With the mink man with the mink man here ready to roll.
Let's check this out Hang on, Mink.
Are we good? Make sure we're good here, make
sure everything. Oh, what does that mean?
Getting the picture there, buddy.
Now we get it's like it's like the broadcast.
Well, I don't know why that didn't happen there.
What's going on, everybody, we are in DC, but I see it Mink.
I want to try to get that dude man, you see every time that
it's not letting me do that. All right, so we are we're in
the team hotel here. We had a nice little breakfast,
you and I and we are getting ready for tonight, which is
going to be absolutely awesome. It's going to be so much fun.
This day is going to go so slow. By the way, mate, that's the
other thing like when you know, I don't know if you felt this in
San Diego, but I certainly felt this.
I'm like, all right, especially the the time difference let's
go. It's like time was moving so
slow. So we need to get a sense of how
the vocal cords, are they going to be ready for the bingos
tonight? How are you feeling me?
I'm feeling pretty good and and you know what, though, when when
you take a look at the matchups here tonight, both games, this
is to me, this is a final four worthy doubleheader.
Any of the four team. You can make an argument that
the winner of this particular region wins the national
championship. That's an argument but that you
know for another day. But put it this way for me,
players like to be on that stage, coaches like to be on
that big stage, and announcers do as well.
Oh my God. I mean, that's we, we crave
this. Are you kidding me?
One thing that I noticed, I don't know if you got the same
sense. And I felt it in San Diego too.
The players, like everybody around St.
John's is very calm, very confident, very, very like in
just in a like you almost wouldn't get the sense that
certainly not even close to being overwhelmed.
But it's just like a business as usual.
I what they're projecting, I like, I like what they're even
in the hotel walking around. I like the vibe.
I think they follow the head coach and the way he takes
things in the way he continues to conduct practice the same
way, at least the practices that I've seen from earlier on, even
back in November. And so I think they they follow
that lead because if the head coach is calm, collected and
confident, I think the players will be as well.
Mink's got his notes there. We're going to we're going to
dive into some notes and all that stuff, but I don't want to
dive into them yet Mink because what I want to do to I think
certainly, and this is for the older Saint John's fan, the fan
who's been waiting for this literally since 1999, all those
lean years in between. I I think to really fully enjoy
the journey and we'll get into the game, sure, but to enjoy the
journey, you know, let's let's kind of look at where we were,
like where we where where St. John's Wallace is a program and
we've talked about this a lot. You know, I was I was looking at
all the years since the first time that I ever called the St.
John's game, right? There's a couple of decent year
sprinkle in there. Obviously Lavin made the
tournament one year. Mully made the tournament one
year. Mike Anderson had a couple of
decent competitive teams, but obviously nothing that we
really, really wanted the first year to.
And this is in succession from because you have to appreciate
this like you have to, and again, this, this for the older
St. John's, but to, to really revel
here and, and, and really just soak it in.
I think it's almost unfair or, or unwise to, to bypass the, the
rocky road, right? So you're looking at in
succession guys from O3 to whatever, 6 and 21, six and 21.
Think that was my introduction to St.
John's basketball. 6 and 21, then 9 and 18, then 12 and 15,
then 16 and 15. All right, little progress.
Then 11 and 19, then 16 and 18, and then 17 and 16.
You're talking about 6-7 years of, of basically nothing and not
even being remotely relevant on the college basketball stage.
And, and I say that because it does illuminate just just how
far St. John's has come.
Right? Absolutely.
You know what, you figured this, and I told you this earlier,
back-to-back thirty win seasons compared to what it was before,
where we had now thirty wins in each of the last two years.
All the those other years that you're referring to, that was 30
games. Yes, yes, no, I, it's absolutely
you're right. And you know, it's funny too,
because all of those, most of the others, 8 and 2414 and 1916
and 1716 and 1117 and 15, so many of those seasons were
peppered with a completely uncompetitive non conference
schedule. You know, I'm not going to start
naming local schools. I'm not looking to disrespect
anybody, but you know, schools from the Mac or schools from the
NEC like those kind of I remember I remember doing the
game. I don't I don't think it was
with you. I think it was Crispino.
If I'm wrong, correct me. Did you do the game when they
unveiled Carta Seca ring the floor?
I don't think that was you. OK.
Yeah, that was myself and Crispy and and Tariq was in the booth.
They played Saint Francis that night as they honored Luke Carta
Seca and they lost the game in Queens against Saint Francis the
Terriers again, no disrespect, but it's Saint Francis.
My God, they don't have a team anymore.
They got got rid of the athletic program.
Make think about that. Honoring Luke Carta Seca and
losing to Saint Francis to where we are now.
Wow. And there was the year when
Mullen was coaching and St. John's goes up to Syracuse and
wins against Syracuse in the Carrier Dome in very impressive
fashion. I did that game with you.
That was on a weeknight, weeknight.
We come back Sunday and lose to Incarnate words.
Oh my God. I remember I I still don't even
know if I know where. Is that a Texas school?
Yeah. Somewhere, something like that,
Right. Yeah.
So it's been a an incredibly bumpy ride.
And it's just, you know, it's been so amazing this year.
And it's crazy too. And I've asked Rick about this.
Where, you know, I, I, I guess when you're just great at
something and you're great at something for that long, like
you've got your, your beliefs and, and what, what kind of
players you need and what kind of support staff you need and
what you demand of your players. So obviously Rick has a script
that clearly works. But you know, I, I even asked
him on one of the TV shows on the Red Storm report.
I'm like, Rick, when, when you showed up for your press
conference and you looked into that camera like you and I are
right now, and you said, oh, St. John's going to be back.
I guarantee you St. John's going to be back in a big
way. Like as somebody who tried to
elevate St. John's what and and just failed.
What do you think? At the end of the day, Mink is
Ritz best characteristic. I've never asked you that.
I'm I'm very curious how you answer that question.
