WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.080 --> 00:00:05.160 It's time for coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on 2 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:13.240 Sports Talk seven nine day. Now, here's Nick coffee. 3 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:17.039 All right, let's get it started, our number two here 4 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:19.480 on a Friday afternoon, getting you set for the weekend, 5 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:23.239 A big weekend. It'll be, no doubt, but no Louisville 6 00:00:23.239 --> 00:00:25.160 hoops this weekend. We've talked about that. That's my one 7 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:27.280 complaint when it comes right now to Louisville basketball, is 8 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:29.600 that just I haven't I'm not going to be able 9 00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:31.960 to watch him play for an entire week, which may 10 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:35.920 be good for him, although I know Pat Kelsey, if 11 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.560 he could choose, he would probably not want his He 12 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:40.200 would probably not want to take the week off because 13 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:42.359 they've just been riding some real momentum. But they'll be 14 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:44.359 back in action on Tuesday against wake Forest. I want 15 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:47.560 to reset a conversation later today about wake Forest, just 16 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:49.840 because the more I looked at it and the more 17 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:55.119 I kind of realized their situation with Steve Forbes when 18 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:58.679 it comes to, you know, him being the guy vocal 19 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:02.320 about the accshoes. He's a big factor in their issues. 20 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:05.920 But we'll get to that later. However, Miyakawa, who is 21 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:10.760 a college basketball statistician, a guy like Ken Palm and 22 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:14.920 Bart Torvik, those guys who kind of have they're just 23 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:18.159 they crunch numbers for college hoops, and someone like myself, 24 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:22.159 who's a big college basketball nerd, I nerd. 25 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:22.640 Out for these numbers. 26 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:24.879 But he sent this to me in a DM earlier, 27 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:28.159 stating that Lowell is the most improved team in the 28 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:30.480 country of the last thirty days. The Cards have had 29 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:33.280 to overcome more injuries than any team in the country 30 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:35.680 this year, and says they could easily have called it 31 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:39.359 quits months ago. Instead they're surgeing. So yeah, they're rate 32 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:45.040 offensive rate, defensive rate per the Evan Maya numbers here. 33 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:48.439 I mean, they've gone up substantially. And look, that's not 34 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:49.959 to say that they're great and they can't be beat. 35 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:52.680 I mean, look, I don't want to I never want 36 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:54.560 to focus on it or emphasize it. But I'm aware 37 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:56.719 that they're benefiting from playing in a league that is 38 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:58.879 not what it used to be. But I happen to 39 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.760 think that even if they weren't playing in the ACC, 40 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:04.760 they'd still look like a team that belongs in the 41 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:07.280 conversation to certainly be you know, in the tournament and 42 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:09.360 maybe even better than just a tournament team. We'll never know, 43 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:12.120 and maybe we find out the hard way that this 44 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:15.560 was all a product of the ACC being what it is. 45 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:18.240 But even if that's the case, I'll just tell you 46 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:18.960 how I feel. 47 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:19.639 I don't care. 48 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:22.960 It's been enjoyable to see and I happen to believe 49 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:24.960 that they are actually getting better to where they could, 50 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:27.199 you know, be a team that would be a tough 51 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:30.599 out for a team in the NAA tournament. All right, again, 52 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:32.800 it's Coffee and Company. Feel about Thornton's here on Sports 53 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:33.520 Talk seven ninety. 54 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:34.159 Let's bring him in. 55 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:36.520 He's the one and only mister Kent Spencer from w 56 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:39.800 h AS eleven. How are we doing, Kent man? 57 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:41.319 I'm doing great, buddy, and you. 58 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:42.159 I'm doing great. 59 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:45.400 And before we get into hoops, let's talk some NFL 60 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:49.000 playoffs with the four teams left, these two matchups, I'm 61 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:50.639 certainly excited to see both games. 