00:00And then there were four.
00:01Final Four tips off this weekend.
00:03Who's going to keep their dancing shoes on
00:06with hopes to play in the national championship?
00:09College basketball savant John Fanta joins us
00:12on behalf of DraftKings,
00:14one of the most exciting places to engage with March Madness
00:18to talk all things Final Four.
00:20John Fanta, my man, long time no see, brother.
00:23How you feeling, man?
00:25Brandon, I'm ready.
00:26We get a clash of the titans between Michigan and Arizona,
00:30the class of the Big Ten, the class of the Big 12.
00:33Speaking of Big Ten,
00:34the conference hasn't won a national championship since 2000.
00:37There are two Big Ten teams in this Final Four,
00:40Illinois joining Michigan and the Illini
00:42on the other side of the bracket
00:43against the magic carpet ride of Braylon Mullins
00:47and the Connecticut Huskies still standing
00:50after a miracle sequence and shot to beat Duke.
00:54What a Final Four in Indy.
00:56All right, before we get into breaking down those games, man,
00:59we got to know, the world wants to know,
01:02what's John Fanta's bracket still looking like?
01:08Well, I had Houston in the Final Four,
01:10and they're not in the Final Four.
01:12I had Duke in the Final Four,
01:14and Braylon Mullins said enough with that.
01:16And then I thought that Arkansas could give Arizona problems,
01:19and I was dead wrong.
01:20Now, I picked Duke over Michigan,
01:25but I had Michigan in the Final.
01:27So I've got the Wolverines left.
01:30My bracket didn't end up being what it needed to be.
01:34We bounced back.
01:35That's why we fill out a bracket.
01:37I thought Duke would be right there,
01:39and UConn said, no, no, no,
01:41from down 19 to incredible.
01:43Now, Michigan is my pick this weekend.
01:47When I did a new bracket after the first weekend,
01:50just a reset one,
01:51the first one is always the one that I go off of,
01:55so I'm not flip-flopping here.
01:56But when I filled out the new one,
01:59I had Michigan winning the national championship.
02:01The Wolverines are just, they're such a wagon.
02:04And so my bracket's not great, but the Wolverines are.
02:07Yeah, my bracket's been out like skinny jeans, man.
02:10I was out a long time ago.
02:12So I think, you know what?
02:13I might fill out a mulligan bracket as well.
02:16Why not?
02:17But let's break down this UConn versus Illinois game.
02:21A lot of people, a lot of eyes are going to be on this one.
02:24Do the Huskies finally get upset,
02:27or do they keep on hurling?
02:32Well, this UConn team is just so complete.
02:36When they defend,
02:37they could compete with anybody and beat anybody.
02:39Illinois has the best offense in college basketball,
02:43number one in the analytics.
02:44So how UConn guards is going to be so key to this game,
02:48and can they defensive rebound?
02:50Alex Karaban told me earlier,
02:52I talked with him outside the locker room,
02:54he said, we've got to get defensive rebounds.
02:55If you give the number one offense in college basketball
02:58more opportunities to score,
02:59they're going to convert.
03:01Keaton Wagler looks like a top five or six pick
03:04in the NBA draft.
03:05Kylan Boswell is their stalwart defender.
03:07David Mirkovic is a versatile wing.
03:10But the Huskies,
03:11they have been able to package together enough shot making.
03:16You know, Braylon Mullins comes up big.
03:18Karaban could come up big.
03:19UConn needs Jaden Ross and Jalen Stewart
03:22in this game on Saturday.
03:23I think one of them is going to have a big game and deliver.
03:26And then Terrace Reed has to stay out of foul trouble.
03:29I think UConn is going to find a way in this game.
03:32Reed against the Ivisich brothers is going to be something to watch.
03:36Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisich of Illinois on the interior.
03:41How they go up against Terrace Reed,
03:44who has been phenomenal for UConn.
03:46He had the biggest game of anybody against Duke.
03:48We'll see what happens.
03:49There are a lot of people who are going to be on the DraftKings app
03:53throughout the course of this game,
03:54especially when we hit crunch time.
03:57So game on the line,
03:58who do you want taking the last shot from either team?
04:02Well, Keaton Wagler for Illinois has earned the right to be the man for that.
04:08He is just a stud.
04:10I mean, he takes you off the dribble.
04:12He can score from anywhere.
04:13And Brandon, his story is amazing.
04:16This is a kid that was outside the top 150 in recruiting.
04:20Some recruiting services had him outside the top 250
04:23in the freshman class of 2025.
04:25He was Mr. Basketball in the state of Kansas.
04:28But he only had two high major offers, Minnesota and Illinois.
04:32And when he goes to Illinois, his dad tells Brad Underwood,
04:36you know, he may have to redshirt.
04:38Like, he could be a top five pick in the NBA draft.
04:42And the parents said he may need a year to get acclimated.
04:46It's unbelievable.
04:46It's against all odds.
04:48Keaton Wagler is who I want taking that final shot.
04:51Absolutely love it.
04:53Do you think that the NCAA is going to put pressure on the refs
04:58to keep Dan Hurley's extracurricular activities in check this game?
05:03Well, I'll tell you what.
05:05No, I don't think the NCAA goes to the officials and says,
05:09now look, they're going to call it tight.
05:13It's the final four.
05:16These refs, they're getting evaluated.
05:19They've been evaluated all season long.
