Tradition's Finest Episode 125 - The "Dickie V" Episode

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 125 - The "Dickie V" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: "It's March, baby, with a Capital "M!" In this initial segment, JD & Spencer will discuss and provide a detailed analysis of a few of the most notable NCAA college basketball games from across the country from the previous week, and they will also acknowledge and/or mention the most buzzworthy storylines across Division I hoops. few of the more notable College Basketball games from across the country over the previous week, as well as to dive into any of the buzzworthy storylines surrounding the league. The following games are discussed in further detail in this week's episode: Friday, Feb. 27: No.21 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Western Michigan (WMU) Broncos. . . "The Race to 31-OH:" The RedHawks are chasing history with just two game(s) remaining as it attempts to finish the NCAA College Basketball regular season with an unblemished record of 31-0 - - Miami (OH) entered the week with an overall NET ranking in the 50s, while its' other metrics are not as favorable at the same juncture. . .Unfortunately for HC Travis Steele's squad, the ugly truth is this: If the RedHawks were to slip up and drop one of their remaining games during the regular season or lose in the MAC Conference Tournament next week, it could potentially be a "back-breaker" for the program - or, in other words, a loss could ruin the RedHawks' shot to secure it's first "at-large" berth into the NCAA College Basketball Tournament since 2007. . .Remaining Schedule: Miami (OH) vs. Toledo (H)    3/3 Miami (OH) at Ohio (A)      3/7 Q: Following the gutsy performance that led to a last-second win over WMU last Friday evening, do you feel even more confident in this team's ability to pull off a "perfect" 31-0 regular season?. . . No.3 Michigan Wolverines at No.10 Illinois Fighting Illini - - **NOTE: The Wolverines won their first outright Big Ten Conference regular-season title since 2014, and ironically, when they also clinched with a road victory over the Fighting Illini. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dusty May's Michigan squad right now? Do the Wolverines possess the necessary type of roster capable of winning a national championship this season?. . . Saturday, Feb. 28: No.20 Arkansas Razorbacks at No.7 Florida Gators - - The Gators took down the Razorbacks in a 34-point romp, which tied for the worst loss of Arkansas HC John Calipari's career, a 34-point loss against the Duke Blue Devils in 2018 while he was the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats - - **NOTE: Florida has won six (6) in a row against ranked opponents, and on average, scored at least 90 points in each of those ranked-on-ranked matchups, which is the second-longest streak in college basketball history (i.e., streak is shared with the 1989-90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels and Loyola-Marymount (LMU) Lions). . .Q: Do the Florida Gators have what it takes to repeat as back-to-back national champions this year?. . . No.17 Alabama Crimson Tide at No.22 Tennessee Volunteers - - Alabama accomplished a feat on Saturday that they haven't experienced since 2021: pulling off an epic comeback win in Knoxville, as the Crimson Tide won its eighth consecutive game of the regular season. . .Q: Where do you stand on this Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team as it enters the month of March? What are a few NCAA Tournament pro's & con's of HC Nate Oats' squad?. . . Monday, Mar. 2: No.6 Iowa State Cyclones at No.2 Arizona Wildcats - - The Wildcats secured at least a share of the Big Ten Conference crown with the victory over the Cyclones, as Arizona earned it outright by smothering Iowa State defensively to give HC Tommy Lloyd his 140th victory, the most in NCAA history in a coach's first five (5) seasons. . .Q: What makes this Arizona squad so dangerous as we draw closer to the 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . . -"An Abrupt Exit:" Nearly a year after helping the Auburn Tigers reach the Final Four, forward Chad Baker-Mazara is no longer a member of the USC men's basketball program, the team announced on Sunday - - Baker-Mazara, 26, was the team's second-leading scorer, and started in 22 of their 26 games played, for the struggling Trojans this season, including a 14-point effort in an 82-67 loss to No.12 Nebraska on Saturday, as USC has now lost five (5) games in a row, and is playing its way out of NCAA Tournament contention - - Baker-Mazara left Saturday's home loss to the Cornhuskers early in the second half following a hard fall after he blocked a shot from Pryce Sandfort - - Baker-Mazara told Trojans HC Eric Musselman that he couldn't go back (or re-enter) the game, then sat near injured USC star Rodney Rice in an area with fans in the stands, rather than on the bench with the rest of the team - - Following Saturday's loss, the second-year HC, Musselman was asked about Baker-Mazara's potential ...