They have their eye on the ball on two Sons Sports station, Fox Sports
fourteen fifteen. We're welcome back to I on the Ball here, I'll Fox
Sports fourteen fifteen. I'm Steve River. He's Jacon's aw Snow. We got
our guy Jason with Ricky News I on the Balls. The Arizona men's basketball
team has announced that it has agreed to a home home series with the Wooden
Wisconsin Badgers, with the team's meeting in twoson during the twenty twenty twenty fourth
season. Revenge, you know, I saw a lot of that, Oh,
revenge game, revenge game. You know what you can. You can
beat Wisconsin every time you play them for the rest of our lives. And
that's not gonna make up for the two Elite eights. You never will.
People are saying you hashtag revenge like shut up, that there's no unless you
do the same thing back to them, beat him twice in the Elite eight.
It's not even yet. But the good note it's against the quality team
and they're coming here for ticket holders, right, so it's gonna be a
home game. In addition to a tougher, tougher schedule next year. Right
one of the best ones they've had in a while. Well, four tough
games they've got. They've got Michigan State in Palm Springs over Thanksgiving, they're
gonna play at Duke, which is great because then we get that one coming
back next year, and then Alabama they're gonna play them up in Phoenix.
So that's four. That's four quality games, four games that you know,
when when you start talking NC Double A tournament stuff, just the fact that
you played those games is a good thing. And so look, I know
fans are gonna be all fired up for Wisconsin. Let's get them because of
what they did to us. YadA YadA, Yeah, and it'll make for
a great atmosphere, But make no mistake, there's no making up for you
know, beating in Wisconsin here next year is not going to make you feel
better about those back to back you lead eight loss. By the way,
Sam Dickers not coming through that locker room, so you can't get him yet,
you're right, and Frank commenced Swift, So and they know everybody's rooting
for neither of those guys to make it in the NBA. But that's because
we're just a bunch of bigger souls when it comes to basketball bidders. All
right, this the stage of staff for the NC Double A Singles Championship at
the U s TA National chap National Campus in Atlanta, Florida, where Jonah's
Iverts and Colden Smith will compete against two top seeded Oh, I will say
about guys in the round and sixty four today this is on. Oh,
this is tennis, right, tennis, And that's for individual national championship.
Yeah, so that's when you get to becoming All American if you get so
far. What level it's just a big one, big tournament or yeah,
yeah, because because they're having the you know, it's the NC Double A
team tournament as well. Yeah, but then you know, like golf,
individuals can also qualify. Me have a chance to be in Yeah. Two
UA players are in it. Yeah yeah cool, very cool. Yeah.
Um some baseball UM news um Chase Davis Um got his number nineteen UM home
run in their UM season finale. I'm got to usc um he is now
he has now um he has He has now a career high in home runths
for the season and now has the third most home runs in program history at
thirty seven. So another accomplishment for Chase Davis. Yeah, I've never did
you have you seen baseball this year? Did you? Yeah? I haven't
gone to a game. I watched a bunch of TV and he's really good.
Yeah. Well he did you see the Golden Spikes thing? Yeah?
Why did you go with that one? Yeah? So he um. He
has earned one of the twenty five um spots as a semi finalist for the
USA Golden Spikes Award. So another accomplishment which goes to the top player Yeah
college baseball. Yeah, an award that Terry Francona won. Yeah, so
so yeah, he man, he can hit the ball really far. At
one of the games that I saw him last year, he hit a ball
over the Terry Francona building over there. I mean he's left center, he's
a lefty. He hit he hit a home run opposite field, uh,
over the weekend, which is I don't know that I can hit a golf
ball that far. So, I mean he got it up, up and
out opposite field, which is the high Court's a big field. It's three
to sixty and change down the line, you know, four ten in the
gaps and when you hit a home home run, opposite field over there.
That means you really really have a lot of power, you can hit it
far. Okay, After nineteen NBA seasons, Carmelo Empty announces that he has
retired from basketball. UM. Carmelo was a ten time All Star and one
of the voted was one of the sudden five greatest players UM and one of
the greatest scores in NBA history. Very good. But I woke up into
this news and I'm thinking, what he was an retirement? Yeah, that's
what I thought. He didn't play this this past season, but he wanted
to officially announce his retirement. Well, he didn't play. He played a
little last year, twenty twenty two, he didn't play, but he hasn't
played at all this He's about your I see why I say I thought he
retired. It's like Miles Miles Assignment retired and we looked at each other.
