Latest / The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon / WBC Final as USA falls, Bracket thoughts, Eliot Clough talks Hawkeyes & Mike Palm from Circa Sports

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WBC Final as USA falls, Bracket thoughts, Eliot Clough talks Hawkeyes & Mike Palm from Circa Sports · The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon

0:00
All right. Good afternoon.
0:00
Welcome, Miller and Condon on a Wednesday, the Iowa Sports Radio
0:05
Network for the next 6 hours. Thanks for starting it off with
0:09
us. Trent Condon, Ken Miller, we
0:10
will talk sports with you. Miller and Condon.
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Noon until 2 off the bench coming up after that and then in
0:16
abbreviated overtime. Iowa.
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Here's what's coming up on our program over the next couple of
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hours. Our final show this week is all
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of the local show. I shouldn't say that two of the
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three local shows will take Thursday and Friday off.
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Heather's got to work. The first quarter will be on the
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air at 6:00 AM. And I think a number of us are
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going to join Heather throughout the next couple of days.
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I'm looking forward to that. But we go on here until 2:00 and
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here's who's going to join us. David Eichelt will be first up
0:47
from hawkeyeinsider.com, part of 24/7 Sports.
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David Eichel 12/25 Take a look at the Hawks match up.
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The women by the way, good to see you.
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As always you see what I with women are favoured by in their
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first round game. It's a big #3131 1/2, yeah, with
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a fairly Dickinson team that has won a ton of games.
1:08
I. Will, I can be careful, careful.
1:11
Iowa State favored by 6 1/2, I think, over Syracuse.
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But David Eichold will join us to talk men and women with
1:18
Eichold coming up here at 12:25. Then off to Las Vegas since we
1:22
are off on Friday. Mike Palm will join us today at
1:24
12:45. Mike taped our television show
1:29
with us earlier today. He's very high in Iowa State, so
1:31
we'll talk to him about that and some tournament, tournament
1:34
Nuggets with Mike Palm coming up at 12:45.
1:37
David Kaplan is here. We look forward to that
1:40
conversation each and every week.
1:42
We'll do some hoops with Cappy, do some baseball with Cappy
1:45
Palencia. Wonder if his opinion on the
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Cubs closer has changed after we've seen the last couple of
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nights for Venezuela as they won the World Baseball Classic.
1:54
And then after Cappy, Oh, Eugene Rappay is going to be here at
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13130 for Eugene Rappay, followed by chicken coop
2:02
giveaway. We'll give four of you an
2:03
opportunity to win some grub from the chicken coop.
2:05
But Eugene Rappay, fingers crossed, coming up at at 1:30.
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And we're we're switching things around.
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So David Eichel's going to join Sean and Lucas this afternoon.
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OK, so we have. We're going to get Elliot
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Clough, who just landed in Florida.
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He is he's. In Tampa already, Yes, he left
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today. Yes.
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That's an early flight. Getting there early tomorrow.
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I know there's media availability, so getting there.
2:29
No, I mean not early to get to the event early in the morning.
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He must have left. Yeah, good connections.
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Then he get a little. Bit of time.
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A little bit of luck too. Absolutely flying this this time
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of year making connections. Allegiance direct, though.
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Oh, he flew Allegiant. Well, I don't know if he did,
2:45
but. He might as well, right?
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What's the name of the city you fly into?
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It's not Tappi. That's the name of the airport
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code. Is it π?
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It's Π yes, I do remember that. I should know this.
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I've flown in. It's a really.
2:58
Nice Saint Pete. No.
3:00
Sanford and that's that's Orlando.
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That is Orlando, yeah, that maybe that's.
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Pie. That's what I'm thinking of.
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We're over the tips. Of we we are here but Elliott
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Clef is in Florida and we'll talk to him and pick his brain
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on what he expects to see coming up here as the Hawks will take
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the floor coming up on Friday. Everybody's in action on Friday.
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All three of the Iowa based teams play Friday pretty good.
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Well, it's going to be bananas. Temperatures going to be in the
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80s, but I I would assume people book off work, right or play
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hooky or take a long lunch or whatever the case may be half
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day, half a day. I think that the hospitality
3:36
industry is going in the state of Iowa in particular here in
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Des Moines going to come out as big, big winners.
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Punta Gorda, Punta Gorda, Punta Gorda for that flight for an
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Allegiant. Thank you, Jeff Holdor.
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Well, he knows that. One, yeah, he knows a lot of
3:50
stuff. He's like he he's kind of our
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fact checker. Yeah, the baseball, Benny.
3:54
Thank God for them. Yes, as we get a lot of stuff
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wrong, as we normally do. By the way, Speaking of getting
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stuff wrong, right, how did you do last night?
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4:00 and 2:00. That's a good night.
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That's a good night. Absolutely.
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Tacked on the beginning of your week, you're five and two
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overall. This week, over the last seven
4:07
days, 31 and 14. Did you hit your baseball Prop
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I? Did had a boy right at the
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number. It was 4 1/2.
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We went under four straight. Guys, Yeah.
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So we got a victory on that one as we can.
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We need to stack up some wins. The NIT was very fruitful.
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The NCAA Tournament? Not so much.
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Punta Gorda Jay Scott just tweeted a text tweeted rather.
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Another one of our fact checkers.
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Yeah, we got a lot of them. We need a lot of them.
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Yes, we keep them busy here. Noon to two on Miller and
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Connor. So your thoughts last night in
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the tournament, then we'll get to the world baseball class
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because I do want to spend some time on that.
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I thought it was fascinating, whippers texted in Bunta Gorder.
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Just your your thoughts on the first two games of the
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tournament. They're both really good games.
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They're teachers, yes. It was.
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Maybe not the best basketball. Right.
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I was surprised on the skill of Howard.
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Yeah. That their had you seen them
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play this year? I had You really did.
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I did. I saw them.
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I don't think it was in their championship game.
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No, it was the championship game.
5:08
It was against North Carolina Central.
5:09
So yeah, I watched a little bit of that.
5:11
Boy, it's been wall to wall basketball and and just these
5:13
teams kind of all coming together.
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I know for a lot of people it's making fun of the first war.
