Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - North Carolina Tar Heels on Hard Knocks: A Game Changer?

Episode Date: February 28, 2025

Could the North Carolina Tar Heels become the next stars of HBO's Hard Knocks? This episode explores the potential impact of such exposure on the Tar Heels football program, led by the legendary Bill Belichick. Dive into the NFL Scouting Combine as Alex Donno and Kenton Gibbs analyze the performances of ACC players like Cam Ward and Amari Hampton. The discussion also covers the NCAA tournament implications for ACC basketball, focusing on teams like Wake Forest and SMU. With insights from both hosts, this episode promises a comprehensive look at the evolving sports landscape. Tune in for expert analysis and insider perspectives on the Tar Heels' journey and more.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONCOLLEGEFabricJoin the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their families. Apply today in just minutes at MEETFABRIC.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. Policies issued by Western-Southern Life Assurance Company. Not available in certain states. Prices subject to underwriting and health questions.ROYDownload the Roy app now from the App Store and start backing your favorite athletes the way they deserve—with transparency, trust, and a real impact. This is the future of college sports. Join it now by downloading Roy and supporting your favorite players!FanDuelRight now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

None of the NFL teams want to be on hard knocks offseason this year. So you'll never believe who they got. You are locked on ACCC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Hard knocks is apparently they've called up Michael Lombardi and Bill Belichick to have the North Carolina Tar Heels. Oh, we have a lot to unpack. Thank you so much to the everydayers for making Lockdown ACC your first listen and your first watch today.

We're available free wherever you get your podcast. We're free on YouTube. We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. He is Kenton Gibbs from Lockdown Wolfpack. I am Alex Dono from Lockdown-Kaines. We'll talk about what's at stake in college basketball this weekend, Saturday in the ACC. We'll talk about the NFL scouting combine. The ACCC has 60 players at the combine.

What's at stake? and can the combine sometimes be a red herring? But Kenton, man, and you know, when I sent you a link this morning that reports were surfacing that with nobody in the NFL wanting to do offseason hard knocks, they're likely to get the North Carolina tar heels. I thought maybe it was fake. Like when I sent it to them, like assuming this is real, we have to talk about it. And sure enough, it is real.

The tar heels, it's not finalized yet, but they seem to be the first. front runners to be on hard knocks. Well, you know, Dono, this, I thought that this was CFB Centail's work. You know, shout out to NBA Centail for getting deleted and then coming back. For those of you who don't know, there's a page called NBA Central. Centail is its parody account. So I'm thinking of myself, this must be a parody of college football because there's no way that of all teams in America, you will want to say, hey, we need to chronicle their

offseason. It surely wouldn't be the Carolina target. But and of all folks who would allow people to take an inside peak and inside gander, this is how they do it. This is how they operate. This is what's happening. I would say there's no way that the mighty Bill Belichick would let that happen. And lo and behold, you know, Lombardi said, hey, this is the 33rd NFL team,

despite not being anywhere near the top 10 or 25 or 30 teams, they're 40 or maybe even 50 in terms of the amount of players drafted in the past five to 10 years, you know, they're still the 30th of the NFL team. So them getting hard knocks off season should be a great show. I personally may not be tuning in. I may, I may, you know, I'm still a professional, still got to do my job. I'm like, I'm going to watch. I'm going to watch.

But it's a very interesting dynamic popping up there. So here's what Michael Lombardi, the general manager of the Tar Heels football program, Like he couldn't come out and say this is happening because, again, it's not finalized, but he basically confirmed that it's going to happen. He said on the Pat McAfee show today, there are a lot of conversations going on right now about hard knocks. We've had offers. I don't think anybody's anything's yet beneficial or signed, he said. When you're dealing with the university and the brand that we have at North Carolina, which is incredible, you've got to make sure that everything's done right, he said. all the T's are crossed. Bill, being Belichick, has been talking to different people that contacted

all of us here and been sorting it out. I don't think it's official. If we do it, the idea is to let people examine what we're doing. Take a look at the 33rd team in the NFL, he says, and see how we're building this program and what we're trying to accomplish. It'll give an accurate portrayal. So, and you alluded to that earlier. Listen, I, I know Belichick brings a lot of, the tension to the ACC. And I, to some extent, I subscribe to there's no such thing as bad publicity thing, the old P.T. Barnum quote. But I will admit, Kenton, every time because Lombardi, he does a lot of interviews,

