WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:11.359 All right, I renumber two here on a Tuesday afternoon 2 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:15.080 coffee and company. Philbeth Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety 3 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:17.359 es mench you don't forget. You can take us with 4 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.440 you wherever you go. Listen live on the iHeart Radio app. 5 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:22.280 Listen live It's seven ninety Louisville dot com. And we'll 6 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:24.399 get our second hour started by bringing in mister C. L. 7 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:29.399 Brown of the Courier Journal cl Did you think that 8 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:33.399 the Cards played one of their better games against Kentucky. 9 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:35.600 I mean, I know, I'm coming at it from a 10 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:38.240 fans perspective. I feel like, you know, I wish they 11 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:39.840 would have won. They could have done some things better, 12 00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:41.240 but I kind of feel like that was a really 13 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:43.679 good shot from this team as far as what they 14 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:45.960 have to work with against a really good team at 15 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:46.439 their place. 16 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:50.119 Oh yeah, for sure. I think so. I would even 17 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:52.200 be more specific and say I think they played one 18 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:55.799 of their better games offensively. Defensively. I felt like they 19 00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:59.840 you know, a couple of those like runouts and transition 20 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:04.200 where somebody wasn't back, somebody didn't just stop the ball 21 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:07.000 from going down the lane in the first half. You 22 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:09.120 know a couple of those things that have to be 23 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:12.920 cleaned up. I thought defensively could have been better. But yeah, 24 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:16.799 I mean they make fourteen three pointers. They're gonna win 25 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:18.760 a lot more games in the second half of the 26 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:19.680 season than lose. 27 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:22.920 And I know that some people just look at the 28 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:24.959 numbers and say, hey, well they got hot early on 29 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:27.200 against Duke, and you know, they had a pretty good 30 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.280 shooting day against Kentucky. 31 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:30.519 But they hit tough shots at the end. 32 00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:33.239 But but you know, I actually feel like the numbers 33 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:35.920 may be, you know, beawt as fluky and like, hey, 34 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:37.840 probably not going to see him make eight of their 35 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.680 first eleven very often. But I feel like, you know, 36 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:43.879 it's not just like they were rushing to just try 37 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:45.840 to get the best look they can get as soon 38 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:47.359 as possible. Like I feel like they were kind of 39 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:49.879 just out there playing ball, and you know, guys took 40 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:52.040 their opportunities kind of. I just to me, it seems 41 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:54.879 like offensively with the seven guys you're playing, these guys 42 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:57.400 are getting more comfortable individually to where they're kind of 43 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:59.959 finding where they fit. You know, Jamon Hadley, I think 44 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.239 what you've seen from him recently is kind of what 45 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:05.439 he's gonna be Chucky, Hepburn the aggressive version of him. Clearly, 46 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:08.199 that's where Louisville has their highest ceiling. Terrence Edward's coming 47 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:09.840 off the bench, but man, he's playing with a lot 48 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:12.360 of confidence. I don't know what the overall ceiling is 49 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:15.199 for this screw, but I think offensively, you know, against 50 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:17.080 a good Kentucky team, like if if they can be 51 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:19.159 that version and you know, maybe not shoot as well, 52 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:20.879 and they're gonna have off nights, but I feel like 53 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:23.319 that's that's a potential good recipe for this team to 54 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:25.599 end up maybe find finding a way into the tournament 55 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:26.199 later this year. 56 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:30.840 Yeah, the thing about the tournament I feel like is 57 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:35.919 the amount of good games, quality games they're gonna have 58 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:38.639 to really make an impression. And it's it's in the 59 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:42.000 ACC this year. They're just not gonna be that many opportunities. 60 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:45.759 So they are definitely gonna have to play that kind 61 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:49.159 of level game that they played against Kentucky and UH 62 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:51.840 and especially in the first half against Duke. They're gonna 63 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:57.439 have to play at that level in these games against Carolina, Clempson, Pitt. 64 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:00.520 Those are the games that they can you know, make 65 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:05.960 potentially get Quad one type wins and potentially you know, 66 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:10.199 be uh, make an impression on the tournament committee when 67 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:11.000 that time comes. 