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Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up then start streaming in the ESPN app. So all of ESPN all in one place sign up for activate now. Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Lilban on assignment in Chicago.
“I'm Tony Cornheiser. Does this assignment involve Richard Dent, a steakhouse and your brother Don?”
Let's see, you've blown it now because you said this and tell me what it was going to be. Very jealous he wasn't invited. So you just blew this for me. I thought what it was your boy at, but you run his radio. I love it. We love it. We're not good enough invite that we lost. Really really welcome to PTI boys and girls in today's episode.
The baseball season is underway. The NBA delivered some intriguing results last night and PK Sue Bands joins us for five minutes. But we begin today with a sweet 16 which kicks off in a little more than an hour. There are four games on tap tonight in order. Number 11 Texas plays number two, Purdue. Number nine Iowa plays number four in Nebraska. Number four Arkansas plays number one Arizona and number three Illinois plays number two Houston in Houston. Will bond which outcomes are you most confident in him?
I'm not confident in any of them. There are all pickups to meet Tony. I've gone over and over and over and you know, I sort of like the way you phrase the question because in the NFL season, all however many weeks it is now, 18 of them. I'm in a confidence pool and you're picking based on the confidence you have in that selection in that game. Tony, I don't have confidence in any of these.
“I look at Nebraska a team I picked to lose early and I'm like, well, could they beat?”
I, yes, they're playing a conference team. They're playing a neighbor. You know, and so this is a particularly appealing match up to me. Maybe not to others who just consider the Midwestern states fly over. Iowa Nebraska is interesting to me. But you could say, well, wait a minute, Arizona is a number one. You don't have them heavily favorite. No. No, I don't have any confidence.
Maybe listen, Texas is obviously a team that you could call play in because they were in the first four.
But we've seen VCU take that path and get to the final for no. I'm not counting on Texas either. So I'm turning this over to you. Who do you have confidence in here? Yeah. So people are not going to like this show because like you, I have no confidence in any of these. And if I, if I were in a confidence pool, I think I would start first with Houston that I would say that Houston would beat Illinois because the game is literally in Houston. But as you know, I fell in love with Illinois when I watched them a couple of times.
So I, I don't have confidence in that. The second one for me in terms of confidence. Let me get to my notes here. Purdue Purdue over Texas. And I would pick Purdue because I've been very impressed with the big ten to this point. But Texas beat BYU and Gonzaga. That's impressive in Texas. It's out of character because they rolled into the tournament one in five.
I would stay completely away from Arkansas and Arizona. That game could be a hundred and ninety nine. My yes. Arkansas has put up ninety seven and ninety four in two games. The kid A cuff could go by fifty by himself. He seems I stopped. Then I'm in a, I then I'm in a terrible position because I've actually picked Arizona to win the entire bracket.
So that gives me the one thing I have confidence in, I'll take ten more seconds. So one thing I have confidence in is that one big ten school is going to advance from Iowa and Nebraska.
“And you know I have proven for Nebraska and you know that I think that they are the ones Cinderella that is left.”
Yes, they are the college basketball this year. Yeah, what Indiana was the college football. Yeah, I was, but I have no over all no confidence. No confidence. No, no, no, no, there we have to. We start the show with no confidence. And therefore we will move to baseball's full opening day.
The Yankees beat the giant seven, nothing less night Paul schemes of the Pirates though.
Didn't even make it out of the first this afternoon given a five to the Metz to get today's wider schedule started your Metz.
Tonight we get the two time defending champion Dodgers hosting the Diamond back Tony. What's sort of chance? Do you give the Dodgers to three peat? The Dodgers are the best team in baseball. They have close to the most money and they spend it most wisely. But in the history of baseball there have been only two franchises ever that did a three-peat. Oakland did it once the Yankees did it three times. So the smart bet is to bet against that.
Why?
Pictures get hurt every day and then they're out for months. Last year the reason a Dodgers won is they sent their starters to the bullpen in the world series.
