It's time for coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine
day, Holy crap, I don't know who the hell we think we are.
Get off our show, idiot. The kids are playing to turn off.
The coaches are screwing it up. Gold Play Inner Murals, Brother,
gold Play Inner Murals. They're supposed to be mature adults, but they're really
not. Who's the kid here? Who's the kid here? Are you kidding
me? Now? Here's nick coffee? All right, let's get it started,
ladies and gentlemen. We have another day here where we get to get
to the We get to get the party started. Reacting to a big update
in a highly followed situation, and that situation is the Kentucky basketball coaching search.
And the update is that Scott Drew has a ficially said no toa to
Kentucky to State Baylor, and within the last twenty five minutes or so,
Matt Norlander, who who, by the way, broke both of these stories
today, if you want to call him that it broke the news. I
guess that Drew's staying at Baylor and that there is zero percent chance that Danny
Hurley will be leaving Yukon to go to Kentucky, and I know it turned
to well, now with Drew off the board, we gotta make Hurley say
no. He's got to say no, which technically he doesn't have to.
He can just ignore you. He doesn't, I mean, and maybe he's
doing that right, Like, got to make him say no. We don't
really have any control over what they say or what they do. So like
I can you know, if I was single, I can say, you
know what, Uh, who's the hottest woman on the planet right now?
John, Let's just go with Taylor Swift. She made me the hottest in
terms of entertainment. Yeah, she's not really my style, but yeah,
yeah, so something like that. Margot Robbie is that let's just say Margaret.
Am I saying her name right? Because I gotta come correct if I'm
doing this Margot Robbie, Look, I got to make her say no,
like she she has not turned me down yet, She has not said no.
So it's alive. Anybody telling me that I don't have a chance with
Margot Robbie, she hadon said no, hadn't said no? What's your wife
think? We'll get this is hypothetical that's true. But if if Margot Robbie
wanted me, my wife would probably be like, good for you, man,
I hope not, you know, but like God to make them say
no, isn't it? It doesn't get classified like the other stupid things we
say in sports, like win is a win, Remember that win is a
win. That that's the dumbest thing people say in sports. It's really just
a deflection of like acknowledging that your team stunk and you're worried. But in
order to not you know, address that as a fan, win's a win.
So I don't know if he's gonna say no. I think he's just
going to stay at Yukon. And the only thing that is that is that
has kept it from like being official, which again, it doesn't have to
be official. But I guess the reason that Kentucky fans and even some of
those that cover Kentucky believe that there's still a chance is because one they do
know they can throw an insane amount of money at him. They can go
New York Yankee style and say, oh, we're kind of we're kind of
screwed here. Let's let's just throw money that would literally make him unable to
say no, and he would have to come here. But I think the
official rejection that they that they're seeking is going to be whenever the details of
Danny Hurley's new contract are released. Could be today, could be tomorrow.
But they're having a parade, I believe, on Saturday, to celebrate their
national championship, and I would be really really surprised if there's not already a
public there's a public if there's not a public arrangement as far as the contract
should maybe not public arrangement, but an arrangement that has been made public as
far as him getting more money and everything else that he wants. So I
think, and I'll get to this in just a second, but I guess
I should let you guys know what you're where you are. You're with us.
It's Coffee and Company. My name is Nick Coffee. The company man,
mister John Alden is alongside today as we take you up until six o'clock.
As you know, we are fueled by Thornton's and we got a loaded
show today ladies and gents, three guests, which is rare, but I
think it's necessary just given what's going on. We're gonna talk coming up here,
at three thirty with mister Kevin Sweeney, college basketball insider for Sports Illustrated.
We've been talking to Kevin for really the whole season, and now the
season's over, and man, the first week of I guess, I mean
it is the first We're four days into the offseason. Three days into the
offseason, I suppose, and we're gonna be joined by Kevin, and there's
a whole lot to get to when it comes to just the crazy week we've
had with Kentucky losing their coach, leaving go to Arkansas, and obviously a
lot of guys in the portal. So I look forward to talking to Kevin
coming up here in about twenty five minutes or so. Another guy's going to
join us at four thirty from Fayetteville, Arkansas. That is j. C.
Hoops aka Jackson Collier, who covers Arkansas for the Rivals Network, and
Cali Perry was shining yesterday. I mean, my man was looking like a
million bucks. You can tell he is rejuvenated and he's got the fire in
him, and I think he is going to be absolutely motivated to win in
hopes of sticking it to I guess, Mitch Barnhardt, I mean, I
think that's the root of his I shouldn't say hatred, but like he's he's
motivated to win at a high level there, I would say for a variety
of reasons, but one of those reasons, and I think the big reason
is to stick it to Barnfard. I mean, I think that's it.
