Latest / The Central Indiana Sports Report / Greg & His Friends Talk Sports ... with Grant Shouse, Mike Rich & Kevin Helfrich (2.203.1)
Transcript
- 0:03[SPEAKER_04]: You are listening to, Greg and his friends talk sports.
- 0:07[SPEAKER_04]: 10 to 20 minutes every day, Greg and his friends are talking about what Central Indiana Sports fans are talking about.
- 0:15[SPEAKER_04]: Every day on the Central Indiana Sports Report.
- 0:20[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome Indiana Sports fans to the Central Indiana Sports Report for my newish podcast Greg and his friends talk sports.
- 0:28[SPEAKER_00]: And every day, that's exactly what my friends and I do right here on Central Indian Esports Group up.
- 0:34[SPEAKER_00]: Coming up today, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
- 0:39[SPEAKER_00]: It's starting to look like there's going to be a WNBA season.
- 0:43[SPEAKER_00]: My friend Grant Shows finally made it to Dayton Arena for the first four after blowing out a tire on I-70.
- 0:49[SPEAKER_00]: I'll talk to him about the games and his experience.
- 0:52[SPEAKER_00]: The Pacers lost their franchise record 14th straight game, breaking a record from earlier this year.
- 0:58[SPEAKER_00]: And my critch doesn't seem to mind at all.
- 1:00[SPEAKER_00]: He'll join us to talk about the Indiana Pacers after some time away fulfilling his military obligation.
- 1:07[SPEAKER_00]: And my friend Kevin Helford joined me to preview the NAI men's and women's finals, which begin Thursday in Kansas City and Su City.
- 1:18[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for joining us, my friends, and I'll be back tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and the day after that.
- 1:28[SPEAKER_00]: Well, we start with some good news, the WNBA and WNBA players association have reportedly come to a labor agreement and it looks like there will be a 2020 season.
- 1:38[SPEAKER_00]: We'll talk more about it with our fever guys, John Roberts, and Michelle Garmin later this week, and we'll have a fever report to talk about it on Sunday.
- 1:47[SPEAKER_00]: The other good news is Caitlin Clark looked incredible in World Cup qualifying.
- 1:51[SPEAKER_00]: and 5 games, 58 points and 32 assists in San Juan Puerto Rico.
- 1:57[SPEAKER_00]: She says she's 100% and she looks 100%.
- 2:00[SPEAKER_00]: The NCAA Tournament got underway Tuesday night in Dayton, and in most of our minds, the rest of the sports world kind of stops, actually probably not tell Thursday.
- 2:12[SPEAKER_00]: We are going to have recaps on this show and as their own podcasts every night of the tournament.
- 2:19[SPEAKER_00]: It's close to midnight as possible tomorrow Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and next year when my circumstance has changed, that's the way it's going to be all the time first thing in the morning, but for the rest of this spring it will vary.
- 2:33[SPEAKER_00]: And my friend Grant's house was in Dayton for a couple of really good games although
- 2:37[SPEAKER_00]: You probably admit probably meaningless games on Tuesday night Howard 86 to 83 over you NBC and game one and Texas over in C state 68 66 in game two on Tramon marks shot with a second left or grant do you think Texas can beat what be why you or Howard beat Michigan That's funny about your Howard Michigan comment.
- 3:04[SPEAKER_01]: There's no way
- 3:06[SPEAKER_01]: I hope I'm wrong.
- 3:07[SPEAKER_01]: I hope they do beat Michigan for being by the power of Kamala.
- 3:12[SPEAKER_01]: By the way, I picked Michigan to win the National Championship, but I'd be all right if Howard beat them.
- 3:18[SPEAKER_01]: I love it.
- 3:19[SPEAKER_01]: I love a good at set.
- 3:21[SPEAKER_01]: I had first game is really good.
- 3:24[SPEAKER_01]: I got there in the middle of the first half.
- 3:27[SPEAKER_01]: I was such a whirlwind that I really, I didn't really start to really lock into the game until the midway through the second half of the game.
- 3:36[SPEAKER_01]: And forgettable day, we'll say that, right?
