Salerno: Florida Has No Weaknesses

Cameron, how are you man?

I'm doing great. It's the best time of year. I mean, uh, first round or first games rather yesterday were awesome. I mean, North Carolina obviously, you know, made their case why they should be an NCAA tournament team. Then how about that first game? I mean, Alabama State, that was a awesome finish and that's what March Madness is all about. So great start to the day. Uh, two more really good games tonight and then obviously just a full slate of awesome games tomorrow.

So best time of year, I think. I think North Carolina, you know, the lead eight, uh, when I thought of my bracket on Sunday, I know there was like that, um, the, you know, the play in game where, you know, it still shows up as two teams when you pick him, uh, when you're filling out your bracket. But I really believe that North Carolina, you know, is the best team in the world. North Carolina was going to go on a run. I felt like it was going to be pretty obvious that they were going to go on a run.

Like, I feel like it happens almost every year. The last team that's, you know, not supposed to get in necessarily. It gets in, goes to the first four, makes the statement and then goes on a mini run themselves. I mean, even look at what North Carolina did a few years ago when they went to the final four last, they were a number eight seat and they beat number one Baylor. And then they, you know, got a favorable match up, obviously in the lead eight when they played St. Peter's, the Cinderella, that tournament that obviously beat Duke and lost the Kansas in the title game.

But, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's great. I mean, just the, the, the area, the bracket they're in, I know the South region is, is a gauntlet with Auburn, but I really think they have a chance to go to the lead eight from that side. But I, I still think people will say that, you know, their inclusion in the tournament wasn't validated because a team like West Virginia or Indiana or Boise State that got in over them. But I think they showed last night that they absolutely deserve to belong. A question about if they are talented enough to be NCAA tournament team. I mean, this was a, like a AP top 25 team. We're talking about the preseason, a brand in North Carolina.

That's one of the biggest blue bloods of the sport. So they absolutely have the talent to go on a run. But I mean, at the end of the day, I think people will still be skeptical and think they shouldn't have got in. But obviously, last night, they they proved a lot of people wrong that maybe said that San Diego State was going to win. You talk about how tough it is in that that South bracket and where Auburn sits at number one overall, but we know they've been they've been slumping heading into the tournament.

What are your overall thoughts on what we might see from them outside of probably wax and Alabama State? I so big Auburn is is the best team in the country as of right now. I mean, I wrote about Duke has a strong case about title two. And you know, they're on the other side of the bracket, which I think is a good thing.

Because if both teams obviously are on the table, then that's the title game we would get. I still I don't think people should panic about Auburn because they really showed the entire season. They were, you know, for you know, for better or worse, they're the best in college basketball. And obviously, that, you know, slow end of the season, which, you know, is a tough game for Auburn. Including loss to Texas A&M.

And then obviously that buzzer beater against Alabama at Auburn and then obviously a loss in the SEC tournament. I wouldn't panic about Auburn. They still have, you know, one of the best players in the sport, Jenai Broome, who just an absolute beast. And they have this high level role players that, you know, are essential to make the turn and run. So I wouldn't panic about Auburn yet. You know, people might still panic about them, but I still think they are the overwhelming favorite to come out of the South region. Cameron Solano is here with us on the JR Sport Reshow Coast to Coast covers all things college basketball for CBS Sports. Quite the opposite. We got the Gators who are our hottest fisheries.

They're seven foot nine, eight foot, nine foot, 10 foot, 11 foot, 12 foot guy. He doesn't even play. He's not playing this year.

What are your thoughts? What are your thoughts on the Gators here in the tournament? I really don't think they have a weakness. I mean, they have stellar guard play, which Walter Clayton is arguably one of the best guards in the entire country. And then Elijah Martin, who has NCAA tournament experience with FAU back when he played on that Final Four team a few years ago.

Alex Condon is just a great center down low. They're overall big man depth. I think it's just, you know, some of their depth pieces would be starters on some of these tournament teams. Like, that's how good they are. So, yeah, they come to the tournament, I think, super hot. The West region, though, man, that's going to be a call it.

I mean, just the teams are in there. I mean, with obviously St. John's at the very bottom at number two, Florida number one, Maryland number four, and Texas Tech at number three, who I really think Texas Tech is a potential sleeper in that field. I know a lot of people are talking about St. John's and a lot of people are talking about Florida, but keep an eye on Texas Tech. I mean, J.C. Toppin is one of the best and most underrated players in the entire country. Like, he's an absolute beast. And, you know, there's a lot of people who I joke with that if you stay up and watch Mountain West hoops late at night last season, you would watch him a lot when he was at New Mexico.

And obviously now he's having a great season at Texas Tech. But yeah, keep an eye on Texas Tech. I still think they have a really strong chance to come out of that bracket, especially, you know, if there's an upset, because if Florida wins their first round matchup and the number eight seed in that region wins their first round matchup, then you have UConn versus Florida in the second round, which, you know, is not necessarily a great draw for a team like Florida, who, you know, have to play the two time national champions or two time ranked national champions in the second round. So it's a brutal matchup for them.

Yeah, well, the sooner we get our Hurley out of here, the better, because we don't need to hear his mouth. When you think about some of these other teams, for people who haven't filled out their brackets yet, besides Texas Tech, are there teams that you have a good feeling about advancing? Yeah, I'm going to go with Gonzaga just because I trust Mark's view. I mean, the last time they didn't reach the Sweet 16 was over nine years ago. I mean, they just are consistent. They know how to get deep into the tournament, whether they're, you know, a number one seed or, you know, lower than that. I mean, they played Kansas last year. I believe Gonzaga was the five and Kansas was the four, if I recall correctly, and they just smoked them and it wasn't even close. I think they have a tough matchup in the second round if they get there with Houston, who Houston, I think, is this is their best team. They're better than last year. Like, they are incredible. And I've been saying this before, too. Whoever wins that matchup between Houston and Gonzaga in the second round, if that is indeed the matchup, it's going to go to the Final Four out of that region.

