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00:00The bracket is set. March Madness is officially here. 68 teams are chasing a national championship, and this year, several
00:07local programs from the New York area will be part of the big dance. St. John's, the Red Storm, they
00:12enter this tournament as a five seed, while the Hofstra Pride, Siena Saints, and L.I.U. Sharks, they're all
00:18going to try to play the role of bracket-busting underdogs.
00:21Meanwhile, powerhouse programs enter the tournament as number one seeds, as we usually see, but as we all know, the
00:27beauty of March Madness is that the bracket rarely plays out the way that we expect it to.
00:32So, to help us break it all down, including the matchups involving local teams here in New York, we're joined
00:37by college basketball writer Jamal Murphy, my guy, also known as the Black-atologist, Murph. What's going on, man? How
00:43you doing?
00:45What's going on, Dexter? Thanks for having me.
00:46I always get to have you. If we do this most years, we get to talk a little college hoops.
00:51This is your time of year, and so let's get right into it, because Jamal, Selection Sunday, it's always one
00:56of the most anticipated days in college basketball.
00:58So, when you step back and you look at this year's bracket as a whole, what was the biggest surprise
01:04or storyline that stood out to you after the selections?
01:08Well, there weren't, to me, there weren't many storylines. You know, I think everything kind of went as we thought
01:14it would for the most part.
01:16You know, as you probably noticed, there are not too many people arguing about who got left out and who
01:22made it and who shouldn't have made it.
01:23I think pretty much everybody agreed on the 68 teams, really.
01:28But I thought there were a couple of seating issues that surprised me, and one of them was a local
01:34team, St. John's.
01:35I thought, you know, after their Big East performance, winning the regular season, winning the Big East championship, as we
01:41saw yesterday, last night, I thought, you know, the committee would reward them by giving them at least a four
01:48seed, and they didn't do that.
01:50They have them as a five seed.
01:53And that just, you know, it looks weird to see, you know, the Big East tournament champion, the Big East
01:58regular season champion only get a five seed.
02:00And the same goes for Vanderbilt, who crushed Florida yesterday also, and they're rewarded with a five seed.
02:09I thought they were actually better suited than St. John's and should have probably gotten a three seed, but they
02:15also got a five seed.
02:15So, you know, St. John's isn't the only team, you know, that, you know, might be upset about where they're
02:21going.
02:22Yeah, well, you said it.
02:23Like, a lot of people universally agree on the 68.
02:26That's rare.
02:26A lot of years we have people who are angry.
02:28Somebody's feeling some kind of way about something and who got picked or who didn't get picked.
02:32But, okay, for now, one year, 2026, we have some universal love.
02:36So, let's talk about the number one seeds because we've got Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida.
02:40They all earned number one seeds.
02:41Do you see a clear favorite among those teams, or does this bracket feel like one where a lower seed
02:47could really make a deep run here in this tournament?
02:51Well, I felt all along, you know, throughout this season that this was a unique year and a very competitive
02:58year in a year in which I think, you know, there are probably about eight to ten teams that, you
03:03know, very strong teams that have a chance to go, you know, to actually win a national championship.
03:09So, I'm talking about, obviously, the four one seeds and really all of the two seeds and a couple of
03:14the three seeds.
03:15I mean, Michigan State is a three seed.
03:18I think, you know, has a chance to at least make it to the final four, if not beyond.
03:22We saw Purdue, who many people thought would be a three seed.
03:26They've turned it on at the end of the season, including, you know, a victory today over one seed in
03:32Michigan.
03:33And now, and Purdue, don't forget, Purdue was the preseason number one team coming into the season.
03:39So, they seem like they're getting their act together just in time to where they could be a legitimate threat
03:45to win it all, too.
03:45But, and of course, you know, like I said, the one seeds where you have Duke, the number one overall
03:51seed.
03:51Yes, they're a little banged up.
03:53But, you know, I don't think anybody would be surprised to see them cut down the nets.
03:56You have Michigan, who's struggled a little bit recently, but they've had a monster season.
04:03They have a very deep and complete team.
04:06They're definitely one of the favorites to still win it.
04:09Arizona might be the best team out there, to tell you the truth.
04:12They're the third.
04:13I think they're actually the second overall seed because of Michigan's loss today.
04:18But Arizona can win it.
04:20Florida could, you know, is looking for a defending, you know, looking towards defending their national championship and winning two
04:25in a row.
04:26That could happen.
