WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.519 Utahs at Michale tomorrow without their head coach Greg Smith. 2 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:07.960 Of course, let go so appreciate Bill stopping by Sean Mooney, 3 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:12.000 Zach Harper, but time now one of my favorites, Roxy Bernstein, 4 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:14.439 my buddy from the PAC twelve network. On the show 5 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:17.359 on a Tuesday, ran King of top five Counting Crows 6 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:18.320 song question Mark. 7 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:24.640 Oh, absolutely top five. I would say, you know, it's 8 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:28.559 Spence live. That might be my favorite song they play live. 9 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:31.320 It's actually what I was gonna say live. It's hard 10 00:00:31.320 --> 00:00:32.759 to beat that song live for sure. 11 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:37.280 Yes, that that song live, just the way they have 12 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:43.320 tuned it over the years, it really resonates and it 13 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.399 waits a ball. Look, everybody loves mister Jones like it's funny. 14 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:48.719 I've had these discussions with Adam over the years, like 15 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:51.640 when you get to his level, right, when you have 16 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:56.399 number one type hits and songs everybody knows when he 17 00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:00.560 plays the show, there's probably five songs you have to play, right, 18 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:03.640 Like for them, it's mister Jones. I think it's rain 19 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:09.640 King maybe hanging around long December. It's funny. Adam doesn't 20 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:13.000 necessarily see it the way I do. But are you 21 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:14.560 agree with me? Like when you go to see a 22 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:18.359 band like that, there's like there's staples that have to 23 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:21.840 be in the catalog for that night, wouldn't you say absolutely? 24 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:24.159 I just love that you call him Adam, Like we're 25 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:26.760 just having a conversation about your friend named Adam. For 26 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:29.319 our listeners, it's Adam Durretz. He's the lead singer of 27 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:32.239 Counting Crows. He's one of Rocksy's best friends. 28 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:36.120 And you know when he's putting the set list together 29 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:38.599 like before a show, because they change it every night. 30 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:43.000 It's not the same show. Like there are certain songs 31 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.480 they'll play on each tour that they're ready to play, 32 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:48.599 and there's some songs that aren't in the bag if 33 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:52.120 you will, like you know, like a golf bag analogy there. 34 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:55.200 But out of the songs that they have for that 35 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:58.599 particular tour that they've either been working on at sound check, 36 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:04.319 I've learned my place spence over the years because sometimes 37 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:06.599 if I ask for a song, he's not going to 38 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.000 play it just because he can piss me off. So 39 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.840 and so we have learned over the years that we 40 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:16.479 just kind of okay, all right, and not chime in, 41 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:19.599 you know, not even show any emotion if he says 42 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:21.199 he's going to play a song that we really want 43 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:24.960 to hear in that particular night at some point though 44 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:27.879 there's a few our buddies. We've told him we want 45 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:31.000 to design one set list before you retire. We have 46 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:36.120 to have one, and he says we'll see so, which 47 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:36.840 probably means no. 48 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.159 That's cool though, I mean, because you know, obviously a 49 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:43.319 child of the nineties, man, I love the Crows. It 50 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:45.719 was a long December for Craig Smith, and he won't 51 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:48.680 be hanging around anymore. 52 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:51.759 Nice there you go, good, good segue, good tie. 53 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:54.039 And you know, ultimately I'm gutted for a good man, 54 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:56.439 for your first and foremost. And I know you got 55 00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:58.240 to know him, but your reaction when you heard the 56 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:00.599 Craig Smith had been relieved of his duties around. 57 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:05.000 Here, disappointed for him, because, like you, I have an 58 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:07.360 affinity for Craig. I think he's first off, he's just 59 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.039 a terrific dude. He's a fun guy to talk to, 60 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:12.159 to be around. I mean, I'll just get like a 61 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:15.159 random text from Craig, like I'm doing some game and 62 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:18.960 he'll just text me like because he's watching, and like 63 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:21.319 I've hit him up on certain places where I go, Like, 64 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.960 for example, his connection to the Dakotas right now, I 65 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:27.439 was going out there for NCAA hockey tournament and I 66 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.360 hit him up and he was like searching for a 67 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:32.199 couple of places to send me to. So I had 68 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.840 a pretty good connection with him that goes back to 69 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:39.360 his days at Utah State, and it really is. I'm 70 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:41.960 sad for him. I'm disappointed for him because I do 71 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.960 think he's a heck of a coach. I really do 72 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.759 think Craig is a good coach. I understand the move 73 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:49.280 from Utah's perspective. I'm not saying I agree with it, 74 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:54.120 which Mark Harland felt he needed to do, but just 75 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:55.719 the first thing that comes to mind sense is by 76 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:56.719 disappointment for Craig. 