Jay Bilas
Appearances
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Hour 1: The Dopeness of the Intricacies
Dan, Dan, no offense, but this is stupid. I mean, all due respect. I mean, if you guys want to talk about this, I'm here to talk about whatever you want outside of this.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Hour 1: The Dopeness of the Intricacies
Okay, then take offense. It's stupid, and I don't want to talk about it anymore. You want to talk about something else?
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Uh, like, I don't know, like conscience free is the best way I can, I can say it, but, uh, it's almost like, you know, you want your scores to have a little bit of a screw loose. Um, and he's got that, like, he's not afraid of anything. He knows he can score on anybody and he's willing to do it.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Uh, and, but when you have Janai broom, when you can just throw the ball in there and, uh, and they run a lot of the old Tom Davis flex action. So if you decide you're going to double broom, uh, Uh, especially, you know, when he's on the right block, you know, he's left-handed, he can just throw a left-handed hook pass. He's a really good passer out of a double.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
So you got to think twice about that. Um, and, uh, but Pettiford's not the only one. Miles Kelly can really shoot it. Denver Jones can really shoot it. Uh, they're, they're, they're legit. I don't think they defend as well as they have. Uh, they, they defended earlier in the year. Uh, but they're still, I mean, they're, they're going to be really hard to deal with, uh, for Florida.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Yeah, that's fair. But, you know, we're still trying to project it out like what they are now, because, you know, Dillingham, even though he plays, he can play minutes. He's not a he's not a player that's relied upon for extensive minutes as a rookie. And, you know, Pettiford, you're thinking long term with him and and he's got a he's got a strong frame.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Uh, he handles, he handles a crap out of it. Like he can really handle the ball. And I think he's a good passer. Uh, so he's an initiator, but you know, I always, I mean, I'm, I'm probably a little bit more of an older school thinker that, you know, I would prefer a bigger guard, but, but when we all, but small guards have shown they can do it now. And, you know, 10 years ago, that was a,
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
that was sort of a check mark against you. Like, you know, I don't know. I like big guards. This guy's not that big. That's going to be a problem. It's not a problem anymore. The game's so spread out and wide open now. I mean, you'd prefer size, but he's still, you know, for his height, he's a lengthy guy and, and, and he doesn't, he doesn't seem to have a problem. So I like him long-term.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I think he's got a, got a real chance.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
He's he's he checks more boxes than Zion did. So in my view, Zion was one of these guys like I had never seen anything like him on a basketball floor. It still happened. I can't imagine there'll be anybody quite like him in the future. You know, like like Lawrence Taylor and Michael Jordan had a baby, you know, is that kind of thing?
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Um, but you know, he, he's not the handler, not the passer, not the defender doesn't have the versatility, uh, of Cooper flag. Like, uh, flag is the best freshmen. I think best, most complete freshmen Duke's ever had. And, and I don't know how you feel about this, but like, I think Grant Hill is the best player Duke's ever produced.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Um, you know, when you, when you consider what Grant not only did in college, but what he did his first six, seven years in the league, um, you know, what was he five times all MBAs for seven years. And without that gruesome injury to his ankle that, that could have killed him with that staph infection.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Well, you'd better be big and athletic and deep in order to handle them and skill. I think Florida is in a good position to be successful against Duke. Whether they win or not, we'll see. Uh, and Houston's got a chance because they are really tough and rugged and tempo control and they can shoot it. That's a big difference from last year's Houston team.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
