TJ Rives:
Yes, indeed. The long time coach at Kansas, where he never got a title by the way. Roy Williams final game was in the Super Dome for Kansas and the national championship game. A loss to Syracuse turns around though and gets three national title wins at North Carolina. In fact, Kansas now guys, in the national title game, three times in a row, here in New Orleans, 2003, lost to Syracuse, 2012, lost to Kentucky. They hope it’s not a hat trick as they get ready to play North Carolina later tonight. So we’ve got lots to do here on the show. One final show, again, focusing on the national title game, we will get to questions and answers fairly quickly. The guys are going to have official plays. We’ll get to questions and answers about a lot of stuff. And we’ll see what kind of history is written. Is Hubert Davis about to win a national title in his first season as North Carolina’s coach or will Bill Self get his second title and deny North Carolina here at the very end, at the finish line, in the title game.
TJ Rives:
Why don’t we go ahead and take a look at our records again? The big man and Matt were both two for two, 4 and 0, if you were with us on Friday. So the Big man finishes the year above 500 and Matt, right at 500 now, and the show above 500 as well, many thanks to Kyle Hunter and Ian Cameron who helped us throughout the year with all of their college basketball picks and all of their selections on the show as we do this one more time.
TJ Rives:
And guys here it is from the Caesar Super Dome. I’m sitting in the shadow with the Caesar Super Dome one more time. We will take a look at the one game remaining for the 2022 NCAA tournament, that is Kansas and North Carolina. And Kansas comes into this game as a four point favorite. They were four or four and a half point favorites the entire time, really against Villanova. They come in as the four point favorite here. Our total is 152 in this match up. Let’s begin with the Big man, Jeff Nadu, off the two for two weekend, you had Rock Chalk, you had North Carolina. I am curious. What do you have coming up here in the title game?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah, I tell you, I went back and forth on the side. I think it’s difficult. I mean I like both both teams a lot. I enjoy both these offenses. We have to just kind of recap and look at what Kansas though was able to do to Villanova. I mean, that was impressive. Villanova is a good defensive team, they play with literally no pace at all. And Kansas still got to 80. It’s pretty incredible quite honestly. But you look at North Carolina, I felt at times watching that game, man, this pace is awesome. I mean, this is terrific. Up and down. The one concern I have with Kansas and I kind of outlined this multiple times, because it’s really starting to get frustrating and annoying. Kansas’ defensive rebound, it continues to be problematic. They weren’t able to ever get to a loose ball and that’s what makes it scary about how good they were in that game.
Jeff Nadu:
I went back and forth. I think it’s a really tough side. Because as I said, I bet both these teams. But I squared in and I know the numbers come down a little bit. I know it’s a title game. I know it’s one of those, “Well, you know, every game’s good, every possession’s important.” Look, on both sides you have kids up and down that could score the basketball from Bacot to Love to Davis, to Baji, to Braun, to McCormick. I mean, there’s just offense everywhere in this game. And look, I get Shark monies on the under, but look Sharks loose. I’m going to trust my handicapping here and play the over. Numbers at 151 and a half at this point on BetUs, I’m going over. I feel like this is a first to high seventies wins. I look at how both these offenses want to get their chicken and they’re going to be able to score here.
Jeff Nadu:
And both these defenses are good, they’re not great. I think this really just, when we look at the Nets over the weekend, I think Mac could agree. Thought the rims were a little soft,a lot was going in, these teams can really snipe from three and look, I’m not going to be one of those guys that says, “Well, you know, Caleb Love can’t shoot like this forever.” Well he’s shooting like it now and I’m going to bang on the fact that these two just continue to shoot the ball the way they did up and down basketball. A lot of pace here, a lot of offensive rebounds. I mentioned the defensive rebounding issues for Kansas. Carolina’s very good on the glass. I think the Bacot-McCormick match ups interesting, especially with Bacot’s health. He’s a tough kid, he’ll play hard. McCormick was terrific. Matt called that the other day. I bet it myself. It was awesome. Manek’s a problem, Leaky Black was hitting shots. I just don’t think we see a ton of defense here. I think this is a high quality efficient offensive game. Over, over, over.
TJ Rives:
All right. So he is going to take the overplay and by the way, both games flew past the over, the North Carolina Duke game, especially, but I mean even Kansas Villanova easily got to the over with the way the Kansas shot the ball. Mid-major Matt, your thoughts here and an official play from you as well.
Matt Josephs:
So this is something I talked about when the final four was first out, way back before we even got to these games. I said, look, I’m playing the first half of the Kansas Villanova winner against the Carolina Duke winner. Carolina just won their super bowl. And I’m sure there’s probably some people in their fan base who would actually appreciate the win over Duke more than the championship. They’d be nuts, because of course the championship means more, but you watch the emotion of Carolina coming off the court, the crying that was there, Hubert Davis was emotional and they beat Duke. They beat their rival. This is not like they beat Memphis or some sort of random team, didn’t mean to pick on Memphis there or anything, but like they beat a team that they want to beat every year. And now they have to turn around less than 48 hours later.