And we'll see if he actually ends up having success. But I mean,
so far, he looks to be in a pretty good position. Whereas Kentucky,
who knows, Maybe they get a coach in a couple of days and
they start reeling in players, but you know, hadn't happened yet, which
is not crazy, right. The job has officially been open for two days,
but they've been turned down in one way or another by everybody that you
would believe they want. But we'll talk to talk to Jackson coming up at
four thirty. And then our man Rob Cassidy of the Rivals Network. This
is a Rivals takeover here. I guess on a coffee and company he covers
recruiting, and I want to get his thoughts on Pat Kelsey as a recruiter.
Rob is somebody that early on in the Louisville search, and I mean
when Kenny was actually fired. Rob was a big, a big supporter of
Pat Kelsey. I mean, I don't think anybody thought it would end up
getting there, but uh, you know he once it became clear that they
were going to probably be going to the mid major route, including even Dusty
May, Rob was, you know, Rob, somebody I talked to you
here and there, and he really likes Pat Kelsey and said that's who louisvill
should hire. So sure enough they did that, And I want to get
his thoughts on you know what, he what he really likes about Pat that
makes him think he's going to succeed here. So we're loaded, got a
lot to get into today, and we hope you guys will will stick with
us. All right. If you want to be a part of the show,
you can five OO'T two five seventy nine hundred is the number. If
you want to give us a call. You can also text in five O
two sixty five three zero seven ninety. That is the L and N Federal
Credit Union text line. And let's just get right into it. So earlier
today, I guess around I don't know, ten thirty, ten forty five,
that is whenever Matt Orlander broke the news that Scott Drew is going to
stay in Waco, Texas and remain at Baylor and not come to Kentucky.
I do believe his statement was sincere in what he said as far as why,
and that is just that you know, he God is telling him that
he needs to stay in Waco. And here's what his statement said. In
our program, we strive to put Jesus first than others, than ourselves.
We truly believe God has called my family and I to continue our work here
at Baylor surrounded by the best people in community anyone could be could anyone could
be blessed to have. We are grateful for the support of Mac Rhodes,
President Livingstone, and the entire Baylor family, and we look forward to we
look forward to working together to bring more championships to Waco. So as much
as I'd love to, you know, enjoy and celebrate Kentucky's you know,
downfall and shortcomings in this coaching search, and I will, by the way,
trust me, because they had the same type of energy whenever you know,
it was I mean, this is a guy who turned down Louisville and
it became like oh wow. And then Kentucky wanted him and they didn't get
him. He turned him down, which I know why athletic directors do this,
but it really it's insulting anybody's intelligence, even if they don't have much
of it. The whole Well, he wasn't offered the job. What do
you mean he wasn't offered the job like the reports that state, well,
he was asked to consider the job. That's offering him the job? Are
you gonna ask him to consider the job? And he says, I've considered
it, I'd like the job. Okay, Well now the offer's like it's
such a silly way of dancing around the ability to say you were rejected,
right, Like, that's what it is. And I bring that up to
say Scott Drew turning down Kentucky to state Baylor is not a knock on Kentucky.
It doesn't mean Kentucky is a is in trouble and they're not a good
program. That's not at all what it means. Just like you know,
when Dusty May turned down Louisville, it didn't mean Louisville wasn't a great job.
In fact, it just meant that he wasn't built for that job.
And he knew that. And I respect the fact that he wasn't going to
just take the higher profile job. He was going to go to a place
where he knew he was a better fit. So Josh shurtz he turned down
Louisville because he couldn't take the job due to not ever thinking he was gonna
get it, so he'd already signed something with Saint Louis. So I get
it. Nobody wants to be turned down, but sometimes people will turn your
job down. And it doesn't mean that you have like you've fallen as a
program. I mean if you get to if you get to the you know,
fifth, sixth, seventh guy, then maybe that could be maybe that
could be said. And look with Louisville, Yeah, they went with a
mid major, and I have no problem in saying, and he was their
fourth choice. But he's also somebody that all throughout the process they were interested
in and they had talked to. He was always on the board. Again,
I believe he was the first coach that Josh hurt talked to. So
you know, the way in which Louisville search played out, I think publicly
could have been avoided pretty easily. But either way, they went the mid
major route. And that's what was the hardest thing for me to accept,
just that this is what they're gonna end up doing now. I think,
you know, maybe it was my ego as a Louisville fan, just thinking
we won't do that because we're not We're not a program that would rely on
a mid major right now because we're Louisville. But you could see why an
athletic director and a lot of athletic directors are doing this. They are going
with guys that have won and proven to have their own formula as far as
success, maybe doing it two different mid majors like Pat Kelcey, or doing
it at one and having a lot of success in what you do is you
say, Okay, this guy is gettable affordable and we don't have to go
pay a ten to twelve million dollars buyout like these other good coaches have,
and we've got resources here that if this guy could win down there at the
mid major level, imagine what he could do with resources like this. And
I don't think Kentucky would go that route. But if in fact they don't
get Billy Donovan, because that's I guess the only man left in the top
tier of their candidate pool that has not given them a direct no. And
I'm sure there are people that know things that I don't know about Billy Donovan.
