All right, five o'clock here on a Thursday afternoon. Thanks for hanging out
with us Coffee and company. Feel about Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety
Appreciate our friends over there at Thornton's stopped in this morning once again to take
advantage of the three for seven bucks on the Monster Energy drinks. Your Monster
Energy drink, guy, I've been I like them. I like them.
If you don't, it's fine. It's you know, because you know some
people don't, and I'm sure you're probably better off than me if you're not
drinking them. Alani New Kicks, you know, yeah, they're They're really
really good. But I do like Monster. I like them better than Red
Bull. I feel like energy drinks. There have been a handful of them
that come and go right, They've got a little bit of momentum, They've
got some buzz. You see people buying them, and then they kind of
fade away. But Monster stays, they stay true, they stay, they
stay relevant and the white Monster Energy dream about way you realize when you do
that, it like it is extremely loud. Correct when you grab your when
you grab your mic and the mic is on like that that it's it sounds
like somebody's you know, somebody's behind you, you know, beaten on you
or something, but you may not hear it. And that is why headphones
like that, like the cans, it's not as noticeable. Yeah, but
earbuds it is. Which again it may not even be something that beat the
radio for me. Hey, it's okay, it's all good, and it
just adds to the you know, it adds to the uh, the the
raw and authentic vibe that we provide here a coffee and company. We're not
afraid to produce on the air. We're not afraid to you know. I
love raw and authentic. Yeah, I mean that's kind of what we do.
But anyways, yeah, shout out Thornton's. They they've got really anything
you need to start your day. I don't drink coffee, but they've got
delicious coffee from what everybody tells me, and I can confirm I don't eat
many donuts, but they do have delicious donuts. And anytime I mentioned that,
it'll be a few days in somebody. Sometimes people are that I know,
or sometimes people that I don't even know will tell me, hey,
you need to start plugging those donuts at Thornton's more because they're delicious. So
yeah, shout out to our friends over there at Thornton's. All right,
So earlier within the show, we had Pat Kelsey on. He joined us
at three thirty, had a good conversation. Nice for him to make an
appearance here on the show. First time we've had him on and a good
convo. I can certainly tell you that fan engagement is going to be and
you've already seen that fan engagement is going to be much different with this regime.
And I think we learned the hard way how important that is. And
I wouldn't be shocked if Pat Kelsey becomes, you know, a regular,
not meaning he's going to be on every week, but you know, I
think, to be fair, no one within the athletic department, no one
within the basketball program meaning like you know, those who work for the program,
but they really work more so like they don't work as a coach or
a recruiter, they just work, you know, on the administration side.
They never thought that it wasn't an important to engage with fans. And trust
me, and I want to make it about like the local media that we
deserve access, we deserve interviews, because trust me, I don't. I
don't believe that for a second. Like for example, if I was Kenny
Payne, I would never come on my show. I would like to think
that he would believe that it was never personal. It was just you know,
calling the leg it is, but like, you know, I get
it. So I've never requested to have Pat Kelsey on the show, just
because I don't ever want to give off the you know, perception that I
feel like I'm owed an interview. But obviously with the season, you know,
not necessarily right around the corner, but the roster's been put together now
they're just focusing on recruiting for the future, meaning freshman to be there's a
little bit more time available, I guess for him to make himself available.
That he did a lot of his TV interviews last week and radio making the
radio rounds obviously this week. And you know that stuff's important and again not
because it you know, helps my show or someone else's show. It's important
for fans to hear from their coach. It just is. I mean again,
I said this throughout the last few years, and it's something that is
I think pretty obvious, but maybe others don't see it that way. But
if you don't, you're wrong. I mean, I guess it's a matter
of opinion. But when you are at a place like Louisville where basketball matters
so much to so many people, we're crazy about it. And you know,
there are people who pay a lot of money every year to donate so
they can then buy season tickets. Right They've been going to games forever like
it's an investment both financially but even more so emotionally. People care so much
about Louisville basketball. So with that, regardless of how good or bad things
are going, silence is never the answer. And you're not going to see
that with this regime. And I think they're going to be successful, and
that usually will lead to you know, anybody want anybody being more available and
wanting to talk about said success. But even when things are not going great,
if that happens, I still think you're going to see transparency and there's
going to be there's going to be more engagement with the fans. I mean,
and again not just and not be Island, But anyways, here is
the interview for those of you who missed it, and hope you enjoy That's
right, Coffee and Company. You're rolling along here on a Thursday afternoon.