- 3:38[SPEAKER_01]: It wasn't unforgettable day.
- 3:40[SPEAKER_01]: Remember when Kurt Signetti's aura unlocked my car?
- 3:43[SPEAKER_01]: That's her emblem.
- 3:44[SPEAKER_01]: And Ryan, Ryan Days, or I just blew my tire right off my car on the way here.
- 3:51[SPEAKER_01]: Ruler, Ryan Day.
- 3:53[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, man, he's the worst.
- 3:54[SPEAKER_01]: So brutal.
- 3:56[SPEAKER_01]: But anyways, both games are really good.
- 3:58[SPEAKER_01]: DeSicco and me actually really enjoy as the 16 seeds playing.
- 4:04[SPEAKER_01]: every year in those games, you know, it gives them a shot to win a game.
- 4:10[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's, I think it's good for the turning.
- 4:12[SPEAKER_01]: I like how that's set up.
- 4:14[SPEAKER_00]: Actually, and then game two was a good one, Texas, NC State.
- 4:19[SPEAKER_00]: Late run by NC State, game winning shot.
- 4:22[SPEAKER_00]: Where's it ranking your all-time games at Dayton?
- 4:25[SPEAKER_01]: Probably number one for being honest.
- 4:28[SPEAKER_01]: definitely number one probably the game before well last year at Alabama State they won on a lot they won on a similar play or similar situation I should say where they want to a tip in with like one or two seconds left but this one was certainly number one.
- 4:44[SPEAKER_01]: Um, actually ran into Ryan Fay in the Sun Ties, the, uh, Ryan's the AD at O'Kill and I actually moved seats and sat with him for that Texas and see state game behind the basket and just familiar face that sat and talked with them and talked about different things during the game.
- 5:03[SPEAKER_01]: Texas led pretty much the whole game.
- 5:05[SPEAKER_01]: They got up.
- 5:06[SPEAKER_01]: It was one of those games where they were kind of up five and then they'd go up seven and then they kind of pushed that lead out an entity state Just hung around.
- 5:15[SPEAKER_01]: They just hung in it.
- 5:16[SPEAKER_01]: Texas called some big timeouts to try and save themselves out of trapping and and getting trapped in everything and
- 5:25[SPEAKER_01]: Then when it ended up happening, as they turned the ball over, of course Carolina's takeout fouled.
- 5:30[SPEAKER_01]: Two freezers would have given them the lead and said they got one for two and tie the game.
- 5:35[SPEAKER_01]: And then Texas comes down, runs a play and Tramod Marquette's the eventual game winner.
- 5:41[SPEAKER_01]: And Earth Carolina stated, one more chance in the Texas defense block to shop right at the Hornon.
- 5:47[SPEAKER_01]: Just a great game, two great games would start off the tournament.
- 5:51[SPEAKER_01]: Hopefully that sets the tone for the rest of the tournament.
- 5:54[SPEAKER_00]: Hope so last year was a bit of a bummer, I think this year is going to be better and you are not returning to Dayton on Wednesday night, but of course, America's team playing the second game that Miami Red Hawks against the SMU Mustangs.
- 6:08[SPEAKER_00]: Looking forward to that one.
- 6:10[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, there's no doubt about it.
- 6:11[SPEAKER_01]: I'm looking forward to that one.
- 6:13[SPEAKER_01]: I think it'll be a fun game.
- 6:15[SPEAKER_01]: Miami's fans are going to pack that place out.
- 6:17[SPEAKER_01]: The atmosphere is going to be amazing.
- 6:20[SPEAKER_01]: They're in Dayton on Wednesday night.
- 6:22[SPEAKER_01]: I'll be watching on TV.
- 6:24[SPEAKER_01]: You'll certainly be tuned in and I know we'll be doing semi state preview and all that.
- 6:28[SPEAKER_01]: really looking forward to that.
- 6:30[SPEAKER_01]: It's the greatest time of year.
- 6:32[SPEAKER_01]: It gets you ready for for the main course on Thursday and then literally another like, it's like on Thursday and the NCAA tournament.
