Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Keys to Victory For ACC Teams in The Sweet 16

Episode Date: March 29, 2024

In this episode, Candace and Kenton give the keys for each of the 4 men's teams in the sweet 16 and there's a surprise announcement Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The ACC has four teams trying to buy for a spot in the Elite 8. It will be a very interesting weekend for your favorite conference. If you listen to the whole kit and caboodle, you'll have four games with all the keys to victory here at Locked on ACC. You are Locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's going on, everybody, welcome to today's edition of Lockdown ACC. I'm your host, Keenis Cooper, joined by

Kintin Gibbs of Locked on Wolfpack. Each and every day you find us wherever you listen to podcasts. Make sure you download, subscribe to the pod from anywhere, but especially our YouTube page where you can interact with our community each and every day. Today's episode is brought to you by our friends at Nissan. Are you the kind of driver that likes to push things a little further? Ever wonder what adventure could be around the next corner? Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada. Go find your next big adventure. Check them all out today at nisone usa.com. Kenton and I have a fun-filled show of some keys to victory for our favorites.

We promised Ms. Carlo we would give you this episode. So here it is. Four teams vying for an opportunity to be in the elite eight and hopefully gets to the final four, be the top two teams and eventually win a national championship, but they're going to have a couple hurdles in their way to do so. So let's get into it. Thursday matchups are locked and loaded and ready to get. Alabama will face off against a number one-seated North Carolina team in L.A. on CBS at 930,

if I could stay up long enough, okay? And it will be a good one. These teams have faced off before. North Carolina is feeling good about themselves, had a really good start to their attorney, got shaking and rattled a little bit against Michigan State, but now have a good test against a decent Alabama team. Kenton, let's talk keys to victory first, maybe for North Carolina. Yeah, sure. So the thing that the Tar Heels need to do more than anything else, they need to allow, or actually their stars need to be stars in this game at a higher level than we've seen before. And why am I saying that? Well, long story short, normally when I talk about this UNC team, I talk about what? Go, go, go. And when you're going, you'll be able to kind of make sure that these teams can't compete with you in terms of your stars doing what they do. However, Alabama goes faster than them.

Alabama is a NASCAR. They are up and down guru of ghost style. Every time they pull it out the net, they're pushing. And so with that being said, the only way that North Carolina can win this game to me is if their stars truly do show up and shine in a very big way. And also the depth has to come along with them. And I know that that sounds very generic,

but if you think about it from the standpoint of Alabama does it with pace, space, shooting. That's their three big things more than anything else. Alabama's not known for a ton of defensive intensity. They're not known for, you know, absolutely shutting teams down or anything along those lines. What they are known for is, again, go, go, go. So with that in mind, if you have a Seth Trimble come along and have an excellent game defensively, if you have a Harrison Ingram going to attack the boards ferociously

when they go in those small lineups and just dominate them on the glass, you're going to be looking at a very favorable outcome for the heels. You know, I also think it's going to need to be a really strong defensive performance from North Carolina with, you know, speed and a track meet scenario. There are oftentimes abilities to make mistakes, turn that ball over, and North Carolina is going to have not only cause those frustrating moments for Alabama, but score and capitalize offset moments. I think to your point, Harrison Ingram, Cormac Ryan, Seth Trimble, Elliot Cadeau is going to have to have confidence. The whole wide open in space, study long, study wrong energy, cut it, shoot the ball. You know how to shoot. You play basketball.

Whether you're getting into the hoop or whether you have to shoot that long three, I hope he has confidence in this Thursday evening to just go ahead and shoot and force these guys to also defend you as well. Will it need to be an RJ 40 point performance? Hope not, but might be. Do you need to keep feeding Armando Baycott? Hope not, but might be. So to me, you know, blood on the line. this is it and this is for all.

I think the North Carolina team has the better players, but they're going to have to show me some. Yeah, and I agree with that assessment. And again, I think that Bama has more depth, but UNC has better players, period. Like that's something that I would not, you know, argue against any day of the week. And I think that, you know,

Cormac Ryan in that shooting is also going to be an important one in this game. How are you spacing them out? It's going to be another one of those things that's like, hmm, how do you get to do? it's done. It's going to matter a lot in terms of the result in this one because we all know, we say the NBA is a maker mislead, well, what do you think March is? You don't get no redoes. This ain't the best of seven series. This is one and done. So, you know, knocking down that three ball, it's going to mean a lot as well. Exactly. And I think it's just one of those scenarios where

if it feels like Carolina is hot and on fire, they are going to be the best team on the floor by a mile. but if it has to play close, it'll be interesting how they balance that track me because sometimes their shot selection and their offense doesn't always get them over that hump. When it's all said and done, who do you feel like comes out with a victory? I feel like UNC takes this one.

