Here’s what went down today on G&A…
* Abbreviated edition following the D-Backs’ Opening Day win over the Reds in the ‘Nati.
*G&A were impressed by how the D-Backs’ hitters attacked Aaron Harang. The guys agree the sky-is-the-limit for Chris Young. Gambo believes this team will hit plenty of homers in ’08.
* The Final Four is set and for the first time in tourney history, four #1 seeds will be playing this weekend in San Antonio. G&A broke down the match-ups. Both like Memphis to beat UCLA.
* North Carolina head coach Roy Williams checked in. He discussed coaching against his former team Saturday (Kansas) and the greatness of Tar Heel junior big man Tyler Hansbrough.
* We were also joined in-studio by our March Madness Insider Bill Frieder.
* The Lopez twins (or Lopez sisters as the ASU student section calls them) are both declaring for the NBA. G&A agree this makes sense for Brook, but not Robin, who could use another year or two in Trent Johnson’s system at Stanford.
Tomorrow: ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian
Here’s what went down today on G&A
* Short show this afternoon before Suns-Sixers basketball from the arena formerly known as The Spectrum in Philly.
* G&A caught up with UA prized hoops’ recruit Brandon Jennings. The Oak Hill Academy senior point guard averaged 35 points a game this past season and is widely considered the top prep player in the country. Jennings told Gambo & Ash that Jarryd Bayless will return for his sophomore season in Tucson. He also said he expects Chase Budinger to come back for his junior year. Still no word out of Bayless’ camp or from the UA, stay tuned.
* Gambo thinks current sophomore point guard Nic Wise might opt to transfer with the super-talented Jennings set to hit campus this fall. Another option would be to redshirt and wait for Jennings to skip to the NBA after his freshman year as expected. Both agree the possible return of Bayless and a blue-chip recruiting class could have Lute Olson’s ‘Cats right back in the mix for a Pac-10 title and deep run in the tourney next spring.
* Our March Madness Insider Bill Frieder broke down last night’s Sweet 16 games including North Carolina’s march towards San Antonio and UCLA’s squeaker over gritty Western Kentucky; he also previewed tonight’s Sweet 16 match-ups in Detroit and Houston.
Brandon Jennings [10:25m]:
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Here’s what went down today on G&A
* The Suns are officially on a losing streak following last night’s Boston Massacre in Beantown. Ash wonders if the Suns are complaining too much to the refs and if that’s serving as a distraction from their main focus on the court-the other team. Gambo thinks the Suns are getting less calls with Shaq on the floor because the refs don’t know how to call a game with The Diesel in the paint. Both agree the Suns are now viewed as “less likeable” around the country following the trade for The Daddy. The current winless road trip continues tomorrow in Philly against the surging Sixers.
* ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler shared his thoughts on the suddenly slumping Suns. Legs thinks Mike D’Antoni’s team could be vulnerable to a first round play-off exit. He also thinks the Dirk-less Mavs are going to have a tough time making the post-season with Jason Kidd struggling at the point and a monster schedule ahead.
* Western Kentucky is in The Sweet 16. We were joined by former coach John Oldham who led the Hilltoppers to a 146-41 record from 1964-71. Oldham was instrumental in integrating African-American players when other schools frowned upon this. G&A discussed how ground-breaking this was and how it changed and shaped the way we watch college basketball today.
* Sports 620 KTAR reporter and all-around good guy Johnny V. checked in from US Airways Center moments before West Virginia and Xavier tipped off in The Sweet 16.
* Some young kids are now choosing bare-knuckle fighting instead of traditional youth sports like soccer and baseball. Gambo thinks this is a little extreme for seven and eight year-olds. Ash is ok with it to a certain extent, but wouldn’t want his son doing it. We took calls and most were split on the issue.
* We were also joined by former ASU head football coach Bruce Snyder. Snyder recruited and coached the late Pat Tillman at ASU. The Tillman run is set for Saturday, April 19th in Tempe.
ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler [14:01m]:
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Former WKU coach John Oldham [16:39m]:
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Former ASU football coach Bruce Snyder [13:21m]:
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Here’s what went down today on G&A…
*Short show before Suns-Celtics basketball from some place called the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.
*ASU’s season came to a sudden end last night at the hands of the defending champion Florida Gators in the NIT quarterfinals. G&A applaud Herb Sendek for making ASU basketball relevant again in Phoenix and on the national map. Gambo thinks the loaded Devils MUST make The Big Dance next year or the season will be looked at as a failure. He also thinks ASU is lucky that freshman star James Harden is good (an NBA prospect), but not too good (NBA-ready right now). Ash thinks the team needs to bump up their non-conference schedule next season-especially at home.
*ASU coach Herb Sendek joined the show to put a wrap on a wonderful season in Tempe. The Devils were picked ninth in the Pac-10 pre-season poll by the know-it-all media.
*ASU AD Lisa Love also checked in to discuss the men’s and women’s respective post-season hoops losses yesterday. Love says the future is bright for both of the programs.
*Dbacks skipper Bob Melvin came on for his weekly segment. Snakes open the season Monday in Cincy against the Reds.
Tomorrow: G&A Road Show at Hooters in Ahwatukee. We’ll be joined by ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler.
ASU coach Herb Sendek [13:16m]:
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ASU AD Lisa Love [6:58m]:
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Dbacks skipper Bob Melvin [14:09m]:
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Here’s what went down today on G&A.
* Near full show before ASU hoops.
