WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:04.799 All right, let's get it started the five o'clock hour 2 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:08.679 here on a Monday. Yes, it is me. I hope 3 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:12.839 you recognize my voice. If not, my name is Nick Coffee. 4 00:00:12.839 --> 00:00:14.839 I'm the host of this show, and this is what 5 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:17.440 I usually sound like. Last week, it's not the voice 6 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:19.000 of the last week. Yeah, last week was not a 7 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:20.839 great I mean, I don't know how great my voice 8 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:22.719 is in general, but I know last week wasn't great. 9 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:25.359 What's nice. Thank you appreciate that. It's take all the 10 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:27.800 compliments I can get. But we're back for a regular 11 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:30.719 week here. We're getting it started on a Monday. And 12 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:35.759 last week with my illness, with the snow days and NTI, 13 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:37.719 it just felt like we were all out of whack. 14 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:39.960 Austin had to go to the flea market Friday. I 15 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:43.479 ended up taking the day just to get the voice rested, 16 00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:47.560 because it never really hit me that with what I do, 17 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.679 it's hard for my voice to recover. Whenever I am 18 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:53.240 talking for three hours on a talk show, I wouldn't 19 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:55.719 be shocked. I mean, I was talking to my doctor 20 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:00.200 and I said, the voice is my throat doesn't hurt. 21 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:03.439 I don't feel like I'm ill. But yeah, each day 22 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:06.280 my voice gets worse. And you know, I don't think 23 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:10.640 it was the medical degree, in the years of education 24 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:14.640 to become a doctor that gave this this person the 25 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:16.920 ability to realize something rather obvious that I hadn't really 26 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.239 thought about, which is, yeah, your voice is never going 27 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:21.920 to get better if you if you don't really let 28 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:24.959 it rest. So we made the decision to just repurpose 29 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:28.079 some some content from previous shows on Friday, while I 30 00:01:28.120 --> 00:01:29.840 got an extra day to let the voice heal. And 31 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:32.719 we're there and a lot to react to, of course, 32 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:35.760 as always on a Monday, a big weekend to react to, 33 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:37.560 and we'll do exactly that and a lot more before 34 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:38.760 we get out of here at six o'clock. But if 35 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:40.359 you want to join us, you can five oh two 36 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:43.640 five seven one seventy nine hundred is the number if 37 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:45.280 you want to give us a call text line Ellen 38 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:47.840 and Federal Credit Union text line five oh two six 39 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:52.480 five three zero seven ninety. So I haven't talked a 40 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:54.439 whole lot. In fact, I haven't talked much at all 41 00:01:54.760 --> 00:01:58.799 about Louisville's win against Florida State. And look, you had 42 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:02.159 another opportunity to watch this team play. That has been 43 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:05.959 fun as can be. I mean, the revival is happening 44 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:07.760 right before our eyes, and it's just been awesome. I 45 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:10.120 don't want it to end, and I hope it anytime soon. 46 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:11.800 Hopefully this team goes on a long run. But with 47 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.479 Florida State, you know, I look at their personnel, I 48 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:17.439 know who they're coached by, and I find myself thinking, 49 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:21.639 all right, you know, eighty nine eighty one, that's that's 50 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:24.360 better than you know, just win like you know, you 51 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:28.240 were in control, you led for you never trailed at all. 52 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:30.800 It was tied for twenty seconds to the beginning of 53 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:33.479 the game. The lead did get down to like seven, 54 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:37.159 So I found myself doing the balancing act of Okay, 55 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:39.639 why aren't we about twenty seven? Why haven't we beat 56 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:43.639 this team by you know, a billion, but also realizing, 57 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:45.800 you know, that's a that's a silly ask and really 58 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:49.120 unrealistic because you did win and it was never really 59 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:52.240 in doubt. And as in Florida State's not what they 60 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:55.199 used to be under Leonard Hamilton, they're clearly moving on 61 00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:57.520 from him. But they also when you watch him play, 62 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:00.719 like they've got some players like what can can play. 63 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.159 They got a big fella who had a phenomenal night 64 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:07.639 owins that he said number twelve. I mean he had 65 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:09.639 nineteen and nine. So look, Louisle could have been better. 66 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:11.800 They could have been better defensively, trust me, they weren't perfect. 