I feel like I'm not really worried about the Hill's ability to get a win here. Again, the only way I can see this going poorly for USC is that Bamba runs them off the court. If Bama runs them out to build an A, it is what it is. You've got to live with that. But as I see it, I see UNC being able to impose their will enough and their stars to show up and star enough for them to be able to head back to the LEA. No doubt. Hold on one second. Now, hold on one second. You having good, positive vibes for North Carolina has me slightly nervous, right? Because whenever you're high on them, they tend to cut up. So I'm just putting that out there.

I disagree. Most of the time when I'm high on North Carolina, it's such an undeniable victim. that, you know, it ain't going to be close. They disappointed me a few times when I believed in them, but, you know, that's what you get for believing it is like. Yeah. What can you say? Well, it's how to the homie, Drake May who had his pro date today. Hopefully, you know, all the hoop laud and the nastiness that has come his way will subside.

I don't know what it is, but either day that man's going to make himself some millions. I don't think that any of the first, I don't know, 27 teams or so should take him. He's risky. What's he won? I don't know. I don't think he's that type of guy. If he were to last exactly to the 28th pick, you know, that'd be where I think he should go.

I think drafting him before then, a little bit of a reach. Before the 28th. Yes, the lines do have the 28th. You would like to drag, do you want him to come to the alliance? Oh, absolutely. If the lines could get, I mean, no, he's a horrible quarterback. And all the other GMs need to be, beware. He can't handle pressure.

Hasn't won the big day that Drake made kid. Fair enough. All right. Moving back to basketball, Clemson, Arizona. Arizona being a team that has had an up and down year at times, but mainly for the most part, consistent being led by Caleb Love, former North Carolina, Ontario themselves. Clemson being a team that we all knew they've had it in them.

They've come up short in important moments. people said they were very much on the public was squeaked in, but they've had, they've came, they've shown, they've proven, you know, so far in this March Madness series. And now they have a tall task in front of them. But as you maybe have mentioned before, PJ Hall and the boys are more than enough

and well equipped to get this done. How do they beat Arizona? Turn them over. The Caleb Love effect has spread throughout this team. They get a little careless with the ball sometimes and you have to be able to take advantage of that. They are below, I want to say they're like a 10th or 10th in the nation and turnovers,

turn them over. Get yourself some pick sixes. Get to go in the other way. That is the way that PJ Hall and company come away with an upset. Brown Nail is going to tell him that. I know he's telling that. I know he is. So this team, if they can turn Arizona over and if they can keep this thing close down to stretch,

they've got a guy over there at Arizona. He's going to chuck it. I don't care what's going on. He's going to chuck it. His intermamba mentality never turns off that. That guy, former ACC guy over there, he's going to let it fly. So with that in mind, Clemson, turn him over,

keep it close late. You'll be just fine. Now, one thing I feel like Brownell is really good at, probably one of the best coaches in college basketball, Well, I think his second half adjustments at times can be very much if he had sometimes more pros or better talent on the team. It would be undefeated type program. But he is so good with precision in making the other team always be on its heels. And I think for Clemson, that's how it's going to need to be.

After you have, of course, an emotional first half of as everyone tends to do in these type of tournaments. How do you adjust in the second half and either keep a team. at bay or you make sure that you come back or keep the game close and ultimately come out with the victory. For PJ Hall, Joe Girard, I think he's going to have to have a strong shooting night. I think Hunter is going to have to be one of those quiet silent assassins. And I also think, you know, Shefflin's going to have to have a great game in order for PJ to not feel the pressure of doing it all himself. Yeah, for sure. And at the end of the day, yes, turning them over is good, but you're also going to have to generate support. They're also, you know, Arizona, when they can get in their set defense,

they're not bad at it. They're not bad at it at all. They are not bad at defending. So you need to find ways to generate offense in the half court as well because, you know, as a fan of a team that, you know, used to live and die about whether or not they could turn you over. Counting on that and just that is not a good strategy. You still need to be able to get stopped, stay in front of folks, make it difficult, make people take the tested shots in the half court as well.

Agree completely. So when it's all said and done, how do we feel like? Clemson Affairs again this matchup. I think Clemson upsets Arizona. I got the ACC running the table so far, or at least on that side of bracket, for an all-ACC matchup in Clemson and UNC to go to the final four. Love to hear it.