04:27And you still have UConn hanging around, even though they didn't look too good last night in Madison Square Garden.
04:33But they're capable.
04:33You got Houston, Iowa State playing very well.
04:37They lost to Arizona on the last second shot in the Big 12 tournament.
04:41So, they're a bunch of teams, man.
04:42I think, you know, usually I feel like, you know, there's, you know, you really give really like four teams,
04:48three or four teams is a real shot to win it all.
04:51But this year, I think you have, you know, two handfuls of teams.
04:55Yeah, same, eight to ten teams.
04:57That's a lot of teams that have a legit shot at winning the national championship.
05:00We'll see how that all plays out there.
05:03Now, you mentioned the biggest local storyline.
05:04It's got to be St. John's.
05:06You and I were at the Garden on Saturday night.
05:09Their big Big East tournament victory over UConn.
05:12Back-to-back Big East tournament titles there.
05:15But now they land the five seed and they open against Northern Iowa on Friday.
05:19I think a lot of people will be disappointed with the five seed.
05:22You and I thought they could get a four.
05:25So, how do you feel about St. John's' draw overall?
05:28And do you think they're a team that can make a second weekend run in this tournament?
05:33I think they can make a run.
05:35I mean, the way they're playing.
05:37And I also look at the way they played, you know, in terms of what happened to them last year
05:42in the NCAA tournament.
05:44We all remember it was a big disappointment in the second round.
05:47They lose to Arkansas, a lower-seeded team.
05:52There were very high hopes for St. John's.
05:54R.J. Lewis was the best player on the team.
05:57And we know how that ended up.
05:59It didn't end up well for him.
06:02In all honesty, we haven't heard from him since, unfortunately.
06:06But now, you know, I think that experience probably helps them this year.
06:10And I think, you know, whereas R.J. Lewis was their leader last year, now Zuby Ejiofor is their leader.
06:17And I don't think there's any doubt that he's going to show up, you know, for big games.
06:22He's done it for two years straight now.
06:24And I feel like they're in a better position with him as their leader than they were, as opposed to
06:29R.J. Lewis as their leader last year.
06:31Of course, Pitino, you never can count him out.
06:35And it's the same thing.
06:37Like, he had that disappointment in the tournament last year.
06:38He's too great of a coach to really see that happen two times in a row.
06:43The only concern I do have is it's a very tough draw, you know, where they are.
06:47They have the fifth seed.
06:48If they win that first game versus Northern Iowa, they might have to play Kansas, which is a very tough
06:53second-round match.
06:54Do I think they could beat Kansas?
06:56Yes, but they'll have to bring their A game because Kansas is also capable of beating them.
07:01And then they have Duke, you know, in their quarter of the bracket.
07:05So it's not going to be easy.
07:08But, you know, I feel like, you know, a team like Duke doesn't, you know, is not really all that
07:12happy to see a team like St. John's in their bracket either.
07:15Yeah, they can't.
07:16Look, St. John's should be a tough out, but they also have other teams that can play that can be
07:22tough for them.
07:23And we'll see if they can bring their A game.
07:25I guess another question I have for you on St. John's, Murph, is when you look at them specifically,
07:29what are the biggest factors that will determine whether their tournament run lasts one game or a full weekend and
07:36potentially beyond that,
07:37which some people may see them going maybe Sweet 16, maybe beyond?
07:41What's going to determine whether that run is just one game or more?
07:46I feel like the key for them, and it's really been that all season, and they started, you know,
07:49they started to rectify it towards the end of the season is the guard play.
07:54You know, they recruited a bunch of guys.
07:59They got a bunch of guys out of the portal that they thought would have big impacts,
08:02and they really haven't in terms of Ian Jackson and Sanon.
08:06So if one of those two guys can step up, you know, any, you know, they don't both have to
08:11step up in the same game,
08:12but if they can get some sort of production from one of them in each game, they have a real
08:18shot because we know their frontcourt is going to show up.
08:20We know their defense is going to show up.
08:22So they just have to be able to hit enough shots to get them over the top.
08:26So, you know, my main concern for them is the backcourt, but it's been like that all season.
08:32And, you know, another positive for them is that they've dealt with this all season.
08:36They've figured out a way to make up for the fact that that backcourt wasn't what they thought it would
08:41be,
08:42and they've still been a tough, hard-nosed, gritty team.
08:46And I just, I do love the leadership they have on the team with Edge of Four and Mitchell and
08:54Bryce Hopkins.
