Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - DJ Burns vs. Zach Edey! Can NC State Continue Their Run vs. Purdue? Pressure On THESE ACC FB Coaches

Starting point is 00:00:00 The heavyweight bout we've been waiting for is coming to fruition in the final four. DJ Burns versus Zach Edy. Who you got? You are locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. I am Alex Dono from Locked on Cains. He's Kenton Gibbs from Locked on Wolfpack. We are Locked on ACC.

Starting point is 00:00:41 Thank you so much to the everydayers for making us your first listen and your first watch, each and every day. ACC has a team in the final four. 6.09 p.m. on Saturday. Purdue against NC State. Kent and Gibbs, we're getting that battle down low. Everyone's talking about it and for good reason.

Starting point is 00:01:00 DJ Burns and Zach Eadie on both sides. Burns with NC State. Edie, of course, with Purdue, who's about to become the national player of the year for the second straight year. They've been so instrumental to these final four runs. And I look at DJ Burns, who's obviously going to be the underdog in this matchup for for obvious reasons, but he's raised his level of play in the postseason,

Starting point is 00:01:22 comes off that career game with 29 points, 21 of those in the second half against Duke. This matchup to me, Kenton is going to be so much fun with Edie having all the tools and then Burns having that girth, but having that quickness and explosiveness. I cannot wait for this one. It's going to be a thriller when they get in that ring in Manel. I'm sorry, wrong sport. This one here is going to be special. This is a clash of the Titans, the likes of which we have not seen in quite some time.

Starting point is 00:01:52 This is quite literally Star Wars and obviously Purdue is the Empire because nobody's actually rooting for them. And if you do root for the Empire and Star Wars, you're a sicko, seek help. I did root for Cobra Kai in Karate Kid, but I'm not enough of a sicko to root for the Empire in Star Wars. You were a sweep-the-leg guy down off? Absolutely. No mercy. I understand the cover cover the bed and favorites, and I know you're all about the money line and whether or not Danielson was going to get it done there.

Starting point is 00:02:19 That's neither hit no there. This battle here is going to be something special because it's so much of basketball, especially professionally. We're told the big man is done. The era of the big man, especially a big man that can't step out and hit the three, it's over.

Starting point is 00:02:34 It's over. We don't see any more Zach Randolph. We don't see any more, you know, Andre Drummers. We don't see any more guys who are, particularly just paint beasts. They just make it happen in that painted area. We don't see it anymore. We got not one, but two of them in this one.

Starting point is 00:02:51 A player that went on to win his conferences, most outstanding player in terms of the tournament with DJ Burns, and his region's most outstanding player in DJ Burns. Same thing with Zach Eadie, a guy who, again, he's a immovable object, but DJ Burns is the irresistible force. What is going to happen in that matchup? will go a very, very long way in determining what happens in this game. Because DJ Burns has historically struggled with length.

Starting point is 00:03:21 See, NC State against Creighton last year with Carl Brinner was giving them all types of fits because he's a seven-footer. And you're looking at a seven-footer with more of Gert that's a little bit bigger than Corcorner. It's going to be tough. It's going to be tough going. And when you look at this matchup, I can guarantee you this. If this matchup is swung 10 to 15 points, one way or the other, I'm guarantee you that team not only wins, it may be a blowout. Yeah. Well, and honestly, I know that these two players have been so outstanding for their

Starting point is 00:03:51 respective teams, that everything goes to this. And I love what you said about the big man, right? I mean, these days for what is the past really 15 years or so, we've seen in the NBA, the transition go away from the big man, but we're seeing a reminder in college basketball how important these positions can be. But honestly, I know a lot of people, and I did it to start the show, we're going to make this about DJ Burns versus Zach Edy. But the reason why I give, to keep the boxing analogies going, I give NC State a puncher's chance or maybe better in this one. And we'll talk about the odds in a minute.

