WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.640 Do some college basketball, some college football, whatever else comes 2 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:05.839 our way on this Tuesday afternoon with our guys. Spencer 3 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:09.400 Lintin from b YU TV. Hello, Spencer, Happy Tuesday. 4 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:12.279 How are you, Spence dolow Man. Good to connect with 5 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:14.240 you once again. Busy time of year. 6 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:16.160 We love it, sir, appreciate the time. 7 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:18.480 Do you have a basketball rooting interest or are you 8 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:20.839 just simply a fan of the Utah Jazz. 9 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:24.000 I am a fan of the Jazz and have been 10 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:27.120 so lifelong, really going back to the stock in the 11 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:29.000 Malone days. I mean that's what I grew up with, so, 12 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:33.600 like many of your listeners can share in that regard 13 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:37.039 to the loving the old school Jazz. But yeah, I'd 14 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:38.679 like to see the team turn it around. I'm excited 15 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:40.840 about Will Hardy in his new contract and I feel 16 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:43.679 like he's demand for the rebuild. But as far as 17 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:49.119 playoffs go, like, I love good basketball games, like yesterday's 18 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:53.479 games were so fantastic in the fourth quarter specifically, like 19 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:56.679 I just flipped to watch high level basketball and clutch 20 00:00:56.759 --> 00:00:58.520 play and we saw a ton of that last night. 21 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:01.679 So right now rooting interest because the Jazz are out 22 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:04.400 of it, but I just want to see good games, though, 23 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:06.879 I did find myself randomly pulling for the New York 24 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:10.040 Knicks to win that game, so I guess there is 25 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:12.200 something there. I feel like it's been a long time 26 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:14.519 since New York's been in it, so maybe maybe I 27 00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:16.159 feel like basketball will be a little bit better if 28 00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:18.480 if the Knicks could be in it once again and 29 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:19.120 do something good. 30 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:22.000 My guy, I knew I liked you. No, I appreciate that. 31 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:24.319 Let me ask you this while we're in the space. 32 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:26.239 Like me, I think I'm a little bit older than 33 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:29.040 you are, But like me, when it comes to springtime 34 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:31.959 in sol Lake City, do you find yourself missing the 35 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.120 buzz that we have downtown when the Jazz are in 36 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:35.439 the postseason this time of year? 37 00:01:37.239 --> 00:01:39.840 Yeah, naturally, there's just that little bit of drop off 38 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:42.560 and you tell yourself like, oh, I'll be able to 39 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:45.519 fill it with other things. But it's just you're right, 40 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:49.120 It's just it's different when there isn't something to look 41 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:52.159 forward to. It's so fun to watch Jazz basketball in 42 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:54.079 the playoffs and like look forward to that. It's the 43 00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:58.719 circle the calendar type of event for me. Whenever the 44 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:00.840 Jazz have a playoff game, like it's almost like I 45 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:02.680 plan everything around that. Oh well, we got to watch 46 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:04.640 the Jazz game, Like, what are my buddies doing, what's 47 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:06.959 my family doing? A jazzula of playoffs? It's game three 48 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:10.439 of the first round or of the Western Conference second 49 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:14.120 round whatever. I like to have that in my life 50 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:16.960 when I'm planning things around those playoff games. So yes, 51 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:20.080 I do feel like it's just natural, a little bit 52 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:24.400 of a letdown and almost a quiet atmosphere, and it 53 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:26.319 feels like we're go into the off season too early, 54 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:29.120 and then we're just longing for college football to return 55 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:29.680 in August. 56 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.439 Indeed, and I do want to do some football today. 57 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:36.319 But before we get to that topic that portion of 58 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.199 the conversation, let's stick with some basketball. And since you 59 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:43.039 and I last spoke, James Taff for Debt, better known 60 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:46.360 as Jim Er, friend of the show, officially announced that 61 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:49.199 he has retired from the game of basketball. And you know, Spencer, 62 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:54.280 I've kind of changed my view about Jimmer. I've changed 63 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:57.719 my view about the term bust overall, Like, no part 64 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.400 of me believes a six foot nothing, white kid from 65 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:03.120 Glenn's Falls, New York who made millions of dollars playing 66 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:05.360 the game of basketball should be considered a bust, and 67 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:08.479 I never thought that he was going to be a 68 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:11.400 good NBA player. This goes back to a conversation I 69 