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Graydon Prescott 0:17
Hey everybody, and welcome to another episode of sports prep live, sports prep live, where we unbox the bike and talk excellent in athletics.

Welcome back to sports prep live, everybody. I am your host, great and Prescott, today we have a little bit of a recap, slash preview of the NCAA Tournament, a little bit on the men's side, little bit on the women's side. There's a lot going on. You know, men's we're in our we're in our conference tournaments. Tis the season that we find out well, who are going to be the number one seeds, the number two seeds. It's March, everybody. It's the best time of the year to be a college basketball fan, and it's one of the best times of the year to be the host of a radio show like sports prep live. And I'm really enjoying myself. The only bad thing is I have so much things that I need, so many things that I need to cover. 30 minute show is a little bit restricting, so we're going to try to get as much as we can. And I got my man, KB, here today, yep, yep, and yeah, we got a lot to cover, so we're gonna have to get through some stuff pretty quickly, indeed. All right, we'll start with the women's basketball all Americans and awards for 2025 at least, from ESPN. So these aren't the official recipients of the awards, but these are ESPN tracking who they're tracking to get these awards. Yes, I'm not mad at this list. I have a few that I'm pretty upset with. Okay, so we'll start with Player of the Year. No surprise here, Juju Watkins of the USC Trojans, my mid season pick was Hannah Hidalgo, right? But I completely understand why she didn't win, considering how Notre Dame has performed in the last month of their season, they did not close out as strong as I anticipated. So Juju Watkins for player of the year. That makes complete sense to me. She was one the Trojans went 28 and three. They're pretty much a lot tough for the number one seed. This is going to be her first player of the year, if she wins the AP Player of the Year, Naismith, player of the year, but ESPN Player of the Year, Juju Watkins, well deserved, and she was second place last year only to the greatest college basketball player in the women's sides of all time, Maestro. So great year for juju, centerpiece of the Trojans offense. And I think well deserved. I have no problems with Juju winning player of the year. So good choice there.

K.B. 2:54
I do not either. I think it's a solid pick. I do think that she may run the table on, you know the wooden Award and the Don Staley award and Naismith play of the year, AP, all that sorts of fun stuff. Her play has just been spectacular. No disrespect to Hannah Hidalgo, who I agree with you, kind of mid season, she had to be the clear favorite, even above someone like Lauren Betts out of UCLA, Lauren has played phenomenally all year long. There were a few games here and there, especially in some of those losses, where I think maybe she could have given a little bit more, or is it? Maybe it's just teams figuring out how to play her, when to run the double team, all that sort of fun stuff, but they run that at juju, they run that at Hannah, and those young women figure it out. So I think that's the thing, for me, at least that kind of takes a little bit away from Lauren Betz contention for some of those Player of the Year awards, but she's still a powerhouse player. She's going to have a great career in the WNBA when she's set to go and look she UCLA has to be, you know, one of those teams that are considered a potential NCAA champion. They're right in the hunt with the USC. I'm not sure about Notre Dame anymore. I kind of feel like they can get it done. I think if Ivy gets them turned around. But I

Graydon Prescott 4:17
think the top teams are South Carolina, UCLA USC is going to be, in their regards, an embarrassment of riches. Yeah, we got a lot of teams that UConn, of course, we got a lot of teams that can potentially win this tournament. So I'm really looking forward to it next award. We have Coach of the Year. We don't have to spend too much time on this Corey close UCLA not really a tough decision there. They were the best team at the start of the season. They are the best team at the end of the season. One, number one, other than a couple weeks stint where they weren't number one, pretty much wire to wire. UCLA was the number one team in the country. They spent the most time at number one. And and they had a season of two losses, both to USC, and they avenged them by winning the Big 10 championship. So I think right choice, Corey, close UCLA, head coach, no, no, no arguments from me.