62 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:53.280 Who do you if we could? You know? 63 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:54.919 Maybe I know you're not a fan of either of 64 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:57.039 these of any of these teams necessarily, lets I don't 65 00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:00.240 believe you are. What matchup do you want to see? 66 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:00.319 In? 67 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:02.520 What matchup do you think we will in fact see 68 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:03.319 in the Super Bowl. 69 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:06.479 So I starting with. 70 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.159 The NFC, I mean to be honest with you, like, 71 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:11.000 I don't I. 72 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:13.400 Only have I think a dog in one fight, and 73 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:14.280 it ain't even much. 74 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:14.639 Of a dog. 75 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:18.240 So in the NFC, I could care less. 76 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:20.439 But I actually think the Commanders are going to go 77 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:21.159 to the Super Bowl. 78 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:22.639 That's what I'm hoping. 79 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:24.919 I think they're super dangerous. 80 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:29.199 And Jayden Daniels is like, he's that dude, you know 81 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:31.479 what I mean, you could just kind of tell, you know, 82 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:34.919 certain guys are what they are, Like he's he's him 83 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:36.840 as a rookie, you could tell he's going to be 84 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:37.759 one of those kind of guys. 85 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:40.039 Did you see this coming at all? I didn't, And 86 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:40.759 what do I know? 87 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:43.120 Clearly, but I thought he I thought he screamed bust 88 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.919 and clearly, look, I look very foolish in thinking that. 89 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:48.120 Coming into the league. 90 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:49.520 I didn't see it coming at all. 91 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:52.680 And then I got the you know, I saw it 92 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:55.919 firsthand when he played the Bengals early, pretty early in 93 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:58.159 the season, and I feel like, I don't know if 94 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:00.360 he had an incomplete pass in that game, like he 95 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:03.000 was that good, and I was like, oh, this kid's 96 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:05.080 the truth, and you can see like he can he 97 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:07.360 can read, he can do things. He puts defenses in 98 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.599 all kinds of minds. You know, he can get out 99 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:12.879 of trouble the way that he does. And then he's 100 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:15.080 gonna he's got a great arm, super accurate. Like I 101 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:17.439 was like, oh, he's really really good. And then he 102 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:19.360 just kind of took off and he kept and he 103 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:20.439 kept taking off from there. 104 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:24.000 So yeah, I think in the NFC, I think. 105 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.319 They're gonna they're gonna beat the Eagles because I think 106 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:30.680 Jalen Hurts is pretty hurt banged up himself, and so 107 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:33.600 that's gonna be that's gonna be awful difficult. It's gonna, 108 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:36.000 you know, allow that the defense to be able to 109 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:37.879 kind of tee off on Philadelphia, I think. 110 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:39.600 And then uh, in. 111 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:42.720 The AFC, I will be rooting for the Buffalo Bills 112 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:46.480 to go to the super Bowl. So and and I 113 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.000 think they got an excellent chance if if you think, 114 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:53.079 the game will be called the same for Josh Allen 115 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:54.920 as it will be for Patrick Mahomes. 116 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:58.759 So when it comes to that matchup specifically, I mean, 117 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:00.480 the Bills have been great all year, but Bills have 118 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:02.879 actually been great for years now. I mean, they've been 119 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:05.279 kind of building for this moment. I think at least 120 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:07.120 twice there were years where he kind of felt like 121 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:10.160 it would be their year and it never actually happened. Well, 122 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:12.360 here they are with a chance to make it happen 123 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:14.319 and knock off the Chiefs. I just feel like, if 124 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:16.959 you and I know the Chiefs still have a great record, 125 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:19.639 so if they weren't the team that we've known they've 126 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:22.160 been for a long time, we would be talking about 127 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:24.319 them differently. But I just think right now Buffalo is 128 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:27.560 a better team, and I think they're playing better right now. 129 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:30.279 But it's still just so hard to envision the Chiefs 130 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:32.680 not doing what they do here, winning in the postseason 131 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:35.319 at home, especially in these moments. This is where their 132 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:39.959 legendary quarterback really makes an imprint and shows he's a 133 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:41.759 god that we're gonna remember for a really long time. 134 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:44.480 When you've watched Kansas City this year, again, the results 135 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:46.680 are still the same as far as the win lost column, 136 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:48.600 But I just I have not felt like they were 137 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:49.360 the same group. 