5:19
It doesn't fit. I'm with you.
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And to see them, yes, it's not a real tournament win.
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It's not beating Michigan. This isn't UMBC although.
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Coaches do get their bonus for winning a playoff for winning a
5:31
tournament game. But most importantly, and I
5:34
think the one thing that gets right is even when we talk about
5:38
the Missouri Valley and the financial strain is we think of
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these teams from the SWAC, from the MIAC, and you think of what
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these guys go through November, December or they're just on
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their own constantly just trying to.
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Collect your buy game after buy game.
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Collecting checks out there, just trying to make the budget.
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And each one of these victories, even in these 16 versus 16
6:00
matchups, they get a full win share for their conference with
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a win that is huge. And the importance of that, I
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think it's something that I'm known for for a long time and I
6:11
think it's talk about getting it right.
6:13
That is getting it right. One thing I do ponder a little
6:17
bit because we do know the importance of just that win
6:19
share, what it means for all the conferences.
6:23
I know television ratings wouldn't be great, but if it
6:26
just would make more sense to have sixteens all across the
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board for. Financial stake, yes and for
6:33
helping out the cause, yes, but that's a great question, Trent
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or? When we get expansion and it's
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oh. My think it's inevitable.
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Absolutely. It's not going away is.
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It no, I mean, you hear from Baker, the head of the NCAA,
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it's going to happen. It's a financial, it's a money
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grab. Whatever it is, personally, you
6:52
go up to 72 or even 76. If it happens at 76, we get 8
6:56
more teams. I mean four more games.
6:59
I think the best course of action is to have all the
7:01
sixteens. That'd be 1.
7:03
The largest still play also, so you at least have some some
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teams of people. Though some marquee.
7:08
Brands you do have to have that, but the sixteens across the
7:11
board and then the financial windfall that's going to come
7:14
along with it. And Can you imagine we have
7:17
games starting instead of 530 start at 3/30, 4:00, but then
7:22
culminating with a Vegas game? Yeah, I.
7:24
Think it'd be great? Yes.
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And you have Xavier against Texas, you know, games like that
7:32
to finish off the night at 9:00 central tip time, something like
7:35
that, I think Absolutely. Vegas would love it.
7:37
Sports book operators on your phone, your app.
7:39
And you don't have to put in T-Mobile.
7:42
No, no, no, no, put it in the Orleans or do it anywhere.
7:44
I mean, you put in the Orleans, you're going to get a good
7:46
crowd. It's going to look absolutely
7:48
packed in there. And Dayton's gym is 10,000.
7:50
But it looks good because it does show up and people support
7:54
that. And I think in Las Vegas it
7:55
would support that. So now it'd just be a couple of
7:58
games and maybe just a single game each night.
8:00
But regardless, it's going to happen.
8:02
Let's think it through though, and make it both financially
8:05
viable for the teams and the importance.
8:07
I get it for UMBC now. They don't get their shot.
8:10
But you know what, they got to walk on the blue carpet and, and
8:13
the NCAA, say what you will about them and, and a lot of us
8:16
were justified. They they do go out of the way
8:19
to make this a feel like you know what you NBC, you're,
8:23
you're not in, but you're, we want to make you feel like you
8:25
know you, you were part of it this year and you're showing up
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on brackets. So I I do like this.
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So let me let me get to this, which was maybe as big of a take
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away. And yes, I agree.
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The games were good, both nail biters right to the end.
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I hate to bring it up because I I just, it's Dick vital.
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Oh yeah, it's, it's vital. You don't like pushing old guys?
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No, I don't, and I want them to stay in and they be in.
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They decide when they want to leave.
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Right, Because Dick Vital has been so good.
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Say what you want, Dookie Vital. I mean, we've heard it all about
8:57
it. A lot of it.
8:58
You sure it's somewhat justified, I'll give you that.
9:01
But this guy just bleeds college basketball, right?
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He loves the sport. He loves everything that goes
9:08
along with the sport, the Volvano, the Jimmy V, the
9:11
fundraising that he has done over the years.
9:15
It's been astronomical the amount of money that he has
9:18
raised. But he's getting old and he's
9:21
fought his own fight for the longest time.
9:23
He's been in a real battle with cancer, a real battle with
9:27
cancer. And you see him last night with
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Brian Anderson, who was a pros pro and Vital and Barkley.
9:34
And I don't think the latter 2 worked well together.
9:37
There was too much. There's a game going on, right?
9:40
And and I could understand if you were, if you were an NC
9:43
State fan or a Texas fan, you're probably going to your message
9:45
boards or your Twitter. There's a game in front of you
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fellas. You know, concentrate on that
9:50
because for for at least for NC State, that was the last you'll
9:53
see of them, their fan base this year.
9:55
But it just seems like vital is, is come to the end.
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I hope his family intervenes. I don't know what his plans are.
10:04
I mean, he sounds weak, right? He's not the same gregarious
10:09
Dick Vitelle that was that was on our televisions for years.
10:15
But he's getting old and he's had a hell of a fight.
10:18
You just wonder if that's the last time we're going to see
10:20
him. I do.
10:21
And I didn't hear a ton of him last night.
10:23
The baseball had the audio when I was watching that.
10:26
And then by that time when got the kids down at the volume very
10:30
low. So really wasn't even really
10:31
listening to the game as I was watching the end and the almost
10:34
miraculous come back there by NC State to get over the hump.
10:37
But it is interesting because you know my thoughts on Brian
10:42
Anderson, he's great, one of my favorite play by play guys that
10:45
is out there. And to see that clip and I saw
10:49
Don Awful announcing last night. It was just so cringe worthy.
10:52
It was. It is.
10:53
It was that was kind of the most of the broadcast, Trent.
10:56
Now, that's always been vital. It's it's not just about the
10:59
game. He's always, well, I shouldn't
11:01
say always over the last 30 years that has been a shtick.
11:06
And I think it's more so now as as you get older, you know, when
11:09
you want to bring up some of the stuff that's happened.
11:12
It's not breaking down the game. He's not telling you the why,
11:15
but that's not been him. He'll give you a diaper dandy,
11:18
he'll talk about a big dunk. He'll go crazy and get excited.
