It's time for coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine
day. Now here's Nick Coffee. So the studio that I am broadcasting live
from here, and I do it each and every day at our beautiful iHeart
Louisville studios at for Street live, but very very clean. And it smells
not as if you know somebody sprayed something, but it just smells clean.
And I realized somebody has used all of these CHLORX wipes to wipe it down,
not for me, because you know this is if things don't smell great
in here, I'm probably the one person that would be blamed because I'm in
here a lot more than others, and I don't think it's stunk. But
you know, they're getting it nice and ready for the one and the only
Buck Sexton who's going to be doing his show here from this studio on Friday.
He's in town for Derby and he'll be doing Clay and Buck live from
right where I'm standing. And you know, the more I think about it,
the more i'm you know, he better better leave it like it was
when he got here. What if he left you a note? Not that
he would, but like it'd be interesting, wouldn't it. Yeah, but
this is my turf, Buck, Bucky boy, this is my domain.
You know. They had they actually had to ask permission. They had asked
me permission, like, hey, uh, the president of Premiere Networks they
need a studio, they want to use studio b would you mind reaching out
to Nick Coffee and seeing if he'd be okay with maybe letting maybe letting Buck
use the studio? And I thought about it. I was like, sure,
why not? What a stand up then, you know, but now
I'm thinking, you know, if he better be respectful because this, you
know, this is my spot. I mean not really. I mean there's
a lot of people that use the studio, but it is weird to think
that, you know, he'll be in here and I, you know,
I don't know anything about this guy other than his name's Buck Sexton and he's
on HAS with Clay Travis. I mean, he's on every station in the
country, seemingly, but you know around here if you want to hear me,
when Rush Limbaugh passed away and they were going through, you know,
the process of putting a new show there, and I do give them credit
for not putting I mean Clay and Buck obviously lean a certain way that a
lot of Rush Limbaugh fans, you know, leaned. If you know what
I'm saying, and the audience is, you know, relatively similar, I
would say, but like, you can't replace Rush Limbaugh, Like you can't
just say, hey, you're going to be the new Rush Limbaugh. So
they did go in a different direction from what I understand that show does really
well. It's not it's not what I listen to, but I wouldn't be
shocked if it's like the most listened to show in the country and he's going
to be doing it right here in front of this microphone that I'm yapping into.
Buck Sexton, I'm I'm glad you mentioned what he looks like, not
that it matters because you know, we're not big on personal appearance. Here,
wouldn't anybody make in any comments about my personal appearance. But doesn't look
like a Buck. No, doesn't look like a Buck. It was like
a William or a Colin. Yeah, Colin or William. I could see
it. I could see it. All right. Let's let's dive in here,
shall we. Hour number two. It is Coffee and Company fueled by
Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Take us with you wherever you go.
You can listen live on the iHeart Radio have listen live at seven ninety
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You can learn more and open your account today at LNFCU dot com. So
we have a guest schedule to join us coming up at four thirty, We're
gonna chat with mister Kevin Sweeney, who covers college basketball for Sports Illustrated,
to get his thoughts on the latest with the transfer portal. And folks like
Kevin, you know, those that cover college basketball nationally are starting to be
able to put together really early, in fact, entirely too early, preseason
rankings for next year. And I know it's ridiculous because again, nobody really
knows who's going to be on what team. But I feel, and I
could be wrong here, college football is a much bigger deal than basketball.
When it comes to moving the needle national interest. But I think college basketball
has benefited from the portal more than any sport when it comes to just the
sport being in the news cycle for a longer period of time throughout the calendar
year. And that's a good thing, right, Like we all know it's
ridiculous to try to tell us who's going to be the number eight team in
the country next year, but we love college basketball so much. If you
put together a preseason top twenty five, we're probably gonna look at it and
you know, analyze it and assess it, and that's what you want.