When was he playing? And that's not a knock. I'm just just remember,
Okay, you've been out for a while, because you want to you
want to write your own tombstone, right, you want to kind of say
he was a good guy. That's what mine's gonna say. Yeah, So
that's um. So I mean yes, followed Camello's career. Yeah, I
was. I was at the final four one him and the guard I forget
his name now, very good players obviously that and that was your guy's first
championship and won an only championship I think of Beheim. Yeah, and this
was twenty years ago whatever it was. Yeah, obviously I'm stood back in
college one year guy, um and then kind of just kind of maturical,
you know, had some great careers but also kind of different. I mean,
right, yeah, I mean he was really just known where he scoring,
right, I mean he had a couple of you know, playoff runs,
but he didn't really We're just full potential, like people really thought.
Whatever. I feel like he's gonna be like Charles Barkley. Yeah, probably
the guy who didn't win a tie right, pretty good. But yeah,
I think he should be remembered as one of the best scores of this generation.
I feel like I'll be his legacy to him. So yeah, yeah,
nineteen years yeah. Um. The bucks Um have a narrowed down their
top candidate kind of candidates for their head coach position to Nick Nurse, the
Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson, and the Toronto assistant Adan Griffin. Other three
top choices as of right now. So that was the one that Joseph Blair
right interview, Right, Yeah, I think in time that he'll get a
job somewhere. He will. Yeah, he'll, you know, he'll he'll
stay in the he'll stay in the you know, in the rotation, get
through to get into cycling clients. I would expect more of a situation where
he goes to a you know, not one of the better top teams in
the league. Right, those guys are we want to win, right building,
right Orlando or something like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
you're you're right. I mean, if he's getting interviews now, he's
gonna start, he's gonna get more you so he'll be a head coach.
Super BOWLS sixty UM has been announced. It will be held in San Francisco
Bay Area in twenty twenty six. So I was to say, what,
you know, twenty twenty six. Yeah, the twenty twenty sixth game,
so following the twenty twenty five season. But it'll be back at the Levi
Stadium U technically Santa Clara, but they call it the San Francisco Bay Area.
Yeah, But so Super Bowl back on the side of the country.
Yep. Uh. The twenty twenty five NFL Draft will take place at lambeau
Field, where the Packers play. So someone said, was you or maybe
someone else said, they play they do it at the champion of the Super
Bowl because they played it they had a Kansas city. Somebody suggested that,
oh, suggested somebody, I don't know if it was a columnist or whatever.
Somebody suggested that if you win the Super Bowl, you should be rewarded
with having the host year city. I think it's probably. Well, they
probably have to plan for it obviously, so they have to do it,
yeah, in months, but that's just for next year, right, Yeah,
So I guess they draft next year in Vegas Super Bowls, Super Bowl.
Yes, I don't know where the drafted. Yeah. So that's why
they have to plan for it, and it gives them some time. Yeah,
okay. Um. Lakers center Mo Bamba is expected to return after missing
a tennis straight games with an anchor ankle injury. Um. Mo Bamba is
expected to provide some vital minutes um for the Lakers in their crucial center.
Um, the struggles. Do you think that they'll win tonight? Yeah?
I expect them to win spect to do to kind of throw the kitchen sink
at the Nuggets. I thought that would happen last game. Yeah, I
thought for sure, But I mean the adjudgments I thought we're gonna happen didn't
happen. So I expect them to happen. Now. Maybe I'm wrong and
they won't happen, and then they'll be over. But I'm expecting the Lakers,
though everything they have to win this game. Maybe they have two good
games in them. Maybe. So, so let's assume they win tonight,
they go back to Denver. They play three, there's a two three two.
They go back to Denver. It's two two two one one, okay,
yeah, yeah, yeah, it's gonna be tough to win in Denver.
Yeah. I think then I think Lakers, once behind the Denver finishes
in five. So, um, that's all the break I have. You
have any updates on the golm golf? Yeah, women's golf there. It's
man, this is just going back and forth. They they got back up
into eighth place. Now they've dropped down to ninth and they're two strokes out
of base. I guess Pepperdine must they had two birdies in a very short
period of time. So okay, Pepperdine is a plus nine Arizona and New
Mexico or plus eleven um. And so both of them, both of them
are trying to get up into the UH into into the into the top eight
so that they can qualify for the for the bracket. Steve's coughing up along
right now. You can probably here how you do. Um. I was
trying to see where the where next year's draft is going to be. But
I called up a story but he didn't say. Um, A couple of
little things. Um uh. The Oakland A's man fired. They're they're a
broadcaster, the like nineteen year broadcaster Glenn Kuiper who said a bad word.
Uh, not just a bad word, just a very unfortunate thing. He
was trying to say he was talking about the Negro League, but he said
the N word league. Oh wow. And this happened a few weeks ago.
He apologized, but he officially got fired today and he is out seventeen
He was in the seventeenth season. Um, and he is out. That
that's I don't know what took him so long, but you know that's automatic.
That's like, you know, you're like an automatic ejection from a game.
