, where it was off on the floor, one's off the floor during the playoffs. So really, really, because I do think there's gonna be like a feel-out series with that first team, and then really once it gets serious. If it's like a Knicks or a Pistons, then we're really gonna see what the Celtics are gonna do. But that that first round, they're at least, I really think it's at least the conference finals, and they're definitely they're definitely going to the finals at this point because I don't trust the Knicks. I do not trust first off the Pistons, it all being on Cade. That's what scares me. Yeah, and them not necessarily having the shooting depth. I know you want Malik Biz Beasley if you don't keep doing his thing.

SPEAKER_09

If they bring him back, they can they can do it.

SPEAKER_03

They can do it, but then the Knicks, it's like, yes, Jalen Brunson's gonna show up in the playoffs. Yes, OG Ananobi's gonna show up, but what about Mikhail Bridges and what about Carl Anthony Towns? That's gonna be my concern with them. And I think that Kat, uh I I've I'm sorry, I've I've given up on him consistently performing well in the playoffs. Not giving up, but it's like he's always gonna have the stupid fouls in the beginning that's gonna basically get him out of the game. And if you already have a team that's experienced as the Celtics, who do feel like they were Jason Tatum, you know, tearing his Achilles away from beating them the previous year, that's where I think that they're gonna be out for revenge. So that's why I have the Celtics go into the finals.

SPEAKER_05

Man, okay, so you have them going to the finals. So, but now with this, I kind of go back to Tatum. How much because again, they were in the number two spot without Tatum. So how how much is it the the other roster moves they've made and just the the free-flowing offense? I mean, to me, the offense looks a lot different this year than it has in the past. It seems much more free-flowing. Um they just look like a they look like a different team right now. And I'm just wondering how much of their success is due to the evolution of Missoula. You know, he's continuing to push the right buttons. Um, Pritchard, you know, how how much is it Pritchard? Yeah and what he's done.

SPEAKER_09

And he's been great. They got Navolo, Nikola Bucevic, too, at the center. They give him back up move.

SPEAKER_03

That that Van Garz is.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, I don't think people have been talking a lot about uh uh talking about enough about the mini rebuild they've kind of done since they won the championship. Like that's that's very impressive.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, that's been that and and it's uh cheaper, yeah. I mean, they're not paying as much. So yeah, I I think that was brilliant. I mean, great GM moves there. So I mean, I think that that's been fantastic. But I don't know. I think everybody's jumping the gun to say Boston's definitely going to the finals, definitely going to the finals. I think every team has a kryptonite. And I feel that theirs, because again, it's all about matchups, theirs is the New York Knicks, right? So yeah, there are plenty of teams that can take the Knicks out because they're teams that the Knicks don't match up well against. But Knicks, Boston in the playoffs, all right, with the crowd, with everything on the line. We know how the Knicks have made Boston look. They beat Boston last year with a healthy Tatum.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, they did, but it it's not this year, it just seems different.

SPEAKER_03

Like last year, it's because I feel like Jalen Brown's unlocked a new level of confidence. That's where I'm at.

SPEAKER_09

And I just I'm just not high on the Knicks anymore. Like, I just haven't I know they're they still have a pretty high seed, but like they just had moments where I'm just like like I'm just like no.

SPEAKER_05

I can just see game one again, everyone's hype on Boston. I can see game one, them losing, and Missoula making the Missoula face, and everybody walking off the court with their lips tight, looking sad. Ah, I don't know, man. I don't know. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03

Well, to be fair, New York has improved their bench, but like, am I okay? But this is Mike Brown, his first like big, you know, playoff moment outside of like the stuff with the Kings. So that's my thing. Like Tibbs, it's the whole like run him into the ground thing, you know, and that's what kind of got the Nick that gave the Knicks some troubles with that. So am I trusting that the rotations are gonna be good? Am I trusting, am I trusting Kat? That's essentially my thing. Because Jalen Brunson, I know he's gonna get 40. I know that he got 35 or 40. That's fine. But the Celtics still have Jalen Brown who's playing like an MVP candidate. They still have Derek White and they have Peyton Pritchard. And again, I understand that their benches are very good, but I I haven't seen the Knicks bench players produce really well like that. Yeah, and that's my concern. You know, that's really my thing because it is it's not just like you said, it's not just Tatum, it is the growth of Pritchard, it is all the signings. Yeah, that's what's making me lean more towards them because even with the Knicks stars, it's like the Knicks stars are also inconsistent, and then you hope their bench isn't inconsistent. That's my thing.