67 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:14.639 But I also think, you know, this is probably what 68 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:16.479 we're gonna get now. Maybe they do end up blowing 69 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:18.479 out some more teams in these next four games to 70 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:21.960 close out the regular season, but I just, you know, 71 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:25.560 I want him to get a good seat so bad. 72 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:28.599 But I think it's really you know that you're only 73 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:31.360 going to be able to do with the committee. I mean, 74 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:34.120 what it comes down to is, does the committee if 75 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:37.840 Louisville finishes with just a loss to Clemson in the 76 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:40.039 AC seats or yeah, just a loss to Clemson in 77 00:03:40.039 --> 00:03:44.520 the ACC Tournament, but they win every game the rest 78 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:47.879 of the way. I feel like they're probably looking at 79 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:51.039 a ceiling of like a five. Maybe if they end 80 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:55.599 up winning out and beat Clemson and Duke, then I 81 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:57.719 think maybe they could potentially get a three. We had 82 00:03:57.719 --> 00:03:59.319 a caller earlier that said he thinks they can get 83 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:02.199 a two. I don't know about that, but maybe they 84 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:05.240 would because they have a really good record. But maybe 85 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:09.000 if they beat Clemson and then lose to Duke Or 86 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:10.000 did I say that already? 87 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:10.520 Yeah? 88 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:11.960 I think I said that one already. So the scenario 89 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:14.319 where they went out in the regular season and then 90 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:16.879 lose to Clemson in the semis, at that point you're 91 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:20.120 probably I don't want to say your ceiling is a six, 92 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:22.079 but it wouldn't shock me if that's what it ends 93 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:25.079 up being. So we know what it is. The rest 94 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:29.279 of the way. You're probably gonna get a decent shot 95 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:31.160 from some of these teams because they are now playing 96 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:33.319 a top twenty Louisville team like there's a there's value 97 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:34.839 on the line. He won't get them in the tournament 98 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:38.120 because that's how bad these teams are. But when I 99 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:40.879 found myself thinking, okay, we won by eight, why didn't 100 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:43.439 we win by twenty, That's where I realized, look, stop, 101 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:48.600 like this team has done phenomenal job thus far, and 102 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:52.519 they've proven that you know, they can beat teams if 103 00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:54.639 they're not ready to play by a lot, and they've 104 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:59.720 done it many times this year. And honestly, finding out 105 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:02.160 right the game that there was a bug going around 106 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:04.319 that made the one that made a lot more sense. 107 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:07.199 Whenever you saw them look not lethargic like, I think 108 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:09.399 this team brought the energy in the effort, but I 109 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:11.360 think early on you could tell some of these guys 110 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:13.720 were just tired right out of the gate, and it's 111 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:15.839 probably because they've been dealing with a bug. I don't 112 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:17.120 know if it was the flu or what it was, 113 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:19.279 but coach Kelsey had to get an IV before practice 114 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:23.199 on Friday. Rain couldn't practice on Friday. A lot of 115 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:25.519 other guys that practice Friday, it sounds like they'd missed 116 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:27.920 some days of practice during the week because of the 117 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:30.480 illness that was going around. So all things considered, I 118 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:33.639 got nothing to complain about. I mean, Chucky Hepburn continues 119 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:35.079 to be one of the best players in the country. 120 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:39.079 Twenty nine points, broke a record, making seventeen of nineteen 121 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:44.720 free throws. Also ended up with was it six steals 122 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:46.680 that he had? I think it was six, maybe five? 123 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:52.240 They pull it up now. Yeah, Chucky finished with let's 124 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:56.439 see here, twenty nine points to go along with five steals, 125 00:05:57.040 --> 00:05:59.759 which I believe he's like the only player in college 126 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:03.040 back basketball ever to have at least twenty nine points 127 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:08.920 to go along with five steals. Also, Javon Hadley, a 128 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:11.759 big game for him eighteen and eleven, one of the 129 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:15.399 more versatile players you'll find. A tough matchup, no doubt. 