The Ryen Russillo Show

Ryen opens with his four NBA MVP candidates: SGA, Luka, Jokic, and Wembanyama. Then Ian Eagle joins to discuss calling UConn’s historic comeback win over Duke, the revival of college basketball, Final Four storylines, and the start of his career at WFAN. Next, Ryen talks with PGA Tour golfer Jake Knapp about tying the course record at Memorial Park Golf Course last weekend, his hot start to the season, and getting ready for the Masters. Finally, Ryen and Kyle answer listener-submitted Life Advice questions, including a pair of emails about unique wedding gifts.

OPEN


(1:27) NBA MVP arguments

IAN EAGLE


(18:44) Ryen and Ian’s long professional relationship
(26:21) Calling the Duke–UConn ending
(33:21) College basketball’s upswing
(39:10) Final Four storylines
(45:17) Noah Eagle’s meteoric rise
(50:02) Breaking through at WFAN

JAKE KNAPP


(1:07:20) Jake’s hot start to the season
(1:09:54) Becoming comfortable at tour events
(1:16:024 Keys to improving golf game
(1:25:22) Gearing up for Augusta

ALLIANCE PARLAY


(1:33:58)

LIFE ADVICE


(1:36:26)

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Ryen opens with Duke’s brutal loss to UConn, with a little background on why we collectively root against them. Then, Jay Bilas joins with his thoughts on the Duke collapse, Scheyer and Hurley’s coaching, Arizona vs. Michigan, some draft thoughts, and whether people are wrongly blaming NIL for the changes in college sports. Finally, Kyle and Ceruti join for some listener-submitted Life Advice, including how to talk to older people and what to do at the Masters.

WHY WE ROOT AGAINST DUKE

(1:46) Duke losses bring us together
(10:05) UConn’s improbable rise continues

JAY BILAS

(15:22) How did the Duke collapse happen?
(21:05) UConn’s culture
(24:03) UConn vs. Illinois
(36:34) Michigan vs. Arizona
(40:05) Who he’d take with the No. 1 pick
(44:19) Are people wrong to blame NIL?

LIFE ADVICE

(56:09)

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Ryen is joined by Brian Windhorst to talk about whether the Celtics can actually win the title, if tanking can realistically be fixed, a great Wemby–Chet story, and more questions about the league’s contenders. Then, Kyle and Ceruti join for some listener-submitted Life Advice, including whether to have the bachelor party and wedding back-to-back and a family member selling gifts on Facebook Marketplace.

BRIAN WINDHORST

(1:18) How scary are the Celtics?
(10:53) Do execs think the Spurs can win it all this year?
(28:28) The Wemby vs. Chet rivalry
(37:30) Cade and the Pistons
(46:39) Tougher matchup: Knicks or Cavs?
(49:26) Giannis landing spots
(54:14) Can tanking really be fixed?

LIFE ADVICE

(1:03:22)

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Ryen opens with the idea that Michael Jordan would average 50 points per game in today’s NBA and explains exactly how improbable that would be. Then, friend of the show Jeff Passan joins for the annual baseball preview, going through every division, World Series picks, and the debate about which sport is better right now: the NBA or MLB. Finally, Kyle and Ceruti join for a Sweet Sixteen Alliance Parlay and some listener-submitted Life Advice.

COULD MJ AVERAGE 50?

(1:27)

JEFF PASSAN

(12:40) The WBC was a primer for the MLB season
(17:15) MLB vs. NBA debate
(27:51) What would a third straight Dodgers title mean?
(32:36) Divisional/playoff picks
(55:42) World Series picks

SWEET SIXTEEN ALLIANCE PARLAY

(58:43)

LIFE ADVICE

(1:08:58)

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Ryen opens with some NCAA tournament thoughts, including he and Kyle’s Johnnies in the Sweet Sixteen, Florida going down, Michigan and Arizona looking great, and whether it’s crazy that Acuff could be the best player in the draft. Then, CBB analyst Jim Jackson joins to go more in-depth on the tournament, including a Sweet Sixteen preview. Next, World Series champion Hunter Pence stops by to talk baseball, his career, and who can dethrone the Dodgers. Finally, Kyle and Ceruti join for some listener-submitted Life Advice, including being made fun of for using a spoon and getting invited to a beach trip without your girlfriend.

TOURNAMENT TALK

(1:17) St. John’s!
(5:09) Florida goes down
(8:00) UConn tops UCLA
(12:46) Could Acuff be the best player in the draft?
(16:11) Love for Iowa State
(17:04) Purdue & Nebraska advance

JIM JACKSON

(22:03) Ohio State guy watching Michigan/Michigan State
(29:12) Michigan State vs. UConn
(32:05) Michigan over Duke & Arizona?
(35:51) Acuff’s ceiling
(42:18) Purdue vs. Texas
(46:38) Duke vs. St. John’s
(51:10) Iowa vs. Nebraska
(52:46) Illinois vs. Houston
(55:21) His freshman year vs. UNLV
(56:54) What to make of this Clippers season

HUNTER PENCE

(1:00:20) Start of the MLB season
(1:02:58) When did he know he could play in the bigs?
(1:07:40) In awe of playing with Bumgarner
(1:10:15) How can the Dodgers be beat?
(1:13:28) Who can dethrone the Dodgers?
(1:17:40) How good pitchers have gotten

LIFE ADVICE

(1:29:20)

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