Thank you so much for hanging out with us here on Sports Talk seven ninety
And we now bring in a special guest to making his first appearance here on
Coffee and Company, Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey, coach, how we doing
this afternoon? Hey? Nick? How you doing? Thanks so much for
having me on. Well, how about that intro music? What was that
little gin blossoms? That's match Bucks twenty oh, match Bucks twenty Yeah.
I got to give some credit to our producer Austin. He picked that one.
I'll let him pick the songs and he usually does a pretty good job.
So again, thanks for making some time for us. I know you're
extremely busy. You've been very busy since you arrive. So I guess i'll
start with this. Have you had much time to kind of, you know,
reflect and settle in and you know, look back on this big change
that you've made here taken the job here at Louisville. I know it's been
very hectic since you got here, but just I guess early impressions on your
new home here in Louisville. Yeah, there hasn't been a lot of lulls,
if you will here over the last whatever it is a couple of months,
two and a half months, but you know, you know, Luke
Hancock was that practice, I don't know, a week and a half ago
or so, and he asked me, he said, give me something,
give me, give me one thing. What's been the best thing? And
I told him, you know, I said this on an interview on television
the other day and I just said, it's that moment probably once a day,
when all of a sudden it hits me. I'm head coach at the
University of Louisville. That's pretty cool. That is pretty dang cool. And
you know it's the city's been awesome to me and my family, who's not
here full time yet, but they'll be coming here really, really soon.
Finally found a house and you know, the moves starting to be more of
reality. Get them all up here. And that has been the most difficult
part is not having them here with me, but they'll be here soon.
Love the Derby. The Derby was awesome. I'm becoming a bourbon connoisseur a
little bit, drinking a lot, but people, people just keep giving me
some gifts. So I got this trophy case of big time Bourbons, which
I don't know if it'll ever get drink but but but no, it's been
awesome. So you've been when you are here in town and you're not out
recruiting, you know you've been making the rounds and very visible and that that
is certainly appreciated by a lot of the fans, that's for sure. But
what are your impressions of us as a fan base, Because we're crazy,
and I get the sense that you're willing to embrace the crazy in us and
maybe look at it as a strength as far as what makes Louisville basketball a
special program. But you know, what do you make of the fans.
I know you've been greeted with open arms and fans are super excited, But
I feel like you kind of already know that we're we're kind of nuts when
it comes to basketball around here. Yeah, I mean, it's this This
state is one of the greatest basketball states, if not the greatest basketball state
in the entire country. In basketball really really matters here. You know,
those kids are born with the basketball in your crib, and you know,
in the city of Louisville is is unbelievably head over heels passionate about about the
Cardinals. You know, I said, somebody's probably said this before, but
I thought it was pretty cool. There's so many college towns right around the
country, and you can find a outside of major city. There's even Power
five programs that that kind of university and a football program and basketball program truly
make up that town. And you know, I saw this up at the
Football Center. I think maybe it's a banner on the football stadium and it
says, you know, Louisville is America's college city, right. I mean,
there's over a million people, I think in metropolitan Louisville, and as
we know, there's no major professional sports team here, and you know,
University of Louisville sports athletics, football, basketball, volleyball, women's basketball.
I'm actually go on and on, really really baseball really matter here. And
you know I've I know it and I embraced it. You want to be
somewhere where it matters. You want to be somewhere where there's not apathy.
You want to be somewhere where people are passionate. And I've told many people
I know there's over a million assistant coaches in town and everybody's knowledgeable and they
know basketball, and they have their opinions. You know, I've made the
analogy of my fandom, if you will, of the sinsane Bengles and Reds,
and I have completely one hundred percent irrational angles in red sil answers.
I have a lot of answers that that I thought, maybe, you know,
David Bell and Zach Taylor could could could use. I don't think they
really give a flying crap about what I think and what my opinions are.
But I'm not a big social media guy. I am a I am a
guy that you know that utilizes social media to promote our program, promote Louisville
Athletics, this city, all that. But I'm not a guy that's going
to do a lot of scroll And I do pretty good job of putting blinders
on and worrying about what I can control about what's right in front of me.