In fact, I don't know a whole lot about him, but I
do know that the I mean, why would he want to come back to
college when he's already a successful NBA coach to an extent and he would get
it, like if the Bulls didn't want him, he could get another NBA
job that's a retread league. I feel like the notion that he would that
he would come back to college is just silly, And it's not It wouldn't
be because Kentucky's the problem and he doesn't feel like they're worthy of his services.
It's because if the guy wanted to coach in college basketball, he could
have come back and taken a lot of jobs in the last I don't know,
six seven years and the job has changed so much. So maybe he
is itching to get back in the college game because he misses it or something.
But when he left it was because he'd hated recruiting and all that comes
with it, and in the NBA didn't have to deal with that, and
he likes it that's why he's been in the NBA for a long time.
So look, I'm not going to say that there's no chance he would ever
consider it, but I just there's got to be something I'm missing that makes
people think that he is, like he's going to have a hard time saying
no, Like what would make you think that? And the only thing I
can think of is because you're Kentucky and you just think, well, anybody
would be stupid to say no. And I get it. I mean,
I guess I've looked at the Louisville job that way to an extent, but
I mean, and look, I'm well aware Kentucky's a way better job than
Louisville because it's probably the best job in the sport. But with that,
there's some things that come with it that would make a good coach in a
good situation, or maybe a good coach in a great situation, respectfully decline
any interest if their interest was there. And I don't even know if that's
what Scott Drew did, but clearly he didn't want to come and with Danny
Hurley, I mean, the only reason you would say that he would consider
it, and then maybe it potentially decided to come would be because of money,
and money matters to all of us, right, But it sounds like
there's no chance now that that's actually going to happen. And I never really
thought there was much of a chance, but I just thought it was fascinating
to hear what we got to make him say no. Why does he have
to say no? He's not required to say no. He can just continue
to live his life and be the coach at Ukon and you can be waiting
for years for him to say no, Like I just don't. I don't
get that. So maybe he shocks the world and the report from Norlander is
not correct, but I guess now it's just waiting to see what Billy Donovan
does. And I say waiting because the Chicago Bulls are going to be in
the playing game, and I think that starts next week. And you look
that up for me, John, I think it starts next week. And
I wouldn't imagine you'd even be able to talk to him about the job in
a series like in a serious you know manner in regards to like specifics,
salary, that kind of stuff. And look, I know his agent would
be the one involved in it. It's not like he would be leaving the
Bulls for a couple of games to go, you know, have a conversation
with Kentucky. But I just feel like if you waited and then you didn't
get him and you're kind of starting from scratch, I don't know, Like,
let's say they keep the Bulls, can win and keep playing. Like
to me, Billy Donovan is just unrealistic in a variety of ways because of
the timing of it. And if you're Mitch Barnhardt, you can't take that
risk. You can't take that risk to let him finish whatever's gonna happen with
the Bulls, for them to for him to then tell you no, it
wouldn't mean that, like you couldn't end up getting a good coach because at
the end of the day, coaching searches are wild in a variety of ways,
but mostly because you can't actually evaluate how an athletic director did in his
quote unquote search until you see the results of the guy he hired. I
think assessing the search itself, and you know, maybe some you know,
optics along the way, like yeah, I think that's that's when it looks
as if you don't really know exactly what you're doing. That's a bad look.
But at the end of the day, you can't ultimately judge a higher
until the hire is in place and there's results that you can assess to see
if it's either going well or going bad. So I guess my question here
is, if Kentucky can't get one of those four, who's next? I
mean, is it Rick Patino? Surely not right, I mean, he's
a hell of a coach. He's seventy one. He could handle the job.
But like, could that happen? Why do I kind of want it
to happen, John, Why? It would be the most newsworthy higher you
can make it this point. Yeah, and it would bring so much oh
rama between now and next season. I mean that is I mean, I
hate to say it, but it's priceless. Yeah, yeah, it's I
mean Rick is larger than life, and he is I mean, he's a
great coach. I think you know, he'd be able to even though he's
a lot more old school about things than other coaches, but he I mean,
if he's still a great coach, and I imagine he'd be able to
get really good players at Kentucky. Like, to me, it would make
sense it's just that, you know, like the history. I mean,
one thing I do know is that if Rick Patino was hired at Kentucky,
Kentucky Sports Radio's database would need to be completely deleted because I think for about
fifteen years of that website's existence, the vast majority of the content was making
fun of Rick Patino. So do you think he would go on KSR?
