Episode 297
March Madness, Coach Tony Bozzella
Hosts Mike Guidone and Chris Caputo discuss the intricate dynamics of college basketball, particularly in light of the recent NCAA tournament. The guys engage in a thorough analysis of the surprising upsets witnessed during March Madness, with a notable focus on the astonishing defeat of Duke by UConn.
Late, the guy's welcome Tony Bozzella, head coach of the women's basketball team at Seton Hall University. Tony shares his insights on the challenges faced during the past season, the implications of injuries, and the strategies for improvement moving forward. With an emphasis on accountability and setting standards, Coach Bozzella’s reflections provide a profound understanding of the complexities inherent in coaching and team dynamics in collegiate sports.
Takeaways:
- The show highlighted the significance of March Madness in college basketball, emphasizing its unpredictability and thrilling moments.
- Coach Tony Bozzella discussed the challenges faced during the season, including injuries and the need to establish team standards moving forward.
- The conversation explored the evolving landscape of college sports, particularly the impact of the transfer portal on recruiting and team dynamics.
- Hosts Mike Guidone and Chris Caputo emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards for athletes, drawing parallels to their own coaching philosophies.
- This episode provided insights into the strategies coaches employ to motivate their teams during high-pressure situations, particularly in the context of tournament play.
- The hosts reflected on the changing dynamics of college basketball, including the significance of coaching decisions in pivotal game moments.
Transcript
The views expressed in the following program.
Speaker B:Do not necessarily represent those of the staff, management or owners of wgbb.
Speaker C:Live from the WGBB studios in Merrick, New York, this is Sports Talk New York.
Speaker A:From beautiful Merrick, Long Island, New York.
Speaker A: FM: Speaker A: That's: Speaker A:We're going to have some open phone lines in the second half hour of the show.
Speaker A:We last couple of weeks have had a virtual bevy of guests, coaches.
Speaker A:We're going to have another coach on to start tonight.
Speaker A:But before we get to any of that, Cap, welcome back.
Speaker A:And some amazing sports stories today and some amazing shots and we're going to hit them all.
Speaker D:Well, we wanted March Madness and I guess we've gotten a little bit of that, especially on the men's side as tonight we saw Duke go down to UConn in incredible fashion.
Speaker D:I'm sure if anybody out there was watching it, you probably screamed as UConn hits a shot.
Speaker D:There was a couple of shots from earlier in the tournament where Kentucky had a similar situation.
Speaker D:They were able to hit a shot.
Speaker D:But it's been a fun time as March Madness brings us about that.
Speaker D:And you know, it's cold weather but for one day we also did have opening day baseball that was pretty decent weather.
Speaker D:And the Yankees have gotten out to a real hot start playing out in San Francisco.
Speaker D:Mets take two out of three, win the series.
Speaker A:Yeah, I guess that's, you know, we're going to hit a lot on the Mets and taking two out of three, I mean, should have been three out of three.
Speaker A:But why, you know, at this time of year we can't get too upset.
Speaker A:But still a couple of things I know you're gonna rant about later on, you know, people complaining about getting to and from Citi Field already and, and all the work around there.
Speaker A:What do you, Yeah, I find I,.
Speaker D:I think that Citi Field is going to be like this for a multitude of years because the projects are not going to end and this is just going to be aggravation for a lot of people.
Speaker D:And you know, you're going to take mass transit, you're still going to hit issues, you're going to drive there.
Speaker D:The going to tell you you can't park in a certain lot.
Speaker D:There's a Lot of construction going on there and we'll have to see, you know, what adjustments they make because some of the main parking lots are only for vip.
Speaker D:And then if you have to park far away and you're paying an inorgan amount of money, people are not going to be happy.
Speaker D:So we'll see.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's interesting because not to get ahead of ourselves, but, you know, everyone's been screaming for years to develop that site, develop that area.
Speaker A:It's finally happening, but it's inconvenient and it's just going to be that way.
Speaker A:Very shortly, we're going to have Seton hall basketball women's head coach Tony Bozzella on.
Speaker A:We had him on last year.
Speaker A:He was a great guest, class guy.
Speaker A:We're going to talk to him.
Speaker A:Everything basketball from Seton hall to the women's tournament to the men's tournament, to Nil, money to all to even Mets, because he's a huge Mets fan.
Speaker A:So we're very excited to have him on.
Speaker A:You know, Cap, I'll tell you what.
Speaker A:Last week or two weeks ago, we had Scott Cross on from Troy University for the second year in a row.
Speaker A:And within a week, he becomes the Georgia Tech head coach.
Speaker A:Yep, that's.
Speaker A:That's moving on up.
Speaker A:And good for him.
Speaker A:He deserved it.
Speaker D:Went from Troy University up to Georgia Tech.
Speaker D:You know, a lot of these guys that we've had on and made a name for themselves, obviously High point, won a game, came close to winning a second one.
Speaker A:Coach Clayman, he was, he was, he was a viral meme for a while with his postgame and good for him.
Speaker D:And he did say a lot of the things that he told us two weeks ago.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:And Mike, that has to do with the fact that it's hard to get games.
Speaker D:And it's not just them.
Speaker D:And I think that is a bone of contention.
Speaker D:But I don't know what the answer is going to be because you can't force people to play people that are so called mid majors.
Speaker D:If you're a high major team.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:And I just think it's just going to come down to they're going to have to take the games they can get.
Speaker D:You know, if you're new to Division 1, you're probably going to get a game against a high major team.
Speaker D:Reason being is you're new to Division 1.
Speaker A:Exactly.
Speaker D:But if you're a mid major and you've established yourself and you can hit threes and you got young kids.
Speaker D:Well, I don't know if I want to schedule them that Year because the only thing that we could do is lose.
Speaker D:That would be bad.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's a tough question and it really, it fascinated me.
Speaker A:And that's why we were, you know, lucky enough to talk to each one of those coaches.
Speaker A:But right now we are joined by the head women's basketball coach at Seton Hall University, Coach Tony Buzzella, Coach Mike and Chris here on Long island, thanks for joining us tonight.
Speaker B:My favorite spot in the world, Long Island.
Speaker B:Mike and Chris, nice to talk to you guys again.
Speaker B:And as you guys all knew, I grew up in Glen Cove and lived in Center Reach and Dix Hills and has still a special place in my heart.
Speaker B:So I'm honored and thrilled to be on this call.
Speaker B:And wow, what a game that Duke Yukon game was, wasn't it?
Speaker A:Well, you know what?
Speaker A:I was, unfortunately, I was in the car on the way down to the studio.
Speaker A:I stayed until about, I guess there was four minutes ago.
Speaker A:And I listened to it.
Speaker A:Yeah, just that's what makes, you know, March basketball probably the best thing there is going.
Speaker A:Wouldn't you agree with that?
Speaker B:100%.
Speaker B:And you know, the one game, winner take it all format means so much.
Speaker B:I mean, you know, when they get to an NBA game seven, all they talk about is how great it is.
Speaker B:Well, we have six, six game sevens through this whole tournament in order to win it all.
Speaker B:So it's really hard.
Speaker B:You know, it's a hard tournament to win and, you know, it's why it's the most exciting sporting event.
Speaker D:Coach, I put yourself in that situation where your team's down 19 in the first half.
Speaker D:How does a guy like Danny Hurley, and I know it's the men's game, but let's make some comparisons over to your side on the women's side.
Speaker D:How does a coach keep his team involved in the game so much that they, that they have a shot with, let's say 120 to go down by four.
Speaker B:I mean, it's just, it says a lot about the character of their players, first of all.
Speaker B:And you have to have great leadership and obviously, you know, they have some great, great, you know, basketball players are great college players.
Speaker B:And you know, we get down that we're not trying to catch up all at once.
Speaker B:So, you know, if you're down 19 and there's 20 minutes to go, like we say, let's just win each minute by a point and then we'll win by one.
Speaker B:So we just try and break it up or let's get to the first media down 15 and let's get to the second media down 10 and break the game into, you know, mini games because, you know, if you're trying to get it all at once, you can't.