* Ash never played organized baseball when he was younger, he was too busy modeling. Gambo and several callers/e-mailers piled on.
* G&A broke down the Suns controversial heartbreaking overtime loss last night in Detroit. Both agree this team is built for post-season success-something they couldn’t say in past years. When is DJ Strawberry going to get more minutes?
* The 2008 MLB season started early this morning in Japan. Was anyone watching? G&A are ok with this, both wonder if this is simply a financial decision. Gambo feels this may hurt America’s past-time with less and less kids not playing youth baseball-especially African Americans.
* Big game for the Sun Devils tonight. Billy Donovan and the 2-time defending champion Gators visit Wells Fargo Arena. We were joined by former Clemson and Wyoming head coach, now Gator lead assistant Larry Shyatt. The winner is off to Madison Square Garden for the NIT semi-finals next week.
* Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo checked in. The Spartans play top-seeded Memphis Friday night in Houston in the Sweet 16.
* We also visited with former Sun and 1985 NCAA Most Outstanding Player Ed Pinkney. Pinkney scored 16 points in Villanova’s shocking upset of top-seeded Georgetown that same year.
Here’s what went down Monday on G&A…
* Extremely short show before Suns-Pistons basketball.
* The Sweet 16 is set. G&A shared their thoughts on the surprises (Western Kentucky, Villanova, Davidson) and the expected (all 4 #1 seeds). Gambo insists Stephen Curry is the best COLLEGE basketball player in The Dance. Ash doesn’t think he’s the best, but feels he’s the most important. G&A debated how well Kevin Love will play at the next level- whenever he leaves. Both agree Duke has major issues and their struggles bring down the power of the ACC.
* Our March Madness Insider Bill Frieder shared his thoughts on the tourney.
* Big road trip for the Suns starts tonight in Motor City. Gambo gloats about accurately predicting the Suns’ current 7-game win streak last week.
Bill Frieder [14:45m]:
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Here’s what went down Thursday on G&A…
* Live from Majerle’s in Chandler, Gambo & Ash enjoyed Day 1 of the NCAA tournament.
* To start the show the guys talked basketball, but of the professional variety. The Suns won their 6th game in a row and it was not pretty. The Suns committed 26 turnovers, but shot an amazing 57 percent from the field to help them get the victory. Gambo is impressed with Coach D’Antoni switching Shaq’s role. When O’Neal first arrived he was playing at the top of the key and now he is on the block where he is more comfortable.
* Bo Kimble, former college basketball star from Loyola Marymount wants their head coaching position. He has no prior coaching experience, but still expects the job handed to him on a silver platter. Gambo & Ash thought Kimble was going to be a star in the NBA, which leads to an extended discussion about which players had unbelievable college careers, but were disappointing in the NBA. Ash thinks the #1 disappointment was Billy Owens out of Syracuse.
* Tim Legler checked in for his weekly segment. Usually an all NBA segment, Legler talked a little NCAA basketball, but did not forget to discuss the suddenly red hot Phoenix Suns.
* Randy Bennett, Coach of St. Mary’s, joined G&A and went over their first- round match up against the Miami Hurricanes.
* Brian Jeffries the voice of the Arizona Wildcats came on the program. U of A is the #10 seed taking on the #7 West Virginia Mountaineers for the right to play the Duke Blue Devils.
* Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley was G&A’s final guest of the day. They discussed the man with the new contract, Larry Fitzgerald’s and the upcoming NFL draft.
Tomorrow: Day 2 at Majerle’s and another day filled with March Madness.
Tim Legler [15:02m]:
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Randy Bennett [14:29m]:
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Brian Jeffries [14:06m]:
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Todd Haley [14:43m]:
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Here’s what went down Wednesday on G&A:
* No pay, no play. At least that’s what we thought today in Fort Myers, Florida. The Red Sox threatened to boycott their Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays and not travel to Japan to play their season opener if their coaches were not compensated $40,000 for appearance fees. Gambo thinks the protest was a selfish, greedy way to handle the issue. Ash thinks the situation could have been handled more professionally, but applauds the team for backing their own.
* The Suns got another big win last night taking down the scrappy Blazers in Portland. Shaq another big game. G&A love the energy he brings. Gambo thinks it’s key The Diesel is on the floor deep into the game and the Suns can now play two different tempos effectively. Ash isn’t ready to crown them champs, but is encouraged by the progress. G&A think the Celtics are back and in a big way out east.
* We were joined by sports handicapper Brandon Lang. B-Lang broke down the brackets and shared his thoughts on how The Madness might play out. He thinks the battle-tested Big East teams will fare well, sans Villanova.
* ASU AD Lisa Love checked in for her weekly segment. She was disappointed the committee over looked the Devils, but hope Herb Sendek’s young team can use the NIT as a building block for next season.
* Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall pinch-hit for Bob Melvin on The Bob Melvin Show. Hall discussed the chances of the Diamondbacks re-locating their spring training headquarters to Phoenix in the future. G&A love the idea since The Valley can’t seem to get enough of the D-backs when they make the drive up I-10. We took calls. Most agreed it would be a wise move (especially financially) for the Snakes to head north.
Tomorrow: Let The Madness Begin!
Guests:
St. Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett, UofA PBP man Brian Jeffries, Cards’ offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler
sports handicapper Brandon Lang [10:42m]:
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ASU AD Lisa Love [8:25m]:
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Diamondbacks' President Derrick Hall [11:20m]:
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