It's time for coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine
day. Now here's Nick coffee. All right, as we get the four
o'clock hour started here, I have to confess something I am really really enjoying
just kind of sitting back and watching on Twitter Arkansas and Kentucky fans like just
coming at each other's necks like it's any You know, anytime there is something
that Arkansas fans post about Caliperry getting a player or adding a coach, Kentucky
fans are quick to jump in the mansions and let everybody know, oh yeah,
have fun with that. We'll see how that works out. Huh.
We thought the same thing. And then anytime like Mark Pope does something,
Arkansas fans and they got a big army. They're making fun of Kentucky fans
for being excited about, you know, a coach named Mark Pope, and
you know the fact that he's landing three star players within the state, and
that's now the new level of excitement for Kentucky. Whenever again, this is
true, I can tell you firsthand, they would mock anybody for being excited
about that Calber player. For the last fifteen years, but obviously you know
things have changed. I think Kentucky fans are doing what any fan will do,
but you can do not be a fan like you're gonna support Mark Pope
and understand that he's going to be doing it differently than cal did, and
you're gonna hope that it all works out. But I have a question for
Kentucky fans. There's no way you knew that the Arkansas fan army online was
as big as it is and as ruthless as it is because they're savages man
like. It's I mean, it's and it's it's wild to see. I
always said this whenever Arkansas came up, which was very rarely right. We
never talked about Arkansas around here. I mean, why would we, But
having family in Fetteville, I've been there a few times in the last five
years, and it I mean that state. They mean, what do they
have other than the Hawks? I mean there's no I mean there's not even
a I mean they've been a semi pro team. Like Arkansas is a rare
state where it's super huge as far as I mean size, I don't know
where it is as far as population, but like the biggest Citi's what Little
Rock and that's not considered like a huge city, is it. I mean,
people know what Little Rock, Arkansas is, but it's certainly not a
destination spot. And it's you know, it's Little Rock bigger than Lexington probably
maybe, I don't know. So, Like they are obsessed with the Razorbacks.
And in football, you know they've they've they've struggled, right, They've
not been great, and they've kind of just I think, probably become a
little I don't have the word. They want to be good, right,
And the best they have they've ever been, at least in my lifetime,
was whenever Bobby Petrino was there, you know, first go around. Now
he's back as the OC. But in basketball, I guess this is when
it would come up. I would talk about muss like even when Louisville's job
opened up after Chris Mack, Like Musk was on top of the world,
and I remember saying, like, look, I wish he would come to
Louisville, but like, he has a great job. They pay me a
lot of money. He's succeeding. They have a humongous fan base. You
know, they camp out before games, they sell out Bud Walton, which
is not that much smaller than the Yump Center, to be honest with you.
So I've always known that they're a big fan base, but Kentucky fans
online are learning it. Like I'm even Kentucky fans who probably aren't like on
there to troll, but just like you know, great get Pope or something,
or posting some you know, corny hashtag or picture. I think Arkansas
I wouldn't guess that they are a state that is a leader or a pioneer
in you know, technology, but I feel like they got some kind of
set up, some kind of bot software is something that like they get notified
anytime a Kentucky fan tweets, because the Arkansas fans are going, they know
within seconds they're in there making fun of Kentucky talking trash and you know,
I'm sitting back from afar, this is in my fight. But obviously you
know Kentucky's Louisville rivals, so you know, I at times do get some
joy out of seeing Arkansas fans, you know, taking shots at them,
and a lot of it's just you know, the typical nonsense you see online
from you know, the toxic wasteland that is Twitter. But sometimes they're like
really funny and I'm like, I'm gonna save that. That's good. I
could use that one day if Arkansas is a really good program next year.
I cannot wait for Cow's return trip to rap Arena because it is going to
be I don't even know how to predict what it's going It's gonna be an
insane well, like if they meet in January and Kentucky struggling and Cow's having
a really good year, Like, what are Kentucky fans gonna do? Like
they're gonna I mean, they may have I I still think that they're going
to choose to say, hey, like good for him, but like this
needed to end, we needed a fresh start, like and I think that's
a logical way to look at it. However, it's easy to say that
now your emotions are going to change if your team is lousy under Pope.