You punch a guy in the face, you're automatically ejective, right,
the same kind of thing. So he got asked, Um, did you
watch boxing this weekend? I did not, but it was a huge do
you watch Look, yeah, the controversial before he won, but he didn't
really win, right, No, I thought it should have been a draw.
I know people think, um, the other guys should have won,
but I don't. I saw this, I saw the score cards. I
didn't. I don't understand how they escort it the way he did. Yeah,
but I thought it should have been a draw, like and it wasn't
even I wasn't even close. It wasn't close. But the other guy I
should have won, yeah, Um so yeah, and I don't I don't
know. I can't pronounce his name, so I wantn't even try. Yeah,
but yeah, I heard that he probably won, yeah, in a
close fight. Yeah. So yeah, I don't know what happened with that
whole story. I don't know what the judges were looking at, but I
mean, yeah, and there was also you have anything else, Yeah,
I do. The Raiders owner Mark davis Um told ESPNS Um that they have
came to an agreement for Tom Brady to become a partner in the Raiders.
UM, they submitted an approval to the NFL, and they're excited for Tom
to join the Raiders. Yeah, he's gonna be a partnowner of the team.
Yeah. And there's been some there's been some discussion about whether that's okay
with Tom Brady. Tom Brady also in a broadcasters role, UM, and
so, but they've said, you know, yeah, he had me and
be okay, and he just won't do any Raiders games. So they were
fine with that. UM. Here's a little one. UM Athlon magazine,
one of the one of those football magazines like Lindy's that our friend Anthony Jamino
works with UM has come out with their pack twelve predictions for twenty twenty three.
UM. They've got USC winning the league over Washington, UM and then
Utah third, Oregon fourth, Oregon State fifth, U six, Washington State
seventh, Arizona in eighth at six and six, meaning they would go to
a bowl. Well they'd be eligible to go to Yeah. So and that
might even come make a j Jake's prediction if they win that and then they
win the Bowl game. They win seven games. Hiss, thro optimists.
I also want to talk about Oscar Baldez, you know the kids from Newgallis.
He was He was fighting over the weekend two and i'll say him undercard.
He won, So he's kind of kind of making the road back from
what he what he had. He's thirty one and one and hopes to get
back at the title. All right, so yeah, you know what he
was. It was a good it was fun to have on the show.
UM and then um so in the ongoing saga of the PAC twelve meta immedia
thing, um, it was reported somebody from the Big twelve I think went
on went public publicly and said that he was told that ESPN is no longer
involved in the bidding for anything from the PAC twelve. Now you got you
gotta take into consideration where you know the source is UM but it separately,
there was also a report that the CW is trying to sort of kickstart or
start uh doing a lot of sports. They they're the ones that got lived
golf. They're trying to get NASCAR um and and or some or no not
nascars, some mini car racing and that they're trying to go after college football,
and really the PAC twelve is the only league that doesn't have a TV
TV deal right now. So the assumption is that they're to get twelve.
How disapline would not be good? How disappointed would be the best? If
that's the best the PAC twelf can do that that if that becomes the case,
and I can see the Pack twelve break. But I'm not gonnasider and
say that's what's about to happen. There's again a bunch of speculation, a
bunch of people throwing stuff out seeing a fiddle stick, I know something rot
I think so guys have been making predictions about this stuff for year, or
for over a year now, and nobody's been right yet. So as as
one one column desire to say says, don't believe anything you hear about this
until somebody right the deal is done, right everyone, I'm sure you get
questions all the time. I guess I said you're gonna have to wait.
I mean you're gonna have to wait. We waited this long. Once another
month or so, well, maybe within the month. I think Wildar had
said at the end of the month, something should she thought something should happen
by the end of the month. Right, Okay, all right, let's
let's take our break. Where to come back. We're gonna have sell Point
head softball coach Tricia stan who won her second a straight state championship, and
I think the school's fifth or six in a row, so we'll be back
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Eye on the Ball on two SUMS Sports Stage Chef Fox Sports fourteen fifty streaming
lock on the iHeart Radio wap the Welcome back to I Am the Ball here
on Fox Sports fourteen fifty on Steve each Jay. Now we have coach Trisha
Stan from South Point, another championship. We will just make it regular every
year, coach for you to be our usual guest. Just could that could
be a good thing? How was this one compared to last year's? This
year just as exciting, just as um, just as meaningful. Um.
Just just have grind it out as last year. UM. But definitely definitely
still kind of on an adrenaline rush from it. Well, you went through
a long week to get there. Oh no, I think about that.
That was to be. That was the other state championship team. But you
guys, yeah, but you guys went thirty five and one. You know,
basketball, okay, thirty five and one, but softball going I mean
there's a lot, there's that's a lot to only lose one game, because
we know that in softball and baseball, on any given day, anybody can
beat anybody. But how did you guys go thirty five and one? Uh?