Speaker B:But, you know, UConn, he's such a great coach, obviously.
Speaker B:We all know that.
Speaker B:But, you know, what he's instilled in their program is still, even as we just finished our 13th year at Seymour, we're reestablishing what we want and what is expected.
Speaker B:And even in this world of transfer portals, we're not going to, you know, we didn't do a great job this year, you know, holding everyone to a standard, and we have to get back to that.
Speaker B:And at UConn, there ain't no question with the standard is.
Speaker A:Yeah, we're just going to mention that to you, Coach.
Speaker A:So you go 19 and 13 this year, 12 and eight in the big east, you know, certainly nothing to shake your head at, but as you're saying, it sounds like you're a little disappointed with, you know, how things shook out.
Speaker A:And when you talk about getting back to your.
Speaker A:Your baseline of your.
Speaker A:Of your team, if you can talk a little bit about, you know, just your season overall and, you know, your feelings on moving forward.
Speaker B:And thank you again for letting me share this.
Speaker B:You know, we won 19 games, finished third place in the Big east first Timor Conference, point guard, February 1st to an ACL, and had eight kids get injured during the games and not be able to finish the game.
Speaker B:So, you know, it's been a challenging year, but even through all of that, we had ourselves in position to still get in that large and still finish 15 and 5 in the league.
Speaker B:And I think, you know, that probably could have gotten us right there.
Speaker B:And we didn't.
Speaker B:We didn't, you know, execute properly.
Speaker B:Our standards weren't met, starting with the head coach not holding them accountable to the standards they need to do.
Speaker B:And I was spoiled.
Speaker B:Two years ago, I had Faith Mathonis on the team.
Speaker B:Amari White, a 50th senior on the team.
Speaker B:They ran the team.
Speaker B:I literally.
Speaker B:I mean, this is a compliment.
Speaker B:I drove home every day happy, and this year, I drove home every day bewildered.
Speaker B:Yeah, and, you know, I'll take responsibility on accountability.
Speaker B:We had really good kids.
Speaker B:They're fine kids, but they needed to.
Speaker B:To be led better, and they needed to understand our standards.
Speaker B:So we've already started with that.
Speaker B:We usually give them the spring off from workouts.
Speaker B:We will be starting workouts tomorrow.
Speaker B:We returned seven of the possible 12 players that could have returned.
Speaker B:And we're very Excited with that.
Speaker B:You know, the kids that are coming back are really committed and are very good players.
Speaker B:And then in this day and age, we also have five freshmen coming in.
Speaker B:So we have 12 kids already on our team for next year, which is way ahead of most people, and two of the top 70 players in the country in high school that are coming in and Shamira and Nea.
Speaker B:So we're really excited when that season one at six three.
Speaker B:So we brought in some good size.
Speaker B:Our staff did a great job of recruiting them and I think we learned a valuable lesson.
Speaker B:And you know, listen, we're not trying to rebuild it from seven wins.
Speaker B:We won 19 games, made the postseason again and finished third place in the Big East.
Speaker B:So we just got to raise the base.
Speaker B:We got to raise the, we got to not even raise the standard.
Speaker B:Guys.
Speaker B:We have to make sure they all understand the standard and we have to keep the standard where it was.
Speaker B:And we didn't do a great job of that.
Speaker B:And we will.
Speaker B:So, you know, we're going to be very good next year and we're excited for that.
Speaker D:Again, we're talking with women's basketball coach at Seton Hall, Tony Bozzella.
Speaker D:Tony, last year we talked, you told us that you were helping along with some of the rules and regulations and says this year, under the proposals, women's basketball transfer window would open the 6th through the 20th of April, which is much later than it was last year.
Speaker D:The current transfer windows allow after the conclusion of the second round of the men's and women's and then stay open for 30 days.
Speaker D:And also I think it says something about if a school announces a new head coach hire, there's a five day period for the new coaching staff and current players to meet.
Speaker D:After that, there's 15 days to notify the school if they're going to enter the transfer portal.
Speaker D:You've said that.
Speaker D:Seven players coming back, five new coming in.
Speaker D:How do you know that these players are definite to not enter that portal?
Speaker D:And what do you think of the new changes?
Speaker B:Fantastic questions.
Speaker A:We had that memorized.
Speaker B:You know, I've tried to, you know, do this.
Speaker B:So this transfer portal window is a big, a big thing.
Speaker B:And being on the wbca, we want everyone's opinion.
Speaker B:Unfortunately, everyone doesn't want to give their opinion until after the rules are put in place.
Speaker B:That's really disappointing.
Speaker B:It is.
Speaker B:And you know, we have our convention this week and you know, I'm speaking on a bunch and you know people are going to get upset with me, but it's true.
Speaker B:Everyone Deserves an opinion.
Speaker B:Everyone deserves the right to say something.
Speaker B:Say it before we put the rule into a second night after.
Speaker B:So here's the situation.
Speaker B:We had a lot of people that felt it wasn't fair for the teams in the suite 16 of the NCAA, the suite 16 of the BIT, and the suite 16 of the NIT, 48 teams still playing.
Speaker B:And then you open the portal window.
Speaker B:So what we did was it was sort of a compromise.
Speaker B:We waited till the end and cut it to 15 days.
Speaker B:So we're really still ending the portal window earlier than what we ended it last year by probably four or five days.
Speaker B:My thing, to be blunt, is I want to reduce the portal windows five days.
Speaker B:All these kids know on the first day of the portal whether they're going in and out.
Speaker B:It's like NDA, the agency, if we all remember, like, or NFL free agency.
Speaker B:The first day of the agency, everyone's signing all the contracts.
Speaker B:How can that be?
Speaker B:Because they were all negotiating.
Speaker B:That's what's happening now.
Speaker B:So we've met with all our players and.
Speaker B:And basically we said to our players, this is what we can give you.
Speaker B:This is what we expect to have coming back in your position and financially, this is the package we can offer you.
Speaker B:We want an answer before the portal opens.
Speaker B:Because when the portal opens now, you're at risk just like everyone else.
Speaker B:So if you're still thinking of what you're doing when the portal is open, I'm bringing kids in, and they might get better deals.
Speaker B:They might, you know, whatever.
Speaker B:So we met with everyone.
Speaker B:We asked for their word.
Speaker B:Now, they could go and change their word, but we don't expect that.
Speaker B:We do have a good culture and a new understanding of Seton hall.
Speaker B:And five of the kids, whether through our choice or their choice, decided to that they want to enter the portal.
Speaker B:And seven of them through, you know, both our choices have decided to stay.
Speaker B:So at least we have a baseline there and five classrooms.
Speaker B:So we don't obviously need a lot of kids in the portal.
Speaker B:So we're relying on them being honest.
Speaker B:But I don't foresee that as an issue right now.
Speaker B:And I said to them, there's an advantage to knowing what you're doing before the portal opens.
Speaker B:For those of you who are leaving, yes, you can't contact other schools, but once everyone knows you're out there, you can release it through an Instagram story or something.
Speaker B:Then, you know, the first day of portals, everyone's allowed to talk.
Speaker B:Now everyone also has representatives, as we know.
Speaker B:So those representatives are Fishing around and getting what it, you know, what the greatest opportunities are for these kids.
Speaker B:So that's one, two.
Speaker B:Getting back to your days.
Speaker B:The days are shorter because we started 15 days from the end of April, end of the Final Four, but I want to reduce it to five days.
Speaker B:We don't need to know who's not on our team or on our team on April 20.
Speaker B:We need to know as soon as the season ends basically what we have.
Speaker B:So maybe April 10th.
Speaker B:And that's my next push, to be honest with you, because no one needs 15 days to decide if they're going in the portal.
Speaker B:Everyone knows now if they're going in or not.
Speaker B:I mean, who are we kidding?
Speaker D:They're not traveling.
Speaker D:So basically, coach, if you have seven returners and five freshmen coming in, you're not going to be hitting this transfer portal is kind of what we're hearing from you.
