The Crimson Case 3.24.25 - March Madness Special

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Wvuafm, Tuscaloosa. March Madness is underway. Brackets being upset all over the place with some classic Cinderella stories as we love to see in the basketball postseason. You're listening to the crimson case on 90.7 the capstone. I'm Lydia Lisko, joined Matthew Mason and Zach Elrod. Let's discuss some basketball. Zach, why don't you take it away with some men's to start us off? [00:00:40] Speaker B: Yeah. Alabama in the first round gave me a little bit of a scare, especially going against Robert Morris. Now Robert Morris in the first half put us only. They were only up by four or we were only up by four with a final score of 40 to 36. You can thank Amarion Dickerson for that. Finished the game with 25 points. But there are a couple players I want to point out. Grant Nelson entered the game, was not expected to play at all. But Nate Oates decided to put Grant Nelson in for good reason too. And then Clifford probably had the best game of his entire Alabama career. Eight for eight from the field. Finished with 17 in the game, three steals and two blocks. And also Mark Sears doing Mark Sears things. 22 points with 10 assist. Alabama eventually gets the dub 91 to 81, only beating Robert Morris by nine points. [00:01:34] Speaker A: Now, Matthew, I don't know about you, but that's definitely a little scary for me. What should have been a very easily, I feel like blow away game for the Crimson Tide ended up being a little bit closer than we like. What's your reaction? [00:01:52] Speaker C: He had a problem with the way that that went down. As far as you know, is Grant gonna be in? Is Grant going to be out? Do you want to have, you know, just like straddling the line? Is that a problem for men's basketball teams when they have an injury? They want to kind of just play possum for a little bit. I think that's an awesome strategy is just be like, look, until we really need this guy, we're not going to put them in until we really need them. Now I will just say that that was definitely too close for comfort. They got to get that figured out though. Whatever their issue was, they got to get it figured out. [00:02:28] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't know. We can't be. We can't be having this in March. Like this is make or break and there it's really giving me heart palpitations. And as we're recording this now because we record on Sunday nights, Alabama is currently in their second game versus St. Mary's versus St. Mary. So I don't know how Are we thinking that's going to shape out? [00:02:48] Speaker B: Honestly, I hope it's going to shape out a little bit better. Obviously, through Robert Morris. I really think it was due to how we prepared for the game, the preparation beforehand, it just looked like LeBaron was all smiles and it just kind of looked. We were kind of just taking a little too sweet. We knew it was Robert Morris on the other side. So I hope we don't have that same approach coming into St. Mary's now, with that being said, I was scared, honestly, for either team, whether it was Vandy or St. Mary's I think they're too. With Vanderbilt, they kind of play more to our style, but with St. Mary's they like to play, you know, a little bit lower pace. You know, they kind of like to slow the ball down. So that's going to be a little lethal, especially when we like to pick up the tempo. So we're going to have to. We're going to have to play our brand of basketball if we want to. [00:03:33] Speaker A: Beat St. Mary's all right, so, Matthew, you're joining us on ZOOM for a very special reason. Now, we'll get into more of the details a little bit later, but our very own Matthew Mason is there at the women's basketball game. So before we. Again, like I said, we'll talk more about your experience and everything a little bit later in the show. But just tell us how, how was the game? [00:03:59] Speaker C: I'm gonna be honest with you, though. They absolutely went off in that fourth quarter. Aaliyah Nye, she already owned Alabama's single season program three point shooting record for most in a season. And she did that last year. And with the four triples that she hit yesterday or on Saturday, she beat her own record again. So they move on. They're going to face Maryland. So it's going to be inside, you know, it's going to be a packed Maryland crowd inside Xfinity Center. So, yeah, definitely a great team. Victory. It looked close there. Green Bay obviously was, you know, hats off to them. But, you know, Lee and I just turned up in that final quarter. [00:04:45] Speaker B: It was. [00:04:45] Speaker C: It was nuts. [00:04:46] Speaker A: So Alabama fans, at least for men's basketball, we'd like to talk about March, March, Grant Nelson and how he just, like when March hits, he turns into a different beast on the women's side. Is that March A. Leoni? [00:04:59] Speaker C: I think she's been doing this the entire year. [00:05:03] Speaker B: I agree. [00:05:05] Speaker C: Aliyah and I is, you know, since I've been covering the Alabama women's basketball beat AALIYAH has. She was already great. But she's put herself in a category at probably like the best three point shooter in women's basketball in college sport. I mean, you might as well just say in college sports in general. [00:05:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:05:27] Speaker C: Because, like, the amount of work that I hear her coaches say that she puts in, and she's so incredibly humble about it because it's very easy to, you know, be, you know, one of the most arrogant people when you're shooting that many three pointers and making them. But she's like incredibly humble. She's not a March Madness only player. She's been doing this the entire season. [00:05:52] Speaker A: No, that's amazing. And I really like what you said about the humbleness when we had Sarah Ashley Barker on. She, they. I've noticed this from the whole women's team. They don't like to talk about, you know, just their accomplishments. They always put the team first. How do you think that mentality is helping them in this March Madness? [00:06:12] Speaker C: So I will say that Sarah Ashley Barker and Carly Weathers, I want to talk about them for a second to kind of lead into what you just asked. Neither of them got into, you know, that many. They didn't get that high up in the scoring column. I mean, 10 points for Carli Weathers. I mean, that's 10 points is 10 points. But it's what they do in the other stats. That's where you see that this team really does care about one another because whenever somebody else is hot, they're going to take kind of a back seat and do the dirty work, you know, diving loose balls, making hustle plays. That's somebody that Carly Weathers is she Carly Weathers, you know, she's that type of, you know, doing her job on and off the court. Because I don't know if you guys know this, but she is a nursing major at the University of Alabama. [00:07:04] Speaker A: Really? [00:07:05] Speaker C: She works at dch and so talk about somebody that is selfless, that loves working with other people, that she is the embodiment of that. So, I mean, obviously they. This team has come together and you can tell by the way that they talk about their team that they've come together so well this year and they're going to have a big test coming up Monday versus Maryland. [00:07:30] Speaker A: Zach, what were your some of your key takeaways from the game for the women's team? [00:07:34] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. I thought Aliyah and I was playing to the best. I mean, she's been like you said, Matthew, to your point, she's been doing it all season and if she continues to play at that level, I mean, we could go really, really, really far. And I think we just have so many key pieces. I mean, even Zay, I think she's definitely a key piece for them also at that point guard position. And also like you were mentioning obviously with Sarah, Ashley Barker, I mean, she doesn't even have to. For her to not even have to do so much in the scoring column and for us to still be able to come out with a win, that's a special thing. And if we can continue to do that and play off one another, we can go far in this tournament. [00:08:16] Speaker A: All right, excellent. Best of luck to both of our basketball teams. When do the women's team play again? When their next game is. [00:08:24] Speaker C: They will play Monday against Maryland. It will be 4:00. So definitely tune in ESPN2. They're, they're getting, you know, they're one game away from going to the Sweet 16, which is in Birmingham. So that, that's the extra motivation that they have. [00:08:41] Speaker A: That would be great to have them here. [00:08:42] Speaker B: That'd be special. Absolutely. [00:08:45] Speaker A: All right, so let's take a little bit of a turn away from some basketball. Now let's talk about Alabama's football pro day. So apparently there are 16 NFL teams that were represented at the pro day last Wednesday. And the man of, the man of the day, Jalen Melro. Now we know why he didn't run his 40 at the combine. He was saving it for here, a 4, 3, 7, 40 yard dash. So there's also reports that he ate dinner with the Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin the previous night. So just starting off that 40, that was definitely, I mean, I think it was worth that he didn't do it at the combine. [00:09:24] Speaker B: I mean, I watched the videos back to and it doesn't even really look like, I don't know, it doesn't feel like he's taken off a top speed for summer. It almost just looks like he's just gliding down those 40 yards and he's just, I mean, he's an animal. Four, three, seven. I mean, for a guy his size and we've seen what he can do in the weight room. I don't know if y'all have seen the videos of him hang cleaning like over £300. And it's just. And he's a quarterback dude. It's insane. He's a physical freak. [00:09:53] Speaker C: Yeah, I, when I played in high school, I had a coach. I mean, we, I don't even know why they said they called him Colonel. I think it's because he looked like Colonel Sanders. But that could probably be saying he had this saying that I'm gonna have to modify a little bit. He called it, oh crap speed. Whenever you're running away from somebody, you get a extra gear. So maybe, maybe a Jalen Milro running away from someone is like 4.2 caliber true, but and he also, you also got to think that maybe there's been times where unfortunately in the past it's not happened as much. But some players running a 40, they try to go all the way possible. Like they, they put it in the highest gear possible and then something catastrophic happens. Now, I understand football's football, but. But when you're Jalen Milroe, I think that teams can just turn the film on and you can just be like, that's what I look like running away from people. That is the top speed right there. So just use that. I always thought that pro days and combines, there's not really much you can take away from it. When you're looking at certain positions other than like for Jalen, just, just watching the throws, like the throws of the combine number one, I don't like that because you're throwing to people you've never thrown to before. You've never practiced with them. But throwing at your pro day, you saw him throw with Ryan Williams and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton. So I mean. Yeah. [00:11:19] Speaker A: Wait, Matthew, I don't remember. What was your 40 time again? What was. [00:11:22] Speaker C: What were you not 40 time? It was a 4 9. I was not at the 5 range. Now right now I might be like a 5 million. [00:11:32] Speaker A: 5 million now. So let's talk a little bit about Jalen on the Steelers. We've speculated so much about where he's going to go and I feel like we've talked about the Steelers before, but this dinner really makes me think that they're heavily looking at him. I don't know what are your guys's takes? [00:11:48] Speaker B: I mean, especially with Russell Wilson. I know there's rumors to him going to the Cleveland Browns, Giants. I mean, who knows what they're going to do in the draft obviously because they both have, I mean, top