WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:06.440 It's time for Coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on 2 00:00:06.519 --> 00:00:10.400 Sports Talk seven nine days. Now, here's Nick Coffee. 3 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:13.119 All right, let's get it started at five o'clock hour 4 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:16.559 on a Friday afternoon of Valentine's Day edition of Coffee 5 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:19.000 and Company. Thanks for hanging out with us, and we'll 6 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:19.480 get right too. 7 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:20.239 Let's bring him in. 8 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:23.000 He is the one and only mister Kent Spencer from 9 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:26.519 w h a S eleven. Kent, I'll start with this. 10 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:28.000 I'm not trying to give you more work. I know 11 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:30.399 you work very hard for the folks at WHS eleven. 12 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:31.359 But let's just say you. 13 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:32.840 Were asked to be a part of the n C 14 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:37.600 double A selection committee. Where would you slot Louisville and 15 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:38.600 Kentucky right now? 16 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:39.600 As of today? 17 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:44.079 As of today? That's so, that's so good. 18 00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:49.960 I haven't even seen any of the latest bracketologies. I 19 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:54.159 would say this right now. I would I would probably 20 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:57.799 have Louisville anywhere from a six to a seventh seed. 21 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.399 That's that checks out. That's where just about everybody as them. 22 00:01:01.159 --> 00:01:04.079 Okay, okay, so I've got them around six or seven, 23 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:13.120 and with Kentucky, I would probably have them around Like. 24 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:14.879 I think they'll probably end up being like a three 25 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:15.400 or four. 26 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.120 Yeah, but I wouldn't be shocked if kind. 27 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:21.319 Kind of depends on honestly, it kind of depends on 28 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:24.280 how they finish out the season. That being said, like, 29 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:27.400 and this is more with them, you know, the selection 30 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:30.400 the selection committee looks at more of who. 31 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:34.000 Have you beat, in my opinion, rather than who you've. 32 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:37.159 Lost to, And so there's not too many people that 33 00:01:37.239 --> 00:01:38.640 have the wins that Kentucky has. 34 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:42.239 Kentucky tomorrow, if they end up on the two line, 35 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:44.359 because we're getting that early look at the bracket tomorrow, 36 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:46.079 which we get every year, they give us the first 37 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:48.959 the top sixteen seed, seeds one through four. I mean, 38 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.400 I don't expect it, but I wouldn't be shocked if 39 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.519 they're on the two line, because again, they don't have 40 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:57.319 a bad loss per se, and they have a lot 41 00:01:57.359 --> 00:01:59.760 of really valuable wins, a sweep of Tennessee, I think 42 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:03.319 right now, when you look at that game in Knoxville 43 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:06.439 in Tennessee still being where they are today, there's not 44 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:08.800 a more valuable win on anybody's resume than that one. 45 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:12.319 Not to mention, they also beat Florida, They also beat Gonzaga. 46 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:13.000 They beat Duke. 47 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:16.120 I mean, they've got a lot of wins along the way, 48 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:18.800 and I think to see them be able to win 49 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:22.599 games against really good teams whenever it doesn't look great 50 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:24.400 because of these injuries that they've had, or maybe they 51 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:26.199 just don't have momentum because they're coming off of one 52 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.120 of their rare losses. I think it speaks to Mark 53 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:30.319 Pope and really how good of a coach he is. 54 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:32.800 But what would you other than you know, these guys 55 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:36.280 just sticking together, next man up, continuing to fight. What 56 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.240 would you say if anything that has led to them 57 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.960 having these types of wins whenever again their back was 58 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:44.159 against the wall. I mean against Tennessee the other night, 59 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:46.080 they had the two freshmen from Kentucky come in and 60 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.039 give them really good minutes. I think everybody from top 61 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.039 to bottom deserves credit. But is there something that stood 62 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:52.639 out to you in these games? And there's been many 63 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:54.599 of them where you felt like, you know, what, probably 64 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:56.080 going to be tough to do. Right, They're coming off 65 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:58.120 of a big beat down against Ohio State. 