Bill Belichick doesn't really do that. He kind of lets Lombardi, his GM, do all that press. And every time he's on, he refers to North Carolina as the 33rd NFL team. And it makes me want to slap him upside the head. Like, I know that's become their tagline. that's become UNC football's brand and they got the, you know, the most decorated NFL coach of all time. But it's like, I feel like it's a slap in the face to the Ohio states and the Georgia's and the Clemsons and everybody who have actually won national titles to refer to that program. We love. Well, I was going to say we love UNC, you know, but you know what I mean.

Who is Wade? Who is Wade? Who is way that love UNC? Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I don't want to throw you into that. But like to continually refer to a football program that is, you know, historically been pedestrian. Yeah. To refer to them as the 33rd NFL team, it's like, why don't you go out? Why don't you go out there with this staff with Bill and Lombardt, go out there and win something before you start calling them the 3013.

It drives me insane. Or at least get a bunch of players drafted. Even if you don't win anything, at least show like, hey, listen, this is a very direct. we said that we were going to build a product that we're putting a bunch of pleasantly we have done that but the most interesting thing about this i don't know no publicity or all there's no such thing as bad publicity is the thing of the past with what we have seen in the past five years or so where like all of a sudden all of us know way too much about each other it's it's a very different world for example i want to keep it directly

to hard knocks off season do you remember why I know NFL team wants to do hard knocks offseason this year. Yeah, because the Giants GM told the owner, it's like, oh, we don't need to bring Seekwon Barclay back. And Mara is like, well, I would hate to see him go to the Eagles. And where did Seacquan Berkeley end up going, Dono? The Eagles. So why is that important to this situation?

It's important because there absolutely is such a thing as bad publicity. That Giants GM has a year to bring. produce something great. I truly doubt that he has multiple years to flub around after what we just saw with the owner, the person who signs everybody's check, the person who would think of a bank, congratulations, no check for you, buddy, that person saying, hey, I'd really hate for my star to go there. And then your star goes there, right? It's very much so a same thing for you and see, because there's, and again, this is me

being very objective because I know how I've talked about UNC in the past, but very seriously, even if I was looking at this with some with some Carolina blue colored glasses, you still have a lot of questions to answer. You still have to answer the question of who is your quarterback? How aggressively in the portal did you go after a quarterback? When you establish whatever document, whatever this Magna Carta of UNC football

is that this manifesto that said, You need all these things to be successful. What percentage of that budget went to saying, hey, this is the premier position in football. Forget everything else. If we've got one of the guys that can do this well, we can cover over a multitude of guys who do things all right enough. As opposed to the opposite, you cannot have a good team that covers up a quarterback that does it all right enough. A great team, sure. If you got a Bama, you can make a Mac Jones look like a first overall or first rounder.

Sure, but you don't have that type of deal rolling here. So you're going to have those types of things pop up. And how easy is that to put to bed as, oh, there's nothing bad happening here? Oh, everything's on the level. Oh, everything looks all right. I think it's going to be extremely difficult for UNC to dispel any bad notions here. And mind you, again, this is even with saying, hey, I'm giving y'all the benefit of doubt. How many losses would it take for people to then say, oh, this program,

was serious and let's nitpick all the things that happened during a hard knocks off season to talk about, oh, we knew they weren't serious because of this. Oh, this was the moment we knew that they weren't a good team. Oh, the way Bill Belichick did, this wasn't good, which could deteriorate

