WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:01.800 I can hear you. Now, what's up? 2 00:00:01.800 --> 00:00:03.680 Man? Sorry, I don't, I don't. I'm not sure what 3 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:06.240 what led to that, but let's uh, let's get the 4 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:09.640 conversation started again. ESPN analyst College Basketball Hall of Famer 5 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:12.640 Jay Williams. I'll just start by backing up to last 6 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:14.160 last Wednesday, obviously Louisville. 7 00:00:14.199 --> 00:00:16.600 Wait, wait, hold on, Nick, how are you? How are 8 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:18.000 This is the first encounter. 9 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:20.879 I'm doing, a very good encounter for you and I, well, 10 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:22.120 very good encounter for. 11 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:22.600 You and I. 12 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:24.440 I asked the same question, how are you? And I 13 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:26.280 guess you didn't hear me. I was very I mean 14 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:28.519 I was I was friendly. I was just wanting to 15 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:30.440 see how you were doing before we dive in. But 16 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:32.960 and I thought, maybe there's some kind of a prank. 17 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:34.359 Maybe that's not really Jay Williams. 18 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:38.000 But I can tell that I was around with a 19 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:38.439 week week. 20 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:39.159 What's going on? 21 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:41.479 We like to, you know, to mess around, and there's 22 00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:43.359 a lot of nonsense that goes on within this show, 23 00:00:43.399 --> 00:00:45.920 but none of that right now. But I'll just back 24 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:49.119 up to Wednesday when it comes to the you know, 25 00:00:49.159 --> 00:00:53.280 for me being triggered by you saying that that Pat 26 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:55.560 Kelcey was doing a good job. It's nice that Louisville 27 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:58.560 is back, and you referenced what but Pat Kelsey inherited, 28 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:01.640 which of course was a was a Louisville basketball program 29 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:03.719 that was at a low that I didn't know possible. 30 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:06.120 A lot of people would probably say the same thing. 31 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:10.519 And there are many of folks that cover college basketball, 32 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.840 a lot of them, of course, within your family of 33 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:16.560 ESPN folks that at times, I in my opinion, my 34 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:18.599 opinion only I don't not the only one, but it's 35 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:21.760 my opinion they would gaslight Louisville fans initially that they 36 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.120 didn't have a right to be critical and be upset 37 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:27.560 and really just think this is going to go really bad, 38 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:31.040 meaning the Kenny Payne era. And I know the second 39 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:33.680 year of that Kenny Payne experience, your tone was a 40 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:35.719 little bit different than it was the first time around, 41 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:38.000 and you were nowhere near I mean, I mean, I'll 42 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:39.760 just tell you who it is. I think Corey Alexander 43 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.359 and Seth Greenberg, and I'm sure they know Kenny personally, 44 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:45.560 and you know, that's a fact that that matters, that's 45 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:48.280 that makes an impact as far as how you address 46 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:51.239 certain things. But I'm of the belief. And I'll ask 47 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:53.840 you this directly. Whenever Kenny Payne first got to Louisville 48 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.480 and things were not going great, he didn't inherit a 49 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:59.680 great situation. But were you all when you talk to 50 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:01.239 the state, when you talk to people, when you come 51 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:02.799 here to do a game and you get access and 52 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:05.000 you're embedded within the program for that day or two 53 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:08.120 that you're here, was it expressed that like there's really 54 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:10.360 nothing that can be done. This is just the situation 55 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.520 because of a mess that was inherited. Because I think 56 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:15.159 that was initially what a lot of people thought, and 57 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:16.960 then you know it didn't really play out that way. 58 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:20.120 Well, first off, just let me tell you I love 59 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:22.719 the way that we exchange notes and this is what 60 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:25.439 this is how stuff should be. Right, Like, you have 61 00:02:25.479 --> 00:02:28.400 a strong opinion. I think a lot of times when 62 00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:31.439 I do TV, I do so much TV, people don't 63 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:33.400 hear all the verticals in. 64 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:35.240 Which I do TV and what I say. 65 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.319 Right, So, and I really want to dig into this 66 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:40.960 with you because I think it's important. So just know, 67 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:43.840 like two years ago, I was coming back from the NBA. 68 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:48.000 I was calling NBA games, so I was being reintroduced. 69 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:48.599 Back to college basketball. 