And look, if they are lousy or just underwhelming, it won't mean that
he's going to be terrible. It's just part of the process. But I
don't think a Kentucky fan could with a straight face tell me that they're not
going to pay attention at least a little bit to what Cal's doing more than
like they typically would Arkansas. I mean, it's human nature, isn't it.
This is your absolutely, this was your man for fourteen years, right,
something like that. So, I mean, it would just be I
think it would be odd. You're going to tell yourself you don't want to,
You're going to tell your stuff you don't care, but you're going to.
Maybe others will do it more than you know most, but it's just
it's normal. And I've already, like I mean, I heard Matt talking
about it the other day on a show. I see it all the time
I'm on social media. If they'll go out of their way to say,
like, I don't care what Kyle's doing, why are people talking about Cal?
I don't care what you really? Really don't you care? You don't
care so much you're letting us know what you're talking about it, you know
what I'm saying. And that's normal, not even mean like this is a
this is a rare situation where your coach who is believed by a lot of
people to be one of the best in the game. I mean, he
does have a national championship, a lot of final fours. He walked away
and it was good for everybody when he did it. But now he's he's
next door in your conference and you're gonna see him, and he could have
gone somewhere in the Big Ten or the ACC and him making moves is always
going to be newsworthy in this world of college basketball because that's John Cali Perry.
Like he's one of the larger than live figures within the sport. Right
Whenever he's on top, you know, he's arrogant, and it moves the
needle. When he stinks and loses to Saint Peter's in Oakland, it's a
big talking point because he's Cali Perry. So I mean, I'm not I'm
not like, I'm not a liar like some people about the rivalry, you
know what I mean, Like I don't even why we play them, I
don't care. I don't even I don't care, which maybe some people truly
see it that way, and if that's the case, then cool, but
a lot of people don't because that's why rivalries, you like, the best
night for you is if your team wins and your rival loses, Obviously you're
gonna care way more about what happens with your team. That's that's totally normal.
But I really think that when it comes down to you know, when
it comes down to it, like it'll be one of the fascinating things to
see, not just for like us around here. I think it'll be a
college basketball storyline just to kind of because that's what's gonna happen this year.
It won't be lead. Look, it's not gonna lead the storylines within the
sport at least I don't think it will, right. I Mean, you
got Yukon coming off back to back titles. You know, if neither team
is like relevant at the top as far as like looking like they're gonna be
a really good team that can make a tournament run, then it's it's not
going to be all you hear about. But I think within college hoops it'll
be you know, these two fan bases and you know, just Cal and
Pope in their new spot, like it'll be it'll be a talking point.
So anyways, just thought that was, you know, as I'm scrolling through
uh Twitter here to see if there's anything I may have missed during the last
break, I just you know, I now find myself not getting engaged.
I'm not I'm not engaging in anything, right like I'm not like, I'm
not respond I'm not jumping in and tweeting or anything like that. But I
guess I do click on enough of the tweets and read the responses to where
my algorithm John on my four you page is now like just Arkansas and Kentucky
fans going at each other's next and you know, it's times pretty interesting to
watch, all right, it is Coffee and Company. We are feeled by
Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Appreciate you hanging out with us.
If you want to join us on the show, you can five O two
five seven one seventy nine hundred is the number you can also text in on
the L and N Federal Credit Union text line five O two six five three
zero ninety. I mentioned earlier that a lot of good buzz here in the
city of Louisville. Last week we had Kentucky Derby one fifty. Now we've
got the PGA event coming up, Tiger Woods is already in town, and
you know, it's just not I don't I can't remember a scenario where we've
had, you know, three weeks essentially where it just feels like there's a
lot more eyeballs on us than we typically get. And let's be real,
there's at times in recent years been a lot of attention on Louisville for like
not good reason. So I enjoy it whenever. You know, we've got
these big events and the derbies every year. But the PGA, it's happened
before a few times, I believe, But good vibes, no doubt.
All right, let's go to the phone lines again. Five x two,
five seven, one seventy nine hundred. That is the number. Let's welcome
in, Mike, Mike, how are you, sir? Doing well?