three picks. And then considering Justin Fields just went to the New York Jets, I mean I could really see them going for a young QB like Jalen Milroe. I know there are also rumors that the Steelers could be going to Joe Milton. I don't know if that's still a thing or not, but Joe Milton and Jalen Milroe, two similar quarterbacks, I might add. [00:12:19] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:20] Speaker B: So Kind of makes sense that Chris Tomlin's targeting a guy like this. [00:12:26] Speaker C: Well, this is something that I've thought about is does Mike Tomlin. And this is something we'll probably talk about later. Does he really want to go out and do this thing where he gets another veteran quarterback, or does he want to give it another shot at drafting a rookie? And the last time they drafted a rookie, I'm going to give him a pass because I almost feel like that there was a little bit of pressure whenever they chose Kenny Pickett to kind of be like, okay, this guy played at pit. He's been staring at your facilities for the past however many years. So I'm gonna give him a pass and say that Jalen Murrow is a better route than signing a veteran. [00:13:04] Speaker A: Yeah, I definitely agree. I think Jalen, we've talked about before. I think now he's in this mindset he's had again ending his season. He didn't obviously end it the best way that he wanted to, but I think now that with the offseason, I really feel like he's taken the time that he's needed to really get ready for the draft and presenting the best version of himself. And real quickly, do we think that Milroe, if he. Wherever he goes, do you think he'll start in the 2025, 2026 season of the NFL? [00:13:36] Speaker C: I'm going to say yes because of the amount of injuries that have been happening lately. You never know. Steelers, they've been, you know, they've switch quarterbacks often in the past couple years. [00:13:47] Speaker B: Are you saying start like just in a game in general or just start the season off as a starting quarterback? [00:13:53] Speaker A: Let's do. Let's do game in general. [00:13:55] Speaker B: Game in general. I think I would have to agree with Matthew with a whole bunch of injuries. I mean, even on the side of like, you know, the Raiders have been through a lot of quarterbacks. I mean, and we mentioned steel. I mean, yeah, I could definitely see it. [00:14:08] Speaker A: All right, well, that was some great takes, guys. Thank you. When we get back, we'll be diving into our own March Madness brat brackets, see how we're fairing up so far. Make sure you stick around on the Crimson case. 90.7 the Gapstone WVUAFM Tuscaloosa this show. [00:14:42] Speaker B: Is a sports production of WVUAFM 90.7 the Capstone, a division of student media at the University of Alabama. Support us by leaving a review rating or following us on X at WVUAFM Sports. [00:14:56] Speaker A: WVUAFM Tuscaloosa welcome back to the Crimson Case on 90.7 the capsule. Joining us, we have a special guest, Maddie Hewitt. Maddie, how are you doing? [00:15:20] Speaker D: I'm good. How are you? [00:15:21] Speaker A: Pretty good, Pretty good. Now let's discuss some March Madness brackets. How is everybody doing so far? Are we feeling good? Feeling okay? What's the vibe? [00:15:33] Speaker B: I think everybody's doing pretty bad. I think last time I checked, it's like only 11 perfect brackets. Is that still the case? I'm not sure. I think that was as of last night. Huh. [00:15:45] Speaker A: It's down to three, Matthew. [00:15:48] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:15:48] Speaker A: My gosh, Maddie, how's. How's yours going? [00:15:51] Speaker D: I still have all my final four teams, so that's a win. [00:15:54] Speaker A: We'll take it. [00:15:55] Speaker D: I'm 80% accurate right now, so it could be worse, could be better, could. [00:15:59] Speaker A: Be worse, could be better. So let's take a look at our Final Fours. How are. How are we looking SEC wise? Before we talk about the rest of it, do we have lots of teams, SEC teams in the Final Four or. [00:16:14] Speaker B: I have an all SEC Final Four. [00:16:17] Speaker A: Okay. We talk about SEC bias on this show. I think Zach has a little bit of that. [00:16:21] Speaker B: Well, that's only one of my brackets, y'all, so chill. Chill. [00:16:24] Speaker D: Hey, I have a strong opinion about SEC bias in basketball. [00:16:28] Speaker A: Oh. [00:16:28] Speaker D: Because I feel like we don't have it because usually other conferences are much better at basketball than we are. [00:16:33] Speaker C: This is only the year. [00:16:35] Speaker B: This is the first year. Yeah, that's. [00:16:37] Speaker D: That's my opinion. [00:16:37] Speaker A: Yeah. Matthew, you have something to say about that? [00:16:41] Speaker C: I mean, I got two brackets, but I will go with the one that I filled out first and that I entered in the league with my family. That's kind of tanking at the moment. So I only had Florida from the SEC in the Final Four. And then I have another one that I entered in, like, other contests with other folks. That one's like 96% win percentage. Who knows how long that will last? That could also. You know, the rug might get drug out from underneath that one. But, you know, Florida is the only SEC team I got in the. Yeah. In the Final Four. [00:17:15] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't think I have any. So wait, who do we all have winning Florida? [00:17:21] Speaker B: You have Bama in the sec. [00:17:23] Speaker A: Well, okay. Disclaimer to all those listening. Disclaimer to all those listening. This is not my bracket. I have pulled up in front of me. This is. This is my good. My good friend Maggie Leach. She is letting me talk about hers bracket because my bracket is. My bracket is done. It's so Over. It's so over. [00:17:42] Speaker B: Be honest. [00:17:42] Speaker D: I am. [00:17:43] Speaker B: Honesty is the best policy. [00:17:45] Speaker A: I'm. I'm telling our listeners that I'm not using my bracket. I'm using my friends whose. Her bracket's also done for. So we're really not doing too hot at my sorority house. We're not doing too hot in March Madness. But in my bracket, I have Duke. In Maggie's bracket, she has Yukon, which we all know how that turned out today, so. Yeah. [00:18:09] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:18:10] Speaker D: Actually, good for me. I have Florida winning. [00:18:13] Speaker A: Yeah. Matthew. Yeah. [00:18:14] Speaker C: I'm also Florida national championship train. After what they did at the SEC tournament this past year, I. I went ahead and just. I filled out Florida all the way and then did everything else. [00:18:23] Speaker D: That's what I. That's exactly what I did as well. [00:18:26] Speaker B: I made a total of four brackets and my best one so far, it's like an 80 percentile right now. I have Bama winning the national title, so. [00:18:34] Speaker A: Against who? [00:18:36] Speaker B: Against Florida. [00:18:38] Speaker D: I have a Bama Florida matchup as well. [00:18:40] Speaker A: But you. [00:18:40] Speaker D: My national championship game. But I have Florida taking it, unfortunately. [00:18:44] Speaker A: Okay. Hey, I mean, Florida, you go ahead. [00:18:47] Speaker C: I just wanted to say Florida. Florida is the only SEC or only team in general this season that has gone in to Alabama and Auburn's arenas and beat them. [00:18:58] Speaker B: I know. Beat the crap. Beat the crap out of us. Yes. [00:19:02] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, what. Didn't. Alabama. Haven't they lost, like, every game they've played against Florida this year? [00:19:07] Speaker D: Yes. I think they're one of very few teams that we've lost both games to. [00:19:12] Speaker A: I mean, Florida. Florida does sound appealing to the average March Madness viewer. [00:19:19] Speaker D: And if you're. If you're saying, like, they are on espn that the SEC basketball conference is the best right now. I mean, Florida's winning it all. So. [00:19:28] Speaker A: That is true. That is true. I don't know. I. I don't like to listen to the ESPN commentators. They really grind my gears. Some of them just have horrible biases that you can obviously tell, and you're just like, I really don't want to listen to you anymore. Like, I'm pretty sure the Auburn glaze. I was hearing at a. [00:19:46] Speaker D: No. [00:19:47] Speaker A: Oh, my God. [00:19:48] Speaker D: I can't with the Auburn glaze. I can't do it. [00:19:50] Speaker A: I don't. There. Oh, my gosh. I can't remember his name off the top of my head. They're one player who's like, really good. [00:19:56] Speaker D: Janai Broom. [00:19:57] Speaker A: Isn't he, like, almost 30? [00:19:59] Speaker D: Yes. [00:20:00] Speaker A: He needs to go away. [00:20:02] Speaker D: This is like, Stetson Bennett. [00:20:03] Speaker B: Looks like you are New to the party. [00:20:07] Speaker A: Well, okay, guys, the only time I lock in for basketball is March Madness, so. [00:20:11] Speaker D: See, I grew up a basketball fan before football, so. Because college basketball is bigger, I feel like, up north than it is usually. [00:20:20] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, it definitely is. So, I mean, Michigan's doing well. We love. We love to see Michigan doing well. [00:20:28] Speaker B: They are going to play like a true Ohioan. Who are they matching up with? I forget. [00:20:34] Speaker A: Auburn. [00:20:35] Speaker B: That's right. Auburn. Yeah. [00:20:37] Speaker A: So. All right, enough. Enough of our own brackets. Matthew, tell us a little bit about the South Alabama situation going on. [00:20:47] Speaker C: Well, I think that situation, I mean, there's nothing else that can be done about it but to explain it. They did not get in the NCAA Tournament, but they did receive an invite to the nit, only to be told that that invite was getting taken back because they had reached out to someone else previously, and I guess they probably took a little longer to, you know, accept, so that's why they sent the invite to South Alabama. But then once the original team that they offered accepted, then that said, they can't play in the nit, so that's obviously a horrible situation. Especially. Especially if you're a senior. Can you imagine that if you're a senior? [00:21:27] Speaker B: It's awful. [00:21:28] Speaker A: It's brutal. Like, imagine you're being so close to, like, being able to play again, and you're like, senior season. And then they're just like, oh, sorry, we actually didn't want you guys. We wanted somebody else. [00:21:37] Speaker D: Yeah, we talked about this in one of my classes, and I just. I couldn't imagine. I feel like that's so unfair. Like, you. You gotta give them a little more time. Reach out to them again and be like, hey, you gotta respond or we're gonna give your spot to someone else. [00:21:49] Speaker A: Mm. Do we know who the team was that they originally wanted? [00:21:54] Speaker C: I don't think so. [00:21:55] Speaker A: Okay. [00:21:56] Speaker C: Because I think if we knew, then people would be going nuts on that team, so. Well, also for their safety, what I. [00:22:04] Speaker D: Think happened, what my, like, professor was talking about, is that this team, whoever it was, originally, was committed to some other, like, postseason basketball tournament that they had, like, agreed to at the beginning of the year and couldn't get out of it. Well, then when they figured they could get out of it, then they reached back out to the nit. That's what my professor was talking about. [00:22:24] Speaker A: Okay. That. I don't know. That's just. That just really sucks. I mean, you work so hard your whole season, and then just to not. I mean, first of all, you don't make the ncaa, which is like, okay, you know, I mean, only so many. But then you go to the NIT and they don't even. Like, you can't. You can't just take it away. Like, that's so rude. [00:22:45] Speaker B: That's the NCAA for you. Must be. Let's be real here. Come on, now. [00:22:53] Speaker A: Now, enough of. Enough of that. That. My getting fed up with that now. More outrage. So I'm guess. I guess I don't even get more mad. West Virginia, they're missing out over the NCAA