But gosh darn, you got to love and embrace the fact that basketball
matters here this much. Loewellman's basketball coach Pat Kelsey is our guest here on
Sports Talk seven ninety. You put together a brand new team from scratch.
Thirteen players have been added to this roster since you arrived, and it really
wasn't that long ago. Talk to me a little bit about the process of
pursuing players in the portal. I mean, when you became a head coach
at that time, it was still mostly roster building from recruiting high school players.
And obviously you guys still do that, But when do you know that
you can, you know that you want to pull the trigger and offer a
young man in the portal and say, hey, we want you to come
be a part of what we're doing here. Some guys make decisions without visiting
schools. Obviously there's an nil component, But how much different is that process
of kind of going all in on a player in the portal, you know,
compared to doing it at the high school level. Well, I just
think you have to have good balance on your roster. You know, this
was a unique year because obviously we were, you know, building our roster
from absolute ground zero with you know, zero scholarship players two and a half
months ago. So it was a little bit of a herculean task to build
a team that we thought could be very, very competitive and a team that's
gonna, you know, going to fight for a championship. And and uh,
we have a process as to how we approach obviously, you know,
uh grassroots and high school recruiting, and a process to how we attack the
portal. You know, we have we have metrics and uh basketball analytics and
statistics that we value and that that equate and correlate to our system. And
uh, but then we also have you know, uh, mechanisms if you
will, that measure other things that truly you can't measure, right the makeup
and the DNA, the character, the competitiveness, the toughness. You know,
a lot of the things that you can't measure that we value as well.
And you know you have to peel we call it peel away the onion.
You got to do your due diligence. You got to make the calls
and ask the questions, and those things really matter to us. You know.
I think the ultimate intangible guy, ultimate intangible guy. I met today
and Russ Smith who was on campus and came to our workout today and cheesel
pets man like his makeup. His DNA is so special. Obviously he was
severely under recruited. And Peyton made the point today. I thought it was
great, he said, he came in with two stars and he ended up
putting number two up in the rafters at the end of his career. That's
a hell of a line, you know, Proud of Peyton for that was
pretty good. Peyton's Dayton's pretty smart dude. And but yeah, so it
is a process of obviously looking at statistics metrics, but then also the immeasurables
as well. So with the personnel that you guys that have added this year,
I'm sure you're still learning a lot about these guys and it's all new
for most of them. But you know, in the brief time you've had
some of them on campus, I know some just arrived. Have you seen
some things that maybe pleasantly surprised you about some of these players, maybe some
things that you weren't expecting me. They're they're they're all they're all doing an
unbelievable job. They're they're egal eager learners to our system. I mean,
there's a very veteran team. These are guys that have come in decorated right
from winning programs that have that have been a part of championship programs, gone
to n CUAA tournaments, and older guys that that I don't want to say
set in their ways, but they're used to a certain way and just being
different in terms of, you know, maybe the way we structure practice or
the way that we label or call or terminology in a certain action that's maybe
just different. It's just there's a there's an uh, there's a period of
adapting, right and adjusting. You've probably seen the article in the paper just
about Eli Foy, our strength coach. I believe one of our secret weapons.
Uh. I've been with Eli a long time, and I just know,
you know, when guys come in for the first time into our program
and they kind of get indoctrinated, if you will, into our culture.
Part of it is just an absolute butt kicking and beat down in the weight
room for a couple of weeks, and I tell guys all the time,
you know you're going to take a step backward before you take a step forward.
And it's when they turn that corners. It gets to the end of
June into July, you really start seeing the body composition change. They're feeling
bounce here, more athletic than they ever have. And by then they're even
more comfortable into our system. And then things really really start to roll.