Oh, yeah, he would. Okay, this Rick would the old Rick
meet and I don't meet to me, obviously, the old Rick wouldn't go
on KSR whenever he was here at Louisville. And you know, they made
fun of him, and he did every chance they got. I mean just
I mean that was really a big part of their and I say making fun
of them, I mean, that's what they were doing. But obviously,
just the coverage, I mean, Matt will tell you this, the coverage
of his of Rick Patino during the Karen Cipher trial really elevated his following,
probably more than anything any one thing specifically he's done. And it was wild
to hear them on KSR this morning, kind of like being opened potentially to
the idea of Patino if in fact, these four don't one of these four
doesn't work out. But Rufe Franklin, my man was was not budget.
I mean it sounds it sounds like he would have, you know, given
the reins for like Ryan Lemon to take over the program before he would let
Rick Patino so. And again that would be like that would be the old
That's kind of the reason why I want Patino to go there, because the
one thing that would make me not wanted is that it would be I would
have to just not like him. I would have to really be anti Rick,
and I don't really want to do that. But again, if I
have to, it's whatever, Like enough time has passed, it's it's really
you know, it wouldn't bother me that much. But also I would love
for all of the Kentucky fans that like the rivalry. For a good stretch
there was just them making fun of Rick Patino for being coach number two,
for the fifteen seconds for the you know Katina pal stuff. I mean,
that's that's that's what they did, and that's why the rivalry was at its
best because again they didn't just mean they I guess him being their former coach
was a component to it as well. But what I'm getting at is like
Rick's a larger than life presence, and like that's why he could have when
he has these things happened to him, whether it be you know, happen
some of these things he does to himself, whether it be scandal or you
know, controversy, just saying out outlandish things. Like the reason it gets
the reaction it does is because he's Rick and Patino. So I doubt that
that would ever happen. But man, wouldn't that be something because they're not
going to hire Mark Pope, are they? If they do, I'll win,
not not money, but I'll win a dinner bet with a buddy of
mine. So what's the bet? So, if Mark Pope gets hired,
buddy buys me dinner. If Billy Donovan gets hired, I buy him dinner.
Both kind of wild card hires. I feel like, yeah, I
mean, and one of them would be a lot more underwhelming than the other.
Sure, sure, And I'm trying to think about this wager. What
is the most likely result. I'd say the most likely result is neither,
I agree, but I'd probably I'd probably lean Pope because I could see mister
Barnhardt really wanting to hire Mark Pope. There's what I don't understand. Why
isn't Natoates now back in the mix where you can literally throw a bunch of
money at him. Matt alluded to something earlier on the show today that that
I don't I don't know what it is. Maybe I'll ask him and see
if I'll tell me that there's something that prevents Natos from being able to move
out of Alabama. Don't know what that would be, but he said it,
and I have no clue what that would mean, but that would explain
why he put that statement out before they ever would even have contacted him.
And then also Bruce Pearl, like why not Bruce Pearl? Bruce Pearl's a
good coach. I know Drew has As I mentioned yesterday, Drew has the
title, which again you can't like those are those are not something you just
randomly just just move on past. When you're looking at somebody's resume. It
stands out it's the biggest accomplishment one can have in college basketball. But he's
one at Tennessee at a high level. He's won at Auburn at a high
level despite a couple of early exits, including this year. But like he's
done he's recruited and pulled. He has put together really good rosters at Auburn
when they're an under armour school, and I'm sure they have resources for ANIL,
but not like a lot of the other SEC school do SEC schools to
do for basketball? I would bet so, like I think he would crush
it at Kentucky. And I just don't feel like there's ever been a whole
lot of traction for him as a candidate. I don't really know why,
but anyways, Uh, Drew, he's out. Hurley was probably always out.
But I guess they just got to wait for him to say no,
right, Like I guess he could have his three peet right, but he
still hadn't told Kentucky no, So therefore, you know what I mean,
Like he hadn't said no, Gotta make him say no. Just go without
a coach next week. Yeah, we're just gonna do an interim. We're
gonna we're gonna uh, let's bring Kenny Payne. Yeah, bring Kenny Payne.
Is the interim just buying some time here and then we're just waiting for
just waiting for him to say no. We gotta make make Hurley say no.
And by the way Scott Drew didn't have Wait a second, he didn't
turn it down because he didn't have the offer. He was told to consider
the job, but consider it, consider the job, but don't know,
you don't have an offer? Like what the he what kind of sense does
that make? All right, We're gonna take a quick time out again.