the chances of Bill going back to the NFL, which is where we all know he wants to be. Sure. Yeah, no, there's a lot. And listen, you know, what happened with Joe Shane, the Giants GM, like that's not the only reason why teams don't want to do hard knocks. It's a distraction. And we've talked about it. I remember, I think, you know, the dolphins have been on hard knocks since, but I haven't covered them in person for a few

years. But I was covering the Miami Dolphins in 2012 when they were on hard knocks. And a lot of people, like, regretted putting the team on hard knocks because they had at the time a rookie, Ryan Tannahill was going to be the starting quarterback. And Joe Philbin was a first year head coach. It was a distraction for the players. It's like, and those are professional. those are, you know, 22, 35, 37-year-olds. So now you're talking about bringing the hard-knocks cameras into, you know, a team made up of, you know, 18 to 22-year-olds. And North Carolina, their next starting quarterback might be their true freshman.

So there's a lot that comes with that. And, you know, again, obviously they have an experience coaching staff and a GM who's been in the NFL and all that. But you can't say that for the players. And bringing the hard-knocks cameras in there is a big gamble. Yeah, as we all know, I can't remember where I read this at, but the, the, letting a subject know that it's being observed will always change the habits, behaviors, pattern of said subject. And at the end of the day, you want this, you want this program to run as if, hey, if I am Bill Belichick, and I know I have a machine, I have the key, I have the protocols and procedures that are going to make us into a powerhouse, get these damn cameras away from here. I don't want nobody knowing my secret sauce.

I don't want nobody knowing my stuff. I don't want anybody being able to say, oh, this is how he cooks that up. This is how he does. I don't want none of that. All I want is, hey, let's lock in and let's get this machine rolling as efficiently as possible. Whether my starting quarterback is a kid that was slow dancing at a prime last year or whether it's some incoming transfer is going to be coming through the springboard, let's lock in on what I need accomplished and not, again, shut out all the outside noise.

Because like you said, it was a distraction for professionals who have wives or husbands, kids and mortgages and all those things. We are not talking about 18 to 22 year olds in that group. So, you know, this is, I am intrigued to see this and people are going to say, oh, Ken, you're just hating on UNC again. No, if I was hating on UNC, if I was saying this from my lockdown Wolfpack hat on, I would say, oh, what a great time. We'll all get a front row seat to the internet.

their workings of the UNC football program. And I think it's great for them. I think that this is going to be a smashing success for their brand exposure. But again, from an objective like, hey, this is what's good and bad for y'all standpoint. Me personally, I look at cameras being in the locker room and all that. I don't want it if I can avoid. It's hard for me and imagine that this is really what Belichick wants in his first year. I say first, assuming maybe he'll be there for a second year.

but like it's hard for me to imagine that Belichick really wants this because again, completely new staff, you're getting to know these players. There's so much important evaluation that's going to be going on here, you know, for the next, what, five or six months before the season starts. It's like, it's hard for me to believe that you want a reality show to be in there when you're in, you're installing everything, right? Completely new coaching staff, players learning that for the first time. Like, I mean, if you have a really good first year or even,

even like an average first year and then you feel more comfortable heading into your second season, maybe that's the time to do it. Let's see. I don't know. It all seems very weird that they really want this the first year. I don't doubt that the UNC administration may want this or at least be intrigued by it. Be intrigued by it because it's like a commercial you're going to get on HBO every week. But for Belichick, man, it's a head scratcher to me.

Upper management always does things that the lower levels of folks have to deal with, right? And this is one of those things where I'm sure. the administration, like, yes, put us on TV. Yes, so we love the cameras. We love the glitz. And it's like, wait a minute. Will the cameras in the glitch interrupt my day to day here? Will it interrupt me putting in place my system as I need to be? And again, in the words of the wonderful group, the bars, time will reveal. We will see. We will see whether or not this turned out to be a distraction, whether or not I'm wrong and I've overblown this. And, you know, it's something that's great for them. But we'll see. Well, cameras are on in Indianapolis at the NFL scouting combine. The ACC's got 60 players there. It's not half bad. Miami's got 10 there. Clemson's got six.

