[Music] what's going on war Pac Nation we have a special episode of teffy talk coming right at you here as we are lucky enough to be joined by somebody that has absolutely grabbed the hearts of All State fans over last week and that is our our fan our our our friend Danny canel who's better known in another way which we'll be talking about here soon uh but in the way that I'm talking about with uh he is a uh analyst with the CBS Sports and uh famously picked NC State by doing the unzip and the reveal of I think it was the 74 or the 83 champ both it had both I think it had both on there yeah I think it might had both on there give them both a little love yeah no absolutely and and so so so Dan let's just start off there so I mean you know we'll kind of talk about the other side here first but I mean what is it about it that really made you want to go out there and you know put your name out there saying I'm going to Pick n state to win the National Championship uh two words Ben Middlebrooks or or I'll take it a step further I'll take it another two words uncle Danny so I so I'm the youngest uh in a family I have three older sisters and so they were all married um you know and had children before I was married and had my own kids and I was pretty young I think my my oldest sister is you know 11 or 12 years older than me and uh she had you know her and then Daryl uh Ben's mom they all had kids like way before I was even thinking about being a dad so I really embraced the role of Uncle Dany uh a lot when I was you know I was in my 20s um and so you know I've always been kind of uncle Danny with in the family to all my you know nieces and nephews cuz I got a slew of them uh but yeah that I would love to say that I you know had really broken down a lot of film or that I really felt Kevin Keats was you know had something up his sleeve but that was a total Homer family first play that I was rooting for Ben uh but I have you know I've watched a lot of the games this year I mean how how do you say with a four- game losing streak you're like eh and I mean I'm sure you guys talked a lot about Kevin Keats and his job security was on the line but you know so it was definitely a homer pick it wasn't something that I saw anything happen but I do think there is something to be said for playing with your backs against the wall and I think the team knew what was at stake obviously if they lose they go home their season is over I think they probably had heard some of the Rumblings about kei's future so all of a sudden there's incredible value in that so you play with your backs against the wall then you win a couple games and then all of a sudden like you start to believe and you start to play with confidence and that's where they're playing now and you know one of my favorite parts of this team is how unselfish they are um you know there's been different players have stepped up at various points in this you know seven game run seven games in 12 days and you never see anybody I've been on teams where you know sometimes there's a guy's mad didn't get his 20 and 10 or there's somebody upset they didn't you know they didn't get the ball enough they didn't get enough minutes I have never seen anything but a team playing together that celebrates each other's success and I think that's when special things can happen I think that's why we are where we are sitting in the sweet 16 well and you know and then and and obviously yes you basically alluded at Danny that you are the uncle to Center Ben Middlebrooks within NC State but it was funny so uh so I am actually attend a church in Chapel Hill uh where the pastor and a lot of people there are UNC fans and it literally shocked me yesterday during the our our uh Pastor sermon where he literally talked about how like he was like making the point about how you know you take these pieces and you put them together and they're way stronger than any of them individually added all together could do individually like just basically makeing the point that a team that comes together is strong and because I I think that for me the I can't I think it was the 2018 uh Duke team with Zion Williamson RJ Barrett you know all those guys like if that team couldn't win a National Championship there's no way that a bunch of one and Dons a bunch of individual talents can can win win a title they just can't do it and he even made the point of me like see but if you take NC State for example this year and he I'm like it took me back I'm like wow this this guy who's a fan of UNC is about to use NC State as like a like a thumbs up thing and and yeah I mean like he was basic saying like like like the the fact they're all just working together beautifully they all have their roles they all know what they're trying to do and at the end of the day they don't care how it gets done as long as the W is up there on the board that's all that matters and so I wanted to kind of ask you because I think it kind of goes to that point but Ben Middlebrooks obviously versus Texas Tech in the opening round scored 21 points was just on fire uh 75% from the field 90% from free throws but then first Oakland 0 for four from the field two points but eight rebounds so I mean he still was you know efficient in a way so uh you know kind of talk to me first of all about you know what really stood out to you about you know Ben's play and uh do you think think that kind of is the perfect example that at the end of the day Ben's really into it in one game not so much another but at the end of the day two W's yeah and that and so the Texas Texas game was the best game I've ever seen him play you know at any level I mean he kind of and I think you know with a young player like that I mean he's still you know I know he had the two years