Man? Doing well? I think Kentucky fans have always known Arkansas had a
great fan base in Pior volume wise, because in the nineties when Patino was
there, it was just crazy the games and the SEC tournament. So so
I think they always knew they were there. Uh. You know the thing
with cal it's like, even if he wins the national championship, Yeah,
it's going to be you know, it's gonna hurt and we're gonna be like,
you know, but it wasn't gonna happen at Kentucky. He wasn't going
to change. He was still going to be the guy I mean and yes,
just like Louisville, side eyes Kentucky. You see what's going on in
Kentucky. Side eyes louis to see what they're doing. Kentucky's doing the same
thing with Arkansas, and Arkansas fans are doing the same thing to Kentucky because
there's so much interconnected there. And sure, you know, it's like you
know when you when you break up with somebody that you've dated for years,
you just don't wipe him out of yere and you create that It's it's almost
a burner account, and you go, yeah, you create that burner account
just to check in to see what's going on with him. I'm with you,
Mike, and I think with cal I think you're right he was he
was not going to change. In fact, I'm not even sure he's going
to change anything in Arkansas. He's bringing the same staff that was not effective
for him. But if he did change at Arkansas, it wouldn't be him
admitting he was wrong, you know what I mean, he would be you
know, so this is kind of is out if he did want to do
some things differently, because he was going to be so stubborn in Lexington,
I think, you know, the best thing that could have happened was what
happened right that he that somebody came in and got paid to get rid of
him, and you didn't have to have the buy out. And then you've
got a guy that is the polar opposite of cow. Will see if he
gets results, but I think, man, he's checking some boxes that have
have given Kentucky fans some feels about their program they haven't had in a long
time. Yes, I mean, and and like you know, Pope,
that's gonna be a big game for them whenever they come in. But I
don't know if it's more important for Pope or more important for cal. Oh,
It's more important for me. It's more important for cal because I mean,
there's a lot going to be around. Calls basically took what was going
to be the Kentucky team and just moved it to Fayerville. Yeah, I
uh, and he and he and he doesn't have his star freshman and quaintance
and I'm with you and Mike. I appreciate the phone called don't be a
stranger. I'm glad he said that because I absolutely think I think the pressure
will be on John Calipariy to win that game. Now, again, we
don't know what the situation is gonna be at that time. Maybe Kentucky's rolling
in Arkansas stinks and maybe there's not as much pressure or whatever. But if
that's the case, he's gonna be getting roasted for going to Arkansas and beat
a bum. But Mark Pope is not expected to beat John Caliperry. I
wouldn't think in year one. I mean, Kentucky is a superior program than
Arkansas, clearly, but look at this me, John Calla Perry's in the
whole fame man, and he's gonna have a I mean, right now,
on paper, I don't know if I would take the roster that Arkansas has
over Kentucky's because again it's mostly well, I don't know, John oll Davis
is a pretty damn good player and the kid from Tennessee as as well.
But no, I mean, I I think if Mark Pope, like,
let's say, the first time they play, which I know we don't have
the schedule yet, but the first time they play, if it's in Fayetteville
and Pope goes in there and at the time they're looking like a fringe Turney
team and they beat him in Fayetteville, that would be. Not only is
that gonna be huge for Pope, that will be I mean that'll I mean
Cal's gonna have heat coming at him like he never has before. Maybe not
from Arkansas fans, but you know, Col's of polarizing, larger than life
figure to where a lot of people like dancing on his grave. I mean,
he has a lot of haters. Some would say it's because he's had
success. I think also it's because his brand. I think it is very
natural for people to not like him. If he's your guy, you love
him. If he's not, you hate him. And I think even he
would probably agree with that. So if Pope gets him, it'll be a
national talking point within college basketball, right cal Perry hosting his former team,
and you know, the man from BYU who nobody wanted came in and beat
him like that would be huge. And if cal beats Pope, you know,
Arkansas fans will be chesty, cow will do Cal things. And I'm
sure Kentucky fans will feel like, man, that one's stung a little bit
more, you know, than others. But it's not. I mean,
I just think overall we're talking about Mark Pope and John cal Perry and this
is not an this is not an insult Pope. But like he's not I
mean, he isn't. I mean, he's never one of I mean his
resume wouldn't even be opened up by Mitch Barnhardt if he didn't play at Kentucky.
Doesn't mean he can't be good, trust me, that's not an insult,
but like objectively speaking, and I maybe I can't be objective because again
I'm I'm a part of the rivalry here. I don't want to see Kentucky
do well. But those that are objective, that look at this from the
top, there's like just saying Mark Pope should be beating cala Perry's just not
something I think a lot of people expect. Now, maybe in a few
years, when Pope's got his feet under him and Kentucky's potentially rolling and maybe
Col's looking like, you know, he's doing the same kind of stuff he
was doing in Lexington, maybe it could be a different situation. All right.
