WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:11.720 It's time for coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on 2 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:27.920 Sports Talk seven nine day. Now here's nick coffee. 3 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:33.000 All right, let's get it started. Hour number two. 4 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:36.479 Here on a Tuesday afternoon Coffee and Company, Philbeth Thornton's 5 00:00:36.840 --> 00:00:38.759 on Sports Talk seven ninety take us with you wherever 6 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:38.960 you go. 7 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:40.479 Listen live on the Aheart Radio app. 8 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:44.119 Also listen live at seven ninety Louisville dot com. If 9 00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:47.840 you were thinking that the lack of I mean the 10 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:50.759 games themselves. We didn't really get that many games in 11 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:52.079 the in the first and second round. There were some 12 00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:54.560 games that I feel like we're really entertaining, really close, 13 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:58.000 But regardless, people still watched in a major way, because 14 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.759 this is the most watched first and second round of 15 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:05.319 the NAA Tournament in thirty two years. I mean, the 16 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.959 average viewership I think I saw was nine point four million, 17 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:14.519 which is just crazy to think about, but also not 18 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:17.959 that crazy. I think the biggest difference in college basketball 19 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:23.760 that I don't think is as noticeable is not necessarily 20 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.079 just the guys that are, because it's really obvious to 21 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:29.239 notice that a team has a new starting five every year, 22 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:31.239 and most of them come from the portal. Right, I mean, 23 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:34.439 that's that's that's something that's very noticeable if you follow along. 24 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:37.400 But I think what has been low key a big 25 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:39.680 factor in the. 26 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:40.560 Product being better. 27 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:50.359 And you know, guys, well I'm trying to I think overall, 28 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.719 dudes just deciding they want to play college basketball a 29 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.319 lot longer than they used to. 30 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:57.879 That to me, has given us. 31 00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:59.879 The biggest to me, that's the biggest factor in what 32 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:03.000 things are so different now. Again, what's leading to that 33 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:04.879 is the money, right, because now they can stay in 34 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:06.799 school and make money. So maybe, I mean, I guess 35 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:10.479 the money's a bigger The money's the reason they're doing it. 36 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:15.080 But that is why you have, I think, a better product. 37 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:19.039 And you have veteran teams, guys that are twenty three, 38 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:22.479 twenty four even at times playing college basketball, and I 39 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:27.960 just think we're slowly but surely getting over the You 40 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.319 know this, dude, we shouldn't be letting guys stick around 41 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:32.560 that long. Because here's something we talked about a little 42 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:34.840 bit yesterday. Even if you don't get a fifth year 43 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:38.199 because of COVID, and you don't have a red shirt 44 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:40.599 to burn, if you stay in four years, if you 45 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:43.280 stay as a four year college player. You know, you 46 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:45.000 could be twenty two or you could be twenty four. 47 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:48.240 I mean, some guys don't enter college until they're I 48 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:49.919 mean if you go to prep school for a year, 49 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:53.919 or if you just you know, we're held back a 50 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:56.199 year growing up, like it's it. I mean, I think 51 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.759 a lot of a lot of freshmen that start playing 52 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:02.599 like that enter the college experience right out of high school. 53 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:04.080 I would say. 54 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:06.759 More of them are older than eighteen than eighteen. Maybe 55 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:08.919 I'm way off there, but I just think that's, you know, 56 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:11.080 with prep school and that kind of stuff. I mean, 57 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:13.439 that's and a lot of kids are held back on 58 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:15.199 purpose just because they want to, you know, be a 59 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:19.319 little bit more competitive in sports growing up. So you know, 60 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:21.639 I think we've all known that there's been a lot 61 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.599 of changes going on, but man, it just it seems 62 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:26.080 like with this with this Sweet sixteen in place, they're 63 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:29.599 no real big upset in the first weekend, looking at 64 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:32.599 every starting lineup in the Sweet sixteen and to see 65 00:03:32.599 --> 00:03:34.800 where all those players that are starting in the Sweet 66 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:37.199 sixteen where they started their career as to where they 67 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:40.159 are now, it is just it is it's on full 68 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:43.520 display that this is really a different world than than 69 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:46.120 what we're used to I real quick. Some things to 70 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:48.800 hit on that we haven't discussed just yet. 71 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:51.560 The UFL Football Proday. 