K.B. 5:15
This will be interesting. I do think Ivy is in there with Notre Dame. No, because of their I understand that. I understand that. But just from a coaching perspective, I'm not ready to just shut this down and give it to coach close. I think USC has got to be in there. I think Ivy at Notre Dame has got to be in there. I'm not sure that this one is as open and shut as maybe some of these Player of the Year awards. You know, I think Juju is the front runner as well as Paige has played, as well as Lauren has played, as well as Hannah has played. But for me, that one is it's it's open and shut. It's Juju Watkins, player of the year, Coach of the Year. That one, for me, is a little bit more ambiguous. I'm just not sure I understand what you're saying about Coach close. It looks like UCLA is going to open the year at number one. They're going to close the year possibly at number one. But I'm just not sure about that Coach of the Year. And then if you win it, and then don't win the national championship, that looks a little crazy. So for me, the vote on that one for me is still open.

Graydon Prescott 6:18
Well, a couple years ago, Dawn Staley had an undefeated South Carolina team going into the True, true Final Four, and lost true. So Coach of the years and just to the team that wins the championship, it's, it's a regular season award won. So that's why I think Corey deserved it at UCLA. Now the argument, if Notre Dame hadn't gone on a cold streak, I would very much not agree that Corey should win the award. I think Miss Ivey at Notre Dame was a great coach the whole year, and her team went on a cold streak. That's just unfortunate. I

K.B. 6:52
hate to see that. Which would you rather have Coach of the Year or a national championship? A national

Graydon Prescott 6:56
champion, okay, okay. Like, who's more likely to win it, UCLA or Notre Dame,

K.B. 7:02
UCLA is more likely to win it, okay, but that doesn't mean that they will. And all I am saying is it's okay. You know, for you, it's Coach, close. For me, it's open, it's not closed, it's still open. All right.

Graydon Prescott 7:15
Next award is Freshman of the Year. That went to Sarah strong for UConn, yeah, this wasn't even close, really. She averaged 16.3 assists, 8.4 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Yeah, this wasn't even close. She was easily the best freshman in the country this year. I there's nothing really to say here.

K.B. 7:37
I think she will get the award as well. She's she's really tough, just you know, and to do it alongside of AZ FUD and page backers in their program, to kind of carve out your own identity, I think she's played excellent all year. She's a baller. Can't look can't wait to see how her career unfolds. She's, she's just as tough as they come. And to be in a program like that, and then to come in as a freshman and do the darn thing, you know. And they're known for it, right? Paige came in. She did the darn thing. I mean, they just have a history of stuff like that, yeah. So, yeah, I think that would be a good pick, you know. And I think she's going to get Freshman of the Year, yep.

Graydon Prescott 8:12
Then next is transfer of the Year from the Kentucky wild catch. I didn't know that was a thing, but okay, Georgia a more. I agree. I think she had, well, actually, no, I actually don't.

K.B. 8:23
Yeah, I don't. I don't know if I agree with that. TCU, I would

Graydon Prescott 8:28
give it to Haley van le. TCU, George A Moore, was great. She averaged 19 points, 42% shooting, seven assists. So she had a good year. But it's not like Kentucky is a super team right now. They're not, you know, they're not in contention for a national championship. She did win big 12 Player of the Year, and she's tough Georgia anymore. She edged out Haley van Lith for big 12 Player of the Year, which is fine, but I think transfer of the year. There should be more than that goes into that award than just your individual. It should be what you did for your team, what you do for the team, right? And that leads me directly into ESPN, biggest surprise, which is the TCU Horned Frogs. No surprise there. Pun intended, and who I think should be the transfer of the year, Haley van Lith. Now here's why. Two seasons ago, the horn frogs were one in 17 in big 12 play. Last season they this team had to hold open tryouts to fill out roster spots. Wow. They forfeit two games, and they went six and 12 in big play. So this was a really, really, really bad team with really bad luck for the last few years, they hadn't been even been to the NCAA tournament since 2010 but they sign Haley

K.B. 9:50
van Lin. Is this record a typo? And

Graydon Prescott 9:53
wow, to start the season, they were not an AP top 25 team, and they were projected to fit. Fourth in the big 12. Instead, this team won 16 of their 18 games in the regular season in big 12 play, conference play. Yes, number one seed, they win the conference tournament. They beat Baylor and at 31 and three, wow, you heard that, right, 31 and three, the Horned Frogs are going to be in the NCAA tournament.