Five O two five seventy nine hundred is the number if you guys want
to give us a call. Let's hit a text really quick here before we
take a time out. That text line is five O two six five three
zero, seven ninety. It's the L and N Federal Credit Union text line.
Get more at Ellen and Federal Credit Union. You can learn more and
open your account today at LNFCU dot com. All right, I like this
text, and I typically feel like I would not know what the hell you're
talking about, but I do know what you're talking about, says Nick.
What are your thoughts on the Bullet County Walmart drama? Johnny, you know
about this? I don't, and I go to that Walmart frequently. I'm
curious. We'll talk about it on the other side, stick around. It's
coffee and company. Feel about Thorton's right here on Sports Talk seven ninety.
I find myself probably not as much as others, but I'm now I'm now
on the Trilly Donovan bandwagon to where I I check his uh. I mean,
there's a lot of stuff in there that I don't I can't, you
know, I can't keep up with what they're talking about, but you know
what's happening here in the Trilly Donovan discord. Like each Power five program,
and I can say Power five because the Big East like they have their own
community or channel is what it's called. So there's a bunch of Louisville fans
in here, and I think, didn't you tell me John that at one
point uh at one point Indiana had the most like interaction or was it the
most fans and I don't remember the specific stat but Indiana and Kentucky were the
top two. So what's happening is that, like, there are some people
that are like connected, that are fans that aren't Trilly Donovan, and they'll
get info and you know that'll lead to Trilly maybe checking his sources. But
what's really fascinating to me is that some of the Louisville stuff has has has
gotten out because of another team going after a guy and saying, hey,
I'm here in Louisville, is you know is uh is involved? I'm here
in Louisville. Is going to bring him in for a visit. And they're
you know, they're their their interest in their reporting on it, or even
if you call it it's just a fan, they're just you know, communicating
with fans online. I don't know if you'd call that a report or not,
but it's not about Louisville, but it connects it. So then somebody
on the Louisville side will do some digging and like it's almost like a like
a community based way of like getting info. And like I hate it for
the guys that have the paywall on the twenty four to seven and the rivals,
because you know, they do work, they do they work hard,
and they do have connections and sources. But like there are people that are
getting things a day before them on this discord. So I'll bring all that
up to say it has gotten a little bit quiet as far as just you
know, here's what I think. I think by the weekend or maybe Monday,
we'll we'll find out if some of these guys we've talked about recently are
visiting Louisville, like their scheduling visits, and I think we'll find out.
I think next week between Monday and Wednesday is my guest as to when we're
going to get a decision from Great osibor who. I still haven't heard any
any legitimate like noise about which way he's leaning, who feels good, who
feels bad? I know, Texas Tech. You know, it seemed as
if they were done just because it sounds like they were going to go to
a different direction. But then you know, and let me ask you this,
John, you get your opinion. If you see somebody is on a
visit and they start following players that are there, a coach or two,
do you think that that is a tell? I don't at all. I
think there's some legitimacy to it. So, for example, Indiana had Feral
Pain or fell Pain, however you say his name. He was a guy
from Minnesota visiting around the same time that Umar Ballow was visiting Indiana. They're
both big men. As soon as Ballow committed, the guy from Minnesota,
Pain unfollowed everybody, so I'm assuming he was wanting to create to India.