70 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:50.680 Right, it was doing a radio show where we still 71 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:52.919 talked about college basketball a little bit, but our primary 72 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:56.960 thing we talked about was college football and NFL and NBA, 73 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:58.520 and I was doing NBA Countdown. 74 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:00.039 So coming back into. 75 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:02.360 College ball last year, I obviously I paid attention to 76 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:06.159 things that were going on between Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, all 77 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:08.280 these great schools that I've known for so long, right, 78 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:10.879 and I had context about the struggles, but that was 79 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:13.680 really my first time calling a game and and hearing 80 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:18.120 a lot of the reasoning behind why things weren't going well. So, 81 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:22.120 but I also seen other schools in which didn't give 82 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:26.000 off those similar excuses for lack of better terms, that 83 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:29.000 had turned around programs really really quickly. So at the 84 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.599 beginning of the year, I called the game and I 85 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:32.479 was like, you know what, just let me try to 86 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.000 feel this out a little bit more, and like, let's 87 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:37.639 see what he does this year. Because I don't know Nick, 88 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:39.840 I know you don't know me. I am not afraid 89 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:41.400 to save my damn mine on TV. 90 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:42.879 I don't know you. I don't know you, but I 91 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.439 certainly believe that and I've seen that over the year, 92 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:48.680 So I got you so you. 93 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:50.520 Know I say that at the beginning of the year 94 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:53.400 and then you can you can look it up. Literally 95 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:57.479 during the Kentucky game during halftime, I was like, I can't, 96 00:03:58.159 --> 00:03:59.639 I can't. I can't, I can't, I can't. I can't 97 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:02.039 do that. I can't do that. Like I went so 98 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:04.319 hard that even I felt like seth. I felt my 99 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:07.599 producers like wow, like you really went in. I'm like, well, 100 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:11.719 that's just unacceptable. But I had not been calling basketball 101 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:13.879 on the college level for those two years, so you 102 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.839 didn't hear my voice anywhere around that stuff. That was 103 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:19.600 my first time seeing it in real time, and I 104 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:21.279 called it out for what it really was. 105 00:04:21.399 --> 00:04:23.560 So you know, my thing is just knowing. 106 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:27.279 Who Pat Kelsey is and then frankly like going down 107 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:29.040 there and also just now like Nola Smith was on 108 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:29.600 that staff. 109 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:31.720 I know Nola Smith since his time at Duke. 110 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:34.160 Like, I'm not saying things are done right or wrong, 111 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:35.879 but I was given a lot of insight when I 112 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:38.000 found out about things, and then I saw things pan out, 113 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:40.920 I was like, I don't I don't think this is 114 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:43.560 the right way to go. So I'm not lambassing anybody, nick. 115 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:45.639 I just went when I saw it, and then I 116 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:49.360 watched it happen in real time. I said, Nah, unacceptable. 117 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:50.680 I can't. I can't back that. 118 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:54.920 So that that's just contextually how that whole situation went down. 119 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:56.600 And that makes total sense. And one of the things 120 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.000 that you mentioned, as far as all the different the 121 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:02.519 ways that you're in play, your ESPN utilizes you. Not 122 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.040 only is it hard for people to always have full context, 123 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:07.160 but there's probably things that other people say and they 124 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:09.240 just lump you in with it. And I think in 125 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.079 the moment I probably did that a little bit because 126 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:12.639 as soon as I did it, I was corrected by 127 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:14.800 people who said, hey, actually, after at halftime of the 128 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:17.439 UKU of L game last year, he was pretty direct 129 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:20.079 about how this just needs to change. So you know it, 130 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:23.839 it was so bad that it still doesn't even seem 131 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:25.680 real as far as how bad louisvill basketball was at 132 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:28.439 that time. So I'm somebody who is very fortunate to 133 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:30.120 have a position where I get to cover the team, 134 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:32.279 but I'm a fan myself, So again, I was a 135 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:34.199 little triggered when it comes to that, because I felt 136 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:37.519 like the whole time that Louisville fans were aware that, man, 137 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.000 this wasn't expected to be great from the jump, But man, 138 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:42.079 this is malpractice as far as how things are being led. 139 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:44.399 And I totally believe everything as far as what you 140 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:46.079 were being told by people that you know, whether it 141 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:48.879 be Nolan or others. And I think there's probably some 142 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:52.360 partial truth to all that. But you know you were right. 