This group was this group was incredibly resilient. They were hard workers,
They really were mentally tough, and when when we had some adversity in the
game, they just kind of they locked in, they leaned into it and
used this to kind of fuel them to uh, to propel them to a
successful game. And now about that one loss, just how the hell did
that happen? Yeah, we we lost. We lost to Hamilton up in
Bullhead City, up in the tournament early in the season. Did that help
you kind of maybe get things right again? You know, I will take
any kind of failure or adversity because I think it's such a great teacher.
Yeah, Okay, this is what we need to do. This is what
we need to overcome. This is what we You know, it helps you
guide your practice, it helps you guide your game plan, it helps you
guide your players as to Okay, we didn't like that feeling. What are
we going to do different? Right? Right? Well, you know that
that's always one of those questions, you know, is there is there such
a thing as a good loss. I personally don't. I don't know.
I don't. I've never liked that. But there are teams that do and
coaches that do, and as you said, you feel like you learn from
from something like that. But what what did you guys specifically talk about after
that game that you maybe help you later on down the road. I think
it was the being connected. During that game. We felt very disconnected.
Even the warm ups you can kind of tell that we were we were not
operating as one unit. So I think that was a definite wake up call
saying, hey, if you guys are going to do this, if you're
going to go all the way, we've got to be one and we've got
to trust each other and and and just go back to what we've been preaching
all seasons. Team first, that's what comes first. So when you took
this job a couple of years ago, what were expectations? Were you nervous
given that they had a lot of success coming up? And then now you
went too straight? Of course, of course you want to maintain that tradition
of excellence and being an alumni, and you know of South Point. Obviously
we've that's kind of ingrained in you a little bit from going there for four
years. But but absolutely absolutely, and we just we just wanted to continue.
It was just it was a privilege stepping into that job and being able
to sustain a few more state championships and sustain that level of commitment and dedication
that UM that we've seen in the previous team. Okay, I'm gonna I'm
gonna say, I'm gonna say the D word dynasty. Do you like that
or not? Do I like that? Go ahead say that? When?
Do you like the word dynasty to describe what you guys are are doing right
now? Or not? I you know, like I guess you can.
I can call it what you want. But we go out there and we
just want to play. We want to play for South Point, We want
to play for each other. UM. And good things happen when when team
to do that. UM. We we hopefully instill our players to lead each
other each year, UM, we instill that work ethic and UM things happen
when when when all those things are in place. So I kind of asked
this of all the coaches that do really well, and this is your second
one, but you must have some type of secret sauce in terms of how
you coach and get getting the message across to your team and your teams in
the last couple of years. Can you say what it is? Do you
think you know what it is? Crumble cookies? I think? I think
if this secret thoughts is just empowering your players, empowering them to believe in
themselves, to believe in each other, and making sure making sure you have
like a player led team, making sure that they have all the tools that
they need, that they're thinking through situations, and really just making sure that
they're an environment where they're able to compete and be their best self. So
let me ask ahead. No, So, j Jay and I have been
talking about this for the last hour when we first came off about teams having
leaders. You can kind of tell who which team doesn't because they may be
good, but they eventually don't get to where they need to go even though
they're talented. Did you have that? Did you have you had it for
a couple of years where you can maybe lean on a player or two where
they they know who they are and they lead the way. Um, I
would love to say, like it was the senior class last year, kudos
to them because I leaned them taking the job two weeks before it started.
I leaned on them a lot, and and they were incredible leaders. They
are incredible leaders to their teammates and and incredible leaders by example. And I
would say again this year we were blessed with some superb leaders who knew what
they wanted and how to get there and how to get the girls on board.
So when you when you look at your team from year to year like
that, Um, how do you turn that over? Right? You're gonna
lose some leaders, but now you got to get some new ones. How
does the coach do that? Or is it something that you're just allowed to
happen. It's got to be kind of a little, I don't want to
say, a weird little way to handle something. But you know, you
got you need the leaders. But how do you get them if you lose
a whole bunch of them at from the previous team. That's a great question.
Um, I think it's I think I think you hit the nail on
the head where you know there's an organic piece of it that needs to happen
within them. But I also think it bringing on some younger players who you
know, see what happens at practice, see what happens during the games,
see what happens at Hill and Brown on the state championship, Like, Hey,
I've never been here before. This is this is so exciting. So
I think you start forming that idea with the younger players and then they get
to buy into the culture of excellence and tradition and watch different leaders. So
it's to me, it's exciting when a new senior class takes over because they've
seen probably three to four different sets of leaders, and they're going to hang
on to what works for them and works for that team this year. So
I guess it's cultivating that culture from when they're from when they're freshmen and sophomores,
and being able to help them in their journey junior and senior year become
leaders on our team. Ask a question, I don't know the facts.
