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Both Oral Roberts and Loyola Chicago are becoming cinderellas in March Madness 2021
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Ryan Christa – @maddawgreport
Oral Roberts beat Ohio State, Florida
Loyal Chicago beat #1 Illinois, in the 2nd round, and Georgia Tech in the first round
Syracuse barely gets in and makes a run in the tourney.
Syracuse beat San Diego St., and (3)West Virginia
Predictions
(7)Oregon (2) Iowa
RC: Iowa
(8)Oklahoma vs (1) Gonzaga, 2:40pm
RC: Gonzaga
(14) ACU (11) UCLA, 5:15pm
RC: UCLA
(13) Ohio (5) Creighton, 6:10pm
RC: Ohio
(8)LSU vs (1) Michigan, 7:10pm
RC: Michigan
(5) Colorado – (4)FSU, 7:45pm
RC: FSU
(1) Maryland (2) Alabama, 8:45pm
RC: Bama
(6) USC – (3) Kansas, 9:40pm
RC: USC
Sweet 16 begins March 27th
Polls
What is your favorite team from West Virginia? #NationalWestVirginiaDay #WestVirginia
West Virginia- , West Virginia State, West Virginia United, WV Black Bears (baseball)
Ryan: WV
Transcript
Santiago Leon 0:14
The sports cast March 22 2021 if you haven’t yet, please subscribe to all our channels YouTube Periscope and Apple podcast. And if you are listening on Apple podcasts please leave a rating and review. It will help us out tremendously. We’re also on da B DB online radio you can listen to us on the app or on our website and visit this odd the sports cast dotnet the sports cast dotnet for the latest and greatest when it comes to sports news. March Madness came into roaring start this past weekend. Couple surprises couple brackets being messed up. That’s going to happen. No one has ever had a broken bracket. But a few a few surprises or Roberts biggest surprise this weekend going deep. There are in the sweet 16 they have has had some success before but this is I believe is the deepest. But Ryan can clarify that with us right now. Ryan crystal, welcome back to the sportscast.
Ryan Christa 1:25
Andy, I got it good to be here. Good to be talking to you on a basketball Monday here is where you know, as I’m talking here, I’m watching here, you know, the second round here on Monday, but everything shifted a day due to COVID. And all that. So
Santiago Leon 1:41
yeah, well, wait, you’re talking about Oregon because Oregon got to buy because I believe VCU got a COVID case. Right.
Ryan Christa 1:48
Yeah, you know, is kind of all confusing, you know, they basically made the rules as if, you know, if you have five healthy bodies, you know, you can play and I’m not sure, obviously must be due to contract tration that basically the whole team was on protocol. But you know, what, two or three hours before game time? So yeah, they caught it off.
Santiago Leon 2:11
So called it off. I mean, but quite surprising for you.
Ryan Christa 2:15
Yeah, and I knew that had been an issue. You know, I think we’re at the point now, as long as everybody’s really following these rules that they said, basically, once you see the play, the only time the player is literally outside a hotel room is you know, what you see on TV and you know, maybe an hour practice every day. Other than that they literally are in their hotel by themselves, they eat by themselves. So, you know, this is a delicate subject, I’m not going to get into a whole lot, you know, there’s this big thing, you know, as the NCAA pushing too much to just get this tournament done, you know, the players being, you know, how the players being treated and then to go even deeper now how to manage players that traded compared to the women’s players, that’s a big issue NCAA has to deal with, but a you know, and the NCAA is pushing, they’re gonna, you know, they’re gonna want to bet big payday with all that TV games on you know, so yeah,
Santiago Leon 3:06
which which one of the players wore a shirt yesterday, saying hashtag not and see. Yeah, a property.
Ryan Christa 3:17
So there’s three main players and they’re also in the big 10. Isaiah livers of Michigan, Jordan, B. bohannan, of Iowa, and Geno Baker of Rutgers really have led the charge on this idea all stem from you know, I haven’t, you know, I think Thursday, you know, when the players tweeted out, you know, the picture of the food they got and, and john was seen on the major college sports media people tweeted, you know, desperate grateful that we have a tournament and basically that led to a firestorm you
Santiago Leon 3:54
can only imagine.
