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Where there's so much happening today. That like my my head is spinning like I don't even know where to begin And I'm frustrated. Actually, I'm not because the Yankees still lead Bad Run over Toronto in spring training.
So that makes me happy. Got a little dicey there, but it's the bottom of the ninth, so I'm alright. All right. We'll be fine. It's all okay.
Nah, you know where we gotta start. That's a given. I mean, look at the who look at the host. Absolutely.
Well, I mean, that's not what it is. That's not what it is. Carolina. Who? Carola the Tor Heels.
Do they play basketball or something? They play some ball. Yeah. And um They got a pretty significant win last night. over Louisville.
Uh I think so. Oh yeah. And it's, I mean, it's first of all, I mean, Louisville was ranked number 21. That's one angle to this. And you're playing at the Yum Center.
No, no, it was in Chapel Hill. Oh, that's right. They were in Chapel Hill. My bad. I was in Chapel.
My bad. God, DJ, come on. I know. Get some coffee or something over there. I just brewed it.
It's still hot. What made this really significant was the fact that they did it, of course, without Caleb Wilson. Uh if there's a Carolina fan out there. Who really felt good in their gut. About Carolina beating Um Louisville without Kayla Wilson last night.
I'd like to know your name. I'd like to know. 336-777-1600 is the number to call if you have thoughts on the game last night. But. And I may or may not answer the call.
I would prefer you answer the call. I would prefer that.
So. Carolina was a three and a half point dog last night at home. But again, that's the Caleb Wilson effect of not being in. And I thought what was What was really validating about last night was the fact that This was Louisville. Like, this wasn't a win against Pitt like a couple of weekends ago.
This wasn't a win against Syracuse like the other day, teams that are not having great years. This was Louisville. And You know, the NC State game aside, UNC has done a really nice job in Caleb Wilson's absence. And I think that's a credit to Hubert Davis. I think that's a credit to Seth Trimble.
And I think that's a credit to the guys in that locker room kind of rallying around and saying, you know what? Yeah, Caleb Wilson's going to be a lottery pick, a top three or four pick in the draft, for minimum. Uh but we still have talent on this team. And so In fact, speaking of Kayla Wilson, we actually got some news last night. It's looking like, and this is kind of what I had thought might go down.
Um Caleb Wilson, Per Dave O'Brien on the ESPN broadcast. He says that Caleb Wilson is expecting to be back for the Duke game March 7th in Cameron. The season finale. I'm a little surprised. I would have thought they would have waited until the ACC tournament.
Nah, you know he wants in on that. He's got to face Duke again. Got to get that belt back. Face's got to get the belt back out. We'll see how that goes.
No, we got to get the belt back out. Oh, y'all want to get the belt back. We got to get the belt back out. A bedazzled belt. But um Well, that's pretty notable news.
Just keep that in mind. But Henry Vesar, he's made a big difference since he got back against Syracuse the other day. Jaron Stevenson, he's been great in Caleb Wilson's absence. Luca Bogavats is starting to figure some things out. There were some consistency issues.
Down, you know, over the course of the season, where you really just didn't know what you were getting from him. But I think he's kind of gotten a little bit better. I mean, still maybe not up to what you would like considering what you're paying him, but he's he's he's coming along. Uh I would like to say this, though. Seth trembled last night.
Thirty points. And I thought it was just ironic.
So. We'll get to what made this ironic, actually, in just a minute. I wanted to play some sound because. His ability to get to the rim. And to attack the basket from the perimeter.
Is the best on that team. And to that point, Hubert Davis, after the game last night, he. You know, he was talking about Seth and his. He was talking about his defense, but he was also talking about his ability to attack the perimeter. And here was Hubert Davis last night.
Seth was huge for us tonight on both ends of the floor. He had the responsibility of guarding Brown, and what a responsibility that is. He's. Fantastic player. But you know, against their defense, they're long, they're athletic, very versatile.
You have to find ways to be able to break down their defense and be able to consistently score. Seth was our guy. The thing that I loved about him was he was thinking attack. He was. He was getting to the rim all night long.
In fact... Andrew Jones of Tari Hill 24-7. Uh he was at the he was talking about this after the game. uh that apparently he was down in the tunnel where the Louisville players were. And The Louisville players, a few of them kept saying nine times.
Nine of them, nine times that nine was emphasized.
Well, what did they mean? UNC Got to the basket. Nine times in the first half for layups. Nine of eleven. Layups.
Louisville was not challenging the heels at all at the rim. And what did we talk about a couple of times on this show? We mentioned it yesterday again. Carolina Now it's better when you got Vesar out there, but they have to go a little bit smaller than what they typically would with Caleb Wilson out there. And We saw what that looked like against Pitt, to a to a bit of a degree against Syracuse.