130 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:19.959 Terrence Edwards a quiet sixteen points on six of eleven 131 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.120 from shooting. You got eleven from rain Smith as he 132 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:26.279 knocked down three more triples. So again, Louisville really was 133 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:28.959 just the same team they've been all year, and at 134 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:32.120 times they led by fourteen to fifteen, but they ended 135 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:35.839 up only winning by eight. But you know, and I'm 136 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:38.720 glad somebody brought this up on the text line. And 137 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:40.600 I know they're not saying that Florida State's good, but 138 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:42.759 this is just an obvious point, like Florida State is 139 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:45.000 the team that, like, you're probably not going to blow 140 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:49.879 out because despite them having another underwhelming year and Leonard 141 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:52.040 Hamilton's moving on at the end of the season, you know, 142 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:57.040 they're still a sixteen and eleven team, and even though 143 00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:02.920 they've lost nine games league play, they haven't really been 144 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:07.040 blown out that many times. I mean, Clemson got him bad, 145 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.240 but right after Leonard Hamilton announced he was stepping down, 146 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:13.360 they did go. They did win two in a row. 147 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:16.720 In fact, they won Yeah, since Leonard Hamilton stepped down, 148 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:18.600 I think this is probably the best way to describe 149 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:21.279 Florida State. Again, this isn't me saying Louisville beat a 150 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:23.560 really good team or that you know that win had 151 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:25.680 a lot of value. People just don't realize it. But 152 00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:30.040 they are three and two since Leonard Hamilton decided to 153 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:33.439 step down at the end of the season, and the 154 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:36.720 only two losses they have are at Louisville and at Clemson. 155 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:39.279 So again, like that that may not mean anything to you, 156 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:41.360 but I think this Florida State team is going to 157 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:43.959 try to play really hard for Leonard Hamilton in his 158 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:46.439 last four games, and I think that I think, you know, 159 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:49.879 I think that makes them dangerous depending on who they play. 160 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:54.040 Although they have North Carolina tonight, they're at home. You 161 00:07:54.040 --> 00:08:00.240 betting on this one? Austin, So Carolina is project to 162 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:03.040 win seventy nine to seventy seven according to Ken Palm. 163 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:07.600 To me, this feels like a Florida State win because again, 164 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:10.319 they're they're playing harder and where is it at It's 165 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:13.639 at Florida State. Okay, I mean I don't know, man, Like, 166 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:16.079 I probably won't bet on it just because I can't 167 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:18.680 trust either of these teams. If it'd say a good 168 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:21.120 emotional win for that because well and also let's keep 169 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:23.199 in mind and the state isn't good. Yeah, I'm sure not. 170 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:26.279 North Carolina isn't good. Like that's another big factor. So 171 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.959 if Florida State's plus three and a half, I'm damn 172 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.759 near tended to take to take Florida State money line, Yeah, 173 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:33.759 that's kind of too close. Not like that, because again, Carolina, 174 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:35.759 the fact that they're still mentioned to be like a 175 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.799 potential tournament team is insane to me because again, they're 176 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:42.960 having a really bad year for their standard, but they're 177 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:45.200 also having a bad year in the ACC when we 178 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:47.679 know the ACC is not great. I mean, we're sitting 179 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:51.279 here at Carolina is ten and six in the ACC, 180 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:57.200 seventeen and eleven overall, and their best win in the 181 00:08:57.240 --> 00:09:01.759 ACC is against SMU on January the seventh. 182 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:04.120 Put it to you this way, would anybody else in 183 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:06.399 the nation that had that resume or nother question? 184 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:10.159 Yes? And look, they played such a challenging schedule in 185 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:13.759 the non conference that and they played these games competitively. 186 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:16.240 They lost to Michigan State in overtime. That you get 187 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:21.919 beat bad by Bama. They got beat by thirteen against Auburn, 188 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:24.960 But again you just play these teams they played. They 189 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:31.039 played Kansas, Auburn, Michigan State, Alabama, Florida in Ucla all 190 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.279 before Christmas. They lost all those games. They lost all 191 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:37.360 those games that I just mentioned to those teams, other 192 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:40.240 than they beat LSU by I'm sorry, Ucla by two. 193 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:44.159 So just because they played a loaded schedule, that's how 194 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:48.120 they can be ten and six in the ACC with 195 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:52.480 no meaningful wins really since I mean they beat SMU 196 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:54.799 at home, so that's a quad two win, and yet 197 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.879 they're still sniffing the bubble and they still have a 198 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:59.159 decent number in the Ken Palm and the net. And 199 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:01.120 it's just because they played a loaded schedule. They're a 200 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:04.159 good example of you play a loaded schedule and you know, 201 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:06.240 you know, you win your games you're supposed to win 202 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:09.039 for the most part, then you'll you'll not be terrible. 