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maitranslations · 4 years

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[ENG Translation] =LOVE Takamatsu Hitomi - HUSTLEPRESS interview (2020.10.12)

“Appearing in their personal clothes!” Serialization part 1 - Takamatsu Hitomi

Note 1: It is her first interview with HUSTLEPRESS since her return.

Note 2: There are bound to have mistakes so I apologize for any errors.

Switching from lazing around at home to deciding to return took one day.

--Upon returning, how did it felt at the dressing room waiting to perform for the 3rd anniversary concert in September? It felt the same as last year, the usual.

--It was your first stage in one year, were you nervous? Nope. I have always been the type who doesn't get nervous. But on the actual day, time was tight, and we all had to get whatever we need to confirm right into our heads. So when I saw Sashihara (Rino)-san from the stage during the rehearsal, I got nervous.

--During the preparation lesson, you find the choreography for 'CAMEO' which was released during your hiatus, difficult that you cried even though you rarely do...... I heard this story from Sasaki Maika-san's radio show on YouTube. It was difficult, or rather, I didn't know the choreography when we were working on the 12-people version, so I was supposed to learn it while doing it with everyone else. But then I didn't know the choreography plus I had no idea where my position was, I was like, "This is impossible after all. I'm sorry."

--During your hiatus, you were "at home almost everyday" so what did you do at home? Nothing (laughs). For one year, I was sooo out of it (laughs).

--Did you watch Ikorabu (=LOVE)'s activities? Yes. From my perspective, Ikorabu has become more and more popular and famous, and I think that's great.

--At some point, did you go into "I can't wait to return" mode? I had the feeling of "I will definitely return" ever since I went into hiatus, but there were days where I couldn't think like that. During those days, I tried not to force myself to think that "I must return".

--During your hiatus, Sashihara-san commented, "I want you to have a wonderful experience that you could only have while you're on break". Did you get such experience? I wanted to, but because of the self-restraint period (Note 3: most likely referring to the ‘lockdown’ period due to COVID), I didn't go anywhere, and I hardly did anything. At most, I met up with my friends from my hometown in October when I started my hiatus.

--Hitomi-san, you like movies, right? Did you watched all sorts of films? I watched quite a lot on streaming services.

--Did you watched whatever movies that was on "Recommended"? I searched for what I want to watch. I watched a lot of Japanese movies, but what I looked forward to every week wasn't a movie nor drama, but "Gout Temps Nouveau 2". It broadcasts every Wednesday, I hardly can wait every week (laughs).

--To that extent huh (laughs). The casting of the guests is superb, I never get bored because I get to listen to opinions of different people each time, and I love that the talks are interesting. Topics about romance are a lot, so there are some things that I don't understand. I even went for the public recording (laughs).

--You bought a ticket normally? I applied for it. I was close to the stage, the casts were all so beautiful.

--Hasegawa Kyoko-san, Tanaka Minami-san, Takizawa Karen-san, and Nishino Nanase-san, right? Their talking ability were so great that I was overwhelmed.

--Anyways, it seems that you decided to return 2 months before the 3rd anniversary concert, were you able to immediately switch your life and mind back? Yes. I called and talked to a staff a while back. All this while I was just lazing around, but my life completely changed in one day. I thought I should do my best that I switched really quickly.

--Perhaps your mind got into the "it's about time" mode. I did get into it, but I couldn't take any actions with my feelings alone. When I needed someone to push me, I felt like I got it.

--Did you devote yourself into self-training for dance? I did some self-training, and had a one-to-one lesson with the teacher to sort of help me recall the steps for everything from '=LOVE'. In case I might have forgotten.

--So even when you didn't dance for so long, your body still remembers? There were times where I went "huh?", but I'm fine.

--Do you feel different now compared to before you were on hiatus, and when you made your debut? I think so. I feel much more positive than ever.

--We would like to ask you about the theme, "Whatever moves you has a meaning" for this interview. Hitomi-san, is there anything that moved you recently? The moment I saw the audience during the 3rd anniversary concert, I got really excited. It went straight to my heart too, I could feel it pounding hard. It's been a while since I felt that, I knew it I would feel nervous, but I was so happy.

