Eye On College Basketball

Latest Episodes:

Michigan moves into top tier; Duke, Kentucky, Kansas all take different kinds of losses; NCAA kicks the can on NIL (College Basketball 01/13) Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

Michigan's powerful home win over Wisconsin on Tuesday night was so convincing, it's got us thinking that this is the best team in the Big Ten. The guys open on that, then get to Duke, Kentucky and Kansas (15:15) all losing, with thoughts on each of those games and why each loss was different. Also, on Monday, significant NCAA news came down when the D-I Council opted against recommending a vote on NIL rules and transfer rulers (35:30). Norlander provides a rundown on why, while Parrish levies an accurate attack against the NCAA over the stall on immediate eligibility for transfers.

Texas' Andrew Jones is the top story of the weekend; Gonzaga/Baylor vs. the field; loaded listener mailbag (College Basketball 01/10) Jan 11, 2021

Show notes

The weekend wrap-up edition opens with Texas' last-second win at West Virginia, punctuated by Andrew Jones hitting the winning shot three years to the day from when his teammates found out he had leukemia. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander then ask: Gonzaga and Baylor (12:15) or the field to win the 2021 NCAA Tournament? Then it's our usual Sunday night whiparound (25:00) wherein we touch on Kentucky, Alabama USC, Michigan State, Rutgers, UConn, Iowa and more. And then it's our biggest listener mailbag segment yet (43:00), with plenty of wonderful reviews and Qs to get to. Keep 'em coming! And here's Norlander's takeaways piece from the weekend, if you'd like to read while you listen:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-scores-weekend-takeaways-andrew-jones-huge-shot-iowa-avenges-loss-kentuckys-revival/

Illinois' Hulk-like second-half destruction of Northwestern; 13-0 Drake; weekend picks and preview (College Basketball 01/08) Jan 08, 2021

Show notes

What Illinois pulled off Thursday night against Northwestern was among the most unlikely second-half performances in college hoops history. We start there, then get to the other Big Ten scores from Thursday (11:00), in addition to general talk on the league and how a few teams are facing urgent games this weekend. This week, Norlander wrote up a story on 13-0 Drake (you can read it here), and that discussion starts about at the 19-minute mark. There’s a completely ridiculous tangent about an extinct animal embedded in the segment, but eventually the guys make their way to the Final Four + 1 (35:00), picking five games along with Norlander’s tour around the weekend of the other matchups to keep an eye on.

UConn's first season in Big East going well; details on NCAA Tournament in Indiana; high-profile transfers (College Basketball 01/06) Jan 06, 2021

Show notes

It's been a while since we've led a pod with the UConn Huskies, but after that huge comeback road win at Marquette, it's where we start. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander then get to the confirmation of the NCAA Tournament securing six venues in and around Indianapolis (16:45) for the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Norlander has more details, including a look at a potential schedule for the Dance. Off-the-court news this week (36:00) with WVU's Oscar Tshiebwe and Houston's Caleb Mills both transferring out of their programs. The pod wraps around the 44-minute mark with what to watch for Wednesday and Thursday night in college hoops.

Texas blasts Kansas, Kentucky plot twist, teams that helped themselves the most this weekend, listener mailbag (College Basketball 01/03) Jan 04, 2021

Show notes

We hope you got a lot of hoops watching in this weekend. The show opens with some … Leaky Black! Then moves to Texas’ 25-point win at Kansas and Kentucky’s season mayyyybe (18:45) getting saved by Dontaie Allen. The guys do a 20-minute whiparound at the 32-minute mark with the notable results from this weekend, touching on nearly 10 scores of note. The pod wraps (52:00) with some reader reviews. We love them — keep sending, and be sure to include some questions to spice it up going forward.

Unbeaten Michigan and Tennessee state their cases as the top teams in their leagues; previewing a LOADED Saturday slate (College Basketball 01/01) Jan 01, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to 2021! Here’s our reward: a fabulously loaded Saturday, from noon until nearly midnight, of compelling college basketball games. Before Norlander and Parrish get to the Final Four + 1 picks and previews, they open with undefeated Michigan, then get to undefeated Tennessee (13:45). Also, Friday morning brought bad news for West Virginia (20:00): Oscar Tshiebwe has left the team, putting WVU’s Final Four aspirations in doubt. The stuffed weekend preview starts around the 24-minute mark.

Yes or no: Michigan State makes the 2021 NCAA Tournament; Arizona's postseason ban; a look back on the best and worst of 2020 (College Basketball 12/30) Dec 30, 2020

Show notes

Happy New Year’s Eve eve! We open this ep by talking Michigan State and whether it misses making the NCAA Tournament in 2021. Then GP and Norlander discuss Arizona (14:30) removing itself from the 2021 postseason and whether this plan should or could backfire on the Wildcats. At the 28-minute mark, Parrish’s podcast betrayal before discussing the games to know for Thursday night, New Year’s Eve (32:00), led by Minnesota-Wisconsin. And given this is the final episode of 2020, we have to wrap by looking back on the year. Norlander has the five biggest college hoops stories of the past 12 months, and there’s even a call to our listeners: send and share your favorite podcast moments from 2020, too. Because Parrish remembers almost none of them. Stay safe, stay happy, we wish you all a great start in 2021.

Northwestern atop the Big Ten; will the league get 10 tourney bids? And: Why Gonzaga going undefeated is now realistic (College Basketball 12/27) Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

Northwestern is 6-1 with a 3-0 record in the Big Ten. Yes, we are opening the podcast talking NORTHWESTERN. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander also discuss the Big Ten (10:00) and evaluate the league’s chances of sending at least 10 teams to the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Then it’s Gonzaga (19:30) and the likelihood it runs the regular-season table, but also why this would be a very good thing for college basketball (the convincing case made therein). The duo unexpected gets into a discussion about Seinfeld and VCRs, but Norlander steers it back on track by looking ahead to the games to know for Monday and Tuesday (42:15) before the pod wraps with some entertaining shoutouts to the listeners who left notable reviews (57:00) — so be sure to leave yours if you want some love on a future pod.

Merry Christmas, everybody! We talk Indiana, preview a great holiday slate and touch on our favorite Christmas go-tos (College Basketball 12/24) Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

Merry Christmas, everyone, and happy holidays. Our Christmas Eve episode brings a lot of basketball and holiday cheer. We open with Indiana, then get to notable results from Wednesday (12:00) before moving on to discussing the Big Ten opting to play games on Christmas (21:00) and making our picks in the Final Four + 1 (29:00). The pod wraps with some Christmas chatter, like favorite holiday songs, family traditions (good or bad) and what are the top five days of the year? What's better: Christmas Eve of the first Thursday of the NCAA Tournament? Enjoy, we wish you and yours a safe, happy, grateful holiday.

UNC's fatal flaw; everyone underrated Kansas; Kentucky's ongoing drama, Festivus grievances! (College Basketball 12/23) Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

North Carolina lost at NC State on Tuesday night, bringing to light an unfortunate possibility: the 14-19 team last season might mean UNC struggles to make the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The guys also touch on Kansas (12:15) and its runaway home win over West Virginia. Looks like everyone underestimated KU heading into the season. As for Kentucky (20:30), the news gets worse as John Calipari takes the unusual action of publicly criticizing a player -- and asking him to temporarily step away from the team. On Tuesday, more great Keyontae Johnson news (35:30), as the Florida star left the hospital. The pod wraps with some quick holiday talk, focusing in on Festivus and few airing of grievances.

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