SPEAKER_05

Okay. All right. So you both have the Celtics go into the finals.

SPEAKER_03

No. Winning is that's a tall that's a tall order with them teams in the West. I can't even lie.

SPEAKER_05

Have have them going to the finals. Yeah, I just I don't know. I I I can't see them going to the finals, actually. I really can't. Really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_09

Who do you see going to the final? You see the Knicks or Pessin's. It depends.

SPEAKER_05

It depends on the matchups. I have to see the brackets. Okay. I have to see how this matches up. You know, are they gonna run up against the Knicks? You know, who are the Knicks gonna run up against?

SPEAKER_09

I have to see how all that, how all this plays lay out like the four best teams in the East is Celtics, Knicks, Cavs, and Pistons. Those four.

SPEAKER_03

So we're trusting Donovan Mitchell and James Harden passed the first round. The Knicks.

SPEAKER_09

I was high on them, but now they've been kind of they've been kind of so-so. I don't, I don't trust.

SPEAKER_05

I don't trust Cleveland. The Pistons, I feel that some of their struggles are a little overblown. I think they're they're waiting for the playoffs. They're like, okay, we're ready for the playoffs, we're ready to get down, right? They're resting. Um the other team, the Knicks. I think the Knicks can can get there. It just depends on their path. You know, I feel that they match up well against Boston. If one of the other teams can be taken out for them, I think there is a path for them to possibly get there. Um I I'd say either the Knicks or the Pistons, they get the right path. I think the odds are better for one of those two teams to get there than the Celtics, actually. I really do.

SPEAKER_09

And the Knicks, Brunson's gonna have to drop 40, and everyone else's gonna be doing nothing. Brunson's gonna have to carry a load. And the Pistons, they're a gritty team, but I just don't think I just don't think they're there yet. They need one more year of experience, maybe one more piece. They're just not ready, man.

SPEAKER_05

I'm probably going with one of the right now. Um, Brandon says Orlando should be in the mix. And yeah, I can see that. I can say Orlando, I've been saying Orlando is this year's Pacers to me. Orlando's this year's Pacers. That that's the wild card, especially if there's some injuries. You know, Cleveland has an injury, one of the other teams, that that's the team that could kind of slither and kind of sneak their way through if certain things happen. I think that could be this year's this year's pacers. What about you, Diego? Do you see who do you see being possibly this year's this year's pacers?

SPEAKER_09

Um, I mean, yeah, probably the the magic is what comes top mind. Yeah, they got Pancaro, Fagner, they got some good size, right? Um, yeah, yeah, I can see it.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, that's that's the only thing. And they're they're playing well. Uh, and so Brandon said the Pistons are this year's Pacers. Yeah, I did see that earlier.

SPEAKER_09

So I think they're too high.

SPEAKER_05

And uh that's the only thing. Yeah, I feel that they could have the same result as the Pacers, so I like that, Brandon. So I think the Pistons could could have the same result, but do they sneak up on people like the Pacers? No. So that that's the only thing.

SPEAKER_09

So I think it could be the result. They're gonna give Pacer vibes. Yeah, no, they're they're too greedy. They're too greedy, too. Yeah, I'm sorry. This is where I defended.

SPEAKER_07

What are you gonna be starting?

SPEAKER_05

Well, we got one more, one more before we get out of here.

Pure Green Shoutout Then OKC Thunder

SPEAKER_05

We're gonna talk about the OKC Thunder. But before we do that, again, big shout out to our sponsor, Pure Green. Much love to them. Pure Green in Clayton, North Carolina, uh rocks with us. So you definitely want to check out their pure protein bowl, is one of my favorites. Get that all the time, multiple times a week. They've got energy boot shots, um, smoothies, everything. You want to check them out. So Pure Green, the Instagram uh hashtag is here. Uh the Instagram um URL is on our banner right here. So you definitely want to check them out. All right. Okay, well, let's move on to the final topic here today, the OKC Thunder. All right. So again, um, I think people were they started off great, was it 24 and 1 to start the season off? Started off unbelievable, unbelievably hot this year. Then, you know, took a dive. San Antonio beat them multiple times. People had questions. Oh, you know, are they gritty enough? Can they make it? All of that. Now they're hitting the home stretch of the season. SGA's been back now. Now people can stop saying the crazy stuff that they've been saying about Cade being MVP and Jalen Brown being MVP and all these other people being MVP. No, there's only one person that's capable of being MVP, and that's SGA. Stop hating on this man, stop underrating this man, shooting the percentage that he's shooting from the field, putting up numbers that hadn't been done since Michael Jordan put some respect on SGA's name.