203 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:12.360 So I just think nobody's considering when they do beat 204 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:16.200 NC State or they beat Virginia, or they beat Syracuse 205 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:19.559 or even pitt who's falling apart or Boston College. They 206 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:22.360 needed over time, like they're not like they don't get 207 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:24.879 the benefit of it out in my opinion, and the 208 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:26.600 only benefit of out they would actually be able to 209 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.559 get would be the brand, but that doesn't matter. Like 210 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:31.279 this clearly is not like Hubert Davis coaching Carolina is 211 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:35.200 not Roy Williams during his prime or anything like that. 212 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:37.600 So again, Loivill beat Florida State, it was kind of 213 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:39.600 just a take care of business game, and tomorrow night, 214 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:41.279 I feel like it's kind of the same thing because 215 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:44.799 they're taking on a Virginia Tech team, who, we're being honest, 216 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:46.759 is one of the I mean, I don't know, they 217 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:48.279 were one of the worst teams in the league early 218 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:49.960 on in league play when it started. I don't know 219 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.799 if they've I mean to me, there's there's a bottom 220 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:56.600 tier of the ACC that's really really bad, and that 221 00:10:56.759 --> 00:11:03.240 is Miami, Boston College, NC State, and then after that 222 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:07.879 you've got another tier that is really bad in Notre Dame, 223 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:14.919 Virginia Cal and Syracuse. And then after that you've got Pittsburgh, 224 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:18.039 Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech. Those are all teams 225 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:21.080 that are seven and nine in league play, and then 226 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:23.519 you've got Carolina and Stanford that are kind of on 227 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:26.519 their own with a nine and seven and ten and 228 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:28.799 six record, and then after that, I mean, look, it's 229 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:31.600 duke at the top by themselves. Clemson and Louisville still 230 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:33.720 both fourteen and two. Louisville, of course has the tie 231 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:36.000 breaker and that so they'll be the two seed if 232 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.879 that's how it finishes. SMU and Wake Forest are now 233 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:43.840 tied at eleven and five for fourth place, and then 234 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:46.440 there's the drop off again. It's North Carolina, Stanford pitt 235 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.279 and Florida State Georgia Tech. I guess you can put 236 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:52.320 Virginia Tech in there, but to me, I mean, their 237 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:58.840 best win is gosh, Virginia Tech's twelve and five overall, 238 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:01.879 seven and nine in the leaguegue and the best win 239 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:06.159 they have in league play, gosh, they just be at 240 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:09.879 all seven of their wins Louis's opponent tomorrow, Virginia Tech 241 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.480 and ACC play have come against like the worst of 242 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:17.759 the worst. They still finish with Louisville Clemson. I mean, 243 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:20.720 I mean, I feel like they're feel like their schedule 244 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.639 has set up very beneficial for them, and yet they're 245 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:28.000 still terrible. So the best win on the season for 246 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:34.679 Virginia Tech is gosh, this is crazy. Their best win 247 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.799 on the season is Florida State when they beat them 248 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:40.840 at the end of January. So again tomorrow another game, 249 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.639 louisll should just be able to take care of business. 250 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:47.559 Then they'll come back on Saturday to play pitt And 251 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:50.080 they actually finish the season with three straight home games, 252 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:53.240 so hopefully Louisville can have some good crowds there to 253 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:55.279 round out the irregular season. And look, you got a 254 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:59.480 chance to finish eighteen and two in the ACC. That 255 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:04.759 would make you twenty five and yeah, twenty five and 256 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:07.720 six to close out the regular season. And you know, 257 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:10.600 we do get caught up in talk in bracketology, seating 258 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:14.320 quad one wins, all that stuff, because it matters, But 259 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:16.879 sometimes it's nice to just look at that record and 260 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:19.840 look at the wins and look at the beatdowns they've 261 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:22.440 given to some of these teams, and you know, again, 262 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.039 a lot of things can be true. Don't have to 263 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:26.720 be one specific thing like Louisvill's taking advantage of the 264 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:30.720 ACC being in a in a in a bad way. 265 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.679 But they're also a good team that I think is 266 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:38.159 proven that right now, especially since January. If they're if 267 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.240 they come ready to play, which more often than not 268 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:43.120 they do, and then they start making triples, I mean 269 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:45.360 they're gonna be a tough beat for a lot of teams, 270 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:48.679 and that's a good place to be in, especially considering 271 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.279 you know where we were the last few years. All right, 272 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.720 five x two five seven seventy nine hundred is the number. 