" And the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies our old friend Chris Wallace is on the AT&T hotline AT&T your world delivered a morning press. You to a dale thanks. I'd pick a new Miami -- NCAA tournament or you laws that apply to not get looked at those carried on up. Sunday at -- it's imperative I get to Miami. I don't so far. I -- tournament."
" Just fair I mean I have a lot Staley. -- eighteen going forward but you know few minor things last I try to get cute pick deadbeat CU upset. What kind of fashionable. After they didn't do two years ago that -- quite feel my way but a lot and still fighting."
" That's amazing that you're actually looking at tournament kids because you have a team. Full of -- colleague -- well."
" There's been too bad now this is not verified it came from. Chris -- a radio talk show host in Memphis and he calculated that. -- new group leader at a younger starting lineup in the Memphis Tigers. And -- I have not checked that out but I would assume that he'd been accurate stat that should."
" Younger starting younger starting lineup in the tigers'."
" Yes that's what I was told now we're back early in the year."
" Well it got to college sophomore there. It was a very good player. And trade for OJ Mayo."
" Wide in my Connolly out of your Ohio State Buckeyes Michael would be a college junior right -- not -- totally for the NBA that we are young team and even know -- upper end of the lottery were likely going in. What probably yield more young player due to the -- game in Egypt got to keep adding to your war chest the talent. Because not only do these players -- potentially played for you wouldn't and hopefully -- team. But they also potentially all the raw material the big deals -- at city agent Celtics without Kevin Garnett got there."
" I remember back when you when I first became acquainted with each other -- first started talking it was around the time of March Madness and we were talking. NCAA basketball and and you had that publication that you did right great job went in and breaking everything down. I know where where a lot of your interest was here. How do you split year your brain into you know I've really want to go see some of these college games but I got a team got to worry about a home to."
" Well the team right now we're in the latter stages of the season dale and we got a terrific coach Lionel Hollins and things even though that the winds are coming at the rate we want to this team. From a management side except for certain administrative -- what it takes care of itself like now we're out of the trade deadline. The most important thing you can do particular team -- very high at this point this season. Is bill well watching researching players. Get ready for the draft. If so that's prior or you were number one right now for the Grizzlies front office and I'd say most of the front offices particularly teams that are going to draft I -- of the year."
" Chris I know you're not allowed to talk about specific players someone asked you a very general question from what you've seen so far. Do you believe the 2009 draft will be extremely deep and as far as first round talent."
" I think there's going to be quality players throughout to draft Michael I'm not someone who. To clear and simple I think this draft is not as good as last -- a better than three years ago because. I carry a little book around with me -- carry out language -- carry -- at the -- that the NBA. Distribute that to draft every year the media guide. That book has all the drafts over the last state twelve to fifteen years. Every draft -- quality players. No matter how the experts rate the overall in the draft so that is our. The job was an NBA team is to dole. Pull out these players no matter what the order draft because we -- there's there's players throughout every draft usually up until at least the forties in the -- around."
" Always come up with the number always say that you can find seven. Very good to great players in any draft you look at going back to. Let's -- 1960. When you had your your your -- Jerry west. Was drafted along with Oscar Robertson and draft but -- And has picked up the draft Jerry west and Oscar not bet. But any draft combined seven good players that number team high or too low for."
" What began to what your definition of radiates. Your definition of -- A lot of variety you got fired it to happen. At every draft and it's evident that draft I don't know anybody that you -- one of those. Yeah we will wee -- bit -- the final one of those who didn't -- changed over the years would be at that point in time off between himself between her eight. And you -- what -- you're just went what six to eighteen into the NBA. You had no international players every college player had gone to the full four years in college there were no. Early entry candidates no one and done and so we will go a whole different landscape back yet."
" When you talk about your Memphis Grizzlies team in the youth and I was look at your roster I I always do this in terms of of -- relates to meet you got. Five guys on your roster were younger than my son. And I know what my son is like so that just scares me when I think about I am and -- about how how do you keep them. Struggling the way they are on the court but up enough to know that there's progress being made."
" Well that's why I think our coach while alternate staff is built such a great job and we we play hard. Virtually every night -- working usually worn down and beat up by the injuries in the end in the travel. And we will for example we were up double speak well sixteen points on Denver the other night beginning slip away toward the end but. What we do -- we we preached that these are not troll weight -- yes this season is winding down. But we need to make strides in improving as the team in all the individuals involved that they have tremendous. Tremendous. Amount at stake at this time in their careers. Dale the near future contracts there's really OJ Mayo was in the running pro rookie of the year. Marcus Cole has come in from Europe for the first time and establish himself in the NBA so. The tremendous amount mistake far individuals. And they have worked hard. And I think -- very good attitude despite the fact that the wind has not come. At a rapid rate. I'm pleased with the progress of this group I know that doesn't ridiculous to say we don't want seventeen games that they have hung in there and been professionals which."