tournament. And the West Virginia governor, Patrick Morrissey threatens legal action against the ncaa. Okay, pause. What? I don't think I would ever be so mad over basketball that I would sue. [00:23:25] Speaker D: I don't. I would agree. This is given. Florida State. [00:23:30] Speaker B: Florida State. [00:23:33] Speaker A: Because the. I know. I know that the UNC director or something is on the deciding board. [00:23:43] Speaker D: Yes. [00:23:43] Speaker A: So I know that was like a big. People were like. That's why UNC got in, because he was on the board. And that's why West Virginia missed out, because, I mean, it wasn't. Was. I think West Virginia was, like, the first team out, but, like, Indiana also missed out. There's, like, a couple other ones. So I don't see any of them suing, but West Virginia is like, oh, yeah, I don't know, Matthew. [00:24:04] Speaker C: And they've lost their coach because of that. Like. Like, after, like, the coach decides, all right, well, I'm out of here. So that. That whole team, you know, Pat McAfee, you know, he's a big West Virginia, you know, guy. You know, he kicked there, and I. I can understand. I mean, that was the first thing he did for, like, the. The majority of his show on that Monday. Whenever it happened, he came on the air and just. Just exploded. [00:24:29] Speaker B: Especially when they got that new football coach out of Jacksonville State. He made it a very, very big deal in that show. I remember that. [00:24:35] Speaker C: Yeah, Rich Rod. Yeah, Rich Rod. [00:24:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:24:37] Speaker C: Hey. Rich Rodriguez was offered the Alabama job before Nick Saban. I just want to throw that out there. [00:24:43] Speaker B: I mean, he's a good football coach. He is. He's a good coach. [00:24:46] Speaker C: He actually did not want it. Now, understandably, now Alabama. I'm going off on a, you know, backstory, but Alabama was not very good. Whenever that job was, was, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:24:57] Speaker B: And even in Nick Saban's first season, we'd even make the playoffs or any. I think we barely even had. I don't even know if we had a winning record. If. So it was, like, one game over. So that was In Nick Saban's first season. [00:25:12] Speaker A: Yeah. Matthew, what do you think that does to the morale of the program? Like they miss out, they're suing and their coaches leave. Like that's. [00:25:20] Speaker C: Well, let's just review some of the biggest crash outs of all time in the recent years. First of all, exhibit A, Florida State. Like we've already mentioned, they had one of the biggest crash outs I've ever seen. Even though I don't think they really had. I mean maybe you can say being undefeated you should have been in, but the fact that they had lost Jordan. [00:25:46] Speaker B: Travis, the starting quarterback. [00:25:48] Speaker C: You saw how bad of a football team they were without Jordan Travis. You saw Alabama beat the number one team, the committee's number one team in the SEC title game and win the SEC championship. Their only loss of the year was to Texas who was in the College Football Playoff. So I don't understand. Florida State had the biggest crash out ever. And you saw what happened last year. You saw that the team folded. They absolutely just. Everything just went straight to hell for them. And the other team I was thinking about was the self proclaimed national champs of whatever year that was that UCF decided they were going to be champions. [00:26:28] Speaker D: Wasn't that the year? Wasn't Cincinnatian that year? [00:26:31] Speaker A: I think so, yeah. [00:26:33] Speaker B: Maybe because Cincinnati had like won every single game and stuff. I think I remember that. [00:26:39] Speaker D: Yeah, we played T. Or we were in it too. Didn't we play like TCU or something? [00:26:44] Speaker B: Oh, is that the year that TCU went to the Natty or. No, that was a different year. [00:26:47] Speaker D: I'm getting all confused now. [00:26:49] Speaker B: I'm getting confused. [00:26:49] Speaker A: So many years, so many games, so many crash outs, so many crash outs. I don't know, I just like, it's just so excessive. Like yes, I understand that you're upset that you missed out on the tournament and everything, but I mean just win game like just make the, make it impossible for them to exclude you and that just. It starts during the season and just putting in the grit, putting in the grind and making sure everything you can do you do. I just. The UNC thing, I don't think, I don't think any team that is up for consideration should have somebody that is correlated to them on the board. I feel like that's. No matter who it is, that could be biased. Like I don't know, I don't, I don't know who is on the picking for the ncaa, but it should, they should try to make it as unbiased as possible. So that way situations like this don't happen. [00:27:40] Speaker B: Well, they're a team with a big name and I mean there's a lot of, you know, fans in that fan base. And unc, it's difficult to leave a team like UNC out of the NCAA tournament. And you know, they just took and held to Ole Miss yesterday. So. [00:27:54] Speaker D: Yeah, I was going to say they've been playing well when they've been. [00:27:58] Speaker B: They just. [00:27:59] Speaker D: First game was crazy. Yeah, they came in one by ton. [00:28:02] Speaker A: But then it's like for me it's like, do they deserve to be in or did they only get in because of that? And I just rather would not have those conversations around the tournament and just focus on solely on merit and that kind of stuff. But I don't know, that's a little bit of a tangent there. And then quickly as we wrap this up, Matthew, you posed a very interesting question that is. Is very confusing to think about. What? What is it? [00:28:28] Speaker C: So what if we had a 68 team bracket for college football? [00:28:34] Speaker B: Awful idea. [00:28:35] Speaker C: Horrible idea. [00:28:36] Speaker B: Awful idea. [00:28:37] Speaker D: A good idea. [00:28:38] Speaker B: Load management, question mark. Every team would be crippled, like actually so bad. It'd be awful. Everybody would be on crutches, wheelchairs, you name it. Be pretty awful. The national championship game. Like just imagine like everybody's on ir. It'd be rough. [00:28:57] Speaker A: It's all. It's only second and third strings. All the first. [00:29:02] Speaker B: It'd be their moment to shine. Biggest stage. That's must see. [00:29:07] Speaker C: Yeah. Tua would have never had his moment. [00:29:09] Speaker B: Oh goodness. [00:29:10] Speaker C: Came in. Tua would not have made it. [00:29:12] Speaker A: No, no, I just. How do you, how do you think of stuff like that? You're like, oh, college football, 68 teams. Great idea. [00:29:20] Speaker C: I just saw a meme about it. But then it was also kind of something comparing, you know, like the college football playoffs to like, you know, obviously March Madness or talking a little bit about college baseball and softball World Series. So I mean, yeah, that was where I kind of just. I just thought that was a funny thing to be like imagine. [00:29:39] Speaker A: Yeah, no, that's. That's definitely great. Something. Food for thought as we like to think about now as we head into the break on the other side of it, we're going to be talking about some silly little fun miscellaneous brackets that we've seen. Stick around. WVUAFM Tuscaloosa. WVUAFM Tuscaloosa. Welcome back to the Crimson Case on 90.7 the Capstone. Now, we've talked a lot about March Madness this episode and we're gonna continue on that train now. I feel like we're really getting into the madness part of it. We're gonna talk about some silly brackets that some brands, companies that they've done, that we've seen, that really have stuck out to us over the past couple days. Now, the first one that we have to talk about is teams closest to a Waffle House. Now, Alabama. Alabama does make the final four in this bracket. [00:31:07] Speaker D: Shout out to the Waffle House on the Strip. [00:31:09] Speaker A: Waffle House on the Strip. First of all, what is your guys's reactions just to these fun little brackets? [00:31:16] Speaker B: I mean, you can start it off. Matthew, I don't really. You're the one that came up with this madness. [00:31:24] Speaker C: Now, look, I. I know it's a kind of a. It's a goofy thing to be talking about, but you gotta think how stuff like this might affect college recruiting. Honestly, look, now, because the Arby's. Arby's is one of the worst restaurants of all time. [00:31:46] Speaker A: Whoa. [00:31:46] Speaker B: Any school that might be a hot take for some people, any school that. [00:31:50] Speaker C: Is close, I would not go there, Matthew. [00:31:54] Speaker A: Alabama is in, like, the Elite 8 and on the bracket. [00:31:57] Speaker B: Now, what about a. If a. What about Chipotle, though? [00:32:00] Speaker C: Peep that. [00:32:01] Speaker B: If a Chipotle is close, then I'm definitely going there. [00:32:04] Speaker C: I should have peeped that before. [00:32:06] Speaker D: I hope this is how recruits make their decisions. [00:32:09] Speaker B: Yeah, Chipotle, you can count me in. [00:32:11] Speaker A: Nil. [00:32:11] Speaker B: Jersey. Mike's too nil. [00:32:13] Speaker A: No, no, no, no. [00:32:14] Speaker D: You have two, right, rb. [00:32:15] Speaker B: I know. That's what I'm saying. That's why. Hey, that's why I'm here. [00:32:19] Speaker D: That's why you picked Alabama. [00:32:20] Speaker B: This is why I picked Alabama. [00:32:21] Speaker C: Athletes. [00:32:22] Speaker A: Athletes. For regular students. For regular students. If they're close to an Arby's, you don't think they should go to that school? [00:32:30] Speaker C: I don't know if you have an Arby's. Just wait. [00:32:33] Speaker D: We do. [00:32:34] Speaker C: On campus. [00:32:34] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't think it's on campus. It's really close. [00:32:37] Speaker B: You should see, like, what, like, with Starbucks or something. That'd be interesting. [00:32:42] Speaker D: No, we have the biggest Starbucks in the country. [00:32:44] Speaker C: You know what? I know right now. [00:32:45] Speaker A: Which one? [00:32:46] Speaker D: The one by Tut. [00:32:49] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. That's a great Starbucks. That's the biggest one in the country. [00:32:52] Speaker B: Yes. [00:32:53] Speaker D: And UK is salty about it. I toured uk. [00:32:54] Speaker B: I don't want to assume, but I feel like it would heavily, you know, affect women's athletics. I'm not going to assume, though. Whoa. Maybe there's some guys out there that like Starbucks. Hey, hey. I'm just. [00:33:07] Speaker D: I'm just pointing out stuff that does. [00:33:09] Speaker A: Not fly on the Crimson cake. Okay? No. No sexism here on the Crimson. [00:33:14] Speaker B: Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't have said it. I shouldn't have said it. [00:33:17] Speaker A: Hey, I mean, coffee is gender blind, okay? Everyone likes a good coffee. [00:33:24] Speaker B: Just depends from Starbucks. You might be a Scooters Dunkin guy. I don't know. [00:33:28] Speaker D: Seven brew. [00:33:29] Speaker B: Seven brew. [00:33:30] Speaker A: Seven Brew. I mean, dunk. We have a lot of Duncan's on campus too. Or. [00:33:34] Speaker D: Yes. [00:33:35] Speaker B: I'm not a coffee guy, so I can't. I can attest me. I can't. [00:33:39] Speaker A: Okay, you're not a cup. [00:33:40] Speaker B: You mean a coffee gal. [00:33:42] Speaker A: Coffee gal. Yeah. [00:33:43] Speaker C: Coffee gal. [00:33:45] Speaker A: Anyways, back to the brackets. What was really funny for me is Wendy's retweeted it when. Because there was one that was closest to a Wendy's. And they're like, congratulations. They're like, there are bracket champions in our hearts. And I find it funny how like the big corporations, like, get in on it too. [00:34:05] Speaker D: Wendy's Twitter is fantastic. They say some really funny stuff I've seen before. [00:34:09] Speaker A: Yeah, some. [00:34:10] Speaker B: Some franchises are like that, though. Some companies, they have some dub people on the social media platforms. [00:34:17] Speaker