--Were the audience cheering louder than you expected? The audience weren't allowed to let out their voices, but when my name first appeared on the screen, I could feel everyone let out a "Woahhhh!".

--Were you touched that during your hiatus, Oba Hana-san made a flipbook-like animation of you dancing to '=LOVE' in the ending card for the official YouTube channel? I was so touched. I only got to know it as a surprise when I watched the video, so I immediately texted "Thank you" to Hana-chan on LINE. She was still working on the drawings at that time, so she told me, "I'll do my best".

--Did you watched it when it was completed? It was perfect. The animation is so cute, it does feel like Hana-chan's work. I was also happy that she drew me with a ponytail.

--What is the most impressive thing that happened in your life so far? At our first stage in 2017 at TIF, where we performed outdoor at a very large venue, two of my friends came down to watch us while wearing cooling pads. They screamed my name, "Hitomi-!".

--They didn't tell you beforehand? They were like, "We might come down". They were right in front among the audience, so I was like, "EHHHH!?". One of them came all the way from Hokkaido. I remembered being so happy that it gave me the energy, so I was able to work even harder.

--Looking at the other Ikorabu members, anyone impressed you? After being on hiatus for a year, I started looking at Ikorabu in an objective manner, and I realized the effort everyone put in behind the scenes. Especially (Takiwaki) Shoko-chan and Hana-chan. I didn't go and watch their performances during my hiatus, I only listened to the songs from their CDs. Listening to their live singing for the first time since my return, I realized they really improved. When I asked them, "What did you do?", they told me they went for voice training, and sang a lot. I'm so impressed.

--Okay, any food that left you a good impression? I'm into eating imo-kenpi recently. Also, I started cooking for myself every day ever since I decided to return. I was like, "Eh? This is delicious!" loudly when I tried the sesame soymilk noodles that I made (laughs). I was so impressed by how delicious it was then.

--Is the cooking of high difficulty? It was rather easy to make. I just looked at the recipe and made it, and the spiciness and seasoning was just how I like it.

--Do you usually cook before this? Not at all.

--No wonder you got burned while cooking. I got burned at two areas. Both times were when I was trying to take something while using the frying pan, it hit my arm and burned me (laughs).

--In the first place, what's the link between returning and cooking for yourself? I didn't take 3 meals a day before this, I ate and went to bed whenever I want, to the point where I became pretty chubby (laughs). I felt like I need to lose weight before I return, so I started cooking healthy meals for myself.

--So you completely changed your eating habits. I did a complete 180 degrees change. I eat a lot for breakfast because I get hungry, I basically skipped lunch for two months, and eat light food such as fish for dinner.

--2 meals a day huh. I was often told that if I'm going to have 2 meals anyways, it is better to have breakfast and lunch, but I can't hold my hunger in at night. I still can tolerate not eating lunch, so I choose to eat breakfast and dinner.

--Have you ever been moved from looking at beautiful sceneries? I can see the sky from my room, so during my hiatus in January, February and March, I often get to see beautiful sunsets that were like pink and light blue. Whenever I open the curtain and watch the sunset. I feel soothed.

--Hitomi-san, you will be turning 20 at the beginning of the new year, right? I used to feel like I still want to stay in my teens, but recently I want to turn 20 as soon as possible. There are more members who are legal to drink, so I can't wait to mix around with them.

--You will be able to do more things. There are various places I feel like going, but with the situation right now, it's hard. Thinking about it now, I really should have gone when I was still on hiatus (laughs).

--What kind of places do you want to go? Overseas. Like Taiwan or Italy. I was planning to go to Italy with my mother and older sister, but we couldn't go abroad at that time, so it got cancelled. We did talk like, "We should use the money supposedly for the overseas trip to go somewhere within the country", but couldn't go anywhere eventually due to country being in a state of emergency.