" Chris I thought I was going to see you on law and order. Earlier this year because. Memphis Grizzlies did something that the Portland trailblazers warned them not to do. You signed Darius Miles we will take you -- court. So why did you sign Darius Miles and where you -- you -- you threatened by the were you intimidated by that. That's."
" I don't want to go into that whole -- all that has been very well documented but let's go back in time with the -- situation. The Celtics picked him up last August. Brought him in any work out with them until training looking -- He played through the pre season. -- in several games. They gave up high marks from him about what he had done with their particular organization they thought he could continue to play in the league. So when we got down in numbers. Back in December after there was a buyout within Paul Walker. We had to bring a player so. We're looking at the main oh on the wall and so many of these guys are players and bounced around the recover and another minor league and we set ourselves. Although all these guys that one time there at -- of the best player. They and he got -- there were more the should be ratings from the defending now world champions at -- what. So we took that shot he came in and it has been good performances and came a point in time where we needed to extend him -- ten days in order to keep. Darius on our team we've elected to do so so he has not played as much recently Michael because sub. Darko Milicic has been back from an injury you know we recalled. Amid a body the first Iranian in the NBA back from the R&B eighty MB -- affiliate so the playing time hasn't -- quite a wait did early in the year that. -- he's shown. This season. That he definitely is an MBA player in his back and able to contribute cryptic."
" Want to go back to OJ mail for a minute because. He's been in a bit of a shooting slump now he seems to broken out of a little bit against Portland got a shooting percentage field goal percentage above 50% for the first time in awhile. Is it pretty normal for for a rookie young kid who's never had to play this amount. A basketball in his life before the Connie hit a wall hit February or march."
" Well bill the schedule it's something that you talk about what young players. Fact that you talk about it we'll coaches who never entered in the NBA there was -- yeah I understand net. But until you go -- our schedule. You really can't. Fully accepted impact in markets or our rookie from Spain where they -- fifty to sixty games I look at him some nights and he just spit. Because even though they play a large volume of games overseas. They don't come in a rapid fire like an MBA with a back to back and -- gains in five days and that sort of thing so. I think virtually every new player in the NBA it somewhat worn down by the schedule at some point in time. And then had to make their own adjustments with their diet the rest. And in just a mental attitude to be able to push through that so called ball. And you know OJ got worn down a little bit yet from ankle sprain but he is a terrific player and instead they got. Very good initial season in the NBA will Willie. Eager to see what the future brings him because this is a guy who not only is talented. But he is willing to put the time in the gym and working on his body and do everything possible max Martin skills."
" Rick pitino hired you as an MBA general managers I'm not asking this to say something negative about the team with just the opposite we were saying yesterday that. It seems that some some guys just did it right. It in a certain atmosphere and I can't imagine Gregg Popovich coaching in college. And Rick pitino he coached in the NBA but didn't get it right by by going back to global warming this guy is. I -- a dynamic college coach no matter where he goes you agree with what --"
" I don't know that he wouldn't have succeeded if he -- the state longer mean art team turn it around very quickly. With virtually the same players over the district so much reaching the eastern final but with a different. Yeah out but I didn't think he has more comfortable. In the college environments. He loves the state of Kentucky. And he had a terrific coach I don't want to -- and ultimately get is a college coach because he did have some success. With the New York Knicks but in the college environment. He just fortunes. He can recruit he can motivate you can develop players. He's got a team right now that I think along with North Carolina our. The -- likely favorites in this 2009 NCAA tournament. I saw his game West Virginia few weeks ago this Saturday night ESPN special. Where Louisville clinched -- regular seat -- Big East title and he was only on in the game. So I think they're going to go very very deep in this tournament in Indian -- we would be experts -- North Carolina and Louisville at this point Tom like two teams to beat."
" Now if we were talking about this the other day also Chris and we hope you can give us some insight on a guy who I last saw. Oh wearing braces. And hanging out with his high school buddies. Courtside watching the games -- now. He's got a possibility. Yeah it got the potential to be a college coach Rick pitino junior tell us about him."
" Well under. Who I think you got to know a little bit during the three to have your record book Limbaugh -- who is really an engaging. Incredibly funny young -- we used to comparing the side felt because he never was without a comeback in a crack in. At that point how my -- is going to be stand up comedian I've kept him. Or stay out of -- College head coach but he coached at Duquesne with Ron Everhart former northeastern coach. He worked with the Providence team during the states here's an undergraduate. And now we -- whose father and I have to -- what I go to Louisville game the look over there -- not -- father and -- their conduct conferring on the sidelines during the cup for the game. My experience. To see him that I know him from when he was so young but he. He has very tied reviews from everybody that's worked with him. And if you look at the progression of all of -- former assistant coaches virtually all of them. They'll want it do well at Pitt coach you can certainly get that opportunity. I think he's going to get his own job -- sometime in the near future there's eight. A college head coaching position. When Rick pitino -- so we're here down the line and if they win the NCAA championship. It could happen as soon as next year because that where. The athletic directors go that they go to the successful teams to pull the assistants all those stats and bring him -- at their head coach."