That's different unfollowing, totally different following, like while they're hey, let me
follow this dude on the team I just met on my visit. Like I
just think that's normal, Like that's being core, Like that's just be I
mean, if it's just one guy, yeah, but if you start following
the whole team, the whole coaching staff, I think that can be a
tell for sure. And I'm sure, I'm sure every situation is different,
but I would actually believe that if you follow them while you're there, I'm
kind of thinking it's just you being around him, and it's not much of
a tell. If you start following a bunch of dudes like a day two
after you left, then I'm thinking that's where you're going, you know what
I mean? Yeah, that makes sense, but don't I don't really think
there's much. I mean, as far as visitors throughout the process of Pat
Kelsey building his roster, I think a lot of them have been active on
social media, but with Great osib Or, I've not seen anything. I've
not seen a picture of him on any visit other than somebody in a picture
of him walking into Churchill Downs from like one hundred yards away, and it
looked like it could be him and his folks and Pat Kelsey, but like
you know, it's so far away. So and it also makes me think
that he wants he wants to be private, Like if you're visiting in Alexon
and you're visiting in Lowell during Derby Week even Texas Tech, maybe like people
are gonna fight. It's almost like he wants to hide. Not that he's
hiding something, but I think this may be somebody who wants to be private
or something. But anyways, let's get to the important stuff here because we
had a text right before they said it in earlier, but I read it
right before we went to our last break there that asked what I think about
the drama with the Bullet County Walmart, and I don't. And let me
clarify, if you're talking about what I think you're talking about, which I
believe you are, it's it's it's a Walmart that I do think serves a
good chunk of Bullet County. But it's actually it's on the line literally like
I mean maybe a football field before you get to Bullet County. It's the
Walmart in Hillview. And there is a Facebook page group I should say,
called all Things Hillview and it's it's something there's a lot of entertainment in there
from time to time, and I it's like a guilty pleasure, like there
could be a sitcom based on Hillview. Yeah, he'llview all things. He'llview
the like like my old I don't live in this neighborhood anymore, but I
still am a part of the neighborhood Facebook group that I used to live in
and I can't leave it because there's a lot of like drama and just like
crazy stuff that I just I'm an addict for that kind of stuff. But
somebody asked yesterday, anybody know what's going on with the hill View Walmart?
Why are they closed? And a lot of folks mentioned it was electrical issues.
They didn't have power. I don't know what led to that could have
been maybe maybe you know, maybe lightning striking or something. I'm not sure,
but I feel like if Walmart for Walmart to not have power or have
some electrical issues, like you think, they'd be everywhere. But anyways,
what this turned into was, you know, somebody saying that, hey,
this is sad because now they're gonna have to trash all the frozen stuff because
it's because if it's not freezing, it's thawing out and it's gonna get to
a warmer temperature and it's going to go bad. And then there's somebody claiming,
hey, my daughter works there, and uh, they are emptying everything
out as we speak, because you know they are. This is what you're
supposed to do. And then it led to a bunch of people claiming,
well, I know somebody that works there, and they don't they tell their
employees to throw it back, you know, so who knows who's right who?
And it does look as if the thread's going on here to show pictures
of their of their sections having food, but like there's no way to know
if it's the stuff that was frozen thought out, went bad and they put
it back in, or if it's you know, new stuff anyone could manufactured
picture like you don't you don't know, but it's just I mean, Wendy
here says interesting because I've seen them self frozen stuff after they had freezer issues
last summer. Everything was thawn out and they just put it back in.
But we shall see. Well, I'll be asking once they open back up,
Like nobody wants to buy bad food, but to see this have this
many comments, you know, a bunch of people sharing it, Like,
man, I can't imagine being that board and that being sort of what consumes
my time and my interest. I can't imagine planning going into there and asking
somebody whether or not they did anything with it. I'll just go somewhere else
about this, Yeah, I mean, and I guess you know it.
It's not like hey, because it was frozen and it thought out and it
then refroze like it got frozen again. That like it's going to taste bad
or be free. You know, it's because it's like if it's meat,
like it's unhealthy, right, Yeah, you can get bacteria, Yeah,
shouldn't have So, like I'm going to I'm going to believe that the you
know, maybe this is me being naive, I'm going to believe that corporation
like Walmart would like understand the the legal issues they would have if like they
were caught doing that, and like an employee would probably one of the many
employees would probably tell on them and that would be like a big issue.
Again, maybe I'm naive, but yeah, it's if that's what you're talking
about, which it looks like that's what you're confirming that that you know that
you are talking about. Yeah, I mean, I guess the electric issues
have been fixed and they're good to go. But I'm sure they had a
few angry locals wanting clarification, wanting proof. Did you throw out the stuff
that you know wasn't you know that that it wasn't frozen after they lost power?
Are you? Are you like really like when it comes totally different conversation,
I don't want to get to like the the the like back like the
the the sickness you could get if meat is below the temperature that's raw.
But like when it comes to expired stuff, are you like a are you
like anal about that? It depends on on what it is like. So
to me, there's a difference between best buy date and an expiration date.
Best buy means it's still fine if you go past the date and consume it.