05:22And these are the best officials.
05:24The ones that are officiating this weekend are the best.
05:27And there's analytics to track that.
05:29Coach's word typically matters.
05:32Like Dan Hurley, he's never gotten a technical foul in the NCAA tournament.
05:36Never.
05:37He actually said at his press conference,
05:39I just jinxed myself, you know, when he said that.
05:41But he's behaved better in the NCAA tournament than he does in the Big East tournament
05:46than he did in the Big East tournament.
05:48But the NCAA doesn't have to give a message to the officials.
05:51These officials are pros.
05:52Here's the thing.
05:53If you misbehave, you're going to get hit with a technical foul.
05:55So you kind of gave us the winner or your winner on this Michigan-Arizona game.
06:01I'm a little bit split on this one.
06:03But can you kind of break down what type of game you think we're in store for?
06:08Oh, heavyweight showdown in the frontcourt.
06:11These are two of the biggest teams in America.
06:13Adai Mara and Merez Johnson on one side for Michigan.
06:17On the other, Moe Krivis, as well as Tobe Awaka and Koa Pete.
06:22Pete played.
06:22His dad played in the National Football League.
06:25Koa's dad is Todd.
06:27Terrific NFL player.
06:29Koa has been a phenomenal freshman.
06:31Yaxel Lendeborg wearing 23.
06:32He wears it well.
06:34And he has been such a stud for Michigan.
06:36The thing with Arizona is they have three freshmen who all play a vital role.
06:41Brayden Burris, who won a ton of games out west, out of the Strive for Greatness EYBL program.
06:47Koa Pete, who won a ton in high school.
06:49And then Yvonne Karchenkov, who was a late international lad by Tommy Lloyd.
06:53As we're doing this interview, in the last hour, Tommy Lloyd has just agreed to a five-year contract extension
06:58with Arizona.
06:59He's going to stay at Arizona and not go to North Carolina.
07:01So some big news there.
07:03And he's done a marvelous job.
07:04They have a perfect blend of talent.
07:07The key for Arizona is can they make enough perimeter shots to keep Michigan's defense honest.
07:12Arizona likes to just, they like to bear down on you and get inside and finish.
07:17Michigan's got the best two-point defense in college basketball.
07:19They don't let you get inside.
07:21Here's another thing to consider.
07:24Arizona has led the NCAA tournament in fouls drawn.
07:28They've drawn more fouls, I think over 80, than any other team in the field.
07:33Their ability to get to the free-throw line is critical for them.
07:37But Michigan's huge inside.
07:39Can Arizona's offense function if they're not going to the free-throw line and if they're facing a straight-up
07:44defense?
07:44And then for Michigan, the point guard showdown.
07:47Jaden Bradley versus Elliott Cadeau is a huge thing to watch in this game.
07:51On paper, I say advantage Bradley.
07:54There's a pathway for Arizona to win this ballgame.
07:57Will Cadeau shine?
07:58We'll see.
07:58Same question as earlier.
08:00Game on the line.
08:01Who do you want taking the buzzer beater?
08:05Well, you know, that's a really good question with these two teams.
08:11I am going to go with Brayton Burries.
08:16And I know that might be an unlikely â like, I know Lendeborg's on the other side.
08:20Cadeau is a big-time shot maker.
08:23But look for Jaden Bradley to potentially set up that freshman guard because he makes winning plays.
08:30And he's someone that I would have faith in with the game on the line.
08:33If I couldn't go with them, I'd go Yaxo Lendeborg of Michigan.
08:37But I'm telling you right now, Brayton Burries is not to be messed with.
08:41He's a freshman who is beyond his years.
08:44And the Wildcats, Arizona, has had an amazing season.
08:48They're 36-2 out of the Big 12, which was the toughest league at the top of any league.
08:53So, Brayton Burries is my pick.
08:55Lastly, all eyes are going to be on these two games.
08:58But all eyes are going to be on everyone's phones as well because the DraftKings app gives us another reason
09:04or a deeper reason to watch these games.
09:07So, John, to kind of talk about, you know, your work with DraftKings
09:10and what they have going on this weekend.
09:13Well, I'll tell you what, Brandon.
09:15The tournament, it has been unpredictable.
09:17But you can count on great March Madness experience with DraftKings.
09:23I'm telling you right now, special promotions, mystery offers.
09:26You should get it on the excitement, folks,
09:28because it has been nothing but fun in college basketball and the biggest stage awaits.
09:34And, look, it's one of the best times of the year for sports fans.
09:38And here's the other thing with DraftKings.
09:40They're always looking to get more involved.
09:42And they've got a super app on the way that I think is going to be a game changer.
09:46The super app is coming to DraftKings.
09:49It's going to involve all of your favorite sports in a brand new way of being able to consume everything.
09:56And I just think that super app will be in super.
10:00And, look, it's important to remember sports betting is a form of entertainment.
10:03It should be fun.
10:04But as DraftKings and myself like to say, it's more fun when it's for fun.
10:09Love being a DK partner.
10:11And this is an awesome weekend for us at DraftKings.
10:14Yeah, March Madness, DraftKings, and John Fanta.
10:18That's a winning trio right there, ladies and gentlemen.
10:21John, appreciate you hopping on with us, my man.
10:24Brandon, great to see you, everybody.
10:26Enjoy a phenomenal Final Four weekend.
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