Jon Rothstein

And when everything is equal on a neutral court – and, Cat, I know you know this because you know the Big Ten so well – Illinois has Final Four talent when things are clicking. Yeah. with Yakuchonas, with Ivasich. There's obviously great role players and ancillary pieces around those guys with Boswell. Will Riley, I talked to Brad Underwood last week.

He loves the way Will Riley has been playing the last couple of weeks. And this is the thing, too, you've got to like when you're looking at Illinois.

He loves the way Will Riley has been playing the last couple of weeks. And this is the thing, too, you've got to like when you're looking at Illinois.

He loves the way Will Riley has been playing the last couple of weeks. And this is the thing, too, you've got to like when you're looking at Illinois.

Because of Ivasich's ability to stretch things from the five spot, it's very difficult, and this is what killed Arkansas in that game on Thanksgiving, it's very difficult to play a traditional five man against them because they can extend the defense so much with Ivasich. He reminds me a lot, this is a throwback comparison, he reminds me a lot of Rafe LaFrance. Ooh, I like that, Kansas.

Because of Ivasich's ability to stretch things from the five spot, it's very difficult, and this is what killed Arkansas in that game on Thanksgiving, it's very difficult to play a traditional five man against them because they can extend the defense so much with Ivasich. He reminds me a lot, this is a throwback comparison, he reminds me a lot of Rafe LaFrance. Ooh, I like that, Kansas.

Because of Ivasich's ability to stretch things from the five spot, it's very difficult, and this is what killed Arkansas in that game on Thanksgiving, it's very difficult to play a traditional five man against them because they can extend the defense so much with Ivasich. He reminds me a lot, this is a throwback comparison, he reminds me a lot of Rafe LaFrance. Ooh, I like that, Kansas.

So much Rafe LaFrance and Tomislav Ivasich.

So much Rafe LaFrance and Tomislav Ivasich.

So much Rafe LaFrance and Tomislav Ivasich.

It's good. It's great. And you bring up a great point because a potential Illinois-Kentucky game in the round of 32 would be like a regional final. But guys, I've always felt that the round of 32 is the most intriguing round of the NCAA tournament because you are going to get, in some cases, the dreamer having a chance to dream the dream for another week. Yeah.

It's good. It's great. And you bring up a great point because a potential Illinois-Kentucky game in the round of 32 would be like a regional final. But guys, I've always felt that the round of 32 is the most intriguing round of the NCAA tournament because you are going to get, in some cases, the dreamer having a chance to dream the dream for another week. Yeah.

It's good. It's great. And you bring up a great point because a potential Illinois-Kentucky game in the round of 32 would be like a regional final. But guys, I've always felt that the round of 32 is the most intriguing round of the NCAA tournament because you are going to get, in some cases, the dreamer having a chance to dream the dream for another week. Yeah.

or you are going to get a massive showdown of powerful programs. Look, we could have in the region of toughness, you could have Houston-Gonzaga, Purdue-Clemson, Illinois-Kentucky, or Xavier against Kentucky, and then UCLA against Tennessee. If we saw any one of those matchups in an Elite Eight or a Final Four, we'd probably take it. Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

or you are going to get a massive showdown of powerful programs. Look, we could have in the region of toughness, you could have Houston-Gonzaga, Purdue-Clemson, Illinois-Kentucky, or Xavier against Kentucky, and then UCLA against Tennessee. If we saw any one of those matchups in an Elite Eight or a Final Four, we'd probably take it. Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

or you are going to get a massive showdown of powerful programs. Look, we could have in the region of toughness, you could have Houston-Gonzaga, Purdue-Clemson, Illinois-Kentucky, or Xavier against Kentucky, and then UCLA against Tennessee. If we saw any one of those matchups in an Elite Eight or a Final Four, we'd probably take it. Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

How deep do you want to go? Do you want power conference names, or do you want me to get really in the weeds here?

How deep do you want to go? Do you want power conference names, or do you want me to get really in the weeds here?

How deep do you want to go? Do you want power conference names, or do you want me to get really in the weeds here?

Okay, let's go right up right now to the top left, the region of depth. Donovan Dent from New Mexico is one of the great point guards in college basketball. That is somebody you want to put on your radar for sure. Ole Miss has a couple of players. Sean Padula, a terrific veteran point guard who transferred from Virginia Tech. Also, John Poulakidis, I told you, from Yale.