Bobby Reagan, Barstool Sports College Basketball Analyst

Rockin' and rollin', it is the Zach Yelp Show Coast to Coast on CBS Sports Radio. Suite 16 does start tonight, so let's head out to the guest line right now and welcome in a man that does a great job covering college hoops for Barstool Sports, and that's Bobby Regan. Reags, I know it's been a while. How you been? Good, man. How you doing?

Well, I've been fantastic. We'll get to the games in just a bit, but I want to take care of some of the coaches first. Ed Cooley leaving Providence for Georgetown. Whenever a coach justifies that decision by talking about himself in the third person and saying this isn't a move for coach, this is a move for Ed, it just always rubs me the wrong way, but what do you think the real reason is why Ed Cooley after over a decade said, okay, I'm leaving Providence and going to Georgetown? I mean, listen, Georgetown's a better job, but like, you're the king of Providence and you're the first Big East coach to go directly to another Big East school, it didn't make any sense. Yes, it's easier to make a final four at Georgetown, but if you're leaving Providence, which I don't blame him for wanting to leave Providence, you got to go somewhere else.

You got to handle it better. I mean, every step he has handled it so poorly, it seems, whether it's the house being listed for sale, the rumors that he's recruiting for Georgetown while still at Providence, the quote he had at his introductory press conference saying it's divine Providence. It's just like, I mean, I wish I could say my real thoughts, but you'd be kicked off radio. It's just like, what are you doing?

Ed Cooley and 95% of head coaches are this way are calculated. They know, they're planners. It's not like they get caught off guard by things, especially when you're doing an introductory press conference where you're basically reading whatever you had written down for you. Just what are you doing? Well, you know what it is? On Monday, we were having this conversation. I'm like, he's one of the coolest coaches and likable coaches in the sport. And then a day later, it's almost as if he heard that and said, I'm just going to go heal.

And he gave a middle finger to everybody. Yeah. And it's just, again, I don't blame him for leaving Providence, but it's, and I get to Georgetown, it's easier to make a final four at Georgetown than it is at Providence, but it's like, he also could have got a better job somewhere else.

Yeah. And it's like, it wasn't a drastic change in money. It wasn't like he went from, you know, 3 million to 10 million or something like that. He didn't, I know his daughter goes to Georgetown, but he doesn't have ties to Georgetown. It's not like, you know, it's not like a Chris Beard leaving Texas Tech for Texas. Like he had ties to Texas. I understood that Texas is a much better job than Texas Tech. The only other two I can think of is Tubby Smith left from Georgia to Kentucky, which no brainer and Mike White recently left from Florida to Georgia. And he was, he was getting fired at Florida anyway.

So it's like, to be one of the few people to jump from conference to conference, you better have a you-know-what reason to do so. Bobby Regan here with us. So Pitino takes over St. John's. I think it's a perfect fit. And then Tobin Anderson replaces him at Iona. How about those two moves?

So it makes sense. Tobin Anderson was a finalist at Iona when Pitino got the job. Again, you can hire Pitino over Tobin Anderson a hundred times, no disrespect to Tobin Anderson, but I think Pitino is one of the five greatest coaches of all time in the sport.

And he still is arguably the best Indian coach in the entire sport of basketball. So him going to St. John's, no brainer. He gets a little bit winged foot, which we know means the world to him. He's back into the geese.

He's in New York. He's at a place he's familiar with. He can recruit, you know, it's, yes, it's an uphill battle because it's still St. John's, but it's a no brainer. And Iona hiring Tobin Anderson, again, no brainer, especially because he was a finalist, you know, the last time around. It's not like, it's not like sometimes where a guy from a mid-major wins a game or goes on a little run in the tournament and then everyone's like, oh, you got to coach in a major conference. It's like, well, no, like he was Tobin Anderson was a finalist at Iona before.

So it makes sense. Micah Shrewsbury, I don't think anyone's surprised by this, leaving Penn State and taking the Notre Dame job. Yeah, again, I'm from Pennsylvania originally. I know Penn State basketball. It's hard to win at Penn State. It just is like you're, you don't have a great recruiting base. You can have some ties like Roman Catholic, like Penn State does, but Penn, Pennsylvania gets picked over by every, you know, the top town Philly goes to the blue bloods.