But man, I got no complaints. Those guys's been working their butts off,
and it's just nice to have everybody here as well. Within the last
two or three days, final couple guys, Corn Johnson and Canai Ruth had
both got in the campus. So it's just good to have to have all
your guys here. Pat Kelsey's our guests joining us here on Sports Talk seven
ninety. I know, when it comes to coaching, the a lot of
different styles, different ways to go about it. I think coaching at its
core is really being a leader, and I'm curious there's different ways to lead,
different ways to go about it. As mentioned, but other leaders,
maybe outside of basketball, coaches that you find yourself admiring, maybe things you
take from those. It could be a coach of a different sport, could
be, you know, a leader of a corporation. Just curious on maybe
where you get motivation and kind of what where you try to, you know,
continue to grow as a coach. Yeah, I mean, I think
part of it is I've just been so lucky and blessed to be around great
men and great leaders throughout my whole life. And you know, it starts
with my father, Mike Kelsey Hugh's former marine and a businessman in Cincinnati,
father of five, grandfather of of what is it twenty four now? And
just the way he leads, the way he works, the way he loves,
the way he builds the cultures that he's created his businesses and within his
family. And then my grandfather, You know, I could say the same
thing my high school coach, Joe Schoenfeld, He's been at Elder High School
for over three decades. Beloved, successful, does it the right way.
Principal hard work in the late great Skip Prosser, who was my college coach
and brought me into the coaching profession before he tragically passed away in two thousand
and seven, just a few short days before my oldest daughter, Ruthie was
born. Just lucky to learn from people that I could emulate of not only
how to act carry yourself professionally, but also but also personally as well.
All Right, I'm going to throw some rapid fire questions at you, coach.
Some of these will be basketball related. Some of these are questions where
fans can just kind of get to know you a little bit, know more
about Pat Kelsey, not just the coach, but Pat Kelsey, the guy,
let's start with this. I know you're a music fan. You complimented
our intro music there that we had for you, and I'm sure you know
this. Louisville has a lot of big music festivals that continue to grow.
They're known all across the country. Let's say there's gonna be a Pat Kelsey
stage at one of these music festivals, and you are tasked with booking four
acts that are going to be there. You're, you know, the four
musicians or acts that you think would best reflect your musical taste. Who you
Who you booking? You can get anybody. They're gonna be lined up,
I mean, foremost with I'm starting first and foremost with Louisville's own Jack Harlow.
Good answer. You know I'm gonna go. If I'm staying in the
hip hop genre, I'm going with jay Z. I'm going to old school
a little bit there, Hall of Famer, the Goat. If I'm going
just kind of down deep in my core, just something i'd like to pop
in and and and pull up on my on my phone, and I'm gonna
listen to little Bruce Springsteen. And then if I'm going country, man,
that's a tough call Big Zach Bryant, Guy Love, Zac Brown, Little
Kenny Chessney, the old school. I'm I'm versatile man. I can bob
and weave and a bunch of a bunch of different genres. Do I sound
smart when I say genre? Yeah? Yeah, you sound you sound musically
inclined. I mean it sounds like you know I'm tricking you. I'm tricking
you a little bit. I think that would be that would all that would
do was just make the resale ticket prices even more expensive. That would be
a heck of a of a group to to add to to one of these
music festivals around here that Brian the sings the Revival sothing I know, Yeah,
so my deal? Did that come to you out of nowhere? Because
it really has become sort of your you know, that's how we know there's
some good things on the way. Did you give that much thought? Did
it just hit you? Obviously? The Revival is is the tagline where here
to think? I like to think I have a little creativity in me.
It's always been sort of who I am in my DNA, and you know,
I went through it. We came up with the sing rock to Hill
because it's in rock Hills, South Carolina, Charleston. He said our city.