Speaker B:Oh, we're going to.
Speaker B:We're going to hit it for three kids.
Speaker B:We know we need a four player.
Speaker B:There's no question to everyone graduating or young kids.
Speaker B:We want to bring a four player in and we'd love to bring in one more, you know, ball handling, scoring, wing guard, whatever it may be.
Speaker B:And I don't know if we'll finish the third spot or not.
Speaker B:It'll depend on who's available and who's not.
Speaker B:We definitely want a four player.
Speaker B:We feel if we get the four player that, you know, can contribute right away, then we have a chance to be, you know, top three in the league and we'll get it.
Speaker B:I don't know who it is yet, but we'll get it.
Speaker B:Our staff does a great job.
Speaker B:And last year in the Portal, we brought in Mariana Valenzuela, who was the first Seymour Conference player.
Speaker B:She was fantastic for us.
Speaker B:And we brought in Jordana Cody, who became a starter and, you know, had a good year for us.
Speaker B:So we did well in looking at, you know, people up front last year and, you know, we'll do the same this year.
Speaker B:But what we didn't want to do, I'll just finish.
Speaker B:What we didn't want to do is have to go in the portal and need seven or eight kids.
Speaker B:That's when you panic and that's when you don't know what you're doing.
Speaker B:So that's why we always bring in four to five freshmen.
Speaker B:So we know we have a base.
Speaker A:That, I mean, that seems just so sound and such the way to go.
Speaker A:Because, you know, as you mentioned, trying to get your philosophy and the baseline once Again of your program.
Speaker A:And if you're doing it with seven, eight transfers, it's got to be almost literally impossible.
Speaker B:It is, it is.
Speaker B:And you know, everyone's like, well, you'll never be able to keep five freshmen from year to year.
Speaker B:And there's no question we brought five in last year and we kept three.
Speaker B:So like, you know, I wish we kept all five.
Speaker B:But you know, the two that are leaving are, you know, leaving for, you know, great kids, just more playing time.
Speaker B:And that's okay.
Speaker B:There's nothing wrong with that.
Speaker B:And they'll be able to get even a better opportunity than they got out of high school because they're coming from a big east program, so they'll benefit from that as well.
Speaker B:And then the three freshmen that we're keeping, I think will all, you know, continue to either have contributed or contributed in a much bigger way next year.
Speaker B:So we're really excited with like, I think, you know, it's something that we can really, you know, build on and do.
Speaker A: So back in: Speaker B:I think both.
Speaker B:Understanding is one, but believing it, you know, it's different.
Speaker B:And you know, we talk about, you know, you don't want to sound like an old man, you don't want to sound like you're.
Speaker B:But listen, I think the kids should be compensated.
Speaker B:There's no question about it.
Speaker B:My issue is not with the compensation or perception of the portal.
Speaker B:The thing that would solve a lot of problems and bring stability to this sport is the one time transfer rule.
Speaker B:You're allowed to transfer one time.
Speaker B:After that, you still can get a scholarship, you still can get nil or health settlement money, that's fine, but you're going to sit out and like that's what we need because it's unlimited free agency every year.
Speaker B:That's not fair.
Speaker B:And people, again, this is a Jay Billis thing.
Speaker B:This is not the same as a coach being able to leave.
Speaker B:There's 40 coaches that leave, 20 to 25 by someone else's choice and 15 by their own choice.
Speaker B:Really look it up.
Speaker B:There's about 15 coaches that are leaving by their own choice, either going to get another job or retiring.
Speaker B:25 Have been fired.
Speaker B: coaches is not equal to: Speaker B:So you can't say that.
Speaker B:Secondly, if I were to leave tomorrow to go anywhere, I would have a large buyout.
Speaker B:These kids are leaving.
Speaker B:They should.
Speaker B:You want to, you want to make it equal and give back the $90,000 of scholarship that you just took?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And they know so what would solve this whole problem?
Speaker B:They still get compensated and everything is just a one time sit out rule.
Speaker B:If you transfer, you could transfer once, no problem.
Speaker B:But the second time, you still get a scholarship, you still get your nil, you still get your house settlement, you get whatever you want, but you're going to sit out, work on your game, work on your academics and get better.
Speaker D:Coach, we're going to change it up.
Speaker D:The women's basketball has gotten called in for some post game press conferences, including Felicia Legit Jack from Syracuse.
Speaker D:I'm sure you heard a little bit of what she said.
Speaker B:And I did.
Speaker D:I went back and looked it up.
Speaker D:2019, She was at Buffalo.
Speaker D:They were 710 seed.
Speaker D:They got sent to the 2 seed.
Speaker D:UConn won their first round game against Rutgers.
Speaker D: How to play UConn: Speaker D:They were actually a 6, excuse me, a 6 seed playing at 11.
Speaker D:UConn was a 3 and then this time they were in the 89 game and had to play UConn.
Speaker D:What's your opinion on whether or not the, the NCAA is placing her in UConn each year?
Speaker D:And do you think she's just trying to lay the groundwork that next year or the year after she doesn't have to go back to UConn?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I know Felicia really well and that's what she is doing.
Speaker B:She's laying that groundwork, which is very smart.
Speaker B:I've been to ansel by tournament three times with Liu.
Speaker B:Once went to the UConn regional with Seidon, twice went to the UConn regional.
Speaker B:So three times for me, in my, you know, 25 plus years of coaching Division 1, we've gone to UConn but a different committee each year.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker B:Now you keep saying people, but what she's trying to do, and I understand it geographically, they keep sticking her closest to UConn when, you know, and it seems weird because Princeton doesn't get in that bracket and they keep getting shipped.
Speaker B:So it's weird.
Speaker B:So I think she's trying to lay the groundwork and I understand the frustration.
Speaker B:Listen, we play UConn two to three times a year.
Speaker B:It's very frustrating, you know, and she's, you know, and she's trying to, trying to, you know, say, listen, we're, we're thankful to be in the tournament.
Speaker B:We're thankful to win games.
Speaker B:But you Know, it's really difficult and it is.
Speaker B:So I think there's a little frustration.
Speaker B:She's laying a little groundwork.
Speaker B:I understand where she's coming from.
Speaker B:You know, certainly I've been in the Anziwa tournament three times and I've been to UConn's bracket all three times.
Speaker B:So, you know, it is frustrating.
Speaker B:But you know, I'll go to UCONNs bracket next year.
Speaker B:If you put me in the tournament, I'll be great.
Speaker B:If we're good enough to earn a spot, I should.
Speaker B:I will go to Yukon's bracket.
Speaker B:But you know, I just think you're right and you're one of the first people that have said it, but you're 100, right.
Speaker B:She's just trying to lay the groundwork, that's all.
Speaker D:But coach, you're not going to be sent to stores for the first two rounds, are you?
Speaker D:Because you're.
Speaker D:You're in the Big east with them.
Speaker B:We couldn't go there because we're in the same league.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker D:But you know, after that we have the second problem we can talk about, which is what coach Auriemma brought up and that is when you get to these next rounds where you're playing again only in two sites instead of four sites, which some people are upset about, but I think they're going to keep.
Speaker D:He's complaining about these rims being a little tight and people are shooting the ball a little bit weak.
Speaker D:Do you think that's a problem with some of these sites where maybe they're using brand new rims and brand new.
Speaker B:Basketballs and the wbit and we're fortunate that WBIT you played it, you know, the first three rounds at home sites.
Speaker B:So you're not going to change the rims or the nets, but they give you all the new basketball and they tell you to play with them.
Speaker B:And I'm not going to lie to you.
Speaker B:We were.
Speaker B:We both teams get to practice with them and shoot around and we got it in shoot around and I'm like, this is like, you know, one of those ping balls you used to throw in the air.
Speaker B:And it was.
Speaker B:We did.
Speaker B:We had to take the air out of all the basketballs.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker B:And really try and fight them.
Speaker B:And then, you know, our opponent came in srs, Missouri and we were basically like, you guys, you know, really bang these vegetables into the ground, you know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I don't know what.
