WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:01.520 Right, what's going on? 2 00:00:01.639 --> 00:00:05.879 Drivetime on a Wednesday afternoon, about eleven minutes past the 3 00:00:05.960 --> 00:00:10.000 hour of two o'clock. Another pretty warm day for a 4 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:13.839 December Wednesday afternoon. It's once again about forty five degrees 5 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:17.399 in sunny here in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. And 6 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:19.239 as it is every single day, it's going to have 7 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:21.839 you along for the ride. Spence check. It's behind the mic. 8 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:24.359 That's portal Larsen behind the glass. It is a jam 9 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:27.960 packed day. You know, Once upon a time, National Signing 10 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:31.519 Day in the world of college football was a real 11 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:36.119 headline grabber and dominated much of the content on local 12 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:39.640 airwaves and folks that ride about college football and such. 13 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:45.039 It's still a big deal, but the transfer portal has changed. 14 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:47.039 Kind of the way this day lands juxtaposed to the 15 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:48.679 way that we used to cover it back in the day. 16 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:53.079 There's still so many ways to add talent and unfortunately, 17 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:56.640 so many opportunities to lose talent as a result as 18 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:58.119 a result of the transfer portal. 19 00:00:58.200 --> 00:00:59.600 It's a little bit different. 20 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:03.039 Now, transfer portal twenty days, it's a little bit smaller 21 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:04.760 than it used to be, as the powers that be 22 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:08.439 in college football try to corral all of the issues 23 00:01:08.519 --> 00:01:10.560 surrounding this great sport that we all love. But we'll 24 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:14.239 talk some signing day to day on the Utah side 25 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:17.519 of things, on the BYU side of things, national implications 26 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:22.239 as well. Obviously, the CFP rankings released last night while 27 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:25.159 we were still on air, and it's always kind of funny. 28 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.120 I'm trying to scramble to bring you guys the information 29 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.280 as far as what the rankings look like, what the 30 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:34.519 bracket will look like in real time, and then you 31 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:37.000 sign off air, and then you dig into it and 32 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:39.280 you know it hits a little bit different. Sold talk 33 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:44.079 about the CFP rankings that were released last night. Championship 34 00:01:44.120 --> 00:01:46.920 weekend and college football will start on Friday. Should be 35 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:50.319 a fun weekend at college football. Unfortunately, no local teams involved, 36 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:53.599 but we'll get to some college football storylines on the 37 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.959 program today. On this Wednesday afternoon, Week fourteen in the 38 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:01.760 NFL gets rolling with Thursday Night football tomorrow should be 39 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:04.680 a good one. It's the Packers and the Lions Ford 40 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:07.840 Field in Detroit. As of right now, the Lions are 41 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:10.960 a three point favorite at home over Jordan Love and 42 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:13.240 the Green Bay Packers. So we'll do some NFL on 43 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:18.280 the program today Utah Hockey Club is off until Saturday. 44 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:21.360 That's right, the Utah Hockey Club essentially getting the week 45 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:23.759 off after a really busy schedule. But we'll do some 46 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:27.280 hockey on the program today as well on a Wednesday. 47 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:30.520 The Utah Jazz played a basketball game last night. Well, 48 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:35.479 they were present, they showed up. It was ugly. It 49 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:38.159 continues to be bad. We'll do some jazz basketball, some 50 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:39.400 NBA basketball. 51 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:39.319 On the show. 52 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:42.520 The thunder are really really good, but the Jazz did 53 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.759 themselves no favors. Tied an NBA record for turnovers and 54 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:50.159 a half with nineteen in the first half, and they 55 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:53.639 finished with twenty nine turnovers. OKC scored forty five points 56 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:58.479 offset turnovers, and it was not good. Continues to not 57 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:00.879 be good, but probably by this but we'll do some 58 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:04.520 jazz on the show ultimately. This time of year, right 59 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:09.680 around Thanksgiving, thereabouts twenty games played by most teams. They'reabouts 60 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:13.280 about nineteen twenty twenty one. It is kind of an 61 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:16.199 unofficial benchmark in pro basketball where you look around and 62 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:19.439 try to understand exactly what the tone and tenor of 63 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:21.000 the league is going to sound like, going to be 64 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:24.240 like teams that are off the bad starts recalibrating as 65 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:26.560 to whether or not they need to shift move on 66 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:31.039 from certain players and teams that might find themselves in 67 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:33.840 a position like the Houston Rockets, where they've just surprised 68 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:34.479 a lot of people. 69 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:36.039 Do they add to the group. 70 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.240 Do they think they're in a situation where they can 71 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:41.520 actually compete for something pretty special? Fun game last night 72 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:44.439 between the Warriors and the Nuggets. TNT had a double dip, 73 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:48.319 And there's plenty of NBA action going on tonight on 74 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:51.120 this Wednesday. One more day until the NFL is back 75 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:55.159 a couple more days till college Football Championship weekend BYU 76 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.719 basketball got thumped last night. Watch that game they took 77 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:03.240 on Providence. They went east and they they got thumped. 78 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:06.319 It's a young team. Kevin Young's got a lot of 79 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:08.159 growing pains to do, I guess is the way I'll 80 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:08.479 put that. 81 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:09.599 But I mean, it. 82 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:13.319 Really wasn't even close all game long. So college basketball 83 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:17.040 here and the first iteration of the net rankings are out. 84 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:20.680 Providence won eighty three to sixty four BYU now, who 85 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:22.920 has lost two of their last three. And that is 86 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:25.439 a team that a lot of people thought could make 87 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:28.839 some noise in the Big Twelve. Utah hoops will have 88 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:32.879 a very interesting preseason challenge coming up on Saturday. Utah's 89 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:35.639 preseason schedule is let's see it's soft. 90 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:36.399 I guess as hell. 91 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.399 I'll say that one loss to Mississippi State, They're gonna 92 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:41.800 take on Saint Mary. Saint Mary's, of course, a very 93 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:45.079 very good college basketball program, will be in Salt Lake 94 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:47.519 City on Saturday nights. And then will you kind of 95 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:50.639 wait for Utah to get into Big twelve play and 96 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:53.199 hopefully Craig has some tricks up his sleeve. That team 97 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:56.319 has picked to finish last in the Big Twelve. So 98 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.560 a little bit of everything going on right now across 99 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.040 the market. Good guest lists on this Wednesday afternoon. Hope 100 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:04.000 you're off to a great start to your work week 101 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:07.079 and you're halfway home, halfway to the weekends. One day 102 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:10.079 closer on this Wednesday, the Voice of the Utes, Bill Riley, 103 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:13.360 will stop by today on National Signing Day. Still a 104 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:16.040 waiting word about an offensive coordinator, Still a waiting word 105 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:18.199 about coach wit his official status. 106 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:19.839 Maybe Ryles can shed some light on that. 107 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:24.279 Today Richard Smith live in studio for an entire hours 108 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:26.000 made He's gonna roll by and we'll do some jazz, 109 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:29.839 some NBA and kind of understand exactly what this team 110 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:31.720 is and what they'll look like moving forward. 111 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:32.000 There. 112 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:35.800 Every time one of these NBA riders releases a piece 113 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:39.279 on the trade deadline and the potential movement prior to 114 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:42.560 the jazz are involved. Talked about this with Timmcman yesterday 115 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:46.160 and we'll get Smithy's take on it today during the 116 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:48.920 three o'clock hour NBA Daily Assists style was Zach Harper. 117 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:52.160 Then Ali Mata stops by from the Utah Hockey Club 118 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:55.720 friend of the show, Utah Hockey Club player will talk. 119 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:56.519 About the start of the season. 120 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:59.839 It's been up, it's been down, It's been a little inconsistent, 121 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:03.000 which is what you would expect from a young team. 122 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:06.079 And what's the plan for their week off? Like an 123 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:09.000 entire week off here in the market. So Bill Riley, 124 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:11.639 Richard Smith, Zach Harper, Ali Matami, Spence check its all 125 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:13.639 of you, the great listeners, and that guy Porter Larson. 126 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:17.839 On a signing day Wednesday, it does hit different than 127 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:19.720 it used to. It used to be like the only 128 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:23.360 day where college football programs could add talent, but now 129 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.040 with the transfer portal, it's still interesting but it's not 130 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:28.079 near as intense as it used to be. 131 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:28.839 Is that fair to say? 132 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:32.000 Yeah, I mean you're still adding players to the roster. 133 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:36.199 You're still you know, adding talent to the pool that 134 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:39.600 you have. But Spence, you you also don't know how 135 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:41.480 many of these guys are going to actually ever be 136 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:44.920 in your locker room, how many of them are going 137 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:48.839 to decommit and then getting an NIL deal with you know, 138 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:52.639 another Big twelve school and you don't see him again. 139 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:56.800 That's just the reality of this new landscape of college football. 140 00:06:56.839 --> 00:07:00.360 So signing day is still a big deal, not a 141 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:03.399 huge deal because as I mentioned, there's just so much 142 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:07.120 still to be learned both about these players. Number one, 143 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:14.639 analyzing talent for sixteen seventeen year olds is hard to 144 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:17.800 begin with. It makes it even more difficult when you 145 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:21.199 add money into the equation and you add what is 146 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:26.759 basically a pro style model, and we're seeing that, as 147 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.920 you mentioned, the windows a little bit closed, a little 148 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:33.120 bit smaller. NCAA is trying to put the genie back 149 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:35.600 in the bottle a little bit, but that only goes 150 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:37.600 so far. So yeah, it's a little different than it 151 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:40.879 usually is, but still a day where you see some 152 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:44.319 new faces that some of which will eventually play for 153 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:44.560 the you. 154 00:07:45.160 --> 00:07:48.839 And look, it's always just exciting to players are always 155 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:50.959 really popular when you've never seen them play. I always 156 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:52.519 get a kick out of signing day when it comes 157 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:54.120 to the coaches and the fan base. Then you kind 158 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:56.279 of see them player, they take off and you're disappointed. 159 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:59.600 But it is good content because of course Utah football, 160 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:01.199 by football very topical. 161 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:02.879 So we'll bring in Ryles today. 162 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:04.720 To kind of get us up to data what's going 163 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:07.480 on with Utah football program. But before Bill hops on 164 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:11.000 courtesy of our good friends at Standard Restaurant Supply, it's 165 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:13.079 your tailgate headquarters. You get everything you need to make 166 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:16.680 your tailgate epics. Standard carries everything for your tailgate needs. 167 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:19.839 Stop by their location of thirty five hundred Southwest Temple 168 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:23.439 or online at Standard Restaurant dot com. On a Wednesday, 169 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:24.839 it's time now for your opening tip. 170 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:28.399 Welcome to the Drive with Spence Check. It's on Utah's 171 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:32.080 number one sports talk. Now into the studio of ESPN 172 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:35.039 seven hundred to set the scene for the show. The 173 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:37.039 opening tip of the Drive is brought to you by 174 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:40.399 Standard Restaurant Supply, your one stop shop to build the 175 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:45.080 best tailgate in town. Standard Restaurant Supply thirty five hundred 176 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:46.159 Southwest Temple. 177 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.559 So still a waiting word on the Utah football side 178 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:53.240 of things for who the offensive coordinator will be. I'm 179 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:55.279 starting to wonder if we're actually going to get anything 180 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:58.000 official about coach Wit either coming back or retired. It 181 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:00.480 sounds like you might just come back and never anything. 182 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:02.840 I mean, he is under contract. It might just be 183 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:04.840 a scenario where nothing needs to be said and he 184 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.840 comes back as the head coach. I'm kind of leaning 185 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:10.200 more and more in that direction as of right now. 186 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:14.960 So nothing efficient with the offensive coordinator. I'm sure conversations 187 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:17.279 are going on fast and furious, and yes, I believe 188 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:20.279 that it is paramount to get this done sooner rather 189 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:20.799 than later. 190 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:23.320 But it is early signing day. 191 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.480 For Utah football, for BYU football, for all of college football. 192 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:29.399 Transfer portal will officially open on the ninth. I mean, 193 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:31.799 we've already heard a bunch of players who have put 194 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:33.960 their name in the transfer portal, giving them some time 195 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:39.600 to negotiate essentially deals now to try to get some 196 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:41.759 nil money before they decide where they're going to play. 197 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:45.080 And unfortunately that's driving everything because hey, we do Live in. 198 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:47.120 America Capitalism High five. 199 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:51.039 But last night during the five o'clock hour of the show, 200 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:53.639 and it's always funny, Like can remember when I first 201 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.399 started the show over five years ago, and it was 202 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:00.559 twenty nineteen when Utah football was really good five o'clock 203 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:03.919 hour of the program CFP release and back then, you 204 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:06.799 know BCS. It's different in college football playoff now twelve 205 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:11.440 twelve teams expanded and the only thing people wanted was 206 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:14.240 to hear the rankings release live, so we would try 207 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:16.240 to bring that to you. And it's funny when you're 208 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:20.360 just trying to digest them in real time and then 209 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:23.320 talk about them on air, you really miss a lot. 210 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:27.399 So ultimately, last night, after the show, go home and 211 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:29.559 dig in on a couple of different things. And I 212 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.519 think it's safe to say, whether you like it or not, 213 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.159 I feel like Alabama is in. 214 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.360 I think that's a lock. Now. 215 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:40.080 The one caveat here is if Clemson beats SMU, what 216 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:42.679 does the committee do with what I perceived to be 217 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:47.480 an SMU versus Alabama situation? And the more you kind 218 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:49.240 of dig into it, the more and more I believe 219 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:51.159 that they are going to put Bama in even if 220 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:54.240 SMU loses, because the fact of the matter is if 221 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:57.840 SMU loses to Clemson coming up in the ACC Championship game, 222 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:00.279 and I feel like the ACC is the world of 223 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:02.639 the p four conferences. I know a lot of people 224 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:05.120 feel like that's the Big twelve. I just feel like 225 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:08.039 the Big twelve has better depth overall one through twelve. 226 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:10.320 I mean, Oklahoma State, Utah, you know, two of the 227 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:13.639 worst teams quote unquote, worst teams than the conference. I 228 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:15.519 think would probably be two of the top four or 229 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:17.600 five teams in the ACC. The Big twelve to me 230 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:21.440 has better depth than the ACC. But if SMU loses 231 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:25.080 to Clemson, they will essentially have lost to the two 232 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:28.519 best teams they played all year, which is BYU. BYU 233 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:30.960 got them early in the year in their building, and 234 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:35.559 then Clemson in the ACC Championship game. Like otherwise, their 235 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.120 schedule has manifested itself as very average. The Louisville win 236 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:41.879 at the time looked okay. The Pit win at the 237 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:45.240 time looked okay. Pitt finished conference play three and five 238 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:47.720 or seven and five overall, Louisville five and three. They 239 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.279 stumbled to fifth in the conference eight and four overall. 240 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.240 So in my opinion that would mean SMU would have 241 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:56.240 lost to the two best teams they played and therefore 242 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:58.639 opened the door for Alabama. I feel like Bama is 243 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.600 in no matter what, because if s and you wins 244 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.960 therein Clemson won't jump Alabama. 245 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.440 This really is bad. 246 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:08.080 News for Ole Miss, South South Carolina and then Miami. 247 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:10.279 But I don't think, like I've listened to a lot 248 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:12.480 of people today say Miami has a case. 249 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:15.440 I don't think they do. I really don't. 250 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:17.679 You know, Miami with a couple of bad losses and 251 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:20.519 it is how you're playing at the wrong time of 252 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:23.559 year for Miami much in the same way as it 253 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:25.600 was for bringing me on BYU. If they would have 254 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:29.639 had those two losses earlier in the year and time 255 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:32.120 to rebound and put together a streak of wins to 256 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.879 end the year like they did to kind of start 257 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:37.320 the year, we might have a different conversation about BYU 258 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:40.720 and the Big Twelve. But the committee clearly, excuse me, 259 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:44.360 the Committee clearly puts a lot of emphasis on head 260 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:45.960 to head And I know there are a lot of 261 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:50.039 South Carolina people out there, including our buddy Spencer Hall, 262 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:52.720 who joined us this week and kind of was hoping 263 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.480 that South Carolina would get in over some of these 264 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:58.840 at large teams. South Carolina straight up loss to Alabama 265 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:02.480 head to head, so there's really no leg to stand on. 266 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.840 I think Old Miss probably has a little bit of 267 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:08.200 a case more so than South Carolina or certainly Miami. 268 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:10.639 But Miami, to me is the one team that nobody 269 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:13.000 should be banging the drum for. I mean, they had 270 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.120 an opportunity and they completely blew it. So for all 271 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:18.519 of the hand ringing and all of the people upset 272 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:23.120 and look, ultimately, the seeding and the buys will take 273 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:26.919 care of themselves coming up during conference championship weekend. But 274 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:29.799 I don't think any of the outcomes will push Alabama out. 275 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:32.720 I feel like the bubble teams are in as of now, 276 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:35.320 and then we'll see over the weekend who's able to 277 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:38.159 win their conference championship games, and then that will equate 278 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:40.799 to the buys. It feels like Boise if they win, 279 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:42.720 they'll probably get the buy in the first round out 280 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:46.120 the Big twelve champ If UNLV excuse me, finds a 281 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:49.080 way to beat Boise, does that allow Arizona State to 282 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:51.320 maybe jump in and grab that buy if they beat 283 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:55.159 Iowa State potentially, but as of now, the bracket feels 284 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:58.279 like it's almost set depending on what happens over Conference 285 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:03.559 Championship weekend. Oregon one, Texas to SMU three, they lose, 286 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:06.279 obviously it's different. Boise State four, and then your first 287 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:10.240 round matchups with the Arizona State, Penn State, Tennessee, Ohio 288 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.039 State at the Shoe. 289 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:11.919 That would be awesome. 290 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:15.480 Alabama Notre Dame for a first round game, then Indiana 291 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:18.399 Georgia to advance on to play the teams with a 292 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:21.799 buye to start. So CFP rankings released, even though there's 293 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:25.759 no local flavor anymore, still fun, still very topical because 294 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:28.600 we have Conference Championship weekend coming up this weekend. 295 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:31.720 Risk of the Mackfield put Montgomery three receivers on the 296 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:34.120 right hand side, Utah showing some pressure. Now they back 297 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:37.679 away from now they bring a safety up, four man rush, 298 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:41.399 risk looking surveying, throwing down the field and it's intercepted 299 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:45.559 at the forty, at the fifty, at the forty, at 300 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:47.440 the thirty, a convoy. 301 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.399 To the end zone and a touchdown. It's a buy 302 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:53.799 a bond with a pick six and his final game 303 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.519 as a US. 304 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:02.799 Wow, Well it's U not eleven o'clock circa four or 305 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:03.559 five months ago. 306 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:06.759 It is two thirty on a Wednesday afternoon. 