143 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:54.879 You've always been very direct and not afraid to share 144 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:56.800 your opinion as far as what you really think. But 145 00:05:57.240 --> 00:05:58.959 when it comes to how it I mean, how did 146 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:00.439 it go that bad? In your mind? What do you 147 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:02.639 think really was the ultimate root of it being just 148 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:04.040 maybe one of the worst hires ever. 149 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:09.279 Look, man, Like, first off, I've learned how this game 150 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:11.600 of like you know, I often joke around whether that's 151 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:15.639 in business or sports, and those those two words are 152 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:18.360 combined in our field, right, Like, so when you go 153 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:20.199 on when you go on the road and you sit 154 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:22.399 down with coaches, and I'm not saying this was done 155 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:26.160 at Louisville, but you always got to kind of decipher, right, 156 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:29.120 It's like playing a damn game Nick where you're like, Okay. 157 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:32.000 This guy told me this, but why is he telling 158 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:33.199 me that? Right? 159 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:35.720 And then like you have to use other sources to 160 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:38.199 be like all right, well, I was told this, did 161 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:39.879 this really happen this way? 162 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:42.120 Or is it being presented to me? 163 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:44.720 So then I go on air and I say things right. 164 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:47.319 So it's like you have to do a lot of 165 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:50.079 due diligence through other sources and you have to watch 166 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:52.160 it a lot to know whether you're kind of being 167 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:55.199 bs or not to be real right. So you know, 168 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:59.279 I think a lot of times at Louisville, my thing 169 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:01.680 is like, look, this NIO game has changed a lot, right, 170 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:04.839 But like I would often say, you got to get 171 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:06.079 the top players. 172 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:07.720 Like, you got to get people. You just have to 173 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:08.959 have a system that you have to sell. 174 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:15.560 And I thought, not like watching it, I wasn't sure 175 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:16.800 that Louisville was. 176 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:19.639 Being marketed and framed the right way by the coaching staff. 177 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.279 Like to me, like, when I think about Louisville basketball, man, 178 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:27.199 I think about some of the legendary coaches that have 179 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:31.839 coached there. I think about that rivalry with Kentucky basketball, 180 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:36.319 Like I think about top tier players that have played 181 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:39.519 on that team that represents something bigger, and I just 182 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:41.959 never feel like Louisville had that presence. It always feel 183 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:45.480 like Louisville was smaller with that staff and to me, 184 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.839 now it feels like even though back to back losses, 185 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:51.759 but like it just feels different, Like and I said 186 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:54.199 that on air, Yeah, it's like the bibe around it 187 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:56.480 even watching it, like it's like there's an error about it. 188 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:59.360 There's a there's a cockiness, there's a swagger to it, 189 00:07:59.399 --> 00:08:03.439 there's a there's like I'm not afraid to challenge you back, 190 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:06.879 whereas those teams that I watched seemed timid and they 191 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:09.959 seemed unsure, And that's not what Louisville basketball was to me. 192 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:12.240 Yeah, and and I think you you couldn't be more 193 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:15.199 accurate when it comes to how the program was being 194 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:18.199 sold and framed others, because you would think that a 195 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.000 guy that you hired, that that played here what a 196 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.360 national championship would would be able to maybe do that 197 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:25.519 better than than than anybody. But for reasons that you know, 198 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:27.959 I think there's a variety of reasons, it just didn't. 199 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:30.000 It didn't work out that way. And now you've got 200 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:32.240 a guy who is who's who's going to either make 201 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:34.080 it work here, he's going to die trying because he 202 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:36.080 