Ryan Christa 3:56
So, you know, it’s kind of this idea, you know, what, you know, yes, you know, these players have given up a lot already to get to here, you know, and we should be grateful for them, you know, and it says, it’s, you know, the better you know, is two sides of the story, but you know, again, it just kind of another obstacle in the way of dealing with this situation.
Santiago Leon 4:19
Of course, there’s always issues here and there, but once the tournament gets going, people get a little bit excited. Just like Ryan, Krista. Let’s begin Ryan with with all Roberts. I don’t think you saw this coming. I do remember them. Couple years ago, they were making some splashes, but this year, it seems like a deeper splash. They defeated or robbers beat it. Of course, Ohio State, big surprise there. They beat your team Florida. Ryan, is this a force to be reckoned with or this one would be dying down next weekend.
Ryan Christa 4:48
So what’s interesting about Roberts, you know, they had the superstar max Abrams, who legitimately I think, in both games was the best player on the floor. You only die May, Ohio State Hey though, I mean, Robert is more than just him, you know, they have a couple of shooters outside, they basically, if my NBA style basically, you know, spread you out and just drive and you know, shoot a lot of three pointers. And you know, as your college basketball, you tend to be more traditional, you know, you play to the post and the bigs you know. So this idea of, you know, drive and shoe, you know, spread out, it’s different, and obviously, not as big as Ohio State or Florida, but they’re catching lightning in a bottle, and now their star players are making shots. Florida, you know, had a chance to kind of put them away yesterday and they just come in and they hung around. And if they hang around enough time, they know they’re gonna start hitting those shots and Florida just wasn’t able to match him in the end. I mean, Ohio State, I mean, a size differential, you know, overall talent, there’s a big difference. Yeah, I think what most people thought it was going to be a high scoring game we chained or Roberts and Ohio State which is average you know, up there, but I just at the end I think people just thought you know, talent when they get you know, does more times or not, you know, we always get these close games and then you know, better team wins in the end. But this you know, how you know, or I was one shot for shot was able to get to overtime, and they were clearly the better team in overtime. Ohio State, they have a chance to tie but we missed a couple opportunities. When it came to Florida, Florida, I was, you know, never really had the potential and that’s nothing, but also wasn’t necessarily our fault. I mean, Qian Johnson, yeah. preseason play to your sec and all before conferences and starts has nearly dies on a Corrigan Florida State and a really shut up the team. And they had a heart issue is out for the rest of the year. And actually, not due to COVID. But they actually took about a month pause just because, you know, that the team does was really shaken you know, so they never really got their feet on the ground. You know, they’re up and down. You know, I thought I 70 for the gears was very generous to say, Yeah, they had some good wins, but they had some bad losses to myself, a young team, I think will have their whole quarterback so good future for the Gators just a bad night. But, you know, I think everybody’s just sitting around and I said affects your team. So kudos or Robert says, you know, really that bracket San Diego that I mean, we’ve always been you know, I mean, that’s where the madness is happening right now. Right now you’ve got all Roberts you know, versus you know, Arkansas. Yes, I’m sorry. And
Santiago Leon 7:49
then place Oregon State Oregon, the beaver Oregon say? Yeah. So which is a good team I hear as well.
Ryan Christa 7:56
Yeah, again, you know, I there’s a team that, you know, didn’t think they’re gonna make any tournament, but when on a run in, in the PAC 12 tournament, yo, and they’ve continued it, you know, they’re led by Wayne tinkle, which is probably a tallest coach in college basketball was 611. You know, they did, they’re not really diamond skill wise, they just play fundamentally sound. And they’re wearing these good either wearing these teams out, like, you know, the four or five teams, you know, easily usually pretty good teams that are complete and that’s what they are, you know, kind of see, you know, was lack, you know, lacks shooting, you know, you have court game they weren’t very good.