The complete facts of this is but um, but modus your picture she's going
to b y U? Is that correct? That's correct. The one thing
is she's like one of only two pictures in a long time who have done
something special. I can't remember go back to back or do you know what
that means? One of only two pictures are doing something in the state.
So incredible and kudos to her back to back state championships. Um, I
believe there was a whole little article on that maybe on All Sports about the
pictures that have gone back to backs that Benots had some picture, um Alissa
Aguilar before Mades. I think she had three back to back. And then
you can go back to Cdo and the Fowlers and and I'm probably missing a
lot of pictures to go back to back, but that's that's pretty incredible to
be able to go out and pitch the game and know what it takes.
And then next yeared you the same thing. Why you have a new team
to lead a new team to pitch for it. So and this is you
guys want to against a team that's going to UCLA. Is that right?
Pictures going to Las? Yes, that picture was incredibly talented and um,
she is going to use the LA next year. And we were sure of
the best of luck and she was. She came out of fire and all
cylinders and just uh it, just throwing strikes and and doing what she needed
to do for her team. You know, speaking of that, you know
you're going into that game, you know you're facing a picture is going to
be pitching in the Pac twelve. How do you prepare your players for that
to you know, not either not be intimidated or to h you know,
be ready to take on that kind of a challenge. That's a huge challenge.
It is a huge challenge. And so we, you know what,
we did what we could to prepare them mentally and physically. I think that
mentally they were they were excited, they were ready to go. They were
Okay, let's let's get out there, let's win a state championship. Um.
Physically, you know, we had we had the machine up at seventy
miles an hour, just kind of throwing bullets and the end and having them
quickly relaxed, short en up your swing, putting it in play, just
connect with it and and good things will happen. That's funny. I was
just gonna ask you, if you do use a machine and if that's what
I would have done, and they don't see those bullets go by go by
and you eventually catch up to them, and then that's what you eventually found
out in the game. Is that kind of what happened. That is what
happened. It was the first time this year that we brought out the machine
because we rely pretty heavily on front toss and tea work and lots of lots
of you know, swings that way and our pictures through against UM, through
against our team. But but in this case, we needed we needed to
see the speed and we needed to see um just we need to see the
speed. Yeah, see you have some secret souc Yeah, a little bit
of secret software. So it was it was a tight game. It was
a two nothing. When walk us through some of your your thoughts, some
of your angst during that game, how did you know? How did the
game unfold for you? You and uh, you know you get to the
end of your state champions again. I think it was a lot of game
plan and UM and and preparing for that game. We also knew that the
picture was just as a a great hitter is, she is a great pitcher,
so it was important for her to keep her out of the batter's box,
and so we intentionally walked her UM and then UM just making great plays
behind gianna Um when they when they bunted, when they hit groundballs. We
are all our defense just really locked it down and got the out when we
needed them, um and then hitting it was again, you know, put
it in play, Let's let's get let's you know, pull in some short
game, let's connect, let's you know, like put the pressure on the
defense for them to make the plays. And I think that was our game
plan and I think we executed that. Well. What does it say that
great pitcher? No, of course, what does it say about Southern Arizona
softball? Because the Empire played against so you know, you guys ruin the
finals. I'm sure there are a number of other good teams in Southern Arizona.
How how the quality of play has probably arisen, and in part because
of you guys. It's really exciting to be around Southern Arizona softball. It's
you know, if you go out there, you go to a club tournament,
it's electric out there. Those girls are running through walls for each other
and they're just they're just really falling in love with the game. Where does
high school How important does high school softball to to the girls? Because they
play club and you know that, you know, they go to the tournaments
throughout the summer and whatnot, and they know there's people they're looking, you
know, for your colleges looking for players, So how how important are they
seeing uh, you know, high school softball in terms of their futures.
Well, I would hope that did they see it as a place where they
can represent their school where they spend most of their time. I would hope
that, you know, they're I don't know if I don't know if it's
less pressure playing high school than it is club because some of these girls are
competing on those really big club teams where they have lots of pressure with college
coaches coming to see them. But to be able to fill a stadium at
Rita Hill and brand and play a state championship game and do that year after
year is incredibly exciting. And I just I think high school is a place
where it's just really you know, the love of the game comes out,
and hopefully that you know, continues throughout the club ball as well. I
would assume next year is going to look promising as well. A lot of
people return. We do. We do, so we graduated six seniors,
um, we have gossed some great juniors and sophomores and freshmen coming up.
