College Basketball’s New Pope, Portal Matchmaker, and More Offseason Moves With Kyle Williams

·1 hr 15 min·5 clips

The new Pope is a Villanova grad and fan, sparking a battle for who is the true Pope of college basketball.

The episode of One Shining Podcast opens with host Tate Frazier humorously framing the new Pope's election as a win for Villanova basketball and Chicago sports fandom. Guest Kyle Williams, a Ringer producer and Chicago sportswriter, joins the show. The first major topic is the news that Nick Saban is expected to lead a new commission for college sports, prompting discussion on why Coach K wasn't chosen. The conversation then delves into the complexities of college sports legislation, specifically a congressional bill aiming to provide limited antitrust protection, codify parts of the House settlement, deem athletes as students not employees, and preempt state NIL laws. Both hosts express skepticism about the bill's effectiveness given the entrenched state of NIL. The central segment is a 'portal matchmaker' game, analyzing players in the transfer portal. They use PJ Haggerty as a cautionary tale, detailing how he turned down a $3 million offer from Memphis, sought $4 million, found no market, and may now end up at NC State for less money. They discuss other portal prospects like Boogie Fland (potential UNC fit), Jameer Watkins (potential Illinois fit), RJ Lewis, and Duke Miles. The episode also covers DePaul's rebuilding under Chris Holtman, various college basketball scheduling news, and ends with a series of rapid-fire 'shout-outs' to figures and events in basketball, including Charles Barkley's comments on NIL.

As heard by us

A focused portal discussion makes Boogie Fland to North Carolina sound like a projection built on real basketball fit.

The episode frames Boogie Fland's portal path as more than a recruiting headline, using North Carolina as the cleanest example of how fit can drive a landing spot.

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Why you'd press play

Want to hear a North Carolina opening become the case for Boogie Fland?

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