You have Nova to deal with. You have, you know, even the likes of Maryland and Georgetown can go in there. So it's not like Penn State owns the state of Pennsylvania. Like they can do in football at Notre Dame.

You can recruit anywhere. It's still Notre Dame. You know, I, yes, it's a tougher academic school and tougher to get in, but you can recruit anywhere when you're Notre Dame. And again, it's, he's a Midwest guy.

It made all the sense in the world. I mean, I just don't ever think of Penn State as like a final stepping coach job. It's just what it is.

And I jokingly say, but I truly believe it. Penn State needs better jerseys. You can't wear the logo on the chest and look like a practice jersey and expect to be taken serious.

How about that? Riggs here with us from Barstool Sports. So I got to ask you this because we've seen, right, Porter Moser go to Oklahoma, leave Loyola, Chicago. Paul Mills finally left Oral Roberts and takes Wichita State.

Shaheen Holloway didn't have to wait long. He goes back to Seton Hall. Who is the next coach that is young, kind of up and coming, doesn't have the big job yet? Like I look at Pac Kelsey as the next name that I go, okay, he's bound to get a big job. Yeah. And even Graydon Caslin just left North Texas for, for Texas Tech.

So there is kind of, I mean, it's cyclical, right? Like every year, somebody like Kelsey, not that Kelsey came out of nowhere, but yeah, they have this big year. You look at Dusty May at Florida Atlantic. That's, I mean, that's a prime example. Dusty May is going to be linked to major jobs from here on out.

I agree with you on Kelsey. I still can't believe John Decker's at Vermont. I, you know, I, I have a personal, somewhat personal relationship with Becker. I've known him for 25 years now or something like that, 20 years. That guy can coach. Well, we had him on actually right before the tourney. And I asked him about that. I go, why are you still at Vermont? And he was like, well, I can't force someone to hire me pretty much like that.

That's what he said. And I know like he loves Vermont and, and he, he is, he is a very loyal guy, but it's crazy that he's not like in the eight, 10, something like that. So, you know, I think, I think a job will eventually pry Becker away. I think that, you know, in your neck of the woods, I think Ergo is going to be a name that pops up more and more, especially if he, if he keeps winning 20 games, it's not like, you know, you don't have to make the tournament all of a sudden become a hot name.

And he's a great personality too. Yeah. If you're consistently 20 wins and in the top five in the eight, 10, which, yeah, like I don't love eight, 10 basketball. I don't think it's great, but it's for them. I'm trying to be nice here. It's for them. Bobby Regan here with us. So you're a big Kentucky guy.

How warm is the seat for your guy, coach cow? So it's weird. I was having this discussion with someone else the other day and it's some of it's blown up, right? Like everyone's like, oh, just let me know.

I'm done anything since 15. And it's like, well, he was a buzzer beater away in 17 for making a final four probably wouldn't be in the favor to win the championship with Fox and monk and bam. And then in 19, they choked away in overtime, the lead eight game against Auburn where there's another final four. Right.

So there's that. And then yes, like, but 2020, they, they won the SEC by a few games, obviously COVID happens. Who knows what happens with that run, but you're talking about a team with the number one free-throw shooting team in the country and you have quickly maxi and Hagan's we know guards when in March, that would have been a popular team to make a run. 21 COVID year is bad. Obviously I'm willing to put an asterisk on COVID year because it is such a weird year.

Last year, the regular season, they were a top 16 in the country. And then you get, you know, you get smoked by St. Peter's. That's really what, what is putting the, the, the, the, the really what, what is putting the bad taste in everyone's mouth. And it's like, okay, he's done. What Kentucky fans scream up, get upperclassmen stop the one and done.

Well, guess what? We had a team full of upperclassmen this year. He hit the transfer portal. His roster construction wasn't great. And that's my problem with him, but it's also like, you sure you don't just want the best players because that worked out pretty well for what you're screaming to go back to. And that's what he has coming in next year. Next year is an important year.

There is a massive buyout, which people keep talking about or forgetting to talk about. I should say when, when putting them on the hot seat, there is a massive buyout and it is now a Kentucky civil war. I spent all day Sunday arguing with Kentucky fans where it was like, the season is Calipari's fault. That game against Kansas state was the player's fault. So you're two of your best players go two for 22 from the field. John Calipari can't make shots. Like he can't go on the floor and shoot for Antonio Reeves.

