WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.200 I was watching this show, I think it was Hulu 2 00:00:03.560 --> 00:00:07.559 last week, and it had the biggest beefs in celebrity 3 00:00:08.759 --> 00:00:11.519 I think it was the nineties, the biggest beef between 4 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:14.320 celebrities and the nineties, right, And they're going back and forth, 5 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:18.800 you know, a lot of Tupac Biggie, you know, and 6 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:21.719 they were ranking them, you know, they're ranking them, and 7 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:25.359 for some reason they completely decided to ignore the Roxy 8 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:26.760 Bernstein Corney Cox beef. 9 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:29.199 I thought it was malfeasance on their part. Interesting was 10 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:32.119 this a CNN thing? Was it the nineties documentary or whatever? 11 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:35.000 It was the nineties, like biggest beefs between celebrities and 12 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:35.520 the nineties. 13 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:37.520 And for my money, I don't know that. 14 00:00:37.479 --> 00:00:39.799 There's a bigger beef between, you know, than between our 15 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.159 next guest, Roxy Bernstein and the great Corney Cox. 16 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.640 Roxy. Happy Tuesday, sir, How are you Spence? 17 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:47.560 I just want to know. Was Vanilla Ice and Sugar 18 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:48.200 Knight on there? 19 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:48.479 Oh? 20 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:49.640 Was that part of the beef? 21 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:51.880 It was not, But Shug I think was featured, I 22 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:56.880 think three or four times, which is not surprising at all. 23 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:57.719 How you been, my friend? 24 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:02.159 I'm good. You know. It's getting the real grind of 25 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:04.959 the season. But I'm good, you know, bouncing around doing 26 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:05.400 what I do. 27 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:07.920 There you go, there, you go? All right? 28 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:10.640 Right off the top, Is there any way to fix 29 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.200 the NBA All Star Game? 30 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:17.400 I don't know, to be honest with you, right, And 31 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:21.200 is there a way to duplicate what the NHL slash 32 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:26.599 hockey has done? Considering how great this four Nation's face 33 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:29.799 off has been and the anticipation that a lot of 34 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:33.280 people have for Thursday night with the final between US 35 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:36.040 and Canada, I mean, is there a way to generate 36 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:39.480 it internationally? And will they care enough? That's the other thing. 37 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:43.280 And I'm not exactly sure, Spence, what you can do 38 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:46.760 to make the NBA players care. They tried to do 39 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:49.239 something different this year. I think there was a little 40 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:54.840 bit more of a player participation and excitement about it, 41 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:57.280 but I wouldn't even come close to putting on the 42 00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:59.879 same level what hockey's doing right now. 43 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:02.879 Yeah, and we'll get talking in a moment, because the 44 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:06.560 Four Nations Canada US game by far was the dopest 45 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:08.360 thing I watched all weekend. So we'll get to that 46 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:11.319 in a moment. But I don't know that the NBA 47 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.280 at this point roxy has any other choice than just 48 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:17.240 to admit what we're all seeing, and that is nobody 49 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:20.759 gives a rip about this. It is simply a celebration 50 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:24.080 of the league because and I don't want to be 51 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:25.919 the old man yelling at a cloud about this, but 52 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:28.560 you remember, once upon a time that was the greatest 53 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:31.000 pickup game in the history of everything. When the best 54 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:34.800 players in the world cared about playing in that game 55 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:36.840 and wanted to beat each other, there was nothing better. 56 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:40.520 And now, honestly, there's just nothing worse because to your point, 57 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:42.639 I don't care if you play it in the Bay, 58 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:44.599 I don't care if you play it in Salt Lake. 59 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.520 I don't care if it's US versus International, East versus West. 60 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.719 These dudes can't even be bothered to play hard for 61 00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:55.840 a large portion and then Lebron shows up and he's like, yeah, 62 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:57.879 I'm out, just so you know, like I'm just not 63 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:01.240 even participating. I think at this point the league just 64 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:03.919 needs to admit that they're seeing what we're seeing and 65 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.639 it's just unwatchable, and then that's just kind of a deal, now, 66 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:08.960 you know. 67 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:12.800 And look, I had an issue with Lebron. Did this 68 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.199 weekend you take the spot from somebody else that could 69 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:20.400 be there and made himself the center of attention in 70 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:22.319 a lot of ways that all of a sudden dropping 71 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:26.240 it on everybody, I'm not playing. That's the frustrating thing 72 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:30.319 I had with with what Lebron did. But the NBA, 73 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:32.319 it's look, I don't want to be this, get off 74 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:34.639 my long guy. But when we were growing up, Spence, 75 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:39.879 Michael Jordan cared right when he wanted to be involved. 