C: So Wendy's. The final four for them was Yale, St. John's Vanderbilt and McNeese. Vanderbilt winning, of course. And Vandy tweeted out 21st. They tweeted out Hang the banner, added Vanderbilt on Twitter. [00:34:34] Speaker B: That's awesome. [00:34:35] Speaker C: That's fantastic. I want to see some of the other crazy ones that I've seen because it's this one page. It's NCAA buzzer beaters and game winners is what you can find them at on Twitter. But there are the people that have been making all these like crazy graphics of like brackets and stuff. And of course, obviously the actual official March Madness page, you know, those people put out a bracket of the Rizzler. [00:35:01] Speaker B: A bunch of celebs. Yeah. [00:35:04] Speaker C: His bracket went to the pot. Like, absolutely. He can. [00:35:08] Speaker B: He can thank Coach Cal and the boys for that. [00:35:11] Speaker C: You know, he has St. John's you know, going to the, you know, winning the championship, Yale in the Final Four. [00:35:18] Speaker A: I definitely feel Norfolk State. [00:35:21] Speaker B: Oh, my God. Norfolk State. [00:35:23] Speaker A: I feel like that's a fear or that's a trap that a lot of. Maybe not those who don't know ball as, but ourselves. We know ball here on the Crimson case. [00:35:33] Speaker D: We know. [00:35:34] Speaker A: But. But those who don't, they just pick like a lot of like high ranked seeds. [00:35:41] Speaker B: Yeah. Without exposing Lydia. [00:35:42] Speaker A: Yeah. Tell them without knowing. No, like who. Who's actually good at ball. Like those who didn't pick Gonzaga to beat Georgia. What are you doing? [00:35:52] Speaker B: I don't know. Georgia could have. Georgia has upset some teams. Florida, question mark. Georgia beat Florida. [00:35:59] Speaker D: But I feel like when it comes to this tournament, experience matters. [00:36:02] Speaker B: Yes, true. [00:36:03] Speaker D: And Gonzaga's got a lot of it. [00:36:05] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:36:05] Speaker B: But they lost to Houston, so. [00:36:07] Speaker D: That's true also. [00:36:08] Speaker B: But Houston is just ultra talented. That's why they're one seed. [00:36:12] Speaker D: Yes. [00:36:12] Speaker A: So, yeah, and for me, like the Creighton thing too. Anyone who didn't pick Creighton, you're like, I mean, okay, that one was more. Could have been more of a toss up. But didn't you pick. [00:36:22] Speaker B: Hey, I did pick Creighton. I did. Yeah, but you could have went either way. [00:36:25] Speaker A: I feel like you could have. But Crane's basketball school, I don't know. [00:36:29] Speaker B: They are basketball school. [00:36:30] Speaker D: Yeah, very true. [00:36:31] Speaker B: I mean, they're starting point guard. This is last year. It has to be his last year, right? The dude has a kid and like a wife and kid. Like, they were literally cheering him on. I know you saw that. Matthew Creighton, starting point guard. He is a wife and kid. I mean, it's got to be his last year. [00:36:45] Speaker C: You know, Creighton is the reason that my mom is in the lead and winning. Like, because that might be the biggest difference. Like, we have a family group that's. She's the only one to pick Creighton. So that's the edge that she's had on us and our families. Picking Creighton over Louisville. [00:37:04] Speaker A: And just real quick, taking another look at the Rizzlers bracket, he had Alabama State winning over Auburn. [00:37:12] Speaker D: Hey, Brian. [00:37:13] Speaker B: First half looked awesome. The first half was awesome. And then after that, it just all went to heck. In Matthew's words, or he'd probably use a different term. But it all went downhill. Yeah. [00:37:26] Speaker C: To the pot. [00:37:27] Speaker B: Yep, to the pot. [00:37:28] Speaker A: I don't know, but Matthew, you've mentioned this or we've discussed this previously, how March Madness is like the Cinderella stories. Like there's always the ones who never thinks gonna happen or the upsets. Like, we always love a good upset. And like, yes, while it may suck for your bracket, it makes for great basketball. It makes for some great postseason that we like to see. [00:37:50] Speaker B: That's what I tell my friends. Above all, no matter who, I want to win. I mean, if it comes to Alabama, obviously I want Alabama to win. Above all, normally I want to see a good game. I want to see upsets. I mean, that's. That's what you live for as a basketball fan. [00:38:05] Speaker D: Yes. [00:38:06] Speaker B: Really. And truly. [00:38:08] Speaker A: All right, now, now that we've done a little bit of that, we're going to do our very own Crimson Case bracket right here. And the subject of this bracket. Okay. Thought of by our very own Matthew Mason, is Alabama athletes in the 2020s. [00:38:28] Speaker B: This is, I mean, a masterpiece that you whipped up, Matthew. [00:38:32] Speaker A: Yeah, it's. It's pretty good, the stuff that we're cooking up over here. So everyone gather round. Gather round. Take a look at our brackets, and we'll be. We'll be picking live for you right now. Now, let's begin. The first. The first one. Devonte Smith or Jalen Milroe? [00:38:50] Speaker B: I think that's a pretty dang easy one. [00:38:53] Speaker D: I would agree. [00:38:54] Speaker B: I got to go with my man, Devonte Smith, the Slim Reaper. [00:38:57] Speaker A: Yes. And I will say for. For our listeners at home, Matthew, ranked Jalen Morrow 16, and Devonte Smith is number one. So. [00:39:06] Speaker B: Yeah, Matthew, what was the process of coming up with the seating? I am interested in that. [00:39:10] Speaker C: Well, look, I. Honestly, the top seeds were easy, and then I feel like the bottom were kind of difficult because anything could be interchangeable, but the top, I, I feel. I feel pretty good about the top. Yeah. I'm trying to. I'm trying to figure out on my. My own end how I'm supposed to, like, get the bracket to play itself, but I can remember on my mind what we said as we go through this. [00:39:34] Speaker A: Yeah. Can I, like, drag it? It's okay. [00:39:37] Speaker C: No, I'd have to, like, sign up for an account on whatever this crap is I'm using. [00:39:42] Speaker A: We'll just remember in our brains, we're, We're. We can do that. [00:39:45] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:39:46] Speaker B: So we got devonte Smith. Moving on. [00:39:48] Speaker A: All right, moving on to the round of 32, Justin LeBron. Mark Sears. Okay, I have my answer. [00:39:55] Speaker D: I do as well. I have some strong opinions on this one, actually. [00:39:58] Speaker A: Okay. I'm gonna go. Justin lebron. [00:40:01] Speaker D: Me, too. Hey, me too. [00:40:04] Speaker B: I mean, talent wise, I would agree, but I mean, if we're talking about what he means to the school, I mean, you kind of got to go, Mark. [00:40:12] Speaker A: Okay, but then that's. [00:40:12] Speaker D: But let Justin cook. [00:40:14] Speaker A: But that's. You're talking about two different criteria here. Are we talking about athletic, like, athletes, like, who we think is the better athlete or, like, performs better? Or are we talking about what they mean to Alabama? [00:40:27] Speaker B: I mean, look, peep the name before. Athletes. Alabama athletes. [00:40:32] Speaker A: I don't know, Matthew. [00:40:33] Speaker C: I don't know. [00:40:33] Speaker B: What do you say? [00:40:35] Speaker A: What was your true intention when you were cooking this up? [00:40:39] Speaker C: I mean, I honestly didn't know that. You know, I'm just ranking him and I didn't know it was going to work out like this. But for some reason, I feel like Alabama baseball really is on the come up. They are, but I think. I think the fact that Mark Sears was able to take us to a Final Four makes me say Mark Sears like he was really going off last year. Now he's kind of. He is still, in my opinion, but he still is kind of going off. Yeah. [00:41:09] Speaker B: First team all American, let's not forget it. [00:41:11] Speaker A: But 22 and 10 players in the country. [00:41:15] Speaker D: My thing is, I would agree he's the best baseball player in the country right now, but also, we weren't even supposed to be good at baseball this year. We weren't preseason ranked because we only had a few guys come back after last year, the whole scandal, everything. And now we're ranked top 10 in the country. And that's because of Justin LeBron. [00:41:30] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:41:32] Speaker C: All right, so it sounds like we got two to two. So I'm gonna do a coin flip. [00:41:37] Speaker B: Yes or. [00:41:39] Speaker C: All right, it. But the Internet in this hotel is terrible. I'm trying to find the coin flip. [00:41:44] Speaker B: I'm staying strong. I'm saying Mark Sears. [00:41:47] Speaker A: I don't know. I understand your point of view. I just feel like Justin lebron, he's really going to redefine Alabama baseball going to agree and I mean, already is player in college. [00:41:58] Speaker B: Future tense. [00:42:01] Speaker A: Matthew. What was the answer? [00:42:02] Speaker C: So what I. What I'm trying to do right now is find a coin. I probably should have found one, but the Internet seems to not be, like, working right now. [00:42:12] Speaker A: Okay, we'll come back to that. We gotta. We gotta speedrun the rest of these. We gotta. We're on a time crunch here. Okay, next. [00:42:18] Speaker C: Actually, hey, instead of speedrunning, what we'll do is we're gonna make it cut down to the elite Eight, and then we'll come back later in the show and finish it out. How about that? [00:42:29] Speaker A: You know what? That sounds like a great idea. Way to go from there. [00:42:33] Speaker B: So. [00:42:33] Speaker A: All right. [00:42:33] Speaker C: Yeah, go ahead. [00:42:34] Speaker A: The next one is Lucia Blanco and Aliyah Nye. I will be honest, I do not know who Lucia Blanco is. I'm lacking on my Alabama knowledge. [00:42:45] Speaker D: I fear I don't know who she is either. But I do know Aaliyah Nye. [00:42:48] Speaker B: She's a gymnastic. [00:42:49] Speaker C: She's a gymnast. She's a gymnast. I do want to read something that I have about here or about her real quick. 2021 NCAA balance beam champion. And NCAA all around runner up, 2021 SEC gymnast of the Year and leading the Crimson tide to its 10th SEC title. So she's a champ. [00:43:10] Speaker B: I remember when she was in the Paris Olympics. [00:43:12] Speaker A: That is it. She was. [00:43:13] Speaker B: She. [00:43:13] Speaker D: I'm sorry, What? [00:43:14] Speaker B: She's in the Paris Olympics. I remember her. [00:43:16] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh. Okay. [00:43:18] Speaker D: Wow. [00:43:19] Speaker A: So that's. That's making me go. That's. I want to go to her. [00:43:23] Speaker D: I would agree. [00:43:24] Speaker A: I love you, Aliyah. And I. [00:43:25] Speaker D: Yes. [00:43:26] Speaker B: I think Lucia Blanc. I think we. [00:43:28] Speaker A: Olympian. [00:43:28] Speaker D: Yes. [00:43:29] Speaker B: An Olympian. [00:43:29] Speaker D: Yes. [00:43:30] Speaker A: You know, Louisa. Louisa. Sorry. [00:43:33] Speaker B: Louisa. Louisa. [00:43:35] Speaker C: We're gonna move her. And so she. She's made it to the Elite Eight. Secured. [00:43:40] Speaker A: Next. We have. [00:43:41] Speaker C: Coming up. Yeah, go ahead. [00:43:43] Speaker A: Sorry. We have Sarah Ashley Barker and Montana Fouts. [00:43:48] Speaker C: Montana Fouts, softball pitcher. Absolutely a legend. Sarah Ashley Barker is doing great stuff. This is probably the hardest one for me, but I think that just seeing Montana Fouts, you know, when she was playing, you know, with the College World Series. Hey, she means business when she's on that mound, I swear. Well, it's not a mound in softball, but whenever she is pitching, she means business. [00:44:13] Speaker B: Now, Alabama women's basketball hasn't really gone as far as we would probably want to yet. [00:44:20] Speaker A: I think we can agree with Montana. [00:44:22] Speaker D: I would agree. [00:44:22] Speaker B: I think we should go. Montana Fouts. I think I agree with you, Matthew, and everyone. [00:44:26] Speaker C: Hey. Her ERA, 1.6. Led all NCAA pitchers with 349 strikeouts, the