WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:03.560 All right, let's get a drive time Tuesday afternoon, fifteen 2 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:06.240 minutes past the hour, two o'clock. Another beautiful day man, 3 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:09.759 about fifty two degrees in sunny here in downtown Salt 4 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:12.199 Lake City, Utah. And as it is every single day, 5 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:13.919 it's gonna have you along for the ride. Spence Check 6 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.960 it's behind the mike. That's Porter Larsen beyond the glass. 7 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:19.600 This program is called The Drive with Spence Checkets. 8 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:22.600 We do four hours of radio every single afternoon, and 9 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:25.120 it's good to have you along for the ride. All right, 10 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:27.760 good guest list today, a lot to get to today. 11 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.440 Game day for the Utah Hockey Club. They welcome to 12 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:34.159 the Chicago Blackhawks. Points at a premium fun conversation with 13 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:36.640 Bill Armstrong yesterday, general manager. 14 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:38.200 Of the Utah Hockey Club. 15 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:40.640 They're back in action tonight, so the push for the 16 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:43.960 wild card is on for the hockey club. Utah Jazz 17 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:46.840 took an l last night to the Portland Trail Blazers. 18 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:49.560 They're gonna be off tonight. They're back in action tomorrow 19 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:54.079 taking on Sacramento. Really good game last night from Kyle Philipowski. 20 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:58.359 Pretty good game from Bryce sent Siba Keyante tried to 21 00:00:58.359 --> 00:00:59.799 get them back in and at the end. But it 22 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:02.920 was not a great Kyante night after a really good 23 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:05.120 Kiante game against the Houston Rockets. But we'll do a 24 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:08.040 little jazz basketball on the show today. We'll do a 25 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:12.239 little NBA basketball on the show today. All eyes on 26 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:14.680 Turner Sport tonight, six o'clock Mountain Time. 27 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:16.480 The Lakers and the Mavericks. 28 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:20.239 Luka Doncicic taking on his old team in Los Angeles. 29 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:23.719 We'll get to some storylines surrounding that game. Do some 30 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:26.480 big picture NBA as down the stretch we come. And 31 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:30.040 I've got to say, as the guy who pretty consistently 32 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:33.920 over the past number of well years now has cracked 33 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:37.280 on this product to pro basketball where it employs basketball 34 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:40.079 players that don't seem to enjoy, you know, playing basketball. 35 00:01:40.760 --> 00:01:43.239 Over the past few nights, there have been some really 36 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:46.159 good games and some high effort situations. As we are 37 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:49.719 high speed ahead to spring and the playoff push is 38 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:52.400 upon us, so do some NBA on the show today. 39 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:57.120 Of course, the news that broke yesterday prior to us 40 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:59.400 cracking the mic to come on air Craig Smith out 41 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:01.760 as the universe Utah men's basketball coach. 42 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:04.239 We'll get to the latest on this, and. 43 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:06.439 I've had a couple of conversations over the past twenty 44 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:09.000 four hours from folks up on the hill with folks 45 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:13.000 up on the Hill and boosters donors reaching out talking 46 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:16.319 about what's next for Utah basketball. So we'll get to 47 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:18.960 that and the latest with the candidates that most people 48 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:22.080 have already talked about. If you missed the Josh Grant 49 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:26.560 interview from yesterday, I would highly encourage you to go 50 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:28.879 listen to that up on our podcast page, which is 51 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:32.080 called The Drive with Spence Check. It's a very honest, salient, 52 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:37.280 clear eye opinion on what's happened at the University of 53 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:39.520 Utah with the basketball program and what Josh and a 54 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:41.960 lot of the alumni are hoping will come next. And 55 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:43.800 so that will be a big portion of what we 56 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:46.319 do on the program today. The NFL Combine is going 57 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:49.479 on the NFL Drafters right around the corner. Some local 58 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:53.520 boys involved Salt Lake Tribune with a story yesterday and 59 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:55.159 we didn't get to talk about it much. We'll get 60 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:59.000 to it today about some nil inconsistencies. 61 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:00.360 I guess is how we'll that. 62 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:04.240 With BYU football and then we'll do somebo College basketball 63 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:06.960 is BYU is high speed ahead of the NCAA tournament. 64 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.199 It looks like, barring some late season collapse. 65 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:12.280 Richie Saunders named the Big twelve Player of the Week 66 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:15.639 BYU with a massive win at McHale. So it's kind 67 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:17.840 of a quiet night locally outside of the hockey club. 68 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.280 But tomorrow's packed. Utah is at McHale to take on 69 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:24.599 Arizona Sacramentos in town to take on the Jazz and 70 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:27.039 BYU back in action as well as they're gonna take 71 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.319 on Arizona State on the road. BYU in the top 72 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:32.280 twenty five for the first time all year. Utah State 73 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:35.080 with a tough roady at Boise, so a lot to 74 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:36.240 do on the program. 75 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:38.199 RSL back in action tomorrow. 76 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:41.000 It's the second leg of their CONKYCAFF champions Cup opening 77 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:44.639 round matchup against Aridiano. This one is here. It's out 78 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:47.120 in Sandy. It shouldn't be right there, but hey, let's 79 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:49.159 get a parking lot instead. So it's out in Sandy. 80 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:51.719 Head on out RSL dot com to support the lads. 81 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:52.199 All right. 82 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:53.919 Our first guest right out of the gates Sean Mooney. 83 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.919 We'll do some Utah basketball right away with Sean, who 84 00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:59.159 played at the U and now is alongside Ryles for 85 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:01.759 the call for U tome nd Hoops. So Sean will 86 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:05.479 be our first guest today. NBA Daily Assists was Zach Harper. 87 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:08.400 He rolls by on the program as well. And then 88 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:11.159 we're gonna bring in Bill Voice himself, Bill Riley on 89 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:14.560 the program. We'll get Bill's thoughts on Craig's dismissal and 90 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:17.160 what he thinks is next for Utah men's basketball. We'll 91 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:18.959 do a little Utah football with Ryle's on the show 92 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:22.319 today as well. Roxy Bernstein, one of our favorites, old 93 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:24.519 school PAC twelve network guy, now doing a bunch of 94 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:27.120 different stuff with the ESPN. We'll do some hockey with 95 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:29.480 Roxy and some college basketball with him as well. So 96 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:33.680 Sean Mooney, Zach Harper, Bill Riley, Roxy Bernstein. There's a 97 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:36.040 couple of potential guests that may stop buy on that 98 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:37.120 open three thirty block. 99 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:39.680 We'll keep you up to date on that me Spence check. 100 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:40.879 It's all of you the great listeners. 101 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:43.519 Happy Tuesday, beautiful day outside, and it's going to have 102 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:46.079 you along for the ride. And that guy Porter Larson 103 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:48.279 rocking the beanie with fifty degrees today. 104 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:50.199 It is a little warm feeling. 105 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:50.639 All right. 106 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:56.160 Yeah, I guess I didn't get outside too much before 107 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.040 I came outside, threw the beanie on, and then yeah, 108 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:02.600 ran outside in mid February, and it's an another beautiful 109 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:03.800 spring maybe summer. 110 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:04.360 Day, Yes it is. 111 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:08.360 We were able to avoid the the the mud ponds 112 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:11.319 at the park today. Duke, the station mascot, Duke who 113 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:14.040 is here today? He cannot say no to a mud 114 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:17.160 pond and he's white, yes, so it doesn't. It's not 115 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:19.000 a great look. So we were able to avoid that today. 116 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:20.319 But a fun day at the park with the dog. 117 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:22.160 Hopefully you guys are able to get outside enjoy this 118 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:25.000 warm weather. It will not last all that long, all right. 119 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:27.240 Sean Mooney our first guest right out of the gates today. 120 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.399 But before we get to Sean, pry to see if 121 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.959 our good friends sat Prize Picks check them out. Prize 122 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:34.399 Picks is the best place to get real money sports action. 123 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.560 With over ten million members and billions of dollars in 124 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.720 awarded winnings, Prize Picks has made daily fantasy sports accessible 125 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:42.120 to all. 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You know, the results. We could 153 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:47.399 be reductive and say you didn't win enough, and that's 154 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:50.360 certainly part of it. And you know, based off of 155 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:53.399 conversations I've had over the past forty eight well, you know, 156 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:57.199 twenty four hours or so, now this really was booster driven. 157 00:06:57.279 --> 00:07:00.399 There are a lot of people and all just say 158 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:02.399 this again, if you missed Josh Grant from yesterday, you 159 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:04.600 should go listen to that interview. But a lot of 160 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:08.600 people in the community that write checks, boosters donors at 161 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:11.120 the University of Utah just not pleased with the direction 162 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:14.079 of the program. And you juxtaposed it with what's happening 163 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:15.560 about forty miles down south. 