So it is, he needs to just figure out how to be modern and adapt, but also he's got to get back to his roots of just trying to recruit the best players. Cause that's, that's what worked. Bobby Regan here with us. Who do you get the edge to tonight in Kansas state, Michigan state? So I actually like Kansas state. I know it's all has the advantage.

I know it's, I know it's March. I know Michigan state, but Kansas state has two all Americans and they can shoot the ball and yeah, like Michigan state is hot now, but they're also 70 for a reason. And Kansas state was a three seat for a reason. The fact that, you know, state's another Kansas state's an underdog was somewhat shocking.

And I just, I don't know. I really liked this Kansas state team. It's going to be a battle between the guards and it's really, who's the third person that kind of steps up and produces, you know, you have, we know about, you know, Marquise Noel and Johnson. We know about Tyson Walker and AJ, and AJ Hoggard, but who's the third guy and whoever is gets it. Whoever, whatever team has that third guy step up, it's going to win. And I, I see a lot of people thinking Michigan state and I, I'm a contrarian by heart. So I just keep, I think it's Kansas state. I can't wait for Gonzaga, UCLA. I think it's just going to be I think it's just going to be another classic. We all know what happened even in that COVID year, a few years ago where Suggs hits the shot and then gets on the table.

And there's basically no one in the building. You got Timmy Campbell, Hockes, a few, McCrone and obviously I know there's some health issues with UCLA. Do you like Gonzaga that or UCLA? I'm kind of leaning towards UCLA in this one.

So I love this UCLA team. I think they are the third tier one team. They're right there with Alabama and Houston.

I think those three are, are a tier above everyone else, maybe Texas in there too. But again, Bono being hurt and questionable for this game has me all the way confused because usually he's battling injuries already. And now you're cutting into the Tornea.

Yeah. And Singleton rolled his ankle against Northwestern. He says he's fine, but again, one little flip, how'd that ankle hold up or one cut.

How's that ankle hold up? Bono though is another big that you can throw on Timmy. And we saw what Timmy did against TCU and take advantage of mismatches. Well, UCLA bigs are in foul trouble or, you know, they're getting called on switches. You're down the body and Timmy can go get you 30. And Gonzaga is kind of flying under the radar.

So I was all in my head. I had UCLA final four. I think they can feed for a title, but now I'm, I'm going back and forth in this game where that bone injury, like he doesn't seem like a lot, but he's an elite outside defender and, and another body of Timmy. And now I'm kind of leaning back towards Gonzaga.

So I don't know. I do think it's going to be a little more high scoring than, than most so. Does the Dusty May story continue to get better tonight up against Rick Barnes in Tennessee?

Listen, man, I hope so. I'm still a Kentucky grad. I don't ever want to see Tennessee win at anything. You're not singing good old Rocky top is what you're telling me?

I, that song, like that song gives me the worst kind of feeling. And so is that color orange, but Florida Atlantic guards can play and they run a four out one in offense. They have a seven footer and golden. So it's like, they can match up with Tennessee. It's just, how do they handle the pressure? Cause we know what Tennessee does.

And at the same time, you talk about hot seats and all this other stuff. The talk is Rick Barnes can't win a March and Tennessee can't the March. They've never been to a final four. They've been the one elite eight their entire, you know, program history.

What happens if it's like a two point game with under four, how much do they start tightening up? It's easy to say they don't, they don't hear it. They don't hear it. We cut out the noise. You're human and your college kids.

It's very easy to hear that noise and have it lingering in the back of your head. It's weird for most sports. We talk about the players in college basketball. We talk about the coaches first. I could just watch this game tonight between Arkansas and Yukon with the camera on Musselman and a camera on Hurley.

It's going to be awesome. Listen, we do split screens for interviews that are pointless. Why can't we have a split screen with the coaches? Because if they got into a fist fight, I wouldn't be shocked if they started hugging each other, I wouldn't be shocked. They are two of the most electric personalities in all of the sport. I mean, both could take their shirts off in the middle of the game.

And I wouldn't be shocked. We must does that after the game all the time, but I want, I want the two of them on camera at all times. It's going to be a war. Both teams are physical. Both teams will just beat the heck out of each other. I want to see the two coaches too, because they're both elite coaches. I mean, this is Musselman's third straight trip to the second weekend with Arkansas.

