Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - Big 12 SQUAD - How Houston Cougars Making a Run Can Help Kansas Jayhawks

Episode Date: April 3, 2025

Houston Cougars make history as they advance to the Final Four, becoming the first Texas team to compete in a Texas-hosted Final Four. Can their strong defense and strategic preparation lead them to victory against Duke?Explore the latest coaching changes in the Big 12, including Ross Hodge's appointment at West Virginia and Matthew Mitchell's new role in Houston's women's basketball. The episode features insights from Parker Ainsworth, Paul, and other experts, who discuss the impact of these hires on team dynamics and expectations. Personal stories from Paul add depth, offering a glimpse into the diverse backgrounds of the hosts.Join the conversation as the hosts analyze BYU's loss to Alabama, Iowa State's tournament exit, and the challenges faced by college athletics in major cities.Tune in for a unique blend of sports analysis and personal narratives that promise to keep you engaged and informed.

Houston is going to the final four and Charles Barkley is headed to San Antonio. This is the Big 12 Squad. You're talking ball with the Big 12 Squad sponsored by Game Time. From Oklahoma State to Utah, from Kansas State to BYU, from Houston to Texas Tech, it's the local experts of the Locked On Podcast Network bringing you scoops, breakdowns and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming big 12 weekend buckle up it's the big 12 squad and we have a seat for you know her feelings and thin skin allowed squad up you're part of the big 12 squad it is thursday everybody welcome to the big

12 squad the most eclectic group we've probably ever had mountaineer paul brought his cat that is jay catch of locked on cougars talking all things b.y.u Paul brought his cat. That is Jay Katch of Locked On Cougars, talking all things BYU, JT Wissers, still of Locked On Utes, Nick Maravetz with Locked On Cyclones, Parker Innsworth talking to Houston Cougars, and Mountaineer Paul, who says a lot about the Steelers, but more importantly, West Virginia and those Mountaineers.

The Big 12 has a team in the final four. Charles Berkley is in San Antonio this week, which is a legendary piece of content, and Duke is still in our intro with just as a little, it's not great. It's just not great. Look, if we win, that's kind of final four schools, though, can we claim to find four schools? Yes, I feel like it'll hurt a little bit next week off. They do it at all.

Why are you speaking in existence? I said it will hurt. I'm just saying it will. It's not my fault. They're in the intro. There you go. Take one of those it will. It's not my fault they're in the intro. There you go. Take one of those real strong. That's the BYU middle finger right there. That's what they do down in Provo.

That's what they were doing to Alabama a lot this week. Speaking of BYU, Alabama, let's start with the teams that lost in March Madness. Nick, we can get to you. JT, you're in the crown. We lost two, so we're in the crown. How's that feeling about what a done taste go, JT you're in the you're in the crown we lost to so we're in. In the crown baby. What a done taste go. You're one and done in the crown.

I know we're not used to this since last year we made such a deep run in the NIT so this is a new it's a new feeling for Utah basketball. Jake I have not got to talk to you I don't know if any of us have since BYU lost to Alabama last week that was I tweeted out three minutes in this will go really bad. the- the- the- the- the- the- I know cuz it's like BYU in a nutshell that they'll get a opponents best and then the next game mark Sears who seemingly couldn't miss ends up with just six points in the next game after that. It's the tale of all tales for BYU to have a team have this historic type performance against the Cougars. I will say Jake I respect what you guys did but I do think Duke and you guys were on another level too So I do give the blue devils a lot of credit defensively rather than there were a lot of open threes you guys gave up and BYU to heck of a run. Richie Saunders was kind of like the March Madness player story with the whole grandpa tater top thing, but it just kind of came to it. It was a heck of a run.

King Tut King Tut is our is our new overlord. King Tut King Tut. That's a that's a reference to something else completely different. She's Jake. over. King Tut, King Tut. That's a reference to something else completely different. Jake, what is the outlook early on for BYU basketball next year? Because it sounds like Yegor Demin could come back. He wants to play with AJ DeBonsa and Richie Saunders is back. I mean, there's a way that the Cougars are good. Here's the thing. If they get Richie back, they Yegor back and they bring in AJ DeBonsa, watch out. This Cougars team could be much like the one right below me and Parker.

It could be challenging for Final Four next year if they can get that trio back together. Nick Nervous. I'll leave it to you to play right on that. With the cyclones. Ah, another gear. You're like, gosh dang it, PJ Otzelberger. The muscles are big, the wins in March aren't always.

The shirts are small. The shirts are small. Shmeety, baby. Shme shirts are small, the shirts are small. Shmeety Parker to you. Yeah, what do we, I mean, I like TJ. You can't, obviously he's not on the hot seat, not even close. He's been great in the regular season,

but it's the post season where things seem to crack and injuries can be a part of that. But what do you make of Iowa State and almost the really nearly non-competitive game against Ole Miss defensively? Style. Well, part of it too is key, Sean, right? But at the really at the crux of it, at the end of the day, Ole Miss just shot out of their minds, similar to Alabama. I think they were 66% from three or from the field. I forget at this point, I'm trying to push it out of my memory. But on the season, they were 33% or whatever it was. So

they over like doubled their season average. And of it yeah it is just that Iowa State was missing a great defensive guard in Keyshawn but sometimes you just the baskets are going to fall for the other team and this is typical cyclones I'm not gonna lie part of me wasn't too surprised with an early exit with one of the best teams we've probably ever seen in Ames just because of that's that's how I would say athletics goes but you know I think next year there is some

upside if we can get Oscar Clough in Ames look out look out. Wow there is always baseball. See oh. I was thinking about getting into baseball this year actually the whole opening day thing looked real fun. I was like, maybe I look into that. Isn't wrestling over too?

What do you have now? Softball? Where's Cody? Softball? We got softball. Yeah. Good. Is that track and field maybe?