K.B. 10:20
And I think like number eight right now, six. Oh, okay, and

Graydon Prescott 10:24
they actually, it's not a long shot. I don't think they'll get it, but they could at a number one seed. They really could. I think there's three locks, and then three other teams that could. Haley

K.B. 10:35
has impressed me this year. Yeah, the last couple of years, I wasn't that thrilled with her play. I think I just felt like she tried a little bit too hard, and then at Louisville, and that took away from her game, and then she transfers to LSU, and I think she really just got lost in that program. You know, there's a lot of guards over there. I don't think Mulkey really knew what to do with her, yeah, how to play her. And so, you know, Haley suffered as a little, suffered as a result. And then she goes to TCU, and I kind of felt like, you know, initially, like, wow, she's bouncing around a lot, but, man, she found a home, and she came in there, and she was the catalyst. 13 and three or 31, and three is impressive by any stint. I mean, that is up there with the top teams in the country in terms of, you know, a record towards the close of the season. That is outstanding. You know, I think what UCLA has two or three losses. USC has, you know, two or three losses and three, yeah. I mean, that is outstanding. That is an incredible feat for, you know, a point guard to come out there. She's a shooter, she's a lefty. She is built for this, so I'm really impressed with what she's been able to do there at TCU. And I agree with you, and that's why I said there's an there's an embarrassment of riches, with respect to the the NCAA women's game. I just have no idea who's going to end up hoisting that, that, that championship trophy, and cutting down the nets? Because there's a lot of teams that can go after it this coming March Madness.

Graydon Prescott 12:07
Yeah, and there's, there's going to be a battle for the fourth number one seed. Like I said, I think there's three teams that can get it. There's three teams that I think are a lock for number one. So my locks are UConn, UCLA and South Carolina. Those are going to be number one seeds regardless of anything else. I think those three teams are guaranteed. And then the three teams that are going to be fighting for that that second or that fourth number one seed, to me, it's Texas, TCU and USC. I think those are the three teams that will be vouching for that fourth, number one seed in the tournament, that fourth overall seed, and then UConn, UCLA and South Carolina are pretty much locks, because these are the teams that won their their conference tournaments, and UConn has just been pretty much powerhouse the whole year, and what they did to South Carolina was just on other worldly now,

K.B. 13:00
you know, and I forget who they played. I can look it up our very own UNLV women's rebels. They went into a postseason tournament here recently as I believe, a number one seed, yeah, and they laid a goose egg, so hopefully San Diego State, yes, it was San Diego State, you know, I expected them to come out on top on this one. You know, obviously this doesn't dash their hopes, but this is not a good look at this point in the season, to be a number one seed, I was thinking that maybe they would be able to make some noise in the the March Madness tournament. But I'm just not sure. Now, that loss is just not one that I expected in same with the men's side, you know, I expected a little bit more. It's strong team, you know, I'm a big fan of of DJ and, you know, I was hoping for a little bit more out of these guys this season. Now I think that, you know, going into March Madness, and I expect them to make it. You probably don't want to be you don't want to sleep on this team, on either, either of these teams, on the men's side or the women's side. I don't expect them to go that deep, but I do expect that, you know, if a team comes in and they sleep on them, sleep on the rebels, they could sting you. So hopefully we get some good things out of our hometown teams here, because they've got the talent, but they just haven't put together the number of wins that I was expecting towards the opening of the season. Yeah,

Graydon Prescott 14:34
it's great. Impressed got here on Sports prep live, and we are chopping it up about the ESPN postseason awards and what we think is going to transpire in the NCAA Tournament, both on the men's and the women's side.