So I'm really excited about what happens next year. Thirty six and O thirty
six and ol no pressure, no pressure, no pressure. And for you,
I'm sure you're happy. I mean, come on, two years in
your two and oh what next? Come on? UM? Well, it's
it's it's very exciting. It's I don't know how to exploit it because it's
just we go out there and UM, gosh, they give they give me
so much energy that when I'm out there, I'm just in my I'm in
my zone and I'm able to just go out there and and help them play
the game that I love, that I grew up on that. Um,
I'm just proud to be part of and um and we'll see what happens next
year, hopefully that that energy continues, that tradition continues, that we girls
running through walls for each other. Well, did a lot of good things
happened at South Point with soccer and softball and basketball. A lot of good
things. So congrats again, Thank you so much, thank you, thank
you so much for calling and having me on. Thank you, coach,
appreciate it. We'll talk to you this time next year. Yeah, it
sounds like a plan. Okay, thank you very much. Well, you
know, I mean, such great softball here in town. You know there
really is that. You know, um, you know I got to go
through that a little bit, you know with my daughter playing high schol sootball
here and you see some really, I mean we saw some you know,
we were in we were in one A and we saw some really good players
at that level. Yeah, you know they're playing you around. I think
a good question to the to the summer league. That's where they get their
chops. Come back confident to high school because it's it's less pressure, it's
it's fun, right, high school level's fun. Yeah, you're already being
seen by people out there. It's totally like a basketball Yeah, you get
seen in the summer, right. You just kind of show off in the
high school and then you go back and play and you hope that when you
go to high school, you go play for your high school team. You're
playing for your team, correct, you know, because school, I'll say,
in club ball, you're playing for yourself. And you see that.
I mean, I mean the girls in within the team compete against each other
because they want to be seen. They want to see the starting first basement
or the starting pitcher or whatever. And uh, you know those teams play
it's a little different. I went through a summer with that with my daughter
as well. Okay, all right, let's take a break. We'll well,
we'll be back. It's our guide. It's get some class segment of
the day. Give us, give us a call five to zero four onety
things still going on all around us. So would love to hear from your
Vera pacts. If you're an Arizona men's basketball fan, you know it's been
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the I Heart Radio ah app. This is I on the Ball with Steve
Rivera and Jay Gonzalez on Fox sportsporteen fifteen and welcome back to win them all
here on Fox Sports fourteen fifteen. Stead He's Jay and we have Jason with
We'll have about fifteen minutes. If you guys want to give us a quick
call, that'd be great. It's Monday. It is Monday. You know.
One thing that I think I like about our show, Steve, is
that we don't spend hours every day planning out every minute a show. You
know, we were just a couple of guys, well three of us who
sit in here, talk about what's on our mind, stuff that comes up,
well, just shooting the ball. Well every day we say, like
I said, I was with some people yesterday and they listened to and they
said exactly that. The thing that they liked about the show is it's it's
like we're around a table at a bar just talking talking about sports, you
know, with minus the drinks. But we could work on that. Yeah,
yeah, old are you? Oh you got it? It's so easy
and easy. You know. I did in the middle of my of my
round on Saturday, I did a shot of fire ball, and you shot
better. I don't remember you remember taking I did, you know, But
I do know that my first hit after that, I just felt really loose,
felt good. It's very cool. We're gonna do it. I love
fireball. Have you ever had fireball in hot chocolate. No, Oh no,
dude, just a shot a fireball in in a couple of hot chocolate.
It's it's it's the bomb. Anyways, getting to the point of why
I said, because you just never know what we're gonna come up with,
right to talk about it in a given segments during the break? Um,
well, this actually came out a little bit ago, but I came across
it during the break. College Basketball Report, which is does something similar to
what Big Game Boomer does. They throw these rankings out and stuff like that.
So they put out a ranking of the top fifty head coaches in men's
college basketball. Okay, so we've got fifty coaches that are on this list.
Oh, let's take this call. Hi, You're on, they are
and I on the ball. Hi, this is down Phoenix. About the
past, all right, didn't hear you mention? Oh yeah, we had
a we had a um uh at the end of uh how Matt Mareno was
on. We talked about the recruiting thing a whole bunch. Okay, I
I only caught from the second. Oh yeah, we had we had Matt
Moreno, you know, yeah, we have we had Matt Marino, the
recruiting guy as a guest because of that, So we actually did talk about
the recruiting and all that kind of stuff. For forbid. I'll be sure
to listen to it on the podcast. It'll get posted on the podcast tonight.
Just think that was a big guest though. That sure sure, let
me ask you, well, let me ask you. I'm sure you follow
Facebook and all the sports or the social media. So where did you land?
Were you still need to be sold on Tommy? Or were you okay?
Were you worried about his recruiting? I was worried about his recruiting absolutely,
because you know, there are a few things it seemed like he would
lock into a player and then you know that one happened and a lot of
uh he kept very much. He's list wanyan uh. And you know,
coming here are these big guys that overall projects like you can't have a team
of all projects or a practice body. I don't care if they're big or
not. You know, so your heart pressures is better? Now, are
you okay? I do feel better actually, because they've got to play.