Santiago Leon 8:42
oriented, they play OSU, Oklahoma State.
Ryan Christa 8:46
Yeah. And then the other day, you know, Oklahoma State is, you know, they, you know, they can’t get to the basket, you know, their turnout, turnover prone, they’re just, you know, that’s what they will do. They forced turnovers, they forced Miss shots. And Oregon State was selectively running, getting some easy baskets and just kind of held on, you know, Oklahoma State had more talent and then they just, they weren’t able to overcome you know, the fundamental soundness of Oregon State. So, I mean, it’s Yeah, I think I talked to you last ticket this time and just I really thought it was gonna be chalk I cuz I just there was such the good teams are good and average teams are average, but these average teams are playing well above. You know, what we’ve seen all year and I guess that’s just, you know, 2021 life we know it is it’s confusing, as hard to read.
Santiago Leon 9:40
Is it? Is it the COVID effect now? Well, it’s just it’s just basketball. It’s just
Ryan Christa 9:45
the grit. I got an COVID specifically, but it’s the fact of a COVID season. You know, that whole body of work wasn’t consistent, you know, you know, when teams are stopping and starting and most teams, dead, you know, they’ve never had Fluid season, you know, and so we never knew really how great teams were and how average to you know, because, you know, a team could have won a lot of games, why not a pause and he really never played, like a look at his Oregon watching, you know, they went on a long pause this year, and basically, you know, they didn’t get to finish their season, they were able to scram a couple of games at the end of the year, just because the PAC 12 you know, knew that they were probably the best team in their conference and wanted, you know, they represented nicely in the tournament, which, you know, we’ll see. But, you know, again, is COVID, in fact, isn’t the se COVID it’s just the, the unevenness of the season and that’s just, I mean, that’s life, you know, we’re just happy to have basketball and I appreciate what the players have done the sacrifices they have to entertain us.
Santiago Leon 10:56
And our other colleague Byron Jones says go or Roberts University, okay, look at these two games. Of course, we’re not gonna look at these two teams exclusively, but all robbers plays Arkansas, Ryan and Loyola plays Oregon State. Which of these two Cinderella teams I’m on call them that are going to advance to the Elite Eight?
Ryan Christa 11:17
I mean, let’s start with you know, Roy, I think there’s a here’s the thing is they played another conference, I think there’d be a three or four See, this is a darn good, this is so fundamentally sound they played. They know who they are, they know what they do. They don’t we create the best athletes, but you know, they have a strategy of really just handpicking good players off of state championship teams all there. I think all but three of the players on the roster had won the state championship in high school, so maybe they’re not, you know, the, the five, you know, five star athletes are the blue chippers but they got, you know, solid players, they know how to win and it shows I mean, really, you know, they, I mean they able to be Georgia Tech, which, you know, people expected after Jose Alvarado was out for Georgia Tech detected the COVID. So, not much people noticed that was an ad but you know, they go head to head with their state flagship university in Illinois, it was I think, I think Gonzaga was probably you know, the second highest total topping all the brackets of winning the championship, as you know, they are playing basketball and they did one wire to wire it was dominating, it wasn’t even close. So kudos to the Ramblers and sister Jean there and then I look at Roberts, Arkansas again
Santiago Leon 12:44
can this be done? Can they overturn that
Ryan Christa 12:47
it could be it could be done and again, highly unlikely, you know, the momentum will be shot you know, over a couple of days off, you know, unable to carry on the momentum. You know, last time you know, the only time in 15 CMA this through 16 was the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles after they beat San Diego State and Georgetown ran into a buzzsaw in the Gators industry 16 again, I guess he just gave me a call it’s hard to look at the town to teams and say you know they’re going to be able to do it again. But I’m not gonna say never. But I mean Arkansas, you know, they Boy, you know, they felt they had their scare and the first game against Colgate and fall behind I believe 14 points came back and really dominated the second half and then kind of held off a pesky texas tech team yesterday. Again, I think they’ve won 11 out of 12 games right now so they’re playing really well and it’s hard to believe that you know an upstart or Roberts could be Arkansas so i i do have Arkansas go to the V eight over there.
