WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.919 --> 00:00:08.599 It's time for coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine 2 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:31.120 day. Now, here's Nick coffee. All right, let's get it started 3 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:33.799 at five o'clock on a Friday, getting the weekend started. A lot of 4 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:36.960 you are probably starting your weekend right now, or maybe you already have started 5 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.200 the weekend, and we still have an hour to go as we have. 6 00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:45.799 I think had a fun show thus far. I'm excited for the fact that 7 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:50.320 Kentucky hired Mark Pope and you know, not Dan Hurley. But what really 8 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:53.759 excites me about it because who knows Mark Pope could be phenomenal. But both 9 00:00:53.840 --> 00:01:00.759 sides here have a new era that is underway, and sometimes just something that's 10 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:07.439 new is exciting right now, that'll only last until the new whatever is not 11 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:11.000 delivering and it's not what you wanted and it's below expectation. We got a 12 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:14.239 long way to go before we get there. Right, we don't even know 13 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:18.040 who's gonna be on the team for Louisville or Kentucky. Pat Kelsey again, 14 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:19.879 he's got some visitors on campus this weekend. We'll talk about some of those 15 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:25.040 guys and some visits that are set up. I don't even know about Mark 16 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:30.560 Pope in his situation, I would say the most likely additions to Kentucky's roster 17 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:33.159 are going to be guys that follow him from BYU. That'd be my guest. 18 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:38.560 But either way, Louisville was I think underwhelmed with Pat Kelsey, regardless 19 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:42.239 if you want to say that now when it came to the realization that he 20 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:44.439 was going to be the guy. Even if you were willing to say, 21 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:47.680 okay, whatever, just give us a coach and I'll support it. That's 22 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:49.560 normal. But I don't think that's a guy that everybody said Louisville should be 23 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:52.959 going after whenever we knew the job was going to be open all season, 24 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:55.799 and then of course the search actually started. But either way, he's the 25 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:59.719 guy and we're gonna support it, And so far he's checked a lot of 26 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.599 box that are super important, not only because we're a weird fan base that 27 00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:06.359 just loves I mean, we're just different, we're crazy in the eyes of 28 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.199 some, but he embraces that crazy. And also I think the timing of 29 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:14.120 it, like we've never needed that more because we've had such a rough two 30 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:16.479 years with Kenny Payne and really no engagement with the fans and not to say 31 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:21.479 that would have helped, because if he's still won four games and then eight 32 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:27.639 games, none of that would have mattered. But I was really in disbelief 33 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:29.879 when it hit me that they were going to go this route. Has nothing 34 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:31.439 to do with what I think about Pat Kelsey. I just assumed they were 35 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:36.159 going to make sure they got a guy who you knew had had some success 36 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:38.800 at this level before, and instead they have a guy that hasn't failed at 37 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:43.599 this level before, but he's never been at this level before. So he's 38 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:49.000 really won the fan base over and I think we all know he's got to 39 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:53.000 win, and we'll see if that happens. But no matter who gets hired, 40 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:58.919 you're gonna support it as a fan, even if you're complaining, even 41 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:01.879 if you're honest with yourself that you don't really like the hire. It's your 42 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:05.159 coach and it's your team. You are going to support it. That's what 43 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:07.800 Kentucky fans have done in the last twenty four hours or maybe I guess the 44 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:09.000 last I get. I don't know, maybe the last eight hours or something, 45 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:15.879 because last night was wild, and I think they had a real dose 46 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:19.599 of humble pie because they never thought in a million years, they'd go out 47 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:22.199 and get a coach that's never won a tournament game. They never thought they 48 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:25.240 would hire a guy who only is even mentioned as a candidate because he played 49 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:29.639 there, But that's what they did. But once the disbelief wears off and 50 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:31.400 you realize that's the guy, you're gonna support it. That's what fans do. 51 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:39.280 But I do think, you know, for Louisville, like our bar 52 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:43.199 is low, you know what I'm saying, Like our bar is low. 53 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:46.520 I don't think you're gonna see this fan base act as if they've accomplished something 54 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:52.879 substantial if in fact, they win twelve games next year or eight games or 55 00:03:52.879 --> 00:04:01.319 whatever I mean. But there's not a bar that is unreachable for Pat Kelsey 56 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:06.159 in year one because the bar is so low. And I think, given 57 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:09.680 what happens in the portal, he could put together a team to maybe make 58 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:11.919 the tournament like and I don't I still don't think it's hard to say that 59 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:13.840 when you don't even know who's gonna be on the team. But I don't 60 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:16.120 think it's unrealistic to say that he could put together a roster that would be 61 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:20.120 a tournament caliber roster. And he can coach. We know that now can 62 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:24.920 he do it at this level? We'll see. I have no reason to 63 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:26.959 think he can't, and I have good reason to believe that he will. 64 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.360 Now, will he win national championships and go to a bunch of final fours? 