ESPN College Gameday LaPhonso Ellis joins Cheddar Bets to break down the NCAA Tournament so far, and who will make noise all the way down to New Orleans.

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LaPhonso Ellis Talks NCAA Tournament

Okay, welcome back to cheddar beds brought to you by bet MGM just like prices in the stock market odds for sporting events are always changing. Hopefully you bought low on one of those teams to win it all. So while Gonzaga has been the favorite since the start of the tournament, we're seeing a lot of movement for contenders like Kansas Purdue and Houston. However, bettors are pouncing on Arizona, the Wildcats are receiving the most tickets and dollars wagered according to Bet MGm Sports Book joining us now, analyst for ESPN college Gameday, LaPhonso Ellis. So LaPhonso, your Notre dame fighting irish had one heck of a run. But we've got to start with the team that kind of knocked him out of there. So what did, what did this texas tech team show you? Well, I I've been high on texas tech all year long. There one of the best defensive teams in the country, They do a great job of keeping the basketball on the side and they don't allow you to get very many point paints, whether it be off direct post or off of dribble penetration. So I had those guys actually moving uh to the elite eight with a win over Duke. Oh, so you think they are talented enough to be Duke tonight? I do. But dude, is a team that thrives on points in transition. They thrive on getting points in the paint, whether it's paolo Ben carol off the drive, whether straight post, whether it's Mark Williams is throwing lobs to at the rim texas tech just doesn't allow you those opportunities and one of the reasons why Notre dame had an opportunity to win that game down the stretch. It's because Notre Dame does a great job of spreading you out and knocking down the three ball after you. After the dribble penetration. You helped they kick it for open threes. They were making around 93 point shots a game and shooting a high percentage. Do can shoot the three, but that's not where they want to hurt you. They want to hurt you in the paint. And texas Tech does not allow you very many pain points by the way. Can we just say though? Coach K. Is 99 N. C. A. A tournament wins 100 would be nice. Right go ahead go ahead. I'm sorry and what a what a dream story it would be for him and his last year to actually win a national title, his sixth national title in his illustrious career. Exactly. And then meanwhile texas text, first year coach has won two games of tournament so he could technically get his third at the expense of coach games 100. But we won't talk about that. Okay. Moving on. What did the first two rounds of this year's tournament really teach you in preparation for next year? I don't know if it taught me much. I think it was more is we have to really evaluate when when everyone's kind of jumping on a team. Auburn is a great example. You know, many people are talking two or three weeks ago that Auburn was a Final four national championship caliber team. I've forgotten a chance to watch that team all year and I've had a little bit of a love hate relationship with their guards. Uh Window Green is terrific, Katie johnson, Those guys play really hard, but when it comes to making plays down the stretch, making wise decisions with the basketball, I wasn't high on them, actually had Miami beating them once they met. And of course that's exactly what happened. Alright, so jump into tonight's slate, What do you think Arkansas has to do to upset Gonzaga tonight? The big question, Huge and hard to do. Well, one thing they're gonna have to figure out a way to neutralize drew timmy, drew timmy is averaging 27 points a game, if not 28 and he absolutely took over the game in the last game that they played, I think 21 of his 27 points came in the second half alone. So not only do you have to take away Gonzaga's transition game once you get them into a half court game? How are you gonna play Drew timmy? Are you gonna allow him to play one on one? But you allow him to play one on one down the blocks? He has a tendency to get your, your bigs in foul trouble, Jaylin Williams for Arkansas cannot afford to get into foul trouble. So I think Arkansas is gonna have to double him now you double and now you're kicking it out to some very capable shooters, like a receiver bolton who shoots over 40% from the three point line. So I expect Gonzaga to win this game. Um Devo Davis has done a really nice job off the bench Stanley, your mood has been really good for Arkansas. I just think Gonzaga has way too much firepower to lose this game tonight. Oh yeah, and it's timmy time for sure. Okay, now let's talk about Houston and Arizona. So how far does the winner of that game go? You think now that's the one I'm nervous about because I picked are picked Arizona to win it all meeting Gonzaga and in the national championship game and and and and winning there. But but Houston has been terrific and turning teams over. I think the average is like 19 points a game off of turnovers. The good thing about it is Arizona is usually pretty good with the basketball and all three of their big guys, including christian Cholodenko in short clock situations can switch out on the guard and keep that guard from getting in the lane. Jamal shed of Houston absolutely was terrific in ball screen situations in their game against Illinois. They set those middle ball screens in the middle of the floor, Kofi Coburn was playing drop coverage instead of getting up and challenging Jamal shed and he absolutely towards them in the middle of the floor. I don't think Arizona's gonna allow Jamal shed to be able to do that tonight and again, if one of the guards gets into a tough situation, all three of their bigs uh Kumar below uh those guys do a great job of stepping out and getting wide and keeping you from getting dribble penetration. So I still have Arizona winning that one but in a close one. Okay, quickly on this one. Looking at the field of 16. Now, who do you think will reach new Orleans? And who do you think the champ is? Gotta ask why? You know of course the teams I have, I have Gonzaga have Arizona, I have Kansas now with a healthy Remy martin. I didn't think they were a final four caliber team without him being healthy. He is now had 20 points in the last game 16 coming in the first half alone and then I had U. C. L. A. But I have a question mark by U. C. L. A. Now because U. C. L. A. Cannot beat north Carolina without a healthy jaime says so we'll have to wait and see if he's healthy. I have them advancing. If he's not healthy. North Carolina will win that game going away. I have a question marketing U. C. L. A. Too. So that works perfectly. Life as Oh Alice, thank you so much for joining us analyst for ESPN college game day