Speaker B:I think this will put an end to it.
Speaker B:But you know, the two regional site is not a good thing.
Speaker B:And we've Just signed on for five more years.
Speaker D:No, you didn't.
Speaker B:We were really.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:We're really disappointed at WBCA that we weren't consulted more because the two regionals, first of all, the sites are very difficult to get to most of the time.
Speaker D:Yep.
Speaker B:Secondly, you know, the tennis is horrific.
Speaker D:Oh yeah.
Speaker B:I mean it's so bad.
Speaker B:And you know, someone else brought up, Coach Gately brought up.
Speaker B:Oh, you know, maybe we're at the stage right now where the first two rounds can't be at home sites.
Speaker D:Nobody will show up.
Speaker B:Nobody.
Speaker B:And again, everyone else understand this is a business.
Speaker B:We're giving out units now.
Speaker B:We're paying for everyone's travel.
Speaker B:We're doing all these things.
Speaker B:We can't continue to hemorrhage money and lose it.
Speaker B:You have to have the first two rounds at home sites.
Speaker B:It's not an option.
Speaker B:Like you would get nobody at these games if it was, if it was that.
Speaker B:So you know, I understand the frustration, but it is a business and we're fortunate now that we're getting units and we're getting all these things.
Speaker B:With that we have to give in a little.
Speaker B:And I think where we're giving in is home sites in the first two.
Speaker B:And I do think we need to go back to four regionals.
Speaker B:But we're not for a long time because they just signed a five year deal.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:Because you know, Gino's talking about how with, with two regionals you got to have so many teams at one place.
Speaker D:His team had a practice at 6:20.
Speaker B:In the morning and they had to do another day.
Speaker B:They had to do a press conference at 7:30 in the morning.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's ridiculous.
Speaker B:It's just, it's not.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker D:Well get you on some of these committees that actually say something before they make decisions and hopefully the right people will make the right decisions.
Speaker B:We're trying.
Speaker B:And I just got put on the board of the wbpa.
Speaker A:Oh, congratulations.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:Last spring.
Speaker B:So I'm excited for the next few years to help everyone out.
Speaker B:Coming from low major, mid major and then in a major now.
Speaker B:I do think I will represent everyone well and stuff.
Speaker B:And that's one of the things we're fighting for.
Speaker B:We have a great president, Jose Fernandez, and a really good group.
Speaker B:Danielle Donahue, our executive director, really understands, you know, the challenges that women's basketball goes through.
Speaker B:So she's doing a lot of, I think Lynn Holtzman now with the NCAA is much more open.
Speaker B:The NCAA is much more open now with Lynn Holtzman to listening us.
Speaker B:So we'll get it fixed, but it's going to take a little while.
Speaker B:Like, you know, we're working on a lot of different things to make things better, from the net rankings to the quad rankings.
Speaker B:We're going to get all that fixed as well.
Speaker A:Coach, we would be remiss if we didn't congratulate you on achieving your 555th victory as a head coach on the collegiate level.
Speaker A:Just speaks to, you know, the.
Speaker A:What you.
Speaker A:What you do as a person, as a coach, I mean, that's just it.
Speaker A:And that's outstanding achievement.
Speaker A:I know you're going to be very humble in how you approach it, but congratulations on that.
Speaker B:I appreciate that.
Speaker B:And as you know, I'm being former coach and everything, or coaching still.
Speaker B:It's about the assistance and it's about the players.
Speaker B:You have to have great players.
Speaker B:And I've had some amazing players and amazing people and their passion.
Speaker B:Had a great group of parents that have really supported us and been there.
Speaker B:So, you know, those parents have been great.
Speaker B:And then, you know, my staffs have been great.
Speaker B:From, you know, my first staff at Southampton to all the sacrifices they made at Iona to sacrifices we made at Seton Hall.
Speaker B:I mean, you know, I just.
Speaker B:I'm very, very blessed and I'm lucky.
Speaker B:And my administrators.
Speaker B:I only had, like, four ads from Mary Topping at Southampton, John Suarez at liu, Pat Lyons at Seton hall, and now Brian felt.
Speaker B:I've really only had, like, four ads.
Speaker A:That's amazing.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, Gene Marshall was there for a year or two at Iona before I left.
Speaker B:He was great, too, but, like, not many at all.
Speaker B:So I think I've had five total ads.
Speaker B:How crazy is that?
Speaker A:That's amazing.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Yeah, I've been lucky.
Speaker A:Well, I.
Speaker A:Listen, I.
Speaker A:You know, I learned firsthand when I was at Malloy coaching against you at Southampton, what.
Speaker A:What your teams were like.
Speaker A:The.
Speaker A:Just the cohesiveness.
Speaker A:And you can tell.
Speaker A:You can always tell when you play a team, what they're like on and off the court.
Speaker A:You know, how they care about each other.
Speaker A:That leads to my next question.
Speaker A:So at Southampton, you start your first year, three wins, and in two years, you got 17 wins on the board.
Speaker A:You go to LIU Brooklyn for two years, and you win 34 games.
Speaker A:Do a great job there.
Speaker A:You get to Iona, complete rebuild.
Speaker A:One win your first year, and then within three years, you're at 17 wins.
Speaker A:What's the special sauce?
Speaker A:What's the.
Speaker A:The magic to taking over these programs that are really, you know, struggling or kind of on the brink and getting Them, you know, over the hump to the best they can be.
Speaker B:What.
Speaker A:Where do you start when you have these rebuilds?
Speaker B:I think you start with, you know, bringing a staff together that's going to believe in you 100% and believe in the thing and then setting a standard.
Speaker B:And that's why I disappointed in myself this year.
Speaker B:You know, I was so spoiled from the year before with Omari and Faith.
Speaker B:They basically ran the team.
Speaker B:I didn't have to do that much in terms of upholding a standard.
Speaker B:It was upheld every single day.
Speaker B:And this year, I, you know, I unfairly, you know, let the kids, you know, try and enforce it, and it wasn't fair to them.
Speaker B:We didn't have the experienced kids to do it, and that was on me.
Speaker B:We had a captain that tried to do it, and she was great, but, you know, that was on me.
Speaker B:So, basically, it's funny you say this, and again, you know, we've been friends a long time and you know how much I respect you.
Speaker B:I said to our staff, we had a meeting after the season.
Speaker B:I go, congratulations to all the brand new coaches here at Seton Hall.
Speaker B:They looked at me, I go, we're starting from the beginning again, starting from scratch.
Speaker B:The same standards are.
Speaker B:We're going back to how we did this when we played, and they were so excited, and they were so like, yes, that's how we're going to do from, you know, we're going to start.
Speaker B:We're going to do individuals again.
Speaker B:Now we're going to go back to, you know, you know, doing what we used to do we called night shoot, which we would shoot the night before wherever we were on the road.
Speaker B:Then we'd go get ice cream and stuff.
Speaker B:And we had gotten away from all that.
Speaker B:We're like, well, the kids are tired, or it's a new group of kids and they don't want.
Speaker B:No, no, no, no, no.
Speaker B:We're going to go back to doing it the same way we rebuilt all these programs and fostering team bonding and team togetherness and getting to know each other better and not just allowing certain things, things to just, you know, be passed by because, oh, you know, it's just a different group.
Speaker B:It's a different way of life.
Speaker B:No, let me get back to doing it the way we did it.
Speaker B:And that's why I'm so excited and confident the next year.
Speaker B:So as you go in and you rebuild the program, you set the standard.
Speaker B:So basically, I told our staff, congratulations, we're the new coaches at Seton hall, and we're going to start from there.
Speaker B:So you led me into what we're doing this year.
Speaker B:We're going to get a standard, a base.
Speaker B:Everyone's going to understand what we're doing as a staff.
Speaker B:We have to really put in a lot more focus on just doing things the right way, whatever it may be.
Speaker B:Fixing the chairs after a press conference like I've been watching.
Speaker B:Getting back, please.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:Respect.