273 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:55.720 If you guys want to jump in and give us 274 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:57.200 a call, we'll go back to the phone lines. Now. 275 00:13:57.240 --> 00:14:00.919 Welcome in, Kirk. Captain Kirk, I should say, is with 276 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:03.039 us here on Sports Talk seven ninety. What's happening? Man? 277 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.879 Beat me up, Scottie. 278 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.480 How are you doing? Brother? 279 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.240 I'm doing pretty good. Well. You know this is going 280 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:12.679 to be an off the wall question, but I gotta 281 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:15.360 see where you where you may be on this. But 282 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:19.480 how do you think Louisville would fare this year with 283 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:24.200 a KP coach team with the ACC down as it is? 284 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:26.360 I mean, I can't help but think it would be 285 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:29.559 an eight and twenty five season again, of course, but 286 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:32.279 you know, I'm sitting around and I'm twiddling my thumbs, 287 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:34.399 and I got all this going on in my head, 288 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:36.360 and I'm like, man, I need to pick Nick's brain 289 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.279 a little bit and see see what he would think 290 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:40.399 about that. And I'll just let you talk and comment. 291 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:40.600 Man. 292 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:42.799 Thank you appreciate it. Kirk. Yeah, I mean I would, 293 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:45.279 I would say it'll probably. My guess would be it 294 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:48.240 maybe be like a two win bump, like at best, 295 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:51.039 like if they ended up going I don't know if 296 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:54.480 they There's nothing as far as the amount of losses 297 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.480 that would surprise me because I just think they're I mean, 298 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:00.159 like nothing's nothing. I mean when you have a five 299 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:04.360 hundred record against Division two teams in exhibition games, and like, 300 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.320 let's be real, the ACC wasn't great last year or 301 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:08.080 the year before, and Louisville was still the worst team 302 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:11.320 by themselves. So I think if it's the same team 303 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:15.519 with that staff one, I don't know how they would 304 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:17.879 ever even have been here, But I think they'd be 305 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.519 better because I think they have good, better players and 306 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:21.039 I think these guys have a good head about them, 307 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.840 like they like there's leadership on the floor with these guys. Now, 308 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:26.759 I think they're all a reflection of the coach. But 309 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:31.120 I mean, I think they'd be better, but still a 310 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:35.159 mess because look, I think when you consider like what 311 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:37.440 has helped Pat Kelsey be able to get off to 312 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:40.000 such a good start in year one, I mean, I 313 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.120 think the list is endless as far as things that 314 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:46.399 you could that you could point out, but what we 315 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:48.759 learned the hard way as far as things that are 316 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:52.000 really important that you sometimes just get lost in watching 317 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.559 your team and you don't think about it because it's 318 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:55.679 you know, it's behind the scenes, kind of deep into 319 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:58.519 the weeds. But like your culture, right, like what's the 320 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:03.399 energy like? And I think these guys, I mean, I 321 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:05.759 don't want I've tried to say this conversation until the 322 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:09.240 season ends, whenever that may be, because I have a 323 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:13.519 lot of confidence in Louisville basketball moving forward with Pat Kelsey, 324 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:16.720 how could you not? Right? But I do at times 325 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:21.240 ask myself, all right, how lucky do we actually get 326 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:25.039 with Chucky Hepburn Because that guy's sensational. I mean, he's 327 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:27.440 one of the best guards that I've ever watched play here. 328 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:30.799 Now it's only been less than a season at this point, 329 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:35.480 but I mean he's special, really special. And I don't 330 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:39.759 know if Pat Kelsey could find another guy like that 331 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:41.840 in the next ten years. Not because it's going to 332 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:45.159 be insanely difficult because Louisville's going to have a tough 333 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.240 time selling why players will want to come play here. 334 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.200 But I just think Chucky's that