North Carolina's got six. Maybe that is an NFL factory. Not that you can credit Bill Belichick for any of that happened from last season. But we'll talk scouting combine. We'll talk some hoops a little bit later on. You want to keep it locked. We're only getting started on this brand new episode of Lockdown ACC. Life moves fast, especially when you have a lot.

have a family. One day, you're watching your kids take their first steps. And before you know it, they're off to college. That's why securing their future is so important. Fabric by Gerber Life makes it simple to get term life insurance that fits your family's needs. With Fabric, you can apply for term life insurance online right from your couch. You can be covered in under 10 minutes, and in many cases, no health exam is required. As a parent, I want to make sure my family is financially protected no matter what happens. Fabric gives me that peace of mind. You can get a million dollars in coverage for less than a dollar a day. So protecting your loved ones doesn't have to break the bank. Fabric also offers free digital wills and access to investment accounts

to help you plan for your children's future. Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their families. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com slash locked on college. That's meetfabric.com slash locked on college. Policies issued by Western Southern Life Assurance Company, not available in certain states. Prices subject to underwriting and health questions. Thank you for making LockdowneACC, your first listen in your first watch today. We're available free wherever you get your podcast. We're free on YouTube.

We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Make sure for your next list and you check out our other shows. Kenton Gibbs and Grayson Boone do an awesome job on Lockedon Wolfpack. I host Locked on Cains. Kenton, Miami probably has the first overall pick or had the first overall pick for the upcoming draft. most of the momentum is going in Cam Ward's direction. He made a not surprising decision not to throw at the combine.

Obviously, he's there for the measurements, the interviews and everything. You know, do you like to, when a quarterback is projected first overall, do you like to see them throw anyway or did he may just make a sensible choice not to? I think he makes a sensible choice because a lot of people don't realize that throwing at the combine is, is throwing a guy that you don't know, running routes and ways that you don't know how they're going to run it. I'm sure Cam Ward has thrown literally no less than, what, 400, 500 reps of outs to Xavier Restrepo. He knows exactly how he's going to run that out route. He knows exactly how he's going to run that whip route.

He knows exactly what his skinny post looks like. He doesn't know that from player X, Y, and Z from Oklahoma State. He doesn't know that from tight-in, A, B, and C from Penn State. He doesn't know. So, you know, you can't really, I've never heard of, oh, man, we were blown away with the way this guy threw at the comments as well. I've never heard of that. And that be a major determining factor. I have heard guys say, oh, he didn't quite have zip on the ball like we thought was going to be there.

Oh, man, he missed a lot of throws today, which there's one of those. things that's kind of odd to me because it's like, well, if it can't help me, how can it hurt me? But, you know, it is what it is. I don't, I don't blame Cam Ward at all for sitting this one out. And I don't look at it at all. If you're a top dog, you have nothing to prove, nothing to gain. Why would you? Yeah, so here's Ward.

Yeah, he's waiting for his pro day is what he said today. So Miami's going to have a pro day. And like you mentioned, he'll be able to throw with receivers that he's familiar with. And I'm sure there's going to be plenty of NFL. scouts watching that and he's likely to be the first overall pick regardless of that unless he has a disastrous pro day which just doesn't usually happen another player that I'm really excited about coming out of the ACC is North Carolina running sorry Kenton North Carolina running back Amari and Hampton that's going to be someone that Belichick doesn't have next year though let's