of Clemson I know he's a junior but he's still kind of he's never been a go-to guy wherever he's been and we'll see if he gets that at NC State next year and he's always known his role and contributed as such but that to me whether watching M Clemson whether watching him this year at NC State I mean clearly I think that was his best game and you could not have picked a better stage to be on CBS on National Television in the first round of the NCA tournament was awesome so our whole family was going nuts but here's my favorite part about Ben and I would say this would go for any player on this team so after the game we went back to the hotel the Oakland game um and so we go back there and I go up to Ben and I was like cuz I I am not Mr official blame the officials guy I hate it when fans do that yeah but I found myself yelling at the officials in that game more than ever one of us and Ben of course you know fouls out in the game so the first thing I said to Ben I gave him I dapped him up and said congratulations I was like that was awesome and I said man those officials sucked I'm like they screwed you over and he had a big smile on his face and he's like it's all good because we won he's like I don't he like cuz we won and like that's really the mentality I think Ben or anybody else on this team would have about a call that doesn't go their way about a night that doesn't go their way they just want to win and extend this unbelievable run that they've been on and I think that type of mentality really permeates the entire team yeah and so I'm just thinking too that you know they got a really big match up here at Marquette first off you going to be there in Dallas or you going to what you got plan so I'll tell you this I was really nervous and Oakland because I didn't want to be the Jinx and I even saw some NC State fans being like no don't hop on this bandwagon you know and I am superstitious like I don't like to be that so at least I've got a W under my belt so my daughter so I brought my two younger daughters to the game in Pittsburgh against Oakland yeah my older daughter the reason she couldn't go is because she plays volleyball she's highly competitive in volleyball she has a massive tournament in Chicago that is Friday Saturday Sunday so the plan I was looking at flights I'm like should I leave her there but like she'd be alone in the hotel my plan is if they win to try to get there Sunday I got so but I'm dying because I'd love to be there for both I mean it's easy especially when it's Friday Sunday you could see two games as opposed to one if they do win but my daughter would probably shoot me she was already upset she didn't get exactly exactly and I think you know if the timing works out if I could bring her and then she'd be the only daughter that hadn't been super dad at that point exactly then could be flying all over to go watch so I'm trying to get there uh you know fingers crossed and let's see if they can keep it going cuz what there is six six and a half Point Underdog right now which is just where I like that's just where I like it so I think have you yeah have you looked forward at all the Marquette match up I don't know how much you look into those kinds of things but just curious what your thoughts are about that game um a little bit so I work on SiriusXM uh radio and I all week we've had Chris bah who was an ESPN analyst on and he was talking about some of the match ups and Tyler kch how tough you know he can be on the middle I think you know I think the thing that separated NC State on this run which gives him a chance versus anybody yes it's the team aspect on the offensive side of the ball but watching the defense I think that's what I agree that's what I think has been this run has all been about is the intensity they play with on defense the amount I heard one of the games saying how much they full-court press more than I think most teams in the country and definitely in the tournament there's an intensity and the depth which way they can go to you know and he was saying that you know Spa said you I mean you guys know this more than anybody mod diara on the boards has been such a beast um and I think he is somebody that is really hard to account for but when you've got the the size with DJ burns with mod diara and then Ben coming in to kind of give him relief those are three big bodies that I don't care how you know deep your roster is it is tough to match up and then the guard play has been great too but I I do worry about kak he's pretty you know he's he's he's pretty electric he's a a really good distributor of football he manages to slash really well um but I'll say the same thing like I like the underdog role I think this team relishes in it it all it was one of I was kind of nervous against Oakland again as a favorite it's like uh oh you know how do we doing this time I like this yeah could you sense that the fans there were the neutral fans were pulling for Oakland because I got to sense States the underdog role and usually when those kind of games at least Texas Tech they got that neutral fan support could you feel that against them in the second half yes cuz like it was like NC State kind of controlled the game and it wasn't pretty and they had a couple misses underneath but they were you know leading and then in the second half you could notice that the locals and the people that had showed up from Pittsburgh just looking for a good game did start to uh to gravitate towards uh towards Oakland I mean it was pretty OBD I mean Goki was such a big you know Phenom in the first game against Kentucky with all his threes and then and he was you know he was lighting it up and kind of had him nervous again um but yeah definitely I don't love if there's anything I would