Have you seen it, is anybod I'm sure Leonardi's done a bracketology, hasn't
he. I'm sure he has, even though he initially had Indian analysts as
an eight nine before all the transfer portal editions. All Right, I'm gonna
ask you this question. I want you to give me an honest answer,
and I know you will. Do you feel like what Woodson has done is
getting the level of respect it deserves from national college basketball hawks, Yeah,
because I do feel like it's gotten plenty of respect, at least on social
media. But when it comes to expectations, for next year. Most people
are kind of slating them top fifteen or sixteen. And that makes sense because
what you're returning is people who didn't make the NCAA tournament. They were good
pieces, but you're trying to build upon that to make something better for next
year. Yeah. I mean, I think you know, nobody's out there
claiming that he's not doing well in the portal, right, but I think
Mike Woodson, you know, given his situation after three years, was it
three years? This is the year four? Come yes? So, I
mean it doesn't sound like there were there was ever really any consideration from those
that you know, have say so that he wouldn't be the coach after last
season, But yet there was some noise about it, right, and I
think everybody knew that this guy needs a big year the following year, year
four coming up, and you know, we'll see, right, you know,
we're a long way away from actually playing a game. But I feel
like he couldn't have done really, I don't think he could have done better
than what he's done right now, you know what I mean? Yeah,
no, And I kind of feel like that's not one. It just I
don't know, it seems as if it seems as if that's not getting the
type of attention that I would have expected. But then again, maybe I'm
just so hyper focused on Louisville and how the roster's going to come together that
I'm not paying as much attention as others. But yeah, I don't think
Indiana could could have done better in the portal up to this point, and
this point it's going to be about results though. If the Polics don't mesh
and they're just as average as last year, I mean, that would,
in my opinion, that would be a fireball offense for mil Yeah, and
you know, you're you're totally right, But I guess where I really struggled
to I guess understand Indiana fans last year that were like Woodson had never done
anything to kind of tell you that he couldn't really succeed there. I guess
he also hasn't made a deep run, so therefore there was still I guess
doubt, right, like he hasn't proven that he can. But I think
last year, as much as it was a down year, it was you
know, you get the level of impatience was really mind boggling to me because
you went through the Archie Miller era, which was probably, at least in
my lifetime, the worst era for Indiana basketball. And they gave him four
years and didn't bat den eye about it. Yeah, and it may actually
be a compliment to Woodson because in his first two years they were I mean,
they made the tournament right, and that may have led to I guess,
you know, that irrational, impatient part of that crazy fan base.
And I mean that in a complimentary way because they have expectations, but like
maybe him just getting to the tournament made them realize, Okay, yeah,
we know we can do that. Now we need to win big and we
better start making deep runs. Yeah, you know, maybe that's what it
is. But anyways, I think Indiana has done a great job excuse me
so far in the portal. And I know we talked about it last week,
but this never gets attention anywhere, not just it Indiana, but one
of the most important things to do as a coach is to manage your own
roster, right like it's it's it's become a line Trillie Donovan throws out there
every time somebody announces they're coming back to school or they're not. They're removing
their name from the portal. Sometime of the best. Sometimes the best editions
are the ones you already have. And it's not that they're bringing back a
first team All American, but anybody you would have wanted to stick around from
Indiana stuck around, I mean clil Ware, But that's not realistic because he's
going to the NBA, probably going to be top twenty pick. So I
think Indiana has a chance to be pretty good next year. All right,
let's get you updated on the on the latest with the local schools here.
I'll start with Kentucky just because it's been a little bit more active for them
in the last few days. Earlier today they landed another commitment, Brandon Garrison,
who's transferring from Oklahoma State. He gives them three front court players,
Andrew Carr Amari Williams. Is that his name, I think it is right,
Yes, MARII Williams from Drexel. So I don't want to say they're
done, because just like Louisville, they're building an entire team. But if
i'm if, I'm great Osibor, the Utah State transfer who is on campus
at Kentucky visiting while Garrison commits, I'm not saying you're gonna be scared a
competition and you're gonna run. But if you're gonna connect dots here, I
don't think you're having to try too hard to connect these dots that say,
maybe nil just wasn't going to be doable with Osibor, so therefore they took
the Garrison commitment. I mean, there's still a chance they could get both,
but I just when you look at what transfers really prioritize it. It
would be a very rare move for a guy like Osibor, who has,
you know, a lot of options, one of the best players in the
portal to commit after Kentucky has just landed two bigs in a forty eight hour
window. So Garrison is a former McDonald's All American. Played his freshman season
last year at Oklahoma State. Averaged seven points I believe seven points roughly and
yeah, seven points, five boards in twenty two minutes per game. Was
a good young freshman. I remember betting on Oklahoma Stated a couple of times
watching him. I remember him as a recruit because again he was a McDonald's
All American. But that's a guy who doesn't have crazy numbers, but he's
productive enough as a freshman showed flashes to where if he makes a jump from
freshman a sophomore, that could be a really good piece for Mark Pope.