Speaker B:We're getting back to all of that and enforcing it and really setting it as a standard and not just asking them to set the standard.
Speaker B:We have to set the standard.
Speaker B:And, you know, we're excited.
Speaker B:I feel like I'm brand new.
Speaker B:The brand new head coaches.
Speaker A:Fantastic.
Speaker D:Good start.
Speaker D:So, coach, we got a couple of teams left in the women's bracket.
Speaker D:Obviously you've played one of them in UConn a couple of times.
Speaker D:And they're going to face off against either South Carolina or tcu and UCLA will play either Texas or Michigan.
Speaker D:Michigan, their highest ranking ever.
Speaker D:Kim Barnes.
Speaker D:Rico came from Long island area, went out there and has done it there for about 13 years now.
Speaker D:Can you give us a feel as to what you think going forward?
Speaker B:With six teams left, Kim's done a great job.
Speaker B:You know, Adelphi, I'm.
Speaker B:For a long time, yeah.
Speaker A:New Jersey Tech.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:She's been great.
Speaker B:And they have a great group of young kids that she was able to keep together, which is very important.
Speaker B:You know, they're certainly going to be challenged by Texas.
Speaker B:Correct.
Speaker B:And here's the thing.
Speaker B:If Kim's going to win this game, she's going to have to make nine to 12 threes, which they're capable of making because Texas only averages four threes made a game.
Speaker B:Kim's got to find a way to combat Texas pressure, defense and inside scoring and the scoring of Booker as well.
Speaker B:So how can she do that?
Speaker B:Well, our team is capable of making nine to 12 threes.
Speaker B:If they can make 10 and hold Texas to their average of four now they have an 18 point advantage and that might be enough for them to win the game.
Speaker B:If they don't win that three point battle by a lot, they have no chance of winning that at all.
Speaker D:Okay.
Speaker D:And you think UConn pulls it, pulls it out in the end?
Speaker B:I do.
Speaker B:You know, I mean, playing it's them as often as I do, knowing their program as well as I do.
Speaker B:First of all, they're marching out the best player in the country.
Speaker B:They might be marching out the second best player in the country and they're certainly not marching out one of the top 10 players in the country in Keones.
Speaker B:She is a fantastic player.
Speaker B:And, you know, coaches told me from last fall when I called him, I said, which one are you?
Speaker B:Freshman.
Speaker B:I mean, vote for coach.
Speaker B:Freshman of the year.
Speaker B:No, it's not close.
Speaker B:Go for Blanca.
Speaker B:I'm like, I don't even really know who she is.
Speaker B:He goes, you will.
Speaker B:And, you know, he kind of just brought her along slowly like he did with Strong last year, you know, I mean, you know, Strong didn't explode, really until the NCAA tournament, you know.
Speaker B:Now can they be beat?
Speaker B:Yes, because they've been inconsistent shooting the ball.
Speaker B:The size of UCLA could give them a problem.
Speaker B:The physicalness of Texas could give them a problem.
Speaker B:And the athleticism of South Carolina could give them a problem.
Speaker B:You know, also, TCU has a great backcourt in their two guards, so, you know, maybe that gives them a problem.
Speaker B:I do think UCLA size or the physicalness of Texas.
Speaker B:And Texas would have to maybe make seven or eight threes in that game.
Speaker B:Texas cannot beat them by only making three or four threes.
Speaker B:They just can't.
Speaker B:Like you.
Speaker B:Can I make enough more threes?
Speaker B:They just gonna do it.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And, you know, I know they only made four a couple games ago, but it's not.
Speaker B:It's very rarely gonna happen.
Speaker B:So, you know, I think it'll be Connecticut.
Speaker B:You know, I'd like to see UCLA a little bit under this pressure and see what happens.
Speaker B:You never count out South Carolina.
Speaker B:They're athletic, they're tall.
Speaker B:You know, they throw in 7, 8, 9.
Speaker B:So we think it could be Connecticut as well.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker D:Great breakdown.
Speaker A:Coach, before we let you go, we know you're a big baseball fan, big Met fan.
Speaker A:What are you thinking about the Metsys this year?
Speaker B:It's great.
Speaker B:I'm so happy you asked me non basketball question.
Speaker B:And I took a lot of lessons from this.
Speaker B:So we won 19 games, finished third.
Speaker B:You know, a lot of people would be very thrilled with that, and we're not.
Speaker B:It wasn't the way the standard of.
Speaker B:So last year, the Mets had the best record.
Speaker B:The first two months of the year, they had a, you know, a great start, a horrific finish.
Speaker B:Everyone's like, yeah, but they were really good for a while, so let's roll.
Speaker B:He's like, no, David, Stan's like, I'm not rolling back the same thing that happened.
Speaker B:Well, that's us.
Speaker B:How can we sit there and roll back either the same players or the same way?
Speaker B:I coach the team.
Speaker B:That's doing a disservice like, you know, the definition of being an idiot is doing the same things wrong over and over again.
Speaker B:And I'm not going to do that.
Speaker B:And that's what David Stern said.
Speaker B:Listen, I love Pete.
Speaker B:He was one of my favorite players.
Speaker B:No one can complain about how hard Nimmo played.
Speaker B:Diaz was an amazing closer.
Speaker B:I mean, you know, McNeil is, you know, a gritty, tough guy, but you got to make some change.
Speaker B:You can't roll back the same group that failed.
Speaker B:And I can't roll back the same way I coached.
Speaker B:And yes, we didn't fail.
Speaker B:A lot of teams would love to finish third.
Speaker B:But in my standard and our standard, see, no, we did fail.
Speaker B:So we have to fix it.
Speaker B:And I really, I've said this.
Speaker B:If I said it five times, guys, I said it 500 times.
Speaker B:I'm following the met module.
Speaker B:Yes, it's sad a couple of our kids left.
Speaker B:It's sad that we have to, you know, do things a little differently out of our comfort line, but damn it, we're going to get this right.
Speaker B:And you know what, the methods are going to get this right.
Speaker B:Even, you know, just look at, we came back from being down in extra innings.
Speaker B:We didn't do that all year last year.
Speaker B:Or trailing going into the eighth inning.
Speaker B:You got to fix it.
Speaker B:You got it.
Speaker B:You got to take a chance, and if it doesn't work, do it again.
Speaker B:But you can't roll back this same thing that failed.
Speaker B:You just can't.
Speaker A:Fantastic stuff, Coach.
Speaker A:Again, we can't thank you enough for being on.
Speaker A:You know, you're a fantastic coach, fantastic guest, but, you know, we consider you a fantastic friend as well.
Speaker A:It's been a long time and can always count on you to come on and give us just great stuff and even off the air, just for guidance.
Speaker A:We really appreciate it.
Speaker A:Your new season starts tomorrow with your workouts.
Speaker A:You know, you said it's all new, it's all good.
Speaker A:I remember that was something you used one time.
Speaker A:I don't forget those things.
Speaker A:And just, you know, continued success and hope to talk to you soon and enjoy the off season.
Speaker A:I know there's really no much, no such thing anymore as an off season, but when you do get a little downtime and don't have to reflect on everything, just, you know, just know that you are just one of the best out there and we can't thank you enough.
Speaker B:It means a lot to me for our friendship through the years.
Speaker B:You do a wonderful job.
Speaker B:You know that I'd love to have anyone out there in your listening area, fans, coaches that want to come to a workout and then we have obviously our practices starting in June.
Speaker B:Anyone's welcome to come, we'd love to have you.
Speaker B:We always buy lunch and you know, you're welcome to join us and we'd love to have you.
Speaker B:Anyone who wants to come by, just send me an email.
Speaker B:And anyone's welcome to practice and I appreciate all this.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker A:Absolutely fantastic.
Speaker A:Let's go Seton hall and let's go Mets.
Speaker A:Have a great rest of the evening, Coach, and we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker B:Thanks, guys.
Speaker A:And guys, Absolutely.