love to see and it'll never happen because it's already done this way but I love how the women's tournament has the you know the top seeds get that Regional that first round matchup kind of like they do in college baseball I just there's something about a neutral site I don't love you know it's fun and I get it but like even in the one bracket where they sent Auburn and UAB out to Spokane Washington like that's a doesn't make any sense you know I I think it would have been more fun and I like the way the women's game does it it'll never change like I said but it was an awward it's a weird dynamic you know like to see that like who is these kind of randos that are just there to see a basketball game who do they end up cheering for it's nothing like a homecourt advantage in college hoops whe wherever you know the team is playing and I think it would be better but again it's not changing before we continue we want to take a quick second to tell you about our sponsor Flatlands dressup Insurance group that has your whole world covered with agents in five offices throughout eastern North Carolina to help you decide how much coverage you need offering policies for home and auto recreational vehicles commercial crop Health life and employee benefits they are able to combine options to find a comprehensive solution that works for you flatland juster protects the things you love so you can spend less time wearing and more time enjoying them find them on Facebook and Instagram at Flatlands dressup you can also visit their web page at www.f Flatlands jp.com so please make sure to go and check them out well but I mean let me ask you this though I mean cuz cuz I think that one of the beautiful things though about the NCAA tournament is those uh you know those Cinderella teams the Cinderella teams and so would you say that you know if you had it set up that way where the first two rounds were you know at Auburn were at whatever like would Yale be able to go into Auburn and beat you know beat Auburn as if it was neutral it's a really good point because I know you know home court is such a big thing in college basketball and we've seen so many any you know home upsets but you don't see the home favorites lose very much you know and it's one thing for Yale to do it on a neutral I don't know if they're doing that you know at Auburn so that's a good point so maybe it's design maybe that's the beauty of it you know is that you do get these these flaw you know the the upsets because I mean that's what everybody loves I do feel this though and I felt this say because they had me on CBS Sports HQ give a little breakdown kind of what I was looking for in the Oakland game and I had a prediction from that one that the winner of that game would be the clear-cut like America's team you know cuz I do think there's a lot of people that are casual I would even consider myself a fairly casual basketball fan where they start tuning in in January right but a lot of people just start tuning in in March and I do think it's because a DJ Big DJ like he's such a lovable teddy bear and I think people gravitate toward him because he plays with a ton of emotion you don't see fellas that are that big you know have as much he's got he plays with this emotion he was on you know the bar stool guys pardon my take I was listening to some of that earlier today like he's I think I think NC State is a team that during this sweet 16 weekend that people are going to start to gravitate towards and if they're you know just a casuals looking for that Underdog Story it's this team well because let me ask you too because I mean it's kind of a twofold thing but I mean on one side from a team perspective uh there that NC State is the only team that is a seven seed or lower in the NCA tournament left over right now uh so you know it's great because there's only one Cinderella team right now and that's us but then the other side you know I think about DJ Burns and like it's crazy how much his name has blown up in the last week or so like I still remember Danny I don't know necessar how ined you were but you know with uh who was it the pickle commercial that RJ Davis and oh that was commercial thing yes DJ Burns yeah and and fans saying like ol and fans were saying like like why is RJ Davis doing this with DJ burns like you got RJ Davis an AC Player of the Year and DJ burns like like they don't like DJ Burns just belong to be there and now I'm saying are we sure it's not the other way around are we sure it's not the other way around exactly that's a great point I I do I I love that because his and the other thing and just you know I I was aware of DJ burns from last year's ACC tournament when him and Ben were having some battles you know Clemson was and Ben was there trying to him and I'm like who is this guy like how the heck is anybody to defend him I think too you know talking about the Marquette matchup I do think officiating becomes crucial because I'm sure you guys were all over it too you when you're watching in person you do see how teams defend him and we'll see what Marquette does but Oakland clearly was not only their plan was to double them and triple them I they swarmed like a swarm of bees and and burn is such a good passer he's able to kick it out uh so well but the other thing is the like he was getting banged on and the officials were letting it go and that I think is a crucial element to you know to see if this run can continue is how the officials decide at the beginning of the game because they kind of do set a tone if they let it play out you know on both end I think that was the thing that was kind of annoying is it felt one-sided in Oakland but like I do think letting them play benefits NC State if they let him do it on the offensive