77 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:01.439 Yeah, and there's a personal element to these stories that 78 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:03.039 I don't think we do a good enough job of 79 00:04:03.080 --> 00:04:05.280 covering in the media because we're so like, all right, 80 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:07.319 what's next and what went wrong? Like he's a good 81 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.280 man with a good family and a five million dollar 82 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:12.599 parachute helps, but it's hard when you lose a gig 83 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:15.000 that that you care about, and I know how much 84 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:17.600 you cared about it, So when it comes to what 85 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:20.399 could be next for this program? Roxy, It's interesting you're 86 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.639 familiar with our market, and I kind of go back 87 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:25.959 and forth with the dynamic here because there are a 88 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:28.600 lot of people that simply just jump to we need 89 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:31.959 a former ute, We need somebody who's familiar with the program. 90 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:36.319 We need somebody who's familiar with the challenges and the oddities. 91 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.439 Honestly speaking, that this market poses that don't really exist 92 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:41.879 in many other places. As much as I love it here, 93 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:43.480 I know that there are things that you have to 94 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:45.879 traverse that can be a little bit complex. Do you 95 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:48.519 think it has to be a Utah guy or do 96 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:50.680 you think Mark Harlan goes the way of trying to 97 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:53.839 find one of these young candidates at a smaller school 98 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:55.720 that's done a really good job, or maybe somebody has 99 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:58.160 been out of the game. Like, what's your take on 100 00:04:58.240 --> 00:04:59.319 what could be next around here? 101 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:03.439 At certain places, I do believe you need that connection. 102 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:06.519 I don't think Utah is one of those places that 103 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.519 I think Utah has had enough success, enough tradition, and 104 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:14.399 enough history that they can bring in somebody from the 105 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:17.480 outside if you will. And look, a lot of times, 106 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:19.879 if you hire a coach that doesn't have that connection 107 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:24.920 to a specific program, then you hire an assistant on 108 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:30.079 your staff that fits and understands the landscape, like for example, 109 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:34.360 mile of Moderate cal Right, there are so many hoops 110 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:37.560 and so much political red tape you have to deal 111 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:40.000 with at a place like cal that you have to 112 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:42.639 have an understanding of what you're up against. And I 113 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:44.800 think the same can be said for a place like Stanford. 114 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:47.800 Utah is not in that same boat. To me, I 115 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:49.480 think Utah is a place where you can bring in 116 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:55.199 somebody that doesn't necessarily have that connection because of the 117 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:58.439 tradition and the success that this program has had in 118 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:00.879 the past. And you look up the rafters and you 119 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:03.680 see the likes of you know, a Keith van Horn's 120 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:07.000 name up there, Andrew Bogan, Andre Miller, all these great 121 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.639 players that have come through, and like, for example, you know, 122 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:11.759 Rick Pajeris came through and had a lot of success. 123 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:14.319 I don't believe that for me, that wouldn't be a 124 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:17.279 prerequisite as far as who the next coach of the 125 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:19.399 University of Utah men's hoops team should be. 126 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:23.120 I do think and I have said, and I haven't 127 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:26.879 necessarily always been on this train, only because I am 128 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.199 well aware of when guys have an opportunity to live 129 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.839 that NBA lifestyle, they don't necessarily want to go back 130 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:35.560 to the college days. It's not all tried and true. 131 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:40.120 Calipari Patino BYU hired Kevin Young. But you know, there's 132 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:42.439 some former utes in pro basketball right now that are 133 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.879 very respected and highly thought of. And I want to 134 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.639 ask about Alex Jensen, who's a lead assistant for Jason 135 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:51.240 Kidd in Dallas, and Alex was Quinn Snyder's lead assistant 136 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:54.360 here in Salt Lake. He worked for Will Hardy for 137 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:56.600 one year and essentially that was just like he's under 138 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:58.920 contract and they liked him, so you can hang around Will. 139 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:00.800 I don't think everyone's gonna have him on a staff. 