Santiago Leon 13:54
And that game will be this weekend. Or Roberts coach has to do laundry today cuz he didn’t bring enough clothes didn’t think he’ll stay on the week. But hopefully he’ll get that situated very soon. Another team making some splash. Sarah cues, they barely got in and they’re making a run. They beat San Diego State not too hard, but then they beat West Virginia a huge matchup. Ryan tell us about Syracuse.
Ryan Christa 14:23
Syracuse, it’s kind of the name of the game you know. Bubble U is we like to call them here up here in upstate New York kids are always on the bubble they they either just make a joke out they kind of you know the consensus is that they really didn’t deserve the 11 c without the 11 c without playing in the playing game but you know they got the C they got and I kind of taken advantage of it. What makes Syracuse dangerous and March is that they play this strictly two threes on once they’ve known for it’s kind of coach Bay Himes thing, but they play it so differently. There’s so long and athletic they recruit a certain type of athlete and typically, you know these type as you know, he recruits these athletes that may not be great shooters but what separates this team is it’s full of shooters all around you know, they kind of live and die by the three point line and you know, led by his son buddy, buddy Bay Heim and I’m CEO of stay Center in New York star Joe Girardi a local product kind of carried a load offensively you know with a lot of pieces around but you know, most teams they don’t play that type of two three zone and they don’t especially like a West Virginia hadn’t seen no one in the big 12 plays strictly zone defense or at least not that type of zone defense to Baylor will make sense a little exotic zone but nothing like Syracuse says. So when you haven’t seen it before, and especially in the tournament game, you know, you fall behind your nerves. Yo cuz if you look at the size of the players, West Virginia, especially Jared Culver, she had been killing the inside of Syracuse but they just couldn’t get the ball to him. He just could zone one a lot on the outside I think West Virginia and the second half was able to stay in it because they got themselves in a 3.9 but eventually they cooled off you know made a little bit of a late run but staircases is too much and then you go back to Friday night and which wasn’t even contest again San Diego State because I think at one time st is seated Miss like over 20 straight shots, mostly from the three point line. If you’re not gonna have a 3.9 against Syracuse, you have literally no chance. So kudos to the orange as they play Houston here coming up this weekend, a team who themselves basically were able, you know, down by 10 was like three minutes left, you know, they couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn and they just kind of gutted themselves out you know, playing records team who you got that first time that went in a long time. First time parents in a long time we really over there building a good foundation but they you know town for town here said more town but you know, eventually that one at the very end but I again you know lucky Houston, Syracuse match. It’s a pickup to me. You know, I think the kinds of if you think can take advantage and get to the hole, they should win this game because I don’t think they can shoot the ball that well. But I think they’re well coached in the Calvin Sampson. So it’ll be a good game.
Santiago Leon 17:28
One team that we were hoping to be the Cinderella Winthrop did not do a the loss against Villanova. Villanova. Hey, they’re in the sweet 16
Ryan Christa 17:42
Yeah, I mean, that was the kind of the consensus was pick went up in that first round against Villanova. And well Villanova kind of dongmei went up in the air they go they play upstart North Texas who will be Purdue in the first round and they dominate them. So you know, Villanova is making all those experts. You know, experts look bad here. So, again, I’ve mentioned our best player Billy Gillespie, but still, I mean, what they’ve done. I know not against namebrand teams and went up in North Texas, but they they’ve dominated both those games and has even been close. We
Santiago Leon 18:15
got a question about Alabama, Maryland. But that will be in our prediction segment of the show a little bit later on. So Ryan, obviously on the South and Midwest region we got Houston Syracuse, Oregon State Loyola, Chicago or Roberts, Arkansas Villanova and the hailer University is looking good so far.
Ryan Christa 18:44
Yeah. Okay, you know,
Santiago Leon 18:49
who do you have going to the well, we’ll go into the predictions a bit later, but it looks like your Will you go for your predictions? Had Illinois go in the national championship? They’re out.
