TSR 3/1/20 CBB Picks w/ Guest Picker Jason Hutton

On Saturdays and Sundays for the remainder of the college basketball season, the TSR team is going to add guest pickers to our usual daily selections. They will be on the Guest Pick Standings page on the menu of our website. Our next guest picker is a familiar face on West Michigan's Fox17, Sports Anchor Jason Hutton.

Q&A with Jason Hutton

1. Can you take us through your career? How long have you been at Fox17?

I’ve been at FOX 17 for 13 1/2 years, I started in August 2006 as an operations technician (studio crew). I have worked as a news photographer, sports photographer, sports reporter and sports anchor in my time at the station. I interned and then worked my first job at FOX 47 in Lansing in 2003 and 2004.

2. So you went to Belding, did you play sports in high school? 

I played football (7th-9th grade), golf (10th-12th grade), basketball through JV, and baseball all the way through high school.

3. Were you in Belding during their run of football dominance from 1994-98? If so, what was it like in the school and around the community? 

I was and it was incredible. No question that is where I fell in love with small town high school sports.  To this day I have never seen an entire town get behind something like Belding got behind its football team in the 1990s. I was a freshman in 1994 when we won our first state championship and a senior in ’97 when we won our second.

4. Rockford just hired Brent Cummings as their head football coach. Do you know him well as a Belding alum? How do you think he fits in that program?

I’ve known Brent since middle school. I guarded him every day in JV basketball practice, he was the starting point guard as a freshman, and I was the backup point guard. I think he will do great as Rockford’s football coach. He is extremely intelligent, has an incredible background in football, surrounds himself with great people and has impeccable integrity. I realize it was something of a risk for Rockford to go with someone without head coaching experience, but I think it’s going to pay off for them.

5. What was your favorite game at the collegiate level that you have covered?

I’d have to say the 2013 Big Ten Championship game when Michigan State beat Ohio State to get to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 25 years. The Spartans were an underdog and to see them accomplish something the program hadn’t done in while was fun.

6. How about the high school beat, is there a game that stands out when you look back? 

The 2007 Division 3 football state championship game when East Grand Rapids beat Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in 5 overtimes. It was the last game of the weekend and I can remember helping with the live sports hit in about the 2nd or 3rd OT and the game finishing well after the news had ended.

7. Do you have any "horror stories" on the coverage trail that you would care to share, whether it was on your way to the event or something that happened while you covered it?

I have quite a few here. I was pulled over for speeding on the way back from the NBA finals at my first job. Another time, I shot a playoff football game on my cell phone because I forgot an SD card. I walked 2 plus miles for the Michigan State at Central Michigan football game with about 100 lbs. of equipment. Probably the worst though was the 2013 ALCS in Boston. We flew out early Saturday morning after a long Blitz night and I packed everything up. When we got to Boston, I realized I forgot to pack one piece of the equipment to go live, so we were in Boston and had no way to be live on the news.  I spent most of the game knocking on live truck doors from the Boston stations asking if they could help us, none of them were very nice to me.

8. Who provided you with the best interview that you have had?

We are not afforded much access to big time college or pro athletes, so most of my best interviews have come with local high school athletes like Unity Christian running back Hayden Large who missed his entire senior football season because of injury.

9. As a Michigan basketball follower, where do you see this team headed this season? 

With Livers healthy and the way they are playing now, I think the Wolverines could end up a four or five seed and definitely be a sweet sixteen team.

10. How about Michigan State? Where do you see their season going?

This is a tough one. If the Spartans lose in the second round, I won’t be surprised, if they play in the national championship game, I won’t be surprised. Michigan State will go as far as Cassius Winston takes them and based on last year’s tournament, I think they have a chance because I think Cassius will play well when the lights get brighter.

11. John Beilen had an unfortunate end to his term in Cleveland. Do you think that he gets back into coaching next season, and if so do you care to make a prediction on where?