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:15.199 had with the BYU legend himself, Danny Ainge. I sat 70 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:18.039 next to Danny during the Mountain West Conference tournament when 71 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:21.599 Fordett dropped whatever on Kawhi and Fordett was dropping whatever 72 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:24.800 on everybody, and I asked him, I said, so, what 73 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:27.199 do you think? What do you think Jimmer NBA? And 74 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:29.439 he said he's got no shot and I went WHOA, 75 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.639 Like okay, And as we sat there throughout the game, 76 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:36.199 Danny kind of helped me understand what he was seeing 77 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.599 as far as you know. One of the things he 78 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:41.439 pointed out, and this was intentional with Dave Rose, and 79 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:43.759 Dave probably gave Jimmer a bit of a break on 80 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:47.000 defense because he knew he had had every ounce of 81 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:49.599 his offense to win games. But it wasn't that Jim 82 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:51.759 or didn't guard. It was like he never got into 83 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:54.680 a stance. And then Danny walked me through kind of 84 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:58.680 the difference between the ability to shoot off the bounce, 85 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:01.719 which Jimmer did at an elite level, and ability to 86 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:04.360 catch and shoot, which Forett actually never was very good 87 00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:07.520 at So when Jimmer was going up against lesser competition 88 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:09.319 that couldn't guard him off the bounce, he was going 89 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:12.280 to dominate. But when he was going up against elite 90 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:14.840 athletes that wouldn't allow him the space, he just didn't 91 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:18.560 have the game to evolve in the NBA. But ultimately 92 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:21.839 it was such a fun run to watch him at 93 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:24.399 Brigham Young and then of course his life in basketball 94 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:28.560 overseason with the Olympics. But from a BYU perspective, as 95 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:31.360 Jimmer walks away, what's kind of the conversation down that way? 96 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:37.160 You know, I didn't think that I would feel, I 97 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:41.759 guess as sad in a way as I did when 98 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:45.920 Jimer announced his official retirement, because he has brought so 99 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:50.439 much happiness and joy to his basketball fans, but not 100 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:53.199 just basketball fans, but just because he's a good person 101 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:55.160 to the core. Like I don't feel like there's a 102 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:57.959 fake bone in Jimmer Fredett's body. He is as genuine 103 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:03.319 a YU star as there is, And so just the 104 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:06.839 finalization of it was almost a little bit like h 105 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:09.120 you know, like it's I can't believe we're never going 106 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:12.160 to watch Jim orfo deet play competitive basketball in any 107 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:15.240 facet again, and I think a lot of BA fens 108 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:19.480 shared that similar feeling with me that it just wow, Well, 109 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:22.399 I mean, what a journey that he has encountered and 110 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:25.879 taken us on through basketball, Through obviously his BYU days 111 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:28.759 that you were just pointing out, and then a very 112 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:33.839 very tough, hut throat NBA portion of his career. But 113 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:37.160 to watch him go to China and dominate and be 114 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:41.560 the Chinese League MVP, and then go to Pennathonikos in 115 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:44.680 Greece and play for Rick Patino and try and fill 116 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:48.839 a role position there, and then back to China again 117 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:51.199 and into the NBA G League and now he's a 118 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:53.759 G League All Star and works his way back into 119 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:56.279 the NBA through a couple of ten day contracts. I 120 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:01.759 just remarkable stuff, so easy to root for. I would 121 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:03.800 be hard pressed to believe that he won't have his 122 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:07.560 number retired in the Marriott Center sometime in the next year. 123 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:11.759 It's typically fifteen years from the time that you're done 124 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:15.000 playing at the university, and you have to be an 125 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:17.879 All American and officially retired as all those things have 126 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:21.519 come to fruition, so I expect his number to be retired. 127 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:24.240 But yeah, there was a little piece of the man. 128 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:27.360 It kind of thinks that we're never going to watch 129 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:31.199 gym or play in any sort of competitive facet again, 130 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:34.040 which was what made the Olympics three x three things 131 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:38.399 so fun because he took on this brand new avenue 132 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:41.560 of basketball, ascended to become the number one ranked three 133 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:44.480 x three player in the world, only to have his 134 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.800 Olympic dream crushed. But then you watch him and his 135 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:52.279 attitude handle it with class and dignity like he's always 136 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:55.199 done just which makes it even more heartbreaking that he 137 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:58.079 didn't get a chance to really push for that gold medal. 