You know, he was, he was going to be the counterpart to Jordan and was for a period of time with Detroit. But, uh, Like to me, Cooper, nobody, nobody has, has done what he's done as a freshman at Duke. And I can't think of very many, you know, maybe say Carmelo Anthony at Syracuse or something, but there aren't that many that have come that have done what he's done as a freshman.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And, and considering he's barely 18 years old, like how does he project out? He's gotten way better throughout the course of the season. Like his shooting has, has improved markedly through the course of the season. Uh, and then he's a different cat competitively, uh, mindset mentality, whatever you want to call it. I don't know if there's a good story or not, but I'll tell you anyway.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Uh, I was up at Duke watching practice and, uh, Shire said, Hey, would you mind speaking to the team? You know, and wherever I am, somebody asked me to do that. I'll do it. I don't mind doing it. Um, but I always kind of preface it by, you know, when I sat in your seat, I loved it when a 60 year old man came and told us what he thinks.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Um, but as I was, as you know, they were in this, like, uh, all these programs have these theater seats now. So it's kind of graduated up. And, and as I'm facing the team, uh, flag is sitting to my right. And I noticed as I'm speaking, uh, and whatever BS I was spewing out, he's sitting there taking notes. And honestly, my first reaction was, here we go. Like Eddie Haskell over here taking notes.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And those guys are so young, they wouldn't know who Eddie Haskell was from Leave it to Beaver. I got to come up with a new one. But then I kind of realized like, no, this is a serious thing. Like he takes every opportunity to improve. And whether my BS was worth writing down or not, he did it anyway, because he was there and he's going to make the most of it.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And that's kind of how, and then you watch practice and you go, man, this dude is different. He's kind of locked into everything and plays every play in practice. And he listens and he absorbs and he's got a different, like everybody says they're a competitor and there are a lot of great competitors out there, but there are tiers in that too.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And of the players I've seen, especially young players, I would put him on the top tier in that category. He's kind of like Leitner was in that way. Like he's got this weird kind of, I shouldn't say weird, but this unique way about him that he will compete in everything he's doing. And, you know, you can see it on the floor.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like, remember that play against Pittsburgh that went all viral when he makes a steal, it goes down and dunks it. You know, it was SportsCenter top one, you know, top 10 and all that stuff. And it's been replayed a million times. You know, obviously it was an incredible play. But what impressed me most about that play was he had just picked up his third foul.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And that was an out of bounds underneath play. And he winds up taking the ball away from a guy down on the low block and taking it the other way. Like most, most players, let alone freshmen would have backed off a little bit and not wanting to pick up their fourth there. And he makes that play. And then the ending was what captured everyone's attention. But I was like, Holy cow.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like that's, that's pretty impressive at that age to have that kind of, that kind of awareness of what's going on. And he's only, he's only improved that, you know, I haven't seen him get, he may not have had a great game every time he's been out, but it's kind of like later ago. And it's hard to think of a time he was outplayed.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
He hadn't, he hadn't been outplayed that I've seen, which is pretty impressive.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I think, I think Houston would have beaten Duke last year. If Jamal shed hadn't gotten hurt in the first half of that sweet 16 game, but, uh, Duke is way different this year. Um, they're the most talented team. Uh, they're as deep as anybody, uh, And their athleticism and length on both ends of the floor is really difficult to deal with over a 40 minute period.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
All right, that's a good segue. The only beef I have with Flagg and his team and Knipple and Shire, frankly, is they have made Duke likable again. And, I mean, there was a lot of years put into making Duke hateable. And now it's out the window. And I got a problem with that.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Well, I mean, he's a likable guy, too, which he shouldn't be liked. Like, what is what does he think he's doing? I love watching him play like he's he's really talented. Like he's a he's a big time shooter. And and he makes so many plays driving it, even though he's not the best athlete on the floor. He he makes play and he seems like he's around every loose ball.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I think if Flag were not on the team, we'd be talking about Knipple being one of the two or three best freshmen in the country. That's how good I think he is. And hey, when Flag was out in the ACC tournament, Knipple's MVP of the tournament. And he's got more in him that people perhaps haven't seen because he's blended in around everybody else. That's sort of the best part of that team is they...