Starting point is 00:04:23 It's not just about Burns, but it's about the supporting cast. The defense that NC State's been playing, holding teams to 35% shooting so far in the NCAA tournament and the guard play, like even if, and listen, the odds would say that EDI is probably going to get the better of that matchup with Burns for all the reasons we've talked about, but I think NC State might get the better of Purdue as a team. Let me tell you something, okay. Muhammad Ali is one of my favorite boxer,

Starting point is 00:04:51 and the reason he's many people's favorite boxer, and the reason why I love him so much is the showmanship in the poem. So let me read for the listeners of Locked on ACC, a poem that I read, or that I created for this matchup, okay? And it is titled, Clash of the Titans, all right? This game is going to be great. and to the eyes it'll be pleasing. It'll be all types of folks there from Indiana to North Carolina,

Starting point is 00:05:16 all with the Phoenicians. The raisin sun is finally going to go down so Moldiara can eat. But boy, that's Zach Edie, they say he's a big old beast. The funny thing about it is DJ Burns handle his beast boy. These jokers are nothing to be fooled around with. This run is of no toy. Cinderella keeps dancing, because they got all the shot makers.

Starting point is 00:05:41 DJ Horn, Michael O'Connell, Casey Morseille, are going to take out the boiler makers. Let me tell you something. This is going to be something special in terms of what NC State does here because I have under good authority that the game plan is going to be make anybody but Zach Beach. Exactly. And I'm telling you right now, everybody keeps saying,

Starting point is 00:06:04 well, you know, NC State's getting lucky with all these shots that all these teams are missing. shot quality says that this team should be at NC State and this team should be at NC State. Well, ain't it funny that with all that shot quality, there's still something called a scoreboard. And at the end of the game, for about, I don't know, nine games straight now, NC State has had more than the other team.

Starting point is 00:06:23 If we force that, if you force Purdue to make anybody else beat you, I don't know if you've seen this or not. But Purdue's offense outside of Eaddy, they have looked like they are from the island of Miss Fit Toys Community College. So with that being said, if you force the ball out of Zach's hands, oh boy, oh boy, I don't think that Purdue can get it done, especially because they're getting tight. You can feel all that pressure starting to weigh down on them. And NC State is the guy with nothing to lose.

Starting point is 00:06:54 They're rocky. You know what I mean? At the end of the day, we all love Apollo Creed, but you're rooted for Rocky for a reason. And this team right here, it's their time. It's their time. And again, I said, you know, Donald's a lot. and I, for those of you who don't know, we did a show last year, locked on college football live. And I was going to pick Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game until they told me what the line

Starting point is 00:07:16 was. Oregon was about 10-point favorites in that one. And I said, that line's too big. You're suspected. I said, watching Washington, what goes on to win this game. And it happens. The line in this one is how much, Donald? Well, I want to tease that, Kenton. Oh, okay. We can hold. We can hold. We can hold. Full breakdown when we come back, because like you said, I don't think NC State is getting nearly enough for spec. When I looked at the lines today on Fandual, I was obviously expecting the Wolfpack to be underdogs. I wasn't expecting it to be by this much.

Starting point is 00:07:45 You know what you want to do? You want to keep it locked right here. We'll talk about the final four odds. And if NC State can shock the world, and if they do, how much money you're going to make on them shock in the world. So you want to keep it locked right here. Kenton Gibbs from Locked on Wolfpack, Alex Dono from Lockedon Caines on this brand new episode of Locked on ACC.

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Starting point is 00:09:06 Locked-on College. That's LinkedIn.com slash Locked-on College to post your job for free terms and conditions apply. Thank you so much for making Locked-on ACC, your first listen and your first watch. Alex Dono from Locked on Cains, Kenton Gibbs from Locked on Wolfpack. So Kenton, I'm looking, as I do every single day, I've always got the tab open for FanDuel. And I'm looking at the final four odds. And again, you're going to have 11-seat NC State taken on Purdue 6.09 p.m. on Saturday, 849 p.m. on Saturday, you've got the other side of that with Yukon, who are, you know, they're doing what Yukon's been doing the last couple of years. They're 11.5 point favorites against four-seat Alabama. But I was thinking, because I like