But Louisville, despite them being number 21 in the country, they're a team that you can play small ball against because their front court defense is that it gives they couldn't stop a cold, couldn't stop a tissue. And they didn't stop Seth Trumbull getting to the basket last night, or anybody else for that matter.
So Sticking with Louisville a bit longer though. They've been a little bit disappointing. I don't want to go as far as to say they've been one of the more disappointing teams in the ACC this year because, again, Um They're still number 21, but context matters. It feels like they had a bit of a better start to their season, which is why I view them as a little more disappointing. They started in a certain way.
That Now, down the stretch, they've struggled a little bit. Like Michael Brown. It was a stud. Ryan Conwell last night. Took 44 of the 67 shots for Louisville.
Like, that's too much. Isaac McNeely. Carolina fans remember him from Virginia when he came into the Smith Center and was hitting a bunch of buckets. Didn't score a point last night. That ain't great.
So, I don't know what's been going on with the Cardinals. They had a little bit better balance scoring earlier in the season, but Michael Brown and Ryan Connell taking 44 of 67 shots. That's. That's a little heavy. But back to Seth Trimble.
His evolution has been such a great thing to watch. I remember when he decided to come back last year. Um And, you know, he was going to play the two. He was gonna Really try to work on his shooting. He's never been a traditionally great shooter, but he was going to work on it.
And even though he's had some games where he put up three or four points. He's also had a lot of games where he puts up 20, 19, 22, last night 30. It's like one or the other with him, but there's no question of his defense. There's no question of his leadership. And I thought it was really fitting last night.
That The night that R.J. Davis' jersey was in the rafters for the first time. He dropped a career high, 30 points. That might have been the first time that somebody's dropped 30 in there for Carolina since R.J. Davis.
was there and did it. It might have been the Notre Dame game. But here was Seth Trimble. A year ago. When Carolina got eliminated in the first round.
It was R.J. Davis' lassie raw.
So Seth Trimble is up there at the podium next to R.J. Davis. It's very emotional. You can hear him kind of choked up in this clip. But um he talks about What R.J.
Davis has meant to him, what he's learned from him, and this is how that sounded. I mean, I've learned so much from RJ the second I stepped on campus. it was there, you know, I asked them, Hey, Can we work out in the summer? I I mean basically ask, hey, can I follow you? Hey, can I Do everything that you do and Um I'm fortunate enough uh for him to accept me.
Such an early time and just Share with me all the knowledge that he's shared over the years. I mean, I've learned how to. Be a better leader. I've learned how to be a more confident basketball player. I haven't learned a whole lot from R is And you can certainly see that on full display last night.
You really could. Carolina gets a much needed. And a pretty impressive win over Louisville. DJ Turner is on the ones and twos today. What's up?
He's the one taking your calls at 336-777-1600.
So I mentioned at the top, there's so much happening today that my head is spinning. Of course, there was the game last night. But It's the NFL combine. There's Panthers news happening. We'll get to that in just a few minutes.
But About an hour before I got to the studio today I saw this breaking news. According to Jeff Goodman. It would appear that Steve Forbes is, in fact, going to get a seventh year at Wake Forest. Uh and let me get the actual tweet here. Per Jeff Goodman, Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes has the support of A.D.
John Curry and is expected to be the head coach next season for year seven, barring something crazy happening, sources told the field of 68. Yeah. And to that I say. Good for Steve Forbes. Yeah, good for Wake Forest.
There's going to be Wake Forest fans that don't want to hear that, and I really don't care. Because I understand the NCAA tournament piece of this. I get it.
However, They've been right on the cut line several times. In fact, there's a couple of those. They should have been in. You could argue. Yes.
If the wind blows a certain way, they should have gotten in there. Like it?
So and the conversation would be totally different around all of this. Outside of his first year with the Deeks, this is the first year where it's kind of like a okay. They're definitely not getting in by default. They're going to have to win the ACC tournament. And to their credit, They Steve Forbes teams play hard.
They do. And the Deke's got into a spot this year. where it didn't look too great. For for a little bit. And to their credit.
Down Nate Kalmese, I might add, who alongside Juke Harris, those two, they went through a stretch. Where's like 20 something and 20 something a night? Like it was. Pough Dropping buckets out there And without Nate Kalmese, they went on the three-game win streak: Stanford, Georgia Tech, Clemson. Of course the Virginia Tech game not so great this weekend, but whatever.
Um You know, let's take a step back. Sure. Let's let me show my age. Uh coach K. He was close to being fired.
He was. When he started as the coach of Duke, there were some seasons there where, but. Athletic director, I think it was Tom Butters. Believed in him? Kept him on?