So after that commitment, that is where Louisville fans really just went all in
on thinking they need to really and here's what I love about this. It's
been a while since this has happened to where Louisville fans really have no direct
involvement in the recruitment of a player. Clearly, I think we all know
that. I think if you have a passionate fan base and they make that
evident with social media or just you know, events that recruits or transfers could
see could be a part of when they visit. For example, if you
see ousibor at Oaks or Therby, whatever it may be. Like, you
know, clearly Louisville fans can really make an impression, but there seems to
be a level of like, all right, we got to get to work
here. And again it's silly, but it also is what makes this great.
And it's not just louisll fans that are like this. I'm sure Kentucky
fans did the same thing. Indiana fans too, But we know this kid
is going to be visiting in the next few days, and Louisvill's got a
chance, and we won't really have any impact on his decision. But I
just love that there are people at their work this earlier today, like just
kind of pacing things and what can I do to help? And it's because
you know, this is a really good player that would really really I mean,
it would be a it would be a splash if you were able to
add this guy. And you've already added some splashes, especially one last week
with CHUCKI hepburn, which, by the way, I don't know what it
is anytime a guy commits, a couple of days go by. I feel
like it's been two months since these guys committed. I guess, I guess
because it's never ending, right, It's NonStop. So Osabor is also going
to visit Texas Tech in not Baylor, but Texas Tech in Washington, where
his former coach Danny Sprinkle is now coaching. So anybody who's covered this at
the you know, at the national level, has has made it clear and
they're reporting that he is expected to visit every single school, like he won't
make a decision till after he visits everywhere, so who knows where he's gonna
end up. But I can't help but think the other three pieces that Kentucky's
added in the front court I have. I mean, I think that helps
Louisville. Doesn't mean I think they're for sure going to get him, but
I think it helps them. And Pat Kelsey he's proven to be a hell
of a salesman, so you know, he's uh, he's I don't want
to say he's on the clock, like he needs to get it done like
asap. But I imagine they're gonna roll out the red carpet, so to
speak, and really show what the city is as far as basketball crazy.
I mean, there's no better time to visit Louisville, Kentucky than during derby
week. I mean, that's like a perfect scenario. So we'll see.
But again, I've mentioned it many times, why not mention it once more?
It is you know, it is worth worth noting that if he visits
and things go great, in a few days go by and he still visits
Texas Tech and then Washington, it doesn't mean things went poorly. It means
people were just you know, they were right that he was going to visit
every single place that was on his list before he makes, you know,
a decision. All right, Now back to the Louisville I'm sorry, back
to the Kentucky said really quickly. Here. Kobe Brea is the transfer from
Dayton who is visiting Kentucky as we speak, and it sounds like every member
of Big Blue Nation is just on the edge of their seat, refreshing social
media to see if he is in fact ready to make a decision. I
wouldn't. I mean, I don't even know what other schools he's considering now,
right. He couldn't end up going to Duke for a visit, I
believe because of a credit situation. Yukon no longer involved because they just added
the Saint Mary's transfer, So I mean, I'm not sure what the hold
up is. Maybe maybe Kentucky, Mark Pope. They don't want these guys
committing on the same day because it could take away some of the spotlight from
each of them. I have no clue, but I'd be highly shocked if
he doesn't end up committing to Kentucky, which would be a really good get
for them, no doubt about it. What if they did something corny like
Bill self and Hunter Dickinson did, Oh, they're gonna do some corny.
I mean, it's kind of their brand now, to be honest with you,
but yeah, that was that was corny for sure, but it was
also just I mean, like it wasn't really decent, Like do you think
that was funny? Like for those who missed it, Bill's self on was
it Friday tweeted out, yeah, hey at Hunter Dickinson or whatever his Twitter
handle is, the people are asking what are you doing? Are you coming
back? And Hunter Dickinson just responded to the tweet and said something like I'm
back or I don't know, rock chalk. Yeah, I mean it was
just I mean, I don't know like it was. It was fine,
but I feel like there had to be like a lot of collac Like I
just envisioned somebody thinking that thinking of that that way to let everybody know one
hundred dicts it's coming back to Kansas, and I just to me, it
gives off the vibe if you really thought you did something cute there, you
know what I mean, And it like it wasn't at all. Maybe it
was the social media interns idea or something. I don't know, but either
way it's a big get because he's a really good player that's probably going to
play in college for twenty years. It seems, all right, before we
get to our first break here in the four o'clock hour, we are going
to let you hear a Derby profile. But also I wanted to share this,
this this stat with you cause I just think it it's interesting and I
think the reason for this is pretty obvious. But the NBA Early Entry list
was released earlier today, one hundred and ninety five players officially eligible for the
NBA Draft that have entered early. Oh. The number of early entrants.
