 Hall of Fame coaches, national champions, lottery picks, the best minds in basketball. Welcome into the sidelines with Evan Daniels. What's up College Basketball fans, welcome back to the sidelines podcast. I'm your host Evan Daniels, College Basketball Insider at FS1, as well as the director of basketball recruiting at 24-7 Sports. Today's episode is the 97th episode and today's featured guest is none other than Hall of Fame broadcaster and the infamous Bill Raftery. He jumped on the show and we broke down the Big East Tournament. What's going on in College Basketball? We talked Final Four picks. We talked Zion Williamson, John Marant, North Carolina's recent success and much, much more. Before I get to that conversation with Bill Raftery, I want to make sure that you are subscribed and supporting the sidelines podcast. The best way to do that is to shoot over to Apple Podcasts and or your favorite podcast app. Hit the subscribe button for me and also ask that you leave a rating and a review. If you could do that, it would be extremely helpful. So give us a star rating, give us some feedback that would be extremely helpful. Now let's jump to that interview with Bill Raftery. It's time to go, minimum it. With Evan Daniels, send it in, big fella. Now let's welcome back to the podcast a colleague over at FS1 and Hall of Fame broadcaster Bill Raftery. Raph, how are you man? I'm doing great. I'm trying to keep up with you as far, but I'm giving it a shot. I think you're doing a pretty decent job of that. I know you'll be at the Big East Tournament coming up, but I know you're calling game to think Wednesday and Thursday. It's been kind of a wild year in the league. What's kind of been your biggest takeaway from watching so much Big East ball this year and kind of heading into the tournament? There's no shock, basically it seems like, particularly with Marquette struggling and coming down the stretch and Villanova having the bumps in the road too, I think it just tells you how the field is pretty even, which should make for a wild couple of days. No one's out of the mix in terms of potential of beating you. Over the years, we always might say, hey, the Pauls struggling, jump on them and you'll be okay, but they've proven a tough out, even in losses, so there's a lot of respect amongst, for all programs, Xavier's on a run now with six or eight games in a row, if I'm not mistaken. The other one, everybody keeps saying, I don't want to play St. John's in the garden and they've been struggling coming down the stretch, so I just think it's a bunch of teams that are extremely competitive, young, you don't know who's going to show up. You can go down the line with a Creighton and say, if you can't get 80 to 90 points, you can't play with Creighton. So just an interesting, each club does something that's part of their personality, but we're pushing it and then run the whole clock and make you be patient. Providence has been up and down because they're young, but Georgetown has a great win the other night, so there's a, I think Georgetown and Seaton Hall have sort of played themselves. I think Seaton Hall is out of the conversation, I'm guessing they're in and I think Georgetown is back in the conversation. So intriguing, I think a lot happens, it depends on what happens this Wednesday and Thursday for a couple of teams. Can they get to Friday? You know? Yeah, I think those days are going to be extremely important. How about the job Patrick Ewing's done at Georgetown? I mean, it didn't take him long to make them relevant. Well, you know, sort of harking back to talking to Jeff Van Gundy when Patrick got the job and he was going down to spend some time and he was saying, you know, he got the biggest kick out of people one while, you know, can he coach? And of course, he had coached with him and Patrick I think got 13 or 14 years in EMBA. So he knows every quick hitter, you know, he knows all the individual breakdown drills. That was not a big concern of Jeff's and I think the other areas that, you know, if anybody had a concern was, you know, getting out and watching kids and recruiting them and talking them into coming to Georgetown and I think what his freshman class of this year is proven that to be the case and I'm told he's got a couple of big kids coming in one city now from state. So I just, I've been very impressed with them and I think his demeanor on the sideline is intriguing too, you know, he's a gentle giant on the sideline but very forceful in what he wants his players to do and they've responded. You know, I know they've gotten nicked here and there but I think that's, you know, you start freshman back court, you're not so sure every game and, you know, that they've overcome a lot of those shortcomings with young people and of course, Govan, when he plays big and dominates a little bit and rebounds, you know, he can score their formidable club. I think you hit the nail on the head with like the recruiting aspect, you know, obviously that's something that I know pretty well. But I think he's like, he's taken some under the radar guys like James Akinjo kind of blew up late in his high school career. Mac McClung, I truthfully thought was just an athlete and he's developed those guys and they've continued to get better and I think that's been pretty impressive to watch what he's been able to do. Who, Raph, would you say, and this is probably a difficult question, but who would you pick to win the tournament as of today? Wow. The Big East tournament. If you asked me this a week ago, I would have said maybe Marquette, but they weren't able