Mm-hmm. And see how that turned out. Um Forbes is a heck of a coach. Nobody, I mean, anybody you talk to, he is a great coach. And this team I don't know I For me, after watching them come up short against Louisville.
They seem to be a different team. I mean, they were in it, they were in the game. And. All of a sudden, it felt like these guys were tighter. They had each other's backs and are trying to fight through this.
So You know, kudos to them. Kudos to Coach Forbes. I'm happy to hear that news. I think that he's an outstanding coach. Record, okay.
Um It happens.
Well, and I'll give you a couple of more. It took Leonard Hamilton a little while to get into the tournament for the first time. That turned out okay. It took Brad Brownell a little while to get in the tournament. He's still at Clemson, and they've been a very strong program.
How about the NC State coach who was on the cusp of being fired. Takes his team. I'm glad you brought this up. Makes a run in the tournament. Kevin Keats.
And then he gets fired next the next season. That's the other side of the coin where anything can happen. But I'm glad you brought that up because To their c to their credit. Like we said. Even in a tough situation, they've kept playing and they've kept playing hard without one of their better players.
And They're in a spot. Where when they get Nate Calmes back, which should be probably I don't wanna assume anything, but If I'm you know thinking out loud here. Probably around ACC tournament time, you would hope. And if that happens, and they're continuing to win most of their games one at a time, keeping the right mindset, staying. with what they've been doing.
Who We've seen it happen. We have. NC State got in. They went on a run. They went to the Final Four.
Just saying, crazier things have happened.
So. Steve Forbes reportedly, Steve Forbes reportedly will get a seventh year at Wake. And if you don't like that, argue with a wall. Uh Fight me. Yeah.
That's what I got to s that's all I got to say about that. Mm-hmm. Got a great show lined up for you today. Josh Graham of W.
Well, you can listen to them on WSJS. He's of Westwood One Sports Now, this is a national organization. He's gonna join the proceedings at 4.30, but before we get to that... The Hornets are back in action tonight. There's some good news on that front, but there's some breaking Carolina Panthers news that we got to discuss next on the drive on WSJS.
Oh. Swacking man in show building. Will Dalton is live, local, and locked in. You're on the drive. Back at it.
On a Tuesday drive, right here on WSJS. Glad to have you in. Josh Graham joins us. of Westwood One Sports, former host of the show. About 10 minutes or so.
But I want to get to the breaking news. You know, when people get around one another at the NFL combine. They whisper, they talk, things happen. And we heard from both Dave Canalis and Dan Morgan today. We'll get into what they had to say a little more extensively and bring that to you on tomorrow's show.
Gotta spread the wealth out a little bit here.
However, I'm not going to delay anything on breaking news fronts. And there was some pretty significant breaking news to come out of Dave Canalis' mouth today, and that is that he is going to be giving Play calling duties over to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. That's Kind of unexpected. It's very unexpected at this time, at this current juncture, because. You might recall.
Uh Daryl Bevel. was brought in A couple of weeks ago. as a He was given the title of Offensive specialist, but also was named the associate head coach. And he's got a history with Dave Canalis and Dan Morgan over in Seattle. And what I thought.
And what a lot of people that I spoke to about this thought was that Dave Canalis, because this is just the way he sounded. when he talked about it in January, he was going to resume play calling duties. And then, you know, if anything got a little dicey or. You know. It just was too much for him, a little too much on his plate.
He's got a lot. He's got. Several phases of the game to see about as a head coach. Then he would give it up to Daryl Bevel or something like that. But instead And he's going to be giving it to Brad Itzik, which.
Uh It looks like And and I've been kind of reading into this. A lot of the beat p uh a lot of the people that we Hear from on these topics: Darren Gant, Joe Person, Mike Kay, the Charlotte Observer, who's actually going to be a guest on tomorrow's show, live from the NFL Scouting Combine. Is that that was a big reason why Daryl Bevel was brought in? in the first place was to kind of help design plays. And Daryl also has a history with Russell Wilson.
Won a Super Bowl as offensive coordinator with Russell Wilson there.
So He has a history of success with smaller quarterbacks, so You got that going for you with Bryce being a smaller quarterback. But he was also brought in to kind of help, I think. coach and mentor Brad Itzik along in this new venture of calling plays because we've never seen Brad Itzik call plays. He has no experience of doing this at the NFL level.
So. I'm fascinated what this is going to look like. A little nervous at the same time. Given it is his first go at this, but you should take solace in knowing that Daryl Bevel is going to be there kind of overseeing things and kind of helping him along in that process, given it is new to him. And On the Dave Canalis front, It's pretty great news because now He's going to have more time freed up to focus on other things.