realizes this is a special program for a lot of 203 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:39.440 the reasons that you just mentioned, and you know that 204 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:41.159 that's refreshing. Louisville. Don't how goo they're going to be 205 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:42.639 this year. They're dealing with a lot of injuries and 206 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:44.679 you just don't know how things are going to go. 207 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:48.240 But this guy is clearly you know, making and you 208 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:50.200 shouldn't need this as a fan base, but for him 209 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:52.320 to continuously talk about how appreciative he is to be 210 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:55.320 the coach at Louisville and how you know he's he's 211 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:58.200 he's highlight. He's basically gassing us up. And we didn't 212 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.799 used to need that, but we kind of do now, 213 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:02.679 like because of what's happened in recent years. So you 214 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:04.720 you talked highly of Pat Kelsey. What is your before 215 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.720 he was the coach at Louisville. How familiar were you 216 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:09.720 with him and just kind of your thoughts on his 217 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:10.720 his style as a coach. 218 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:13.840 Well, I've known Pat for a while. 219 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:17.159 One of the things I will say about Pat, just 220 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:20.440 from a personal perspective and watching him over the years, 221 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:23.960 is that like he is one of like, Look, I 222 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:25.919 don't I don't want to use cliches right because a 223 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:27.279 lot of well these guys are. 224 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:32.000 Competitive and their dogs. You gotta you have to understand 225 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:33.639 how to be around the block. 226 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:39.240 Do you get what I'm saying Nick on that, Like, 227 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:45.039 like I think that Kenney knew how to be from 228 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:47.399 the block, but he never knew how to be around 229 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:50.679 the block as a head coach. Different world, You moving, 230 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:54.840 you moving seats, you moving a seat down or two seats. 231 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:56.399 It's a completely. 232 00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:00.960 Different experience, right every day, Like I get this sometimes 233 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:02.639 being on air, and I'm not comparing to being a. 234 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:04.720 Head coach of Louisville at all, but like there. 235 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:06.519 Are a lot of times I'm like, Okay, I'm trending, 236 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:08.320 Like if somebody tell me I need to kill myself, 237 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:10.000 if somebody tell me that I'm stupid, if somebody time 238 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:12.000 I need to lose my job, Like you've got to 239 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:15.360 be able to like kind of block all that craziness out. 240 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.639 Easier said than done. And also you got to know 241 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:21.639 where bodies are buried, man, Like this ain't this isn't 242 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:27.200 elementary school like and that that takes reps so for anybody, 243 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:29.679 Like when you're trying to do that at a place 244 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:33.559 where like your name was synonymous with being a champion 245 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:36.960 and representing your school at a high level with not 246 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:38.360 really knowing how to do that. 247 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.519 Like Pat knows how to do that. 248 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:46.720 Like Pat's built programs from the beginning, like like I 249 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.519 watched it right, like I watched it his entire time, 250 00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:52.200 Like when College of Charlestoner is ranked top twenty five nationally, 251 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:56.440 Like I've seen him build programs over time, and how 252 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.080 he's been able to do that. He's done that by 253 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:00.720 being around the block and being aperience as a head 254 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:03.519 coach and forming the right staff and making sure the 255 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:06.600 right staff knows how to raise some capitol and knows 256 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:08.799 how to get the white people on the door. It's 257 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:10.720 just a different it's a different thing when you're in 258 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:11.200 that seat. 259 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:14.840 Yeah, yeah, you're running the show. I mean you're you're 260 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:17.720 the CEO essentially, and you got to have some presidential 261 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:20.279 qualities about yourself. And there's a lot more to it 262 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:22.360 that you probably don't like to do, but it's very important. 263 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.440 And no, I think that makes that makes total sense. 264 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:26.240 Jay Williams is our guest here joining us on Sports 265 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:28.559 Talk seven ninety. So I do want to take the 266 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.200 time we have with you to also address the Kentucky fans. 267 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:34.399 We are in Louisville, Kentucky, a big market for college basketball. 