72 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:53.840 Is going on right now, and obviously there's a lot 73 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:56.759 of former Cardinals that are showcasing what they can do 74 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:59.599 in hopes of getting some attention from the NFL personnel 75 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:02.280 that is on hand. But obviously Tyler Shuck what he's 76 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:04.919 been able to do since his career at Louisville ended 77 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:07.919 by generating all this buzz, maybe being the third quarterback 78 00:04:07.960 --> 00:04:10.639 taken in this draft, that's led to more attention for 79 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:12.919 Louisville Pro Days than I feel like we've had in 80 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:15.840 quite some times. So haven't heard a whole lot as 81 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:19.040 far as feedback or as far as updates is you 82 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:22.160 know how things went. But the couple updates I did 83 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:23.720 see for those they're covering, and it's that, you know, 84 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.959 Shuck continues to look the part, which is not a surprise. 85 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.399 I think we knew all along. Hey, this guy's pretty 86 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.680 damn good. In fact, early on in the year, when 87 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:35.079 the losses started to pile up, it felt like. 88 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:36.000 Man, are we going to do this? 89 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:37.480 Is this going to be one of those years where 90 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:40.360 we really had a great quarterback that we only got 91 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:42.000 for one season, but we didn't have anything to show 92 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:43.560 for it. And maybe some will say that that was 93 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:47.199 the case. I still believe going eight and four and 94 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:49.600 finishing and nine and four when it's all said and 95 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:51.560 done because of the bowl game. You know, for me, 96 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.959 that's that. I know they could have been better, but 97 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.920 I don't view it as man what could have been. 98 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:00.079 I mean, maybe if Tyler Shuck ends up being a 99 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.319 really good NFL pro, will say that down the line, 100 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:05.279 but I'll worry about that when we get there. Sticking 101 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:08.319 with football, not something you see very often in late March, 102 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:12.839 but there's an acc opening as Stanford has fired their 103 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:18.319 head football coach, Troy Taylor. I mean, I gotta be 104 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:19.759 honest with you. I don't even think I knew that 105 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:23.360 was their head coach. If you'd ask me to tell 106 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:27.120 you who Stanford's head coach was, I really don't. I mean, 107 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:30.120 I think I would have probably just told you I 108 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:32.000 don't know, and then I would think, Okay, I should 109 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:34.079 know because Louisville just played them in a bowl game. 110 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:36.959 But yeah, he was there. 111 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:47.000 Wait a second, let's see, he's no way Okay, never mind, 112 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:50.319 I'm sorry, my mistake. Louisville lost to Stanford this year. 113 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:51.759 They did not play Stanford in a bowl game. 114 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:54.800 I'm an idiot. Apologies. Who did Louisville play in their 115 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:55.560 bowl game? Washington? 116 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:58.519 Yeah, Washington, I'm getting packed former pack twelve schools mixed up? 117 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:02.959 Yeah, Stanford Beach. There was something that stood out about 118 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:04.639 it what you're trying to say about Louisville and. 119 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.639 Stanford this past football season, and it was it was, 120 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:11.040 you know, my brain wasn't letting me realize what it was, 121 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:13.519 and it was that Louisville lost to this awful team 122 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:16.360 in a game that again not to dwell on the 123 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.000 twenty twenty for a football season and what could have 124 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:20.959 been because I just mentioned, like, I still think you 125 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:25.920 can can say that you maintained some real positivity, maintain momentum, 126 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:28.519 I should say with Brahm after two years. But also, 127 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:31.680 I mean, that was a game that, as far as 128 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:34.319 everything that happened, for it to end the way that 129 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:37.560 it did with you losing in the way that you 130 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:40.399 did was just awful. It was quite literally like a 131 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:44.519 script that had to be followed precisely. Execution had to 132 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:47.439 be perfect for you to lose that game with them 133 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:50.639 getting that moment with the field goal to beat you. 134 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.360 I'm not, in no way am I insinuating they were 135 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.399 trying to lose, But I'm just telling you visually, you 136 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:58.560 could could have You could have convinced me that they 137 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.879 were trying to because it was insane. 