11:22
That's all well and good, but it's always been about more than
11:25
the game, and that's part of him growing the game and being the
11:29
face of college basketball. Pied Piper.
11:32
Years and years and years, that's who he was.
11:35
But at this point, it's a rough listen.
11:37
I I heard a ton of him during the SEC tournament and.
11:40
Yeah, I go back to that too. I agree.
11:41
With you, you feel bad. That's where I kind of, you
11:44
know, first formulate this take. We'll see, We'll see.
11:48
You know, I'm not sure ESPN will have him, but he didn't do a ton
11:51
of games this year. It's not like he was on TV every
11:53
night, right? You know that that just wasn't
11:55
the case, but we'll see where it goes.
11:57
Let's talk about the world baseball classic.
11:59
I just you know what overall, Trent, I didn't I know it didn't
12:02
go the US as way, but I I think that this tournament was just a
12:06
resounding success. I think it was absolutely huge.
12:09
March baseball. It's unbelievable the number of
12:12
people that are watching this. I can't wait to see, especially
12:15
the peak last night, you know, late in the baseball game after
12:19
Bryce Harper. Maybe we'll get out to it before
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Bryce Harper's two run bomb down the stretch.
12:24
That was a phenomenal baseball game.
12:26
Rodriguez and McClain, the two starters, I thought both of them
12:30
were really good in the game. I did the bullpen for Venezuela.
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Nobody saw that coming. Daniel Palencia Cubs fans,
12:36
although you know, you cheer for the red, white and blue, I get
12:39
that you had to be incredibly encouraged what your closer did
12:43
the last couple of nights 'cause he was lights out again last
12:46
night. But Trent, if, if this number
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tops 5 million, that's huge. That is absolutely mad.
12:56
And I don't think even in their, you know, their wildest dreams,
13:00
Fox and FS1, which I get as part of the Fox family, would have
13:05
thought that this would draw anywhere near the interest that
13:08
seemingly it did as the tournament went on.
13:11
Well, it's going to blow past that because the audience for
13:16
the semifinal win for Team USA, the 2 to one victory and that
13:19
one that was now FS1 and FOX Deportes together.
13:24
But still, we're talking cable. Those two and that wasn't Big
13:29
Fox and. That wasn't Big Fox.
13:30
Oh boy. So yeah, that's 10 million I.
13:33
Mean if you throw Deportes in, yeah, you're probably going to
13:36
get close to that. That's huge.
13:38
Viewership peaked in that one at 8.1 million.
13:41
That was in the 10:00 hour for us here as Team USA clinched
13:46
their third trip to the championship and ends to
13:49
Venezuela. The passion, the crowd.
13:51
It's amazing, isn't it? It's just so different.
13:53
The Harper home run, huge. There was a shot I saw from
13:57
field level from the first base dugout.
13:59
I saw the same 1 you saw that one, but with the guys in the
14:02
red, white and blue ugly shirt. Those things are just hideous.
14:04
Didn't see that. I mean, they're gaudy and the
14:08
elation. You see all the people in the
14:10
red, white and blue and then all the Venezuelan fans and see
14:14
eject. I mean, just that shoulder slump
14:16
is the ball exits the bat and you do off the bat that thing's
14:19
gone. Well, I saw the swing, that's
14:21
the one from the first base I got.
14:22
I was referring to what a classic swing.
14:24
Absolutely. Oh my God.
14:25
Lefties are always better. Yeah, they are.
14:27
That's you're 100% right, but the game was fascinating.
14:30
The game was phenomenal. Here's the thing that's starting
14:34
to pop up a little bit. Do you play the preliminary at
14:37
this time of year? Then you halt the tournament and
14:41
then you come back for the week of the All Star break.
14:43
But what if you have guys getting injured?
14:45
Are you allowed to enhance your roster?
14:48
The guys that didn't want to pitch didn't want to
14:50
participate. And I'm sure you've all seen the
14:52
list of all the terrific pitchers who sat out and didn't
14:55
didn't want to participate in the event.
14:58
We've all seen that list. Can you add to that?
15:01
Maybe you get a maybe there's a certain number of roster moves
15:05
that you can make because you're going to have injuries, right?
15:07
You're going to have injuries, guys go on the IL that's going
15:11
to happen. But you play the, you know, the,
15:13
the play the quarter final semi and into the final.
15:16
You do that in All Star week. You scrap the All Star game and
15:20
the, you know, the Home Run Derby.
15:23
I could live without that. The All Star game Tuesday and
15:26
then they take Wednesday, Thursday before they resume on
15:28
Friday. Anyways.
15:30
Does that make sense to you or is this the only time to do it?
15:33
So the preliminary rounds up until now, go back to spring
15:37
training for a week, put the tournament on mothballs, remind
15:40
everybody in June what's coming up in July and where your team
15:43
sits. I don't know.
15:45
Can you do that? I mean, it's it seems kind of
15:47
disjointed for you to start and then stop to me.
15:50
It it does, it definitely is disjointed and that would be the
15:52
pushback like against it. But boy, the more I kind of
15:55
ponder it, I do like. That it was phenomenal TV, Yes.
15:59
Yeah. And I wasn't good.
16:00
I wasn't sure I'd get into it at all.
16:02
On top of it, you would have pictures that are completely
16:04
stretched out. You know you.
16:06
There's no 90 pitch limit. But you know, we got it last
16:09
night with Palencia. He's only available in a safe
16:12
situation. In the knife inning, we would.
16:14
Have got that with Mason Miller. What kind of handcuffing are we
16:21
going to get from MLB, from managers when we get to late
16:24
July or early July? You know, whenever you place
16:27
this kind of thing, if we think that there was already things
16:30
here, yes, pitchers are not completely ready.
16:33
And Mason Miller instead of throwing one O twos, maybe
16:35
throwing one O 4 when we get to July.
16:37
But I guess that would be the concern.
16:40
How many teams? They weren't a Pennant race.
16:43
You're not playing in this thing.
16:45
You're not playing in this exhibition.
16:47
And could, could teams actually hold their guys out?
16:49
Is that what you're saying? Here's another thing.