third highest total in Alabama's single season history. You know, Alabama's been great at softball for a while, so we'll go with that. [00:44:40] Speaker A: That's. That's a champion right there. That's. [00:44:42] Speaker D: She's a legend. [00:44:43] Speaker A: All right, next. Brandon Miller. Doris. Oh, gosh. [00:44:48] Speaker D: Oh, she's the national championship track. [00:44:51] Speaker B: Yes, she is. [00:44:52] Speaker C: Flamingo or Brandon Miller? [00:44:54] Speaker B: Flamingo. Doris. Flamingo. [00:44:56] Speaker C: Brandon Miller is the pick for me. [00:44:58] Speaker B: But I don't know, dude. [00:44:59] Speaker C: Up against. [00:45:01] Speaker D: She just won her multiple. She's won multiple NCA or AA championships. [00:45:06] Speaker C: Pretty sure. Do we want to. Do we want to finish the Sweet 16 after we take a break on the other side? Yeah. [00:45:12] Speaker A: Yeah, that sounds great. So thank you for joining us while we go through that little fun time. We'll continue it when we get back on the other side of this break. Stick around. WVUAFM Tuscaloosa. [00:45:47] Speaker B: This show is a sports production of WVUAFM 90.7 the Capstone, a division of student media at the University of Alabama. Support us by leaving a review rating or following us on X at WVUAFM. [00:46:01] Speaker A: Sports, WVUAFM, Tuscaloosa. [00:46:12] Speaker B: Foreign. [00:46:18] Speaker A: You're listening to the Crimson Case on 90.7 the Capstone. I'm Lydia Lisko, joined by Matthew Mason, Zach Elrod and Mattie Hewitt. And we're going to continue our discussion from before the break of our very own Alabama athletes in the 2020b bracket that we've made. Now, we left off on Brandon Miller and then Doris Lemongol. I apologize if I messed that up. Where were we heading on this Dorsalman goal? [00:46:43] Speaker B: I mean, I'm leaning towards her, dude. I really am. [00:46:48] Speaker D: I'm agreeing with Zach on this one. She's on a billboard. I just drove past it the other day. I saw it. [00:46:52] Speaker B: But Brandon Miller, I mean, number two pick in the draft. We made it to the Sweet 16, got beat by San Diego State, but I mean, he's the highest ever Alabama picked, I mean, in an NBA draft, so you got to consider that as well. [00:47:07] Speaker D: Yeah, you do. [00:47:08] Speaker A: Yeah. And I. He really did do so much for Alabama while he was here. You know, he really meant a lot to the school and to the program. So I don't know. Do. Do we have a coin flip? Well, Matthew, where are you leaning on this? [00:47:22] Speaker C: I think that one's a champion and one is not, so. [00:47:26] Speaker B: That's true. Doris. Okay, I think I got to agree with you. [00:47:30] Speaker C: Go with the upset and especially all the controversy, which we are not going to get into the controversy. [00:47:34] Speaker A: No, we are not, but we're not getting. [00:47:36] Speaker C: I'm going to go. Doris. We got our. I think this might be our first big upset. [00:47:41] Speaker A: Okay. Yeah, let's go. Let's go, Doris. [00:47:43] Speaker B: Let's go, Doris. [00:47:44] Speaker A: Doris. [00:47:45] Speaker D: Championship for her. [00:47:47] Speaker C: She's a. I had her at a 14 seed. What was I thinking? [00:47:51] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:47:52] Speaker C: So just to do a little quick recap, we had one seed Devonte take down 16 seed Milroe for Justin LeBron, number nine seed and Mark Sears number eight. We're going to flip a coin with LeBron being heads and Mark, it's a name like LeBron. [00:48:08] Speaker B: Let's go, Mark. [00:48:09] Speaker C: I'm gonna let this flip. My colleagues can see that it says tails. That means mark. [00:48:15] Speaker D: Oh, no. [00:48:17] Speaker B: Okay, we win, Matthew. We win. [00:48:19] Speaker D: We tried. [00:48:20] Speaker B: It's okay. [00:48:21] Speaker A: All right. [00:48:22] Speaker C: Marksters advances 5C Luisa Blanco is advancing past the Leoni. Even though Leoni is, you know, baller. [00:48:30] Speaker A: We love her. We love her. [00:48:32] Speaker B: Everyone on this list is. [00:48:33] Speaker A: Yeah, everyone list is a beast. That's true. [00:48:37] Speaker C: We had four seed Montana Fouts taking down Sarah Ashley Barker. And then we had our first Big upset. Brandon Miller goes down to Doris Lemon. Goal. And now 11 seed Najee Harris going against Mac Jones, his teammate, six seed Mac Jones. What are we thinking? [00:48:56] Speaker A: Mac Jones, 100%. [00:48:58] Speaker B: Who was higher in the draft? I forget. [00:49:02] Speaker C: I think it was Mack. [00:49:04] Speaker B: It might have been Mac. [00:49:05] Speaker A: Maybe. [00:49:06] Speaker C: We'll see. [00:49:07] Speaker B: I mean, obviously this is based off what they did in Alabama, not their NFL careers. Because if that were true. [00:49:13] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:49:13] Speaker B: Then this would be the easiest decision ever. Okay, sorry, Mac. But since it's based off Alabama careers, I mean, obviously the quarterback position is more outweighed than any other position in football. So there is the quarterback bias we got to consider. So I don't know where you are heading with this, but I think it's pretty close. [00:49:34] Speaker A: And I mean, Mac, when he was drafted, he went to a pretty great team. He went to a pretty great team. What he did there may not have been so great, but. Okay, we're talking about the. We're talking about the before. We're talking about the college. And I think Mack takes it. [00:49:49] Speaker D: I would agree, actually. I do think Max got this one. [00:49:52] Speaker A: Matthew. [00:49:54] Speaker C: I just wanted to say that the one thing I hate about being on Zoom is that the email notification goes off and y'all might hear it. I don't know. Maybe. But, yeah, it sounds like Mac Jones. The Mac Jones is going to be moving to the Elite Eight and our final two. [00:50:10] Speaker B: I'll vote for Najee Harris. [00:50:13] Speaker C: Yeah. So Herb Jones or Bailey Hemple? Softball. I mean, look, I. I can just read something, obviously. I think we know you know, Herb Jones, but I can read something real quick about Bailey. So she is the Alabama career home run leader. You know, tearing the COVID off the softball. Sixth in SEC history and second in Alabama career RBIs. Eighth in SEC history. So those are a few numbers about her. Herb Jones, you know, he was in AP All American, 3rd Team, 2021, SEC Player of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Obviously doing well in the NBA. So what are we thinking here? I mean, I'm leaning her, but young. Go ahead. [00:50:59] Speaker A: I'm. I think based on those stats, I'm leading Herb, too. Like, Bailey, she holds a lot of records, but she's not number one in a lot of the ones that you mentioned. And I don't know, with a name like Herb, I'm. It's. I kind of like it. [00:51:15] Speaker B: Gotta love Herb Jones, man. [00:51:16] Speaker D: Gotta love him to go off those records, too. Those are SEC records as compared to, like, he was making national lists and. [00:51:23] Speaker B: He'S just a defensive menace. [00:51:25] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. Great points. Great points all around. [00:51:28] Speaker D: We could use some of that. [00:51:29] Speaker A: All right, our final two. Our final two. Number 15th seed, Jasmine Walker versus number two, Bryce Young. [00:51:38] Speaker B: Yeah, I think this is pretty easy. [00:51:40] Speaker D: I love Bryce Young. [00:51:41] Speaker C: Yeah, it's probably. It's probably a very easy one. But I do want to say that, you know, Jasmine Walker, you know, she's one of the players that Kristy Curry, the Alabama women's basketball head coach, credits because just trying to build the program up to where it is now, and it's. It's steadily rising. You know, one of the players that was, you know, originally at the start of this decade that was helping Alabama, but Bryce Young winning a Heisman Trophy, I feel like Heisman moves you to the next round. So I think we're all in favor. [00:52:15] Speaker A: Yeah. Moving on. [00:52:18] Speaker B: I think that's fair. [00:52:19] Speaker A: I think so. [00:52:21] Speaker B: I did want to shout out, too, though. Alabama is up 42 to 29 against St. Mary's as of right now. [00:52:28] Speaker A: Yes. [00:52:29] Speaker C: Well, that's. That might be wraps, hopefully. [00:52:33] Speaker A: Knock on wood. [00:52:34] Speaker C: So what we can do now is talk about all the crazy NFL free agency slash offseason news. First of all, I have a list for you guys. But before we go down everything, tell me the one that is the craziest to you. Because right now, as I look at it, I think for me, seeing Joey Bosa in a Buffalo Bill's uniform is going to be pretty crazy. [00:52:58] Speaker B: It is going to be crazy. Yeah. [00:52:59] Speaker C: Dk. DK Metcalf on the Steelers with George Pickens. [00:53:03] Speaker B: The crash outs are going to go. Yeah, the crash outs are going to be. [00:53:08] Speaker A: We love a good crash out. I don't know. For me, I didn't think the Bengals were going to be able to keep the trio together. So that was. [00:53:18] Speaker D: I did not either. [00:53:19] Speaker A: That was a little bit of a surprise. For me. [00:53:20] Speaker B: That is a surprise. [00:53:21] Speaker D: Thank goodness. I'm so happy. [00:53:23] Speaker B: Another surprise is devonte Adams to the Rams, I think, giving up Cooper cup, who's an aging wide receiver that was paid a lot of money just for devonte Adams to come to town. I just think you're kind of just trading the same for the same. I don't really think they get much of an increase out of that. So I don't know. That was kind of surprising to me. [00:53:47] Speaker C: So just kind of going down as a whole. Some other moves that happened, you know. Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Fields is a New York Jet. [00:53:57] Speaker B: That's going to be interesting. [00:53:58] Speaker C: Oh, maybe. Yeah. You know, if a team like the jets drafts a guy, then we got to put, you know, they're going to put him against Justin Fields. DeAndre Hopkins is a Baltimore Raven. Geno Smith reunites with his old head coach, Pete Carroll, and he is a Las Vegas Raider. Sam Darnold obviously going over there. He got signed by the Seattle Seahawks. [00:54:17] Speaker B: So did Cooper kick? [00:54:19] Speaker C: He's going to be throwing a Cooper Cup. And Josh Sweat, who is a menace in the super bowl is the Arizona Cardinal. [00:54:26] Speaker B: Great pickup by the Arizona Connells. Cardinals just phenomenal. [00:54:30] Speaker C: Great pickup there. And then of course, for the Patriots, Carlton Davis is a good pickup for them. Yeah, he's a Super bowl champion with the Bucks. And the other one was C.J. gardner Johnson, who's won a Super bowl this year with the Eagles. So just going down this, this list, we can talk more about the Bengals. We can start with that. Just getting the deals done with Chase, getting the deals done with Chase and Higgins, I mean, it's a great thing, but have they thought about defense yet? [00:55:03] Speaker A: I think you're asking too much of the Bengals there. I think that you're asking a little bit too much of them. They, they just, they got, they have Joe Burrow, we got Chase, they got Higgins. I really think, you know, right now, they're, they can be on the high right now, and then we can, we can think about the rest of the parts later. [00:55:17] Speaker B: They did resign the Rookie edge rusher, number 91. What's his name again? I forget his name, but he was a rookie last year, had a great year for them, so I think that was a good key signing. I think he's heading into his year two with the Cincinnati Bengals. [00:55:33] Speaker A: Yes. [00:55:33] Speaker D: I also think we got. Well, we didn't get rid of Sam Hubbard retired, which he was. He was good. We liked him. Loved him, obviously, Cincinnati kid. [00:55:44] Speaker A: But yeah, you are, you are the resident Bengals fan. I am a Patriots fan. [00:55:52] Speaker D: Even though from Cincinnati. [00:55:54] Speaker A: Yes. So a little bit of a connection there, guys. Yes. But. Yeah, so I don't know. I was. We've talked about this before, but the Bengals