“I don't think you can bet on that again. And by the way speaking of starters Paul schemes, why love?”
Who was a sigh young award winner? He's he already at the moment is 67.50. Wow. I mean he got two thirds of an inning in. Wow. Yeah. And I'll just say this. I want to go to last night because the Yankees do sort of impress me. Yankees won 94 games last year. They won seven nothing on the road last night.
Even when Aaron Judge or I know you love struck out four times. It should be nothing. And they had no homeruns. And last year they led the majors. I've been 270 to 100 something like that. And they had nine singles. So yeah, the Yankees, but that's recent sea bias because I just watched it last night. I'll stay with I'll stay with Aaron Judge. I really will. I'm not jumping off that ship. Tony, I just won one franchise that I know you loved watching and covering.
And one of their Hall of Fame members became a dear friend of yours for a long time. That would be the big red machine featuring Joe Morgan. Oh, wait. Also featuring Johnny Bench. Oh, wait. Also featuring Big Dog and Tony Perez. I mean, you know, come on. They were so great. And they couldn't win three.
If any, you know, and the third time, you know, they got eclipsed by the Dodgers.
Just finished 10 full games ahead of them. And that started thinking, you know, Tony, these Dodgers, they're just so loaded. They are everything says that with baseball, the daily grind of it, the injuries, the underperformance, the performance as you can't anticipate that come from other teams. Maybe even in your division. So no, I'm going to go with the field. I am. Yeah, no, I would too. I would too. If I had to take a flyer on one team that had a shot, I might think about the Detroit Tigers.
“If they keep scuba or maybe even Toronto, because I think Toronto took the Dodgers to seven.”
And they added seas. They added to the offseason. Yes. Yeah. So, so make the move to the NBA and a grab bag from last night's games. The Celtics beat the Thunder after being down 13 points in the first quarter. Minnesota without Anthony Edwards came from 13 down in overtime.
13 down in overtime to beat Houston. Denver got 53 points from Jamal Murray and a triple double of 23 points. 21 rebounds and 19 assists. Wow, from Nicole Yokech to be Dallas.
Philadelphia had Joe L. M. B. and Paul George together for the first time since January 29.
And dropped 157 on your bulls. And Washington ended at 16 game losing streak by beating Utah on Utah by 23 points. I don't think that's a good one. Wherever you want to start. I checked on the wizard score at one point and it was too late to call you. But they were up like 40. And I was like, this is like, this is so common.
This should not even be entered into the record book. But that we digress. You know what's the Celtics? This is Celtics in Oklahoma City. It's games in Boston. The Celtics are supposed to win that game. For doing what you suppose to do and the Celtics is supposed to win that game.
But they did. And Tony to me, the Celtics took this seriously like a playoff seriously. Not like mid-March seriously. And they said, OK, the playoffs, the real sort of play in and the position in the Jockeying. It may not start for a week. We're starting it tonight. And they didn't want to hell of a job in knocking OKC.
And OKC and San Antonio have been just runaway. Freak trains of two of them. These these two teams watching. Spying each other. But I was impressed with Boston last night. And Jalen Brown specifically. People can talk about when
Be people and talk about Shake Hill, this Alexander. He was two ways on his game last night. And his tag team partners showed up late to close with him. Yeah, they're going to be scary in the playoff. Speak to us, Jason Tatum last night. He had 17 points.
A 19 points 12 rebounds on seven assists. They're going to be scary. I agree with you on all of that. I will mention the widgets briefly. I was tickled by the way they won. They were up 27 at the half.
They finally found a team that wanted to lose even more than they did.
I hope that him silver was paying attention. Adam Silver has publicly said he wants to fix tanking next year. How about this year? We're living in this year. Why don't you fix it this year? The other thing that I would say is Nicole Yokech's line is unbelievable to me.
It's unbelievable 23 points 21 rebounds 19 assists 19 assists from a center.
“Mike, and I thought to myself, how can a center have 21 rebounds in 19 assists?”