--What do you look for if you could go? I want to eat authentic pizza and pasta in Italy, I want to eat while walking around the night market in Taiwan. I would look for food if I could go (laughs).

--You are waiting for the day to be able to go...... right? It is precisely at this time that we, =LOVE, would like to be given more chances to make everyone happy.

#equal love #=love #ikorabu #takamatsu hitomi

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sugarandcaramel-deactivated20210 · 5 years

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so it’s marvin appreciation week, but what with my exams coming up and the various other things i should be working on (school artzine, sanders sides big bang, trying to put together a commission list for another site) i really don’t have the time to draw the magic boy.

instead, here’s some old art! right side is from late-march/early april 2018, drawn for the cardician ARG; the left is a redraw from late december 2018. *~*~IMPROVEMENT~*~*

#septicart #septicegopreeshweek #jacksepticeye #marvin the magnificent #septic egos #my art #i want a better art tag #uuhhhhh #alex arts #(but have you considered dear past me:#wren arts #)#cool #my stuff #(is that a tag i use? yikes it's been too long since i've posted art

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patriciaselina · 6 years

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[Animemashite] Kousaka Atsushi cross interview extras

“Of course I know, from within, that I want to take part in recording over various things, work from a script, but recently there's been various experiences that made me think, ‘ah, the way people recognize the seiyuu industry has changed, hasn't it?’ Just like how we're doing a TV show like this, or if one day you'd have to sing songs - not as a character, but as yourself, or if someday you'll do MC - be an MC for radio, or take part in events, and stuff. And aren't those fun in their own way?”

(Image source)

Happy birthday, Kousaka Atsushi! This is an English-translated transcript of the extra video of his cross interview for the March 13, 2017 episode of Animemashite!

You can see their original answers for the interview here!

Legend:

Interviewee: Kousaka Atsushi (A)

Interviewer: Kawanishi Kengo (K)

A movie/book/manga you recommend | Nakayama Atsushi’s “Nejimaki Kagyu”

K: Nejimaki Kagyu. Well, I know this one too. I’d read it.

A: Really?

K: Mm. Kagyu-chan.

A: I liked it a lot.

K: What about it did you like?

A: The way it somehow crashes into you with impact? Like - I had never seen [drawings] being used so boldly in such a manner, was what was in my head when I was reading it. Such a cute character was there, when you look at her she’s really cute, but sometimes when her expressions would change, it seems like the [way the faces were drawn] would change eras, too, and just when it seems like that's become their face for the second half [of the story], uh, the eyes would get reaaaaally large, ah, somehow, within me I really felt as if the pictures were flowing - as I reread it, rereading it as an adult, I thought that it may be the first time I've been excited over something this much.

K: Ehhhh.

A: That’s how I feel.

K: Certainly, though... Well – the facial expressions change very rapidly, that’s good, I thought when I saw it, but, somehow, recently, that author has a new work, don’t they –

A: Ah. Urataro, right?

K: Yes yes yes. I’ve read through that one quite a bit too.

A: It’s interesting.

K: Right? Really good. Mm.

A thing you’re hooked on lately (your hobbies, etc.) | Marvel Heroes

A: You know...what I think makes them fresh to me is that their heroes have things Japanese heroes don’t have. ...First off, there’s the protagonist – they’ve got a lot of protagonists who aren’t young boys.

K: Ah, right. Adults...

A: Yes, adults. ...And also, even if the protagonist is a woman, because she’s a hero, when she transforms, she becomes a gorilla!

Both: *laugh*

A: Isn’t THAT exciting?!? This, WHAT development is this gonna lead to?!?!?!? kind of feeling. Isn’t it exciting??

K: ...that’s...right... They have that green giant too,

A: Yes yes yes yes. Those times when they're really supposed to hurt, but they have [healing powers] are also interesting - or so I think. The stories have been going on for SO LONG, so they’ve come up with loads and loads of plotlines, even some that would make you think “is it REALLY okay to be using THIS topic???” There’s also stories that make you go “WHAT’S HAPPENING – AHH, SO THAT’S WHAT’S GOING ON,” too. And that’s interesting.