You know, not as tied up in play calling. I know a lot of Panther fans were kind of. A little frustrated with some of the things he would call at times, maybe the lack of run plays when clearly you had a good one-two punch in Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dattle.
So. That's some pretty significant breaking news that we needed to pass along from. Uh Indy at the NFL Scouting Combine. Pretty, pretty significant stuff there. Uh sticking with teams that play in Charlotte though.
The Charlotte Hornets. They're back in action tonight.
Now, they're going to be in Chicago. But um We have learned that Kobe White Is most likely going to make his debut with the Hornets tonight against his former team, the Chicago Bulls.
So that's a pretty cool deal. We saw on the injury report last night. that Kobe White was listed as probable.
So he's going to play. That's ultimately what that means. The Hornets have already been putting out social media posts of him. I don't know. In his Hornets jersey and answering questions, like fun questions ahead of his debut.
So he's going to play, but his official status was probable. That's a pretty cool deal. Um the Hornets. Trading for him. Colin Sexton for him.
And You know it when I read into this move It essentially told me that The Hornets like what they got here. They didn't make any type of splashy move. They didn't want to do anything different with the starting lineup because. Giannis was out there, but he sounds like he's going to stay in Milwaukee for now. But.
I I think this shows That, and I, and Jeff Peterson even said this in his post-trade deadline press conference. That he felt That the starting lineup that they have, Con Kniple, which I mean, he wasn't going anywhere, obviously, but like Miles Bridges, Lamello Ball, a couple of the guys that could have been trade-a-ball. He felt That with what they've done, kind of around Christmas time, but more specifically when the calendar flipped to 2026, he felt that they had earned the right. To see it through. That's the verbiage that he used on that.
To see it through. And they had earned that right to do that, which I kind of felt that That is what they demonstrated at the trade deadline. I felt even more so like that when I heard Jeff Peterson say that. Um After the trade deadline.
So Kobe White. Listed as probable, but he's most likely going to be making his debut tonight against Chicago. And listen, I mean, the Hornets. They also, not only that, see, it's an exciting night for the Hornets. Not only do they get Kobe White in there, but they also get the return of Musa Diabate and Miles Hornets.
bridges and You know, the Hornets, they had a nice run, even without them. Went two and two without him. They had a couple of close losses. One against the Houston Rockets and Kevin Durant, who went off for 35 in that game. And really kind of was a reason that They ended up losing that game by four.
You know, he just, he, he was Kevin Durant down the stretch. I mean, what do you want? And the Hornets were playing without two other five starters. And then the following night on a back-to-back in Charlotte. The Cavs came in, James Harden.
In fact And they stuck with this trend even that night. They had not lost a game yet with James Harden in the lineup there. And they ended up winning that one by five against Charlotte. But even then, it was a ball game late.
So. Kudos to them for going two and two. They look like a team without two of their five starters, but they did play very respectable basketball.
So they get three players tonight. Musa. Miles Bridges. and Kobe White. And that's a pretty cool deal.
Excited to watch that one in Chicago tonight. All right, if you haven't checked out the WSJS website, do that. WSJS.com. It's where you can get a look at our Winter Wonderland of Winning lineup. And if you haven't seen that.
Uh I'll rattle it off to you right now. Uh you can go see Riley Green. He's got his Cowboy as it gets tour. It's going to be coming to Charlotte May 7th. Get in on that.
We also have Charlotte FC tickets. They uh they actually tied against St. Louis this weekend. Which uh That was a little bit disappointing. 'Cause St.
Louis is kind of in a rebuild, so. Yeah. Last I checked, they were down 1-0.
So I'm not. They ended up tying 1-all.
Well, at least they tied it. That's good. Yeah, but St. Louis, the way I understood it, that's a team they should probably have handled their business against.
So that was a little disappointing. But we'll talk to Willie P. about Short FC on Friday's program. But. You can win tickets to go see them March 7th.
As they welcome Austin FC to Bank of America Stadium. You also win tickets to Pawn Shop Qatar. Tour 2026 with Tim McGraw. That's pretty cool. Greensboro Swarm.
They're going to be in action March 7th against Motor City Cruise. And there's a lot of prizes that you can win on our website, as I just laid out for you there. If you do win, you got to wait 30 days again to re-rack and get back in there. WSJS.com, you can get in on that. And you can be listening to the shows.
Live stream, all of our stuff there. Gotta do that, get you to the side. All right. Josh Graham, the former host of this show, as you might know. Um He's now with Westwood 1.
Westwood won Sports Night during the week, the Josh Graham Show. On the weekends. Got some things to talk to Josh about including The breaking news of the day about Steve Forbes reportedly getting a seventh year. We'll talk about all these things. With Josh Graham next on the drive.
