Hour 2: Is This Michigan's Best Basketball Team Ever?

from 30 for 30 podcasts Brian Pada senior defensive lineman from Miami gunned down An hour before he died he was on the phone arguing with him on this might be a hit you want the truth We had a killer amongst us murder at the you listen now Here's our ESPN hockey night doubleheader filled with playoff positioning Implications jack Hughes and the devils post the flyers tonight at 7 Eastern then Connor McDavid and the Oilers take on the man myth coverage drops at the point at 6 Eastern on ESPN 2 You can't Michigan with a title on the line The lead favors, Michigan Michigan start to take control Michigan the 2026 men's basketball national champion The Michigan Wolverines are kings of the college basketball world after defeating you con 69-63 last night the title was the first for Michigan's program since 1989 and the first for the Big Ten conference as a whole since 2000 Michigan coach Dusty May joined our show earlier and talked about what was the key to Michigan's title run The different guys stepped up every single night It wasn't as if you saw us to do game and we were in position to win credit to them for for getting it done But in that game, Ellie Kedow didn't have his best Performance and since then he's been he's been amazing, but literally every game I think we had eight or nine different leading scores this year in different games So it'd be it'd be tough to scout us because they're so well balanced and credit to our guys when someone got it going Everyone else just fed them and they weren't concerned with stats or anything else just tried to figure out a way to win that game Jay will now joins us from Indianapolis where he has spent his entire weekend because of the final four. Good morning, Jay How are you when we think about Michigan basketball? Obviously morning Shay? I'm glad I wore my turtleneck yesterday, Stephen It was a little little chilly out here yesterday. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, so you struggle a little bit, but it's alright It's alright. You're right now. You're right now. He's back in it now All right, so we think about Michigan basketball Obviously the fab five comes to mind, but they were never able to win a championship now Michigan has won a championship for the first time since 1989 was this Michigan's best college basketball team ever You know, I it's it's hard for me on the day that Michigan won the national championship to you know diminish This team and what they've accomplished, right 37 and 3 in the regular season 19 and 1 in their conference I mean just sheer dominance there their margin of victory has been dominant so I think we're talking about one of the most dominant seasons and You know in it look, but we're also talking about a team that has had five transfers as starters and this is a real thing Stephen a happening in college basketball and college football Fan bases are always going to take the win always going to take the title and say yeah, we won the title But it feels somewhat different It does feel different a lot of these guys came from different places and that doesn't diminish Dusty's ability to get them all to mesh and to have chemistry That is hard as hell to do in one single season and it takes a lot of luck and it takes a lot of the right coaching and Schematics and tactical strategies in order to get that done But to me the gold standard of Michigan basketball is 1989 I mean Bill frider was literally he left he left to go to Arizona right before the tournament Steve Fisher becomes interim head coach at that time. There are three C guys and Glenn Rice Big dog Glenn Rob goes on one of the biggest runs we've seen in tournament history He averaged 31 points They had a close game to Xavier in the first round barely got by that they beat to see North Carolina They have one of the most dominant runs in each game matters so much So for me for that to be the first time Michigan basketball won a national championship in that measure Where to this day you look at big dog. I'm probably like Michigan basketball now look people are gonna say Elliot Cadell fine You're like with the where the North Carolina here. You're gonna say Yaxa Lindemur. Yeah, he's one of theirs But you a B. Where was he at? You know a die mirror? Where was he at? But big dog big dog glim Rob like that's Michigan basketball. So for me 1989 still the best ever still the gold standard I Don't think you're wrong But let's simplify it a little bit Let's lean on our boy Jalen Rhodes member the fad five All right, beautiful C&M in attendance together at the final four We know what culture changes they were what they mean what they'll always mean the college basketball to the culture But here's the deal Lindenburg comes out and During the sweet 16 or whatever he stirred the debate by saying his team might be the best in program history Jalen Rose gets quoted. What does Jalen Rose say? Okay? You want to have that conversation? Go cut down the nets if they go and win it all of course, it's time to have that conversation 89 versus this team by the way, I miss my man Jalen Rose being here Hope to see I hope to see you soon my brother especially with the pistols But I'm