But an expiration to me, are they both on there? It depends
on what you buytch I think for me, it's usually expiration. Okay,
I could be wrong, so I'm probably going to gross people out here.
I really don't if I can't, like if it looks fine to me,
Like I don't really care. Like there was a it was it. There
was like a like a seasoning packet for a dinner my wife was making,
and it was like a month expired, which means we had it for a
long time because those things don't expire, Like that's not something they would expire
quickly, right, Yeah, And she didn't want to use it, and
I'm like why, Like what could have happened to it? And like she
thought she was married to the grossest human being on the planet. I think
the seasoning packet is fine, but if it was like eggs, I got
milk. So milk, No, I'm not, I mean, milk can
bee as fresh as can be. I just milk. Milk's milk is obviously
used to make a lot of things. And I don't like, I'm not,
I don't, I don't. I'm not grossed out by the thought of
drinking milk. But there's just something about milk that just is, you know,
I don't know, I'm I can't tell you the last time I drank
milk, like straight mean either probably twenty years not even kidding, But yesterday,
just a day ago, I made like so what I do because I'm
trying to eat healthier and it is healthy, but it's also just something I
really enjoyed doing. I'll get like a I'll get chicken thighs or chicken tenders,
and I'll cook them all in the air fry or the oven if I
have time, and I'll just save them and you know, seizon them up
and all that. And that's just what I'll eat for like lunch for a
week. And I cooked these chicken thighs yesterday that the I don't know which
date it was, John it either said one of the two best buy or
expire by and the date was May the fifth, So with poultry, i'd
have thrown that crap out, so three days after that date. And I
looked at it and I'm like, looks totally normal. I mean it's I
mean, there's not. I mean, and it's and it's three days behind
the date. And I cooked them and I ate two of them this morn
or today for lunch, and so far I'm good. But I'm the kind
of psycho that like now because I've done that, and so far I haven't
got sick. Like I may notice the ones a week expired and I may
try just because I'm a sick Oh see how far you go. But it's
certain, Yeah, it's certain things like I don't cook much stuff at all
anyway, so it's a rare situation. But it is odd that like that
happened to me yesterday. And I was telling my wife and she was like,
I mean, I'm not eating that. You can do what you want.
I was like, all right, well cook them, especially with chicken
chickens, you can really get sick. But I just you know, again,
this is me probably just once again making myself look like a real dumbass.
I just assume that that dates like yeah, they just they they're just
you know, it's probably we probably got another month or so like that,
which is clearly not the case. But I don't know if it looked as
if it was good something like there are certain places where like meats on sale
at like not your big chains, but like your smaller places like a priceless
or even a like a value market. Yeah. Yeah, like a lot
of their stuff that you see that's super cheap, like it's got you buy
it, you better make it in two days because that's what the date thing
says on there. Yeah, and it looks as if like it's not as
fresh, you know what I'm saying. Yes, sure, so this didn't
this was like this was a I mean, I don't want to act like
we're bougie, but like when it comes to that kind of if I'm doing
like pork or chicken, like I buy thee the more expensive kind, because
I do think there's a difference, right, So if it had been one
of those you know, off brand things that we got from when they got
like when it's out in the middle and you eat it, or it's out
in the middle and it's on it and it's like, you know, on
a sale then like I'm I wouldn't even consider it. But I still felt
like I was. I was in I was in the clear. And so
far, you know, so far, so good. But uh maybe maybe
tomorrow, you know, I'll have to take a sick day and you guys
will all know, yees, it's because that six son of a you know
what, decided to eat chicken that had that it that had gone bad.
But I think I think I'm good. I think I'm good. All right,
let's see here, and we have more people sending in pictures from I
guess that Walmart that are you know, that are showing that they do have
Like, I don't know what you're in. I don't know what you're indicating
with that picture. Are you telling me that like, hey, they've got
new stuff out here, we're good, or are you telling me like,
hey see they put the stuff that you know, fell below the temperature it's
supposed to be so anyways, So another question that came on the text line
about the TBT we were talking earlier before the end of the show that I'm
sorry, before the end of the three o'clock hour about the TBT, Kyle
Kurrick was added to the team, and some of some have asked me who
the coach is going to be. I remember Reese Gaines being named the coach
of the TBT whenever they were kind of putting this this round together. But
I don't know if that's still the case because he's not I mean, he
might still be in Louisble, but he's not on the staff anymore. I
don't knowbout that would matter. So maybe he still is going to be the
coach. I really don't know. But Mark Lieberman is not doing it this
year, which I really wish he would have because I love Mark and I
thought his coaching was a big part of why that team was having success.