68 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:14.479 Yeah, losing to really good teams, and you know, some 69 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:17.120 of these games weren't competitive at the end, like Tennessee 70 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:18.000 when they were fully healthy. 71 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:18.560 That was ugly. 72 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:21.560 Obviously, the Old Miss game was was really ugly. The 73 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:23.520 Doe game was closer, but you're still lost by love. 74 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:25.319 And like I'm starting to think and I don't know 75 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:28.159 enough about how these formulas work, like the net you know, 76 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:30.599 ken palm and whatnot, but clearly there's an emphasis on 77 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.000 not just beating a team or you know, covering the 78 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:35.719 leged spread, but you know, making sure that that at 79 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:37.919 the end of the day, the formula, you know, does 80 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:40.080 give you value. You know, Louisville losing to some of 81 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:42.400 these teams by a whole lot, Like it's tough to 82 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:43.599 know if that's going to really it may not matter 83 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:45.960 at all because maybe they just aren't quite a tournament 84 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:47.520 type team, but like I feel like that's one of 85 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:49.560 those things that may come back to haunt them. 86 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:54.520 That's a good point, Nick, And I'm not sure to 87 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:59.120 answer your question, I'm not sure what how much margin 88 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:04.000 of lost or margin of victory as whichever side you're 89 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:06.080 looking at it from, how much that will come into 90 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:10.479 play during those the way the networks and everything like that. 91 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:15.960 But I mean, I do think the committee also, besides 92 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:20.000 the numbers, can look at it plainly, like they lost 93 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.000 to Tennessee. Tennessee is a number one team in the 94 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:25.279 nation right now. They lost to an Old miss team 95 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:27.439 this rank. They lost to a duke team this rank. 96 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:30.959 They're they're losing to good teams. They're losing the Oklahoma's 97 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:36.560 rank and are they still unbeaten? They were unbeaten, Oklahoma 98 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:37.199 still unbeaten? 99 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:39.680 Right, yeah, let me check, So, just had it pulled 100 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:40.120 up here. 101 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:43.800 Yeah, this Oklahoma team currently is ten and oh yeah, 102 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.399 and they just knocked off Oklahoma State, so yeah, they've Yeah, 103 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:49.920 they're still undefeated. Tennessee's undefeated. I mean Louis's, Louisville's I 104 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.920 just referenced this earlier. Dana Brown put it out yesterday. 105 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:57.160 Louisville's teams they've lost to are combined forty seven and 106 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:00.160 four overall. So and you know, they you can and 107 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:02.399 you can find some different formulas out there that tell 108 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:05.560 you the adjusted offensive tempo, that kind of stuff, efficiency 109 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:06.399 ratings that. 110 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:08.759 They've played a really really good. 111 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:10.600 Schedule when it comes to teams that's just hard to guard, 112 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:12.959 and they've also played teams that are pretty good defensively, 113 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:15.879 like Tennessee and Old Miss that can really just kind 114 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:17.360 of lock you down to Duke is actually a really 115 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:19.279 good defensive team this year when it comes to the numbers. 116 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:21.000 So I guess, you know, for me, I'm just trying 117 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.720 to find BA you know, what real value is there 118 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:26.600 when you play a team are really competitive or maybe 119 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:28.800 just during stretches it's competitive, Like it's tough to know 120 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:31.560 how much value is actually there. With Florida State coming up, 121 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:33.720 that's not like a signature win, but they're having a 122 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:35.800 better season. This will be the first kind of team 123 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:38.439 they've played in that range since they've been this new 124 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:41.480 version of Louisville where they really only play seven guys. 125 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:43.759 I mean, I kind of feel like this game is 126 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:45.399 not going to tell us a whole lot if they win. 127 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:46.920 But I kind of feel like if you go there 128 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:49.319 and it falls flat, it doesn't mean the season's over. 129 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:50.879 It doesn't even really mean that you're for sure out 130 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:52.160 of the tournament. But I think that would be a 131 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:54.319 pretty you know, you couldn't claim well, what are you 132 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:56.839 going to do? We played Florida State because they're clearly 133 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:59.399 not Kentucky at rup or Duke at home or Old 134 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:00.399 Miss coming on off of a. 135 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:01.040 Three day trip. 136 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:03.240 So I'm just curious on your thoughts because I feel 137 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:04.920 like this is, in a weird way, kind of a 138 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:06.879 big test for both these teams on Saturday. 