Starting point is 00:09:54 to guess the spreads, Kenton, before I actually look at it. I was thinking probably plus five and a half, plus six for NC State. They're getting nine and a half points here. Like, they're nine and a half point underdogs against Purdue. And I almost feel like, and I know, listen, the handicappers do what they do, but the money goes certain ways and most of the money's coming in on Purdue. And I just feel like, is nobody learning from what NC State has done in these past four games in the tournament that, yeah, you can make these guys dogs against everybody. Obviously, you have to be real ballsy if you're going to take like NC State on the money

Starting point is 00:10:31 line to win the game outright. I think they can't absolutely win this game. But I'm not going to hesitate. to click NC State plus nine and a half against that spread. I think they're going to keep this game very close, if not win it outright. You know, like I said, I talked about this before with Oregon and Washington. I stand firm on this. There are sometimes the line that's so big, a coach doesn't need bulletin board material.

Starting point is 00:10:54 He can just take it to the team and say, the country believes that this team is 10 points better than you. 10 points better than you. The country believes that this team is just going to work. the wheels off of you. And I said all year, NC State had can't get rightitis. They couldn't string together

Starting point is 00:11:14 good offense with good defense all year. All year. They struggled to do that. And Grayson Boone and I, the co-host locked on ACC or locked on Wolfpack, we're both talking about the fact. I don't think the Wolfpack have peaked yet. I don't think they played their best game. I don't think they played a game where I'm like,

Starting point is 00:11:30 oh, they're not topping that. This is, this is prime form. They're, and I, with that, That being said, I'm going to tell you this. This spread, nobody believing, they were ranked dead last in terms of everybody's power ranking for the Sweet 16. They were ranked dead last in terms of everybody's power ranking for the lead eight. Guess where they're ranked for everybody's power ranks for the final four? Take a while.

Starting point is 00:11:52 Dead last plus 2,000 odds to win the championship, the longest odds out of the final four. No, they're second, of course. Obviously, I'm joking. You're right. They were dead last. One more time. This team has embraced it, and this is America's team. This is America playing the USSR in hockey back in the 80s.

Starting point is 00:12:11 This is that moment where they're the long shot. They've got no chance. They're going to get dominated. They're going to get devastated. Well, they heard that about Duke. They said, well, you snuck going to do the last time. They'll take care of you this time. They heard that about Marquette.

Starting point is 00:12:27 Oh, you ain't played nobody real yet. You just ain't played nobody real. You know, that's the problem. You're beat up on Texas Tech. We all know the Big 12 is game in the net. So that's how they ended up where they ended up. And then you avoided Kentucky by some stroke of luck because you have a horseshoe up your behind instead of Kentucky and John Calipari do not know how to do simple defensive principles. I don't know what to tell you as much as we love Robert Dillingham.

Starting point is 00:12:54 Well, not in Raleigh because he miffed us to go to Kentucky. But as much as everybody loves Robert Dillingham, the boys can't defend basic downscreens, basic pick and roll action, basic elevator screens. They get lost in the look like there in the headlines. Sorry to tell you. So, you know, NC State's been hearing this entire run after they beat Louisville. That was pretty much the only game that everybody said, oh, that one makes sense. After that, time after time after time, it was always over. Oh, you know, you're not the darlings.

Starting point is 00:13:25 Oakland is the darlings of the tournament. Lo and behold, you know, this team keeps fighting. They keep battling. They keep showing up. And Cinderella or Cinderfella ain't going to stop dancing in this one. The glass, the glass swayed slip-ons are still rolling here. You know what I mean? It's a hybrid between glass and suede.

Starting point is 00:13:42 How that would work out is magic. It's Cinderella. Don't worry about that. They're going to keep dancing. So I'm looking at the odds, courtesy of Fanduel, our betting partners here on the Lockdown Network. And again, NC State are plus nine and a half, nine and a half point underdogs. The money line, if you think they're going to win the game outright, you get a good return there

Starting point is 00:13:59 at plus 340. The other game, as mentioned, Yukon, minus 11.5. their 11.5 point favorites, minus 720 on the money line to Alabama at plus 500. And then I look at the national championship odds. Not surprising, Yukon minus 185 favorites. I will admit, I may have put a few dollars on that, even though the odds aren't great, but, you know, Yukon does what they do. Then Purdue at plus 190, Alabama at plus 1,300, followed by NC State at plus 2,000.