Speaker A:Coach Tony Bezella once again, just fantastic stuff and we'll break down what he said in just a little bit.
Speaker A:But we're going to take a quick break and we'll be back with a little bit more on Sports Talk New York.
Speaker C:You're listening to Sports Talk New York.
Speaker C: FM and: Speaker C:And now back to the show.
Speaker A: FM: Speaker A: It's: Speaker A:And Cap, you know, we had a big story here in the, in this area with St. John's had had a great season, came so close to upsetting Duke.
Speaker A:I mean it was really such a, such a pick em game late and they have nothing to hang their heads about.
Speaker A:You know, talk a little bit about your thoughts on, on St. John's but also, you know, you know, with, with Duke being upset today, I know we can talk forever on the perception that Duke gets every call and that they're, you know, the blue bloods and all this other stuff.
Speaker A:But let's, let's start with a little St. John's and then get into Duke.
Speaker D:So St. John's goes out and loses a tough game.
Speaker D:He loses a five point game to Duke in a Sweet 16 game which Mike, the ticket prices in D.C. were out of control because you're getting that.
Speaker D:Plus UConn, Michigan State, people Definitely wanted to be there.
Speaker D:Heartbreaker.
Speaker D:That game was like, you know, one team's up 10, then they're down 10, then they're up 10, and, you know, come down the stretch.
Speaker D:It's.
Speaker D:It's a close game and a chance to.
Speaker D:For people to win.
Speaker D: that's going to run past the: Speaker D:And I think they're happy with the way St. John's is going to.
Speaker D:And I think St. John's with that win, probably, you know, plays UConn another time.
Speaker D:And then, you know, you never know what happens.
Speaker A:They kind of had their number towards the end of the season.
Speaker D:I still think one of the problems with St. John's was, was.
Speaker D:Was hitting three pointers and, you know, they brought some guys in this year, but I didn't think those guys like, like Sanan, I don't think he did much.
Speaker D:It was because they played tough defense.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker D:Let's be honest.
Speaker D:You had a guy by the name of Edge of Four, you know, brought this team wherever they needed to, to bring him.
Speaker D:He was the heart and soul of this team.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker D:And I think they're going to be losing a lot, which means guess where they're going to be hitting.
Speaker D:The transfer portal.
Speaker A:Exactly.
Speaker A:Kind of reminded me, you know, I'm going way back.
Speaker A:But Patino's first year with the Knicks, you know, he had a lot of talent, but he played press, pressing basketball.
Speaker A:And that was not, you know, in style in the NBA, you know, obviously get done in college.
Speaker A:But even on that level, at that point, it messed people up.
Speaker A:You can see now so many teams are not used to being picked up full for the entire game.
Speaker A:You know, Nolan Richardson, years ago at Arkansas, he used to call it, you know, 40 minutes of hell.
Speaker A:And it really is.
Speaker A:I mean, that wears you down.
Speaker A:You have to be in tremendous shape, number one to do it.
Speaker A:But it, I think almost, you know, maybe Duke today, they were so worn out mentally from that game that they coughed the ball up in some really, I don't want to say easier spots, but with hardly the pressure that they saw before.
Speaker A:So kudos to St. John's for, for what they do.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:And, you know, that doesn't work at the NBA level.
Speaker D:It's.
Speaker D:It's a college thing that you can pull off and high school thing that you can pull off and press people and cause turnovers and win games ugly.
Speaker D:But I think one of the things that, that Pitino is getting some criticism about is the fact that the team came back by trying to find spark plugs and Zubi Ejafor, Ian Jackson, Dylan Darling, Bryce Hopkins, you know, even Dylan Mitchell was hitting some shots for them.
Speaker D:But, you know, the key there was Reuben Pray came in and scored, you know, hit four threes on four for four shooting, and basically sat the final 20 minutes of an 80 to 75 loss.
Speaker D: I think he came out with like: Speaker D:So here's my thing.
Speaker D:I understand that coaches have a situation where they want to play certain guys in certain spots.
Speaker D: n they get to that, you know,: Speaker D:And you're looking at an iPad, right?
Speaker D:But at some point you got to look and say, this guy's causing havoc on defense, getting a block, you know, diving after loose balls.
Speaker D:He said four threes in a situation where normally he wouldn't.
Speaker D:Didn't normally play, and I don't have the exact stats, but didn't normally play more than 22 minutes a game.
Speaker D:Okay.
Speaker D:Didn't normally score more than about six, seven points a game.
Speaker D:All right, he's got 12 points.
Speaker D:In a game like that where it's close or your team's falling behind, don't you stick with that spark plug a little bit more.
Speaker D:And I think, you know, coaches are going to have their spots.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker D:But at some point you got to change it up.
Speaker D:Even if that means sitting down, you know, Hopkins for a few extra minutes or playing three bigs and.
Speaker D:And only two guards for a little bit, you gotta be a little bit more changing of the times instead of being so rigid.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's a great point.
Speaker A:You know, I think coaching in general, but especially basketball coaches, it's about trust.
Speaker A:It's about who you trust in the spots.
Speaker A:And there just must have been something that, you know, no matter how hot he was, that Riccatino didn't trust about him being on the floor in those moments.
Speaker A:But I agree with you.
Speaker A:You know, you're going to have these masterful performances at times that you don't expect.
Speaker A:And while that's happening, I mean, give.
Speaker A:Give that player the benefit of the doubt.
Speaker A:To go as far as they can and then take, not sit them and say, okay, let's see if you can create this magic later on, you know, if and when we need it.
Speaker A:It's so fascinating.
Speaker A:That's why I think basketball is just such the greatest game to coach, because strategically it's amazing.
Speaker A:It's unlike anything else.
Speaker A:You know, baseball, you're playing the same plays, you make some changes in pitching, whatever else.
Speaker A:Football, you're pretty much playing go until they're injured.
Speaker A:There's nobody that, you know, all of a sudden kind of breaks out of there.
Speaker A:Although it does happen from time to time.
Speaker A:But these are the questions that, you know, you'd love to ask.
Speaker A:You don't get a chance to, but, you know, if he's signing a contract extension through 20, 30 and, you know, becoming close to the highest paid coach, I think he's probably just right behind Danny Hurley.
Speaker A:And understandably so at this moment, he's.
Speaker A:He's got something going, right?
Speaker D:Yeah, he did a lot of things right.
Speaker D:But I think it's okay to.
Speaker D:To question.
Speaker D:I'm not saying you're sitting there, you know, ripping someone apart.
Speaker D:I think you're just questioning the fact that you had a hot hand and you just, you didn't stick with it.
Speaker D:You know, sometimes it's a senior, sometimes it's a freshman, sometimes it's a guy that's a sophomore that just normally gets six minutes a game for you.
Speaker D:And it doesn't mean you keep them in for 10 straight minutes.
Speaker D:But you can't go 16 minutes without putting a guy in that's hit four threes for you.
Speaker D:Especially in a game where you're going to need that size.
Speaker A:And then ask them to come in super late and do something.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:With 30 seconds to go at that point, I think it's tough.
Speaker D:The second part that has been coming up is Duke getting a lot of the officiating, played Siena, and at some point, I think Mike, the fouls were something like 14 to 3.
Speaker D:It finished up, I think, 16, 10.
Speaker D:Sienna didn't take the ball to the basket much.
Speaker D:They were playing outside, shooting out of their minds, own the game.
Speaker D:They were up 11 at the half, which shows me that Duke has a chance to be beaten by somebody.
Speaker D:TCU, the fouls were 19, 15.
Speaker D:You know, you got to give some of that.
Speaker D:You know, Jamie Dixon was just totally out coached and I think he was, you know, trying to hang on to every bit, every moment there.
Speaker D:And then the, the next game, 20 to 13, and then this last game was 17, 16 in the UConn.
Speaker D:But I think that, you know, in a certain situation, Duke is going to get that extra call.
Speaker D:Does John Shire deserve it at this point in his career?
Speaker D:I don't know, but the kids play hard.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker D:And the reputation follows them.
