Speaker 1: Is the Matcommas Show with Ross. It is So one
O three on Sports Talk seven to ninety.
Speaker 2: It is our.
Speaker 1: Big time pleasure to be joined by one of the
great college voices of our generation. Former Seaton Hall, former
NETS analyst on Sports Channel. That's when I used to
go to the satellite in the middle of the night
and try to find strange channels, and there was Bill
Raft calling games on the Nets on Sports Channel. Now
he's on CBS and working Tonight's game on Fox Sports
One is the Cougars take on West Virginia. Mister Raftery,
It's Matt and Ross. It's a pleasure have you on
the show. Welcome back to Houston.
Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Used to come here and watch
those Rockets play and beat the heck out of the Nets,
so it's nice to be back on the other side here.
Speaker 1: Hey, I'll tell you this, it was just nice having
you call a Houston victory because the time before that
you didn't so take us to that game.
Speaker 3: So I know, crazy, right, I mean, the way the
thing turned out two opposite nights, when you think of it,
how they won and lost, just the twist of fate.
But you know, you just keep knocking at the door obviously,
and the good things are going to happen. I mean,
they're always going to be in the hunt. They're no
longer and after sort so you know that was wouldn't
have been a shock if they wanted. It was a
tough way to lose it, obviously, Bell, let me.
Speaker 1: Ask you this. I think obviously Kelvin is old school
when it comes to everything, and look, Nil has been
a huge part of this transfer portal, but he's still
fundamentals about defense, aggressiveness, culture building. How many are there left?
I know that you've got Iszo doing this thing, You've
got Bill self and whatnot. But tell me about when
you run around the country what the new school coaches
are doing is compared to some of these guys have
been around twenty thirty years.
Speaker 3: You know, I don't think they're individually doing anything other
than their personality. But I think the younger guys are.
I think they're not always say committed, but they know
the rules and instead of complaining about them, they're just
trying to go ahead and live with them. It might
be on the outside viewed as cold, but in fact
it is cold. Uh, you know, with kids leaving programs
and you know, coaches happy to get rid of some.
It's just it's become a you know, it's always was
big business college athletics and basketball in particular, but now
now it's it's just gotten to a level where you know,
the old timers find it distasteful, uh, and the newcomers
that are coaching are saying, you know what, these are
the rules. We got to play with them and you
know all the things we were raised with as coaches
or players where you know, you've got to make sure
you get through school. You know, the rules now are
for one percent of the players. Basically, you know a
lot of the kids, as good as they will be
here tonight, they will not be NBA players in the
reality is such you know, at best maybe international or
G League with a hope. But that's what everybody is
a dreamer, you know, we all were. We all had
expectations we were going to be something special or be
able to play the game you love for a long time.
So I think that the guys understand the rules, and
you know, they may complain about them and talk about them,
but they know how to live by them.
Speaker 1: My last big, big picture question, do you've seen kids
go directly from high school to the NBA. You've seen
the one and done. Now you are in the midst
of calling games where transfer portal and nil moves shifting around.
It feels like to me, Bill and watching you for
all these years, that when you put the headset on,
we can all still do this. As fans, we forget
about that kind of stuff. We just focus about the
game itself, and I feel like you're still doing that.
Is it becoming more difficult to do with the However,
as I say.
Speaker 3: That, no, not at all, And that's nice of you
to say. I think you and all of us that
do games games that once the people at home really
don't care about the mishacks or you know, maybe the
lacking of the foundation that exists in the game. They
just tune in to watch the game. And I think
we are, in our own way privileged to just do
the game. Maybe an anecdote or a quick comment if
it fits, but other than that. I know myself when
I watch anything at home or occasionally in a pub,
you know, you just want to watch and enjoy the game.
You're not interested in the frailties or shortcomings of the
system itself.
Speaker 2: And what has it been like for you, Bill, just
you personally as as the game has changed, as far
as your passion for the game, do you ever find
yourself longing for the good old days in some way
or just embracing this new way or a little bit
of both.
Speaker 3: No, you know what, when you go to these practices
and games, you realize that all of these kids put
all of that aside now. And now, I'm sure as
the year progresses and the programs aren't doing well, you
might have some negativity creep in. But it is amazing
how they they've adjusted to the rules they you know,
that's done with, whether it's negotiation or or a fact
in terms of our contract. They're just here to play.
And there's still young people enjoying enjoying the game they love.
So I think that people are getting what they want
watching games. I think all the commentaries basically for those
things that they can't control.