138 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:00.519 But all in all, you step back and with you 139 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:02.480 you can't call his career a bust. You can call 140 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:07.279 him an absolute inspiration and an incredible example of taking 141 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:11.560 on several adversities, facing several hurdles, being shut down and 142 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:16.839 just continuing to work and find your place. And I 143 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:20.279 mean a pros pro in every sense of the word. 144 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:23.839 He worked so hard every day of his basketball career. 145 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:27.720 So sad to see it shut down, no competition anymore, 146 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:29.800 but excited that he's leading to three x three front 147 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:32.519 and that he'll be the GM essentially of United States 148 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:35.040 three x three basketball as they try and get back 149 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:36.959 to the Olympics and then compete for a goal. So 150 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:40.800 I'm excited to watch him in a managerial role and 151 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:43.720 wouldn't be surprised to see him do some TV, some broadcasting, 152 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:48.000 and certainly he'll be around basketball in some capacity. 153 00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:50.240 You know, if you would have asked me last year, 154 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:53.480 I would have said maybe at some point Richie Saunders 155 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:56.720 makes some money in Europe playing basketball. And then after 156 00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:59.879 the season he had year one under Kevin, I became 157 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:02.680 pretty convinced that he had a chance to make his 158 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:05.319 way in the NBA. And at the age of twenty three, 159 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:08.199 you want to get the thing started because if you 160 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:11.240 actually stick in the NBA, you get to your second contract, 161 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:13.360 that's when generational wealth comes your way. 162 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:16.920 So I was a little surprised that Richie decided to 163 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:17.279 come back. 164 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:19.600 Now this is nothing but good news for BYU. I 165 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:21.959 wonder what sort of insight you could give us as 166 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.920 to the reasoning that Richie leaned upon in order to 167 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:26.519 come back and play for Kevin once again. 168 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:30.600 Yeah. I talked to him at length, speaking of Richie 169 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:35.039 in the Bya TV facilities on the air and off 170 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:38.559 the air a little over a week ago, and he 171 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:42.559 straight up just said it was just such a difficult 172 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:48.080 decision because the NBA opportunity was very much on the table. 173 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:54.639 And Richie's a guy that doesn't hyperbolze anything. He doesn't 174 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:58.879 add any sort of fluff to it. He'll just tell 175 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:01.879 you exactly what it is. I love the real nature 176 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.000 of him. And so when we asked him, you know, 177 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:09.360 what were your NBA opportunities, and he said, the consensus 178 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:13.000 was early to mid second round. After my workouts, there 179 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.080 was a lot of beliefs that I would go and 180 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:19.000 impress people, and people have been comparing me to Alex 181 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:23.159 Caruso and a few other NBA comps and being all 182 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:26.519 big twelve. Like I was told that there's a great 183 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:29.600 chance that I would be drafted early second round to 184 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:33.399 mid second round at the latest, and that I was 185 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:36.279 going to have a place on an NBA roster somewhere. 186 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:39.000 So he said that like hearing that from a lot 187 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:42.399 of people and realizing, oh my gosh, this is my dream, 188 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:46.399 Like I can go to the NBA right now and 189 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:49.679 do this. That's what made the decision to come back 190 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:52.159 so difficult. And he's like, I just felt so blessed 191 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:55.480 that as hard as this decision was, I'm looking at 192 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:57.519 two different scenarios. One, I can go back and play 193 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.879 for Coach Young again and he can help me develop 194 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:02.000 my NBA game even more. But I'll have an opportunity 195 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:04.720 to play with AJ Debonta and Robert Right the Third 196 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:09.320 and we could do something historic at BYU and go 197 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.799 maybe next level. Or I can go and fulfill a 198 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:15.200 lifelong dream and get to the NBA and I can 199 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:18.320 just start that pass. So he's like, both options were incredible, 200 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:20.639 and I mean, he waited. There is a reason he 201 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:24.639 waited till the very last minute. And he said that 202 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:28.559 it took conversations with his wife Sierra, a lot of them, 203 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:34.320 and consideration of can I can I still improve my 204 00:10:34.440 --> 00:10:38.080 game while staying at BYU and at least maintain the 205 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:41.080 NBA status that I have right now for next year. 206 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:42.919 And they felt confident that they could do that, not 207 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.559 only that, but get even a little bit better and 208 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:48.519 maybe improve his draft stock along with the additional exposure 209 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:50.799 that's going to be so naturally there for BYU because 210 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:53.639 of AJ Debonca and Rob Right the Third and some others. 