K: *points to camera, in Kansaiben* They're never gonna call you up, yanno. lol

A: WHAT THE HELL???? I WANT to be a Marvel hero!!!!!

Describe yourself in one phrase. | lazy

K: Somehow, it’s understandable, isn’t it.

A: My hips feel so heavy.

K: *laughs*

A: My hips feel just about as heavy as my ass.

K: So this isn’t ‘cuz of your age?

A: ‘Cuz of my age – it’s been like this since waay back.

K: Way back!

A: Way back. I've only ever had [personal] growth when it comes to work. ...So I guess, because I give my all in that aspect, I've become like this? Is what I think.

K: What are you lazy at? Stuff you’d go “I don’t wanna do this” at –

A: Everything.

K: *laughing* E-everything??

A: On off days all I wanna do is sleep at home.

K: Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

A: Whenever I have time off I just want to sleep.

A: *beat*

A: ...yup.

K: *laughing*

A: OI EXPOUND ON THAT!!!! Get to know me better!!!!

K: ...I dunno how I’m supposed to expound on THAT, though...

A: *laughs*

A seiyuu who shocked you | Nozawa Nachi-san and Yajima Akiko-san

A: Nozawa Nachi-san was, I used to hear him originally as a dubber, but he also dabbles in anime stuff, uhh...like that thing that had been rerun, Cobra.

K: Ah, Cobra, huh?

A: I got to watch him in that, and also, in Star Wars as C3PO. He didn’t change his voice all that much, but he’d managed to change how he portrays the characters by that much. He gets characters who are a bit mad, calm characters too, that was such an impact to me as a little kid. Also, Yajima Akiko-san – when I was a kid, I ended up unintentionally watching Crayon Shin-chan, and then, when I watched Gundam Wing, I saw the cast list – I wonder if I was in fourth or fifth grade of elementary at this time or something, because by that time I paid attention to the cast lists of anime. Because I was curious as to who was playing who. And then, when I saw the cast list, the heroine Lily was portrayed by Yajima Akiko-san. And I was thinking “where did I see this before? I’m pretty sure I saw this name before...” Days passed, and then suddenly I came across Crayon Shin-chan, and on the cast list, Crayon Shin-chan was: Nohara Shinnosuke – Yajima Akiko-san. And I was like – EH? EHH????? ...I didn’t notice ANYTHING at all! “Eh, people can change their voices THAT much??” and that was another shock I remember.

K: It really is...

A: Child actors are AMAZING!

K: They ARE!!!!! SO good.

A: They're PERFECT. And what’s more, they have to continue acting in that child’s role for so long, too.

K: Yes yes yes. That kind of thing – it’d be nice to try out, huh.

A: Right...I think I can’t pull that off though?? Hahaha! Well, let's go at things one by one, shall we?

Something that makes you glad you’re a seiyuu? | I think that my work is fun.

A: Of course. You’re chasing after your dream. I think that it’s no good if you’re not having fun doing it?

K: Maa, ne...

A: There’s a lot of things that make me feel frustrated, and, and there’s also a lot of things that make you think “should I just quit?”

K: There really are.

A: There are, but...when you're actually recording, or when you're somewhere like this *vaguely gestures around the Animemashite set*, and when it makes you feel, “ahh, this is really fun,” I think that’s really a joyful thing to have.

K: Because you really do like this job, don't you.

A: I have my worries, but, the extent of wanting to do - mm, I think the feeling of wanting to do more overtakes all those.

K: I understand.

Anime character you fell in love with? | Kamigishi Akari from “To Heart”

A: *deadpan* I love her.

K: *laughter*

A: The hell are you laughing at.

K: No no no. No no. It’s just – I know To Heart. I know it, but –

A: Did you play it?

K: Did I? I wonder? I think I just saw the anime, though...

A: Ahh...

A: *in a very quiet, serious tone* Please play the game.

K: AHAHAHA – who is that supposed to be?? *Kansaiben* Who are ya supposed to be???