They can go. Hey, we do that all right over at Houston, actually. Hey, Parker Ainsworth, you also do basketball really well. You're headed to the final four. Maybe the first question, I know you do a lot of teaching and coaching. Will you be able to take a break from that and get down to San Antonio? We're working on it. I guess the recording this podcast, we're working on it. Yeah, I thought it was interesting, we opened with the other Cougars,

but I guess they do have a five-star coming in and a potential lottery pick coming back. I guess I get the conversation piece there. Someone with salty wasn't the A block. I just think it's very typical Houston to not be the A block even when we're still playing. You're on Drake Joe. You keep the viewers here and they know that eventually they're gonna get to the top

if they wanna hear, right? You tease it and now we're here Parker you're you're in the final four. Yeah. And I want to apologize actually this is the old Final Four shirt from 2021. I haven't gotten the updated one for the more recent not a good Final Four for Houston. Getting there was great.

Jake's never seen a Final Four shirt by the way for BYU Oh, hey, hey now. Okay. Do we need to put together like a GoFundMe to get you to San Antonio? Is that what we need? Ooh, there we go. I don't know when this releases,

but the last minute GoFundMe to get a ticket would be crazy. We're trying to get in as a worker. It's the last shoe collection, bro. Yeah, sorry, flipping some of these from my, take your pick, take your pick, take your pick. Um, yes, Antonio, I will say, and Drake and I talked about this earlier in the week, it's the first time a team from Texas is playing in a final four in Texas. Good stuff. Which is interesting. Duke is very national. What was that? What

was that? Yeah. Oh, bro. Holy. I thought I thought it was lotion. I thought it was lotion. I was worried. It's simple lotion. Bro got the gallon of Starbucks. How did you pull this off? This is what we call hillbilly splurging bud. The venti. I got my paycheck today because our this off. This is what we call hillbilly splurging. But the venti I got my paycheck today because our direct deposit didn't get my whatever reason I didn't get it. So I got my paycheck today instead of last week. And I thought, well, you

know what? First Marty in Huntington, I'm as well hit the Starbucks. Bang. Paul, that's worth like three visits to your ecclesiastical leader here in Provo. I'm just saying. Yeah. Go through the drive-through. How did you attain that? Show your ID or something? I've never, look, do it again. Do you pull it up next to your next. And you told, and you told you definitely need an ID for that. Right. It's a vanilla tag.

Oh yeah. Pulled a hat. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. the- the- the- the- the- the about West Virginia fans being these coal miners, these real down to earth, just blue collar people.

Here Paul comes with the most like white girl fall drink of all time and it's the size of- With the cat, with the cat. It's the size of a two liter Mountain Dew. What a Starbucks. Are we allowed to say what it was from? Wait, are we getting a deal here, Paul? Are you working on us?

Are you working something on us? No free ads. I keep switching it up, hoping somebody will just reach out to me the the the the the the the the the

the the the the I will double fist a lot of beverages for a sponsorship. Don't test me. That's great. Coming up more on Houston's final for Arizona State as a new women's basketball coach. So does BYU. One of those two is a little confusing to me. This is a very tame Big 12 squad. Today's show is brought to you by Five Hour Energy. How do I stay awake all the time? From work I'm going to go ahead and get you started. Today's show is brought to you by five hour energy. How do I stay awake all the time?

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They are everywhere. Stock up today. Stay energized. That is five hour energy. Use five hour energy today. Back on the big 12 squad, Mountain Ear Paul, segment two. So you can have a do,

pour your do into the Starbucks canister, whatever it is. I got this one in the door. Yeah, Starbucks canister whatever it is. Don't worry. That'll be a hard stop. Let's triple up the caffeine intake. Parker was already frustrated about not being Parker was already frustrated not leading the show and then Drake teases women's basketball coach. Does it mean Parker's women's coach of that? So this is going to end in a block.

Yeah, you did hire a good women's coach too. God dang it. I forgot. Yeah, from Kentucky. I couldn't tell coach to God dang it. I forgot. Yeah, Kentucky. I couldn't tell you his name. He was really Matthew Mitchell. He was really good at Kentucky. Yeah. And then he had a concussion in the fall of 2020 and retired. That was the best of us. You know, no contact sports. Yeah. Yeah. And he's getting out of retirement to take the Houston job, even though he like runs a charity in Lexington, Kentucky.

We're not gonna ask questions. We're just gonna roll with it. He was stellar at Kentucky. Had a great run. I mean, I, great coach. I don't know what the circumstances are for this, but great coach. He ended up at Houston. Yep. So we alluded a little bit about Houston's Final Four. We talked about it at the end of that first segment. Give me the assessment of the game against Tennessee and then going into Duke, because that Tennessee win was not just a win, it was total under domination. Well, and I gotta be honest, that was gonna be a close game.

It was very good on good in a lot of ways. Two teams play good defense and good guards. Houston, they had an answer for everything that Tennessee wanted to do. They went small because Jawan Roberts was in foul trouble and it worked. And frankly, they killed them on the class.

And I think Tennessee had 15 points at halftime and abysmal like one of 15 from three. Just Houston really good job of like shutting down the shot from behind the arc. And then didn't let them get anything free in the lane inside. Translating that to Duke, now we have Duke expert Cam Stewart on. He is rooting for Duke, he told me that. He's the worst. I can't believe we get this. I can't believe we get this for free man. Hey really quick before we jump to the Duke part of it, I just want to say that was one

of the most impressive first halves of basketball defensively I've ever seen. I know I always get crap or not given the big 12 schools enough love. Right. You can end this statement with and also I'm rooting for Duke this week. I was blown away by what they did. And yeah, I mean, I did pick Duke to win it also. I was worried that the Carolina fan in you was going to not be able to pick Duke, actually, so I'm surprised. Taking UNC over Houston, apparently.