Right, you know, global basketball is already just absolutely you know,
uh connected with with Louisville basketball and Charleston. We were trying to so we
said our city. And I got to give a little shout out point to
the passer to Brian Klohman, my long long time assistant. He came up
with with the revival with the V I L L E at the end of
vill So, uh, shout out to coach my credit for that one shout
out to my guy Kloe. That's that's I mean, it's it's already caught
on in a major way, all right. When you let's just go back
to the early part of your coaching career, obviously from Cincinnati, and you're
familiar with Louisville, the city and obviously Louisville basketball. But if somebody brought
up Louisville basketball to Pat Kelce fifteen years ago, who was the first player
that would come to mind for you? Is someone who played here at some
point throughout their career? Just the first guy that comes to mind. I
mean, I'm gonna I'm gonna tell a little fib here and I'm gonna say
Peyton Siva because he's my guys on my staff. That's my brother. Obviously,
that whole team was special with us today, all those guys. But
I gotta say, just because I grew up in the eighties, I gotta
say, never nervous Purvis Ellison, that would probably be the first thing that
pops into my mind. But if that's player, but then you know,
obviously, Denny Crume, you know, I don't know. I don't want
to leave somebody there there and I get I'm kind of putting in which,
Hey, you gave a good answer. You one of your one of your
guys Gouds on your staff. That was the first time you mentioned, which
I think is a safe, safe way to go about it. All right,
Uh, we won't keep you too much longer. I have one more
question though, and this is another spot that that I'm kind of putting you
in here. But favorite meal or I guess best meal you've had since you've
been in town. And I'm sure you haven't had a bad one. Ol
Man, you can't do that to me. I got to I got,
I got I got friends. I'm building friendships all over the place. Unbelievable
clisine, I think that's one of the underrated things about Louisville, Man,
is the food scene. There's some great restaurants here and I've been to a
lot of them, and there is no way, there is no way you're
getting me to just name one of them. Man, I'm not doing it.
Hey, I'm Switzerland right now. Man, I'm Switzerland. I'm staying
in the middle. Yeah, that's that's a good way to go about it.
And I'm glad to hear you say that. Because Louisville is a city
is someone who's been here my whole life. We do claim to be a
foodie city. And I don't know if it's just because we feel that way
and everybody feels that way. But if you're you know, I know you're
probably eating some of the best spots in town. So if you believe that,
that's that's a complement of the city. I do got to give a
little shout out that I can't believe I'm saying this because I'm given I'm giving
them some advertising. But being a Cincinnati guy, there is Skyline here.
It's just kind of nice little graters. But I just said, I want
to name anybody, and then I just named two of them. Well,
it's I think it's a given you. Is there anybody from Cincinnati that doesn't
love Skyline? Uh, they don't last long. Yeah, it's a staple.
Not you're not You're not one of You're not one of us. Yeah.
I've gotten that vibe from a lot of folks from Cincinnati, and it's
good stuff. It's just clearly it's and I love that Cincinnati kind of takes
takes ownership, right, they take pride in Skyline kind of being their thing.
All Right, One more question, and this is one I should have
asked earlier. Johnny ballgame. Obviously you mentioned the family has not all made
the move just yet. How excited is he? I don't know your whole
family. I'm sure is really excited. But he became a notable, you
know, figure within the Charleston basketball program during during your time there. Is
he is he ready to do the same thing for the villa? Yeah?
I mean, Johnny, I mean he's just he's just the typical eleven year
old boy, right and he just whatever's in season he's into. He loves
hoop, he loves to be in the gym. He's the son of a
coach, you know, Josh is awesome. Like Johnny's in town. He
lets him be around practice and be around the practice facility. That's awesome.
You know, it's a very very demanding profession, so meshing the two things,
your personal life and your professional life is really really important or probably never
going to see your family. So but yeah, he's good. He can't
wait to get the Louisville. He's been scouting out grade schools and possible AU
programmed. That's awesome. We'll see you can't wait. Well, coach,
I appreciate you making time for us again. I know you're very busy.
We're all happy that you're here, excited to get this thing started in a
few months and whatnot. So again, thanks so much, coach, and
we'll talk to you down a line. Hey, Nick, thank you.
Man. Enjoyed it, all right, take care again. That's Pat Kelsey.
All right, So there you have it. Let's let's go ahead and
get our first break here out of the way and we'll come back. Thirty
minutes left here on a Thursday afternoon, and still plenty to get into,
including the verdict that has come in on Terrence Shannon Junior. All right,
stick with us right here on Sports Talk seven ninety Now back to coffee and
Company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine day. All right,
so Terrence Shannon Junr. Has been found not guilty. I talked about it
a little bit earlier, and it just seemed as if that's the way this
thing was was had a based off of those there that are covering and reporting
on the trial. But yes, the state of Texas versus Terrence Shannon Jr.
We the people of Douglas County, Kansas found that defendant Terrance Shannon Jr.
Not guilty. So he's been cleared on both charges and is in the
eyes of you know, criminal courts, he's one hundred percent innocent. Now,
of course, I'm sure there's many there are many people that have been
found not guilty that were innocent, But just as far as what was put
out there, it's just scary man to think that. And I'm not saying
that this is what happened, because none of us have a clue what happened.