211 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:57.320 And so he, I mean, it was he waffled. He 212 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:00.799 went back and forth a lot. He truly believe that 213 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:02.200 at worst he was going to be a mid second 214 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:04.080 round pick, but he believes he can be better than that, 215 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:08.080 and he feels like he can maximize the opportunity at BYU, 216 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:12.879 And with all of the additional exposure and and everybody 217 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.919 watching very close to this year, it just to Richie 218 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:20.960 felt like that was kind of the edge. And when 219 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:22.960 he goes, when he makes a decision, he's all in. 220 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:25.440 I love that about him too, is no like no, like, 221 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:27.480 oh man, maybe I should have done this. Like when 222 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:29.919 he goes, he goes. He is committed to the process, 223 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.480 So respect that about him. Like you said, it's great 224 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:35.320 news for BYU because now we're talking about a team 225 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:39.120 that we believe, at worst should be in a Sweet 226 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.559 sixteen and have a real shot to get back to 227 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:44.000 BYU second ever Elite eight, if not further. 228 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.279 Yeah, it's always tough to be like, well, they should 229 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:48.480 make the final four. It's just it's a one and 230 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:52.559 done tournament. Great teams are eliminated every single year on paper, 231 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:55.639 you know, when you look at some of the projections 232 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:58.720 and the you know, with the combination of the incoming 233 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:02.159 freshman recruits led by A and A couple of others, 234 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:03.720 you know, the Xavion Stanton kid. 235 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:05.279 Now this transfer portal class. 236 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:08.879 I mean, most everybody spencer that I've seen has this 237 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:12.480 team as a top five team coming into next season. 238 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:15.360 It's an embarrassment of riches. Have you guys done an 239 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.679 exercise where you trying to figure out like who's starting 240 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:19.440 and who's playing. There are a lot of good players 241 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:20.039 on this roster. 242 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:25.159 Oh yeah, we have run the gamut in that regard 243 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:28.120 of like wondering how Kevin Young is going to stack 244 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:31.679 this rotation and who's going to start. My best guess 245 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:37.799 is that certainly Kabakata will start at the five. I 246 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:42.200 believe that b Yu will. It could be Dominic Diamande 247 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:44.240 at the four, and A. J. Gabonsa at the three, 248 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.440 and Richie at the two and Rob Right at the one. 249 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:50.679 Obviously the guy that BA just pulled into the transport recently, 250 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:53.279 the four star from Suttlen, Illinois another good score. He's 251 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:57.159 a guy that could start at the three and kind 252 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:00.200 of cycle things around. Really, I think it's just the 253 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:03.960 big question mark is only one player. I know that 254 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.679 Rob right the third is going to start, Richie's going 255 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:07.200 to start, AG's going to start in CAB He's going 256 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:10.039 to start, But what does BUA do with that last 257 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:12.759 spot in the starting five? But now BYU is in 258 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:14.600 a position like they were last year where they can 259 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:18.639 go at least nine deep on the bench, which is 260 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:21.480 just you called it an embarrassment of riches. I don't 261 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:25.519 think that's sensationalized at all. It's everybody feels like they 262 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.799 deserve to play a lot of minutes. It's going to 263 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:31.000 be a highly competitive room again. And they were back 264 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.879 in the gym last week for the first time, and 265 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.720 after the first couple of practices, all I heard was 266 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:40.360 one it's just so competitive, like stuck an edge for 267 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:44.240 all of them. And so that is a difficult scenario 268 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:46.000 for Kevin Young to handle. Again, is how do I 269 