You're listening to WSJS. Back to the Triad's longest-running live sports talk show: The Drive. Live, local, and not afraid to ruffle feathers. Oh, yeah. Back at it on a Tuesday drive.
We welcome in the former host of this show. Josh Graham from his spiffy new setup down in the basement at his house of Westwood One Sports. How are we doing, buddy? Good to be with you, Will. If only there were some topics, some news for us to discuss.
She, I don't know. See, that. That is true, because the beauty of this is you might get a chance to talk about certain things that you maybe wouldn't as in depth on a national program. Like, I don't know, maybe Steve Forbes. Getting a seventh year reportedly.
Jeff Goodman breaking that.
So I'm just going to tee you up here and let you knock the ball out of the park. What was your reaction to this? It makes sense. He's a good basketball coach, and if you're one of those that believes Steve Forbes. Should be fired.
Steve Forbes isn't going to get done at Wake Forest. Those lines of questions.
Well, I would just ask you two questions to answer. Two very. Essential questions in understanding Well, why it makes sense that Steve Forbes is getting a seventh year. Number one, If You finish. Top five in the ACC standings.
Is that a successful season at Wake Forest? That's question number one. And if you agree. That there isn't really a circumstance that finishing top five in the ACC, given what last decade was at Wake. That that is a bad season.
There's no way to frame it. You're top five in the ACC and that's a bad season. Then it makes sense to bring Steve Forbes back when he's finished top five in the league three times in the last five years. In half of his seasons, he's done that. Top four finish, double buy in the ACC a year ago.
And then the second question I'd ask is. Do you feel that? That Steve Forbes has done a better job. Than Danny Manning did. Mm.
Danny Manning went to the tournament one time. He finished 10th in the ACC in 2017 with John Collins and lost in the first four. But the rest of the seasons were awful. And If you think that Steve Forbes has done a better job than Danny Manning has, then wouldn't it make sense that Steve Forbes gets more time Than Danny Manning does? Danny Manning, six years at wake.
This is year six for Steve Forbes.
So if you want to lie out the case and cut through all the crap. That ultimately is, those are the questions that I think are most important in answering. Do you view last season as a failure or not? At Wake Forest. You finished top four in the ACC, but you didn't make the NCAA tournament.
If and then, do you feel that he's done a better job than Danny Manning? For me, I'm never, regardless of how bad air quote, the ACC is. Is I'm never going to say that finishing top five in the ACC is a bad season at Wake Forest, just not going to do it.
So I don't believe that Steve Forbes has had bad years, and I'm just going to lump in. all of it with him not making the NCAA tournament. Have that one metric. I'm not going to let that selection committee tell me that finishing top five in the ACC isn't a successful year. And then the second question, yes, absolutely, he's done a better job than Danny Manning has.
Thus, I think he deserves more than one year, at least one more year than what. Danny Manning got.
So that's how I answer the question.
Well, not only that, and you and I have had these conversations off air. This is the first year, like all those years where he was right on the cut line of NCAA tournament.
Some of those you could argue they should have got in. 2022 is ridiculous. That's what I'm saying. 2022, it wasn't a quad one win that they beat the national runner-up by double digits. It wasn't a quad one win that they went to Virginia and beat Tony Bennett in Charlottesville.
Just absurd. And it's These it's it's really a a fine point to put on it that You could say, well, if the ACC were better, then maybe. They might get bumped back. Maybe they want it finished top five.
Okay. But this year, you got eight. And maybe as many as ten or eleven could make it. To the NCIA tournament when you look at Joe and Artie teams that are in contention. Danny Manning finished 10th in the ACC and made it as a first four team in 2017.
Are you really wanting me to believe that the ACC so bad that Steve Forbes couldn't crack in a good year the top 10 of the ACC? This year, a bad season. No one's defending it. But. You, no coach has been better in the portal this decade than Steve Forbes has.
Identifying. Several first-team all ACC players. Hunter Salas. Alandis Williams, Ty Appleby, Jake Loravia with second team all ACC, and a Top 20 pick.
So I Certainly, he hasn't performed so poorly that you pay him more than $10 million to go away. You pay this guy so bad, we need to pay him. Upwards of $10 million to not coach your basketball team and then try to figure out how to find the money to support the next guy.
So, to me, it's a no-brainer to bring him back, frankly. And they got a number 15 class coming in next year, just saying. I don't know if you mentioned that or not, but great recruiting. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, I high school class.
I thought it made a lot of sense. Josh Graham with us here on WSJS of Westwood One Sports.
Okay. So with the NFL scouting combine. People talk. Rumors come out. We love rumors.
And You know, you on your national platform, you get to talk a little more SHIELD now, which warms my heart, makes me very happy. I'm glad I got to be a piece of that on the weekend when I produce. Um We learned in the last little hour and a half, I'd say, that Dave Canalis. is going to be giving up play calling duties to Brad Idzik. I wasn't expecting to read that one today.