65 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:32.199 That's really hard to do. But getting Louisville back to being a successful 66 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:39.600 program that has some relevance and we are back to having really great crowds at 67 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:43.120 the Young Center and it being a tough place to play, and really kind 68 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:45.920 of I don't I don't want to say re establishing our brand because I think 69 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:47.959 even in the down years we've had lately, and they weren't just down, 70 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:51.759 they were awful. People who know college basketball still know what Louisville could be 71 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:56.680 and can be and has been and should be, to be honest with you, 72 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.480 but Kentucky, you know there was a lot of you know, you're 73 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:04.560 about to see a real search and how it's done because I think they're arrogance 74 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:11.040 is is Honestly, I don't want to say justifiable, because like being arrogant 75 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.879 isn't a good thing, but like the way they see themselves as a program 76 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:16.399 is justifiable because they are one of the best programs in the country and the 77 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:19.439 fact that Scott Drew said no is not something any of them truly thought would 78 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:23.240 happen. And I think there was some relief because a lot of I shouldn't 79 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.639 say a lot, but some Kentucky fans just weren't really thrilled with that. 80 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:28.160 I think they knew he'd be a good coach, and he has a national 81 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:30.639 championship and he recruits really well, but he didn't all fit that job, 82 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:36.560 and he knew that, and he decided to stay at Baylor maybe because of 83 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:39.360 that a little bit, but also I just think it was tough for him 84 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:44.680 to walk away. Obviously, Danny Hurley was never gonna come, and I'm 85 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:46.759 not even sure they offered him the job, Like there's claims that, like, 86 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:47.720 you know, whatever they do. I don't know if Mitch Barner ever 87 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:50.639 actually engaged, because again, in their mind, they never offered anybody, 88 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:55.240 right, but they just told them to consider it and then you know, 89 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:58.800 let them know. But Mark Pope, I believe that Mark Pope was always 90 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:03.879 somebody that Mitch barnehard was high on, and he just you know, he 91 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:09.959 never wavered from that, and once he realized he wasn't going to get Drew. 92 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:12.519 I mean, it wouldn't be crazy to think that they just simply went 93 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:16.759 from Scott Drew to Mark Pope, and that is surprising the Kentucky fans, 94 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:19.480 but I think that's the way Mitch Barnhart wanted to go about it, and 95 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:26.240 I think they are in the same position. Louisvels in right. You didn't 96 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:29.040 like the higher you would have never said, hey, let's go get that 97 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.360 guy a week ago. But that's the guy and you're gonna support him, 98 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:39.279 and you should like that's normal. But I do think what's different that Louisville 99 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:44.720 fans don't have to worry about as much is that we're not going to be 100 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:48.600 looking back at the Kenny Payne era in longing for those days, you know 101 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:54.920 what I'm saying, Like, we're not so with Kentucky. They may be 102 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:58.399 able to just completely block Caliperry out of their memory, but it's gonna be 103 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:00.720 hard to do. He was there for a long time and was successful, 104 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:02.839 even when he got upset in the tournament. He did it as a three 105 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:09.120 seed and as a two seed because the team was good. That thing would 106 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:11.959 run its course it needed to end. I think everybody knows that as much 107 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.839 as I troll at times online about them running him out of town, I 108 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:17.199 mean, I'm not really sure what the fans could have done. I do 109 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:21.360 think there's some others that maybe, you know, like I think Mitch Barnhardt, 110 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:25.240 I don't know if you ever could have could have I guess he could 111 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:28.480 have just given Cal whatever he wanted. But I think at times like whenever, 112 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:30.639 let's be real, whenever Mitch made the decision that Cal was going to 113 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:34.560 be back, and they did it awkward TV interview, there was there was 114 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:39.279 noise from Kentucky fans that they couldn't believe they're not making a change. But 115 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:46.439 then change happens, and he's at Arkansas doing the col thing, owning the 116 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:48.759 moment at the press conference, saying all the things that just you know, 117 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:54.240 are the col sayings. And he's going to have a much better roster than 118 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:58.839 Kentucky next year. I have no doubt about that. Maybe that's not sustainable, 119 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:03.079 but I think even when there's early underwhelming things with the Pope era, 120 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:09.199 maybe it's a loss. Maybe it's just like him bringing a three star recruit 121 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.759 with him from Baylor or from BYU or something like that. I think it's 122 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:18.879 gonna be impossible and unnatural for a fan not to think back to, you 123 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:24.199 know, what you used to have, even though you know it needed to 124 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:26.319 end. It's just hard to imagine that Mark Pope is going to have a 125 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:31.120 more successful run at Kentucky than Cali Perry did. And here's the reality, 126 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:33.519 Cali Perry, despite how it ended and despite the shortcomings at the end, 127 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:37.559 the guy had a phenomenal run. Even when they didn't make a deep tournament 128 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:41.080 run, and I know that's really how you're valued. They still did make 129 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:43.600 a lot of deep tournament runs and they were always relevant. They were always 130 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.759 a team that when they were having a down year and they were maybe you 131 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:50.000 know, looking more like a five or six seed, if they did mess 132 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:52.440 around and beat one of the best teams in the country, you weren't surprised 133 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:56.039 because they always had talent, elite talent that if the light goes on and 134 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:00.559 these guys, you know, become sophomores late in the season, freshman, 135 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:03.960 you know, the ceiling's high. With Pope, I think you're gonna be 136 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:07.639 good, You're gonna be more consistent, You're gonna you're gonna, I think, 137 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:11.240 play an exciting style of basketball. But I don't think your ceiling's going 138 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:13.399 to be that high, and you're now in a league where the guy who 139 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:16.480 used to coach your team is going to be going up against you, whose 140 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:18.279 teams are going to have that same high ceiling. I don't think NATO's is 141 