And we, you know, Hurley has finally gotten over the hump and is bringing UConn back. You want to talk about two fan bases that are the definition of insane and it's UConn and Arkansas. And I've seen them arguing with each other all week. Like I would, part of me wishes this was an elite eight game just cause you know, the it's, it's hyped up a little bit more winter goes to the final four, everything like that. This could turn into a brawl and I wouldn't be surprised. And yeah, I agree with you.

I want, I want a camera on both of those guys. Talk about another game that feels bigger than, than a sweet 16 game. Houston, Miami has an elite eight field, maybe even a final four field, especially with Isaiah Long and Marcus Asser.

I mean that whole region, that's a brutal region. You look at Xavier, Texas too, right? Like you can, you can tell me any four of those teams make a final four and I'd be like, yeah, I could see it. But yeah, I mean, you talk about elite guards, Houston and Miami have two of the best, if not the two best back, back courts in the country. And we know Houston's defense, you know, but it's going to be, it's going to be who wins that guard battle. And I can't wait.

Like I'm, I'm a, I'm a guard guy. I don't care for this. I came up cards and yeah, I agree. I think that's one of the, I think that might be the most intriguing game of the weekend or the two days. Bobby Regan, does it really matter how much further Texas goes or will this job just go to Rodney Terry?

Cause it's kind of laughable to me that he hasn't already got the job yet. See, I disagree with you. I disagree a hundred percent with that. You're Texas. This is a major, major program.

Yes. What Rodney Terry has done with this team has been awesome. And it's a really good story. And, and he's proven like, okay, I can win with these guys, but why didn't he win at UTEP when he had like Suli Boom was playing there. He's coaching against Suli Boom in the sweet 16. Suli Boom was an all Big East player and arguably, you know, on the shortlist for biggest player of the year in all America.

So who would you hire? I mean, that's the thing, right? But why automatically defaulted to Rodney Terry? Because he won with this team.

Yes. This team loves him. A recruit's going to love them. Can he recruit? Why not open it up and say, can we find a better candidate? If it is Rodney Terry, then hire him by all means. I'm not saying don't hire Rodney Terry. I just think it's a dumb idea for any school, any major school to say, oh, our interim won, let's just hire him.

Cause how much has that honestly worked out? It worked out with Michigan back in the day when they won the title with Fisher, but how much has it really worked out? Wrap it up with Barstool Reegs who joins us right now.

Make sure you give him a follow on Twitter at Bobby Regan. Before we let you run the other two games for tomorrow night, San Diego State going up against Alabama, Princeton and Creighton. What are the chances here for San Diego State and Princeton? I think the end of the road for Princeton, I would not be surprised if Creighton beat them by like 20.

Yeah. And then, you know, they have the biggest defensive player of the year. They have the guards, they, they run an offense that can just, you know, kind of open up Princeton San Diego State is an interesting team because the mountain West are kind of computer checkers, right? Like they're always have high rankings and high ratings, but they don't win. And you look at the San Diego State team, who are they beating this year? They beat BYU, Stanford, and Ohio State in a non-conference. They lost the same areas, Arizona, Arkansas. And then even in the tournament, they beat Charleston and Furman. They beat two mid-majors. And yes, you can only play who's in front of you, but I am nervous that the talent gap for Alabama just kind of overwhelmed San Diego State because San Diego State wants to play slow. They're defense. They're not a they're not a great shooting team. They have a couple guys that can kind of go get their own bucket, but you know, at this, at this point of the tournament, I look at talent and Alabama has the elite, has the elite talent.

So I, I want to believe that San Diego State can keep it close and, and kind of muck it up, but we saw Maryland do it and then Alabama just opened it up in the second half. Make sure you give him a follow on Twitter at Barstool Riggs. He's Bobby Regan. Bobby, great to catch up with you as always. Thank you. All right, man. Have a good one. Pets aren't just like family.

They are family. So when you need to find a sitter for your fur baby, go to care.com slash pets. It's so easy and fast to find local experienced and background checked pet caregivers from dog walkers to cat sitters. You can find flexible pet care for your long or short term needs.

You have a selection to choose from. Just post a job on care.com slash pets for caregivers to apply to then browse by availability, view ratings and reviews plus more and rest assured all caregivers who you can interact with are required to complete a background check. Over 3 million households use care. Find a caregiver your furry family will love at care.com slash pets. That's care.com slash pets.