Ryan Christa 19:01
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I didn’t say common Yeah. I kind of fell in love with Illinois like the rest of the country did you know they’re playing so great. And as usually if you’re playing good going into March you usually gonna carry it I mean, on attornment but again, run into that buzzsaw. I do feel good about Baylor. I know they played very well yesterday against Wisconsin. So do
Santiago Leon 19:23
you think now the Illinois out do you think they’ll make the national championship?
Ryan Christa 19:29
Yeah, I they said I doesn’t mean that well, especially when you’re looking at well, who is left in this tournament? You know, they’re going to have to fall but who knows? I mean, San Diego. I mean, you’re looking at again today in a second round of 14 verse 11. It says anything can happen.
Santiago Leon 19:50
Abilene Christian, that’s another one that they upset a Texas
Ryan Christa 19:54
so what a great San Diego I would Yeah, I go. I’ll talk about Then there. But yeah, Baylor when we’re saying the first two games, they just they’re flexing their muscles are good team. They’re showing why at one time, they’re undefeated and really cruising. We had a couple of hiccups at the end of the year, but I don’t foresee them losing. But that doesn’t mean they won’t lose.
Santiago Leon 20:19
Then Abilene Christian.
Ryan Christa 20:21
Yeah. So that was, you know, again, kind of like the same idea where you got this private school, you know, within the state and getting a play like the major State University. There’s a lot of pride in the line, because, you know, all those guys probably want to play for Texas, you know, they wanted to be recruited by Shaka smart, and they did it. And they kind of play that chip on their shoulder, you know, the way they can wrangle from that game was the camera was so high, and you could really see the size differential was crazy in between, but I’m not you know, that. The Wildcats Evelyn Christian or passkey, they, they forced turnovers I made, you know, Texas very uncomfortable, they made a lot of crazy layups to stay in it. And then, you know, you’re up by four, you know, it seems like for eternity here in the last couple of days, and in Texas, last minute game, you know, has a two and a three, and they go up by one and 14 seconds left. And I mean, like, wow, you know, it’s over, you know, but there you go, you know, they get to the, you know, it gets hit a cop, you know, they forest, you know, the text of the block was shot, which leaves somebody wide open for a pullback, and that we’re getting fouled guy, you know, 56% follow shooter drills to 3.2 $3. You know, it’s kind of made for movie event there, you know, again, he I really think they UCLA, you know, the way they’re playing. There’s two games, you know, against Michigan State and what they did against BYU, they should win this game. But they can say anything against you know, his or Abilene, you know, I can Oh, Robert Sue, who does carry that momentum into the in this game, and it plays with that chip on their shoulder.
Santiago Leon 22:00
And another team that was not surprisingly, but Ohio been Virginia.
Ryan Christa 22:06
Yeah, it seemed like, you know, for 30 minutes, Virginia was holding their own, you know, running in a form and then they just they lost it. You know, Ohio just keeps on coming out to come into a great offensive team, you know, Chris bowl, Jeff, Jeff balls, I’m sorry, the coach of Ohio, you know, former Ohio player themselves, you know, spent a lot of years with San Mateo, Ohio State, really, you know, has taken hold of this program. And I think they’re going to be a force to reckon with because he’s building something special there. And Athens is just so ironic, you know, you got a chance for Ohio to go to the sweet 16 while Ohio State is out. So the the finance of these, you know, smaller schools in the States, you know, going farther than the big state schools is interesting.
Santiago Leon 22:57
Well, there you have it. That is a little bit of the recap of what happened this weekend. Let’s look forward for predictions. Are you ready, Ryan?
Ryan Christa 23:05
Let’s do the San Diego
Santiago Leon 23:07
currently as we speak, I was up 4138 against the Oregon Ducks Who Who do you think will come up up top?
Ryan Christa 23:15
I see that fine game people if you got a chance to turn on your TVs right now what you know up and down if you like offensive basketball, these two teams that play great offense, and don’t think much about defense but probably the team that gets enough defensive staffs in the second half. I always go if you got the best player in the court, pick them and that’s Iowa.