This is the lowest it's been since two thoy and seventeen, and a year
where the draft is believed to be the week is draft in the history of
the association. What does that tell you? These dudes know their best option
as far as financially, I mean, really, that's probably the biggest part
of it is Financially it's a money thing. They're better off to stay in
college and make money playing college basketball through in il. Again, it's the
lowest it's been since twenty and seventeen, in a year where the draft is
quite literally believed to be and that's not my opinion. It's people who cover
the draft and are you know, involved in that NBA you know, like
they cover the draft, talked NBA gms, that kind of stuff. And
if you just look at the mock drafts that are out there for this upcoming
draft, I mean it's a week draft. Now, is it the weakest
of all time? I wouldn't know, but that's a real sign that college
basketball is benefitting from this. You know, people who lose their players to
the portal because of nil, like Wisconsin fans who are still crying about losing
Chucky Hepburn because of money. Like they're going to tell you that it's ruining
everything, and I get it, Like if I was in their shoes,
I'd be bummed to But overall, the take away, you know how you
benefit or suffer from it as a fan regarding your program, and just look
at the amount of players that are still playing college basketball that make the product
better because so many of these guys would have left years ago because they couldn't
make money, and they'd want to go make money playing in Europe, and
they wouldn't it used to be a years ago, it would be he's going
pro where in Shauma Like that used to be a thing. I would hear
all the time from fans. The ain't no NBA team going to draft him.
And it's because and they know that, like guys would go pro knowing
they have no chance of sniffing the National Basketball Association, it's because they're going
pro because they want to start making money playing the game. We can do
our jobs, most of us, I would say, when we are old
and you know, aren't in shape anymore. If you are a basketball player
and you can do it professionally, you have a window that you have that
you can maximize and make money playing the game you love. The longer you
stay in college not making money, the less money you're gonna be able to
make because it's taking time off of your pro clock. So now that these
guys can make money, some of them make more money in college than they
would in any league outside of the NBA. It's it's good for the it's
good for the game of college basketball. I believe that. All right,
who's next in our Derby profile? Here? John just steal, just steal.
Let's hear it now, look at the Kentucky Derby field, one by
one, just steal the most experienced horse in the Kentucky Derby field. Just
happens to be trained by the most experienced trainer in the Kentucky Derby field.
Eighty eight year old Hall of Fame trainer d Wayne Lucas has four Kentucky Derby
victories. He had his first Kentucky Derby starter way back in nineteen eighty one.
Lucas will saddle Just Steel in this year's Kentucky Derby, a base son
of Triple Crown winner Justified. Just Steele has raced eleven times during his career,
seven as a two year old and four times with three runner up finishes
as a three year old. He was the one of our two year olds
that we picked out early. Absolutely, he's got the pedigree forward, he's
got the size and everything. The same with him is he was so big
that he was a little bit awkward and I didn't push him. I gave
him experience. As you've been seen by the few two years of past performance
that he had a lot of experience, but I didn't push him a little
bit. Out of Justified second crop of foals, Just Steel opened his career
in mid July with a second place finish at Saratoga breaking his maiden in the
next race, and then ran seventh in the hopeful sixth in the Breeders' Futurity
at Keenland, came to Churchill Downs, ran third in an optional claiming race,
and then won a minor stinks race at Churchill Downs. On November twenty
fifth, when the calendar turned to January, Lucas was thinking Kentucky Derby.
Just Steele was second in the Smarty Jones on New Year's Day, second in
the Southwest Stakes at Oakland Park. In early February, he finished seventh in
the Rebel Stakes, but came back just over a month later and was second
Tom Youth in the Arkansas Derby. It started number fifty for Lucas. He's
four for forty nine. Can he do it again? With just Steele?
Really fun at my age, I mean here to be in and I think
I'm probably gonna be the oldest one to ever run on Let alone we win
a little, do some kind of record. I'll tell you what. When
I think of death Lefford poured some sugar on me. I think of Kevin
Sweeney, who covers college back basketball for Sports Illustrated. Kevin, how we
doing? I can't explain that introduction, but you know, it was the
song that was playing. And now I'm going to probably think about you when
I think of def Leopard, pour some sugar on me. I don't know
if I should be honored by that or not, but I'll take it.
