Bender: Looking forward to Gonzaga-Houston matchup

It is the JR Sport Reshow here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. March Madness is upon us! We've already seen, well a few minutes ago, McNeese knock off Clemson, we saw Creighton beat Louisville despite the water bottle thrown onto the court. We got some beat downs going on right now, the Zags are beating up on Georgia 69 to 48. And how about this, I think they might be running out of time. But BYU is leading, VCU is 75, make that 76 to 66. We'll keep you up to date on everything going on.

But to talk to someone who covers all things college basketball, he does it for the sporting news. Joining us right now is Bill Bender. Bill, how are you man? I'm doing well, thanks for having me on. Absolutely.

I mean, what better time of the year to have you on than right now, Bill, right? Is your bracket busted yet? I took a small hit with Clemson.

That was a popular upset, but you got to give credit for McNeese, the boom box, all that. You know, they say, we're going to do that. You got to back it up. And they certainly backed it up today. I mean, that was a blowout in the first half. Oh, well, yeah. Clemson only had 13 points.

Explain this to me, Bill. When your head coach is getting ready to walk out the door, when he's already told everybody, pretty much he's walking out the door, they just, they just playing with house money right now at this point, right? Yeah, JR, I thought, you know, one of it was, I, you, when you see a coach, the way that that went down, you're kind of, maybe they're going to pack it in, play well, or they do what they did today, which the defensive end was really impressive in the first half. Clemson only had, I think they had like eight points through the first three segments and McNeese seems dangerous.

I think they're playing with a lot of confidence. You know, they'll go play a pretty good Purdue team in the next round. Purdue went good today too though. Some people were picking that high point up that I thought Purdue closed well in the second half around that size and very efficient guard play that they have.

Oh yeah. We saw, we saw what happened. Purdue be high point 75 to 63. Another matchup that took place earlier today.

It was pretty much, I want to say the appetizer for the entire day is Creighton knocking off Louisville. Creighton always seems to do well here in the first round. What are your thoughts on their chances as they go ahead and take on Auburn? Auburn looks shaky in the first half. Well, they got going around Danai Broom, but Creighton's an experienced tournament team. They're in the middle, good guard play.

McDermott's done this a lot. Remember they should have theoretically been in the final four a couple of years ago. So that should be a really fun, competitive second round game. And as you know, uh, over the years, that second round game where it is where it can get a little bit dicey for these ones. They normally win them, but they're normally compelling games.

And I think that will be fit. That description Creighton really came out and just rocked Louisville. I always make the joke. I miss that noon eight, nine game every year on my bracket, but this year I actually got it right. So that means I'm going to miss Mississippi State Baylor tomorrow. Bill Bender is joining us here from the sporting news, covers all things college basketball. Well, Bill, there was nothing competitive about this game earlier today as Houston won against SIU Edwardsville. And Houston, it seems like year to year, it's kind of the same old. I mean, they pass that ball around and take a shot and they play tough defense.

Coach Sampson always has them prepared. What are your thoughts about what they can do moving forward? I kind of get bored watching them.

I think everybody does, but that boring is beautiful in some ways. And they, I texted one of my best friends early in that game. I was like, same old people in the first round. And sure enough, they came out and did that today with that defense. And, um, you know, I think Kelvin Sampson, there's something to be said about having a team that can be a one seed year in year out, uh, last three years.

And they take care of business in the first weekend. This is a very good Cougars team came out, very focused. And, uh, I mean, Gonzaga, you know, I pointed this out earlier in the week, they'd never played, which is amazing. And I am so excited to watch that game because of the contrast in styles on one hand, a Houston team that doesn't give it up any points. And on the other Gonzaga, typically, you know, they're going to get their shots up. I, I, does that have a chance to be the best game of the weekend?

Possibly. Well, we have another matchup that's pretty much been set up. What are your thoughts on what we'll see between a BYU and Wisconsin BYU, uh, just knocking off VCU 80 to 71? Yeah, I think BYU really good team. Uh, they, they were really, uh, eight out of 10 at the end of the year, I believe. Um, so that they get up and down, uh, Saunders is a really good player.

And I think one of those guys that can lead that March run, I, you can look at it as 40 news is proof because I'll admit to this part first. I did have Clemson in the elite eight bad on me. I also had BYU BYU in the elite eight. I was sweating that VCU matchup today because it's one of those either, or I could see those teams making a run, but on that bottom part of the bracket where Alabama is, uh, BYU can run.

And I liked that. They they've had a really good season. Well, bill, when you think about what we may see the rest of today, we gotta, we got a few more match-ups.

What are you expecting? What game are you looking forward to the most? Well, you know, I'm looking forward to see St. John's play now. Here's the game tonight.