really need to get. They need to. They need to figure out all the pieces. Yes. We have Joe Burrow, we have, you know, Higgins and Chase and everything. And there's only so much you can do with those players. Like we. Joe Burrow threw like the most out of every. He had the most yards thrown or out of every the season. But the Bengals again missed out on the playoffs. So you got to think about, is it worth putting all of this money into these players when you're so severely lacking on the other end, the Bengals. [00:56:37] Speaker D: Made some key coaching changes in the offense off season as well. I'm hoping that might do a little bit. Hopefully. I don't know. But, yeah, I'm a little worried about it. Have you seen the spongebob meme where he's, like, really strong, like, upper body, and then has, like, really skinny legs? A lot of bangles. Memes have been coming out with that specifically. [00:56:57] Speaker B: You can't. You can't skip leg day, man. You really can't. [00:57:01] Speaker A: Zach, did you find that name of that player you're thinking of? [00:57:04] Speaker B: Trey Hendrickson? [00:57:05] Speaker A: Okay. [00:57:05] Speaker D: Oh, yes. [00:57:06] Speaker B: Who's been a key guy for them? [00:57:08] Speaker C: Huge. [00:57:08] Speaker B: Huge. A great signing for them, I think, defensively. But obviously, to your point, Matthew, there's a lot of other positions besides that defensive, you know, defensive end. So they got. They got to fill out the field. [00:57:21] Speaker D: You know, offense wins games, defense wins championships. [00:57:24] Speaker B: I mean, that's what they say, so. And then I also want to point out, kind of going to. Oh, wait, Matthew, say what you want to say. [00:57:32] Speaker C: We were talking about the coaches. I was very surprised this offseason when they fired their defensive coordinator, Lou Annarumo, because he was absolutely in his bag when the Bengals went to the Super Bowl. It's not his fault that, you know, the. The players have just, like, they're just not good. It's not his fault that, you know, he just hasn't, you know, like, I don't know that. It's not his fault. Like, some of the game plans, especially when you go back and watch that AFC championship, the past two AFC championships that the Bengals went to in a row that. I'm just being honest. I thought he was in his bag and was working with less. Like, he was. He's working with less each year, so firing him, I thought was very dumb. [00:58:16] Speaker B: But that's what sports does, dude. It's always the coach that's going to get fired first. It's always the coach is the first to go every time. That's how it is. [00:58:24] Speaker D: It's true. [00:58:25] Speaker B: And then I also wanted to mention the Baltimore Ravens. I don't know if you mentioned them. D Hop, I saw a Twitter post, you know, where you. I forget when he posted it, but it was a selfie of him. Lamar Jackson, Derek Henry. And he was like, how much or how far do you think this duo is going to go? [00:58:42] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:58:42] Speaker B: And it's cool because you get third trio. I should say it's cool because this trio is a thing now and obviously very different. D Hop is at A very different stage in his career. I mean, still, you know, somewhat successful because he, he had a pretty solid season with the Chiefs for, you know, considering that he's an aging wide receiver. But Derek Henry, Lamar Jackson, still making strides. I think that's very apparent as of last season. So it'll be interesting to see what. [00:59:11] Speaker A: Baltimore does and that's a great segue. To our next, our next topic that we'll discuss really quickly. We love Aaron Rodgers on this podcast or on this show. Still no signing. Still no signing. Is, is it finally time for him to think in his brain I'm retiring or, or. Matthew, you make a great point on what we've discussed. Is he, is he just wanting for the attention? Is he just really waiting it out for the attention or is he done? I personally, like I've said many a time, he's done. He should be done. He needs to go away. I'm sick and tired of it. [00:59:48] Speaker B: We don't even have to answer this question. [00:59:50] Speaker D: I would agree he should be done, but I highly doubt that he thinks he should be done. [00:59:56] Speaker C: I mean, look, I'm just going to reiterate what I, everyone has probably known that has a brain is that Aaron Rodgers really has been one of the most self centered people in the NFL the past couple years. I think that, you know, Aaron Rodgers walking on a beach and it's just like, oh, we gotta take that and just be like, oh, Aaron Rodgers, oh, he's walking on the beach so much. Sign with a team. [01:00:25] Speaker A: Exactly. [01:00:25] Speaker D: A quarterback. [01:00:28] Speaker A: Yeah, thank you for that, Matthew. We really need that Aaron Rodgers just go away. We're sick and tired of you. As we enter the break, get ready for Make a Case where we discuss the most shocking sports moment. Stick around on 90.7 to capstone. WVUAFM Tuscaloosa. WVUAFM TUSCALOOSA. Welcome back to the Crimson Case on 90.7 the capstone. It is now time for Make a Case. So in the spirit of Cinderella stories and upset victories during March Madness, this week's Make a Case topic is what is the most shocking sports outcome moment ever. Now, since we have Maddie joining us, we're each of us, myself, Matthew and Zach are going to present our case and then Maddie is going to judge, which is actually the most shocking sports moment. Now, Matthew, I'm going to let you. [01:01:52] Speaker C: Start us off now, I will say that, you know some of the March Madness stuff, you see a Cinderella story, this is not necessarily a Cinderella story, but it goes along with the most shocking moment for A number of reasons. So I'm going to go. Malcolm Butler, him getting his interception for the Patriots whenever the super bowl had in 2015 with the Patriots and Seahawks. Now, the reason that I want to say that that is the most shocking moment ever is because it's not necessarily him getting that pick. I mean, that was a heck of a play. It's shocking that Pete Carroll didn't give it to Marshawn lynch on the one yard line. That is the most shocking thing ever. Every single person stood up and was like, all right, well, the Seahawks have won the Super Bowl. Every person started texting, hey, Seahawks won the Super Bowl. My bet, cashing in. Seahawks won the Super Bowl. I'm gonna, you know, we're gonna get ready to celebrate. It was. It shocked every single person in that building that he decided to have a slant thrown rather than just hand it. [01:02:54] Speaker B: To Marshall right at the goal line. [01:02:56] Speaker C: Right at the goal line. So I think that's the most shocking moment ever and especially probably shocking outcome that, that ended that way. But I do see the, the ones that y'all picked and I don't know, I, I think y'all got some good ones. So we'll see what, what Maddie thinks. [01:03:13] Speaker A: All right, Zach, you go next for me. [01:03:17] Speaker B: I gotta go with Steve Kerr's game winning shot in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals versus the Utah Jazz to set the stage. Michael Jordan finished the game with 39 points. The game was tied at 86. Jordan Pump fake, steps through not to take the shot, but passes it off to Steve Kerr, who finished the game with nine points. Steve Kerr takes the shot, makes it, and then just like that, the Chicago Bulls won their fifth ring. I mean, to me, that is just so special. Steve Kerr says without. I know the NBA Finals post postgame speech at the whole parade and stuff, Steve Kerr said he was the one that saved Michael Jordan and gave him the fifth ring. I know everybody had to laugh about that. But the fact that Michael Jordan had that much trust and a guy like Steve Kerr, who's been, you know, historically a very efficient player, but to give a moment like that to a role player, a guy like that, and just have all the faith in the world, I think that is a truly special moment and something no one was expecting. [01:04:24] Speaker A: See, I'm pushing back on that because you said it was their fifth ring. So they're known to be champions, they're known to be good players. [01:04:31] Speaker B: It's about the guy who took the shot, Lydia. Steve Kerr. [01:04:35] Speaker D: Not Michael Jordan. [01:04:37] Speaker B: Not Michael Jordan. That's why the moment is special. It's Steve Kerr. [01:04:43] Speaker A: I don't know, but were they. If he didn't pass that ball to him, well, they're gonna win. [01:04:50] Speaker B: Michael Jordan. [01:04:51] Speaker D: Michael Jordan. [01:04:52] Speaker B: I mean, that's the whole point, Lydia. Michael Jordan passed off a moment like that because he knows what he can do. Everybody knows what that man can do. And he gave it to Steve Kerr. [01:05:03] Speaker A: See, but he's still Michael Jordan. He's still, you know, in debate for goat. [01:05:08] Speaker B: Exactly. And he didn't take the shot. Isn't that pretty shocking? [01:05:11] Speaker A: But what did Steve Kerr do after that? [01:05:14] Speaker B: He made the shot. [01:05:17] Speaker C: I guess that. [01:05:18] Speaker D: Wait, is that the shocking part? That he made it? [01:05:20] Speaker B: Yes. This is Steve Kerr. [01:05:25] Speaker A: Steve Kerr. I apologize for Zach. He was gonna make that shot. [01:05:29] Speaker B: Okay, Matthew, can you please tell me. [01:05:31] Speaker D: 912 the game and still made it? Actually, I don't know what surprising. [01:05:36] Speaker C: You took a whole different angle that I, I did not think you were gonna take. Like, Steve Kerr just caught a nasty straight right then. Even though you were trying to highlight his, you know, moment. [01:05:47] Speaker B: You're talking to me or Lydia? [01:05:48] Speaker D: To you. [01:05:51] Speaker B: No one expected Steve Kerr to make that shot in that stage. No one. [01:05:56] Speaker C: I swear to you. Steve Kerr was a baller. That man, that's. I mean, he's got knowledge that he's been passing on. And Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, I swear, that man can shoot. He's. [01:06:06] Speaker B: I mean, this is Michael Jeffrey Jordan for Steve Kerr. But are we in the same. Are y'all in the same universe right now? [01:06:16] Speaker C: Hold on, Honestly, hold on, hold on. [01:06:19] Speaker B: So y'all amaze me. [01:06:22] Speaker C: You're taking the other angle. Like I thought you were just gonna say it was shocking that they went off of that big shot like it was the outcome, but you're kind of like, I'm shocked that Michael Jordan passed the ball. [01:06:33] Speaker B: Yes, I am shocked that Michael Jordan passed the ball. As of everyone. As is everyone in the entire world that watch that game. [01:06:43] Speaker A: Yes. [01:06:44] Speaker C: Look, you got to know this. When a white guy is in the corner, that. [01:06:48] Speaker B: It wasn't the corner, my friend. [01:06:50] Speaker D: Wait. [01:06:51] Speaker B: It was the free throw line. [01:06:52] Speaker D: High School Musical 3. You know, when they win the state. [01:06:54] Speaker C: Yes. [01:06:54] Speaker B: It's a free throw on jumper when. [01:06:56] Speaker D: Troy passes the ball. That's how I'm feeling right now. [01:07:00] Speaker C: Free throw line. [01:07:01] Speaker B: You know what? Free throw in corner, there's a mid range shot. [01:07:05] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh, Zach, I think you should apologize to Steve Kerr. [01:07:10] Speaker B: Heck no. He doesn't think he would have made that shot. And he just made it. You can Watch any interview of Steve Kerr and he's like, I can't believe that man passed me the ball. [01:07:20] Speaker A: But he. [01:07:21] Speaker C: All right, well, two places where, where a white guy can dominate in the corner and it's free to line. So I'll add that to my point. Go ahead. [01:07:29] Speaker B: I just think it's absolutely shocking the man passed the ball, especially to consider he finished the game with 39 points. And it's just Michael Jordan. [01:07:37] Speaker A: Okay? [01:07:37] Speaker D: I love Michael Jordan. [01:07:38] Speaker B: That was to win the NBA finals. [01:07:39] Speaker