307 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:10.039 Hopefully we brought a little nostalgia to the listeners today 308 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:12.679 as the voice himself, the Voice of the Youths, Bill Riley, 309 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:15.240 stops by on a Wednesday afternoon. 310 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:17.080 Ryle's happy Wednesday. How you doing. 311 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:20.720 Spend some good things? Going good on a Wednesday. I 312 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:23.320 don't know what's gone faster. The fact that I've been 313 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:25.720 off the air, not doing my show for four or 314 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.720 five months. 315 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.759 Or the football season. 316 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:32.080 It feels like the football season went by really glad. 317 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.159 I know it wasn't the season anybody wanted. I get 318 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:37.440 that part of it, but it just felt like it 319 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:39.840 was like the Southern Utah or the Baylor game just 320 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.360 the other day. 321 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.519 I can't believe the season's over. 322 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:43.799 Yeah, I mean I talk about it all the time. 323 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:46.840 All we do when football is gone is complain and 324 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.679 wait for it to come back, and then we're like 325 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.799 miserable when it's here and then it's gone. It's like 326 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:53.039 you need to enjoy it even when the season isn't 327 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:55.639 what you hoped it would be, because it does come 328 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:56.679 and go really quickly. 329 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:57.600 Yeah. 330 00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:00.120 I've always said, it's the season we wait longest for 331 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:03.559 and it goes by the fastest. Nobody ever said, man, 332 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.679 that NBA season just flew by. Nobody ever said, oh, 333 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:09.519 that NHL or that baseball season flew by. But we 334 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:11.799 always talk about football season like it was a blink of. 335 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:13.240 An eye, no doubt, no doubt. 336 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:16.240 So Ryle's on a Wednesday afternoon, I have to ask 337 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:18.600 you Early Signing Day hot or not? 338 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.080 I would say not. 339 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:28.639 I feel like the transfer portal has overtaken National Signing Day? 340 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.639 Does that make sense? 341 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.519 In the old days, we were all about the signing 342 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:37.000 day and press conferences and who. I just feel like 343 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:40.279 everybody is like, Okay, that's great, but most of these 344 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:42.240 kids aren't even going to play for a couple of years, 345 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:44.279 if or even with our program in a few years. 346 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:46.200 The transfer portal opens next week. 347 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:49.519 Who can we go out and get Yeah? No, I'm 348 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:50.039 with you there. 349 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:52.039 I wonder how many of our listeners have any sort 350 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.200 of context or frame or reference as to why I'm 351 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.440 posing the question that way, But we don't need to 352 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:58.360 dig into it any further. 353 00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.799 I will ask. 354 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.600 You it spent yeah, a different time. 355 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:04.559 It was a different time, for sure, in a lot 356 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:07.720 of different ways bill a different time. But I'll ask you, 357 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:09.200 I'm not going I mean, I've got the list in 358 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:11.599 front of you. We're doing kind of just live tracking 359 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:14.759 here instead of going down the list, I'll just ask you, 360 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:17.799 is there any buzz about any of these young players 361 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:20.079 that Utah has locked in that you're hearing about up 362 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.519 on the Hill. 363 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:24.920 No, I mean it's kind of quiet today to be 364 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:28.400 really fair. Again, I just think even schools and universities 365 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:32.519 they're publicizing it, but it's just not quite what it was. 366 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:37.359 It's very interesting to me that the quarterback they landed, 367 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.440 not the kid from southern California, but the Texas State 368 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:43.319 commit flipped just a couple of days ago. 369 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.759 You know, does that have anything to. 370 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:50.200 Do with a potential offensive coordinator flip? And then the 371 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:53.000 Thatcher kid, the linebacker, who I think is going to 372 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:55.640 be a really really good kid too. I like him 373 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.000 a lot as well. But it's it's just so hard today. 374 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:01.480 It used to be home which one of these guys 375 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:03.160 is going to play next year? You know, what are 376 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:04.960 they going to be in a couple of years, And 377 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.880 now it's just kind of like, Okay, I hope they 378 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:12.240 stick around to develop because college football's become such a 379 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:16.559 here and now, Spence. It's not about you know, you know, 380 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:19.559 being in a program two or three years in biding 381 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:22.240 your time. It's about, okay, how quickly you're going to 382 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:23.680 get on the field, or if I can't get on 383 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:25.279 the field, where can I go and get on the field? 384 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:25.519 Now? 385 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:26.359 Yeah? 386 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.680 Yeah, well okay, So let's just move on from it then, 387 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.880 because there's really nothing to dig into. And as I 388 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:33.400 tell our listeners, we'll continue to update John the breaking 389 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:35.400 news that comes down if any of us rolls our way, 390 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:39.119 but we do. We are at a spot now we're 391 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:41.440 waiting to hear who the play caller is going to 392 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:43.400 be next year as far as the OC. The offensive 393 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:46.480 coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who was the name that was kind 394 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:49.599 of floated out, ends up at Oklahoma after doing a 395 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:50.720 really good job on the polue. 396 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.759 So I'll just ask you any buzz you're. 397 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:55.000 Hearing anything about any names, any idea when we may 398 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.799 hear an announcement. 399 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:59.240 I think, well, I think it's the priority right now. 400 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:01.880 I mean I think the longer this goes, it feels 401 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:04.720 more and more to me like Kyle Whittingham's coming back. 402 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.799 I don't know, anything. 403 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:09.240 I honestly, people have I've been bombarded all day long 404 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:11.240 with text messages for the last four or five days. 405 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:13.960 Kyle's been very hush about it. He told me over 406 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.960 the weekend when we're in Orlander, he goes, hey, I'll 407 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.519 let you know if something changes. I'm like, great, thanks. 408 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.559 I haven't heard anything from him, so so I think 409 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:24.680 if we're going to play the car you know, it's 410 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.759 always there's not going to be a press conference. If 411 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:29.960 Kyle Whittingham comes back, might be a release says hey, 412 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:32.359 I'm back for a couple more years, whatever, But I'm 413 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:35.440 approaching this as business as usual. So to your point, 414 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:38.640 the offensive coordinator is the most important hire right now. 415 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:43.480 I do know that they coveted the Arbuckle oc from 416 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:46.400 Washington States, and a lot of people saw that connection. 417 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:50.119 And bringing the Materier kid his quarterback with him, well, 418 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:54.759 Oklahoma apparently swept in last second and must have made 419 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:58.319 him an offer he couldn't refuse. Because he's now in Norman, Oklahoma. 420 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:02.279 My guess is the quarterback Matier goes with him. So 421 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:05.559 now it's on to the next I'm reading a lot 422 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.160 of the same. 423 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.119 Stuff that you're reading. 424 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:10.720 I do know that this name, the mac Leftwich name 425 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:15.119 from Texas State is somebody I even heard a week 426 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:18.519 or two ago when our Buckle's name was starting to 427 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:21.240 come up too. He runs a really good offense. It's 428 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:23.519 they balanced offense. They throw it quite a bit, but 429 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:25.279 they run it as well at Texas State. 430 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.240 He's one of. 431 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:29.960 Those young and up and coming former college quarterbacks. Really 432 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.680 done some good things, one of those hot young names. 433 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:36.400 And people say Texas State. Well, Texas State's a pretty 434 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.799 good program, and he's had a lot of experience and 435 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:42.200 he's recruited Texas So I think that's a name to 436 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:45.519 keep an eye on. And then there's some other stuff 437 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:47.599 out there as well. I mean there's a guy at 438 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:50.960 Tulane to people like a lot. They've mentioned the ULV coach, 439 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:53.759 although he might have plans to go bigger or try 440 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:56.119 and get a head coaching job. But I think the 441 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:59.359 name that's intriguing to me right now is the OC 442 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:01.519 from Tech State, Mac Lethwich. 443 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:04.039 So you I want to follow up. 444 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.000 You touched on coach Wit, But I want to follow 445 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:08.000 up because of course, as you know, I mean, if 446 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:11.240 I'm getting text Ryle's, I can't imagine what your phone 447 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:15.359 is sounding like and looking like with everybody really wanting 448 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:17.119 to know what's going to happen. And I started the 449 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:21.079 show off today surmising that because there is no news, 450 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:24.839 I do believe that means he's coming back. And I 451 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:27.440 suppose the exception would be if he hasn't decided. But 452 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:30.279 that seems pretty anti Kyle to me. He's not a 453 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:33.319 wishy washy like emotional guy. He strikes me as the 454 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:35.519 type that would just decide and boom, move on to 455 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:38.440 whatever's next. And I don't think he would put Morgan 456 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:40.680 in a spot of ambiguity, and I don't think he 457 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.519 would put the program or Mark Harlan the ad in 458 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:45.920 a spot of like, okay, wondering what the deal is. 459 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:48.559 So for me, the fact that there is no news 460 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:50.960 does me and the coach wit will be back on 461 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.279 the sidelines for Utah. Is that kind of where your 462 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:55.200 head is at right now? Give me your thoughts on that. 463 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:59.200 Yeah, just because he's talked so much Spence about doing 464 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:03.440 what's best for the program, because it's it's his program. 465 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:06.119 He's done. He's sunk twenty years as head coach in 466 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:09.519 thirty years of his life at the University of Utah, 467 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:13.519 he is more synonymous with this football program than probably 468 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:16.279 any player that played for him over the last twenty years. 469 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:18.720 And he's talked in the last couple of weeks about 470 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.640 whatever his decision is, he was going to do the 471 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:25.559 best for the program. Well, holding out and making a 472 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:28.799 decision a week or ten days that isn't what's best 473 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:31.440 for the program. And at least in my mind, you know, 474 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:33.400 if you're going to make that decision, you make it, 475 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:36.000 You make that change, you let the new guy get in. 476 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:38.519 That's Morgan Scalley coach and waiting and go from there. 477 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:41.319 So the fact that we're sitting here on Wednesday, now, 478 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:43.480 maybe it has something to do with National Signing Day. 479 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.000 I don't know. 480 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:47.319 I don't think that's the case. But you know, it's 481 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:49.759 not as if you just started thinking about it Friday 482 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:52.720 after the game. It's probably been something he's been mulling 483 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:54.920 over for a little while. So the fact that we're 484 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:57.240 sitting here on Wednesday and we've really heard no news, 485 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:59.799 I'm kind of with you. I don't know this again, 486 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:03.839 no news you know, officially to Bill Riley. But my 487 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:07.599 inkling would be because he's talked about doing what's right 488 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:10.000 and what's best for the program. It kind of feels 489 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.720 like it's trending toward him returning. 490 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.799 Yeah, I'm with you on that, all right. 491 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:16.480 There was a rumor yesterday that Noah Flafida was hitting 492 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.400 the transfer portal. 493 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.720 That has been dispelled. 494 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:22.440 Noah's father told the ESPN that he's staying at Arizona. 495 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:24.599 I only bring it up, Bill, because yesterday I was 496 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:27.279 just kind of talking aloud about the possibility of you 497 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:30.519 tie hitting the transfer portal to find a quarterback. You 498 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:32.680 watched every game up close, You called all these games 499 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:35.519 up close. Do you feel like the answer under center 500 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:37.960 is in the room or in the transfer portal? 501 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:41.319 I think you probably have to go find somebody. Spence, 502 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.440 I do. 503 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:45.240 I think I like some of the stuff I saw 504 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.519 from Brandon Rose. 505 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:47.559 I do. 506 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:51.000 And Brandon's got a couple of years left of eligibility. 507 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:55.519 But you know, I to me, and it's really going 508 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:57.720 to be up to the new offensive coordinator, whoever that 509 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.720 happens to be, to evaluate with his room. 510 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.440 Look. 511 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:03.640 But I think the head coach knows they have to 512 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:06.880 have somebody, you know. I think Isaac Wilson could still 513 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:09.480 be a terrific quarterback. But Isaac Wilson was thrown into 514 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:12.440 a tough situation as a true freshman, and I think 515 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.400 it takes a little. 516 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.920 Time to marinate. 517 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:18.279 Hey, look at Dylan Ryola Spence who's at Nebraska. He 518 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:21.359 was supposed to be the second coming of Patrick Mahomes 519 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:25.039 this year and he's just been okay. He's had a 520 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:28.240 lot of downs and ups. I just think it's tough 521 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:32.559 at the power forward level as a true freshman without 522 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:36.680 any game experience to come in and be successful. So 523 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:39.559 I still think I'm still a guy that thinks Isaac 524 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:42.720 Wilson could be a big quarterback. But I think redshirting 525 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:46.519 for a year and maybe sitting back and looking and 526 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:48.240 watching would be very beneficial. 527 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.119 I think that was the plan. 528 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:52.039 I think the plan all along was sit and learn 529 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:54.960 from Cam Rising for a year, but obviously that went sideways. 530 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:57.920 So to me, I think you're probably going to shop 531 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.519 the portal and try and find somebody. 532 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.599 So as of now, I believe, at least from what 533 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:06.680 I understand today, and certainly pieces of news I could 534 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:09.839 have missed. But is it only Jalen Glover who said 535 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:12.680 the transfer portal from the utes or anybody else they've lost. 536 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.640 I feel like the. 537 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:15.680 Only name I've heard of note has been Jalen and 538 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:17.079 he left prior to the end of the season. 539 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:21.400 Yeah, I think I saw a couple of notes that 540 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:26.240 some not frontline guys, some guys that were maybe reserve players. 541 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.599 Maybe it hit the portal, but yeah, you're right, there's 542 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:32.920 been nobody of note that has hit the portal. In fact, 543 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:35.200 you've seen some of the guys on social media, the 544 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:39.319 Spencer Fanos and the cam Calhouns and the smith Snowdens, 545 00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:44.880 some of these really good, young, talented cornerstone pieces kind 546 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:47.720 of reaffirmed they're coming back. In twenty five, Logan Fano 547 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:50.720 did the same thing. So yeah, Glover hit it up. 548 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:52.920 You know, a week or so ago, I saw a 549 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:55.519 couple of you know, kind of reserve type players that 550 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:57.039 maybe did, but nobody of note. 551 00:25:57.799 --> 00:26:00.759 Well, that's excellent news, and obviously there's plenty of time. 552 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:03.920 The portal officially opens on the ninth. So here's how 553 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:06.240 I'll pose the question to you, Bill, what gives you 554 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:10.400 the most confidence that this year was an anomaly and 555 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:13.920 a moment in time as opposed to the new normal 556 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.599 for Utah. 557 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:19.480 Football because we haven't seen dips like this. It was 558 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:23.079 back to back. I mean a year ago. You know, 559 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:24.559 I teach the class up at the U and I 560 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:26.079 had one of the kids in my class the other 561 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:30.119 day make a presentation on Utah football and what it was, 562 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:33.279 and he brought up an interesting stat. Had Utah football's 563 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:36.920 offense simply averaged twenty four points a game this year, 564 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:40.640 they would have gone I think nine to three. Had 565 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:43.000 they averaged twenty eight points a game this year, I 566 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:45.400 think he said, they would have gone ten and two. 567 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:49.839 Twenty eight points and twenty four points are double digit 568 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:53.279 points lower than what they averaged the two years they 569 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.880 won the Pac twelve championship. 570 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:57.599 It just hasn't been like this. 571 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:00.599 I think injuries and attrition and and a little bit 572 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:04.359 of bad luck haved befallen this team. The defense was 573 00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:08.200 still outstanding. They were in every game in the fourth quarter, 574 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:11.680 with the exception of I think the Colorado game where 575 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:15.240 they were double digits down there. But besides that, they 576 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:19.160 were in every game. Just some pretty average quarterback play. 577 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:22.160 This year, Spence and Utah would have been I'm not 578 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.720 going to say would have won the Pack. I don't 579 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:25.680 know if they would have won the Big twelve, but 580 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:29.839 averaged to slightly above average quarterback play, and they would 581 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:32.599 have been in that discussion last weekend with BYU and 582 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:37.400 ASU and in Colorado and Iowa State. So that to 583 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:40.799 me says there's still a lot of talent in the program, 584 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:43.559 but they've got to get it fixed at the most 585 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:45.359 important position, which. 586 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.200 Leads me to Cameron. 587 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:49.440 Of course, when Coach Witt was asked about Cam potentially 588 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:52.680 coming back for year number eight, which is just it's 589 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:55.000 so crazy to think about the potential, but that's the 590 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:58.880 deal now, Kyle said it's up to him. I wonder 591 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:02.759 what Kyle would do if Cam called him and said, hey, 592 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:04.400 I got to talk to you and rolled into the 593 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:07.119 coach's office and said I've thought about it. There's some 594 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:09.240 Nile money out there, and I've decided to come back 595 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:12.000 for your aid. If we take Kyle at his word, 596 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:13.839 he just opens the door, right, Like, what do you 597 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:16.240 think Coach Wit does if that scenario presents. 598 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:19.960 Itself That I don't know, because I don't. 599 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:24.680 It's hard to you know, after back to back seasons, 600 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:27.960 we're Cam. I mean, Cam's been here five years and 601 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:32.480 he has been hurt season ending injuries in three of 602 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:36.200 those five years. We all forget the COVID year where 603 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:39.920 he hurt his shoulder in that USC first second game 604 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:42.240 of the year, and then of course you had the 605 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:44.720 end of the Rose Bowl, and then he missed the 606 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:48.640 entire season and then this year too. That's a lot 607 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:51.920 of track record of injury to bring back. I'm not 608 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:54.599 saying somebody wouldn't give him a chance. I'm not even 609 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:57.880 saying Utah wouldn't. But boy, you really have to weigh 610 00:28:57.880 --> 00:29:00.680 that because you see guys all the time. Once you 611 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:04.640 start getting hurt, that tends to be your kind of 612 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:07.839 tells you the body is just not taking and recovering 613 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:09.880 the same way it used to. So I think it'd 614 00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:12.599 be a really tough decision, and I wouldn't want to 615 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:14.880 hazard a guess as to what Kyle and his staff 616 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:17.400 will do again, though, I think it's up to the 617 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:20.920 offensive coordinator too. Spence, you're bringing in an offensive coordinator, 618 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:23.839 and in theory Kyle said, it's got to be a 619 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:26.039 guy that's running a new and different system. It's got 620 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:29.640 to be plug and play. The new OC has to 621 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:32.400 be on board with who his QB is because that's 622 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:35.480 the most important position on the field. So I would 623 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:37.960 think it would be a kind of a co op 624 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:41.200 decision between head coach and OC as to whether they 625 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:41.880 brought him back. 626 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.799 You know the other thing, Bill and I don't know 627 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.640 how much meat is on this bone, but I did 628 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:49.400 hear several people surmise last year that the fact that 629 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:53.720 Cameron was coming back potentially may have scared some quarterback 630 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:57.000 prospects to play, you know, wanting to come play here 631 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:58.920 because they simply didn't want to be as backup. 