Speaker D:Are they getting a couple extra calls here or there?
Speaker D:I would say so.
Speaker D:I think that for the most part, they're going to get a couple of extra calls going to the basket, and I think they're getting away with a couple of extra contacts underneath the basket.
Speaker D:Is it the reason why they win?
Speaker D:I don't think so.
Speaker D:I really don't think so.
Speaker A:I agree with you, too.
Speaker A:Plus, you know, they.
Speaker A:They're the type of team with Cameron Booza, they play inside out a lot or even, you know, perimeter, but with him with the ball and then.
Speaker A:And then diving down.
Speaker A:So when teams are switching out, they do.
Speaker A:They attack the rim and they know how to draw fouls.
Speaker A:I mean, it's.
Speaker A:You know, I think that's kind of forgotten in some of these things.
Speaker A:They'll pick up two or three extra fouls on getting someone in the air and kind of jumping into them or leaning.
Speaker A:They're just.
Speaker A:They're smart kids and they're.
Speaker A:They're coached smartly.
Speaker A:Not that UConn, you know, is not coached, you know, silly.
Speaker A:I mean, they, they.
Speaker A:They're.
Speaker A:They're on a whole nother level, I think, in terms of just as.
Speaker A:As Tony Bozzella mentioned.
Speaker A:Just, they're.
Speaker A:They're never give up.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And just they.
Speaker A:No matter what the score is, they're just coming and coming at you.
Speaker D:I think the men's game is more susceptible to having a team come back from down 20 than the women's game, because I think at some point, much better, they're just going to run away with it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker D:But there's a team out there who I think is.
Speaker D:Is dominating once they go up, and that's Michigan, you know, once they see that they can just, you know, choke you in the throat and hold you down, they're gonna.
Speaker D:They're gonna come after you.
Speaker D:And I think if.
Speaker D:If they have a bad shooting night, that's when the other team has to have their best shooting night.
Speaker D:And that might happen in the next round.
Speaker D:But I will say the cream is rising to the top in the men's game.
Speaker D:I thought that Duke should have been in the final Four.
Speaker D:You know, let's be honest, they threw the ball away today, didn't need to advance the ball over midcourt up two with 10 seconds to go and you know, some of the young mistakes happened and now you're going to have a Final Four that includes two ones, a three and a two.
Speaker D:But I think it should be a fun.
Speaker D:I think people are going to be glued to the TV to watch Michigan against Arizona.
Speaker D: ibly for the first time since: Speaker A:That's, that's great.
Speaker A:That's an unbelievable stat.
Speaker A:I had seen that the other day and it really makes no sense, but it is, it's going to be, it's going to be a great Final Four and it always is.
Speaker A:And as we said before, it's the preeminent sports tournament.
Speaker A:Whatever you want to say, I mean, super bowl is great, seven game series are wonderful, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball.
Speaker A:But there's nothing like a Final Four because it's just like we saw today at the end of the UConn game.
Speaker A:Anything can happen and it can go from heartbreak to just sheer Joy in a 30 foot jumper.
Speaker A:And who knows, just to switch gears here a little bit, we started to talk some Mets before Tony came on and we spoke about, you know, the challenges of getting into Citi Field this year and with all the changes that they're having done there.
Speaker A:And it's, you know, it's ultimately going to be really nice.
Speaker A:If you're a casino person, you're going to be thrilled.
Speaker A:If you're not a casino person, well, that's understandable as well.
Speaker A:But the area there, you're not going to deny because if you go around, you know, going to Atlanta where they have that battery, which is just blocks of housing and restaurants and bars, it's all about the team, it's all about the experience.
Speaker A:And, you know, great for that.
Speaker A:The Mets don't have that.
Speaker A:Yankee Stadium has, you know, in a very different way.
Speaker D:Very different.
Speaker A:Yeah, very different.
Speaker A:But they have the restaurants and the bars that have been there forever and it's just a different vibe.
Speaker A:Citi Field doesn't have that.
Speaker A:And, you know, hopefully before I'm in the great beyond, I can experience that a little bit.
Speaker D:Yeah, I think it'll be the final straw when it's all said and done.
Speaker D:It'll, it'll be a nice ballpark.
Speaker D:You just hope that the ballpark stands up by that point and it's doing its job.
Speaker D:You know, obviously casinos bring certain clientele in there.
Speaker D:And you know, could be some good and some bad.
Speaker D:They're going to have to build hotels.
Speaker D:They're going to have to.
Speaker D:You can have a soccer stadium that's actually coming up pretty close.
Speaker D:You could see that thing start to develop.
Speaker A:They put the final beam in place today.
Speaker D:Oh, really?
Speaker A:Yeah, that should be cool.
Speaker A:That, that should be really good.
Speaker D:You know what, the parking though is just going to be really tough.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, traffic, I guess.
Speaker A:You know, the train is the way to go if you, if you can do it.
Speaker A:And there are a variety of ways to do it.
Speaker A:So, you know, that's, that would be our, our take on that team wise.
Speaker D:Product on the field.
Speaker A:Well, I got to ask you a quick before we get to kind of the.
Speaker A:This is more of like the salacious angle here.
Speaker A:So it's opening day and they have made a bunch of changes and Juan Soto is introduced and he comes out and he, he gives Bichet a hug and, and he goes to Francisco Lindor.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:A little, little pound.
Speaker A:And then he goes Carson Benz.
Speaker A:Hugs.
Speaker A:So there's all these things, you know, they don't like each other and, and you know, they couldn't get rid of Lindor and all that.
Speaker A:You buy any of that?
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:Okay, I do.
Speaker A:I do too.
Speaker D:But I think winning cures all that stuff.
Speaker D:And last year there was just.
Speaker D:Wasn't the winning.
Speaker D:So what do you then look upon?
Speaker D:You look upon the fact that there's problems in the clubhouse, that these guys aren't all best friends and that's okay.
Speaker D:You know, Sterling Marte can be friends with Juan Soto and they're still happy.
Speaker D:Luis Robert Jr. Can work in the off season with Soto and he can hang out.
Speaker D:It doesn't have to be that every guy hangs out every single night.
Speaker D:Jeff McNeil doesn't have to be, be best friends with Lindor.
Speaker D:Okay.
Speaker D:We got rid of some of that bad meat, so to speak, and it's going to be what it is.
Speaker A:Two years ago, the team was so tight and, and just was a team of destiny and homer and they just looked, you know, with OMG and all.
Speaker A:And they just, they just had fun last year.
Speaker A:It looks pained.
Speaker A:It looked kind of, you know, too.
Speaker D:Much of a job.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And it just looked like when there were these, you know, there weren't a lot of comebacks late in the late.
Speaker D:Well, let's be honest, Mike.
Speaker D:Literally there were no walk offs at home.
Speaker D:So therefore, you know, this team's not coming back when they're down.
Speaker D:So to have that early on, I think Is good.
Speaker D:You know, should they have lost yesterday's game?
Speaker D:Probably.
Speaker D:And they came back to win, should they have won today?
Speaker D:Definitely.
Speaker D:And I already have an issue with the third base coach.
Speaker D:If you're going to send them, send them every time.
Speaker D:But you can't in a situation where the tying run is going to be at third base and the winning runs going to be at second base with nobody out.
Speaker D:Send a guy who is going to be out on a bang bang play.
Speaker D:It's just not worth it.
Speaker D:With the middle of your lineup coming up and you wind up getting pretty much two sacrifice flies.
Speaker D:Is it going to play out that way?
Speaker D:I don't know.
Speaker D:But I think you got to put people in the right situations and I think a quick conversation between Mendoza and the third base coach needs to happen.
Speaker D:You know, you need to make sure that everybody's on the right page so when you're in these tight situations, you're not putting a bad one.
Speaker A:Because basically the entire coaching staff for.
Speaker D:The most part was they're all new.
Speaker A:They're all new guys.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So they, they should.
Speaker A:I mean, I love Mendoza in terms of his.
Speaker A:He never really gets on anybody.