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:22.320 slowing down. I don't think Bruce Pearl's slowing down despite the upset to Yale 142 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:26.200 in the tournament. I don't think that Rick Barnes is gonna not put good 143 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:31.600 teams together every year. Todd Golden, I think that guy's a future star 144 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:37.120 of college basketball. So you got Mark Pope, who doesn't have anything close 145 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:39.080 to the resume that any of those guys have that I just mentioned. And 146 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:43.080 yes, he's got a better job with probably better resources than any of those, 147 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:48.559 But is that enough. Can Mark Pope consistently keep you in the top 148 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:54.080 tier of the SEC top three? He might, or you know, he 149 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:56.320 could be good, but you aren't the elite program in your league anymore under 150 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.759 him, because that's just not the ceiling you have with a guy like that. 151 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:01.600 Well never, no, I'm not predicting that's what happens, but what 152 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:07.080 I just laid out it would be successful for almost anybody but for Kentucky. 153 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:11.120 Following Caliperry, I don't know all right, I go to if I have 154 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.200 seven one seventy nine hundred is the number. If you want to give us 155 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:16.000 a call, we'll go back to the phone lines. Had a couple of 156 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.279 people drop off a little earlier because you know, I can get a little 157 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:22.480 long winded in the opening monologue. So if you want to call back, 158 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.879 go for it. But we've got Allan. Who's on the line. Alan, 159 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:28.120 Welcome into Sports Talk seven ninety How are you, sir? How you 160 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:31.879 doing? My friend? I just wanted to call you. I didn't really 161 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:35.879 know much about you or your show. And then when Louisville lost her coach, 162 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:39.960 I'm a big blue dial hart to Doug. You fan started listening to 163 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:41.720 you, and I really enjoy you. Thank you. I think you're honest, 164 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:46.279 and I think you call it like it is, and I think cal 165 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:48.279 it was. However cal it goes. He wasn't gonna win here. And 166 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:52.039 when I first heard Mark Pope, I called my daughter and I thought it 167 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:56.240 was a joke. A lot of people did. I'm sure I was upset. 168 00:10:56.440 --> 00:11:00.600 And then when I really I'm sixty three and that ninety six team was 169 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:03.159 my favorite team, and I started looking at his record, what he's doing. 170 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:07.600 I'm like, you know, with our resources, this may actually work. 171 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:11.759 And I think CALIPERI, I think he chased the ghosts of Rick Patino 172 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:16.200 the whole time he was there. He wanted to be loved, he wanted 173 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:22.159 I think it fueled him. And when we lost in the Wisconsin twenty fifteen, 174 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:26.559 I don't think it was ever the same because I think he could have 175 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:31.639 done something Rick didn't do. But I honestly believe that you give me ten 176 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:35.879 players, I think Rick Patino is the greatest college coach I've ever seen, 177 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:39.320 and uh, I don't think that. To me, no matter how many 178 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:43.600 won, I would have still preferred Rick. But I don't think cal was 179 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:46.200 ever the same. And I kind of know him as a person. He's 180 00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:50.120 fantastic. I mean, he's a nice man. But it was time to 181 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:54.720 go and Mark Pope's one of us, and when we were chasing the Yukon 182 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:58.600 coach, the guy can coach. But honestly, it just felt dirty to 183 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:03.399 me. It's like, we got to pay all this money. I want 184 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:07.080 somebody did. Yeah, it would be it would be a strictly transactional thing, 185 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:09.360 and he would know he has a good job, but you would know 186 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:11.840 you had to really just pay him to do it. He didn't want it. 187 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:15.960 And I think there's something about Pope that, you know, he values 188 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.799 what the job is and he is going to succeed or die trying because he 189 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:22.600 knows the opportunity has in front of him. And with cal I don't think 190 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:26.200 Cal ever really felt like he was you know. I feel like in a 191 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:28.519 way he kind of felt like Kentucky was lucky to have him, and you 192 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.320 know, maybe he was justified in that feeling with some of his early success. 193 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:33.759 But I think there's something to be said because I think both I think 194 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:37.279 Alan. I think both schools now Louisville and Kentucky have guys that know what's 195 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.840 there and they're never going to take it for granted. They're going to utilize 196 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:43.720 what's there as far as resources, and again, they may not win, 197 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.480 but they'll dot tryan and they're going to appreciate being the leader of those programs. 198 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:48.840 And that may sound corny to some, but I think that does matter. 199 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:54.360 I think it matters big, And you know what, I was a 200 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:56.519 big Kenny Payne fan. I think a lot of Kentucky fans I'll talk to. 201 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:01.120 We were shocked how he failed there. I really thought he was going 202 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:05.519 to do good and it really surprised me. And I was a huge Denny 203 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:09.840 Crumb fan. Man, you know, Denny stayed a little too long, 204 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:11.360 which I think Cow stayed too long. Yeah. Man, it was a 205 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:15.919 time man when Denny, when he had it going, they were fun. 206 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.399 The Mill Wagner team. Hell yeah, thank you for the call, Alan 207 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:22.519 got I appreciate that. I really appreciate you calling in. I appreciate you 208 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:28.559 saying that I really do this is trust me. This is not like a 209 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:31.960 humble brag at all. But it just makes total sense that when you were 210 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:37.679 going, when Louisville was going through their search, we had more people flocking 211 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:45.200 to listen to shows like this. This one's for sure not only more frequently, 212 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:50.360 but for a longer period of time. And we've had others call in 213 