Speaker 2: Anyhow, Bill Raftrie with us here on Sports Talk seven
ninety What about the x's and o's and the tactics.
We talk about how the personnel has changed, and how
there's the portal and all that type of stuff. What
about on the floor, the basketball itself? How have you
seen that evolve?
Speaker 3: Well, you know, judging by Houston for example, I think
the ability to guard has become of the essence when
you go around. As good as teams score, the coaches
probably work more on the defensive schemes against the opponent.
You know, the level of play. You've got to be
prepared every game, and the coaches do attack it, and
the players too in terms of prep and going over
a scattering report, but you know, the game itself, the
ability to pros, particularly which you're more accustomed to. The
centers have to be able to handle ball screens. They've
got to be able to pick and pop where still
in college you still have some a lot of the
centers are role guys, ball screen role guys. Now there
are some who can make threes. But I think the
biggest thing is the preparation on the defensive end to
take away the strengths of the opponent. And I know
that was always a labor of love for coaches, but
to me, it's more with all the film and the
adaption to what you see just just has created some
great defensive teams and a lot of them score off
their defense.
Speaker 1: A few more minutes here with Bill Raftury from Fox
Sports one and CBS, joining US Matt and Ross here
on Sports Talk Sevronti. When I was growing up, I
would watch you on the Big East Game of the week.
You now move all around the country. You're here for
the second and straight week, you do some Big ten games,
You're doing the national tournament obviously. Is there a style?
Is there a part of the country that is more
ready for the likes of a March Madness run? I mean,
I think the Big Twelve, frankly, since even with all
of you and Texas leaving, is just a mega dominant conference,
and I think there's three or four teams in this
league itself could be there on Final four weekend.
Speaker 3: No, I think you're right. I think the competition of
this particular league and the SEC you could throw in
there as well. The accs have the better year. Big
East is not as strong this year. I think things
as cyclical. I think you know, they come and go.
Everybody who is knocking there, the GAETY and the ACC
last year, all of a sudden they've got some really
quality wins. It's all pretty gated on November and December,
but you know, the game's in a good place. You know,
it's the off the court stuff that may not be
in a good place and will not be resolved quickly,
or at least to my knowledge, it won't be resolved quickly.
But I think the game in terms of interest and love,
it still captures all areas of the country, and you know,
everybody it's up for grams once you get into the tournament,
as you well know, so the geographics done really have much,
you know, to do with the decisions who you've beaten
and where you're seated. And that's why guys is like strive.
Every game is so important in terms of quality wins,
and this is one for either team tonight.
Speaker 1: Last question I thought or two about this game. The
Cougars have one loss on the year. West Virginia beat
Kansas over the weekend. You were just finishing looking at
shoot around to how do you see this matchup tonight.
Speaker 3: I think it's it's going to be a fistfight, you know.
I think this West Virginia team can match and I'm
not saying it surpass the defensive prowess of Houston, So
I think it's going to be very hard to get
easy baskets. But I think that's going to be the key.
You know, second and third opportunities I think would swing
to Euston side because they're so good at chasing Missus
and getting more opportunities. So I think turnovers, long rebounds,
all of those things are going to decide the outcome.
I think the philosophy of both programs is very similar.
Speaker 1: All right, last question, very silly one. Onions is your catchphrase.
We love it and always want to hear it. Why
did you choose onions oversay like peppers or something less
like that?
Speaker 3: There's nothing, There's nothing in that head of mine. I
always say I didn't go to Harvard, and it shows.
But we were doing a irony who you know? The
bird claims it was Orlando, thank Kevin Edwards. The nets
were in one of those one of those dreadful years,
you know, fifteen eighteen win years, and Kevin Edwards makes
a corner three and I had never said the word
before publicly or on the air, and I was just
it just jumped in like this kid makes this three,
you know, with their entire straits, and it just sort
of fit the interpretations up to the listener. But I
think you know what I mean, I do.
Speaker 1: I just want to say there was a different interpretation,
but I think we figured it out here. Sir, you
are a legend. I am honored to have you on
our show today. Please continue to do your great work
on FS one on CBS, and hopefully I can buy
you a cold beverage in Indianapolis, because I've already made
him a reservation there for the Cougars to go back
and finally win a championship.
Speaker 3: That's the deal, and you got a good chance of
being there, I assure you.
Speaker 1: Thank you very much, all right, take care. You have
a great desk YouTube Bill Raftri.
Speaker 3: I mean, what a legend.