Speaker A:He's very player friendly, he's good with his staff.
Speaker A:But there's got to be a time maybe from every now and again where he says, yeah, that was a bad.
Speaker D:Decision and the Mets have to start winning these close games.
Speaker D:You can't get into the situation that you were in last year where now it's like we can't come back at.
Speaker A:The end of games because that gets in your head.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:And if you start winning those games, you start getting in your head the right way.
Speaker D:And the Mets have to stay out of these extra ending games because they don't have a good enough bullpen at this point.
Speaker D:You had to put in Sean Mania today who's eventually going to be a starter for them.
Speaker D:You've used Richard Lovelady twice now.
Speaker D:I mean, at some point you got to go out and find yourself a better net.
Speaker D:You don't need three lefties in the bullpen and you don't need all these extra arms that are not going to help you.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker D:It's good to see guys like Jonah Tonga at aaa, you know, pitching okay.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think there's, I think he had a great first start innings.
Speaker D:Nothing across the board, which I think is good.
Speaker D:But Mike, the bottom line, the bats have to come through and Boba Shed already got booed today for striking out eight times in a three game homestand.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And in fact, he.
Speaker A:There were.
Speaker A:I believe he didn't strike out eight times last year until the 15th game of the season.
Speaker D:Oh, yeah, he's brought in for risp.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker D:And he's not doing that, which is.
Speaker A:Strange because I'm a huge fan of his.
Speaker A:I think it was a great pickup, you know, when they had to kind of pivot a little bit.
Speaker A:And he's a professional hitter.
Speaker A:I mean, that's what he does.
Speaker A:And to struggle so much at the beginning of the year, someone said, oh, is he worried about his defense?
Speaker A:I mean, is that these are professionals?
Speaker A:I mean, is it really.
Speaker A:Is that going to be on his mind while he's at the plate?
Speaker A:Is he not giving enough time to hitting?
Speaker A:I mean, I don't know.
Speaker D:I hope he's able to turn the switch from defense to offense because his defense is not going to be great and Polanco's defense is not going to be great.
Speaker D:He's got to come off the bag for Bichette's throws.
Speaker D:That's not going to be a good thing.
Speaker D:Brett Beatty is going to play there at least once a week.
Speaker D:Tyrone Taylor is going to play at least twice a week in center field or right field.
Speaker D:So you're going to get these guys in the game.
Speaker D:Everybody's going to get a shot.
Speaker D:I think the Mets need to go into St. Louis, sweep them, kind of let St. Louis know that they're not a team to be, you know, anywhere near the playoffs this year, and turn the page and just come back home, you know, with a positive attitude.
Speaker D:And I think that's what they need.
Speaker D:You can't start the year off on a bad note.
Speaker D:So that when these bumps in the road do happen, you know that you have guys that can step up for you.
Speaker A:What do they do with Mark Vientos?
Speaker D:He has to have two good weeks and then trade him.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker D:You know, he's got to have a two.
Speaker D:Two week.
Speaker D:What's his role right now?
Speaker A:There is none.
Speaker D:You're not putting him at first base.
Speaker D:There aren't many lefties out there that he's going to face.
Speaker D:You know, when there is a lefty, you can have him be the dh.
Speaker A:Does he have any options left?
Speaker D:No.
Speaker D:That's why he's on the team, and that's why Ronnie Mauricio is not on the team, because he did have an option.
Speaker D:So I think that's the whole reason why.
Speaker D:That's the reason why Acuna is gone is because Acuna had no options left.
Speaker D:They got to a point where these Guys either needed to be on the team or they needed to go.
Speaker D:And I think they probably tried to trade some of these guys and didn't get anything for them.
Speaker D:So now they're kind of stuck.
Speaker A:And just to switch quickly before we're done tonight to the Yankees.
Speaker A:You know, we had Dave Simms on 2 weeks ago and, you know, he, he was pretty calm, cool and collected about the Yankees or the Yankees.
Speaker A:And he is right.
Speaker A:I mean, they, they're just too talented and just too focused.
Speaker A:I think they went out and I don't know if San Francisco is going to be a good team.
Speaker A:Great team, bad team this year, but the Yankees just stomped on them.
Speaker D:To me, it was the pitching because Logan Webb had one bad inning.
Speaker D:And I think anybody that pitched in a World Baseball Classic didn't come out dominant.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker D:You know, you can look at Paul Skeins, you can look at Logan Webb, you can look at Noel McLean, you can look at any of these guys that were starters.
Speaker D:They didn't come back throwing strikes and, you know, mowing through everybody.
Speaker D:So I think the Yankees took advantage of good pitching and put themselves in a good spot.
Speaker D:And I think the Yankees are going to be one of the best teams in the American League.
Speaker A:I was flabbergasted by sports illustrating picked them to be fourth.
Speaker A:Fourth in the division.
Speaker D:No.
Speaker B:What?
Speaker A:Fourth.
Speaker D:You're running back a team with a couple extra additions that won, you know, the second most games in Major League Baseball.
Speaker D:So they're going to be very good.
Speaker D:Mike, I got one last thing before we finish.
Speaker A:Go right ahead.
Speaker D:Tiger Woods.
Speaker A:Oh, man.
Speaker D:He is leaning on everyone just bowing down to what he did on the golf course, off the golf course.
Speaker D:Tiger woods is not a good person.
Speaker D:He's done a lot of things wrong.
Speaker D:And here's the thing.
Speaker D:Go hire yourself a driver.
Speaker D:You know, when, when somebody drops you off at home, don't get back in the car if you've had too many, you know, muscle relaxers or painkillers or, you know, because obviously this thing, it wasn't drinking, but his time is done as being the good guy that can play golf.
Speaker D:Probably the second best golfer ever.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker D:When healthy.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker D:I mean, but these situations is going to happen time after time after time unless he gets himself some help.
Speaker A:And it's all about his.
Speaker A:Whoever's in his inner circle, he's enabled.
Speaker A:And because he's.
Speaker A:He's been the athlete that he's been.
Speaker A:Yeah, you're right.
Speaker D:Everybody bow, dance bows down to him.
Speaker D:You know, everybody in the media, it's.
Speaker A:Got to become about him, the person, because it's.
Speaker A:It's not going to end well.
Speaker D:And I'm glad the cops are not trying to, you know.
Speaker D:Hi.
Speaker D:I know he flips his car over, but the next time that he gets pulled over for something that he shouldn't be doing, he needs to be arrested.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker D:Because he really is living on borrowed time.
Speaker D:And the next time it happens, Mike, it's.
Speaker D:Someone's gonna be injured.
Speaker D:Well, he's very lucky.
Speaker A:Yeah, he is very lucky.
Speaker A:And thank God it's not somebody else, because if that happens, then.
Speaker A:Or himself, that's.
Speaker A:That's a true tragedy.
Speaker A:And you don't want to see that happen to anybody.
Speaker A:But especially someone, you know, who's been in the public eye and been such a dominant athlete over the years, somebody.
Speaker D:Hopefully will step in and be that person for him.
Speaker D:But I don't think.
Speaker D:Here's the thing.
Speaker D:I don't think he listens to those people.
Speaker D:He goes by the beat of his own drum.
Speaker D:And that's the reason why I ranted tonight.
Speaker A:Well, it's a great rant, and hopefully somewhere someone gets through to him.
Speaker A:Great show.
Speaker A:Thanks again to coach Tony Buzzella from Seton Hall University.
Speaker A:Thanks to Brian Graves behind the glass.
Speaker A:A little different for us this week.
Speaker A:Just one caller, but we got to talk.
Speaker A:It was wonderful.
Speaker A:We'll see you in two weeks.
Speaker A:You know, enjoy the baseball.
Speaker A:There can be a little warmer weather before we hit the cold again.
Speaker B:We'll see.
Speaker A:All right, take care, everybody.
Speaker B:The views expressed in the previous program.
Speaker D:Did not necessarily represent those of the.
Speaker B:Staff, management, or owners of wgb.