138 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:02.279 Dude, no one was there at that stadium. 139 00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:05.199 I mean that along with the fact that I mean 140 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.439 just the the timing and the type of penalties you got, 141 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:10.800 the type of mistakes you made late, it was like 142 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:13.240 you were trying to do whatever was possible. Because I'm 143 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:15.199 sure I'm not correct in saying this, but it felt 144 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:19.639 like quite literally everything the only thing that could that 145 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:22.920 you could do to put Stanford in a situation there 146 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:26.399 with that makeable field goal with that amount of time left, 147 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:29.360 was what would happened? I mean, I mean it was. 148 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.439 It was a nightmare, and that coach is now fired. 149 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:37.560 So general manager Andrew Luck made the decision. So that 150 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:39.519 of course got a lot of attention when Andrew Luck 151 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.639 was hired to be the GM and you know, kind 152 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:44.160 of help Stanford, his alma mater, get back on track. 153 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:47.560 But I never thought about it from that aspect. I mean, 154 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.160 I think when I think of a GM of a 155 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:52.959 college basketball or college football program. I think of a 156 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:55.759 younger guy who works for the coach that's really there 157 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:59.519 to just crunch the numbers and manage you know, boosters 158 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:03.800 and you know, really honestly handling nil and being the 159 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:07.839 guy who and honestly, if there are coaches that are 160 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:12.600 that are all about getting a GM, I think a 161 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:14.959 lot of the active coaches those that are again are 162 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:17.399 trying to maybe they already have one, or maybe they're 163 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:20.480 pushing for their athletic director to create that position. They're 164 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.720 doing it because they don't want to deal with agents 165 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:26.240 because a lot of these guys aren't represented by actual agents. 166 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.560 They're represented by you know hustlers that you know, dm 167 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:34.320 them on Instagram or Twitter and tell them, hey, you 168 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:36.879 should you should let me represent you because like they're 169 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:39.200 I mean, that's the biggest gripe that I think a 170 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:40.759 lot of coaches have, and it's and it's a legit 171 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:42.600 one that they don't want to be talking to some 172 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:44.480 some twenty four year old kid that's fresh out of 173 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:47.840 college with his sports sports administration degree that's out here 174 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:52.000 acting like he's, you know, this elite level agent like 175 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:52.840 Jerry maguire. 176 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:55.039 I mean, that's the right movie, isn't it? 177 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.559 And that was okay, just make it sure second guessing 178 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:03.399 myself now with that goof about about Stanford. But anyways, 179 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:07.000 Stanford's got an opening, and as far as who they hire, 180 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:10.000 no clue. All right, So the portal opened up yesterday, 181 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:13.919 and there's an endless amount of names that have already 182 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:15.360 entered it, and we'll talk about some of the names 183 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:17.480 that I feel like you should should be aware of 184 00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:20.759 because of their potential connections or actually not potential. I mean, 185 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:23.159 there are some guys out there with real connections to Louisville. 186 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:25.080 And let me be clear, I'm not talking about guys 187 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:27.320 that used to play here. I hit on this at 188 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.480 the end of the show yesterday. I don't understand when 189 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:33.279 you see somebody who was at Louisville who left to 190 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:36.639 transfer elsewhere that is now transferring again. I don't know why. 191 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:39.639 With some there's this instincts of there's the instinct of like, 192 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:41.960 all right, we got to reevaluate do we want them back? 193 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:45.399 I would say ninety nine point nine percent of the 194 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:48.320 time if somebody is transferring away from a program after 195 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:50.679 they've already left Louisville once they're not in any way 196 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:53.200 thinking about coming back to Louisville. And it's just turned 197 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:57.039 into Louisville having like some little and again I'm probably 198 00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:59.360 talking to a very small group rather than the majority, 199 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:02.360 but like it's just turned into us crapping on dudes 200 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:05.320 who used to play here for like no reason. It 201 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:10.120 just