164 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:17.560 You know, on the football side. 165 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:20.800 Of things, you could make a very fair case that 166 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:24.319 last year was just a moment in time and this 167 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:27.519 whole scenario where BYU has risen up to be a 168 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:31.240 legitimate Big twelve football contender in Utah last year kind 169 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:34.399 of fell backwards. You could make a very fair argument 170 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:38.079 that the data indicates that might just be a moment 171 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:41.240 right not necessarily the reality you can't do that with 172 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:44.079 the basketball programs when you compare the two. And this 173 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:47.399 isn't only the only reason that Craig is gone, but 174 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:50.959 when you compare the two right now, BYU basketball isn't 175 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:53.519 a better spot than Utah and has been, if we're honest, 176 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:56.079 in a better spot than Utah has been in a 177 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:57.800 little while. Utah has been able to get to some 178 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:00.600 head to head wins. But the way that Kevin Young 179 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:02.120 has been able to come in and take over that 180 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:04.839 program and the way that their collective has been able 181 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:07.199 to step up, at least on the basketball side. On 182 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:10.000 the football side a different conversation. We'll talk about that later. 183 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:14.120 Feel bad for my guy Killani. But on the basketball side, 184 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:15.920 it's clear that they're writing big checks. 185 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:17.519 It's Ryan Smith, it's Danny Ainge. 186 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:20.439 I'm told they have nine seven figure donors and they 187 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.879 all care about basketball. They paid Kevin a lot of 188 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:26.120 money to lead the NBA. The reports are they have 189 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:28.680 two seven figure players this year, and Cannon Catchings and 190 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:31.160 Yegor Demon and they have the best high school player 191 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.840 in the country coming to Provo next year. To the 192 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:36.320 tune of more than five million dollars for five months 193 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:40.240 of basketball. So BYU has something cooking that Utah just 194 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:42.840 doesn't on the basketball side, and that doesn't sit well 195 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:45.679 with alumni and boosters and people that care about the program. 196 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:48.399 And obviously, you know, if you're Mark Carlin, those are 197 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:50.559 voices you have to listen to. If you're Taylor Randall, 198 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:53.320 those are voices you have to listen to. And I'm 199 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:55.159 not saying this is the only reason he's gone. I 200 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:57.320 do think it's layered and there are a number of reasons. 201 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:00.159 The first reason is lack of results. Craig say it 202 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:03.120 himself last year in an interview. This is a bottom line, 203 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.240 results orientated business and we all know the deal. So 204 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:09.320 lack of results, lack of winning, lack of booster support. 205 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:11.559 And I'm sure if you're Mark Carlin, you know you're 206 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.720 probably under a lot. 207 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:14.960 Of pressure to make sure you get this higher right. 208 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.200 You know, we talked about this when Tom Homo announced 209 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:20.840 that he was retiring down at BRIGHAMIONG after twenty years. 210 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:26.000 As they're ad Broco, Metadal, Dave Rose, Kalone, Satake, Mark Pope, 211 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:28.879 Kevin Jung. I mean, that's basically five for five right 212 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.360 for hires and Marx hires Craig and it didn't work, 213 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.799 and so it's so for one, he didn't hire Kyle. 214 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.639 And I think the you know, the succession plan of 215 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:40.559 Morgan in place for Kyle was already in place before 216 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:41.279 Mark got here. 217 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:43.360 So I'm sure Mark's feeling a little bit of heat. 218 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:45.200 He's got to get this one right because the one 219 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:48.600 higher he's made, and this is the revenue generating sports. 220 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:50.679 There are other hires he's made in sports that don't 221 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:53.080 generate as much revenue that have been fine, but basketball 222 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:56.240 and football is what pay payser bills, and that's ultimately 223 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.200 how you're judged from Mark seats. 224 00:09:58.200 --> 00:09:59.120 So we'll see what happens. 225 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:02.039 Of course, Alex jen And is the name that everybody's 226 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:04.399 honed in on, and as I talked about yesterday and 227 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:07.519 we'll talk about with both Sean Mooney and Bill Riley today. 228 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:11.080 Five years ago or so, when coach Chriscoviak was let 229 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.919 go and Alex's name came up, I was adamant that 230 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:16.960 he would not even entertain it. But I was adamant 231 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.559 that he would not entertain it back then because Alex 232 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:22.639 was coming off a situation where he was the lead 233 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.399 assistant for Quinn, Snyder and Quinn and that group had 234 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:30.200 about a six to seven year run of big time 235 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:33.399 success and they garnered a lot of respect around the 236 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:37.600 NBA for their ability to develop talent, namely Gordon Hayward, 237 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:39.519 Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert. 238 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:41.600 Right, we could keep going, but those are kind of the. 239 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:46.480 Roses if if you will, when it comes to that 240 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.960 iteration of the Jazz and the players they were able 241 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:51.679 to develop. Sadly none of them stayed here when they 242 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.399 had the ability to choose where they wanted to live. 243 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:56.759 But Alex was credited with really helping Rudy develop. When 244 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:59.159 Rudy came into the league, he could barely run up 245 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:02.519 and down the floor. Dennis Lindsay on My show, Jazz 246 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:05.679 General Manager said Rudy was treated like a quote circus 247 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:07.360 freak at the draft combine. 248 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:09.000 Nobody knew what to do with him. 249 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.600 And of course the bulk of the credit goes to 250 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:14.240 go Bear, but Alex was the guy that was working 251 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:17.559 with him every day. He went from a Langley baby 252 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:21.080 giraffe to a Hall of Famer with the help of 253 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:24.000 Alex Jensen. You add on to the fact that they 254 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.559 want a ton of games, and when you win, you're 255 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:29.720 going to lose assistant coaches. And Quinn did with that 256 00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:33.159 group quite a bit. I could name you a bunch 257 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:34.720 of names, but none of them would probably land. You 258 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:37.240 probably don't know who they are. But he didn't lose Alex, 259 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:39.200 and I thought you would because I thought Alex was 260 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:41.279 going to be an NBA head coach. I know he 261 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:44.840 interviewed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, I think before they hired Bickerstaff. 262 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:47.840 But I'm not sure that Alex has received another interview 263 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:50.000 to be an NBA head coach. And so five years later, 264 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.600 I've changed my tune about what I believed to be 265 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:54.799 Alex's interest in this job. 266 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:57.320 This is I have not talked to Alex. I've reached 267 00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:57.840 out to him. 268 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:01.039 Alex was perfect for the Jazz because he's very close 269 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:02.200 to the chest, close to the vest. 270 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.440 He doesn't share much. He's a pretty quiet dude. 271 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:07.279 So we'll see a lot of people have already leaned 272 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:09.399 into this idea of Alex Jensen as your head coach 273 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:12.000 and Andre Miller as your assistant. And I'll say this, 274 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:14.360 I'm not usually one that says you've got to win 275 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.600 the press conference, but I think in this situation. 276 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:18.320 In scenario you kind of do. 277 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:20.919 I think you need to show this community that you're 278 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.279 willing to spend what you need to spend to keep 279 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:26.679 up with that school down south that's spending a lot 280 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:30.360 of money to build a powerhouse college basketball program and get. 281 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:30.879 In the game. Man. 282 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.440 And if it's Alex Jensen and Andre Miller, I would 283 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:35.679 imagine the ticket reps up on the Hill would receive 284 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.559 quite a few phone calls right after the press conference. 285 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.240 And of course the more important thing is how do 286 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:42.240 you build a program, But at least for one day. 287 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:45.720 If that's the direction, you garner a lot of good 288 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:48.559 will in this community, and the buzz would be pretty palpable. 289 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:52.320 Do almonds go bad? Do almonds have an expiration date? 290 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:54.159 Honestly don't know. 291 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.720 Do almonds go bad? 292 00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:58.879 Yeah? Maybe google that. 293 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:04.080 I think I'm gonna say yes, But I think you're 294 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.600 gonna have to like try to or like introduce moisture 295 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.320 to the to the situation. I think they stay good 296 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.240 for quite some time. 297 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:12.679 Oh right, Yeah, I need to get to the store. 298 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:15.000 Nobody gives a rip about this, but I was leaving 299 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:15.799 in a rush today. 300 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.759 Needed a snack. 301 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.200 I've had this bag of almonds in my drawer for 302 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.440 at least two years. 303 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:23.559 Oh, it's cracked. I'm eating them. So I'm just wondering 304 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:24.279 if I'm in trouble. 305 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:27.759 I think you're fine, all right, but you know I'm 306 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:29.519 not a doctor. I did stay at a holiday in 307 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.279 last night, though. 308 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:33.240 Sean Mooney, we know that Sean is a very proficient 309 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:35.440 dancer in basketball. Mind, do you have any knowledge on 310 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:36.919 the shelf life of almonds? 