Wasn't your team the one that they held 36 points or whatever that ended up being? We did double up Utah. Why do you have to remember the exact number? That just shows Jake's level of detest for Utah. Remember the exact number. It was that kind of figure-shack. Someone called that petty.

Someone said petty. Someone say petty. Paul, show Cam what you got there. Someone call that real. That's real. Cam, check this out. Now do the facing again. Yeah. It's just like this two, this two liter. I'm sure you're doing it with her. It's half empty. I've never seen anything like it.

Is Cam frozen? I've never seen anything like it. I'm frozen. It's a big ass vanilla often imitated never duplicated. That's incredible. Does Mountain Dew know about this? Did we already go over? Do they know about this? Well, I was eating nerds with it because I was like, wow, you know, of course. I have to balance it out. If I'm going to eat something sissy, drink something as sissy as Starbucks, then I got to throw some Noids in there a little bit since you got the Boston hat on.

So some Noids in. Dude, this is great. I've got a character. Because like the night after I get really high and just eat a bunch of crap, I like the next morning I'm like,, I gotta have a protein shake. I gotta have something that's good for me. And Paul, his balance is I ate something sissy last night. I've got to really man it

up. But I have some beaver meat for breakfast with my latte. Has anybody here have squirrel brains? Honest question. What? Yes, I have. It's very good. They're not. They're not bad. I've had chicken brains if that helps. I don't know. It's similar. Yeah. Skull. Paul, you big fan of squirrel brains over

there? With eggs. Yeah. And hot sauce for sure. Oh yeah. We were. What kind of hot sauce you put on these? Really doesn't matter to me. But I guess if you're going to pick me on the spot, I'd probably go sriracha. Oh, OK. OK. We were a kid. We fell on when I when I was a child. I we fell on some financial hardships there for a few years. And I remember like one time we had to we went back to school shopping

and then had to take the back to school clothes back to the to the stores super funny stories It was awesome And from around around that same time great It was probably December or so we hit a squirrel on the way home and that was that we did we cooked it The squirrel was cooked and consumed my dad was like man, you know times are tough We're just gonna get through this. So yeah yeah, we had squirrel brains for dinner one time. Was that in season then? Oh, Derek, we got a squirrel for you.

I don't know if you just heard that. We have so much to catch you up. I heard something about squirrel brains. Yeah, man, you can eat them. They're edible. We've ate, yeah? Not even the weirdest. I was having weird-

My dad called me when I was a kid. What? Weirdest thing he's ate? Actually, my dad called me that last week to be fair. Show off. Yeah, Paul, Paul, I thought you were going to get any more for us. You liked the squirrel brains are good. I think I'll see eight. That was kind of weird. The West Virginia cuisine. Uh, there's a few things. Yeah. Uh, let's see in West Virginia specifically, uh, what's something really weird? Probably blood sausage.

That's the only thing that I can really think of. My grandma used to make that. So then that's basically made out of blood, congealed blood. If you've ever had that, that's a super weird one. Um, uh, squirrel brains, obviously, uh, other than that, not too much, um, that I can think of that's super, super weird. I mean, like, okay, like for me growing up, seeing hog guts strewn over my swing set and it roasting in the ground was something really normal

for me to see growing up. Does that mean that the flames are coming from beneath the swing? That's kind of an ominous image right there. No, literally. So hog intestines are really long. Like they, they look like, um, those willing to man things like they're that they're like, yeah, all over the place, you know, and they're blue. Here's the thing about, I had to go halfway around the world to Taiwan to try

blood sauce. I just couldn't just come to West Virginia and gotten it. Wait, so while you're speaking of travels, I've got questions on brains here too, because I lack them. But also I feel like, so in Texas, you see a lot of Latino markets will sell say sauce or like pig brains, right? Like and put in tacos. Is it this, and frankly,

in one spice correctly, I think is pretty good. Is it the same kind of delicacy here? Is it is a school brain similar? Do they taste or have the same consistency? Just different sizes? They're both firm and creamy. Like if that's what you're asking, which was my nickname in high school. Almost all kind of all brains are like that. That's what I'm getting at is I only see the pig brain. And so out of the hall. Yeah, almost all brains are like that. I couldn't use the tadpole. That's what I'm getting at is I only see the pig brain. And so I didn't know other animals.

Not much difference, yeah. Deer brain, you could eat, that's a thing. We had a few of those back in the day. You take that off as well. Yeah, we had a tree in the front yard. That's where you clean the deer. We were, when I was probably seven or eight, my dad worked at New York Life,

had an awesome midlife crisis where he left, he left landscaping for New York Life, which lasted like a month. And seven points in the backyard, deer season. And he shot it, dropped that thing. But as we were getting in the car to go to school and come home and there he is. It's like Napoleon Dynamite, man. Like with Uncle Lyle shooting the cow like right in front of the school bus That's a drink dad I think it was Uncle Lyle that did that Uncle Rico threw steak at passersby That was an actual toss by the way, yes the the the

the the the the the the right next to me in this podcast right here. Look at this guy. You wanna talk about some of my dad's favorite people, man. John Deeter from Napoleon Dynamite. Hey, you guys, next time we have like a big 12 like get together, we're coming out to Utah.

We're going to Preston, Idaho to visit Napoleon Dynamite's house. I'd saw him. Oh. Wait, are you all tight? How far away is that? About two hour drive from where I'm at. Because I would 1000% do that.

I would do that. Like a million. Wait, are you all close? I'm about two hours away where I'm not like, like, are we gonna go stalk him? Or does he know you're coming? When you say just go visit the house. They have like a shrine like he doesn't live there. Yeah, it's not John Heeter's house. World Brain Parker is confused. He did say that. He did say that. Yes. We're gonna go to a place called Preston, Idaho. It's the home of Napoleon Dynamite.

You're two hours from Idaho. No kidding, huh? Yeah, yep. So, never been. It's like one of the few, I've got like five states left to check off and that's one of them, Idaho. Yeah, man, we're getting more cooking.