You got to stay up late and watch it. But I mean, the Michigan San Diego game is very interesting to me because on one end you have a San Diego team that hasn't turned them all over much, uh, leads the nation in turnover margin, hot, upset, much like McNeice was today. So are we going to get two twelves to win? I thought Michigan was a little under seated after winning the big 10 tournament, but the other end of that with the Wolverine dusty may obviously took up a new to the final four a couple of years ago. And how does San Diego combat that size with Danny Wolf and a lot of soft golden, that's going to be an interesting contrast to Sal's matchup. And if San Diego can get into the second half of Michigan, that's sloppy. We could have another upset tonight. No, bill bender is joining us from the sporting news.

So bill, we had a caller yesterday and I gave a much simpler explanation than you did. And correct me if I'm wrong. I said dusty may and Michigan are here.

U S excuse me, UC San Diego. This is their first time here. Do you believe that they're going to walk? Of course everybody has a chance. Do you think Michigan is going to lose to them? That's not on your bracket. Is it?

No, I didn't know. I think San Diego is going to have trouble with that size and Michigan's played a lot of close games in the big 10 this year and really had a nice weekend. Now they, the one thing that can keep that close is the turnovers. They have been loose with the basketball and uh, you know, that's something within the big 10. They did kind of steal that Maryland game. I like that Maryland team a lot. The way that they were playing at the end of the year around queen was, uh, they, they've got a really good center. They've got a really good, uh, starting five, their benches and deep. This is the first time in a while Maryland's been able to say, Hey, they may be able to make a second weekend run.

Yeah, we'll see what Maryland does tomorrow against grand Canyon. You had mentioned a St John's and even thinking about that, that whole region of the West, we got Florida taking on a Norfolk state. Florida has been on a, on a heater and they're not getting a lot of attention. I guess that's Duke related, but tell us about Florida.

What has kept them so hot up until this point? Uh, guard play and better defense than last year. I mean, when you're building the team around call, uh, Elijah Martin, Walter Clayton jr is awesome.

We, we wrote a feature about him last week at sporting news. He has a little bit of a football background and learned from Patino at Iona and now he's, he's rocking and rolling as their, their guard play. But they, you know, when I talked to Tom golden, he said, one of the big differences is they're a more efficient defensive team. And that is clear that you can see that when you, when you see that, uh, the, the possibility of a Florida St John's elite eight matchup would be amazing for nostalgic purposes.

I was telling my son last week, I mean, he was watching Rick Patino yell at guys on the sidelines and I said, he's been doing that since I was, I was your age. And there's nothing wrong with coaching hard. Don't you love watching the way that St John's plays though?

They move the basketball, they play tough defense. It's not quite the Kentucky machine he had in the nineties, but the way that he's been able to maximize the talent out of that team, I think it's one of the dominant storylines in the tournament. No question. Hey, when you think about having the, the transfer portal and guys being able to move around, I think this is kind of stretched out a guy, allow someone like Rick Patino to get a, another lot at life and, and stretch out that career. What do you think about the job that he's done and how much longer we might see him given that you can just attract new talent every year? Right. And in this, this environment, I mean, he may do all right, right?

Because you know, you have the, the portal and you have the NIL options. I thought it was very telling in one of his podcast clips where he said, I'm not even recruiting high school kids. Um, so that tells me on one hand, it's short term. Uh, on the other, no, as long as we have Rick Patino is the sports better for it. I enjoy watching him coach. I enjoy watching Tom Izzo coach.

I know they lost last weekend, but the Spartans get going tomorrow and it's another really talented Michigan state team around Jason Richardson. You know, it makes me feel, I would say it makes me feel young, but it definitely makes me feel old that I'm watching Jason. I remember being in college watching his dad, Jason do the same thing as a freshman with the start. Hey, you and I, you and I both, bill, I knew I was getting old when I saw, uh, what, what's the running back? I can't, the Frank Gore. When I had to see Frank Gore's kid on the field, I'm like, what? I'm like, Frank Gore's kid is playing football now.

So Jawan Howard's kid is out here in the tournament. So there's, there's kids galore. And I, I, I'm about sick of it, bill.

I want everybody to get old and be healthy. But at the same time, I'm like, like Mike Miller's son is out like Mike Miller's old enough to have kids. I guess he is. Right. Exactly. And you know, but that's what makes it fun because you can put those players out and, and enjoy the nostalgia of it. But no, I mean, this is a great start to the tournament.

I think Maggie sets the tone. Maybe we'll get a, another really good upset. And I think, uh, if I, the one I had eyeballed, I think tomorrow's Liberty against Oregon because Liberty, you know, what's hard to judge in the tournament teams that shoot a lot of threes like they do and teams that defend the three point line well like they do. So I think if they can kind of bait Oregon into a three point shooting contest, they'll have a chance. Bill Bender is here with us from the sporting news.