Could very well. First thing I think is
evaluation of players, evaluation of talent and taking
that talent and seeing how it can adjust.
The talent can adjust to his way of teaching.
So it's not to me it it's not like, all right, I'm the coach.
This is the system, this is what we do and that's it.
You got to adjust to this. I think that there's a little
both. So he's, so he's flexible.
He's flexible, he said. If, if, if, if one of my players
that I have great confidence in it can't do this particular
thing as well as I want him to do it, then you know what, We'll
make a little bit of adjustment so that.
Cover up a little bit him. Out and and and that way it
blends in better with the team. Well, I think that, you know,
some of those examples. I think the toughest thing when
you play for for, for Rick is that you've got to learn that if
you don't play defense, you're not playing.
And if you play sloppily, you're on the bench.
And you know, I think that there's that's one of the
reasons why you have that very tough non conference schedule
this year. You played Alabama, you know,
Iowa State, you played Kentucky, you know, Baylor good
conference, not a great team, but it it was a much better
schedule and Rick did that for a reason to callus this team for
moments like now, based on what happened against Arkansas last
year when you and I did that second round match up up in
Providence and they lost it in love at all.
You know, RJ Lewis got benched. We know the whole story.
I think that Rick was like, OK, that that's now now he really
knew the Big East because it was year 2 for him and he's like the
Big East is some of these other conferences.
So let me get them used to playing longer, more explosive,
maybe leaner, different type of players because the Big East is
still, you know, a little blue collar, old schoolish.
And I think it's worked. I think that I think whatever
talents that they have, and there's a lot of them, it's
transferable to almost any type of opponent.
And on top of that, the other factor is in addition to the
defense, you have to play hard and, and I do remember the first
year that they graded every single practice.
I effort, OK, and and and he before the end of the day,
before the players were able to leave for their studies or or or
back home, you know, he pointed out, all right, you didn't give
it today. You didn't give it today.
You did. And and I think that that
translated to the second year that this is Zubi's first year,
because Zubi brought it every day, yes, and and and and I'm
talking to every game. I'm talking every day and he was
making his first start against Providence and so we're
recording the the pregame interview.
Was this the game when he hit the game winner?
No, no. OK.
The year before that first year. Gotcha.
His first year. He's making his first start.
Got it for Soriano. Yeah.
And so which says when is this running?
And I said 5 minutes before the game, basically he says, all
right, ask me about the lineup. I said OK, And so I did.
And then the the second question, because I was about
the starting lineup. And then he went said that Zubi
was making his first start. And I asked coach why.
And then he went on for quite a bit.
But the gist of it was that he brought it every single day in
practice every day. And then he then he said an
interesting thing. Oh, interesting to me.
He said, Soriano, I have no problem with his effort.
He brings it to, but not to the level that I want him to.
So he's Soriano. Played hard, but not hard
enough. He didn't, I don't know that he
played desperate. It's almost like, you know, are
you playing hard? Are you playing desperate?
There's a big difference there like that.
That desperation is obvious where, you know, fucking through
screens and everything that you do.
There's just an element of, you know, I'm going to run through a
wall. See a lot of young players,
whether it's the AAU culture, whether it's being coddled in
high school or by their parents, There's not many coaches like
Rick. You know, if if you're a guy
that's, you know, could put up 20 points a night and you don't
really want to play that much defense, most coaches will kind
of let you coast and get away with it.
And Rick is not that kind of coach at all.
And I think one of the main exhibits here would be Ian
Jackson, where I think if Ian Jackson maybe had a different
coach this year, I I don't think it would have stunned me if Ian
Jackson was a, you know, first or a second team all conference
because he probably would have averaged close to 20.
But when you don't do the little things that he demands that you
do, which ultimately will make the team better, you're not
going to get the right was in amount of minutes to even put up
the amount of shots to give yourself a chance to be first or
second team. So it's such a learning process
and I do feel now like Ian Jacksons learned what it is SAT
and learned that a while ago. Mitchell knew that right away.
Zoo will be obviously setting the tone.
Bryce Hopkins has obviously picked things up.
He's learned to trust his body. And Bryce Hopkins last game
against Kansas hit 63 pointers, 6 in an NCAA tournament game.
And Rick kept saying imploring him shoot, shoot, shoot.
And he didn't miss many. Give you an example again about
the effort and it goes back to Rick's first team at at Saint
John's. And I looked at it this way when
it first started, especially the non conference, obviously that's
the start of the season that that it was Soriano's team.
But there was a point somewhere in the middle of that season
that that changed that the ball did not go into Soriano.
All the things did not run through.
So it became Jenkins team and that had something to do with
personability, sure, but but effort had something to do with
that. And and and and DJ, he's like
Subi, he gives the effort. You know, Minx, so Mike
Anderson, Emily is different because he's a Saint John's
legend. So I'm going to, I'm going to
kind of push Chris to the side a little bit here.
Mike Anderson for sure. Lavin, who had some success here
with Saint John's, you know, to me like it's one thing and and
fans would have taken whatever they could get.
I mean, fans just wanted to become nationally relevant and,
and here we are on the Sweet 16 down in DC, You and I getting
ready to play Duke tonight at 7:10.
We'll get into some of the matchups in a bit, but the the
like, it's almost amplified and almost hits a completely
different level because it's Pitino.
Like he's from here. He coached the Knicks.
You were around the Knicks when he was coaching the New York
Knicks back in 87 when Mark Jackson won the Rookie of the
year coming out of St. John's for Rick.
And they just took all those threes and he was ahead of the
curve with it, with the math behind that as well.
Like it St. John's now has not only an
incredible national profile, but they almost feel like a
professional team. You know what I mean?
That aura that Rick just brings that I don't know that any other
Calvin's coach has right now, even Tom Izzo, who's amazing, I
think Rick's aura is is different than anybody in the
game right now. And and you know what's what?
I'm not going to try and pat myself on the back.
I'll do it for you. But I'm double jointed.
