The Ryen Russillo Podcast
Bracket Preview, Upsets, and Final Four Picks with Stanford Steve
Tue, 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
Chapter 1: What teams are top picks for the Final Four?
We got eight screens at TV. We got – at work, I'd say probably five are on college and three are on the NBA, you know, on a nightly basis. So we're pretty locked in. But Florida – You know, probably the beginning of February, you know, Auburn had was accumulating all these quad one wins.
But Florida just went there and beat their brains in like at Florida's gym, which has turned into the new toughest place to play in the country. But I just love how they go about things. There was a great interview that Jeff Goodman did with the trio of guards in the ice tub after the semifinals. And there's no ego there.
You could tell they brought up, like, everyone talks about the, you know, Auburn and the top teams all season because they had better starts to the year, where I think Florida was still figuring things out. But, I mean, they got, I mean, transfers. I mean, Condon's a guy, you watch their bigs run the floor. He's from Australia. The kid Hawk was huge against Tennessee with rebounds late.
We've talked about Clayton. Elijah's a transfer from FAU. He has Final Four experience. So they just have everything. There's really – it's really – and that's tough to do in college basketball because the way its rosters are constructed, you could tell – Coaches make mistakes and I keep like basketball.
It's even shown up even more of what coach Saban said from week one, this past year, college football, you paid a wrong guy, you're out of luck. And Florida definitely got their guys the right way. So yeah, them they're the wow factor and what they just did in this tournament.
Like you just went through all the net numbers and the quad one, like all that sec, they won every game by double digits, right? Like, it was nuts. So, yeah, it's impressive a team, as I've seen coming into the tournament in a while. I mean, UConn, obviously, last year. But you still had that if factor because of Big East. I think they only got three or four in last year.
So there was that, can they, you know, when they get tested, how are they going to react? They did fine. But, yeah, Florida doing what they did. I kind of think they got screwed with the bracket because they have the toughest region for sure.
Yeah, if you look at the adjusted ratings here for teams, the West region has more of the top 12. They have St. John's on the other side. Again, we're going to spend time with that. Texas Tech. And then, of course, my favorite nickname, the Crab Five in Maryland with this. Yeah. Look, when I watched them go through Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee, I think the Clayton Jr.
game against Alabama was the one thing where you're like, this guy's just smart about everything. His pace is really good. He's just very in control. Everything seems to be right with him. And it's funny because Patina was talking about trying to keep him with him at St. John's because he had him at Iona. And I think he had said on game day, he's like, we offered him $1,100. $1,100 bucks.
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Chapter 2: Why is Florida generating so much buzz?
Mary's and they got to dictate to their tempo. So if he can't speed up, St. Mary's, I don't think you can speed up Houston, where Gonzaga's dangerous, for sure. But I think that's a good, I think all the ones really are better off to get tested in that second round. But all the teams in the middle, it feels like that's where everybody's picking upsets. But I don't see it.
Everyone's picking High Point against Purdue. High Point hasn't played a quad one game in two years. Purdue, Painter's a great coach. McNeese, I watch him. Will Wade, I get it. I think they were better last year. Clemson has men. They lost Dylan Hunter. That's a huge injury as far as another ball handler, which you want against McNeese. But I still think Clemson has enough. Illinois, you can have.
But they'll probably make a run because I said that. But they have zero. Zero interest in playing defense. Zero.
I would say, like, just... Jumping in late to the scene as far as the momentum or lack thereof, it's like everybody just kind of hates Illinois right now. Well, it's crazy.
Their point differential in wins, Ryan, is 15. Their point differential in losses is 15. Like, there you go right there. You never know what you're going to get. But there is a path for them because Texas and Xavier aren't great. Trey is really, really good. Yeah. I don't know if he's, yeah, he's probably the best player in that game when they play. And then Kentucky, I absolutely love.
They're one of my favorite teams to watch what Pope has done offensively and piecing together a roster, a bunch of kids from all over. But if they don't have Butler, they're in trouble, point guard position. Because, again, he is the ultimate guy that stops the ball for them because they're not good defensively. And they beat Tennessee twice, which makes no sense.
And then, you know, going at UCLA, Utah State, I don't love. So... Knowing what I'm going to get with Tennessee, and I believe it's different and it's better offensively, I like Tennessee's spot and I like their draw. And I'm also rooting for Rick Barnes because I really – I mean, the road he's done and paved I think is great. And I love the way Tennessee plays.
I mean, their strength coach too, whoever that is, that guy deserves raises because they have chiseled guys nonstop year after year. It's crazy to see.
All right, let's talk Johnny's here. I hate that they're on the Florida side of things. You and I have been texting about them a lot, and it's been a team that I've enjoyed for the first time in a really long time, at least having expectations for this team. It was funny because it still felt like the voters were late on it. They weren't really sure. We know how bad they are shooting the three.
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Chapter 3: What upsets should we watch for in the tournament?
Oh, 250 bench. I was trying to short this guy. Squat, 275, deadlift, 350, player comp, Terry Rozier. Not so long ago, I was considered a decent player. In recent years, though, it feels like one of the Monstars has taken my abilities. Unlike Scary Terry, though, I'm actually still trying to be good. I'm just not anymore. Terry Rozier, not a great pickup for the Heat.
That one did not quite work out. Heat culture, by the way.
Tough stretch here for Heat culture.
Yeah, but he doesn't fit in. That's the thing is maybe he's not accepting of heat culture.
No, I think it goes beyond him.
But Davion Mitchell seems to accept heat culture. So look, we don't make you can do whatever you want. I mean, everybody's voice is important here, but I. I said after that 23 run that I just don't know that I can make fun of heat culture anymore. But I do think that like in a vacuum, even Miami people would be like they put culture on the jersey. Yeah. But again, I'm going to refrain.
Feels like you got the shark there. Yeah.
Yeah. It's an Aussie. The concept of pickup basketball is foreign to me. I don't think we have it down under. The closest equivalent here would probably be various local leagues we have in the suburbs. of Melbourne. These are organized competitions, however, with refs, uniforms, game fees, game schedules, stats recorded, etc.
I've played basketball for over 20 years, and I think I have a superficial understanding of pickup. Please help your international audience understand it a bit better. San Sebastian, they just play pickup, so I don't know. Maybe it's where you are.
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