I mean it's one thing to have, you know, for down two or
three years where you want to have a team next year that's competitive. You
know. I was kind of worried there for a little while. You know,
even I wasn't a big fan of Dibella's, but losing him still a
big deal and they needed, you know, and then they had all the
scenes the seniors they had to replace. So um, I'm yeah, I'm
a little bit happier with the recruiting absolutely recent. But all right, sounds
great. I'll appreciate you call and appreciate you listening. Yeah, we did
have a good conversation about it. So listen to the podcast tonight. Yea,
yeah, listen to the podcast. All right, Um, okay,
back to the top fifty head men's basketball coaches. Okay, where just where
do you think Tommy Lloyd open in the upper half? Just really? Okay,
he's higher, really, yeah, I was better? Who did who
did who? Who did the basketball report? Okay, so I gotta think
about fifteen? Yeah, he's just come on the scene. No, come
on, kids are probably doing this, you know that. Top fifteen okay,
okay, Top twenty sixteen, Oh, top twenty because of his recency
recency bias, Okay, where does Sean Miller lean in that ballpark too?
Top twenty Okay, Laura is in like, okay, Okay, I think
i'd say, uh, thirteen or fourteen, eighteen, eighteen two spots.
I want to know who does that because it's it's the age of the guy,
age of the person, and I think that, you know, someone
like Dennis Dodd or somebody like good Men would kind of be more accurate than
what I'm saying. Not a local, not a young guy who just came
on the scene. Okay, who do you think? Who's number one?
Number one? Self? Yeah? Yeah? Who's number two? Okay?
This matter take a while. Uh Cronan's gonna be the top five probably or
top ten for sure. Who's number two? U? Two? Shock?
I should know this. I don't know. Mark Few, oh okay,
okay, okay, all right, okay, here's your here's your top ten.
Go Bill South, Okay, Mark Few, Calvin Sampson, come on,
that's recency bias exactly. Scott Drew, who's doing this honestly? Come
on? Yeah? Okay, Tommy is oh even he could have been two
or three? Okay, John Calipari Okay, Tony Bennett Virginia, Okay,
Eric Busselman, Arkansas. Rick Pettino, that's that's nine and ten, Dan
Hurley, So is this the top top fifty for the last ten days?
Is this based on like this past year or right? Right? Just I
think it's I think it's not. You know, just have another call.
Let's take this call. It's a guy with a list. How you're on
the air and I on the ball. What's up, Niko? Your voice
is changing? You're like Peter Brady. You like it? How are you
doing? Hey? Man? Pretty enjoy my retirement? Man, you just
got a job adequate. We love you, man, We love you,
We really, So what's up? What's up? Gecko? How's your weekend?
Hey man? It was fine? I was wondering who made that bullshit
list? No, don't do that to us, and I gotta go out
that. I'm with you, though I don't trust. I don't know who
made it's it's college look up? Whoever college basketball reported? I don't know
who they are are? And it's always athletes that it says your home for
everything college basketball. It's a bad home. It's an I gotta find out
who these guys are. So who would you say? Yours is? Nico?
And don't cost please you? And Howard? Okay, where do you
where do you Okay, where do you think Tommy Lloyd falls hire? What
I said? That's what I said, all right, I think over the
long haul. Yeah, but he hasn't done well still, I would if
you wanted to get and iona the last because I think this is saying who
are the top fifty college basketball coaches today? Right today? That's because of
just this last season. Yeah, I mean, I don't think we're trying
to do you know, his historically. I think we're saying today because all
these guys are are coaches right now? Who would you who would you hire
today? Nico? And I'll ask you the same question Arizona, who would
you hire if you needed to fire hire a coach? Who would you hire
Damon Stadem? I? You know what, that's not a bad pick.
Yeah, that's not a bad pick. It's not a bad pick. He's
gonna do well there. And you're probably serious. Who would you hire jack
to run your basketball program? Oh? Man, I'm I'm looking at this
list and I don't know on the you know, on this list, who
if any of these guys I would hire? Because because Arizona's like got a
certain kind of coach that it needs and I don't know that there's another guy
in here that fits Arizona, right, um, Because you know you gotta
get a guy who's got some chops regionally, right, who's gonna be able
to recruit out here. I'll give you. I'll give you a I'll give
you a coach, shuck a smart. I don't know where he's on that
list. He's he's twenty three on the list. That's a guy that he's
young, he's enthusiastic, he knows his stuff. Yeah, yeah, not
a bad pick. I let you guys go, all right, man,
Hey, thank you, Nico, appreciate it. Jason Jackson's give your name.
I didn't see the whole list. Jamie Dickson, yeah, gun right
now, he's twenty eight. Yeah, okay, So I gave you the
top ten. So microna fuck comes in any level, all right. I
just don't know if I could play for Nick Cronin. I'll tell you a
bunch of guys that I wouldn't take, Okay, that are on this list.