But, but, but, but, but, but figure this the last time that
we were together in San Diego doing this program, you know, I
hypothesize about the, the seating and why they were in San
Diego. And the way you talk about
Pitino is exactly what CBS was thinking about.
And I think that they wanted Saint John's for that 7:00
window on a Friday night. And they wanted Saint John's,
oh, Kansas for the, the window preceding 60 minutes on Sunday.
They wanted Saint John's. They wanted Rick Pitino.
I'm sure they wanted Peterson too.
But but but and and they got like 10 million, no?
No, it was 10. It was over 10 mil.
For for the Kansas game, so you know what you're talking about
and then the relationship with Cbsi don't think that that's by
accident. I think that that's something,
and I don't think that tonight's game, the 7:00 game on CBS and
the East Winter will probably play 4:30 on Sunday.
I don't think that that's by accident either.
OK, I, I think that's interesting.
That's in a lot of ways that's still unfair to see.
Not that it matters. I mean, here we are, they won.
But like, if they're plotting this out well, and I think I, I
certainly know what you mean. And I think that you might be
right because you want to manipulate the ratings and you
want to have a Saint John. I, I get that put in the same
vein, like if Saint Johns would have lost the other day.
I mean, you know, so as they set this up theoretically for these
big TV showdowns, well, what you really did was penalize Saint
John. I mean, now it worked out.
I mean, so you're worrying about the TB schedule and.
Well, that's I see that's. But that's not right.
But you might be. But that's not fair.
CBS goes to the committee. It was CBS spending a lot of
money. I have the CBS goes to the
committee and says, all right, how we're going to.
We want this and we want. That How about you just see them
what they're supposed to be? That's an old story.
I'm not trying to do much with that, but but like if they're
sitting in the room, OK, so you know we're going to give Saint
Johns A5 seat even though they're probably more based on
the Ken Palm and all the other analytics and everything else,
blah, blah, blah Big East champions, regular season
tournament beat UConn, all that stuff and 119 to 20 games blah,
blah. Well, just because of a
potential team we're going to we're going to ship.
That seems pretty back door to me, but you might be right.
But that but that's why I think the NCAA committee's a bunch of
dopes. I mean, that's what I think.
I think that they're lost. I think that they're awful.
I think that you might be right about this, I just think that
seems to me inherently unfair. But you might be right.
But with all the money that's involved, it's not unfair to
them. Well, I.
I I hear you. I hear you.
I got a crazy stat for you too. Oh, before I before I move on to
the stat, Mink is right. So I saw this last night, maybe
in the hotel. So the St.
John's, Kansas game had over, I think it was like 10.1 or 10.2
million viewers, which was the most watched first or second
round game thus far in the NCAA tournament.
St. John's number one.
Now, is that because of Kansas? No disrespect to Kansas blue
blood, although Rick said yesterday there are no more blue
bloods and I want to get your opinion on that.
But let's let's call for what it is.
That number was driven by Saint John's.
Now Saint John's was playing Omaha or like a team for last
year or a lesser profile team this year in Round 2.
Sure, you need 2 to dance. I obviously understand that.
But Duke didn't get 10.1 million or you know, some of these other
like Texas didn't get the Texas what a game last night.
By the way, with Texas like good God, Oh God with like that's a
brutal way to lose. The point is Saint John's drove
that rating. And when I say like the profile,
it's just it's all come together.
The garden's been packed. Patino was just a 5 star
platinum. I think he's the best coach of
all time. I've said that I think he's the
best college coach of all time. And this place is buzzing and
there's be a lot of red and white tonight.
And I would have to think Ming, just based on the proximity from
here. But you know, back home compared
to these two to San Diego, there'll be a lot of St.
John's fans here tonight. Oh sure, it'll be a lot of fans.
Yeah, Amtrak comes right down. That's right.
But it does it does that for U Conn too.
I know. And Michigan State generally
travels pretty well, but I, I do think there's going to be a
massive. Contingent Duke travels well.
That's true. I do.
Duke always travels well. All right, so here's a crazy
stat for you. So St.
John's has played two. I know you know this, but I want
everybody. This is this.
This is one of the most amazing stats.
Really, without even being hyperbolic, this is an amazing
stat. Saint John's has played 200
postseason minutes, All right. They started out talking about
the three games in the Big East tournament, when they smacked
Providence, when they beat Seton Hall, when they smacked UConn,
then obviously Northern Iowa. And then of course the the other
day San Diego, when I were there, when they beat Kansas at
the buzzer with Big Bell's darling, you know, at the horn
with the right hand for a lefty. 5 games that they played in the
postseason, 200 minutes, they have led for 196 and like 25
seconds out of 200 minutes. I mean, it's it's really now
they didn't jump on Kansas quite the way they did on the other
teams, but they did hit a three to start that game and they did
take the lead. If Saint John's falls behind
tonight, all right, because they've been playing, kind of
playing downhill, you get out to a lead and he coasted a little
bit. Most of these games.
If they were to fall behind by a couple of buckets, do you think
they they flinch? You think they're prepared to
win that kind of a game if they have to?
Yes, I, I think now, I think earlier on in the season they
they won a lot of a lot. They won a number of games in
the second-half. The Xavier game, the Xavier game
in Cincinnati that we did, and the whole game as well.
The Garden. Those are those are two right
there and there and there were others they got.
They've gotten off the slow starts in in a number of games,
but here as we come, you know, to the Big East tournament,
neither a few games but well, even Georgetown, they didn't
before the Big East tournament. They didn't get off to a real
good. Start.
Nor did they get off to a great start on New Year's Eve.
Down here in DC, there's a little bit of a slow, slow
cooking for the. But that's the, but that's the
thing with this group now, there's more consistency at the
start of the game and in the first half of the game.