Starting point is 00:14:30 So Kent and Mr. Lockdown Wolfpack, I'm curious because we talked about the, we talked about the matchup of the big fellas, the clash of the Titans, okay? And again, I believe NC State can win this game based on what the supporting cast does. That's where I think they have the big advantage against Purdue in this one. So who else has to step up outside of DJ Burns

Starting point is 00:14:50 if NC State's going to get to that final game? Like I've talked about many of the times, Mo DiR is, again, that's, he's playing out of his mind. He's playing the type of basketball that if Wolfpack fans knew this was possible, when he was in the portal, we would have been shouting and jumping for joy when this young man signed up to come play for us out of Missouri. I think that he's, he has to be him and Ben Middlebrooks

Starting point is 00:15:15 have to be special, but I think the biggest thing, the shopmakers got to hit their shots. You know, they don't, I think that the thing that has pushed this NC State team to where they are, everybody is not being the star, they're starring in their roles. If Jayden Taylor continues to star in his role of 3&D, Casey Morseille continues to start in his role of three and D. Michael O'Connell continues to start his role of facilitator of huge shot maker. You know, Michael O'Connell, he don't want to hit no shot till there's all on the line. He's, don't give you that shot with no pressure, you know, but he's, he's been phenomenal throughout this run.

Starting point is 00:15:49 And D.J. Horn, of course, he's the guy that stirs the drink. He's the league, or he's the one that does the score. He's the one that when a ball is in his hands, he's prime job TV, you can't look away. So I know that I just named basically the entire team, but that's what you're going to need. You're going to need a full team effort of guys showing up, locked in, concerted effort on defense, and everybody hitting their shots, and you will end up in another game where, because most people believe Yukon is going to put the beats on Alabama, and I agree, they're going to end up in another game where you're going to be 10.

Starting point is 00:16:24 0.15. Underdogs, whatever the case may be out, 15 may be excessive, but 10.0000 dogs or so. I can see that. I mean, against Yukon, I can see probably 12, 13. point dogs maybe. And I'll tell you what, if they're 12, 13, go ahead and hang the banner and Raleigh now. Go ahead and get those boys the rings now. While they talk about hurley and not want to get overconfident and all that, there is no way to stop your team from seeing press clippings when you are plus 13 favorites in the national championship. When people are looking at you and saying, man, did they have an easy tripper? Are they just that much better than

Starting point is 00:16:58 everybody else? It's so easy to take your eye off the ball for just that split moment. And in that split moment, we're going to hear that one shining moment from Luther Van Drosson, and he's going to be telling us how NC State got it done at the end of this time. Well, of course, not Luther because he's, you know, he's with the ancestors. Now rest and peace, that beautiful soul and voice. But we're going to hear one shining moment and we're going to see the Wolfpack hanging yet another banner in Rowland. I want to go from Hardwood to the gridiron. And talk a little bit about the slate of football coaches in the ACC.

Starting point is 00:17:29 Who's got the most pressure this coming season? and I think there's a couple of coaches who have high expectations, but not as much pressure. We're going to break it down. Kenton Gibbs from Lockdown Wolfpack. I'm Alex Dono from Locked on Cain's on this brand new episode of Lockdown ACC. Passion, drive, and patience. The formula for winning championships is also what keeps your ride or die alive. eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to peak performance. Superchargers, roof racks, exhaust kits, LED headlights, and more.