still room for my next to beat y'all, but that's a different story for another day. Here's what I have to say about this Jalen Rose had a point he challenged Michigan to go and cut down those nets But up until last night It was Jalen Rose that was reminding everybody He wasn't saying the fad five was the standard because they didn't deliver the national championship He was saying the 89 team J Was the team and who is that team? Let's remind everybody about who was on that damn team because we need to make sure that we're clear Glen Rice Ramil Robinson Lloyd Voight Terry Mills Sean Higgins Rice Voight and Mills had lengthy careers in the NBA Glen Rice Was a sniper now we talk about shooters today. Of course Steph Curry and them change the way did you see Glen Rice play? That brother was special now and this was not a scrub You know big dog like you said big dog Robinson was big time no doubt about it The brother was sensational, but it takes a Glen Rice to sort of offset What a big dog Glen Robinson was given to you back in those days, okay? Because Glen Rice was that kind of do yep, so when you look at it Yes, we just heard the coach. Leonard Borg was hurt and we get that part He was a big-time player and he really skilled knows the game of basketball, etc. He was not Glenn Rice Okay, you look at Godot and these cats they can play you got it But when you look at Higgins and Mills and Voight and those boys and Ramil Robinson was no joke either I'm just saying that 89 team was something to behold so again Michigan second national title in program history no doubt about it. They deserve all the credit Nobody will ever be more popular than the fad five at Michigan. I don't give a damn who it is Ain't nobody they didn't achieve in that kind of popularity Alright, but when you look and then we got to take into account the careers the Jalen Rose the Chris Webber's the Jawan Howards of the world and what they brought to the table with the NBA careers but the 89 team is still going to come across as The standard because when you look at this championship team Compared to that championship team you give them a lot of love and credit for the season that they had together But it wasn't just the season and the run that Michigan had in 89 It was some of those players led by Glenn Rice and that's why I would give the 89 team the slight edge It's a slight edge, but it's an edge Yeah, it's even so it's fair to say we both agree here on that on the 89 team I haven't had a lot of coffee at this morning kind of combined names there were Mill Robinson and Glenn Rice and put them together It's fine. All I'm saying is Glenn Rice had one of the most dominant runs we've seen yeah in the history of the tournament One of the most dominant runs so for me look Elliot Caddow is to take anything away from that team They they had an exceptional season We're talking about comparing one of two teams and just like you to me the gold standard is still 1989 Steve Fisher interim head coach Glenn Rice one of the most incredible runs we've seen in tournament history So when you look at Michigan this squad, right? It was five transfers that started that has been pointed out and when we talk about the transfer portal The Wild Wild West has come up in terms of what has happened now in college basketball However ratings are up and you could argue in the tournament You are getting a very good brand of basketball because you have these higher seeds winning etc Where is men's college basketball right now? Is it in a good place? Jay? What do you think? I? Think college basketball is in the best of all places right now I mean just look at look at the talent first off Let's just always keep it a buck. Okay, like we talked about the NBA We talked about the NFL Look at some of the names. We've talked about this year that have cut through the chatter Stephen A We've talked about Darren Peterson being the first pick in the draft some of the challenges He's had playing the game. We've talked about Cameron Booser the son of Carlos Booser We've talked about AJ de Bonsa and we've connected that with the Utah Jazz and the fact that he went to prep school in Utah The fact that he's going to BYU is it gonna get drafted by the Jazz? We're talking about Darius a cuff Comparing him to I heard you say AI I've been comparing him to Stefan Marbury We talked about Keaton Wogler who was a baller We're talking about name after name after name that is going to impact the NBA draft. They're talking about John Calipari We're talking about Dusty May. We're talking about Dan Hurley constantly on our biggest platforms We're talking about Duke losing all all this to me says that there's a reason why we're having a record set number As it relates to college basketball. Yes, there are things that still need to be fine-tuned. Yes I still believe we need a salary cap. Yes, I still believe we need contracts But still from a talent perspective the game has not been in a better place than what it is right now in this time It's age I'm not sure I agree with that. I think that um I'm very I'm all about players getting their money and the NIL is not the biggest issue with me It's that transfer portal that concerns me because you don't have to