138 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:50.920 No. 139 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:53.800 I mean, look, I don't think that they are. I 140 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:56.120 don't think the totality of their team is as good 141 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:59.959 as that they've been in years past. I think there 142 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:04.519 are much more gettable I think this year. But they 143 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:08.439 still have Patrick Mahomes and they still have Travis Kelcey, 144 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:10.720 they still have weapons, they still have Andy Reid call 145 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:14.759 him plays uh and Arrowhead is an extremely tough place 146 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:19.360 to play, and so you know, it's it's kind of like, 147 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:22.160 oh what what Rick Flair used to say, to be 148 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:23.360 the man, you gotta beat the man. 149 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:26.360 That's true, and it all comes down still holds up today. 150 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:28.040 Yeah, can you can you. 151 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:28.600 Take him down? 152 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:32.439 And so it's it's always easier said than done. I 153 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:34.920 think Buffalo is a better overall team, but guess what 154 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:36.959 can you be better on that day? 155 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:38.079 That's that's the question. 156 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:41.600 I think Josh Allen and the Bills this year are 157 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.240 an example that you can have a piece to your team. 158 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:46.319 And I want to I don't want to act like 159 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.240 this guy was some big cancer of the locker room. 160 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:51.639 But there was some concern when losing their star receiver 161 00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:54.199 to to Houston Diggs that the things they traded him 162 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:55.639 so they didn't really lose them they got rid of him, 163 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:57.879 that it would be an issue and Josh Allen wouldn't 164 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:00.399 have any weapons. I feel like he's he's not worried 165 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:02.319 as much about having to find a guy who he 166 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:04.759 knows will make a clip that'll go viral in the 167 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:07.120 locker room if he doesn't get certain touches. You know, 168 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:09.920 I don't think he's got, you know, this poor cast 169 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:12.920 of characters to work with, like some people make it out. 170 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:14.199 To me, I think he's got some pretty good guys 171 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:16.600 to work with. But you know, they got better without Digs, 172 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.120 And you got to wonder, like receivers, well this would 173 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:21.240 be and he Digs was spawn in Houston this year. 174 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:22.959 He's a good player. He got hurt late in the year. 175 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:25.639 But that's one of the things about Buffalo that finds 176 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:27.600 me kind of rooting for him, is that they actually 177 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:29.720 seem to be a better team without somebody that might 178 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.519 cause some distractions. I know it sounds like I'm making 179 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:34.879 some kind of big character bashing of Digs, but you 180 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:36.800 know that was a big talking point Buffalo. Man, they 181 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:38.839 really missed their window. Now they're losing their top receiver. 182 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:41.240 Josh Allen's been good, but they can't break through. And 183 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:43.360 I feel like this year, right now, in the moment, 184 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:45.279 there there is dangers that they've ever been. 185 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:49.279 Well, it may go to a little bit about just 186 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:52.120 how good Josh Allen has been right like, and it 187 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:54.560 also says something about the culture that they've been able 188 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:58.199 to build up there with the Bills, because you don't 189 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:03.079 lose a player like and still win as many games 190 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:05.199 if you don't have a dude behind center and you 191 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:08.959 don't have an amazing culture. Yep, because outside of Josh Allen, 192 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:11.920 you know, James James Cook is an I's back. But 193 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:14.839 there's you know, it's not like they're They've got a 194 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:17.920 plethora of weapons of great, weapons of high. 195 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:19.759 Notoriety, guys that he can choose from, you. 196 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:21.360 Know what I mean, Like he's he just kind of 197 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:23.399 spreads it around and does his thing and it takes 198 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:25.480 off and runs when he needs to and they and 199 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.319 they end up just scored a lot of points. 200 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:29.800 And so I think that they. 201 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:33.879 Are they're like the prototypical true culture type team of 202 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:36.240 you know, like they this is the system that they're 203 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:39.679 going to play. You know, that guy behind center is 204 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:43.519 really really really good and we're just gonna make plays 205 00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:45.639 around him with some dudes you've ever heard of. 206 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:48.799 Yeah, I think the winning culture thing is is I mean, 207 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:51.240 I don't think anybody would tell you that that's not relevant. 