268 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:36.879 At Oh, you're hitting on both. You're hitting on both 269 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:38.159 frunts right now that I like it. 270 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:39.720 Well, I'm just trying to catch up a little bit 271 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:43.320 because I know that you mentioned something about Cooper Flag 272 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:46.360 and just how he's going to continue. I mean, he's 273 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.639 a guy that's going to bring more eyeballs to college basketball. 274 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:51.120 He's probably the most hyped guy entering the college game 275 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:53.759 since for a long time, maybe since Zion and that 276 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:56.720 crew that came in some years ago. But give me 277 00:11:56.799 --> 00:12:00.679 the backstory what led to Kentucky fans getting so upset? 278 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:02.480 Because I I mean, I kind of caught up late, 279 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:04.120 but I still didn't really understand what they were so 280 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:04.759 mad about. 281 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:10.279 Well, you know, so it was funny we're doing the game. 282 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:11.679 Well, first of all, you know, fans only hear what 283 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:14.600 they want to hear, of course, so you know, you know, 284 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:17.840 while we're doing halftime of the game, I had said 285 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:19.879 that I thought, which is which is accurate? So let 286 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.480 me let me break down a couple of things. Number One, 287 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.679 I said that, and I still do believe this way. 288 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.159 I thought this was the most talented and the most 289 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:31.519 depth that Duke has had since we won a national 290 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:32.879 championship back in two thousand and one. 291 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:36.039 Right, and that goes over to fifteen team that won 292 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:36.440 a chip. 293 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.559 Now, just because you have more talent doesn't mean that 294 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.679 the talent is used the right way all the. 295 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:46.639 Time, righty fans more than anybody, right, Yeah, exactly right. 296 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:49.919 And it's the same thing with depth, right. You know 297 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:51.080 you could have depth, but there are a lot of 298 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:53.759 players in Duke's roster that get in play, right, So 299 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:57.799 how you use depth talent doesn't always translate to a 300 00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:59.399 better team with better chemistry. 301 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:02.720 All those are different arguments with that, right. 302 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:06.639 So, but that comment within itself, I think it's accurate 303 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:09.480 for the talent level of this Duke team and the. 304 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:10.000 Players that they have. 305 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:11.759 Doesn't mean they're gonna hold into a better team than 306 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:14.879 Kentucky inevitably, or maybe they could, who knows. 307 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:15.840 It's a long season. 308 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:19.399 So I think a lot of people started kind of 309 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:21.240 like coming back at me with like, oh, how's that 310 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:24.080 most talented? How's that most dep team workout? Because look, 311 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:25.919 at the end of the day, man, like, I'm always 312 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:29.200 gonna be objective with my with my job and my team. 313 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:33.600 Like I'm a fan of a lot of different schools, right, So, 314 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:36.279 but I would say I'm also I played basketball Dukee. 315 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:38.039 But I'll tell you when I think Duke sucks. I'll 316 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:39.039 tell you when I think they're good. 317 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:41.279 Like I don't try to sugarcoat anything just because I 318 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:43.600 played basketball there, Like, I'm real. There have been times 319 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.559 where I haven't been allowed to go back to Cameron 320 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.200 Duror Stadium because Gray Allen was tripping people. 321 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:50.039 All the damn time. I'm like, really, stop tripping people. 322 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:52.960 Broke Oh, yeah, that was That was another intense moment, right, 323 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.039 But I get it. But I'm always gonna do my job, 324 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:56.559 and I'm almost gonna tell you honestly. 325 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:58.519 How I felt. So I think fans are triggered by 326 00:13:58.519 --> 00:13:58.960 that comment. 327 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:01.200 And also when that gets clipped and that goes on 328 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:04.919 social media, like people don't have context around what it means. 329 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.960 People act a certain way. 330 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:08.519 That's one thing, right, So everybody started getting my mentions 331 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:12.720 because of that. Secondly, the game is over and I'm 332 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.679 on Sports Center right after the game, nick like literally 333 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:17.000 seconds after the game. 334 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:19.080 Okay, So i go on Sports Center. 