66 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:00.479 What do they do? They go to Gonzaga and win, Uh, 67 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:01.319 they ended up. 68 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:03.599 Losing to Georgia. Then they go to Mississippi stated game 69 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:05.719 that they were I think nearly double digit dogs they 70 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:08.319 win that one. Is there anything specific that stood out 71 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:10.159 to you that has been able to that they that 72 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:12.240 has been that has given them the ability to win 73 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:14.000 these games where it feels like they, you know, they 74 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:16.680 have no chance. I'm I'm convinced now there's no game 75 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:19.039 left where you can say Kentucky shouldn't win. I mean, 76 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:21.280 they they they they'll lose, they can lose to anybody 77 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:23.400 they don't play well. But man, these wins they have. 78 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:25.520 I mean, I don't know if you have a team 79 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:27.439 out there that's got better wins than them. 80 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:30.479 You know what, though, Nick, here's what I would say, 81 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.599 outside like, when you look at I think the big 82 00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:35.680 wins that they've that they've been able to pick up, 83 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:42.240 outside of maybe the Florida game where they just outscored Florida, 84 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:43.800 I think it was like one oh six to one 85 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.280 that game. One of the things, one of the biggest 86 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:50.680 things that I would say is their effort in those 87 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.439 games on the defensive end, which has kind of been 88 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:56.360 their crutch in their in their losses, they just haven't 89 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.240 been you know, tough defensively, tough on the boards, and 90 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:03.479 the losses but when they really needed to lock down defensively, 91 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:07.520 they've been able to do that. And you can see 92 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:11.000 in those kind of games, you know, they distrain and 93 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:16.240 the desperation that they play on the defensive end in those. 94 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:19.879 Games, they just haven't been able to do it, you know, 95 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:21.720 game in and game out. You know. 96 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:23.639 One of the things I'd say is, like a couple 97 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:26.680 weeks ago with the at Ole miss I mean, that's 98 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:28.920 one of the that's one of the worst defensive effort 99 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:31.480 games that you'll ever see, and. 100 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:32.759 They just didn't bring it that night. 101 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:35.120 So if they can get to the point like they 102 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:38.079 did the other night against Tennessee, where everybody on the 103 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:42.480 court is straining and making everything difficult on the other team, 104 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:46.720 they're so good offensively that you know, it's it's really 105 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:48.680 hard to beat them when they do it. 106 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:51.959 When they play that way, Both coaches Mark Pope and 107 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:57.839 Pat Kelcey have legitimate excuses and reasons to where if 108 00:04:57.879 --> 00:05:00.959 these seasons weren't going as good as they currently are 109 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:04.000 for both sides, everybody would understand. Now, you still let 110 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:06.839 people complain and that's just what we do, but it 111 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:09.439 would make sense right with injuries. I mean, this roster, 112 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:11.519 the Pope put together is certainly a good roster, but 113 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:13.199 I don't think it's anywhere close to one of the 114 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:14.879 more talented teams, and he's going to have a lot 115 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:18.759 more talent moving forward. Yet they're not loaded. They've had 116 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:21.519 a lot of injuries. Like Louisville, they clearly just have 117 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:25.000 some guys that aren't great defenders, but again, they find 118 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:28.319 ways to win. And I think there's some real similarities 119 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.600 between both of these coaches and their first seasons as 120 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:32.639 far as how it's gone. Clearly Kentucky's having a better 121 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:35.319 year and clearly is a better team at least they 122 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:37.399 were when they played, and they've got a much better resume. 123 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:40.279 But I see some parallels between these two guys, and 124 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.959 really I'm not sure if it'll be this way the 125 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:45.720 rest of their careers. In Lexington and Louisville. It probably won't, 126 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.680 because I can't imagine a scenario where either of these 127 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:50.600 guys will need to build a completely brand new roster. 128 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:53.399 But I think you did that and you got guys 129 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:55.879 that really everybody for the most part that joined your 130 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:59.079 program from the portal, they had somewhat of a big 131 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:01.160 role where they were rather it be at a bigger 132 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:03.360 school or a smaller school. And I think when you 133 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.639 are shorthanded, you know, it gives guys more more of 134 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:09.399 an opportunity to kind of, you know, make something happen. 