side of the ball cuz clearly team's Only Hope of stopping the big fella is to get up there and really try to you know body him but good luck trying to do that right and I I think about to you well you just made a point there so you said how you obviously uncle uncle Danny to Ben but you also said you've been more of a casual fan since you've watched NC State this year has has your has like how much attached to the to as a fan do you feel to the state right now I know you're a Florida State guy just from your years but you know has it been has it been something that you've been you've enjoy watch yourself I imagine I'm curious to also from your perspective what it was like seeing them go through the ACC tournament coming out of the regular season it was awesome uh so we do cover a lot of college basketball once the football season's over on my serious show we're college sports radio but clearly we're probably 80% football you know 18% basketball and then we do some baseball and softball in June you know like when it gets there so like I have watched him a lot and one of the things that I have been asking every basketball analyst that I've had on is why what is the national perception of the ACC and why is that and then Brad Brownell came out you know what six weeks ago or so and had those comments about how the big 12 is taking advantage of it and I'm think I'm thinking thank you which I think a lot of AC s were F were saying thank you because as NC State was playing I'm watching them and I'm like they look really good and then you're starting to see him not even in the bubble conversation they were just out of the tournament and then I'm watching them go toe-to-toe with North Carolina and toe-to-toe with Duke at the end of the season I'm like these guys can play with them they can play with anybody in the country and I do like that has been one thing that as an NC State fan now bandwagon fan with Ben has also been really fun to watch and I think it's proved a lot of those critics wrong who earlier in the season were saying oh the ACC should only have two teams in or three teams in and the Mountain West is better and all I'm like do we just forget that the ACC has been the best college basketball conference in history like there's nobody else that's done it better and we're just supposed to forget about that and but I I think the best part about this getting a quarter of the field in the sweet 16 is hopefully people remember this going forward that the 20 game conference schedule really hurts the ACCC because they start banging on each other and I love that Kevin Keats brought it up and said no the 20- game schedule has us more prepared than anybody else in this tournament because we've been battle tested and we've been so through some of those tough teams so there's been so like I think NC state has really like it's been incredible run for them but and I'm not a huge conference guy like I've hated that I don't like how the SEC but you kind of have to you have to kind of pull for the conference which again I don't like I can't imagine NC State fan like and yay Duke go win a title so we can no want same thing with Carolina like I hate that but you do kind of have to root for the conference's success so that perception can get back to where it was but I hope the ACC the analysts that cover the ACC start to really promote the success they've had not only in this tournament but in the past three years which again working in this I've heard this narrative come from from the last three years I would say that the ACC is quote down and the only reason it's perceived is down is because they're not getting as many teams in the tournament when they're making a pretty good statement that maybe they should have had more teams in and could you imagine how well they'd be doing then if they had got more teams in right I and I mean I and that PR point to I looked at this morning I said I think the ACC and I think the wack I think is the wack I can't remember with whoever's got Gonzaga and um I can't who the other teams are like that but St Mary's St well yeah but there's some I'm thinking of two in the sweet 16 I just know like the Big 10 the SEC I think only have like two teams I think Illinois Purdue for the Big 10 and then Alabama and Kim who the other team is for the SEC but it's not it's not that I know like I know joardy got on there was like talking about how the ACC is so down and ten you look you look on X now I guess whatever it's called and they're like everybody's blowing him up nationally like hey what about this now and to me I think about a team like pit like yeah you know they they should have been in I mean that that's a team I they're just as good as any other teams I'm seeing in this week 16 right now they just didn't get a chance and I didn't I mean honestly this year I was kind of down personally on Clemson going into the postseason I thought I thought this year I was like I don't know but they got in and they're proving everybody like we we're good I mean and I they credit to Brad ronell the whole Clinton they got Jack Clark now on their team NC State so but pit to me like I know Virginia lost but there just stuff like that it's a strong conference it's so tough to play and win in you made the point that honestly don't think about how they went from 18 to 20 conference games it it's just not the same and I don't see that and I feel like this is a year where it's kind of shutting everybody up and it should honestly so so Danny let me kind of ask let me kind of ask that to you as kind of a question so so you know because one of the things that hell pitb back was they out of conference schedule you know they were like 340th in in the nation something like right the reason why Virginia got in was