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:52.039 and say something similar over the last few weeks. But I've also just had 214 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:56.240 people write me dms on Twitter or heck, I've run into people and and 215 00:13:56.440 --> 00:14:00.879 you know, I guess they really got well, I don't know. I 216 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:03.879 was going to say, they really got the full experience of what the show 217 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:05.600 is, and they liked it enough to where they're going to keep listening, 218 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:09.279 which is great, but I also like that's not I mean, there was 219 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:11.679 one day and I think you know which day I'm talking about, John, 220 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:16.080 the day that I did it from home where it became clear Louisville was missing 221 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:20.759 on well, Dusty May said no, and then the whole Josh shirtz thing 222 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:24.480 played out where he couldn't say yes, but he would have said yes. 223 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.799 And you know, I'm a fan like anybody else. I don't think I 224 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:30.759 ever said anything unfair out of line. I still would tell you right now 225 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:35.399 Louisville search did not go well as far as optics now at the end. 226 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:37.080 That's something that I think it's fair to assess in real time. But we 227 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:43.279 all know that a search and a hire are two different things. But if 228 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:46.240 the search ends up with a guy that you end up having success with, 229 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.720 and I guess both you can claim are successful. And I think what Josh 230 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:54.080 did do is have the you know again, it was his fourth fourth choice, 231 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:58.720 but it was the guy that he knew was super safe when it comes 232 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:05.759 to a very very important component, and that is he will light us up 233 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:09.600 in a good way. He will energize us, he will make it quite 234 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:13.200 clear how much he appreciates the job, and it'll be genuine and he's going 235 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:16.600 to work his ass off. That's one thing that I think it does come 236 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:20.919 off when you hear people discuss Pat kelse Er, when you hear Pat Kelsey, 237 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:26.600 But one of the things that others mention and really go out of their 238 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.559 way. And we had Rob Cassidy from rivals On yesterday to kind of discuss 239 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:35.799 this, and that was that he's one of the hardest workers. And that's 240 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.679 honestly some of the reason why he has to have a very particular staff. 241 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.200 Not to say lazy guys want to work for him and they can't, but 242 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:46.279 like he's always on and as an assistant a guy working for him, you 243 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:48.320 don't maybe have to be at his level because I don't know if that's possible 244 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:52.879 as far as intensity energy, But it's never ending when it comes to work, 245 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:56.440 because that's how bad this guy wants to win, and doesn't mean he's 246 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:58.159 going to win, we'll see. I mean, I think he's got all 247 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:03.840 the tools to win here and the resources to really thrive. But you know, 248 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:11.399 Josh really knew the life that needs to be back in this program was 249 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:14.080 at a love I mean, the desperation for that was that was at a 250 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:18.440 point I never thought I would experience. And he's already done that and now 251 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:21.120 we'll see if the guy can go in again. Pat Kelsey is a winner. 252 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:23.440 I mean, he is a successful coach. The only question is kenn 253 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:30.120 he succeed at this level and that remains to be seen. Only time will 254 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:34.000 tell, but you know, for what it's worth, I mean, his 255 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:40.799 success as a head coach is just simply more impressive than Mark Pope's. Doesn't 256 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:42.240 mean Mark Pope won't be great. Doesn't mean Mark Pope won't be great and 257 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:45.960 Pat Kelsey be terrible vice versa. You really never know. But what really 258 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:52.759 has to surprise Kentucky fans and I think they're they're over it now, like 259 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.320 whatever, what are you gonna do? He's your coach, You're gonna support 260 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:57.879 him. That's just that's how this works. And that's why these fan bases, 261 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:00.759 as much as we don't want to say it, because there's awful in 262 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:03.839 every fan base to an extent, and your rival is gonna really highlight the 263 00:17:03.880 --> 00:17:08.480 awfulness at every turn. That's just how it works. We care about this 264 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:14.839 stuff more than anybody. And you can be an unlikable guy, you can 265 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:18.799 be a dork, you can be a robot with no human emotions. Bobby 266 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:22.440 Petrino, if you're our guy, we're gonna ride with you. That's what 267 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:26.039 we're gonna do. We're gonna do it. We're gonna do it unless you're 268 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:29.839 Kenny Payne and you literally are that bad. But there are people that even 269 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.720 going into the Kenny Paine era when the signs were bad, they still held 270 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:37.079 out hope. And he got a second year and didn't do anything to really 271 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:41.440 convey that he was ready to bounce back and win big. And you know, 272 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:45.400 he just kitty failed in every aspect of the job, and he was 273 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:52.240 a level of awful that like anybody claiming that it's one thing to support him 274 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:53.359 and go to games. Plenty of people did that. People cheered for the 275 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:57.720 team because that's unnatural not to. But it got so toxic because you found 276 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:00.119 people who I think were just feeling as if as a as a fan, 277 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.759 they were supposed to just say, no, he's our guy. I don't 278 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.720 want to I don't want to fire him because he's our coach and I love 279 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:08.079 him that's that's a level of fan that I just that's not that's not how 280 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:12.519 I operate. But everybody's different. But then it turned into where like we 281 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:17.400 have infighting, we have toxicity because people who want to change because they don't 282 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:19.680 want us to be terrible anymore, are being called like bad fans And that's 283 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:23.359 just the product of where we were. But overall, if you care, 284 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:26.440 you show us you care, you work your ass off, and you have 285 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:36.119 success, we're gonna ride with you. And I think little things about I 286 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:41.240 mean, just give you an example. Sadderfield, likable guy, but he 287 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:45.079 didn't really win enough and he never seemed to really be a compatible fit as 288 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:48.319 far as you know, understanding the fan base, Like he would kind of 289 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:52.079 make fun and complain about playing games on a Friday without really caring or knowing. 