135 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:11.360 Like Javon Hadley. I'm not sure he turns into the 136 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:14.160 Javon Hadley that we're seeing now if Cason Pryor is 137 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:15.879 still getting twenty seven to twenty eight. 138 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:16.279 Minutes a game. 139 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.439 And again, you'd be foolish to say that that Louisville's 140 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:21.839 better without Prior, And same thing could be said about 141 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:25.079 Kentucky not having Butler and Jackson Robinson. But you know what, 142 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.600 Kobe Brea, he's comfortable kind of taking on more minutes 143 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:30.759 and having a bigger role. I think, in a weird way, 144 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:33.800 nobody would say these injuries are ideal. You're better when 145 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:36.040 you're at full strength with more talent. But I think 146 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:38.279 you're seeing other guys kind of not have too much 147 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.160 of a tough time kind of finding a new role 148 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.040 whenever they have more minutes available to him. 149 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:47.759 You know, it's it's so funny because you hear it 150 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:52.199 a lot, and I've probably heard you know, Pat Kelsey 151 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:54.079 always says it. You know, he says it a lot, 152 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:57.560 you know that they have an xt man of mentality. Yep, 153 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:00.600 Nick every coach in the country as a next man 154 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.639 up in mentality, Like that's not that's not anything. 155 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:06.399 New, every single one of them. That's their mindset. If 156 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:07.920 you don't have a guy, you get next man's up. 157 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:08.839 Yeah. 158 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:12.279 Yeah, like every coach in the country, Like if you 159 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.959 get like, hey, cliches to say, it's like one of 160 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:18.439 the top five things that you need to say when you're. 161 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.079 Dealing with injuries, if you're if you're a coach. But 162 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:23.920 the difference is. 163 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:25.759 Like what are your guys going to do in the 164 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:30.319 moments when the opportunity presents itself, And so like, you know, 165 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:31.680 let's just take Louisville. 166 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:33.879 I mean, and we've kind of talked about this before. 167 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:37.879 I don't think Javon Hadley is the player that he 168 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.399 is if he's not playing like the. 169 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:42.360 Undersized power forward position. 170 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:46.160 Yep, he's a matchup nightmare down there. And he's really 171 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:49.079 I think, you know, probably in my opinion, I think 172 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:49.639 he's played the. 173 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:52.279 Best basketball of his college career. Not that I watched 174 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:54.000 him a ton of Colorado. 175 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:57.839 But I mean, like, like he has been a dude, 176 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:02.759 you know, and and early on in the year, James 177 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:05.680 Scott wasn't really kind of thought of in any sort 178 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:06.199 of a way. 179 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:08.759 Now he is a major piece. 180 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:13.040 So like they needed those two guys to really step up, 181 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:14.519 and they've done it. 182 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:17.160 And so you know, and and. 183 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:20.399 Like the other night with Kentucky against Tennessee, like you 184 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:21.720 needed Trent Noah to do. 185 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:24.000 Some things and guess what he did it. He got 186 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:24.839 the opportunity. 187 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.959 And it's you know, everybody wants to talk about the 188 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:32.240 eleven points, but like, like if you watch that game, 189 00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:37.000 that kid went toe to toe physically with Tennessee and 190 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:41.360 he won a lot of there. Yes, whether it was 191 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:44.200 running down rebounds and guarding and all of that stuff, 192 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:47.039 like he belonged on that court. 193 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:48.759 It wasn't just smoking mirrors. 