139 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:11.839 Yeah, I mean it's not I wouldn't put it up 140 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:15.800 there like being a possible marquee victory, but I do 141 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:20.639 think a road game in conference, that's another team that's 142 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:23.519 gonna be I think Florida State, n c State, those 143 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:25.720 kind of teams are gonna be kind of right there 144 00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:27.959 in the middle and right there in the mix, and 145 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:32.360 one of those teams I think is gonna emerge with 146 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:35.800 the chance to get into the NCAA Tournament depending on 147 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.800 just how the rest of the schedule shakes out for everybody. 148 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:42.639 So it's important to get those kind of wins. I 149 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:45.360 think this is gonna be a big test. I mean, 150 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.600 you know, Leonard Hammelton team always have a lot of 151 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.720 size and length, which obviously this Louisville team does not 152 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:56.120 have that. So I think it's gonna be a big challenge, 153 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.800 you know, they like to switch a lot on defense. 154 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:05.160 It's it would be a valuable win, I think, to 155 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:09.360 go down there and get that game. So it's it's 156 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:11.920 really to me, it's the first kind of test of 157 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:17.240 a team on even ground in conference. 158 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:17.959 No doubt. 159 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:20.120 I mean, the UTEP game was kind of smashed in 160 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:23.120 the middle where they're not a terrible team, but certainly 161 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:26.680 much different than the opponents you had played since you, 162 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:28.759 you know, since you got back from the Bahamas. So yeah, 163 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:31.120 I it's tough to know what you're really gonna be 164 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:32.560 able to make of it after the fact. But I'm 165 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:34.120 eager to see this team play a team that you 166 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:35.759 know they could lose to, certainly, but I feel like 167 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:38.319 if they are if the value that I believe is 168 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:40.920 there despite some of these losses to good teams, and 169 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:42.839 then I think they, you know, hopefully they can't take 170 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:44.360 care of business. But let me ask before we move 171 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:45.920 on to Kentucky, what do. 172 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:46.759 You what do you know? 173 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:48.560 Or maybe it's nothing, just maybe you could give me 174 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:51.639 a guess. Why can't Big Frank get minutes? Like I 175 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:54.240 don't think he can do a whole lot for you 176 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:56.279 as far as like you you run offense, the room 177 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:59.319 or you know, anything like that. But like I'm surprised 178 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:00.839 with them being ast is they are on the post 179 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.120 that he can't give them just like some spot minutes. 180 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:08.720 Yeah, it's it's puzzling, you know, looking at how the 181 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:13.079 foul trouble played out Saturday and rupp Arena and at 182 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:15.519 a couple of points, I was looking at his events 183 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:18.920 just to see, okays he even like, you know, getting 184 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:21.800 looked at. Is he getting up? Is he gonna get 185 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:24.399 some run? I think what I mean, what it comes 186 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:27.240 down to is the level of trust, you know. I 187 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:30.040 mean a coach has to has to trust players on 188 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:33.360 a certain level to put him in, especially on a 189 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:36.120 road in a road game, in a situation like that, 190 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:39.879 in a rivalry game where it's gonna be intense and 191 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:44.799 every possession matters, and and I just assume that, you know, 192 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:47.759 he hasn't gained that level of trust yet with with 193 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.799 Pat Kelsey. We saw him play a little bit against UTEP. 194 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:53.879 From that game, I kind of felt like, and I 195 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.559 don't know if this is the thing or not, but 196 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:58.159 it just seemed like he was a bit out of sync, 197 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:01.559 like like he didn't necessarily know where he was supposed 198 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:05.840 to be, especially offensively a couple of times when I 199 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:08.879 observed him, and I could be off on that, but 200 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:12.559 it's something is off clearly because he's not in the 201 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:16.080 rotation and they could really use another front court player. 