140 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:06.040 But five years ago, when Mark decided to fire Larry Koskoviak, 141 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.800 the name Alex Jensen surfaced, and I said on air, 142 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.639 I don't think he takes it because I thought at 143 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:14.720 the time he was going to parlay his tenure with 144 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:17.079 the Jazz into a head coaching opportunity in the pros 145 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:19.920 that has never come. And so five years later, I 146 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.199 think Alex might be more inclined to answer the phone 147 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:24.319 that he was, you know, not too long ago. What 148 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:26.680 are your thoughts on Alex Jensen as a potential candidate 149 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:28.319 to replace dreg Well. 150 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:31.279 I'm familiar with him to an extent, but one thing 151 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:34.399 I do know is Jason Kidd thinks the world of him, because, 152 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:36.680 as you know, I went to college with Jason. I'm 153 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:40.079 still friendly with him, and I've asked him about, you know, 154 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:44.639 guys on his staff for example, and he raves about him, 155 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:47.360 says he's a phenomenal coach, just a great person to 156 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:50.839 have on the staff and be around on a daily basis. 157 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:54.560 And that's a ringing endorsement from somebody like Jason Kitt 158 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:57.959 And as you look at the landscape now, it's ever 159 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:01.879 changing landscape spence of college out We're just seeing more 160 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:07.319 and more pro people have a connection and maybe looking 161 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.399 to get into the college game. And whether it's for example, 162 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:12.600 on the football side, with guys like Andrew Luck and 163 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:15.639 Ron Rivera that are going back, they're not coaching, but 164 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.160 they're going to be around the game. But with this 165 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:23.120 nil and roster management we're seeing these days and free 166 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:28.720 agency that is taking the college basketball land landscape by storm, 167 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.360 it could possibly help having somebody with that pro experience 168 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:35.559 and look, Kevin young down at BYU not only is 169 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.120 having success this year, but let's face it, there's a 170 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:42.200 lot of money right with BYU basketball, and to be 171 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:44.320 able to acquire the talent that they have and the 172 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:47.960 great freshman for example, demon and catchings they have this year, 173 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:50.159 it took a lot of money to get those guys. 174 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.679 And next year with de Bantha comes in, it's a 175 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:57.440 huge amount of money that he's getting paid to go 176 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:01.240 to BYU. That's the landscape you're operator now, and you 177 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:03.960 have to find those resources. You have to find the revenue. 178 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:07.360 And I know fran Frascilla put out a tweet, you know, 179 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:11.000 my colleague at ESPN about the commitment that Utah financially 180 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:13.200 needs to make and I'm not exactly sure where their 181 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:17.440 NIL is, but my guess, just just knowing where some 182 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:19.919 of the league is that they're probably in the bottom 183 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:24.000 third as far as money that they're having their NIL 184 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:28.240 collective for basketball. Does that change? I think that when 185 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:31.960 you look at the scenario, you have to explore the 186 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:37.879 entire landscape of where Utah basketball is at right now. 187 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:40.960 You make this move with Craig Smith, that shows me 188 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:43.639 that you're committed to winning. Well, there's more ways to 189 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:45.960 show than just making a move like this that you 190 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:49.559 committed to having success with your basketball program. 191 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:53.120 Roxy Bernstein calls Adam Durretz Adam and Jason Kidd Jason 192 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:56.200 just so you know you do you? Jason and Adam 193 00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:57.559 have like a text threat Roxy. 194 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:01.279 They're on separate tech threats I have And by the way, 195 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:02.919 I actually call him Jay Kid usually. 196 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:05.320 Now, now there we go, give me the what's what's 197 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:07.559 the mount rushmore of your most famous friends? 198 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:11.559 Oh? I mean those are the top of the chain 199 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:16.440 right there. I mean, certainly, Adam. Are you familiar with 200 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:17.519 the actor Eric Dane? 201 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.759 I know who Eric Dane is. 202 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.399 Yes, Eric and I grew up together and we're still 203 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.879 very close. In fact, we are fantasy football partners on 204 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:26.840 our league that all our buddies grew up with. 205 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:28.519 Wow. Very impressive. 