Santiago Leon 23:34
I will hot guys okay. Number eight Oklahoma versus number one Gonzaga? Can there be a shocker there? No,
Ryan Christa 23:41
I hope not Santiago, you know,
Santiago Leon 23:43
you can’t afford
Ryan Christa 23:44
that dagger. No, no, no, no. And again, if Gonzaga plays away they should I don’t you know this is the best team in the country. doesn’t mean they’re gonna win the championship doesn’t mean somebody is not going to rise up one night and they have a bad night. But everything’s even and I think I’ll go home Have a good day I go to have to take a real estate back in Oklahoma would have to play great which they did against Miss Missouri but you know, Missouri is not Gonzaga, so I’m going to go the Zags
Santiago Leon 24:13
can Abilene Christian do another upset but this time against UCLA number 11.
Ryan Christa 24:19
I you know, I the way that the Bruins have played you know they came in limping. So this is a fairly you know, you got let’s just say you silly comes in, loses I think of five straight games for last regular season games. And then the first game in the conference tournament, and, you know, common sense says no, there this team is not gonna advance you know, and then you guys seem like Illinois playing hot. But they got to in a place and they found themselves and I think they find themselves into the sweet 16.
Santiago Leon 24:54
And they will.
Ryan Christa 24:55
Yeah, I think so. But don’t don’t doubt the pesky nests of adults. Christian Wildcats
Santiago Leon 25:01
right you got to be risky here i think i think a Abilene is a freebie.
Ryan Christa 25:09
I will I’ll cheer for them Sandy. I just don’t think they’re gonna win.
Santiago Leon 25:13
Okay, I’ll give you that number 13 Ohio versus number five Creighton
Ryan Christa 25:20
I craigan you know, anybody that, you know, into this guy, you know, barely bidding us UC Santa Barbara, but you know, going against this pesky Ohio team. I’ll take you on a chance I’m gonna take a chance and we’re gonna go Ohio in this game.
Santiago Leon 25:36
Ohio is a very good risk you can take elet number eight number LSU versus number one Michigan sec versus big 10
Ryan Christa 25:46
here’s an here’s a hint you know, I mean LSU kind of flexing muscles against St. Bonaventure on Saturday. show what kind of outfits they have. I mean this is going to be a close game I did again Michigan’s just well coach you got a lot of great players. I’m gonna go with Michigan but I do expect this game to come down in the final couple minutes.
Santiago Leon 26:10
That sounds exciting. I’ll be watching it if you say so. The Colorado buffaloes versus Florida State University Seminoles number five is a four be close one
Ryan Christa 26:20
yeah it should be called a scam you know when a few times at the boat the five and the four wins the game I can see again this game you know both teams a you know streaky and other go through moments like that for us they open the game against UNC Greensboro thought they’re gonna crush them on they have UNC Greensboro come back you know make that close at the end Colorado really just dominated Georgia Georgetown from the beginning and I again I think this game will be very physical they’re opposed to good defensive teams. So I’ll be low scoring but I’m gonna go Florida State
Santiago Leon 26:55
Florida State the knows the game of the day maybe Maryland versus Alabama. Justin Riley says the terms are a slow paced team can Alabama overcome that?
Ryan Christa 27:08
Oh, absolutely. You know, I think I think Alabama I played a very passkey Iona team who probably I think should have been more of a 1314 c but because of COVID issue they didn’t get a lot of games and I think they’ll be you know, again can they got the game you know if they shoot better cuz I think Alabama will shoot better in this game than they did against. I own it. I think you know, I think Maryland played the best game they possibly could against UConn. So I think
Santiago Leon 27:38
tide we’re rolling this game. And Justin Riley says Herb Jones is playing great basketball right now and so is Javan quinnen. Lee. They are the difference for Alabama. We need john Petit
Ryan Christa 27:50
Herb Jones. Herb Jones is a difference maker. Kind of he’s the engine that makes that makes that team run you know that either great defensive player raising. I don’t know if he’s the best on the team. He is you know by the best rebounder but what he does little bit of everything. He is just kind of a Swiss Army knife or the Alabama
Santiago Leon 28:15
and finally late night game number six USC vs number three Kansas Jayhawks Ryan, is it worth to stay up late for this?