K: Anou, I might be remembering this wrong, but Kamigishi Akari-chan is, the one with the pink hair?

A: I think it’s red hair?

K: Red, huh? That red hair has, uh, what was it, a hairband?

A: Yes yes yes yes.

K: YES YES YES.

A: During an event though, she changes her hairstyle halfway through. Uses a hairband. Changes those pigtails.

K: I remember now.

A: Somehow, there was a lot – I wonder if I was a sixth grader, when I started playing Tokimeki Memorial? Well, I dabbled a bit in bishoujo games and stuff, and the childhood friend heroine, when she would change her hairstyle, somehow it felt new. And the way you’d look at her would change, too. And I felt that was very realistic of them. And gradually, you’d get along better and better with that childhood friend – well you’ve always been close to her, but as time went on the love you had for her in your heart would change. It’s a novel game, so eventually you’d get to read what her real feelings were, and that made me go all mushy inside. Hehehe! “Ahh, so this is what love is,” I ended up thinking.

K: AHAHAHAHAHA!!!

A: *averting his eyes* Yeah...it’s embarrassing for me to say, but, that was love. Yes.

Both: *laugh*

What kind of seiyuu do you want to be in the future? | An entertainer who is an actor at heart

A: Well...when I decided to be a seiyuu twelve...thirteen years ago, the industry didn't have the elements it has now - where you show your face, sing songs, and even go dancing, right?

K: Yeah...I guess...we're almost reaching the point where we're asking "are we idols?" right now, aren't we.

A: I know, right? Especially male seiyuu, they didn't do this kind of work before.

K: They didn't.

A: That's why what I aimed for myself is - as an actor, a seiyuu, um, of course I know, from within, that I want to take part in recording over various things, work from a script, but recently there's been various experiences that made me think, "ah, the way people recognize the seiyuu industry has changed, hasn't it?" Just like how we're doing a TV show like this, or if one day you'd have to sing songs - not as a character, but as yourself, or if someday you'll do MC - be an MC for radio, or take part in events, and stuff. And aren't those fun in their own way? Of course doing normal seiyuu work is already nice, I think. But inside you, on your part - mm, realistically? At the root of it? "I'm doing this as an ACTOR," you should never forget this. Like...you portray an idol character, you dance and sing on stage, fans scream over you - but that doesn't mean you've become an idol, and I think that shouldn't be forgotten. In that vein, even if you've become an MC, and had come up with a lot of good conversations, "ah, I'm not an MC, and I'm not a comedian either". Because at the root of it is being an actor. And so I think that as an actor, you've taken part in all these other things. So going on forward, what I've decided on is - I wonder if I should call it an entertainer rather than an actor?

K: I understand...yes yes yes.

A: Or rather, someone who is an entertainer through [their capacity as] an actor. That's what I'm aiming for.

K: I see...you said a lot of good stuff...

A: Well it's - isn't it THAT kinda corner??

K: *laughs*

Question from Kawanishi Kengo: How could you describe how it's been since you graduated up to now? | I can't describe it in one phrase.

A: Way back, I'd had feelings that went "if it comes to scenes, if it comes to the emotions behind the scenes, I'll never lose to anyone." But of course you could never win against the ones before you, you'd wonder why, how you could make it okay, and get all depressed, I guess? I got depressed.

K: I see. So now, after those failures - if we call them failures?

A: Just like you said earlier, we should take it easy. What I was taught kinda fits, but it's - instead of just wanting to be “enough”, aim for being “good enough”. Don’t just be “enough”, be “good enough” instead. So it's fine if you feel like you have to take down notes, because you should go at your own pace; I've read a lot of books and watched stuff on TV and, thinking "ahh so such things exist," absorbed them as part of me. And...going in that manner, I realized, mm, I guess, mm, I am me, and they are them, that's why I'll never be the same as other people. So why did I even think of comparing myself to other people, in the past? That's why, hmm, I wonder if I got rid of that habit now...

K: Mm...I see.

A: I think people can’t help but compare themselves to others though? No matter what.