632 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.720 Those are just rumors. 633 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:03.000 I have no idea, But I think the other side 634 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:05.599 of it is, if Utah wants to be aggressive in 635 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:08.160 the transfer portal to go get one of these topshell 636 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:10.079 off qbs to be here for a year or two, 637 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:13.200 it might just be better for both parties to say, hey, 638 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:15.279 thanks for the memories, but you walk that way, I'll 639 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:17.680 walk this way and we part in love type thing. 640 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:19.440 I mean, that's just kind of what my gut tells me. 641 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:22.640 Well, yeah, I mean, if you're if you're serious about 642 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:25.799 shopping in the portal for a bit, nobody that's no 643 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:29.119 Noah fa Fido or John Mattier is coming here that 644 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:32.079 they're coming here to be the guy that that's what 645 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:34.559 they're coming here to be. They're coming here to be 646 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:39.799 the starting quarterback and they've got a chance to you know, again, everybody, 647 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.720 I understand you've got to win the job in fall 648 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:45.160 camp blah blah blah. But but it's the unwitten wink wink. 649 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:47.000 As long as you show up and play hard, you're 650 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:50.119 you're gonna That's that's the thing. So you've got to 651 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:52.559 really make your choice. If you're Utah, you're either bringing 652 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:55.319 Cam Rising back or you're going in the portal and 653 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:59.079 shopping for a big time you know, transfer quarterback. 654 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.880 Yeah, the only time will tell. 655 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:02.519 Okay, one more football thing, then I want to do 656 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:05.799 a little basketball with you. We got Saint Mary's on Saturday, 657 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:09.000 which should be an interesting test for Craig. And look, 658 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.960 I honestly don't know if there's anything to hear, but 659 00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:14.759 I do know that BYU year one of the Big 660 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:17.960 twelve talked a lot about the lessons they learned in 661 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:21.839 their first year in the conference. Now, the main difference 662 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:25.519 here and real important line of delineation is Utah football 663 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:28.319 played a decade of P five football, then P four 664 00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:32.240 football now with the PAC twelve, and BYU football independent 665 00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:34.759 was not a P four P five program. They did 666 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:37.160 not have that schedule year and in year out. So the 667 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:40.519 one year adjustment period for them just makes more sense 668 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:42.799 in my mind than it would for Utah. But are 669 00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:46.400 there lessons to be learned for Utah football year one 670 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:49.960 in a new conference? So maybe Utah next year, like 671 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:52.839 BYU year two, can turn some of those close losses 672 00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:55.599 into wins and then be potentially looking to be in 673 00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:57.119 the race for the conference championship. 674 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.799 Is there any meat on that bone? 675 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:02.640 I think there's small lessons Spence, and I think it's 676 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:07.640 more specific to opponents or venues or styles of play. 677 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:11.279 But to be fair, I don't I don't think that 678 00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:13.799 the Big I think the Big twelve was very competitive, 679 00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:17.359 but I don't think it was any better a league, 680 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:20.279 or certainly at the top, than what Utah saw for 681 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:23.319 thirteen years in the Pac twelve. I don't think there 682 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:26.559 was a roster adjustment or a talent level. I don't 683 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:29.240 think there was a disparity in talent between the two 684 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:32.920 leagues by any means. So if there were any lessons, 685 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:36.839 they were maybe smaller lessons about opponents in particular, or 686 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:39.839 how coaches liked the coach against. You were styles of 687 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:41.119 play more than anything else. 688 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.839 You saw both teams up close. Who do you like? 689 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:46.599 Iowa State Arizona State coming up Saturday in Arlington. 690 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:51.000 I think I like Arizona State. It kind of feels 691 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:53.279 like a team of destiny this year. It kind of 692 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:57.839 feels like Kenny Dillingham has found something there. 693 00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.319 I like Levit a lot. 694 00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:02.599 That being said, I did say this, I think Iowa 695 00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:06.680 State is the most balanced team Utah played this year, 696 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:09.119 may have been the best team on both sides of 697 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:12.240 the ball. But I think Arizona State's kind of playing 698 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:15.599 with the purpose and they've got that proverbial you know, 699 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:18.599 that that that the horseshoe up their rear end just 700 00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:21.200 a little bit, getting some breaks and playing hard. And 701 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:24.319 I like Kenny Dillingham too, so I think it's gonna 702 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:26.000 be a good game. I don't think either one of 703 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:28.599 those teams are greatly better than the other, but I'll take. 704 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.759 A issue, all right. 705 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:32.039 Last thing that I'll set you loose Saint Mary's roles 706 00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:35.519 into town Saturday night. Should be a fun preseason test 707 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:37.920 for Craig's team. They're six and one through seven. The 708 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:41.519 one l is to Mississippi State. I've been intentionally watching 709 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:43.920 a lot of Big twelve basketball, and I know Craig, 710 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:46.880 and I love this about Craig's attitude. He wants to challenge, Well, 711 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:49.440 he's going to get the challenge, because, my goodness, it 712 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:52.880 is deep, and even even the teams that aren'tranked in 713 00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:56.240 the top twenty five are really really high caliber. BYU 714 00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:59.480 get smoked last night against Providence, But give us an 715 00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:03.000 update of progress report through seven games on this basketball team, 716 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:05.880 and what's a reasonable expectation, not just Saturday night, but 717 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:07.480 throughout the course of the rest of the season. 718 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:09.400 I've been saying this for a while. 719 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:11.280 This is a this is a good team. 720 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:14.599 I think they're gonna outplay their preseason expectations by what. 721 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:18.559 I don't know yet, but they're six and one right now. 722 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.480 Spence. They lost. 723 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:22.880 Their one loss was a neutral court loss in Mississippi 724 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:25.840 to Mississippi State. But I do maintain have lost and 725 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:29.400 Lovering played that game, they would not have lost that game. 726 00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:32.079 They got beat seventy eight to seventy three. In that game, 727 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:34.960 they were playing four guards and they had they were 728 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:37.280 small ball all day long in a bunch of foul trouble. 729 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.519 I think they're seven to zh If they have that now, 730 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:41.920 they're gonna need Lovering and a little bit of Zach Keller. 731 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:43.719 They're gonna need their size. 732 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:47.079 And their big boy bridges on Saturday because Saint Mary's 733 00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:50.639 is tough. They're eight and one. Their only loss was 734 00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:53.760 to ASU and a close one. They leave the nation 735 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:58.199 and offensive rebounding. NBA fans out there will be interested. 736 00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:02.039 The great sharonas Marshall Owe. His son Augustus is the 737 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:05.920 stud for this Saint Mary's team. But they're balanced and 738 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:07.519 it's what Randy Bennett always does. 739 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:07.880 Spence. 740 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:10.599 He's got a bunch of big bodies that will just 741 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:12.800 bang in the front court and got good guard plays. 742 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:15.880 So this will be the best non conference game for 743 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:18.559 Utah by far, and the best game of the Huntsman 744 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:22.559 Center till Big Twelve's play begins in Utah's got great 745 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:25.760 depth and they can really shoot it too. They've got 746 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:27.840 five guys who can shoot it, a couple of guys 747 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.719 coming off the bench. 748 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:32.639 But to me, the one thing if they can keep. 749 00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:35.559 Saint Mary's off the Saint Mary's has twice as many 750 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:38.519 offensive rebounds as their opponents this year. They lead the 751 00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:41.119 nation in offensive rebounding. You can keep them a little 752 00:35:41.159 --> 00:35:43.840 bit off the offensive glass. I think they could beat 753 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:45.760 Saint Mary's. I think it'll be a great game though. 754 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:48.159 All right, my guy, I appreciate the time on a Wednesday, 755 00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:49.960 still waiting for you to roll in the studio and 756 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:51.880 hang out with us at some point, so let's do 757 00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:52.280 that soon. 758 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:54.639 Okay, sounds good, Spence, thanks all right. 759 00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:57.280 The Voice of the Utes, Bill Riley, brought to you 760 00:35:57.320 --> 00:35:59.920 today by Big O' Tires, is their extended Black Friday. 761 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:02.400 It ends on December the eighth. 762 00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:05.880 You're bringing Zach Harper today little NBA Daily Assist style 763 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:09.400 Ali Matza, who just was called up to represent Finland 764 00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:11.199 from the Utah Hockey Club. 765 00:36:11.239 --> 00:36:12.320 We'll stop by a little. 766 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:14.880 Bit later on as well. Start things off with the 767 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:18.480 Voice of the Utes, Bill Riley. It is early signing Day, 768 00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:21.280 a day that does not hit near the way it 769 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:23.599 used to as a result of the transfer portal, because 770 00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:25.639 so many of these kids who have signed the play 771 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:29.159 for these local teams may never even play here because 772 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:31.719 they could get an offer to go elsewhere. A transfer 773 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:34.199 portal officially opens up on December the ninth, but a 774 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:37.239 lot of players have already announced their intention. No news 775 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:41.400 yet on either the offensive coordinator or an official announcement 776 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:43.440 for coach with which leads me to believe that he's 777 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:46.639 coming back, but live in studio for an entire hour. 778 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:49.679 My buddy, Richard Smith on a Wednesday, Smitty, happy Wednesday. 779 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:54.719 How are you? Let's turn his mic on? No, there 780 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:56.679 we go. It probably works better for your ratings. 781 00:36:57.400 --> 00:37:00.000 Well, I mean, as I often say, my Christmas wish 782 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:02.480 as a radio host is the ability to control microphones 783 00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:03.000 in the studio. 784 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:05.719 But that's probably too much to How are you. How 785 00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:06.239 are you, buddy? 786 00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:09.119 We're doing great. Yeah, we're doing just a beautiful day outside. 787 00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:13.239 And we had a great Thanksgiving weekend last week, as 788 00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:15.320 as I know you did back east and with your 789 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:17.840 family and uh, you know, it's all good. 790 00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:19.360 Good to be back east. 791 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:24.559 And for you, you spent the holiday vacationing in the 792 00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:25.760 happiest place on earth. 793 00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:28.719 Was this was big time spent. We were down. 794 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:32.239 We were down to Disneyland for four glorious days. And 795 00:37:32.280 --> 00:37:34.280 I'll tell you what, when you're in the middle of 796 00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:36.360 Disneyland and I did not know this. This is the 797 00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:40.079 first time that Linda and I've ever done this with 798 00:37:40.159 --> 00:37:44.519 some friends. But they when you're there, you if you 799 00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:46.480 don't know anything else that's going on in the world, 800 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:48.719 you would make the assumption. Well, I guess in the 801 00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:53.039 United States, they don't have the traditional family get together 802 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:57.440 around the table at home now anymore. Everybody just goes 803 00:37:57.480 --> 00:38:00.480 to Disneyland, jam packed. Oh it was walder people. 804 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:01.239 Yeah, and it was. 805 00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:04.679 But the weather was good and we had a fun time. 806 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:08.000 It was a different experience for us. And yeah, yeah, 807 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:09.239 we had a lot of fun. It was great. 808 00:38:09.320 --> 00:38:11.480 So we'll get to the Jazz in a moment, because 809 00:38:12.320 --> 00:38:12.840 my goodness. 810 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:16.239 But I wanted to ask you this today, and you know, 811 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:18.079 I want to be very clear here. I don't know 812 00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:20.400 what coach Wit is going to do. I just feel like, 813 00:38:21.639 --> 00:38:24.199 because there has been no official announcement, it leads me 814 00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:26.159 to believe he's coming back. I mean, right now, it's 815 00:38:26.199 --> 00:38:29.000 early signing day. They're so busy with recruiting and transfer 816 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:32.280 portal and such. I think if he was going to 817 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:36.039 step aside, we would know by now. But I wonder 818 00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:38.000 if you could illuminate us a little bit, what are 819 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:40.280 some of the things you kind of balance out when 820 00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:42.480 you know, you saw a lot of coaches come and go, 821 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:46.679 and when you're in admittedly the late fall, early winter 822 00:38:46.760 --> 00:38:48.280 of your career, what are some of the things you 823 00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:50.800 balance out when you want to decide whether or not 824 00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:51.559 you want to keep going. 825 00:38:51.719 --> 00:38:53.800 Yeah, when you have a year like the youths had 826 00:38:53.840 --> 00:38:56.199 this year, I think the most important thing for them 827 00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:59.239 is to be able to step back and take a 828 00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:02.519 deep breath and and get a little perspective. 829 00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:03.039 On on what happened. 830 00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:05.000 You know, when you were in the middle of that 831 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:09.039 that tornado that they were in, and and that downhill 832 00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:12.480 slide in the in October November. Uh, you know, a 833 00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:14.559 lot of things come at you and and you have 834 00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:18.079 a lot of different thoughts about any time anything goes wrong, 835 00:39:18.199 --> 00:39:23.360 it's it's just exacerbated and and overblown. So when you 836 00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:25.800 get to the end of the season, you want to 837 00:39:25.800 --> 00:39:28.559 be able to step back and and and step away 838 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:30.960 from it for a little bit and try and and 839 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:33.760 and get away and just clear your head and kind 840 00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:36.079 of look at it for what it what it really was, 841 00:39:37.039 --> 00:39:39.480 without all of that drama that that you were in 842 00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:42.599 the middle of. And I agree, I tend to agree 843 00:39:42.599 --> 00:39:46.360 with you, Spence. I don't know anything about anything regarding 844 00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:49.800 UH coach Whittingham and his thoughts and and and the 845 00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:54.239 program going forward, but it just feels like if they 846 00:39:54.280 --> 00:39:57.800 were if it was gonna be something around the deal 847 00:39:57.840 --> 00:40:01.679 of him leaving, that they probably would done it already 848 00:40:01.719 --> 00:40:05.039 early this week, just to cut it clean and let 849 00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:08.239 everybody know, Hey, so don't bother us again. We'll give 850 00:40:08.280 --> 00:40:11.119 you some more updates kind of thing. And uh, it 851 00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:13.679 just you know, But then again, maybe he's you know, 852 00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:17.480 maybe he's off on some uh some island somewhere for 853 00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:19.920 a week, you know, trying to get his head clear. 854 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:22.880 I'm sure with the with the early signing date and 855 00:40:22.920 --> 00:40:25.440 all that, that probably you're just the opposite with their 856 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:27.920 heads down and in the office trying to get those 857 00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:31.079 kinds of things locked down for their program. But but 858 00:40:31.159 --> 00:40:33.440 it just it feels like to me also that that 859 00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:36.840 just as a fan, that that you probably would have 860 00:40:36.920 --> 00:40:40.239 heard something else if there was something in that regard 861 00:40:40.360 --> 00:40:42.920 going on. So my my gut also tells me that 862 00:40:43.320 --> 00:40:46.480 when the dust settles, there won't be uh, there won't 863 00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:48.880 be anything. They'll just be business as usual and they'll 864 00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:52.239 be looking for an offensive coordinator obviously, and then uh 865 00:40:52.360 --> 00:40:55.239 and then just going on with that would be my guess. 866 00:40:55.559 --> 00:40:57.679 Yeah, And I'm with you there. And Kyle also doesn't 867 00:40:57.719 --> 00:41:00.239 strike me as a wishy, washy guy. I mean, He 868 00:41:00.280 --> 00:41:03.760 seems to be a pretty pragmatic person, where like, if 869 00:41:03.800 --> 00:41:05.719 he knew he was going to leave, I think he 870 00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:08.320 just would have told everybody and then moved on right 871 00:41:08.360 --> 00:41:11.719 to whatever's next. But you do have some context with 872 00:41:11.840 --> 00:41:16.119 college coaches that you know over the years that have 873 00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:18.840 just elected to not deal with the new reality of 874 00:41:18.880 --> 00:41:21.719 college athletics. And we've seen examples in college football. Nick 875 00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:25.559 Saban's the biggest one. Others too, Tony Bennett, who won 876 00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:27.960 a national championship right before the year. 877 00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:30.039 It's like, yeah, you know what, I don't think I 878 00:41:30.039 --> 00:41:30.639 want to deal with this. 879 00:41:30.840 --> 00:41:33.519 So while I do believe Kyle's coming back, part of 880 00:41:33.559 --> 00:41:36.000 me wouldn't blame him if he's like, you know what, 881 00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:39.159 this is a new game. It's not the game that 882 00:41:39.239 --> 00:41:41.760 I signed up to coach. It's not the business that 883 00:41:41.800 --> 00:41:44.760 I signed up to lead. Because as a college football coach, 884 00:41:44.800 --> 00:41:46.840 you're a CEO. You're not just a coach. There are 885 00:41:46.880 --> 00:41:48.719 so many layers, and yes, now a lot of them 886 00:41:48.760 --> 00:41:52.159 have general managers and guys that can help him out 887 00:41:52.280 --> 00:41:55.599 run the program. But the new reality of college athletics 888 00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:58.079 seems to have really struck a lot of these old 889 00:41:58.079 --> 00:41:59.320 school coaches in a way. 890 00:41:59.360 --> 00:42:01.280 Where some of them just don't want to deal with it. 891 00:42:01.360 --> 00:42:04.639 Yeah, well that happened, I know, last week with Mac 892 00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:07.559 Brown in North Carolina, a longtime coach and won a 893 00:42:07.639 --> 00:42:10.519 national championship when he was at Texas. Has had two 894 00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:14.000 successful stints at the University of North Carolina as they 895 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:16.880 had football coach, but they they decided to let him 896 00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:21.119 go last week before their their final game with NC State, 897 00:42:21.159 --> 00:42:22.719 And then they had the game with their and they 898 00:42:22.760 --> 00:42:26.199 and they lost, and and in his postgame press conference 899 00:42:26.239 --> 00:42:28.880 he said, yeah, I'm done, and he goes, this isn't uh, 900 00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:31.239 and he made reference to just the whole thing in general, 901 00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:34.039 not just his his situation, but when he said, this 902 00:42:34.119 --> 00:42:37.159 isn't this isn't the the game that I signed up for, 903 00:42:37.599 --> 00:42:40.400 you know, way back when this is it's all different now, 904 00:42:40.679 --> 00:42:44.039 and so this is probably a good timing for everybody 905 00:42:44.320 --> 00:42:47.079 and for me to to exit stage left, and and 906 00:42:47.159 --> 00:42:49.360 for them to you know, to bring in somebody else. 907 00:42:49.400 --> 00:42:52.079 And hey, Jay Wright did it last year, right, and 908 00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:54.360 he had won two national championships. And we know our 909 00:42:54.400 --> 00:42:57.800 good friend up the road, Randy Ray, got out Weaver 910 00:42:57.920 --> 00:43:00.559 State a couple of years earlier than he he had 911 00:43:00.599 --> 00:43:01.519 originally planned. 912 00:43:01.519 --> 00:43:04.000 In terms of his career plans. 913 00:43:03.559 --> 00:43:05.559 Because he just thought, you know, he saw this, all 914 00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:07.480 this stuff coming and said, I don't want to I 915 00:43:07.480 --> 00:43:09.519 don't want to deal with this, and especially at a 916 00:43:09.559 --> 00:43:12.440 place like Weaver State, which is a mid major, which 917 00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:15.400 you know is gonna have trouble competing with nil kinds 918 00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:18.119 of stuff, you know, with with the biggest programs and 919 00:43:18.119 --> 00:43:21.000 and that kind of thing. So I'm surprised that that 920 00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:24.000 that we don't see more of the coaches. I guess 921 00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:26.280 you know, when you're in it, you you like what 922 00:43:26.320 --> 00:43:29.159 you're doing, and it changes and you have to adapt 923 00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:31.639 and and coach Witt said this, I know in one 924 00:43:31.639 --> 00:43:34.639 of his recent press conferences that hey, whether you like 925 00:43:34.679 --> 00:43:36.880 it or not, whether you agree with it or not, 926 00:43:37.880 --> 00:43:40.360 whether it works for you or not, you know, the 927 00:43:40.360 --> 00:43:43.159 bottom line is if you're in in the business, then 928 00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:46.400 you just have to adapt and figure out how to 929 00:43:46.440 --> 00:43:48.920 make it work to the best of your your ability. 930 00:43:49.159 --> 00:43:53.119 And so that's something that that you know, probably uh 931 00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:55.199 would come into play if you were to make some 932 00:43:55.320 --> 00:43:59.280 decision to uh, you know, to get out now, you know, 933 00:43:59.440 --> 00:44:02.360 just because all of that, and it seems Spence that 934 00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:05.559 it's evolving and changing all the time, like there's not 935 00:44:05.719 --> 00:44:10.480 a set path that everybody's going down. It's always diverging, 936 00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:13.960 it's always going left or right, and uh, different things 937 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:16.599 are happening, and the you know, the transfer portal, and 938 00:44:16.599 --> 00:44:19.960 and I heard on the OC Show earlier they're talking 939 00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:23.239 about just the and with You with Bill Riley just 940 00:44:23.239 --> 00:44:27.199 in the last segment about the early signing day and 941 00:44:27.239 --> 00:44:30.440 the fact that it really doesn't carry as much impetus 942 00:44:30.480 --> 00:44:33.199 or weight now as it used to with fans and 943 00:44:33.280 --> 00:44:36.400 the media in general, because how much does it matter 944 00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:39.119 because the kid, the kid says, yeah, I'm. 945 00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:39.599 Signing with you. 946 00:44:39.679 --> 00:44:42.239 Utah, Yeah, thanks a lot, Okay, okay, and then a 947 00:44:42.239 --> 00:44:45.000 month from now he says, oh, I changed my mind. 948 00:44:45.039 --> 00:44:47.800 I'm going to USC instead, you know, like they can 949 00:44:47.880 --> 00:44:50.079 do that, and so it really doesn't matter. 