206 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:29.720 Yeah, that's another one. 207 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:33.360 Very impressive. What do you tell me what you're expecting? 208 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:36.679 So Josh Eilert's the interim head coach and they're at 209 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:40.440 McHale tomorrow and they're going to play an Arizona team 210 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:44.200 that's probably a little bit grumpy. So Utah's first game 211 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:47.320 without Craig is ada McHale against Arizona. How do you 212 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:49.679 think these young men respond. They've got to be gutted. 213 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:52.200 You know, you sign on the dotted line to play 214 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:54.279 for a coach, your parents trust the coach to take 215 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:56.960 care of the son. We know the deal. So how 216 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:58.240 do you think they're going to respond? What are you 217 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.480 expecting the McHale tomorrow night? 218 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:03.480 First half, Arizona's going to be a little grumpy. Yes, 219 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.679 that might be the understatement of the year because the 220 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:09.080 way they lost that game to the UI the other night. 221 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:13.480 They're gonna be extremely ticked off hitting in it this matchup, 222 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:17.919 But I'm not sure. You never know what you're gonna get, right. 223 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:22.600 It's easier to assess where a professional team is at 224 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.840 after a move like this, whether it's a major league 225 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:27.679 team that fires a manager mid season or an NBA 226 00:11:27.799 --> 00:11:30.639 team that makes the move like this, and they usually 227 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:34.240 come out and respond because they take it personally and 228 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:37.399 the connection that they have to Craig Smith. You wonder 229 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:40.879 how it's resonating in the locker room right that. Do 230 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:44.000 they feel they let Craig Smith down. It's certainly an 231 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:46.840 emotional charge group right now, and you can't blame these 232 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:49.600 are eighteen to twenty two, twenty three year old kids, 233 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:53.039 and they're going to feel some empathy for Craig. They're 234 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:56.480 going to be upset, and probably some of them are 235 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.039 looking in the mirror wondering what could I have done 236 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:03.799 better that could have kept Craig here. And so I 237 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:06.679 would expect a team that's going to be emotionally charged. 238 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:09.559 They're going to come out and ready to go tomorrow night. 239 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:12.399 I fully expect that it's a good group of kids, 240 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:16.080 and I think they'll try to play honestly for Craig 241 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:21.360 tomorrow night, that they know they let him down, and 242 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:23.440 in this way they can turn the page and help 243 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:27.679 honor their coach by going out there with a high 244 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.360 level performance against a terrific team in Arizona. Yeah. 245 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.200 Well said. And in order to be fair to Craig Roxy, 246 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:35.840 I've asked all my guests this week this question, I'm 247 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:37.679 going to ask you the same question. And I don't 248 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.679 want this to come across as callous and I'm not 249 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:42.480 trying to knock on the group, But you referenced where's 250 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:45.679 the nil, where's the collective? What's the deal with that? 251 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:49.279 We don't fully know? Catchings and demon reportedly are seven 252 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:53.120 figure kids down at Brigham Young and aj Debants is 253 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:55.559 getting more than five million dollars to play five months 254 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:58.000 of basketball, So we know they've got a ticking down there, 255 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:02.000 but whether it's nil and sadly, this also does fall 256 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:04.960 partly on Craig. This team was picked to finish sixteenth 257 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:06.960 in the conference for a reason. There's just not a 258 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.960 ton of top shelf talent on that roster. And I 259 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:12.399 actually think there's an argument to be made that Craig 260 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:15.759 did a good job coaching a group that didn't necessarily 261 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:17.679 have the raw talent that some of the other teams 262 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:22.200 had to a situation where they did overshoot expectations based 263 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:24.679 off the preseason poll. But as a guy that caused 264 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:27.320 a lot of these games, how would you articulate what 265 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.360 you believe the talent level is on this roster this year? 266 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:34.399 The talent level is just like you said, near the 267 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.600 bottom of the Big twelve. And there is a reason 268 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:40.759 why they were picked in that position. For