208 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:54.039 It's it certainly matters. But I think with these four 209 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:56.480 teams that are left, another team you could mention where 210 00:08:56.519 --> 00:09:00.519 culture has has has benefited them. Sakwan Barkley, I mean, 211 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:02.200 I don't want to. I feel I feel like it'd 212 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:04.200 be foolish to say that the Eagles deserve a lot 213 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.159 of credit for, you know, for what he's doing, because 214 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:09.200 clearly he's he's been amazing this year, but he was 215 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:11.039 in a culture, he was in a franchise that the 216 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:13.840 culture wasn't a winning one at all, and he was good, 217 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:16.279 got hurt, But like, I don't think anybody expected him 218 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:18.720 to at any point have the season he's having this year, 219 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:21.159 rather it be Philadelphia or elsewhere. But he entered a 220 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:23.440 winning culture and it's working out in a major way. 221 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.879 This is certainly not newsworthy. It's more of a local connection. 222 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:29.080 But former Louisville lineman who had a really rough stretch 223 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.399 with the Jets after being a top twenty pick. I 224 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:33.840 can't think of his name, who's now with the Eagles 225 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:35.000 starting yeah, Becton. 226 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:36.080 I mean, he it. 227 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:37.679 Sounds as if he's had one of the bigger bounce 228 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:39.559 back years of all the old linemen in the NFL. 229 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.960 And maybe it's more so because he grew up and 230 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.360 worked hard. But I think winning culture can can really 231 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:46.799 do a lot for guys, And you know, it gets 232 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:49.320 talked about, but I feel like there's some examples at 233 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:52.000 times that that aren't It doesn't necessarily get mentioned as 234 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:53.240 much for being a factor. 235 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:57.639 Well, you know, in the case of Berkley, I would 236 00:09:57.639 --> 00:10:00.600 almost say it's more of an indictment on the Giants 237 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:04.000 front office. True is that you had that dude for 238 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:06.480 this long and he was he was always like you 239 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:09.159 knew he was a great player, but man like. 240 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:10.799 You didn't wait with him and you let him go. 241 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:14.399 It was it was it was criminal what you surrounded 242 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:17.480 him with. Yep, and so or or tried to build 243 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:19.279 around him like it was criminal what they did to 244 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.159 that guy. And then all of a sudden he ends 245 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:24.600 up in a place like Philadelphia and he has just 246 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:28.039 absolutely taken off and had one of the best seasons 247 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:29.440 we've ever seen from a running back. 248 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:31.360 And and oh, by the way, didn't. 249 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:33.320 He run for two hundred last week in the playoffs? 250 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:34.559 And he's been classy about it. 251 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.799 Right, A lot of guys, understandingly so would have taken 252 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:38.679 some shots would have had some emotion about it. He's 253 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:42.039 been as mature and professional as as you could be. 254 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:46.200 Yeah, no, no, one hundred percent like and that's and 255 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:49.399 I actually think I said this last week, but I 256 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:52.759 said to somebody, I said, you know, I'm super happy 257 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:55.120 with that guy because he's actually like, we're actually seeing 258 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:58.519 what the kind of talent he really has, and you know, 259 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.200 and and and this is like that year and. 260 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:03.960 He seems like he's a good dude. Yep. 261 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:07.360 So it's cool to see something like that happen and flourish. 262 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:09.080 I feel like in the NFL, just because it's such 263 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.879 a I mean, it dominates headlines. I mean, the NFL 264 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:13.799 is king in America when it comes to sports for 265 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:14.759 for obvious reasons. 266 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:16.919 I feel like you can you can. 267 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:19.519 Tell which guys sort of command a level of respect 268 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:23.000 from their peers and their teammates. And you know, even 269 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:25.600 if maybe they don't necessarily it always at all times 270 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:29.000 seem like maybe the most you know, have the most charisma, 271 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:31.879 but you could tell that there's there's real joy around 272 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:33.840 the people are happy for Sequon Barkley, and I feel 273 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:36.159 like that speaks to his character and how he carries himself. 