SPEAKER_09

So I just want to say some since Wilt.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, no, like breaking the record in 2026 is absolutely remote.

SPEAKER_09

My thing is bam out of bio shot 43 free throws for 83 points. Can you imagine what they'd be saying if this was Shay? Oh, man. They'd be trying to throw him out the lead.

SPEAKER_06

Yeah, yes, definitely, definitely would be for sure. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

I think okay, see the one thing I will say about to playing chess point, it is them getting Jared McCain as that backup guard and him playing being able to play and shoot and develop. Shout out to Duke. Shout out to McCain. Shout out to Duke. Shout out to Duke. And also Jalen Williams, you know. Uh oh. What is happening? Oh man, hold on.

SPEAKER_05

Switching, just switching the floor. Oh, he he's just switching it.

SPEAKER_03

This is this is last year's hat. I don't know if this is an official pick. I don't, I don't know, but I will say another thing is with all the injuries, it has allowed other players to really develop and try and Jalen Williams. You know, everybody just like jokes about him with the memes and stuff. He's actually turned to a great three-point shooter. So shout out to him. I think that again, they are a very deep team. I think that with everybody's like trying to crown the Spurs too early, the Lakers are having a recent run, which I think is listen, I was Lakers fan, I think it's fools go gold, y'all. Let's hope DeAndre Aiden does something, but not them down that. But I will say is that because the Spurs did beat them earlier, I think that maybe it is a time where they reflect and they're like, okay, this is how we have to attack Wemby. And again, this is Wemby's first playoff series. Shea, this team in OKC has already been like punched in the mouth by two teams that have been to the finals, and they went to the finals, right? Because again, they the first the year before they won the championship, they lost to the Mavs, and Kyrie with Kyrie and Luca just were having a great series. But now that they've won a championship with Shay as a lead dog, you now have Jerry McCain as a great backup. You do still have all these talented players. Jalen Williams is gonna be healthy. I don't see anybody beating this very young and talented team. So it's really like it really does depend if Wemby has to be the legend that we all think he is in the come playoff time. I don't know if we we're gonna see that. I don't know because this is his first playoff series. I don't know how teams are gonna defend him differently. I don't know how they're gonna if Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper if lights are gonna get too bright for them because they're young as well. So that's why I would say I am I am kind of leaning back from my spurs pick because now I'm thinking about it, it's like, look, yeah, this team is experienced, and they added a really good young, young, young player that can help at least alleviate this load. So yeah, that's what I'm saying for it.

SPEAKER_05

They they've been playing with y'all, been playing with y'all. Yes, yes. So yeah, and I see Brandon uh giving shout-outs to SGA. So we uh appreciate that. Yeah. All right.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, okay. See, they yeah, they've been definitely been hiding something under their sleeves, and it it really scares me because I mean I was watching them play the Timberwolves, and they got Caruso back, who I haven't seen like all year on. And they just looked absolutely crazy. And it was that that their ferocious defense was back, SJA was doing his thing, McCain was was shooting threes, and that just that just took me back to last year, how they were dominating all throughout the playoffs. Yeah, I I definitely think that Thunder are still here and that they're the they're the top dogs right now, and they're and they're and they're resting their guys for the postseason. I think it's good. I mean they can came off to a good start. Um, you know, people and then they rested their guys to get to just should show that they could um win a bunch of games and then you know, rest and then now they're doing doing it again. So yeah.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, what what they've done is not not many teams have have done this in in history. So over the last five years, the team that won the championship, everybody said, Oh my goodness, this could be a dynasty. They're definitely winning next year, right? When when Boston won a couple years ago, it was like, oh man, they're definitely, you know, this team is poised to win for a long time. When Denver won, oh man, man, Joker, best player, you know, ever. They're gonna continue to to to to win to win titles, you know.