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.879 keep all these guys happy? Well, you don't. You just 270 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:50.080 got to let the guys go earn it, get into 271 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.240 what we feel is going to be a nine or 272 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:57.360 ten man rotation again and go. But what a luxury 273 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:59.480 to be able to go to the bench, even for 274 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:04.080 a guy like Dawson Baker or Mihailo Boskovich, who's a 275 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:08.039 tough matchup in some situational basketball. That proved huge for 276 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:12.440 BYU last, like those guys coming off the bench and 277 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.919 being able to impact this team again to spell some 278 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:19.080 of these superstars, is it's big time. I mean, these 279 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:23.919 guys are experienced dudes who are not going to shy 280 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.519 away from big time moments because they've been in it 281 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:30.360 and they've been it for a while, so expectations are 282 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:34.159 sky high. But I'm with you. I would caution basketball 283 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:36.600 fans in the state of Utah or anybody that's watching 284 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:40.039 BYU to me, it would be remarkable if BOI got 285 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:42.559 back to went back to back Sweet sixteens. I mean, 286 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:46.480 they've been to three in forty five years, so if 287 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.639 they could go back to back, are you kidding me? 288 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:51.159 And then hey, let's see get to an other Sweet sixteen. 289 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.799 If BA is a two or three seed, then they 290 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.360 got a great chance to get to an elitiate and 291 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:57.000 we'll go from there. But I kind of feel like 292 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:59.559 once they get to a second consent to sweet sixteen, 293 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:02.799 if they do, then you start to enter slowly into 294 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:05.039 the house money territory. It's like, Okay, let's see what 295 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:07.960 else we can do and let's strike while the irons 296 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.879 hot with AJ and company in town. 297 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:12.200 And really, if You're honest. 298 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:16.159 The headliner and a chance to be a historic once 299 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:19.440 in a generation opportunity for not just BYU fans, but 300 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:22.559 basketball fans in the state is to watch AJ debonsa 301 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:26.399 play for Kevin and BYU. And when that signing became official, 302 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:29.639 I remember thinking like, this will mean a tremendous amount 303 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.639 of opportunity and exposure for BYU basketball in a way 304 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.960 that I don't think they've seen before. 305 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:37.039 And John Rothstein reports that BYU will play in the. 306 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:41.360 Jimmy V Classic with you know, Yukon and Florida and 307 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:44.480 they're gonna play Clemson round one at Madison Square Garden. 308 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:48.000 My question, though, is what sort of tangible buzz is 309 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.080 there down there about AJ? And do you think BYU 310 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:52.639 basketball fans Spencer, I don't know if you've seen this 311 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:56.480 kid play, there's nothing. There's nothing he doesn't do well. 312 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:59.200 Like when everybody asks, like people ask me, what does he. 313 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:01.000 Have to improve on? Well, really nothing. 314 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:04.320 He just has to keep incrementally getting better at everything 315 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:07.840 that he's already awesome at. He's built you hear the 316 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:11.360 Paul George Lebron James. He is that type of modern 317 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:18.080 day wing. He will be an excellent NBA player, generationally special, potentially. 318 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:21.840 Do you think BYU basketball fans really understand what they're 319 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.080 about to watch in this kid. 320 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:27.320 No, I don't, because they've never seen anybody like him 321 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:31.799 in provo, and because I've seen him play granted at 322 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:34.799 competition level in the high school ranks. But still like 323 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:38.000 you see it and you're like, holy cow, that dude 324 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:42.840 is so refined and polished his footwork, his basketball acumen, 325 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.399 just his awareness of where everybody is on the floor, 326 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.600 his ability to play above the rint. And I don't 327 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.919 think people understand how good of a defender he can 328 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:57.159 be when he commits to that specifically. Like I agree 329 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:59.600 with Kevin Young. I watched him play defense. I'm like, dude, 330 00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:02.519 that I could be all Big twelve defensive team. I'm 331 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:05.079 not kidding. We talked about all about his scoring and 332 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:08.200 everything he does on the offense side. For I'm telling 333 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:10.839 his fense he has a chance to be a special 334 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:13.599 defender if he wants to commit to that part of 335 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:16.160 