290 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:55.119 I guess that that's how this program really put themselves on the map with 291 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:59.680 that opportunity. So there are exceptions, but overall, like if you if 292 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:03.480 you and race the fan base, you really put a lot of work in, 293 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:07.200 you make it quite clear how much you care, then fans on both 294 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:11.440 sides here are going to ride with you. And that helps. That matters, 295 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:14.759 And with KL it just became to the point where you know, he 296 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.640 didn't really seem to want to be there. I think he was very just. 297 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:22.279 I think he at the end hated his boss that he didn't even think 298 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:26.039 it was his boss. And I don't think he liked their fans. At 299 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.440 the end, I don't think he felt good about him. I think on 300 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:30.960 his way out he was classy and talked him up, which is what you 301 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.359 should do. But again, just to know that Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey 302 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:37.000 are the coaches here is something that I think is deep down a surprise when 303 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:41.279 you think about it. But I think by the time we get to I 304 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:45.039 don't know, mid May, Heck, maybe by the time we get back 305 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:48.640 to the show on Monday, both fan bases are going to be all in 306 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:51.920 with their basketball coach and we're not going to have a single clue if it's 307 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:57.480 going to be great, decent, terrible. But the anticipation, the fact 308 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.640 that it's new is exciting, and I think it's good for the rivalry. 309 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:03.640 It's good for this business. I can tell you that. All right, 310 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.759 quick break, we'll come back on the other side. Keep it rolling along. 311 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:07.319 It as a Friday. We are feel by Thornton's right here on Sports 312 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:12.680 Talk seven ninety. Love it. That's that's my maybe my favorite song in 313 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:15.880 the world, and it's it's good. It's gonna get you set for the 314 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:18.480 weekend, no doubt about that. But also you have to keep in mind 315 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:22.119 tomorrow. I think we're gonna get like our first at least that I can 316 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:27.680 think of and remember, our first beautiful Saturday. That's gonna feel like fall 317 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:32.000 or I'm sorry, feel like spring. So good vibes here on a Friday. 318 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.799 All right, let's go back to the phone ones. Fibo two five, 319 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:37.720 seven, one seventy nine hundred is the number if you want to jump 320 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:40.480 in and give us a call. Let's go to Danny. Danny, you're 321 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:42.599 on Sports Talk seven ninety. How are you? Hey? Good? Nick? 322 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:48.039 I just want to say you and Kelsey combined have made it really hard 323 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:52.400 to hate Louisville. I grew up being a still amagant UK fan and you're 324 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:56.160 rational, insane, and that's kind of annoying because I want you to be 325 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:59.599 a you know, nut job, but you're not. I guess that's a 326 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:03.119 compliment. Thank you. Yeah, yeah, like I said, And I 327 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:06.799 grew up, like I said in Eastern Kentucky, and our thing was always 328 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:10.640 if if Kentucky couldn't win it, we wanted Louisville to win it. Like 329 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:12.200 I didn't grow up hating Louisville. It was like, well, at least 330 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:15.799 it's a Kentucky team. And that makes sense because there wasn't a lot of 331 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:19.839 Louisville fans around to really kind of engage in the rivalry, right exactly, 332 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:26.559 then I moved to Louisville. I never disliked louis untid move. You guys 333 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.400 hat I didn't even know. I didn't know that, you know, there 334 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:32.039 was this hatred. And then I do want to call out and the little 335 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:34.960 brother comment like, if you're gonna call it, at least have some comebacks. 336 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:40.200 But then I also want to say too that he calls it you okay, 337 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.640 And you know, we just don't do that. So I'm like, 338 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:45.400 he's a plant or that's a Louisville guy. So maybe he's got a little 339 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:48.720 more hate because he grew up in Louisville's whole life, but yeah, we 340 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:52.160 don't. That's that's how you can always tell. If you say, well 341 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:56.920 we say u K, you got to say you of l So we don't 342 00:21:56.920 --> 00:22:00.839 say U L and you guys don't say it's one of those it's one of 343 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:03.200 those things that every it's one of those things that may seem weird, but 344 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.039 you don't if you know, you know right, I didn't have to be 345 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:07.279 explained. It's UK and uf L like that's just what. That's how both 346 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:11.759 sides refer to each other exactly. So when you say you a kay, 347 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:14.039 I'm like, well, I know you're a Louisville fan, or you didn't 348 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:18.000 actually go to the school, or you're maybe even a plant. But like 349 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:19.400 I said, as far as you know, speaking, if I can for 350 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:22.240 UK fan base, like I said, I wouldn't mind getting back to I 351 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:25.480 was. You know, I'd love it if I you got good again. 