Ryan Christa 28:25
Oh, yeah, I mean, the interesting to see I think USC Evan Mobley. Although, you know, Kansas, kind of skated through the first game, you know, that, you know, they kind of got pushed, so I you know, I’m not sure if they’re probably a team that’s been affected the most by COVID issues. So with while still being able to play, I got to go USC in this game. I think that it does lead to more balanced.
Santiago Leon 28:54
And there you have it. That is the final of the second round. There’ll be finalized by the end of today. Sweet 16 begins this weekend. So
Ryan Christa 29:04
who do you have? Who do you have Who do you think’s gonna win this game as we’re talking Oregon, Iowa are gonna
Santiago Leon 29:10
go for the ducks. I like, I like the ducks. I think they have a good chance. They’re well rested. And they’re up 5246 right now doesn’t mean that’s gonna, you know, gonna be continuing, but let’s go for the ducks, man.
Ryan Christa 29:24
Yeah, I mean, what do you got guys? I mean, could be, you know, I think they’re playing streaky. And I was writing the high hand of Luka Garza right now 24.2 points or four points. I mean,
Santiago Leon 29:38
and we’ll read
Ryan Christa 29:39
the record, but I mean, he’s pushing his way to 40 points today, but it’s an NBA game right now. San Diego, you know, the type of points you know, I college basketball, NBA basketball, I think they’re barely the same game rather than they’re both trying to put the ball in the hoop. But yeah both teams are very you know, they push the ball they get shots off within you know the first 10 to 15 seconds was definitely our I was a lot more obviously frontcourt oriented with Luka Garza. Geez, this is this is a fun game to watch. Hopefully, more of that today. San Diego, who do you have? You still think Gonzaga is gonna win. championship? Oh
Santiago Leon 30:24
my Lord. Dude, let’s see what happens against Oklahoma map but not really I think. Yeah, man, there’s a clear favorite. I guess Baylor might be the like the second but it’s not saying much. But yeah, Gonzaga is still the clear favorite. Is it gonna be a walk? No, of course not. But what do you think?
Ryan Christa 30:44
I think I think zag got it. But I think what we’ll see is we’re gonna see the predictable ending of the Zags winning but with a whole lot of drama in between with an arrest they’re trying to manage i i think i was just astonished. You know
Santiago Leon 30:59
what the number two teams won the national championship is open. is wide open now.
Ryan Christa 31:04
Yeah, I like I said you could literally get the two teams we thought were the two best teams in the country all year and Baylor and Gonzaga but all heck breaks loose because everybody else is so close. With you know, I look at Baylor yesterday, San Diego, I think Wisconsin played a heck of a game and they still lost by 13 points. Interesting. Um, that’s just how good I think Baylor is when they’re good. And I think that’s Oklahoma could play a great game today. And lose by 15 ways. And I don’t know they could end up pushing the dagger to the limit today. You know, again, I mean, how many times has Gonzaga been pushed this year? You know, 00 they’re down by 12 to BYU last weekend a champ of the West Coast championship game and But before that, literally though. Last time they were pushed in the game was against West Virginia, back in Madison Square Garden. Or mini Annapolis. Excuse me, but I was in December so I have no idea what to expect, you know, but I just don’t i don’t know how what else is going to happen but I do expect Baylor and Gonzaga to make it to I will talk between them and see what happens. Yeah, you know, as we go along.
Santiago Leon 32:19
Ryan, you gotta stop the madness.
Ryan Christa 32:23
Yeah, yeah. I you know, I embraced the madness. Maybe not my production, Santiago, but I do as funny. As I keep on taking against the upsets, I chair for them. I love the stories you love meeting people and march in the sense of, you know, teams and players you’ve never heard of, you know, because, like in football, were force fed, you know, the news and the major teams well, especially in college basketball. The, the difference between the main, you know, the high majors and mid majors is not much and that’s why you have so much more parody in in college basketball than you do in football because he only takes a couple of good players and that can really flip the switch.