On the other side, we will bring in our man Kevin Sweeney, who
covers college basketball for Sports Illustrated, to get his thought on all this.
I mean, what is it madness? Is it chaos? I can say
this. It's exciting, it's fun. We've got a lot. I mean,
these two programs that, of course we all care about so much.
There's gonna be some new flavor. In fact, a lot of new flavor
from top to bottom, really, and that's exciting to me. I don't
go anywhere. It's Coffee and Company. We are feel about Thornton's right here
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Have listen live at seven ninety Louisville dot com for those just now joining
us. Kentucky has I guess gotten an official no from Scott Drew, And
the latest reports are that, despite I guess him not giving them a direct
no, I don't want to be with you, Dan Hurley is going to
stay in Connecticut and not take the Kentucky job. But even with the latest
that's out there from Matt Norlander, who if you've missed it, here's what
Norlander put out about an hour ago that his source tells him that there is
zero chance Dan Hurley will leave Yukon for Kentucky, stating that it's not happening
and he's going to get a big pay bump. And it sounds like also
his staff is going to get a big pay bump, some better resources.
I don't know if that means facilities or whatnot. So regardless, it seems
as if they're now putting all their attention to they will put all their attention
to Billy Donovan. So that's the latest. It's been a highly followed thing
in the last couple of days. And I know a lot of you are
working doing whatever you're doing. Maybe you're I don't know what you're doing,
but you probably can't keep up with it as much as others. So there's
the latest. Now to talk about all this and more, we're going to
bring in our man, mister Kevin Sweeney, who covers college basketball for the
fine folks at Sports Illustrated. I guess we'll start with the most recent stuff
here, Kevin, and then work our way back. Did you ever think
there was any chance about of Dan Hurley leaving Yukon for Kentucky? Not really,
Like I don't know. I think I would have given it maybe a
five percent chance when it first opened. Of you know, I think the
timing of this was particularly hard because at what point would you make the decision
to leave the place you're at when you're already have won two championships back to
back, Like I think of this job opened in twenty twenty six, and
you know, Hurley was two years removed from a couple of championships, and
he's so fiercely competitive, right like the opportunity to go build it somewhere else,
and you know, if you felt like he'd stagnated the Yukon and I
could see maybe a world where and where he would have considered this, But
look, I don't think he's so hurting for money that, you know,
twelve million versus eight or nine. It's the difference. And I think at
the end of the day, the opportunity to keep building Yukon, to stay
in the Northeast where he's comfortable to be around his family, that was too
much to overcome in this in this case, and I certainly wasn't surprised that
he has officially told them now at this point now with Scott Drew, I
mean, I think this was a pretty I mean, I think for those
who cover college basketball like yourself, Scott Drew seems to be a very what
you see is what you get, very genuine a guy that the things he
says in regards to his beliefs, his faith, like it's not just something
he says to say it to look like a good guy. It's it's very
genuine. I mean, to me, it just seems as if he probably
loves everything about Kentucky in that job. But he also has made Baylor home
and he's been there twenty something years. I believe it is that's where his
kids have grown up, and it's it's he just can't leave. I mean,
that is that Is that the way you see it? Yeah, Look,
I think in a vacuum, he probably takes it on his own,
right. Like I think if he was just getting said, hey, do
you want to take Kentucky right now, I think Scott Drew probably says yes.
Right. Like reading between the lines of him sending his family to Lexxington,
I think this is the family decision, right, Like, he's comfortable,
he's happy at Baylor, he's inspired by the mission that he's been on
for, you know, the last twenty years of building that place. And
his family's really happy, right. You know, his kids, you know,
in high school and college, doesn't want to move them. Just wasn't
the right, you know, opportunity to make a move. Right. These
things are much more complicated than just basketball decisions. And I think, especially
in this day and age, with nil, the gap can be closed a
little bit from these elite jobs to the rest of college basketball. And so
if you're scot through, you don't feel like, oh, I need to
go there. If I want to have a chance of winning title, I
need to go there. If I want to have a chance to care to
league players, He's doing that already at Baylor, And so I think that
was the eventual calculus. There so both fan bases in this city, this
city that I call home Louisville, Kentucky, where I believe we can match
and probably exceed anybody's passion for the sport of college basketball because in Louisville there
are so many of both sides, right, I think obviously Louisville is the
University of louisvels right here in town, Kentucky's and Lexington. But again,
I can tell you firsthand this city. I don't know if it's fifty to
fifty, if it's sixty forty, but there's so many that care so much.