example, they 269 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:43.440 don't have a dynamic point guard that could set people up. 270 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:46.960 It was an offense that was able to score points 271 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:50.440 because of ball movement and connectivity. Yes, Gate Madsen was 272 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:53.120 the guy they were looking to to hit the big shot, 273 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:57.919 but it wasn't. They didn't have that dynamic playmaker that 274 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:00.600 they've had in the past, so that I think Craig 275 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:03.399 came up with a good system that gave them chances 276 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:06.840 for success. But at the same time, I get it 277 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:09.080 when you're assessing your program, when you're Mark Harlan, you're 278 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:12.759 the administration the University of Utah, you take a whole 279 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.799 broad scope of it and you want the talent level better. 280 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.799 There's good players in the program. I think Ezrasar is 281 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:22.120 a really nice player, lost and lovering. I think it 282 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:25.000 can be a really good player and it can really 283 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:28.440 control a game of times from inside. But it just 284 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:31.120 didn't seem there was the broad talent with his program. 285 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:34.360 It's funny is I've also talked to some NBA people 286 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:37.879 about Jake Wallen and there is a lot of feeling 287 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:41.159 amongst the NBA people that he's got a chance maybe 288 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:43.320 in a year or two, to be on the radar 289 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:46.519 as far as the NBA team. So, but it's different 290 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:50.000 kind of talent that they have with this group. But 291 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.799 it just from when you look across the board of 292 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:55.799 the Big Twelve, I just don't see the high level 293 00:14:55.840 --> 00:15:01.120 talent that Baylor has that Houston has, that Texas Tech 294 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.720 has that. I think this is a down Kansas team, 295 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:06.919 but they still have a lot of high level talent, 296 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:10.200 and same with teams like Kansas State for example. So 297 00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:14.759 I think unfortunately, when you examine the program as a whole, 298 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.120 I think that that's what the administration came back to. 299 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:22.080 So you've got BYUASU, let's move over to BYU. So 300 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:24.759 they'll be down at ASU tomorrow and back to back 301 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.000 wins over ranked teams. First time that's happened. I think 302 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:29.759 it's thirty seven years. They've won four straight. If you 303 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:32.279 kind of expand back, they've won eight of their last ten. 304 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:36.039 And when they make shots, they are a problem, and 305 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:39.200 they are the type of team that is built. Should 306 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:41.519 they find fire at the right time, which they're finding 307 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:43.720 right now, they're the type of team they can go 308 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.159 to the NCAA tournament and do something. I'm not saying 309 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.120 this is a Final four team, but with the ability 310 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.360 to make shots, when they are knocking down shots, when 311 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:53.519 they're limiting turnovers, and when they're just hanging on the glass, 312 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:56.440 they don't necessarily have to rebound teams because offensively they're 313 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:59.440 so dynamic. It feels like you know, Demon's their best 314 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:02.639 pro prospecs, but Richie's probably their best college player. And 315 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:05.279 I've been tremendously impressed to see them settle in the 316 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:07.559 way they have because it didn't look great early on, 317 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:10.600 and Kevin's never done this before, so you have talent 318 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:12.720 on paper. If it doesn't work early, people are gonna 319 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:15.840 wonder if you can coach well. The late returns as well, 320 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.879 I should say the returns as of late are that 321 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.320 you know, this is a team that looks to be 322 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:22.519 dialed in, ready to roll down the rest of the 323 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.320 stretch of the season. What's your take on where we 324 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:26.000 find ourselves right now with Brigham Young. 325 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:29.679 They seem to be peaking at the right time, and 326 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:33.159 that's what you want come latter part of February and 327 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:36.399 into March, is you're playing your best basketball, and they are, 328 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:38.399 and this team I think has gotten better and better 329 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:41.120 in the crazy team spense. You don't see teams that 330 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:43.639 have eleven man rotations at this time of the year, 331 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:47.240 but BYU does and they all do something to help 332 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:49.559 the team, and I think that's helped the chemistry with 333 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.960 that group and getting used to a new coach in 334 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.840 Kevin Young, tweaking the system a little bit