A: By the way, their fifth one. [01:07:42] Speaker B: And it's Steve Curlidia. [01:07:45] Speaker A: You're being so mean. [01:07:47] Speaker C: Okay, we need to hear. [01:07:48] Speaker B: That's not mean. That's just truthful. [01:07:50] Speaker A: It's my turn. [01:07:51] Speaker B: It's the truth. [01:07:53] Speaker A: It's my turn. All right, Maddie and everybody. Okay, I have picked the Miracle on Ice, which is the 1980 Winter Olympics Games in New York where the US beat the Soviet Union. So there's been movies about this, so many stories have been told. And to set this, just to set the scene, to use Zach's words, the pat. Out of the past six Winter Olympic Games, the Soviets had won five of the gold medals for hockey. So they were four time defending champion. Heavily favored the U.S. upset the Soviets four to three. So again, no one was expecting this. No one was expecting this. Very, very shocking as to use the words to make my case. The. The US team was led by Mo was had mostly amateur players. So again, everyone knows like the Soviets, Russians are good at hockey and all that kind of good stuff. US mostly amateur players, the youngest team in the tournament and in US national team history, both teams were undefeated to get to this result. And so it really did matter because the US Won. This prevented the Soviets from getting that gold medal. And of course as we know, there was the iconic do you believe in miracles? Yes. Call which I think makes it even more shocking. And it really just like it gave us hope in hockey again, like we could beat that we could beat the Soviets. And I think it really just, it did so much because like, I really feel like it is the underdog story. Like nobody expected the US to come out because, I mean, hockey isn't our sport. I, I think we're on the way to making it our sport. I think we definitely have a good chance of taking it away from Canada now that, you know, the Soviet Union no longer exists. But I really think that this was a good catalyst and I feel like also really united the country against like we had a common enemy. We could all be, oh, we want to beat the Soviets. We Put all of our hope in this, guys. And the latest time that I saw this was, you know, when we beat Canada and the four nations obviously nowhere near as high stakes. It's not the Olympics games or anything, but I just think the upset, the miracle, the prevention of the Soviets from getting, you know, their fifth consecutive medal. See, unlike yours, Zach, where they're winning mine. They beat the champions. They beat the incumbents. So I think the underdog story is more shocking because nobody expected of it, this ragtag team of Americans to come and beat the Soviet Union. I don't know. Sorry, I just ran into my mic. I don't know. I feel like that's more shocking and also I just feel like it's more memorable. People know what the Miracle on Ice is again. Like, there's been a movie which has a really great speech, which everybody. And also the speech in the movie is very accurate to what was actually given during the game. So that is my case. And now, Maddie, mull it over. Tell us, tell us where you're thinking. So you have Matthew's interception during the Super Bowl. Zach's LeBron pass to Steve Kerr. [01:11:14] Speaker B: Excuse me, Michael Jordan. [01:11:15] Speaker A: Michael Jordan. Sorry, that's my bad. And then my Miracle on Ice. [01:11:20] Speaker D: Okay, I. These are actually all very good, like, shocking moments. Actually, the. The interception at the Super Bowl. Yeah, that was. I mean, talk about some bad play calling with that one, you know? Yeah, just like, oh, oh, gosh. Michael Jordan passing the ball to Steve Kerr. I would like to make it a point to say on this podcast I'm a big Michael Jordan fan. Firm believer that Michael Jordan is probably the greatest basketball player of all time. [01:11:52] Speaker A: Okay. [01:11:54] Speaker D: The fact that he passed the ball is. That's what Zach was getting at there. That was the shocking moment. Not that they won. So if we take it that way, that is very shocking. But I would say cue up Free Bird because I think the miracle ice is probably the most shocking I've seen that movie. I love that movie. It's just very inspiring, I think. Yes. Miracle on Ice. I mean, what a great sports is awesome. Especially I love the Olympics. Cause the country's coming together to like. I'll be like, yay, go America. So, like, yeah, I think the Miracle on ice was the most shocking. No one expected a team of underdogs, amateurs to win. Thank you, Soviet Union. [01:12:35] Speaker A: Play some Free Bird clap. Clapping for myself. Thank you. Matthew, you look. You look gagged. Any. Post Post game, post game press conference. Post game press conference. What do you. How did. How's the reaction to the loss. [01:12:49] Speaker C: I mean, I. I kind of did see it going that way a little bit because I. I saw yours originally, and I was thinking about how much that meant, like, there was. [01:12:59] Speaker B: It's a special moment. It really is. [01:13:01] Speaker A: It really is a special. [01:13:02] Speaker D: And it's lived on for years after that. [01:13:04] Speaker B: Everybody talks about it. [01:13:05] Speaker A: Yeah, we still talk about it. It happened 40 years ago, and we still haven't stopped talking about it. [01:13:10] Speaker B: Yeah, true. [01:13:12] Speaker A: So thank you. I just. I feel really accomplished. I'll take this trophy home. I don't know. [01:13:21] Speaker C: You guys. [01:13:22] Speaker A: You guys put up a good fight. You guys put up a good fight. Zach, maybe I actually really did like. [01:13:26] Speaker D: No, I did like the Steve Kerr one. [01:13:28] Speaker A: Oh, Matthew. [01:13:29] Speaker D: Matthew, let me say this. [01:13:32] Speaker B: That. Let me say this stat real quick. I really want to say this stat to keep it in perspective. Michael Jordan's career playoff points are 5,987. Steve Kerr is only. And I mean only 553. The man has over 5,000 more points as this. This guy in the playoffs. [01:13:55] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:13:55] Speaker B: Just saying. [01:13:56] Speaker A: Okay, whatever. I won. It's all good. [01:13:59] Speaker B: You won fair and square, Lydia. I mean, that's a great moment. It really is. I got to give credit where credit's due. [01:14:04] Speaker A: Thank you. I just. For me, I don't know when I think shocking. That's. I always think of an upset. I don't know when shocking. And I mean, bad play calling is always a shocker. Sorry, Michael Jordan. Sorry, guys. I know. Ball. I promise. Michael Jordan passing the ball. [01:14:21] Speaker D: I know. [01:14:22] Speaker A: I promise. But no, I think LeBron Jordan. LeBron Jordan. You know what? Close enough. [01:14:27] Speaker B: Jordan James. [01:14:28] Speaker A: I don't know. So, Maddie, really quickly, what. What would have been your moment that you would have picked. [01:14:33] Speaker D: Oh, gosh, I'm trying to put you. [01:14:36] Speaker A: On the spot here. [01:14:36] Speaker D: So many. I know. Okay. Personally, for me, actually, after the Bengals had a playoff drought and then we ended up, Evan McPherson kicked that field goal against the Chiefs in their stadium to go to the Super Bowl. I will never forget that moment. [01:14:50] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:14:50] Speaker D: And that was probably. I mean, one of my favorite moments in the past few years, just in sports, honestly. [01:14:56] Speaker A: That's such a great. What a great pick. Thank you. I love Evan McPherson. I think he's. I think he's been such a severe. [01:15:03] Speaker D: Play for Auburn, didn't he? [01:15:04] Speaker A: Yeah. No. [01:15:06] Speaker D: Or his brother goes to Auburn. [01:15:07] Speaker A: Oh, never mind. I take that back. No, I'm kidding. [01:15:10] Speaker D: Great guy. Great guy. [01:15:11] Speaker A: Great guy. [01:15:12] Speaker C: I think. I think they both went out of Auburn. I think that. [01:15:14] Speaker D: I think. Yeah, I'm pretty sure. [01:15:16] Speaker A: All Right. Well, that was make a case. Thank you, Maddie, for your valuable value input. When we get back from the break, we're gonna talk a little bit to Matthew about his experience at the NCAA Women's Tournament. So stick around. On 90.7, the Capstone, WVUAFM Tuscaloosa. WVUAFM Tuscaliosa. You're listening to the Crimson Case on 90.7, the Capstone. I'm Lydia Lasko joined by Zac Elrod and Maddie Hewitt. And our very own Matthew Mason has had the pleasure of going to the NCAA Women's Basketball tournament. Matthew, how. How's it been? How's the experience been? [01:16:28] Speaker C: I will say shout out. Crimson White. I didn't even think. I originally didn't think that I was going to get to do this. I don't know why, but I kind of thought about it and it was like, well, you know, I don't think anyone got to go anywhere for football. Like, I'm not sure. I don't think anyone went to the Reliquist Bowl. It was kind of like a gut punch seeing Alabama not in the playoff and especially after expanding it. But yeah, getting to go and, and you know, I cover women's basketball, so getting to attend their first round game and I'm gonna be at their second round game Monday. And as far as, like, the experience, I mean, I've never flown by myself before, so it was an experience for sure. I got, I mean, I had a flight go from Birmingham to Tampa and then Tampa to Baltimore. [01:17:17] Speaker A: Okay. [01:17:18] Speaker C: And coming home is Baltimore to Orlando and Orlando to Birmingham. So I guess that's common. People telling me stuff like, that's common. [01:17:26] Speaker B: But yeah, connecting. Yeah. [01:17:28] Speaker A: Especially because the Birmingham airport is mostly just a commuter airport. So it takes you to bigger airports. But very proud of you for doing it all by small for the first time. So you've been covering women's basketball this entire season. Have you seen a difference from regular season play now that they're in the tournament? [01:17:49] Speaker C: I would say that, well, having only a tournament, one tournament game to judge off of, I would say that the way they ended their season was. Was not good, but the way that they came out and played in their first round game was great. So I will say I saw a difference. You know, they, the, they got a great upset victory over LSU in the regular season, but then they dropped the game to Oklahoma and then they were bounced out of the ncaa. Not the ncaa, the SEC tournament by Florida. So being able to kind of look back on how they ended the season versus how they're starting this tournament, I definitely say there's a big difference. You know, when you play a lower seeded team, they don't have the kind of athletes like a Leon Nye or Sir Ashley Barker. They still have great, great players, but I'm talking about just gifted players. You know, Zay Green, essence, Cody. I don't think they had anybody that could go in the pain. Stop, Essence, Cody. So that's the difference. Now you move up in the further rounds, you're going to see that the teams have more size, more three point shooting, all that stuff. But there definitely is a better version of Alabama in the NCA tournament than the SEC one. [01:19:05] Speaker A: So you mentioned that as they get further into the tournament, they're going to start seeing those athletes that may look very similar to them. Talk about Monday. What are they going to need to be successful in that game? [01:19:18] Speaker C: I think what they're going to need is obviously four starters. They're going to have to be in double figures. That's, that's going to, that's going to need to happen. Maryland, they knock down, you know like nine, ten, three pointers whenever they play someone that is, you know, like not very good defending team on the perimeter. Ali and I, I asked her a question today about just like her being a great three point shooter. How does that, is there anything that you can learn as a three point shooter on how or what you should do when you're guarding other three point shooters? And she kind of just said that, you know there's a handful of things when it comes to approaching guarding three point shooters. But you know I, I think the