to seize the moment. And I think these couple of days off are key for them. You know, Villanova is an amazing team. They can raise their level of play and if they start making trees, they are a tough out. You put me in an area that I'm not very good at, but I would say Villanova. You know, I know Seton Hall has had two great wins and come into this tournament ready to go, but I would say the top two would be Villanova and probably Marquette if they get their acting gear. Right. And then the way Seton Hall is playing, I think that they'll probably be in the mix too. Yeah, I think Seton Hall and maybe even Xavier. Xavier, if you could make a case, is the hardest, hottest team in the league. Yeah, they are and I think they're getting big. People are stepping up. I guess, I think it was Marshall who got hurt a little bit with his ankle. They are playing terrific, watching them coming down the stretch as well. But George, that's another one. I mean, you know, they've got size and they've got, you know, they're spirited. They're not afraid of the moment. So I just think we're in for a heck of a week. Yeah, me too. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Well, Marcus Howard has had a tremendous regular season. I mean, he's got to be playing the year in the conference, right? I would agree. I mean, I know he struggled, particularly the Seton Hall game. Even up at Providence, he had 14 points, but I liked the game he had. You know, they won. He played within himself, didn't try and get to 30. I look for him to, he's a gamer, that kid. So I look for him to start playing really solid basketball again. But yeah, you know, Pascal's another guy that comes to mind as well. What he's been able to do, shorthanded, play him, what, 30 Samad minutes, 35, 36 minutes a game. So I would go one two with that. Got it, got it. Let's talk overall Hoops. And I've seen Zion Williamson has kind of been the national rage this year. What was the last time we've had a player as exciting as this kid has been? I guess it would be LeBron who didn't go to college. You know, that would come to mind. Yeah, it's sort of sad in a way, but I'm happy that they're being very careful with him. It looks like he's going to play later in the week. They've had some good workouts, according to Mike. But I've never seen a guy, well, he's positionless, which makes him a tough matchup. You know, who you put on him, you know? Right. Maybe your best friend, there's six, five. Well, he can load up on him. And conversely, you put a bigger guy on him. He could just, you know, handle the ball so well and attack the rim. But I've never seen a guy as physically imposing, able to have everything in the arsenal. You know, just the three, the mid-range, the post-up. He's unselfish, got a great attitude. It looks like great personality. You know, looks like he'd be a wonderful teammate as well. So in recent memory, you know, even if you go back to Jordan, everybody knew he was good, but never knew he would blossom like he did. As Dean Smith used to say, he was the only guy to keep him under 20 points a game. But he learned out of 500 games, obviously. But now this kid is, and then, you know, it's funny, you look at him and you forget how good these other guys are. And you know these kids better than I do, because you've watched them from probably seventh and eighth grade. They're just outstanding as a group. And, you know, he's the bellwether. He's the guy that can bring them home if he gets healthy. Yeah, no, I completely agree. Do you think when he's healthy, they're the best team? Or is there somebody else you would be pointing to right now? I think he's the best talent. Got it. You know, I think they have the best talent, I should say. I think on Zagat, because of the league, people have forgotten them again. And, you know, watching them the last couple of weeks, you know, they are, you know, we know they beat Duke Erley in Maui, but they are very good. I like Virginia a lot. We had them a couple of weeks ago, so getting ready to watch a lot of other games. And they now, they can score. I mean, we always talk about defense, control the clock, you know, don't make any mistakes, get to the free throw line. But they have people who are really good offensive players and they're doing some other things besides the, you know, rubs on the post and moving the post up and down and out. And guys curling off them. So they have individual players now and Hunter, and of course, the back side Jerome guy. I mean, this is a really good basketball team. So I like those two. And the other one who's playing great is Carolina. Yeah, you know, people, you know, sort of the improvement that Roy has been able to make and cultivate with this group. It is sensational. So, you know, those are three or four of the top teams. No question about it. Not a bad final four, if they all get in it. No, that'd be a great one. Well, that was what I was going to ask you next. Would that be your final four teams as of now? I mean, obviously we don't know the matchups or anything like that. But we're the wrong ball. But you know, yeah, that's a pretty good group. You know, Michigan State without their top scores has done a great job, too. You know, with Ward and Lankford out 35 points and be able to get a share, I think of the big 10 title. It's just remarkable. And Winston, like second half last night, was just, you know, he did the same thing at Michigan a couple of weeks ago. We happened to be there. So they've got great leadership and, you know, a couple of seniors and goins, McQuaid that, you know, they've answered the