I kind of thought he might hang on to that, and then, if things got a little dicey in the season, then he would maybe give it up. What's your reaction to this? How do you read this? And how do you expect this to look with Brad Idzit calling plays? I imagine.
A lot of it's still going to look similar. Because Dave Cadalis is still the head coach. If Brad Idzik wants to run the ball, But Dave Canalis wants to pass it in a spot. Dave Canalis says on his headset, we're passing the volume. That's he's still the head coach.
I think this is a common sense step eventually. To get to this point. where You have Brad Edzik. Who people respect as being a really smart guy behind the scenes, former Wake Forest quarterback. And These guys have been together so long, I mean.
Back to Tampa Bay and Seattle, they have a long-standing relationship that I imagine they agree. a lot on a lot of things philosophically, but I think this also dovetails. nicely with the with Daryl Beville. being brought in as well from Seattle.
So There's a little bit more. Oversight. When it comes to philosophies that Canalis and Idzik learned going back to the Seattle days that even though Dave Canalis isn't going to be calling the plays, well, now there's a little bit more of a support to prepare Brad Idzik have him ready to go, make sure everybody's aligned. And have extra support for him, whether it's Canalis or Bevel.
So I don't. I think this could be a good move. I'm like you, I'm surprised to see it because. Dave Canalis said that his dream was to be a play caller in the NFL, and he's only been able to do that for three seasons. Tampa for one year, never got that chance in Seattle, and then two seasons as the Carolina Panthers head coach.
So, for him to give it up this soon, it's I I do view it as canalous. Doing what's best for the Panthers rather than doing what his heart ultimately is set on, which is colon plays.
So, I've made my position known about the NFL scouting combine. I'm a fan of it. I'm a fan of all things Shield. You know, I like the, um You call this the underwear Olympics, is that right? Yeah.
Okay. Just want to make sure I had you accurate on that. I mean, I like it, it demonstrates the raw speed, the raw tactics. talent. the arm strength, get the seat right there in front of you.
You're not a combine guy. No.
Well, I don't I think most people aren't. I What exactly are we're not. I haven't even thought about. Watching A combine workout this week. You want to see Carson Beck throw it?
You want that? Have there already been workouts? I sincerely don't know. I've been off. The last couple of days, I I'm off Monday and Tuesday.
Just you asking me this question, making me think about the workouts, is making me greatly. Uh, question why I'm even coming on this show on my day off. Oh, I see, incredible, heard that. I just Fr man. The combine, it It's a glorified football auto show where, hey, let's just see what kind of lug nuts and perks that we got here.
You know, check out this Hemi. I. Maybe people like that. People like hot rods. They want to see the parts.
They want to see how this thing goes. They want to see the engine, the suspension. I could go on. How do you not have Robert Walsh in my place then? Hey, he's there!
That's what I'm saying. Petting dogs, apparently. He's a pig in mud over there. Figure that one out. Maybe I have to talk to Robert.
I will not be talking to Robert this week. I. Him from the combine? No.
No, just you just gave me a great idea, and I think I might take advantage of this. Stay tuned, we'll workshop this. I'm gonna hard pass. On The combine, all things combine, just It's good that everybody's in the same place because generally headlines come out of that, such as us learning that Brad Idzik is the offensive quarterback. Coordinator and play caller for the Panthers now.
But other than that, hard pass. Yeah. It's where you learn things like apparently, Deshaun Watson and Shador Sanders. There might be a quarterback competition there. Who just saw that coming?
I mean, everybody. Yeah, I thought Deshaun was out of there. Oh, how? I mean, you have a hundred million-dollar dead cap hip. You might as well just see if he can play.
That's fair enough. Might as well get him out there with Shadorz. You better play that guy. Couple of things for you on the way out. Josh Graham here of Westwood One Sports.
Um all right, let's get to Duke. Big win. over Michigan this weekend. But I thought you made an interesting point on social media where you kind of took this win and you were like, officially, there's no. Dominant team in college basketball, just like a heavy dominant.
Explain that for us. Um last year there were four teams that could win the national title. Because let me put it in perspective. The uh Kim Pom It's been around since 1999. Mm-hmm.
The four teams that made the Final Four last year, the top teams in college basketball. Yo fio? Of the ten Best. teams according to Kim Pom. Since 1999.
Let me say that again. There have been hundreds and hundreds of college basketball teams that Kim Pom has tracked. Since 1999. They're saying that those four teams are better than teams that won the national championship. in years since 1999.
It was an all-time year with those four teams. And this year doesn't have a team like that. I count 13 teams that when it shocked me. If they went on a run, one six in a row, and won a championship.