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
they blend in to whoever is having their hot night, you know, and they seem genuinely happy for whoever is doing it. It's not like, it's not a me thing, it's a we thing. And that's easy to say, but they kind of personify it on the floor.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Uh, but look, all these teams are capable of winning this thing. Um, usually don't say that when you go to the final four, like I didn't think last year, um, I didn't think anybody was going to be Yukon once they got there, even Purdue, but I didn't think NC state or Alabama could do it. Um, This year, I think each of the four teams has a legitimate shot to walk away with this thing.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Yeah, I haven't really ordered it yet. You know, flag to me is the clear number one. I don't think it's even a discussion point. Earlier in the year, I think when Harper and Bailey were putting highlight reels together, there may have been, hey, do you see what Ace Bailey, like you project him out, he's going to be, he's more athletic, he's more dynamic, all this stuff.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Uh, but I think flags the best prospect and I don't think it's a close call in my mind, but, um, Dylan Harper's really good. And to me, that would be the second, that would be the second pick is I would, I would look to Harper. Um, but there, there are a bunch of talent that you're right on edge comb.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like, I don't know where I need to dig into it more to start thinking about where this draft is going to rank because last year, as you know, was not great. And it was a difficult sell, frankly, when people are talking about it, trying to tell me the number one pick isn't the same every year. It's the same number, but it's not the same type of talent.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And last year we didn't have, and this year we do this year, we've got a number of players. So like, is it ultimately going to compare to like 2003 or something?
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Uh, I'm not willing to say that, but, um, but at least that you're conjuring up different years going, okay, you know, this, this one has some depth and athleticism and real talent of guys that you're going to, Hey, last year, this guy would have been taken number one. Um, there, there are a few of those guys that you would say, Hey Matt, if he was in last year's draft, forget it. Yeah.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
You wouldn't have taken, sorry. You would have taken this guy.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
They have to play well and have things break their way. But there's nobody that I think stands head and shoulders above, even though Duke has played the best since the tournament started.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Yeah, and I think anybody that takes him would value what he can do. And, look, if I've seen it, I can't remember it. I don't remember, you know, middle, third pick and roll with two seven-footers. And Dusty May ran that a lot with those guys. And, you know, you got Vlad Golden rolling down the middle with Danny Wolf handling it. And he's a legit passer.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
He turns it over a little more than you would want, but that's not something that – that can't be overcome. And, uh, but I, I like him a lot. And, uh, and I think he'll be able to, he'll, he'll continue to refine his shooting and he'll be able to play in more space. Like there's just more space in the NBA, um, because most everybody they put on the floor can shoot it.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And in college, that's, you don't see as much of that. That's one of the fun parts to me about watching the NBA is like, man, they make every open shot. You give them an open shot, they make it. In college, you can leave some guys open, and they're not going to make those, certainly as often. I mean, the best players in the NBA came from college, most of them, except for the international guys.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And that's why I wish the college game would be officiated a little more like the NBA and adopt some more of the NBA's rules, because I think it makes for a better game.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Well, I think the game is doing extraordinarily well, given the fact that there's been a leadership void for 100 years now. You know, the NCAA has done a really poor job of building this into a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry, but burying their heads in the sand that the players were never going to ask for their share.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
and that they were always going to be protected by the courts, even though they have been violating federal antitrust law for the last 50 years or so as this business built up. Basically from 1984, when the conference could go out and sell their own media rights. And that was taken away from the NCAA based on that Supreme Court ruling. So what I see, Ryan, is there's a
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
we're in a middle period of where we're ultimately going to be. Like the NCAA used to die on the hill of amateurism. And now the hill they want to die on is employment. So the schools can't pay the players directly, but they can get paid through these collectives and all that stuff. And the coaches will say, let's pay for play. Damn right it is. Like, so what? And you're doing it willingly.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And you can see how much they're worth based upon what you're willing to pay them and put together for them and negotiate with them. I have no sympathy about player movement.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
The NCAA has told us for a million years, these are students to be treated like any other student and no other student is told when they can transfer, where they can go and what extracurricular activities they can participate in at their new school. So why should players be any different? You want to keep your players.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Then come to a collective bargaining agreement with them where you have parameters that both the players and the NCAA can agree upon, or just sign the players to contracts. If you sign a player to a contract paid by the school, you can negotiate whatever contract terms with that player that the parties agree upon.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