352 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:30.279 I hope both these guys roll and work top ten matchups every year and you 353 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:33.920 and rock or rock and it's fun again. Me too, Man, Me 354 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:36.839 too, Danny. I appreciate the phone call, appreciate the kind words as 355 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:40.079 well. That was a very I think, a genuine compliment. You know, 356 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:42.400 it went a certain direction to get there, but it was a compliment, 357 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:48.440 wasn't of John? Oh? Absolutely? Yeah. And it's it's it's 358 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:56.400 a balancing thing like I I believe that when Kentucky won nine games or eight 359 00:22:56.440 --> 00:23:03.119 games maybe in twenty twenty one, Louisville fans loved it. I mean, 360 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:06.319 I remember starting my show in the mornings, because I was still on in 361 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.839 the mornings at the time. I remember starting my show telling louisvill fans, 362 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:15.960 do not take this for granted. This will never happen again. Do not 363 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:18.359 get stale with this. We now expect them to lose every game, but 364 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:22.119 make sure you enjoy it because they'll never be as bad. And I know 365 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:26.720 Kentucky fans, it became probably boring. They probably didn't watch Louisville games like 366 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:30.240 they used to because they knew they were going to lose. And when the 367 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:36.079 shock wears off a little bit, there's not as much excitement for it because 368 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:40.759 it's just the expectation and usually we're all pretty good. Honestly, let's be 369 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:45.319 real, like, obviously, Kentucky's had more success overall, and Louisville has 370 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:47.640 had I mean, even when Louisville, when Rick was here, Louisville was 371 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:49.720 really really good. They just weren't as good as Kentucky in a lot of 372 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:52.680 those years because Kentucky was at the top or maybe they were better, but 373 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:55.559 they just you know, couldn't beat him in the tournament whatever it maybe, 374 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:59.720 or couldn't beat them when they played them. So I think you know, 375 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:06.240 you'll you'll live with your rival sucking out loud and you being good because that's 376 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:08.079 where you're fat and happy, you're healthy, right, Like, that's that's 377 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:15.160 where things are going your way. But if you are also both really good, 378 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:22.519 not there's there's more contentiousness about, like who's like the lead up? 379 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:25.599 Right, both teams are good, both teams feel like they legitimately have a 380 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:29.640 chance to win, and when you do win in that situation, not only 381 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:32.599 are you beating your rival, you're beating a good team along the way. 382 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:37.119 So I think fans will probably take it either or right. I think I 383 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:40.160 think most would tell you I want to because here's the thing. When Kentucky 384 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.160 plays, I wanted to lose every game, Like that's just that's how this 385 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:47.039 rivalry works. But the best payoff is when both are good and they get 386 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:49.880 a chance to settle it and play each other. And I guess for the 387 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:55.480 year dictate bragging rights. And obviously Kentucky's had bragging rights for quite some time, 388 00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:00.759 so you never really root for them to where you can can lead up 389 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:03.400 to that moment, but when you do end up there, it's I think 390 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:07.119 it's the best case scenario. And not that we care about this, because 391 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:11.799 I truly don't believe like we do not care what college bad. I mean, 392 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:14.519 we do to a point where we'll tell them they're idiots, but it's 393 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:22.000 not like something we get angry about when national analysts say we are the third 394 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:27.160 or fourth best rival Robalry, I should say, in fact, I have 395 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:30.799 a belief as to why it all depends on how you look at a rival 396 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:33.720 or robal Rie. I should say. What I mean by that is Duke 397 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:41.400 and Carolina. I totally understand why they are viewed as the biggest and best 398 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:48.480 rivalry in college basketball, because not only are both programs super accomplished as programs, 399 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:53.240 they've been stupidly competitive with one another. I haven't looked at the numbers 400 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:56.160 in a while, but I know, not even that long ago, they 401 00:25:56.279 --> 00:26:02.440 played each other a ton of times, and not only is the win loss 402 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:07.319 record like almost identical, but the amount of like if you took every point 403 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:11.160 scored in every game they'd played at one point. I'm not kidding you, 404 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:14.200 and I'm gonna go look this up during the break because it not that it 405 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:17.559 matters to anybody, but like, it's crazy. At one point they were 406 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:19.880 like one point off, Like that's how competitive they've been. And they've all 407 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:22.160 been really good. They've always been relevant, So like, I get why 408 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:26.319 they are viewed as the cream of the crop. But I biased, of 409 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:30.279 course, believe that fans make a rivalry. Players come and go, there's 410 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:34.400 no personal animosity. Coaches come and go. We had a rare situation with 411 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:38.599 Rick and Cal that was clearly there was a history there. So that's a 412 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:41.279 level we'll never get back to you, I don't think, because that's just 413 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:45.279 you can't make you can't make that up. But fans make a rivalry. 414 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:48.160 We stay here forever. We are fans of these programs our whole life. 415 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:52.519 Players come and go, coaches come and go. And I think players can 416 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:55.720 genuinely feel the rivalry and have and I think they do. I think they 417 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:59.799 genuinely develop a hatred for the other side. But it's different. It's life 418 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:04.000 long for us, you know, it's just different. So I believe that 419 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:10.480 because fans are in fact what makes rivalries what they are. The City of 420 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.920 Louisville, I said a million times. No better time to say it than 421 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:17.799 today. In the city of Louisville. That is where you truly can get 422 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:21.359 a sense for what this is because there's so many of us within the same 423 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:25.359 place. You work with Kentucky fans. If you're a Louisville fan, you 424 00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:29.359 have in laws, you got friends that you know, you love, but 425 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:33.359 you think there's something wrong with them because they're on the other side. I 426 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:38.680 mean, it's just it's it's different here, and I think I've explained it 427 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:44.039 pretty well. But anybody listening that like that knows knows it's just different. 