K: I guess?

A: In auditions and stuff, no matter what you do, winning and losing...it sounds odd to think about it as “winning and losing”; just because you passed [an audition stage] doesn’t mean you can relax. And even though there are things you can compare, fundamentally speaking...that kind of...feeling where you’re always wondering how you would stack up against someone, I [think] I’ve lost that.

K: Mm. Then...I guess it’s something you understand now after becoming an adult, huh.

A: I wonder if it is...Mm. As long as you focus your strengths on it –

K: That’s important, isn’t it? Mm.

A: Mm.

K: Of course that kind of...right? How you were during your first recording? That kind of voracious performance? You can’t go back on that.

A: Well, I guess I could think that I’m thankful things actually happened that way. The kind of voracious energy hiding under the nervousness of my past self – do I still have it now? Haha. Don’t you ever think about that?

K: Ahh...I guess I have those [kinds of thoughts], right? That kind of – somehow – freshness?

A: The thing that kinda. Shows on your face.

K: - there are times when something like that breaks through, mm.

A: Ahh, that...during the times I would see the script, there would be a part of me that made way to say “ah, I can’t do that~” but. If only I could meet the me back then, I’d like to tell him. “Have more confidence, and just give this a try.”

K: I see.

A: I didn’t have confidence [in myself]. There was a part of me that thought “I won’t lose!”, but there’s also a part of me that has no confidence. It’s been like that for a long time. Mm. Something like that?

Episode #141: Kawanishi Kengo’s impression of Kousaka Atsushi

...yes. Ehhh...we’ve finished two episodes now, ehh...what should I say? Twel...ve years ago, I guess? Somehow, just this –

(In the background, Kousaka throws his cardigan open. Staff-san laughs. Kawanishi bursts into laughter.)

Just that...that I was able to talk like this. With Kousaka-kun. It’s. During that time, umm, I didn’t know about him. We were in different classes. There were rumors spreading – ah there’s this guy over there and that guy is good, and stuff, so, yeah?

(Points to his temple. Probably referring to Kousaka’s glasses?)

I’ve heard about him, but...somehow...

(In the background, Kousaka has long since thrown his cardigan to the floor. He is dancing some weird kind of dance. Staff-san is still laughing.)

Right now, where we got to meet up, and talk. Getting to hear from him – anou...

(Kousaka continues dancing. Staff-san is still laughing. Kawanishi bursts down laughing as well.) I’m curious...

Right. I know now those, the kind of things that say what kind of person he is. Mm. That he knows [how to deal with] the people around him and stuff, mm. And of course, our similarities, right. That we’re both from the Kansai area. We graduated the same year from the same school, too. From here on out, if we could ever work together again, in lots of kinds of work –

(Kousaka is striking pinup poses and had just pretended to take his shirt off. Multiple staff members are laughing. He at least pretends to be embarrassed.)

- It’d be good, I think...I wonder, what the hell is happening over there, I will never understand what the hell that kid is doing, mm,

(Kawanishi sucks in a deep breath. Behind him, Kousaka is miming yelling at him.)

Maa, I guess that’s good enough. Un. Well, but if you’d cheer on Kousaka Atsushi and Kawanishi Kengo, it’d make us glad. We’ll be in your care. Thank you very much.

my translation index

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATSUSHI!!!!

jesus christ the man. talks a mile a minute. i know i always say i never promise 100% accuracy but ESPECIALLY here - transcribing this DRAINED me. transcribing this AND attempting instant translation in my head???? god. why did i do this.

just like with kawasan’s extra interviews, this was supposed to be a vidsub, but that means i have to watch the video again to time it and a third time to sub it and oh my god. i am so, so tired. why are you both february babies WHY RIGHT AFTER EACH OTHER.

that being said though, i still stupidly might use this for a vidsub someday, so please do not redistribute this translation anywhere!!

thanks for reading!!