So, I really like to zag out that area. I mean, there's some really good matchups. So, while I'm looking at the schedule, I mean, you have High Point versus Purdue, which, you know, I think people know about how Purdue has been upset multiple times in the last few years.

So, keep an eye on High Point. You know, VCU, I really like their team, too, for BYU. Drake in Missouri is a very popular pick for an upset, but one team I will say, too, I think it's kind of getting, I wouldn't say disrespected, but maybe a little underrated in Michigan. I think a lot of people are picking UC San Diego over Michigan, which is very acceptable.

UC San Diego, great story. Like, they're a very enjoyable team to watch. They're fun.

They're a great story. But I think people are forgetting that Michigan just won the Big Ten title about three or four days ago. And, you know, they have a matchup nightmare for teams with two bigs with Black Goldman, Danny Wolfe, who Danny Wolfe is just a super fun player to watch, as well.

So, I think he's going to become a tournament Darwin, as well. But I still think people should not sleep on Michigan. I think Michigan has a chance to, you know, they'd offer a really interesting matchup for Auburn if that's indeed the matchup in the South. Cameron Solano is here with us on the JR Sport Brief Show.

Let's get to brass tacks. Is Duke winning a whole tournament like Cooper Flag and Knupple legends going to be shooting threes and dunking on people, right? Duke was my pick to win the title.

I really feel strongly about that. I think Duke has the perfect blend of talent and veteran leadership. They have Tyrese Proctor. They have Zion James. They have Caleb Foster from last year. They have Mason Gillis, who was a reserve on Purdue last year, and he was on their title team. And then, obviously, the three freshmen you talked about, Norval, the other one, too, Colin Malawach, he's a really good center.

And then, you know, Cooper Flag, as well. And Colin is just a lights-out shooter, and he's playing his best basketball, I think, of his entire, you know, season right now. So, Duke is, I think, the team to beat.

I would love to see an Auburn versus Duke matchup just because we saw it play out once, and, you know, it was a really, really exciting game. And also, in that game, if you remember right, Isaiah Evans came off the bench, and he's a five-star freshman that, you know, plays sparingly for this Duke team, and he came off the bench and had a huge game. So, you're always looking for those unsung heroes. You know, ten years ago, Grayson Allen came off the bench in the title game against Wisconsin and had a great performance.

So, you never know. Maybe Isaiah Evans gets his name called deep in the tournament and has another one of those games. You talk about Grayson Allen. How many people did he trip in that game?

Do we have those stats? That was, well, that was pre-tripping Grayson Allen. That's when he was a true freshman at Duke, and he played a lot in that tournament.

That was a really good chance. That was a really good Final Four. That was ten years ago. That was when Wisconsin beat Kentucky, you know, upset Kentucky, who was one of the best teams, on track, one of the best teams ever. And, you know, Duke obviously beat Michigan State. So, that was a really, really loaded Final Four.

So, maybe we'll get one of those again this year as well. Man, you talk about Coach Cal, and we had this conversation yesterday about so many of the coaches who have moved on, and obviously Coach Cal now at Arkansas. What are your thoughts on kind of the, if I dare say, some of the new blood that we have coaching right now? As far as, you know, new coaches in the sport right now? Oh, new coaches who are taking prominence. We got the Coach K's of the world and the Bay Harms who are gone, and we still got Pitino, obviously. Yeah, you can't forget about Rick Pitino, man.

He's just an old soul. What a cool, I mean, no matter what happens with St. John's, I feel like whenever I watch them play, I don't want to believe they are really, really good and have a Final Four ceiling. But every time I watch them, I just like, I can't take my eyes off them.

Like, they are just, they're so gritty. They play so tough, and they embody Rick Pitino. But kind of like you said, like, you know, the new era of coaches is definitely upon us. I mean, obviously, John Shire has a chance to get to his first Final Four ever, which would be huge for his resume. You know, a guy like Dusty May, who I mentioned earlier with Michigan, like, he went to a Final Four with FAU, and now he has a chance to, you know, potentially guide Michigan to a deep tournament run.

I mean, we thought, like, it's just one tournament or two tournaments can change your entire perception for better or worse. I mean, Dan Hurley was, you know, I would say, like, an above average coach a few years ago when he first got to UConn. And now, I mean, people consider him, you know, I won't say it on air, but in his own words, he said he's the best coach in the sport.

And, you know, he definitely has to believe, I mean, his resume backs it up. So, he definitely is really promising. So, I think this tournament has huge stakes just because, you know, like I said, if Duke wins the title, like, John Shire is going to assert himself at the very, very top of those top coaches. So, yeah, anything can happen this tournament, but I'm really looking forward to seeing kind of how the new blood, like you said, takes center stage.

Yeah, Shire will be looking for a little uptick in salary if he walks away with that championship and cuts down the nets. Hey, Cameron, where can people follow you and all of your work and writings, et cetera, for CBS Sports? Yeah, just go to Cameron Salerno on CBSSports.com or follow me on Twitter at CameronSalerno1.

That's where you can find all my work. We've been riding. We've been staying busy with NCAA tournaments. So, it's definitely the most exciting time of the year, but it's also the most busy. So, it's definitely rewarding to see it all play out. And I think, honestly, like I said, I've been to some really, really cool sporting events in my lifetime, but nothing beats March Madness. It's the best sport in the world.

Not a damn thing. You're right about that, Cameron. Thank you so much for the time. We'll catch you down the line, okay? Thanks for having me on.