194 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:52.519 And so like, you know, that's what these guys, that's 195 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:55.200 what the next man of mentality, you know, and everybody 196 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:58.559 says it, but but who can actually do it? And 197 00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:02.960 both of these programs this year have done an excellent 198 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.320 job when it came to you're a little down of 199 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:09.440 the dumps. You've got guys that you really didn't need 200 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:10.759 to lose, But how. 201 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:11.840 Do you make up for it? 202 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.120 You know, they've been piece mailing it together, but they 203 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:16.159 still been doing it. 204 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.879 Yeah, And I think the cliche as far as next 205 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.960 man up, everybody says it. Everybody has that that's just 206 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.080 a canned answer for a coach if he gets asked 207 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:26.519 about a player not being able to play. But clearly, 208 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:28.600 these guys that play for Pat Kelsey and Mark Pope, 209 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:31.000 it's something that's truly playing out. Hey, I know I'm 210 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:32.600 gonna get more minutes. I better be ready to play. 211 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:35.799 And for the most part, the guys that get more 212 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:38.279 minutes have. But another cliche that is just you know, 213 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:40.960 probably one of the most often set things in sports 214 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:42.759 is one game at a time, we're only worried about. 215 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:45.320 I think that's also a you can tell that's what 216 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:47.679 both these teams have really been able to do. I 217 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:50.480 mean with Kentucky, anytime it seems as if momentum is 218 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:54.120 gone and they're looking at a likely loss, they win Louisville. 219 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:56.440 You know, I think the reason they've been able to 220 00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:59.759 roll through January and February outside of the one lost 221 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:02.000 to JO or to Tech is because they don't get 222 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.120 too high or too low. And I you know, I 223 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:06.840 it's one thing to have all these cliches, but I 224 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:08.559 think it's a mixture of things. I think these guys 225 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:10.320 are really good at relating to people. You can just 226 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:12.840 tell these players for Kentucky and the players for Louisville 227 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.200 they love their coach. But also I think that you're 228 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:18.919 benefiting from having some real maturity on your roster, Like, 229 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:20.919 for the most part, these are grown ass men. I mean, 230 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:24.279 obviously Kentucky's playing a couple of freshmen who play bigger play, 231 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:26.879 I mean, played older than they are. Certainly Trtonoa did 232 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:30.200 the other night. But I think I would hope Kelsey 233 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:32.960 and Pope will realize moving forward they're not going to 234 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:35.919 have such an old roster with a bunch of veterans. 235 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.000 But man, I wouldn't be shocked if these guys end 236 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:40.159 up realizing, you know what, we need to prioritize that 237 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:42.440 to an extent, because there's real value in having guys 238 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:45.120 that have that are mature, that have that have grown 239 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:47.399 up throughout their first few years of college or whatever 240 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:47.799 it may be. 241 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:48.919 I mean, am I crazy? 242 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:50.759 I know they don't look the same, but I think 243 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:53.159 that these two teams kind of have had some similar 244 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:55.120 storylines throughout the season thus far. 245 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:58.639 Well, let's let's let's just think about some of the 246 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:01.320 things that we've even seen and then and then we 247 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:02.960 can actually get an eye on the future. 248 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:03.200 Right. 249 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:06.399 And and I heard a quote I think Rick Patino 250 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:10.200 actually said this today about like his seniors on Saint 251 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:13.840 John's team, because he tells him, He's like, guys, this 252 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:17.080 is over before you know it. And the role of 253 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.000 a senior on a team around this time of the year, 254 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.120 they understand. 255 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.320 It's almost all. 256 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:26.840 It's almost over, and you know, they they start kind 257 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:29.480 of playing I don't want to say with it with 258 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:33.279 a desperation, but they play with this. You know, they 259 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:35.600 they do play desperate to a certain extent, but they 260 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:37.840 play with an unbelievable amount of confidence. 261 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:41.519 And so when you look at Louisville. 262 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:46.840 Hepburn Edwards Hadley like it there's no tomorrow, you know, 263 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:48.919 for for these guys after this year, they got to 264 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.039 they gotta go get it now. 265 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:51.960 When you look at Kentucky. 266 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:53.639 Yeah, there's that is that level of desperation. 