311 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.279 Sean? 312 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:40.519 I think you're just fine. I mean, come on, they've 313 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:42.519 been around for a centuries, They're going to be around 314 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:45.360 for a centuries from here on out. You are nut. 315 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.120 We know that. 316 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:48.919 Oh wow, Sean, that's good. That's good. I'll tell you what. 317 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:51.279 Tell you what doesn't have a very long shelf live? 318 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:52.639 College basketball coaches? 319 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:52.759 What? 320 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:55.799 Wow? Did I just make that transition? 321 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:58.200 Good? It was? It was good. 322 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:00.960 So Jean out know, if you had a chance to 323 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:05.960 listen to Josh yesterday on the program, Yeah, goodness, and hey, 324 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.480 I love it. 325 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.440 I love the honesty. 326 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:10.039 I don't know that I'm completely aligned with him all 327 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:12.399 the way, but let you start there. What are your 328 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:15.799 thoughts on kind of the salient clear eye analysis Josh 329 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:17.279 gave us yesterday? 330 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:21.519 Well, First of all, like I love JG. So I 331 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:24.639 was an athlete with JG. He obviously is everything you 332 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:27.440 said he was Spence. I mean, he's as good a 333 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:30.960 player probably as we've had at Utah, really really talented, 334 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.799 and I love how he's not pulling punches. He's just 335 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:37.919 out telling you exactly what he feels. And I think 336 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:41.440 like most of what JG had to say was was accurate. 337 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:43.759 And the thing I love the most about what Josh 338 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:47.120 said yesterday and what I heard the most Spence was 339 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:50.679 his passion. Can you hear the passion he has for 340 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:54.679 Utah basketball. It's it's that that I think right there 341 00:14:54.799 --> 00:15:00.440 encapsulates what really drives athletics for so many people, but 342 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:03.519 in particular alumni. As far as like the finer points 343 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:07.399 of what JG said, the only really only counterpoint that 344 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:10.960 I would have to him is like, it's hard to 345 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:14.720 go back to our era and put our era into 346 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:18.879 this era. I agree that we need a system, that 347 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:21.279 we need a system that players want to come play 348 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:26.519 for Allah, Kelvin Sampson, Shaka, Smart, Marquette. These these teams 349 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:32.039 have eighty seven percent retention. I don't know that you 350 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:34.559 have to have roster construction. I don't know that you're 351 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:37.519 going to have the same desire to be a role 352 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:40.200 player that maybe JG was talking about. And I do 353 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:43.440 think role players are very important, obviously, but that's the 354 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:45.360 only real counterpoint I would have to JG. 355 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:49.519 Just initially, Okay, well said, let me follow up with this, 356 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:53.559 And here's where, Honestly, Sean, I'm not really sure where 357 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:56.679 to land because I'm not privy to any of these 358 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:01.679 conversations about what Josh was was kind of out outlining 359 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.399 yesterday of alumni trying to contact Craig to get more involved, 360 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.240 and part of me, if I'm being honest, part of 361 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.759 me puts myself in Craig's shoes. I'm like, well, I've 362 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:13.000 got I've got a program to run, I've got a 363 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:16.919 team to coach, you know, and I can't necessarily kowtow 364 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:19.480 to every single phone call I get from an alumni 365 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.919 that wants to tell me how to run my team. 366 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:25.039 But look, I also understand Josh's point about the rich 367 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:27.200 history and pedigree of this program, and if you're the 368 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:31.120 head coach's probably something you should consider at least having 369 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:34.279 some people involved to hear their voices. I honestly am 370 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:36.320 a bit conflicted on this one, Sean, but I wanted 371 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:38.240 to get your thoughts and maybe you have some knowledge 372 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:41.799 of alumni reaching out to Craig and Craig not necessarily 373 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.399 being open to, you know, to those conversations. 374 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:48.399 Yeah, I mean, I don't have any specific knowledge. Jag definitely, 375 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.559 Josh definitely spoke as if he did have specific knowledge 376 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:54.200 about that. I don't have that knowledge. I do know, 377 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:57.759 and you know this. One of my close friends, my 378 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:01.919 best man, Tommy Connor, was on a coaching staff at Utah. 379 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:05.640 Two coaching staffs, Coach Majerison, coach Criscobiak, and so I 380 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:09.559 do know from conversations with Tommy that often alumni reach 381 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:13.599 out and sometimes you can talk to them, and sometimes 382 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:17.200 maybe their requests or what they want are unreasonable. Like 383 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:20.160 a lot of people think they can coach. This has 384 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:22.039 nothing to do with what Josh Saner terms of who 385 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.599 he thinks can coach. I agree, I think Alex Jensen's 386 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:28.000 a great choice, along with lots of other candidates. But 387 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:31.759 you know, you have to temper yourself and to go 388 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:34.599 to Craig's position. To be in Craig's position. Now, I'm 389 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:38.200 pretty I feel pretty intimate in this answer. Because I've 390 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:41.759 been around Craig. I think Craig did have a lot 391 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:45.359 on his plate at Utah. We know that Utah men's 392 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:48.680 basketball is a lot just in and of itself. It's 393 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:51.279 an entity that we all know and love. I mean, 394 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:53.440 I love listening to you talk about your time at 395 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:55.880 the Huntsman Center. So I think you have to do 396 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:59.599 your best to hear the alumni as far as like 397 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:01.839 whether or not there were jobs and all that. I 398 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.400 really can't speak to that, all. 399 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:07.319 Right, So before we get to and we'll talk Alex, 400 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:11.359 we'll talk about other candidates, let's discuss Sean, your opinion 401 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:14.960 on exactly why this went down when it went down. 402 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:17.880 The timing still is a little and I've had some 403 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:20.640 conversations that is give me a little bit more clarity, 404 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:23.039 But the timing is still a little bit like, I 405 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.960 don't know, do you let them just finish out the 406 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:28.519 season And you know, they're already paying Larry and now 407 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.240 they're paying Craig. 408 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:31.279 They're paying two coaches not to coach the team. 409 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.359 And you know, and Sean, we can be reductive, and 410 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:36.799 I'm sure Craig, who's a honest, straight shooter, what's I 411 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:39.599 didn't win enough so we can just lean into results period. 412 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:42.599 I've been told that there is a booster element to this. 413 00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:45.240 People did not love the direction of the program. You 414 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:48.920 compare to what BYU's building and how they look right now. 415 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.680 A lot of people up here are not thrilled with 416 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:53.680 the direction. So what's your take on why this went 417 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:55.720 down and when it went down? 418 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:59.160 Yeah, I mean I would say that there and Josh 419 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:00.920 shit this on the head that I think in his 420 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:03.680 what he talked about Last year, the Oregon State loss 421 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:06.359 was a tough loss for us, and this year the 422 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.720 UCF loss was a very tough loss. We had just 423 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.440 that glimmer of hope. I mean, I was on your 424 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:12.799 show saying that we're going to go three and two, 425 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.119 and I really believe that, you know, and then you 426 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:17.680 have that tough loss way of nineteen turnowds. We don't 427 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:20.400 play the way we want to play. As far as timing, 428 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:24.960 there's probably no good timing. And I want to extend 429 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.240 courtesy to the staff. We spend a lot of time 430 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:29.799 with these coaches, and one of the toughest things is 431 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:32.359 the coaches that are on the staff. They don't get fired. 432 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:35.200 The head coach gets fired, But the coaches that are 433 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:38.559 there are even a tougher predicament now because now Coach 434 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:41.079 Smith is gone, Coach Ilot's going to step in, and 435 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.720 the other coaches are going to do their best to 436 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:45.559 pick up for these student athletes who are also dealing 437 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:49.759 with confusion. I would say, absolutely, there's no good time. 438 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:52.599 This is makes sense in the regard that if you 439 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:55.160 look out in the NCAA, I think there are five 440 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:59.039 openings at a high level right now, and we know 441 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:02.440 that the transfer portal puts all kinds of pressure on 442 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:06.240 college basketball from within your program and from without your 443 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:08.920 from outside the program. So I would say that even 444 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:12.400 though there's no initially good timing, I understand this timing 445 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:16.960 as far as shoes involved. I mean, obviously Taylor Randall 446 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.319 and Mark Harlan are doing their very best. The administration 447 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:21.799 is doing their very best to meet a lot of 448 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:27.400 people's thoughts about what Utah men's basketball should be, and yeah, Spence, 449 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:30.200 you're right, it hasn't been what it should be. I mean, 450 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:32.480 the bottom line is we need to make the NCAA Tournament, 451 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:34.799 and we need to be a regular in the NCAA Tournament. 