But if I heard what was shared at this trial and I was on
the jury, I would have gone with the same thing. But if in
fact this is just completely made up and this was some kind of strategy from
the alleged victim that they could get a payday because he's a future NBA player,
or you know, maybe just ruin his life for fun, which seems
awful, but you know, people do awful thing and again don't know for
sure what happened. None of us do, right, I mean, I
guess the truth is really only known between those two people involved here, the
alleged victim, victim and Terrence Shannon Jr. But I really think the text
message evidence that was shared probably did a lot for those on the jerry as
far as seeing this thing as potentially not real at all and a potential money
grab. I just have a hard time thinking when you're conversing with friends,
two friends of yours and you know, yourself in a group chat about this
incident, and you're sharing stories from ESPN who broke the news that he had
been charged, uh, and then sharing the emojis that show like a money
sign. I mean, that's that. I just have a hard time thinking
that that. I mean, that's not proof that it's what it was,
but man, that's a bad look for for for the victim and her friend
who was a witness, and somebody who testified at the trial. So it's
just scary to think that, you know, somebody could just make that stuff
up. And yes, he was found not guilty, but to say that
this won't impact his life in a major way is I mean, he's a
victim if this is completely made up, which again we'll never know that,
right unless the alleged victim did later down the line come out and say she
made it up, which that's a pretty crappy thing to do. But you
know, if you google this guy's name, who, by the way,
is a sensational basketball player for a long time, the coverage of this is
going to be what people find on the internet and those who didn't follow this
guy with six thousand followers on Twitter to hear what was testified by character witnesses
of Terreen Shannon Jr. You know, the victim's friend, who again didn't
do anybody, didn't do anybody any favors on that side on the prosecution side
when it comes to their case. I mean, I doubt many people were
following this thing very closely at all, and they're going to just assume that
he might have got away with it, and if he is, who the
character witnesses claimed he is. And clearly, if you're the defense and you're
bringing character witnesses to testify, you're going to bring people who are going to
say nothing but great things about someone's character. But I mean, I don't
think they're making it up. I mean it's some of the things that were
shared were not a matter of opinion. It was more about what they know
about him to be fact. And I don't know, I mean, this
was getting coverage, trust me, this was I mean it's not like nobody
knew this was going on. But this is a big story. I mean,
you've got one of the best basketball players in the country who I think
would be getting a lot more NBA draft buzz of this situation wasn't ongoing.
I mean, the draft is this month, within less than two weeks,
and he was just finishing up a trial today where he was charged with you
know, sexual assault crimes. So you know, it's I just feel like
it. I would have expected if you'd have told me months ago that this
was going to line up up like this, and you know you have.
For those who don't know, Kansas basketball players testified on behalf of what I
mean, they were called to testify hundred Dickinson Junior testified in this trial.
Kevin mccueler testified in this trial because he was a former teammate of Terrence Shannon
juniors at Texas Tech. So, for those who don't know the specifics of
what happened, Illinois played Kansas and football and Terrence Shannon Junr. Along with
some of his friends and in fact an assistant coach. I think it might
be like a grad assistant maybe went on the trip with Terrence Shannon Junior's friends
and he was essentially there to be the babysitter for Terryn Shannon Junior, not
to not to act that he needs somebody to watch over him and he's going
to do something bad. But that's not uncommon. If you've got you know,
high level college athletes that are out and about, it's you know,
it's pretty common. I feel safe in saying that there is somebody from the
program around either directly near them almost kind of serving as you know, their
representation, or in the background because they want to make sure that people aren't
acting a fool. So anyways, they went to this game at Kansas and
that is where this alleged incident took place. And again Terren Shannon Junr.