Maybe Texas if the Longhorns move on from Shaka. When Beilein left for the NBA it was thought he was tired of players leaving early and cheating in college basketball. I wonder if he might come back and coach somewhere other than a high major, maybe somewhere in the Ivy League.

12. How have you seen high school sports evolve since you have started covering them?

I see more athletes spending more time at their craft. 20 years ago, it seemed like kids did many different sports and now it seems as they focus more on one or two.

13. As a long-tenured member of the West Michigan high school sports world, let’s rank some of your favorites?

Best HS Basketball Arenas in West Michigan

Dutch Dome - Holland High School 

Caledonia

Muskegon Catholic Central (Old school and small, it’s great)

Belding (it’s a homer call but it’s a sweet gym)

Best Boys Basketball Players that you have covered

Drew Neitzel, Wyoming Park

Drake Harris, Grand Rapids Christian

Xavier Tillman, Forest Hills Central and Grand Rapids Christian

Isaiah Livers, Kalamazoo Central

Lamar Norman, Godwin Heights

Best HS Football Stadiums in West Michigan

Greenville (Hate to say it, haha!)

Grand Rapids Catholic Central

Comstock Park

Sparta

Best HS Football Players that you have covered

AJ Westendorp (Holland Christian QB went to CMU)

Brent Showers (Rockford LB went to Davenport)

Drake Harris (GR Christian WR went to Michigan)

DeShaun Thrower (Muskegon QB went to Ferris State

Kalil Pimpleton (Muskegon QB went to CMU)

Fun Fact: Jason interviewed our Nick Tuori during high school as a member of the baseball team at Caledonia High School. If interested, check that out here (we apologize for the horrible hair).

SUNDAY’S GAMES

1. St. John’s vs Creighton (12:00, FS1)

Jason: Creighton- The Blue Jays shot 60% when they beat St. John’s three weeks ago!

Nick: Creighton- This team is the hottest in the Big East, and they have a legitimate shot at the regular season title. This is a game that they have no business losing, especially with players such as Ty-Shon Alexander and Marcus Zegarowski leading the way.

Sam: Creighton-- I am in love with this Creighton team. When they go small with Denzel mahoney at the 5, they are so fun to watch.

Zach: Creighton- Make it six in a row for a very underrated Bluejays team that can shoot their way into a deep run

2. Houston vs Cincinnati (1:00, ESPN)

Jason: Houston

Nick: Houston- Kelvin Sampson has done a phenomenal job at Houston, developing the Cougars into a perennial NCAA Tournament team. This home game will be a chance to avenge an earlier loss and stay in front of the AAC race.

Sam: Houston-- Kelvin Sampson. Houston Redemption

Zach: Houston- I will not pick against this backcourt 

3. Georgetown vs Xavier (2:00, CBS)

Jason: Georgetown- I’m a big Patrick Ewing guy, so I’ve got his Hoyas winning this game.

Nick: Xavier- I’m not sure that the Hoyas have the depth to win this game. The uncertainty of both Omar Yurtseven and Mac McClung leave me only one choice. If they do play, I think they Hoyas would be my pick to win however.

Sam: Xavier-- The Musketeers are on the right side of the bubble right now, and win here would go a very long way. I truly feel bad for Patrick Ewing with everything that has gone wrong this season for the Hoyas.

Zach: Georgetown- The Hoyas have dropped three in a row, and they get a much needed big win to finish a rough, underachieving season

4. Illinois vs Indiana (2:00, BTN)

Jason: Illinois- The Hoosiers stink on the road.

Nick: Illinois- Jason is spot on. The fact that this Indiana team lost another road game the other night at Purdue shows that they really struggle away from Assembly Hall (although Illinois’ arena used to be Assembly Hall as well). Illinois gets this win to put themselves in a strong position to earn a double bye.

Sam: Illinois-- Yeah, Indiana stinks on the road for sure. It doesn’t help that regardless of where they play, the Hoosiers never seem to shoot well. Illinois is a bit overrated in my opinion, but Ayo will make some big plays in this one and propel it to a victory.