76 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:44.960 He had to win and he wasn't alone. Larry Bird 77 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:48.319 took the floor, Magic Johnson. They wanted to win desperately 78 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:51.919 and it meant something. Now we're exactly going all out 79 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:56.439 and trying at the beginning. No, but when the game 80 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:59.520 mattered and they had to play defense late in the 81 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.039 game or they had to make a physical screen on somebody, 82 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:04.960 they were doing it. You're not seeing that right now 83 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.240 with the NBA in the All Star Game, with the 84 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:12.400 young stars and having those teams there, it just is 85 00:04:12.439 --> 00:04:15.280 a different feel than it was for whatever reason. 86 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:17.600 Last thing on this And look, we both work in 87 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:20.240 media and I do some TV. You do a lot 88 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:22.160 of TV and call a lot of games, and so 89 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:25.680 I understand, and I'm a grown up. So this is 90 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:28.720 a front facing revenue generating product, and you have television 91 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:30.199 partners that you need to take care of. 92 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:33.879 But if I'm a player and I play hard. 93 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:36.079 And I get a win and we advance on, and 94 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:37.720 then you tell me that I have to sit down 95 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:40.040 and listen to Kevin Hart make fun of Shaq's hat 96 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:43.439 for thirty minutes before I'm playing again, I would be roxy. 97 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:45.160 I would be so annoyed. 98 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:47.279 Because you know the deal, Like, if you've ever played 99 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:49.480 any sport at any level, Okay, you play hard for 100 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:51.360 a while and then you sit for a while. 101 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:52.519 What happens? You get tight? 102 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.279 Like they even interviewed Yokitch and they're like, hey, what 103 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:57.560 have you done during the break? He's like, I tightened up, 104 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:00.079 you know, Like if you're trying to avoid injury the 105 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:03.399 format itself while they're force feeding us Kevin Hart, I 106 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:05.439 thought was horribly misguided. 107 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:10.199 They're one percent with you that when you play all right, 108 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:12.279 you want to keep going. You don't want to sit 109 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:15.199 because then, as you alluded to, you get stiff and 110 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:18.160 you make yourself susceptible to an injury. You want to 111 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:21.120 keep going, Like, okay, could you set up two courts? 112 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:23.439 I don't know what you could do if you're going 113 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:26.120 to try to do a format like this and keep 114 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:31.839 guys going, oh, we got next. Right, That's the format 115 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:36.120 that they used is not viewer friendly and even player 116 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:40.000 friendly to that regard, and there has to be a 117 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:42.839 better solution. I just look, I'm not smart enough to 118 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:45.480 figure it out. That's the job for Adam Silver in 119 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:49.680 the NBA to try to get a better fit for 120 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:52.600 what this should be. And look, it's not necessarily a 121 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:55.199 joke like the NFL had become with the Pro Bowl. 122 00:05:56.800 --> 00:05:59.560 Baseball does a decent job I think with the All 123 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:03.279 Star get and making it competitive, and guys are out 124 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:08.040 there and they are competing. But right now I'd say 125 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:11.959 that the NBA is probably third as far as those 126 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.279 All Star games. And look, I'm not including the MLS 127 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:17.519 in this, but I think with what hockey as right 128 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:19.959 now is clearly number one. I'd put the Major League 129 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:23.279 Baseball game number two. Then then a third would be 130 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:25.480 the NBA, and they're All Star weekend. 131 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:28.680 Well, somebody didn't watch hay SU's FREDA and the Skill 132 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.879 Challenge in the MLS All Star Game a year ago. 133 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:32.680 Apparently, Rocky you tuned out on that one. 134 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:38.160 Huh, sorry, I am not up with my MLS, my bad, 135 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:40.839 All good, all good, All right, let's move over to hockey, 136 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:45.279 and before we talk about what we saw last week 137 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:46.759 and what we could see on Thursday. 