sit out I don't think that you should be able to go for one program to the next immediately I don't think it should resemble pro sports in that regard There is compensation that these players deserve to have one would argue It's about it should be the system that's in place others would argue that you need some kind of collective bargaining agreement Others would argue that you need government intervention like President Trump issued last week and signed in the second executive order about What is it saving college sports and all of this other stuff? They can say what they want but at the end of the day something has to be done in that regard Just because we're talking about cats during the NCAA tournament Knowing how March Magnet March madness magnetized this nation J doesn't mean that College sports is in a great place because we've been talking about these guys. This is what we do every March You know the names that stand out now. There's some big-time names the bonza Daris A. Kov Junior Darren Peterson Cameron boozer Caleb Wilson Flemmings and Houston I mean I'm getting all of that right and I understand it and I'm not saying by any stretch of the imagination that it's enough Bad place. I just don't view it as good as Jay does as of yet I do think there needs to be some getting your house in order per se And I don't know the answer to this question But I'm gonna ask you Jay because you're more than qualified I don't know if you see Jay on his social media stuff or something. I mean he just I mean listen It's an education, you know, I said I called my financial advisor. Come in. I need you to watch this I need you to watch more this you understand Look at this man Jay Williams dropping this knowledge right here. Look at what he's doing. All right I want to ask Jay your thoughts about The executive order issued by the president regarding saving college sports and whatever Changes they're talking about making with name image likeness the transfer report. There's all things. They're trying to impact Do you think that's a good thing for college sports moving forward? Or do you think that should be shoved aside and all we need is what my god Charlie Grantham the former executive director the NBA players Association who now runs the you know sports business school at Seton Hall Says repeatedly that it should be collective bargaining negotiations as opposed to Government intervention. Where do you side with all of that Jay? I'm asking. I'm not debating I'm asking because I want to know what your thoughts are. No, yeah I said, you know, I always side with Uncle Charlie here on this one. I think he's an absolute genius Number one the fact that coaches can have representation, but players can't is absurd Right number two, you know, we always act like college sports like we have to reinvent the wheel The NBA and the NFL have already invented the wheel It's called having a CBA in this way. There are rules and regulations and guardrails in place It's called having a salary cap It's so you can't just outspend your opponent year after year after year and we had this whole conversation on college game Day about tampering the fact that you know if if you're North Carolina You're poaching you're trying to talk to dusty May while dusty May is actually trying to participate to win a national championship Right. So once again rules and regulations that are in place due to a CBA. I'll give you another one Stephen A You know, you talk about Free agency, you know as of right now, they're already 2,000 names in the portal 2,000 names. So you talk about sitting out How about this? How about we have transfer fees? You know, we think about fee for soccer, right? They have transfer fees So if I'm at Duke and I'm a player at Duke and you want me at Arkansas and you want to buy me out great Pay my school a fee like there are ways that we can actually operationalize this and institutionalize it It's not rocket science But for some reason the NCAA doesn't want to let go of the chokehold that they have on this industry and The examples of how we run a business are already set. The pro leagues have already done this This is pro sports and it's okay for us to say that we just have to act accordingly Yeah, and the NCAA is usually not on the same level as some of us are when it comes to business models or the way things need To be run. I think that has been apparent Jay and Charlie. I was essentially talking about the formula is in place You don't have to mirror it identically, but the formula is there. Let's not make it rocket science Right, because we do we really really want the government involved do we really really want that in a double? I don't think so you're more qualified to answer that than me Coming up here on first take a fascinating deep dive by shams into the toxic relationship between Yanis and the Bucks. What would the Bucks Superstar be worth on the trade market today? We'll discuss next Oh If you're looking to ensure your place She was wheels are super ex We've got an offer that is down to get a gift couple 40 pounds for brilliant home insurance Go direct to Sheila's wheels 40 Pounds a gift card applies for new home essentials policies purchased direct between the 5th of