K.B. 14:47
And speaking of the men's have things shifted on the men's side? Some injuries to report, no, a massive injury, no, a roll of the ankle, no, made all. The sports program, nope. They'll be fine. Rolled his ankle, they'll be fine. Cooper flag, they'll be fine. Who I believe? I think a lot of people, I'm not telling you anything that you probably don't already know. If you follow college hoops, this guy is going to be they'll be fine. The Player of the Year. I know Broome is getting some love as well. He should great player. But man, Cooper flag seems to be a train that will not be derailed in terms of the postseason awards or the regular season awards. I expect him to be AP Player of the Year, although I do expect room to be right there. I expect him to be Naismith Player of the Year, all of that sorts of fun stuff. And again, you know, shout out to Auburn. You know, Coach pearl. I mean, they are, they are doing the darn thing over there. But Cooper flag is something else. Rolls his ankle. He goes down in the game against what Georgia Tech is that? Who were they were playing? I believe they were playing Georgia Tech, roses ankle in the first half. Can't come back in the game. Is in a wheelchair. He did have a MRI or an x ray, and it came back as a sprain, but nothing serious. He's going to be out for probably a week or two, I don't know about two, but certainly out of out for a week. But man, the way that knepple is playing and some of his cohorts, I just don't think that they're gonna, they're gonna skip a beat. Yeah, that'd be fine. Yeah. The real question is, you know, again, just like we were talking about on the women's side, there's, there's quite a bit of parody on the men's side, anybody can jump up and snatch that NCAA championship. So you talk, you walked us through who you felt were your top three on the women's side, and then three others that were vying for that fourth number one spot. What do you see foreshadow on the men's side? I know UConn or not, UConn, I'm sorry. I know you expect Duke to be a number one seed. That makes all the sense in the world. And I just had a Freudian slip there just talking about, you know UConn? I just think that they've kind of fallen off. Yeah, I think there's Neely who played with Cooper flat. I think the men's side is a lot more straightforward than the women. There's a pretty clear 1234,

Graydon Prescott 17:08
and then you can go from there, men's, men's side, number one, seat to Duke, Houston, Auburn, Florida. Pretty clearly for me, Alabama is 24 and seven, their fifth, their fifth. In the country, Auburn is 28 and four. Houston, 28 and four. Florida, 27 floor for Duke, 29 and three. So I really don't see there's nobody else in the top 13 that has four losses or less, except for St John's. But come on, who'd they really play?

K.B. 17:40
What team that is not in that group? What team do you think can come up? And as teams are looking across, you know, the the the playoff bracket, and they see that team there, What team are you thinking like? Be careful. Be careful. Um, what team out there is like you? You may not want to play these guys because they may be better than their record indicates.

Graydon Prescott 18:03
There's a couple of teams like that, like

K.B. 18:06
Clemson, beat Duke, right? Is Clemson there? I mean, that's a big no, but Clemson is 27 and five, right, right? But you didn't mention Clinton as one of those top Well,

Graydon Prescott 18:16
that's because Clemson is, like, that's an outstanding record, by the way. Yeah, 27 and five is a great record, there's no doubt about it. But Clemson also lost to like Georgia Tech. And

K.B. 18:28
Georgia Tech just played Duke and lost 70 to 78

Graydon Prescott 18:33
Georgia Tech is 17 and 16. I understand that, but so when we say I'm gonna I'm gonna say Memphis actually. Okay. Now Memphis is also 27 and five, but they didn't know that they do it in a very, very lesser they do it in the American Athletic the conference conference, yeah. So this is a conference with Charlotte rice, University of Texas, San Antonio, Tulsa, South Florida, which it's kind of subpar. Yeah. So this isn't a very good conference, but I really don't think you want to see a Memphis. I don't. I don't think you want to see Memphis lined up on on the on the other side of your bracket. So that's one team I don't think. Now, their record doesn't indicate this and or their record kind of does indicate that you don't want to see them, but I feel like they're going to be slept on a little bit more because they don't have like, a six, nine demigod running around the court. You don't want to see Michigan State. You don't Whoa. You don't want to see that. I agree with that. Wow. Now I said Memphis, because Memphis actually beat Michigan State when they played in the in the Maui Invitational. But yeah, you wouldn't want to

K.B. 19:47
see these dudes. I agree. I agree that freshman over there is kicking butt and taking names. Yeah, man, we and we talked a little bit about them last week. Jace Richardson, like. Whoa, he is just as likely to give you 28 as he is to give you 14. I mean, this dude is a problem, and he is brimming with confidence, and it just it's unassuming in a way you just don't and so that's why we're kind of talking about teams that you just don't know that you want to face on the other side of the bracket. But I think that if you face Michigan State, I think teams will probably not sleep on Michigan State, but maybe the lot of the folks have been sleeping on a team like that. Yeah, you are absolutely right. Michigan State. Let me ask you about a program you know a little bit about, because they seem kind of schizophrenic to me, like earlier in the season, they were a Titan, and then mid season, they were okay. I

Graydon Prescott 20:42
know who you're talking about already. Ohio State, yes, yes.