because back in November they beat I think it was Texas A&M and like Florida or something like that you know they had two really good wins three months ago uh so so but you know a lot of people say well NC State like you know you don't play anybody out of conference either but the immediate thought coming back to that and you already basically mentioned it is that the ACC schedule is so tough just because it's the ACC there's a lot of really good teams in ACC that beat up on each other so if you were the athletic director for an AC team would would you rather have a really tough out of conference schedule to be like more like a UNCC where you know it can improve you know their their RPI you know the net ranking uh but on the bad side you know it can beat them up you know it can maybe not have them so ready for a play or would you rather go you know really easy like you know which which way would you rather go in your opinion I think it depends on where you are as a program like if I'm uh if I'm accepting the Louisville job as a head coach whatever Direction they go I'm going into my athletic director and saying we need some easy wins we need to turn and I know we've got we we Blue Blood of college basketball and we're supposed to play against the best but that's just not where we are right now we need to make sure our record is better so give us some easy dubs like help us turn this perception around and we'll see maybe we can get into the tournament we can sneak in there but if you're a duke or Carolina then I want to play the best you know and I think that like I and it's interesting because when I was at Florida State before I was at Florida State Bobby Bowen had you know famously was like we'll play anybody anywhere and and that kind of rained through the whole career like we always had non-c cons against Florida against Notre Dame um you know against Miami when they before they were in the ACC it was like we'll play anybody anywhere and I do like that mentality but I do think it depends on where your program is like if you're a little bit down I think but it's hard because some of these games are scheduled out pretty far in advance but I've always been you know you want to play against the best but you've got to realize that there is some gaming rigging going on that you know conferences in the Big 12 specifically and to their credit they've taken advantage of it because they've done well and they've had multiple national champions with Baylor and Kansas so like they've been able to take advantage of it but it definitely helps and narrative helps in recruiting like when you start like because I guarantee you the ACC is being recruited against by the SEC and Big 12 and they're saying you guys hear it all the time the ACC is down you know you guys don't are you sure you want to go there the ACC is down and the Big 12 is on the rise and the SEC is you know not only a football conference they're us using that against them so there is some of the game that you have to play which I hate it cuz a lot of it you know I guess you consider political or you know just I I don't like how all college sports especially the big ones football and basketball and even baseball somewhat have gotten into where perception matters and you know your marketing material is almost more important than what you've done in the field and I do think that's an area where the ACC could improve on is being noisier about the success they've had collectively again it goes everything against I stand for because I don't think is like you don't want to bring up and brag about Duke in North Carolina's titles you want to have your own but it does kind of matter you know like and so you've got to like try to get back to where saying no no no college basketball runs to the ACC and that's got to be sort of a line that you've got to take well you talk about championships it's least just good to know that this year we can remind everybody NC State does have a ACC Championship so we can at least pitch that to everybody else but uh exactly exactly but no I guess so just to kind of put a bow on the um on the basketball side of things of this tournament so if it's on the other side of the bracket whoever is not NC State who do you think poses the biggest threat to win the national title this year um I'd say it's probably Yukon you know Yukon looks so good and they they've been dominant their first couple games and the one thing I do think I noticed from Dan Hurley their head coach there's some like Nick sabines qualities to him I don't know if you guys were watching their first game that they had against ston they were up like 35 and half and he comes over to do the sideline hit you know with the sideline reporter and he's like pissed off and he's like we didn't we played like crap and all this and I'm like that sounds a lot like Nick Sabin you know and it's they have had zero drop off from the title do you know how hard that is not to get complacent with young college players who are now getting paid and have success and have distractions that is so hard to do and yet he's been able to do it and I and and then again after their last win he was mad about the Big East so he's like finding some and they blew out both opponents and he's you know calling out you know the Big East and or the committee and he's like oh and they've made it hard for us even though his Road wasn't that hard like when you look at it STS in Northwestern weren't exactly that impressive and San Diego State's not that hard of a draw and he's like we got the worst draw and they're trying to screw us he's he's on like he knows what he's doing absolutely and it's very Nick saque on the football side like that that kind of mind games that you have to play to just stay on and never