March and the 28th of April 2026 see times and conditions at Sheila's wheels calm Hey sports fans the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place the ESPN app is your home to thousands of live-advanced ESPN shows and originals across every ESPN network in service And now you can check if you already have ESPN unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls visit activate ESPN comm to learn how to access your account or sign up then start streaming in the ESPN app It's all the ESPN all in one place sign up or activate now Why does this music instantly relax me the Masters par 3 contests from Augusta tomorrow at 2 Eastern 11 a.m. Pacific on ESPN and the ESPN app coverage begins at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on ESPN plus Disney Plus and the ESPN app masters week To the NBA now right now on ESPN comm Shamshirani I did a deep dive into the Friction between Yanis and the Bucks He notes that Yanis desired to be traded this season that ultimately did not happen for our kind of levels to this Stay wheels back here with us as is Monica McNutt. Yeah at 31 years old There's been some recent injury history obviously with Yanis and now we know how this is all going down in Milwaukee What is Yanis worth right now on the trade market? What do you think man? Oh? Hmm This is a challenging question because I think we all would look at this productivity during the course of the regular season When he's healthy and still acknowledge how much of a force he is in today's NBA The thing that hangs me up is just his injury history at this point And you look he's played eight games in the last two years as far as postseason Opportunity and you don't make a trade for a guy like Yanis just to be good during the course of the regular season I think it's fair to question the availability when it comes to the postseason I think it's fair to question the injury history and the types of injuries that he's dealt with Compared to how he plays basketball. He's an explosive guy. He's a big guy lower extremity injuries are not something that he's going to be able To navigate well when you think of some of the guys that play with a slower pace a more deliberate pace All right, so to answer the question ultimately I would not be giving up my future in terms of trying to get Yanis onto scuba now on the flip side of that Milwaukee obviously should be pointing to everything that he's accomplished over the body of his career and in particular his regular season numbers So this is to me is going to be a really interesting separation potentially over the summer because I would not leverage my future if I didn't have a team that I felt like was in a position to win Now but maybe missing a piece and you can make the the trade work in terms of what would be involved Like that's the type of team to me He is not worth the future of an organization right now worth building around No, I would not put it as my centerpiece J. Well, what do you think? Is that team the next Monica I knew this was gonna happen did I say that I Mean I Said you said missing a piece you said missing a piece but here's but it's a piece Here's the other part though if you were to honestly look at this from the next lens the future. I Just I I don't know that I like that in New York They are in a they are in the window now to win but when I think of the future I just don't I think it's going to cost too much here in New York I said can I go before you go can I go before you go because I see the look on your face We have the same we have the same look so I'm just gonna say this so Monica, you know We've been on a lot of shows for the last, you know several years and You know, I said two years ago a couple years ago. I was like, hey, I'm not sure This whole Yanis Milwaukee thing is gonna work out I'm not sure about it and I caught a lot of flack for it, right? And because I had a feeling that Yanis I felt like that marriage was already Dwindling it was already going in the wrong direction and then they got Dame Right, it's like, ah, how do you not give it one more shot with Dame? How do you not give it one more shot? Then Dame obviously gets hurt and then he spread his contract over a long lengthy period of time, right? And then they they try to make another push and then they just fall flat on their face I'm like, oh that relationship is over that relationship is over. So I get what the Injury history is but Yanis has Yanis is never going to come out on national TV and Say to the world get me out of here. He's never gonna do that He's seen other people do that and that's not who he is, right? But we all know Yanis don't want to be there. We actually know Where Yanis wants to be Yanis wants to be in New York He wants to be a Nick and I do think that if the opportunity does arrive for him to be a Nick He will bring that pain. He will bring that glory. I don't think this dude wants to play through injuries He won't he'll play through injuries He's played through injuries before the guy won a championship barely on one leg. He ain't worried about that He'll sacrifice himself for that to win a championship and what do we talked about the next like obviously Boston's playing well We'll talk about