452 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:37.279 I think that's what we all expect and have grown 453 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:41.200 to expect through those that era that Majeri's coached. 454 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:43.759 You know, I'm glad you ended your answer with that, 455 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:47.440 because there was luck. And I very much like Craig, 456 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:50.039 and I do think he's a good coach. I don't 457 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:53.519 think this will be the final chapter of his coaching journey. 458 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:56.079 He's still very young, He's wanted places he's been prior 459 00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:58.920 to and I do feel bad for Craig, and I 460 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:01.799 feel bad first fan. You know, a nice five million dollars, 461 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:06.039 so parachute helps, you know. Yeah, my father wasn't a coach, 462 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:08.240 but he was an executive in sports for thirty years. 463 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:11.319 We uprooted several times. That's it's hard on a family. 464 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:13.880 It's hard on children. So there's a human element to 465 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:15.519 this stuff that I don't think we do a very 466 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:17.200 good job of acknowledging in our business. 467 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.440 I wanted to hammer it home. 468 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:21.519 But yeah, one of the things Sean that I thought 469 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:24.279 of pretty quickly was oh, okay, good, this standard is 470 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:27.880 not okay with decision makers up there because it's been 471 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:32.440 way too long since we've had to It's twenty sixteen 472 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.759 was our last tournament team. 473 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:35.400 I mean we're coming up on a decade. 474 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.759 We should have the standard in this city that our 475 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:41.680 basketball team either goes to the tournament every year or 476 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.400 is knocking on the door every year. 477 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.720 I truly feel that way. 478 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:47.079 I absolutely agree with you. 479 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:50.000 And to go back to that twenty sixteen, one of 480 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:53.559 the interesting thoughts about the end of Larry's coaching career, 481 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:57.640 it was the Pac Twelte wasn't as strong as we 482 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.559 would have hoped it would have been. Right, So they 483 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:02.039 end up in the top four four years in a row, 484 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:04.440 and I think they only make the tournament one of 485 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:07.039 those years. So that's kind of a mix of bad 486 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:10.319 luck and being in a league that maybe didn't get 487 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:12.319 the same kind of attention. Now, the Big twelve is 488 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.720 the league where you can make the tournament. You have 489 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:17.039 to have the right system in place, the right people 490 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:21.440 in place, and certainly bringing former Utah athletes into this 491 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:25.839 mix as potential coaches can make a really big difference, 492 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:27.640 I mean an amazing difference. 493 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.400 And we'll get there. 494 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.920 But before we do, tell me about conversations you've had 495 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:35.720 with Josh Eiland. I don't know, Josh. I would imagine 496 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:38.119 we'll get him on the show. I know that he 497 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:41.279 was a interim head coach prior to a West Virginia. 498 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.440 I don't really even know what the nature of his 499 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.680 relationship was with Craig. But what do you know about 500 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.839 the interim head coach Josh Eiland. 501 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:51.200 Yeah, no, quite a bit, right, And so we've had 502 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:54.680 the opportunity to spend time with the coaches. He's a 503 00:22:55.000 --> 00:23:00.480 Kansas kid from a small town family man, really really 504 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:04.119 well respected everywhere we go in this league, either the 505 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:06.839 rest or the other coaches. I just had a coach 506 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:10.160 in our last game at UCF stop me as we're 507 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:12.400 walking out and say, hey, make sure you say hi 508 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:15.160 to Josh. Josh didn't make the last game because he's sick. 509 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:18.279 Coach Ilt didn't make the game. He's a straight shooter. 510 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:21.400 You know exactly what you get. He was doing probably 511 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:24.240 half of the scouts this year. Typically it would be 512 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:28.079 he and JJ, coach Smith's right hand guy. So you're 513 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:30.079 getting the coach that knows the league. You're getting to 514 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:34.119 coach that is in an unenviable position again two years 515 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:36.559 in a row of being an interim head coach and 516 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.720 potentially not having a job next year. 517 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:42.519 Well, and he also coached under Bob Huggins, So you know, 518 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:45.599 he probably, as you know, probably probably has a lot 519 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.799 of a lot of great stories about coaching under Bob. 520 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:51.359 So I don't think Josh is a candidate. I don't 521 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:54.039 know this. We'll see what he's able to do. So 522 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:56.799 before we move into what's next, what do you you know, 523 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:59.839 we're all recalibrating now, right, So what do you expect 524 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:01.160 on this team moving forward? 525 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.920 After these players have lost the coach. 526 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:05.400 I feel like most of them liked playing for I 527 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.960 don't have any inside information there. 528 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:11.200 Yeah, no, I think it's the craziest thing ever. I mean, 529 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:14.279 this is basically all Bill and our sound engineers. Though 530 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:17.119 you're guys, though we've been talking about, right, what's gonna 531 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:19.960 how's the team going to respond? I mean, I don't 532 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:22.599 think the team had any idea this was coming in, 533 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:26.640 so I'm sure they're a shot. They flew home after UCF, 534 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:29.799 so we're actually in Tucson right now waiting for them. 535 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.880 They're going to come in to day at five forty five. 536 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:35.400 We're all staying at the same hotel. You know, it's 537 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:38.880 going to be interesting to see just their body language tomorrow. 538 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:41.240 So I think there are two different directions you go. 539 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:44.720 You know, you kind of shore up as an athlete 540 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:47.559 and you decide what you're made of and uh, and 541 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:50.799 you figure some things out for yourself. And if you 542 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:53.759 can do that, maybe you can be competitive against Arizona. 543 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:57.400 That's the one I'm hoping for. Or you kind of say, 544 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:02.119 you know, forget this. Uh, if they don't care about us, 545 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:04.119 you know who knows. But I want you to know 546 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:07.039 the administration and the people that are in charge, they 547 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:10.519 spent their time connecting with these athletes, these student athletes 548 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:12.880 and land them know what's going on and where they're going. 549 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.599 So they know they're cared about. 550 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:17.359 Well, that's good, that's good. 551 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:19.640 And we'll see how they respond because I mean, you know, 552 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:22.400 I certainly I think it would be difficult as a 553 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:25.319 young player to lose the guy who you came to 554 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:27.759 play for. And maybe a little rally around Coach Eyler 555 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:30.680 will have to see. But let's move on to what's next. 556 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.799 And this is what's always interesting, Sean, because as you know, 557 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:38.119 with the ecosystem of college basketball, every year there are 558 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:41.559 very very enticing candidates that are coaching at smaller schools 559 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:43.359 that have that have had have had a lot of 560 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:46.519 success and ultimately if they're able to make the tournament. 561 00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:48.319 It's one of the things I love about March Madness, 562 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:52.880 watching somebody have their live change, lives changed in real time. 563 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.559 Like you make a little bit of a run, suddenly 564 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:56.920 you go from like your Eric Olsen at U see 565 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:59.359 San Diego and you make you don't like And I 566 00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:01.440 could go over the James Right, there's Nico medved to 567 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:03.880 Colorado State, There's Eric Henderson at South Dakota State. 568 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.680 Like you know the list. 569 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:08.599 So let's talk about that portion of this pool before 570 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:10.559 we get to the names that everybody's already talking about. 571 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:15.119 If you're Mark Harlan, even though you're hearing the Alex Jensen's, 572 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:17.440 the Johnny Bryants de Andre Millers of the world, do 573 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:20.160 you try to go that route to get a more 574 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:24.240 conventional hire as it pertains to the macro view of 575 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:28.279 college basketball that typically happens that ride of passage, or 576 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:31.759 do you not look at that route, because that's essentially 577 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:32.839 what you just did with Craig. 578 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:37.240 Yeah, yeah, yeah, No, I absolutely think you look at 579 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.839 that route. I think you look at it all. You 580 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:41.200 would be remiss, Spence, if you and I were hiring 581 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:44.039 for a job in our business we would try and 582 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:46.240 find the absolute best person for that job. 583 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.400 I mean, there's no. 584 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:50.759 Question that a Utah alumni if they can, if they 585 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:54.000 can meet the requirements to coach. I mean, that's a 586 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:57.000 natural fit for so many people. But there are some 587 00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:59.680 great coaches out there, and I agree with you. I 588 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:03.000 think the greatest thing about college basketball is that story 589 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:05.759 of working your way up. That's one of Craig's stories. 