#seiyuu #kousaka atsushi #kawanishi kengo #animemashite #my translations #transcript #I NEED SLEEP #this is roughly five mins longer than kawasan's and it's mostly atsushi waxing poetic #how did i transcribe this #love makes you do amazing things

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junker-town · 7 years

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The 2017 NCAA Tournament has revealed a lot about the top NBA Draft prospects

Who’s impressed us through the first weekend, and who has a longer way to go? Plus, a Lonzo Ball argument.

The NCAA Tournament field has been sliced from 68 to 16, and gone are many of the top NBA Draft prospects we wanted to see. In that spirit, this week’s Flanns & Zillz focuses on our thoughts on the draft class after the first weekend of madness.

ZILLER: Just like most NBA writers, we're using the NCAA Tournament to cram on the top prospects for the 2017 draft, which is just three months away. But before we get into what happened over the weekend, let's discuss the two elephants not in the room: Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith are two elite prospects whose teams didn't make the tournament.

Nothing Fultz did at Washington this season dropped him down the big boards. The Huskies were bad, but Fultz showcased exactly what put him atop mock drafts for a couple of years. In fact, he improved his stock by showing he could shoot the long ball. So many recent hyper-athletic point guards lacked that piece when entering the league. He proved he can shoot.

So Fultz missing the tournament shouldn't hurt his case, just as it didn't for Ben Simmons last year.

But the knock on Smith at N.C. State was that he lacked focus and intensity, and he didn't disprove that when the chips were down for the Wolfpack. He's smaller than Fultz and a worse shooter, and I think not reminding teams who makes him a top prospect here in March could cost him a few spots. Small guards tend to drop in the lottery without massive Marches.

What do you think about the fate of the prospects who missed the Madness?

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

FLANNERY: I think Markelle Fultz will be the No. 1 pick even though people will talk way too much about Lonzo Ball over the next few weeks. Fultz is the guy and it wouldn't surprise me if someone -- maybe Duke's Jayson Tatum or Kansas' Josh Jackson -- overtook Ball for the second spot. But let's not get too far ahead of things yet.

Smith is an enigma. He has major physical talent with obvious holes in his game that can be developed with more experience. That's the hope anyway. Talent evaluators would really like to see him spend another year in school and work on his point guard skills, but he's going to be a lottery pick regardless. NC State is also making a coaching change, so there's no reason for him to go back.

I would have liked to have seen more of Jonathan Isaac. I'm still not sure what to make of that guy.

ZILLER: I've moderated somewhat on the NBA age minimum, but Dennis Smith is one of those guys for which one-and-done did absolutely no benefit for anyone (not even Mark Gottfried, his now unemployed college coach). Smith is still will go super high in the lottery without any assurances he'll pan out.

Isaac did help himself -- he considered entering the 2016 NBA Draft through a loophole but went to Florida State instead -- by showing decent three-point range for the tall, skinny prospect. I am concerned about whether he can actually be a combo forward in today's NBA or whether he's a pure center. Small forwards usually aren't this tall, and defense could be a major concern if he's asked to play the wing instead of the pivot. He's also not much of a playmaker. He's intriguing, but he's also going to be compared to the more skilled Tatum and Jackson.

Should we talk about Tatum? I know we both love that dude.

FLANNERY: Tatum is really good. I watched a lot of his work in the ACC Tournament and came away impressed. He's not a great long-range shooter by any means, but he's got nice footwork and he can score in isolation. He just looks like an NBA player and the upside, as they say, is strong. Tatum's almost a year younger than Josh Jackson. That matters when we're talking about draft babies.

Jackson's the other guy who's almost certain to crack the top five. He's a live wire on the court, but he can really pass and he plays so hard. You like what you've seen from him?

ZILLER: He's an exciting player on the court, for sure. I especially enjoy his playmaking ability.

His off-the-court issues of late really can't be ignored, though. He admitted to kicking the car of his teammate's ex and is alleged to have hit it repeatedly in an apparent attempt to intimidate her after a public fight between her and Jackson's teammate. Teams are rightfully sensitive to off-the-court issues and so Jackson's spectacular on-court potential cannot and should not be seen in a vacuum. (Kansas in general is basically impossible for me to watch -- there's too much unspoken context and all of the credit for overcoming "distractions" makes me ill.)