- 6:41[SPEAKER_01]: You eat nice steak dinner.
- 6:43[SPEAKER_01]: Like, man, how's it?
- 6:44[SPEAKER_01]: Great meal.
- 6:44[SPEAKER_01]: And then at the deck today, you have lobster.
- 6:47[SPEAKER_01]: That's just how great it is.
- 6:48[SPEAKER_01]: That's how great those two days are.
- 6:50[SPEAKER_01]: So it's the best week of the year.
- 6:52[SPEAKER_01]: I'll die on that hill.
- 6:55[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's really hard to disagree with that.
- 6:58[SPEAKER_00]: Purdue doesn't play until Friday at 7.45 against 15 seed Queens University from Charlotte.
- 7:04[SPEAKER_00]: That game in St. Louis, Jake Dunne and Mike Rich reacted to Purdue's big 10 tournament championship and previewed the games in St. Louis and the West region on our weekly Purdue report.
- 7:16[SPEAKER_00]: That's coming out in just a few hours.
- 7:18[SPEAKER_00]: We'll talk about the actual tournament on tomorrow's show and the next three days and the next three weeks.
- 7:24[SPEAKER_00]: It'll barely much be most of the show.
- 7:27[SPEAKER_00]: Because of course, that's what Central Indian sports fans are interested in.
- 7:33[SPEAKER_00]: The Indiana Pacers lost 136 to 110 to the Nix in New York on Tuesday night for their franchise record 14th at Strait loss.
- 7:40[SPEAKER_00]: The Pacers, of course, have the worst record in the NBA at 15 and 54 and are now 3 games behind Zach Romano for the coveted bottom 3 to have the best odds possible in the May 10 draft lottery.
- 7:53[SPEAKER_00]: My friend Mike Rich is perfectly happy with it and so am I but it's still hard to watch the Pacers lose to the Nix.
- 8:00[SPEAKER_00]: Mike just wanted to check in with you since I haven't heard from you in a few days with your obligations, but I want to get a sense of where you are with the Pacers because got to tell you, we've seen just a few minutes every night of Zubatz and he fits in perfectly and kind of no matter what happens in a draft lottery, but especially if that goes well, we might be looking at a team next year.
- 8:25[SPEAKER_00]: There's the best Pacers team of all time like
- 8:29[SPEAKER_03]: I hope that's what happens.
- 8:31[SPEAKER_03]: I support Indiana teams.
- 8:33[SPEAKER_03]: I like Purdue, I like Notre Dame, I like the Pacers, I like the Colts, but I know what it's like to be disappointed too.
- 8:40[SPEAKER_03]: And even in the draft, I'm still pessimistic that the Pacers will end up in that top four, I guess.
- 8:46[SPEAKER_03]: I want them so bad to be in the top four and I hope they're in the top four.
- 8:50[SPEAKER_03]: And they haven't won any more games since the last time we talked, so they're going in the right direction right now.
- 8:59[SPEAKER_03]: a really good fit.
- 9:01[SPEAKER_03]: Just his, he's played four games and you get just see the leadership on the on the core, the direction he's trying to give.
- 9:10[SPEAKER_03]: I really think the rest of the team needs to evolve around his game a little bit.
- 9:14[SPEAKER_03]: I think the passes were,
- 9:16[SPEAKER_03]: his crisp as they needed to be to him.
- 9:18[SPEAKER_03]: He was in the right positions.
- 9:20[SPEAKER_03]: They weren't getting the ball in the right place for him sometimes.
- 9:23[SPEAKER_03]: But he went over and he was coaching him and he was, you know, educating me.
- 9:27[SPEAKER_03]: I really like his game.
- 9:30[SPEAKER_03]: That little left hand hooked shot that he has on the side.
- 9:33[SPEAKER_03]: I was like, yeah, that's sweet.
- 9:35[SPEAKER_03]: And he was like, man, last one.
- 9:38[SPEAKER_03]: It's fantastic.
- 9:39[SPEAKER_03]: The rebounding.
- 9:40[SPEAKER_03]: I'm averaging close to double, double.