274 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:38.279 And maybe it's corny, but as I get older, those 275 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:40.240 are things I kind of found myself paying attention to 276 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:41.720 more and what it comes down to. And I know 277 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.879 you get this as a dad yourself. That's a guy 278 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:46.320 that I I want my son to be a fan of, 279 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:47.919 Like that's the guy who does things the right way. 280 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:51.759 I'm getting old on you, kid, No, no, no, absolutely, Hey, 281 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:55.720 welcome to the club bub. And you know with with Barkley, 282 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:58.279 you know like if it hurts, it really is banged up, 283 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:00.200 we're gonna we're gonna have to see if if he 284 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.360 can carry that team to the super Bowl. 285 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.720 And do it one more week. 286 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:06.240 And you know what, I'm all in because they've got 287 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:07.120 a great offensive line. 288 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:08.679 Let's let's see what they drow up. 289 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:10.960 It may not be what the NFL wants as far 290 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:13.279 as viewership or interest, but I feel like it doesn't 291 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.320 really for me. I think people are going to watch 292 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.840 regardless because it's the NFL. But man, I would love 293 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:22.120 to see a matchup between the Commanders and the Bills here. 294 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:25.720 But I'm sure, and clearly for good reason, the favorites 295 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:28.960 or the other teams in those matchups. Before we get 296 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:30.320 to a little of basketball, they don't have a game 297 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:31.879 this weekend, but I do want to. We'll talk about 298 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:33.960 them coming up in just a minute. But with Kentucky, 299 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:37.360 they've got a game against Bandy tomorrow and obviously nobody 300 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:40.080 in the SEC seems to be bad. In fact, if 301 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.799 Andy's one of the worst teams in that league, I 302 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.320 think that says a lot about that league because the 303 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:47.519 SEC is in a position now in basketball that I 304 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:49.639 really never thought it would be. I think you could 305 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:51.519 make the claim, and I know in basketball it really 306 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.960 comes down to what you do in the tournament. That's 307 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.639 where the real value comes in and that'll never change. 308 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:58.720 That's just what makes college basketball unique. But as of now, 309 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:01.840 I think, what but the SEC is in basketball, it's 310 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:04.679 as impressive as anything I've seen the SEC doing football. 311 00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:06.320 And that's not a shot at the SEC and football, 312 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:08.519 because they've been great, But I mean the SEC right now, 313 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:12.080 they are quite literally the best conference in the country 314 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:14.480 and it's not even close. And Vandy's a game that 315 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:17.480 you should win. If you're Kentucky, you expect to win 316 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:19.039 because I think you know you're a better team. But 317 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:21.919 I think what's been a real I guess not much 318 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:24.279 of a storyline. But when you're Kentucky, or you're in Alabama, 319 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.399 or you're you're a Tennessee or I mean all the 320 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.159 great teams they have in the league, and you play 321 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.720 somebody that is in that lower tier, I think those 322 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:35.440 become the more valuable games because if you slip up there, 323 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.879 it makes it even more important for you to not 324 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:40.200 have maybe the expected losses when you go on the 325 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:43.360 road to Tuscaloosa or Lexington or Knoxville. I mean, I 326 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:44.679 kind of feel like, in a weird way, this is 327 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.679 a huge game, but again, I guess every game in 328 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.399 the SEC is. Kentucky is obviously off to a great 329 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:51.720 start this season. They did come up short against Alabama, 330 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:54.080 first time somebody beat them where it felt like both 331 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:57.840 teams played great and Alabama just outlasted them. What do 332 00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:00.480 you think about this matchup here with Vandy? And you know, 333 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:02.799 I think Kentucky they could be one of those teams 334 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:05.600 that maybe has more losses than we're used to seeing 335 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:07.879 for a team that's on that one, two or three 336 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:10.000 seed line. Maybe not one, but I still think the 337 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.360 resume is going to be really strong. 