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Starting point is 00:18:45 your team every day. Kenton, heading into this 2024 football season, now obviously I'm wearing this you on my hat and I'll talk about Mario Cristobal in a second, but am I wrong to say that even though like Clemson ended up having a good year better than we thought, based on the first half of the season. I think Davos Sweeney has the most pressure of any ACC coach heading into the 2024 season. And part of that is being a national championship winner, you know, what feels like long ago now in the Trevor Lawrence era and prior to that,

Starting point is 00:19:19 he set the bar so high for himself. And Davo, he takes this risk in the fact that Clemson doesn't bring in transfers. They don't embrace NIL. Like he's not embrace. And I know a lot of Clemson fans rally around him for that because they appreciate like the old school spirit of college football, but he's doing things so differently from the modern college football coach. And Clemson has been getting decent results, but not up to their standards from four, five, six years ago. I think Davosweeney has a lot of pressure heading into this year.

Starting point is 00:19:50 Oh, absolutely. I remember a very long time ago, there was a practice that this allowed Bear Bryant to get some of the best players to his college. We don't need to talk about what that policy was, but it was a policy. And you know what he realized? I need to get my team. team, I need to get the wheels worked off them by a bunch of players, by a school who does allow that type of player on their team. And then I get everybody to change. The difference between Bear Bryant in that moment and Davosweeney and this one is that Davoswini refuses to see the error of his ways. He refused. He's just like, I'm going to stand ten toes down in what I do and how I do it and how we do it, which is fine. You can do that. But you need to win.

Starting point is 00:20:29 you need to produce at that level in order to get it done. And I know Clemson was a double-digit win team last year. So it's not like there are in the absolute trenches. But like you said, the expectations have been reset. There would be report card days where me and my sister bring home our report cards. Okay, I get a 3.2. She get a 3.0. And my mom would say to me, you think that you've done just enough to keep me quiet, huh?

Starting point is 00:20:55 Well, no, you need to do better. And she would tell my sister, great job. way to go, way to knock that thing out to park. And this is not to say to my sister's unattended. She's the only one of us with a master's degree. Because once I was done in undergrad, I said, y'all don't have to pay me to ever go back to school again. I was the same way.

Starting point is 00:21:10 And by the way, my sister has a PhD. So I know the feeling. And that's what I'm saying. So this ain't to say she's unintelligent, but when I talked to my mom about it, I said, it's not fair. My grades are better than hers. What's the problem?

Starting point is 00:21:22 She said, the expectations for you are different from her because I know you're capable of different. Now that Clemson fans and now that the nation has seen that Clemson is capable of different, they need to make that, they need to match that up. Now, are there almost every other team in the ACC? Would they take Clemson's last year happily? Absolutely. Absolutely.

Starting point is 00:21:42 But they're not Clemson. They're not Clemson. That's just a fact of the matter. You have reset your expectations to that level to where if you don't reach that level, is not good enough. Yeah. And for different reasons, I definitely, there's pressure on Mario Cristobal at Miami this coming season now.

Starting point is 00:22:03 I've had this conversation a little bit with Spencer McLaughlin from Lockdown College football. And basically for contractual reasons, I think Miami would have to be really bad for Mario Cristobal to get fired this coming season. And obviously, I don't want to see that happen. I don't think Miami's going to be really bad. But, I mean, we're talking about if they're not bull eligible, then that's probably what it would take because he's entering year three of a 10-year contract.

Starting point is 00:22:28 Three years ago signed a 10-year, $80 million deal. So I just don't think it's cost-effective to make a decision like that unless it's a really disastrous year. But the reason why I think there is pressure, even though it would take a lot for him to lose his job, is because the way Miami's been recruiting, top seven class in 2023, just had a top five class in 2024. and when you bring in a player like Cam Ward with the expectations he brings from Washington State to play quarterback, the way Miami's been upgrading their talent.

Starting point is 00:22:59 Like I've been covering Miami for a long time. I haven't seen recruiting like this in well over a decade. So expectations come as you build the depth and you build the roster. So and also if I look at Miami schedule, Kenton, it's a more favorable schedule than they had last year. Like they don't have Clemson or NC State on the football schedule. They had both of those last year. obviously Florida State is always a very tough game for Miami or for anybody, but Miami does at least get that at home.