202 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:17.960 So I feel like that's. 203 00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:19.559 Something to keep an eye on, ye, just a body. 204 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:23.519 Yeah, yeah, certainly. Because it's been that way so far 205 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.399 doesn't mean it has to stay that way. 206 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:25.840 You know. 207 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:27.480 It could just be a matter of if he's made 208 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:31.639 a slower transition to getting used and getting acclimated to 209 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:35.919 Pat Chelsea's system. So I do think that Kenni Roops 210 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:39.320 is coming on and by the end of the season 211 00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:41.840 he could be a really a really good player and 212 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:44.960 a really key reserve in terms of the front court. 213 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:49.720 But you know, it would be it'd always be helpful 214 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:51.240 to have another body. 215 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:53.559 In there too, especially with foul trouble. I mean, to 216 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:54.240 give up fouls. 217 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.600 I mean, I just feel, you know, you're right as 218 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:59.440 far as kind of just not looking totally comfortable on 219 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:01.840 offense when he was in the game against utub But 220 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:05.039 I mean, there's things he could provide that really don't 221 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:07.240 take any ability and skill. It's just like, hey, don't 222 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:09.799 you know, don't be a liability. Defensively, give us some 223 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:12.799 presents a body, maybe give a foul or two if 224 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:15.440 need be, and I mean set a screen. I just 225 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:17.639 I feel like, you know, for what they could there's 226 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:20.240 some there's some things they could get there that even 227 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:22.159 if he is maybe a terrible player. I'm not saying 228 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:23.799 that Pat thinks that, and he would never say that 229 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:26.759 at all, but yeah, I just feel like there should 230 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:28.559 be there should he should be getting more minutes than 231 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:29.960 what he's getting up to this point. All right, one 232 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:32.759 more on Louisville Lote lied you mentioned can I uh 233 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:35.440 what is what I mean? I feel like he should 234 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:38.080 play every minute just because I don't think he's that 235 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:39.759 big of a I mean, I don't think he makes 236 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:42.519 many more mistakes than other guys out there in the 237 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:45.080 front court. And I think the more reps he gets, 238 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:47.159 the better you'll be in the end of this season. 239 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:49.559 And at times he helps you like he was. I mean, 240 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:52.279 I thought he really looked good against Duke, and you know, 241 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:53.279 he's still he's playing. 242 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:54.320 He's one of the seven guys. 243 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.799 But like, I just feel like there's been a little 244 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:58.240 bit of a hesitation to kind of just let him loose. 245 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:00.080 And I'm just curious if you've made that observation, and 246 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:02.879 then if you think there's one thing specifically that's keeping 247 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:04.000 him from getting more minutes. 248 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:07.519 I'm not sure if there's one thing, but I think 249 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:10.279 it is just kind of one of those freshmen deal 250 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:15.159 where he hasn't played enough and gotten enough reps in 251 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:18.320 this system to where he can get the keys to 252 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:21.639 the car. I think that's essentially just what it comes 253 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:21.960 down to. 254 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:22.440 Time. 255 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.200 The more time he gets, the more time he puts in, 256 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:30.399 including in practice and everything, the better. The more Pat 257 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:32.440 Kelsey is gonna trust to put him out there, and 258 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:34.399 the more we will actually see him. 259 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:35.840 I agree. 260 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:39.879 I think his upside is probably higher than James Scott's. 261 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:44.879 And I mean, if Waterman can't get his three point 262 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:49.720 shooting more consistent moving forward, I think he even might 263 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:52.519 present a better the better option out. 264 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:54.679 There than Waterman, no doubt about it. 265 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:57.840 I definitely think he's somebody to keep an eye on 266 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:01.759 because I've been impressed with It's how he's played, you know, 267 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.440 in these last three four games, and I think he's 268 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:07.440 you know, I think the sky is the limit for 269 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.440 him eventually. 