Howard Bryant

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That's a great question. You're talking about one team, UConn, that's won the thing 11 times at Genie Ariyama. Then you're talking about Don Staley in South Carolina. They're the defending champions. So tough to say who's got the edge. I think that I'm, you know, Scott, we've been doing this for a long time. You're always, you're the champion until somebody beats you.

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598.353

So even though UConn looked phenomenal, even though I think they've got the best player in the country in Paige Becker's, and they look like they are absolutely ready to finally do something that Paige hasn't done, which is to win the championship. She's been in the Final Four almost her entire career, other than the 2023 knee injury, but she's so close. You want to climb that mountain.

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622.343

Now is the time to do it. But at the same time, you're going up against a championship team that has looked beatable, but here they are again. South Carolina's champion for a reason.

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648.047

Yeah, well, it's interesting because the last time it happened... And the only other time it happened was in 2008 in San Antonio, and here we are again in San Antonio. But you've got great teams. I think that these... They are the four best teams. They've all been sort of trading being number one or very close to it. I didn't think Auburn was going to get there. They...

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669.048

Because they can be so erratic. But they've all played close games. They've all won blowouts as well. They all play defense. I think Houston's the one whose offense isn't as good as the other ones. I mean, Duke has got Cooper Flagg, who you're probably going to see him in the NBA in about six months. And so... Every team here has a reason why they can win.

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692.469

You look at even a team like Florida that nobody thought was as good as they are. Good team. They haven't, you know, they lost one game since February 1st. So everybody's great. They all play similar styles. Then you've got the superstar with Cooper Flagg and Duke, but they're the youngest team. So here we go.

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729.328

And broke his leg this year, by the way. Right, I'd forgotten that. And broke his leg in November. Incredible. And I think this is one of those records, Scott. You're not supposed to break Wayne Gretzky's record. And to have done it in one, and to tie it in one fewer game is sort of also amazing.

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747.295

And I think that when you look at Ovi, the scoring, the goals, the ferocity, the way he plays the game, there is so much to love about what he's done. I think the amazing thing is obviously this is one of those records that you just never, you never expected anyone when Gretzky broke Gordie Howe's record at 8.01 back in 31.

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767.478

Years ago, you didn't think anybody was going to get to 894, and here we are. And if he wants to, because he's still playing so well, he could score 950. He could score 1,000 goals if he wants to keep going. But it's fascinating to see it happen, to witness one of the all-time great records go. And I think the thing that I really sort of enjoy about it as well is that this is also what it takes.