Like you, I think Tatum absolutely looks the part of an NBA player and a modern NBA small forward, more specifically. In that sense he can slide right in. He had some spectacular blocks in Duke's Round 1 win and was the Blue Devils' best player in their Round 2 dismissal, but I do have a few questions about his face-up defense and playmaking.

I have far fewer questions here than I do about, say, Isaac. It seems inconceivable to me that one mediocre team will nab Tatum and one will grab Isaac and they'll both actually be competing in the NBA next year.

Speaking of Duke, do you think Luke Kennard or Grayson Allen are NBA players? And do you agree that Harry Giles would be served extremely well by staying at Duke, provided his family doesn't have financial pressures? (It's really unfortunate that, because the NCAA refuses to pay players, we have to mention that as an important consideration.)

FLANNERY: I like Kennard, am decidedly ehhhh on Allen, and think Giles should go back to school for another year. I long for the day when some kind of workable system can be set up that will allow pro prospects to develop on their own timeframe while enjoying the university life and not being exploited for their services. I actually think this may be attainable in our lifetime, but we'll see.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

We should probably talk about Lonzo Ball now. I remain unconvinced that he's worthy of the hype. I think he's good, I just don't believe we're watching Jason Kidd 2.0 here. What do you make of him?

ZILLER: We are relatively young and we're talking about the NCAA maybe paying the athletes that collectively make them billions "in our lifetime." Our expectations are super low and super realistic.

I don't think Grayson Allen is an NBA player despite his shooting stroke. One-trick shooters need the right attitude to survive and thrive in the NBA (see: J.J. Redick) and Allen hasn't shown he has that.

However, we DO NOT agree on Lonzo Ball. I am all the way on this train.

How often do we see this combination of brash self-assurance and wily basketball IQ? It's rare, man. Kidd was a special, special player -- one of a kind despite our inclination to compare big pass-first point guards to him every third year. Ball is different. Ball is going to come into the league trying to score and pass and control the floor. In that way, I see him more like a Deron Williams type, but with more pizzazz and less weight.

I'm not saying Ball will be Curry, Harden or Westbrook. But we're in the golden era of these dual-threat fearless, playmaking point guards. Who better than Ball to carry the torch?

FLANNERY: I am willing to concede that I may be wrong here and that everyone else is correct when they see Ball as a transformative figure. Again, I'm not saying he'll be a bad pro. I think he'll be a good, even All-Star level player. I'm just not seeing greatness.

I know one thing: his father isn't going to make a damn bit of difference in where he goes and I refuse to get all worked about him one way or the other. Let the man have his 15 minutes.

I wrote last week about embracing the Tournament from a player perspective and a lot of those guys are out: Miles Bridges, Juwan Evans, Semi Ojeleye (my personal fav), Monte Morris, John Collins, Donovan Mitchell. Thank god for Kentucky. I need more De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk in my life. I also want to see Lauri Markkanen against Gonzaga's front line. (That Xavier club looks primed for an upset, though.)

What else do you have your eye on this weekend?

ZILLER: The Kentucky kids and Markkanen are the biggest draws other than Ball, but I'd like to get a better sense of Justin Jackson, even though he's a junior. These UNC upperclassmen so often look better in college than they do in the league, but he'll go in the top 20 with decent expectations. We won't know if he can meet them until he gets to the league, but I need to see more.

Switching to the basketball itself for our final thoughts: any sense of who will win this thing?

FLANNERY: I haven't a clue, to be honest. I will note, as have many college basketball aficionados, that the seedings seem to have been thrown together by a team of circus seals. That said, half of my Final Four is already out (thanks Nova and Louisville) and I'm not feeling great about Arizona or Kentucky either. The most impressive teams I've seen have been Michigan, West Virginia, and Xavier. So, Carolina? Maybe?

You have any better feel for this?

ZILLER: UCLA is winning this. Let the legend of Lonzo begin!

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