- 9:42[SPEAKER_03]: I need to.
- 9:43[SPEAKER_03]: I just think it's exactly what we've missed.
- 9:47[SPEAKER_03]: I think if we would add Zuboats on last year's team, we would have won.
- 9:51[SPEAKER_00]: You're playing well with McConnell and, uh, yeah.
- 9:54[SPEAKER_00]: Imagine what he's gonna do with Tyres Oliver.
- 9:57[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I'm playing with Ciaca, man.
- 9:59[SPEAKER_03]: Good point.
- 10:00[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, just imagine if he's playing with Siocom, Haliburton, Neesmith, Nym Hard.
- 10:06[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, let's see other things.
- 10:07[SPEAKER_00]: It is the Obey Topping and TJ McConnell look really good right now.
- 10:13[SPEAKER_00]: They both look really sharp.
- 10:15[SPEAKER_00]: I'm excited to see what we get from them next year.
- 10:17[SPEAKER_00]: And there's no doubt now.
- 10:20[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think any doubt that Jaris Walker is at the very least a rotation piece.
- 10:27[SPEAKER_03]: Oh, absolutely, I definitely think it's been a good overall season for Jaris Walker.
- 10:35[SPEAKER_03]: We were really nervous in the beginning in the season, but the more minutes he's gotten, the better he's getting, he's taking advantage of it, he's taking advantage of the coaching and the minutes, just getting starting minutes.
- 10:51[SPEAKER_00]: I think Neesmith, Nim Hard, and Siakim are going to be a core of a pretty good defense, so I'm not that concerned about it, but I really like this future ramp.
- 11:00[SPEAKER_03]: I'm really excited about the future, and I'm sitting there just thinking, I'm looking at the top four picks and just kind of thinking.
- 11:07[SPEAKER_00]: What's the best starting lineup with any one of those top four picks and how do they fit with the Pacers and the more I watch it Mike the more I want Cameron Booser AJ debons it's got to be one of those two They just fit so perfectly.
- 11:22[SPEAKER_03]: I think the tournament's gonna tell you that tell us a lot about both of those players I think the bounces got a pretty difficult past to get far, but you know six weeks They made during the year, so yeah, yeah, yeah
- 11:34[SPEAKER_03]: But he gets out of the first weekend and that's going to be pretty good for him.
- 11:40[SPEAKER_00]: And as much as I like the future, it is not fun losing 13 games on a row, especially when you lose to the next.
- 11:47[SPEAKER_00]: It just sucks losing to the next.
- 11:48[SPEAKER_00]: It was hard to watch.
- 11:51[SPEAKER_00]: But Portland's a down tonight, can the Pacers finally in this losing streak?
- 11:56[SPEAKER_03]: It's a winning streak.
- 11:59[SPEAKER_03]: I don't even want it to be a question that we're in the bottom four.
- 12:02[SPEAKER_03]: I don't want it to be close.
- 12:04[SPEAKER_03]: I want it to be, I want every opportunity to get in that top four.
- 12:11[SPEAKER_03]: And it's 1.52, 53% chance to lay in there.
- 12:15[SPEAKER_00]: The patients are now three games behind the Sacramento Kings with 13 games left to play.
- 12:20[SPEAKER_00]: So pretty safe, but not completely safe.
- 12:24[SPEAKER_00]: not completely safe.
- 12:26[SPEAKER_00]: Don't, the only team we have to worry about is the King's cause you need to end up in the bottom three.
- 12:31[SPEAKER_00]: And I wouldn't mind seeing the Pacers go on a little winning streak late in the year.
- 12:38[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I like this streak we're on.
- 12:39[SPEAKER_03]: Let's keep it up.
- 12:43[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, honestly, the Pacers have a chance to draft the best player they've ever had.
- 12:48[SPEAKER_00]: That's a real possibility this year.
- 12:51[SPEAKER_00]: Just 12 games left in this dreadful season after tonight, against Portland, 6 games at home, 6 games on the road, the next 2 after tonight are in San Antonio, on Saturday and Orlando, on Monday.