950 00:44:50.239 --> 00:44:54.559 And so that's the hard part I would think the coaches. 951 00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:57.519 Are dealing with is is how do we get somebody 952 00:44:57.840 --> 00:45:00.880 how do we then hold on to them because there's 953 00:45:00.920 --> 00:45:05.440 really not a contractual type situation at this time in 954 00:45:05.519 --> 00:45:09.159 college at college athletics where you can get a commitment 955 00:45:09.440 --> 00:45:12.639 and then have it be binding and have to have 956 00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:16.119 someone have to stay like you do in the professional ranks, 957 00:45:16.119 --> 00:45:17.239 where you signed contracts. 958 00:45:17.360 --> 00:45:17.559 Yeah. 959 00:45:17.719 --> 00:45:19.639 And you know, we had a guest on yesterday named 960 00:45:19.639 --> 00:45:23.199 Matt Brown who writes a college football newsletter called Extra Points, 961 00:45:23.239 --> 00:45:27.880 and Matt is a very bright guy who essentially creates 962 00:45:27.920 --> 00:45:31.320 content to help people understand the new business of college football, 963 00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:35.280 like college football issues off the field, and right now, 964 00:45:35.320 --> 00:45:41.440 it's it's it's pretty crazy that essentially the nil contracts 965 00:45:41.519 --> 00:45:43.920 or whatever you want to call them, are created by 966 00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:48.159 legal teams from member institutions. There's no uniformity, there's no 967 00:45:48.239 --> 00:45:51.760 governing body. So University of I'm not saying they're doing this, 968 00:45:51.800 --> 00:45:54.840 but the University of Utah could have their legal team 969 00:45:54.880 --> 00:45:57.480 put together a contract for a player to sign and 970 00:45:57.639 --> 00:46:00.239 essentially say, hey, there's a stipulation in this contract that 971 00:46:00.280 --> 00:46:02.400 you can't transfer for a couple of years or whatever, 972 00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:05.800 and the player, can you give them a double bird 973 00:46:05.880 --> 00:46:08.159 and go down and sign a BYU because BYU doesn't 974 00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:14.360 have that stipulation. For me, Smitty, every issue that keeps 975 00:46:14.400 --> 00:46:17.639 popping up with collegiate athletics can be solved with one thing, 976 00:46:17.679 --> 00:46:20.320 and that is moving into the pro model allowing the 977 00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:23.559 players to unionize collectively bargain with the powers that be. 978 00:46:24.039 --> 00:46:25.840 The problem is who are the powers to be right now? 979 00:46:25.920 --> 00:46:29.119 Like football wants to break away from the NCAA, but 980 00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:32.000 the problem is there's so much red tape between here 981 00:46:32.119 --> 00:46:35.320 and there in that finish line. University presidents aren't interested 982 00:46:35.360 --> 00:46:39.960 in having their athletes be employees because of all those implications. 983 00:46:40.320 --> 00:46:42.840 I still believe that's the one solution, though. Do you 984 00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:45.360 think people would have an issue at this point? It 985 00:46:45.400 --> 00:46:47.159 doesn't feel like they would have an issue because there's 986 00:46:47.159 --> 00:46:50.440 so many problems. But you think the people that consume 987 00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:53.920 collegiate athletics would have an issue if they just unapologetically 988 00:46:54.039 --> 00:46:55.159 leaned into the pro model. 989 00:46:55.400 --> 00:46:56.440 Well, I think that. 990 00:46:57.079 --> 00:46:58.440 I don't think the fans are going to have a 991 00:46:58.440 --> 00:47:02.320 problem with it as long as your your team gets 992 00:47:02.360 --> 00:47:06.639 the guy that they want. I mean, it's but you 993 00:47:06.639 --> 00:47:10.199 know what's interesting is I saw I think a couple 994 00:47:10.199 --> 00:47:14.480 weeks ago, uh, one of the ESPN broadcasters had done 995 00:47:14.599 --> 00:47:19.559 a recent game with Williams and Amherst uh Division three 996 00:47:19.880 --> 00:47:23.440 football programs back in Massachusetts the you and I are 997 00:47:23.440 --> 00:47:26.840 familiar with, and Uh, they don't have scholarships, they don't 998 00:47:26.880 --> 00:47:29.320 have all this kind of you know, n I L 999 00:47:29.480 --> 00:47:32.039 kind of stuff going on at that level. He said, 1000 00:47:32.079 --> 00:47:34.519 he went, went, was part invited to the game, went 1001 00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:38.639 and did the game. Uh saw experience that on the 1002 00:47:38.639 --> 00:47:42.119 small college level. And then afterwards the you know the 1003 00:47:42.199 --> 00:47:44.519 team from from Williams. When they win, they have a 1004 00:47:44.760 --> 00:47:46.920 in that big rivalry game, they have all the whole 1005 00:47:46.960 --> 00:47:50.280 team marches up the hill that goes through campus, goes 1006 00:47:50.320 --> 00:47:54.159 through town and h and everybody rallies around them. And 1007 00:47:54.159 --> 00:47:58.440 he said it was such a great old style collegiate experience. 1008 00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:02.480 And you know, I wonder if if at some point, 1009 00:48:03.000 --> 00:48:05.239 you know, fans will go, well, yeah, well I can 1010 00:48:05.280 --> 00:48:06.280 go to Utah games. 1011 00:48:06.320 --> 00:48:07.840 I can't go to b y U games. 1012 00:48:07.880 --> 00:48:10.559 But you know, these guys are just you know, they're 1013 00:48:10.639 --> 00:48:13.039 they're getting paid like money, and they're getting paid more 1014 00:48:13.079 --> 00:48:16.119 than I work at my job, and their eighteen year 1015 00:48:16.119 --> 00:48:19.519 old kids playing basketball or playing wide receiver on the 1016 00:48:19.519 --> 00:48:22.559 football team, whatever it is. And I don't know how 1017 00:48:22.639 --> 00:48:24.920 much interest I have in that, especially if they keep 1018 00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:27.920 raising my ticket prices. I'll just go to watch the 1019 00:48:28.599 --> 00:48:32.719 guys over at Westminster play play basketball, right Or yeah, 1020 00:48:32.800 --> 00:48:36.639 I'll go out to Solely Community College and watch the 1021 00:48:36.079 --> 00:48:39.679 the the women's softball team, which is you know, highly 1022 00:48:39.760 --> 00:48:41.920 competitive and all that kind of stuff. And and get 1023 00:48:41.920 --> 00:48:44.760 my fixed that way. It's really it's really gonna be interesting. 1024 00:48:44.800 --> 00:48:49.079 I think the fans. What's gonna happen is when as 1025 00:48:49.119 --> 00:48:52.920 this continues with the nil stuff and the money that's 1026 00:48:52.960 --> 00:48:57.239 involved with with that, a student athletes, how it affects 1027 00:48:57.280 --> 00:49:02.440 your ticket prices and how it affects you actually attending games. Uh, 1028 00:49:02.639 --> 00:49:05.119 is gonna be a big deal because you know, this year, 1029 00:49:05.559 --> 00:49:09.599 trying to go to Utah football games is was was 1030 00:49:10.679 --> 00:49:15.039 really really astounding to me. The prices that that you 1031 00:49:15.079 --> 00:49:16.920 were looking at to try and go to a game, 1032 00:49:17.119 --> 00:49:19.679 and that's what one game, and and have a lot 1033 00:49:19.719 --> 00:49:23.159 of people who are paying season ticket prices and seat 1034 00:49:23.280 --> 00:49:26.639 licenses and and uh and that kind of stuff and 1035 00:49:26.719 --> 00:49:29.599 Crimson Club dues and all those those kind of things. 1036 00:49:29.679 --> 00:49:33.039 At some point, there's a saturation point where the fan 1037 00:49:33.239 --> 00:49:36.440 is gonna say that's enough. I'm not I'm out, you know, 1038 00:49:36.800 --> 00:49:40.679 unless your team runs a table and has a year 1039 00:49:40.719 --> 00:49:44.320 like b YU had in football. Right, Otherwise, if you're 1040 00:49:44.400 --> 00:49:48.719 middling around, it's really going to be tough to to 1041 00:49:48.760 --> 00:49:50.360 hold on to the fan base that you have. 1042 00:49:51.079 --> 00:49:53.679 All right, let's move over to some NBA stuff, and 1043 00:49:53.719 --> 00:49:57.599 I have a big picture NBA topic before we get 1044 00:49:57.639 --> 00:49:59.920 into some jazz stuff. And I'm really interested to get 1045 00:50:00.239 --> 00:50:07.440 take because the highest rated television NBA Finals nineteen ninety eight. 1046 00:50:08.199 --> 00:50:11.159 You were there, I was there, Jazz Bowls. 1047 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:17.360 At its peak, it was essentially thirty five point eight 1048 00:50:17.519 --> 00:50:20.000 million viewers that Sunday night game, which is a twenty 1049 00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:23.280 two point three rating, So thirty five point eight nine 1050 00:50:23.280 --> 00:50:27.119 million viewers is a massive, massive number. The highest rated 1051 00:50:27.320 --> 00:50:30.679 NBA Finals game from last year was Game four Celtics 1052 00:50:30.760 --> 00:50:34.480 MAVs nine excuse me, eleven point four to three million viewers. 1053 00:50:34.920 --> 00:50:37.920 That's the highest rated game. And we're talking about nineteen 1054 00:50:37.960 --> 00:50:41.159 million less then, And to be fair, the highest rated 1055 00:50:41.239 --> 00:50:44.400 NBA Finals, which was Jazz Bowls, Jordan's last dance, all 1056 00:50:44.400 --> 00:50:49.519 that stuff, and during the mid to late nineties, pro 1057 00:50:49.679 --> 00:50:53.280 basketball never passed the NFL, but it was throwing punches 1058 00:50:53.320 --> 00:50:55.800 with it. There was a legitimate debate like what's the 1059 00:50:55.840 --> 00:50:57.800 most popular sport in America? 1060 00:50:58.559 --> 00:50:59.679 Is it basketball or football? 1061 00:50:59.719 --> 00:51:02.079 And while football was the answer then continues to be 1062 00:51:02.079 --> 00:51:06.480 the answer. Now the gap is huge. The other night 1063 00:51:07.440 --> 00:51:11.679 one point nine mil for the TNT, that was the 1064 00:51:11.679 --> 00:51:14.280 biggest number TNT pulled the other night, one point nine mil. 1065 00:51:14.360 --> 00:51:17.480 That's down seven percent year over year. Why do you 1066 00:51:17.519 --> 00:51:20.199 think people are tuning out NBA basketball games? Why do 1067 00:51:20.199 --> 00:51:22.159 you think the ratings are dipping so hard? 1068 00:51:22.280 --> 00:51:26.039 Well, I think there's a couple of reasons spents. 1069 00:51:26.119 --> 00:51:29.559 Right on the surface, One is that there are so 1070 00:51:29.679 --> 00:51:34.719 many other options now, and and the generation now that's 1071 00:51:34.760 --> 00:51:39.880 younger than we are been brought up with accessibility to 1072 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:43.840 anything they want any time they want online uh and 1073 00:51:43.920 --> 00:51:48.480 streaming services and so uh. Getting people to focus in 1074 00:51:48.559 --> 00:51:51.639 on one thing, you know, like an NBA game, Even 1075 00:51:51.679 --> 00:51:54.639 if you're a basketball fan, you have so many other 1076 00:51:54.719 --> 00:51:57.960 outlets and so many other options to do. Unless there's 1077 00:51:58.000 --> 00:52:02.519 something that's really compelling at that moment to attract your attention, 1078 00:52:03.159 --> 00:52:07.000 You've got all these other things that you can go 1079 00:52:07.039 --> 00:52:11.639 and spend your time doing. Another reason I think personally 1080 00:52:12.280 --> 00:52:15.079 is that I don't think the NBA game is very 1081 00:52:15.079 --> 00:52:19.800 attractive right now to the average fan. I think it's all, Yeah, 1082 00:52:19.800 --> 00:52:22.800 I'm watching the game last night and I was counting 1083 00:52:22.920 --> 00:52:27.000 the number of possessions where where both teams were running 1084 00:52:27.039 --> 00:52:31.079 a half court offense and there wasn't one player anywhere 1085 00:52:31.119 --> 00:52:35.519 near the lane. Everybody was out on the perimeter, and 1086 00:52:35.559 --> 00:52:38.639 it's all drawn kick and it's all, you know, long 1087 00:52:38.760 --> 00:52:43.400 range shooting, and people can't shoot very well. That's why 1088 00:52:43.440 --> 00:52:46.440 the guys who can shoot, whether it's a Kevin Durant, 1089 00:52:46.880 --> 00:52:49.880 you know, or Ray Allen his day, or guys like 1090 00:52:49.920 --> 00:52:53.239 that Steph Curry, who are good shooters, that's why they 1091 00:52:53.280 --> 00:52:57.559 stand out so much because most guys can't shoot. But 1092 00:52:57.960 --> 00:53:02.320 what happens Spence, they do shoot all right, because that's 1093 00:53:02.320 --> 00:53:06.400 what the last night I saw several times I was 1094 00:53:06.519 --> 00:53:08.559 I was kind of keeping track of my head. How 1095 00:53:08.559 --> 00:53:11.440 many times I thought that they took a three point 1096 00:53:11.480 --> 00:53:15.599 shot what we used to phrase by default, meaning that 1097 00:53:15.880 --> 00:53:18.400 I was there, I can take this shot, or I 1098 00:53:18.400 --> 00:53:20.960 can work for a better shot. There's still nine seconds 1099 00:53:21.000 --> 00:53:24.280 on the shot clock, but there's a defender near me. 1100 00:53:24.800 --> 00:53:28.239 But I'm being lazy and it doesn't really matter. So 1101 00:53:28.360 --> 00:53:32.360 here it goes and just jack it up. And nobody 1102 00:53:32.440 --> 00:53:36.159 wants to watch that stuff because it looks lazy, in 1103 00:53:36.400 --> 00:53:40.599 in large part because it is lazy and the players 1104 00:53:40.599 --> 00:53:43.519 don't work as hard. That's why the announcers last night, 1105 00:53:43.960 --> 00:53:47.280 you know, kept harping on the fact that Oklahoma City 1106 00:53:47.480 --> 00:53:52.719 was playing very well, especially on the defensive end, because 1107 00:53:52.880 --> 00:53:56.039 there are hard nosed defensive team who sticks to their 1108 00:53:56.079 --> 00:53:59.559 principles and and and shows it by the way that 1109 00:53:59.599 --> 00:54:00.320 they play. 1110 00:54:01.239 --> 00:54:03.000 Did they force you to do things? 1111 00:54:03.039 --> 00:54:06.199 We talked about this and one of our earlier segments 1112 00:54:06.760 --> 00:54:09.880 as if you're a good defensive team, you want to 1113 00:54:09.880 --> 00:54:12.840 try and be the protagonists. In other words, you wanted 1114 00:54:12.840 --> 00:54:15.920 to try and dictate to the offense what they're doing. 1115 00:54:16.360 --> 00:54:19.840 That's what oka See did last night to the Jazz, 1116 00:54:19.920 --> 00:54:24.079 which resulted in the Jazz having twenty nine turnovers, which 1117 00:54:24.119 --> 00:54:27.480 resulted in forty five points off turnovers for okay See. 1118 00:54:27.679 --> 00:54:31.079 The Jazz actually shot a better percentage than oka See 1119 00:54:31.159 --> 00:54:34.039 did for the game from the floor, but the fact 1120 00:54:34.159 --> 00:54:36.199 was they couldn't hold onto the ball, and they couldn't 1121 00:54:36.199 --> 00:54:40.079 hold onto the ball because of the pressure of Okayc's defense, 1122 00:54:40.360 --> 00:54:42.719 coupled with the fact that the Jazz are a sloppy 1123 00:54:43.119 --> 00:54:48.800 and at sometimes lazy ball handling team. And they call 1124 00:54:48.840 --> 00:54:51.599 it there sometimes they're their own worst enemy. How many 1125 00:54:51.679 --> 00:54:54.400 times last night did they drive into traffic and just 1126 00:54:54.440 --> 00:54:56.920 stumble around and the ball came out the other way 1127 00:54:57.400 --> 00:55:02.280 on a fast break for ok See? But I think 1128 00:55:02.440 --> 00:55:05.280 to answer your question, the fans of finding other things 1129 00:55:05.280 --> 00:55:08.119 to do I think they don't really like the product 1130 00:55:08.199 --> 00:55:11.440 as much of the NBA that they're seeing nowadays, with 1131 00:55:11.559 --> 00:55:15.000 dollus five out and none in stuff and people just 1132 00:55:15.119 --> 00:55:17.079 jacking up shots and a lot of one on one 1133 00:55:17.440 --> 00:55:20.880 kinds of stuff, and I think they're finding other ways 1134 00:55:20.920 --> 00:55:21.679 to spend the time. 1135 00:55:21.800 --> 00:55:23.239 Yeah, the Warriors calvs. 1136 00:55:23.400 --> 00:55:27.079 Era, the Lebron versus Steph era, the ratings were pretty healthy, 1137 00:55:27.280 --> 00:55:30.639 you know, they approached seventeen eighteen, nineteen mil nothing has 1138 00:55:30.679 --> 00:55:34.119 touched ninety eight when Jordan was in his last year 1139 00:55:34.119 --> 00:55:37.599 in John and Carl, and they were so compelling. And 1140 00:55:37.760 --> 00:55:39.800 I hate to be the old guy that yells into 1141 00:55:39.800 --> 00:55:43.480 the microphone, but there was just something about that era 1142 00:55:43.559 --> 00:55:45.559 of basketball. And maybe I'll come at it from a 1143 00:55:45.599 --> 00:55:47.960 selfish perspective with my background of the Jazz and the 1144 00:55:48.000 --> 00:55:50.440 Knicks when both those teams were so fun and compelling 1145 00:55:50.440 --> 00:55:53.320 in the nineties. I don't know if it's production value, 1146 00:55:53.360 --> 00:55:56.199 I don't know if it's characters. I don't know if 1147 00:55:56.239 --> 00:56:01.280 it's protagonists antagonists. There was something so compelling about nineties 1148 00:56:01.400 --> 00:56:04.639 NBA basketball, and even me as a basketball junkie and 1149 00:56:04.719 --> 00:56:08.239 somebody who will watch random games on a random Tuesday night, 1150 00:56:09.360 --> 00:56:10.000 all tune in. 1151 00:56:10.079 --> 00:56:10.480 It's like. 1152 00:56:11.920 --> 00:56:13.480 I'm gonna take the dog for a walk, you know, 1153 00:56:13.599 --> 00:56:16.039 like there's just something about it that is not as 1154 00:56:16.079 --> 00:56:17.840 compelling as it was when I was growing up in 1155 00:56:17.840 --> 00:56:18.320 the nineties. 1156 00:56:18.360 --> 00:56:22.280 Well, and I think Spencer again to date ourselves, right, 1157 00:56:22.599 --> 00:56:25.920 you're talking about games are almost thirty years ago, so 1158 00:56:25.960 --> 00:56:28.760 you're talking about a different generation, and you're talking about 1159 00:56:28.800 --> 00:56:32.400 all the things that happened between then and now relative 1160 00:56:32.480 --> 00:56:37.199 to access of information through the Internet and laptops and 1161 00:56:37.239 --> 00:56:41.320 your phone and all those kinds of things. It's interesting 1162 00:56:41.519 --> 00:56:45.559 that nowadays, what does the NBA do and what have 1163 00:56:45.639 --> 00:56:46.280 they done. 1164 00:56:46.039 --> 00:56:46.639 For a while? 1165 00:56:47.039 --> 00:56:50.119 They market the star players and they hope that you 1166 00:56:50.199 --> 00:56:54.320 will tune in on a Tuesday night to see Kevin Durant, 1167 00:56:54.400 --> 00:56:58.400 you know, go up against Lebron James. Oh oh, they're 1168 00:56:58.400 --> 00:57:01.320 both out tonight. Oh that's right, they're not playing, you know, 1169 00:57:01.360 --> 00:57:04.079 for whatever the reasons. And so you know, there goes 1170 00:57:04.119 --> 00:57:08.559 your hook. If you're the NBA. It's it's just that 1171 00:57:08.639 --> 00:57:10.880 there are a lot of games there. There's a lot 1172 00:57:10.880 --> 00:57:14.079 of content, and there's a lot of that's accessible to 1173 00:57:14.159 --> 00:57:16.760 the fan if you're a basketball fan. How many college 1174 00:57:16.800 --> 00:57:19.039 games were on last night, how many are on tonight. 1175 00:57:19.440 --> 00:57:22.719 You know that you think, well, maybe I'd rather watch 1176 00:57:22.800 --> 00:57:23.840 that instead. 1177 00:57:25.079 --> 00:57:26.639 It's just it's just a different era. 1178 00:57:28.199 --> 00:57:31.599 And and look, another part of that equation for me, 1179 00:57:32.000 --> 00:57:34.400 when you're talking about peeling back the layers, is that 1180 00:57:34.440 --> 00:57:36.599 when you look at the you look at the bench 1181 00:57:36.639 --> 00:57:39.159 of any team in the NBA now, and they've got 1182 00:57:39.199 --> 00:57:43.440 more guys in pullovers than they have in uniforms. Right, 1183 00:57:43.760 --> 00:57:49.039 so they've got seventeen coaches and analytics guys and whoever, whoever. 1184 00:57:49.079 --> 00:57:52.519 Those guys aren't doing whatever it is they're doing, and 1185 00:57:52.679 --> 00:57:56.239 the end product on the floor is not any better. 1186 00:57:56.360 --> 00:57:58.920 And you could argue that it's worse, you know, And 1187 00:57:58.960 --> 00:58:03.039 so you wonder what that equation is and how that 1188 00:58:03.079 --> 00:58:04.400 fit factors into everything. 1189 00:58:04.800 --> 00:58:06.719 One more thing, we'll catch a break. We'll do our 1190 00:58:06.840 --> 00:58:10.239 second segment pretty jazz centric. Do you think this NBA 1191 00:58:10.400 --> 00:58:12.480 Cup idea? And I want to be clear, like I 1192 00:58:12.559 --> 00:58:17.559 applaud the effort. I applaud and I respect trying to 1193 00:58:17.559 --> 00:58:20.880 do something different, I really do. I think the NBA 1194 00:58:21.079 --> 00:58:23.480 does that as well as any league. The NFL doesn't 1195 00:58:23.480 --> 00:58:26.159 have to adjust anything right there top of the mountain. 1196 00:58:26.719 --> 00:58:29.960 Major League Baseball might bring a golden bat to the equation. 1197 00:58:30.039 --> 00:58:31.360 I'm not sure if you've heard about that, but the 1198 00:58:31.440 --> 00:58:34.920 NBA really tries to be forward facing and progressive with 1199 00:58:34.960 --> 00:58:38.880 some changes. If things aren't working, it just seems to 1200 00:58:39.679 --> 00:58:42.440 the courts are weird, players are slipping. Do you think 1201 00:58:42.519 --> 00:58:46.280 at some point this will reverberate and maybe improve the 1202 00:58:46.280 --> 00:58:48.119 interest level during the regular season. 1203 00:58:48.239 --> 00:58:50.039 Well, I think one of the things is that they're 1204 00:58:50.039 --> 00:58:52.440 trying spence. It's going to take a little while for 1205 00:58:52.960 --> 00:58:56.400 people to hook on to it, but it's the whole 1206 00:58:56.480 --> 00:58:59.760 Cup thing to try and get interest in November and 1207 00:58:59.800 --> 00:59:02.639 juster in the early months of the season when when 1208 00:59:02.960 --> 00:59:06.679 you're struggling to get get attention from from fans and 1209 00:59:06.679 --> 00:59:09.440 and especially in the TV viewing and uh, and what 1210 00:59:09.679 --> 00:59:12.039 what's part of the approach you're taking now is what 1211 00:59:12.119 --> 00:59:14.039 you saw last night? And okay, see with an all 1212 00:59:14.119 --> 00:59:17.920 blue floor and and and every team is trying to 1213 00:59:17.920 --> 00:59:20.719 come up with the new thing that looks cleaner and 1214 00:59:20.760 --> 00:59:23.079 sharper and hipper on TV and whatever. 1215 00:59:23.400 --> 00:59:24.800 The product is still the same. 1216 00:59:26.079 --> 00:59:29.320 You know, the the eight teams, Uh, they're they're gonna 1217 00:59:29.360 --> 00:59:33.159 go into the quarterfinals next week of the Cup. You know, 1218 00:59:33.280 --> 00:59:35.639 all four teams in the West are different than they 1219 00:59:35.639 --> 00:59:39.199 were last year, so that those fans get pulled into 1220 00:59:39.239 --> 00:59:41.519 it a little bit, you know, and and uh, and 1221 00:59:41.519 --> 00:59:44.320 then they have the whole Vegas vibe with it at 1222 00:59:44.320 --> 00:59:46.320 the end, you know, and where they'll be playing the 1223 00:59:46.559 --> 00:59:49.519 Semis and the final four, so to speak, in in 1224 00:59:49.679 --> 00:59:54.199 Vegas in a few weeks, you know, will hold I 1225 00:59:54.199 --> 00:59:56.360 I don't know, it's it's it's better than that than 1226 00:59:56.519 --> 00:59:59.639 than just playing the games. I guess in early season 1227 00:59:59.719 --> 01:00:04.480 when people aren't paying attention. I think it's the teams 1228 01:00:04.519 --> 01:00:09.159 that make it now to these one and done games 1229 01:00:09.920 --> 01:00:12.960 over the next couple of weeks, those fans will be interested. 1230 01:00:13.199 --> 01:00:15.880 The other fans now, like the Jazz fans, for example, 1231 01:00:16.119 --> 01:00:18.239 couldn't care less what's going on with the NBA Cup 1232 01:00:18.280 --> 01:00:20.679 because they're not in it, right. So they get a 1233 01:00:20.679 --> 01:00:23.920 couple of games and and uh, next week they're rescheduled 1234 01:00:23.920 --> 01:00:26.639 and all that and they and you move on. So, yeah, 1235 01:00:26.719 --> 01:00:30.880 trying something new, is it? Is it hooking people? I 1236 01:00:30.880 --> 01:00:33.320 don't know. I guess they'll have TV ratings that will 1237 01:00:33.360 --> 01:00:35.760 tell you whether it did or not. I don't know, 1238 01:00:36.039 --> 01:00:38.599 you know, it's you know, for me, I understand what 1239 01:00:38.639 --> 01:00:42.199 they're trying to do. It's I think again, it's it's 1240 01:00:42.599 --> 01:00:47.840 it feels somewhat to some level like a gimmicky type thing. 1241 01:00:48.519 --> 01:00:50.760 You know that we're trying and and see see if 1242 01:00:50.760 --> 01:00:51.840 it if it hooks or not? 1243 01:00:52.119 --> 01:00:52.440 All right? 1244 01:00:52.480 --> 01:00:55.280 Coming up next with you a jazz centric UH segment 1245 01:00:55.320 --> 01:00:56.960 with Smittie. I want to get his take on a 1246 01:00:57.000 --> 01:00:59.960 conversation that we've had all week about the potentially most 1247 01:01:00.119 --> 01:01:04.280 to an exciting prospect of the six young players, first 1248 01:01:04.280 --> 01:01:06.599 and second year players. We'll see if he agrees with 1249 01:01:07.039 --> 01:01:09.719 a take that was handed out on the show this week. 1250 01:01:09.840 --> 01:01:12.079 Smitty Today brought to you by Advanced Window Products, the 1251 01:01:12.159 --> 01:01:14.159 number one rated window company in Utah. 1252 01:01:14.719 --> 01:01:16.159 Nate Orchard, Jake Weber. 1253 01:01:16.280 --> 01:01:19.280 Great people, awesome families, local people that want to take 1254 01:01:19.280 --> 01:01:21.480 care of our community. The sales and installation are all 1255 01:01:21.480 --> 01:01:25.000 in house, no middleman markup, They build, installed and guarantee 1256 01:01:25.000 --> 01:01:27.719 for life. They have a lifetime warranty that is transferable 1257 01:01:27.760 --> 01:01:30.559 to the next homeowner. So if you're looking to buy 1258 01:01:30.599 --> 01:01:32.440 or sell a house, this is a great time to 1259 01:01:32.480 --> 01:01:34.880 call Advanced Window Products. They've got a bunch of rebates 1260 01:01:34.920 --> 01:01:38.039 financing available. You can save now and pay later. Winter 1261 01:01:38.159 --> 01:01:40.599 special this week, it's twenty five hundred dollars off when 1262 01:01:40.639 --> 01:01:43.239 you purchase ten windows or more. If you're coming home 1263 01:01:43.239 --> 01:01:44.800 from work and you walk in the house and it's 1264 01:01:44.840 --> 01:01:47.480 really cold and your kids have blankets draped all over them, 1265 01:01:47.480 --> 01:01:48.440 it's probably your windows. 1266 01:01:48.480 --> 01:01:51.480 So give them a call today. You can beat the. 1267 01:01:51.480 --> 01:01:53.880 Rush and from the factory to your front door in 1268 01:01:53.920 --> 01:01:54.719 eight weeks or less. 1269 01:01:54.719 --> 01:01:57.239 At eighth one eight five zero ninety one hundred. 1270 01:01:58.320 --> 01:02:02.440 Richard Smith live studio forty years with the Utah Jazz 1271 01:02:02.480 --> 01:02:05.239 Front Office. He's gonna bring in Howard Beck today. We 1272 01:02:05.360 --> 01:02:07.760 made a little bit of a pivot. Zach Harper is busy, 1273 01:02:07.880 --> 01:02:12.159 one of my favorite riders, the hippist NBA rider out there, Howard. 1274 01:02:11.880 --> 01:02:12.719 Beck from the Ringer. 1275 01:02:12.880 --> 01:02:15.239 And then Ali Mata, who is a player for the 1276 01:02:15.280 --> 01:02:17.679 Utah Hockey Club, just was called up to represent his 1277 01:02:17.760 --> 01:02:21.239 homeland of Finland. He'll be playing some hockey for Finland. 1278 01:02:21.280 --> 01:02:24.639 So interviewed Dolli before really nice kids, stay tuned hockey fans. 1279 01:02:24.639 --> 01:02:28.760 That comes your way in about an hour from right now. Oh, smitty, 1280 01:02:28.840 --> 01:02:31.840 smitty smitty. As we've talked about before, and as I 1281 01:02:31.920 --> 01:02:35.440 readily admit, we are spoiled basketball fans in this market 1282 01:02:35.519 --> 01:02:37.440 and part of it is your fault, and the front 1283 01:02:37.440 --> 01:02:40.079 office you worked for always seem to put a very 1284 01:02:40.079 --> 01:02:42.800 good product on the floor, with very very few exceptions. 1285 01:02:43.440 --> 01:02:46.519 Now there were some exceptions, but Scott Lane and Kevin O'Connor, 1286 01:02:46.559 --> 01:02:49.599 Dennis Lindsay found their way out of what i'll say, 1287 01:02:49.639 --> 01:02:53.199 poor to mediocre basketball very quickly. Oh, by the way, 1288 01:02:54.280 --> 01:02:56.719 before we do, I can't believe it. I buried the 1289 01:02:56.800 --> 01:02:59.440 lead Paul Millsap retired. Yes, now I will say I 1290 01:02:59.480 --> 01:03:02.480 thought he would two years ago. But when I and 1291 01:03:02.519 --> 01:03:05.320 I love Paul, who doesn't But you had a front 1292 01:03:05.440 --> 01:03:07.800 row seat too. And then we'll get back to the 1293 01:03:07.800 --> 01:03:09.800 topic that I was just unpacking. But I wanted to 1294 01:03:09.800 --> 01:03:11.159 ask you this kind of right off the top. I 1295 01:03:11.159 --> 01:03:14.719 forgot looking at my notes. Paul caught Jerry's eye as 1296 01:03:14.719 --> 01:03:17.599 a rookie, which is hard to do, asked Darreon Williams. 1297 01:03:18.000 --> 01:03:20.679 And you know, we were kind of having some fun topically, 1298 01:03:20.719 --> 01:03:23.440 like where does he exist on the all time great 1299 01:03:23.480 --> 01:03:28.159 jazz player list if you include his entire career, probably 1300 01:03:28.159 --> 01:03:30.599 top fifteen, top sixteen ish. He actually if you look 1301 01:03:30.599 --> 01:03:32.559 at the list, you know, but that's a different topic. 1302 01:03:33.119 --> 01:03:36.159 What was that like to watch Paul kind of evolve 1303 01:03:36.360 --> 01:03:38.719 and how would you characterize what he meant to some 1304 01:03:38.800 --> 01:03:40.440 of those really really good Jazz teams. 1305 01:03:40.599 --> 01:03:42.760 Well, you know, it was interesting with Paul when we 1306 01:03:43.360 --> 01:03:46.239 when the Jazz drafted him, he was we got him 1307 01:03:46.239 --> 01:03:48.440 in the middle of the I think it's the number 1308 01:03:48.519 --> 01:03:52.360 forty seven pick, in the middle of the second round. 1309 01:03:52.760 --> 01:03:55.159 And he came in that summer league, he did okay, 1310 01:03:55.400 --> 01:03:58.960 you know what was anything special, came into training camp, 1311 01:03:59.599 --> 01:04:02.679 he was you know, really uh, you know, in all 1312 01:04:02.719 --> 01:04:06.920 honesty in terms of our group, was just another guy there. 1313 01:04:07.360 --> 01:04:09.519 You know, is he gonna is he gonna make the cut? 1314 01:04:09.559 --> 01:04:11.239 Is he not gonna make the cut? And we're gonna 1315 01:04:11.239 --> 01:04:13.000 have him on the team and we not, you know, 1316 01:04:13.079 --> 01:04:15.280 And it was kind of a debate, like and it 1317 01:04:15.360 --> 01:04:18.360 was really kind of you know, a lot of shrugging shoulders, 1318 01:04:18.480 --> 01:04:22.079 like whatever, you know, you want him, you don't want him, whatever. 1319 01:04:22.559 --> 01:04:25.440 And then and then I remember and in the last meeting, 1320 01:04:25.440 --> 01:04:27.159 we had to make a decision yes or no to 1321 01:04:27.480 --> 01:04:29.679 have him on the team that had that rookie year. 1322 01:04:30.360 --> 01:04:33.480 And and it was coach Sloan who just said I 1323 01:04:33.559 --> 01:04:36.000 kind of like him, and uh, we said, what do 1324 01:04:36.000 --> 01:04:36.599 you like coaching? 1325 01:04:36.639 --> 01:04:38.159 You go, well, you know, he seems to. 1326 01:04:38.519 --> 01:04:41.159 Work hard, and he kind of, uh he kind of 1327 01:04:41.199 --> 01:04:43.280 does this a little bit, and you know, does that. 1328 01:04:43.360 --> 01:04:46.880 And then he said, he said, but you know, probably 1329 01:04:47.199 --> 01:04:50.280 maybe his best attribute at the moment is, uh, I 1330 01:04:50.280 --> 01:04:53.159 don't even know what his voice sounds like, because I 1331 01:04:53.440 --> 01:04:57.599 heard him say one thing, and and and so so 1332 01:04:57.880 --> 01:05:01.000 Jerry goes and only the way Jerry could so so 1333 01:05:01.199 --> 01:05:04.440 that's pretty good, you know. And so he was saying, 1334 01:05:04.719 --> 01:05:06.360 you know, well let's keep him because we don't have 1335 01:05:06.400 --> 01:05:09.519 to listen to him complain or anything, you know, Okay, yeah, 1336 01:05:09.960 --> 01:05:12.280 all right, whatever you want to do. And then you know, 1337 01:05:12.400 --> 01:05:15.760 and Paul was was a good worker. Uh but he 1338 01:05:15.840 --> 01:05:18.039 but he was a very quiet guy. And at that time, 1339 01:05:18.079 --> 01:05:20.800 of course, he came in and he's behind Carlos Boozer, 1340 01:05:20.840 --> 01:05:24.199 who was an All Star level player, Olympic level player 1341 01:05:24.239 --> 01:05:26.920 for US, and and he had to wait his time. 1342 01:05:26.960 --> 01:05:29.639 But he just worked hard and and and developed uh 1343 01:05:29.960 --> 01:05:33.440 you know, enough of an outside game, uh that that 1344 01:05:33.519 --> 01:05:37.599 could compliment his mid post game and his ability to rebound. 