I mean, I'm in Atlanta right now. I've got a sister who's married to a potato salesman in Idaho. I don't know what to tell you, Drake. So that's so sick. Wait, is not going to play in Preston? No, actually, not make what they play in Boise. Is that the place you play in Idaho?

Yeah, they've got a minor league team, right? While you're there, you can bring them into the big 12 fold. Maybe we do know I am close ish friends with the Boise State Athletic Director Jeremiah Dickey. Yep follows me on Twitter still. He was going to happen in place now. He was going to come on locked. Yeah, so expensive to live there. Yeah. Boise Jackson Hole you can't move there anymore. Derek. You get a bunch of you. So I went to high school in Southern California. A lot of the lot of people venture out that way from Southern California gets I'm going to go to Utah. Derek you get a bunch of you I so I went to high school in southern California a lot of the lot of

people venture out that way from southern California gets too expensive and they go to boys. Welcome to Utah come on down in Kansas you've definitely got southern California hair for sure. Like so it's so- take that Beach boys. Yeah. Yep. Please describe drake's hair now. What is drake's hair? Look what does it remind you of? Uh definitely a little hotlanta definitely a little

yeah definitely definitely a little i'm from texas and i'm trying to prove it it's got the mullet paul it's blowing the arc it's all right there i think i think drake could be in a Beach Boys tribute band, honestly. I did. Derek, if Derek. Oh, there we go. Oh, oh, it's not just a phase. You gotta, you gotta have just enough grease to be able to sleep. Are you about to join the black parade, brother? It's not a phase, Paul. It is not a phase.

I've never is that your natural hair? It is. That is black man. You put it over your put it over your eye again. You kind of flopped it down there for a second. Yeah, the down is there we go. Oh my gosh. Oh, yes. Green Day right now. Yeah. Oh my God. Green Day right now.

The artist of JT, your turn. Hell yeah. Like the third member of Big Time Rush. That's crazy, man. D-Day is gonna be the day. It's called budget cuts. Wow. Budget cuts, man.

Crazy. Not cut and fair. I will never forget the first time I saw a JT hatless, which was similar. Hey, you guys remember that time that we were almost in segment three and didn't talk about our coach yet? We got him in the middle of the night. Yeah. We got him in the middle of the night.

We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in the middle of the night. We got him in will never forget the first time I saw a JT hatless which you guys know that time that we were almost in segment three and didn't talk about our coach yet. We got a brand new coach. It's crazy. Everyone's mad about their

to be fair. Not near Paul. We'll catch the next coach if we don't talk about this one. Okay. They just keep coming through. We're talking about the next one. Listen, we're same time next year. Cranking our Hodges for sure. I love it. I love it. That's great. Coming up, we're going Hodgwild. Coming up in our 40 minute segment. I think after that we need to talk about BYU women's basketball coach. We are going to hit all the brand new coaches in the Big 12 including Houston. Cam, did you know Houston also got a new women's basketball coach? women's basketball coach. Yeah. So on our new in women's basketball that's releasing on Wednesday, not the hoops. Eddie's

the best of the three, by the way that's coming up on segment three of the big 12 squad. Right back. All right, new boss hands I have ever seen. those are doll hands. Rude, mean, mean, uncalled for. No, it's not. Trust me. Motion of the ocean, baby. Drake, remember when you said there's a tame episode now look.

Yeah, you have trouble with Jordan Pickles. You try to shake a grown man's hand and you'll know it's not as cool as you think. the- the- the- the- the- the decided to hire Molly Miller as their next head basketball. Paul, you got to show her that hair. You got a shot with the control is lacking and Molly's Molly's husband and children will be joining her in, in Tempe, just making sure that we all, they are going to be there. But Molly Miller is the new women's basketball coach at Arizona state. Oh, on behalf of all of us with the big 12 squad, Molly, just want to

say welcome to the conference. Grateful to have you here. We wish you nothing but the state. On behalf of all of us with the Big 12 Squad, Molly, just want to say welcome to the conference. Grateful to have you here. We wish you nothing but the best and unbelievable. I think Richie needs to get her on this. Richie needs to get her on the Squad show, right? That's the introduction. If Molly Miller's on the Squad show one week. I did hear a rumor that Houston threw an offer her way. Yeah, I did think Houston threw an offer her way though, and she chose to go to Arizona. If we had her on the show, would that raise or would that lower our woman audience? Here's the problem. We can only have 10 hosts on the show at a time because of our stream yard complications.

So like, I mean, how do we pick, do we draw straws for who gets to be involved in the Bolle Miller conversation? for who gets to be involved in the Bollie Miller conversation? I feel like she needs to make a basketball test that we have to end up people that hit the highest grades get on mostly through unconfident my abilities. You have to get right which team she coaches. Where she came from. This is good. If you can get that, we're good. She won at Drury. I'm sure that when Richie Bradshaw shows up, he'd be happy to wax poetic

about Molly Miller, the new basketball coach in Tempe. Jake, BYU's deposed women's basketball coach is no longer in Provo because they are deposed. And so why not go with the assistant? Who is, and Cam and I brought up this point when we were talking about it. You take Jimmy Dykes at Arkansas, right? ESPN guy, he's a legend locally. And then he ruins his reputation

or at least Mars his reputation by just sucking as a basketball coach. You're taking an all American basketball player and putting him in the spotlight as a coach now. And if in three years, this didn't go the way you wanted it to, that really stinks for a guy who's got a great reputation there. Well, hey, BYU took a Heisman Trophy winner, let him have two years as an offensive coordinator, then dumped him. So, hey, I don't know what to tell you. Which you shouldn't do. You're playing with fire there.