428 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:48.319 And because of that, I think we're always going to be the best rivalry. 429 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:52.119 But it has become a little bit stale because Louisville hasn't really done their 430 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:56.519 part right. I mean, Louisvell's been bad. So if both teams are 431 00:27:56.559 --> 00:28:02.559 good and it's rolling, who knows if Louisville will ever get back on the 432 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:06.480 winning side consistently. I think they'll certainly win games in this rivalry with Pat 433 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.640 Kelsey here, I believe that. Don't know if it's gonna happen, but 434 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:11.759 I believe it. But regardles me, obviously, we're gonna care in a 435 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:15.319 major way who wins on who wins those games. But I can tell you 436 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:18.359 this, if both teams are good and they're at a high level ranked in 437 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:21.799 the like maybe the top ten or something, that is going to elevate this 438 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.720 rivalry even more so nationally. Not that it needs to be done, and 439 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:26.960 honestly not that we care because we know what this is. We don't need 440 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:33.000 validation. But I just feel like there's gonna be some you know, they 441 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:38.079 want to call us little brother, that's fine, And obviously you know they 442 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:41.799 don't have a whole lot to use as ammunition when talking up their coach. 443 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:45.880 Let's be real. They don't like in Louisville, don't either, but they 444 00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:48.680 have more, They have more to work with when it comes to that. 445 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:55.160 So the I guess the the uh, there's no picture just yet. But 446 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:59.359 when we ever see those two next of each other, Mark Pope and Pat 447 00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:02.160 Kelsey, I see there's gonna be a big difference in height. Did you 448 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:06.200 know that he's six eleven, No, Pat, Mark Pope is six eleven. 449 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:10.720 Pat Kelsey, I'm gonna guess is five eight. I'm gonna guess five 450 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:12.720 eight and a six to eleven guy and a five eight guy next to each 451 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:17.960 other is gonna look weird and they're gonna say little brother, and they're already 452 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.759 doing it. But when little Brother, you know, he hits the weight 453 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:26.119 room, you know he's looking good and he beats you up once. I 454 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:30.160 don't know if that'll still be said. It probably will because Kentucky again, 455 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:33.200 they'll always call Louisville little brother forever. That's just something that they do, 456 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:36.759 and that's fine. I'm fine with it, like like I understand, like 457 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:42.920 I get why they say that, and it's whatever. But it is still 458 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:47.400 crazy to me that they hired a coach that is only on the radar. 459 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:49.640 Because again this is another another disclaimer. This is not me telling you that 460 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:53.960 they won't win and have success. But the only reason he's even mentioned by 461 00:29:55.000 --> 00:30:00.640 anybody is because he played there and you knew he'd say yes, meaning Mitch 462 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:04.240 Barnhart. But Louisville again, I would never, like, I don't think 463 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:08.599 there's a whole lot to like brag about. When it comes to Pat Kelsey's 464 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:12.240 resume, it's impressive, but it didn't mean a whole lot for Louisville's level 465 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:15.680 because it's different. But he has won everywhere he's been. He's won damn 466 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:22.359 near seventy percent of his games. His winning percentage is sixty eight percent, 467 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:26.279 Mark Pope sixty three point four. Pat Kelcey his coach twelve years, Mark 468 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:30.039 Pope's coach ten So maybe maybe some would say, well, if Pope had 469 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:33.680 more years as a head coach, he'd have more success. Maybe you're right. 470 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:37.000 I don't know, but Kelsey's been to the tournament four times, would 471 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:40.839 have gone a fifth time because he won his league when they didn't have a 472 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:45.880 tournament, won the conference tournament too. By the way, regular season conference 473 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:52.359 titles Kelsey has six. Pope has zero conference tournament champs. Again five for 474 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:55.640 Kelsey, Pope with zero. And that's not to say, hey, we 475 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:57.960 got John Wooden, you guys have the next Kenny Payne. It's just wild 476 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:03.240 to know the le level of smack talk that was going on about Louisville's search 477 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:07.440 in Little Brothers search, and we're about to show you how the big boys 478 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:12.039 do it. We're gonna throw the bag at Dan Hurley, throw in the 479 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:18.240 bag. He can't say no, it's Kentucky Billy Donovan. Even if he 480 00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:22.960 starts winning in the NBA in the playoffs for the freaking Chicago Bulls. He'll 481 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:26.559 come to Kentucky. It's Kentucky, Scott Drew. We don't even really know 482 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.839 if we want him, but we'll get him because he's you know, because 483 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:33.119 it's Kentucky. He didn't want you, which I think was more of a 484 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:37.480 him thing than you clearly, but that is the That is the first time 485 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:45.559 in a long time I can remember where there was real venomous smack talk about 486 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:51.480 about something from Kentucky fans towards Louisville that backfired like that, would you agree, 487 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:56.759 John, you're an outside it coming. I mean I didn't. I 488 00:31:56.759 --> 00:32:00.160 didn't dig too deep in the receipts, but you know, there were things 489 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:05.279 just said that are crazy about the search when Louisville was going through it that 490 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:07.440 actually kind of agreed with what was I going to say. And then there's 491 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:10.839 some things that were like said at me. But anybody who like listens and 492 00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:14.640 knows anything about my thoughts. I did not want Dusty made of the coach 493 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.400 here, and some people thought that meant I was a hater. I just 494 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:19.359 never felt like he was. He was a fit for what we for what 495 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:22.920 this is. He might have had great success, but like I was never 496 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.480 a big fan of Dusty May as the guy