Matt Josephs:
You’ve got Armando Bacot, who’s probably not a hundred percent, everybody’s saying the right things, but you know the ankle’s going to bother him. You noticed a little bit that Brady Maneks ankle was, or at least he was hobbled a little bit towards the end of the game. And I just don’t know how Carolina is going to get there at least in the first half. I think that this is a Kansas team that kind of dispatched Villanova. Yeah, there were some moments where it was down the six or seven, but like this was an easy win for them. They’re a deeper team. They can go to a couple of other guys, whereas Carolina, if Bacot doesn’t get hurt, they don’t play anybody in the second half off the bench. This is a team that just goes with an iron six or seven. And I just think that the emotions here, I understand it’s the championship game, people are like, “Wait a second. Of course they’re going to be focused.” I just don’t know if they can be here.
Matt Josephs:
And I would be very surprised. I almost would take the Kansas race to ten first. I would almost wish I could take like a Kansas first 10 minutes type of bet. But what I’m taking here is Kansas minus two in the first half, I think that Jayhawks come out focused. I think they’re ready. I think they can punch them in the mouth. We just saw what they did to Villanova in the first half.
Matt Josephs:
And I think, what I’m going to ultimately do here is, hope that Kansas is up like eight to 10 at halftime, or even at some point in the first half and jump in on Carolina with the live line here, because I think Carolina’s going to make this thing interesting, but it’s got to be hard for them to overcome everything they just won for a championship game against a Kansas team thats playing great basketball right now. So give me Kansas in the first half, give me Carolina alive if it’s like eight or 10, because I think Caroline’s going to make this interesting, but they’re going to have to overcome some early jitters and some over excitement from the biggest win in their program history right now.
TJ Rives:
It’s a very valid point. And we’ve been joking for a couple of days, everywhere you walk in the French quarter, after that game, “We retired coach K. We ended it. We-” And so you wonder, is that their season? I mean, this is a national title game. Jeff, what is your thought here, on that?
Jeff Nadu:
I mean, I get what you’re hearing from fans. I mean that, and surely, I heard it myself even where I’m at, but, I don’t know, man. I mean, this Carolina team’s built different, man. I look, I know it’s a quick turnaround, but all due respect, and I think Matt would agree wholeheartedly, and beating North Con’s great, but it’s the national title game. I just don’t think, I mean, you got to be quick to turn it around. And how many times have we heard with this Carolina team? “Oh, they’re not going to shoot that great. They’re not going to be ready.” They just add to the call every time. I heard it again to UCLA, “Can they beat a team? Can they beat-” The Bellard, “Oh, they blew a big lead.” St Peter’s ,”Oh, here comes hop St. Peter.” They just keep taking care of the business.
Jeff Nadu:
But look, if I had to play a side, I would agree with Matt in a way, I feel like he kind of long term full game leads, Carolina. I do as well. I mean, I’m kind of, I bet this team the other night. I bet on them before. I bet both these teams as I like them both. That’s why it’s hard for me. I look at both and I say, “What do I think both these teams are going to do?” I see competent, efficient offense. Because, again, sometimes when you have the high quality amount of players that you have here, look at the games the other night, both went over. Sometimes you just have to settle. I do this a lot in the Champions League in soccer. Sometimes when you have two sides, like a PSG and a Barcelona, you just have so much offensive talent going forward that, generally you’re going to get goals.
Jeff Nadu:
That’s just how it goes. And it’s the same thing here. It’s just efficiency on both sides. You know what’s crazy about Carolina guys, and I totally forgot about this guy, but they haven’t had Dawson Garcia since January 22nd. If they had him and they still got to the title game, Garcia was regarded as a top level front court player for them. He hasn’t played. It’s crazy how good both these teams have been. But I just look at the efficiency, I’m going to play the over. But I think I agree with Matt. If they’re going to ask me about side, I’m going to definitely take Carolina game wise if I had to play it.
TJ Rives:
Okay. Let’s lock both of you guys in again. The Big man wants points, points, points. We saw that Saturday. So he’s going over the total on BetUs. It’s been around 151 and a half or 152. He likes the over. Mid-major Matt’s going to make a first half line play with Kansas minus the two. And it’s interesting, again, they ran away and hid from Villanova at the beginning of that game. I can just tell you in the arena, for all the talk about sight lines and about shooting backgrounds, I mean, Agbaji had no problem whatsoever. Made his first four, three-pointers. I think they made seven of their first eight or seven to their first nine. They were lighting it up. Lots and lots of offense. So there are the official plays from the Handicappers. Now, obviously there’s so much else to talk about in this game and we’ll get to that in the question and answer period here.