270 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.240 Same here. 271 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.919 Seal Brown of The Curry Journal is our guest joining 272 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:14.440 us here on Sports Talk seven to ninety. Kentucky obviously 273 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:17.879 played really well against against Louisville and Lamont, Butler had 274 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.200 a game that he'll not probably never have again. 275 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:21.480 I mean, what a performance from him. 276 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.559 I guess I'll ask you the same question I asked 277 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:25.399 last week and see if you've got any updated thoughts. 278 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.759 Doing it against Louisville doesn't necessarily, you know, make them 279 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:30.639 any more impressive now than they already were. They had 280 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.919 wins against Duke and against Gonzaga. But the more I 281 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:35.080 watch this Kentucky team, I mean, I feel like, you know, 282 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.480 they are not They're not you know, if everybody's at 283 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:39.279 their best, I'm not sure they're in that top tier. 284 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:41.840 But I feel like Mark Pope has a really really 285 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:44.799 good team in his first season that I wouldn't be shocked, if, 286 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:46.960 you know, if they end up getting a really good seed. 287 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:48.879 I know the SEC is really really tough, but I've 288 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:51.840 been I've been really impressed with Kentucky so far this year. 289 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:56.440 I mean, I'm right there with you. I wouldn't have 290 00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:58.639 expected him to be ten and one at this point 291 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.240 in the season. If you have me back in August, 292 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.799 you know, had a lot of questions just on how 293 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:07.240 quickly guys are going to get acclimated to their new 294 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:11.039 roles and each other and playing within that system. And 295 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:15.399 it seems all of that has happened almost flawlessly. I mean, 296 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:18.840 I really don't see any hiccups with what they with 297 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.360 what Mark Pope is instilled in what they've been trying 298 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:25.720 to do, and and they've been tested. I mean that 299 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:28.559 that road when I mean technically it was a neutral 300 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:32.080 court in Seattle, but playing against Gonzaga that was that 301 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:34.480 was a very impressive win. And I mean to be 302 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:37.559 playing so late at night in terms of East Coast 303 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:41.320 time and what their body clocks are normal, what's normal 304 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:43.679 to their body clocks, and to have to come back 305 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:47.480 from down double digits when it seemed like, you know, 306 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:50.320 I think I said on last week's show, I dozed off. 307 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:54.840 Like yeah, yeah, for me, it was a nightmare. 308 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:57.960 But yeah, yeah. 309 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.240 But I mean that that showed a lot of art. 310 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:03.039 That showed a lot of resilience, and I think they're 311 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:06.200 growing in confidence in what they can do. You know, 312 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:08.960 I think there might have been a little doubt early 313 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:12.360 on just in terms of like how good are we really, 314 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:12.960 you know. 315 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:15.879 And that moment can make you a lot better as 316 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.440 a team. I mean, that's kind of a you know, 317 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:19.360 to say that it's like a defining moment. I guess 318 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.720 it'll end up, you know, you have to wait and 319 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.519 see sort of how everything plays out. But like that, 320 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:26.480 that told them a lot about themselves, and I think 321 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:28.480 it's actually one of the more impressive wins we've seen 322 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:31.600 in college basketball this season. Not to say Gonzaga is just, 323 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.240 you know, completely unbeatable, but you know, as you mentioned, 324 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:37.519 that was a road game and in their environment, different 325 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:38.399 time zone. 326 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:38.919 All that stuff. 327 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:41.440 So yeah, they've they've gotten off to such a such 328 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:44.000 a good start. What do you make of the rivalry 329 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:46.600 when it comes to just the new ara here, two 330 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.960 new coaches. I think both fans kind of had this 331 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:52.240 itch they couldn't get rid of because they found themselves 332 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:54.559 liking the opposing coach. But they felt weird about it 333 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:57.039 because I mean, I think both these guys are are 334 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.639 what you see is what you get. I don't think 335 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:01.159 there's going to be any real animosity. I think they 336 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:03.559 genuinely respect one another, and and and the guys who 337 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:05.519 play in the rivalry are going to carry themselves. 