WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.559 Time for coffee and company fueled by Thornton's on Sports 2 00:00:04.599 --> 00:00:09.560 Talk seven nine day. Now here's Nick coffee. 3 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:14.960 All right, let's get our number two started here on 4 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:17.679 a Friday afternoon, getting you set for the weekend. Coffee 5 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:21.000 and company fueled by Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety. 6 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:23.920 Appreciate you hanging out with us as we've got two 7 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:25.920 more hours to go. Do you want to remind you 8 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:27.800 once again, as you know we are fueled about Thortons, 9 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:29.239 to make sure you sign up to become a member 10 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:31.800 of their Refreshing Awards program if you haven't already. You'll 11 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:33.960 save money at the gas pump. There's all kinds of 12 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:35.920 perks that come with it, like the Frequency Club. You 13 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.600 purchase a certain item a certain amount of times, you 14 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:41.439 get it free. And if you download the app or 15 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:43.280 you have it already, you can go to the app 16 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:45.320 itself or go to the website and see which items 17 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:47.640 are a part of the Frequency Club. And it's kind 18 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:49.359 of I mean, maybe this just speaks to what I 19 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:50.880 really get enjoyment out of, but it's kind of. 20 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:51.439 A thrill, don't. 21 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:53.799 I don't keep track of it, but I know that 22 00:00:54.520 --> 00:00:57.359 when I'm getting close there's certain there's a certain like 23 00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:00.320 I get my kids these either Fountain Drink or fizz 24 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.600 Freeze the slushies, oh yeah, and you get you know, 25 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:05.040 the tenth one is always free. And again I have 26 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:07.040 a pretty good radar as far as when I'm getting 27 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:09.200 to the tenth one. But once, once I put in 28 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:11.920 the phone number, and it shows me that there's no 29 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:15.400 cost associated with the seventy nine cent item. Man, I'm 30 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.079 a winner, I feel, I mean, I feel exactly. 31 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:19.640 That's actually a bigger thrill for. 32 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:22.560 Me than whenever I win bets, which maybe it's because 33 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.159 that doesn't happen that often. But anyways, let's get the 34 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:27.439 hour started by bringing in the one and only mister 35 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:30.920 Kent Spencer from Whas eleven Kent. How we doing, brother 36 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:34.040 House twenty twenty five. Treating you so far, so far, 37 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.120 so good? Maybe good to have you back. And man, 38 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:39.719 a really good basketball weekend coming up. We've got NFL 39 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:42.599 playoffs and it's been a while since we chatted. And man, 40 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:46.000 this Louisville basketball team, they have really rounded into form 41 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:48.519 in a way that I certainly didn't expect. I knew 42 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:50.480 they would continue to play hard and make the most 43 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:53.799 of the situation. But the injuries and the losses that 44 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.000 were that were pretty frequent, you know, even though it 45 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:57.439 was a tough schedule, just made it kind of look 46 00:01:57.480 --> 00:01:58.719 as if you didn't know how good the team was 47 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:00.680 going to be. But man, they have, I've really played 48 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:02.640 some good basketball as of late. What do you think, 49 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:05.439 and again, the schedule itself is benefiting them. They're now 50 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:08.439 playing in a league that's not super competitive, but you 51 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:10.159 know they're playing the better teams in that league and 52 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:12.400 they're clearly paying playing better basketball. What do you think 53 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.199 has really been the switch that flipped for this group 54 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:16.960 to where they're now looking like a team that if 55 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:18.840 they take care of business, they've got a spot in 56 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:20.319 this NCAA tournament this year. 57 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:23.599 Yeah, I mean, well number one. 58 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:26.800 I just think and Pat Kelsey talked about it last week, 59 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:30.120 like the Tennessee game was with just a complete ido 60 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:33.240 burn for I think that staff and even these players 61 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:36.800 on just how hard and how physical you have to play. 62 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:40.599 Now, look after the Bahamas. 63 00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:41.800 You know that they've met an Old Miss team that 64 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:43.840 plays a very similar style and they didn't handle that 65 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:48.560 well either. But I think as they've kind of settled 66 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:51.080 into this thing, like the one thing and you kind 67 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:53.039 of touched on it is and this is such a 68 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:56.439 this is such a gritty team, like they will fight 69 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:59.080 you tooth and nail for it just feels like just anything. 