K.B. 20:45
So you just never know what you're gonna get with Iowa State. You may get a team that knocks off a top two or top three team in the country, but you also may get a team that loses to somebody that's unranked.

Graydon Prescott 20:58
Here's my thing with Iowa State, yes. I am very torn on this team, because when they play well, at least in my opinion, when Iowa State is playing their best basketball, this is a top four team in the country, but you can't count on them to play their best Correct. Like they lost to BYU twice. They lost to Oklahoma State unranked. They lost to Kansas, unranked by 17. Kansas State, unranked by 19. Arizona by 11, unranked West Virginia, unranked. Kansas

K.B. 21:39
is another team, though, that can be potentially dangerous. They it's in their DNA. Yeah, their record doesn't indicate, I don't think it, but winning is in their DNA.

Graydon Prescott 21:48
Okay, well, I gotta see it from them, but I understand then Iowa State's also a team who, Auburn, the Juggernaut, can come onto your home floor and you end up losing the game by two points right now, the crazy thing about the Auburn game is, I will state, and this is kind of how their season has gone. Iowa State was up by 16 points at halftime when they played Auburn 16 and they lost by two.

K.B. 22:13
It that sounds like a lot of points, but, but as a basketball player yourself, you know 16 points, yeah, but yeah. But it's

Graydon Prescott 22:19
just, it's just, it's just very indicative of how their season has

K.B. 22:24
gone. I understand, but it's hard, especially at that level. It's hard in high school, against

Graydon Prescott 22:28
against a team like Auburn, yes, absolutely. I

K.B. 22:32
Yeah, that's nothing. And I'm sure in their locker room, Pearl told them, Don't even worry about that. 16 points is nothing in a college basketball game. So those are a couple teams at that juncture, at halftime. Now, if you're six, you're up 16, and it's four minutes left, and you end up losing. That's a problem, but at halftime, I don't even think anybody would count that against you. Yeah, and

Graydon Prescott 22:51
one more team where, if they get hot, they're dangerous. I think Kentucky, they're 15th in the country. It's a big name program, obviously, but, you know, they haven't had their most successful season.

K.B. 23:03
No, they have not, not, but that is a blue chip program, but, yeah, but they

Graydon Prescott 23:09
had a lot. They have a lot of guys who can get you 10 to 15. They got a couple guys that can go get you 20. And I think if, if they get hot at the right time, like we saw against Florida when they put up 106 points. If they get hot at the right time, they're going to be a relatively difficult team to knock off. When

K.B. 23:29
I Kentucky,

Graydon Prescott 23:30
they beat Duke. They did

K.B. 23:32
beat Duke. I just feel like the team chemistry is inconsistent. And maybe that is what Lee because you're right, that the talent is there. It's a blue chip program. The coaching is there, but I just don't know if that consistency of play, that chemistry, is where it should be for being a top tier program, and that's probably why they're not. They haven't, you know, they're not in the top 10 or the top five or anything like that. They need to figure that out, yeah, and because of that, yeah, they can give you a great game where they knock off, you know, someone that that that has a better record, and it's what you would expect of a Kentucky, but then they turn around and lose to somebody that they have no business losing to, and that's my fear with a Kentucky. So when I say, you know, one of those teams that you may not want to look across the bracket and see, I don't know if I put Kentucky in that that company this year,

Graydon Prescott 24:18
I just wouldn't be comfortable with a Kentucky, if they're like, if they can get hot, yeah, that's why I put Kentucky on that list. And last but very not least, of our topics of discussion here, ESPN, along with their awards, they released their list of all Americans, and I have a really, really big problem with ESPN, okay, I'm gonna start with the first team, all Americans. Lauren Betz, no problems. There no argument. She should be a unanimous first team, all American. Paige Paige Beckers, first team, all American, unanimous. I believe that, yes. And Hidalgo, first team, all American. Yeah. Nice. Got you cool. Juju Watkins, First Team All American, of course, definitely Anisa Morrow. Get her off the first team, please. It belongs to Madison Booker. Jesus. Madison Booker is a first team all American. I don't care what anyone said. Get her off the second team. Get her on the first team. Anissa Morrow has been great all year. I don't care give the first team all American slot to Madison Booker out of Texas. That's all I have to say. Madison