So here's the thing. Lee Kamar, as you mentioned, an all-American basketball player for BYU men's basketball. He actually was an assistant under Jeff Judkins who preceded Amber Whiting. So he's been seven years in Provo. He has really bided his time. He has been patient. He probably should have got a crack at this job. I feel like when Amber Whiting was hired for the position,

now he gets his shot. But to your point, Drake, if it doesn't work out in two or three years, that's another household name in Cougarville that's going to be cast to the curb. Especially with the checks they got coming. You better win. Hmm. Check exception to him saying Cougarville partner.

Who is that about? Who is that? I feel like you. Which point? Wait, which point do you agree with that? I said this is a little piece behind the curtain, by the way. I uploaded that with like 10 minutes left last week hoping for Drake to make a good point and what else have you uploaded here

you you keep uploading oh my God picture look at the stud those are not doll hands no No, that is an all timer. That cam. I love that one. I love that sketch. I love that. It looks like the guy from happy Gilmore that showers in the pond. Yeah. Did you guys see part two's coming? So talk to me cams got a Boston Bruins cap ready to rock and roll. Yeah, he was We got the Duke shirt on under the sweatshirt I need I need bits because my Wi-Fi so bad I only get like every three words everyone's saying so I just have to have it's ready Because of me yeah, yeah down your. Paul started the chain. I have crystal

clear internet. Thank you. You took it from cam. Jake on the to wrap up that aspect of our new coaching conversation that we're here with for, for BYU. I mean, there had to be with the excess of money that the Cougars have in athletics. Jerem Jordan said it to me on the show last week that, hey, now it's above table. We can talk about it. BYU's got money. We can utilize it in athletics. Why wasn't there a splash higher, a big name, and

somebody taken away from a major organization? Why was it, again, the assistant of the deposed coach? I think the biggest impediment, obviously, is because BYU typically have their head coach there, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now that's not a hard and fast rule. We have seen that with women's track and women's cross country. Diljeet Taylor is not a member of the faith, but she's been a very great head coach on those two sports for BYU.

So I don't know Drake, honestly with what they did in football, what they've done in men's basketball, many of the other hires they have made recently were pretty big sized hires. This one feels like they settled a bit in just elevating Lee Comarque to the job but I think they're feeling like they need to give him a crack at it even if it doesn't work out. The NIL situation at BYU is interesting too because Jake correct me if I'm wrong your 25 recruiting class ranks outside the top 50 correct? Are we talking men's or women's? Football, I meant for football. Football, yeah, it's outside of that. It's interesting, right? You have this amazing basketball class, you're doing so well there.

We just added another four star to that class, it should elevate even further. You should go up more, but that's what, why do you think there's such a disparity between the two sports? Well, and that's a great question. I think the biggest thing is trying to find the right balance because in football, we're going to have 105 guys when that new house settlement comes into effect. That's obviously going to affect how many guys you can pay because you have so many more guys. In basketball, it's capped at 15.

So you can invest a whole lot more money in fewer guys. And we all know that basketball, one impact player like an AJ DeBansa, they're going to gonna cost top dollar but they can have a major major impact by themselves whereas you need probably two three four football players that same type of an impact true Paul you got a new coach man yeah man I got a hodge on man I love this dude he is truly awesome. Today's show is brought to you by FanDuel. FanDuel's where I go to make money. FanDuel's great because March Madness is here. The FanDuel app is giving you the chance to get in on the action like never before. Right now, new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. That's 200 extra bucks to use on everything from

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That's the biggest Paul's smile since what happened with West Virginia. Well, you know, man, the way Darren DeVries left, obviously, my favorite pastime is to hate Darren DeVries now and the way his family talked to me, which is a whole nother subject. I guess they were upset that I put some stuff out there about Tucker that I wasn't supposed to or that they didn't want me to. But at the end of the day, answer my text, let me know why you left. So I can tell people they chose not to do that. Anyway, Ross Hodges now in town.

Uh, maybe everything I do is, uh, I don't know if that was the right thing to do or not in those situations. Obviously sometimes emotion gets the best of us, but I am glad that that Hodges in town. It's funny right now he's got two jobs. Literally. He spoke about it today in an interview, uh, with one of our people here locally. He's preparing North Texas for a final four game in IT during the day.

And then- Which I love, by the way. I love that coaches stay and finish out the commitment. I think if you're gonna be a man who's gonna go and lead a program somewhere else, you gotta finish the message you've been preaching to the players of the school you're leaving. We got one of those, and I'm an assistant on our staff, but I'll let Paul finish. I have thought on that too, actually.

Kansas would have had Jim Harboff, they would have let him coach the, the bowl game Stanford was in. Wow. And at night he's putting together a roster for West Virginia, talk about that openly today. He said he can focus, he said it'd be the same if he was at North Texas right now,

because the analogy he used was like, if I was at North Texas right now, I would be coaching this team during the day. and so we're so deep into this NIT. We would be building the roster for North Texas anyway, so it's really no different just focusing on West Virginia. So that was the I like I like the way he put that hadn't thought of it that way. He sold a lot of people and listen been a big PR deal come out about him from Ren Baker. We've seen guys like Fran for Sheila.

Obviously all the coaches around the conference got Drew's come out and said things about him. Several really good coaches say that he's a good coach, an elite defensive guy. They've had a Houston level defense that North Texas now this is not a power four level for going on now five years now. So and he's been the architect behind that. I think that's what they're gonna lean into. What number candidate was he on the most desired list?

Cause I do know you guys struck out on a couple. He was probably, from a fan's perspective. Fans or organization, either one. Wren Baker, let's just, we'll be really honest about this. Wren Baker went all the way out to New Mexico, met Richard Pitino and didn't offer him the job because he wanted his guy. Right? Yeah, and here's the thing, Paul.