338 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.879 I think for the most part the way their coach 339 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:08.320 wants him to. 340 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:10.799 I mean, I thought that little dust up near Louisville's bench, 341 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:14.559 I mean it never really escalated to where they needed 342 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:16.679 to call anything else, and I you know, it's it's 343 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.039 kind of a good not a good moment for the 344 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:21.000 rivalry necessarily, but like you know, tensions are high because 345 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:23.200 of it being a rivalry, but you know, I don't know, 346 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:24.960 Just to me, it's kind of weird, like I'm going 347 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:28.559 to have a hard time like disliking Mark Pope and uh, 348 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:30.320 you know, I want to dislike him and I want him. 349 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:31.840 I want to be able to tell you he's a bum, 350 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:33.399 but I think he's actually a really good coach and 351 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:34.320 a really likable guy. 352 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:38.360 Well I think that that's That's kind of what I 353 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:44.200 wrote about from Saturday's game was that the the spiciness, 354 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:47.039 the heat in the rivalry was kind of missing. To me. 355 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:49.840 There was no polite, right, there was no Yeah, you 356 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:54.360 didn't feel any contentiousness from the teams and from the players. 357 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:59.879 But that'll happen. I think we'll get back to that. 358 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:03.679 And I'm not obviously I'm not advocating for fighting or 359 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:07.440 anything stupid or outside the lines, but just just that 360 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.840 you know what what makes a rivalry special and what 361 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.879 makes a rivalry, you know what makes you look forward 362 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:16.039 to My little girls crying right. 363 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:19.480 Now, But she's upset about the rivalry too. She wants 364 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.399 she wants more anger, she. 365 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:23.320 Wants to see it, she wants to see it. So 366 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.320 what what. 367 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:31.240 This is my life? Trust me, I'm one. 368 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:35.360 As players get to play in this game a few 369 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:38.840 times and know each other and and maybe not even 370 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:41.559 like each other. I mean, I think really if if 371 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:44.720 Kerr and Prior playing that game for for you can't 372 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:47.600 have respectively, I think there might have been a little 373 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:54.039 bit more. It's because I I would assume UK fans 374 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.679 Prior would be the kind of player they love to hate. 375 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:00.600 So yeah, in the in the in the moment, I 376 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.639 didn't realize it. I mean I knew it was it 377 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.440 was next level. But there's no scenario there's ever any 378 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:09.200 two coaches in this rivalry that give that give us 379 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.160 what Patino and Calipari did just because they had I 380 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:14.799 feel like a personal rivalry within each other, maybe with 381 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.759 not a robbery. They just didn't like each other and 382 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.119 it was really hard for them to, you know, hide that, 383 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:23.319 and it was almost deeper than the ufl UK fans 384 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:25.039 coming at each other like that was. That was an 385 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:27.119 era that like I'll be able to say that I was. 386 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:29.759 I experienced it, and it was, it was. 387 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:30.599 It was intense. 388 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:36.359 Yes, I don't know that we will duplicate that again, 389 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:40.920 and you know, and thinking of just what those coaches 390 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:43.599 have accomplished and everything, like I think all of that 391 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:48.079 goes into it, that would be hard to replicate. But 392 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:52.039 the way that Pope and Kelsey have started out, you know, 393 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:55.200 there there're gonna be some high stakes games I feel 394 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:59.440 like in this rivalry's future, including you know, those kind 395 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:02.079 of games that are that are in the tournament and 396 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:06.519 determine somebody's getting knocked out and determined who's going forward 397 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:10.480 and have a chance of winning the championships. So that's 398 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.640 that's what I'd say I'd look forward to with this 399 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.519 rivalry moving forward. 400 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:17.240 Cel, you are the man is always appreciate the time, 401 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.039