Zach: Illinois- The Hoosiers are not the same team away from home, as they are at Assembly Hall. Ayo Dosunmu is an NBA player and he keeps improving his stock and gets the Illini a win to keep their little Big Ten title hopes alive

5. Ohio State vs Michigan (4:00, CBS)

Jason: Michigan- The Wolverines are playing too well right now.

Nick: Ohio State- The loss on Thursday night humbled my view of the Wolverines right now. I thought that they had returned to form with a healthy Isaiah Livers, but they still have some flaws. Ohio State has had a fantastic week of basketball, and they are at home against their rival. O-H...

Sam: Michigan-- I would assume Eli Brooks will be back, and I like the Wolverines in this one at full health. Teske will have his hands full with Wesson, but I’m taking Zavier Simpson over CJ Walker 10/10 times. I think Simpson will have another big game

Zach: Michigan- Ohio State won the first matchup in Ann Arbor by 3 points, but Livers did not play. He is a game changer and it shows

6.  Nebraska vs Northwestern (4:15, BTN)

Jason: Nebraska- I’ll take the Cornhuskers, only because they’re at home.

Nick: Nebraska- I’m with Jason here again too. This is really a toss-up game, and the seeding implications in the Big Ten Tournament are here. I’ll take Nebraska at home, as they have been playing better basketball out of late. Cam Mack is an elite scoring guard as a sophomore, and I think that he serves as the difference in this game.

Sam: Nebraska-- Bless you, Big Ten schedulers!! We have gotten the pleasure to see this elite matchup 2 times this season

Zach: Nebraska- Flip of a coin but the coin is slightly weighted as Nebraska is at home

7. Wisconsin vs Minnesota (6:30, BTN)

Jason: Wisconsin- The Gophers are another B1G team that really struggles on the road.

Nick: Wisconsin- Minnesota has to be so defeated after that loss to Maryland the other night, as they squandered an enormous lead and an even larger opportunity for a resume boost. They defeated Wisconsin earlier this season, but this is at Kohl Center. I’ll take the Badgers.

Sam: Wisconsin-- What a deflating loss to Maryland for the Gophers… Quietly, the Badgers are on a absolute roll. Can’t go against them in the Kohl Center

Zach: Wisconsin- Minnesota won by 18 last time around, but after such a demoralizing, hard fought loss and playing at Kohl, I like the Badgers

8. Stanford vs Colorado (6:00, ESPNU)

Jason: Colorado

Nick: Colorado- The Buffs suffered a tough loss to California the other night, so I expect them to be focused and ready to go on Sunday against Stanford. That California loss wasn’t the most difficult loss they’ve taken this season though, as Mel Tucker left town for Michigan State, in case you hadn’t heard. #MelYeah

Sam: Colorado-- MEL YEAH!!!

Zach: Colorado- McKinley Wright IV and Mel Yeah

9. Louisville vs Virginia Tech (6:00, ACC)

Jason: Louisville- The Cards are just too good at home.

Nick: Louisville- This Virginia Tech team is going to be one that when we evaluate the season over the course of the summer, we scratch our heads and wonder how they possibly beat Michigan State out in Maui. I guess the Hokies shooting 48% from three, combined with 16 Michigan State turnovers would be the simple answer..

Sam: Louisville-- Ryan McMahon, Cult hero

Zach: Louisville- VT is struggling and Louisville is really good

10. Rhode Island vs St. Louis (2:00, ESPNU)

Jason: Rhode Island- Cuttino Mobley > Larry Hughes

Nick: Rhode Island- The Rams are fighting hard for an at-large berth at this point in the season, and this would be a huge victory for them to obtain. A victory over a NET #68 would be only Quadrant 2 at home, so it’s more avoiding the Quad 2 loss than anything for the Rams.

Sam: Rhode Island-- Rams need it badly.

Zach: Rhode Island--Fatts Russell. What a name.