TJ Rives:
So get those questions. We’re live one last time today. We’ve been with you all the way since back in November. We’re live one more time today, get the live questions in, again, if you’re watching later on in the day, thank you for being here on BetUs with us, but those that are still here and we’ll be here, a good another 20 or 30 minutes here, get some live questions in if you have them. Before we get to those, I want a thought from both of you. Matt, two schools of thought. Did McCormick and his play inside, and you were all over his prop, again what was it? Nine and a half I think. He had 10 points in the first eight or 10 minutes of the game. Did McCormick open up the outside shooting or did the outside shooting of Agbaji and the others open it up some from McCormick. I know they sometimes go hand in hand. What was your perception of watching that Saturday from Kansas in the first half?
Matt Josephs:
No. McCormick opened up the outside shooting and that was one of the stupid things. Nova kept leaving off of Agbaji to go double McCormick. Like if you’re going to leave off somebody, maybe you leave off like a Jalen Wilson or somebody else like that, but they kept leaving off him. And that was what gave Agbaji all those open shots. They tried to double McCormick, which is weird, because usually, I don’t think they double the post as much during the regular season, but yeah, the open shots were because they doubled down as opposed to the other way around.
TJ Rives:
All right. Big man, a thought on that, on the Kansas three point shooting, because I mean, they spread Villanova out in that first half and were getting open look after open look and hitting them.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I will say though, I mean, and I kind of talked about this a couple of times during the game itself, for as good as they played, they allow Villanova to hang into basketball game. Look, they allow that tonight, they’re going to lose. Okay. UNCs, better offensively, they have more talent. Look not of adjuster more, I think was the ultimate probably difference. I mean, ultimately, but Matt, yeah. Matt was on board with that one. I loved, that was one of the easier props I’ve had in a while. I just think there’s offense on both ends here with kind of what you guys talk about there, the three point shooting. Kansas has two issues. They can’t defensive rebound, and the three point defense is problematic at times. Doing that right now against Love, and some of the kids that they have, it’s concerning.
Jeff Nadu:
It makes me think points. Now there’s interesting props on BetUs. There’s a prop that there’ll be more than 168 points in the game. Should have to be, obviously one team gets the 90, but good, would anyone be surprised if this game is 92-88, I wouldn’t. I mean, there’s offense everywhere. I think it’s at +3.50 That they score more than 168 combined points. There’s a lot of good props on this one. If I’m looking at props, I think Matt mentioned David McCormick. I mean the numbers a bit higher it’s 11 and a half. But I said, when he plays engaged, I mean, he is really effective. I mean, really effective. And they seem like initially they want to go to him. Now tonight, he’s going to have a tougher match up. I mean, Bacot, even if 80%. Bacot’s a great player, it’s going to be a little bit more difficult.
Jeff Nadu:
I wish sometimes, some of the books would be a little bit more involved with some of the points rebounds. It says points rebounds. I’d love like a points rebounds prop with McCormick tonight. Give me something like 19 and a half or something or something like that. It it’s 11 and a half right now for points. I still think he probably puts 15 in here tonight. He’s still a great match up for them. You have to wonder, as Matt alluded to, what happens if Bacot gets in foul trouble, I’m not real worried about the rest of the bigs. Obviously Manek can’t guard McCormick. They don’t have Garcia. So I think McCormick’s worth the look.
Jeff Nadu:
I also will say, Remy Martin. Remy Martin didn’t play well the last game but, and they still rolled, but Remy Martin’s engaged as he’s been in some of the games in this tournament, he’s been really effective. And RJ Davis is going to get that duty tonight in guarding Remy Martin. I’m not real high on him defensively. I’m not really high on them guard wise defensively in general. I think Remy Martin could be worth the look today as well. He’s been very good since he’s come back.
TJ Rives:
Good stuff there. All right, we’ll get to the questions and answers in just a second. Matt. I got one for you. Caleb Love has been fantastic. And in particular with much like Matt Josephs, people don’t know this and understand that, the Jab Step and the Step Back Three, that is Steph Curry, that is Matt Josephs, that is Caleb love. He killed Duke in the second half of the game with kind of the same thing, get the defender off balance, jab step like you’re going to the whole step back and shoot it. He seemed to be better shooting that way than he did maybe even with the open jump shot. 22 points in the second half. Tell me more about Caleb Love and maybe a lean on one of his player props on made threes or points, et cetera.
Matt Josephs:
Well, I mean, I think he’s a little bit like JD Notte`. He shoots you into games and he shoots you out of games, because the first half he was not shooting well and a lot of his shots weren’t even close. And then the second half, he kind of focused a little bit more. He’s better when he’s driving and it kind of opens everything else up, because if he’s driving more and making his lay ups and his inside shots, then people are going to back off and prevent that. And that gives him a little bit of a look on the outside. So he’s a tough guy in the handicap. I would’ve taken his under last game only because it was so high. And for the first half I would’ve been looking good, but then the second half he would’ve been really good. So he’s just so high variance. I almost don’t want to go.