And we've both gone through Cote, Kentucky's going through the search now Louisville
did a few weeks ago, and you know they got told no. I
think Louisville's search the optics were pretty poor because you know, I didn't have
to be public about some of these rejections, but it was not really sure
who's totally at fault for that. But either way, they got a guy
that Louisville fans at least are energized by. It's Pat Kelsey, and you
know, there's there's a lot to like about him, and he had a
winning formula at both stops prior to Louisville, and let's see if he can
do it here. Now. On the Kentucky side, they're getting rejected too,
But is it? I mean, I think fans just think of their
program clearly in a different way than most do, because that's you know,
they're fans, they're fanatics. But when you get told no and rejected,
essentially, it really doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, right, Like
I don't think Drew or Hurley not taking the Kentucky job means Kentucky's not a
great job, right Yeah, Like I agree with that. Like I think
at the end of the day, I'd rather go through the process and see
if the best coaches the country want to take your job than not because you
think they'll say no, Right Like, like if I'm the AD at Kentucky
or I'm the boosters or the board or whatever, like, I'm cool with
spending a delegation in New York and doing what I can they get Dan Hurley,
even if it's a two percent chance, because that's you know, the
level of coach that he is, It's worth doing. Yeah, I think
at the end of the day. You have to have a plan. I
think, you know, sometimes communicating that plan to all the necessary stakeholders is
a big issue. I think one of the things that made the Louisville search
feel so chaotic because it didn't necessarily feel like there was a lot of direction
and plan. Right now, it does feel like Kentucky is working through this
quote unquote top group of Dan Hurley, Scotterer and Billy Donovan. We'll see
what happens in this kind of intermediary period where Billy's still coaching the Bulls.
He's got time to finish up that season. Do they talk to other candidates?
Do other people quote unquote pull themselves out of the search even if they
weren't necessarily evolved. I think that's where things could get really messy. That's
why I think through saying no was a big deal as much as anything.
But yeah, I don't necessarily think it's a huge indictment for any of these
guys that they know, because they're already in good situations. Right think if
only Stature is walking away from a bad place to work and live, he's
been there for twenty years. He's obviously very happy. He's turned down other
quote unquote pay raises and job bumps in the past. This was just kind
of part of the course. Billy Donovan. You think he wants the job,
you think he's got genuine interest. I mean, I it wouldn't be
crazy, But I just have a hard time seeing him want to come back
to college. And maybe the belief that he hates recruiting is inaccurate. Maybe
he you know, maybe he did, he didn't hate it that much.
But I just feel like if he was going to come back to college,
he could have done it before now. But then again, Kentucky is is
a different job. Any thoughts on or any anything you're hearing as far as
him genuinely being interested in the job, I think there's at least some level
of interest there. I don't know how real it is. I think one
thing I would say is that the timing has rarely been right to go get
Billy from the NBA. Right. He's not someone who's likely to walk away
from his team. And most of the times these jobs are opening, they're
opening in early March, if anything. Sometimes they're opening during the season,
right. I think last year we talked about, you know, Texas potentially
wanted to take a swing at Billy Donovan, Well, they were open for
January February. That doesn't help anyone. So I think just the fact that
this is a little bit later, and we're really only talking about a week
or so that you'd have to wait to get some clarity from Billy, I
think that makes things a little bit more palatable on both sides. I think
the Kentucky job is obviously one that Billy has always coveted, or at least
always had interest in. I also think that he probably views things from the
standpoint of, yes, I didn't like recruiting, but now it's a very
transactional business, right and I can hire staff who can go pay players,
and maybe I don't have to be as on all the time in recruiting as
you know I used to be in twenty fifteen. Is that one hundred percent
true, I don't know. Like I do think it is still a major,
major grind, and I think it will be a very hard life to
walk away from in the NBA come back to college, especially to come to
Kentucky where there is such such pressure and so much work to do to fill
out this roster. But I wouldn't rule it out at this point. I
certainly think that Kentucky's going to make a strong offer and we'll see how We'll
see how aggressive he is in responding. All right, So no, Drew,
No, let's just say. Billy Donovan says, no, we know
Dan Hurley is going to stay at Yukon. Who at that point would you,
Kevin Sweeney say is the higher that could be made? Where you would
say, well, Kentucky couldn't have done any better than that? After those
said, those three said no, Yeah, I think I feel really good
about a Bruce Pearl higher. Thank you? Why is he not being talked
about more? I don't want him there because I like him, but geez
yeah, Like that fit to me is really good, right Like, personality
wise, it the key would embrace it. He's proven he can win at
a high level. He's been to a Final four. I think he is
the guy that I would go after, especially given that Natoaks has kind of
pulled his name out. Maybe there's some room to get him back into the
conversation because I do think Nate is like the perfect fit for Kentucky. He's
innovative, he's smart, he's a high level recruiter. He's been to a
final four. He's winning in the SEC as we speak. But I think
Bruce would be a guy where I would feel pretty good about the search ending.
