The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Bracket Preview, Upsets, and Final Four Picks with Stanford Steve
18 Mar 2025
Russillo welcomes Stanford Steve to break down what makes Duke and Florida so good, discuss which teams are primed for an upset, and share who they think will make it to the Final Four (0:46). Plus, Life Advice with Ceruti and Kyle (58:18)! What is pickup basketball? Check us out on YouTube for exclusive clips, livestreams, and more at https://www.youtube.com/@RyenRussilloPodcast. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Ryen Russillo Guest: Stanford Steve Producers: Steve Ceruti, Kyle Crichton, Mike Wargon, and Jonathan Frias Get Game Day Deals only on Uber Eats. Order Now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Full Episode
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We get you ready for the brackets and everything you're trying to figure out before the NCAA tournament with our guy Stanford Steve. He is all over this stuff all season long. So we'll talk about Florida being maybe everybody's favorite. Obviously, a lot of chalk in the bracket stuff, which actually makes a lot of sense when you look at the power of the top four, maybe even five teams.
We'll talk about the SEC bids and what this means for them. We'll get to the Johnnies, of course. So he's got a wild Final Four. We even try to find some upsets for you. So a lot of fun. One hour with Stanford Steve on the tournament. And a bonus extended life advice. The brackets are out, and we are fired up to talk to Stanford Steve of ESPN, former road partner. He loves the tournament.
He's all over this stuff, so we're just going to run through all of it. What's up, man? Good morning. Good to see you. Good morning. Good afternoon. I don't know where anybody is. First time seeing Wargon. Pleasure to meet you, bud. It's Rudy. I see the scarves. Oh, nice. So, yeah, that place looks familiar. Wish I could get out there more, my man.
Hey, man. Invitation's always here. I know. I've got some historical stuff here. You're all over it. I'm not going to pretend I'm a fraud here and say I've been locked in all season. But I did watch a lot of the conference tournament stuff. I was really into it. And then we were texting a bunch about a bunch of different things and obviously kind of locked into the Johnnies as well. All right.
So if you look at the best number one seed field that we've seen historically in a really long time, you could even argue, I mean, depending on the tracking data of this, The combined net rating of these teams is off the charts. You have five teams with a plus 30 net rating. You know, look, and that's including Tennessee in the 4-1 seed. So why? Look, you were texting me about Florida.
Now everybody loves Florida. Everybody's picking Florida. I'm picking Florida, too. Why Florida? Let's start there.
The depth, the wow factor, the multiple guys that can make tough shots and big shots, an absolute game changer at the point guard's position, which I feel you have to have now. When you look at the different styles, Ryan, you're playing. Houston comes to the Big 12, which I think is one of the toughest, if not was the toughest league in the country. And Kelvin goes like 34-2 in two years.
And they bring their own brand and they're able to play it. But with Florida, I just – everyone's on the same page, but it's constant different flow of bodies. And, you know, in the Alabama game, it really showed up. Like, they had their way. Alabama had senior night a couple weeks ago. Florida just went in there and ran them. And Scott and I, you know, we watch as much as anybody.
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