70 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:02.639 And I think that that's that's such a that's such 71 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:06.000 a great benefit. And you know, I think when you 72 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.000 lose a guy like like Cason pryor early on in 73 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:12.199 the season, like when you when you do go ten 74 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:15.719 or eleven deep, you know, it can it can allow 75 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.960 guys in some cases, I think to a detriment. And 76 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:20.240 I think it was maybe a little bit at the 77 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.800 beginning of the season, this was kind of happening where 78 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:25.759 it was like that, you know, guys didn't feel that 79 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:28.719 pressure to I've got to go do something, you know, 80 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:30.360 like it was always like, hey, if I've got it 81 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:32.639 going great, maybe somebody else to have it going this. 82 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:35.759 But I think when they got shorthanded, like it forced 83 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:38.280 people to grow up and it forced people to do 84 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:42.159 things differently. Like I'll give you an example, James Scott, 85 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:45.000 Like first month in the season, he was fine, right, 86 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:49.479 but like he's this last month he's taken he's taken 87 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:51.319 his game to a new level. Now he's not doing 88 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:55.680 anything special, but he's so active on the offensive glass, 89 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:59.520 he's so active just everywhere defensively, like his games reached 90 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:03.960 another life. Javon Hadley in my opinion, like where he's 91 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:04.960 playing right now. 92 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:06.759 I mean that. 93 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.240 Dude is just like he doesn't I don't think he 94 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:14.680 does anything fantastic but give unbelievable effort and I think 95 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:18.040 it's exactly what this team needed. And to be honest 96 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:20.319 that like if Cason Pryor was playing like Javon Hadley 97 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.279 would be on the perimeter just kind of getting lost 98 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:25.120 in the shuffle in my opinion, But like now he's 99 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.120 got a battle, he's undersized, but. 100 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:29.279 Man, he's not getting it given anything away. 101 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.279 So I mean, I think it's kind of forced forced 102 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:34.879 guys to kind of up their roll a little bit, 103 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.839 and they've and they've clearly they've they've hit their stride. 104 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:41.360 Yeah, And I think as much as it sounds cliche 105 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:44.160 and corny, you mentioned the team being gritty, I really 106 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:46.839 do think they they're the way they've carried themselves, the 107 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:50.240 way they play, really every element of this program right now, 108 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:53.279 you can see some fingerprints that match Pat Kelsey's. I 109 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:55.680 feel like they are absolutely a reflection of the guy 110 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:58.839 that is leading them, and that's always important, especially if 111 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:00.639 it's somebody that you feel like is is good at that. 112 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:03.800 But they went through some real adversity, losing some guys 113 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:05.360 that I mean, they were already kind of a team, 114 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:07.560 still putting it together. They had the Bahamas in the 115 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:10.560 summer and and and clearly they were together since they arrived, 116 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:12.759 but they kind of had to regroup and and not 117 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.720 reinvent themselves necessarily. But there's a new version of them 118 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.839 now because they now know for sure they weren't getting 119 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:21.839 Prior back, they weren't getting Corn Johnson back, and they 120 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:23.319 were playing some of the best teams in the country 121 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:25.759 while they were trying to kind of, you know, find 122 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:28.079 themselves a little bit. And man, they they have really 123 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:30.879 hit their stride. I think fans are just enjoying the 124 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:33.959 ride as of right now, some real momentum. These guys 125 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.079 are winning, they're playing hard, they're playing entertaining. 