Detroit some of these other teams. What if the next don't get it this year How do you not go and get a dude that you know? Will be the Statue of Liberty for your city and we'll run through a wall each and every day and we'll play the way New York Nick basketball should be played but what are you gonna give up Jay? What are you gonna? Are you gonna more than a future then for Yanis or what are you gonna do? I'll give up a part of my future. Oh, yeah, I'll give up part of it. Yes Yes, well first of all a significant part. It's a couple of things As I venture towards the land of unpopularity It's not like the New York Knicks having given up a whole bunch of stuff before Here we go It's not like they haven't given up a whole bunch of stuff before Understand Monica McNutt. Mm-hmm now if it's fly by the way, thank you. All right understand if there is one team Shay J M&M That is in no position To fret over what we got to give up. It's the New York Knicks. You've lost all credibility in that department You gave up six first round picks for Mikkel bridges. Now. I know that's got Josh Hart clapping at me You know same saying and that's fine because we can laugh about that because I love the guy You know I'm saying he just it's all fun for me, you know talking basketball, but I love him He's a great guy and he's a great addition to the New York Knicks And I appreciate what he's done for the franchise and I love me from Jaylin Brunson because when he gets on me He gets on me like none other he just looks at me and says I'm not gonna even say nothing He walks away. It's just gets on me like that. He gets I love Jay And you know and I don't know if you notice his dad Rick Brunson and I go back Nearly 40 years. I mean I covered Rick Brunson at Temple. That's how far back we go You're just so ain't nothing love for them and his son is a sensational player We are appreciative of having him with the New York Knicks But I don't want to hear a damn word about we don't want to give up something for Yannis Let me tell y'all this number right here Yannis is having a bad year Missed half the season Ben injured he's having a bad year shake. You know that bad year is 27 and 9 on 64% shooting from the field. That's a bad year We're talking about Yannis. Let me tell you who you give up for Yannis Everybody but Jaylin Brunson. I don't give a damn if it's the dance team The cheerleaders the concession workers. I love them brothers at the garden all them brothers and sisters in security They always look out for me. I ain't got nothing but love for them. They know that those people at the garden know how I feel I love these but you're gonna trade them If you tell me if you telling me I'm gonna get Yannis I got to trade some of y'all too. They know they know This is the position we have been put in you understand Yannis and here's the thing Emin up and this is where my disappointment because it's really that come on Go ahead. Don't bother me. I'm saying you gotta say you go ahead. Don't don't don't tell me how to do me Go come here. Do me here. We go. Do I tell you how to do you? Well, here's the thing I'm enough you sitting up there, right you do an excellent job covering these days That means you cover the teams that they go against you've seen Boston where they going You've seen Detroit where they going you see Cleveland where they going you've seen Atlanta coming up the rare You're lucky you're letting loose last night. You've seen Orlando coming up the rare What the next gonna do you can't stand pat if you can't get to the finals this shit think about it Same team I should say team is last year guts grind grit all of that. We ain't seeing that right now That's Mike Brown now Mike Brown got to fix that We expected some sacrifice on that level because Tom tibidows Tom tibidow on the defensive side of ball the man's a genius But that was supposed to be Mike Brown on the offensive side of the ball And so what we got to see is we got to see a next team that answers the call and at least matches Where they wore last year and if you don't do that and there's a precipitous drop off Dare I say you get bounced out in the second round the first round God forbid that happens Okay, if something like this happens all bets are off. I flow with J Williams. You give up every damn thing Oh, no, I'm not saying the future picks Lord knows we've given up enough picks. All right We got to get a third team up in it, but play wise listen other than Brunson Everybody is available. What do you want? Do you want me to pay the salaries to do you want to? Throwing a massage a pedicure a masseuse. What do you need? Whatever it is because this is honest We got to stop acting at 31 years of age turn to 32 in December We got to stop acting like this is some ordinary dude The brother is 611 and will dunk on your parents if you let him this is what he does You understand this man is who he is Okay, and got about eight got about seven eight years left to them by the way, okay All right, so let's just let's zoom out though. Okay taking the orange and blue out of the equation. Okay, if The Lakers make a play for Janice. Okay, right like I know Jay point out. He wants to be in New York Supposedly whatever whatever, but