It's happened twice, not just with a center. It's only happened twice, those numbers. Once was a guard, but an all-court player, Russell Leesbrook,
Once was Will Chamberlain.
And then Yokech last year had a more amazing one to me.
He had 21 rebounds in 22 assists.
“These numbers defied all logic to spectacularly.”
They do Tony, and you know what? He will have the 2020 thing to themselves. That club, Nathan Westbrook broke it. Yokech is amazing on a nightly basis, where I do think the basketball public, even people who have won 2020.
Westbrook had a 2020. Westbrook had a 2020. Westbrook has not played on great teams. Westbrook individually has been spectacular sometimes. Let's take a break.
Coming up, the one's red hot savers of suddenly lost two straight, we will ask P.K. Suban what he sees. We'll also ask him about Rocko Glutus' contrition over his recent play to put Austin Matthews out for the season. I want to see Austin my boy.
Matthews.
You're aware that Oklahoma City is two and six against
the Celtics. Yes. You know? You know? The other three are doing six.
That's good. Yes. No. No. Simon asked you about the story,
also the schoolflashback. Actually, in some ways. And then, often it's stupid. No. Not at all.
This story is my safe space. Hmm. Do you think that's all right? Yeah, exactly. This story is the story of the story.
The story is the same. The story is the same. The story is the same. With this story. The love for the Shortlyland is full of stories.
From legends, from books and books, from mystical books and books. But the biggest story of Shortlyland is the chance of humanity. And its beautiful landscape on the outside. Write it in English.
With TripAdvisor and Visits Gotland. Visit TripAdvisor.de/Shotland or more. We're in the home stretch of the NHL regular season, which makes it a perfect time for visit from our great friend ESPN NHL Analyst PK Suban.
PK, let's start with the Buffalo Sabers. They have suddenly lost two straight after being the hottest team in the league for a long stretch.
Do you like how this team sets up for their first playoffs in Hello.
Fifteen years. Well, first of all, there's seven one and two in their last ten games. I don't know how many teams in the league have that record in the last ten games anywhere in this league. Because of the competitive balance. But the last two games have been overtime losses.
I really like the way the Buffalo Sabers have approached the game. This is a team now that has to be taken seriously. It's an organization that has to be taken seriously. It's been a breadth of fresh air for the whole national hockey league. Not because of their success.
But how they've had success. They've built this roster, draft picks. They've taken some risks on some young players that are now paying off dividends. You know, I don't think enough has been said, Tony, and Michael about Lindy Ruff and the job that he's done with Buffalo.
Everyone's going to talk about these guys turning the curve in their development. Well, without structure, without a coach that has coached at this level. Understand how to deal with young players. I had him in New Jersey. He was great for Jack Hughes in that time for his development.
“I think Lindy Ruff deserves a lot of credit for where this team is at right now.”
And how he's been able to pull them back in when they get off track. So I'm happy with Buffalo. You got to look out. He's a for real team. They're a contender. Well, let's go from a team that's been soaring to a team that's struggling.
The oilers, PK who you've got tonight, dry titles out for the remainder of the season. The gold tending has struggled. I mean, it looks like they're going to make the playoffs. But barely if they do, where do you see M into right now? A fixture in the spring.
But where do you see him this time? Well, we heard the quotes. I believe it was from Connor McDavid, they talked about the pillow fight in the Pacific Division because of the competitive balance and how strong the east is. But I'll tell you this, no matter how soft people say the Pacific division is,
it ain't going to get easy for Connor McDavid. You know, I know Vegas has been struggling in their past ten games. They're still a great defensive team. They're given up too many great ace scoring chances. Edmonton will pick you apart if you can't play solid defense.
You know, on the other side, Anaheim, they got great gold tending. They're young quick. They have experience on that roster and they can score goals. So for Edmonton, they have to be playing their best game company off time.