I mean, he testified under oath today that he did not know who the
victim was, doesn't never met her, never talked to her, didn't do
anything she claims. And he said that the first time he saw her was
at the initial hearing, like he didn't even know who this person was,
which that's true. I mean, damn yikes. In fact, speaking of
I hope he does. I don't think he'll mind me sharing this story many
many years later, especially considering he is fresh off a Final four. But
about ten years ago, I think it was ten years ago, Louisville wrapped
up their home, their home schedule. Senior night they played Yukon, that
same Yukon that went on, that same Yukon team that went on to win
a national championship, which it still makes me sick to my stomach thinking about
that. But that night, you know, that was a senior night for
some special guys. You had Luke Hancocked him, Henderson, Stephen Ventrees and
obviously Russ Smith. And that night a lot of those guys went out and
I ended up going out that night as well. I had a friend,
I have a friend who is close friends with Russ and still is. He's
now an attorney here in Louisville. Big Nick Wilson shout out Nick, and
they were at I guess, oh my gosh, it's where we are right
now. It was Tango. You remember the bar Tango Austin here for street.
I always always forget that that's where we stay at. That's where I'm
sitting at, like we we are located here at four Street. Live is
is the old Tango. I'd never even thought about it as I'm about to
share this story. So we ended up in Tango and Russ is there with
his friends from from you know that he grew up with. His dad was
there. Big Russ was, you know, holding it down, and somebody
you know, I mean, I think most Louisville fans know who Kevin Keats
is, right because he was Rick Bettino's assistant, and we like we are
fan base that will spot our assistant coaches, probably more than most because we
are that like, you know, we're that plugged into it. And Kevin
Keats was there, still in his suit from coaching the game. And he
wasn't there drinking, he wasn't there socializing. He was just there with his
hand in his pocket and he did stick out like a sore thumb, but
he was there to make sure that those guys didn't, you know, end
up in a situation that they shouldn't be in. And sometimes it's not because
they're worried about them. It's more so because you never know who's going to
walk up and try to, you know, mess with somebody. And that
happens from time to time, especially when you mix alcohol. I mean,
people get those beer muscles and they you know, they think, you know,
it's just it's it's unfortunately a male trait more than anything. And it's
not all dudes, but you know, you know what I'm talking about Austin
dudes who get drunk and see somebody who they know is much more accomplished and
much more successful than them, and they just get these urge to start trouble
with a little jealousy. Yeah, and I've never seen it happen to the
extent of where somebody needed to get involved, but it happens from time to
time. But yeah, So Terrence Shannon Junior is found not guilty, and
I'm not kidding you. I wouldn't be shocked if he now becomes a bigger
name in this NBA draft that is already believed to be very weak. So
yeah, not something you typically talk about on this show, but you know,
I think that's a it's certainly a big story within the world of college
basketball, even though he's not going to play college basketball anymore. Again,
just imagine telling somebody six months ago the reigning Big Twelve Player of the Year.
I guess he wasn't because Zach Edy won it, but he was an
All American. Terrence Shinning Jr. Was Is going to be on trial for
these sexual assault crimes, and Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCuller are going to be
there testify. I it's it's a big story, and it seems like it's
getting the most attention as we speak because he's been cleared of these of these
rape charges. All right, quick break, we'll come back on the other
side. Put the finishing touches on a Thursday edition of Coffee and Company,
fueled by Thornton's right here on Sports Talk seven ninety All right, very little
time left once again to tell you goodbye, but I do want to let
you know if you've missed anything on the show, make sure you check out
the podcast always appreciate however you're listening. Wherever you're listening, however you're doing
it, we certainly appreciate you. You're back at tomorrow, right, Austin.
Yeah, I'll be here tomorrow. Yeah, because you know Friday vibes
are are a must of course, and looking forward to it. So you
know, the the Terrence Shannon Junior news it is now very widespread and look,
there's a chance. And I'm glad somebody reminded me of this on the
text line, like if you are someone you know who was following along,
but you know you just didn't find you didn't find a need to share any
thoughts because you didn't have a clue really what happened. That makes total sense,
But just I mean, the coverage of the trial, I just felt
like would be a bigger talking point. I'm not expecting everybody out there to
be claiming they know he's innocent. No, he's guilty, because none of
us know. But he did go through a really rough, rough senior season
where he was sensational on the floor as far as what he was doing.
But you know, no means no chance from opposing teams and left off all
American teams nobody would vote for him because of the situation. So he's found
innocent, and you know, he's a hell of a player. I think
he could be really good in the NBA, to be honest with you.
All Right, we're out of time and we're back at it tomorrow to wrap
up the week again. If you missed the Pat Kelsey interview, check it
out on the podcast and have a good night everybody. Talk to you tomorrow.