16:51
What about the trade deadline? Yes.
16:53
What if your what if your guys one one of the guys on the team
16:56
is playing for a last place club and his contracts coming up?
16:59
I think it works here. I for pure baseball, it would be
17:03
better in July when you're talking about the best on best,
17:07
not guys that are working out the kinks.
17:10
We saw some guys that look completely lost and then you
17:12
think of spring training. Well, yeah, there's a lot of
17:13
guys that look completely lost in spring training and they
17:16
start to figure it out. So I think that's a component.
17:18
If you want to get the best baseball, that certainly is the
17:21
time for it. It's before the dog days before
17:24
we get into August. You're getting probably the best
17:26
that you're going to find under. Brown, Garrett Crochet, Max
17:29
Free, Dylan C, Sonny Gray, Andrew Abbott, Brian Wu also
17:31
thinks, But no thanks. And then you get even a couple
17:34
of those guys available for you. It's an interesting idea.
17:39
I think if you're looking for best baseball, that is
17:41
definitely. That's the way to do it, but
17:44
it's. It is weird and disjointed.
17:46
There's no other place on the counter to do it.
17:48
It's this time or then you do try and trick it up a little
17:51
bit. But boy, it was really good
17:52
theatre. Really was Netflix apparently.
17:56
I mean, whoever is behind this event cashed in.
17:58
I saw Netflix. Netflix Japan paid $100 million
18:03
for the rights, seems. Like pretty good or turn on
18:06
investment? You know, because I mean
18:07
Japanese, but they love baseball.
18:08
Yes, they do. They got a pretty good guy
18:10
representing their. Team as well.
18:12
Pretty good player. All right, let's get Mike and
18:13
Waterloo in here. We will be joined by Elliot
18:17
Cluff. He's in Florida.
18:18
Pick his brain on Clemson and Iowa Coming up.
18:22
David Kaplan's going to join us. Mike Palm and then Eugene Repay
18:25
at 1:30 from the Des Moines Register.
18:28
Hello, Mike, How are you? Oh, pretty good guys.
18:30
How are you guys doing? I'm known to make predictions,
18:34
but you know, I'm, I'm retracting my prediction from a
18:38
couple weeks ago when I said Iowa State was going to be 1 and
18:41
done. Now I'm predicting 6th and done.
18:45
A complete reversal. A complete reversal.
18:49
And the only problem I have with our team is the free throws.
18:54
We got to relax at that free throw line.
18:56
We cannot miss those one and one.
18:58
And then when we're back in the lane, Milosevic did that one
19:02
time when he's backing in the lane, they come and steal the
19:05
ball. And Jefferson, he played a
19:06
great. Don't get me wrong, they all
19:08
played a great tournament, but we cannot have those turnovers
19:11
when we're back at. We need better communication.
19:15
And one more thing, I'm a Lakers fan.
19:17
You know who I want the Lakers to take in the first round?
19:21
Tamen Lipsy. Joshua Jefferson.
19:24
No Milosevic. Can you see him working with the
19:28
our point guard for the Lakers, Luca?
19:31
Yeah. I mean he gets so many open 3
19:34
pointers I he'd make I bet she. Alosevic to Luca for three.
19:39
Yeah, it's yeah, we get all the Lakers games on my TV.
19:42
So yeah, I hope he, but I can't wait for the tournament and and
19:47
you know, I think they're going to do it.
19:48
Six and oh. And what are you guys thinking?
19:51
I'll hang up and lift. Thank you, Mike.
19:53
Yeah, of course he means Manchilovich, but that's OK.
19:55
We, we we get names wrong, too. Oh.
19:57
Absolutely. What, what do I think?
20:00
I, I think the United States got a massive chance.
20:02
You do. I don't think they're going to
20:03
go 6 and O. You're not going to go that.
20:05
No, but I will not fall off my chair if they're playing Arizona
20:08
in the Final Four. You won't.
20:11
I won't. I think, let me, let me stop
20:15
right there for just a second because you and I leading up
20:18
until these conference tournaments, we felt that there
20:21
was, I won't put words in your mouth.
20:23
I felt that it was Duke and Michigan, little bit of a drop
20:28
off Arizona, big drop off to everybody else.
20:31
Fair. I don't like Michigan.
20:34
I don't like Duke as much as I did.
20:37
I wish I had Arizona and included in that.
20:41
And it's all based on the way they played in their conference
20:43
tournaments. UConn, I don't like UConn
20:46
anymore, but haven't we learned Catherine Sturmans are not I
20:50
just exactly, exactly Trent, but I find myself, and you'd say
20:55
this much too. So falling into that trap if
20:58
you're not going to fall into that trap this year, blah, blah,
21:00
blah. But we fall into it, and I have
21:02
again. Here would be the pushback on
21:05
Iowa State when free. Throws for sure.
21:07
Mike's 100% right. They are the worst team in the
21:10
field at shooting free throws. Are they really?
21:12
I didn't realize that. I'm not surprised by it.
21:14
Did you dig into that link that I sent out to you yesterday?
21:17
I started to and then Jet jumped up.
21:19
Yes, that that was that was in. There, OK. 68th or maybe 60.
21:23
So it wasn't. Early in the link because I got
21:25
through a few pages. Of it isn't that a ton, it's up
21:28
on our Twitter account. Just look at Biller and coded.
21:31
You can find it there. Here's the push back on Iowa
21:33
State. Yes, free throw shooting,
21:34
absolutely. After the downturn when we had
21:37
Mike in Waterloo as big of a supporter as yes, they beat
21:45
Arizona State twice and an injured Texas Tech team.
21:51
Other than that, they have lost twice to Arizona, got pummeled
21:55
at home by Texas Tech, lost to BYU, lost to TCU.
22:02
Are we elevating a team that beat a intertech team and a
22:07
crappy Arizona State team? Yes.
22:09
They. Do we give them any
22:10
consideration for beating Purdue, who won their conference
22:13
tournament in Saint John's, for winning their conference
22:15
tournament back in November? It was a billion years ago.