here, and that's why I 497 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:30.960 actually thought, in all honesty that him turning us down, despite it maybe 498 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:34.160 being a bad look to people, it was a blessing. And you know 499 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:37.559 it led to some saying, wow, the delusion they think coaches turning him 500 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:40.680 down left and right is a good thing. And then you know you got 501 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:47.200 Mark Pope. You got Mark Pope. Good question that comes in on the 502 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:55.000 text line, who has the well, let me see here, that's not 503 00:32:55.079 --> 00:33:00.599 the one I thought it was. All right said it was from earlier and 504 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:04.279 I just totally forgot to read it. But he says which fan base is 505 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:07.519 most likely to turn against their coach Quicker, There's no doubt about it. 506 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:10.599 It's Kentucky. And it's not because I'm saying they're just insane people and we're 507 00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:15.200 not. We all got some insanity on each side, but their standard was 508 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:19.599 not lowered and Louisville's I think they still strive to be great. But let's 509 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:22.480 just be honest. It's a human nature kind of thing. Like, we 510 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:25.640 know we sucked the last two years. So if Pat Kelsey comes in and 511 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:30.279 we finish you know, fifth in the ACC that's a win. We're probably 512 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.599 in the tournament and that's not what we strive to be and want to be. 513 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:36.960 But we're feeling like that feels better than it ever possibly could because of 514 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:42.799 what happened recently Kentucky, they're gonna not only probably struggle to their standard, 515 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:45.440 but their coach that left that Again, there's nothing you could do about it. 516 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:47.079 He was gonna leave any way. It needed to happen. But like, 517 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:50.240 he's probably gonna be better than you next year, and he's probably gonna 518 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:52.839 rub it in your face whenever he can, and that's gonna make you, 519 00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:54.240 I think, resent Mark Pope. And he's just got to deal with that. 520 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:57.839 He'll have time at least some and if he wins, none of that 521 00:33:57.880 --> 00:34:00.200 matters. All right, quick break will come back on you other very little 522 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:02.720 time. But if you're on hold, we'll get to you to wrap up 523 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:05.319 the show. So Eric, if you want to stick with us, we'll 524 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:08.239 get to you. When we say goodbye. It's because we have such little 525 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:10.960 time left. Let's just get right to it. Go to the phone lines. 526 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:15.880 Thank you, Eric for waiting patiently. How are you pretty good? 527 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:19.440 Nick? How are you too bad? Hey? Man, first time caller. 528 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:22.119 I listened to you periodically. I catch your shows just to keep up 529 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:29.559 on Cardinal news. And I'm excited about you guys getting Kelsey. I'm a 530 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:34.159 fan of uk I support Louisville. I want our city to do good. 531 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:37.639 We've been in a dumpster fire for a long time. But I have to 532 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:40.880 tell you, I feel like you're reaching for straws and you're trying to just 533 00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:46.079 look for reasons to go after Kentucky. It's crazy. I mean, in 534 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:49.400 what way you know you thought we were going to get well, you thought 535 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:52.679 we were going to get Yukon's coach, and I mean you're just throwing it 536 00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:55.880 at us like we should have it. I thought you were going to get 537 00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:59.280 Yukon's coach. I never said that. I said then, I've said for 538 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:01.440 days, I never thought for a chance he would leave, and in you 539 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:05.480 know, if he did, I'd be super surprised. Well, I'll back 540 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:07.360 up on that. I think you were just I think you were just saying 541 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:12.199 he wouldn't come for eleven million bucks and just trying to drag that out. 542 00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:15.119 Well, I wouldn't leave Yukon either, But yeah, and to be clear, 543 00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:19.199 crazy, I wasn't crazy about Pope either, But at the other side 544 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:23.000 was like, you know, the coaching lineup out there is thin, I'm 545 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:28.400 sure and looks and look. Just to be clear, the guys who didn't 546 00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:32.280 come to Kentucky didn't not come to Kentucky because of Kentucky, is because of 547 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:37.360 them being in really good situations. I mean, I just I mentioning what 548 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.679 I was saying earlier in somewhat of a I mean, I was honestly mocking 549 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:44.920 Kentucky fans who mocked Louisville Search and felt like that they would never end up 550 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:47.840 with somebody like Mark Pope. If that makes sense, that makes sense, 551 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:52.239 you know, it's I listened to your show. I listened to Matt Jones 552 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:57.920 show, and there's some ridiculousness, of course, yeah, fact, and 553 00:35:57.960 --> 00:36:00.559 that makes it That was what makes it fun. Of course, it's all 554 00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:04.440 fun. Man, it's all entertainment. It's all fun, and it is 555 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:07.239 crazy to think how crazy we get about it. Right, that's right. 556 00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:13.280 Now, I'll just say this. You did say Pope hasn't won any any 557 00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:19.199 NCAA tournament games. So I'm curious to see how you feel this time next 558 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:22.679 year. We'll see and hey, let's let the rivalry begin, Let's do 559 00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:24.320 it. Thank you for the call, Eric, I appreciate it. We 560 00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:30.199 are really low on time. Yeah, I mean Lowell's coach had won a 561 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:34.360 tournament game either. It's just I think Kentucky fans would never have believed that 562 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:36.840 they would hire a guy who's never won a tournament game. But again, 563 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:38.840 that's the new world we have here. I think you're gonna see bigger programs 564 00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:42.840 take take bigger risks. I think as far as how it's gonna be viewed, 565 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:45.719 just because you're not gonna get guys to leave comfortable spots, regardless of 566 00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:49.400 how good your job is, because a lot of people are content now, 567 00:36:49.400 --> 00:36:51.400 more so than they ever used to be. I think, all right, 568 00:36:51.400 --> 00:37:00.639 we're at a time everybody had good weekend. We will talk to you on Monday.