590 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:08.480 It was a good story, right. I want that for 591 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:12.240 whoever comes in next. I mean obviously we you and 592 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:14.440 I and the people and the fans out there that care. 593 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:17.640 Josh Grant, everyone cares about this program, and we want 594 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:20.519 what's best for this program and putting a new system 595 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:26.039 in place that is bigger, maybe than what we have 596 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:29.119 currently or what we've had since twenty sixteen. A system 597 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:31.440 in which you know, U TIH men's basketball has a 598 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.880 chance to flourish, and the people that are going to 599 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:36.839 put money into that are interested in putting money into that. 600 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:39.200 I think I heard you talking about that earlier. It's 601 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:41.480 a big time deal, but I opened it up to everybody. 602 00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:44.559 So now let's move over to the names that people 603 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:47.640 are excited about. And Sean, I'm not usually a like, hey, 604 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:50.400 let's win the press conference. Guy, Like, there's so many 605 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:53.359 things that are so important in the long run and 606 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:55.599 playing the long game of building a program. 607 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:58.079 But I think in this case you might need to 608 00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:58.599 a little bit. 609 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:01.440 And I do think a Jensen as head coach, Andre 610 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:05.960 Miller is assistant coach announcement inundates the department, the ticket 611 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:09.160 department up there with people interested in actually getting behind 612 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:12.400 this group. I just think it's a basketball community that 613 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:15.279 has nearly been flatlined for way too long, and so. 614 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:16.559 Let's invigorate it a little bit. 615 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:18.759 And I do think an Alex Jensen head coach andre 616 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:22.200 Miller assistant coach would really excite this basketball community. 617 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:23.279 So give me your thoughts on that. 618 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:27.319 Yeah, I mean obviously, I told Bill. I mean so 619 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:29.720 one of the things that I had when I first 620 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:33.680 got this job last year being the voice of the 621 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:39.319 youth sidekick was Sloak DeMarlo Slocum and Chris Burgess. I 622 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:43.519 both understood slow coach with Tommy and Burge was a 623 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:46.640 player from a jurist, There's like this automatic affinity, so 624 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:49.599 like I often got my keys from Burge and tried 625 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:52.079 to understand what we're doing based on what in Burge 626 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:55.000 took the time to help me with that. You know, 627 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:57.640 Alex Jensen and Andrew on mean, come on that they 628 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:01.759 we all, to Josh's point, we all see basketball through 629 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:05.519 coach Majaris, and so to have those two players in 630 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:09.519 that era, which we know our fans love, come back 631 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:13.319 and start something new, create something new, it'd be fantastic. 632 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:16.039 It would be I would understand it in a way, 633 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:19.640 Spence that you understand eating almonds are safe for you? 634 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:23.279 Well played? Look, I hope they are. We'll find out 635 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:25.759 maybe an hour from now. You know what, I haven't 636 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:29.079 even what what about Birge? What about Chris Burgess? I mean, 637 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:30.200 is that a phone call you make? 638 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:35.119 Why not? I mean, and again, like these are solely 639 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:38.359 my opinions. I am not, you know, giving you like 640 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:40.400 the guy that I think it is. But I'm just 641 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:43.759 playing with you. Yeah, heck, yes, you give me a call. 642 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:47.880 I mean, Chris Burgess, they're a great coach, he understands. Utah, 643 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:50.000 Well he's been there twice. 644 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:52.079 Now, Yeah, no, that's right. 645 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:55.920 And you know, I don't fault anybody for parlaying success 646 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:58.200 into a better contract and a better job, which he's 647 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.799 done a couple of times and maybe this is a 648 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:02.079 part where you take over up here, So. 649 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.839 Let's move over now. 650 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:05.680 Let me ask you about Johnny Johnny Bryan. Josh didn't 651 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:08.319 seem to entertain that very much. I like him, I 652 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:11.160 always have. He's always been really good to me. When 653 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:13.000 I was with the Jazz and he was over there 654 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:15.920 as an assistant working with Donovan, I often kind of 655 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:19.319 picked his brain about Donovan's process. And Johnny's also credited 656 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:22.279 with the evolution and the growth of Gordon Hayward. Now 657 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:24.799 he's the associate head coach for a really good team. 658 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:28.359 And I feel about Johnny now the way I felt 659 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.599 about Alex five years ago. 660 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:31.240 I just think he's going to get a head coaching 661 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.960 job in the pros. 662 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:35.559 Now Josh leaned into the dynamic of HM being more 663 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:38.039 of a developmental coach. Well, that's kind of Alex's gig 664 00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:40.480 in the pros. Alex was a g League head coach. 665 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:40.960 I get it. 666 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:44.559 So what are your thoughts on the potential of contacting 667 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:46.599 Johnny Brian to see if he'd be interested in coming 668 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.559 back to his alma mater. 669 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:51.960 I mean, absolutely, I understand what Josh is saying. I don't. 670 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:54.960 I mean, Johnny Briant's a great development coach, but he's 671 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:57.799 an associate head coach in the NBA. I mean, again, 672 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:00.960 let's open the list to everybody. I'm not the one 673 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.839 that has to go through that list, right, You're not 674 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:04.000 the one that has to go through that list, but 675 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:06.480 there would be no reason not to. And then you 676 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:08.240 want to get him in an interview, and you want 677 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:11.559 to know what he's all about. I mean, he sounds 678 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:14.160 like he could be a good fit. Like I talked 679 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:16.279 to Phil Colan, a good friend of mine today who's 680 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:19.319 in San Antonio's management, and one of the things that 681 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:22.640 Phil Colan told me today was that all these NBA 682 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:26.000 teams know exactly what's going on at the collegiate level, 683 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:28.559 and this model that we have at the collegiate level 684 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:31.759 right now is a model very similar to their model. 685 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:34.279 So I mean, yes, of course you want to bring 686 00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:37.279 Jhnny Bryant, and he's probably going to understand this modern 687 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:41.519 model of getting athletes into your program or your system 688 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.880 as well as anybody. 689 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:47.480 All Right, before I set you loose, you know, it's 690 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:50.640 just I'll just tell you my opinion. Okay, my opinion 691 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:55.960 is watching Utah basketball this year, I feel like Craig 692 00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:59.319 was entering Jim's with less talent than the other head 693 00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:00.799 coach most of the time. 694 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:01.720 That's my opinion. 695 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:04.480 Now, the problem is, this isn't the pros where the 696 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:07.720 general manager and the VP of basketball ops are building 697 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:09.839 your roster. If you're the head coach, you're responsible for 698 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:13.720 the talent on your roster as well. So that also 699 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:16.519 comes down on Craig, at least partially. So my question, 700 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:18.519 Sean is whoever this coach is? 701 00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:18.880 Okay? 702 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:21.480 So if we played the scenario out a little bit, 703 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:24.920 and let's say it's Alex and Mark calls Alex Jensen 704 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:26.799 and Alex picks up the phone, I can promise you 705 00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:29.240 Alex is gonna want to know what shape are we 706 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:31.759 in with Nil? What shape are we in with the collective? 707 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:34.880 Am I able to keep up with my peers? Can 708 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:37.880 we get talent based off of the economics of the 709 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:42.119 program right now? The infrastructure around the coach has to 710 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:45.920 be as sound as ever in college basketball these days? 711 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:49.079 Is the infrastructure at Utah Basketball where it needs to be? 712 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:52.000 I agree with you. 713 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:54.480 I mean, I think from a talent standpoint, having now 714 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:56.759 been all the way to the Big twelve, we have 715 00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:00.480 talented kids one of our rules, and one of my 716 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:03.799 rules through the last twenty five years, is how many 717 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:07.000 of those kids could play next level? And if you 718 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:09.039 look at some of the teams we're playing, the Big 719 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:11.759 twelve is actually not as talented at moving kids to 720 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:14.960 the NBA as the PAC twelve was. Last year. I 721 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:17.039 think the PAC twelve had nine players and the Big 722 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.839 twelve had four. 723 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:20.400 But the Big twelve has a lot of really good. 724 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:25.799 College basketball players, which we need. Alex Jensen, Johnny Bryant, 725 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:30.920 my goodness, my brain just stopped. Andrew Miller. I mean, 726 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:34.880 these guys are going to have a connection to money 727 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:38.880 and the potential of creating a larger annail budget that 728 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:42.119 possibly another cook coming from a smaller school would not. 729 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:44.640 So that can make a big difference and that may 730 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:47.599 be a big part of what the decision is for 731 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.400 the administration. 