- 13:05[SPEAKER_00]: Venezuela won its first World Baseball Classic in history with a 3-2 win over the United States, on Tuesday night in Miami.
- 13:13[SPEAKER_00]: The Reds Genos were as had the go ahead double in the night after Bryce Harper Homer to tie the game in the 8th.
- 13:20[SPEAKER_00]: In spring training, the Reds lost 8-6 to Cleveland on Tuesday evening and good year despite novelty Marta's third home run of the spring, and the Reds are now 12 and 12 in the Cactus League, and the Cubs won 8-6 to Tuesday, against the Angels weighed down in May Center now 10 and 13 in the spring.
- 13:38[SPEAKER_00]: The Giants are a top of the Cactus League at 16 and 7, half game ahead of the Dodgers, the Braves have the best record in the Great Fruit League.
- 13:47[SPEAKER_00]: and looking ahead to Wednesday along with the Pacer's and the NCAA tournament, a 15 and 17 Noble'sville boomer in Greensboro to play the 22 and 9 Swarm.
- 13:58[SPEAKER_00]: Noble'sville is out of the playoff picture.
- 14:01[SPEAKER_00]: And on Thursday, Indiana Wesleyan's man and women both play at the same time at two different sites in the NAI Sweet 16, my friend Kevin Hilfrick joins me for a preview of the National Tournament.
- 14:15[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Kevin Nun, a bit of a bummer that Indiana Wesleyan both teams playing at the same time in two different locations because we'd like to be able to watch both.
- 14:24[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's going to be tough for Indiana Wesleyan fans.
- 14:27[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to have to switch back and forth and catch the game.
- 14:30[SPEAKER_02]: So the good thing is they do start at different times.
- 14:32[SPEAKER_02]: So with the men, we'll be playing first and then they can watch the women after that.
- 14:38[SPEAKER_02]: I believe that's how the schedule goes in the Northwestern women tip off at four o'clock eastern time with a man.
- 14:44[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I guess they're half-feller part.
- 14:45[SPEAKER_00]: They tip off 30 minutes before the end of the man and then see the end of the women and really Kevin, if we're being honest, most of the focus is on the man.
- 14:55[SPEAKER_00]: Nothing against the women just probably not as likely to make a long run as the men and the men start against hoping in their national, what do you know about them?
- 15:04[SPEAKER_02]: It's been a national, well anytime you get to this round, Greg, every team is going to be good.
- 15:08[SPEAKER_02]: This is a team that's 25 and six.
- 15:10[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to play a little bit different style than any of the western ones I understand they're more physical team.
- 15:15[SPEAKER_02]: They're going to try to slow this basketball game down so it'll really come down to which team can play the type of game and style that they want to play.
- 15:22[SPEAKER_02]: We'll see any of the western averages over 85 points of game and hope international's got some players.
- 15:27[SPEAKER_02]: They've got led by a freshman, six foot five.
- 15:34[SPEAKER_02]: shoots the ball at over 64% so you know they've got three guys at average double figures in the in a Western and has three as well so really going to be a really good basketball game I think I don't think either teams are going to run away from from each other in this one.
- 15:48[SPEAKER_00]: And if they are able to win they're probably favored in the next game right.
- 15:53[SPEAKER_02]: You win this when I really like any in a Western's chances to advance to the final four and get back there someplace that had been
- 16:03[SPEAKER_02]: You never know when it gets to this type of year.
- 16:05[SPEAKER_02]: You had a Faulkner team as one-two teams and 12 seed doesn't really mean much at this point of season.
- 16:12[SPEAKER_02]: And then you know, as one-nineteen at the last 22, the only three losses as we talked about before is to grace.
- 16:17[SPEAKER_02]: And they wouldn't see them until the championship game and how special that would be to see them and then beat them in that fourth meeting of the season.
- 16:25[SPEAKER_02]: That would be awesome.
- 16:27[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and for the Wildcaster when they're going to have to get good play from their player the year came Camdemon Bontranger, he's been big all post-season, he's averaging over 27 points of game and nearly 9 rebounds, so he was player the year for a reason, and they're going to have to have big performances for him out there in Kansas City, because you're going to have to win four games in six days, and that's not going to be an easy task for any team.