All right, this week's March Madness Bracket is brought to you by our friends at Nissan. Each week, we're picking one team that stands out, a team that's push it further than the rest, just like any of the all-new 24 Nissan SUVs. these guys were able to make it to the next level. The Iowa State Cyclones can be described as a pathfinder. They've been thrilling to watch and have really created a lane for themselves entering the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country. They have a date with Illinois this Thursday in the Sweet 16 happening tonight.

Take the Nissan Rogue T's Nissan Pathfinder or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop Nissan.USA.com. And once you're done there, let's make sure that you've. got all of your money squared away with our friends at Better Together. Now, through Better Together, you're always able to bet with your friends. And if your back is busted, but once stay in the game, Better Together, gives you the first cooperative daily fantasy platform where teamwork triumphs talent, and you can play with your friends and not against them.

Pick more or less on real-time player stats, strategize with your partner to boost your odds and climb the leaderboard together. Grab a friend and join the DFS. movement today. Better Together is the first cooperative daily fantasy application. Better Together provides a sense of camaraderie and enhances the social experience of watching sports. It is a way to stay connected with friends when you can't watch sports together in person and put your group tag to the test and let you prove yours is the best. Download the Better Together app now from the App Store and sign up using promo code locked on for a chance to win your share of over

$1,000 in cash prizes. Play with me in a contest on either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, Saturday Sunday of this week. Remember using co-lock on because winning alone is fun, but it's always better together. All right, Kenton, that's a Thursday match-ups. Friday, Duke takes on number one, Houston. And let's just sit here and say that a Houston team played a very emotional game, you know, to start their March Madness journey, but we're able to pull out the victory. Duke maybe had a shaky start, but was able to get it together. in a big way against James Madison. Now it feels like this close Houston minus four and a half doesn't feel as secure as maybe in recent years. But what does Duke need to do in order to beat the Cougars?

All right. Hear me out. Cryer and Shed, when they get downhill, when you let them attack, it's going to get ugly. It's going to get ugly quick. If you look at almost all of Houston's losses this year, teams have forced those. two to that when they're sharp shot when they're shot chart looks like a bunch of grapes at the room looks like a you know the ones that you eat out the store you just take a couple the next thing you know you're like oh i'm just saying some people do that not me personally i'm not a great guy

but that's either head blowing up that's gross but anyway go ahead again i'm not a great guy but some people you know if their shot chart looks like a pack of grapes congratulations to houston for moving on to the elite eight But if McCain and Proctor and Roach can stay in front of those guys and make it difficult for them. If Filipowski can make it difficult for them at the rim, I believe Mitchell is the center. If he makes it difficult for them at the rim, they'll be just fine. But if they got a lot of those little grapes up at the rim, Samson and the company are moving on. That is what I feel like they need more than anything else.

And also, and I mean this with everything in my heart and soul, your guards have to make good decisions with the ball. We know that Houston's going to blitz every pick they see on ball. Make them pay. If you can't, if they blitz it and you turn it over or you, you know, are taking their advice shots out of that, congratulations again to Houston. They're going to move forward.

But if the guards from Duke can keep their composure, can keep their heads about them, eat their wits about them, make it happen, they'll be just fine. No doubt about it. I think that Duke is probably the hottest team out of all in March Madness. The confidence is at an all-time high. Jared McCain, Jared McCain, Jared McCain. If that man gets busy, it is good night for everybody involved. I think he is going to have to have another strong shooting performance.

I think if you are Tyrese Proctor, you fill off that energy, but it's going to be Kyle Philopausky as well as a big man to not necessarily force yourself to take outside, shots if they're not there or you feel like you have to. But I think if you just play your position, get some jump shots in, but get to that rim, like make sure that you have those offensive rebounds to give your team a chance to score again. If you have Mark Mitchell in there doing his best to be that browser, to be that guy who can

allow his team for second chance opportunities, I think Duke will be in a very good position to win. Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I think Mitchell is going to have to have, you know, he may not need to have a statistically huge game, but he needs to be a statistically huge game. needs to alter shots at the room. He needs to make it difficult on those guards when his guards do. Because at the end of the day, you know, you and I sitting here not having to be on the court in guard, Cryer, and shit, and company, we can say, just stay in front of them. It's a whole different

ball game with you on that court and you see them dribbling downhill towards you. So, you know, you're absolutely right that those bigs are going to have to have big games in terms of Filipowski and Mitchell. No doubt. All right. Let's turn our heads to NC State and Mark And I feel like this is probably the most March Madnessy game you have possible because the odds are definitely stacked against NC State. An 11 seed facing off against a two seed. All things, autism purposes, we know that Marquette is probably the more, probably the better team on paper. But the heart of NC State, DJ Burns & Company and Mr. O'Connell himself, there's a reason why NC State is still here. There's a reason why despite all things being stacked against them, they're still here.