So you can say, if I'm recruiting you at Old State U, I can say, hey, Ryan, I think you're going to be a great player for Old State U, a mid-major. We'll sign you to a three-year contract with an option for a four. But there's going to be a clause in there of mandatory class attendance. If you get arrested or if you're charged with a crime, we can terminate.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And there's going to be a buyout in there. And the buyout is going to be X amount. So if you want to leave here, you're going to have to pay this buyout, or wherever you go is going to have to pay it for you. That'll bring some sanity back into this. I mean, it works for the rest of the American business community, and it works for coaches and administrators and others. It'll work for this.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
The solution, if you want to call this a problem, is pretty simple. But the NCAA don't want to do it. What they're doing, what they really want to do is settle this House case that's going to cost them $2.8 billion in past damages, and then a revenue share agreement into the future for the next, I don't know how many years. They haven't seen the final documents yet.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
But they want to take that to Congress and say, you told us to get our House in order. Here it is. We got this settlement. So make this settlement law. Give us the guardrails that we want, which guardrails is a nice way of saying restrictions on players only. And then Kevin Willard can negotiate with Villanova while the team's still playing.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And Will Wade can do the same while McNeese is still playing. But boy, we want clamps down on the players because they're the asset we want to control. I don't think that's right. I think the players are adults. I think they should be able to negotiate at arm's length with their schools. And if you want it to be like the NBA with a salary cap, then collectively bargain for it.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
That's the way American business works. Otherwise, they should be free to do what they want to do. And we can sit and talk about there's no loyalty anymore, no commitment, or nobody wants to go through adversity. Well, and I love Kevin Willard. I have no problem with him making the decision he made. This is America.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
But don't tell me that we can't apply those standards to him and say like we do to players and say, where was his commitment? He signed a contract with Maryland. What about loyalty? What about tampering? Did Villanova tamper with him? I mean, he was negotiating. His agent was negotiating with Villanova while they were playing in the NCAA tournament. So we don't say any of that.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
What about adversity? Nobody wants to go through adversity anymore. His adversity was the university wouldn't let the team stay in New York an extra night. You can't fight through that adversity. Come on, man. Like, you got a better business opportunity. Go ahead, take it. But just don't tell the players they can't. And then you're going to tell Walter Clayton Jr.,
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
uh of florida you're going to tell him like look we valued you a certain way out of high school and you proved you were better than we valued you but you have to stay at iona like you can't leave there and or or under the old rules if you leave there you lose a year of your life you know that's that's an absurd notion and the ncaa knew it and that's why they came up with this transfer portal because there were there were transfer restrictions and only five sports
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Football, men's and women's basketball, baseball and hockey, every other sport you transfer and be eligible right away. But most of the coaches didn't even know that. They just knew it applied in their sport. And the NCAA is getting killed in court when they're fighting over money. So they made the change. And not one game has been delayed. Not one check has not cleared. Ratings are up.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like, how do we explain that? How do we explain that? We said the sky was going to fall. And tournament ratings are the highest they've been. I haven't seen what they were for the elite eight, but they're the highest they've been since 1993. And we just had the highest regular season ratings we've had in seven years.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
So if the sky is falling, why are so many people interested in watching when I used to love it back when Larry Bird stayed at Indiana state for four years and, you know, they never saw him playing, but they liked it. I mean, you know, I love it when people my age say, God, I love watching Larry Bird. Like, come on, man. You didn't see him play until his senior year. Like, stop it.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Yeah, I think it's a combination of the things that you ticked off there because there are so many of these teams that are essentially new. Duke's a new team this year, completely new. And it was really well put together and very thoughtfully put together.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
But I think it's a group of players that, you know, I think John Scheider and staff, they've done a great job schematically of teaching and of what they want to do on both ends of the floor. But the players are receptive to it and they've got high basketball IQs and they've got