How did they riff on not pulling our good friend up at Utah State back to West Virginia? That was crazy. Yeah, because here's the reason, because that's a Bob Huggins disciple, literally. That's a Bob Huggins disciple. You know, so you've got to think he coached for Huggins for over a decade, with Huggins for over a decade,

with Huggins for over a decade. So- But Calhoun had such great success, both the Youngstown State, and obviously Utah State this past year. I was stunned that he re-up with the Actons. He wanted the job, and they had a top 20 class at Utah State,

of all places, in basketball. So obviously doing a good job there, but the defensive metrics is a good job there. But the defensive metrics is a huge reason. One of the big reasons they didn't get hired. He's never had good defense. Rembaker is sold on that you have to have good defense to win. I agree. And listen, like I say all the time, Rembaker is literally, I don't even think he's ever missed on a basketball hire all the way back since you got to Ben McCollum, Darren Breeze. I mentioned him all the time. Mark Kellogg, he's on the women's side, he's doing amazing. He's Grant McCaslin, we hired him at North

Texas. So obviously, no, he was there. I'm sorry, apologies. He didn't hire McCaslin, I don't think, but he was with McCaslin. So yeah, but he's done a good job. So we're trusting it. But we do know that this was he acquiesced, right? With the, with the rich Rodriguez situation. He said, okay, you guys are going to war here. You want me to hire Rodriguez so bad, fine. Not doing it for the basketball job. That's what happened.

It's about, we haven't talked about McCaslin yet. What happened with them? They lost. Levels, I hear that to rub it in the end. That was one of the craziest comebacks I've ever seen. I kept watching thinking, how are they going to win this if they found a way forward? The refs. Blame it on the refs.

Why not? You can't. They also missed two free throws. I guess that's the way. Nassif, they left full points on the board. Yeah, that was bad. Paul, to wrap up that West Virginia basketball conversation here. I saw a couple of West Virginia beat reporters, fans tweet out information that donors aren't on board all the way with the hire.

But instead of giving money to basketball, they'll just now they see Rich Rodriguez in even higher standing than they did a month ago. And they want to take that money and deliver it to football. Is that the case right now? Oh, that's definitely the case. Uh, I do think some guys have come back to the table for Ross Hodge, which is great and look at the end of the day, it's going to be in the university's hands come July anyway with revenue share.

So that's kind of, that's kind of almost a non point in some ways, but then I was still going to matter. We know that. So I think in this situation, uh, they're both going to get something, but definitely Rich Rod. I mean, he just had, like I said today on three guys for the game, which is a local podcast with our play by play guy, Tony Corrida, talking about just what they're going to do there.

They're cutting down the roster one on five, like a lot of people are, and they're going to go get at, they've already got 60 new people this year, first year in the first year. They're going to have at least 12 to 15 more transfers coming in after spring. So it's going to be a wild ride. Yeah, we haven't mentioned that. And we can't after we get to Houston women's basketball

coach, which I know everyone's very excited to talk about. There are NIL agents are trying to broker deals right now, because once that revenue sharing hits with universities, these agents aren't going to make near as much money. So they want to land that $3 million deal today so they get their 20% and can go home and be fat and happy. We can get into that here in a bit. Parker, you have a new women's basketball coach, and I know we all are very, very excited. Is your name Molly? Molly? Is that her name?

It's not Molly. Molly. Molly. Molly. No, we got a guy named Matthew Mitchell. Again, like I said, he's pretty talented coach. He got women like Ryan Howard and stuff like that to Kentucky, the SEC coach of the year twice.

He kind of stumbled into Houston. Everyone was kind of surprised that he was a candidate. I think people knew he was even out like looking to coach anymore after being retired for a few years. And I will say Houston feels like, not that all of y'all follow girls basketball. Why you put that up while I'm talking about this guy, man? But Houston

does kind of have this like same kind of like, you know, could it be the next big thing? They hadn't been very good the last few years, but they do have a lot of talent in the area, not unlike other sports, Houston Metro, Metro area has got a lot of athletes across a lot of things. They've looked at like the top SEC programs, top eight, 12 programs, fuck the girls from it's typically Houston. A lot, a lot of things. If you look at like the top SEC programs, top A12 programs, fuck the girls from, it's typically Houston. A lot, a lot of kids. You're missing the number one point. He watched Kelvin Sampson turn, come via retread, come around to Houston, have major success and says, hey, if he can do it, I can do it. Well, he didn't have a lack of success in Kentucky and he didn't leave in the same kind

of way. But I do think there's something to that. I think the other thing too though, is that like, whether it's Title IX or just Goodwill, the Houston women get all the same facilities and perks that the men do. It's actually a really well set up program with great facilities, great swag, gear, deals, all of that. It's pretty good setup.

I think it could turn out pretty quick. Just follow the Kelvin Sampson model and you'll be just fine. Yeah, yeah, just be a whole thing coach. Do the defense, have a defense. Yes. Is what you should do. Houston's a weird, it's just, it's weird, man.

You've got access to local athletes that are blue chip. I mean, if you put a team together of only kids from Lubbock, you're gonna suck. But if you put together basketball or football, only Houston area, that's a very good team. The problem is, and I've mentioned this, Parker, I think to you, I know Cam and I have talked about it with a few people, like the number one show in town,

any given season would be the Astros or the Rockets or the Texans or the damn Symphony Orchestra, right? There are so many things in Houston that are going on that the university gets pulled down by in Provo. There's just BYU in Houston. There's so much happening outside of Cougars basketball or football or women's basketball. It's got to be tough to get a kid to stick around when they they may not be the number one show in town, no matter how good they are.

Well, and I do think when you look at like the crowds for Houston basketball, or if you go back to 2015, 16, when they were nationally relevant in football, winning Peach Bowls and stuff like that, like they've shown people show up for a winner, but what you're saying is completely true. There's just too many other things to do when they're not. And it is a unique problem in this conference to Houston.