good. I mean, I 335 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.639 think he's one of the best players in the country, 336 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.600 and I think it's numbers kind of prove that. You know, 337 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:56.320 Jamon Hadley, he's kind of the perfect guy to have 338 00:16:57.399 --> 00:17:00.480 in this situation, a fifth year guy taking advance of 339 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:05.160 the extra year of mature grown up who has really 340 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.200 not only been the perfect guy as far as culture 341 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:09.200 locker room, a guy who works his ass off, but 342 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:12.400 he's also somebody that man with case and pryor going 343 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:14.920 out so early, I'm really lucky. We're really lucky we 344 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:19.400 had a guy like I mean like Javon who can 345 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.720 clearly take on a bigger role and he's done it 346 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:25.119 since Cason went out. He's a mismatched problem, right. He 347 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.559 can take a smaller guy that wants to try to 348 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:29.720 guard him on the perimeter, uses size and get to 349 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:32.240 his spot in the paint. If you're a bigger guy, 350 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:35.160 he'll step outside and knock down a jump shot or 351 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:39.799 go around you and get fouled. So I think, again, 352 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:42.279 it's really been kind of like the perfect storm. And 353 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:45.839 I say that knowing that, yeah, they're actually missing two 354 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:50.000 guys that would have played a lot. I think other 355 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:52.799 guys got better and they were able to identify bigger 356 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:56.559 roles that they needed to take on because of the injuries. 357 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:59.079 But make no mistake about it, Like you don't have 358 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:02.880 a guy like Cason Pryor who if shots are if 359 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:05.359 three point shots are falling, And by the way, I 360 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:07.200 wish he wouldn't have shot as many threes as he did. 361 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:09.400 But like, let's say he's just a guy that's an energy, 362 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:12.279 run the floor, block shots. I mean, like that's a 363 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:14.359 weapon that you don't have, and yet you're still having 364 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:17.160 a phenomenal season. Corn Johnson was the sixth Man of 365 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:20.039 the Year in the PAC twelve. He's a different guard 366 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.839 than you have on than you have right now. I 367 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:25.160 mean he's a really good shooter, not Rayin Smith, because 368 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:29.519 nobody is, but like he's a dynamic playmaker that could 369 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:32.599 have made this team even more dangerous. But I sometimes, 370 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:34.799 again just forget that you're missing guys that were supposed 371 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:37.000 to be playing because of how good this team has been. 372 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.720 So to answer your question, Kirk, they probably would have 373 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:44.000 been better if it's the same team. But I really 374 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:46.400 think it's been the perfect storm of a lot of 375 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:50.319 different factors that has led to Louville being able to 376 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:54.039 not only win, to safely feel in the tournament to 377 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:56.039 be in the top twenty right now with just with 378 00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:59.240 four games left. But the way in which these guys 379 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:03.000 go about it that's helped. I think fans not only 380 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.839 get excited about louisvill basketball again, how could you not 381 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:07.519 be excited you get a top twenty team. But man like, 382 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:10.759 this group's gonna be remembered for a long time, and 383 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.880 I just hope they finish strong. That's out of our control, 384 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:15.240 of course, but I guess I need to take my 385 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.759 own advice and just enjoy the ride until we get there, 386 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:21.519 because if they win by forty or fifty tomorrow, I'm 387 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.079 gonna love every second of it. Don't know what it's 388 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:26.599 gonna mean. I mean, that'd be impressive, and that's an exaggeration, 389 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.160 but yeah, I love this team. All right, quick break, 390 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:31.440 we'll come back on the other side, talk a little 391 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:35.480 Governor's Cup, because it certainly looks like the SEC may 392 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:37.839 go to nine, and if that's the case, I don't 393 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:41.599 know if the Governor's Cup's gonna survive much longer. Also, 394 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:44.480 we'll take a look at Kentucky the rest of the 395 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:47.200 way here, because I still get some pushback from Kentucky 396 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:50.599 fans who say, hey, I don't know, if we slip 397 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:52.400 up and lose to some of these teams left, maybe 398 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:54.119 we would be a bubble team. I just don't see 399 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:57.200 how it could happen. All right, quick break, we'll roll 400 00:19:57.240 --> 00:20:00.000 along here. Five o'clock hour. Coffee and company. Feel about Thorne. 401 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.680