138 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:49.959 We are a new hockey market, so give us a 139 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:53.920 little you know, context and maybe even a history lesson 140 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:58.560 US Canada hockey is among the best rivalries in all 141 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:03.879 of sport, period. But help us understand just how intense 142 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:06.600 this rivalry has been before we talk about what's in 143 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:13.879 front of us. Now, Hello, did you drop? He's still there? 144 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:16.279 But Roxy, Roxy, are you there? 145 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.040 Hello? 146 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.439 Check one too? All right, we'll try to get Roxy back. 147 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:25.720 Four nations face off coming up on Thursday. That will 148 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:28.040 be the final US Canada. It's going to be played 149 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:30.879 in Boston, which is a great hockey city. After the 150 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:34.040 US was able to be Canada two to one in 151 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:37.560 an event that's three fights in the first nine minutes. 152 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:41.240 So I thought that was one of, if not the 153 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:45.160 most entertaining products all weekend long. At its peak, five 154 00:07:45.160 --> 00:07:48.600 point four million American viewers watched the tournament. 155 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:51.279 And so this is a new thing that hockey is 156 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:51.879 trying to do. 157 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:55.120 And as of right now, the early returns have been very, 158 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:58.759 very positive. So Matthew, Brady Kachuk, and J. T. Miller 159 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:00.319 each had a fight to open the game. 160 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:01.120 JT. 161 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:03.639 Miller fought a dude that's twice his size. But of 162 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:05.800 course the Kachuck brothers started things off. So let's get 163 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.199 Roxy Bernstein back on Roxy. Unfortunately, we didn't hear any 164 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:10.959 of your answers, so I'll just ask it in a 165 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:13.680 very short way, give us a little bit of context 166 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:16.240 as to why US Canada in hockey is so intense. 167 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:18.720 Well, that was the best thing I was said all day. 168 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:19.480 It's Bence clearly. 169 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:22.480 Oh damn it, Okay, your best. You know. 170 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:27.399 It's funny because on the international stage, international hockey, it 171 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:31.519 was more Canada Russia. When you go back some years, 172 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:34.919 and it's only within the last I don't know, twenty 173 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:38.879 years or so, maybe twenty five years, that the US 174 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:42.480 has really surged and this rivalry is heated up between 175 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:48.480 Canada and the US. And it's clear that this matters 176 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:52.200 to the guys in the dressing rooms, to USA hockey, 177 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:57.559 Canadian hockey, and they went out there and responded like it. 178 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:01.679 Especially when you get Matthew Kudtruck dropping the gloves right 179 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:05.000 off the opening face off, and you get a brawl going. 180 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:07.440 And the only thing that would have made it more intense, 181 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:10.799 I think Spence is if he had fought Sam Bennett, 182 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:14.639 initially his teammate in Florida, right, instead of Brady Kachuck 183 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:17.840 fighting Sam Bennett, if you got Matthew Kachuck and Sam 184 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:22.919 Bennett fighting each other off the opening draw. But I'm 185 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:28.759 not expecting the same kind of physicality. If you will, 186 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:31.559 I'm not expecting fights off to get go on Thursday night. 187 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:36.120 I think it's going to be a physical hockey game. 188 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:39.159 Could we see some sticks come up and pushing and shoving, Yeah, 189 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:42.960 I think we're going to be witnessing that. But if 190 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:44.879 you look at the win and the game settled in, 191 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.879 it became a smart defensive game that the US played. 192 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:52.799 And when you have the best goaltender in the world, 193 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:55.600 which the US does with Connor Hallibuck, and the way 194 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:59.080 the defense really shut down, I thought the firepower of 195 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:02.200 the Canadians that was more the story, even though the 196 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:06.320 headlines clearly were the three fights coming in the first 197 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:10.559 nine seconds to get the night started. And was there 198 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:12.600 a build up from the booing of the anthem. I 199 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:16.120 think there was part of that and the Kachucks wore 200 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:18.840 it on their sleeve out there and took out some aggression. 