seems it seems kind of much. But one thing 202 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:13.120 you guys have heard me talk about with everything changing 203 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:17.960 in college sports is that, you know, coaches, they should 204 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:20.639 just deal with it, right. I mean, they make enough 205 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:25.480 money to where they need, you know, them having to 206 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:28.240 make some adjustments to the job. It's not the end 207 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:31.039 of the world. And again they're usually the high some 208 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:34.639 of the highest paid guys in their state, to be 209 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:38.320 honest with you, So I think both things can be true. 210 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:42.559 As unpopular as that is. To look at things, they 211 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:44.840 are a bunch of complainers and whiners and doing that 212 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:47.840 doesn't help anything at all. But also at times they 213 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:49.799 make valid points to where like it is a big 214 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:51.960 difference and it is hard. It is hard to do it, 215 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:53.919 especially if you are somebody that's been doing it twenty 216 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:56.240 five years and now out of nowhere there's a big 217 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:58.720 change to it, Like it is difficult, but again both 218 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:02.480 things can be true, right, it's difficult, but wanting and 219 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.600 complaining about it is gonna do no good and it 220 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:08.519 just honestly is. There's I don't see a scenario where 221 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:11.519 that would ever help you. But with all that said, 222 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:15.720 the portal opening up while the NAA tournament is going 223 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:21.039 on is really really stupid. That's really really dumb. The 224 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:26.120 portals should officially open, I think like the Monday at 225 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:31.200 the next Monday following the national championship game. And I 226 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:35.240 know the portal being opened during bowl season is a 227 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:37.799 real distraction for college coaches. That's an issue, but I 228 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:42.240 understand that that's because you know, you have semesters switch 229 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:45.960 like it's it's more so the calendar for student athletes 230 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.000 that that makes that makes it that way, right, Like, 231 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:52.440 if you're going to be transferring between semesters, you you 232 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.080 don't have a whole lot of time. Therefore they have 233 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.559 to give you some some type. 234 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:55.840 Of a window. 235 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:59.159 And there's really no window possible where everybody's you know, 236 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:03.399 got down time. The real downtime is coaches who you know, 237 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:05.600 didn't who didn't do enough to even go to a 238 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:09.720 bowl game. That's why you're seeing coaches decline Bowl games 239 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.159 programs to cline Bowl games because there's nothing really for 240 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:13.840 them to gain by playing in it, and they'd be 241 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:16.759 better off getting out of the situation they're in, meaning 242 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:19.720 not Bowl eligible, by putting all their attention on going 243 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:23.120 and rebuilding a roster and getting better. So I don't 244 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:26.720 understand why the portal opens the Monday after the first 245 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:30.799 weekend of the tournament. But it just it's it's it 246 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:34.600 makes no sense. And tom is, oh, he he didn't, 247 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:35.639 he didn't, he didn't want to. 248 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:40.000 Well, well, my team's done has been incredible and I'm 249 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:43.320 not ready to move on. So jud I've followed what 250 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:46.639 you said. You know, I'm gonna worry today. But the 251 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.879 guys I got in this program that have done an 252 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:55.039 incredible job this year, and that's it. And if that 253 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.679 costs me later, so be it. But Tomzo isn't cheating 254 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:03.000 the people that he has that have been loyal to 255 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:07.080 him for this chaos that is going on out there. 256 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.960 I don't know why you had to be so aggressive 257 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:11.559 about it. I mean maybe that's just is Oh, he 258 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:14.120 wrot He's wired pretty tight, right, But. 259 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.360 I mean. 260 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:23.080 He did at least lay out like the real pitch 261 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:26.519 that should be made to the NCAA. Why this is 262 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:29.799 because again, if coaches are complaining about it because having 263 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.639 to do more, I mean, again, this is a legitimate complain. 264 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.840 This just makes no sense at all. 265 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:35.600 But if a coach is having to take away from 266 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:38.440 an experience that, you know, is something that all these 267 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:40.279 guys are probably going to remember for the rest of 268 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.159 their lives. Maybe not everybody, because right, if you're a 269 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:45.879 sweet sixteen team, like every year, that's one thing. But honestly, again, 270 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:48.720 think about this. I mean, if you're a Sweet sixteen 271 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:53.200 team every year, your roster's not the same every year, right, So, like, 272 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:55.440 there may be guys that the Sweet sixteen is a 273 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:58.440 big deal to them because prior to being you know, 274 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:02.080 where they are, the sweet sixteen is pretty routine. They 275 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:04.039 were at a place that if you didn't win your 276 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:06.120 conference tournament, you weren't you had no shot of making it. 277 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:09.200 I mean, you got guys starting in the sweet sixteen 278 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:12.600 who started their career at places like Decane, Moorhead State, 279 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:23.440 North Texas, Saint Peter's, Iona, Washington State, Belmont. I mean, 280 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:28.559 there's logos here out of Delaware Drexel, Dayton, Kennesau State, Ohio, 281 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:35.360 North Dakota State, Campbell. So you know that that again, 282 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:38.000 we didn't need to hear tom Izzo to know that 283 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:40.480 it's really stupid. But if you wanted to do it 284 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:42.480 and make it about the student athlete, which they're not 285 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:46.039 really anymore, they're paid pros, that I mean, that is 286 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:49.720 such a distraction whenever you should be so focused on again, 287 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:52.159 what's right in front of you? Chance to go to 288 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:55.000 an Elite eight and maybe then punch a ticket to 289 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:57.799 the final four. All right, it's Coffee and Company and 290 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:59.960 weird Field about Thort's here on Sports Talk seven ninety 291 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:01.600 This text came in a little bit earlier, and if 292 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.799 you guys want to text ten, you can five O 293 00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:05.039 two six five. I almost did it, almost did it, 294 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:06.799 almost said the old number five O two four to 295 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.600 three eight ninety seventy three is the leen N Federal 296 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.799 Credit Union text line. We had a text from one 297 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:15.360 of our regular listeners, Kirk, who asks when the light 298 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:18.440 bulb turned on for me in becoming a die hard 299 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:24.879 Cards fan. Unfortunately, it's a sad moment that I feel 300 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:28.000 like I had the realization that this that you know, 301 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:30.720 I'm a diehard now, and I'm not even sure I 302 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:33.279 knew what a die hard was then or if that 303 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:36.600 was even like a how people described somebody that's really 304 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:39.639 really into a team and they let it impack their 305 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:44.480 emotions more than it should. But when Louisville lost in 306 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:48.559 the Elite eight to North Carolina, when Dwan Wheat had 307 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:51.919 the bum ankle, it was that Anton Jamison Vince Carter team. 308 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:53.200 That was in nineteen ninety seven. 309 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:56.519 I was nine years old, and in fact I was 310 00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:03.519 I think I was eight going on nine, and that sucked. 311 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:08.399 And I remember, for the first time ever being like 312 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:13.840 genuinely heartbroken about a team losing and a season being over. 313 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:16.799 That was my first team that I really really just 314 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:19.679 you know, fell for. I remember teams prior to that, 315 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.919 but I think I was young and naive to the 316 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:26.320 point where them winning and losing. I loved him so 317 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:28.600 much that like I didn't I didn't really care, if 318 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.720 that makes sense, the young naive kid and me was like, 319 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.879 well they could lose by fifty I still love them 320 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.200 and they're my team. Go cards, you know what I mean. 321 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:38.519 Or whatever we were saying back then, I'm sure we 322 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:42.320 were saying now. Yeah, Well no, he's yes, Yes, to. 323 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.639 Your point, he a bit more cynical. 324 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:48.159 Well, he's I feel like he's well advanced compared to me, 325 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:50.120 because I mean, I mean, I don't remember if I 326 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:53.799 knew what anything was it for, but he was this 327 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:56.039 worked out perfect because this team this year was the 328 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:59.240 first one for him that like he did follow along 329 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:02.519 he screen during games. But I do like he knows 330 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:05.559 that they're that they lost in the season's over, but 331 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:09.680 he's not sad because it's there's still a young innocence 332 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:13.279 about him that like winning and losing doesn't doesn't doesn't 333 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.839 define what he thinks of him, you know what I mean. 334 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:17.079 Like he's not dealing with that. 335 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:20.480 He's not dealing with you know, rival fans, a daycare, 336 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:22.000 you know what I mean. Like he's just he's just 337 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:24.480 in his own world, loving it, loving his cards. So 338 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:26.680 he's got it made right now. Wouldn't be nice to 339 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:31.000 not have this show Virginia transfer possible, I mean, I mean, 340 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.720 and that's one of the things that you know, he's 341 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:36.400 starting to not like he doesn't he's at least had 342 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:41.039 some awareness that all these guys that he loved this year, 343 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.720 like most of them are gone and that I think 344 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:46.759 he didn't understand that, and he still doesn't, you know, 345 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:49.119 as far as big picture, but I did have to 346 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.599 you know, we're gonna have to there's gonna be all 347 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.400 kinds of new players next year, and in a way 348 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.880 he was kind of excited about it. But you know, 349 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.720 he's like, wait a second, So like that's it for 350 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:59.039 rain Smith, Like what about Chucky. I'm like, well, they're 351 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:01.680 gonna play elsewhere and aren't they playing for us? And 352 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:04.000 I'm like, you know, so he didn't really get it, 353 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:05.880 at least not you know, big picture. 354 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:06.440 That's a good thing. 355 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:09.279 So for me to answer the question, Kirk, it was 356 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:12.279 it was then it was whenever Louisville lost in that game, 357 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:15.480 because that was the first time I was you know, 358 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.359 I was sad in a way that it was over. 359 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:22.799 And uh, from then on, like I was a lunatic 360 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:25.960 as far as it, you know, diehard. 361 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:27.759 Lunatic, whatever you want to however you want to describe it. 362 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:31.799 But like last week leading up to Thursday, and we 363 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:33.519 could go today like when we were two, we were 364 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.559 forty eight hours out from the game, Like there's no 365 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:39.960 scenario what that does to me can be good for 366 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:44.400 my health? My life expectancy. But it's also what makes 367 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:46.720 it kind of special. What makes us crazy is also 368 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:49.839 what you know we tell ourselves makes it makes it 369 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:52.799 a special thing. All right, let's get to a break. 370 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:55.920 We'll come back on the other side. Kevin Willard in 371 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:57.880 a very unique spot. I want you guys to hear 372 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:01.160 something he said on a radio in you today that 373 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.279 is just very unusual for a coach that's just a 374 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:06.920 couple of days away from playing Florida, the number one 375 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:09.799 seed in their region. We'll get to that and a 376 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:11.640 lot more. It's coffee and Company, Feel abouth Thornton's on 377 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:12.640 Sports Talk seven ninety. 378 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:16.599 Now back to Coffee and Company fueled by Thornton's on 379 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:19.680 Sports Talk seven ninety. 380 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:22.839 All Right, five out, two five, seven, one, seventy nine hundred. 381 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:24.880 If you want to give us a call, text line, 382 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:28.079 that's always an option five vote, two four three eight 383 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:31.240 ninety seventy three. It's the LNN Federal Credit Union tex Line. 384 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:34.039 We'll get back to some texts coming up here shortly. 385 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:37.039 But a lot of a lot of names entering the 386 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:42.079 portal today since the show started. Donovan Dent that is 387 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:46.480 New Mexico's best player. There's a good chance that at 388 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:50.680 his position, maybe overall, even when we get months down 389 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:53.160 the road here, that this may be the best overall 390 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:56.119 player in the portal. Because we're talking about a guy 391 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:58.720 who was the Mountain West Player of the year, which, 392 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:02.119 of course that alone is is impressive, but his numbers 393 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:06.079 twenty point six points per game and six point four 394 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:11.359 assists per game while shooting forty one percent from three, 395 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.119 and he was top fifteen I think it was in 396 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:17.559 the country and both scoring an assist. I mean, the 397 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:20.559 guy's really special. So to me, he's the guy that 398 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:23.720 at least as of right now, will probably be able 399 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:26.000 to pick wherever he wants to go to school, given 400 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:28.000 that they have, you know, the money. I mean, to me, 401 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:30.519