But it does seem like for whatever reason, whether it's the past tense
no play stuff, or just the way he carries himself, he hasn't gotten
a lot of traction yet. Maybe that will change, but for now,
it doesn't feel like Bruce is getting as much attention as I would have expected.
All right, not a lot of time left here, and we do
appreciate you as always making time for us. Kevin in the portal of thus
far, I mean, have you been underwhelmed or maybe you've been surprised as
far as the like who's in yet? I mean, there's still some time
for others to put their name in the portal, but from you know,
someone who is now looking at it more than I ever have. Because Louisville's
got thirteen scholarships to fill. There's good players, no doubt, and we
saw in this past tournament there can be guys that hit the portal that maybe
didn't generate a whole lot of buzz at the time, but then they've found
a spot at a better program, had success, but what do you make
of I guess the current options in the portal right now. Yeah, look,
I think it's been increasingly obvious that like the number of true, like
high major difference makers, right all conference guys at the highest level of the
sport, it's pretty limited in the portal. It's just the reality of it.
Doesn't mean you can't go out and get one. I think Louisville got
one in Terrence Edwards from James Madison, who's nominal phenomenal player, right like
that, those are the types of guys you have to go get you you
have to be able to project up some of these mid major guys. But
yeah, I don't think there was ever going to be this mass wave of
like high major, all conference proven dudes who wanted to just switch schools for
for an aisle's sake. Right at the end of the day, a lot
of those guys are graduating, a lot of those guys are going pro some
of them are going to get paid to stay at their own schools. I
do think we'll get a few more trickling in here over the next couple of
weeks, especially as things become more clear and you know, schools miss on
top targets and start throwing crazy money around. But yeah, I think the
market's been about what I expected so far. There's enough guys out there to
go get a good roster and compete. But I think it's also still a
challenge people if you could, you know, just build an all star team
in the portal, it was always going to be a little more challenged with
I think those people realized, all right. So it still seems weird,
and it seemed weird last night John Caliperry being the head coach of Arkansas,
But it's real and it became officially official yesterday. I guess just your overall
thoughts. I mean, I don't see a scenario. I don't see why
that wouldn't be able to while that wouldn't work out, but obviously Cal hasn't
had the same level of success in recent years. But just thoughts on you
know, I guess what you think, how I guess how successful you think
that could be. Look, I think the one thing I'd say is that
you know the bar is higher there than I think it's maybe like perceived right,
Like walking in him alone does not automatically make him the savior of this
place, like they've been the three sweet sixteens in the last five years.
I think the last four years actually like they're a very good program. They
have great history, advanced court and financial support like go down the line right.
So he's gonna have to win at the high level, win at a
higher level than he did to Kentucky the five years, and quite honest,
he's going to do it without some of the built in advantages of Kentucky.
I do think the money side of things is a lot more even in the
nil world and whatnot. But I do think it's going to be harder to
sell elite high school kids on Arkansas than it was to Southamund Kentucky. And
I think he's going to have to adapt. I think he's gonna have to
be a little bit more aggressive of the portal, change his staff up,
change up to people around him, bring in some new voices. I think
he has every opportunity to be very successful. I certainly think it was a
good gamble if you're Arkansas, but I don't think it's the sure fire home
run this. Some people have made it out to me, Kevin, you
are the man. Appreciate you making time for us on such short notes.
Keep up the great work and we will talk soon. A right buddy,
Thank you sir, all right, that's Kevin Swayey does a great job covering
college hoops for Sports Illustrated. Always appreciate his time. Let's take a quick
time. I will come back and wrap up the three o'clock hour. Keep
this thing rolling along. If you are someone like me, an unsuccessful sports
better more often than not. I saw something earlier today in this Otani situation
that made me feel like I'm not as bad of a better as I thought,
and it's got to make you feel the same way too, So stick
with us right here, Coffee and Company. Feel bout Thornton's on Sports Talk
seven ninety. That's right, Coffee and Company rolling along here on a Thursday
afternoon. Appreciate you guys hanging out with us, and we'll take a little
bit of a break from the Kentucky coaching search and just the college basketball overload,
which, by the way, the portal and obviously the coaching changes here
recently, those don't happen very often, but the portal it has given us
free agency season, which means college basketball is going to be talked about more
within the calendar year and I think that's good for the sport. But anyways,
this story is just it's sad and it's just wild that the long time
interpreter and confidant of Shohei Otani is just an absolute scumback. He's been charged
by the FA's for stealing over sixteen million dollars from Otani and he actually is
being accused of impersonating the MLB superstar to hide bank transfers in illegal to an
illegal sports book, not a legal one. And I mean, I guess
you can never be surprised if somebody cannot control the temptation of money and the
access and the easy ability that they would have to you know, steal it
and probably be able to get away with it for a little while. But
I guess that's what like, that's got to be what really gets everyone in
deep, deep deep trouble is that you get away with it once or twice,
you know, skimming something off the top from a company, or you
know, being able to to take some money that's not yours but disguise it
with something and you got to be it has to be to you do it
once twice and then you just it becomes the norm and you feel like you're
you're you're never gonna get caught, and it comes back to bite you.