keep that in mind you know I like his attitude he was at the podium today everyone is every time a different running back hits the podium they ask them hey what do you think of all the Ashton Gentie hype. Are you resentful or whatever? He said, no, I love it, Hampton said. Just how the running backs are coming together overall, like Sequin Barclay, Derek Henry. I mean, I've been talking to Ashton. He's really good. That's my guy. And I think Amari and Hampton is going to make an NFL team feel pretty, pretty good wherever he lands. People have him as far back as they're running back seven or eight. And it's crazy. To those people, I've seen one, I saw one, and I can't remember where it was from, but I thought it was a parody account because when I looked at it,

he was there running back team. I said, if there are nine better running backs than him, congratulations NFL. All that we throw the ball too much stuff is done. All of that nonsense is over and done with because if there are nine young men that are better with that ball under their arm that can do more to put your offense forward from the running back position than him, I am telling you right now this is the resurgence of the running back in a way that we have not seen for. Amarion Hampton has it all. When I say all, I mean, you have to seriously, like, look very deeply to find a flaw in his game. Does he have the breakaway speed? Yes, your defense and mine, have seen that young man, the back of his jersey, and when you see the back of that 28,

go to the sideline, go to take your helmet off, walk off that field. Unless you are on field goal block, you go ahead and head to the sideline. He's really good in a passing game. He's a better pass blocker than people give him credit for. He can do it with power. He can do it with agility. He's not the type of guy that's like, hey, he's got one move to go to. And if that ain't working, he is not going to be able to break a tackle.

Amazing contact balance. Good patience of vision. And I wouldn't say elite. I would say probably the worst part of his game is the short area first when he sees the hole and gets through it. But even that is not bad. It's not bad at all. It's like average. But when he gets those long strides going, it's over.

I'm telling you right now, that kid is phenomenal. And whatever NFL team gets him, especially if they're taking them, you know, in general, if you're not running back one or two, you're not going to the first round of him. If somebody gets him in the third, fourth, fifth round, that GM is going to look like a stuff. He's going to look like an absolute hero. Brand Holmes, Honolulu, Blue, too different from Carolina. It's different enough. not too different, but in all seriousness, he's an absolute stuff.

Yeah, I mean, you mentioned seeing him, and you're right, because he's been a big range on different draft boards, like seeing Hampton anywhere as low as like running back seven. I know I was watching Daniel Jeremiah NFL network has him running back too. So there's a range there. It's like one of those guys we don't know where he's going to end up. Like I feel like Xavier Restrepo out of Miami, there's a big range there. You know, he's opted not to run a 40.

I think I saw that today, which, you know, I don't know, that that may be frowned upon. He'll run a 40 at his pro day, though, I'm sure. But I've seen Restrepo anywhere from, and I doubt he'll go this high. I hope he goes this high, great young man. I've seen him anywhere as high as round two, anywhere as low as like round five or six. So for some of these guys, there's a huge range. And, you know, sometimes the combine can change those opinions, Ken, do you think sometimes we put too much stock in the,

certain skills that you see at the scouting combine yes absolutely a thousand percent i think that the combine is overrated especially and i know i hate to say this but especially when you get closer to the ball as then closer to the line of scrimmage the combine really means less and less man it really does i'm sorry to tell you if what made a great defensive end was how he looked in in in shorts and t-shirt and how quickly he ran 40 yards, then a former Georgia tech player and Michael Johnson would have been the greatest defensive end we've ever seen. I remember when I was a little kid watching him at the common home,

oh my God. He's built like a Greek God. He can run. He can do all the things. And this is no doubt at him because he had a great NFL career. He had quite a long NFL career. He made his money, did his thing. But the reality is, what the hell does it?

matter how how fast your tackle can run 40 yards. What is it right? Exactly. When is he ever running 40 yards? If your nose guard is running 40 yards something has gone incredibly wrong on that play. I'm sorry to inform right and many people say well even if you don't like the 40 the 10 yard split is important. Here's the thing again I look at guys like acescent legend Kyle Hamilton and he dropped down people's boards because he ran the slow 40 and I'm like listen I get it I get it he's a

safety and safeties do have to cover a lot of ground. Safety may end up running 40 yards on the play. Can we turn on the film of him? Because I remember a play in a game against the ACC team, Florida State. I'm sure you know exactly the player I'm about to talk about

that. Jordan Travis throws a go ball to the right side. Hamilton came off the hatch on the opposite side of the field and sprinted, dead sprint to where the ball was going, pick that thing up.