if are you shaking your head Jay knows But if I'm just saying if you want to be in LA of all that I was told he doesn't want to be in LA we J was told the same thing We were all told he don't want to be in that right so let's play this game Oh, hey, you say Nick's or the field okay, cuz it sounds like he's gonna be out of Milwaukee This is the worst relationship ever they need to break up already Very frustrated, but here's the here's the here's the next or the field. Where's he going? Here's where your frustration should really come in well the story is what's frustrating you correct I'm over it. Well, you can't get over it orange can't get over the orange I'm not complaining about it. I'm just great. I'm just saying to Agent orange We go coin for the rest of the agent. Here's the deal. Yeah, here's the deal If you're going to do this shit if you're gonna do yeah, here's where your frustration for July It's not about the story. It's about the fact that Yanis refuses to come out publicly that part I say I want out. Yeah, I want to go to New York See he won't do what everybody knows. He's feeling that's the problem. It's not the story It's that we're speculating too much because he won't publicly acknowledge what he has acknowledged Private knowledge of publicly we all know it's important because if you're just imagine that you come in here first take Imagine Eminem and sit right next to you right and shake cuz that's what she does. That's what she does. That's our thing That's what that's what we do right right and Jay is right there, right? Imagine if we came in here imagine if we're on the air right now and breaking news comes down the pike Yanis on camera get me the hell out of here. I want out Oh, that's everything that changes everything now All of a sudden you got people like me going like this now I'm calling worse your bad. We need to be the Leon road where we need to be you you got to do this You got to see we can't say that right now Because Yanis is dancing around the issue publicly But if he were to say it publicly it changes everything because now it puts Milwaukee on the hot seat you got to find a way to get son done the brother telling you you don't want to be with you In a moment You should all of all people should appreciate that shake cuz you don't play somebody sit up in your face and tell you they don't want you around Up you like what? That's not his character so enough already trade them and it sounds like that's probably gonna happen And if it doesn't go to the next We'll talk about this later though after the break here on first day Jay will is gonna tell us how high the bar should be in Chapel Hill and Michael Malone's first season leading the Tar Heels plus with Wemby status now major question mark moving forward to the Spurs a Ford for their superstar to miss an extended period of time the amount of games matter. We'll talk about it next It's the middle of the night in a small town on the Jersey Shore Someone reports an abandoned car on a bridge a search gets underway for the missing driver 19 year old Sarah Stern is it a missing person? Is it a suicide? At this point nobody knows old friendships buried cash and a sinister plot of That was once pitched as a movie plays out in real life. I'm juju Chang from 2020 and ABC audio Listen now to bridge of lies wherever you get your podcasts Welcome back to first take the University of North Carolina made a film about the American people And the American people who are living in the United States Welcome back to first take the University of North Carolina made a surprising hire yesterday selecting former NBA coach Michael Malone to be their new head coach Malone comes to the Tar Heels having won the 2021 NBA title and 510 games in 12 seasons with the NBA was the 2023 NBA title actually Malone has in coached in college since he was an assistant coach at Manhattan University in 2001 so what should year one expectations be for Michael Malone? What do you think J? Well, I Mean you look I think to compete for an ACC championship or finish in the upper tier of the ACC and to get to the Second weekend of the NCAA tournament, you know I if there's anything that we've seen guys is We just saw a Michigan team Stephen a that was 8 and 24 two years ago Right North Carolina was not in shambles like that if Caleb Wilson doesn't go down They probably make a little bit of a run So obviously right now it's all about how quickly can you onboard talent? They've lost You know a couple of big-time recruits. I think due to some lacking communication there So I think it's about the staff that you're able to hire how quickly can you pick up on recruits considering today? The portal opens, but this is North Carolina basketball. I'm gonna tell you someone else even a there's some real tension that comes along with Mike Malone like I think this is a good hire The next couple of hires and how they invest in his staff and the talent around him are gonna be critical Because getting the right people in the door to be coached properly by him is gonna be the determination on whether they reach Expectations, but this is North Carolina basketball. I think they'll bounce back pretty quickly. I think they will bounce back