Matt Josephs:
I mean, I think there’s some value on some other player props, but like I think he is a tough guy to figure out because if he’s off, he’s going to keep shooting to either make himself even further off or he’s going to make himself some shots. So he’s the type of guy I kind of stay away from in the player props, so when it comes to that sort of thing, because I don’t know what to expect.
Jeff Nadu:
And, and he’s ultimately problematic and that’s what makes them a little bit more problematic in this match in general? There’s a couple of concerns with UNC. I don’t know if there’s many concerns for Kansas. UNC obviously with Bacot, how effective is he? You also have, as Matt alluded to, the Love problem where, there are times where he does force some shots, he’s not as effective. He needs to get into the teeth of the defense or pull up from three. Will Davis be as effective as he was the other night? Again, the game tonight, and I think Matt had this the other the night, Manek. I mean, Manek continues to be kind of the equalizer for Carolina. He’s been very effective in this tournament, really all season. You think kind of what a transfer can do for you and Manek is a prime example.
Jeff Nadu:
He’s really come in there and think where they’d be without him, probably not here. So, maybe look at him again, the two and a half threes, or even the points. Now I know he didn’t get to his point total. So maybe the books have this right where they’re putting it at 16 and a half and it’s kind of right where it needs to be. But if he continues to get those opportunities from three, what is his prop tonight from three? Is it still two and a half?
Matt Josephs:
Two and a half.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I think maybe you look there again, you have to lay a little price with it, but he’s going to get the looks. It’s really going to knock him down
TJ Rives:
Again, that young man transferring from Oklahoma, I know. Shout out to my colleague that’s here with me in New Orleans, TC Martin from Las Vegas. He hosts a five day a week, TC Martin show in Vegas. And he is very tight with the Krugers. With Lon Kruger the former UNLV coach, his son, Kevin Kruger, who is now the coach. Lon Kruger obviously recruited Brady Manek to Oklahoma. Manek played for him for the three seasons at Oklahoma. Has now as a graduate transfer, transferred here to North Carolina. And what Lon Kruger was saying was when we watched this guy, not only in high school, but at Oklahoma, we knew that he is a big game type player. He rises it to the occasion. Will he be the guy that hits a key shot? He hit a huge three at the end of the Duke game.
TJ Rives:
Caleb Love hit the massive one with about 27 seconds left, a huge three to give them the lead back. Will it come down to that tonight? Will it be Manek that takes that shot? Will it be Love that takes that shot if it’s North Carolina in a close game? We will find out. Question and answer time now out from the audience, get them rolling. We’ve got time here for a few of those. If there’s something we’ve not covered, if you’re just joining us late in the 11:00 AM Eastern time hour. Again, if you’re seeing us later in the day, one final time, thank you for being here on the BetUs college basketball show all throughout the season. Our buddy Pauli Walnuts, Jeff is backboard and he says guys, team totals, Kansas 78, UNC 74. Any thoughts from either of you on a side, on a team total side for either Kansas or North Carolina, anything stand out guys?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah, the pride for Carolina is they don’t have a ton of Leaky Blacks. They have one Leaky Black, that’s it. And outside of that, I don’t think they’re very good defensively. Lot of open transition opportunities. Yeah. I mean, I would look towards Kansas, surely. I mean, I kind of had them at 80, this kind of screams like 82-77 to me. That was kind of the thought I had on a score. Yeah. Look guys I’m not betting the over for my health. I feel like yeah, it kind of goes hand in hand if I like the over, I like both of them. Yeah. I would more or less like Kansas maybe a little bit more. Offensively, I just think they’re really effective.
Jeff Nadu:
I mean, and remember weren’t able to really get out and transition much, Remy Martin was a non-factor and they still were terrific offensively. So yeah, I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of pushback from Carolina, especially with the short rest. That’s really the biggest thing. I’m not so worried about that, maybe a slow start for a minute or two, but ultimately, you don’t have a ton of prep time here and I think Matt can agree, these are not, I think we both, whether it’s Hubert Davis, a great coach or not, this is still a very tough assignment to figure this out so quick. If I’m more or less looking at a coach, I’d prefer Davis’s game prep from what I’ve seen, it seems like he’s been very effective in these short little situations, but yeah, I’d be leaning over on both team totals for sure. I mean, I like the over in general,
TJ Rives:
Matt, thoughts on a team total play, a lean on Kansas or North Carolina tonight?
Matt Josephs:
I’d probably lean more towards the over for Carolina. But as Jeff said, if you’re playing the over, I don’t think there’s a need to play the team total overs. You can either do both team total overs or the game over. I don’t think, because look, if for some reason this becomes, which I don’t see either a 67-61 game and you play all three things, then you’re losing all three things. So I feel like if you like the over, play the game over, if you like a side, maybe they’ll play their team total over, because I mean, I think Carolina’s going to score. I think Kansas can score too. So it’s just, don’t get tied up too much into one result because if that result doesn’t happen, then you lose a lot of your bank roll on it.