So there's parity in that regard. And then at the top it's I I haven't tracked it with the new AP top 25 that dropped. Yesterday. But After this weekend, I'm looking at Sunday and Saturday nights AP top 25, and all the teams that were ranked in the top 10. had sustained a loss.
in the last two weeks. Everybody. Yeah. Everybody. So It's gonna set up an all-time March when March was pretty chalky last year, and that's a good thing.
All right, you mentioned that you're off today. Thank you for joining us on your day off. Appreciate that. Welcome. Westwood won Sports Night.
A show you can be listening to right here on WSJS, 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Give us a tease. What's something we might hear on tomorrow night's program? I think you might have.
Some inside intel at where we might be headed here. We are expecting a visit later in the week. From the head coach of Duke University, John Shire, who dropped me by. And Here's the thing. I get accused sometimes of being a Duke Homer or I've been accused that for every team.
But let me be perfectly clear. Uh-huh. Tonight on WSJS, Duke facing Notre Dame. I'm the biggest Duke Homer you will have ever seen. If it means If they lose this game, I'm not talking to John Shire later in the week.
Duke basketball. You know, do the thing with your fingers and like your fists. The rest of the phrase, yeah. Yeah, you could figure out the rest of the letters, what they might be yelling at. That's me in my house tonight because I need Duke to get a win against Notre Dame without Marcus Burton.
Let's figure that one out because. Yeah. An interview, a conversation with John Shire might be at stake later in the week. I don't want to jinx it, but I think Duke's gonna handle their piece out. Don't say those words.
Still do it. I'm just telling you what I think. I'm speaking my mind on them. Don't speak it into existence. All right.
You get out of here. Josh Graham, Westwood One Sports, former host of this show. You've been to Costco yet? On your day off, you gotta go? Or what's that?
Oh, have you been? Is that what that means? I got I got a Costco. Hot dog in a Coke With the bag of chips, I assume. Got back here in time, though.
Yeah. Love that. Love that. All right, buddy. We'll see you next time.
Later. Sports taught for people who yell at the TV. You're on the drive, the triad's longest-running live sports talk show. Back on the drive, right here on WSJS. We had the question, which was.
What's some of the craziest things, or what's one of the craziest things you've ever eaten? We were talking about. Iguana pizza. Apparently, Rattlesnake, you know, that's a topic. Shout out to Josh and Clemens.
But Jay Davis in our YouTube comments here has one. Fried Gator is good. I'll tell you, Fried Gator is good. And the best Gator I ever had, we were in New Orleans. And it was interesting.
We had an Uber driver that was just super cool. I mean, I love this guy. And we were asking him, you know, this is what we want to do. We want to try everything New Orleans style. We want Cajun, we want the Gator, we want it all.
So he's like, well, there's this restaurant, blah, blah, blah. Let me take you there. We're like, cool.
So we get there. He doesn't even wait. He walks up there and says, you know, uh they're wanting to eat. And we said Dude. Join us.
He goes, seriously? Yeah, I'll pay for your lunch. You take a break. And feast with us. And so we let him order everything.
I mean, we had Gator. Everything New Orleans, Nolan style. And it was so good. But by far, the best skater I ever had was in New Orleans. They know what they're doing.
New Orleans is one of those places where, like, it you can go there. Why? Listen, let me not talk like this, like, I've been to New Orleans, but I know people who have been to New Orleans. That's one of my. It's one of my flaws that I'm not very well traveled.
We know this by now. But I've heard enough to know, like, hey, New Orleans is a place to go for eating very Unique things. And the people are cool. I mean, like I said, we were like, this is what we want to do. He took us to the best restaurant, and it was so good.
We enjoyed everything. I gotta get down there and try that. I gotta do it. Gotta try that.
Alright. Uh I want to play some bets. I also need to break down one that didn't go so well on Saturday, and we do that in Dalton's Dollars. Get the money, get the money all the time though. It's time to cash in.
Welcome to Dalton's Dollars. Yeah. Show me the money. Breaking down the board and building the bankroll. Show me the minor!
Build that bankroll. Do that. Strow me the money! Yeah. So, the main thing I wanted to hit on from Friday, I placed Michigan minus two and a half over Duke because I thought.
Michigan size was going to be A bit of an issue. I thought Michigan would win by about five or so, maybe four. Um A good game nonetheless. Obviously, that did not hit.
So I will not be showing you the money on that one. Um I would like to eventually, maybe a little later in the week. Play some futures for the NFL because, as we're going to discuss here in just a few minutes. The over-unders win totals were released this weekend.
So, I want to maybe play some future bets on that one, but we'll do that a little later in the week. In terms of the basketball tonight, Hold on. I wasn't here Friday.