1345 01:05:37.639 --> 01:05:39.320 And that was the thing that struck us when we 1346 01:05:39.840 --> 01:05:42.199 uh when when the just drafted him, was that he 1347 01:05:42.280 --> 01:05:45.400 had led the n n C A a and rebounding 1348 01:05:45.440 --> 01:05:48.559 all three years that he was at Louisiana Tech. And 1349 01:05:48.599 --> 01:05:51.920 that's one of the skills usually Spence, you look at 1350 01:05:52.239 --> 01:05:57.119 UH on prospective players, that's the one area where typically 1351 01:05:57.679 --> 01:06:00.400 you can make a correlation that that's gonna try rans 1352 01:06:00.480 --> 01:06:04.760 late to the NBA level without without much of an interruption. 1353 01:06:04.960 --> 01:06:08.320 Is your ability to go get the basketball, uh, you know, 1354 01:06:08.400 --> 01:06:11.880 off the rim and uh and Paul made himself into 1355 01:06:11.920 --> 01:06:14.719 a better player. He was a four time All start 1356 01:06:14.800 --> 01:06:17.239 when he was in Atlanta. You know, in Atlanta had 1357 01:06:17.239 --> 01:06:21.320 some very good teams when he was there. And uh 1358 01:06:21.719 --> 01:06:24.480 was just a really good guy to have on your team. 1359 01:06:24.599 --> 01:06:27.519 Because even even when he when he got quote good 1360 01:06:27.679 --> 01:06:30.320 and he and he was a regular rotation guy and 1361 01:06:30.320 --> 01:06:32.079 then he was a starter, and then he went to 1362 01:06:32.079 --> 01:06:35.360 Atlanta and became an all star level guy. You know, 1363 01:06:35.519 --> 01:06:38.960 he was still the same approach every day, just you know, 1364 01:06:39.039 --> 01:06:42.199 the old Jerry Sloan phrased a lunch bucket guy just 1365 01:06:42.280 --> 01:06:44.960 bring his lunch pail and and go to work and 1366 01:06:45.000 --> 01:06:48.320 not say much and and uh, you know, I know 1367 01:06:48.360 --> 01:06:50.000 he had stopped playing a couple of years ago. And 1368 01:06:50.039 --> 01:06:52.920 I think it came out today probably because the way 1369 01:06:52.920 --> 01:06:56.559 the NBA works. You can stop playing, uh, but you 1370 01:06:56.639 --> 01:07:01.920 can not officially retire like whatever. Yeah, you know you 1371 01:07:01.920 --> 01:07:05.119 have to put in if you want the retirement benefits 1372 01:07:05.119 --> 01:07:08.360 and all the stuff that comes with retirement and pensions 1373 01:07:08.400 --> 01:07:11.480 and all that. At some point you have to submit 1374 01:07:11.559 --> 01:07:15.079 the proper paperwork to the NBA. I'm guessing that's why 1375 01:07:15.199 --> 01:07:17.719 this this came out, you know, the last few days. 1376 01:07:17.760 --> 01:07:21.000 It's probably because they probably decided to put his paperwork 1377 01:07:21.039 --> 01:07:23.840 in after the last couple of years of maybe sitting 1378 01:07:23.840 --> 01:07:25.639 out of the sidelines waiting to see if he got 1379 01:07:26.039 --> 01:07:29.880 a last minute call from somebody in a playoff type run. 1380 01:07:30.280 --> 01:07:32.800 Yeah, more of a role player for you guys early on, 1381 01:07:33.039 --> 01:07:36.440 and then after Booze bounced and Darren was traded. He 1382 01:07:36.599 --> 01:07:39.360 was kind of a main cog with those Al Jefferson years, 1383 01:07:39.440 --> 01:07:44.239 you know, seventeen points eight boards in twenty ten, played 1384 01:07:44.280 --> 01:07:46.840 all eighty two three of his first four years for 1385 01:07:46.920 --> 01:07:49.320 you guys, but didn't start mini games up until kind 1386 01:07:49.320 --> 01:07:50.280 of the second iteration. 1387 01:07:51.119 --> 01:07:53.400 But he reinvented himself after he left. 1388 01:07:53.400 --> 01:07:56.400 Here were you surprised to watch him shoot like thirty 1389 01:07:56.440 --> 01:08:00.000 eight percent from three and kind of expand his horizon. 1390 01:08:00.480 --> 01:08:01.159 He left the jazz. 1391 01:08:01.320 --> 01:08:04.599 Yes, yeah, I mean, but that's you know, to his credit. 1392 01:08:04.679 --> 01:08:07.440 You know, that was something that that the coaches talked 1393 01:08:07.440 --> 01:08:10.079 to him about and and and about being able to 1394 01:08:10.079 --> 01:08:12.920 get be a little more versatile with his offense and 1395 01:08:13.039 --> 01:08:13.960 be able to step out. 1396 01:08:13.960 --> 01:08:14.960 And he was willing to do it. 1397 01:08:15.000 --> 01:08:17.319 And he had enough of a touch, you know, shooting 1398 01:08:17.359 --> 01:08:19.359 wise and the free throw line that he could extend 1399 01:08:19.359 --> 01:08:21.520 it out a little bit. And again it wasn't a 1400 01:08:21.680 --> 01:08:25.560 high volume, but it was you know, him taking smart shots. 1401 01:08:25.920 --> 01:08:27.840 And most of the time he was the kind of 1402 01:08:27.840 --> 01:08:30.279 player who would who would just go with the flow 1403 01:08:30.439 --> 01:08:32.279 of what was happening in the game. In otherwids, he 1404 01:08:32.279 --> 01:08:35.680 didn't force shots. So most of those kind of three 1405 01:08:35.720 --> 01:08:38.680 point shots that he would get would be open shots 1406 01:08:38.720 --> 01:08:41.119 on the weak side or the defense would sink in 1407 01:08:41.239 --> 01:08:43.880 that swing it he got it, had a lot of space, 1408 01:08:44.359 --> 01:08:46.840 you know, got into a nice little easy rhythm, and 1409 01:08:47.000 --> 01:08:50.560 was able to knock down enough that that made you know, 1410 01:08:50.640 --> 01:08:53.199 defenders honest against him. And then that set up his 1411 01:08:53.279 --> 01:08:56.279 ability to to go a couple of dribbles into the 1412 01:08:56.279 --> 01:08:59.119 mid lane and get something there, and uh, you know, 1413 01:08:59.159 --> 01:09:00.600 but he was willing to do that, and that's the 1414 01:09:00.680 --> 01:09:02.880 kind of guy he was. He was, you know a 1415 01:09:02.880 --> 01:09:06.520 little bit like Carl in that he was always willing 1416 01:09:06.560 --> 01:09:09.560 to look at adding something to his game and trying 1417 01:09:09.560 --> 01:09:13.039 to diversify it that would make him, you know, keep 1418 01:09:13.119 --> 01:09:15.479 him on the floor more and and. 1419 01:09:15.399 --> 01:09:16.720 Get him more opportunities. 1420 01:09:17.039 --> 01:09:19.720 So, look, fifty years of jazz hoops has bread a 1421 01:09:19.760 --> 01:09:23.439 lot of simple, simply very loyal jazz fans. Right Like 1422 01:09:23.479 --> 01:09:26.359 we were talking about this through the Utah Hockey Club prism, 1423 01:09:27.039 --> 01:09:30.199 the novelty appears to have worn off, and the past 1424 01:09:30.239 --> 01:09:32.920 couple of home games there's it's not as full as 1425 01:09:32.920 --> 01:09:36.359 it was opening night when I was there first couple 1426 01:09:36.359 --> 01:09:38.920 of games. And some of it's gonna depend depend on opponent, 1427 01:09:39.000 --> 01:09:42.039 because we do have hockey fans who live here. But 1428 01:09:42.079 --> 01:09:43.880 if you go to Utah Hockey Club games and if 1429 01:09:43.880 --> 01:09:45.640 they're playing like the Avalanche, you see a lot of 1430 01:09:45.680 --> 01:09:49.960 Avalanche jerseys. So for the Utah Hockey Club to consistently 1431 01:09:50.119 --> 01:09:52.159 draw people to sell out the building, they're gonna have 1432 01:09:52.199 --> 01:09:54.720 to be really good, really quickly, like the Vegas Golden 1433 01:09:54.760 --> 01:09:57.119 Knights were, or it's just going to take a number 1434 01:09:57.119 --> 01:09:59.479 of years like I did with the Jazz, very lean 1435 01:09:59.560 --> 01:10:03.359 years early Salt palace, shout out, jazz band, all the things. 1436 01:10:03.840 --> 01:10:06.319 But fifty years of jazz basketball has bread a lot 1437 01:10:06.319 --> 01:10:08.640 of loyal jazz fans, and there have been so many 1438 01:10:09.119 --> 01:10:11.680 really really good teams and exciting teams, never over the 1439 01:10:11.760 --> 01:10:15.880 hump to win a championship. And this is a tough ask, 1440 01:10:16.239 --> 01:10:19.600 even for loyal jazz fans. This is as bad of 1441 01:10:19.600 --> 01:10:21.720 a team as we've ever had here, and maybe the 1442 01:10:21.720 --> 01:10:23.079 worst team that we've ever had here. 1443 01:10:23.520 --> 01:10:26.800 So what do you make of? And look, the problem is, 1444 01:10:26.800 --> 01:10:27.880 and you and I both know this. 1445 01:10:28.439 --> 01:10:30.479 Of course this is by design, but we can't turn 1446 01:10:30.520 --> 01:10:32.039 on a mic and say, hey, they're trying to lose. 1447 01:10:32.119 --> 01:10:33.600 We'll talk to you tomorrow. We have to kind of 1448 01:10:33.640 --> 01:10:34.520 unpack it a little bit. 1449 01:10:35.239 --> 01:10:38.199 It is a tough ask of a community to show 1450 01:10:38.279 --> 01:10:41.479 up night in and night out and road games. Turn 1451 01:10:41.520 --> 01:10:43.800 on your television. Yes we're a cold weather city. You 1452 01:10:43.840 --> 01:10:45.159 want something to do at night, you turn out a 1453 01:10:45.199 --> 01:10:46.920 jazz game, go to a jazz game. I get all that, 1454 01:10:47.920 --> 01:10:50.359 but there has to be some sort of pushback from 1455 01:10:50.399 --> 01:10:52.560 a lot of fans who are watching this product night 1456 01:10:52.600 --> 01:10:54.680 in and night out and say, what are we doing here? 1457 01:10:54.800 --> 01:10:55.319 You know what I mean? 1458 01:10:55.479 --> 01:10:58.640 Yeah? Sure, well I think what's happened. I think the 1459 01:10:58.680 --> 01:11:00.920 first couple of years here of the U of the 1460 01:11:01.039 --> 01:11:05.319 Ryan Smith and his group ownership group, uh, taking control 1461 01:11:05.399 --> 01:11:06.800 of the team from the Miller family. 1462 01:11:07.399 --> 01:11:09.439 Uh, they've made a lot of changes. 1463 01:11:09.560 --> 01:11:12.560 Obviously, if they've made changes all the way across the board, 1464 01:11:13.000 --> 01:11:17.159 you know, with the the team itself, with the coaching staff, 1465 01:11:17.239 --> 01:11:20.520 the front office, the building, the uniforms. I mean, they've 1466 01:11:20.600 --> 01:11:23.439 changed everything from A to Z that they can think of, 1467 01:11:24.319 --> 01:11:26.760 trying to get it younger, trying to get it hipper, 1468 01:11:26.920 --> 01:11:29.399 trying to get it more mod you know, whatever, whatever 1469 01:11:29.439 --> 01:11:32.560 the approach, marketing approach is. And I think some of that, 1470 01:11:33.640 --> 01:11:36.640 you know, fans have bought into, oh okay, yeah, okay, 1471 01:11:36.760 --> 01:11:39.520 we're trying to get Oh that's that's kind of change out. 1472 01:11:39.560 --> 01:11:42.560 It's kind of new okay and and uh and and 1473 01:11:43.079 --> 01:11:46.439 but now they're they're right near that that point, I 1474 01:11:46.560 --> 01:11:49.840 believe where during the third year of doing this and 1475 01:11:50.520 --> 01:11:52.760 you know, the team is not look like it's. 1476 01:11:52.560 --> 01:11:55.159 Getting any better. They've been worse. 1477 01:11:55.279 --> 01:11:57.840 They've invested a lot while they've invested a lot in 1478 01:11:57.840 --> 01:12:02.159 in young guys, and uh, that's that's the route they've 1479 01:12:02.279 --> 01:12:06.479 chosen to go for whatever their Their rationale is they 1480 01:12:06.520 --> 01:12:09.479 believe they can build that up. They've got to hit 1481 01:12:09.520 --> 01:12:12.560 on the right draft picks. You know, the you know, 1482 01:12:12.600 --> 01:12:15.439 we we just played a team last night, and okay, 1483 01:12:15.479 --> 01:12:17.159 see they're showing how you can do it if you 1484 01:12:17.239 --> 01:12:19.880 hit the right guys, uh and the add guys in, 1485 01:12:20.000 --> 01:12:22.680 and how you can rebuild a team. And that they 1486 01:12:22.680 --> 01:12:26.039 did that when they had the the Paul George fiasco 1487 01:12:26.199 --> 01:12:29.000 and and had to move on from that and kind 1488 01:12:29.000 --> 01:12:30.680 of bottom down. And then you see what the Houston 1489 01:12:30.760 --> 01:12:33.720 Rockets have done once they moved on from James Harden 1490 01:12:33.760 --> 01:12:37.199 and Westbrook and Chris Paul and now they've they've bottomed 1491 01:12:37.239 --> 01:12:39.640 out and now they've they've got a nice competitive team, 1492 01:12:40.439 --> 01:12:43.439 young guys, and they and they've had several good draft picks. 1493 01:12:43.680 --> 01:12:45.399 And that's what the Jazz are trying to do. 1494 01:12:45.479 --> 01:12:45.680 You know. 1495 01:12:45.800 --> 01:12:48.000 The the you know, uh. 1496 01:12:47.840 --> 01:12:50.439 Several of the top five, six, seven teams in the 1497 01:12:50.560 --> 01:12:53.880 NBA right now, if you include okay, see, if you 1498 01:12:53.960 --> 01:12:56.800 include Houston as a young team, if you include the 1499 01:12:56.880 --> 01:13:02.439 Orlando Magic, all these teams were bottom feeders spence three, four, 1500 01:13:02.600 --> 01:13:06.800 five years ago and they've all built up by drafting 1501 01:13:06.880 --> 01:13:10.319 smartly and and and and putting together a roster that 1502 01:13:10.439 --> 01:13:13.640 makes sense. The Jazz are trying to do that. They've 1503 01:13:13.680 --> 01:13:15.560 got a bunch of draft picks they're trying to play. 1504 01:13:16.079 --> 01:13:18.600 There are a bunch of guys who who in my opinion, 1505 01:13:18.840 --> 01:13:21.399 the way I look at them when they're playing, I think, well, 1506 01:13:21.439 --> 01:13:23.359 these guys, they're they're supposed to be doing this at 1507 01:13:23.359 --> 01:13:25.640 the G League. They're supposed to be throwing the ball 1508 01:13:25.720 --> 01:13:27.960 up in the third row in a G League game, 1509 01:13:28.000 --> 01:13:31.520 not in an NBA game. But they're they're force feeding them. 1510 01:13:31.880 --> 01:13:34.640 They're they're making them play against NBA guys. They they 1511 01:13:34.680 --> 01:13:38.039 think that that's gonna that's gonna get them your hardened 1512 01:13:38.119 --> 01:13:41.960 and and develop quicker. In all of that, that remains 1513 01:13:41.960 --> 01:13:45.479 to be seen. The guys they have, I don't think, 1514 01:13:45.640 --> 01:13:48.920 again my opinion that it's a good mix of guys, 1515 01:13:49.079 --> 01:13:52.439 I don't. I don't like the the the just how 1516 01:13:52.479 --> 01:13:55.199 they play off each other or don't play off each other. 1517 01:13:55.680 --> 01:13:55.920 Uh. 1518 01:13:56.039 --> 01:13:57.399 The the the. 1519 01:13:57.319 --> 01:14:01.840 Defensive end is very worrisome to me because the defensive 1520 01:14:01.840 --> 01:14:07.079 they have not gotten any better from last year to 1521 01:14:07.199 --> 01:14:10.840 this year. Statistically, they're in the same they're bottom five 1522 01:14:10.920 --> 01:14:13.960 in all these different categories. And you watch them last night, 1523 01:14:16.119 --> 01:14:19.840 they play defense. The defense is very lazy. And I'll 1524 01:14:19.840 --> 01:14:23.640 give you two examples from last night that really struck 1525 01:14:23.680 --> 01:14:26.000 out of me. The last play of the first half, 1526 01:14:26.359 --> 01:14:28.680 they come down, Okay, see as the ball they're walking 1527 01:14:28.720 --> 01:14:31.640 it up the floor to get the last shot with 1528 01:14:31.760 --> 01:14:35.520 like fifteen seconds left in the first half. The Jazz 1529 01:14:36.119 --> 01:14:42.039 don't switch, they don't match up properly. They've got Walker 1530 01:14:42.119 --> 01:14:46.439 Kessler guarding Shay Gilgess Alexander for the last play of 1531 01:14:46.439 --> 01:14:50.359 the first half, and everybody's just standing around and they're 1532 01:14:50.439 --> 01:14:53.239 leaving Walker Kesseler out on an island and there's no 1533 01:14:53.359 --> 01:14:57.279 way he can guard that guy who's an MVP level 1534 01:14:57.520 --> 01:15:00.319 player and wing player, and he just right is up 1535 01:15:00.359 --> 01:15:02.279 and shoots right over him and drose pH three at 1536 01:15:02.279 --> 01:15:05.640 the end. Then in the second half they're in a 1537 01:15:05.479 --> 01:15:09.560 in a in the secondary transition and and they come 1538 01:15:09.680 --> 01:15:12.960 back over half court and Castle's walking looking for someone 1539 01:15:13.039 --> 01:15:15.880 his guy to guard, and and uh can't they George 1540 01:15:15.920 --> 01:15:20.319 points to Alexander and and just says, you know, like 1541 01:15:20.359 --> 01:15:23.439 to Walker, hey, you get you get him, and and 1542 01:15:23.479 --> 01:15:25.840 I go and I'm watching the game. I'm going you 1543 01:15:25.880 --> 01:15:29.199 get him. You're telling you your seven foot center to 1544 01:15:29.279 --> 01:15:32.760 go guard the MVP wing player. I said, when you 1545 01:15:32.800 --> 01:15:35.560 have time to go get you know, no, no, why 1546 01:15:35.640 --> 01:15:39.760 is that my again? My opinion is that they're just lazy, 1547 01:15:40.199 --> 01:15:42.359 and so hey, you get him. I don't want to 1548 01:15:42.399 --> 01:15:44.720 have to run another ten feet and go guard the 1549 01:15:44.720 --> 01:15:46.720 guy I'm supposed to be guarding. So you get him, 1550 01:15:46.920 --> 01:15:50.439 and the same thing, And Alexander played around with them. 1551 01:15:50.439 --> 01:15:53.079 Boom boom between the legs, step in the lane, little 1552 01:15:53.119 --> 01:15:55.960 step back jump her from the free throw line. You 1553 01:15:55.960 --> 01:15:59.560 know how you doing? That's you know, they're just they 1554 01:15:59.720 --> 01:16:03.800 look like they're a lazy defensive team. It doesn't look 1555 01:16:03.960 --> 01:16:06.920 like that they're being called out on it. I'm sure 1556 01:16:06.960 --> 01:16:09.479 they work on it in practice. I'm sure they drill 1557 01:16:09.560 --> 01:16:11.520 on it. I'm sure they talk about it. I'm sure 1558 01:16:11.560 --> 01:16:14.960 they watch film about it. But in the game they're 1559 01:16:14.960 --> 01:16:19.199 making the same mistakes, and they're making the same the 1560 01:16:19.279 --> 01:16:23.439 same errors in judgment. They don't approach it with any 1561 01:16:23.520 --> 01:16:26.800 kind of urgency, and that's why you get twenty nine 1562 01:16:26.840 --> 01:16:29.640 turnovers in the game albet again against a very good 1563 01:16:29.680 --> 01:16:32.479 defensive team who caused some of those. But that's because 1564 01:16:32.520 --> 01:16:36.680 you're you're careless, you're lazy. You don't really have play 1565 01:16:36.720 --> 01:16:41.640 with that that fortitude that you need to be able 1566 01:16:41.640 --> 01:16:44.399 to secure the ball. Uh and that leads to forty 1567 01:16:44.439 --> 01:16:47.920 five points off turnovers for the other team, you know. 1568 01:16:48.000 --> 01:16:52.000 And and and while that's egregious, and that's that's a 1569 01:16:52.039 --> 01:16:55.479 big example, and maybe you know, but it's not unfortunately 1570 01:16:55.720 --> 01:16:59.520 an outlier. That that is the type of thing that's 1571 01:16:59.560 --> 01:17:00.920 been happy all along. 1572 01:17:01.279 --> 01:17:02.640 And that's why the Jazz is. 1573 01:17:02.600 --> 01:17:04.880 Sitting, you know, with the third worst record in the 1574 01:17:04.920 --> 01:17:07.960 league at four and seventeen, and with a lot of 1575 01:17:08.039 --> 01:17:10.119 road games coming up here in December. 1576 01:17:10.439 --> 01:17:13.920 So Cody Williams, who's the highest pick they made this 1577 01:17:14.039 --> 01:17:17.239 last draft and number ten out of Colorado, get some 1578 01:17:17.279 --> 01:17:18.199 time early on. 1579 01:17:18.920 --> 01:17:19.920 It didn't look great. 1580 01:17:20.600 --> 01:17:24.560 It looked well, I'll be honest, it looked bad. He 1581 01:17:24.680 --> 01:17:27.199 badly needs to get stronger. He's only nineteen years old. 1582 01:17:27.279 --> 01:17:29.880 He will fill out, he will put on weight. Time 1583 01:17:29.960 --> 01:17:31.000 will tell what. 1584 01:17:31.079 --> 01:17:33.359 He will be. I'm not ready to annoint or dismiss 1585 01:17:33.399 --> 01:17:33.760 at all. 1586 01:17:34.119 --> 01:17:38.039 Taylor goes down will Alects to start Cody, and you're watching, 1587 01:17:38.119 --> 01:17:40.960 You're like, dude, this is not it's not working. So 1588 01:17:41.000 --> 01:17:43.039 they send him down to the G League to develop. 1589 01:17:43.399 --> 01:17:45.800 Now that's what the G League is for so I 1590 01:17:45.920 --> 01:17:49.439 get it. And to your point, all of these guys, 1591 01:17:49.479 --> 01:17:52.000 maybe outside of marketing and the Vets could utilize some 1592 01:17:52.119 --> 01:17:54.840 G league minutes. We'll get to Walker in a minute, who, 1593 01:17:54.920 --> 01:17:56.840 in fairness has been really, really good. I do want 1594 01:17:56.840 --> 01:17:59.520 to talk Walker Kessler, But don't you want your top 1595 01:17:59.560 --> 01:18:03.520 ten pick to show some signs of being ready to 1596 01:18:03.600 --> 01:18:07.640 at least show that he's shows that he at least belongs. 1597 01:18:07.680 --> 01:18:10.239 I mean, there there was nothing from Cody at all. 1598 01:18:11.079 --> 01:18:13.039 And what do you make of the fact that the 1599 01:18:13.079 --> 01:18:15.239 highest pick they made in the draft last year is 1600 01:18:15.239 --> 01:18:16.920 now cutting his teeth in the G League. 1601 01:18:17.039 --> 01:18:22.000 Well, that's again, that's that's what the game plan that 1602 01:18:22.039 --> 01:18:24.600 they have for for for these guys that you know, 1603 01:18:24.640 --> 01:18:27.520 they're they're bringing him in and they're throwing them to 1604 01:18:27.520 --> 01:18:30.920 the wolves and they they're saying, hey, go figure it out. 1605 01:18:30.960 --> 01:18:33.840 And uh, you know, with the Williams kid, I don't know. 1606 01:18:34.159 --> 01:18:36.000 I don't know what he's gonna end up being. Maybe 1607 01:18:36.039 --> 01:18:39.319 he's gonna be, you know, a top level player. Uh 1608 01:18:39.359 --> 01:18:41.800 you know that obviously that that stuff remains to be seen. 1609 01:18:42.079 --> 01:18:45.079 For me, when I saw him at Colorado last year 1610 01:18:45.520 --> 01:18:47.560 is one year there in college and what I've seen 1611 01:18:47.560 --> 01:18:50.199 in the handful of games he's played in in the 1612 01:18:50.239 --> 01:18:54.359 Summer League, both in Salt Lake and Vegas, and then 1613 01:18:54.439 --> 01:18:58.760 here early part of the NBA season. He doesn't, for me, 1614 01:18:59.399 --> 01:19:03.399 doesn't play with any any sense of urgency, doesn't play 1615 01:19:03.439 --> 01:19:08.159 with any sense of pop or or toughness. He's yeah, 1616 01:19:08.279 --> 01:19:13.039 he's long, he's rangey. Yeah, okay, so what you know, 1617 01:19:13.239 --> 01:19:15.079 you have to you have to figure out how you 1618 01:19:15.279 --> 01:19:19.079 use utilize that to your advantage. He had a couple 1619 01:19:19.239 --> 01:19:22.039 of plays, and by a couple, I mean two or 1620 01:19:22.119 --> 01:19:26.119 three or four plays in the Summer league action where 1621 01:19:26.159 --> 01:19:29.439 you said, whoa, Now that's good. Now that's you know, okay, 1622 01:19:29.680 --> 01:19:31.920 took it off, the bounce, went by two guys, went 1623 01:19:32.039 --> 01:19:34.960 up over a third guy, boom and banged it on 1624 01:19:35.039 --> 01:19:37.319 his head, And okay, that's that's what you want to 1625 01:19:37.319 --> 01:19:39.920 see out of those guys. But he doesn't, has not 1626 01:19:40.000 --> 01:19:43.560 shown that, and so that is going to be interesting 1627 01:19:44.239 --> 01:19:46.479 as you pick it on one guy spends for a moment, 1628 01:19:46.520 --> 01:19:50.079 because that is the part of a guy's game that 1629 01:19:50.239 --> 01:19:54.560 is very hard to develop, and that is that aggressiveness, 1630 01:19:54.920 --> 01:19:58.640 the tough minded mindset that, by the way, his brother has, 1631 01:19:59.119 --> 01:20:01.079 now maybe his other has all of us. 1632 01:20:01.600 --> 01:20:06.159 I don't know. He's uh and that's the way he plays. 1633 01:20:06.399 --> 01:20:09.319 Maybe the Jazz took him thinking, oh, we can develop 1634 01:20:09.359 --> 01:20:13.039 him to be some some form of his brother. Who's 1635 01:20:13.199 --> 01:20:15.640 we're talking about Jalen Williams who plays for Oka See 1636 01:20:16.119 --> 01:20:20.159 who's developed quickly in the NBA as a very good 1637 01:20:21.079 --> 01:20:23.960 main guy on a team, on a winning team, who 1638 01:20:24.039 --> 01:20:25.119 makes winning plays. 1639 01:20:26.640 --> 01:20:28.760 But you haven't seen that from Cody Williams. 1640 01:20:29.640 --> 01:20:37.319 Chante George has played somewhat okay in spurts for the Jazz. Again, 1641 01:20:37.880 --> 01:20:40.199 for me, it seems like they're trying to put a 1642 01:20:40.279 --> 01:20:43.239 round peg in a square hole with him. I don't 1643 01:20:43.239 --> 01:20:45.560 think he's a point guard. They seem like they're trying 1644 01:20:45.600 --> 01:20:48.359 to make him one, or they believe he can be one. 1645 01:20:48.720 --> 01:20:51.640 I think he can be more more of a small 1646 01:20:51.800 --> 01:20:55.600 scoring two ala Jordan Clarkson, And then you can cheat 1647 01:20:55.640 --> 01:20:58.800 with him in games and in little spurts by putting 1648 01:20:58.880 --> 01:21:01.199 him at one when you have other matchups that you 1649 01:21:01.239 --> 01:21:04.159 want to take advantage of. But having a steady diet 1650 01:21:04.159 --> 01:21:06.520 of him or a steady diet of like the other 1651 01:21:06.600 --> 01:21:10.760 young kid. They've got a collier who also had four 1652 01:21:10.840 --> 01:21:14.520 turnovers last night in in in limited minutes. I mean, 1653 01:21:16.199 --> 01:21:19.359 this is this, this is what they're they've set up 1654 01:21:19.399 --> 01:21:22.840 to do, and they're willing to live with the pain 1655 01:21:23.279 --> 01:21:26.760 of it. The interesting thing is going to be how 1656 01:21:26.800 --> 01:21:30.399 they can keep selling that to the fans to say, hey, hey, 1657 01:21:30.399 --> 01:21:33.039 give us time, give us time, give us time. You 1658 01:21:33.079 --> 01:21:36.840 know you're gonna see some improvement, because at some point 1659 01:21:37.239 --> 01:21:41.000 the clock is ticking and you have to see some improvement. 1660 01:21:41.199 --> 01:21:44.079 You're not asking them to go from a thirty win 1661 01:21:44.239 --> 01:21:47.119 team to a fifty six win team overnight, but you 1662 01:21:47.159 --> 01:21:49.520 have to see some improvement in the way they play. 1663 01:21:49.920 --> 01:21:54.239 And so far through this experiment, it's it's very hard 1664 01:21:54.239 --> 01:21:56.920 to hang your hat on anything that you can say, yeah, 1665 01:21:56.960 --> 01:21:59.960 there's the there's the incremental improvements we're looking for. 1666 01:22:00.319 --> 01:22:03.479 Well, and there is also a fine line between young 1667 01:22:03.520 --> 01:22:08.039 players learning tough lessons and learning bad habits and suddenly 1668 01:22:08.079 --> 01:22:11.439 this is who you are because I can remember, you know, 1669 01:22:11.479 --> 01:22:15.159 when Kevin O'Connor, when Booze left for Chicago trade exception 1670 01:22:15.840 --> 01:22:19.520 Minnesota bringing Al Jefferson and that's when Paul Millsap went 1671 01:22:19.520 --> 01:22:22.359 from a bench player to a starter. And look, that 1672 01:22:22.399 --> 01:22:24.560 team was never going to win a trophy, but it 1673 01:22:24.640 --> 01:22:27.439 was competitive and it was a playoff team, and I 1674 01:22:27.439 --> 01:22:29.760 can remember I was on air at that time talking 1675 01:22:29.760 --> 01:22:34.119 about well, yeah, like, there's nothing wrong with making the playoffs, 1676 01:22:34.159 --> 01:22:37.479 there's nothing wrong with maximizing your good. Yes, is there 1677 01:22:37.479 --> 01:22:39.119 a little bit of a dynamic when you're going to 1678 01:22:39.199 --> 01:22:41.560 be in the middle. Yeah, and at some point you 1679 01:22:41.600 --> 01:22:43.479 probably do have to break it down in the name 1680 01:22:43.520 --> 01:22:46.680 of building it back up, like Dennis did. But what's 1681 01:22:46.720 --> 01:22:51.039 the danger of seven players under the age of twenty three, 1682 01:22:51.640 --> 01:22:55.039 who at this point really only know pro basketball is 1683 01:22:55.039 --> 01:22:57.359 getting their heads kicked in every night? Like, what's the 1684 01:22:57.439 --> 01:22:58.920 danger in taking this approach? 1685 01:22:59.000 --> 01:23:01.880 Well, one of the dangers is that you get used 1686 01:23:01.920 --> 01:23:05.399 to it, and there is there's not a lot of 1687 01:23:05.439 --> 01:23:09.880 accountability for what what the end result is. In other words, 1688 01:23:10.159 --> 01:23:12.000 you know, I make mistakes, I throw the ball out 1689 01:23:12.039 --> 01:23:14.600 of bounds, I have five turnovers. I have three of them, 1690 01:23:14.680 --> 01:23:18.119 or or what we would term unforced turnovers. They were 1691 01:23:18.199 --> 01:23:21.960 just bad decisions. And then the next day you go 1692 01:23:22.079 --> 01:23:24.680 back out and you start doing it again, and there's 1693 01:23:24.720 --> 01:23:27.640 no account there's no you know, accountability that says your 1694 01:23:27.720 --> 01:23:30.279 you know your your your limits, your minutes are gonna 1695 01:23:30.279 --> 01:23:33.199 be limited, or you're not going to get as many opportunities, 1696 01:23:33.399 --> 01:23:35.479 or you're gonna have to go to the G League 1697 01:23:35.600 --> 01:23:39.640 or you know, whatever, whatever it is, and so those things. 1698 01:23:40.079 --> 01:23:42.880 At some point you have a certain level of professional 1699 01:23:42.920 --> 01:23:45.920 pride that has to come into play where where you 1700 01:23:46.079 --> 01:23:49.720 don't accept that from yourself as a player, and you 1701 01:23:50.159 --> 01:23:53.560 determined for yourself, I've got to get better, I've got 1702 01:23:53.600 --> 01:23:57.359 to figure this out. Or the other part of it, Spence, 1703 01:23:57.520 --> 01:24:01.600 is that maybe everyone finds out at some point, oh, 1704 01:24:02.000 --> 01:24:06.359 maybe he's not good enough to do this, and maybe 1705 01:24:06.399 --> 01:24:07.640 we have to look. 1706 01:24:07.479 --> 01:24:11.159 At plan B or Plan C or whatever. 1707 01:24:10.880 --> 01:24:13.560 It's going to be because we didn't make the right 1708 01:24:13.640 --> 01:24:17.199 decision in this regard, if that's if that's what it 1709 01:24:17.239 --> 01:24:20.439 comes to, but making the same mistake over and over 1710 01:24:20.520 --> 01:24:26.079 again and not correcting it and not being held accountable 1711 01:24:26.199 --> 01:24:32.000 for it in some regard, it's just, uh, it's tough 1712 01:24:32.039 --> 01:24:36.199 to watch. It's tough to understand how a team gets 1713 01:24:36.199 --> 01:24:39.119 in these positions. But look s MESSI. The Jazz aren't 1714 01:24:39.159 --> 01:24:42.119 the only team. There are a lot of teams that 1715 01:24:42.319 --> 01:24:44.279 deal with this from year to year, and a lot 1716 01:24:44.319 --> 01:24:48.039 of teams that keep wallowing around. The interesting thing is 1717 01:24:48.079 --> 01:24:50.520 going to be how long they stick with their game 1718 01:24:50.600 --> 01:24:53.840 plan and do they really believe in what they've set 1719 01:24:53.960 --> 01:24:57.479 up to do to be able to stick with it 1720 01:24:57.760 --> 01:25:01.199 and work through it. Because these are as we've mentioned before, 1721 01:25:01.560 --> 01:25:03.920 These are the low times for the Jazz, and these 1722 01:25:03.960 --> 01:25:07.960 are the growing pains, and you know, can it get worse? 1723 01:25:09.000 --> 01:25:09.520 I don't know. 1724 01:25:09.960 --> 01:25:13.680 Maybe it can get worse, you know, obviously it certainly 1725 01:25:13.680 --> 01:25:17.439 can get better, and it needs to get better. But 1726 01:25:17.800 --> 01:25:22.479 how how long that takes to happen and how you 1727 01:25:22.600 --> 01:25:26.359 go about doing it is going to be interesting. Last night, 1728 01:25:26.600 --> 01:25:29.680 the second quarter, the Jazz come out of the of 1729 01:25:29.720 --> 01:25:33.159 their their their time out and their their second uh. 1730 01:25:33.640 --> 01:25:37.079 Their starting line up for the beginning of the second quarter, 1731 01:25:38.199 --> 01:25:43.159 mkaylik U Banks, Sensible, Jusang Collier. 1732 01:25:43.359 --> 01:25:43.800 Stop it. 1733 01:25:44.039 --> 01:25:48.119 That's that's the starting five in the NBA game last night. 1734 01:25:48.560 --> 01:25:53.000 That's supposed to be the starting five for the Stars 1735 01:25:53.119 --> 01:25:56.119 G League team on Saturday night. I mean, come on, 1736 01:25:56.520 --> 01:25:59.680 are you kidding me? And then I didn't understand this part. 1737 01:26:00.119 --> 01:26:04.159 And again maybe they were working on something. Sometimes coaches 1738 01:26:04.239 --> 01:26:06.279 do this near the end of games that are out 1739 01:26:06.319 --> 01:26:09.640 of hand. I understand if that was the mindset. I 1740 01:26:09.680 --> 01:26:12.199 think they were playing a zone for a couple a 1741 01:26:12.199 --> 01:26:14.760 couple of possessions. Maybe that's what they were kind of 1742 01:26:14.880 --> 01:26:18.840 live working. But five minutes left in the game, they're 1743 01:26:18.880 --> 01:26:22.399 down twenty seven, and they put in their starting five, 1744 01:26:23.399 --> 01:26:29.800 they put in you know, Collins Kessler market in Sexton, George. 