TJ Rives:
Fair enough on that one. And again, the offense rule the day and seemed to rule the day on Saturday. It doesn’t necessarily mean this for Monday night. I’m curious here for your thoughts on the Hubert Davis storyline here. Because again, I was talking to some Carolina fans earlier this morning that are here at the hotel, and when they got blown out by Duke and make no mistake, Duke beat them by 20 in Chapel Hill, and it was a few days later, they lost to Pitt at home. I think there may have been a game in between, but they lost to Pitt, who’s awful at home. There were serious questions about whether or not Hubert Davis might be a one and done coach as a stop gap before they go after somebody else, man has this thing turned around here at this point. I’ve jokingly said if they win this tonight and maybe it’s even just because the Dukes [inaudible 00:23:56], he’s looking at a contract extension and a raise, particularly if they win tonight. Yes, Big man, call my agent if they win tonight, after all the questions being asked back in February.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I mean, I’ve never been a huge fan of like the promoting within, especially in these situations because is he much different than what you know was there before, but you know, yeah. It’s been great. I mean, he’s hit on the right time and we’ve seen this, this is how titles work for teams. Player gets hot, two players get hot, yeah and the coach gets, what’s coming to him. Yeah. I’m sure he’ll get a raise. I mean it’s Carolina. It’s one of the best jobs in the country. I’d probably imagine he’s going to have a contract for a long period of time. He’ll be there until he wants to leave probably. Look, you have to realize, I mean, he is, as you said on the verge of winning a title in the first season as a coach, I mean now look, it’s a little different than the norm, I mean, it’s not like he completely inherited a program that he’s brand new in and he had to take them from the depths of Seaborgium. No, I mean, this is Carolina. Look it’s-
TJ Rives:
Are you saying it’s not like Matt McMahon at LSU who has zero players now because they’ve all entered the transfer portal or de committed. You’re saying it might be slightly different for Hubert Davis than what the McMahon is now facing?
Jeff Nadu:
Right. This is why like when you ask Jeff Nadu what he thinks about what a good coach is, to me a good coach, look all due respect, like if you have any level of basketball acumen, I feel like with a little seasoning, you could have success as a coach at Duke or Ken. I mean, they get the best players. They’ve the best facilities, it’s easy to recruit. I mean, it’s not difficult. To me, the mark of a great coach is, you go somewhere and you completely create a program and whatever. It’s not that hard.
Jeff Nadu:
Now, I’m not downplaying what Hubert’s done, it’s not easy, but let’s not act like he’s at Omaha university and he takes them to the final. I mean, that’s hard. I mean, that’s hard to do, but I don’t know. Good for Hubert. I mean, he’s going to get a lot more money. I think he’s a good coach. I think it’s clear these guys like him and you knew he was a great recruiter, so yeah, he won’t have any trouble. This is going to be a team that’s involved for years to come. So yeah, he’ll get a lot more money.
TJ Rives:
Still time for a couple more questions and answers from you folks. Let me go back to Mid-Major Matt, because you were the king of a couple of player props on Saturday. What are you looking at spying for this Kansas North Carolina title game Monday night, Matt?
Matt Josephs:
Well, so first off as Jeff said, I mean, it’s been a standard play for me, the Brady Manek two and a half, three pointers over. And what’s going to help here, I think is kind of the scrambling at times when Bacot gets the offensive rebounds and Manek is all of a sudden open because his guy’s going in for the rebound and not getting it. I was very concerned about it because the first half he had zero against Duke and what they did was they basically put Banchero on him and Banchero didn’t even look at the play. Like he stood there and watched Manek, when they were driving down the side where manic was, Banchero didn’t help off. And I was very concerned that he wasn’t going to get any shots from three. And then the second. And then of course he misses that wide open one with about three and a half minutes left, but then he does get the third three.
Matt Josephs:
So Manic over two and a half threes has been customary for me. I’ll say this with regards to McCormick and BetUs is still putting up their player props, it looks like, because they did the Carolina side and the Kansas side next. I like the under for McCormick’s rebounds. McCormick has been surprisingly bad at rebounding the basketball when he is not going up against a team of smaller people. He put up great numbers against Villanova, but of course there was not a lot of size for him to compete with on the inside. And you look at what he’s done so far and some of these efforts against some of these smaller teams and it’s just not there and I’m pulling it up right now. You look at the other games in the term, he had four rebounds against Miami, who’s he competing with other than Wartenberg on the boards for that, he had two rebounds against Providence and he had six rebounds against Creighton without Kalkbrenner.
Matt Josephs:
And then he had seven against Texas Southern. Now other places, this number seven and a half. I like the under for McCormick. And like Jeff said, I wish more places did points, rebounds points, rebounds assist. I think it’s a big tonight for Jalen Wilson. I think Maneks going to get a lot of Jalen Wilson. And I think Jalen Wilson’s a guy who’s going to get double figures. And I think he could get, I think he could be a double double guy tonight. I think he could get 10 and 10 from him. The problem is,he’s an inconsistent guy when it comes to scoring. He’s very good at rebounding the ball. So I wish somebody would put out the points in rebounds for Jalen Wilson. Maybe you split a unit and put half of it on his points and half of on its rebounds over. Because I think tonight’s going to be a big Jalen Wilson game.