201 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:22.919 But this has become a rivalry I think over years 202 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:27.360 just because of the US has elevated their platform on 203 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:31.559 the international stage in hockey, where for years it was 204 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:34.360 Canada US and that was international hockey for a lot 205 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:36.840 of people, or I mean Russia and Canada, I should 206 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:38.200 say so. 207 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:41.919 Ultimately, I just was chuckling when I was listening to 208 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:44.000 some of the coverage earlier today because they were talking 209 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:46.360 about some of the players that are heard on both sides, 210 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:50.039 and there was a sound sound bite where I think 211 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:52.200 it was Brady Kachuck and may have been Matthew, one 212 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:54.200 of the Kachuck brothers, was asked like, hey, you guys 213 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:55.960 are you know you had to see it for the 214 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:58.159 portion of the game against I think it was Sweden 215 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:01.240 and there are rumors about guys being banged up in there, 216 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:03.159 and he's like, we're playing just so you know, like 217 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:05.200 we're we're playing on Thursday. 218 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:05.960 There's no doubt. 219 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:08.039 And it's one of the things roxy not to go 220 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:10.720 back to the NBA bashing, but I love pro basketball 221 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:13.240 and I'm mad at it right now. I just I 222 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:16.360 love that hockey players will just show up because, look, 223 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:19.840 this obviously means a lot more than a exhibition game. 224 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:22.600 So I'm not going back to Lebron entirely, but it's 225 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:24.799 one of the things that I've always loved about hockey players. 226 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:28.240 They're they're they're real tough guys, and they care about competing. 227 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:30.639 They care about showing up and playing because it makes 228 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:33.480 the product better, obviously, and. 229 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:37.159 That's the mentality, and that's the hockey mentality. If you 230 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:41.399 go back that you're gonna play, if you could blace 231 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:43.360 up your skates, you're gonna go out there and playing. 232 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.639 And I know some of the NHL teams are obviously 233 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:49.600 a little nervous about it when they see, for example, 234 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.519 Charlie McAboy and the injury that he's dealing with right now. 235 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:56.399 Matthew Kachuck was a scratch doing a little lower body 236 00:11:56.440 --> 00:12:01.480 injury from yesterday's game, Brady Kuchuck. Then they for precautionary reasons, 237 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:06.159 pulled them from the game yesterday. So that's the tough 238 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:09.480 thing for the NHL is they're so invested in this 239 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:13.440 event and it means a lot, and it's clearly elevated 240 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:17.720 hockey on the national stage. Here in the United States, 241 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:20.480 and with the television ratings that they had for the 242 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:24.799 game on Saturday night shows that there's interest. And now 243 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:27.679 you move forward and you just hope that you're going 244 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.480 to get the best product on both sides because of 245 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:33.559 the injuries. And look, these guys are out there to compete, 246 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:35.799 They're out there to win. They're not just mailing it in. 247 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:40.679 This isn't just okay a whole hum event. National pride 248 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:43.480 means a lot to these players, and it's evident the 249 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:45.720 way they've responded so far in this tournament. 250 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.519 Before we move off to hockey stuff, and you know, 251 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:50.679 you've got a game to call tonight, so I want 252 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:52.480 to do some college basketball with you in a moment. 253 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.639 I just wanted to kick the tires on where we 254 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:58.200 find ourselves year one with the Utah Hockey Club. They 255 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:01.720 are right now as my computer refreshes, there's six points 256 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:05.279 behind the Canucks and a full eleven points beyond the 257 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:08.120 Avs for the wild card. What a peg like won't 258 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:10.600 go away. It's wild what the Jets have done this year. 259 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:12.600 But your thoughts on I guess I'll just say the 260 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.159 first half, even though we're more than halfway home of 261 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:18.120 the season for the Utah Hockey Club, and you think 262 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:20.080 there's a chance they're able to catch the Canucks and 263 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:22.240 maybe be a wild card playoff team this year. 264 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:25.879 There's a chance, yeah, And you have Calgary lodge in 265 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:29.200 there in between, and some of the teams have dropped off, like, 266 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:32.639 for example, Okay, Saint Louis is a couple points behind Utah. 267 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:35.639 The Seattle Kraken, to me, have been a major disappointment. 