K.B. 25:31
Booker. Madison Booker is a Hooper. She has been balling all year. She is fearless and not to say that, and Anissa has a lot of help. Madison, to me, doesn't have the kind of help that Anissa Morrow has, and yet, Texas

Graydon Prescott 25:45
is ranked higher in Texas and beats who won when they went head to head. Yes, Texas,

K.B. 25:50
I agree with you. I agree with you. I'm a big fan of Madison. Bucha. She is a long horn that is to be watched. She is tough. You know, I know she got COVID 12 player of the year last year as a freshman, she probably should have had it by herself.

Graydon Prescott 26:07
Like, how you gonna tell me? Anissa Morrow had 10 points when they played in the SE tournament, 10 points and they guard one another. Madison had 2525 she had more than half the amount of points. LS use entire team had I don't want to hear this. Bs, ESPN, I see that you're passionate. Anissa Morrow off the first team that is Madison Booker spot. I agree.

K.B. 26:29
I agree. I don't know if that's a nod to Kim Mulkey. I don't and Anissa Morrow is not a scrub. What

Graydon Prescott 26:36
is Kim Mulkey done? But I Okay. She won a championship. Word, but I

K.B. 26:39
do agree. I'm not as I'm not as amped about it, but I absolutely agree Madison Bucha should be on the first team, and it's not even close. I don't know what's going on with ESPN over there. I agree with Lauren Betts, I agree with Paige Beckers, I agree with Hannah and obviously Juju Watkins. There's, I mean, that's got to be unanimous even Lauren Betts, I would say unanimous page. What I would say is unanimous Hannah. You might get a little here and there. Hannah is

Graydon Prescott 27:05
the most arguable. But Hannah, 123, Lauren, page. Juju, unanimous, correct. First Team, correct. Cool. Hannah, I don't know if she's unanimous. Might get a little pushback, but I believe first and first team all agree absolutely. Yes. Anise, tomorrow. No,

K.B. 27:19
I agree. No, no, I agree. I agree. I agree. I agree. ESPN, you need to recalibrate that list and put some respect on Madison Booker's name, because she is a problem in women's college basketball, and she's doing darn thing down there in Texas as a Longhorn.

Graydon Prescott 27:37
Yeah, I don't even want to hear anything from ESPN until they fix this list. I have problems with this. I'm gonna try to remain calm. I

K.B. 27:47
see Yes, yes, take a chill pill. I have appreciate the passion. But, my goodness, I have big problems with that. You were animated, but you're right. You're right. Madison, Bucha, Madison, but she should be on that list. She's

Graydon Prescott 28:00
tough. If you're telling me that you have two players and she's doing more with less vouching for a first team all American spot, let's say it any let's just call it a player, a right player, a averages 17.8 rebounds, three assists, two steals on a team that's not very good, but she makes her teammates better the 31 and two, and then Player B averages 18 points, a lot of rebounds, 14 rebounds. But when player B plays against Player A, Player B gives you 10 points and two rebounds, and Player A gives you 25 points and six. I mean,

K.B. 28:42
Anisa is no scrub, and that's that's not the argument that is being LSU

Graydon Prescott 28:47
is record great, because they played a whole bunch of nobodies in the SEC when LSU had to run up, because LSU was like, 23 and oh, well, then when they had to run up against South Carolina and they had to run up against Texas, things looked a lot different. So that's all I have to say on the matter. And with that, we got to wrap the show up. Thank you everybody for tuning into this episode of sports prep live. And please get Madison Bucha on the first team. All Americans get it right. Thank you everybody. I'll see you all next week. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of sports prep live. I'm Graydon Prescott, and don't forget to catch all of our episodes on Apple Spotify or wherever you get your podcast, and be sure to follow us on Instagram or Twitter at sports prep live. Thank you.