Now the one thing that does concern me, they do have their
droughts from time to time. And obviously the key to that is
how long will it be? There will be a drought, but
lately it's been coming in the second-half as opposed to the
first half. And I you can live with droughts
to an extent, provided they're not, you know, 8910 minute
stretches, then that's going to really sabotage the season.
But you can live with a drought when your defense is this great
because your defense gives you a chance to navigate the droughts.
Got to work through them, find your way, get a keep, get a
couple of cheap buckets, tip bins or a steal and a dunk.
And that's obviously an energy kind of a basket there.
Yes, we'll say John's based on the Kent Palm 8th rated defense.
All right, and here's another amazing step for you.
St. John's forces turnovers on 19
percent, 19% of their opponents possessions.
So to me, I mean, this is just a a macro broad snapshot, but I
want to see St. John's get to the line.
I want to see him hit some. They've they've got their
efficiency from the stripe, has to be better.
Has to. I also think very sneakily it
got lost in the outcome because it was so jubilant and they won.
Saint John's failed to box out a few times late in that Kansas
game where they gave up some weak side offensive rebound.
Tippins. You got to you, you've got to
you've got to seal people. You've got to get to the line
and you're probably going to have to hit.
If I had to give you a number over under on threes, I think
they're going to have to be. I'd say it's probably 8 1/2.
I think if you hit 9, I think St.
John's wins. I think if you're below that, I
think it's going to be a tough game.
They've attempted quite a few threes here in the last couple
of games and all valid points. I think one of the match ups,
rebounding is the key, but I think some sometimes I look at
it as it comes to the back court.
I don't know how much Foster is going to play tonight for Duke
if at. All I don't know if he's going
to play at all. Yeah.
If at all. And he is their number one
playmaker and he's been out for a while.
Because of. A broken ankle and so you know
what's going to happen there. But here's a similarity from a
point guard position, whether it be frontline or depth or
whatever. Neither team is very strong in
in that area. So I'm looking at you know, how
will players like Jackson and Sellers and Hopkins and and
Saturn operate in the open floor tonight against what Duke
offers? I know that that Saint John's is
going to put a lot of pressure if they didn't do it against
Kansas. They did give them some space on
the perimeter, but they're going to really be on top of them
tonight. Now, the difference between one
of the differences between the Duke guards and the Saint, The
Duke guards are better rebounders, They're better
around the basket and they're better in the restricted.
I'm not restricted anymore, folks.
And, and, and they're they're strong in the restricted area.
So the St. John's guards have got to
rebound the ball tonight. And that means San, and that
means Jackson, you know, and Sellers tries.
Yeah, he does. He does, but but I think that
that that has to happen and, and I'm not talking two or three
rebounds. You talk about 5% at.
Least three or four or five, you know, somewhere, somewhere in
that vicinity. And I think you can make, you
can make an argument. And I know how good Boozer is
and, and I mean, he has his fingerprints on everything.
He's great and be a top three taking the.
Drive. But The thing is though, he he
is not as good a defensive player as you think because he
shies away, He doesn't get in foul trouble and he's not a
prolific shot blocker. No, no.
No. Or anything like that.
So, you know, we'll see if St. John's takes the ball inside
against. Him.
Are they better? I think they're going to try to
run right through his chest. Kidding me?
He's 19 years old. But.
I mean, he doesn't have that grown man strength.
That's a massive advantage for Saint John's.
But but the but the other Gangba, who's back from injury,
missed five games prior to the last game, He's 611 and and he's
pretty good. And that combination, especially
when they put a boozer on the perimeter, I know will be
interesting to watch and for Saint John's to match up.
Against who do you think opens up guarding Cam?
He's got his brother Kaden. But but Cam, do you think it's
going to be Dylan Mitchell to start?
I would agree with that. So let me get back to Caleb
Foster here. I've got two different thoughts
and I want to hear which one you subscribe to.
So he's their point guard. Obviously Kaden has has filled
in and Kaden's a completely different player than his
brother Kaden's 64, you know, more finesse, not a great
shooter, you know, good, but but certainly just no disrespect.
He's not Cam Boozer. He's not on any mock draft.
He's just not thought to be that that player yet, if ever.
But to me, Caleb Foster, when you basically break your foot on
March 7th, which in essence he did, there's a as good as he is,
there's a part of me that almost says, I don't know, maybe it
would be a benefit to the beneficial to St.
John's for him to play tonight because he's going to be rusty.
If you like, listen, if you hurt your foot, what kind of cardio
are you doing? Like you're really off your
feet. It's not like you, you hurt your
rib and you could still run and you could still work out your
legs. So he's been fairly inactive, at
least in terms of that, like that high energy cardio stuff.
And what kind of shape is he in? Because he's been on ice for
three weeks and if he's not 100%, I think it could be
advantageous Mink, even though he's a hell of a player, to have
him on the court and just go right at him and attack him.
And from the mental standpoint, and, and by that, I mean, you
know, here's Caleb Foster, you know, coming up the ball, coming
up the court with the ball and he decides he's going to take it
to the rim down the right side of the lane.
Well, he tells his ankle, this is what we're going to do.
What is the ankles response? Does the ankle tell Caleb, I'm
not ready for that? You know, I got you.
You're right. And you know, you know,
sometimes, you know, players don't listen to their body and,
you know, body tells them something and I don't know,
you're the heck with you. I'm going to the basket and and
and and so you know that from a mental standpoint point.
And so he would have that to worry about on the floor as as
well. So you know, we're we're going
to see. But but you know what though,
and I've always thought this, we can go for six hours breaking
down this, breaking down this, breaking down this, but if
someone's got 2 fouls by the 10 minute mark of the first half,
all that commentary that we had goes out the window.
I know, I know. And that was something, you're
right. And that was something that you
and I were obviously looking at going into first, the Northern
Iowa game and of course Kansas, where even though there was a
Big East official in the was it the Northern Iowa game?
Yeah, I know, I know. But I know Kansas, but Northern
Iowa too. Yes, yes.
But you just never know what you're going to get.