I have really really fallen for this show and just get sucked into it.
It is American Greed. It is on I believe, CBS, CVS,
MSNBC, I believe is what it's on. And it's just fascinating because there
are corrupt people that you end up just you know, some people are just
scammers and they just a career, you know, like catch me if you
can a great movie, by the way. But there's others that just probably
maybe because they're just not thinking, they they know they can get away with
probably a minor level of theft or fraud, and it worked and nobody noticed,
and then it's got a snowball to where they just can't control themselves.
And then it becomes such a fixation that it's not as easy to disguise.
And then once you've got eyeballs on you by people who are maybe a little
bit aware of what you're doing, then they do the deep dive and then
you're screwed. But this guy, I mean, he stole the majority of
this money here just to gamble, and he's a really really bad gambler.
And I mean like really really bad. I mean some of these numbers that
I that I saw earlier, I mean it makes me feel like, you
know what, Nick, You're not that bad at gambling. Don't feel so
bad because you didn't have a good year in college basketball. Because he could
always be worse. You could be this bad. Because again this former interpreter
and confidante of Otani. From twenty twenty one to January of this year,
his average wager was twelve tho eight hundred dollars. Largest wager was one hundred
and sixty thousand dollars. Total losing bets was one hundred and eighty two point
nine million. His net losses, yeah, nineteen thousand wagers in that time,
his net losses forty point seven million dollars. It makes me want to
throw up. And to be honest with you, as much as I love
gambling, not because I'm a big winner and I have changed my life financially
because I've I've been cooking the books and you know, just dominating the book
makers. I just love the action. And John, I don't just say
this, you know, to get you to like, you know, agree
with me, But you are a great case study because you had no real
familiarity with gambling until we could do it really full with the offshore stuff now
and now you know you enjoy it, right, It's absolutely and it's a
healthy fun thing to do. For college basketball, yeah, I mean it's
in any college sport. And I don't think I would ever because again,
if I lose, I'm and I very much value and I don't know if
you'd call it a just my mentality or whatever it is. If I lose,
I'm more inclined to just stop doing it all together. I'm not somebody
that's like all crap. I just had two losses. Now, now I
gotta triple down on this next bet to make it up, Like, I
just don't think like that. I just you know. The first time ever
went to the first time ever gambled was when I went to play blackjack at
the casino when I was like twenty one, twenty two years old, And
the first time I went, I took forty forty bucks. I left with
like one hundred and twenty. I'm like, this is amazing, this is
a new way for me to just make money. I might quit my job.
And then I went back maybe a month later, forty bucks. It
was gone in five minutes, and I thought, that's gross. I want
to throw up, and I'm never coming back here because it just you know,
I that wasn't fun to lose forty bucks, but you know, just
to know that, like it's that dangerous, I mean, that's I guess,
that's that's a some people just can't exactly they don't have it. And
I have a very addictive personality and so do I and I'm just glad it's
never turned into I guess just because when it's money, that's like a you
know, money's not something I've ever thrown a Yeah, I'm not something and
I'm not like super cheap or whatever. As we've discussed, my wife handles
all of our money. I don't even know. I mean, I'm just
again, I've got this debit card. It's plastic. I swipe it when
I need gas and food and just just survive as a human being and it
works and everything else. You know, my wife handles. But I'm I'm
also not to the point where I would just be like wasting money on gambling
and if I bet ten to twenty bucks thirty bucks a day on college basketball
or college football, like, that's just that's that's entertainment for me. It's
not like I'm banking on a big payoff. I'm just having fun and it's
worth the price to do it because it's not a lot of money. And
again, it's a fun ride. All right, quick break, we'll come
back here on the other side. Keep this thing rolling along. We'll get
to some Louis of basketball stuff because some more names that Pat Kelsey and his
staff are in on from the portal and John or if you know this or
not, we may have our first Pat Kelsey Mike Woodson battle for a player.
Oh, I'm ready for it, and a big staff addition for Pat
Kelsey that I think fans are going to be really excited to hear about.
That's next right here on Sports Talk seven ninety