pretty quickly as well I don't think it's a good hire. I think it's a great hire. I think the man knows basketball Obviously, he's a champion He coached grown men for 10 years in Denver They were perennial contenders before they finally kicked down the door. I won a championship a few years back And he was considered one of the best coaches in the NBA And so now you're talking about shoving aside his basketball acumen His ability to coach players the fact that these are youngsters trying to get to the next level to get the bag is Entirely different than cats who are there and have the bag if he could deal with that on the NBA level He can certainly deal with it on a collegiate level my trepidation is In one thing in one thing only Jake and that's an insist ability to recruit because as I said earlier when Sean Was on the show with us. I said be very clear America North Carolina did not fire Huber Davis Duke did John Shire Shire did that man and the job that he is doing there was such a flagrant discrepancy between Duke's program and North Carolina's program over the last three years that simply could not stand John Shire walked through the door and went 27 and 9 his first two years each of his first two seasons before winning over 30 games last year and winning 35 this year. I mean go went to a sweet 16 an elite 8 a final 4 This is what he's done. You cannot have North Carolina getting bounced out in the first round back to back years of missing an NCAA tournament all together when you're a Duke eight miles away J you know this better than me same parties same say same friends same people's eight miles apart It's a rivalry an epic rivalry. You have to live up to your end of the bargain Duke is doing theirs you got to do your so North Carolina got to make sure they get Mike Malone at NIL money And he has to make sure to utilize it properly and appropriately So he can be on par with Duke because his measuring stick is going to be measured by how comparable It is to what's happening eight miles up the road Go ahead Jake Stephen a I can I can recruit if I have resources to recruit So I will one up your hesitation my hesitation is the administration Look at administration. We are a time and age essay Where you know you have a lot of private equity that's trying to come into the space because they feel that and I'm not saying this towards North Carolina about a lot of schools athletic directors are good at you know what they do as it relates to You know intellectual studies of school, but they're not all great business people So right now you're seeing a lot of athletic directors trying to operationalize Their athletic programs and that's what needs to happen North Carolina needs to unleash their athletic program operationalize it and give him the resources to bring in the top-tier talent I'm surprised neither of you brought up his temperament which I love It's big kind of Danny Hurley ask like he can get read on the sidelines Yes, he's not this more mild mannered person like we saw Hubert Davis Pensions Shay right real tension real ten which I tend to love but I'm not playing for him So I'm interested to see how his temperament translates to the college level. I'm not worried about it coming up here on first take after the break How concerning is when be leaving last night's game with an injury? See even a and Monica will be here to break it all down next This is our final ESPN NBA Wednesday doubleheader of the regular season Jalen Johnson and the Hawks play the first game of a home and home against Domiton Mitchell and the Cavs It's a seven Eastern then Wemby and the Spurs will host the trailblazers the NBA countdown crew will tip off our coverage at 630 speaking of the Spurs They won their 60th game of the season last night beating the Sixers 115 to 102 but the wind came at a cost Victor women Yama left the game in the first half with a left rib Contusion women Yama status for the final week of the regular season is Unknown as of right now now the Spurs have played 16 games without women Yama this season They have fared pretty well going 11 and 5 however the Spurs are stronger defensively Obviously when Wemby plays with an increase in both opponent points per game and opponent field goal percentage when he does not play Could the Spurs withstand Wemby missing some time as the regular season kind of winds down here Stephen A Have to watch my mouth have to make sure that I agree with Eminem Who said that because because during the break my daughter felt I was too disagreeable Yeah, come on baby girl and she's like you know She said you don't just do that you show her love This is this is what I have to deal with Ladies all my life I've got to deal with the full decision you would think that and nine nieces you would think that's enough anyway The point is when I think about Wendy I wouldn't be I'm not really worried, you know now if he was gonna be out for the playoffs Yeah, I'm concerned because obviously even though I like the Spurs and I just loves to forecast I just love that brothers a rough ride. I believe in that brother that brother is just ascending every time I watch him Wemby here's what concerns me about this It didn't look like much of a play that