TJ Rives:
All right. Good enough on that. I’ll share with you a couple of things. Again, they announced just over 70,000 in attendance and that’s not uncommon now in these football stadiums for these different final four games, the national title game, et cetera. Guys again, I’ve been privileged to be at this event now 20 times various national outlets. I’m currently doing stuff with TuneIn in their mobile app, et cetera, in addition to here with BetUs. That is the loudest I have ever heard constant noise at the end of a game, that Duke Carolina game, because it was close dramatic. You had everybody in the building standing for the last three or four minutes of that game. And one big shot after another. We can only hope that we get something like that tonight in terms of drama and excitement. I don’t know how close it will be at the end big shot after big shot.
TJ Rives:
But I mean, you looked in the final two minutes of the game, Carolina hits the Manek three, Duke comes to the other end and I believe it was Keels that hit the three that put them in front by one, you go to the other end and Caleb Love hits the three that puts them back up by two. It was bonkers in that building and I can’t wait for that atmosphere coming up tonight and we’ll see how these guys respond to that pressure coming up this evening. All right, what else? And we do have time for another question to get them in. If you’re watching us live right now, here on the BetUs college basketball show, this is it. Last chance to get them in, the final game tonight, we’re done with the show. Jeff, another thought on anything else or responding there to what Matt was saying about player props.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah, I will say unless you’re like the radio guy, TV guy, maybe you’re within 50 rows of the court. I got to ask. I mean, what on earth would you want to, look, the final four is cool and all, but I mean, some of these seats, it looks like you’re watching the game from Shreveport.
TJ Rives:
You are high up.They do have the video boards. They want to include as many people as possible. And look in this venue, in the Super Dome, the Saints Stadium, it does elevate big time on the third level, more so than some of the newer stadiums. So you are higher up, it seems like, but you’re there. You’re part of the ambience. I agree. You might be closer at the hotel. I might be closer right now than some of the people that are there. But then again, if you’re a Carolina fan right now, after the win over Duke and a lot of them obviously stayed, but there are a lot of them coming into town last night and today, to see if they can get a national title, you want to be in the building.
Jeff Nadu:
Let me tell you something though. As someone and I know, you know this because you’re a fan, so look, Matt knows, 2018, Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl. I got to be real with you, if someone had said to me, “Hey, I’ll give you a thousand dollars and I’ll pay for your trip, you go to the Super Bowl.” I’d have said, absolutely not. If I’m going to win, you know where I’m going to be, Sartain Street. So I can go to Broads and I’m one block away. I don’t understand the thought process. I would never want to be in the building. I’d rather be at home, partying with the people. Maybe I’m just different. A lot of people want that memory. I don’t
TJ Rives:
To your point, Matt, I’m coming to you on this. In Kansas, it’s Mast Street, I believe I have that correct. They have it already blocked off as of last night. They’re expecting tens of thousands and I’m sure if Kansas hits a big shot in the second half, TBS will show Mast Street. I believe it’s MAST and those people going crazy to your point about celebrate with the peeps that are close by, et cetera, et cetera, Matt, what is your thought on the huge crowd there and enjoying it either at the stadium or the arena versus enjoying it back on the college campus and watching it all unfold with all your people?
Matt Josephs:
Well, in 2003, I had tickets to the final four to see my beloved Orange and a teacher prevented me from going basically saying I would fail out of class and fail out of senior year if I wasn’t in class on Tuesday, which there was no way. So I actually enjoyed myself more. Watched the game at the carrier dome, got to party on campus that day, that night after they won the championship, it was a lot of fun to be there. Now, New Orleans sounds like a great time. I’ve never been to New Orleans, but I actually enjoyed myself a lot being on Syracuse’s campus in 2003. And to be able to party with the kids and party with the fellow students.
TJ Rives:
How big was the crowd at the Carrier Dome? Was there 10,000 there, was there more in the Carrier Dome to watch that?
Matt Josephs:
10,000 probably. We packed at least a lower level and they did a very good job with everything. And that’s the key is that you have to make sure to give the kids a lot. It didn’t look like a lot of fun in Cameron when they did some of the live shots of the kids just watching there. Now, Duke doesn’t know anything about fun, but, yeah, I enjoyed myself being on Syracuse’s campus more than maybe I would’ve celebrated in New Orleans for that championship.
Jeff Nadu:
You know It’s funny he brings that up. You know, TJ years ago, I think it was like 2010, I remember the Flyers, they were down three, nothing to the Bruins, I think it was Eastern conference finals and fliers fought all the way back, it was three, three game seven, fliers went down three, nothing in the game I remember. The Wells Fargo center, they had opened to the public. There was nothing, no game on. They just had it on the board. It was packed. I’ll tell you right now. That was one of the funner games I ever went to. And it wasn’t even a game. We were just watching it. I remember, Matt remembers this, the Flyers are down three nothing and again coming back three, nothing. They ended up winning the game at the coming back. It was the best atmosphere, because right after you run up the broad and that’s that. I love that kind of stuff. I think more places need to do that.