have that let down is something that reminds me of them plus I mean they're really good they're Uber talented so they're a they're a team that definitely is someone to watch out for well and obviously the other thing to add to his Nick sabines you know feel about him is also too that the boosters behind him also say so how much do you need you need you how many millions okay got you got you yeah no they'll give it to them all right so we can't let you go Danny I of good conscience though with your football background I know we have to we have to let you go here but I got to get you say just say 30 seconds to minute about 2024 NC State football how are we feeling I mean obviously NC State fans we are expecting through the roof like AC Championship or bust like anything less than that I'm not very happy I mean would you say that that's a crazy take or or yeah no put me on that train too no I think NC State ually is one of the most under ranked under talked about underp picked teams in the country uh Dave Dorne has been one of the and I think there's I think there's a couple schools that fit this mode Utah out west is a team that's always better and people just forget about them because there's other teams with bigger Brands and other recognizable names and so they just kind of fly under the radar and yet every season they're exactly where they need to be the Grayson Mcall uh pickup I think is huge uh I'm very curious to see if he can get back to the numbers that he put up at Coastal Carolina um but he's a I mean it's it is oftentimes all about the quarterback uh and I hate to make it too just you know one-sided but it really is a quarterback driven game but he's proven to be a winner he's proven to be highly efficient and I think that's exactly what Dave doran's looking for in this offense it'll be curious to see what they do to replace pton Wilson cuz that dude was an absolute stud who you know if he wasn't injured probably be a lock first round pick but again it kind of goes to like teams you trust I trust that NC State is going to be physical you know like I can trust that they're going to be physical they're going to be well coached and they're going to play really hard football and in a year when Florida state is going to be replacing a ton Miami still hasn't proven anything you've got Clemson who probably is going to be the media favorite to pick but they've been vulnerable NC State just beat them a year ago like so I if it's like the shirt that I'm getting sent to me right now that says why not us why wouldn't why wouldn't it be NC stateum football as well you know like and now that'll be harder for me like rooting for them if florid State's in the mix but but like picking one they should be right in the mix with why wouldn't they be a team that should be in contention in you know November for the ACC Championship so I I think there I think you should have high expectations and it should be one where you could definitely picture a scenario where they get to the ACC Championship game and then it's what's really interesting is is the ACC going to get one or two teams in you know like cuz that like if and especially like that opportunity against Tennessee is massive and that one will be one where and again I don't like doing it I've been forced to do this I will be rooting for NC State because they're in the ACC playing against the SEC team but they could win that game like why not and then all a sudden that I think is the type of win that could really put them you know um you know on the national stage and then with an opportunity in the first month of the season to go to Clemson that could be huge for them so I definitely like their prospects this upcoming season well right now n State's plus 1400 and to win the ACC Danny just for your I think it's really good value for your notes for real that's what I'm thinking so anyway Danny we we we'll let you go here but just for our fans who want to be able to check out some more of your content please let them know where to where to check you out where to listen watch your stuff uh X Danny canel is my handle every morning 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. uh Sirus M college sports radio channel 84 and then the cover three podcast with my fellas uh from CBS Sports uh we have that you can find that anywhere podcast are we're always talking college football and then one more pitch for you so I was talking to a company breaking tea they've got a bunch of you I'm sure you guys know him so Ben's coming out with he's got two shirts coming out benergy one says and I think the other one is uh is Big Game Benny or Benny ball game I forget what it is but go check out breaking T because they also have uh they have DJ Burns DJ horn like they got a bunch of the players on the team they got some really cool gear so make sure you go check it out exclusive content right now man this is awesome I'm going to be tweeting out the link here shortly because they just had it up and running they had to get everything cleared with the nil group to get Ben shirts up but they already had D the both DJs so yeah make sure you go check it out that's awesome well Dan we appreciate your time man thank you so so much for coming on man and uh we'll hope to to we'll hope to see you in the national championship game all right exactly why not us let's keep going why not us and then for us W pack Nation if you haven't already make sure again hit that subscribe button hit that notification Bell so you don't miss out whenever we release any new inst stay content make sure to hit that like button and also to make sure to give us a follow tyffy talk now on Twitter Instagram and Tik Tok y'all but thank you'all so much for tuning in we'll see y'all soon and go pack [Music]