I appreciate you having it. It's Derby week here, man. Things just
get weird during the Kentucky Derby Week. So you know we are we're a
horse racing town for this event, but we also are a college basketball town,
you know, year round. And I'll just pick up where we left
off in the last segment. So the numbers that were reported by Jonathan Giavoni
of ESPN as far as the early entrance to the NBA Draft, it's the
lowest since twenty seventeen. It's got to be a product of guys realizing,
Hey, financially, my best move is to stick around in college basketball as
long as I can, some guys playing six seven years, because that's that's
where I can make money. Yeah, Like, I think that's one hundred
percent true, right, Like I think I think there's an understanding now that
there's a ton of value in sticking around. I mean, the numbers that
you hear thrown out with nil. There's going to be a lot of players
who make more money this year than they ever play again playing college basketball,
yep, are playing basketball as a whole, right, Like there are guys
who are going to make two A contract NBA money that are not nearly good
enough to get a two A contract. And is that a criticism. No,
it's just the system. That's how it is. And if you're that
guy, you should probably stick around, should probably at least do what's out
there. I do think that early engine number will go up. I know
Givoni's report that there was a couple of names that didn't make the list that
should have, but there were some clerical areaors whatnot. But it will be
a lower number, And I do you think a big part of that is
because, as you said, there's an understanding that the money is good enough
to not want to leave college basketball early. So so far, who would
you say, not necessarily the best team is going to be. That's to
be determined whence the dust settles. And you know, every one of these
guys in the portal ends up finding a landing spot. But who do you
feel like just from the portal specific right. That means you think they're going
to be one of the best teams in the country. But who do you
who would you say has has in your eyes, done the best navigating this
whole thing, and that is keeping guys you want and making sure you're adding
talent that's available. It's a great question. I mean, I think Kansas
has been the obvious name. Kansas and indiana've gotten the biggest names. I
think the one I would shout out that's probably right below them and might have
the best class is Ole miss They've gotten four really really good players. Sean
Padula a starter, Virginia tech point guard, can really really create, make
shots. Drey Davis. You know a guy who's you know, we're familiar
to you guys and can had a great year of seeology perfect Chris player,
Yeah, perfect right, slasher, aggressive, tough dog. And then yeah,
one hundred percent. And then Malik Dia and Mikhail Brown Jones to two
mid major guys who are really really talented, versatile, uh can play multiple
positions. I think that's that's the type of group you want to build if
you're going to spend a bunch of money on a transfer class and they're also
going to be able to retain some guys that retain Jam and Breakfield of the
Duke transfer. They are trying to retain Matthew Morell, who's tests in the
draft. I think he will end up coming back and they could be a
really really good team next year with all those guys. Intel So the schools
around here, they're building an entire team mostly from the portal. In fact,
there's no freshman going to be on the roster for Pat Kelsey in year
one. There's going to be one for Mark Pope, and that's Travis Perry.
So the rankings depending upon you know, everybody's got their own way of
putting their rankings together. But I kind of feel like it's really it's almost
impossible because you're going to probably add five guys just to give you a complete
team that really aren't going to do much as far as moving the needle.
So, you know, how would you assess We'll start with Louisville, I
mean, Pat Kelsey again starting from scratch, and right now they've got eight
players. One will be a red shirt, But how would you assess the
pieces they've added up to this point. I think he's done a great job.
I think he's gotten guys that sort of fit together. He's gotten guys
that have been a part of winning. I think seven of the eight guys
that they've signed played in the NSA Tournament this past year. That's a big
deal. They've gotten guys who in some cases will have multiple years, you
know, with with Trey Orr and James Scott, Corn Johnson should have another
year. So I think that that's a big deal. Like, I don't
think you want to go into next year have to do this all over again
with thirteen more scholarships. So I think all in all, I mean,
as good as you could have asked for. Now they need some more front
court depths, you know, maybe one more wing and get you know,
obviously had some depths. But I think all things considered, they've done a
really, really nice job on the Kentucky side. I think a week ago,
I don't think their fans were panicking, but you know, it was
a little bit slow moving. I think at that point they had just added
to Maari Williams as far as transfers who you know, weren't already committed to
Kentucky or connected to Pope in some way. And now they've added a few
names in the last seventy two hours or so. You know, I gotta
be honest. I think Mark Pope's done a pretty good job here. I
think He's identified guys that will fit well with what he wants to do.
And they still got a lot of spots open, just like Louisville. But
I feel like in just a few days time, you know, the situation
Likeson looks a lot different than it did, you know a week ago.