08:55Like, those three and that front line is really a monster front line, an experienced front line.
09:01And we know experience matters when it comes to the NCAA tournament.
09:05Oh, that's for sure.
09:07So, you know, they have a tough road, but they have a hard-nosed, gritty, and, you know, even a
09:13tougher team than last year, I feel like.
09:14So, you know, I definitely wouldn't count them out.
09:18And maybe they're in a better position this year because they're not going in as a 2C.
09:23They're not going in as a favorite.
09:24They're not going to have all that pressure on them as the favorite.
09:28You know, now they go in as, you know, an underdog, really, to make it to the second weekend and
09:33beyond.
09:34So, we'll see what they can do.
09:36And Patino's had plenty of success in the NCAA tournament.
09:39Yeah, he absolutely has.
09:41Let's talk about another local team, the Hofstra Pride.
09:43Excuse me, they come in as a 14 seed.
09:46They're going to be facing Alabama.
09:48Now, look, we've seen this many times in terms.
09:51We've seen a 13 seed.
09:52We've seen a 14 seed pull off a shocker where nobody saw it coming.
09:56Do you see any path for Hofstra to make this a game against Alabama?
10:00And they're very, very speedy and quick backcourt.
10:04Do they have any chance to make this a game?
10:07I mean, like you said, there's a chance.
10:09There's always a chance.
10:11And, you know, Hofstra's a good team.
10:13You know, they played well during the year.
10:16Speedy Claxton's a very good coach.
10:18So, you know, I give them a shot.
10:19This year's Alabama team is not â Alabama's a very good team this year.
10:24But they're not what they were the past couple of years.
10:28You know, they're not â and that's obvious.
10:29They're not a one or two seed.
10:30They're a four seed this year.
10:32So, they've lost nine games this year.
10:34They've had, you know, problems of their own.
10:36They haven't been all that consistent.
10:38So, there's definitely a chance for Hofstra.
10:40Now, it could go either way, right?
10:41Because Alabama is also capable of putting it all together on any given night.
10:45They shoot a bunch of threes.
10:47If those threes go in, it'll be a long night for Hofstra.
10:50You know, it could be â you know, they could get blown out.
10:52But I would not be surprised if this is a game, you know, late in the second half.
10:59You know, Hofstra has proven itself.
11:03They played a tough non-conference schedule.
11:05They've seen the best teams in the country.
11:06I don't think they're going to be intimidated.
11:08Like I said, Speedy Claxton is an NBA player.
11:11He's not going to let his kids be intimidated by, you know, whatever the task is.
11:14So, you know, if you're a Hofstra fan, you know, I would look forward to this game coming up.
11:19All right.
11:19Hofstra fans, be ready.
11:21They're going to show some pride.
11:22They're going to show up and show out for them against Alabama.
11:25Moving on to some other local teams.
11:27Both the Siena Saints and the LIU Sharks, they entered the tournament at 16 seeds.
11:31So, Siena, they're going to face Duke.
11:34LIU, they're going to match up with Arizona.
11:37Now, we've seen a 16 seed pull off the unthinkable before.
11:41But realistically, what does a team like Siena or LIU need to do even to give themselves â and you
11:48said it â a chance, Murph.
11:50What do they need to do to give themselves a chance in those matchups?
11:54Because generally, nobody gives a 16 seed a chance against a number one.
11:58Well, like you said, it has happened.
12:00Like we â I remember a few years back, we would have this conversation and it never had happened before.
12:05But now, you know, in recent history, it's happened twice where a 16 seed has beaten a one seed.
12:10So, obviously, there is a chance.
12:13And that's all you can really ask for.
12:15You know, speaking of Siena, you know, a 16 seed, to me, they were under-seeded.
12:21You know, I had them as a â you know, most people had them as a 15 seed.
12:24We didn't think that they would push Siena down to the 16, but they did.
12:28So, that's a tough break for them.
12:30As for LIU, you know, they come from one of the weaker conferences in college basketball in the Northeastern Conference.
12:38But Rod Strickland has done a great job.
12:40He was coach of the year.
12:41And, you know, speaking of Speedy Claxton, this is another big-time New York City point guard, now turned coach
12:48and doing big things.
12:50So, you love to see it for Rod Strickland.
12:52But he has a monster task in front of him.
12:56You know, like I said, maybe playing â he might be playing the best team in the tournament in terms
13:01of Arizona.
13:02And they're all the way on the West Coast in San Diego.
13:05So, it's a tough ask for Strickland, but we're all happy he got to this â he got this far.