“I think they get in is going to be very difficult to not have Edmonton in the playoffs”
when you have Connor McDavid on your team. But missing dry titles, not going to make it easy. But to me, once again, I feel like a broken record.
I need to see more from them as a unit.
I need to see them take control of games,
not fight their way back into games dictate. You've gone out and gotten veteran players. The defense that are there are what they are.
“You have to learn to play in front of your gold tender.”
The way that's going to give you success. If you don't have great gold tending, well, you got to play better defense. And for me, I got to see that sacrifice on the defense event. Too much standing around at times.
Too many gaps during the game. It's just for a contending team for a team that has the best player in the world. We have to expect to see better and more consistent play on a nightly basis for Edmonton. Let's stay out west kind of for one more question. Ducks captain, Rocco Gutis.
Put Sydney Crosby out of the Olympics, of course. And now Austin Matthews out for the season. Nurecho apologized to Matthews and said, "I've got to learn. I've got to be better."
P.K. that would not have been enough for me if I was the commissioner. What do you make of this whole thing? Well, first it's a man's game on the ice. So things are going to happen, you know, guys play on the edge. Sometimes it boils over.
We accept that when we go on the ice.
“So when things happen, we all have to deal with it the right way.”
But as a guy who's played the game who's watched more hockey than I've ever watched before, I don't want to hear this Sunday morning, Monday morning quarterback. The games on Sunday, we all saw what happened. I don't want to hear the next day that you're upset. On Austin Matthews, he's got his knee out there for 45 seconds before he makes contact.
It's in the open ice. I understand that his intent may not be able to hurt someone. But I've been a defenseman. I've wanted to impose my will. And at times, guys have gotten hurt.
But to me in the open ice, there should never be any confusion on that.
This is the professional, national, hockey league. Guys know how to control their bodies and know how to make a proper body check. I don't know what league that body check is okay. And it's definitely not okay in our league. So for me, I can understand the frustration from players that may sound off on the play of
Racco Gootis. But he's got to clean that up. If he wants to continue to play in the national hockey league, we're okay with fighting. We're okay with a lot of physical things. But when it comes to knees and headshots and all that stuff, you got to clean that up.
And he's a veteran player. He knows better. He's told the line before. He's got to take the full front, whatever comes his way now. Here here.
Well said. Well said. We will get you out of here on this. We've seen so many great young players emerge this season.
“But looking long-term, who do you see as the most special of these young players?”
Oh, what a question. This one's tough, guys, because we have an embarrassment of young talent in the national hockey league that is learning from some of the greatest leaders in sports today. Sydney Crosby, McDavid, McKinn, you can go down the list. But when we talk about young players in the national hockey league, I'll start at the top right now for me. There's three names to me that stand out.
I can't just give you one. I got to give you all three. Number one, Matthew Schaefer. We have not seen a defenseman come into the league. That complete at 18 and playing the way.
He's got 20 plus goals. I don't even know what his stats are. Every night he's breaking records, guys. He's been unbelievable. Celebrini, unbelievable.
The whole world saw him at the Olympics. Connor Bedard. A lot of people in hockey know. But a lot of people that watch sports may not know.
This guy's just as good and is going to be just as good as the first two names that I said.
He's showing it already in the second half and he's going to show it for years to come. But outside of that, Lane Hudson in Montreal, who's great Kindle in Pittsburgh and 18 year old who makes the team this year. You know, an unsung here on that team. He's a big part of the reason why they're even in the playoff picture right now. And Sidney Crosby's been out.
He's been dragging him into the fight every night. So the NHL's in a good place right now, guys. Thank you, P.K. It's great to have you on. Appreciate it, man.
All right. Thanks, guys. Big games tonight. You can catch P.K. on the point at ESPN 2 at 6 o'clock. Followed by an NHL double header and 7 on the mothership. Let's take one last break but still to come.
Tom Brady, SCNFL about playing as an owner. Why is too early? Why April Fool's stories at one? Why? Is leaving in sea state and get this Tony headed back to a school that fired him.