biggest thing rather than just just talk about offense only will be the rebounds because they all say that the defense and the rebounds is, is the biggest part of the game and that's where those three point shots come from is playing great defense, getting the rebounds, going out, find an open look, some, you know, get, get an advantage and transition. So those are where those looks come from. So. [01:20:35] Speaker A: All right, so I have one more question for you. We mentioned a little bit earlier in the show how the next game, if they were to win on Monday would be in Birmingham. What do you think that would mean to the girls? [01:20:48] Speaker C: Well, it would mean a lot because it would be a probably big, their biggest crowd of the season. I think that a lot of people would come out to that. I think it would really be special for not only just every, every player it's extra special for Sarah, Ashley Barker, being a Birmingham native, you know, played it Spain or Spain Park I believe. And, and the other thing is that, you know, the bjcc, you know, Legacy arena, she's won two state championships there in high school. [01:21:17] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:21:18] Speaker C: So being able to play in that arena again would be great for her and being able to kind of see. We assume that South Carolina would be there if Alabama moves past Maryland because South Carolina's a juggernaut, but they, Alabama played surprisingly well against South Carolina this year because they didn't have Sarah Ashley Barker. They hung in there a good bit, but just not having their best start just kind of hurt them in the long run of that game. So it's interesting to see what they look like with a Sarah Ashley Barker in the starting lineup if they get there. [01:21:52] Speaker A: Awesome. Well, Matthew, thank you so much for answering some of our questions that we had here. I'm so excited for you. I can't believe you get to be there and I just wish you the best of luck tomorrow and I hope the team does well and I hope you are enjoying this experience for everything that it is. [01:22:10] Speaker C: Yeah, it's a lot of fun. [01:22:12] Speaker B: Thank you. [01:22:13] Speaker C: And we will close out right now the show with starting with the elite eight of our 2000 and twenties Alabama athletes. So this just this decade we've been, We've been going down the list. We started with a sweet 16 of the greatest athletes in the 2000 20s. So first matchup we got in the Elite Eight, Devontae Smith, Mark Sears. So devontae's one seed. Mark is an eight seed. I don't think I need to give anything. [01:22:43] Speaker D: I don't think any of us do. [01:22:44] Speaker B: So easy. [01:22:47] Speaker A: Yeah. Matthew, you're not making this very difficult for us. [01:22:50] Speaker B: Devonte Smith, ma'am. [01:22:51] Speaker C: Devonte. [01:22:52] Speaker D: Devonte Smith. [01:22:54] Speaker C: Okay, number five, see Luisa Blanco. And number four, C. Montana Fouts. [01:23:00] Speaker A: Okay, this is where it gets a little bit tricky. Can you remind us of some of the stats and the championships from these two women? [01:23:10] Speaker C: So, y'all, y'all, what was it y'all said about Luisa Blanco? Like y'all Maddie said something about her, right? [01:23:18] Speaker B: No, I said she made the Paris Olympics because I could. I remember being on the Olympic team. [01:23:22] Speaker C: Add that on. Yeah, so add that on to the accomplishments of being the 2021 NCAA balance beam champion. And we're saying NCAA, not SEC and the SEC all around runner up. So I think that NCAA is a big, is a big deal. But you know, Montana Fouts is obviously one of the best pitchers that has ever played college softball and you know, throwing. Let's, let's just kind of Go down the list. I mean, as a pitcher, 27 and 4. I mean, that is a. A great record, by the way. That means that probably the times that she actually had a loss attributed to her, most likely where, whenever they were eliminating the World Series, that means that she was dominant, you know, like it was. I mean, that's, that's very rare. A 1.6 ERA. So what do we say here? [01:24:19] Speaker A: I. Well, I do think that the Olympics is obviously a great thing and being able to like, work with those athletes and work with those coaches and represent your country on a national stage, I. Or global stage. Excuse me. I just think that being. I don't know how well Luisa did in the Olympics, I'm sure I can pull that set up in front of me. But Montana, like that record that you have in softball, like you. That takes a gritty, hard athlete and still to this day maintain that record. Like, we've seen so many. Like we've seen a rise of so many great pitchers and so many great athletes in college softball, but the fact that she's still so dominant in those fields, even with all, like the rise in talent, I. I don't know. I'm going to go Montana. [01:25:05] Speaker B: I think I'd have to agree. But I believe, I mean, America, for gymnastics, we took on the gold. I believe so. But yeah, I think I had to go Montana fouls for this one. [01:25:15] Speaker D: I would agree. I think also if you think about as an athlete at Alabama, you know, if you think about it that way, Montana Fouts just meant so much to the school. We still sell her jerseys. Yeah, and I went to the Paul W. Bryant Museum a few weeks ago and there's a whole exhibit in there dedicated to Montana Fouts. Like she has a whole little section. [01:25:35] Speaker A: I mean, I think, I think we got to go Montana, Montana Fouts. [01:25:41] Speaker C: Montana is going to the Final Four. We got Doris Lemon. Goal. Who upset Brandon Miller versus six seed Mac Jones. [01:25:53] Speaker A: Okay, this is the one, Maddie, where you said you still see her on billboards. [01:25:58] Speaker D: Yes, I just saw her on a billboard the other day. [01:26:01] Speaker A: And Mac, I love you, buddy, but I mean, if we do take a look at his post collegiate career. [01:26:11] Speaker B: This is Alabama. This is Alabama. [01:26:12] Speaker A: Okay, this is Alabama, but I think. [01:26:15] Speaker B: I might have to give it to Doris again. I don't know. [01:26:18] Speaker D: I think Doris, I mean, this is her third national championship that she won last year. She won earlier this year, and now she won again. [01:26:25] Speaker B: And she's bringing a lot of awareness to track and field, which is generally a sport you do not hear that much about, let's be real. So for her to single handedly bring that much attraction to it, I think you got to give her a lot of credit for that. [01:26:37] Speaker A: And I mean, Mac, I love him so much, but he comes like. Alabama football is known for being dominant, known for producing like great players all around and that go to the NFL. And I think to your guys's point, how she's bringing awareness to like track and field. [01:26:53] Speaker B: Mac, at least for Alabama and our. [01:26:55] Speaker A: Standpoint, yes, Mack is kind of just another Alabama quarterback. [01:27:00] Speaker D: I would agree. Especially when there's been so many in recent years, so many standout quarterbacks. I mean, Bryce Young's further down on. [01:27:06] Speaker B: The shout out to A.J. mcCarron. [01:27:08] Speaker D: Yes. [01:27:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:27:09] Speaker B: So throwing that one out there. I mean, him and Mac, similar careers, I would say. [01:27:16] Speaker A: I don't know. Matthew, what are you thinking? [01:27:19] Speaker C: I think we all just went. Doris. I, I do. You know, we got probably like three and a half minutes to, to do the, the, the rest of this. So. Yes, we'll do Bryce Young, number two seed and then seven seed Herb Jones. [01:27:36] Speaker B: Bryce Young. [01:27:36] Speaker D: Bryce Young. [01:27:37] Speaker B: Bryce Young. This is not even a debate. Sorry, Herb. [01:27:40] Speaker C: That's a very. [01:27:41] Speaker D: Love you, Herb. [01:27:42] Speaker A: Love you, Herb. [01:27:43] Speaker B: Herbs of beast. [01:27:44] Speaker C: Final. Final Four. Devonte Smith or Montana? Fouls. [01:27:50] Speaker B: I think I got to go, devonte. I think I gotta go, devonte. [01:27:54] Speaker A: Just such a, just such a beast. Such a beast. [01:27:57] Speaker D: Slim Reaper. I mean, come on. [01:28:00] Speaker B: One, the Heisman. I mean. [01:28:02] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Okay. [01:28:05] Speaker C: All right. And then the other Final four matchup. Fourteen seed Doors, which I probably shouldn't have put her at 14. [01:28:10] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:28:11] Speaker C: Now that I'm seeing this. But that's sometimes how it is, you know, Bryce, the NCAA tournament this year was a high seed and they took out St. John's number two, Bryce Young, going against 14. [01:28:21] Speaker B: He won a Heisman as well. That's tough. [01:28:24] Speaker D: I'm a big Doris fan, but I. [01:28:26] Speaker B: Don'T know, I think we might. She's a beast. But Bryce Young won the Heisman as well. And I don't know, you might. I mean, arguably, arguably the best Alabama quarterback ever. [01:28:45] Speaker A: Definitely arguably. [01:28:47] Speaker B: I think you could. I think you could say that. [01:28:49] Speaker C: I'm going. I'm going, Bryce. [01:28:51] Speaker D: I'm going. Bryce Young. [01:28:52] Speaker A: I'm sorry, Doris. [01:28:53] Speaker D: Yeah. We love you, Doris. [01:28:54] Speaker A: If she keeps on producing. Keeps on producing. Olympic athlete future. Come on. Come on, Doris. [01:28:58] Speaker B: I think you could really make a case. Bryce Young is the best Alabama quarterback. When at the call. I think you really make that case. [01:29:04] Speaker A: Speaking of our, our finals, our Finals. What are they, Matthew? Drum roll that. [01:29:11] Speaker C: Well, we got a lot of chalk in this bracket, but it's all right. Devonte Smith, number one see versus number two, see, Bryce Young. [01:29:20] Speaker B: I gotta. I know where I want to go with this and that is devonte Smith. [01:29:25] Speaker D: Is this the point where we look at their careers post Alabama? [01:29:29] Speaker B: Ooh, I think that could be a good idea because they are very even. They are very even as. [01:29:36] Speaker A: As far as that and their time here at ua. [01:29:38] Speaker D: Yep. [01:29:39] Speaker B: And then like you said, Maddie, I mean that would go DeVontae Smith on that one. Especially coming off a Super bowl win that we've discussed here on the Crimson Case. You got to go Devonte here. [01:29:50] Speaker D: I think it's devonte. [01:29:51] Speaker A: Matthew, you look like you have something you want to say. [01:29:55] Speaker C: Well, the other thought is who brought Alabama a national title? Not Bryce. Even though he almost did. He tried. [01:30:04] Speaker B: He almost did. Both have Heisman's, one as a national title, one in their postseason career as the super bowl, and one has obviously played significant, significantly better in the NFL. Once up and coming though, got to give Bryce Young credit. He's starting to progress. [01:30:20] Speaker A: But I think, I think I know where we're going. Yeah, I think I know where we're going. [01:30:24] Speaker B: I think, I think Devontae Smith, he's. [01:30:26] Speaker A: The champion, number one seed carried. [01:30:29] Speaker D: Please play one shining moment. [01:30:33] Speaker A: Well, Matthew, thank you so much for coming up with this. This was so great, so fun and just what a great way to honor the athletes. If any of the athletes that are on this, on the list, on the bracket want to come and challenge their ranking and say why they should be number one. Doris, Doris, please, please. Come on. [01:30:50] Speaker B: That'd be absolutely amazing if Doris came. [01:30:52] Speaker D: We need to work on that. [01:30:53] Speaker B: I think that'd be awesome. [01:30:55] Speaker C: That's never gonna happen because their Sid is absolutely terrible. [01:30:58] Speaker A: Okay, on that note, thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the Crimson Case. We'll be back next week with more March Madness, more fun, and thank you guys for making it such a great episode. We'll see you next time. Wvuafm, Tuscaloosa.