267 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:58.399 Yeah, like even like Lamont Butler, Jackson Robinson, like those 268 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:00.559 guys need to rest. 269 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:01.799 There's no tomorrow. 270 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:05.799 That's why Lamont Butler is playing with that shoulder thing. 271 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:08.120 And trying to gut it out and still diving on 272 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:10.080 the floor when to be honest, with that shoulder, you 273 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.559 got no business diving on the floor. But that's that 274 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:15.399 kid's makeup, like it's almost over. You're trying to gut 275 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:18.320 this thing out. And so that's why I think, you know, 276 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:20.879 you see those guys, and you see that veteran leadership, 277 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:25.080 and it's meant so much to both programs this year. 278 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:28.200 And the guys that I mentioned, you know, they're not 279 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:31.360 coming back. And when you look at the freshman classes 280 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:35.440 or the classes that both Wolveoine and Kentucky have coming back, 281 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:38.039 like they still have to replace. 282 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.919 A lot, Well, how you going to do that? 283 00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:43.519 I would imagine Kelsey and Pope are going to look 284 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:45.279 for veterans from the transfer port. 285 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.799 Yeah, a good mixture is the best way to go. 286 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:52.159 And even if it's not as many as you have now, 287 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:55.120 having a few, and even if they're not necessarily guys 288 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:58.320 who produce a ton, I just think having mature and 289 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:00.480 guys that really you know they can set to tell 290 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:02.559 them they're leaders. They're likely going to be older than 291 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:04.200 a lot of their teammates. And if they're doing what 292 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:06.639 you mentioned, especially with Butler out there diving on the floor. 293 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:10.480 I mean that that's going to become infectious, And yeah, 294 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:11.840 I hadn't really thought of it that way, but yeah, 295 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:13.679 these guys, I mean, this is it for them, and 296 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:16.679 they don't feel sorry for themselves after a loss. They're 297 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:18.960 just trying to make the most of it, meaning their career, 298 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.639 what they have left. And I think again that that 299 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:23.600 speaks to the leadership from their coach, but also just 300 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:26.000 their their maturity. All Right, I'm gonna give you another job, can't. 301 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:28.240 You're gonna be the You're gonna be the hypothetical Indiana 302 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.799 Athletic director. What direction would you go in if you 303 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:34.799 know Mike Woodson went he beat Michigan State. I still 304 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:37.120 don't see a scenario where he's back, at least doesn't 305 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:39.279 sound like it. What direction would you go in to 306 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:41.960 try to find a new coach for Indiana? Obviously, college 307 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.240 basketball has changed quite a bit since she since they 308 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:47.200 last hired a coach, and really, Indiana, my opinion, has 309 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:49.799 everything you need to be insanely. 310 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:50.759 Successful at college basketball. 311 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:52.879 They just have not been able to get the coaching 312 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:55.360 thing right since Bob Knight left. They did once get 313 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:57.080 it right, but then they had to get rid of 314 00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:59.240 Kelvin Sampson for something that it's crazy to think was 315 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:02.159 against the rules. But you have any idea of what 316 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:04.559 direction they're going to go or any any any input 317 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:06.399 that you would you would give them if asked. 318 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:11.000 I mean honestly, Like there's probably a lot of names 319 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:13.799 that that people are, you know, throwing out there, and 320 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:16.559 it's you know, you got to make the call and 321 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.679 you got to make him say no and stuff like that. 322 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:24.639 Like there's probably three names that I've kind of I've 323 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.519 kind of settled in, and I wouldn't be surprised if 324 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.360 one of these. 325 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:32.279 Three would end up being the next Indiana head coach. 326 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:36.000 I think TJ. 327 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:39.039 And I'm going to mess up his name because it's not. 328 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.759 The easiest thing. 329 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.639 Otsberger. 