Yeah, look, I think they've just raised the floor a lot by getting
dude to are proven. I mean, I don't think Andrew Carr take a
away Leman Butler, guys like that are going to set the world on fire
Kentucky. But they're solid pieces. They've been a part of college back,
you know, competitive college basketball teams for a while. They had toughness,
athleticism, they had defense, which is a big deal for Pope given that
you know, you know he's going to be able to scheme up shots for
guys, right so you know, certainly Garrison this morning was a was a
notable get, particularly given who is recruiting him. I think they are in
good shape. I do. I do think this group is lacking star power.
I think that's going to continue because there's not a lot of star power
in the portal. It's really really hard to get guys who you know,
are transferring, who are proven all conference level high major players. I'm not
sure they've gotten one of those yet, but they've gotten a bunch of good
players, and the hope would be the Pope, like he did a BYU
can make the whole greater than the sum of the parks, so great osabor
the Utah State transfer. He visited Kentucky. I think he's there as we
speak. He's going to make his way to Louisville next, and then he's
going to visit Texas Tech in Washington before he makes a decision. Do you
have any feel for which way? I mean, obviously following Danny Sprinkle wouldn't
be a big surprise, but he is visiting other schools prior to that,
you know, any you have any feel for what this guy's looking for?
Is it mostly going to be in il related which a lot of these guys
obviously do want to make money, But he could be a humongous piece for
either of these two local teams if one of them was able to get him.
Yeah, look, I don't know that Kentucky's out, but I think,
you know, the moves they made in the front court maybe make Louisville
make more sense as of now. I think Nils a factor, just like
it is with every big recruitment. But I think role is really important.
I mean, this is a guy who you know was willing to bide his
time at Montana State, played two years off the bench. I mean,
okay, he was coming off the bench at Montana State a year ago at
this time, transfers to Utah State with Danny Sprinkle and absolutely explodes. So
I do think that there's some trust level in Sprinkle. There's some trust level
in like wanting to be in a good situation like he was in at Montana
State and at Utah date with Sprink, I think that Louisville makes a lot
of sense for him stylistically with how he plays and how pack Kelsea's teams play.
But I really wouldn't be surprised if it's any of the four options.
A little surprised with Kentucky just given what they've done around him in the front
court, but I think it's pretty wide open that so now, Kevin Sweeney's
our guest we're talking some college hoops. He covers college hoops for Sports Illustrated.
So with the NCAA looking as if they're going to make these student athletes
employees, it sounds like there's a lot of momentum for that. Obviously,
this this current set up, if you don't even want to call it that,
it's just not sustainable. I'm not really sure there is a setup.
It is truly what people say, you know, the wild wild West.
I mean, I'm just asking you to guess here, what kind of framework
do you think we'll see here? I mean, is this going to be
you know, you think they could have college basketball players where you know their
employees and they're paid, but you know, everybody's kind of on the same
level as far as basketball. Like, I guess there's a lot of different
ways they could go. But I do wonder if you know, nil,
I mean, with with it no, like, will you still be able
to make in il if you are already making money as an employee. I
mean, again, I'm just asking you, do I guess predict the future
here? But it sounds as if this chaotic world that we've had in the
last couple of years is going to come to an end soon. It's just
who knows what the hell it's going to look like moving forward. Yeah.
Look, I think the one kind of you know, unique factor here is
that there's a real business that has come about around nil. There's a lot
of people in the quote unquote anil space who want to get part of the
future of college athletics. The people involved with collective I think they've enjoyed running
collectives, They've enjoyed the power that they've gotten around their campuses, and so
I do think they're you know, these collectives will go kind of grasping and
clawing into the night if nothing else, like, they're going to try to
be involved. I would not be surprised. Again. Once you get to
a point where you could make some sort of bargaining between the schools and the
athletes, you can do a lot more to restrict what where money is coming
from, how how money is being allotted. Like that's the important thing,
right because at the end of the day, what's causing the chaos Now,
it would still be chaotic if schools themselves were allowed to just say I'm paying
you eight hundred thousand dollars now when you were getting paid for at your other
school, right Like, if if the schools are operating that way, it's
going to be just as chaotic as it is now. It'll just be a
little less back channeled, if you will. So, I think the most
important thing is getting to a place where there's a there are agreed upon rules
that can be enforced without being without creating in a lawsuit right away. And
I think that's that's what we're hoping for, whether that's through unemployment model,
whether it's a you know, a modified model that's set up you know,
probably you know, with the help of Congress or the federal government. You
know. I think that's where we need to head because, Uh, you
are correct like that there is no guarantee that quote unquote ni l and certainly
like true endorsement deals shouldn't end. The real question would be, could be
collective model where you're not really being paid for your nil, you're being paid
for your performance through a third party. Uh, would would that continue?