I mean, you mentioned BYU, but there's Waco, there's Lubbock, there's Stillwater. Even Fort Worth is not the same thing. Like it's it's a unique, unique problem for Houston. And I guess you could also argue, is it Arizona state is like outside of Phoenix, right? Like kind of sort of but I don't um, it's really the next closest thing Tempe is a lovely lovely town Right next to Scottsdale a lot of room to get in trouble over there. It's it's they they drop But that's a place you want to stay I can tell you I've been to Houston a few times That's a place. I want to take a vacation every few weeks. Like get me out of the city limits

for a second or two. Tempe, you could be there for a long time. But there's a Houston pride though, like H-Town, like people love representing Houston. And frankly, as someone who reminds you I was born there too, like people will tell you that they're from there very proudly. It's also got that going for it. You got the number one recruit to Texas. You got that going on to you? Now what? Your name is blocking it by the way, we couldn't see it. Paul, you gotta raise up a little bit there.

Which one of his names? They both say it on there, Paul. High chest brother. No Paul, you gotta- Directly underneath it. Paul, you gotta lift up. Even worse. Paul, lift, you gotta lift up again.

You just stand up and you'll be up. He still can't. Ah, there we go, West Virginia front. the the the the the the the the

the the It was done with a staple and a chest piece. What do you call it? A staple and a chest piece. I'm going to need to pause here. Melted chest pieces. How does that work? I have this tattoo on my back. Just kidding, I have this. So. Melted chest piece.

Yeah. How does any of that work, what you just said? Well, in jail, the toilets are steel, right? So in the cubby hole where the toilet paper usually goes, they just, you know, because you can get anything in jail, obviously, lighter. You take a lighter to some chess pieces, you get soot, which is like an ink. You mix it with some ashes from a cigarette or whatever. And then you take, it's not sanitary, if that's what you're gonna ask. And then you need to get a staple that you have sharpened on the ground.

You attach it to a pen or a pencil. And then you just poke, poke, poke, poke, poke. It's a pretty painful thing. Let the art happen. Yeah. Old Josh. Honestly, it's Josh. Can we talk about Josh? Houston pride like Vernon Maxwell has a like a distaste for Utah

and the Utah jazz like if y'all don't follow Vernon Maxwell on Twitter, he will randomly like four o'clock on a Tuesday, tweet out trash talk about the state of Utah it is fantastic he he loves so like we were talking about Houston I believe we were talking about tattoos you're interrupting the conversation Parker what the art of prison tattoos how about Josh over this Josh guy you think Josh is hosting the most successful podcast for a certain sports team I don't think so the most successful podcast for a certain sports team? I don't think so. So here's what Josh used to do in Huntington. Now, I also have to preface this by saying that I was not in a good frame of mind during these days. And you use these stories as lessons. This is

something to be a lesson. Right. Yeah. So what he would do is he would get high on meth and then he would tear apart bicycles, spray paint them, put them back together again, wipe off all the paint and just do that over and over again every single day. So I would always know where he was at. And if I ever needed a bicycle fix, then I'm pretty good at that. Wow. That is sick. This guy's an artist.

And that's how Mel Gibson came up with the passion of the costume. Nick Maravitz, we go to you, sir. I'm in shock. You never know when Paul will strike and it's amazing every time. Top five Paul episode for sure. Nick is like 13 too. What's crazy? What's crazy? I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. I'm like.

I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. I'm like. No doubt. Yeah. Josh is an artist. He just takes things apart, puts them back together. The man is making art.

That's all. He was a different kind of guy. He's the artist. Different kind of guys. It's well put, Paul. That's well put. Yeah. He had a sister named Kit Kat.

What's Kit Kat up to? I have a crazy story about Kit Kat. I really do. What's KitKat up to? I have a crazy story about KitKat. I really do. It's a really bad one. Like, it's really bad though. We got held at gunpoint. We were in Huntington on 9th and 11th, which is just a really bad area in Huntington.

And we were walking together. She was a woman of the night. And what I would do when I was homeless in my addiction is I would make sure that they got places safely because I had a soft spot for them. And in my mind, I felt like I was in a good thing at the time. And so we had to go to a convenient place

that we were both going together. And we got a ride right at the very end we could have walked but somebody was going that direction and this person happened to have robbed that person we didn't know we were in the van while he went in to go speak with this person and so obviously they came in five or six deep and pulled us out of the van put us on a tarp a strong strip is completely naked and held us at gunpoint. So there's another lesson for you.

What's the special limitations on the story? Where were we at? I don't know any other names. You know? That's the truth. The only reason we got out of it, though, was she was like, that's my baby cuz. And that's what she kept saying to the guy

that you eventually knew her. So that was the only reason we got out of it. Wow. That's wild. She knew one of the dudes? Well, yeah, we were going there to see this person, obviously, because we were on the streets homeless doing bad things, right? And so we, you know, the initial meeting, I guess you could say where the guy got caught doing whatever it was he did, I guess, for stealing or whatever they were beating him to death for.

Like I looked out the window and he was like, you know that red Rover where like you circle people up holding hands or whatever? He was in a circle of these guys and they were just shoving him back and forth. And like, as he would get to the next guy, they would just pistol whip him, you know? And I was like telling her like,

this is not a good situation for us because we're with him. And then they turned to the van and realized we were in there and I got a gun to the head. Where the phone at? Where the money at? Where the phone at? Where the money at? So I said, I'm homeless, man.

I don't have a phone or any money, you know? And they didn't believe me. So they stripped me. Wow. Well, then I mean, this is true crime. This is what you get out of the podcast. Jake's viewers are going to love this episode. Oh, yeah. They're going to have a lot of questions that they like.

Right, which is, that's what you want. Paul, I think now probably one of those six guys that robbed you or tried to rob what they thought you had, they probably are turning on the old YouTube now, sitting down, doing something nefarious, going like, damn, that's that guy. But you know, they're like, they're really, they're well, they recognize the tattoo, obviously. That was pretest. I'm thinking they're like, that sounds a lot like something I did. I did.