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Yeah, I think that's a big part of it is that it's not the way it's always been. And my thing is always when coaches and administrators talk about the values of college athletics and the old, that's not what this is supposed to be about. Like, well, then do it the way you think it's supposed to be done.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Yeah, because we didn't have a choice. And and so when when player when coaches will say, hey, man, when you played, there was loyalty. And I said, but we couldn't go anywhere. So how could you test our loyalty when we couldn't go anywhere? Like we didn't have a choice. And, and, you know, so they'll say, and look, I think it's well-intentioned.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I'll have some old school coaches and friends of mine that'll say, I don't think this is good for the players. And I'm going, okay, well make that case to your players. Like tell them, look, you can leave anytime you want. I don't think it's good if you do that. Here's why I think you should stay. Make the case and let the player decide.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like my thing has always been, they were smart enough to choose you. And after being with you, they want to leave. So they were smart enough to choose you in the first place, but they're too freaking dumb to decide they don't like it anymore and they want to leave. Like, what is that all about? Like, you can make them pitch, hey, man, the grass is not always greener.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Okay, after you're done with that, maybe they want to go somewhere else. And your point about money is really good. Like, money and education and money and love of the game are not mutually exclusive. So I hear from people all the time. We'll be talking about another thing and go, Hey, you wouldn't believe it.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
um they've got like egos that are they've all got egos of really good players which is important like you want guys to think that they can go out and ball out uh individually and collectively but they don't they really don't seem to care who scores on a given in a given game uh and i thought the most to me the most impressive thing about that team was when flag got injured
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
You wouldn't believe what this, this mid major player asked us for the other day, asked us for 2 million. I'm going, okay, well, is he worth 2 million? Hell no. Why are you offended by that? Like if I drove my car into your driveway and said, Hey, I want to sell you my car for $2 million. What would you tell me? I tell you, go off yourself.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And I said, well, I don't think you should say that to the player, but say to the player, here's what we've got available to you. Here's the offer we're willing to make. If you can get $2 million somewhere else, we don't want to stop you from that. And they'll say, well, we don't even know what the market is. You know what the player's worth to you. So make the offer that's worth it to you.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And if there's a counter that's within reason, then you can discuss it. If somebody's asking for this astronomical amount, you know, they're not worth, isn't it just time to move on from that person? Like it's business. It's not that hard. If a coach asks you for an assistant coach is looking at your head coaching position and ask for 10 million a year, You'd say you need to find another job.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
We'll get somebody else and pay him our 2.5. You know, you can figure it out. It's not that hard. They know what all these players are worth to them. They know whom to recruit and whom to give a uniform and who to put in the game when they want to win. They know what they're willing to pay.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Yeah, you're always going to have that. But I've never been a fan of the, let's save the young people from themselves. Like, you know, so we'll allow a player and his family to choose their own doctor, but they can't choose their own representative. Like that's outside their realm of possibility. Like they can't figure that out.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And if all these institutions are so ethical, then what are they worried about? Like make an offer if the player accepts it, deal with it and take them in, take them under your wing. You've got people all over your campus that can help that player once the player gets on campus. So I'll give you an example of kind of what I'm talking about.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
So a couple of years ago, Greg Campy at Oakland University has been there 40 years. Unbelievable guy, great coach. Invites me up to Detroit for a panel discussion. And it was me, Izzo, Tom Izzo, the head coach of Michigan State and Blake Corum. the running back from Michigan. And this was right before their championship season. So it's the April before their title season.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
So at the end of this panel discussion about college athletics and all that stuff, they opened it up for questions. It was at the Detroit Athletic Club, which is magnificent, by the way. But somebody asked Coram, why did you come back for your last year? And Coram's a really smart and thoughtful person. So he responds and says, I know what I'm supposed to say here.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I'm supposed to say that I'm coming back to finish my education, to win a national championship, and to win the Heisman Trophy. He goes, all those things are true. I want to do all those. But he also said, but I've had a, I'm paraphrasing a little bit to try to remember, but I'm also, I've always had an interest in real estate. And with my NIL money, I put together a real estate portfolio.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
you know, that, that ankle injury in the ACC tournament, which, you know, I don't know what you thought of that whole thing, but I was getting asked about, you know, is he going to be okay? And I'm like, sprained his ankle. He's not in a coma, like relax, uh, sprained ankles happen. Um, but yeah, guys step forward into greater roles and it didn't seem to be an issue for anybody.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And I wanted another year to build up that portfolio before I went into the NFL. And Izzo looked at him like he was resurrected from the dead, you know, that some miracle had happened. And he says, you know, there's nobody else like you out there. And I'm going, that's not true.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like he may be on the upper tier of thinkers here, but he's not some unicorn that is financially savvy and everybody else is an idiot. So many of these players now that they're going through, they're allowed to have access to money, are becoming what I would call financially literate at a young age. They're building what can be generational wealth for themselves and their families.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And how is that not a good thing? Will some of them make mistakes and maybe do a deal that doesn't work out in their best interest or make an investment that doesn't work out? Yeah. You know, and somebody would say to me, well, I mean, some of them are just going to blow it. Like, yeah, and they'll wind up exactly where they would have been 10 years ago, which they got nothing.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