126 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:38.519 Basketball as well. But I'm starting to look at. 127 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:40.480 Some numbers here and I think I think there's some 128 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.680 guys on this team that are I don't know where 129 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:44.079 they're going to end up down the line as far 130 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.360 as how they're remembered, but I think Chucky hepburn. I mean, 131 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:47.920 there's times where I'm thinking this is one of the 132 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:49.839 best guards that's played here in a long long time. 133 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:51.920 Yeah no, And. 134 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:56.199 That's another thing, like right, like you know Karin Johnson's 135 00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:59.120 out check. Would Chucky have been getting all the minutes 136 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:01.800 he would have if Corny Johnson wasn't wasn't playing And 137 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:04.120 by the way, like you want Chucky he burn to play. 138 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:09.000 Us many minutes at to be to be honest with you, like. 139 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.480 You know, Chucky wasn't this good at Wisconsin, Like he's 140 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:16.800 maybe it's Pad Kelsey systems, you know, all of this stuff. 141 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:20.759 Like he's taken his game to just a completely, you know, 142 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:21.439 different level. 143 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.160 He's tapped into something that maybe. 144 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:26.000 He always believed that that he had an him and 145 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:28.800 he just couldn't show it. But he's showing it now, 146 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:30.519 and he's showing at a at a high level. 147 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:33.519 I mean, and sometimes you know, even if he's he's. 148 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:37.079 Struggling to get the double digits points, which is you know, rare, 149 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:39.800 you know, then at that point he is the general 150 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:41.360 that's getting shots for his teammates. 151 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:43.959 And then the other night against Syracuse, obviously he he 152 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:47.279 had it rolling offensively. 153 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:49.560 So yeah, I mean I think that, you know, all 154 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.439 of that stuff, there was a moment. Now I'm going 155 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:54.240 to go back to the Tennessee game because I do 156 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:56.720 think it's point, especially the way Kelsey mentioned the other day, 157 00:06:57.560 --> 00:06:59.680 and this was like they had they had the poor roster. 158 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:04.079 Then I yep, they quit in the second half for 159 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:04.560 a moment. 160 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:06.959 Yep, I remember quickly took the time out. 161 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:10.439 And he brought him over and he was like, I 162 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.040 don't I don't know, like you know, nobody was here 163 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.759 last year, so I don't care, Like you know, this 164 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:17.399 isn't gonna happen under my watch. 165 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.399 And you haven't seen that since. 166 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:23.040 Right, there was a moment in that game where like 167 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:24.639 they were just getting run out of the gym and 168 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:28.240 they quit, quick time out, come over. He kind of 169 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:31.279 sets the standard and that's what that and that really 170 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:33.600 is what the standard has been. Like, look, you know, 171 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:34.839 you you may not win all the. 172 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:37.199 Games, but it's not gonna be from a lack of effort. 173 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:39.480 It's not gonna be from a lack of fight, Like 174 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:42.480 you're you're gonna get into this, and and they really 175 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:45.360 have bought into this. I mean, you know they're currently 176 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.639 on this seven game winning streak right now and at 177 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.680 the beginning of it, or towards the beginning of it. Remember, 178 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:52.120 I mean they needed a last second shot to beat e. 179 00:07:52.199 --> 00:07:56.199 Ku, and man that that Noah Waterman bucket is seeming 180 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:59.319 more and more valuable by the day, more so just 181 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:02.199 because it literally would have been a real big stain 182 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:04.279 on the resumes at this point. 183 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:07.639 Yeah, but like right now, the way they're playing, to me, 184 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:11.120 it's like that that game wasn't that long ago. 185 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:13.240 It feels like it was a million years ago. 186 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:15.160 It was a different team, and I was I was 187 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:17.879 pleased as a Louisville fan myself saying that despite everything, 188 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:19.560 they were still playing hard. And I didn't know at 189 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:22.360 that time really what you know the next few weeks 190 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:24.000 were gonna look like. But I think when they came 191 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:26.839 out against Carolina right after that Eku game, there was 192 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:29.240 they I always felt like this group played hard and 193 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:31.959 they were they were giving effort, and the enthusiasm was 194 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:34.320 was was where it needed to be. But it went 195 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:37.600 up a few notches against Carolina, and that's really where 196 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:40.039 I feel like they Again, it sounds like I'm saying 197 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:41.799 they were a bad team before, I don't know how 198 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:43.600 good they were but the group that has been on 199 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:45.879 the floor in acc play here in twenty twenty five, 200 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:47.440 I mean I kind of feel like it's been a 201 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.919 different team. 202 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:53.919 Yeah, no, I mean and some some of it is 203 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:55.720 like I said, it's. 204 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:57.799 It's it's being comfortable in your roles. 