732 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:53.359 All right, John, last thing, you know, Michaeale Arizona. That's 733 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:55.960 the first game that the kench Eiler has to deal 734 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:58.519 with here in Arizona's going to be grumpy after getting 735 00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.519 got by breaking me on. 736 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:03.279 So tell me what you're expecting tomorrow night. 737 00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:05.799 Is the Utes invade a really tough place to play 738 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.799 in college basketball. 739 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.920 Yes, Spence, and listen. 740 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:12.719 If you haven't been down here, I'm I'm We're gonna 741 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:14.599 get you a ticket. You need to come down and 742 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.960 watch a game here. It's a great place to watch 743 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:20.559 a game. Here's what I'm expecting. If our energy is 744 00:34:20.679 --> 00:34:24.400 good and we can defend them in transition. This team 745 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:28.320 is scary in transition. If we cannot give up transition 746 00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:31.400 buckets and we can have the kind of rebounding energy 747 00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:35.760 that we've had, it could be I mean, listen, Arizona's 748 00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:38.280 better than we are, okay, but it could be something 749 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:41.639 that we compete and who knows, maybe the Utah School 750 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:45.119 shock them twice. Maybe Tony Padi is a referend tomorrow. 751 00:34:45.239 --> 00:34:51.199 So very nice, very nice, all right, Sean, Well, I 752 00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:53.239 appreciate it. Man, have a great call. Thanks for the time. 753 00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:54.039 Say travels. 754 00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:54.639 Thanks brother. 755 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:57.400 How good day, Sean Mooney. I'll be on the call 756 00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.119 with Bill Riley. 757 00:34:58.119 --> 00:35:01.320 The Utes invade Michale tomorrow to get Arizona team, who's 758 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:03.639 going to be very grumpy after what happened against BYU. 759 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:07.119 Speaking of Bill Riley, sets your alarm four o'clock today. 760 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:09.280 Riles will stop by the voice of the Utes. After that, 761 00:35:09.320 --> 00:35:12.000 it's roxy Bernstein. But after a quick break, we'll do 762 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:14.480 some MBA with Zach Harper Sean Mooney. Brought to you 763 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:17.079 today by our good friends at Advanced Window Products. 764 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:17.679 Here's the deal. 765 00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:20.280 If you are in the market for windows right now, 766 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:22.559 you have to call them today. 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That's eight oh one 787 00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:19.400 eight five zero ninety one hundred. You're not gonna get 788 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:21.880 me down. It's like fifty two degrees in sunny outside. 789 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:23.840 You can even play pitfull and it doesn't matter. 790 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:25.280 I'm trying to bring you up. 791 00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:27.960 It's not working. Well, you're not gonna bring me down. 792 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:33.280 NBA Daily Assist Zach Harper, Tuesday afternoon. I'm bragging about 793 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:36.760 fifty two degrees in sunny? What's it like where you're at? 794 00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:39.519 I had to turn the air conditioner on because it's 795 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.280 played eighty All. 796 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:43.719 Right, never mind? Uh? Are you in La proper? 797 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:43.880 Like? 798 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.719 Where's home for you? 799 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:47.400 I'm in I'm in Sherman Oaks. I'm in the valley. 800 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:50.960 Oh, hipster just over the hill? Yeah, okay, right on, man, 801 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:52.480 it's not hipster. I'm poor. 802 00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:54.480 I'm the money to live out. 803 00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:58.039 Where's the uh is it? Silver Lake? Where do all 804 00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.760 the hipsters live? 805 00:36:59.039 --> 00:36:59.719 Silver Lake? 806 00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:03.199 Little Rock? Locally, he's like all that. Yeah, yeah, I don't. 807 00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:05.199 I refuse to live east. 808 00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:08.280 That happened, all right, fair enough, fair enough, all right, Zach. 809 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:10.639 There's a game in Los Angeles tonight. I don't know 810 00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.400 if you've heard about it. 811 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:16.360 I think where I'm at with it is Lucas saves 812 00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:18.360 the whole, like try to drop fifty form when he's 813 00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:19.960 in Dallas? What do you what do you think tonight? 814 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:25.119 Looks like, Yeah, he's only like really played one good game, right, 815 00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:27.280 He's only I think played three games total, but he's 816 00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:29.280 only played one good game. He's looked rough in the 817 00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:32.000 in the other ones, and so like, I don't think 818 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:33.719 this is one for him. Like, I know he played 819 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:36.559 really well against Denver, but I don't know that you 820 00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:40.519 expect a rhythm and a chemistry with his teammates that 821 00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:43.519 kind of allows him to just go out there and 822 00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:45.480 drop fifty. I do think it makes more sense. I 823 00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:47.199 think when they when are they in Dallas, like April 824 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:49.320 ninth or something like that, I think that's when it 825 00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:51.599 makes sense to like make your statement now if I think, 826 00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:53.320 I think if he's got a cook and today, if 827 00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:55.719 he's feeling good, if he's hitting shots early, yeah, his 828 00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.679 teammates are gonna feed him, He's gonna light him up. 829 00:37:57.719 --> 00:38:01.079 But I do think you're too early in the process 830 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:03.960 of getting back from the calf injury and too early 831 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:07.079 in the process of building what you need with your 832 00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:09.880 Laker teammates. If you're Luca like you, you can't be 833 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:13.159 in this like I'm gonna absolutely dominate this game no 834 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:14.880 matter what. 835 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:17.280 What is your way? 836 00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:19.360 Too early takeaway on what you think this thing can 837 00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:21.599 look like this season? I mean, the interesting thing is 838 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:25.239 the jazz song twice right away, and it didn't look 839 00:38:25.239 --> 00:38:28.239 great in either game. I think Luca dropped thirty two 840 00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:30.639 against Denver, and so we do have one. We do 841 00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:34.199 have one good game from Luca. I still believe there 842 00:38:35.039 --> 00:38:38.239 their lack of just even decent big men on paper, 843 00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:41.119 let alone in execution, is gonna cost them. But you know, 844 00:38:41.239 --> 00:38:44.280 with these two, it's certainly gonna look really, really good 845 00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:46.760 at times. But so far, what do you think and 846 00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:48.559 what are you expecting just the rest of the way 847 00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:50.280 this year with Lebron and Luca together. 848 00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:52.400 Yeah, I mean, I think there's gonna be times where 849 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:54.679 it looks really good offensively, right, and there will be 850 00:38:54.760 --> 00:38:58.320 times where the defense does look fine. But I think 851 00:38:58.320 --> 00:39:01.199 it's gonna be more smoking mirrors than than actually something 852 00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:04.679 that works in the playoffs, because I mean, when's the 853 00:39:04.760 --> 00:39:08.440 last time you found out a team signed Alex lenn 854 00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:12.159 and you're like, oh, that's really good for them, right, 855 00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:15.079 because that's where they're big man situation, Like Jackson Hayes 856 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:17.159 is terrible, right, I'd get it. He can go catch 857 00:39:17.159 --> 00:39:19.159 a lob, he can run the floor, he's athletic, he's 858 00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:22.519 terrible defensively, and someone that they can't even rely to 859 00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:25.199 have out there twenty twenty five minutes a game. And 860 00:39:25.239 --> 00:39:28.960 so they're still playing pretty small. You know, they had 861 00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:31.960 an interesting scheme against against Jokic and trying to make 862 00:39:31.960 --> 00:39:34.360 sure he didn't get any shots off, and it worked 863 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:36.679 that night. So I think random Knights in the regular 864 00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:38.880 season they're gonna look fine, but you get to a 865 00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:42.920 playoff scenario, it's gonna be very matchup dependent, as is 866 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:45.440 the case with a decent amount of teams in the West, 867 00:39:46.199 --> 00:39:48.519 but it's gonna be very matchup dependent. I think like 868 00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:52.199 I could see a pathway where they get the right matchups, 869 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:56.039 they're healthy, they get into the conference finals. I think 870 00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:59.719 like there is a chance of that, but most likely 871 00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:02.960 this is at best a second round and out team. 872 00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:07.320 Yeah, that's kind of where I've landed. And you know, matchups, injuries, 873 00:40:07.400 --> 00:40:09.840 you never know. It could have come playoff time. But 874 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:13.559 I mean, look, man, when they were here, Walker Lowry 875 00:40:13.599 --> 00:40:16.000 and John Collins got whatever they wanted, Like, they had 876 00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:18.719 no pushback for the Jazz front line. If they're struggling 877 00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:20.639 with the Jazz front line, they're gonna struggle with other 878 00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:21.199 front lines. 879 00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:25.320 Yeah. I mean it was like that was the thing. 880 00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:27.960 Is the first game Luca didn't play well, and you're like, yeah, 881 00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:30.239 but the Lakers one because it's the Jazz, right, And 882 00:40:30.280 --> 00:40:32.639 then they went to Utah and I was like, oh no, 883 00:40:33.159 --> 00:40:35.119 this none of this looks good. It was to the 884 00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:37.920 point where I didn't even start watching the game at first. 885 00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:41.199 I turned it on because I looked at the score 886 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:44.719 and the Jazz were up a significant amount. I looked 887 00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:47.280 at the score, Jazz are up, and then I was like, oh, well, 888 00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:49.639 I guess Luca didn't play tonight, and it's like, nope, 889 00:40:49.679 --> 00:40:51.639 he's playing, Lebron's playing. This is just bad. 890 00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:54.719 Yeah, yeah, no, it was really bad. 891 00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:57.239 Let me let me get one jazz topic in here, 892 00:40:57.280 --> 00:41:02.280 because I do think there's one one thing rotationally that 893 00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:06.000 Will's done that actually is real. I mean mostly this 894 00:41:06.159 --> 00:41:09.119 is rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. 