I think the answer to that is no, but I think it will take
some time to sort all of that out. You are connected in the college
basketball world. I know you have relationships with with coaches, assistant coaches.
Would you would you say that they are more wanting there to be structure with
the portal or with NIL. I think both are a big headache for them,
no doubt. But I get the sense that here lately, with anybody
being able to transfer as many times as they want in the last couple of
years, I feel like that that's become the bigger headache than NIL. I
guess two. They're kind of both the same thing. Right. A guy
will leave because he thinks he can go make money. But I just think
coaches would probably take it, take it if they could, if they could
put one in place to where it's no longer as big of an issue.
I think they would probably just not let these guys transfer as much as they
are more than they more than they would worry about the money factor. Yeah.
Look, I think the two catalyze one another, right. But I
think the thing that's most challenging right now is the idea of control. Right.
College coaches used to have probably too much control over what their players did,
where they went, et cetera. Now they have absolutely no control,
and it causes the chaos that we see, right, And I think schools
need to feel like they have some level of control and planning of their roster,
not just year over year, but day over day, week O a
week, month of a month. And I think that's that's really what's necessary,
right if you can have a you know, every school, especially at
the highest level, can figure out a way to pay kids, especially if
there's a contract involved that says, hey, if he's on a two year
nil deal, you are here for two years. We can't run you off.
You can't leave to go somewhere else. If you do, there will
be a financial consequence. Right then you can plan ahead. We don't get
into the space. And I tweeted tweeted another one today where the kid signs
an NIL deal with to stay at his school and then two weeks later gets
an offer from somewhere else and now he's signing another deal and leaving the school.
Right that type of stuff is ridiculous. That's the stuff that's giving people
the most headaches. And that's the stuff I think the coaches really want to
get away from, is the changes on a day to day basis that are
they're experiencing right now. I'm with you, and I actually think the way
that happened with football with guys transferring at the end of December and then going
through spring taking an ail money and then never and leaving once again three months
later. I mean, I think that actually raised the awareness of how ridiculous
all this is to a really really high level, and the existence of the
NCAA. From the beginning of time until the last couple of years, the
players had no power. No I mean not to say they were all victims
or anything, but they really had no power, no control. And now
as we speak right now, they have every bit of it. It's just
crazy how how different that has changed. So some structures, some you know,
some you know, a system is what's needed, and it sounds like
sounds like that's coming. All right, last last question for you here a
little bit of a rapid fire Kevin. So, I know you do some
work for the crew over there at the Field of sixty eight, and yesterday
they unveiled the top ten available players in the portal. I'm going to give
you the top five here. You give me a guess as to where you
think they're going to end up. You ready, Oh jeez, yeah.
John L. Davis Arkansas, Kadari Richmond, Saint John's Nord chad Omere,
Saint John's cliff o'marui may Bee saying that incorrectly from Ruggers. Clyss is a
tough one to crack right now, I'm going to guess Georgetown, all right,
it'd be a big get for at Cooley. Uh great, Osibor,
I think little all right? I like it. Good stuff, Kevin,
you are the man. I appreciate you making time for us. Keep up
the great work and we will talk sooner, right my friend, thanks sir?
All right, that's Kevin Sweeting does a great job covering college hoops for
the fine folks at Sports Illustrated. If Patino gets Kudari Richmond in Nord shadow
Mere, that alone would make him, I think the winner of the portal
at the high level. I mean, that's monster and Omeir. I think
everybody's familiar with him. But Kudaari Richmond played at Seton Hall, and you
know, they didn't get a whole lot of limelight because they weren't that good,
and they're in the Big East Meeting. Their games are never on ESPN.
But I mean, he's the second best player in the portal for good
reason. Maybe that's a stretch to say that would give Patino like the best
class because I don't know what else he's done, but those are Those would
be two massive pickups for Patino. All right, quick break, we'll come
back on the other side. Wrap hip the four o'clock hour, let you
hear another Derby profile and keep this thing rolling along on Sports Talk seven ninety
Just a reminder, I will not be here on Thursday and Friday, so
tomorrow with my last day of the week, but you'll you'll be in good
hands. So I went to Churchill Downs this morning backside of Churchill Downs for
about an hour or so, walked around uh with uh with my son.