Starting point is 00:23:27 They had to play them on the road last season. I think Louisville on the road is probably their other toughest ACC game outside of Florida State. There are some other sneaky opponents on there, but they went disappointing seven and six, including the bull game last year, you know, probably need to be more in the nine-win range for people to be satisfied with it. But, and for that reason, I think there's a lot of pressure on Christobal this coming year because year three with the type of players he's bringing in, you've got to start getting results, which have not been there on the field the last couple of years. There's a running meme about the Miami cycle.

Starting point is 00:24:02 The Miami cycle is recruit great players, become the offseason champs, lose games that you shouldn't lose, make excuses, look forward to next year because you're recruiting well again. Get great recruits. become the offseason and that's just it goes on and on and on Miami fans are tired of it that is one of the most proud I say all the time

Starting point is 00:24:25 that at most schools if you win eight games a year you will get a lifetime contract they will name the stadium after you all that good stuff right Miami is not one of those schools it's only about 15 of them where it's like winning eight games a year

Starting point is 00:24:38 nobody's going to be happy with that Miami is one of those schools so like you said he needs to get up to that nine win win because again, you're recruiting great players. That's great. We love to see it. You're recruiting.

Starting point is 00:24:51 You know, Bain is an animal. I absolutely love watching him play. He is a violent defensive lineman with a motor that just won't quit. It just will not quit. And of course, you watch him and you watch some of those other pieces on that defensive line. You hear about some of the other pieces that are coming in and recruiting, and you say to yourself, like I've always said about Miami, on paper, they are primed and ready for this to be their year.

Starting point is 00:25:15 here on paper. But there's a funny thing that happens when they lace those cleats up, when they throw those shoulder pads on, when they put those helmets on and they get down on that line, when they kick off for the first time in the scene, all of a sudden things just get a little wonky. Oh, Tyler TVD can't read zone defenses for whatever reason. Oh, Deerre King, it's very inaccurate in some of these games on his deep balls, except in Raleigh, where he turns into prime Mike Vick. Oh, the offensive line looks a little shaky.

Starting point is 00:25:47 Oh, you know, this position group that was supposed to be good has seen a lot of injuries. At some point in time, the excuses run out. And you're left with the dust settling on what is your final record? What did you actually produce? So I agree with a tradition as proud and as loud and as unabashed as Miami. There is no way under God's greener. You can not make a bowl game.

Starting point is 00:26:10 And even if they got to pay out, hey, listen, and we're going to give me $60 million and never be around here again, Patner, they'll do it. They'll do it because, you know, it's leaving. A couple of other coaches, in my opinion, have a lot of pressure this coming season. I've got to put a spotlight on Pat Narduzzi at Pitt because that was a dreadful season last year.

Starting point is 00:26:31 And there was, after, you know, they got blown out by Notre Dame last year, and then, you know, some of his players weren't. Who knows, they may have worked it out behind the scenes, but he threw some, he threw his players out of the bus, because he basically blamed it on the roster and not on himself. And I know a lot of players were vocally upset about that on social media.

Starting point is 00:26:49 I don't know if they've aired those grievances and put it behind them. But coming off a three and nine year, I mean, Narduzi, he's had, you know, success there in recent years. But last year, you can't have that two years in a row, Kent. Like, they've got to bounce back and have a winning record this year. I love me some Narduzi. Big Narduzi guy over here, okay? Huge Narduzi guy. With that being said, you're absolutely right.

Starting point is 00:27:12 Excuse me. Bless you. You're absolutely right. You just won an ACC championship. The last coastal team to ever win an ACC championship because now we're divisionless. You're going to go down in history as the last one. And it's so ironic, I think that game at Wake Forest for them was one where you look back at it. You're like, man, the irony is landing on thick.

Starting point is 00:27:40 They won that game against Wake Forest. in terms of the ACC Championship a couple years ago because of the Kenny Pickett fake slot. They lose the game to Wake Forest last year because their quarterback started the slide too early from the first down. And they end up having to punt the ball back to Lake Forest who then goes down and gets the game winning drive.