22:18
It was a billion years ago, but they did beat conference champs
22:21
on their resume. I I'm just talking about the
22:25
here and now and blowing out teams and this would be the
22:30
pushback against it. And like I said, I always try to
22:33
and I can't do it, but I do tried to stay away from over
22:39
extending yourself of what you saw in the conference
22:40
tournament. They were great in both those
22:42
games. Arizona State's terrible.
22:44
Yeah, they're they're a bad basketball.
22:46
Team Texas Tech jumped on him early and Iowa State comes
22:48
roaring back and then just never gave him a chance they.
22:50
Lost Anderson and had another injury in that game.
22:53
They did. When you look through.
22:56
Here, Yeah, I think it's the Arizona game, yes.
22:59
I mean that was that that phenomenal.
23:00
Theater. You race out to a 14-5 lead.
23:03
You keep him in arm's distance for a long time.
23:05
Munchilovich is doing his thing all game long.
23:09
That was the Apex, and we know they can play at that level.
23:13
But stacking it up game after game after game game one's easy.
23:17
Where do you have them going out?
23:19
In the Sweet 16. So you've got them making it
23:21
there, and you've got Virginia picking up Virginia.
23:23
Yes. Obviously that's going to be an
23:25
incredible test. Yes, an incredible.
23:28
Test and this is not Tony Bennett's Virginia.
23:31
This is a team that has skill. This is a team that is good on
23:35
the offensive end. It is not the same kind of
23:37
grinder team. They're not fast by any means.
23:38
They'll play still at a slower tempo.
23:40
But I really like Ryan Odom too. I I think he's good.
23:44
Watched a ton of them this year. They don't have a ton of depth
23:47
in their resume again, because the AC CS down.
23:49
Yeah, Big East is down. AC CS down though, a lot of
23:51
down. Is it there?
23:52
Yeah, Elliot Clef, then Mike Palm coming up off to Tampa.
23:57
We will go and then we'll head over to Las Vegas.
24:00
Miller and Condon on the Iowa Sports Radio Network.
24:05
Condon, welcome back. Iowa Sports Radio Network.
24:08
Mike Palm coming up in about 15 minutes, head to Las Vegas.
24:12
Latest from behind the counter with Mike Palm, VP operations
24:15
Circus sports Cappy and hour number two, Eugene Repay.
24:18
Likewise, Elliot Cliff right now, 24/7 sports
24:21
hawkeyeinsider.com. His plane has landed.
24:24
He is in the state of Florida. Good to talk to you, Elliot.
24:27
Trenton. Ken, how are you?
24:29
Good. How are you guys doing?
24:30
Sounds like the travel gods were on your side here today.
24:33
Made it for that. Must have had a pretty good
24:35
connection to get there already. Yeah, yeah.
24:38
Flew out at 6:30 this morning from Cedar Rapids.
24:41
Had a connecting flight. Charlotte and Sean and I are
24:44
sitting in our Uber on our way to our hotel.
24:46
The sun is out. I feel like a brand new man.
24:50
And hopefully when you get home, you'll have some good weather
24:53
back here in Iowa, but not too quickly because we need.
24:57
To. See, absolutely, let's get a
24:58
couple of games at minimum and maybe figuring out some travel
25:01
plans after that. Got to start though with Clemson
25:03
Tigers. We talked a lot about Welling
25:05
going down their big guy. He is out for the season as he
25:08
tears his ACL in the ACC tournament.
25:11
In a way, does this kind of remind you of the home game
25:14
against Ohio State? They play that game without
25:17
Tilly. It was kind of on the fly.
25:19
They had to figure things out and I was a building in that
25:21
game to get to the rim, get into the paint, completely open
25:25
things up after they trailed 14 to 2 early on.
25:27
Is that a good cop here when you're kind of looking at games
25:30
and them playing without their traditional big man?
25:33
I was ready to make that comparison before he even said
25:36
it, right. Yeah.
25:39
I mean, Iowa really got into the pain against Ohio State.
25:42
That that game at home with Tilly out and their backup big
25:45
in the game. Sean might have to help me hear
25:47
from the the seat next to me. What did they?
25:49
It was like 44 to 24 points in the paint in that game against
25:52
Ohio State. It was something like that.
25:56
There we go. Sean just gave me the stat.
25:58
Iowa was 21 of 24 at the rim against Ohio State with with
26:04
Philly out nine of 16 in the Big 10 tournament against Ohio
26:08
State. Sean's got that stuff locked and
26:10
loaded. I need him here for all my radio
26:12
appearances. But that massive difference,
26:16
right? And, and if welling was
26:18
available, I'd feel a lot more nervous about this first round
26:21
game tomorrow against, I guess Clemson.
26:25
But I mean, having him, having him out, that's, that's huge.
26:28
I mean, that's, that's, I think he's their second leading scorer
26:31
too, if I remember right. Yep, again, Sean confirming he's
26:36
their second leading scorer. So that's that's huge too.
26:38
Again, especially with Iowa's lack of size that we've been
26:41
talking about since you know at this time last year, even
26:43
looking at their roster, Cam mania is going to be massive in
26:47
this game and his rim protection.
26:49
I mean I've told you guys countless times Alvaro full gear
26:52
is to me is The X Factor for this team.
26:54
Is he aggressive? Is he looking to score off the
26:56
dribble? Is he going to make some threes?
26:58
So you have to feel better about their size at least in this
27:01
first round game. Florida is massive, so we'll
27:04
cross that bridge when we get to it as far as coverage.
27:06
But yeah, I, I, I do feel personally, I, I mean, I was my
27:11
pick. I'm sure you guys are going to
27:12
get to that at some point. But I feel a lot more confident
27:15
considering wellings out, which of course you hate to have that
27:19
happen for him. ACL in the ACC tournament right
27:21
at the end of the year. That's brutal.
27:23
But yeah, personally from the Iowa standpoint, you feel a lot
27:27
more confident given the roster construction and given what
27:30
you've run into in terms of size previously.
27:33
I'll. Pumped Cooper Koch for an X
27:35
Factor as well. Especially now the way seemingly
27:38
is shooting the three ball. He had that little, you know,
27:40
gap in the middle of the season when it really nothing would
27:42
fall for him. But as of late, he's starting to
27:45
see those shots go in. What about Cooper Koch in his
27:48
tournament and obviously the importance that he's going to
27:51
carry when it comes to Iowa making a little run?