had him injured like that, right? Then we have to remember because so caught up in his greatness. We forget how slim he really really is And so when you see something like that happens It reminds you of the vulnerability like where's the beef you see them now? Okay, that that's the one thing like it ain't nothing else like it But the one thing laughing lacking on him is that beef that meat right there You know this is not Shaquille O'Neal where you know You died you about to run to a bench for a loose ball and the entire bench clears cuz you're coming You know we'll be there ready to catch you this difference. Yeah, so I hear you on that I say and I don't even think about that last night So I think that's a great call out. Here's what got me thinking though as much as I think the spurs are Rewriting how basketball can be played around Victor Wembe Yama as we talk about them being a favorite We still go back to their inexperience in totality. You know who's lurking in that play-in position that could draw them looking Yeah, the Clippers, okay, right? So I just I'm not I understand the Clippers aren't a play-in we talked about it to see but we're talking about a to see Perhaps without when Viyama and the one area that you do give an advantage to the Clippers even your boy Kauai littered who has been available this year I've been nice to you have been very kind right So because it right he put up MVP sort of numbers, right? Yes. Yes No granted they're coming off of a loss But I think they won five out of their last eight and through the course of the season they've had these runs that experience That group including Darius Garland like the size of that group Tai Lu as a head coach versus Mitch Johnson in his first rodeo as a head coach as far as a postseason the concern That is something that has caught my attention if this is going to be an extended absence Well, I would say this to you. I Believe without women Yama the Clippers be San Antonio's mmm, let me be very very clear they don't have any deficiency in coaching when it comes to Tai Lu and Jeff Van Gundy now, I know they got the explanations about what happened to CP3 I'm always point to figure Lawrence Frank it how he handled CP3's departure He's been around too long Lawrence Frank knows better than to handle stuff like that having said that They do look good. Mm-hmm. They have looked better and Kawai Leonard has looked all world Now I'm gonna fall off the wagon and that brother get her to get he ain't available for the playoffs because I have never once Questioned his ability. I know he's great what I've always said is his availability Damn this brother could give a masterclass or how to get time off. He better show up But as long as he's available in the playoffs Oh, damn we can't we can't dismiss the clip. Yeah, something also to think about Victor want web and Yama does have to play one more game At least 20 minutes in order to be eligible for postseason awards coming up here on first take the Hawks had the nicks on the ropes last night What team should the nicks want to play in a first round matchup? I can't wait to hit M&M on this last day Right The nicks survived barely against the Hawks last night As well what have been a game tying half court shop by CJ McCullum was released just after time expired leading it To not counting in the next winning 108 to 105 So now we look ahead if the season ended today The nicks would face the Toronto Raptors in the first round, but there are some other teams knocking on the door A lot of scenarios with a hand a handful of games left. What team should the nicks want to face in the first? Don't let nothing change. Shay. Let us stay exactly as it is the Toronto Raptors They beat them on average by 20 points in all four matchups this season very simple for me It's a bad matchup for Toronto Raptors. I Want the I want the Raptors in the first round because I want the nicks to get to the second round You know and I'm worried about them because anybody else is just that simple So I definitely Definitely like them. Listen. I watched Joel and beat on one leg two years ago average 35 on one leg And Tyrese maxi with vj. Edgecomb that makes me nervous. The Hawks make me nervous Lamello ball and concanippo in this one. They make me nervous Yes, I would prefer that the new york nicks play the Raptors in the first round And obviously the Hawks with what happened last night also made me nervous So remember earlier on this show when steven ain't called me. What was it agent orange? Yes, girl Get him now. Listen. Get him. Shay. Listen. This dude's got this in his closet Get him In his closet I don't know where they got the hat from I don't know where they got the hat from but I did rock that blazer with that Tyre when I first came back about something I'm not gonna say sorry You look much better than me and then I can tell you that much but it don't take away from the fact that you age in orange I need to have the tie to that No, I didn't It's got a belt and the pocket square girl Yeah, I knew it that That's right The commitment I don't know who the hell got me to wear that. I never spoke to him again. That was amazing. Well done. All right. We'll see you tomorrow guys. Goodbye