But he decided not to do it, and congrats to him. By the
way, he was just named the head coach at holy Cross, so they
got a great coach in Mark Lieberman. And uh, I know, not
coaching this past year was probably something that was very unusual for him because it's
been his life and he's great at it. I mean, he was a
Division one assistant coach at Southeastern Louisiana before I think up until this past season,
and you know, he wanted to be back here in Louisville closer to
his daughter who you know who lives here. So that'll be a great situation
for for Holy Cross because again they got themselves a really really good coach.
All let's go to the phone. One five two five is the number,
and we will now welcome in Danny. Danny, how are you, hey,
Nick? I'm good. I had a question today, like, how
if you heard the Trent Noah the new UK commits from Harlan County woks are
today and it was kind of refreshed here. It was refreshing hearing him talking
about he was excited today he got up and put on a Kentucky hoodie and
it meant a lot more because he was on the team. Now. It's
just such a you know, juxtaposition between the and not to knock the kid
like Jadan Quaintins, who's just you know, whoever can offer me the most
money. That's strictly transactional with a guy like that, whereas different Yeah,
I get it, and even Cow's guys like I love dealing Ham and Shepherd
to a lesson degree. But I mean, I just wonder if you think
like and I want to ask TWESDAYDS if louis has got any guys like that?
But do you think it matters in the tournament, because I do.
I mean I think that Rob dealing him last year. I think it's hard
for a kid that goes whether I win this game against Oakland or not,
four months from now, five I'm gonna be making five million dollars versus like
Trent No today was like his big thing and you could tell with Sincerea.
I want to win a banner for Kentucky. I want to win, like,
you know, going back to his hometown and being a hero because he
you know, he's a guy that maybe no what thought Red was gonna do
that? Well, but maybe it'll go to the NBA, but that's not
his Yeah, I don't know if you can win with those guys. I
have a dissector because I know you I like to think Ukon lineup was like
that, and then you're like, well, they've got two lottery picks,
so they're not winning it with the quote unquote hometown guys. And then honestly,
I'm going to try to follow both rosters this year. So I don't
know if Louisville's got any guys like that that are you know, just want
to play for Louisville their whole life and there a five stars so and I'm
I'm just curious. Yeah, thank you for the call, Danny. I
appreciate. That's a good question. I'm want to reset that on the other
side because we don't have a whole lot of time here. But I will
say this. You know, people can say that all that stuff doesn't matter,
you need talent. All that's corny, that's cute, and I mean
I get why they're saying that, but I mean it it as a fan
that will always stand out to you because that's I mean, it's not a
knock on anybody who does come to play for these local schools that will acknowledge
like, hey, I love it now because I'm here, but like I
didn't grow up idolizing this program because I'm from you know, across the country.
But let's reset that on the other side. It's a really good question
because I worry now that the young players, and I mean kids, they're
sixteen years old, their memory of Louisville growing up, Like, when's the
last time Louisville was really really relevant For like a stretch, It's been a
long time. So like, even if you grew up around Louisville and you
like louisvillecause you're from here or your dad liked Louisville, it's just been a
long time. You know, you kind of missed a gap there. I
don't mean you can't go get players. But great question, Danny. We'll
talk a little more about that on the other side right here on Sports Talk
seven ninety. All right, so let's finish up the four o'clock hour,
picking up where he left off there before the break. Good question from one
of our callers, Danny, about the local kid that cares about a program
that he's committing to because it's like all he's ever known, Right, it's
happened. I mean, the latest, the most recent player that I can
think of for Louisville that came to Louisville and I know grew up a big
Louisville fan and probably dreamed of playing at Louisville. Dwayne Sutton certainly is that.
And and you know his path was a little bit different because he was
not a big recruit. He actually started at U in c Asheville and then
transferred here as a walk on. Obviously got a scholarship and became a great
player. So he's one of them. But Quent Sneyder, I mean,
I know his father, Scott as a diehard Louisll fan, always has been.