his game, and so BYU specifically is gonna work with 336 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:21.039 him there. He could be great both ways, and you 337 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:23.279 just don't know until you see it in person. But 338 00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:27.759 BA fans, I don't believe we'll understand what they actually 339 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:31.200 have until they get to witness AJ on the floor 340 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:35.839 playing against Villanova in Las Vegas on November three. I 341 00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:38.799 think that's the date for the season tip off neutral 342 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:41.640 side game. But wow, when they see that and then 343 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.359 get him back in the Marriot Center, that then I 344 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:47.559 think reality will begin to set in a little bit. 345 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:50.279 But right now, it's just like highlights on social media 346 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:52.920 and things like that. Watching him play in person is 347 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:58.400 such a different experience. And his dad aceh we need 348 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:02.519 to give him credit BYU fans and frankly basketball fans 349 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:05.759 that that for why he's even in this state. Because 350 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:09.400 AJ told me last week b Yu was not on 351 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:12.039 my list. Like when I put my list together, like 352 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:15.000 b Yu, that wasn't even a thought. And he said, 353 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.559 my dad looked at me and said, just do me 354 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:18.680 a favor. Just add Ba to the list. Trust me, 355 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:21.400 And he said, b Yu, He's like this, just trust me, 356 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:23.880 add By to the list. Let's go check it out. 357 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:26.240 And so he said. I listened to my dad. I 358 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:28.200 took his advice. I put By in the list, and 359 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:30.240 then I made my first visit and I was like, oh, 360 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:32.920 my dad, I didn't know Dad, but now I know 361 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:36.039 like Dad is a special place, Kevin's a special coach. 362 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:39.079 This could actually develop into something, and that's kind of 363 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:42.000 how it all started. So I know that we hear 364 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:44.920 a lot of tough instances where you know their parents 365 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:47.160 were too involved and things like that. In this case, 366 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.759 if it weren't for the great relationship that Ace and 367 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:52.240 AJ have, he wouldn't he wouldn't have even put b 368 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:56.559 YU on his list. So keep that in mind when 369 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:58.640 you're watching him play in person and think you can 370 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:03.079 thank his dad for helping him at least consider BYU 371 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.559 and then ultimately end up in provo. 372 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:08.799 I think at most P four major institutions like at 373 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:12.359 Utah or BYU, even if the football team is expected 374 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:16.160 to win zero games, there's more excitement for football than basketball. 375 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:19.000 And I think BYU has a chance to have a 376 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:21.640 good football and a basketball team. But is there more 377 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:25.920 buzz on campus for this upcoming football or basketball. 378 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:29.480 Season right now? I think in the moment, because Boa 379 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:33.039 just went to the Sweet sixteen, and because fans in 380 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:35.319 large part have been waiting to see if Richie Saunders 381 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.960 came back and who else BOI is going to get 382 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.680 through the portal and it feels like the news cycle 383 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:44.440 is just producing something big time more regularly for basketball 384 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:46.599 right now than football. And let's saying something because football 385 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:49.200 is getting guys through the portal too, right but it's 386 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:54.720 on the heels of an incredibly entertaining and unexpected basketball season. 387 00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:58.799 I feel like right now, prisoners of the moment, most 388 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:01.359 would say, oh, man, I just I love football, but 389 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:04.400 I'm I'm so excited about basketball because when has BYU 390 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:08.240 been a preseason top five team ever? They haven't. I 391 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:11.480 can tell you that the highest preseason ranking BYU has 392 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:15.880 ever had in history, no joke, was back when Kreshner 393 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:19.880 Chosich was playing in the early seventies and BYU had 394 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:22.680 a preseason ranking of twelve. That's the best it's ever been. 395 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:27.119 Spence number twelve and it was thirteen coming into Danny 396 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:31.880 Ages Junior year. By has never been more highly thought 397 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:35.400 of in a preseason capacity than they are right now. 398 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:38.200 So hard not to get lost in that when they're 399 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:41.839 coming in somewhere between five and eight and people are 400 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:44.359 starting to throw out the words DULP final four and 401 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:47.519