TJ Rives:
Great point.
Jeff Nadu:
Opening the crowd.
TJ Rives:
Yeah, sure. Opening the arena and the Dean dome will be open at night too. And the Crowd Shots in Chapel Hill Saturday night. I don’t know if those people were still there Sunday afternoon or Sunday, but I mean, there were so many people there. I don’t know how they got that cleared off by Sunday morning. It will be some scene from one of those fan bases tonight. Let’s hope everybody behaves and does that. Kyle is watching us before we’re done here on the Monday show. He says, thought on the first half line, he says, betting Kansas on the first half line. Now Matt, you did say Kansas minus two, he’s saying Kansas at plus 100. I don’t know if he means just betting them to have the lead in the first half or what he means by that, Matt go ahead with the punt.
Matt Josephs:
He’s saying bet Kansas to have the lead at halftime and to win the game, is even money. That’s one of those double ones. I actually kind of like it and I may do it myself a little bit is Kansas at halftime Carolina to win the game. I don’t know. I haven’t, maybe Jeff has the price in front of him, but I actually kind of like that bet more. As I said, I like Kansas in the first half. And then the moment this thing gets to an acceptable distance, I’m taking North Carolina. I think they’re the better team here.
Matt Josephs:
I just think that look, if this was a December 24th game or whatever, December 15th game, it was played here in a neutral court, whatever, I’d be all over North Carolina and the four or the four and a half, whatever it is. But since this is with the circumstances being the away, it is, I’m going to look to Kansas in the first half and Carolina at some point when the lead gets to be excessive, because I still think, the Heels are going to win this game. So, but I’ll take Kansas in the first half.
TJ Rives:
Good enough on that. All right guys, I believe we’re good on the live questions here. We’ve covered an awful lot for this tonight. Again, a couple of more nuggets. These teams have only met one previous time in the national title game. They do want you to know that he did not cover that. He did not bet that game. It was 1957. Dean Smith. The legendary Carolina coach was a player for North Carolina. Some guy named Wilt The Stilt, speaking of Philadelphia, Wilt Chamberlain was a player for Kansas. The game went to triple overtime and North Carolina won the game. That’s the only title game reference these teams that played twice in the final four and in New Orleans. They played in 1993 in New Orleans, and Dean Smith got ejected from the game. A double technical late in the game, threw him out of the game.
TJ Rives:
Kansas won that game in 1993, Kansas also beat North Carolina in the ’08 final four in San Antonio. And they were literally up by 30 points in the first half, like 40 to 10 and wiped them out to go to the National Title game and yes, beat my Memphis Tigers in overtime in the National title game that night. That’s the last Kansas title. Is 2008 against Memphis. Bill Self is now 14 years later, back on the cusp. And by the way, one more Jeff, he was on the cusp in 2012 in this building, the Super Dome, and Kentucky beat him that night. He’s been the bridesmaid a couple of times late. Go ahead Jeff.
Jeff Nadu:
That 56-57 championship went to three overtime. It was 54-53 and three overtime.
TJ Rives:
Different time, right? No point shot.
Matt Josephs:
That’s a Virginia game now.
TJ Rives:
No shot clock. Yes. Yes. Different time. For sure. Matt, a thought on that just real quick about Kansas has been right here several times, including recently in New Orleans and Kentucky beat them. There’s a lot of talk about Bill Self can’t get it done. Now look, they won five games in this tournament. They won their semifinal game. You believe that’s unfair, if Kansas fans are going to be critical, if they don’t win tonight?
Matt Josephs:
No. Kansas fans are irrational, but most fans are irrational. I mean, there’s times where I wanted Jim Boeheim fired this year and he just brought in a top 25 recruiting class for Syracuse. Fans are irrational, but like I did, the one thing I want to see tonight. I want see that Hakeem Olajuwon block on the broadcast tonight, considering it did happen in New Orleans. I mean, you’re never going to get me to say too many nice things about Kansas, I don’t like JayHawks. I will say this, Bill Self has done a great job wherever he is gone. I remember those Tulsa teams he had and he did so well getting those things and putting them together. And I was a team I enjoyed to watch those Tulsa teams with Shay Seals and Johnny Gendron, and all those guys. He’s a good coach. I just hope he loses tonight.
Jeff Nadu:
Hey TJ.
TJ Rives:
Yep.