Okay. You placed a bet on Thursday that I laughed at you. Yeah. Oh, I own that one on Friday. It seems like it was, what, Golden State was going to beat Boston?
Because of poor Zingus? Porzingus, yeah. Did I hear that correct? That that would be true. That's right.
You didn't get a chance to shame me on air for that. Should've listened.
Well listen. I um no, you should have listened. I'll make it up to you. Cause let me actually uh You're gonna take the green? I'm gonna take the green tonight against Phoenix.
I'm taking favorites tonight. I don't care. I get grief on that, but listen: if I think somebody's gonna win by a certain amount, okay. I'm gonna make some money then. Celtics minus five, or five-point favorites, I should say, at minus 112 odds.
Add Phoenix tonight. You'll be divided! Bye. Boston, as you know. DJ.
They're on a tear right now. They're the number two team in the Eastern Conference, as we just mentioned a few minutes ago. They don't even have Tatum back yet.
So I'm feeling good about the karma in this one. It's like, okay. I doubted Boston the other day. I'm going to believe in him now, and it's going to happen. Live and learn.
I live and learn. Don't be the buddy!
Alright, two more for you. Minnesota. They go to Portland tonight? I think I like Minnesota They're six and a half point favorites. I'm going to take that at minus 110 odds.
Stroving and Monday! Yeah. Now, I mean the Minnesota, they're Speaking of the the uh The rankings, they're they're tied with the Lakers in the middle of the west. Um just a game separates those guys from third place, so It's neck and neck right there. Minnesota, they beat Dallas coming out of the all-star break.
Lost to the Sixers, though, in the following game after that. Bit of a disappointing game for them.
So I think they get back to a little bit of rhythm tonight in Portland. I do. And lastly, gotta get me a hornet's pick in there, especially when... I think the combination of Miles Bridges being back. Musa Diabate being back.
The Hornets Still playing well. They went two and two without those guys, but even in the losses, they looked really competitive. Uh and then Kobe White tonight. And he's gonna be back. He's listed as probable.
He's in Chicago making his debut for the Hornets against his former team.
So he's going to be amped up coming off of that bench. I can't wait to see what the depth looks like with him coming off. The bench.
So I think the combination of getting all three of those guys tonight is just going to be an explosion for the Hornets, which is why, even though they're eight and a half point favorites in Chicago, I'm taking it. I'm taking it. Show me the money. Whoa! Ha ha ha.
Minus 106 odds for that one. Strove me to money!
So, in review. Hornets. Eight and a half point favorites against the Bulls. The Timberwolves, six and a half-point favorites against the Trailblazers and the Celtics, five-point favorites. Against the Suns.
Show me the money. There you go. It's been Dalton's dollars. I look forward to making that money tonight. Do make that bike.
Make the bread. That's what we do around here. Let's see. Jay Davis followed up with us on his fried gator. He said he thinks it comes with like a Creole type sauce to dip it in.
Mm-hmm. Sounds pretty tasty, and quite tasty. Getting kind of hungry here. Mix it with some black beans or red beans and rice. Yeah, they do red beans.
Ooh. Yeah. Powder. Gotta stop talking about some gumbo too with the fire. Christian, uh Christian Snyder.
Producer of The Morning Show. Try it today right here on WSJS, 7 to 10 AM. He says he's eaten shark. He says it's it's tough. I could see that.
I I'm a big seafood guy. I love salmon. I'm on a big tuna steak kick right now. I love, in fact, I had tuna steaks for breakfast this morning. Look at you.
I did. Through those bad boys on the grill, I got me a ninja grill. It gets up to 500 degrees. My. Right there in the kitchen.
Mm-hmm. Can't beat it, man. Little lemon juice. Yeah, for me the fish has to be Flaky white fish. Like when I was in Mexico, I did the whole red snapper that was deep fried.
Mm. Uh it was spectacular. That sounds good. Very good. But then you got some of the fish.
It's kind of like the uh it's got a brownish color tint to it, a little tough, rubbery. I don't like that as a fish. Not a big not a big fan. No.
The the flaky white, that's that's a good way to go.
So I mentioned the NFL over unders. Uh I saw they had The Panthers at six and a half wins.
Okay. The pa uh based on that The Panthers are going to be one of the most underrated teams in the NFL going into next season. Six and a half wins. Really? After you just won eight.
You just won the division. T-Mack, offensive rookie of the year. Jalen Coker coming along still. That stuns me that the Panthers are only six and a half over underwent. That's stunning to me.
We're going to talk about this more later in the week. The Giants at seven and a half.
Now that they got John Harbaugh over there, that was a little surprising, too. But Just a couple of things on the over-under release this weekend that baffled me.