I don't necessarily think it is a blowaway game for Marquette. It'll be a close one per usual, as NC State loves to do it. But how does NC State maintain composure and get to the next level and get this victory? So I'm going to give you two things here. I'm going to give you one on the court and one off the court. You have to be able to handle those inverted screens and picking rolls from Marquette. That's something NC State. it's not oh they if they don't do it they'll still have a decent no if they don't do that it's going to be a long Friday and I mean a longer Friday than when you know you got to work on the weekends too I'm talking that long okay so they need to do that they their beings have to step up and be able to handle that action and they have to be connected and talking defensively as a team to not allow those to not get distracted and lose your scouting report and forget which guy is who which guys the

picking pop guy, which guy's the road guy, which one's the hard dive guy, which one's the slip guy. You have to be aware of those things. And the off the court thing, embrace the history. Embrace the history. Let me let you in on some parallels to a certain team from NC State from a little while back. Both coaches came into the tournament, never having an NCAA tournament win at NC State. both coaches were in years where people were like, all right, they probably need to show and prove that they're going to be on the outs here. Both coaches needed overtime in the semifinals of the ACC tournament in order to get it done.

Both coaches saw the benefit of a double-seeded team or a double-digit seed defeating a single-digit seed that they went on to beat in their run, being Utah, 10-seated Utah beating number two UCLA back in. 83, 14-seated Oakland beating number three, Kentucky in 2024. Embrace the history. NC State's first national championship came in a win over Marquette. Embrace it. You ain't lost since Jimmy V's birthday. Know that the ancestors are walking with you, baby. Embrace it.

Live in the moment. Don't let this moment get too big for you. At the end of the day, regardless of how big everybody says Marquette's britches are, we have seen them lose games. We have seen them get dominated by you. we have seen that team absolutely wet the bed and important moments. And you all have one of, if not the longest winning street of all the double-digit seeded teams in the tournament. Embrace it.

Walk in who you are. Go win yourself in national championship. Or at least get to the lead eight with a win here. And don't, and mistake, correct me if I'm wrong, but them winning would get them against Houston? Houston, the winner of Duke Houston. Okay. And the idea of having to face a Houston team, you know, historically for what that means for NC State, I think that could also be, you know, you can't write it better.

You know, the script writers definitely have something going on for NC State. And I think it's just going to be a very magical time should they, you know, go through. They also are very much capable of beating the Duke team. You know, it's almost like beating your brother in your backyard. It's not the same sort of intensity. Yes, stakes can, you know, implications of what that win will mean. as you move on in a tournament, but you might, you know, breathe a little easier knowing you've seen that program before.

But say all that to say, I'm confident in an upset. I don't see why not? It's helped them so far. I'm going to tell you this much, okay? I've been telling NC State fans this, and I'm going to tell any ACC fan watch rooting for NC State this. Expect nothing. Appreciate everything, okay?

10%. Expect nothing. Appreciate if it's a close game. Appreciate if it's a good game. Appreciate if NC State does great here. Because the Lord of Wolf says the more you expect, the less you get. They were trailing at halftime to Louisville, a team whose coach, is now somewhere chilling on the beach with a nice little buyout. Okay.

That's fair. They're returning at halftime. And now what is it? Oh, say about 12 days later, we're sitting up here saying, hmm, them boys are going to the Sweet 16. Ain't it like that? Look at that. Yeah. A little mint chocolate chip certainly never hurt anybody.

Coach Keats, hopefully you get some. You know, good or not, I think what they have done, what they have done for Coach Keyes, what they have done for NC State's program and the way the transfer portal starts to cook up now. Like, you've definitely put NC State basketball back on the map. So this is an historic team, but there's still more to do for sure. So I hear you there. All right, let's talk about our friends at Fire TV. We all know that there's a place to watch games, and we want to make sure that you guys are well equipped to do just that.

Fire TV is your destination for sports from live games to highlights to end. depth analysis. Fire TV offers amazing viewing experiences with smart TVs as well as the fire stick that you can plug into your existing TV that provides access to millions of movies and TV episodes as well as free and live TV. Whether it's opening weekend for baseball or college basketball, you're going to want to have a Fire TV. To learn more, go to Amazon.com slash Locked on Fire TV today. If you have it checked out Fire TV and all of its great channels, it's so good. Trust me. on this. All right.