338 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:14.320 Well, and and let me let me just say this 339 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:16.720 right like it's A. It's a it's such an important 340 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:21.120 game because you lose to Alabama last week at homes, 341 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:25.159 you're at Vanderbilt this weekend, and then Tuesday night you're 342 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:25.840 at Tennessee. 343 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:29.120 That's a pretty that's a pretty rough three game stretch. 344 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:31.720 And by the way, they they haven't had a what 345 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:35.279 what anybody would think is an easy night so far 346 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.679 in SEC plays. 347 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.639 I'm not sure they will. 348 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:40.799 That's why, Yeah, you're right, that's why I bring that up. 349 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:44.440 And you know, this Vanderbilt team that Kentucky gets, you know, 350 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.960 you talk about the importance of it. 351 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:49.600 You know, they just beat Tennessee last weekend, So this, I. 352 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:52.559 Mean, this Vanderbilt team is good and they're dangerous. 353 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:55.240 And you mentioned, you know how good the SEC team 354 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:58.399 SEC is so for this season, you know, I think 355 00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:01.159 a huge indicator of all that was. 356 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:03.440 How they did in the non conference portion of their. 357 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.480 Yeah, they earned doubt when they beat up on each other. 358 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:09.879 They they because because right now, you know, they're beating 359 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:12.799 up on each other, but in the non conference, like 360 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:16.399 the SEC, like they they're, their win loss record against 361 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:19.519 everybody else was really really good and so like they 362 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:22.120 they they proved it in the non conference. Now they're 363 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:24.720 beating it now, beating themselves up, and then you're right, 364 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:27.799 we'll we'll see how how they perform and how you know, 365 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.360 deep teams go in the n C DOUAA tournament. But no, 366 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.759 I think the conference is fantastic. I think it's I mean, 367 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:36.440 we're talking the Big Twelve A couple years ago. I 368 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:40.080 thought was was was really really good, and then you 369 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:44.039 know this, this almost feels you know, maybe not because 370 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:47.039 of the transfer portal and guys being older. It doesn't 371 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.840 really feel like you have a bunch of the marquee 372 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.120 names that you that you once did, but it feels 373 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:56.240 like a nineties kind of ACC type type conference right now. 374 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:56.679 No doubt. 375 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:00.279 I mean, I think what's different about this SEC run 376 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.639 compared to the Big Twelve a couple of different times, 377 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:05.480 was that the non conference, as you mentioned, they went 378 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:09.720 out and played. I mean they scheduled everybody, seemingly scheduled 379 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.440 as tough as you could against other teams in Power 380 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:16.759 Power five leagues, Big East, Big twelve, ACC, Big Ten, 381 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.799 and I mean their record, I don't have it in 382 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:21.200 front of me, but I know it was very, very successful. 383 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:23.320 And you've got teams that are in the bottom three 384 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.639 or four in the SCC that went out and beat 385 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:27.879 some of the better teams you have in the other conferences. 386 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:31.279 So it really is something that I never expected to see. 387 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:34.279 And I mean, even if they don't end up making 388 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.360 all making deep runs in the tournament, it won't make 389 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:38.240 it won't make me think that they still weren't really 390 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:41.159 good teams. And you know, I think you could see 391 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:43.639 maybe not as many teams in the in the tournament 392 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:45.639 as you've ever seen from a conference, although that wouldn't 393 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:48.799 shock me. But man, when it comes down to teams 394 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:51.720 with like maybe five hundred records still getting really good seeds, 395 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.559 I think because of what they did in the non conference, 396 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:55.799 it it would make, It would make total sense. It 397 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:58.480 sounds like Mark Pope this week really once to emphasize 398 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:00.759 this guys getting back, getting to the foul on and 399 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:03.360 not being in a deficit when it comes to free 400 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:06.160 throws compared to their opponents. I think this Kentucky team, again, 401 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:09.480