Give a damn how fast you run in shorts and t-shirt. Some guys, they have an intuition and a knack and a feel for the game that, like, whatever they run on, when there's like, oh, you're just, just running to the finish line, it's very different than how quickly they diagnose and say, ah, that's a run read. I need to be right down here in this hole. Ah, that's play action.

I need to be getting back. I need to cover this deep third. And so, to me, I think that it's deeply overvalued. And again, for certain positions, certain things I understand, right? Like, you want to know how big are a quarterback's hands because how well can he secure the ball? Absolutely. And you need to know, like, what's everybody's actual wing span and how tall they are?

because all the college websites lie. They all exaggerate. Exactly. Exactly. I wish NC State would allow it for me more. But that's not going to another time. But in all seriousness, I look at this and I say to myself, you know, people get tricked by the combine way too much.

God rest of this soul, Al Davis was the worst offender it is, getting tricked by the fastest player every year. Former ACC legend, now they're not in ACC anymore. Darius Hayward Bay from Maryland when in the first round. Why? Because he ran in the straight line really, really faxed. And what did that do for him in terms of NFL production? But all this to say, the most important part of the combine is the part that none of us get to watch on TV. And those are the interviews, right?

Like, man, if you want to make great reality TV, get a camera. Get a camera in those interview rooms. Because a lot of GMs will famously ask, like, ridiculous questions. just so just to see like how how these guys handle it and then how fast they think and then there's the actual like x's and o stuff like they'll sit down the quarterbacks they'll have them watch their own game film and explain what were your reads what were you thinking why did you why did you do that it'll get through an interception what happened there like all that stuff is is super important and unfortunately we don't get to see that part but you know NFL teams have to hit that out of the part but when we come back what's at stake in ACC Hooper? this weekend as we're trying to figure out who wants a potential fourth NCAA tournament spot in this conference. We'll tell you who's in the lead for it, but who's surging. You want to keep it locked right here, my friends. We're not done yet on this brand new episode of Locked on ACC. And if you want to get some action on all these games this weekend, guys, prize picks is the best

spot. There's no better way with March basketball here to get in on all of that action than prize picks, the best place for daily fantasy sports. With prize picks, you pick more or less on at least two players' stat projections. And if you're right, you can win up to 1,000 times your cash. It's fast. It's easy. And it keeps every game exciting. I mean, tonight we're looking at Jason Tatum over 26 and a half points, I think it is now.

Anthony Davis, more than 12 rebounds this week. It's quick and easy, guys. I love how I can make my picks in less than 60 seconds and stay engaged all game long. When I win, my money hits my account in his little. is 15 minutes. No waiting around. You get promotions on prize picks like Taco Tuesday where you get discounted player projections for even more value. Download the prize picks app today and use code locked on college to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code locked on college, all one word, locked on college for $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup.

Prize picks run your game. Thank you for making this episode of Locked on ACC, your first list. in your first watch day. Make sure you check out Lockedon College Basketball. Isaac Shade and Andy Patton do a great job. I mean, we're like this close to March now. We're hours away. Maybe you're watching this. It's March already.

They're going to get you guys ready for the conference tournaments, the NCAA tournament. And in terms of NCAA tournament relevance, Kenton, certainly not that this would be a quad one win at home or anything like that, but North Carolina, they need to beat Miami at home on Saturday. Miami has really struggled this year, as we know, two and 15 in conference. North Carolina is on that NCAA tournament bubble, and they're favored by 16 and a half points.