205 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:02.200 It is understanding like, look, I don't have time to 206 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:03.279 just settle in. 207 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:07.080 Like my teammates. They need me, they need me to be. 208 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:10.559 This, and I'm going to provide it, you know, and 209 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:14.480 it just and also like in this stretch and you know, 210 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:16.759 he was he was final last game. They really didn't 211 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:21.440 need him because it was What's crazy is after the game, 212 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:26.720 Pat Kelsey talked about Red Altree from Syracuse like so 213 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:29.720 many in the last two years talked about Kenny. 214 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:31.039 Payne at Louisville. 215 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:36.399 Like that team looked like a very similar team. I mean, 216 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:39.039 there was PTSD for me as a fan. I'll be 217 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:41.120 honest with you, how many. 218 00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:44.279 Times in postgame pressers in those last two years he's 219 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:45.080 going to go together. 220 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.399 He's doing a great job. He just needs time this 221 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:51.120 and this. That's what Pat Kelsey sounded like the other night. 222 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:52.919 So man, it was nice to be on the other 223 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:53.440 end of that. 224 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:55.679 Teas and peace of Syracuse fans. 225 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:00.440 But but you know, they they have they understand and 226 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:01.240 what they. 227 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:02.320 Have to be and they have. 228 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:04.600 And then you've got a guy like green Smith who, 229 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:07.720 you know, maybe if you're dying a little bit, or 230 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:10.159 maybe this and this like that dude just seems to 231 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:11.840 come up with a big three at a big time. 232 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.279 Like he just hits big threes. 233 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:18.159 Yeah, And and clearly his his claim to fame, if 234 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:19.679 you will, is the fact that he can get hot 235 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:21.720 and change a game really quickly. He's certainly done that 236 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:25.000 for Louisville more than a few times this year. But 237 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:26.159 he's also just a good player. 238 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:26.320 Man. 239 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:27.759 You could just tell he's got a feel for the game. 240 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:30.360 He really understands spacing. And I kind of feel like 241 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:32.240 nobody would say he's not valuable, but I think he 242 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:35.159 may be more valuable than most guys on this roster 243 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:37.080 just because of a lot of things he brings to 244 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.320 the table other than just you know, being able to 245 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:40.320 being able to shoot the ball. 246 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.559 Now I want to switch gear. 247 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:45.039 You'd be surprised. I know, I'm gonna interrupt you. 248 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:46.799 On It's fine, Hey, no, it's good. 249 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:50.519 But my my thing, I think the two most valuable 250 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:53.360 members of this basketball team right now are Chuckie, Hepburn. 251 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:53.720 And Ring Smith. 252 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:57.360 I wouldn't disagree at all. I felt like that even 253 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:59.039 before a lot of the injuries happened, when they were 254 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:01.879 kind of figuring out who they were early, that Rain 255 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:03.720 was one of those guys that I just felt like, Man, 256 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:07.000 he seems to be somebody that even if it's not 257 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.960 showing up with a big shot or any specific stat 258 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:12.159 things are just a little bit better when he's out there. 259 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:15.039 And at times I guess he broke down on defense 260 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:16.919 early this year, but he's not been a liability on 261 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:18.759 defense at all. In fact, I don't think anybody really 262 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.240 has to be honest with you. So it's been a 263 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:24.200 fun ride so far for Louisville fans, and with the 264 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:27.279 acc looking the way it does, they'll probably slip up. 265 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:28.399 To somebody they shouldn't lose too. 266 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:30.000 They're certainly not going to run the table, at least 267 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.440 I don't expect that, but they've done enough right now 268 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.679 to where they should still be able to have a 269 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:37.360 hiccup or two and be able to find themselves in 270 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:40.080 the big dance, which I know that's never going to 271 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:42.159 be just the bar for a Louisville on an annual basis, 272 00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:44.120 at least nobody wants it to be. But given the 273 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:46.799 recent years, I mean, I think that would be something fans. 274 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.519 I mean, I think a tournament appearance here would be 275 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.600 Wolvell fans would be more excited for a tournament appearance 276 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:53.879 this year than they've ever been for just making the tournament. 