SPEAKER_03

I was like, that was uh that was a that was said that it was somehow said it's a good thing. Some of them said that.

SPEAKER_05

All right.

SPEAKER_02

But for real, like I don't even talk about broad, I'm talking about the ball dude in Chicago. That's what I was like, uh we're gonna have the mic, but okay.

SPEAKER_05

But yeah, so so people, you know, they kind of jumped the gun. But what OKC did was they won the championship the first year that they had the talent that were good enough to do it. See, most teams don't win the championship that first year they're talented enough, right? Boston lost, they would get knocked out by the Miami Heat. They lost to the Golden State Warriors when they really had enough talent to get that series. So they lost multiple opportunities. Denver, when Jokers winning MVPs, weren't, you know, getting to the finals and winning championships. So OKC, their window is gonna be a lot longer because they actually won the title. What I say is that first year where they were good enough to win it. And then they're getting better, better, and better. Where these other teams, they once they started to arrive, the the last team to do it in the NBA was the Golden State Warriors. When the Golden State Warriors won in what? 15. That was the first year, the very first year. Like they surprised, like people didn't think they were ready yet. So that's the thing. Like when OKC even won this last year, it was like, ah, they probably need another year or two. Maybe they need to get KD. I don't think they can quite get over the hump. They did it, and here they are still getting better. Golden State, they won that won in 15, but they still hadn't peaked yet. So that was house money. Then they came back the next year, won the 73 games. So they were like getting better and better. So I think that's why those other teams weren't able to repeat and faltered because they had already squandered opportunities. Whereas here's OKC, they won in a year to where they still uh had time to get better. So I think that's the difference. They're definitely playing chess, and I think they definitely repeat this year. Don't see, don't see anybody beat.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, so this is your championship pick. So even with the championship hat, this is your official yeah, is this your official championship pick? You're sticking with it?

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, you're not switching on? Oh, yeah. Yeah, no, no, no, I'm not. I'm not switching on it. Like I said, I I flirted a little bit with Minnesota.

SPEAKER_02

Okay.

SPEAKER_05

You know, I looked at you now. I know you love ants. I mentioned before, as you know, ants my guy. You know, they do anything. I'm gonna be on Minnesota. I I peeked, I looked, but I said nah.

SPEAKER_09

Okay.

SPEAKER_05

I had I had restraint. Not falling for the bait, but I'm not not falling for the bait. I am not falling. Not again. I'm not falling for the banana in the tailpipe. Okay, Beverly Hills cop, but y'all too young. Make sure you watch it.

SPEAKER_03

Man, listen, this is the classic. It's the classic. Listen.

SPEAKER_05

Not falling for the banana in the tailpipe. Okay. Okay, we'll do it. Minnesota needs to make some moves before they can do that. Yeah. Before they can get there.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, Minnesota definitely need another piece.

SPEAKER_05

All right, right. Well, that is our

Wrap-Up And Next Live Show

SPEAKER_05

time. That's everything here. Thank you for checking us out. Uh, man, C Pang, thanks for rocking with us this week, man. We appreciate it. We will be back live Saturday, March 28th. I believe we're gonna go live about 8 p.m. We'll we'll make the official time soon. Uh, Michael Sims, the Detroit Pistons apologist, will be our guest on that show. So that'll be exciting and fireworks, and you will not want to miss that. So it'll be fun. Again, shout out to Pier Green, shout out to everybody in the comments. Thanks for checking us out. Thanks for rocking with us. And again, shout out to 104.5 WCCG in Fayetteville, North Carolina. You can catch us there and on all podcast platforms and YouTube. All right. Well, we'll see y'all next time. Enjoy March Madness, enjoy family, enjoy each other. Until then, pick them pros. We are out later. Thank you.

unknown

I'm next up.

SPEAKER_04

I'm next up. I got neighbor. I'm next up. I'm next up. I'm next up. I got neck. I'm next up. I'm next up. I got neck. I'm next up.

SPEAKER_01

I'm next up. I got new everything. The water standing the battery from picking the pros. I've just leaves they got to believe in the text that they make but they got it all picked up and you told it. Someone's coming up with somebody they go with flow when it's over to the makeup to report and they win it with it. Somebody reminded me to control the time, you put the few minds, I got it, let's go, let's go, I got it, let's go, let's go, I got it, let's go, I don't let up, I got