And UNC has been a team. Most folks, Bracketology, they still give Wake Forest the edge to grab the final ACC spot in the NCAA tournament. But North Carolina still has an opportunity, Kenton. So this is not only a must win, but probably a must look really good at home against Miami. me on Saturday. Oh, absolutely. If you lose this game, this is definitely a quad football. Like, that's, that's, you're at home against a conference bottom feeder that statistically has no shot of making the ACC tournament. You cannot lose this game. And they're without Matthew Cleveland again, who's still, who's still out, it's Miami's top scorer. So they're, North Carolina is supposed to kill them the way Duke did a few nights ago. I'm still convinced that Matthew Cleveland

Cleveland is playing for the nose, but you didn't hear that for me. You didn't hear that. You didn't hear that from me. No, but in all serious, this is a moment where North Carolina absolutely has to win this game. And also, I want to talk about something that you said before the break. Who's surging? North Carolina is surging in a major way right now.

While Wake Forest has had moments, while they've had stumbles, while they've had slips down the stretch, North Carolina has not. And that, again, we can all say, oh, well, winning late doesn't really matter, but it does. It just

does, let's just say USC goes into the conference tournament and then they win a couple games. Don't even win it outright. Just win a couple games as opposed to Wake Forest getting bounced in their very first game. Then what does that look like? Now, I would hope,

I would hope, again, you see the shirt I got on, okay? It's an NC State shirt if you're watching. I would hope that Wake Forest can get it together, come home Coach Forbes, keep these boys out, but in all seriousness, you know, this is a moment where, like you said, who's surgery right now has to map.

Yeah, Wake Forest has Notre Dame at home on Saturday, Kent, and they obviously need to keep winning. And honestly, I guess some people have SMU on the bubble. Some don't even consider them on the bubble. SMU, unfortunately, just don't have a strong enough resume, even though they have a very respectable record, 12 and 5 in the ACC, 21 and 7 overall. They take on Stanford on the road on Saturday.

But SMU's best win this year is against Pitt, who's not even going to be in the NCAA tournament. So unfortunately, it just looks like the Mustangs. Yeah, they had their magical run in football this year. But in basketball, they're probably going to be on the outside looking in come mid-March. I will say this. As a team that SMU is right now, they're going to need even. either a ton of help or they've got to win the ACC tournament.

Like you said, your best win being against Pitt is not enough. It's not enough. And even if we look at all the metrics and the Kempom and all that, they reward you losing to good teams. This team has not played enough good teams. They're out of conference schedule. Was the southeastern directional school for the differently able day school. That's how you know.

By the way, whenever you see day school on it, I get a little leery. I'm like, wait, do we not all go to school? during the day? What's going on? Yeah. They don't offer night classes, apparently. I know. So, so, you know, you're looking at this situation for SMU, and you're like, hey, y'all got to win this thing out right. You've got to go win the ACC tournament to get in as a vote.

Again, how far the ACC has fallen, that a team with a two to one win the loss ratio in conference, nobody's scalping that. Nobody's like, oh, man, that's move. Or nobody's actually talking about it relevantly. People are scoff. in terms of saying like, oh, this is nothing. You don't care.

Your best win is fit. Well, back in the day, if you, if you've beaten 12 or 8 or 9 ACC team, then we're going to look at you and say, oh, that's a team that belongs in a tournament. Now it's like, you're right. They got 12 wins in conference, but these days, that's not good enough necessarily. No, sir. It is not. Yeah.

Well, we'll be looking forward to this weekend in ACC hoops. I know Isaac Shade from locked on. Tar Heels and Lockdown College basketball is probably going to join us early next week. And maybe by then we'll have hard knocks finalized one way or the other. We can pick his brain on that. Make sure you follow Kenton at Lockdown Wolfpack and on X at TGIF underscore Kenton. Follow me at Lockdown Cains. The show Locked on Cains and Lockdown Cains on X.

And we'll talk to you guys next time on another episode of Lockdown ACC. We're part of the awesome Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day.