268 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:38.519 They firmly expected to be in the playoff race, but 269 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:40.720 they're well out of it right now. Is there are 270 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:44.519 eleven points behind the Canucks. Nashville has been another huge 271 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:48.200 disappointment of the Western Conference. But the opportunity is there, 272 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:51.120 and I know the schedule could be favorable here coming 273 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:55.200 up for Utah with some home games and even though 274 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:57.320 they haven't played great at home, they've actually been a 275 00:13:57.320 --> 00:14:00.639 better team on the road for whatever reason. But there's 276 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:03.960 gonna be opportunities here and they're gonna have to hit 277 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:07.639 a really good run here to open up the second half, 278 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:11.919 if you will, because Vancouver and Calgary both have a 279 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:16.320 game in hand on Utah, so they're gonna have to, 280 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:20.639 I think, play at a pretty brisk pace here to 281 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:23.039 make a push. Can it be done. Absolutely, it can 282 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.519 be done. And the injuries that Utah has dealt with 283 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:28.919 on the blue line, Connor Ingram missed a good chunk 284 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.200 of time when he was away from the team. The 285 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:33.559 injuries even up front that they've had to deal with, 286 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:37.639 that's been a concern. But they've tried to piece it 287 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:40.039 together here and set themselves up to make a run. 288 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:42.840 They're in this thing and they're gonna have an opportunity 289 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:45.480 now they're gonna have to help themselves out. There's been 290 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:50.720 certainly drama surrounding Vancouver with the whole JT. Miller situation 291 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:54.600 in Elias Petterson. But there's gonna be opportunity here. When 292 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:57.080 you look at the schedule what's looming for Utah and 293 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:59.200 you open up the second half, Okay, it's gonna be tough. 294 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:01.720 You're at LA, but then you have a run of 295 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:07.120 home games Vancouver, Chicago, the Wild New Jersey. There's some 296 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:09.759 other clutch games coming up, like, for example, the Leafs 297 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:13.679 still come here. They're going to be opportunities, but they're 298 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:15.159 going to have to hit the ground run into the 299 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.679 second half in place a really good hockey coming out 300 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:19.159 of the break, all. 301 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:21.919 Right, Before we end with thought on BYU and their 302 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:24.960 basketball program, let's give a little love to Craig Smith 303 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.480 and the Utah Utes, who over the weekend was able 304 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:30.519 to get two home wins against the two Kansas teams. 305 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:33.440 They beat the number seventeen team in the country, Kansas, 306 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:37.360 who I don't know, man, I don't know. The Jayhawks 307 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:40.279 I believe were preseason top two or three, maybe even 308 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:43.279 preseason one, and that group does not look like a 309 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:44.679 connected group to me at all. 310 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.159 But a good win for the Utes. 311 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.200 They were an underdog, and then k State, who had 312 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.440 won six straight prior to their trip to Provo. 313 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:52.639 You know, that was a really good basketball game. 314 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:55.960 And the best thing that I saw, in my opinion 315 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:58.240 roxy those two games that I really haven't seen much 316 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:00.480 of from Utah this year is their ability to close. 317 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.000 You know, they were in the game. It was seventy 318 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:05.559 two to seventy two at Cincinnati. Then since he ended 319 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:08.679 on like a thirteen to two run. They were close 320 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:11.960 against West Virginia, they were close against Oklahoma State, even Baylor. 321 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.879 They had some moments, but the closing stretches have been 322 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:17.519 difficult because they do not have a ball in hand. 323 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:20.960 Lead guard decision maker that has the ability to make 324 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.960 dynamic things happen like they did a year ago with 325 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:25.919 Davon Smith. But with five games left, you know, you 326 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:27.679 look at the rest of the schedule, they're gonna have 327 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:29.480 to pull off some upsets, but they might be a 328 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:32.840 double digit win team in conference in the Big Twelve. 329 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:34.600 They're seven and eight with five games left to play. 330 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:36.120 And I want to get too far ahead of myself, 331 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:38.600 but I'm really happy for Craig. Next year is the 332 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.399 final year of his deal. So what are your thoughts 333 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.759 on this year from the utah Uns. 334 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:45.559 This was a big weekend, I think for him and 335 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:49.919 the program to get those wins, and it is a 336 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:52.879 little more difficult for them to get things done offensively. 