895 00:41:09.159 --> 00:41:09.679 We all know that. 896 00:41:09.880 --> 00:41:14.119 So like, ultimately, whether Kyle Philipowski is starting when Walker 897 00:41:14.199 --> 00:41:16.679 is hurt is not okay, great, and Kyle actually played 898 00:41:16.679 --> 00:41:19.800 pretty well against the Blazers. But we have seen Keyonte 899 00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:22.039 now kind of embrace this role off the bench, and 900 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:25.400 we've seen Isaiah Collier as a starting point guard. He's 901 00:41:25.400 --> 00:41:29.119 about to break John Stockton's record for assis as a rookie. Now, 902 00:41:29.159 --> 00:41:31.760 John played behind Ricky Green, so it's not like he 903 00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:33.639 was starting and getting you know, getting a bunch. But 904 00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:38.039 this is something that I think could manifest itself as 905 00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:41.280 meaningful as opposed to all the other meaningless conversations we 906 00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:43.639 try to have about a team that's unserious about winning. 907 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:46.280 So Isaiah Collier as the starting point guard, what has 908 00:41:46.320 --> 00:41:48.599 he's shown you and Keyonte, now that he's embraced this role, 909 00:41:48.639 --> 00:41:50.760 coming off the bench, looks a little bit more comfortable 910 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:53.639 as opposed to them relying on Kyante to be the 911 00:41:53.679 --> 00:41:55.360 main initiator and decision maker. 912 00:41:56.079 --> 00:41:57.679 Yeah, I mean kind of what we were talking about with 913 00:41:57.719 --> 00:41:59.760 Kiante for a little bit is the same. I field 914 00:41:59.760 --> 00:42:03.800 about like the shots mostly look good, don't really go 915 00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:06.559 in right, But I like his size. I do think 916 00:42:06.599 --> 00:42:09.440 it's important to note that this was like one of 917 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:12.760 the top prospects in his in his class, uh in 918 00:42:12.840 --> 00:42:15.679 high school, and then he went to USC where apparently 919 00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:19.840 they're just trying to destroy anyone's pro prospects the last 920 00:42:19.840 --> 00:42:22.360 couple of years because it just doesn't look good. And 921 00:42:22.400 --> 00:42:24.079 so I do think he I don't think he had 922 00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:28.199 the proper development last year. Getting into the mix, getting comfortable, 923 00:42:28.239 --> 00:42:30.280 getting up to speed has taken a little bit of time. 924 00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:32.239 But I like what he's what he's shown for the 925 00:42:32.280 --> 00:42:34.559 most part. I think his decision making for the positions 926 00:42:34.599 --> 00:42:37.360 he's put in pretty good and and his skill set 927 00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:40.400 is pretty good. I love I mean, look it was 928 00:42:40.480 --> 00:42:43.119 it was a little flurry last night. I love the 929 00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:45.320 way they were just like, you know, trying to extend 930 00:42:45.360 --> 00:42:48.159 the game, and Kiante was just fearless taking those shots 931 00:42:48.159 --> 00:42:49.480 at the end of the game, right, I mean, I 932 00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:51.960 think that was I think that's kind of the role 933 00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:55.679 I like for Kiante. I just don't think about it, 934 00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:57.760 like if you're going to come off the bench and 935 00:42:57.800 --> 00:43:01.119 be you know, kind of that super sub I do 936 00:43:01.199 --> 00:43:02.679 want him just kind of letting it fly. I do 937 00:43:02.760 --> 00:43:04.840 want him just pushing the temple. I do want him 938 00:43:05.039 --> 00:43:08.079 being a little chaotic, because that's that's kind of what 939 00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:11.119 you need in your guards off the bench of when 940 00:43:11.119 --> 00:43:12.800 you're a bad team, Like you just need someone to 941 00:43:13.199 --> 00:43:14.840 change the energy and make something happen. 942 00:43:15.280 --> 00:43:17.400 I am going to reach and stretch to try to 943 00:43:17.400 --> 00:43:19.920 make a topic out of potentially nothing. But I have 944 00:43:20.079 --> 00:43:23.800 seen kJ Martin play well in NBA games before, and 945 00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:26.400 he is he got a start for the Jazz and 946 00:43:26.440 --> 00:43:29.559 he's kind of the one tangible piece the Jazz received 947 00:43:29.599 --> 00:43:31.599 when they were the condu. It's all these deals going 948 00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:34.679 down and he's still young and he can I mean, 949 00:43:34.719 --> 00:43:35.159 he can fly. 950 00:43:35.280 --> 00:43:36.960 Man, He's a really good athlete. You've seen him play. 951 00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:38.840 Do you think there's a chance that they bring kJ 952 00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:41.000 Martin in with the opportunity to look at him and 953 00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:42.639 he might be around for more than a minute? 954 00:43:43.400 --> 00:43:47.440 Absolutely? Like he's I think for years A mean, al 955 00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:50.360 has and I have been like, why isn't Justin holiday 956 00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:53.480 rich right, Like, why isn't he getting like these big 957 00:43:53.480 --> 00:43:55.880 deals because we've watched him he's like he's this really 958 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:58.840 nice three and D guy, shoots the ball well, doesn't 959 00:43:58.840 --> 00:44:02.519 really make mistakes. But he's ever like really had, you know, 960 00:44:02.679 --> 00:44:05.719 or been given that extended opportunity to be a role 961 00:44:05.719 --> 00:44:08.880 player consistently on a good team, And I've just been 962 00:44:08.920 --> 00:44:10.880 amazed that he hasn't found his way into that and 963 00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:13.000 then found his way into a big contract because of it. 964 00:44:13.239 --> 00:44:15.079 I'm starting to wonder, I kJ Martin's going to be 965 00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:18.360 that next Justin Holiday for me, and not that he's 966 00:44:18.880 --> 00:44:22.360 the shooter that Holiday is, but I just think like 967 00:44:22.480 --> 00:44:27.679 he's got so much defensive impact potentially with his athleticism 968 00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:30.159 and how he plays. I think he's such a threat 969 00:44:30.239 --> 00:44:32.519 running the floor, obviously getting up and down at the rim. 970 00:44:32.880 --> 00:44:36.159 If he can just be a consistent corner three point shooter, 971 00:44:36.280 --> 00:44:38.920 I think that's a super valuable role player. Like I'm 972 00:44:38.920 --> 00:44:42.039 a big kJ Martin fan. I was a little surprised 973 00:44:42.039 --> 00:44:44.719 that he didn't get a chance with Philly as much, 974 00:44:44.719 --> 00:44:46.159 although they're you know, they've been a mess, I know, 975 00:44:46.239 --> 00:44:48.920 but I just thought that everywhere he's gone, whether it's 976 00:44:48.920 --> 00:44:50.719 been the clippershether it's in Philly, doesn't matter. Like I 977 00:44:50.760 --> 00:44:53.159 just think that that's a guy you can mold into 978 00:44:53.199 --> 00:44:54.440 a really good role player. 979 00:44:55.119 --> 00:45:00.280 So after the news broke about women Yama, I was 980 00:45:00.320 --> 00:45:03.639 bosh right. My first thought was Chris bosh And you know, 981 00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:07.199 all the information we receive, uh, and we talked to 982 00:45:07.199 --> 00:45:09.920 Habershaw about this yesterday seems to indicate the Spurs are 983 00:45:09.920 --> 00:45:12.519 confident that this is just a little bit of a blitz. 984 00:45:12.599 --> 00:45:15.039 And you know, with stuff like this, I'm not going 985 00:45:15.119 --> 00:45:16.960 to be the media guy that looked at web MD 986 00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:19.000 and he's gonna break down what a blood cloud means. 987 00:45:19.000 --> 00:45:21.599 But you gotta shut him down and make sure he's 988 00:45:21.599 --> 00:45:24.239 on blood dinners and then ultimately a full recovery. My 989 00:45:24.320 --> 00:45:27.800 question is, does San Antonio lose the final twenty five 990 00:45:27.800 --> 00:45:29.079 games in Draft Cooper Flag? 991 00:45:30.239 --> 00:45:30.760 They should? 992 00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:31.400 They will? 993 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:34.360 I mean they might. We're to be in a race 994 00:45:34.400 --> 00:45:36.840 of Philadelphia, but yeah, like they should. I mean, this 995 00:45:37.079 --> 00:45:41.679 is you know this it's not exactly nineteen ninety seven 996 00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:43.840 all over again, but you know, you could see see 997 00:45:43.880 --> 00:45:46.039 some similarities there. You know that you like, it's a 998 00:45:46.599 --> 00:45:51.760 different timeline and everything, but you know there's once Wendy 999 00:45:51.800 --> 00:45:53.119 went down, like I was kind of wit you. I was, 1000 00:45:53.239 --> 00:45:55.920 I'm like, all right, as long as he's okay, great. 1001 00:45:56.880 --> 00:45:59.159 It doesn't seem like his you know, long term career 1002 00:45:59.199 --> 00:46:02.760 is going to be effect did amazing. All right, so 1003 00:46:03.079 --> 00:46:06.079 go get one of these guys, like that's the whole thing. 1004 00:46:06.119 --> 00:46:08.840 Like Steph Castle looks like a player that got you know, 1005 00:46:08.920 --> 00:46:13.159 good wings with Vasel and Kelvin Johnson. Obviously, picking up 1006 00:46:13.199 --> 00:46:15.239 Darren Fox is big, Like, all right, go get another 1007 00:46:15.320 --> 00:46:18.800 one of those guys. And if you have Cooper Flag 1008 00:46:18.960 --> 00:46:21.760 or Ace Bailey or one of these dudes next to Wemby, 1009 00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:26.239 that's super enticing. And then you know the terrible thing 1010 00:46:26.280 --> 00:46:30.280 is you know the report about about Pop and you 1011 00:46:30.320 --> 00:46:32.000 know it never and once we found out it was 1012 00:46:32.039 --> 00:46:33.599 a mild stroke, Like I don't care if the word 1013 00:46:33.639 --> 00:46:36.440 mild is in there. He's seventy six, Like it just never. 1014 00:46:36.800 --> 00:46:39.039 I never was like, yeah, he definitely should come back 1015 00:46:39.039 --> 00:46:40.800 to coaching. To me, I was like, just go take 1016 00:46:40.840 --> 00:46:43.280 care of yourself and live the great rest of your 1017 00:46:43.320 --> 00:46:46.159 life and be with your family and everything, and maybe 1018 00:46:46.199 --> 00:46:48.639 be a consultant in the organization. But I mean, if 1019 00:46:48.639 --> 00:46:51.239 you have it's already going to be the most enticing 1020 00:46:51.320 --> 00:46:55.800 coaching position in sports. If you added another piece to that, 1021 00:46:55.840 --> 00:46:58.000 I mean, my god, like you'd have everyone coming for that. 1022 00:46:58.280 --> 00:47:01.159 Yeah, not to be insensitive if they drive Cooper flag popably, 1023 00:47:01.239 --> 00:47:02.199 like just wheel me out there. 1024 00:47:02.199 --> 00:47:03.519 Okay, I'm coaching the team, right. 1025 00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:07.400 You know, people will be in line to coach that 1026 00:47:07.480 --> 00:47:09.800 team if they're able to grab him. Can you imagine 1027 00:47:09.840 --> 00:47:12.880 the reaction from the league and the Salt Lake City 1028 00:47:12.960 --> 00:47:16.000 because look, man, I feel like it's our time. Okay, 1029 00:47:16.039 --> 00:47:18.000 I'm gonna go goonies on you. I feel like we've 1030 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:20.639 earned it all right. Every time we've been in the lottery, 1031 00:47:20.639 --> 00:47:23.360 We've never moved up, never won a championship, haven't had 1032 00:47:23.360 --> 00:47:26.280 a championship contending team here since ninety eight up. For honest, 1033 00:47:26.679 --> 00:47:28.559 if there's one team that's earned the number one pick 1034 00:47:28.679 --> 00:47:31.719 Zach a White power forward, it's the Utah Jazz. 1035 00:47:32.719 --> 00:47:36.199 Absolutely. I mean, like I've been in these, you know, 1036 00:47:36.239 --> 00:47:38.320 group chats with people are like where we know, where 1037 00:47:38.360 --> 00:47:40.719 should Cooper go? Where should the NBA want Cooper to go? 1038 00:47:41.239 --> 00:47:43.440 And I get it, like you could want him to 1039 00:47:43.440 --> 00:47:45.000 go to San Antonio. You could want him to go 1040 00:47:45.039 --> 00:47:47.679 to you know, New Orleans. I guess so that seems 1041 00:47:47.679 --> 00:47:50.199 like a disaster. You could want him to save one 1042 00:47:50.239 --> 00:47:54.440 of these bad franchises. Who's just kind of meandering all 1043 00:47:54.480 --> 00:47:57.000 the time, like a Charlotte or a Washington or whatever. 1044 00:47:58.000 --> 00:48:00.280 Get him to Brooklyn to help bump up the rest 1045 00:48:00.320 --> 00:48:02.239 of that New York market. All those things are great, 1046 00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:05.599 it's not gonna it's not gonna be a better story 1047 00:48:05.639 --> 00:48:08.840 than putting on him on the Utah Jazz. It's not 1048 00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:11.960 like we can call it what it is, like a 1049 00:48:12.039 --> 00:48:14.639 star white Power Forward on the Jazz that is going 1050 00:48:14.679 --> 00:48:18.360 to move ratings and numbers and jerseys and tickets and 1051 00:48:18.400 --> 00:48:19.079 all that stuff. 1052 00:48:19.400 --> 00:48:22.480 I want to cater to the audience here for a second. 1053 00:48:22.559 --> 00:48:24.920 Let's put our let's put our thinking caps on. Let's 1054 00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:28.119 get into our imagination space and picture an opening lineup 1055 00:48:28.159 --> 00:48:32.599 next year of Walker Keshler at Center Lowry Marketing at 1056 00:48:32.639 --> 00:48:35.280 Power Forward, Cooper Flag at Small Forward. Then they make 1057 00:48:35.280 --> 00:48:37.199 a deal for Grady Dick at the two and TJ 1058 00:48:37.320 --> 00:48:40.840 McConnell at the one. I mean, come on, box office, 1059 00:48:40.880 --> 00:48:42.800 we have just fixed the Utah Jazz. 1060 00:48:43.440 --> 00:48:46.199 Look. Everyone made fun of David Kahn when it was 1061 00:48:46.239 --> 00:48:49.360 like Kevin Love and Pekovich and Loup Bridden Now and 1062 00:48:49.400 --> 00:48:53.199 Alexi spid and Andre Kiirlenko. Everyone made fun of David Kahan. 1063 00:48:53.719 --> 00:48:56.000 But I bet they'll love Danny Inge and love Justin 1064 00:48:56.079 --> 00:48:57.639 Zannik if they figured this out. 1065 00:48:57.639 --> 00:48:58.000 No doubt. 1066 00:48:58.079 --> 00:49:01.480 Jimmiferdat out of retirement coming off bench and we are 1067 00:49:01.599 --> 00:49:03.480 dialed in, man, do you think. 