where they 335 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:58.120 shoot a lot of threes. You mentioned Richie Saunders, but 336 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:01.360 he's not alone and he's made some moves along the way, 337 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:04.559 like inserting Trevinell into the starting lineup. I think was 338 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:07.200 a nice move for them to help space the floor 339 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:11.279 and getting fu Seni Tria to accept the role in 340 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:13.960 Dallen Hall coming off the bench because those guys had 341 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:17.240 been starters, and it's a credit to them. It's a 342 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.160 credit to that locker room that they're able to embrace 343 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:22.039 what Kevin Young is doing. And they're catching teams at 344 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:24.519 the right time. They caught Kansas the right time. Kansas 345 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:27.799 was really after losing the game to Utah and they 346 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:30.119 seemed a little bit dysfunctional at the time, to be 347 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.319 honest with you. They got to get right game against 348 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:34.839 Oklahoma State on Saturday. Then they bounced back and won 349 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:38.160 a tough one at Colorado last night. But they're catching 350 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.799 teams at the right time, and I think they're catching 351 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:43.160 Arizona State tomorrow night. Potentially at the right time considering 352 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:46.319 some of the injuries that ASU has. Jayden Quainton's got 353 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:48.960 hurt in his last game. They're outstanding freshman. We're not 354 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.240 sure if his status tomorrow night. And they just kicked 355 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:53.400 BJ Freeman off the team who was their leading scorer. 356 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:56.640 Yet they went out and won without them. So that's 357 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:59.960 it's going to be interesting to see this matchup tomorrow. 358 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:03.880 And Arizona State has not played well at home. They've 359 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:05.480 been a better road team for whatever reason. 360 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.559 Who do you think the second best team in the 361 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.079 conference is? 362 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:13.039 Who is the second best? I'm still gonna lean toward Arizona, 363 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:16.640 I know, even they've they lost last night. Houston to me, 364 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:19.599 has separated themselves and I do really like Iowa State, 365 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.599 let me tell you right there. But there's something about 366 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:25.720 this Arizona team. I'm anxious to see how they recovered 367 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:29.359 tomorrow night against Utah after the way they had a real, 368 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:32.799 real tough loss against BYU the other night. 369 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.839 Can I ask you a couple of hockey questions before 370 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.559 I set you loose? 371 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:37.599 Yeah, all right, let's move over. 372 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:39.680 Yeah, let's move over to the Four Nations face off. 373 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:43.079 You know, one of our weekly hockey guests is Neil Smith, 374 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:45.519 who was the you know, the general manager of the 375 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:47.880 Rangers and a high level scout for the Red Wings 376 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:50.559 and had built some of the best rosters that we 377 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:53.279 saw in the nineties. And we had Bill Armstrong on yesterday, 378 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:55.599 and you know, it was funny with Neil, he said 379 00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:57.440 prior to the start of the tournament, I asked him 380 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:59.359 we had him on the week that week, and I said, Okay, 381 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.920 we got a little bit of break with a hockey 382 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:03.279 club and we've got four Nations coming up? What do 383 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.839 you think? And He's like, I'm out on it. I'm 384 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:07.400 not like excited for it at all. And then of 385 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:09.839 course we had him on last week and to his credit, 386 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:13.039 he ate the appropriate crow. You know, Roxy, It's kind 387 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:15.359 of a lesson man like, sometimes the best things in 388 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:17.880 life just completely catch you off guard. And I was 389 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:21.519 so wildly entertained, and as a NBA guy who was 390 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:25.359 disgusted with a product that employees basketball players that don't 391 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.720 seem to like to play basketball as of late, I 392 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:31.000 loved watching the Four Nations. So give me your take 393 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.720 on that tournament and what do you think it does 394 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:34.079 for pro hockey domestically? 395 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:37.920 Aside from the three fights and nine seconds in the 396 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:41.720 first US Canada game, it was still tremendous theater, yep, 397 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:45.599 and unbelievable hockey and just the reacts to the players 398 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:49.160 that were playing and the speed of these games. That 399 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:51.559 was the thing that really jumped out to me, is 400 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:54.799 the quickness, and it's showing you that the game is 401 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:58.599