330 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:44.679 Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if if he doesn't get 331 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:48.919 a call, and he may be like he may end 332 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:51.639 up being like the first legitimate call, you. 333 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.080 Know what I mean. 334 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:56.559 I went through this, but like he may be the 335 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:00.759 first legitimate call to see if to see if he 336 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:01.279 wants that. 337 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.039 And then the two guys that I. 338 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:14.879 Wouldn't I are Chris Beard from Ole Miss, an old 339 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:18.879 Bobby Knight disciple, but we would see with his past 340 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:22.120 if if Scott Dolson ends up making that call. 341 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.360 But I think that, like if they called. 342 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:27.240 Him, I'd be shocked if he wouldn't have, if he 343 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:31.879 wouldn't say yes. And then the other guy, honestly is 344 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:34.559 the guy that's in believe it's in tonight, Mick Cronin. 345 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:38.159 Yeah, I hadn't thought about Mick cronan. What about Bruce Pearl. 346 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:41.639 He's not leaving, you don't think so. 347 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:44.759 I mean, he's got everything he needs, He's making a 348 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:46.639 lot of money, they're the number one team in the country. Like, 349 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:49.480 he has no reason to leave. But you know, Indiana 350 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.639 is a great job. But if you already have a 351 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:54.399 really really good job and you're successful, it is foolish 352 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.919 to kind of rock the boat and mess that up, 353 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.279 especially considering I mean, there was a time where people 354 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:00.000 didn't think Bruce Perl would be back in college bass, 355 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:01.919 you know. 356 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:05.879 And also like twenty years ago, I think that you 357 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:08.360 would have seen some of these jobs that come open, 358 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:12.559 like the bigger fish of college basketball would have crawled 359 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:14.080 to those places, right. 360 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.919 But now, like you. 361 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:17.759 Can make a ton of money, and you can win 362 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:20.559 a national championship, and in some places you don't have 363 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:23.320 to deal with all the bs and the pressure. 364 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.840 And so I think a lot of these guys like 365 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:26.840 they love that. 366 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:29.840 Yeah that Like I think like Bruce Pearl, like he 367 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:33.360 loves that. Like I'm sure like he loves like Auburn's 368 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:38.000 his thing and like that's his place. They're gonna put 369 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:40.840 up the statue of him at Auburn one day. 370 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.240 Yeah. 371 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:44.200 I mean, we've got Charles Barkley and Bruce Pearl. That's 372 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.720 what That's what's gonna come to mind for people when 373 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.919 they think about Auburn basketball probably until the end of time. 374 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:48.960 Yeah. 375 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:51.559 And I mean like look and and and to be 376 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:52.840 quite honest with you, like. 377 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.840 Look no further. 378 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:57.559 And by the way, as I say this, both guys 379 00:16:57.639 --> 00:17:00.720 are doing a great job and they're in they're you know, 380 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:04.839 present jobs at Kelsey and Mark Pope Louisville and Kentucky. 381 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:08.319 That's who they hired and both of them, Like at 382 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.680 the end, nobody was. 383 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.240 Really shocked that it was Kelsey. 384 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:14.480 But look, let's be honest, Louisville could have hired Kelsey 385 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:18.039 two or three weeks before they did. Yeah, I mean, 386 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:22.119 like it it took a it took a while for 387 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.640 Joshua to be okay with that. 388 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.200 And I think there are some other examples like Pope 389 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:29.079 and Kelsey haven't. I mean, they haven't even finished their 390 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.440 first season, but they were successful at a lower level. 391 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:34.839 They had a winning formula and the challenge was taking 392 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.559 it to the higher level and seeing if it can work. 393 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.720 And I think the days of needing to be this 394 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:41.799 larger than life presence like a Patina or Caliperi, you know, 395 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:43.559 first of all, that's just not really the way to 396 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:45.519 go about it anymore. And you can make up for 397 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:48.400 the larger than life personality if you've got an il 398 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.079 money and you can relate to players and they may 399 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:51.960 not know a whole lot about you, but man, they 400 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.039 feel a connection to you. 401 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:55.000