27:54
So we talked. About this on the pod the other
27:56
day on our our podcast in that. Coop.
28:00
Kind of broke that rust off against Penn State and Iowa
28:04
still lost, right? They had another good shooting
28:07
game recently where they won one of those two that they've won in
28:10
their last seven games. So it's like a 5050 shot.
28:14
As to how much coop can affect the game in terms of his ability
28:18
to score and how much that'll open things up.
28:19
Obviously you want him to be able to shoot like that, but
28:22
does it impact winning? At the end of the day, to me,
28:25
The X Factor for Cooper is rebounding because he's played a
28:28
lot of minutes and has left games with one or two rebounds
28:32
and as one of your bigger guys that plays the majority of
28:34
minutes and he's got to start getting bored.
28:37
The defense has translated with with the new staff and Ben
28:40
McCollum and you can tell that that coop has has really bought
28:44
in and because of how well he plays defense.
28:47
But man, he's got to get start getting active on the boards
28:49
And, and that'll be a question that I, I feel like, I mean, I,
28:52
I probably should have asked McCollum at at another point
28:54
this year, but that's something that I'll be asking about in the
28:57
media availability and, and how Coop can get in better position.
29:01
Or, or maybe if that's something that they're relying more so on
29:04
on Cam and and Pavion banks for and they want could be a back on
29:07
defense. That's so I'll be curious to
29:09
hear a little bit more about that.
29:11
But for me, Cooper, it's got to be rebounding, got to be more
29:14
consistent on on the boards. This week off for the team we
29:18
saw Sturtz leave the game, which is a rarity for a minute back in
29:21
the Ohio State game. He's been dealing with a quad
29:24
injury and looks like maybe he took another knee to that.
29:27
We we saw Banks at different times this year, felt like he's
29:29
been banged up just a week away, getting out of the grind of the
29:32
Big 10 and getting, do you see this as a positive for Iowa?
29:37
Oh, yes, absolutely. You know, I was, I was asked, I
29:40
think on, on another show on KXNL, maybe?
29:43
Lucas asked. But I was was thinking that he
29:48
could potentially take it to another gear and because of the
29:53
fact that he's been able to take some time off and, you know, I
29:57
mean, playing 40 minutes a night.
29:59
Oh, it was actually Alex, now that I think about it.
30:01
But anyway, playing 40 minutes a night in the NBC as opposed to
30:05
49 minutes a night in the Big 10 is completely different.
30:08
Like I'm not breaking any news when I when I say that.
30:10
And for him to get a week off here, it's it's one of the
30:14
reasons why I think Iowa lost to Richmond in the first round
30:19
several years ago here is because they didn't have any
30:21
time basically to get, you know, a little bit more recovery and
30:26
and, and and face Richmond in the first round after winning
30:29
the the big 10 tournament. Like that's a lot to have that
30:32
turn around playing however many games at Howard many days and
30:35
then turn it around and having to to play in the NCAA
30:39
tournament. And this Iowa team won't have to
30:41
face that battle, so to speak. So I think it's a major positive
30:45
and I think it's a reason why, you know, having fresh legs.
30:48
And honestly, like I said, I feel like a new man in the sun
30:51
and the weather. I wouldn't be surprised if the
30:53
Iowa roster, some of the guys feel like that, maybe Bennett
30:56
included. So maybe he hits a new level and
30:58
we we see him playing at at a super high level or reaching a
31:02
new tier here in Tampa. Fingers crossed.
31:06
What about your personal bracket?
31:08
What what do you have? Who do you have for a champion
31:10
and what's your What's the Big 10 team that you have advancing
31:13
the furthest? Well, obviously I have you and I
31:16
going all the way, you guys. How could I, how can I pick
31:19
otherwise? I, you know, I in all sincerity,
31:21
I, I filled out a few brackets on ESPN and I, I had you and I
31:26
going to the Sweet 16 out of loyalty.
31:28
Everybody knows I'm a, I'm a Panther.
31:30
Haven't haven't gone to school there and love my time there and
31:33
I'm always going to root for you and I.
31:34
But in all sincerity, the, the team that is that I watch and
31:39
and think has a really good shot at it is, is Michigan.
31:42
You know, I know I just mentioned the thing about having
31:44
fresh legs and everything and that being huge because it is.
31:47
But I mean, seeing them arrive in in in Carver Hawkeye, I
31:53
remember turning to Sean and going, Oh my gosh, you guys are
31:56
massive. Like, I mean, Mara's huge.
32:00
They got like London Borg. And I mean, it's just more as
32:04
Johnson, just dudes who are big and skilled.
32:07
So to me, I mean, and you've got Elliot Caddo and we all know
32:11
that you need really good point guard play to win games in in
32:14
the NCAA tournament. So to me, they're the team to
32:17
watch. To me, they they feel like a
32:18
solid choice to win the title. But I mean, you can't look over
32:22
the blue bloods, right? Like Duke, Duke is really,
32:25
really good. They're all so young, so that
32:28
that would make me a little nervous in in picking them at
32:30
least their stars are young. So to me it's it's Michigan just
32:33
with the the roster that they've got Dusty Mays, a phenomenal
32:36
coach. But at the end of the day, it
32:38
does come down to personnel and, and they they've definitely got
32:41
the personnel. So they're my choice right now.
32:44
Elliot, let's Fast forward to Sunday.
32:46
Iowa gets there, they get past Clemson, they move on.
32:49
It'll be Florida waiting for them.
32:51
I do not see Todd Golden's squad getting knocked off by a 16.
32:54
Do not seem susceptible to that. They're huge.
32:58
They got three big guys, a backcourt that doesn't shoot it
33:01
very well. What is the blueprint?
33:03
I mean, does it have to be a perfect game for Iowa to beat
33:06
Florida? Yes, yeah, it reminds me of of
33:11
Michigan and then coming to town and everything I said is Kim
33:15
Manial has to play the best game of of his life, basically.
33:19
I mean, like Cale Combs has to play the best game.