So if you if you've read St. John's games this year and
you're familiar with the Big East style of play, you
understand what how St. John's operates.
And you probably give them a little more latitude because you
know how well principled they are.
And that that's what they do every night where you get some
guy for the Big 10. Also a physical conference
historically or somewhere out West, whatever might.
The ACC was a little bit more finesse and they're not really
used to it. You're right.
I mean, best laid plans, throw them in the fire pit because we
could sit here for six hours and hit this.
And most sellers has to hit some shots and zoobies gotta do this.
And Mitchell gotta play D and Hopkins gotta stick a couple
more threes and one of the guards gotta help out the
rebounds. A couple of early fouls for St.
John's or for Duke. No matter what we say it, it all
kind of changes abruptly. So I hope they let him play
tonight. And I think that they will let
him play tonight. But that's your anticipation,
right? I don't think they're going to
change now. Yeah, no, I, I would think, you
know, we're, we're getting at least, you know, 2 from another
conference. Yeah, you would hope that they
would would let them play and and from the inside standpoint,
the only other step I would bring up is between Cam,
Cameron, Boozer and Gangba. They actually combine for half
half of their shots, almost exactly half of their shots at
the rim. Yeah, well, that that to me
that's a massive advantage for St.
John's because number one, St. John's defence is phenomenal.
I just gave you one of the stats, 8th overall in terms of
defensive efficiency in the entire country as per Ken Pom.
But now you're going to give a great defense with great
defensive defensive coaches and you're going to basically have
only two options at the rim. Well, now you're giving a great
defense even more more to focus on where they can really just
take that and assert that defensive prowess in in more
specific directions. Listen, I do think that Saint
John's is going to win tonight. I'm not just saying that of
course I want Saint John's to win.
Obviously so does so does mink. I want to go to final four man
with this four. Let's keep going.
I do think that Saint John's is going to win because I think
ultimately Saint John's strength, their toughness, their
just their fear, their sheer physical prowess is going to be
a little bit too much for some of those younger, lesser
developed physical bodies on Duke, even though they've got a
couple of future pros on the team, you know, but I also, even
if they weren't to lose this game, I can't see a situation
where Duke just lights him up for like 8587 point.
I I just I don't see that under any circumstance.
I don't think Saint John's defense will let that happen no
matter what, Mink. Duke is going to play in the
half court. Duke is not that great as the
three-point shooting. Team No they're not.
And, and I think from a Saint John's standpoint, you know, I
mentioned the blitzing and they're really going to crowd
the perimeter, especially early in the game.
And, and I know that they play the quick tempos, especially
getting the ball at the court. I think you'll see them playing
not quick, but quicker than what you've seen.
That was something that they worked on yesterday and they
said, no, coach says no, it's not fast enough, more fast.
Wow. And and wanting to play extra
fast without the turnovers. I like a little point of
emphasis without the turnovers, just to let you know what's a
serious point there. I got you mate.
So there's a there's a difference that's good, good,
like good background about playing fast, but playing fast
but not rushing. Are, are, are two very
different? No, and I know that, you know
that, but there's, you know, you can try to play fast.
You get all frenetic and all wacky.
Try to play above the speed that you're used to.
And I don't think that'll happen to St.
John's at all. I think they'll play with great
poise. But I'm just saying in
generalities or in general, when you try to, you know, hasten a
pace, if you're not conditioned to play that quickly, generally
you start to rush. And when you start to rush is
when you make those mistakes. And St.
John's doesn't make a lot of mistakes.
Like what was the last game that we call where they had 17
turnovers? Like some I can't.
I really can't remember the like.
Not, not lately. No, it's been a disparity that
favors them. They turn you over more
generally, they out rebound you generally they get to the free
throw line more. I got a question for you.
So Dylan darling, right, By the way, did you see the commercial
that he made? Did you see the commercial?
No, Oh my God. He made a commercial, I think it
was for TurboTax. It was for some sort of tax
return thing, right? Yeah.
And it, it was wild. I mean, he, they we got back
from San Diego, they got back to campus.
You and I went through our respective homes and then the
next day I'm getting ready for Unleashed here on YouTube and
I'm on social media dealing with some other stuff as well.
And I see a little a video of Dylan Darling, a commercial.
And it was he's like dribble the ball in Carter SEC arena.
And he's like, hey, he's like, don't wait till the last second
to get your taxes in. And then you just see him drive
to the rim and put up a righty layup, but he's already cashed
in. It's absolutely phenomenal.
But my question about Dylan is this.
It's not going to. That's not happening at Idaho
State. No, no, it's not.
It's definitely not not it's not So he he's what O for his less
15 shooting threes, correct? Yeah, I think that's.
I think it's over 15. I don't know if you remember
this. I said during the Northern Iowa
game, he took a foul shot and I saw I'm a writer.
So I still just like almost like an ugly.
I saw a hitch and I'm like, and I said to you in real time, I'm
like, oh, 'cause he's a pretty good free throw shooter anyway,
I said. I said he missed one.
I said that didn't look right, that looked ugly.
I said. And I, I specifically said I'm
going to circle that and I'm going to follow that away.
And since then he's missed every 3 of it he's taken but.
Some of them, really. That's, that's what, that's my
point. Couple of air balls here.
Not that Rick would go out of his way to make him.
Well, I mean, maybe he would. I guess I'm going to ask you the
question because he's had such a rough time shooting.
If you try to get him an easy open look early to get him like
immersed in the game, because the more the game goes on, as
great as he was finishing up the game the other day against
Kansas, he's going to have to stick a three at some point.
Like if St. John's going to win a national
championship beer and get to Indianapolis and get and and get
to the Final Four, their starting point guards going to
have to hit some some shots just for spacing purposes, let alone
sheer points. Do you go to them early?
Try to get that confidence going.
You know what I say? Yes, and two, Dylan Mitchell has
not hit a three all. Year as amazing.
He's like old for 15 or something like that.
The only thing he can't do, he does everything else like an NBA
player, and I mean everything. Yeah, and, and even against the
Kansas, Rick gave him the opportunity from the corner.
You know, I remember that one. And and you know, the airboat
and once he wants those corner threes and someone asked them
about it once. Well, they're not guarding them.
Yeah, I know. So I know.
But but, but he he did give him Dylan Mitchell the opportunity.
So, you know, why wouldn't he do it for Dylan darling?
Well, listen, there's a big difference.
I think that I mean, most St. John's fans know this by now,
but those who are from the somewhat of the outside looking
in, they're, you know, they, they probably still associate
because they see like Rick and tents and and yelling Rick.
No, his players love him and the reason why Rick can get away
with that and and be so in the moment raw is because the
players know that he has their back.
And when you have that relationship, you can get to a
level that for some seems well, that's aggressive.
By the way, society is also completely soft.
Oh, wow, a coach yelled at a player, but a lot of people
today. Oh, what are you doing, Rick?
You're up 20 to 3:00. That that on social media the
other day it was a joke that that's why he's Rick Pitino.
He clowns, but the point is, is that as much as he will get on
somebody, you know, usually those strict coaches like a
Bobby Knight or some other ones, Dean Smith, they would not give
you the freedom offensively to basically do whatever you want.
Like Rick never, and I mean never gets on a player for
shooting an open shot, even if it's an air ball and even if
you've missed your first nine, keep shooting.
It's the defensive principles that he will never compromise.
If you go under when you're supposed to go over screen or
you don't communicate or you don't box out, weak side comes
and gets a rebound, you get burned, your behind's either on
the bench or you're getting chewed out.
And that's the way it should be. And the key I think for Rick is
not so much to play hard play. As I mentioned earlier, play
hard to his standards, not to your.
Stand. Yep.
His standards and if you do
that, he'll have your. Back and and they all know his
standards by now maybe they didn't know like the mulch maybe
they didn't know what the first month he come here and you're a
couple of new guys you. Figure out do his ass to be.
I know, I know. Figure out really fast, OK, This
is the way it's going to be. I'm either going to be I'm
either going to lock you or I got some problems here with
Saint John's. And obviously everybody's locked
in and somebody who's locked in doesn't play, you know, big,
big, big minutes. But I got to tell you, I'm
impressed with Reuben Pray. I have been, you know, he's a
long versatile, pretty quick twitch in terms of moving his
feet and switching up top. Like he's away from the basket a
lot, guarding guards and, and and and some smolder wings.
And his defensive versatility when he plays is big for Saint
John's. He becomes a factor tonight, he
becomes a factor moving forward. He was a factor at the start of
this tournament and into the Big East because you know, you get
to this level and you keep advancing, you're getting more
physicality on the part of the opponent.
You've got to match it. And Reuben pray ten matches.
Getting very, very theatrical all of a sudden make very with
the, with the, with the pauses, the hesitations, the
Annunciation. You see that I noticed that he's
getting into game mode. This is what I this is what I
see with the make man when I'm sitting next to him, you know,
during the game. He's starting to, he's starting
to lock it. I won't keep you a whole lot
longer. What do we have?
So we are 710 obviously first tip or first tip tonight. 710
pregame at 6:59. 50 on ESPN New York AM 1050 New York 10:50 AM
The varsity work at that is the only place where you can stream
it and for those around the country and so it's those two
places. So the, let's, let's face it,
unless these, these announcers are great, obviously, you know,
at this point, you know, you're just getting great announcers at
this, at this part of the tournament.
But you know, sync us up. I mean, you want to roll with
your boys here, BT and Mink. I mean, you, you want that
varsity app as, as, as John just said, it's, it's great.
My parent, you know, before we got back on the radio, that's
how my wife and kids would, would, would listen to the
games. They would put the TV on and
they would put us up on the varsity app.
It's free. So it's like I'm trying to make
money pushing this. It's free.
It's great. There's no glitches.
You get everything and there's a way to do it.
It's basically I think it's 10 seconds behind so you can easily
sync it up with the actual action on the court.
I'm pumped up tonight, man. I I am pumped up.
Do you let me ask you this, man, do you get I don't get that.
I get like an energy, like an excitability.
Do you get a a big game nervousness as a broadcaster do?
You I get nervous for every game what I I do.
What I think John's playing Wagner, you get nervous.
I've done games for, I've, I've done games for 50 years and no,
I, I and, and I've always thought if I don't have that
nervousness prior to the game, then it'll be time to leave.
And and it's the reason now folks, you would I I write the
intros. At the beginning of the game,
it's typed. Word for word, Oh it is.
Keep going. And I've seen it, and I get that
from the person that basically taught me how to do everything,
Don Fisher. No Don Fisher out, no IU.
He's. Done.
He's done. IU called the national
championship football game. Oh, that's right, he's been.
Doing Indiana University football and basketball for 53
years and I worked with him at radio station in Indianapolis
for 10 and he taught me basically how to do that and the
reason why. And I owe, and this I always
tell you, even if you get off to a good start, you have a better
than average chance for that to carry over for the rest of the
broadcast. If you get off to a long start
on the Open, I'm going to sit there and AD Lib.
Oh no, we can't have you ad Lib. We you, you that's.
The thing and and and and everything becomes muddled and
everything like that. Then there is a better than
average chance that the entire broadcast will be that way.
And that's where I learned that from.
And I've been doing that ever since he caught me and told me
why to do it that way. I you know what I think would be
pretty cool Number one, have you written it out yet for tonight
or Sure. So you you type and you print it
on. When I say print it everything
out, yeah, that includes my name.
I hear you. I've seen it, I've seen it, I've
seen it, I've seen it every game.
And he's right, you know he does.
And even when you say the you know, NGO Chris Magic, like, you
know your point, like you have literally the same routine.
It's almost like a hitter going up to the batter's box and
having the same exact routine. It gets your mind quiet.
It gets it gets you comfortable, gets you in rhythm.
And I don't, you know, I I'm more of like and I don't, I
don't play by play. So it's different.
So I have a different process. It's more about obviously like a
word or two. Even doing a radio show doing
this, I'll write down a word or two and I'm comfortable seeing
that word and then kind of transforming it into a, a longer
style thought. You know, a delivery like that
works for me. But will you do me a favor after
tonight's game? Can I, would you mind if I
actually like post that either on it?
I, I think people would love to. I think they get a kick out of
it and I think that they can see clearly what you're talking
about because ever since you when I started working together,
I have noticed that you write every single just to start the
game, just to get yourself off to that first that bat get going
there. And I do that we'll get that out
for you see, folks, And and and this because it's radio, you
would would know this when when I throw it to the first break,
Brandon or what maybe whoever might look over might not.
And I'll I'll either be Yep, and you know, I'll either be happy
with it or I won't. And I've been happy with it
pretty much the entire season. So and and that's why I do that
to to tell myself that. All right, we got through this
first segment in good shape. There's a better than chance
that we're going to get through this entire broadcast in good
shape as well. Yep.
And I've got my own way of of letting you know that I like
that. I'll give you a little pound.
We'll look at each other, usually go the thumbs up and
I'll and then I'll say so. You can hear me and that's, and
that's, that's that's why I, I do that.
Mink if St. John's gets to the final four.
No, Yeah, I know. Yeah.
Think about how I know. Think about how long you've done
this. You know, 5053 years you've been
broadcasting just to a hold of fame or a hold of fame guy.
I mean, just a great voice. I mean, all those years work
with Mike and Chris. The best show, you know, maybe
in the history of sports radio in terms of, you know, changing
the medium for sure. If they get to the Final Four,
would that be the highlight of your career?
It would have to be no. Yeah, already a Kansas game was.
I was, I was gonna, I was gonna say.
To Mike is the highlight. I mean, I've never done a game
that big and I'm not going to, you know, tonight that gets
topped, you know, because we're we're in the Sweet 16 and I've
never been, you know, to a a broadcast in a in a Sweet 16
game. But, but it's odd that you bring
ironic that you bring that up because I'm friends with the
Michigan State announcer. Is that a not Blevins?
Will Teeman. Oh, no.
I'm thinking somebody else. Who was the guy who used to do
Michigan State football. Pistons.
George blah, yeah. George blah.
Yeah, no. Will Teeman does.
George, stop doing it, because George did Michigan State
football for a long time. Yeah, and the Pistons.
Yeah, but will Teamans? OK, I'm not saying he doesn't,
but. Will team has done it a long
time. We were together in Indiana, he
worked in the northern part of the state and I worked at the
station in Indianapolis and we were in the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway tower every month of May doing qualifications and
practice sessions for the entire month.
He would spend the entire month in Indianapolis and of course I
live there. And, and so, so we had a long
and we had a long discussion about about that, he said.
And that's where I get my you know, the players love the
stage, the coaches love the stage, and so do the announcers.
And we talked about that stage if one of us, Michigan State or
St. John's, made it to Indianapolis
and how thrilling it would be for one of us.
And it it's ironic that we had that discussion yesterday.
And if, if that's the case, if if Johnny's win tonight and
then, you know, UConn goes down to Michigan State, it's mano Y
mano, I'm going to put my money on the make man taking out that
that guy from Michigan State, Can't let him win that battle,
right. Did you watch the Mets
yesterday, by the way? Yes, I did.
Boys look pretty good, those Mets.
They sure did. Yeah.
What a beautiful day in New York.
I was gorgeous. Now I came in yesterday's, you
know, it was like it was like at one point when, when did I leave
New Jersey? Right around 4 change.
I got my carts at 82 degrees 82. It was absolutely gorgeous.
And I mean, that was, I mean, they knocked Paul's skeens out
in the front. You can't have a better fur.
I don't know if you got a better opening Day, like you knocked
skeens out. The Mets always went on opening
day no matter where they play. They're great at that.
So they're. Going all the way now, but the
line up the Yankees, we got a Subway Series.
Little series, listen, we're we're fielding ourselves with
this Johnny Run. We're going to tell and Nick's
are going to get to the championship.
Little Yanks Mets Subway series. No, but the Mets line up to me.
Yeah, let's see. I might get too deep into this
with you, but one of the reasons why I thought that there was a
better route other than Pete and and Nimmo and obviously all the
things that they did. They won't hit as many home runs
this year, but they're going to be, I think more professional at
bats, more balls in play. I I think this Mets lineup and
not to mention the pitching, I think the Mets have a chance to
be really good this year. And defence, they, they, they
need to catch the ball. They'll catch it better at
second with Simeon, obviously Lindor.
Lindor's good at short. Roberts great in center bench.
I mean, I know he hit the big bomb.
That was a beautiful swing, but I think he's going to be a plus
defender. And right, yeah.
I mean, you got to hope that Bichette doesn't kick it around,
which I, I think, I think, I think Bichette, most of his
errors this year, however many has, I think they're going to be
more on the throws than actually receiving the ball.
I think it'd be fine catching the ball and I think it'd be
pretty good throwing the ball. He'll be an average third
baseman. You know, you'd like to see
Alvarez stay healthy and you want to see Polanco get adjusted
to playing first base. But you know, listen, those,
those menses, man, I mean, one at all.
And now you got McLean getting ready to pitch the young stud.
So it's it's a good time to be a New York sports fan.
I know the Knicks lost last night to the Hornets, but it's
it seems like everything's starting to coalesce a little
bit here Where then between Harbaugh coming to the Giants
and the Knicks playing a lot better the last month or so,
Saint John's here in the Sweet 16.
Yanks are going to be good. Mets are going to be good.
Good time. We got to have we got to start
some maybe some more updates again, Man, if it would you want
to do updates anymore or you what you're done.
No, I'm done with. That, but what is it?
But only because of the commute, right?
If Oliveira was like, hey, Mink, reverse out.
Chris, who runs the fan. Mink, you know we miss you and
we're not going to bring back updates the entire day.
Obviously Jerry does them for Boomer.
But if you if you want to do updates from your home, like
we'll tell you how to do it. We'll set you up.
Would you want to do a couple updates every day from home or
no? No.
Why not? No Mink, I'm done.
It's happening out 33 years, 33 years.
I know alright. What else do you have to say to
our beautiful audience here, the great St.
John's family? What else you want to say
tonight? Make.
You go St. John's.
Uh huh. Enjoy the night.
Is enjoy, it's a Friday night, Saint John's.
I mean, it's a Friday night. Saint John's has played Duke,
Rick Pitino's coaching Saint John's.
It's 710 on CBS. I mean, it's it you got us on
the radio. It's it's basically perfect now
all they have to do is win and then win again on Sunday and
then win a couple of more so. And then I'm going back to
India. There you go.
All right, they go Get some sleep, buddy.
I'm going to wrap up here. Thank you, buddy.
I appreciate it. Ladies and gentlemen, the great
areas. That was very presidential wave
there, mate. He's waving like this.
The make man, the make man. That's how I start my broadcast.
He starts his broadcast as he looks at yeah, at his notes,
right. I always do the I don't know why
I start singing this, but I'm just like, right, Mink, here's
the Minky, the Minky winky. I don't know where the hell it
came from. It's weird.
It's bizarre. I maybe that's my way of getting
my my mind sound by singing the mink man song that that I came
up with. But we have an absolute blast.
Match is not with us tonight. Match is doing the Mets stuff.
Obviously Chris Majikowski the the immortal Chris Majikowski.
But we've we've had a lot of fun here and hopefully you guys have
really enjoyed the ride. I'll give you some more stuff
when I get to the arena. What time we, what time is the
bus leaving? What time you and I, are we
going to walk you and I? Right, All right.
If it's not raining. Yeah, it is raining now, right
around. OK, so we're going to leave the
hotel, the team hotel, right around 4:00-ish.
And he's right, because it was raining when we woke up this
morning. If it's not raining, we'll walk.
You know, it's about 3/4 of a mile.
Mink, you're going to make it on the walk.
You're all right. OK.
I like it. That a boy.
Very. He's he's ready.
No, no, no. Mink, They.
What's for lunch? You just ate breakfast, dude,
It's God damn it. Yeah, you got to see him.
He he is. He is the gem.
There is there are very few people like the mink man.
He is a special breed in his own crazy unique way.
Listen, office in this business are are whacking in some regard.
He is a trip, though. He is a trip.
And he's not lying. Like he literally writes
everything out. Good evening everybody and
welcome like word for word. And but he's right though.
Like it's funny even like when I start a show, it's crazy and
it's hard to explain it. Like when the 1st, it's
definitely a mental thing, obviously.
But like when those first 3456 words pop and they mesh and you
feel good and the mind and the body's In Sync, Generally, those
first couple of minutes are really strong, you know, and
there's times where either, you know, you might have a technical
issue or you get a little distracted or you stumble on a
word because we're human. And then he's right.
It's like you're playing catch up, even though it doesn't sound
as bad to the audience. But in our mind we're like, man,
I just, I just messed that up and I was so ready to start the
show. And now you're kind of chasing
that, that, that, that better, you know, that better foundation
to get the show going. He's not wrong with that.
So I'm going to go do a little bit more work on the game notes
here. Get ready for Duke.
Obviously, you know Pam Boozer is the horse out there top three
NBA pick his brother brother Kaden becomes a lot more
important if if they don't get their their their their point
guard back in in foster. I don't know if he's going to
play. We don't know yet with the foot
injury got hurt March 7th. But in in a lot of ways, even
though he's he's an upright and and and Kaden's played pretty
well too, but Foster's different.
Like he's their point guard. And to me, I don't know, it's
pretty enticing. Like if he's out there and he
doesn't fully trust his body yet and he's not great
cardiovascularly because he couldn't really do much running
since March 7th a couple weeks ago.
Now you're off your feet for a couple of weeks, you know,
stationary shooting and you know, riding a bicycle is not
going to get you ready for that up tempo St.
John's defense when they come trapping you or they try to not
try or they make your life absolutely miserable trying to
inbound the ball. That's the other thing guys, if
you're if you're just kind of jumping into the St.
John's stuff, watch how St. John's even on like them, it
could be 36 seconds into the game, the most benign inbound
right. I don't mean with 9 seconds left
in the game every time their opponent inbounds the ball
underneath the basket, I'm meaning underneath the
opponent's basket. St.
John's either a 5 second violation, A turnover, A
timeout. It is uncanny make am I right
with that? I don't think that I've ever
seen a team so adept and so precise and locked in in and and
making somebody else uncomfortable just trying to
inbound the ball. It's amazing.
They are they're not good at that.
They are great at that. All right, so I'm going to go
chill for a little bit. Got to sip some coffee, relax,
suit up in a couple of hours, get ready to walk over to
Capital One, home of the Wizards, home of the Georgetown
Hoyas. But after tonight, it will be
the home of the Johnnies. So have yourself an awesome
Friday. I'll catch you a little later.
More content in the arena behind the scenes.
I'll bring you on the court and all that stuff as St.
John's warms up. Appreciate you guys checking in.
Like it subscribe it and on the road with the red storm and so
far life is good and has been one awesome ride that we have
all waited for for so long. So let's let's keep it moving.
By the way, shout out to my buddies over at Sullivan for
pain. Of course, big sponsor of the BT
on Lee show Sullivan for pain, amazing law firm in Manhattan
trial law1.com. That's trial law1.com to check
that out. And that's it.
I will see you in a couple of hours inside of Capital One
Arena Peace.