So, yeah, maybe they make a mistake. But, you know, you let players drive and some of them are going to get an accident. But most of them do just fine driving. And I look at it very much the same way.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like, what are you talking about? That's like saying the coaches are mercenaries because they'll leave a job and go to another one, you know, like Willard did or, you know, all these others. Come on, man. Like, if you take a player at your school and you want that player to take education seriously, then you make him do it.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And if he doesn't do it, you don't give him a uniform on Saturday or whatever day you're playing. You know, like, start living up to your rhetoric and living up to your values. You know, it's amazing how Purdue is able to have a good season and they don't have a lot of transfers on their team. You know, they do it.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And if we hated this transfer environment so much, there'd be nowhere for these guys to transfer because nobody would take transfers. You know, they do it the old-fashioned way and build their team up. The truth is they want to win. And they're going to do what it takes to win. That's number one. I'm not saying that everybody's compromising their values. They're not.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Now they weren't playing the best of competition. I'll grant that. And I think that's the biggest question mark about Duke is how are they going to react when they get, when they get into a close game? And I think they'll have a close game in the semifinal and or the final, if they're able to get past Houston and how are they going to react to that? Because if you remember back,
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
But this idea that you can't build a team and have camaraderie and loyalty and all that in a short period of time, like Duke's got an entirely new team. Kentucky and Louisville got new coaches, entirely new teams, and built really good cultures in a year. And Rupp Arena was filled every game. And so was the YUM Center at Louisville.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
So all these people who they said were going to turn away are not only not turning away, they're turning toward it. This is an entertainment business. It just has another purpose involved with it. And both those things are good things and can be accomplished at the same time.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Neither can I. I think it's going to be fantastic. It's different than we've had in the past. First time since 2008, we've had four number one seeds. But, you know, the people losing, you know, hair on fire over Cinderella's dead. Cinderella was here last year and the year before. It'll be here next year. But it didn't have its best year this year. It's just one year. We agree. Jay Billis.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
to like 1991 when, you know, Duke played UNLV in the semifinal year before UNLV had beaten Duke by 30. I was a graduate assistant coach on that team. And the, one of the things that coach K emphasized to the team is, Hey, if we're in the game at the end, they don't live in close games. And we do, they won't know how to act. And we, we do. And that was a kind of a force multiplier.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Okay.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I think for, for the guys, when we were in a close game, like, Hey, wait, wait a minute. You know, it was a confidence building thing. You know, how will they react in a close game? That's the only thing we really don't know because they haven't had a close game in a long, long time.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
That's going to be the issue. LJ Cryer is a bucket getter. He was the first guy really in NCAA history to score 30 points in an NCAA tournament game for two different teams. He did it for Baylor and for Houston. He can go get his own when he needs to, but is he going to be able to do it with Cian James on him that's got length and size or Tyrese Proctor?
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I mean, Duke switches a lot, but you're right on the Alabama thing. I think Duke recognized, at least what I believe, the kind of team Alabama is. They're not a three-point shooting team. They're a driving team. They protected the paint, and that took away a lot of their kick-out threes.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
If you don't give them offensive rebounds where they kick it out and get step-in threes, you can really limit their three-point attack. Part of what Duke does is they control the tempo on the offensive end. They'll take transition when they have it, but they're very efficient in the half court. They use the clock, and they make you guard.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And, uh, and as a result, uh, they can, they can really disrupt you. Their offense, I guess what I'm trying to say in a crappy way is their offense helps their defense. Uh, and so they're not putting themselves in a lot of transition situations, um, with their offense.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
They have everything. And I thought going into the tournament, nobody's playing better than them. Now, part of that was probably discounting Duke a little bit because Flagg was injured through the ACC tournament and all that. And so you didn't get to see him at full strength. But I saw courtside Florida at full strength.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And the way they played toward the end of the year, middle of the year on, I didn't think anybody's playing better than them. I thought they were the best team. And, you know, right now Duke's playing the best Duke's playing better than they are now. Is that going to continue next week?