277 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:56.360 And you know I'll be one of them, to be 278 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:58.440 honest with you. But let's talk Kentucky. I think this 279 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:00.879 Kentucky team won the really good. They've got a great resume. 280 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.960 I think two seed is what a lot of people 281 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.600 have them at as of right now, especially with that 282 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.519 win over Texas A and M coming off the win 283 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:09.080 on the road at Mississippi State. But I think with 284 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:11.480 this Kentucky team, they're pretty easy to figure out. That 285 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.919 don't mean that they're easy to beat. But teams that 286 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:18.200 have decided to not really have a mindset of knowing 287 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.720 let's not let them do exactly what they want to do. 288 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:23.840 Teams who are not afraid to play as many possessions 289 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:27.759 as possible. Teams who do that, those teams haven't beat Kentucky. 290 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:31.879 And that includes Duke, that includes Gonzaga, that includes Mississippi State. 291 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:34.279 Alabama's going to come in tomorrow and that's what they do. 292 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:37.919 That is absolutely how they play. Natoates has been really 293 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:40.639 successful with it. Not saying Kentucky's guaranteed to win, but 294 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:43.200 up to this point, teams who want to play Kentucky 295 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:45.679 in that in that pace, in that style, they've not 296 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:47.159 been able to knock them off. And I kind of 297 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:49.600 feel like Alabama may still be a team that makes 298 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:51.559 the Final four. Who knows, maybe they win the whole thing. 299 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:54.000 But I think going into up Arena knowing they're going 300 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:56.399 to try to play Kentucky at their game, I mean, 301 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:58.480 I think this could be another I mean, if they win, 302 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:00.000 it'll be a big time win. But I kind of 303 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.000 feel like, given what I've seen, I kind of expect 304 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:02.879 them to win this one. 305 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:06.559 Well, I don't know about that. I think Alabama's really 306 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.200 good and they're they. 307 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:11.480 Beat really good teams too, though you know, Kentucky's beat 308 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:12.960 some damn good teams. 309 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:16.039 Look yeah, I mean I don't know, to be honest, like, 310 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:18.000 I just go into it going, man, this is a 311 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:20.039 fifty to fifty kind of toss up game, sure, you know, 312 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:23.480 and it is into a lot of that stuff. 313 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:27.679 Just because yes, I do. I think Kentucky is really good. Yes, 314 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:29.720 but I also think Alabama is really good. That's why 315 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.679 I say that, Yeah, because Alabama. 316 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:36.279 Is is you know, they're both fully capable, capable of 317 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:37.559 beating each other. 318 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:39.679 This is gonna be one of those where like. 319 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.960 Man, just sit back, grab the popcorn, and just enjoy 320 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.720 the show, especially if both teams are making shots, because 321 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:48.320 at the breakneck pace that that they'll pay at play at, 322 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:50.799 the offenses are wide open, they want to take a 323 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:53.279 bunch of threes. They you know, they want to get 324 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:56.919 in the paint, so they you know, both teams have really, 325 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:59.200 really good players. I mean, it's just it's kind of 326 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:01.679 one of those those fun teams. I tell you what 327 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:05.240 that I think Kentucky has kind of learned how to 328 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:08.000 do in the past couple of weeks, is they've they've 329 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:11.519 they've learned how to play against teams that want to 330 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:15.519 get really physical with them. And I think that's like 331 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:19.080 one of those missing ingredients because you know, so many times, 332 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:20.440 even at the beginning of the year, like even the 333 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.399 Duke game, like the offense like they score a lot, 334 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:25.200 but the offense wasn't you know, it wasn't so free flowing. 