And you know Quentin was a star from a young age and was a
top forty recruit and you know, had a great career at Louisville. So
the question, I suppose, like, and now, of course Trenton Noah
is is doing that for Kentucky. He's committed to Kentucky. Same thing with
Travis Perry, I would assume, who's also going to Kentucky. So the
question was, you know, can that really help you? Right? And
the first answer to that would be if they have like if they can play
like if the good and I mean, that's really what it comes down to.
So if you've got a guy who you know, one of the reasons
you got him is because you know you could because he loves Kentucky in like
clearly Kentucky or Louisville. If that's the school he chooses, are the is
the best offer and that the other offers are nowhere near the caliber, then
you know it's probably unlikely that that'll really matter. I mean, but it
can never hurt anything, right, Like, if you're relying on those guys
to be you know, the stars in a different, different situation. But
I do think there's something of value when a guy is not only out there
busting his ass wanting to win for his team, meaning the players that he's
become close with, the coach that recruited him, and you don't end up
at this level of basketball if you're not a very driven and fierce competitor.
I mean, I don't think it's possible. So you have all that and
then you throw in, you know, the love that they've had for the
program they're playing for forever, then yeah, it can only well, but
how much I really don't know, you know, I don't I don't think
that there are players who, you know, don't give it there all because
they're like, yeah, you know, I grew up a Duke fan,
you know. I just I just think you're not wired that way. And
I, I don't know, I've never been in this situation. I grew
up idolizing Louisville basketball and I pretended to be Dewan Wheat in my driveway,
like I that's I love Louisville basketball, always have and I dreamed of playing
for Louisville, and unfortunately that was not in the cards for me. No
pun intended, But like I think, if you get there and you're you're
you're in it, you're part of it, like you're playing for a coach
and you're I mean, like I kind of think that fan stuff, it
doesn't go away. It's never gonna go away, and it actually will be
much different when you finish your career. But I think in the moment,
the whole, like, man, I gotta win this for the state.
Like, I just don't think people, I don't think players kind of think
about that kind of stuff. I could be wrong. I just you know,
I think it's different when it's you, right, when you're watching as
a kid, it's it's you're a fan, right, But when you're playing,
you're not a fan. I mean you are, but for totally different
reasons, if that makes any sense at all. Can you think of any
Indiana players john that, like we'll say Trace Jackson Davis for sure. Yeah,
and then he always considered to be like a locke for Indiana. I
guess I don't know too much about his background and his story, but he
never I mean he stock around for four years as somebody who was super talented,
could have jumped in the transfer portal, never did, could have gone
to the NBA early, Never did. I mean, I guess technically with
the COVID year, he did leave early, but he still got his degree
from what I've been from what I remember. And then currently, Anthony Leal
grew up in Bloomington. He's not a star player, but he's somebody who's
been around it his entire life. Yeah, I think. And again some
will say this is corny. Who cares. You gotta have talent, you
gotta win. I mean, I get, I get why people say that,
But when it comes to culture, when it comes to camaraderie, like
fan it's good to have. It's good to have guys like that, even
if they're just complimentary players, because it's healthy for your program and it can
help outsiders who committed not knowing anything about the program other than you know,
seeing them on TV. Like it's just good to have guys around who really
can like for example, Peyton Siva is now he's not a Louisville kid,
but he you know, he played here four years, win a national championship
for the best players we've ever had, and he made Louisville his home after
playing basketball because it's part of him, Like he loves Louisville, always will,
the city, and of course obviously the program. So Peyton is a
perfect guy for the position that Pat Kelse hired him for because who can better
sell I know he can't be out on the road recruiting, but who can
better sell the payoff of what it's like to be a great player at Louisville
and accomplished the ultimate goal of making a Final four and maybe winning a national
championship. He lived it right, and he knows what it's like to be
remembered and to be a legend around here. So like it's good to have
somebody like that. They can give that perspective because they've lived it, they've
done it, you know what I mean. It makes sense, Like I
think that's I think that's really valuable to have. So, you know,
to answer your question, it can't hurt you. I think it can only
help you. How much I really you know, I really don't know.
And if you're wired a certain way, like it could make it to where
you're pressing too much, because like you're it means that much to you know
what I mean, Like, it's just everybody's different. All right, let's
get to uh our top of the hour break. We'll come back for the
five o'clock hour. Try to finish strong for you lovely folks here on a
Thursday afternoon. It's coffee and company fuel. But Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety