Matt & Ross In The Morning

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap the Houston Rockets defeating the Washington Wizards 137-114 Tuesday for their sixth straight victory. Head coach Ime Udoka joins to discuss Jalen Green's impressive performance and how the Rockets have found success even with Alperen Sengun out due to injury. Cougars men's basketball is set to take on the Longwood Lancers on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Reid Gettys, ESPN analyst and former forward during the Phi Slama Jama era of Cougars men's basketball, joins to break down the Cougars possible path to the Final Four. Matt and Ross react to MLB holding its season-opening games in South Korea, talk with Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, about the latest updates from spring training, tell people to "Shut Yo Bum Ass Up, Ain't Nobody Got Time" and more.

Reid Gettys, ESPN analyst and former forward during the Phi Slama Jama era of Houston Cougars men's basketball, joins The Matt Thomas Show to break down the Cougars ahead of their first round matchup against the Longwood Lancers on Friday in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The Cougars lost the Big 12 Championship tournament against Iowa State, but Gettys was happy to see the team make it that far when dealing with injuries across the roster. Head coach Kelvin Sampson would "sooner stop breathing then to go and not compete." The Cougars are the No. 1 seed in the South region and are expected to make it far in the tournament, but Gettys cautions the team to stick to the game plan throughout the course of a contest. The Cougars "quit running [their] sets" when they are faced with a scoring drought. The Cougars are favored in the first round against Longwood but could face a tougher opponent in the second round against the winner of Nebraska vs. Texas A&M.

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka joins The Matt Thomas Show to recap the Rockets defeating the Washington Wizards 137-114 Tuesday on the road. The Rockets played "really good on the defensive end" and "buckled down in that third quarter," Udoka said. This was the Rockets sixth straight win. Guard Jalen Green tied his career-high with 42 points and has averaged 27.3 points in the last 10 games. Green is "reading everything at a fast pace now" and needs to continue to "stay confident and keep it simple" as he improves his game on both sides of the floor. Ever since Alperen Sengun went down with injury, Amen Thompson has joined the starting lineup and excelled, averaging 21 points and 9.7 rebounds in the past three games. Thompson is "understanding how he can impact the game," and his success as a starter is "not surprising with his size and his athleticism." Sengun suffered a severely sprained ankle and bruised knee during the final minutes of a victory over the Sacramento Kings on March 10. MRI scans show that Senguin will not require surgery, and he has already been seen without a walking boot. "He's progressing well" and allowing "the swelling and bruising" to heal. Udoka could not confirm if Sengun would be able to return before the end of the season as the Rockets are currently 2.5 games out of the Play-In Tournament. Cam Whitmore has also be sidelined with a right knee sprain, but Udoka says the rookie is walking "with no limp" and "getting shots up already." Prior to the trade deadline, the Rockets acquired Steven Adams from the Memphis Grizzlies, and Adams was with the team Tuesday as he is completing rehab in Washington, D.C. "It's great to have him around the guys."

Brian McTaggart of MLB.com joins The Matt Thomas Show for his weekly segment and talks about the injury to Jose Urquidy and said Houston dodged a bullet there, and talks about the Astros not getting pitcher Blake Snell, saying he doesn't believe the Astros were close to getting him.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap free agent pitcher Blake Snell agreeing to a two-year, $62 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. With Astros pitcher Jose Urquidy joining Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia on the injured list to start the season, who should the Astros look to add to the rotation? A photo was leaked Monday that showcased new jerseys for the Houston Texans. Texans owner Cal McNair responded to the leaked photo by posting an official tease to Reddit showing one of the new uniform combinations. The rest of the new jerseys are set to be released in April. Matt and Ross give their predictions for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament with the Cougars taking the No. 1 Seed in the South region, express their opinions on what Josh Hader's walk-up song should be, say their "Gut Feelings" and more.

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap the Houston Rockets defeating the Washington Wizards 135-119 Thursday at the Toyota Center. The Rockets improve to four straight victories and will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. During Friday's minor league start, Astros pitcher José Urquidy pulled himself off the mound after suffering pain in this throwing elbow. The Astros might look to add another pitcher to the roster with ace Justin Verlander set to start the season on the injured list. Framber Valdez will be the starter on Opening Day for the third straight season. Cougars men's basketball is set to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the next round of the Big 12 Championship Tournament. Joseph Duarte, University of Houston beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, joins to preview the matchup and talks about how it can affect seeding heading into the March Madness NCAA Tournament. Matt and Ross review Texans general manager Nick Caserio's free agent moves, discuss Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald announcing his retirement, react to the Pittsburgh Steelers trading quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles, tell their Non-Florida Stories and more on this Anything Goes Friday.

Joseph Duarte, University of Houston beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, joins The Matt Thomas Show to preview Cougars men's basketball taking on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12 Championship Tournament. As the Cougars deal with injuries to the roster, Duarte says head coach Kelvin Sampson might begin to "manage minutes heading into the NCAA Tournament." "[Sampson] thought about giving [the starters] a break," Duarte said. The Cougars have already secured the Big 12 regular season title, but if they also win the Big 12 Championship Tournament, the Cougars "should be the No. 1 seed in the country." The 2024 March Madness NCAA Tournament starts on Thursday, March 21. The Cougars are expected to go far in the tournament, but Duarte says another Big 12 team might also be a contender. The Baylor Bears "present problems."

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap Kansas State rallying from a 10-point deficit at halftime to defeat the Texas Longhorns 78-74 in the Big 12 Men's Basketball Champioship on Wednesday. The Houston Cougars men's basketball team will take on the TCU Horned Frogs today in the tournament. The Astros traded minor league right-hander Carlos Mateo to the Kansas City Royals for Dylan Coleman last December, but the Astros announced today that Coleman has been optioned to Triple-A in Sugar Land after struggling in spring training. Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins from CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches to give the latest updates from Astros spring training ahead of their matchup against the Washington Nationals. Matt and Ross preview the Rockets hosting the Washington Wizards, review the Texans' moves in free agency, give their latest predictions during an impromptu "Gut Feelings," exclaim "I Just Don't Get It" and more.

Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, joins The Matt Thomas Show from CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches to talk about the Houston Astros ahead of their spring training matchup against the Washington Nationals. Pitcher Justin Verlander reported to spring training with right shoulder issues and will be placed on the injury list to start the season. However, McTaggart is optimistic about Verlander's progress in spring training. Verlander is "throwing his bullpens without any incidents." As the Astros approach Opening Day, McTaggart expects players such as Grae Kessinger, Jon Singleton and others to make the roster. "The club is looking pretty set right now," McTaggart said. The Astros traded minor league right-hander Carlos Mateo to the Kansas City Royals for Dylan Coleman last December, but McTaggart hasn't been impressed with the prospect's performances in spring training. Coleman "probably hasn't pitched as well as they would've liked." First baseman José Abreu has been recovering from right knee soreness but could return to Grapefruit League action soon. "I would expect him to bounce back." McTaggart also comments on pitcher José Urquidy, who performed well against the Nationals on Saturday. "I wouldn't expect him to be an ace," but "he's pitched really well this spring."

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of The Matt Thomas Show recap the Houston Rockets defeating the San Antonio Spurs 103-101 Tuesday to earn four straight road wins. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka joins to discuss how players, such as Amen Thompson and Jock Landale, are stepping up with Alperen Şengün out due to injury. Minutes before the beginning of the show, news breaks that the Texans are trading defensive tackle Maliek Collins to the San Francisco 49ers for a seventh-round pick. The Texans have already signed edge rusher Danielle Hunter and defensive end Denico Autry. Will general manager Nick Caserio sign a free agent interior defensive lineman such as Sheldon Rankins or Arik Armstead? Matt and Ross predict the outcome of the Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship, analyze the Texans' free agency moves, tell people to "Shut Yo Bum Ass Up" and "Ain't Nobody Got Time" and more.