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I mean, I don't know when hot streaks begin and when they end and all that stuff, but your point on Clayton, like he's a bucket getter and he's, he's one of the few guys remaining that if an offense breaks down, he can just take it on himself and go find you a basket. And like, you're right. So he was a football, basically a hot shot football recruit coming out of high school.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
and wasn't really recruited for basketball. So he goes to Iowa and plays for Patino, played in the NCAA tournament against UConn. They got beat, and then he transfers to Florida. And he was almost this good last year offensively. But he's a way better defender now. Their whole team has taken a leap from being in the 90s in defensive efficiency to being top 10.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like your point about the four teams, all four teams in the Final Four are ranked in the top 10 in both offense and defense, which is really unusual to have that many teams that can do that. But I think Florida, with their size, their offensive rebounding, their big guys are skilled. And they're they're physical and tough.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
They're they're going to be if Duke played them, that would, I think, be probably the toughest matchup for both that they would see all year.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
I don't know if it was fluky. They didn't have Elijah Martin. So I did that game with Dan Schulman. And going into the game, we were thinking, God, I hope Florida is going to be competitive in this one without Martin. And he had like a hip thing going on, if I remember right, because it's been over a month. Um, and then they wind up, I think Florida got down early.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
They were down like nine or something and they wind up winning. They dribbled out the clock. They like one by nine or 10, whatever the score was. And I remember going, man, these guys are legit. Uh, Denzel Aberdeen steps up off the bench and, uh, urban club char their Serbian guard or excuse me, Slovenian guard. he can really shoot it. And he's a good handler, good passer.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
It is great to see you, Ryan, and quite a flex with the Pacific Ocean crashing on the beach right behind you. I'm very jealous.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
He's not a great defender, but that's the only knock you can have on him. But their big guys are, are tough to deal with. You know, they're like this, the way they seal off help. If you drive, they'll basically seal off a shot blocker and they do it better than any team I've seen other teams do it, but they don't do it as well as Florida does.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
So look, they've got, they've got everything you need to win. But so do the other three teams. That's sort of the challenge of this thing is I think both the semifinal games have a bit of a coin flip feel to them. But I do like the fact that like for Auburn, I think having been beaten by them at home gives them an edge in prep, not in play.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Like, I don't think that stuff matters once a game starts. I think it matters in your preparation, your mindset, all that stuff. I think that's really helpful. in that week, in the days leading up to the Final Four. And Houston has something similar because they lost to Duke last year and they felt like they were better. And this is kind of their opportunity to prove it and prove it on this stage.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
And it's obviously another step on the way to a championship, but having that extra edge, I think, has helped them.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Yeah, no, I agree with that. And look, they're really capable. They're four guards, Pettiford among them. They can all really shoot it. I think they, they shoot close to 40% as a group and they shoot over 88% from the foul line as a group. And even though overall, that's not a good free throw shooting team.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
If you get the ball in the hands of your guards at the end of the game, that's a separating factor. But Pettiford reminds me a little bit, they're different players, but like Rob Dillingham at Kentucky, because both those guys are conscience-free bucket getters. And, uh, but Pettiford's a better handler. Um, I think he's stronger and he's, he's more of a point guard so he can run a team.
The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Jay Bilas Talks Final Four, Flagg Vs. Zion, Early NBA Draft Thoughts, and the Future of College Hoops
Uh, and he's a, he's a pretty good passer. Um, you know, I think he defends. Okay. Like that's not his strength, but he's certainly improved there and he's reliable. Like you don't have to worry about him. Uh, when he's out there, he he's got,