33:21
Like they can just go down the line and you've got to have
33:24
great games from all these guys. You got to shoot really well
33:27
from three and you've got to do what you can on the glass.
33:30
Because I mean, Kim Manial had a phenomenal game against
33:33
Michigan, best game of his career in Iowa so far.
33:36
You need that from him. You need more from from Alvaro.
33:38
And I correct me if I'm wrong, I'd have to go back again and
33:41
look at the stats. But I think tomorrow had two
33:43
points in that game. You just can't have that from a
33:46
guy who's supposed to be your second best player, your second
33:49
guy, your, I mean, your guy off the bench that provides some
33:51
spark. And and they didn't get that
33:54
from him in that game. And that was one of the reasons
33:57
why they ended up losing. Of course, Bennett having a
33:59
bunch of shots go halfway down and pop back out as an ideal.
34:02
But yeah, I mean, you've got to have an incredible shooting
34:05
game. You've got to be able to fight
34:07
on the board and at least be competitive on that front and
34:11
you know, everybody has to play to the best of their ability.
34:14
I'll save you asking Sean. He did have two points.
34:17
Yeah, I didn't even ask. You, I know you didn't.
34:21
Good stuff, Elliot. Enjoy Florida Man.
34:23
Thanks for popping on. We appreciate you giving us a
34:25
few minutes. Thank you, Elliot.
34:27
Thanks guys. Good.
34:28
To talk to you, Elliot Clough, as we check in on Iowa Z's down
34:31
in Tampa. And David Eichold will have
34:33
things covered back in Iowa City on the women's side of things.
34:36
Oh. That's right, yeah.
34:37
So he's got that beat. 31 point favorite.
34:39
Yes, absolutely. And then a tricky matchup likely
34:42
in the round of 32 for them. Sean Bach along with Elliot
34:46
Clough down in Florida, good for them. 24/7 Sports Hawkeye
34:49
Insider. Yeah, let's head to Las Vegas.
34:51
We come back Circus Sports. Mike Palm joins Trenton I next.
34:54
It's the Iowa Sports Radio Network.
34:57
I'm Mary Condon. Welcome back.
34:58
Iowa Sports Radio Network hour number two, David Kaplan will
35:02
kick things off. Off to Chicago.
35:04
We will go, but we'll make a stop in Las Vegas before we do
35:07
that. Mike Pom, VP of Operations at
35:10
Circus Sports. Mike Trenton, Ken, thanks for
35:12
coming on. Didn't want to miss you 2 weeks
35:14
in a row as last week you were in your home state visiting your
35:17
mom, etcetera, etcetera. So good to talk to you before we
35:20
get into the tournament. Mike, just a recap if you would.
35:23
The World Baseball Classic, I think it exceeded most people's
35:27
expectations, whether they be fringe baseball fans or baseball
35:30
fans or just sports fans. I think that the fact that it
35:33
showed up on a lot of people's radar is catching a lot of
35:37
entities, maybe even Fox, etcetera, off guard.
35:39
Just how popular it was. It was.
35:42
How popular was it in the book? And I'm not sure you were there
35:45
on Monday or Tuesday night watching the championship game,
35:48
but you know what it's like when an international fan base
35:52
arrives. They're different.
35:53
They are passionate. What was it like, Mike, and how
35:55
big? How popular was the event?
35:57
Yeah, we see that with your point about international.
36:00
We see that when we had the CONCACAF Gold Cup or we'll have
36:05
World Cup this summer or even when the Canadians come.
36:10
And so it was terrific obviously and there was drama with the US
36:15
needing help just to get out of group.
36:17
There was a tremendous semi final game with the Dominican
36:21
Republic and then a great championship game with
36:24
Venezuela. So we wrote on the on the US
36:26
games and then the mid 5 figures.
36:30
That was a good result with Venezuela I think drifted up.
36:34
I think they were 12:50 on our opening odds and they closed at
36:37
14 to 1 to win it all before the tournament started, with the
36:41
most of the action focused on the Dominican Republic in the
36:44
US. That is certainly interesting
36:48
question that leads into more people than just betting
36:51
baseball, betting futures, World Series division, all the
36:54
different things and you guys got a wide menu there at Circa
36:56
Sports as it led to an increase. Year over year in so in the
37:01
betting February and and March to speak, we've seen an uptick
37:04
in the player props in Major League Baseball really sort of
37:09
flat at this point year over year with the teams, whether
37:12
it's season win totals or divisions, Pennant or or World
37:16
Series. So it caused probably a little
37:18
bit more attention and we see some more action on on player
37:22
props. Let's get into the local teams
37:24
Mike, before we broaden our conversation out to the
37:27
tournament itself. Iowa, Iowa State, you and I all
37:30
make the tournament. Iowa State is a two seed.
37:33
We'll start with the Cyclones, your thoughts on Iowa State,
37:35
their draw and potentially how far they can go.
37:38
Yeah, I think they have a legitimate shot at the Final
37:42
Four Now. They have to, you know, shoot
37:44
the ball well enough. I guess you could say that about
37:47
everybody, but I think they did that in both the three and on
37:51
the interior very well. I think they have a terrific
37:54
point guard and look, they're very live.
37:59
They played the best team in the country in my opinion in Arizona
38:05
really to him was a flat footed draw.
38:07
Nobody lost that game. It was just shot after shot
38:09
after shot. It's probably the best college
38:11
basketball game that I've watched maybe in the last three
38:16
years. How good that they've been.
38:19
And you know, I look, I think on their a game, they they are good
38:26
enough to come out of that region.
38:29
You and I get Saint John's in the first round now the numbers
38:33
down to 9 1/2. So looks like a little bit of
38:35
steam maybe coming in, in the Panthers, see a couple of spots,
38:38
still have 10 1/2 out there. You guys are currently at 9 1/2
38:41
at Circa in Saint John's. But the pushback that I have the
38:45
Big East was really down this year, Mike.
38:47
And yes, it was great when in 19 out of 20 out of the Johnnies,
38:51
who do they beat in that path outside of UConn?
38:54
But they did beat UConn two out of three and the game they lost
38:58
to U Conn in this 24 straight field goal attempt.