Can't him. Sit, get out here. Tom Brady's stories got to be April Fool's Joe Mike. From 30 for 30 podcasts. Come on, come on.
Come on. You can take a look at that guy. Ryan Patta, senior defensive lineman for Miami. Gun down. The key to this case, it's Brian.
Oh, hey, it's Brian. I'll be for he died. He was on a phone. Arnold's about this might be my hit. You want to truth.
They just want to conviction be in place in your arrest.
We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the you. Listen now. Mine 101, where is the emergency?
“It's the middle of the night in a small town on the Jersey Shore.”
Someone reports in a band and car on a bridge. A search gets underway for the missing driver. 19-year-old Sarah Stern. Is it a missing person? Is it a suicide?
At this point, nobody knows. Old friendships, buried cash, and a sinister plot that was once pitched as a movie, plays out in real life. I'm Juju Chang from 2020 and ABC Audio.
Listen now to Bridge of Lives, wherever you get your podcasts. Happy time. People have a 25th birthday, James and Williams. The Detroit Lions wide receiver had 65 catches for 117 yards and 7 touchdowns this past season.
Williams was third in the NFL in the yards per reception,
17.2. The year after being second at 17.3.
“Williams was a 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Alabama.”
Williams transferred to Alabama from Ohio State. Williams has the distinction of losing the national championship game to Georgia while at Alabama and losing the national championship game to Alabama, while at Ohio State. Williams plays opposite, "I'm in St. Rock, I'm in Ross St. Brown, I'm sorry,
who had 117 catches for 1,400-1 yards at 11 touchdowns this past season. An alliance still didn't make the playoffs. What? It certainly wasn't there fault, not his. He's a guy that you're wincing the entire game when you're in a division,
rival situation twice a year and you like, "Please don't let him get loose because we got nobody to catch him ever if he does. He's an impact plate." Happy anniversary, Brad Stevens on this day 15 years ago. Stevens coach Butler to the final four by beating Florida and overtime.
This would become the second year hero that Stevens took Butler to the final game.
Butler.
“Stevens then went to the Boston selfies.”
First, his coach now is the guy running the basketball show, and has been thoroughly successful. Butler meanwhile just hired Ronald Norrett as head coach. Norrett had been an NBA assistant. Was a starting guard on the Butler team we're talking about.
Yeah, people talking about. The grass team is leaving to go to North Carolina. Sorry. New supplies of people in North Carolina. The Boston selfies which could be on the verge of winning again. Bigger than North Carolina.
Happy trails NC State for Will Wade. The latest turn in tumultuous career has weighed heading back to LSU. The school had famously fired him for payment shenanigans four years ago. Matt Norlander of CBS reports at LSU offered a bigger budget than NC State. And Wade took it, leaving the wolf pack one year after his arrival.
When he called NC State quote, "a destination job." And then when 2014, while losing in the first four, LSU dismissed Wade in 2022. But that was under a different AD and before the widespread wild west NIL coacher.
And never gets wilder in the west at LSU with like basically no rules.
He's doing the right thing. Big finished quickly. Jackson Cheerio. The Brewers out two to four weeks with a fractured hand. Except for the world baseball classic, your thoughts. I'm not going to wish any ill on the cheese sands
and you hope he comes back healthy in this long season. Tom Brady told CMBC, he asked the NFL about playing as a minority owner but the league didn't like that. Your reaction. It's totally crazy story.
Billy Donovan says he's focused on the bulls but didn't rule out interest in the North Carolina job. What do you make of that? I'm making if it's a bulls are going nowhere. And Billy Donovan should go to North Carolina.
He won too. If Florida, he knows what he's doing in the college ranks the squad. God, you boy. Lease the world championship. After today's short program, is that significant?
I wish him well. It was terrible. It happened to take him in the Olympics. Last one. Nick's going for the rank winning the road tonight in Charlotte.
You like the chances? No. I like Charlotte's chances. They're hot too.