1745 01:26:30.199 --> 01:26:33.000 They're in there with five minutes to go on the court, 1746 01:26:33.119 --> 01:26:37.960 down twenty seven. You know, if you're running a developmental thing, 1747 01:26:38.039 --> 01:26:38.439 I don't know. 1748 01:26:38.479 --> 01:26:39.079 Maybe they were. 1749 01:26:39.159 --> 01:26:41.760 They were trying to do the thing with the with 1750 01:26:41.800 --> 01:26:44.039 the zone defense or trying to see how these I 1751 01:26:44.039 --> 01:26:45.880 don't know, but that's all part of it. 1752 01:26:46.039 --> 01:26:46.720 But it's hard. 1753 01:26:46.920 --> 01:26:50.399 It's hard to explain to fans who are paying money that, 1754 01:26:50.760 --> 01:26:53.640 you know, we're just we're just practicing with this stuff 1755 01:26:53.680 --> 01:26:57.039 now and we're asking you to pay full price, you know, 1756 01:26:57.119 --> 01:27:01.479 to uh to watch that live. That's that's a tough 1757 01:27:01.520 --> 01:27:04.479 sell that they've gotten away with so far, and it's 1758 01:27:04.479 --> 01:27:07.720 going to be interesting to see how long it goes 1759 01:27:07.760 --> 01:27:11.119 on for before there's some you know, kind of pushback 1760 01:27:11.560 --> 01:27:14.439 from fans of saying, hey, when when are we getting better? 1761 01:27:14.560 --> 01:27:16.840 When when is this going to happen? You know, what 1762 01:27:16.880 --> 01:27:19.520 do you got for me? You know, because I'm investing 1763 01:27:19.560 --> 01:27:21.920 my time and money in you, but I don't I 1764 01:27:21.960 --> 01:27:24.239 don't see what I'm getting out of it. You know, 1765 01:27:24.279 --> 01:27:26.600 that's going to be the interesting part if you're a 1766 01:27:26.680 --> 01:27:29.880 Jazz fan, and and if you're at the Jazz front 1767 01:27:29.880 --> 01:27:31.479 office and the ownership group. 1768 01:27:31.560 --> 01:27:34.159 Will end on a positive note, because there's not a 1769 01:27:34.159 --> 01:27:36.920 lot of positive things to talk about with this current 1770 01:27:37.000 --> 01:27:39.199 iteration of the Jazz. But I will say Walker has 1771 01:27:39.239 --> 01:27:42.359 been very good in the fifteen games he's played. He's 1772 01:27:42.359 --> 01:27:45.399 at eleven points, eleven boards, nearly three block shots. His 1773 01:27:45.520 --> 01:27:48.640 rim protection is elite. The opponent field goal percentage against 1774 01:27:48.680 --> 01:27:50.960 him at the rim is not good, which is good. 1775 01:27:50.760 --> 01:27:51.399 For the Jazz. 1776 01:27:52.199 --> 01:27:54.359 I want to see that free throw percentage job fifty 1777 01:27:54.399 --> 01:27:57.720 eight percent from the free throw line, but seventy four percent. 1778 01:27:57.439 --> 01:27:58.000 From the floor. 1779 01:27:58.479 --> 01:28:02.600 And just looking at him watching him play, he looks bigger, 1780 01:28:02.600 --> 01:28:05.520 he looks stronger, and I think I would say he's 1781 01:28:05.520 --> 01:28:08.520 been the main bright spot for me through fifteen games. 1782 01:28:08.560 --> 01:28:11.039 I mean, one of the debates we keep having is 1783 01:28:11.560 --> 01:28:14.000 who's going to be here when the Jazz are actually 1784 01:28:14.119 --> 01:28:17.840 legitimately good and a serious team, serious about winning. Walker 1785 01:28:18.119 --> 01:28:21.399 seems to have maybe played himself into that conversation throughout 1786 01:28:21.399 --> 01:28:22.439 the first portion of the season. 1787 01:28:22.479 --> 01:28:24.479 What have you seen from Walker Kesseler, and I would 1788 01:28:24.479 --> 01:28:25.039 agree with you. 1789 01:28:25.600 --> 01:28:27.319 And this is his third year, right, so at the 1790 01:28:27.399 --> 01:28:31.439 beginning of his third year, he looks like he's developing 1791 01:28:31.479 --> 01:28:34.800 into a comfort level where he understands what he can 1792 01:28:34.920 --> 01:28:37.800 do and what they want him to do and not 1793 01:28:37.880 --> 01:28:40.960 trying to do too much. Right, you know, he's averaging 1794 01:28:42.640 --> 01:28:46.680 twenty nine minutes a game, averaging eleven points, ten rebounds, 1795 01:28:47.000 --> 01:28:50.720 almost three blocks. If you were to say, hey, we 1796 01:28:50.760 --> 01:28:55.760 would take that, We would take that for the next seven, eight, 1797 01:28:55.880 --> 01:28:58.720 ten years and put that in our lineup and have 1798 01:28:58.840 --> 01:29:00.039 our big man do that. 1799 01:29:00.720 --> 01:29:04.399 Okay, we'll lock that in. Okay. Now we lock in. 1800 01:29:04.640 --> 01:29:07.560 We've locked market in in Okay for on a long 1801 01:29:07.640 --> 01:29:10.840 term deal. So now we got two of those guys 1802 01:29:10.880 --> 01:29:14.319 that we like that we're comfortable that they're they're gonna 1803 01:29:14.319 --> 01:29:17.439 be those guys and those positions. Now we're trying to 1804 01:29:17.479 --> 01:29:19.760 find out, you know, what the other ones are and 1805 01:29:19.760 --> 01:29:20.800 where they're coming from. 1806 01:29:20.800 --> 01:29:22.479 But I like what he's done. 1807 01:29:22.720 --> 01:29:24.760 I like the fact that the game looks like it's 1808 01:29:24.760 --> 01:29:27.680 slowed down a little bit for him, that he feels 1809 01:29:27.720 --> 01:29:30.920 comfortable being on the spots that he's in, and he's 1810 01:29:31.039 --> 01:29:33.840 he's delivering, and he seems to me just to be 1811 01:29:34.199 --> 01:29:38.439 playing a little more comfortably out there, which is what 1812 01:29:38.479 --> 01:29:40.520 you want to see. And that's all part of the 1813 01:29:40.560 --> 01:29:44.359 developmental Process's what we saw on Rudy. When Rudy made 1814 01:29:44.359 --> 01:29:48.000 his incremental progress until his fourth year, well you know 1815 01:29:48.039 --> 01:29:50.399 when he when he started busting out, And maybe that's 1816 01:29:50.399 --> 01:29:52.119 what's what's happening with Kessler. 1817 01:29:52.479 --> 01:29:53.560 It's beeny great to see him. 1818 01:29:53.560 --> 01:29:56.720 My friend, did you have a favorite ride in Disneyland? 1819 01:29:56.840 --> 01:29:57.680 Hey, we went on. 1820 01:29:57.920 --> 01:30:00.640 We went on It's a small world that can't be 1821 01:30:00.640 --> 01:30:04.039 your favorites, and we broke the ride. We were sitting 1822 01:30:04.119 --> 01:30:08.039 there for fifteen minutes because they couldn't figure and we're going, 1823 01:30:08.279 --> 01:30:10.560 wait a minute. All these other rides are spinning and 1824 01:30:10.680 --> 01:30:12.880 jumping and throwing you in the air and doing all 1825 01:30:12.880 --> 01:30:13.359 this stuff. 1826 01:30:13.399 --> 01:30:15.520 And we're on the slowest ride that you can be 1827 01:30:15.640 --> 01:30:16.199 h and. 1828 01:30:16.119 --> 01:30:20.640 The right brakes and we're in limbo for for fifteen minutes. 1829 01:30:20.680 --> 01:30:23.560 But you know, look, I spend my days of going 1830 01:30:23.600 --> 01:30:26.159 through those things where they're throwing you around and jumping 1831 01:30:26.239 --> 01:30:27.079 up and down. 1832 01:30:26.880 --> 01:30:28.800 And you're swinging you around or whatever. 1833 01:30:29.119 --> 01:30:33.079 I used to enjoy those, but I'm I'm like the 1834 01:30:33.399 --> 01:30:35.760 fair weather fan going to the game right now, I 1835 01:30:36.479 --> 01:30:41.640 can't do those anymore. I did them, but I realized, Okay, 1836 01:30:42.159 --> 01:30:43.119 that's exactly right. 1837 01:30:43.199 --> 01:30:46.199 Yes, it's as small as as a seasoned Disney vet. 1838 01:30:46.760 --> 01:30:48.520 It's a small world. Is the ride you take when 1839 01:30:48.560 --> 01:30:50.600 you need a nap between all the other one. Thank 1840 01:30:50.640 --> 01:30:52.960 you very much. Yes, there we go. Hey, great to 1841 01:30:52.960 --> 01:30:55.800 see you. Okay, I've been great. Richard spent forty years 1842 01:30:55.800 --> 01:30:57.920 with the Jazz front office. Howard Beck's gonna roll by 1843 01:30:57.960 --> 01:30:59.520 from the Ringer. Got to tell you about my friends 1844 01:30:59.560 --> 01:31:01.800 at Prize It's the best place to get real money 1845 01:31:01.800 --> 01:31:05.159 sports action. With over ten million members and billions of 1846 01:31:05.199 --> 01:31:08.159 dollars in awarded winnings, Prize Picks has made daily fantasy 1847 01:31:08.159 --> 01:31:11.199 sports accessible to all. Okay, so it's easy if you've 1848 01:31:11.239 --> 01:31:13.680 never tried to gamble on sports before. You don't have 1849 01:31:13.760 --> 01:31:17.720 to worry about over under or spread or whatever money line. 1850 01:31:18.079 --> 01:31:20.560 All you do is pick more or less on two 1851 01:31:20.600 --> 01:31:22.359 players for a shot to it up to one hundred 1852 01:31:22.359 --> 01:31:24.640 times for cash. So we use the Jazz for an example, 1853 01:31:25.279 --> 01:31:27.880 Walker Kessler more or less than two and a half blocks, 1854 01:31:27.920 --> 01:31:30.520 Lowry Marketing more or less than nineteen and a half points. 1855 01:31:30.560 --> 01:31:32.199 Things like that. It's very very easy. 1856 01:31:32.960 --> 01:31:35.399 You've got Ali Mata on the show today from the 1857 01:31:35.479 --> 01:31:39.359 Utah Hockey Club. Utah Hockey Club is off all week long, 1858 01:31:39.479 --> 01:31:42.079 back in action coming up on Saturday. Ali's been called 1859 01:31:42.119 --> 01:31:45.560 up to play for Finland, his home country, so exciting 1860 01:31:45.600 --> 01:31:49.279 news for him. Bill Riley joined us earlier Richard Smith 1861 01:31:49.319 --> 01:31:51.600 forty years with the Jazz front office, but time now 1862 01:31:51.600 --> 01:31:54.399 to bring in Yes, like it or not, he is 1863 01:31:54.439 --> 01:31:57.399 the hippus NBA rider out there. Always good to chat 1864 01:31:57.439 --> 01:31:59.760 with Howard Beck on a Wednesday. Howard, Happy Wednesday, sir? 1865 01:31:59.800 --> 01:32:00.399 How you. 1866 01:32:02.159 --> 01:32:02.479 Bence? 1867 01:32:02.560 --> 01:32:03.039 How are you? 1868 01:32:03.279 --> 01:32:06.199 I'm uh, I still protest. I'm not that hip, but 1869 01:32:06.760 --> 01:32:09.159 I will put on the best possible version of that 1870 01:32:09.319 --> 01:32:10.479 for your audience that I can. 1871 01:32:10.680 --> 01:32:13.359 Howard, We've been over it all. The NBA writers are nerds. 1872 01:32:13.399 --> 01:32:15.640 It's not like that big of a compliment. I mean, 1873 01:32:15.720 --> 01:32:18.359 you know, ultimately, you know you don't have a lot 1874 01:32:18.399 --> 01:32:20.079 of challengers on the list, you know what I mean. 1875 01:32:21.119 --> 01:32:23.039 It's a it's a low bar. And you did bring 1876 01:32:23.039 --> 01:32:24.600 me into the war on drugs, which I appreciate. 1877 01:32:24.720 --> 01:32:27.159 Yeah, I need you like that. What does Thanksgiving look 1878 01:32:27.239 --> 01:32:28.039 like for Howard Beck? 1879 01:32:28.079 --> 01:32:32.680 I gotta know, Well, we uh have a standing tradition 1880 01:32:32.960 --> 01:32:35.479 of going to the Thanksgiving Day parade, even though for 1881 01:32:35.560 --> 01:32:37.479 most of my life I was sort of anti parade. 1882 01:32:37.520 --> 01:32:42.159 Parades are a little silly frankly, especially on TV, but 1883 01:32:42.359 --> 01:32:45.399 being there in person, it's different, Like it is kind 1884 01:32:45.399 --> 01:32:46.960 of magical and you're you're out there with a lot 1885 01:32:46.960 --> 01:32:49.399 of other you know, people, like literally thousands of other people. 1886 01:32:49.520 --> 01:32:51.079 And we started doing it with our when our daughter 1887 01:32:51.159 --> 01:32:53.760 was small, and we go with another family when their 1888 01:32:53.840 --> 01:32:55.920 daughters were small, and then it just became kind of 1889 01:32:55.920 --> 01:32:57.840 a standing thing. We did it, you know, prisonly, you're 1890 01:32:57.880 --> 01:32:59.359 doing it for the kids, and then eventually you kind 1891 01:32:59.359 --> 01:33:02.199 of like enjoy for your own reasons. And now our 1892 01:33:02.239 --> 01:33:07.239 kids are eighteen. But we went anyway in the rain 1893 01:33:07.680 --> 01:33:10.800 and watch the balloons go by and all that stuff. 1894 01:33:11.159 --> 01:33:13.840 And then our friends are kind enough to actually host 1895 01:33:13.920 --> 01:33:17.000 us for Thanksgiving because our families are not here. My 1896 01:33:17.039 --> 01:33:18.880 wife and I hear our families are back in California, 1897 01:33:18.960 --> 01:33:21.399 so we have never done Thanksgiving with our families for 1898 01:33:21.439 --> 01:33:24.199 the last to twenty years. So we do the friends 1899 01:33:24.239 --> 01:33:27.720 to the friends giving thing and yeah, great time. I 1900 01:33:27.760 --> 01:33:28.880 hope hope yours was as well. 1901 01:33:28.960 --> 01:33:29.760 Yeah it was, it was. 1902 01:33:29.840 --> 01:33:31.600 I was actually back in your neck of the woods 1903 01:33:31.640 --> 01:33:34.079 back in Fairfield County. Spent a little time in Manhattan, 1904 01:33:34.159 --> 01:33:36.479 but good to be back on the ground. And you know, 1905 01:33:36.520 --> 01:33:38.119 we're not going to do a lot of jazz because 1906 01:33:38.119 --> 01:33:40.920 there's just not a lot to talk about with the 1907 01:33:41.000 --> 01:33:43.800 Utah Jazz right now. But I'm just going to ask 1908 01:33:43.840 --> 01:33:46.800 you generally speaking, you know, watching them last and look, 1909 01:33:46.840 --> 01:33:48.119 okse is awesome. 1910 01:33:48.199 --> 01:33:49.039 They're really good. 1911 01:33:49.079 --> 01:33:53.079 But the Jazz are twenty sixth in offense, they're thirtieth 1912 01:33:53.159 --> 01:33:53.760 in defense. 1913 01:33:53.800 --> 01:33:55.000 They're four and seventeen. 1914 01:33:55.800 --> 01:34:01.359 And there's a fine line between teaching young players lessons 1915 01:34:01.439 --> 01:34:05.720 via competition against the varsity and then allowing losing to 1916 01:34:05.760 --> 01:34:07.520 seep in as part of your identity. 1917 01:34:07.920 --> 01:34:09.560 What's the danger because. 1918 01:34:09.279 --> 01:34:11.760 They, you know, they said at the start of the season, 1919 01:34:11.880 --> 01:34:14.439 justin Xantag Danny Ings, they said player development were playing 1920 01:34:14.439 --> 01:34:17.039 the young kids, and they're playing the young kids, they're 1921 01:34:17.079 --> 01:34:20.840 getting their heads kicked in. What's what sort of danger 1922 01:34:20.920 --> 01:34:22.960 is there with this approach as far as you know, 1923 01:34:23.119 --> 01:34:25.880 wanting to make sure that these young some of them 1924 01:34:26.000 --> 01:34:28.920 very talented players, don't become completely accustomed to getting their 1925 01:34:28.960 --> 01:34:29.920 heads kicked in every night. 1926 01:34:31.399 --> 01:34:33.279 That's funny because I've thought about this a lot, and 1927 01:34:33.319 --> 01:34:36.359 I've had conversations with people occasionally about this, and it 1928 01:34:36.399 --> 01:34:37.920 is something I kind of want to dig deeper into 1929 01:34:37.960 --> 01:34:41.399 at some point, just the psychological side of this and 1930 01:34:41.439 --> 01:34:44.000 whether teams, how much they grapple with this. I mean, 1931 01:34:44.039 --> 01:34:45.920 look at the Wizards right now, They're two and seventeen. 1932 01:34:45.960 --> 01:34:49.039 They've lost fifteen games in a row. None of it 1933 01:34:49.079 --> 01:34:51.439 is surprising. They were engineered to do this. This was 1934 01:34:51.479 --> 01:34:53.279 definitely going to be a tanking year, and it's year 1935 01:34:53.359 --> 01:34:57.600 two of their tanking and teardown since their new administration 1936 01:34:58.079 --> 01:35:00.439 under Michael Winger arrived. Right like, they they tore off 1937 01:35:00.439 --> 01:35:02.319 the band and they traded Bradley Beal. They you know, 1938 01:35:02.359 --> 01:35:04.760 they went young, they went read whatever, all that stuff, 1939 01:35:06.479 --> 01:35:08.920 and you know, the Nets are supposed to be doing that. 1940 01:35:08.960 --> 01:35:11.000 They're kind of screwing up their whole tank job. The 1941 01:35:11.119 --> 01:35:13.279 Jazz have been kind of stealth tanking the last couple 1942 01:35:13.359 --> 01:35:16.079 of years, or not quite tanking, and now it looks 1943 01:35:16.079 --> 01:35:19.680 like they finally are, you know, in a position where okay, cool, 1944 01:35:19.760 --> 01:35:22.840 like let's just go get the best pick we can. 1945 01:35:23.680 --> 01:35:26.800 I think, if I had to guess, not being a 1946 01:35:26.840 --> 01:35:29.920 psychologist myself or a GM, I think if you're a 1947 01:35:30.000 --> 01:35:32.840 team that has young talent, and you're giving them all 1948 01:35:32.880 --> 01:35:35.319 the rope in the world and all the the the 1949 01:35:35.439 --> 01:35:38.840 reps in the world to develop get a feel for 1950 01:35:38.880 --> 01:35:40.960 the MBA and for who you are and for what 1951 01:35:41.000 --> 01:35:44.039 your your your possibilities and limitations are, and all that. 1952 01:35:44.279 --> 01:35:46.359 You can do that for like a year or maybe two. 1953 01:35:46.520 --> 01:35:48.399 I think beyond that, when you start getting into what 1954 01:35:48.439 --> 01:35:50.680 the Sixers were doing during the process era, you know, 1955 01:35:50.720 --> 01:35:53.199 ten years ago, that's when I think you're you're in 1956 01:35:53.359 --> 01:35:56.079 danger of well now it's just there's just a malaise 1957 01:35:56.119 --> 01:35:59.640 hanging over everybody. Now now there are no expectations. Now 1958 01:35:59.640 --> 01:36:06.479 everybody expects to lose, and bad habits are are are 1959 01:36:06.880 --> 01:36:10.560 more easily seep in. Because if so, this is the 1960 01:36:10.600 --> 01:36:12.319 fine line. Let's take it through the prism of like 1961 01:36:12.359 --> 01:36:15.800 a single player, especially like a single player who is 1962 01:36:16.399 --> 01:36:19.720 a primary ball handler type. You can go get your 1963 01:36:19.760 --> 01:36:21.760 numbers every night. You can just put up all the 1964 01:36:21.760 --> 01:36:24.000 shots you want. You could be I mean, at his 1965 01:36:24.079 --> 01:36:28.800 worst at times here in Brooklyn, cam Thomas right, maybe 1966 01:36:28.840 --> 01:36:31.199 Jordan Poole at times, although it hasn't been nearly what 1967 01:36:31.239 --> 01:36:33.359 we thought it might be in Washington. But if you 1968 01:36:33.439 --> 01:36:35.000 want to just go get yours, and you got the 1969 01:36:35.000 --> 01:36:36.760 ball in your hands a lot, and you're great at 1970 01:36:36.760 --> 01:36:39.520 taking guys off the dribble. You can score, you can 1971 01:36:39.520 --> 01:36:41.880 score inefficiently, but you can put up numbers and you 1972 01:36:41.920 --> 01:36:43.680 can play for your next contract, and you could say, 1973 01:36:43.680 --> 01:36:46.279 screw it, we're not losing, We're not winning anyway. I'm 1974 01:36:46.319 --> 01:36:50.039 just gonna get mine. That's the danger, that and not 1975 01:36:50.079 --> 01:36:53.560 having any expectations of winning. Maybe bad work habits too, 1976 01:36:53.960 --> 01:36:57.479 but the right coach can keep guys on task, and 1977 01:36:57.520 --> 01:36:59.720 I think you've got that in Utah with Will Hardy, 1978 01:36:59.720 --> 01:37:02.239 and I think think the Nets have that with Jordy Fernandez. 1979 01:37:02.239 --> 01:37:06.279 It's why they're overachieving right now. So I think it's 1980 01:37:06.279 --> 01:37:11.199 possible to be tanking and still instill the right values 1981 01:37:11.760 --> 01:37:14.479 in standards in your franchise. But I do think the 1982 01:37:14.560 --> 01:37:17.000 danger becomes if you do this as a multi year thing. 1983 01:37:17.520 --> 01:37:20.399 And again, like I think that malaise can set in. 1984 01:37:21.039 --> 01:37:24.640 So the G League is designed for development, and I 1985 01:37:24.720 --> 01:37:27.399 understand that. And look, I think there are a lot 1986 01:37:27.399 --> 01:37:29.960 of players on the Jazz roster the kid utilize some 1987 01:37:30.000 --> 01:37:32.039 minutes in the G League, but the highest draft pick 1988 01:37:32.079 --> 01:37:35.439 they made last year was Cody Williams at ten, and 1989 01:37:35.960 --> 01:37:38.720 you know, after Taylor Hendrix broke his leg, will elected 1990 01:37:38.720 --> 01:37:40.720 to start Cody and it just looked horrible. 1991 01:37:41.039 --> 01:37:42.039 There was really just. 1992 01:37:42.079 --> 01:37:45.000 Nothing there at all on either side, offense or defense. 1993 01:37:45.520 --> 01:37:47.439 And look, there are players that have spent time in 1994 01:37:47.479 --> 01:37:50.479 the G League. There's the Rudy Goberts, the Pascal Siakams, 1995 01:37:50.520 --> 01:37:53.720 the Danny Greens, the Jonathan kaming Is. So I'm not 1996 01:37:53.880 --> 01:37:57.760 saying that this should overly concern Jazz fans, but as 1997 01:37:57.800 --> 01:38:00.720 a top ten pick, you just hope that he shows 1998 01:38:00.760 --> 01:38:01.600 a little bit more. 1999 01:38:02.359 --> 01:38:03.199 Eddie's nineteen. 2000 01:38:03.279 --> 01:38:05.600 I mean, look, like I said, just a kid, But 2001 01:38:05.680 --> 01:38:07.760 what do you make of that dynamic a top ten 2002 01:38:07.880 --> 01:38:11.159 pick now, you know, spending time in the G League 2003 01:38:11.199 --> 01:38:13.079 in order to get some minutes, as opposed to him 2004 01:38:13.159 --> 01:38:15.159 learning next to the rest of the young kids that 2005 01:38:15.199 --> 01:38:16.239 are still up with the Jazz. 2006 01:38:18.039 --> 01:38:21.560 People have I think, very different philosophies about this around 2007 01:38:21.800 --> 01:38:25.920 the league. Some people feel like, you know, if you're 2008 01:38:25.960 --> 01:38:28.119 not playing at the NBA level, if you're not in 2009 01:38:28.159 --> 01:38:31.199 the rotation, then you're better off just getting as many 2010 01:38:31.199 --> 01:38:33.000 reps as you can, and if you play in the 2011 01:38:33.000 --> 01:38:35.239 G League, at least you are getting a chance to 2012 01:38:35.359 --> 01:38:39.520 compete and be in game situations. There are others who 2013 01:38:39.600 --> 01:38:42.199 actually think there's more value maybe not more value, but 2014 01:38:42.479 --> 01:38:45.079 a different kind of value to if you're the fourteenth 2015 01:38:45.159 --> 01:38:48.399 or fifteenth man, but you're with the big league club, right, 2016 01:38:48.439 --> 01:38:52.600 it's different. You've got you can get specialized attention from 2017 01:38:52.920 --> 01:38:55.600 the coaching staff, you know, more hands on and even 2018 01:38:55.640 --> 01:38:57.399 though we've got a lot of you know, mostly one 2019 01:38:57.439 --> 01:39:02.039 to one now relationships between NBA clubs and G League teams, 2020 01:39:02.039 --> 01:39:06.520 and you can instructor or direct your G League staff, Hey, 2021 01:39:06.520 --> 01:39:08.479 this is what we need this player to do for 2022 01:39:08.520 --> 01:39:10.359 the next couple of games in the next couple of weeks. 2023 01:39:11.199 --> 01:39:14.680 There's nothing like having the head coach and his staff 2024 01:39:14.880 --> 01:39:17.840 have hands on on a daily basis in practice. And 2025 01:39:18.000 --> 01:39:20.199 so you know, there's a certain amount too that you 2026 01:39:20.239 --> 01:39:23.279 just learned by observation of you know, if you were 2027 01:39:23.359 --> 01:39:25.920 you know, the Jonathan kouoming Is and Moses Moodies right 2028 01:39:26.279 --> 01:39:28.600 of the Warriors of the last several years, right being 2029 01:39:28.640 --> 01:39:31.079 on that bench and in that locker room with you know, 2030 01:39:31.159 --> 01:39:35.000 Draymond and Steph and Clay, there's a value to that 2031 01:39:35.000 --> 01:39:37.439 that I'm not saying it's better than being in the 2032 01:39:37.600 --> 01:39:40.640 league and actually playing. But it's different. And of course, 2033 01:39:40.680 --> 01:39:43.159 the Warriors, I think, to their credit during that time, 2034 01:39:43.279 --> 01:39:45.039 were also sending those guys down at the G League 2035 01:39:45.039 --> 01:39:48.479 as much as they could. And so it's it's I 2036 01:39:48.520 --> 01:39:52.039 think it's a balance. I kind of lean on the 2037 01:39:52.079 --> 01:39:55.479 side of if the guy's not playing at the NBA level, 2038 01:39:55.520 --> 01:39:57.479 if he's not in the rotation regularly, you might as 2039 01:39:57.520 --> 01:39:59.520 well get him down to the G League as often 2040 01:39:59.520 --> 01:40:02.920 as possible. And you know, and some teams, if you know, 2041 01:40:02.920 --> 01:40:06.359 if the proximity is you know, conducive to it, you 2042 01:40:06.399 --> 01:40:07.960 can also have them do what a lot of teams do, 2043 01:40:08.000 --> 01:40:09.800 which just bounce back and forth as much as possible. 2044 01:40:10.640 --> 01:40:13.800 Last Jazz related question that we'll move on, because ultimately, 2045 01:40:14.359 --> 01:40:16.800 you know, there are some vets on the roster that 2046 01:40:16.880 --> 01:40:20.439 I think could help out contending teams down the stretch. 2047 01:40:20.479 --> 01:40:22.760 And I'm not a John Collins guy, but I'll say 2048 01:40:22.760 --> 01:40:25.520 that John's played pretty well early on in the season. 2049 01:40:25.920 --> 01:40:28.359 And you know, it seems like every time somebody writes 2050 01:40:28.399 --> 01:40:31.439 the piece on hey, which teams could be active come 2051 01:40:31.479 --> 01:40:33.800 trade deadline, the Jazz are brought up because they do 2052 01:40:33.880 --> 01:40:38.000 have some vets like Collins and Sexton and Clarkson, And 2053 01:40:38.039 --> 01:40:40.039 the bottom line is they were willing to trade those 2054 01:40:40.039 --> 01:40:43.319 guys this summer, So that's not breaking news. But if 2055 01:40:43.319 --> 01:40:45.960 you're an opposing GM and you have a team that 2056 01:40:46.000 --> 01:40:48.239 you think is good but a piece or two away, 2057 01:40:48.720 --> 01:40:50.520 and you want to vet do any of these Jazz 2058 01:40:50.520 --> 01:40:52.479 players catch your iodol. 2059 01:40:54.199 --> 01:41:01.680 They do, it's gonna be So the broad answer here, 2060 01:41:01.760 --> 01:41:04.359 before getting into the details of it, is, I don't 2061 01:41:04.439 --> 01:41:06.800 know how the second Apron and all this new CBA 2062 01:41:06.840 --> 01:41:09.159 stuff is going to affect this trade season. This this 2063 01:41:09.159 --> 01:41:11.800 will be the first trade season where all of the 2064 01:41:11.840 --> 01:41:15.359 new limitations are in effect and things are kind of tight, 2065 01:41:15.439 --> 01:41:16.560 and there are a lot of teams that don't have 2066 01:41:16.640 --> 01:41:20.079 much wiggle room, and team might think like, oh, John 2067 01:41:20.119 --> 01:41:22.079 Collins will be a great asset for us, or Jordan 2068 01:41:22.119 --> 01:41:23.880 clarks would be will be great for us, but they 2069 01:41:23.920 --> 01:41:26.000 just might not be able to pull it off, just 2070 01:41:26.119 --> 01:41:30.079 logistically and cap wise. And so I don't know what 2071 01:41:30.119 --> 01:41:36.039 effects that might have. And but that said, like, yeah, 2072 01:41:36.119 --> 01:41:40.319 John Collins, Collins, Exton, Jordan Clarkson, you know, any number 2073 01:41:40.319 --> 01:41:43.119 of guys on that roster I think could be of interest. 2074 01:41:44.119 --> 01:41:45.640 You know the fact that John Collins still has a 2075 01:41:45.640 --> 01:41:48.840 player option, so essentially one more year after this season. Like, 2076 01:41:48.880 --> 01:41:51.039 I can't imagine he's going to decline his player option 2077 01:41:51.079 --> 01:41:52.840 at twenty seven million. I don't think he's getting that 2078 01:41:52.880 --> 01:41:57.760 again next summer. So a team, if they're acquiring him 2079 01:41:57.760 --> 01:41:59.920 in particular, and you're right, like he's having kind of 2080 01:42:00.199 --> 01:42:04.800 a rebound year or a resurgence, does a team want 2081 01:42:04.800 --> 01:42:07.159 to take them on at that number, knowing that they've 2082 01:42:07.159 --> 01:42:11.319 got another full season at that number. I don't know, 2083 01:42:12.159 --> 01:42:15.000 but I do think that the Jazz will be at 2084 01:42:15.079 --> 01:42:18.359 a minimum active in discussions like that's you know, that's 2085 01:42:18.399 --> 01:42:21.279 kind of a no brainer, and I think, yeah, for sure, 2086 01:42:21.279 --> 01:42:23.319 teams are going to be sniffing around to see who's available. 2087 01:42:23.760 --> 01:42:26.880 So moving off the Jazz specifically, this is somewhat related, 2088 01:42:26.880 --> 01:42:29.039 but I do want to ask you about the Timberwolves. 2089 01:42:29.359 --> 01:42:32.199 This is the year where the return of the Gobert 2090 01:42:32.279 --> 01:42:35.800 and Mitchell trade start paying dividends for the Jazz, namely 2091 01:42:35.840 --> 01:42:38.680 a first round pick from Minnesota this year. And of course, 2092 01:42:38.680 --> 01:42:40.560 the Jazz are doing everything they can to hold on 2093 01:42:40.600 --> 01:42:42.439 to their own draft capital so they don't have. 2094 01:42:42.439 --> 01:42:44.880 To give it away to OKC like everybody else. 2095 01:42:44.920 --> 01:42:50.439 But are these early average performances from Minnesota troubling. Is 2096 01:42:50.479 --> 01:42:52.920 there a chance maybe the Jazz actually luck into a 2097 01:42:52.960 --> 01:42:55.079 decent draft asset from the t Wolves this year. 2098 01:42:57.239 --> 01:42:58.880 I think the timber Wolves are going to be okay. 2099 01:42:59.279 --> 01:43:02.000 I was not a big fan of the trade, the 2100 01:43:02.039 --> 01:43:05.600 cat trade from their side of it, because going from 2101 01:43:06.079 --> 01:43:10.840 Towns to Randall was a clear downgrade. And you know, 2102 01:43:11.600 --> 01:43:13.880 everybody loved what Devingenza did for the next last year, 2103 01:43:13.920 --> 01:43:17.039 and he hasn't quite found that same rhythm with Minnesota. 2104 01:43:17.359 --> 01:43:20.520 But you needed the Devincenzo piece of that trade to 2105 01:43:20.560 --> 01:43:24.399 be so good that it made up for the downgrade 2106 01:43:25.119 --> 01:43:29.439 from town to Randall. And so I'm not entire I 2107 01:43:29.439 --> 01:43:32.079 can't say I'm shocked that they're struggling. I'm surprised they're 2108 01:43:32.079 --> 01:43:34.720 struggling as much as they are. But also, like you know, 2109 01:43:34.840 --> 01:43:38.119 Mike Conley's thirty seven and you know, not you know, 2110 01:43:38.279 --> 01:43:40.640 he's he still has some great moments, but he's you know, 2111 01:43:40.720 --> 01:43:42.640 he's missed some games. He's not as effective as he 2112 01:43:42.680 --> 01:43:45.680 once was. They don't really have another point guard who's 2113 01:43:45.760 --> 01:43:49.039 ready to take over the you know, the rookie Dellingham 2114 01:43:49.119 --> 01:43:51.720 has had, you know, a moment here and there, but 2115 01:43:51.840 --> 01:43:53.479 like he's I think he's more of a scorer than 2116 01:43:53.520 --> 01:43:56.760 a you know, a setup guy at this stage to 2117 01:43:56.840 --> 01:44:00.479 the point of the draft pick. You know, my guess 2118 01:44:00.520 --> 01:44:01.720 is that when all a said and done, the timber 2119 01:44:01.720 --> 01:44:03.760 Wolves are a playoff team and probably a straight up 2120 01:44:03.800 --> 01:44:06.600 playoff team, and not a play in team. One thing 2121 01:44:06.640 --> 01:44:08.560 that's interesting is I look at the standings real quick, 2122 01:44:08.600 --> 01:44:11.279 so they're an eleventh in the West right now. But 2123 01:44:11.279 --> 01:44:14.000 if you look at point differential, which the advanced stats 2124 01:44:14.000 --> 01:44:16.399 guys will will tell you is more indicative of a 2125 01:44:16.439 --> 01:44:21.840 team's you know, you know, true, you know abilities. There 2126 01:44:21.840 --> 01:44:24.640 are three teams ahead of them that have actually four 2127 01:44:24.680 --> 01:44:27.800 teams ahead of them that have worse point differentials, which 2128 01:44:27.800 --> 01:44:30.520 suggests that things are going to even out in Minnesota's 2129 01:44:30.520 --> 01:44:32.279 going to leap frog some of those teams. 2130 01:44:32.960 --> 01:44:35.359 Excuse me, Yeah, I tend to agree with that. 2131 01:44:35.479 --> 01:44:39.319 Now, the piece of draft capital that's coming their way 2132 01:44:39.319 --> 01:44:41.680 that will not be good is Cleveland, and I wanted 2133 01:44:41.720 --> 01:44:45.359 to you know, it's kind of a funny dynamic here, Howard. 2134 01:44:45.760 --> 01:44:49.560 We've never really seen one of our star players leave 2135 01:44:49.600 --> 01:44:52.880 here and go like kill it. Like Darren after he 2136 01:44:52.920 --> 01:44:56.079 was traded did not have great years, as you know, 2137 01:44:56.199 --> 01:44:59.319 with the nets. Unfortunately Gordon Hayward snapped his leg in half. 2138 01:45:00.000 --> 01:45:03.199 But Donovan this year and look, he has questions to 2139 01:45:03.199 --> 01:45:07.479 answer by his owner. Admission comes springtime. But as I'm 2140 01:45:07.520 --> 01:45:09.479 watching them, I watched the Celtic game the other night, 2141 01:45:09.640 --> 01:45:12.920 there is like a level up feel with Donovan this year. 2142 01:45:12.920 --> 01:45:16.520 And the Calves are nineteen and three. How real is 2143 01:45:16.560 --> 01:45:18.199 this start? And what are you see in from Mitchell? 2144 01:45:19.600 --> 01:45:21.920 He's been awesome? Yeah, I mean, he's just been great. 2145 01:45:22.239 --> 01:45:26.239 Are jazz fans rooting for him weirdly? 2146 01:45:26.479 --> 01:45:27.000 Or are they? 2147 01:45:27.039 --> 01:45:29.800 Are they like resentful that he's having this kind of success. 2148 01:45:29.920 --> 01:45:32.319 I think it depends on the jazz fans. You ask, 2149 01:45:32.680 --> 01:45:34.600 and I you know what, I'll just leave it there. 2150 01:45:35.079 --> 01:45:37.880 There's definitely we could take a few steps deeper into 2151 01:45:37.920 --> 01:45:40.920 that category, which we will not. I very much cheer 2152 01:45:40.960 --> 01:45:43.119 for him because he's a good kid, and I appreciated 2153 01:45:43.159 --> 01:45:46.000 the time he spent here. I was disappointed that it 2154 01:45:46.119 --> 01:45:49.359 ended prematurely, but you know, I'll just speak for myself. 2155 01:45:49.399 --> 01:45:51.399 I watched the Calves because I cheer for Donovan. 