- 16:47[SPEAKER_02]: That's what will bring home the red banner for one of these teams out there.
- 16:51[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think Indiana Wesley might be built for this.
- 16:54[SPEAKER_02]: I really think they are too, because you look at the depth that they have, they're going to play nine guys and they make it one of their starters back from early in the season in bright car.
- 17:02[SPEAKER_02]: He's only played four games.
- 17:03[SPEAKER_02]: He got hurt early on, but I'm hearing he may see some action, and I'm sure he won't get a lot of minutes, but any minutes he can give them would be an added benefit.
- 17:12[SPEAKER_00]: That's really good news.
- 17:14[SPEAKER_00]: When we go over to the women, they play at 4 o'clock on Thursday, and they are in Su City, Iowa, and they play Dakota State, tell us about that matchup given.
- 17:24[SPEAKER_02]: Well, these two teams have met twice before in the postseason, and in both times, while cats have come up on the short end of the stick, they lost 71 to 70 back on March 15th in 2023, and Iowa was the number one seed in that game, and they were knocked off, and then they also sold in the following year on March 21st.
- 17:42[SPEAKER_02]: twenty twenty four and they lost seventy six seventy five as well and and again in the last year was a number one seed I guess the good thing about this is in the in a lesson is not the number one seed and South Dakota State is the higher seed in this winter to third seed so maybe in the last year can play a role of virtual this time around I know Kevin you already predicted in the out of this by now but any chance to women make a run
- 18:06[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I'm going to go against odds and say they're going to win this basketball game.
- 18:10[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, maybe I have to jinx them.
- 18:11[SPEAKER_02]: I may actually keep picking against them.
- 18:13[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, but it's going to be tough.
- 18:14[SPEAKER_02]: Let's just face it there.
- 18:16[SPEAKER_02]: They're trying to the code of state team that is.
- 18:18[SPEAKER_02]: no doubt the favorite in this one.
- 18:19[SPEAKER_02]: And then it's a Wildcats worst on how able to win it then going to get in the easier because number one freed hardmen probably awaits.
- 18:26[SPEAKER_02]: They take on number five George Town in the other game in that bracket.
- 18:29[SPEAKER_00]: So things are going to be probably the favorite right.
- 18:32[SPEAKER_02]: There's a number two see the roll, but they're definitely would be a favorite to get to the final four and and maybe even that championship game.
- 18:39[SPEAKER_02]: So in West Indian women have their work cut out form again this week, but
- 18:44[SPEAKER_02]: They've been here before, they've done it, so they'll go out and they'll give it to our best effort.
- 18:49[SPEAKER_02]: They'll see where the chips may fall.
- 18:51[SPEAKER_02]: And Marianne's on the same side of the bracket, same Francis on the other, right?
- 18:56[SPEAKER_02]: Yes, and those are two very good teams as well, and I think Marianne out of all these teams.
- 19:01[SPEAKER_02]: may have the best chance to carry that banner for the Crossroads League Conference.
- 19:05[SPEAKER_02]: Spring Harbor is also in this tournament.
- 19:07[SPEAKER_02]: Also the 14 out of the Crossroads League, there are six feet and I'm not sure how far they can make it this weekend either.
- 19:15[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much Kevin.
- 19:16[SPEAKER_00]: Kevin is going to join us this week for our semi-state preview with Michelle Garmin, talking some Oak Hill Golden Eagles lapel bulldogs and mostly the Muncie semi-state.
- 19:27[SPEAKER_00]: But we'll talk about all of them.
- 19:28[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much Kevin.
- 19:33[SPEAKER_00]: By the way, those games are free to watch on the NAIA network.com, again, NAIA network.com, and on the urban edge network app, and we will have results for you here on Greg and his Friends Talk Sports.
- 19:48[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening, we'll be back tomorrow.
- 20:14[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for watching!
- 20:49[SPEAKER_00]: The Central Indian Esports Report is a product of ITG media, and I love Susie.