337 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.159 They're a tina has to do it by committee. Yes, 338 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:58.240 Gate Madson's your volume shooter and your go to guy. 339 00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:00.320 Would need a big bucket, as he was with huge 340 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:04.440 shots against both Kansas and Casetate last night. But it's 341 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:08.440 a team that shares the ball that they average eighteen 342 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:10.640 assists per game, their top ten in the country and 343 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.480 assist and that's the way they have to play. They 344 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:16.759 have to be connected offensively, and the effort on the 345 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:19.599 offensive glass the last two games has been phenomenal. It's 346 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:24.039 not just Ezra Sr. That they appeared to me wanted 347 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:26.640 it more. They were the more aggressive team in these 348 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:30.400 two games. And now you go out and they have 349 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:32.720 five games left before they go to Kansas City in 350 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:36.079 the Big Twelve Tournament. Getting to eighteen wins is a 351 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:38.720 realistic possibility for this team, and you mentioned the double 352 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:41.480 digit wins in the league. They have to prove they 353 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:43.200 can win on the road, and that's what they're gonna 354 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:46.319 have to do. If they're going to try to get 355 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:48.839 out of the first day, maybe even the first two 356 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.880 days of the Big Twelve Tournament, They're going to have 357 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:53.640 to go to Central Florida and win a tough home 358 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:56.200 game against West Virginia, but they got to win at home. 359 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:58.400 If they can go three and two of these last 360 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:01.000 couple of games, I think that bodes well for them. 361 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:04.119 And I think that for a team that was picked 362 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:07.119 what sixteenth spens in the preseason poll, and if they 363 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:10.359 can finish right around middle of the league seven dates, 364 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:13.680 that would be I think a really big accomplishment for 365 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.160 this group. 366 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.920 So Kevin Young has a litany of talent at his disposal. 367 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.720 He's got two potential well one lottery pick with Diegor 368 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:23.119 Demon and then a lot of people think Kennon Catching's 369 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:25.519 is the first round player. So there's some you know, 370 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:28.279 some seven figure players on this roster according to a 371 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:31.200 lot of reports. And what I've been told and started off, 372 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:34.279 you know, not great as far as what we were expecting. 373 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:36.240 But they've they've kind of settled in now. They had 374 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:38.680 a couple of losses Arizona, then at Cincinnati where they 375 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.079 got trounced. They go to Morgantown to get a win 376 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:44.039 over just a pain in the ass. West Virginia is 377 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:46.559 the tough team to play against. Yeah, and then they 378 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:49.039 end that six game winning streak from KSE State and 379 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:51.319 it really wasn't close. When this is going to sound 380 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:54.400 reductive and simplistic, but when Brigham Young is knocking down shots, 381 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:56.680 that's a tough team. Kevin's got a tough team. So 382 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:59.680 they see Kansas tonight. You're on the call, so kind 383 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:02.920 of saying, question your thoughts with year one under Kevin Young, 384 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.920 what do you expecting tonight? 385 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.680 Is the Jayhawks are down in Provo. 386 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:09.359 And this is an enormous game because the winner of 387 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:13.160 tonight's game between KU and BYU will have the inside 388 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:17.119 track at the five seed because you'll have the only 389 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:20.519 matchup between the two teams this year, so you'll have 390 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:22.839 the tiebreaker. And then can you make a push to 391 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:25.359 get into the top four, which would be a huge boost. 392 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:27.799 You get to buy into the quarterfinals if you can 393 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:32.200 do that. And so for BYU, they've been dominated at home. 394 00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:37.759 Kansas has been very inconsistent this year and they've in fact, 395 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:41.440 they've lost three consecutive road games to unranked teams, which 396 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:44.880 is kind of unheard up Spence for a build self team. 397 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:48.480 But this BYU team, I think they've gotten better as 398 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:50.839 the season has gone on. And this is an adjustment 399 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:55.319 for Kevin Young. Right, he's an NBA guy and both 400 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:57.720 of the last number of years with the Suns also 401 00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:01.720