And I've mentioned before he's absolutely obsessed with horse racing, and obviously he's three
years old. He doesn't know a ton about it. I mean he now
at least knows like he picks a winner, or he picks a horse and
watches the race, and he now really gets into it, cheers and is
bummed when his horse loses, uh and happy if they win. Uh.
And if they don't win, he'll he'll think of some reason. Uh,
he must have been tired, maybe maybe the jockey was bad. He's so
he you know, he's he's already trying to justify any losses that he has,
but uh, today might have put him put it over the top.
I mean he's I mean, he is going to want to go there every
day. And if you've got young kids and you do want like you for
example, one morning, uh, I decided to take both my kids,
my daughter and my son to get donuts and ah a fist freeze from from
Thornton's slushy. And I didn't realize that, you know what, Like now
they're gonna expect that every day and we don't get to do it every day,
but we do it a lot. And I know that's a very nutritious,
healthy breakfast for my young children, just nothing but sugar. But I'm
hoping he doesn't think that this is like a regular thing. But it was
really cool to be able to to get back there and and just let him
see the horses walking up to the barn, and and everybody was so nice
too. I know, I think they could tell that this little three year
old was, you know in heaven, you know, not just like fascinated,
but like he was walking around like he was Christmas morning, and you
know, he got in every present he wanted or something. So you got
to pet some of them, some of the horses, I should say,
didn't pet people. But one thing we got to work on with him.
If if he sees somebody that's walking a horse or just near a horse,
he assumes that that they're the jockey. So like he was, hey jockey,
hey jockey talking to you know, like people who aren't jockeys, And
I'm like, hey, buddy, not everybody's a jockey. Like people may
think, you know, like you're insulting them or something. I don't know,
you never know, somebody's going to take something. But it was.
It was. We avoided the rain too, so it was great. So
that got me a little bit more into the Derby spirits. Right, I'm
still not somebody that is going to be a phony and act like I know
anything about horse racing at all. But we are just five days away now
from from Kentucky Derby one point fifty. You want to get back into that,
guest, let's real quickly, let's do it. Yeah, because uh,
you know, we we did this yesterday for those that weren't with us,
but the annual Barnstable Brown Derby Eve gala is is coming up, uh
you know, on Derby night or the night before Derby in every year they
invite a star studded list of celebrities to be a part of it. And
some of these celebrities are celebrities that we're well aware of, we know.
But then there's some that you kind of you know, maybe we're in the
minority and we don't know who they are. But let's let's pick. Let's
we know Joey Fatone, right, yeah, in sake Bobby Brown, I
don't know. I hate. I feel like I'm very oh Man, all
right, I gotta ask the audience, is it is it? I mean,
is it just? Is it justifiable for John who is twenty six years
old to not know who Bobby Brown is? He's a famous singer who was
married to Whitney Houston. His his run as a famous musician was long before
you were born, So therefore, I mean, I think that's that's you
know, you wouldn't It's not like you would have been around when he was,
you know, putting out music that got a lot of attention. But
honestly, most of his fame, I feel like he's known for his legal
issues, his relationship with Whitney Houston, and you know, he's had some
controversy throughout, but that that's the first one so far on the list that
John, I gotta be honest with you, I kind of I'm kind of
surprised you don't know who he is, but not like me talking about him.
Isn't even ringing a bell. The right thing that I would ask is
is he related to James Brown the singer? No? Well, then even
more clueless. Yeah, I mean this one's out of left field. Yeah,
I mean so yeah, I mean, look, it's okay. I
mean it's again more often than not, when I'm like, how do you
not know who this is? I give it a quick thought and think,
okay, makes total sense because you know you're ten years younger than I am.
But all right, one more, let's see Lee Brice, singer Country.
Of course, I like Lee Bryce. I'm not a bad performer.
Though, what if he just got to town and turned on Sports Talk seven
ninety. I'm sure how you open up for Luke Bryan when truth hurts?
Lee Bryce. Yeah, he's not a very good live performer. I've never
seen him live, but I feel like he hasn't had like a it's been
a while. He's put something new out. Yeah, maybe this is like
his his you knows, he's losing his celebrity status attad and he's you know,
trying to you know, trying to be a big big star here derby
joining the big Derby party. We don't have time to do one of those.
Do let's just double up in the in the in the because we don't
have a lot of time left. But we'll let you hear more about each
of these Derby horses as we lean on our man Jody Demmling, who does
a profile for each of the horses running in Kentucky Derby. We've played a
lot of them so far, and we'll play a few more in the five
o'clock hour, So again, five o'clock hour coming up next. One more
hour left right here on Sports Talk seven to ninety