" You mentioned the great unconfirmed stat about the ES average age of the starting lineups for your team. And the Memphis Tigers what's -- like for the basketball fans of Memphis where are their allegiances right now are they more. Win the hugely successful college team are or is split pretty much."
" Well they're more what the Tigers right now that's understandable. Dale this team's come an awful. Doing everything but winning in distributing NCAA championship last year -- came so close. It was historic -- seeds and you you had. The number one pick in the NBA draft Derrick Rose. This year they absolutely demolished -- USA and have another great run. I think they're going to get to the final four so right now the other Tigers are very popular. They've had more success in terms who wins the week had. But we do it still is -- very strong basketball on YouTube the self. Used more as big as football player toward. Just generally that the spot but necklaces big basketball paled in the midst of football territory I -- the game has always been very popular here. There's been some terrific players come out of metals. Like Penny Hardaway for example. And all the war crowd have declined over the years since Pete has been in Memphis. This is still again as strong basketball city and optical we start wouldn't -- come back and false like he did a few years ago."
" teased us a bit Chris with your final four you've mentioned Memphis. You mentioned mobile. Or the other Carolina arguments."
" Carolina and -- of the region of Boston which I hope to come up with Phoebe -- opening round next Thursday Michael. This is very difficult for me to do being a West Virginia guy but I'm going to go with Jamie Dixon's -- kept."
" All man you sold out you saw that I thought I've made you know what -- will Mueller."
" Point tour -- you probably don't have a problem that."
" I do have a problem with that you know what they won't never allowed you to go to the backyard brawl again. You are going to be called out a West Virginia guy golf with --"
" What my animosity repeated more directed towards football and basketball. But they've been hovering around. That the final four more for awhile just haven't been able to get over that hump losing in the sweet sixteen a couple times last -- think they went out the -- around. I -- this team play. Recently particularly I would bet that game but at Clark for what they beat you call on there on the road. And that took a team that experience they have tremendous leadership. They are very physical. And I just like -- job Jamie Dixon has done with that team after take you know Ben Howland. About five years ago and I just think -- I do actually think this is their time to get to the final -- the what's not gonna come easy. Because you're probably going to get Villanueva and Duke in that region as well. So it's going to be stopped and it's going to be a great show next weekend in the guard."
" be a black as ideally he ignore my sleeper team. Out of Michael Xavier."
" Well you're an Ohio guy gal there's so I'll -- actuality -- but -- the July. Ironically former -- aftershock Miller. -- shot Miller you remember from your dates back in the Pittsburgh area he was dribbling which -- on the Johnny Carson show what he was in great."
" To a kid he was a shorter didn't play any defense in and in college but he did he get he can dribble when he keeps you."
" And now he's done a terrific job at Xavier Nady is led Xavier job. You don't think of Xavier among the elite college basketball but it such a good job that. But from a like Sean Miller may not just necessarily want to leads to so called greener pastures but you're right Xavier as a team. That is that popped out I had they almost beat Iowa State in ended my colleagues freshman year there in the second round of the tournament so. I can't quibble with that Xavier -- I like Florida State will Leonard Hamilton that they've got some terrific young talent on that team -- I think they're going to get Xavier but I would not be surprised to see Xavier in the board next week."
" He'll be happy to hear that according to local papers the Patriots worked out pat white yesterday."
" All that's terrific complete you know I'm a huge felt like I'm not even asking."
" I knew he would be. Anybody from west Virginia's okay at this point there working about it receiver."
" Well don't god give -- don't sleep on him as a back -- quarterback that Michael. It got better better arm and advertised she obviously is great with all the seeing these terrific leader dynamic player. He's got -- slash. What -- Personal more proposition tag all over -- lucky import Randall well in the Kordell Stewart when he first came in the league I can't imagine you'll be successful in itself."
" Crystal -- fun to talk with the and I enjoy the game down there in Miami and I'm I I hope your team does well the rest of the way except maybe tomorrow and and also Chris we'll see you here. When you when you have up for the games of Boston."
" Yeah I hope to bump -- you've got -- the garden next Thursday and that's going to be terrific event for the city to have region in your count police great event a better get a local team or not. This a bit just is one of the real jewel of sporting calendar replaced the country."
" Chris always good doctor -- thank you. -- great -- that is that Chris Wallace general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies joining us on the eighteenth -- hotline AT&T your world delivered."
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