Circle that guy. And I and credit. I was getting out of that. One of the most successful podcasts of the college channel is locked on mountaineers or West Virginia? West Virginia. Oh, my gosh. You don't even know. It's a mixed bag. Half of you are the are the mascot. Half of gosh. West Virginia. You don't even know? You don't even know the name of the show? It's a mixed bag. Half of you are the mascot, half of you are the school.

I just thought Lockdown Big 12 would know the name of the people he has on his shows, but it's okay, you don't care about it. It should be the Mountaineer Paul show. He puts Mountaineer Paul twice. He puts Mountaineer Paul for both spots. He started this Lockdown BYU and then BYU threatened to cease and desist letters

and we're all locked on Cougars, so I don't know what. Correct. We all don't know what. We all love SIDs. ELE. Everybody loves SIDs. The rings of everybody. Yes. This is a testament to Locked On giving Paul a shot. And now Paul's life is I kill it. Crushing it. Better than ever.

Fantastic. I've made the most money ever. I've made my life working for Locked On. That's the truth. Yeah. I told people that all the time. Go Paul. What would be not very much money to some people is a lot to others, you know, so I'm not rich by any means, but like some of the checks that I've gotten, I was obviously like, well, this is a lot better than what it used to be. So I stay grateful for it. But that's why we are awesome.

And we are lucky to have you a part of the squad, man. You always bring so much energy and laughter into it, man. And you make a lot of other people's days brighter with the with the stories and the and your viewers as well. Like we love having here, man. Yep. It's getting mushy. And that's coming from the North Carolina guy, too. So there you go.

Yeah. Yeah, that's my point. Yeah. You know what I hate? You know what I hate? You know what I hate? I've been sent that before by someone. BYU? I hate that. I've got a ton of stories like that, too,

that are really sobering. And once a week, Paul, we're going to get to them. I guarantee it. Well, all is going to happen. I like how you shut me down. Until you'd see some desist. Out near Paul, I'm just going to say this. There are certain return missionaries

to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints who will be able to commiserate with you on having a gun put at their head. So I think- Oh yeah. Are gonna be with you. They do that. I reached out to Paul one day on Twitter and said,

would you ever work for Locked On? And who knew? Who knew what that would become? Wait, actually, you started it? Yeah, and Paul had a successful... And now you don't even know the name of the show. What a story. Correct, Paul had a successful deal.

He was making decent money with another company who was helping him out. And the question was, would it be worth it to go to lockdown? I already had a pretty good thing going. And it was, because Paul's show was taking off. I also, Nick Merivets, you're welcome, hello. And sadly, Cameron Stewart was from my pipeline. I never met him.

You're coaching Trey. I am, it's a couple of them. I've never met him. I am part of the Jake Hatch line. It's a couple of those people. Oh! But it does, Jake is one of the stars. VYU fans, I'm sorry.

I did, I was on a call. I'm in the Garrett Ross line actually. Oh jeez. What coaching tree is Derek Johnson from is the question. Oh yeah, Derek's gotta be the exact guy. The Baker tree. No, I'm actually, I don't know who's tree I am. I just got reached out to by some like, there's some like older guy, talent recruiter. Josh neighbors. Tom. Josh neighbors. Like a good neighbor. Yes, thank you Paul. It's funny to me, sometimes locked on shows

we'll find a new host. So, oh look, who's hosting Locked On Mississippi State? It's an Auburn fan. Oh yeah, that's Zach Blackerby. There you go. That's how that. See one of those come down the pipeline every once in a while. I logged on Hoosier's appearance a few weeks ago. Yep. That's Zach Blackerby. There you go. That's how that, see one of those come down the pipeline every once in a while.

I logged on Hoosier's appearance a few weeks ago. Leave Mike Gittins alone. Locked, I was going to say. I was going to say Drake. And that is Christian Rao. Lifelong Wildcats fan, Christian Rao, everybody. Yeah. Is Zach going to actually cut this part himself?

Emah, maybe. Emah. Yeah. Emah. I was on the phone with David Lock this week. Not to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that.

I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that.

I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm not going to be able to do we're, we're excited to have, um, that Baylor guy that you mentioned earlier.

He just kept getting him. Oh, damn. Yup. He got the score right though. He got the score right. Yup. Hey, Parker, does Houston win it all? Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.

I think we've had a pretty good shot, man. Get a few days to prepare for Duke because you get Duke with days to prepare And that's a big thing obviously They're really good. I don't mean to say I they're obviously really good They got the number one pick in the draft and and probably another lottery pick as well right to Yeah, but I think Houston's defense is strong We've seen a lot of lottery pick teams or teams filled lottery picks not one at all, right? I think Houston's pretty defense, like nothing they've

seen so far. Uh, and then in the championship game, Florida is good too, but I rematch at Auburn is not something I'm scared of either. Um, I, I feel good about the weekend. I also don't know, like it, you don't play best out of three or best out of seven. You just play one game and if someone rolls an ankle or gets in foul trouble, that could be all she wrote. So you remind me of the West Virginia team that played Duke in the final four 2010 with John Shire and those guys when they just absolutely. That one Bob Huggins tried to make out with the Sean Butler on the court.

Yeah, exactly what it was. Yeah, just put tongue in his knees out in the final four. the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the-

the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- the- better about your matchup. They got smoked by Duke. Good luck. John Chire was the... Yeah, smoked by Duke and the best player got hurt. Imagine that. Good luck. Paul, you guys had the best current basketball coach in that game. Joe Mazzullo is better than John Chire, so you can hang your hat on that. You said the second Boston out of the day all right there.

We were this close to offering him before he went to the Celtics. Really? What could have been? Yeah. I wonder what he would have picked. He wouldn't be able to talk about the town as much anymore. That'd be really hard on him. I don't know if he would fit at West Virginia, honestly, anyway, even though

he played there as a great player, personality wise, I don't know about that. One. He's pretty harsh. Took down John Wall and boogie cousins can talk. He's a great coach. You get that. She is. Well, this has been, and it always will be. the the