2156 01:45:52.279 --> 01:45:56.720 Yeah, he's been awesome. And look, I've known Kenny Atkinson 2157 01:45:56.760 --> 01:45:59.159 for years, going back to when he was assistant coach 2158 01:45:59.239 --> 01:46:01.279 for Mike Antone with the Knicks, and then when Kenny 2159 01:46:01.319 --> 01:46:03.680 was out here coaching the Nets, and I've got, you know, 2160 01:46:03.720 --> 01:46:07.560 really high regard for him, and I thought, you know, 2161 01:46:08.520 --> 01:46:10.920 I was curious to see, given that they didn't make 2162 01:46:10.920 --> 01:46:14.039 substantial changes to the roster, was Atkinson going to be 2163 01:46:14.079 --> 01:46:16.640 able to come in take a team that has Again, 2164 01:46:16.800 --> 01:46:18.279 you and I've talked about this. I think there's a 2165 01:46:18.319 --> 01:46:21.079 lot of duplication between Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland and 2166 01:46:21.119 --> 01:46:22.880 even a little bit of of you know, kind of 2167 01:46:22.960 --> 01:46:25.960 awkward fit between the two bigs, you know, Jared Allen, 2168 01:46:26.000 --> 01:46:29.920 Nev Mobley, and Kenny's a very offensive minded coach who's 2169 01:46:29.920 --> 01:46:32.560 played for or excuse me, you have coached under, you know, 2170 01:46:32.600 --> 01:46:38.399 Steve Kerr and Mike D'Antoni and Tron Lou and Rick Alleman. 2171 01:46:38.479 --> 01:46:41.000 Like he's he's got a great u you know, just 2172 01:46:41.039 --> 01:46:43.840 to just resume himself of the guys he's learned from, 2173 01:46:43.880 --> 01:46:45.840 and I thought, maybe he's the one to unlock them, 2174 01:46:45.880 --> 01:46:49.000 and it's very much what has happened there. I also 2175 01:46:49.039 --> 01:46:51.079 just think there's a comfort level that comes after a while, 2176 01:46:51.119 --> 01:46:52.560 like these guys have gotten used to each other a 2177 01:46:52.600 --> 01:46:59.640 little bit, and they're they're for real. Nineteen and three. 2178 01:47:00.279 --> 01:47:02.680 You don't get that by accident, even though you know 2179 01:47:02.680 --> 01:47:04.880 the early part of their schedule was definitely a little soft. 2180 01:47:05.319 --> 01:47:08.159 They built up some momentum, but nineteen and three is 2181 01:47:08.239 --> 01:47:13.439 never an accident, and so they're legit by definition. Whether 2182 01:47:13.479 --> 01:47:16.960 they're good enough to beat the Celtics four times in 2183 01:47:16.960 --> 01:47:19.840 a seven game series, that's the only question that matters, 2184 01:47:19.920 --> 01:47:21.720 right Like, unless somebody else is going to knock out 2185 01:47:21.720 --> 01:47:24.840 the Celtics first, Eventually this is going to be are 2186 01:47:24.880 --> 01:47:26.600 the Cavalier is good enough to beat Boston? And I 2187 01:47:26.600 --> 01:47:28.439 don't know if anybody's good enough to beat Boston. 2188 01:47:29.239 --> 01:47:31.960 Yeah, I'm in the Boston and everybody else camp myself, 2189 01:47:31.960 --> 01:47:33.479 But I do want to ask you about the Knicks, 2190 01:47:33.520 --> 01:47:37.079 you know, watching them run Orlando off the floor last night. 2191 01:47:37.239 --> 01:47:40.159 Orlando's been a fun story this year. And I, you know, 2192 01:47:40.520 --> 01:47:44.880 like you, I was not a huge fan of Minnesota 2193 01:47:45.079 --> 01:47:48.720 trading for Randall, but I'm not a big Cat guy either. 2194 01:47:48.880 --> 01:47:51.039 With the way that Thibodeau likes to coach, although thom 2195 01:47:51.079 --> 01:47:54.199 has had Cat before and I would say the results 2196 01:47:54.239 --> 01:47:56.359 have been mixed. But what are you willing to say, 2197 01:47:56.479 --> 01:47:58.760 right now about the early returns and where the Knicks 2198 01:47:58.760 --> 01:47:59.920 are at after twenty one game. 2199 01:48:02.079 --> 01:48:05.119 They're fine, right, Like they've been up and down, They've 2200 01:48:05.119 --> 01:48:09.359 they've got a little bit momentum recently. They certainly like 2201 01:48:09.439 --> 01:48:13.000 blowing out Orlando last night. Like, no, no discredit to 2202 01:48:13.039 --> 01:48:15.800 what the Knicks are or have accomplished, but like you 2203 01:48:15.840 --> 01:48:17.520 realize the Magic have been in New York at that 2204 01:48:17.560 --> 01:48:18.520 point for like a week. 2205 01:48:18.640 --> 01:48:20.800 Yeah, that's right, Yeah, because it was. 2206 01:48:20.800 --> 01:48:22.920 The weirdest thing. I don't think I've ever seen this 2207 01:48:22.960 --> 01:48:24.479 in all my years of covering the NBA. They were 2208 01:48:24.520 --> 01:48:27.479 here for two games against the Nets Friday and Sunday, 2209 01:48:27.720 --> 01:48:30.239 so they came in like before Thanksgiving and then like 2210 01:48:30.279 --> 01:48:31.920 by the time they played the Knicks last night, like 2211 01:48:32.119 --> 01:48:33.800 you know what happens when players are in New York 2212 01:48:33.840 --> 01:48:39.119 for too long. So anyway, the Knicks are really good, 2213 01:48:39.319 --> 01:48:42.720 and I think Towns has Towns and Brunson have found 2214 01:48:42.760 --> 01:48:45.840 their stride together. I think the challenge for the next 2215 01:48:45.840 --> 01:48:49.119 this season. They're the last night checked, I think they 2216 01:48:49.119 --> 01:48:51.680 were number one in offense, but they're like twenty two 2217 01:48:51.760 --> 01:48:56.199 twenty three or something in defensive efficiency, and so the 2218 01:48:56.199 --> 01:48:58.119 the challenge for them is kind of like what it 2219 01:48:58.199 --> 01:48:59.800 was for the Nuggets of a couple of years back 2220 01:48:59.800 --> 01:49:02.760 when they won the championship, which was, well, Jokic is 2221 01:49:02.800 --> 01:49:04.840 really good and Carnathony Town's is not Yokic, And nobody 2222 01:49:04.840 --> 01:49:08.159 on the NEXS is Jokic, but Carolathony Town's Nikola Jokic 2223 01:49:08.399 --> 01:49:11.239 offensive minded biggs who are not going to give you 2224 01:49:11.359 --> 01:49:15.720 classic rim protection from your seventh footer. So can you 2225 01:49:15.840 --> 01:49:19.079 build a different kind of defense, in a respectable defense 2226 01:49:19.119 --> 01:49:22.560 top ten ish? And the Nuggets eventually did because of 2227 01:49:22.600 --> 01:49:25.000 Aaron Gordon and Katavis Calwell Pope and they kind of 2228 01:49:25.000 --> 01:49:26.880 like build their defense from the outside in. And I 2229 01:49:26.920 --> 01:49:28.840 think that's where the Knicks are right now, right you know, 2230 01:49:28.880 --> 01:49:32.760 ogn Andobi, Mikhail Bridges, Josh Hart. If you if you 2231 01:49:32.880 --> 01:49:35.079 are solid enough on the perimeter, you don't put as 2232 01:49:35.159 --> 01:49:37.399 much pressure on your bigs and you don't need the 2233 01:49:37.720 --> 01:49:39.880 classic rim protection in the way that we usually think 2234 01:49:39.880 --> 01:49:40.800 about it in the NBA. 2235 01:49:41.560 --> 01:49:42.279 Can they get there? 2236 01:49:42.319 --> 01:49:45.359 I don't know. And then we're waiting on Mitchell Robinson 2237 01:49:45.520 --> 01:49:49.359 right like he's presumably due back maybe in January, But 2238 01:49:49.439 --> 01:49:52.000 like the Knicks have not exactly been very you know, 2239 01:49:52.359 --> 01:49:54.680 straightforward about all that we don't know when he's coming back. 2240 01:49:55.600 --> 01:49:58.119 When Mitchell Robinson does come back, can he stay healthy 2241 01:49:58.199 --> 01:50:01.000 because he's been hurt almost every year of his career, 2242 01:50:01.079 --> 01:50:03.640 He's missed a ton of games. Are they playing him 2243 01:50:03.680 --> 01:50:06.760 next to kat or are they still starting Towns and 2244 01:50:06.800 --> 01:50:10.319 then bringing Mitchell Robtson off the bench behind him? 2245 01:50:10.880 --> 01:50:10.960 Like? 2246 01:50:11.079 --> 01:50:14.880 Those are all really interesting questions and I don't know 2247 01:50:14.920 --> 01:50:17.399 the answer to them. But again, the Knicks are in 2248 01:50:17.439 --> 01:50:21.279 that group of teams that really really good, great talent. 2249 01:50:22.279 --> 01:50:24.359 I don't know if there's enough there to beat the 2250 01:50:24.399 --> 01:50:26.319 Celtics four times for sure. 2251 01:50:26.520 --> 01:50:28.880 Howard, thanks for the time, my friend. Thanks for hopping on. 2252 01:50:28.960 --> 01:50:30.720 I'm glad you had a great Thanksgiving and have a 2253 01:50:30.760 --> 01:50:33.640 good week. Man with chat soon, Okay, appreciate It's Ben's 2254 01:50:33.680 --> 01:50:34.000 talk soon. 2255 01:50:34.039 --> 01:50:36.119 All right, my guy, Howard Beck from the Ringer. 2256 01:50:36.159 --> 01:50:38.119 I'm telling you, if you're an NBA fan, he's the 2257 01:50:38.119 --> 01:50:41.199 best in the business at Howard Beck does most of 2258 01:50:41.239 --> 01:50:43.720 his posting on Blue Sky these days, but he still 2259 01:50:43.800 --> 01:50:45.720 is on Elon's X or. 2260 01:50:45.680 --> 01:50:48.359 Twitter, whatever you want to call it. We'll get back 2261 01:50:48.359 --> 01:50:48.720 to some. 2262 01:50:48.680 --> 01:50:52.760 College football conversation coming up in the five o'clock hour. 2263 01:50:53.000 --> 01:50:57.600 It is the early signing day for college football does 2264 01:50:57.640 --> 01:51:00.880 not land the way that it used to back in 2265 01:51:00.880 --> 01:51:03.800 the day prior to the transfer portal, so stay tuned 2266 01:51:03.840 --> 01:51:05.439 for that. But let's do a little hockey now. The 2267 01:51:05.520 --> 01:51:08.840 Utah Hockey Club is off actually all week. Good to 2268 01:51:08.840 --> 01:51:11.840 have Ali Mata back on the program on a Wednesday. 2269 01:51:11.880 --> 01:51:13.000 Ali, Happy Wednesday, sir. 2270 01:51:13.039 --> 01:51:15.239 How you doing really good? 2271 01:51:15.239 --> 01:51:15.960 Thanks for having me. 2272 01:51:16.079 --> 01:51:17.319 I appreciate the time today. 2273 01:51:17.359 --> 01:51:19.800 So how rare is this for you guys to have 2274 01:51:19.920 --> 01:51:23.079 this amount of time off. You don't play again until Saturday. 2275 01:51:23.119 --> 01:51:24.880 I mean, this must be kind of a nice break 2276 01:51:24.880 --> 01:51:25.119 for you. 2277 01:51:25.239 --> 01:51:27.880 Yeah, yeah, it's pretty rare. 2278 01:51:28.600 --> 01:51:31.840 I think last six seven games we actually we've had 2279 01:51:32.680 --> 01:51:34.680 quite a stretch. I think it might be the top 2280 01:51:34.760 --> 01:51:37.680 of a season we just got through. And having four 2281 01:51:37.760 --> 01:51:40.680 days you're kind of recess, see where you're at and 2282 01:51:40.720 --> 01:51:42.079 work on a couple of things. 2283 01:51:42.520 --> 01:51:44.159 So i'd probably bury the lead. 2284 01:51:44.640 --> 01:51:47.720 Some exciting news came down today that the Finnish Ice 2285 01:51:47.720 --> 01:51:50.960 Hockey Association has announced that you're going to play for 2286 01:51:51.039 --> 01:51:54.960 your home country at the Four Nations face off in February. 2287 01:51:54.960 --> 01:51:57.680 So I have to say congratulations. Tell us about this, 2288 01:51:58.119 --> 01:52:00.159 tell us about this tournament. What does it mean to 2289 01:52:00.279 --> 01:52:02.199 you to be called up to play for Finland. 2290 01:52:03.680 --> 01:52:05.359 Yeah, I mean, thank you. 2291 01:52:05.439 --> 01:52:08.520 That's that's awesome. It's always an honor. It's going to 2292 01:52:08.560 --> 01:52:11.039 be probably the first time since the World Cup two 2293 01:52:11.039 --> 01:52:15.600 thousand and seventeen, best against best. I think everybody's excited. 2294 01:52:15.640 --> 01:52:18.399 Hockey world is excited about this. I think Austin's players 2295 01:52:18.399 --> 01:52:21.359 were really excited. Fans are excited. It's been a while 2296 01:52:21.560 --> 01:52:25.000 since we've seen seen the best players but put their 2297 01:52:25.079 --> 01:52:27.039 national team jerseys on and go at it. 2298 01:52:27.920 --> 01:52:30.640 So is this this tournament looks like it's gonna be 2299 01:52:30.720 --> 01:52:35.439 February twelfth through the twentieth, and it is Canada, Finland, 2300 01:52:35.479 --> 01:52:39.199 Sweden and the US. Is this the tournament that you 2301 01:52:39.279 --> 01:52:41.640 played in before? Is this your first experience with it? 2302 01:52:43.159 --> 01:52:44.640 You know, just the first time they're doing it? 2303 01:52:44.720 --> 01:52:45.279 Oh gotcha? 2304 01:52:45.279 --> 01:52:49.039 Okay, we used to be a part of Olympics. Twenty 2305 01:52:49.159 --> 01:52:53.039 fourteen was the last time the NHL players went to Olympics. 2306 01:52:53.039 --> 01:52:56.560 So after that, twenty seventeen, they made up World Cup 2307 01:52:56.560 --> 01:52:59.720 of Hockey, which is kind of similar concept. Couple more 2308 01:52:59.760 --> 01:53:03.760 teams and now finally they're trying to trying to bring 2309 01:53:03.840 --> 01:53:08.680 back more, uh more best best the national team hockey was. 2310 01:53:08.720 --> 01:53:11.479 That's a That's always a big part for me when 2311 01:53:11.520 --> 01:53:15.039 I was watching growing up as a kid, watching team 2312 01:53:15.119 --> 01:53:22.359 fail and play against Sweden, Russia, Canada, US check and 2313 01:53:22.399 --> 01:53:24.560 I think we've been missing that the last couple of 2314 01:53:24.600 --> 01:53:26.359 years since we haven't been part of Olympics. So I 2315 01:53:26.359 --> 01:53:30.159 think everybody wants to have a tournament like that back 2316 01:53:30.279 --> 01:53:35.239 Basketball has it Olympics most of the time. So and for hockey, 2317 01:53:35.279 --> 01:53:37.760 that's always been one of the biggest ones, biggest ones 2318 01:53:37.760 --> 01:53:38.640 that people like to see. 2319 01:53:38.880 --> 01:53:41.520 Who's the biggest rival for Finland, who's the biggest hockey 2320 01:53:41.600 --> 01:53:42.960 rival for you guys. 2321 01:53:43.880 --> 01:53:47.159 I think it's always been Sweden being neighbors, and we've 2322 01:53:47.199 --> 01:53:51.720 had We've had some tough, tough matches against them, we 2323 01:53:51.760 --> 01:53:54.800 have tough loss we actually had some really good big 2324 01:53:54.840 --> 01:53:58.319 wins against them. It's kind of a love hate relationship 2325 01:53:58.319 --> 01:54:02.079 we got. I actually any sweetish guy. I know, I 2326 01:54:02.560 --> 01:54:04.399 like him a lot, but whenever you play against them, 2327 01:54:04.399 --> 01:54:05.640 there's something different about it. 2328 01:54:06.760 --> 01:54:07.560 Love it, love it. 2329 01:54:07.920 --> 01:54:10.840 I wonder what your experience has been like Ali out 2330 01:54:10.840 --> 01:54:13.640 here in Salt Lakes since you were traded in October. 2331 01:54:14.359 --> 01:54:15.840 How do you like the market, how do you like 2332 01:54:15.880 --> 01:54:16.279 the city? 2333 01:54:18.199 --> 01:54:20.800 I'm loving it. I think city is awesome. I had 2334 01:54:21.279 --> 01:54:24.760 actually no idea what to expect because, like you don't, 2335 01:54:24.920 --> 01:54:27.000 you don't really hear anything about it. Nobody's been here 2336 01:54:27.039 --> 01:54:29.800 before and there there there wasn't a team. Usually when 2337 01:54:29.800 --> 01:54:31.439 you get traded you get a little idea what the 2338 01:54:31.479 --> 01:54:34.960 city is like, all the little things, but you kind 2339 01:54:34.960 --> 01:54:36.760 of have to start from the scratch and kind of 2340 01:54:36.760 --> 01:54:39.600 figure it out on your own. I'm loving it. I 2341 01:54:39.640 --> 01:54:43.960 think there's a good, uh good atmosphere here, Organizations great. 2342 01:54:44.159 --> 01:54:47.960 You can see the the difference they've they've made since 2343 01:54:48.199 --> 01:54:52.000 moving from Arizona. I really think we had a good 2344 01:54:52.000 --> 01:54:52.720 thing going on here. 2345 01:54:53.199 --> 01:54:55.279 Does it remind you of home at all? 2346 01:54:55.600 --> 01:54:59.520 I mean, Finland is a four distinct season spot and 2347 01:54:59.560 --> 01:55:02.079 it does get cold. Does does Salt Lake remind you 2348 01:55:02.119 --> 01:55:02.720 of home at all? 2349 01:55:04.079 --> 01:55:04.319 Yeah? 2350 01:55:04.359 --> 01:55:07.479 With the with the seasons wise, yes, and I missed 2351 01:55:07.840 --> 01:55:11.119 I missed the winter, so this is this is nice. 2352 01:55:11.640 --> 01:55:13.840 At the same time, you do get a lot of sun, 2353 01:55:13.880 --> 01:55:16.680 which we know we don't really do, and finnel over 2354 01:55:16.720 --> 01:55:18.520 the winter, so that's a big plus two. 2355 01:55:19.319 --> 01:55:22.600 I'm assuming you guys aren't allowed to ski, is that correct? 2356 01:55:24.159 --> 01:55:24.319 Yeah? 2357 01:55:24.479 --> 01:55:27.680 No, no, I've I actually grew up skiing a little 2358 01:55:27.680 --> 01:55:31.279 bit back home. But since I started taking hockey seriously, 2359 01:55:31.359 --> 01:55:34.640 I've I've dropped that. Maybe maybe when I'm done, I. 2360 01:55:34.439 --> 01:55:36.600 Like go back to Do you miss it at all? 2361 01:55:38.199 --> 01:55:38.439 Yeah? 2362 01:55:38.600 --> 01:55:41.119 Yeah, especially in a place like this, when there's so 2363 01:55:41.199 --> 01:55:44.119 many runs close to you, you definitely want to go 2364 01:55:44.159 --> 01:55:47.600 out there and do it. At the same time, I 2365 01:55:47.640 --> 01:55:48.560 really like hockey too. 2366 01:55:49.600 --> 01:55:49.800 Yeah. 2367 01:55:49.800 --> 01:55:51.439 I was gonna say I'd give up skiing if I 2368 01:55:51.439 --> 01:55:53.199 could be a pro athlete, So I think it's the 2369 01:55:53.279 --> 01:55:56.720 right right choice for now. Hey, I wonder how you 2370 01:55:56.720 --> 01:55:59.399 would characterize I mean, you've been in the league for 2371 01:55:59.479 --> 01:56:01.640 a while, you know, you want to Stanley Cup, and 2372 01:56:02.800 --> 01:56:06.680 it did seem like the team needed some help on defense, 2373 01:56:06.720 --> 01:56:09.159 which is why they made the trade. How do you 2374 01:56:09.159 --> 01:56:11.920 feel like the progress is going? You know, you guys 2375 01:56:11.920 --> 01:56:14.920 will have a couple of really really exciting games, you 2376 01:56:15.000 --> 01:56:17.199 smoke Vegas and then you come home and lose to 2377 01:56:17.239 --> 01:56:18.199 a good Dallas team. 2378 01:56:18.239 --> 01:56:20.359 But it has been a little bit up and down. 2379 01:56:20.359 --> 01:56:23.319 Ali, from your vantage point, how'd you characterize the progress 2380 01:56:23.359 --> 01:56:24.520 of the hockey club so far? 2381 01:56:26.520 --> 01:56:29.800 Yeah, I think you're right. I just I think we 2382 01:56:29.920 --> 01:56:32.800 played better than the results are indicating. Sometimes a night 2383 01:56:33.159 --> 01:56:37.239 we just can't find a way to cancer move find 2384 01:56:37.239 --> 01:56:39.119 a way to win those one goal games or we 2385 01:56:39.159 --> 01:56:44.600 haven't lately. And I'm actually really confident we can we 2386 01:56:44.640 --> 01:56:47.920 can change that. We're playing good hockey. There's obviously things 2387 01:56:47.920 --> 01:56:52.880 we want to get better at. Overall, it's it's going 2388 01:56:52.920 --> 01:56:54.800 in the right direction. And I think the trust and 2389 01:56:54.840 --> 01:56:57.680 confidence in this room, like how could we can be 2390 01:56:57.760 --> 01:57:00.600 like we were in Vegas that night. We've beat in 2391 01:57:00.640 --> 01:57:05.159 some really good teams and obviously that Dallas game, I 2392 01:57:05.199 --> 01:57:07.079 that's that's one of those that I felt like we 2393 01:57:07.119 --> 01:57:09.840 could have we could have turned maybe maybe won that 2394 01:57:09.920 --> 01:57:11.800 game and we end up losing by one goal. And 2395 01:57:12.039 --> 01:57:14.239 it's just games like that. You just have to find 2396 01:57:14.239 --> 01:57:16.279 a way to win him if you want to be 2397 01:57:16.319 --> 01:57:18.840 a good team and successful. And then but I do 2398 01:57:18.880 --> 01:57:21.079 trust that we have the group we have like we 2399 01:57:21.159 --> 01:57:22.039 have that in us. 2400 01:57:22.439 --> 01:57:25.880 So when you guys win, when you're playing well, what 2401 01:57:26.079 --> 01:57:28.800 stands out? What do you do well when you guys 2402 01:57:28.800 --> 01:57:30.760 are winning games and what do you feel like you 2403 01:57:30.800 --> 01:57:32.960 struggle with when the results aren't going your way? 2404 01:57:34.880 --> 01:57:37.039 Well, I think we're tough team to play against, honestly, 2405 01:57:37.079 --> 01:57:38.920 Like I don't think we give up a lot of 2406 01:57:38.920 --> 01:57:43.439 time and space. It feels like when you play against us, 2407 01:57:43.479 --> 01:57:45.960 it's just feels that we're coming and on top the 2408 01:57:46.000 --> 01:57:48.760 whole time. There's not a raw room make plays. And 2409 01:57:49.159 --> 01:57:51.560 when when things kind of break down, I think we're 2410 01:57:51.600 --> 01:57:56.520 giving Autoland rushes. I think it's just that offense off 2411 01:57:56.560 --> 01:58:00.000 the rush. Like sometimes sometimes when we get a little 2412 01:58:00.279 --> 01:58:05.760 lazy or a little miscues happen, we give up a 2413 01:58:05.800 --> 01:58:09.119 little bit to have an easy offense, and that comes 2414 01:58:09.159 --> 01:58:12.600 off the rush usually. But when we're on our game, 2415 01:58:12.720 --> 01:58:15.800 like a lot of teams can really break out against us. 2416 01:58:15.800 --> 01:58:17.920 We're a really good for checking team. We got guys 2417 01:58:17.920 --> 01:58:19.920 who can escape, We've got lots of skill. We're not 2418 01:58:19.960 --> 01:58:23.800 afraid to make plays, and it's exciting. It's exciting to 2419 01:58:23.840 --> 01:58:24.279 be part of. 2420 01:58:25.159 --> 01:58:29.159 Is it challenging to have the goalie situation be split 2421 01:58:29.319 --> 01:58:29.760 like it is? 2422 01:58:29.880 --> 01:58:31.880 Or do you like that you have two options behind you? 2423 01:58:33.640 --> 01:58:37.439 I think you like that. It doesn't matter who who's 2424 01:58:37.479 --> 01:58:41.520 in that you know you're trusting them. You know they're 2425 01:58:41.520 --> 01:58:43.760 gonna make the saves for you to go and win 2426 01:58:43.800 --> 01:58:45.880 the game. Uh, They're always going to give you a chance. 2427 01:58:45.920 --> 01:58:49.079 So I think it's a it's a big advantage. 2428 01:58:49.920 --> 01:58:51.640 All right, Dolly, Before I set you loose. 2429 01:58:51.840 --> 01:58:54.239 You know, we we've had a bunch of hockey club 2430 01:58:54.359 --> 01:58:57.479 guests on the show, and you know, obviously following the team, 2431 01:58:57.920 --> 01:59:00.680 it feels like most people believe that you have the 2432 01:59:00.760 --> 01:59:03.720 talent on the team to maybe compete for a playoff 2433 01:59:03.760 --> 01:59:07.000 spot down the stretch. Now, like I said, it's been 2434 01:59:07.039 --> 01:59:08.800 a little bit up, been a little bit down. But 2435 01:59:09.239 --> 01:59:11.199 you know, like the Dallas game, you put like thirty 2436 01:59:11.199 --> 01:59:13.520 six shots on goal, just one needs to find the 2437 01:59:13.520 --> 01:59:17.039 back of the net and maybe you have outperformed you know, 2438 01:59:17.119 --> 01:59:19.119 kind of the results so far. So you just kind 2439 01:59:19.159 --> 01:59:20.760 of keep doing what you've been doing. But from a 2440 01:59:20.800 --> 01:59:24.119 team standpoint, are there goals out there that you guys 2441 01:59:24.159 --> 01:59:26.399 want to accomplish? Do you talk openly about, you know, 2442 01:59:26.479 --> 01:59:29.560 things like wanting to make the playoffs? 2443 01:59:30.279 --> 01:59:31.680 Yeah, I think we all do. 2444 01:59:32.039 --> 01:59:33.720 But at the same time, like I don't think you 2445 01:59:33.800 --> 01:59:37.479 go over any game, especially a team we have. Every 2446 01:59:37.479 --> 01:59:39.159 game you go into, you know you can win at 2447 01:59:39.279 --> 01:59:42.079 You just got to play play your game and play 2448 01:59:42.399 --> 01:59:43.119 play your best game. 2449 01:59:43.199 --> 01:59:43.520 That's it. 2450 01:59:43.840 --> 01:59:46.600 I think, just the confidence we have that when we 2451 01:59:46.680 --> 01:59:51.239 do that, we're gonna more often than not. When and 2452 01:59:51.359 --> 01:59:53.039 like you said, it's been up, up and down. I 2453 01:59:53.039 --> 01:59:56.199 think the results haven't been what we wanted. There's things 2454 01:59:56.199 --> 01:59:58.800 we want to fix, and definitely like these four days, 2455 01:59:58.800 --> 02:00:02.359 like we talked about it, really big thing to like 2456 02:00:02.600 --> 02:00:05.399 kind of reset and look at look at your game 2457 02:00:05.479 --> 02:00:07.720 and go back to their details and what you had 2458 02:00:08.520 --> 02:00:10.560 and then but at the same time, like I just 2459 02:00:10.600 --> 02:00:14.319 looking behind results and we're playing some good hockey. We're 2460 02:00:14.520 --> 02:00:18.079 we're beating some good teams. We're close to beating other 2461 02:00:18.159 --> 02:00:20.800 other good teams like Dallas game, and I think just 2462 02:00:20.840 --> 02:00:23.560 trusting that and the process that we keep doing that 2463 02:00:23.640 --> 02:00:25.840 we're gonna be We're gonna be a tough team to 2464 02:00:25.840 --> 02:00:26.279 play against. 2465 02:00:26.800 --> 02:00:28.399 Okay, OLLI, thanks so much for the time. 2466 02:00:28.439 --> 02:00:32.079 Once again, a big congratulations representing your country coming up 2467 02:00:32.119 --> 02:00:33.319 in the Nation's face off. 2468 02:00:33.439 --> 02:00:35.119 Best of luck the rest of the season. We'll love 2469 02:00:35.159 --> 02:00:36.039 dave on again soon. 2470 02:00:36.079 --> 02:00:38.439 Okay, all right, thanks for having me. 2471 02:00:38.520 --> 02:00:39.600 Have a good guys, all right. 2472 02:00:39.680 --> 02:00:42.800 Ali Matza he has been around the NHL for quite 2473 02:00:42.800 --> 02:00:44.239 some time and won a Stanley Cup. 2474 02:00:44.319 --> 02:00:45.359 He's thirty years old. 2475 02:00:46.159 --> 02:00:49.680 He was traded UH for a third round pick in 2476 02:00:49.760 --> 02:00:52.920 October when it became pretty clear and certainly some injuries 2477 02:00:53.319 --> 02:00:55.479 came into play for the hockey club, but they definitely 2478 02:00:55.520 --> 02:00:58.600 needed help on the back line, so he was with 2479 02:00:58.800 --> 02:01:01.319 the Red Wings and then they traded him to the 2480 02:01:01.319 --> 02:01:02.840 Hockey Club for a third round pick. 2481 02:01:02.880 --> 02:01:04.359 That was on October the twenty ninth. 2482 02:01:04.800 --> 02:01:06.840 Has been called up to represent I did not know 2483 02:01:06.880 --> 02:01:09.159 this was a new tournament. Silly me for asking him 2484 02:01:09.159 --> 02:01:10.680 if it's the first time he's played in it when 2485 02:01:10.680 --> 02:01:13.560 it's actually the first time the tournament has taken place. 2486 02:01:13.640 --> 02:01:16.279 So good stuff. Seems like a nice guy, really good player. 2487 02:01:16.560 --> 02:01:18.760 A couple of assists on the season so far. He 2488 02:01:18.800 --> 02:01:21.920 has used in some of the powerplay situations. Hockey Club 2489 02:01:22.119 --> 02:01:24.920 had a game on Monday, a loss against Dallas, no 2490 02:01:25.079 --> 02:01:27.840 games all week, and then a back to back situation 2491 02:01:27.920 --> 02:01:31.359 on the road at Buffalo than at Philadelphia. His early 2492 02:01:31.439 --> 02:01:36.680 signing day for college football. According to the ESPN rankings 2493 02:01:36.720 --> 02:01:39.600 out in front of me, Utah is the fortieth ranked class. 2494 02:01:40.880 --> 02:01:41.640 In the country. 2495 02:01:41.840 --> 02:01:44.640 Now, as we've talked about all day, this day hit 2496 02:01:44.720 --> 02:01:48.119 a little different. Back in the day when really it 2497 02:01:48.159 --> 02:01:51.520 was the only way to add talent and such. But 2498 02:01:51.560 --> 02:01:53.600 now with a transfer portal, a lot of these things 2499 02:01:54.520 --> 02:01:57.720 have changed. You know, there's no guarantee that these young 2500 02:01:57.760 --> 02:02:00.319 men are even going to play for the college is 2501 02:02:00.359 --> 02:02:03.960 they signed with because NIL and the transfer portal have 2502 02:02:04.079 --> 02:02:06.000 changed it, they could get offers, they could get more 2503 02:02:06.039 --> 02:02:08.560 money elsewhere, and ultimately they could never even set foot 2504 02:02:08.600 --> 02:02:11.840 on campus. But when you look at what the University 2505 02:02:11.880 --> 02:02:15.920 of Utah has been able to accomplish today, Yeah, most 2506 02:02:15.960 --> 02:02:20.039 of the recruiting rankings think very highly of the class. 2507 02:02:20.119 --> 02:02:23.079 And only time will tell as far as how this 2508 02:02:23.119 --> 02:02:25.960 is going to go down. Now we're waiting for official 2509 02:02:26.000 --> 02:02:29.840 news on the offensive coordinator and porter. There are reports, 2510 02:02:30.439 --> 02:02:31.920 and you tell me if you know much about this 2511 02:02:32.000 --> 02:02:33.800 young man, we'll talk about it with Bill coming up. 2512 02:02:34.279 --> 02:02:40.000 Mac mac Leftwich, Texas State offensive coordinator is twenty nine 2513 02:02:40.239 --> 02:02:43.319 years old, and according to multiple people, I don't do 2514 02:02:43.359 --> 02:02:46.199 the whole like track the planes thing because I'd like 2515 02:02:46.279 --> 02:02:47.880 to go live my life when I'm not on air, 2516 02:02:48.039 --> 02:02:49.439 just do other things. 2517 02:02:49.760 --> 02:02:51.119 But apparently he's in sau Lake. 2518 02:02:51.199 --> 02:02:53.279 Any inside as to whether or not this should be 2519 02:02:53.279 --> 02:02:54.439 the guy we're focusing on. 2520 02:02:54.359 --> 02:02:56.800 Now, Yeah, Well, I'll just give you my insight on 2521 02:02:57.119 --> 02:02:59.560 kind of this whole story and how it's played out, 2522 02:02:59.800 --> 02:03:04.439 and go back to last Wednesday, last Thursday, maybe, and 2523 02:03:04.640 --> 02:03:07.000 Utah of course was preparing for their game, but they 2524 02:03:07.000 --> 02:03:09.880 were also in the throes of an OC search. 2525 02:03:10.640 --> 02:03:11.000 Ben R. 2526 02:03:11.079 --> 02:03:13.920 Buckle is a name that, of course we know now 2527 02:03:14.039 --> 02:03:18.319 is with Oklahoma and Utah was essentially zeroed in on 2528 02:03:18.439 --> 02:03:21.720 Ben R. Buckle Spence to the point where there were 2529 02:03:21.800 --> 02:03:24.760 people in that department that thought it was done right, 2530 02:03:24.960 --> 02:03:27.119 that it was that close with some of the stuff 2531 02:03:27.119 --> 02:03:27.760 with our Buckle. 2532 02:03:28.000 --> 02:03:29.800 Of course, Oklahoma. 2533 02:03:29.319 --> 02:03:33.159 Comes in, he heads there and at that point, from 2534 02:03:33.199 --> 02:03:38.479 what I understand, attention was shifted not to resuming the 2535 02:03:38.520 --> 02:03:43.840 search but directly to mac leftwitch right, And from what 2536 02:03:43.880 --> 02:03:45.840 I understand, yeah, that's something that they're trying to get 2537 02:03:46.039 --> 02:03:48.920 along the across the finish line in the probably the 2538 02:03:48.920 --> 02:03:51.880 next twenty four to forty eight hours. As we know, 2539 02:03:52.039 --> 02:03:56.880 timing is crucial in all of these regards. But they've 2540 02:03:56.880 --> 02:04:01.199 been operating Spence under the assumption that they've got a 2541 02:04:01.199 --> 02:04:04.119 guy in place in the next you know, several days, 2542 02:04:04.359 --> 02:04:06.960 and that's what you know, a lot of the recruits 2543 02:04:07.039 --> 02:04:10.640 are operating under the assumption of and and it appears 2544 02:04:11.199 --> 02:04:14.239 based on you know, maybe some of the recruits that 2545 02:04:14.279 --> 02:04:17.680 are coming in, including a Texas State transfer quarterback that 2546 02:04:17.720 --> 02:04:22.159 announced his intention today, it appears that's the direction we 2547 02:04:22.199 --> 02:04:24.720 are moving in. But I will also say that, much 2548 02:04:24.800 --> 02:04:30.039 like Oklahoma did with our buckle, Texas Tech is hot 2549 02:04:30.079 --> 02:04:33.000 on the hills of one Mac Leftwich and something we 2550 02:04:33.079 --> 02:04:34.000 have to keep an eye on. 2551 02:04:34.319 --> 02:04:37.119 So we've heard a lot about and Coach Wood has 2552 02:04:37.159 --> 02:04:39.279 kind of alluded to certain things as far as the 2553 02:04:39.319 --> 02:04:43.319 type of offensive coordinator he's looking for to call plays 2554 02:04:43.680 --> 02:04:46.960 for the squad coming up next year. What sort of 2555 02:04:47.520 --> 02:04:51.319 boxes do you think he wants checked? Because I wondered 2556 02:04:51.359 --> 02:04:52.720 if there would be more of like an out of 2557 02:04:52.760 --> 02:04:55.720 the box high or not the typical higher that we've 2558 02:04:55.760 --> 02:04:59.520 become accustomed to. And I do think history will smile 2559 02:04:59.560 --> 02:05:02.359 on Andy Ludwig for the success he had when he 2560 02:05:02.399 --> 02:05:05.840 had a good quarterback and it wasn't typical Utah just 2561 02:05:05.880 --> 02:05:08.039 simply three yard and cloud of dust football. I mean 2562 02:05:08.079 --> 02:05:10.960 Andy was a creative guy and when he had talent 2563 02:05:11.000 --> 02:05:12.920 and a good quarterback, they had some of the best 2564 02:05:12.960 --> 02:05:15.840 offenses in the history of the school. Does left which 2565 02:05:15.960 --> 02:05:18.520 fit what you feel like Kyle's looking for? Are those 2566 02:05:18.560 --> 02:05:20.279 the boxes that he wants checked? Or do you think 2567 02:05:20.279 --> 02:05:22.479 it's going to be more of an offensive coordinator higher 2568 02:05:22.479 --> 02:05:23.840 that's in line with what we're used to. 2569 02:05:24.239 --> 02:05:27.960 Yeah, No, I mean the offense that the Mac Leftwich 2570 02:05:28.039 --> 02:05:33.119 runs is one that it's balanced, right, So that is 2571 02:05:33.119 --> 02:05:37.880 is one that Kyle Whittingham in Utah from their ethos, 2572 02:05:37.960 --> 02:05:40.319 they're going to look at that is at least a 2573 02:05:40.319 --> 02:05:43.399 good candidate, right, A guy that can win in multiple ways, 2574 02:05:43.520 --> 02:05:45.840 whether it's on the ground, whether it's through the air. 2575 02:05:46.439 --> 02:05:49.279 But he also runs a little bit of a pro 2576 02:05:49.359 --> 02:05:53.840 style spread offense when it is a passing down say that. 2577 02:05:54.560 --> 02:05:56.680 I think through the years of the Pac twelve, through 2578 02:05:56.720 --> 02:05:59.520 the years of the Big Twelve, the one year of 2579 02:05:59.560 --> 02:06:03.319 the Big Twelve, even in days in the Mountain West, 2580 02:06:03.720 --> 02:06:07.560 it was a type of offense that it seemed was 2581 02:06:07.560 --> 02:06:10.520 a real challenge for Morgan Scalley. A guy that you 2582 02:06:10.560 --> 02:06:15.680 know is maybe going after an offensive coordinator that challenges 2583 02:06:15.760 --> 02:06:17.560 him on the other side of the ball each day. 2584 02:06:18.319 --> 02:06:21.119 You know, going forward, it seems like, you know, if 2585 02:06:21.119 --> 02:06:23.159 you do want to zero in on Mac Leftwich in 2586 02:06:23.159 --> 02:06:26.640 Texas State, it's a guy that's going to grow alongside 2587 02:06:26.960 --> 02:06:31.079 a new head coach. A guy that's that's going to 2588 02:06:31.119 --> 02:06:34.199 grow with the new head coach and does some things 2589 02:06:34.680 --> 02:06:37.239 that I think can can help both of them along. 