39:00
So what we can tell you about Northern Iowa is that they want
39:04
it's not going to be a road game for them.
39:05
I mean, how many people are making the trip from New York to
39:08
San Diego? I mean, I've heard you and I
39:10
probably will travel better than Saint John's for this game.
39:13
So that's the one thing is it's going to be a true neutral court
39:16
there. And probably the other teams in
39:18
the bracket are pulling for you and I.
39:19
So they might have a slight edge for crowd perspective.
39:23
Iowa one and done Or do they be Clemson?
39:26
Again, I just just my my two favorite bets are South Florida
39:30
and Clemson in the first round. I hate to say it.
39:32
Look, I I went back, I've watched, rewatched, I was last
39:37
10 regular season games. They're just not good
39:40
defensively. They haven't been good at all
39:41
when it comes to adjusted field goal defense percentage.
39:44
They're 359th in the country. Opponents are shooting 58% from
39:48
2 and 41% from three. That's a 10 game sample, not
39:53
some short sample. And I think one advantage Iowa
39:56
has is people aren't used to and they don't play them that pace.
39:58
They play at Clemson doesn't mind that.
40:01
They play that, that that methodical half court game.
40:05
They don't have a really great score.
40:08
They do have some balance. Clemson and Brad Brunel, believe
40:11
it or not, is the Dean of the ACC coaches right now.
40:13
So I think Clemson should be a small favorite here.
40:17
I took Clemson plus 2 1/2 in the spot.
40:20
Interesting. Iowa, Clemson.
40:21
That'll be in the evening on Friday.
40:24
One more on a front. You're North Carolina Tar Heels.
40:27
You grew up a Tar Heel fan, Love Dean Smith, not a lot of love
40:31
there. You talked about trendy picks,
40:32
you mentioned South Florida, that's definitely one of them.
40:35
VCOVCU, definitely another one against North Carolina.
40:38
You got a thought on that matchup?
40:40
Yeah, I took VCU. I might even sprinkle some money
40:44
line here. Obviously they're not the same
40:45
team since the injury and I thought they played a little
40:48
lucky during the year. Anyhow, Duke really blew that
40:50
game to them when they went on the road, they struggled.
40:53
They went to Stanford, they struggled, they struggled at
40:56
FMU. You know, they, they're really,
40:57
they're, they're only at Virginia.
41:00
So I think North Carolina is going to be up against it here.
41:04
Mike, let's broaden it out to the tournament overall.
41:07
I know that you're sold out. The planes will be arriving
41:09
packed full of basketball fans throughout the day.
41:11
Sure, some of them got in yesterday.
41:13
What do you expect? Is this going to play the seed?
41:16
Last year we had four number ones.
41:17
How's this year going to unfold in your mind, Mike Chalky?
41:20
Well, I don't know. I don't, you know, I don't if it
41:23
maybe I don't really care for number ones, make it to the
41:26
Final four, but there has to be some upsets.
41:28
What made the tournament bad last last year was that we
41:30
didn't get any upsets. I mean, all the favorites won
41:32
all the games on Thursday and Friday and that's what people
41:35
complained about. So I mean it's OK if 4 ones get
41:38
to the final four as long as you have some twelves and thirteens
41:40
and 11th win in a game or two. I think that's what makes the
41:44
tournament interesting. Absolutely.
41:46
Our underdog last year, our Cinderella was Arkansas, the
41:50
coach Cal and the Tyson Chicken buddy that that's what last
41:53
year's tournament, the NIL reality, maybe that's what it
41:56
is. We'll see if there's something
41:57
is historical data. Do you have to throw that out a
42:00
little bit after what we saw last year, knowing that all
42:03
these mid majors, year after year they're getting plucked and
42:05
those guys are moving up a level and going up to the high major
42:08
level. Do we have to re evaluate the
42:10
way? If you are somebody that likes
42:11
to look at history and embedding trends and the like, maybe pull
42:15
back this year and see if last year is our new reality for the
42:18
tournament. I think you make a great point
42:21
and it's probably takes three years before you establish a sea
42:24
change, but I would certainly be cautious.
42:27
You know, every year 12 beats A5.
42:29
Every year this to this to that. I would be cautious because the
42:31
best two guys on all those mid major teams are going to go make
42:34
money somewhere else. Arizona cut down the Nets, Mike.
42:38
I think they're the best team, but they got to get through that
42:40
elite that feet 16 game against either Arkansas or Wisconsin.
42:46
I think, I think, you know, I think Wisconsin causes a lot of
42:51
problems if they can get to Arizona because you got five
42:54
guys that can shoot the three and space the floor.
42:56
And the one thing Arizona doesn't do well is guard the
42:58
three-point line. Do you like Tommy Lloyd?
43:02
Tommy Lloyd is a terrific human being, a really good recruiter.
43:06
He can't coach it all in the game.
43:09
He said it himself. The players have to figure it
43:11
out. You sound like my partner.
43:14
Good stuff, Mike. Thanks for doing this.
43:16
I know you're busy. Have a wonderful weekend, Mike
43:18
Palm. Thank you.
43:20
Thanks guys, enjoy the weekend and the warm weather back in
43:22
Iowa. Thank you.
43:23
Absolutely. Good to hear from you Mike Palm
43:25
Circus sports Iowa circus sports Illinois circus sports Missouri
43:28
download the app get involved at circus sports.
43:32
Those are the three states within our sound of our voice,
43:35
that circus doing business in. I I knew what he was starting.
43:38
He's a great human being. Yeah, I knew his.
43:40
Idea I knew where he was going, I.
43:42
Don't like him as a coach? They're so talented.
43:46
They really are. Oh, I want to see Iowa State,
43:49
Arizona one more time. That'd be good.
43:52
Oh, but can it live up to it? No.
43:54
I don't think. It can either.
43:55
Maybe we're just setting ourselves up for disappointment,
43:57
right? Hour 2 off to Chicago.
44:00
David Kaplan will join us. Cubs fans.
44:02
Palencia, big spot. How about two of them answered
44:06
the bell both times? Eugene Rappey on Iowa State of
44:10
130. Miller and Condon on the Iowa
44:12
Sports Radio Network.