Starting point is 00:28:02 Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that team was extremely snake-bidden last year, but Narduzi needs to have them back on track. there's only so much goodwill that that conference championship can carry you with. You cannot have multiple back-to-back three and nine years. You cannot have multiple years of non-bow eligibility. And I'm going to say this last thing and I'm going to pass it back to you. Narduzi, you're blaming the roster.

Starting point is 00:28:27 That's a good point. You know, your GM must be... Wait a minute. We're in college football. You put the roster together. It's like that mean. We're all looking for who can. committed this crime,

Starting point is 00:28:41 Narduzi, we're all looking for why your roster was devoid of talent. We're all looking around for the reason. So, long story, short, you're absolutely right.

Starting point is 00:28:50 You know, Pitt is another one of those schools. I wouldn't say they have that Miami-type tradition, but they are also a proud fan base that will not deal with. Oh, you won us one championship four years ago,

Starting point is 00:28:59 therefore you get a perennial lifetime contract to go three and not. Absolutely not. Now, there's a couple of coaches I'm not putting in the high pressure category even though they have high expectations. like, you know, for example, Mike Norvell,

Starting point is 00:29:12 because I think starting the year 13 and O, winning the ACC championship, I think he just bought himself a lot of equity last year. And even though obviously Florida State, odds on favorites to win the ACC this year, high expectations, you know, I don't put pressure on Norville for obvious reasons. And then another one, like Jeff Brom,

Starting point is 00:29:31 who probably overachieved in Louisville last year, it's still a honeymoon there, Kenton, and why obviously Louisville fans who want to keep building on that success from making to the ACC championship game. I think, again, he bought himself a lot of equating his first year with his alma mater, I might add. So even though high expectations for both of them,

Starting point is 00:29:50 I don't put a lot of pressure. I do put pressure, and you may agree with this, on Mack Brown this coming year. Oh, yeah, yeah. I think this is a put-up or shut-up year for Mac, especially with the way his teams have done in November and the way they've done in both seasons. Absolutely.

Starting point is 00:30:08 And you talk about those strong. was in November and I just so happened to be wearing my wolf pack shirt today. If only we were to talk in pre-production about the fact that we'd be discussing Mac Brown's hot seat. I personally hope that Mac Brown stays there forever. He's done a fine job in recruiting. He's a good man, Savannah. He's just in a bad situation. No, but in all seriousness, you know, the November fall aparts are one thing, but you also cannot lose to your rival three times straight and have them demoralize you in this last one. It didn't look like your team got off the bus and rally in this most recent installment of NC State, UNC,

Starting point is 00:30:43 you need, you need, you need to have a year where you bounce back because UNC spends, I believe, the third or fourth most in the conference on recruiting. They spend a ton of money. They're not afraid to break the bank to get wins. But the crucial part of that is the last three words, to get wins. And those wins aren't just against App State. that App State win doesn't matter. Nobody cares.

Starting point is 00:31:10 Oh, you stop the mighty Chase Bryce. Those wins are not against Western Carolina. Nobody cares if you beat the countermouts. I'm sorry to tell you with all the respect. You know, much less than boys out there West Carolina, you know. But nobody cares. You are bought here to get this team back to an ACC championship level. You're bought here to get this team to national relevance

Starting point is 00:31:32 and potential prominence in that regard. And it just seems like, I've said this. before and people think I say it with like anger or hate for UNC. That program needs to get tougher. Top to bottom. Top to bottom. It starts with Mac and permeates through the program. There needs to be a toughness.

Starting point is 00:31:49 There needs to be a bowing of your neck. There needs to be a pride to wear that dirty foot logo on the side of your helmet or the kind of wonky NC, whichever one, I still take a dirty foot of your helmet is crazy, but they need to have more pride about themselves. That's well said. And guys, tune in tomorrow. We'll continue to talk final for the NCAA. state magical run and what it's going to take to get by Purdue. We'll talk some more football as well.

Starting point is 00:32:11 He's Kenton Gibbs from Lockdown Wolfpack. I am Alex Dono from Lockdown Canes. We will talk to you again next time on another episode of Lockdown ACC right here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

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