335 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:28.039 They kind of had to grind, you know, against Gonzaga 336 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:30.840 a little bit and then now you know it's it's 337 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:35.080 they've done and and the times they've been tripped up right, Clemson, 338 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:38.120 Ohio State teams that got really really physical with them, 339 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:42.799 even Georgia and those kind of games. But Mississippi State, 340 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:44.840 Texas A and m those are those are rough and 341 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:48.000 tough type type games. And Kentucky's still been able to 342 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:51.159 run their offense and has to have success in those games, 343 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:53.879 which you know for them, and and what you're gonna 344 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:56.279 see in the NCAA tournament and down the line, you're 345 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.720 gonna see all kinds of different stuff. 346 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:00.679 You've got to be able to handle some some different things. Yeah. 347 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:03.480 I think with with Mark Pope, everybody knows what he 348 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.519 wants to do. What I mean, he Pat Kelsey and 349 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.360 Mark Pope are very similar as far as the way 350 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:09.759 they want to play and what their system is. And 351 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:12.080 at times you're going to find teams are just going 352 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:14.240 to be able to keep you from doing that at 353 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:16.039 the level that you want, and you got to make adjustments. 354 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.279 I go back to Mark Pope against Gonzaga, him deciding 355 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:20.960 to to you know, him conceding essentially that he's not 356 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:22.320 going to be able to control the pace the way 357 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.679 he wants. He goes zone, they grind it out, they 358 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.159 want they went to They win a game in a 359 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:26.960 way that maybe they. 360 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.679 Didn't want to play. 361 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:30.480 I mean, Florida was a team that, quite literally I thought, Okay, 362 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.080 maybe this is the team that will challenge Kentucky. And 363 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.679 look that that game could have gone either way. For 364 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.519 the most part, it was it was it was a shootout. 365 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.840 But I've just been so impressed with his Kentucky team. 366 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.759 I'm about to block out saying it, but like it's 367 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:43.039 just the truth. I think they've had they've had their losses, 368 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.080 and yes, some will say the blueprints out as far 369 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.159 as how you would find a way to stop them, 370 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:49.679 but I think in recent games they've been able to say, Okay, 371 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.240 we understand that, but we've made some adjustments on Aura 372 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:54.279 and I think you know, Mark Pope's had had such 373 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:56.639 a phenomenal start, and I just think you know you're 374 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.799 right when it comes to to Alabama, it's a fifty 375 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:01.639 to fifty game tomorrow because when you're playing that style 376 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:03.639 and both teams are on the same page, let's run 377 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.080 this thing up and down. Let's get a lot of 378 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:06.960 shots up. It really just comes down to who's making 379 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:09.399 more shots. I mean sometimes it really is. It really 380 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:11.519 is that simple. But I do feel like when it 381 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:15.080 comes to the early review, really for both coaches, but 382 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.600 speaking of Pope specifically here, I mean, I can't imagine 383 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.879 there's many Kentucky fans, even when they've had the losses 384 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:23.000 that they didn't want teams that they probably feel like 385 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.000 they're better than Ohio State and Clemson. I mean, they've 386 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:27.519 got to be super pleased with the way this thing 387 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:28.320 has looked so far. 388 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:34.639 Well, yeah, and I think you know, and for both teams, 389 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:38.600 but as we're talking about Kentucky right now, you know. 390 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.519 You've seen the teams learn and get better, and. 391 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:45.399 We're witnessing coaches making adjustments and teams getting better. 392 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:46.480 It's it's a beautiful thing. 393 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.919 Yeah. And sometimes it's like individual players. 394 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:52.080 You know, there was a time, and it wasn't that 395 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:56.200 long ago where Amari Williams at times for them, like 396 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:59.080 on both ends of the floor, would felt like he 397 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:03.360 was a little this, a little this like and he's 398 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:07.079 adjusted and he's been I mean against Texas A and 399 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.960 m he was as good as it gets on the glass, 400 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:13.200 and that game against a really good rebounding team, and 401 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:16.720