Well, since you're talking about that region, let's, let's go to the east. We've all heard that you know who Cooper flag is going to be out there ready to go. This is, I don't want to say the welcome party for him with the rest of America, but this is the biggest spotlight even playing for Duke.

What are your thoughts on, on what they can do and what they will do? Are we talking final four? We talking championship? I think 25% of America thinks Duke is going to walk away with the championship.

I know Florida and Duke are really popular and what a title game that would be if we get there. But you know, one of the, one of the first tests here for John Shire is I pointed this out earlier in the week that under coach K they were one feed 14 times and they won those games by an average of 30 points. So do they come out and just blow the doors off Bryant? That's the first or not. Bryant, Mount St. Mary's tomorrow.

Yeah. Um, now if they do and go on this run around the NBA talent that they have Cooper flag and some others, then yeah, I think they can absolutely win a national championship. Will they win one? Um, Florida can get in the way, but when you have that many freshmen, you just never know. You know, we did this with Michigan and Kentucky, Kentucky did do it. Michigan didn't. Carmelo Anthony carried a team.

So that's what makes it so fantastic. I hope people flags 100% because why wouldn't you want to see the stars shine in this environment? Do you think it's worth him just getting a light run tomorrow and kind of sitting down, warm them up just a little bit. What do you think his usage is going to look like? Yeah, if they have to limit his minutes, I would.

Um, but if he's full go and can go and let him go, you know, and I think that's the thing that what impressed me most about them last week was, um, they didn't have them and they still looked dominant tournament and I know North Carolina pushed them, but what a storyline that's become after how good North Carolina looked the other night after being told, you know, you don't belong in the tournament because your quad one record. Bill Bender here with us from the sporting news. You know, one of the thing that I always like to look forward to is watching additional prospects, not just Cooper flag, but any prospect who might be able to move on to the next level. Who are some other players that we should pay attention to that we might see in the NBA in the future?

Well, you know, I think the Duke guys, obviously I'm more curious on some guys like Janae Broom. I know he will. He play in the NBA. I think so. Um, you know, the guys like that that can, can improve their stock over the next two weeks. I think he's one of those guys. I know. Um, yeah, you know, Michigan state and Jason Richardson, I mentioned them earlier. Uh, I think how much does he improve his stock?

Does he end up going? Cause Michigan state hasn't, I know there's that stat and I don't have it in front of me, but there's, I believe Mike, of course he told me that there's only been one national champion since 1986. They didn't have a first round pick on their team or no first round picks on their team. So, you know, you gotta have one or two of those guys.

And I was very conscious of that. When I looked at the bracket, I mentioned Walter Clayton earlier. I mean, how much can he improve his stock? I mean, he's been doing it all year, but there was some belief that he couldn't play the point.

I think he could prove that he was point at the next level. He reminds me a little bit of Trey Burke. Oh yeah. Well Trey, Trey Burke had a little bit of a run, I think a little too small in the NBA, but he had a good run.

Oh yeah. And this is where guard play matters. You know, I always loved the guard play in the tournament when a guy like, and when I talked to Walter Clayton last week, he talked about Trey Burke. He talked about, uh, um, it was the other garden, the Russ Smith and Peyton Siva. And you know, I go back to Jamir Nelson. I mean, when you see a guard carry a tournament, especially an East coast guard, that always gets a little more, uh, pub and most of that Jamir Nelson, that dude was built like a linebacker, had a solid career, uh, down in Orlando.

We'll, we'll see who emerges. Hey bill, thank you so much for the time. It's always a pleasure. Where can people follow you and all of your coverage? Not just now of March madness, but college basketball every time of the affiliate set.

Yeah, I'm at bill bender 92 supporting news.com and you can absolutely follow all that. I'll be here. I'm trying to keep the green mark.

I always use a green marker to highlight my mates and then an antenna trying to keep the pen off the table and not get too many X's over the next couple of days. But enjoy the basketball. I always love talking to you. This is a fun conversation, no doubt.

Always a pleasure, bill. Yeah. Try to keep that, uh, keep that paper green man. More, more. We want more green in life in a general sense.

So keep it green. Okay. I will. Thanks so much. Have a good one.

You as well. Always a pleasure having a chat with bill bender. You can catch all of his work via the sporting news.

Thank you to bill for coming through and joining us and dropping that knowledge and dropping that information. It's the JR sport brief show here with you coast to coast on the infinity sports network. You want to call me up? You can 888-710-4ISN.

That's 888-710-4ISN. Speaking of green, we come back on the other side of the break. The Boston Celtics, their owners are hauling in a lot of green as they will be selling the basketball team for a North American record. We're going to get into the Celtics green on the other side. Of course, we'll keep you up to date with everything going on in the college basketball world as the tournament continues on.