335 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:22.720 And I'm getting ready to make my comment about Kentucky. 336 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:26.639 Now all my network, which I don't control, on a 337 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:30.000 huge jumble screen behind me is a massive damn. 338 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.879 Picture of Cooper Flag. 339 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:33.440 So you can imagine in my mind just like your mom, 340 00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:37.000 like ah shit, here we go. Like I know what's 341 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:39.480 gonna happen. I know the first question they're gonna ask 342 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:42.240 me about is Cooper Flag because I've already seen it. 343 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.559 I've seen it last year when he was playing high 344 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:47.679 school basketball. How we started to sell him like and 345 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.519 I'm sorry for going on on, but I just want. 346 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:54.120 To be real about it. Okay, what was the last like. 347 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:58.799 Incredible like player that we had to do us side 348 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:03.360 of ZIGN also is like marketable, Like it's like Cooper 349 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:06.240 Flag is somebody I know people are naturally gonna compare 350 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:11.320 to Christian Latner JJ Reddick, Like you get where I'm 351 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:13.120 going here with this with I'm saying, you know what 352 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:15.200 I mean, like like, oh, he's gonna be the White 353 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.320 Superstar and i'd've been living that world. I just had 354 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.320 people come up to me and say that, and I'm like, 355 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:21.759 I would not even frame it that way, but okay, 356 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:24.159 I see how people are doing that. 357 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:27.440 What happened last year with Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese. 358 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.919 Like it turned into a little bit at where it's 359 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:33.679 like Magic Johnson Larry Bird like like, media can make 360 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:36.080 people hate people or make people love people, but they're 361 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:39.159 gonna market somebody that they think has an appeal that 362 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:41.440 moves the needle. So like, come in and last year 363 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:43.080 I knew that, and then the USA basketball, the way 364 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.159 he played, I knew it was gonna be that situation. 365 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:47.720 So right off the top of the show, I get 366 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:50.399 asked by our Sports center host, So Jay, like, what 367 00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:53.200 does this say about Cooper Flag. I cut her off 368 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:55.639 and I say, I'm not here to talk about Cooper Flag. 369 00:15:55.840 --> 00:16:00.519 I'm giving credit to Kentucky basketball. Kentucky basketball, right, and 370 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:02.279 I go into all the reasons why I think Mark 371 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:04.120 Pope has done one hell of. 372 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:07.440 A job at UK bringing in dogs. 373 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:10.039 Now, granted, lost to Clemson in our night, but still 374 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:13.759 like I I like the way this Kentucky team is constructed, right, 375 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:15.679 So I give them credit for like two three minutes. 376 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:18.480 And then obviously you have to. 377 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:20.679 Go talk about Cooper Flag and about what you learned 378 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.320 in the situation. 379 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:24.080 I saw, you know, having the ball multiple times, not. 380 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:26.399 In a position I felt like was to succeed for him, 381 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.919 and how that played out. 382 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.879 Why I come off and I'm going back to raps 383 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:30.159 and I have. 384 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:32.600 All these Kentucky fans coming at me, like, oh, you're 385 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.159 going after you know you talk. 386 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:35.399 Of course you're talking about Cooper flag. 387 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:38.240 Blah blahah, like because most of the people, you know, 388 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:40.360 if you're at a bar or you're you know, it's 389 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.840 white noise in your back in your house, you're not 390 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.759 really listening to what I'm saying. You're just seeing the 391 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:47.279 visual and you're hearing me talk, right, So you see 392 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:50.480 Cooper flag behind me. So like all these. 393 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:52.279 People started coming at me, I'm like, hold on a second. 394 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:55.120 Like I gave Kentucky all the love in the world, 395 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:58.320 so I like to engage people. And I also think 396 00:16:58.360 --> 00:17:01.240 sometimes it's like, yo, if Kentucky had a player like Cooper, 397 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:03.159 we'd be all over it. Now we can still gonna 398 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:07.160 promote Kentucky basketball, but like the same way tonight Duke is. 399 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:09.960 Gonna play Auburn, like you're gonna get. 400 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:12.559 A high dosage volume doses a Cooper flag, whether you 401 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:12.960