Santiago Leon 33:06
There you have it. Ryan is our bracketology just here at the sports cast and Poll Question of the day. What is your favorite team from West Virginia? The mountaineers West Virginia State, West Virginia. United or West Virginia black bears and their baseball team.
Ryan Christa 33:28
I mean, I don’t really know much about the other three teams other than West Virginia University you know as I’m gonna go pick them.
Santiago Leon 33:37
West Virginia is winning by the way. So
Ryan Christa 33:39
yeah, I San Diego FYI. If you ever go to West Virginia University sports game, I think is a big thing across the whole state. But you have you have to get a pepperoni roll. That’s like a that’s like their trademark when you go to a mountaineers game is you have to get a pepperoni roll.
Santiago Leon 33:56
I will take it I’ll take notice of that. I think I’ve been through West Virginia one time. And and the laws against Syracuse this weekend. So yes, food. We’re foodies. We’re both foodies and definitely try it out when you go to West Virginia. Ryan crystal, what is the best way to reach you to talk to you about the post game between Oregon and I was gonna say VCU but um, Oregon and I want
Ryan Christa 34:22
to sue in San Diego for VCO fans out there, too. Yeah, Mad Dog report on Twitter. You know, we’ll see what happens you know, today, you know, it’s an idi sitting out here on my front porch here took the day off of work to celebrate college basketball.
Santiago Leon 34:40
And guess what our sports guest contributor Darrell has I will win the whole thing.
Ryan Christa 34:47
He’s He’s probably sweating right now after this first.
Santiago Leon 34:50
Hey, you know, sometimes you got to sweat it out to win it anyway, so you can reach us at the sports cast dotnet or at the sports cast one for the latest and greatest and This Wednesday we have Chandler Krista. Maybe Ryan can hop onto that call, and we’re gonna begin fleshing out some more March Madness because it’d be a couple days off before this weekend. And of course, you know, hey, we’ll see what happens at the end of the day cuz it’s gonna be getting crazy. Quite maddening. But absolutely, anyways Ryan, any closing words anything else we need to look out for today or this week?
Ryan Christa 35:25
Now, guys, take taking the basketball, enjoy it appreciate, you know, being here, you know, it may not be the way we we thought and No, and I guess we’re all holding our breath that you know, COVID doesn’t take away you know, some, you know, a dream season of like a Gonzaga or Baylor so
Santiago Leon 35:47
what happened with Liberty versus Oklahoma State?
Ryan Christa 35:51
Oh, yeah. So yeah, so our liberty flames are San Diego they gave a great effort Friday night. Afro wise was on the roof, you know, busted our butts but uncared characteristically just turned the ball over so many times San Diego. Yeah, y’all every led by three and a half was second half you know, Oklahoma say done said we’re better athletes. We’re going to take you on one on one and you know, there really was nothing Liberty could do about it, you know, outmatched, Jake. They made some you know, does not match athletically and that’s going to happen you know, good coaching by Oklahoma State and that to recognize you know the mismatches and take advantage of it. No same as San Diego I think this is just shaping up to be the greatest year and liberty sports I know they didn’t win an NCAA Tournament game. But remember football team 10 and one between football and basketball they haven’t lost a home sporting event you know in almost two years and that’s doing literally no you know, that’s this year with having a really no home field advantage but just you know, pride and protecting the mountain San Diego baseball team designed 11 game winning streak at one time the soccer team was ranked in the top 15 softball is playing well field hockey i think is number five in the country. You know so far sir. The team good things are happening on the mountain for liberty athletics and make it into March Madness. So
Santiago Leon 37:12
that’s something else anyways. I gotta go. I gotta go get ready for this second half of the Oregon, Oregon game against Iowa. Anyways Ryan, thanks for coming out to the sports guys.
Ryan Christa 37:25
God bless everybody.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