Jeff Nadu:
I got a little quote, it’ll make you smile here. Phog Allen, right? That was the first, I’m fascinated by this team. So Phog Allen left Kansas at the end of 1956, right? He leaves, he’s forced to retire and Dick Harp takes over, first year. Phog Allen says to the media, “Anyone could win the National Championship with Wilt Chamberlain and four cheerleaders.” That’s basically what the expectations were headed into the season. And Phog Allen was right. They ended up winning. Now, they didn’t have four cheerleaders, but that sounds like something I would say about certain teams, Phog Allen though, I could have sworn he was the coach back then, but history’s interesting. Yeah, Wilt was the greatest,
TJ Rives:
The famed arena. All right, boys, let’s get to it. Here are the best bets. If you’re just joining us live and catching up to the show, here’s what the guys have had earlier in the show, they’re on two different plays, one more time. Jeff going with the over of 152, it was also available at 151 and a half when we were talking before. So let’s see if this one shoots over like the two semi-final games did. Matt is on the first half play of the Jayhawks laying the two and has said several times now that he also interested in live, if North Carolina, Jeff becomes what like a seven or eight or more point underdog here, you’re taking that all the way. Right?
Jeff Nadu:
I think that was Matt that said that. But yeah, I would agree. I mean, I think this game is decided probably within seven, eight points. I don’t, I don’t think we’ll see a lot. I lean Carolina. I mean, I’ve been on them. I’m not betting it. I haven’t been betting the side or anything. I’m just expecting points. That’s all I think.
TJ Rives:
You were on the side, obviously with Carolina on the show on Saturday and got that one right. And Matt, again, you were saying Live line. Live line, you’re interested in Carolina, if it gets to like seven or eight or more, right?
Matt Josephs:
Yeah. I mean, look, I’m going to look for an opportunity even just to get this line with some of the game being played. I mean, if it’s, let’s say like Kansas is up 24-16 and the live line is five, six. It’s still better than the line we’re getting right now. And look, the things could change, if Bacots have foul trouble, if Manek gets hurt, I’m not going to bet on North Carolina, but right now that is my game plan for tonight. Is hope that I hit the Kansas first half and find an opportunity to get in on Carolina and then kind of try and get both of those things.
TJ Rives:
All right, boys, that’s a full show. We’re getting ready to see what happens. National title game. I think when it’s all said and done, you’re going to see North Carolina as your National Champion. There it is. One last time you see right in the middle of the screen, Carolina, Kansas, the two left standing, we began this tournament three weekends ago with 68 teams, two are left. We have played 66 games of the 2022 NCAA men’s tournament. This is the final game tonight of that tournament. And somebody gets crowned champion.
TJ Rives:
I think it’ll be the Tar Heels when it’s all said and done. I know Jeff, Matt, and I know we’ll speak for Kyle and for Ian Cameron throughout this process of the last five months, we need to say thank you to our colleagues at BetUs, who have done a great job. Alejandro has put up with us time and again on this show. Fabian has also filled in. Thanks to Natalie, to Tim, to everybody involved with BetUs for giving us this show and thank you to the audience, right guys. I mean, once again, we’ve got a massive audience tuning in live here that is watching us and many will see it later on today. They’ve been with us throughout the year. So thank you to the viewers that have been watching us as well. Final thoughts guys, Jeff.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I appreciate you hosting. And everybody out there that tuned in, all the colleagues that we had, Ian, Matt, Kyle, it’s been very fun. I’ve enjoyed this show and I will be continuing. I got a baseball show starts tomorrow. Noon Eastern will be there talking futures for MLB seasons. Just keep going. I say guys, we throw this back and run it back next year. I look forward to it. Also really quick. Shout out to the great, the legend Dawn Staley, North Philly zone. A great win last night for the South Carolina women’s program. Dawn Staley listen, I’m going just say it. Hey Sixers, cut Glen rivers. Get him the hell out of here. Go hire Dawn Staley. She’ll give you way more than that clown has ever given them. Oh, shout out to Dawn Staley.
TJ Rives:
South Carolina. Yeah. Who, who would’ve ever thought by the way, as dominant as Yukon has been forever in women’s basketball now, including the canceled tournament, that is six consecutive years. They don’t win the National Championship. And that’s the first time ever, they’ve lost the title game with Geno Auriemma as the coach, they had been 11 and 0, you talk about locks. That’s the first time they had lost the title game. So kudos to the South Carolina ladies, getting it done. Matt Josephs. Any final thoughts here as we wrap it up one more time on BetUs.
Matt Josephs:
Just thanks to everybody for watching. Thanks for everybody who decided to put us together, out there back at BetUs. It was a great time. Hopefully I’ll be allowed back next year. And yes, certainly we’ll be a lot better as a show next year. I could certainly tell you that. And hopefully everything goes well tonight
TJ Rives:
Again, we were here Monday through Friday, day after day after day, starting in November, it all comes to a close tonight in the Super Dome with Kansas and North Carolina. That is it. We’re good. That’s a full show. Big man on campus, Jeff Nadu, thank you. Mid Major, Matt, Matt Josephs, thank you. And we thank you for watching one more time, the BetUs College Basketball Show. Don’t forget to check out our sportsbook website.
Jeff Nadu:
Thank You.