13:11So, no pressure, Rod.
13:13Just, you know, do the best you can.
13:15All right.
13:16LIU fans, I know they're happy to be dancing.
13:17Same thing for the Siena Saints.
13:20Also happy to be dancing.
13:21All right, last thing for me here, Murph.
13:24Let's put you on the spot here.
13:26I know the brackets have just came out.
13:27Who are your final four picks and who do you have cutting down the nets this year?
13:33Give me your final four picks and who's going to win it all in 2026.
13:37Okay.
13:37So, yeah, I literally haven't even â this is the first time I'm even attempting to do this.
13:42Got you on the spot.
13:42But I'm going to â yeah, you got me on the spot.
13:45You know what?
13:46I'm going to go crazy, at least in the East.
13:49You know, I'm looking at Duke.
13:51And before the tournament started, you know, I told â you know, most people agreed.
13:56And I said, you know, it would be a shock to see Duke not make the final four.
13:59But you know what?
14:00You know, we're talking about St. John's.
14:02I'm going to go with the long shot.
14:05St. John's in the final four.
14:07Wow.
14:07You know, coming off of what happened last year where maybe people thought they would make the final four.
14:11I got them making it in a season where probably no one believes it can happen.
14:16But, you know, I'm not just â it's not just a blind, you know, throw out there.
14:22St. John's, you know, the way they play, gritty, you know, tough defense, physical.
14:29That's a tough matchup for anybody, including Duke.
14:31So I'm going to go St. John's, you know, from that side of the bracket.
14:34I'm going to go Arizona.
14:35I really don't see anybody giving Arizona a big problem.
14:40You know, they have Arkansas there.
14:41I can't see really Arkansas giving them too many problems.
14:44Purdue might be an issue later on.
14:46But I'll take Arizona out of the West in the Midwest.
14:52You know, Michigan would have been my team, the team that I picked, you know, before the bracket came out.
15:00But, you know, the way Iowa State is playing, like I said, they lost a close game to Arizona.
15:06They played well in the beginning of the year, kind of tapered off a little bit during the middle season,
15:12but came on strong again at the end.
15:14So I think Iowa State is going to be a problem, and I can see them coming out of the
15:18Midwest.
15:19And then, coming out of the South, I'm going to go Houston.
15:24I'm going to go Kelvin Sampson.
15:26He couldn't get it done in the championship game last year.
15:29I think he, you know, the team will be laser focused to give him another shot at that.
15:34So I got Houston coming out of the South.
15:36So we got Houston, Iowa State, St. John's.
15:41What was your fourth one again?
15:43Arizona.
15:44Arizona.
15:45St. John's and Arizona.
15:46Those are Merv's picks.
15:48Houston, Iowa State, St. John's, Arizona.
15:51All right.
15:51Out of those four, who do you have winning the whole thing?
15:54Are you going to shock us again and say St. John's?
15:56Why not?
15:57No, I think the Cinderella, you know, it's a five seed, so it's not so much of a Cinderella.
16:02But I think, you know, final four to me is their ceiling.
16:06So I would have Houston beating them in the final four.
16:10Then I have Arizona taking care of Iowa State in a rematch.
16:14And I'll take Arizona to win it all.
16:16I mean, you know, as I've said a few times already, Arizona really looks like not just the best team,
16:22you know, in terms of the way they're playing right now.
16:26But they're the healthiest, you know, Duke is, you know, Duke has health issues.
16:31And that's one of the reasons why I could see St. John's bumping them off.
16:35But so, you know, I'm going to go Arizona over Houston in a Big 12 championship game.
16:41All right, Big 12 national title game.
16:45Possibly you'll see that St. John's going to the final four.
16:47You heard it from Jamal Murphy, a.k.a. the Black Toddlers, one of the best covering college basketball.
16:53Hey, Murph, you made some St. John's fans happy in this video.
16:56Let them know you think they can make a deep run to the final four.
16:59It'll be buzzing here in New York if that happens for sure.
17:02You got St. John's with a run to the final four.
17:04Knicks playoffs right around the corner.
17:07Could be an interesting spring in New York.
17:08Could be interesting.
17:09Could be very interesting.
17:10Again, everybody, check out my guy, Jamal Murphy.
17:13Black Toddlers writes for several places covering college hoops.
17:16Murph, I appreciate you, man.
17:17We will talk soon.
17:18Thank you for the time.
17:19Thanks for having me, as always.
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