The Ryen Russillo Show

Ryen opens with arguments for and against the question: “Is Jalen Hurts a good QB?” Next, he talks with Celtics guard Derrick White about Jayson Tatum’s return, postseason basketball approaching, and more. Then, Ryen is joined by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie to discuss Final Four matchups, draft prospects, and the wide-open Eastern Conference. Finally, Ryen, Kyle, and Ceruti close the show by answering listener-submitted Life Advice questions, a newborn ruining the vibe of a rec league team.

OPEN


(1:29) “Is Jalen Hurts a good QB?”

DERRICK WHITE


(14:20) Jayson Tatum’s return
(24:53) Head coach Joe Mazzulla
(28:48) Getting ready for the playoffs
(32:06) Derrick’s college hoops journey
(36:44) Predicting playoff seeding in the East

SAM VECENIE


(39:18) UConn’s unique offense
(43:49) Illinois vs. UConn
(53:47) Michigan vs. Arizona
(57:22) Prospects who could use one more NCAA season
(1:05:58) NBA big boards
(1:15:30) Guessing the No. 1 pick with different lottery teams
(1:23:47) The wide-open Eastern Conference

LIFE ADVICE


(1:34:28)

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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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