You're giving you the breakdown for the men. The women's games will come up as well. I think there's some great matchups. Make sure you check that out. But we've got eight minutes to talk, seven minutes, if you will. And this has been a long time coming, but we'd rather just get it out and rip that band-aid for those who have stuck around towards end of this episode.

This will be my final episode with Locked on ACC. It is not without heavy decision or did not come to this light, but, you know, at the end of the day, there are other opportunities that I need to pursue personally, career-wise, that I just felt like I can't give Locked on ACC the love and attention that it deserves. And, woo, I think I might get a little choked up. I don't know, because this is my community. Started with Locked on Tar Heels, and it's been a great ride. And I am very sad to go.

However, I know that Kinton has this thing. in great hands. He will be joined by Locked-on Cain's Miami Hurricanes host Alex Zadano. And I think those two are probably the best I could have asked to succeed me in this mission to ride with the ship that is ACC. However long we have it, I'm very grateful that it is. And, you know, I'm kind of feeling like I'm getting out while the getting's good before Jimmy P can, you know, give us our pink slips and all that good stuff. But in all seriousness, I am thoroughly sad to go, but happy that I have had these opportunities

to talk with you guys each and every day. You know, being Kansas co-host, because she was the one who basically did the politics and get me on the show. By the way, I want nobody starting no rumors about why Candace is leaving, okay? She just told you, she's pursuing opportunities and didn't think that she could give this thing to love

that it needs. But more importantly, you know, Candace ain't the only one that's getting emotional here. Be it Kansas not to show it very differently. And this brings me to the way to Poo quote of, you know, they said, aren't you sad that it's over, that we got to say goodbye. And Winnie said, what a thing we've done that it hurts and it's sad to say goodbye to. You know, and so we're not saying goodbye to locked on ACC forever.

I have word from some very close sources that Candace very well may be making some appearances this fall, particularly if Max Johnson and company are doing good things out there in Chapel Hill. I bet it's very much on the line. So I will be coming back to collect when our Louisville quarterback collects on his stats. So don't worry about it. Oh, listen, all I know is you better not put no vegetables on that bacon there. Eat that thing as God intended, as God intended with nut, but patty, sauce, and bacon. That's what I need to see.

But, you know, this is, well, I'm still going to be here. You know, I'm still going to be here. And we're going to keep this thing going. We're going to keep this thing rolling. Absolutely. It's, again, it's been the pleasure and honor of a lifetime, having the ability to be your co-host. and being the C2 guy to truly, what are the best of the business in you, Candace. So, yeah.

Yeah, thank you for that. You know, I would give you your flowers, but I will actually ugly cry. So I'm going to do that off when the cameras are off. But for all those who know Kenton, and they know that he is on his way to big things, and I look forward to saying that I was the one who cut him off on all the episodes. I look forward to telling people that I was one of his first co-hosts when he is on that sports center stage. I look forward to saying this little podcast, a little engine that could was here. And thank you for believing in me and just having the opportunity to work with you.

It's been great. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Damn. I see. I'm just a girl. See.

Kansas is better to me because I said that she should have did a full month long, a full, I said, I didn't care for it as much madness. You need to do a full month long, what's that? What's exit tour? Retirement tour. Yeah, where we bring on all these different hosts and, you know, like, hey, it's been great. You know, we love that. Absolutely.

I didn't need people to lie in my face like that. Yeah, I'm good. I'm great. Well, we've had enough, we've had enough guests and co-hosts. who would love to box playing. You know, you know. I'm just saying. Just for the record, I don't cry like that.

It's that time of the month. So I'm just going to be, you know, we're family here now. So if you think that I'm a cry baby, that's fine, you know, your mama. And I'm really going to miss just the fans and being able to talk junk, y'all. I couldn't go out any other way. But in all seriousness, it has been so fun. I am going to miss this. I'm going to be supporting this from afar, downloading.

my episodes. I've subscribed to the channel. I'm going to engage in the community. I can't wait to put in some comments as my own personal self and talk junk to two baldies who are going to, again, ride this thing into some extreme success. When y'all do get y'all's 200,000 followers, please have me back. Just put me as a third host for that day. And I would love to talk to Ms. Carlos, Lantana, all the group, all the gang. And we'll just keep that thing going. But for Candace Cooper and Kenton Gibbs. We hope you guys have a great and safe weekend. Please enjoy March Madness. Please get in on the betting action. I know I will. And look forward to seeing Alex and Kenton on Monday as they carry this thing into some great heights.