2590 02:06:37.800 --> 02:06:40.359 And I think that can be true whether Kyle's here 2591 02:06:40.399 --> 02:06:43.239 this next year or not, And that kind of seems 2592 02:06:43.239 --> 02:06:45.439 like the way they're approaching this this higher two. 2593 02:06:45.439 --> 02:06:49.159 Four to seven Sports overall team rankings, Utah ranks forty 2594 02:06:49.239 --> 02:06:52.399 sixth in the nation, which is seventh in the Big Twelve. 2595 02:06:53.159 --> 02:06:55.840 Last year, Utah, according to two four to seven, had 2596 02:06:55.840 --> 02:06:59.359 the fortieth rank class in the country. BYU finds itself 2597 02:06:59.399 --> 02:07:01.920 fifty fifth in the country, twelfth in the Big twelve, 2598 02:07:02.600 --> 02:07:06.680 five spots below Utah with their twenty twenty five recruiting class. 2599 02:07:07.600 --> 02:07:10.399 But this could change. I mean it changed last year. 2600 02:07:10.439 --> 02:07:12.880 I think BYU jumped into the top forty last year 2601 02:07:13.680 --> 02:07:19.159 with some late signees. According to the ESPN rankings, the 2602 02:07:19.199 --> 02:07:22.199 top offensive prospect for the Utes is Wyatt Becker, the 2603 02:07:22.279 --> 02:07:25.960 quarterback out of California, and then Christian Thatcher is their 2604 02:07:26.000 --> 02:07:30.039 top defensive prospect to linebacker as well. So look transfer 2605 02:07:30.119 --> 02:07:33.279 portal right around the corner again early signing day. It's 2606 02:07:33.359 --> 02:07:35.840 kind of fun content and fun fodder. But only time 2607 02:07:35.880 --> 02:07:36.640 will tell. 2608 02:07:37.439 --> 02:07:39.439 All right, what's going on? Drive at five. 2609 02:07:39.319 --> 02:07:42.119 Time, your commute home on a Wednesday afternoon, gets rolling 2610 02:07:42.319 --> 02:07:45.239 right now. It's been a nice day today, about forty 2611 02:07:45.279 --> 02:07:47.479 five degrees, sunny and clear, although we do have a 2612 02:07:47.520 --> 02:07:51.880 little inversion situation settling in which you know is the deal. 2613 02:07:51.960 --> 02:07:55.079 Happy Wednesday to you halfway through your work week, and 2614 02:07:55.119 --> 02:07:57.680 then one day closer the weekend, one day closer to 2615 02:07:57.880 --> 02:08:03.039 pro football, two days away from championship weekend in college football, 2616 02:08:03.079 --> 02:08:04.920 don't forget we are your home of the NFL in 2617 02:08:05.039 --> 02:08:05.520 this market. 2618 02:08:05.600 --> 02:08:07.359 Should be a good Thursday night game. 2619 02:08:08.000 --> 02:08:11.199 Hard to believe that it is Week fourteen, but that 2620 02:08:11.319 --> 02:08:15.359 indeed it is potentially fantasy football playoff time maybe for 2621 02:08:15.399 --> 02:08:18.119 some of you. The Packers and the Lions coming up 2622 02:08:18.159 --> 02:08:21.439 tomorrow night prime video. Right now, Detroit's a three point 2623 02:08:21.560 --> 02:08:23.600 favorite for a little Thursday night action to get Week 2624 02:08:23.640 --> 02:08:26.800 fourteen rolling. Then a bevy of really really good college 2625 02:08:26.840 --> 02:08:29.399 football games throughout the weekend, starting on Friday with the 2626 02:08:29.439 --> 02:08:33.960 Mountain West Championship UNLV and Boise, and then all day Saturday. 2627 02:08:34.239 --> 02:08:37.680 Brett your Mark, the Big twelve commissioner, is politicking for 2628 02:08:37.720 --> 02:08:40.119 his conference as most people are wont to do this 2629 02:08:40.199 --> 02:08:43.680 time of year, and obviously college football with early signing 2630 02:08:43.760 --> 02:08:47.560 day today and Championship weekend coming up, combined with the 2631 02:08:47.600 --> 02:08:51.720 CFP rankings released last night, very topical today. The Voice 2632 02:08:51.720 --> 02:08:53.880 of the Utes Bill Riley coming up at about twenty 2633 02:08:54.039 --> 02:08:56.880 two minutes from right now five o'clock out of the drive. 2634 02:08:56.960 --> 02:08:59.439 Tonight is brought to you by my friends at Prize Picks. 2635 02:08:59.439 --> 02:09:03.319 It is the easiest way to play daily fantasy, best 2636 02:09:03.319 --> 02:09:06.039 way to get real money sports action. Ten million members, 2637 02:09:06.079 --> 02:09:09.560 billions of dollars in awarded winnings. Prize Picks has made 2638 02:09:09.640 --> 02:09:12.279 daily fantasy sports accessible to all. You just pick more 2639 02:09:12.399 --> 02:09:14.239 or less on at least two players for a shots 2640 02:09:14.279 --> 02:09:16.560 went up to one hundred times your cash. You can 2641 02:09:16.640 --> 02:09:18.760 run your game on Prize Picks all season long. They're 2642 02:09:18.760 --> 02:09:21.680 giving away free money right now, so download the Prize 2643 02:09:21.680 --> 02:09:25.159 Picks up today. Use the promo code ESPN seven hundred 2644 02:09:25.199 --> 02:09:27.560 to get fifty dollars instantly after you play your first 2645 02:09:27.560 --> 02:09:31.000 five dollars lineup. Download that Prize Picks up today. Use 2646 02:09:31.079 --> 02:09:34.520 the promo code ESPN seven hundred to get fifty dollars 2647 02:09:34.560 --> 02:09:36.840 instantly after you play your first five dollars lineup. 2648 02:09:36.920 --> 02:09:40.159 Run your game on Prize Pick so early. 2649 02:09:40.239 --> 02:09:43.199 Signing day today again does not hit the way that 2650 02:09:43.279 --> 02:09:45.760 it used to. And Utah, according to two four to 2651 02:09:45.760 --> 02:09:50.000 seven Sports, has the number forty six class in the country. 2652 02:09:50.000 --> 02:09:52.520 That's good for seventh in the Big Twelve. On the 2653 02:09:52.520 --> 02:09:55.880 other hand, BYU as of right now number fifty five 2654 02:09:55.960 --> 02:09:58.800 in the country, and that is twelfth in the Big Twelve. 2655 02:09:58.840 --> 02:10:01.479 As we've talked about all day, there's simply is no 2656 02:10:01.560 --> 02:10:04.640 guarantee that any of these young men will ever end 2657 02:10:04.720 --> 02:10:08.800 up on campus because of the new reality of college football, 2658 02:10:08.880 --> 02:10:12.800 the potential to sign nil deals. There are no rules, 2659 02:10:12.800 --> 02:10:17.119 the NCAA can't enforce anything. So ultimately we'll see who's 2660 02:10:17.159 --> 02:10:20.199 here come spring. We'll see who enrolls early, and then 2661 02:10:20.239 --> 02:10:22.520 we'll see who's actually on the roster when it comes 2662 02:10:22.520 --> 02:10:26.199 to this signing day situation. We are awaiting word on 2663 02:10:26.359 --> 02:10:30.039 potentially news about the offensive coordinator slot that is vacant 2664 02:10:30.079 --> 02:10:33.359 right now at the University of Utah. Ben Rbuckle, who 2665 02:10:33.399 --> 02:10:36.439 most people believe was the top candidate on Utah's list, 2666 02:10:36.520 --> 02:10:41.359 agree to become Oklahoma's new offensive coordinator this week. There 2667 02:10:41.479 --> 02:10:46.199 are people who actually track private planes and track witch 2668 02:10:46.279 --> 02:10:49.199 coaching candidates are left on the list and where they're at, 2669 02:10:49.239 --> 02:10:54.039 and according to multiple reports, Mac Leftwich, Texas state offensive 2670 02:10:54.079 --> 02:10:57.760 coordinator and their quarterbacks coach, is currently in Salt Lake 2671 02:10:57.840 --> 02:11:02.680 City interviewing for the offensive coordinator job. Obviously, if any 2672 02:11:02.680 --> 02:11:04.960 of the news comes down and breaks while we're on air, 2673 02:11:05.000 --> 02:11:07.520 we will bring it to you. As we discussed throughout 2674 02:11:07.560 --> 02:11:09.920 the course of the show today, it just simply feels like, 2675 02:11:10.039 --> 02:11:14.039 as a result of no official announcement of the status 2676 02:11:14.039 --> 02:11:16.279 of Coach Wit for the upcoming season, it just to 2677 02:11:16.319 --> 02:11:19.560 me it means that he's coming back. That's ultimately what 2678 02:11:19.600 --> 02:11:23.359 I've landed on here. The other scenarios just don't seem 2679 02:11:23.439 --> 02:11:26.800 to be very realistic when it comes to who Kyle 2680 02:11:26.920 --> 02:11:28.960 appears to be. I just don't think he's a wishy, 2681 02:11:29.119 --> 02:11:32.960 washy guy. He feels like the type of pragmatic thinker 2682 02:11:33.000 --> 02:11:35.039 that when he makes his mind up, he simply would 2683 02:11:35.079 --> 02:11:36.840 just make his mind up and then move on to 2684 02:11:36.880 --> 02:11:40.159 the next thing. And you don't really need an announcement 2685 02:11:40.199 --> 02:11:41.720 when a coach is under contract. 2686 02:11:42.239 --> 02:11:43.920 So that's just kind of my gut feel. 2687 02:11:44.000 --> 02:11:46.760 As Coach Wit has talked about during his media availability, 2688 02:11:47.119 --> 02:11:50.960 he and Morgan are in lockstep with this hire. When 2689 02:11:50.960 --> 02:11:53.479 it comes to the offensive coordinator, somebody taking over for 2690 02:11:53.720 --> 02:11:57.079 Andy Ludwig, who stepped down after some struggles when he 2691 02:11:57.159 --> 02:11:59.960 came to the offense on the side of things for 2692 02:12:00.039 --> 02:12:04.119 the University of Utah and look the cruel reality for 2693 02:12:04.279 --> 02:12:07.159 Utah football this year because of the dominant performance of 2694 02:12:07.199 --> 02:12:10.039 the defense more or less all year long. Early on, 2695 02:12:10.119 --> 02:12:14.079 the defense was dominating outside of creating turnovers, but they 2696 02:12:14.119 --> 02:12:17.039 turned that around down the stretch when they started you know, 2697 02:12:17.079 --> 02:12:21.560 pick sixes, scoop and scores, creating havoc plays. An average 2698 02:12:21.600 --> 02:12:24.640 offense leads the Big Twelve. Excuse me, it leads Utah 2699 02:12:24.640 --> 02:12:27.399 to essentially at least competing for the Big Twelve championship. 2700 02:12:28.119 --> 02:12:31.560 But the offense was less than average. Most measurable metrics 2701 02:12:31.560 --> 02:12:33.800 put it near the bottom of the Big Twelve. So 2702 02:12:34.039 --> 02:12:36.920 we'll see what they're able to do via transfer portal. Addition, 2703 02:12:37.720 --> 02:12:40.399 according to the ESPN rank ave in front of me, 2704 02:12:40.520 --> 02:12:44.159 they rank Wyatt Becker as the top offensive prospects signed 2705 02:12:44.159 --> 02:12:47.279 by the Utes this class. He's a four star quarterback 2706 02:12:47.680 --> 02:12:51.880 out of California, and Christian Thatcher, who's a linebacker out 2707 02:12:51.880 --> 02:12:55.079 of Vegas, is, according to ESPN's ranking, the highest ranked 2708 02:12:55.079 --> 02:12:59.079 defensive prospect signed by the University of Utah. So starting 2709 02:12:59.119 --> 02:13:01.760 the show off today with some conversation about the CFP 2710 02:13:02.079 --> 02:13:05.840 rankings that were released last night and talking about it 2711 02:13:05.920 --> 02:13:08.279 in real time when you're on air live in the 2712 02:13:08.279 --> 02:13:11.840 five o'clock hour and ESPN's doing their reveal. You just 2713 02:13:11.880 --> 02:13:13.840 try to get as much information out there on the 2714 02:13:13.840 --> 02:13:16.439 airwaves as you possibly can. You're not really digesting it 2715 02:13:16.479 --> 02:13:19.399 in real time. Top four seeds, No surprise, it was 2716 02:13:19.439 --> 02:13:22.840 Oregon as well as Texas. SMU comes in at three, 2717 02:13:23.560 --> 02:13:26.359 Boise's date comes in at number four, and Brett Yormark 2718 02:13:26.439 --> 02:13:29.800 with his comments today, is not very happy about a 2719 02:13:29.920 --> 02:13:33.159 P five potential situation to get that number one seed 2720 02:13:33.199 --> 02:13:36.520 as opposed to the winner of Arizona State and Iowa State. 2721 02:13:37.039 --> 02:13:39.479 It does appear that the bubble teams right now are 2722 02:13:39.479 --> 02:13:41.960 the bubble teams that are going to be in, you know, 2723 02:13:42.119 --> 02:13:47.479 teams like Tennessee, teams like Ohio State, Alabama, Indiana. You know, 2724 02:13:47.640 --> 02:13:51.479 in the event that Clemson beats SMU, there will be 2725 02:13:51.520 --> 02:13:55.319 a real debate about who gets in, either SMU or Alabama. 2726 02:13:55.760 --> 02:13:59.000 But if SMU loses to Clemson, it means they lost 2727 02:13:59.159 --> 02:14:01.680 the two hardest games they had on their schedule to 2728 02:14:01.760 --> 02:14:05.319 BYU and to Clemson. And then a lot of upset 2729 02:14:05.359 --> 02:14:07.680 old misfans, which I get, I don't really buy the 2730 02:14:07.720 --> 02:14:12.039 South Carolina stuff. Then Miami to me biggest paper tiger 2731 02:14:12.359 --> 02:14:15.119 and has been all year long. It just appears that 2732 02:14:15.159 --> 02:14:17.199 who's in right now is probably going to be in 2733 02:14:17.680 --> 02:14:20.600 conference championship. Friday and Saturday will kind of give us 2734 02:14:20.600 --> 02:14:23.279 more of a clarity when it comes to the seeds 2735 02:14:23.279 --> 02:14:25.760 and what the matchups are going to be. The matchups 2736 02:14:25.760 --> 02:14:28.640 as of right now it would be Arizona State and 2737 02:14:28.680 --> 02:14:29.239 Penn State. 2738 02:14:29.319 --> 02:14:30.239 These are projections. 2739 02:14:30.279 --> 02:14:32.640 Obviously Iowa State will have something to say about this, 2740 02:14:33.600 --> 02:14:37.880 but the Big twelve champs lated to play potentially Penn State. Obviously, 2741 02:14:37.920 --> 02:14:41.039 Penn State has a game against Oregon. Oregon's the favorite 2742 02:14:41.039 --> 02:14:43.760 out of the Big ten. Penn State pulls an upset 2743 02:14:43.800 --> 02:14:45.800 that would kind of throw a monkey wrench at everything. 2744 02:14:46.159 --> 02:14:48.439 Tennessee would be at the shoot to take on Ohio State, 2745 02:14:48.479 --> 02:14:50.600 which would be a lot of fun. A first round 2746 02:14:50.680 --> 02:14:54.880 matchup between Alabama and Notre Dame and then Indiana and Georgia. 2747 02:14:54.960 --> 02:14:57.760 The winner of Indiana Georgia would advance to play Texas. 2748 02:14:57.800 --> 02:14:59.880 The winner of Bama Notre Dame would advance to play 2749 02:15:01.000 --> 02:15:03.199 I mean, Alabama has a pretty clear path all the 2750 02:15:03.199 --> 02:15:06.000 way to the semi finals, where they would most likely 2751 02:15:06.039 --> 02:15:09.680 play either Texas or Georgia, which would be great television, 2752 02:15:09.800 --> 02:15:11.119 you know, And there is brand bias. 2753 02:15:11.199 --> 02:15:11.640 I'm sorry. 2754 02:15:11.640 --> 02:15:13.640 We can complain about it, we can yell about it. 2755 02:15:13.680 --> 02:15:16.239 There's brand bias. There always has been, and that's the 2756 02:15:16.279 --> 02:15:19.600 way this thing is designed for powerful television executives to 2757 02:15:19.640 --> 02:15:22.319 get the most incendiary TV show on their network. 2758 02:15:22.399 --> 02:15:23.159 That's what they want. 2759 02:15:23.720 --> 02:15:26.760 The winner of Tennessee Ohio State would advance to play Oregon. 2760 02:15:27.199 --> 02:15:29.800 The winner of Arizona State Penn State would advance to 2761 02:15:29.840 --> 02:15:32.640 play Boise State. And that's kind of the scenario as 2762 02:15:32.680 --> 02:15:34.560 of right now out of the world of college football. 2763 02:15:34.640 --> 02:15:38.159 So it is a busy, busy news cycle. Even though 2764 02:15:38.199 --> 02:15:40.920 the season is over for the University of Utah, the offseason, 2765 02:15:40.960 --> 02:15:44.039 one of the most important offseasons in Utah football history, 2766 02:15:44.680 --> 02:15:47.239 is going on right now. A bunch of news about 2767 02:15:47.920 --> 02:15:51.359 targets being flipped. Here there the up to date and 2768 02:15:51.439 --> 02:15:53.600 this is ESPN two four seven does a really good 2769 02:15:53.680 --> 02:15:57.640 job as well up to date recruiting rankings. At the top, 2770 02:15:57.760 --> 02:16:02.199 it is the usual suspects at number one, Dan Lanning 2771 02:16:02.279 --> 02:16:04.159 in Oregon at number two. 2772 02:16:04.359 --> 02:16:05.960 Texas comes in at number three. 2773 02:16:06.079 --> 02:16:10.119 It's Ohio State at four, Alabama, Kaitlin Debor at five, 2774 02:16:10.199 --> 02:16:14.000 Michigan comes in at six, Auburn jumps up to number seven, 2775 02:16:14.159 --> 02:16:17.279 LSU at eight, Texas A and M at nine, Florida 2776 02:16:17.399 --> 02:16:21.560 at ten, you have to scroll all the way down 2777 02:16:21.720 --> 02:16:24.399 to I haven't even seen it yet. The number one 2778 02:16:24.600 --> 02:16:28.279 Big twelve recruiting class as of right now is TCU. 2779 02:16:28.399 --> 02:16:31.560 They come in at number twenty, so their number number 2780 02:16:31.560 --> 02:16:34.479 twenty and the number one ranked Big twelve recruiting class. 2781 02:16:35.319 --> 02:16:38.079 You got some breaking news for us on early signing day? 2782 02:16:38.200 --> 02:16:39.280 What is what do you got. 2783 02:16:39.120 --> 02:16:40.520 For signing day? What do you got? 2784 02:16:41.200 --> 02:16:45.239 As you mentioned Utah their their top offensive prospect that 2785 02:16:45.280 --> 02:16:47.360 they had landed over the course of the day was 2786 02:16:47.399 --> 02:16:50.440 Wyatt Becker the quarterback. Well, they just landed another four 2787 02:16:50.520 --> 02:16:54.559 star on the offensive side, racing. Guillory is a running 2788 02:16:54.600 --> 02:16:57.399 back who had offers from Old Miss. He had some 2789 02:16:57.440 --> 02:17:01.000 other sec offers and they went and nabbed him out 2790 02:17:01.159 --> 02:17:04.000 out of Texas. It's actually a big get for Utah 2791 02:17:04.079 --> 02:17:09.000 on racine Guillory he can really run. You watched it 2792 02:17:09.079 --> 02:17:10.959 says fast he is, he is quick. 2793 02:17:11.040 --> 02:17:11.079 No. 2794 02:17:11.479 --> 02:17:13.600 Look, I just get a kick out of days like 2795 02:17:13.600 --> 02:17:17.120 today where you hear from people and you know, my 2796 02:17:17.280 --> 02:17:21.280 favorite thing is listening to the coaches being interviewed after 2797 02:17:21.920 --> 02:17:24.799 signing day is done, like, yeah, we got everyone we wanted. Well, 2798 02:17:25.280 --> 02:17:27.600 you're the seventieth rank recruiting class. You didn't get everybody 2799 02:17:27.639 --> 02:17:30.200 you wanted, maybe some of them, but everybody kind of 2800 02:17:30.360 --> 02:17:31.719 gives you the same walking line. 2801 02:17:31.760 --> 02:17:33.719 So yeah, racing is it? Gillory? 2802 02:17:33.840 --> 02:17:39.000 Is that Gillory? Okay out of Texas? Yeah, his final 2803 02:17:39.000 --> 02:17:41.040 two Utah and Old Miss. So I don't know if 2804 02:17:41.079 --> 02:17:43.520 that's a flip, but that obviously is a good sign 2805 02:17:43.639 --> 02:17:48.319 b YU. At this point, no four star recruits. According 2806 02:17:48.360 --> 02:17:50.639 to the rankings out in front of me BYU, their 2807 02:17:50.680 --> 02:17:53.239 recruiting class as of now is number twelve in the 2808 02:17:53.239 --> 02:17:56.799 Big twelve and number fifty five in the country. Now, 2809 02:17:57.040 --> 02:17:59.920 last year BYU was also ranked in the mid fifty 2810 02:18:00.200 --> 02:18:04.479 and they made a massive jump adding some late ads, 2811 02:18:05.239 --> 02:18:07.879 they jumped up into the forties. So look, today is 2812 02:18:07.920 --> 02:18:11.159 just kind of a day. That's fun to talk about possibilities, 2813 02:18:11.159 --> 02:18:15.360 but nowhere near a finished product. And certainly, as we've 2814 02:18:15.360 --> 02:18:19.120 talked about, BYU with eighteen players signed from high school, 2815 02:18:19.159 --> 02:18:21.840 but as of right now, no four or five star players, 2816 02:18:22.319 --> 02:18:26.000 and the names keep spelling in Utah right now, a 2817 02:18:26.079 --> 02:18:30.440 four star player, JJ Buchanan out of Henderson. I believe 2818 02:18:30.479 --> 02:18:33.959 he's a Bishop Gorman kid, Cyrus Paulu linebacker from Saint 2819 02:18:34.040 --> 02:18:36.479 George four star and then the new running back to 2820 02:18:36.559 --> 02:18:39.559 Porter just reference also a four star player. So according 2821 02:18:39.600 --> 02:18:41.159 to the numbers I have in front of me, by 2822 02:18:41.280 --> 02:18:44.600 excuse me, Utah has four four stars as of now, 2823 02:18:45.360 --> 02:18:47.639 and maybe as a result of this, I don't know 2824 02:18:47.639 --> 02:18:50.040 if it's a flip at running back, but maybe that 2825 02:18:50.079 --> 02:18:53.600 will improve the rankings for the University of Utah Transfer portal. 2826 02:18:53.680 --> 02:18:56.639 Right around the corner, which the corre reality is a 2827 02:18:56.680 --> 02:18:58.879 lot of these players are probably gonna get gone before 2828 02:18:58.879 --> 02:19:03.399 they ever end up on campus. Just continuing to really, 2829 02:19:03.479 --> 02:19:07.879 in my opinion, mandate the expedited process to try to 2830 02:19:07.920 --> 02:19:10.520 get this thing a little bit settled in so schools 2831 02:19:10.520 --> 02:19:14.079 and member institutions aren't necessarily out there on their own. 2832 02:19:14.120 --> 02:19:15.520 But early returns right. 2833 02:19:15.360 --> 02:19:18.319 Now, I guess you have to surmise that the nil 2834 02:19:18.360 --> 02:19:21.120 stuff pretty good situation for the Utes because as of now, 2835 02:19:21.200 --> 02:19:24.479 really only Jalen Glover, is that your understanding? Port I 2836 02:19:24.559 --> 02:19:28.319 just have not seen any announcement of any player as 2837 02:19:28.319 --> 02:19:30.559 of no. And look, Jalen Glover this year was like 2838 02:19:30.600 --> 02:19:34.239 the third of the fourth string running back. But byus 2839 02:19:34.319 --> 02:19:36.479 of now has lost four players to the transfer portal, 2840 02:19:36.520 --> 02:19:38.520 some good ones as well, and I think Utah has 2841 02:19:38.559 --> 02:19:41.120 only got got with one. And it's not like Jalen 2842 02:19:41.159 --> 02:19:43.600 Glover is going to sting that much. Any other utes 2843 02:19:43.639 --> 02:19:46.399 that you're hearing potentially entering the transfer portal. 2844 02:19:46.520 --> 02:19:48.920 Yeah, as of now, Jalen Glover is the only contributor 2845 02:19:49.079 --> 02:19:51.440 that has entered the transfer portal. You've got to go 2846 02:19:51.520 --> 02:19:57.399 back to deep, deep into depth chart. The lely tua 2847 02:19:57.959 --> 02:20:02.040 fatto fua nice job is your other your other one 2848 02:20:02.040 --> 02:20:03.920 that has entered the transfer portal. That's the two for 2849 02:20:03.920 --> 02:20:06.319 the use of Okay, so no harm, no foul there. 2850 02:20:06.399 --> 02:20:09.479 Cody Epps has entered the transfer portal for Brigham Young 2851 02:20:09.520 --> 02:20:12.840 ass has Jackson Bowers, Michael Harper who at one point 2852 02:20:12.879 --> 02:20:15.120 was one of their better defensive players, but he had 2853 02:20:15.120 --> 02:20:16.760 a knee injury that. 2854 02:20:16.879 --> 02:20:19.159 Kind of knocked him out. And then Miles Davis. 2855 02:20:19.280 --> 02:20:22.559 The best name for a running back really in all 2856 02:20:22.600 --> 02:20:24.959 the college football. Maybe it's just how I think if 2857 02:20:24.959 --> 02:20:27.079 my running back was Miles Davis, he'd get all the carriers. 2858 02:20:27.159 --> 02:20:30.399 No, I mean it is the best, the best name there, Miles. 2859 02:20:30.399 --> 02:20:34.639 If you're in football. We can go back to is 2860 02:20:34.680 --> 02:20:39.360 it Friday night Lights, the Booby Miles guy. It's it's 2861 02:20:39.399 --> 02:20:40.760 just a good name. It's just a good name. It's 2862 02:20:40.760 --> 02:20:41.479 an excellent name. 2863 02:20:41.559 --> 02:20:45.040 So obviously, if any of the breaking news comes our 2864 02:20:45.079 --> 02:20:47.280 way before we sign off at six o'clock, we'll bring. 2865 02:20:47.159 --> 02:20:47.479 It to you. 2866 02:20:48.000 --> 02:20:52.840 Shout out to Miles Davis, phenomenal trumpeter and also very 2867 02:20:52.879 --> 02:20:55.600 good running back for BYU, Miles Davis has left us. 2868 02:20:56.399 --> 02:20:58.520 He's not dead, he just endered the transfer portal. So 2869 02:20:58.559 --> 02:21:02.159 BYU looking for maybe some the running back. But shout 2870 02:21:02.159 --> 02:21:05.799 out to the actual Miles Davis. He passed away way 2871 02:21:05.799 --> 02:21:08.120 back in nineteen ninety one. So there you go. All right, 2872 02:21:08.719 --> 02:21:10.559 I've been waiting all show to ask you a question 2873 02:21:10.600 --> 02:21:12.639 that I think you're a uniquely qualified to answer. 2874 02:21:13.239 --> 02:21:15.159 Uniquely qualified. Yes, you'll see why. 2875 02:21:15.799 --> 02:21:19.280 So there was a video that went viral today on 2876 02:21:19.360 --> 02:21:23.159 social media of some gentlemen who I believe were fishing 2877 02:21:24.440 --> 02:21:29.000 and a brown bear, a very large brown bear, started 2878 02:21:29.120 --> 02:21:33.920 running up river and it was an impressive specimen. And 2879 02:21:34.000 --> 02:21:37.520 attached to the video is like, I guess black bears 2880 02:21:37.520 --> 02:21:40.200 aren't as dangerous, so you can engage with them. 2881 02:21:40.680 --> 02:21:41.479 The saying was like. 2882 02:21:43.680 --> 02:21:48.360 Brown bear laid down, black bear fight and white bear. 2883 02:21:48.559 --> 02:21:49.959 You're going, yeah, you're dead. 2884 02:21:49.959 --> 02:21:55.159 Fine, So it is if because you're a gentleman that 2885 02:21:55.239 --> 02:21:57.840 spends a lot of time in the wild. You enjoy hiking, 2886 02:21:57.879 --> 02:22:00.600 you enjoy the enjoy the outdoors. You were in God's 2887 02:22:00.600 --> 02:22:03.280 Country up in Summon County. Let's say you're on a 2888 02:22:03.280 --> 02:22:08.200 solo mission. I'm talking cut off T shirt, bandana, camel pack, 2889 02:22:08.600 --> 02:22:11.840 just you out there, real, real Christopher mccandles stuff. Yes, 2890 02:22:11.879 --> 02:22:15.600 you are into the wild. Which one animal would you 2891 02:22:15.639 --> 02:22:18.239 most not want to see? As you turned around and 2892 02:22:18.280 --> 02:22:21.040 realized the animal was like fifteen yards away from you. 2893 02:22:21.239 --> 02:22:22.760 Yeah, it's a it's a tough on because I mean, 2894 02:22:22.799 --> 02:22:25.719 this is a a one that's been posed to me 2895 02:22:26.040 --> 02:22:30.760 many a times. And you mentioned the polar bear, right, 2896 02:22:30.920 --> 02:22:34.319 that's one that is You're done. It's two thousand pounds, 2897 02:22:34.319 --> 02:22:35.920 it's the size of a bowl, but it has teeth 2898 02:22:35.959 --> 02:22:38.879 that are longer than your fingers, right like that, there's 2899 02:22:38.959 --> 02:22:45.399 just no way around it. But for me, it always 2900 02:22:45.399 --> 02:22:47.799 comes down to like things I could actually experience. I'm 2901 02:22:47.799 --> 02:22:50.879 not trudging around the Arctic, right, I'm not just around 2902 02:22:50.879 --> 02:22:54.680 the North Pole yet. Yeah, And for me, it's always 2903 02:22:54.680 --> 02:22:59.120 been mountain lions. Oh really they I mean the cats 2904 02:22:59.120 --> 02:23:03.639 are killing thee They are genetically engineered killing machines. And 2905 02:23:04.040 --> 02:23:06.879 when you see what your house cat can do to 2906 02:23:08.079 --> 02:23:10.959 you know, whatever, birds or rats or even you if 2907 02:23:10.959 --> 02:23:13.760 it gets pissed off, just imagine what a three hundred 2908 02:23:13.799 --> 02:23:16.159 pound cat can do. They can run forty five miles 2909 02:23:16.159 --> 02:23:19.319 an hour. And the thing with the mountain lions is 2910 02:23:19.319 --> 02:23:22.079 that you're not going to really attack you, but if 2911 02:23:22.120 --> 02:23:23.879 they do, you're not going to know it until after 2912 02:23:23.920 --> 02:23:28.120 it's happened, or as it's happening, whereas a bear usually 2913 02:23:28.399 --> 02:23:33.000 you see it right, there's a warning there. It's hard though, 2914 02:23:33.079 --> 02:23:37.799 because when you're if you're up there alone and maybe unarmed, 2915 02:23:38.799 --> 02:23:42.040 that's the big equalizer. Humans are always big, tough guys 2916 02:23:42.079 --> 02:23:44.159 walking around with their their weapons. But if you're up there, 2917 02:23:44.639 --> 02:23:46.120 if you're up there in the in the bush, and 2918 02:23:46.159 --> 02:23:49.719 you come across a bear, a cougar, a wolf, a moose, 2919 02:23:50.239 --> 02:23:53.360 something that doesn't even want to eat you, you're outmatched 2920 02:23:53.600 --> 02:23:55.520 and it's not a great situation. 2921 02:23:55.600 --> 02:23:57.799 The video of the brown bear was like I saw 2922 02:23:57.840 --> 02:23:59.719 that actually overwhelmingly impressive. 2923 02:23:59.760 --> 02:24:02.319 It was like a specimen running up the river. 2924 02:24:02.479 --> 02:24:03.680 That's kind of what I was getting out with the 2925 02:24:03.680 --> 02:24:05.200 Mountain lions. I don't think a lot of people who 2926 02:24:05.239 --> 02:24:09.559 haven't seen them up close and personal don't realize that 2927 02:24:09.600 --> 02:24:16.520 they're not little kiddies. Those are monsters. Like I've seen 2928 02:24:16.559 --> 02:24:20.920 one in the Canvas area that Spence. I thought it 2929 02:24:21.000 --> 02:24:23.520 had escaped from the zoo. It was like a Serengeti type, 2930 02:24:23.559 --> 02:24:26.639 like five hundred. It was massive. It looked like one 2931 02:24:26.680 --> 02:24:31.840 that you would see in Africa, and it's it's probably 2932 02:24:31.879 --> 02:24:33.879 the animal that strikes the most fear into me, even 2933 02:24:33.920 --> 02:24:38.440 though they will leave you alone no matter what, unless 2934 02:24:38.680 --> 02:24:39.200 kind of corner. 2935 02:24:39.840 --> 02:24:44.200 Utah Women take on Utah State tonight. Utah women's basketball 2936 02:24:44.559 --> 02:24:48.239 coming off a big upset of Notre Dame. The Utah 2937 02:24:48.280 --> 02:24:51.719 women are six and two. They're five and zero at home. 2938 02:24:51.799 --> 02:24:54.040 This game is at the Delta Center of Utah State. 2939 02:24:54.120 --> 02:24:55.920 One and seven oh and three, so not a very 2940 02:24:55.920 --> 02:24:58.120 good team. So you're gonna hear that coming up in 2941 02:24:58.159 --> 02:25:00.200 just a little bit here on the radio station as 2942 02:25:00.239 --> 02:25:01.920 you're home of the Utes. But Porter, before we get 2943 02:25:01.959 --> 02:25:03.520 out of here, what comes our way on a Thursday 2944 02:25:03.559 --> 02:25:04.559 show on. 2945 02:25:04.479 --> 02:25:07.559 A Thursday edition of the program, As you just mentioned, 2946 02:25:07.799 --> 02:25:10.799 you taught women's basketball in action tonight, well tomorrow, we'll 2947 02:25:10.799 --> 02:25:13.719 hear from Gavin Peterson, the head ball coach for Utah 2948 02:25:13.840 --> 02:25:17.079 women's basketball, of course taken over for Lynn Roberts in 2949 02:25:17.120 --> 02:25:20.399 the last couple of weeks. Craig Bowler, Jack Gordon Monson 2950 02:25:20.760 --> 02:25:25.479 for our big hour on a Thursday, and then switching 2951 02:25:25.559 --> 02:25:27.360 up a little bit since he's out of pocket on 2952 02:25:27.399 --> 02:25:29.360 a Friday, Chris com Ronnie, he's going to stop by 2953 02:25:29.399 --> 02:25:31.879 the program, so a bunch of fun in studio stuff 2954 02:25:31.879 --> 02:25:34.440 and then of course catching up with the Utah women's 2955 02:25:34.440 --> 02:25:38.120 basketball coaches. You taught women's basketball's newest head coach. 2956 02:25:38.159 --> 02:25:40.280 All right, there you go. That'll be a fun Thursday show. 2957 02:25:40.399 --> 02:25:41.040 Join us for that. 2958 02:25:41.120 --> 02:25:42.760 With that, we'll say good night for a Wednesday, and 2959 02:25:42.799 --> 02:25:45.520 a very special thank you to Bill Riley, Richard Smith, 2960 02:25:45.520 --> 02:25:47.559 Howard Beck, and Ali Mata for any of the sound 2961 02:25:47.600 --> 02:25:50.719 you may have missed from the program today. Go to 2962 02:25:50.760 --> 02:25:53.799 the website. It's ESPN seven hundred sports dot com. Make 2963 02:25:53.799 --> 02:25:56.280 sure to download our mobile apps. You can take us 2964 02:25:56.280 --> 02:25:58.200 on the go wherever you go. It's the way I 2965 02:25:58.280 --> 02:26:01.799 listen to our radio station. That's the ESPN seven hundred 2966 02:26:01.840 --> 02:26:03.920 out that's available in the app store. Or the Google 2967 02:26:03.959 --> 02:26:06.639 play Store for free. And then finally for what we 2968 02:26:06.760 --> 02:26:09.680 do support our podcast page. It's called the Drive with 2969 02:26:09.719 --> 02:26:12.079 Spence checkets and all the content is up there for 2970 02:26:12.639 --> 02:26:15.719 your consumption, whichever part you want to listen to. You fan, 2971 02:26:15.840 --> 02:26:19.200 jazz fan, you TA hockey club fan, rsl up, wherever 2972 02:26:19.239 --> 02:26:21.840 you get your shows, subscribe, rate, review, sandice things, give 2973 02:26:21.879 --> 02:26:23.520 us all the stars. It actually does help. 2974 02:26:23.799 --> 02:26:26.319 He supporter. I'm Spence saying, I enjoy your Wednesday evening. 2975 02:26:26.399 --> 02:26:28.440 We'll talk to you on a Thursday Drive right here 2976 02:26:28.680 --> 02:26:30.319 on ESPN seven hundred