bell under duress, too. And, you know, being with Tom last week, this is probably the most gratifying championship or co-championship. I think he's ever had simply because they've overcome so many injuries. And, you know, games missed due to injury, too, is another add-on. Yeah, no question. I mean, it's pretty remarkable what they've been able to accomplish with those injuries. You mentioned Virginia. It's almost like, you know, a boa constrictor around your neck just squeezing you and squeezing you and squeezing you until you break. And it's almost I was watching their game against Louisville this week. And it's like Louisville had the they had to lead for most of the game. And in the last six minutes, they just kind of slowly overcome you. And you're right. I think that team has much more offense than maybe we've seen in the past to go with that big-time defense. I think this is probably obviously they had a one seed last year, but I think this is arguably the best team he's had. Yeah, you know, I do think because even at center with, you know, Saul, the kid Huff is going to be a really good player. You know, he doesn't get a whole lot of minutes, obviously. And the key take, so they've got like three guys in the center spot. Key is another guy, you know, good, really good player at Alabama. I'm sure you saw him in high school and, you know, he gives them a little post-up game. They are a little deeper. And again, again, the offense is so much better that, you know, it's overlooked because, you know, they squeeze that clock, as you noted. They're mistake free. I mean, they really do a great job, valuable. I don't know what it is now. It was eight a game earlier in the year. It's probably up at least at nine, right? So they don't beat themselves. No question. You were mentioned in North Carolina kind of coming on, and it seems like they've just consistently gotten better throughout this season. You know, I wasn't a huge fan of their team early on in the year. And now, I mean, they're just playing. I think Kobe White's taken off. And as a team, they are they are looking pretty good. Is it fair to say that Roy Williams is maybe a little undervalued as a coach out all that he's accomplished? Well, you know, this is one of those years. I think this is if you don't get him this year, I think they're starting to get back into that recruiting mix. And you again, I bow to you, able to get, you know, those top notch kids that they've had, you know, that cloud over their head the last few years of negativity, whether something drastic was going to happen to the program or not. But, you know, he's developed the big guys have gotten better. You know, Brooks has gotten better. And Kenny Williams making shots like he did last night. You know, those are big time additions. And you're actually right about Kobe White. He is fearless. You know, he's got a string on the ball. He makes big plays. He's confident. He's fearless. You know, little has come along, you know, coming down the stretch. He didn't play as much. I don't think last night of my memory is correct. But, you know, he's started to contribute. And of course, Cameron Johnson, you know, the kid had a pit. You know, he just really knows how to play. Good footwork, confident with his three. You know, just a good all around player. So I think they've developed as a group and the preseason player the year was Luke May, who the people don't talk about much anymore. You're right. So, you know, they've got a pretty darn group. I thought Kobe White made himself some money in that Carolina Duke game. I think he's especially in a week, kind of what's going to be a week point guard draft class. I think he's kind of moving up that list. And speaking of point guards, I'm curious, Raph, how much have you had a chance to watch John Morant? Just like everybody else, you know, Snidbitz, a little more last night of this year in Ohio, watching them last night, you know, the dunk. I mean, the kid, you know, he can make plays. I know he turns it over. But boy, you get 10 assists a game, pretty impressive. And, you know, a little bit like Trey and Atlanta with the Hawks down. People weren't sure how good he would be. You know, I think this kid's one of those, you know, one of those kids that's going to catch somebody's eyes and be fun to go watch play. And I don't mean he's like Jason Kidd. But when I saw Jason in college, it was the same kind of thing. It was like, what's he going to thrill me with tonight? And I think that kid possesses that little extra splash of stardom or the touch that separates him in terms of connecting with people. For sure. He's been he's been a lot of a lot of fun to watch. Raph, I appreciate you taking out the time. I know you're busy and prepping for games. And I'm excited to see you this week in New York. I look forward to that. Bring some money this trip, though. You know, step up to the plate. I have a good day. I can do that. See you, Raph. Take care, pal. Bye bye. Like once again, thank Bill Raftery for taking the time out and jumping on the sidelines podcast, especially as we move towards tournament season. He's he's pretty busy, so enjoyed that conversation with Raph before I let you guys go. I want to make sure that you were supporting the sidelines podcast. And as I've said before, the best way to do that is to shoot over to Apple podcast and or your favorite podcast app. Make sure you hit the subscribe button for me. But I'd also ask that you leave a rating and or review. Would love to know your feedback on the podcast. As always, thanks for listening and have a great week.