I wouldn't take Calipari, I wouldn't take Bruce Pearl, I wouldn't take
Nate Oates, I wouldn't take Chris Beard. Um. Jim Laraga is pretty
old. He's at seventeen. Nobody's a good coach, but he's a good
coach. Um. I wouldn't take Rick Barnes because he screws up every program
he goes to. He doesn't quite get there. Bob Huggins, I wouldn't
take him. Um, let's see George Huggins twenty something. Huggins is twenty
two. Uh uh. Ed Cooley who just went to George George shoton he's
at twenty four. Penny Hardaways on this, I'm not sure. I wouldn't
have him in the top fifty. Hubert Davis, I wouldn't put him in
the top fifty. He's on the list forty one, but there's run out
of team is fifty. We've got John Schier on here and I don't think
he's done anything to show. And would you get Andy Enfield top thirty forty?
Would you go get him at a no? No, no, no,
he's at thirty seven. How about Dana Altman? Where do you think
he falls? Oh Man? Thirty five? You go get Dana Altman.
That's tough. He's a good coach. I don't know he's thirty five about
there he's at thirty six, thirty six. Who else? So how about
Jowan Howard? No, he's twenty nine, twenty nine? No, Um,
who else is on the list here? Uh? The guy from Creighton,
Greg McDermott. Yes, another good guy, another good coach, Another
good coach, I should a good guy, but good coach. He's nineteen.
Yeah, that's good, that's good number. Yeah. Um, I
don't know I drew him tank at Kansas State. I don't even never even
heard of the guy he was. He was possible the possible coach of the
year this year, right right? So I know you know it's uh,
Leonard Hamilton Florida State. No fact, we have a conversation about him with
TJ today. You know. Um, I'm just who else? I mean,
come on, there's not not very many house state coach Chris Holtman isn't
at forty one. I'm Kevin Willard at Maryland in forty four. Mike Woodson
at Indiana he's at forty six. Couldn't be. Couldn't be the Arizona on
a neutral court. No, h's out our fifty fifty is Todd Golden in
Florida. The Dennis Skates at Missouri is at forty nine. I think I
think you can maybe list ten guys that could could be, you know,
an list. I don't. I don't trust that list. Would you try
and get Scott Drew at Baylor? Maybe he's a number four? Calvin Samson
is just too old. You don't want to bring an old guy. Yeah,
but he's but you know he's a really good cop. Yeah, and
very lack guy. The whole bit a little bit, got a little bit
of baggage. But uh uh, be sure. I wouldn't go after Calipari
Patino, No, although they're Patino's a better coach Calipari. Let mean,
come on, you don't go where you got where he's gone and not do
well. Right, that doesn't happen by accident. Yeah again, Tom Tom
issels at five. I think that's high right now. I think he's on
the down. He's on the way and in the other direction. Well,
when you when you still got to the final four, we could point to
the exact time when they went to the final four, you know what I'm
talking about exactly got on his player going up up to the tunnel and that
was that was it, and they had a twelve point lead. Yeah,
all right, Uh, we're about to get out of here. Um,
Arizona is not going to get into the final eight of the NCAA tournament.
There plus twelve right now, Pepperdine is plus nine. Arizona is just just
about out of holes they've got. Uh no, I think they're done.
It looks like they're finished at twelve over. They finished in tenth place in
uh in the out of twelve, no, out of eighteen, well there
were there were, um, fifteen left in this round. They had to
advance to this round. They got to the top fifteen. They need to
get to the top eight after the day to make it to the to the
bracket, the match play bracket. Um, and they didn't get there.
It's going to be Stanford, Wake Forest, Texas, South Carolina, USC,
Florida State, Texas A and M. And it looks like and that's
it. That's the top. Okay, this was the final they were okay,
yeah, these not for these reasons, right, you know, these
eight go into a bracket and play match play. Uh and starting tomorrow.
So they did that kind of almost drops up the UA season, right.
Yeah. While baseball's got the pack and the tracks, tracks, you know
tracks at the NCAA Championships starting this guys couldn't want Jordan guys out there.
Uh okay, and so anyway, so there you go. All right.
Um. I kind of like the ranking though. I think Tommy Lloyd's about
where you would think he ought to be, maybe a little high. I
think I think he is a top twenty coach right now. Brian Dutcher,
the San Diege State coach at number twenty, So maybe that's a guy you
go get if you need a coach, who's Brian Dutcher at San Diego State.
That's another one, right, it's another one. Yeah, that doesn't
happen by accident. All right, Thanks everybody for being here, Thanks Nico
for the for the bee bomb, and uh and we'll be back tomorrow.
Thanks for being here.