1068 00:49:03.320 --> 00:49:05.000 Do you think? Do you think he can he can 1069 00:49:05.039 --> 00:49:07.559 get away from from nothing right now to get a 1070 00:49:07.639 --> 00:49:08.440 job with NBA. 1071 00:49:08.679 --> 00:49:09.840 Isn't he doing three on three? 1072 00:49:11.320 --> 00:49:13.920 Does that is that year round? I don't thought that 1073 00:49:14.000 --> 00:49:16.239 was once every four years? Does a half court over there? 1074 00:49:16.280 --> 00:49:17.239 Go go represent ive? 1075 00:49:17.360 --> 00:49:19.239 I don't know what Jimmer is doing these days. I 1076 00:49:19.280 --> 00:49:21.639 know he lives in Colorado. I mean, he made enough 1077 00:49:21.679 --> 00:49:22.760 money and maybe he's just yelling. 1078 00:49:23.000 --> 00:49:24.719 He's not in the Big Three right and he's not 1079 00:49:24.719 --> 00:49:25.800 playing in China anymore. 1080 00:49:25.880 --> 00:49:27.639 I don't think so. By the way, have you watched 1081 00:49:27.679 --> 00:49:28.119 What's that? 1082 00:49:28.320 --> 00:49:30.400 I just saw it on the DVR because my DVR 1083 00:49:30.480 --> 00:49:32.079 is like every time I turn it on and it's 1084 00:49:32.079 --> 00:49:33.800 like you seem to like sports or here's a sport 1085 00:49:33.840 --> 00:49:35.320 feel it's like one on one. 1086 00:49:35.960 --> 00:49:37.840 It's a one on one tournament. Have you watched any 1087 00:49:37.840 --> 00:49:38.039 of this? 1088 00:49:38.760 --> 00:49:41.280 No? No, I'm at a point in my life I 1089 00:49:41.559 --> 00:49:45.199 watch NBA or w NBA basketball. That's what I watch. 1090 00:49:45.519 --> 00:49:47.079 I don't even have time for college anymore. 1091 00:49:47.320 --> 00:49:50.239 All right, you're not watching any shows, but you gotta 1092 00:49:50.239 --> 00:49:51.719 watch movies for the pod, right. 1093 00:49:51.639 --> 00:49:54.199 Well, yeah, I watched movies. I mean, look, I've almost 1094 00:49:54.199 --> 00:49:57.440 bringed whatever episodes of Love Is Blind or here like. Look, 1095 00:49:57.639 --> 00:50:00.480 I'm doing other things. I just I can't. That's stuff 1096 00:50:00.480 --> 00:50:02.960 where I can turn my brain off, right right. This 1097 00:50:03.119 --> 00:50:04.840 is like if I'm gonna have to pay attention to 1098 00:50:04.880 --> 00:50:06.320 another basketball league, I can't do that. 1099 00:50:06.639 --> 00:50:08.320 No, I'm with you. I'm with you there. 1100 00:50:08.360 --> 00:50:11.239 But we are fixing the Utah Jazz one good white 1101 00:50:11.239 --> 00:50:12.719 player at a time, so we'll have to see if 1102 00:50:12.719 --> 00:50:13.280 it goes down. 1103 00:50:13.480 --> 00:50:13.840 All right. 1104 00:50:14.079 --> 00:50:16.639 Do you take anything from Minnesota's come back last night? 1105 00:50:16.639 --> 00:50:19.280 I mean, Oka see rested chet and they lost Hartenstein 1106 00:50:19.320 --> 00:50:22.360 in the second quarter, but Minnesota was able to come 1107 00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:25.280 back from twenty four down, which does not happen very often. 1108 00:50:25.320 --> 00:50:26.440 Did that do anything for you? 1109 00:50:26.679 --> 00:50:29.719 Either tell you about Okac at all or maybe Minnesota 1110 00:50:29.719 --> 00:50:30.480 playing a bit better. 1111 00:50:31.239 --> 00:50:35.440 I mean, I think we're seeing a lot recently of Minnesota. 1112 00:50:35.480 --> 00:50:37.599 Just like, hey, when Julius Randall's not out there, it 1113 00:50:37.599 --> 00:50:40.920 looks a lot better, right, Like, it looks a lot better. 1114 00:50:40.960 --> 00:50:43.239 And so like you know, Nazrita is headed for a 1115 00:50:43.239 --> 00:50:46.880 big payday and and I think, you know, I think 1116 00:50:46.960 --> 00:50:49.840 Minnesota is in a pretty good place, especially considering them 1117 00:50:49.880 --> 00:50:52.599 and had really much recently. Like I think they're in 1118 00:50:52.599 --> 00:50:55.559 a pretty good place. But for OKC, Look, I have 1119 00:50:55.679 --> 00:50:59.079 concerns about a team that never is tested, right, Like 1120 00:50:59.079 --> 00:51:02.239 they're zero to four games decided by one possession, which 1121 00:51:02.280 --> 00:51:06.199 is whatever. They blow out almost every I want to say, 1122 00:51:06.199 --> 00:51:11.079 like thirty seven of their forty six wins are double 1123 00:51:11.119 --> 00:51:15.280 digit wins, Like they're not in close games. And as 1124 00:51:15.320 --> 00:51:17.000 good as they are and they are historic and they're 1125 00:51:17.159 --> 00:51:22.920 historically dominant, this is still a very young, playoff inexperienced 1126 00:51:22.960 --> 00:51:26.559 team and they didn't play in a way against Dallas 1127 00:51:26.559 --> 00:51:28.440 in the second round last year they made me think like, oh, 1128 00:51:28.440 --> 00:51:30.960 they're right on the cusp, like they kind of choked 1129 00:51:30.960 --> 00:51:33.320 that series away. And so when they get into those 1130 00:51:33.360 --> 00:51:37.199 type moments, they're still very unproven and I don't think 1131 00:51:37.199 --> 00:51:38.960 it's just a lock that they make it to the 1132 00:51:38.960 --> 00:51:40.599 conference final. So this is still a team that has 1133 00:51:40.599 --> 00:51:43.400 to prove themselves in the postseason, and little moments like 1134 00:51:43.480 --> 00:51:45.480 last night you can just brush them off as like, hey, 1135 00:51:45.559 --> 00:51:47.519 it's a back to back for both teams and it 1136 00:51:47.559 --> 00:51:50.280 was fluky and yeah, sure all that stuff can be 1137 00:51:50.400 --> 00:51:52.960 and probably is true, but we got to see them 1138 00:51:53.000 --> 00:51:55.559 win some tight games here. Like it feels a little 1139 00:51:55.599 --> 00:51:59.599 bit like the Milwaukee Bucks before they got Drew Holliday, 1140 00:51:59.639 --> 00:52:01.320 where they were just blowing teams out all the time. 1141 00:52:01.320 --> 00:52:02.800 Then they got to the postseason, it was like, Ooh, 1142 00:52:02.800 --> 00:52:03.960 they don't really know what to do here. 1143 00:52:04.840 --> 00:52:07.440 If you were putting a sizeable amount of money on 1144 00:52:07.519 --> 00:52:09.719 who comes out of the West, like for me, I 1145 00:52:09.760 --> 00:52:12.559 think I think I bet on Denver right now, even 1146 00:52:12.599 --> 00:52:14.679 though okay, see, by every metric is the best team 1147 00:52:14.679 --> 00:52:17.159 in the conference. Playoffs are different, and every time I 1148 00:52:17.199 --> 00:52:19.480 hone in on Jokic, I'm like, yep, he's still the dude. 1149 00:52:19.840 --> 00:52:21.920 And if they can knock down shots because he provides 1150 00:52:21.960 --> 00:52:25.360 good looks almost every possession, I still think that you 1151 00:52:25.440 --> 00:52:27.920 have to look at them as even though the Vegas 1152 00:52:27.920 --> 00:52:30.440 favorite is not Denver, it is okay, seeing the metrics 1153 00:52:30.440 --> 00:52:32.679 favorite Oklahoma City in a seven game series, I might 1154 00:52:32.800 --> 00:52:34.280 roll with jokis where are you at? 1155 00:52:35.000 --> 00:52:37.679 Yeah, I would also put my money on Denver, And look, 1156 00:52:37.679 --> 00:52:40.000 I get like, during that what was it, eight or 1157 00:52:40.079 --> 00:52:42.920 nine game win streak, whatever it was, people were like, oh, 1158 00:52:42.960 --> 00:52:45.760 it's a soft schedule for sure, but this has gone 1159 00:52:45.800 --> 00:52:48.320 beyond that win streak, Like, this is a team that 1160 00:52:48.960 --> 00:52:52.840 has been pretty dominant since I think it was I 1161 00:52:52.840 --> 00:52:55.239 think on my date right, I think it was December seventh, 1162 00:52:55.840 --> 00:52:58.280 was when Yokiics dropped a career high fifty six and 1163 00:52:58.280 --> 00:53:00.000 they lost to the Wizards and they dropped to like 1164 00:53:00.039 --> 00:53:02.760 eleven and ten. Since then, they've been the third best 1165 00:53:02.800 --> 00:53:05.639 team in the NBA in terms of record. I think 1166 00:53:05.639 --> 00:53:07.519 they've been the third or fourth best team in terms 1167 00:53:07.519 --> 00:53:10.079 of net rating. Like this Nuggets team has figured it out. 1168 00:53:10.119 --> 00:53:12.039 They've got to be healthy. They don't have a margin 1169 00:53:12.079 --> 00:53:15.239 of air for if their health isn't you know, close 1170 00:53:15.239 --> 00:53:17.840 to one hundred percent when when they get to the postseason. 1171 00:53:17.880 --> 00:53:19.920 But if they're healthy, like, I'll take them over anybody 1172 00:53:19.920 --> 00:53:20.360 in the list. 1173 00:53:20.480 --> 00:53:24.199 I didn't anticipate doing any Pistons talk today, but they've 1174 00:53:24.239 --> 00:53:27.239 won seventh straight. And what I try to do here 1175 00:53:27.400 --> 00:53:30.400 with the Jazz for our listeners is look at teams 1176 00:53:30.440 --> 00:53:32.920 that not too long ago were in the spot and 1177 00:53:33.000 --> 00:53:35.519 Detroit is kind of one of them. Orlando's another one. 1178 00:53:35.519 --> 00:53:38.760 But you know, Caid Pollo, they've got stars that we 1179 00:53:38.800 --> 00:53:41.320 don't have here, But what do you make of what 1180 00:53:41.400 --> 00:53:44.280 has been a pretty impressive turnaround. They've won seven straight, 1181 00:53:44.280 --> 00:53:46.960 eight of their last ten. As far as what they're 1182 00:53:46.960 --> 00:53:48.480 doing in Detroit that might be working. 1183 00:53:49.880 --> 00:53:52.480 Yeah, I mean, look, they were one of the worst 1184 00:53:52.480 --> 00:53:55.880 teams I've ever seen last year. Yep, and I during 1185 00:53:56.400 --> 00:53:58.599 pretty much the entirety of that season. But once we 1186 00:53:58.639 --> 00:54:02.840 got through halfway through that that you know, twenty eight game, 1187 00:54:03.039 --> 00:54:05.360 losing the streak, I kind of had this feeling like, 1188 00:54:05.800 --> 00:54:08.119 I don't really think Monty Williams is given us all here, 1189 00:54:08.559 --> 00:54:10.760 and wouldn't it be great to get fired with seventy 1190 00:54:10.760 --> 00:54:13.039 million dollars left on your contract? Right? Like it just 1191 00:54:13.119 --> 00:54:16.400 kind of seemed like he knew what to do in 1192 00:54:16.519 --> 00:54:19.119 terms of what his long term best case scenario was. 1193 00:54:19.719 --> 00:54:22.159 And all right, they added some veterans like Molik Beasley 1194 00:54:22.199 --> 00:54:27.320 who didn't pan out in Milwaukee. You know, he came 1195 00:54:27.360 --> 00:54:30.679 in and he has been phenomenal. Like he's on pace 1196 00:54:30.719 --> 00:54:33.239 to have like one of the six or seventh best 1197 00:54:33.280 --> 00:54:36.880 three point shooting seasons ever, and so he's been great. 1198 00:54:36.960 --> 00:54:39.280 Tobias Harris came in and he's been pretty solid. But 1199 00:54:39.360 --> 00:54:42.119 for the most part, this is a lot of what 1200 00:54:42.159 --> 00:54:45.119 we saw last year in terms of the group, and JB. 1201 00:54:45.199 --> 00:54:47.320 Bickerstaff is just a really good coach. I didn't think 1202 00:54:47.360 --> 00:54:49.800 he should get fired in Cleveland. It ended up working 1203 00:54:49.840 --> 00:54:51.800 out for them, but I didn't think the process was good. 1204 00:54:51.800 --> 00:54:54.000 I thought he did a great job, and he's doing 1205 00:54:54.039 --> 00:54:57.320 a great job now. I think that's the problem. If 1206 00:54:57.320 --> 00:54:59.039 you're looking at the Jazz and you're saying, well, how 1207 00:54:59.079 --> 00:55:02.559 can we do that? The problem is one you don't 1208 00:55:02.559 --> 00:55:04.880 have a kid Cunningham right, who's who's taken a leap 1209 00:55:04.920 --> 00:55:08.320 and been very good. But two Will Hardy's a good coach. 1210 00:55:08.400 --> 00:55:10.679 He's out here looking like he wants to get fired 1211 00:55:10.719 --> 00:55:13.639 every night. And so that turnaround for the Pistons I 1212 00:55:13.679 --> 00:55:16.960 think was more coaching in culture than it was. It 1213 00:55:17.079 --> 00:55:19.880 was development. And and with the Jazz like they've got 1214 00:55:19.920 --> 00:55:21.559 a good coach, so I don't I don't think that 1215 00:55:21.639 --> 00:55:23.960 they would necessarily fall into that pattern. 1216 00:55:24.320 --> 00:55:26.239 I agree, man, I think he's an elite coach. I 1217 00:55:26.239 --> 00:55:26.599 really do. 1218 00:55:26.679 --> 00:55:30.280 I just wonder if the Jazz don't get any lottery 1219 00:55:30.320 --> 00:55:33.480 luck and if they if they don't, like if the 1220 00:55:33.599 --> 00:55:36.719 Jazz this year fall to like the fifth pick or 1221 00:55:36.760 --> 00:55:38.760 the sixth pick or whatever, missed out, miss out on 1222 00:55:38.800 --> 00:55:41.679 the top three or four dudes, same thing next year, 1223 00:55:42.159 --> 00:55:45.559 and then his contract expires. What does he do if 1224 00:55:45.559 --> 00:55:47.960 we're sitting here two years from now, none of this 1225 00:55:48.079 --> 00:55:51.239 luck comes our way. They're not able to execute any 1226 00:55:51.280 --> 00:55:55.679 trades for anything substantial, and it's it's five full years 1227 00:55:56.159 --> 00:55:58.840 of Will doing the best he can to maximize the 1228 00:55:58.880 --> 00:56:01.519 talent that he gets, but he's not receiving the talent 1229 00:56:01.960 --> 00:56:04.039 that allows him to compete night in and night out. 1230 00:56:04.559 --> 00:56:06.639 Like they love him and they want him here forever, 1231 00:56:06.679 --> 00:56:09.159 and I get it, But what does Will do if 1232 00:56:09.199 --> 00:56:12.039 his contract expires and we're still kind of spinning our wheels? 1233 00:56:12.679 --> 00:56:16.239 Yeah, And I haven't heard anything like about his frustrations 1234 00:56:16.360 --> 00:56:18.519 or anything like. I think he seems pretty happy there. 1235 00:56:18.559 --> 00:56:20.360 I think he likes the organization. I think he wants 1236 00:56:20.400 --> 00:56:23.159 to build long term. He seems like that kind of guy. 1237 00:56:24.280 --> 00:56:28.079 So if I'm his agent, I would be like, well, 1238 00:56:28.119 --> 00:56:29.920 it hasn't really worked out in terms of getting him 1239 00:56:29.920 --> 00:56:32.440 the players he wants, so he's gonna need a lot 1240 00:56:32.440 --> 00:56:34.239 of money to stay right, Like, I think it just 1241 00:56:34.280 --> 00:56:37.280 comes down to that. I don't think unless there's just 1242 00:56:37.360 --> 00:56:41.039 an offer where he's blown away and it's a perfect 1243 00:56:41.079 --> 00:56:44.679 scenario that he can't pass up. I wouldn't anticipate him 1244 00:56:45.320 --> 00:56:48.119 getting out of Utah. I would anticipate him cashing in 1245 00:56:48.199 --> 00:56:50.719 on that opportunity because you are you do then kind 1246 00:56:50.719 --> 00:56:54.679 of have the jazz at a disadvantage in terms of negotiations. 1247 00:56:54.719 --> 00:56:57.320 But I do think it does just it feels like 1248 00:56:57.400 --> 00:57:00.360 one of those situations where he is the law term 1249 00:57:00.440 --> 00:57:02.480 solution on both ends of that equation. 1250 00:57:03.039 --> 00:57:03.880 I agree with that. 1251 00:57:03.960 --> 00:57:05.800 But the interesting thing is, you know, with the way 1252 00:57:05.840 --> 00:57:10.000 these guys are wired like and money makes everything taste 1253 00:57:10.000 --> 00:57:12.280 a little bit better. I'm not saying it doesn't, but 1254 00:57:12.360 --> 00:57:15.039 when it comes to simply wins and losses, if you 1255 00:57:15.079 --> 00:57:17.440 don't feel like you can compete in the job that 1256 00:57:17.480 --> 00:57:19.679 you have because you're not giving the you know, you're 1257 00:57:19.719 --> 00:57:21.800 not giving the things that you need to have what 1258 00:57:21.880 --> 00:57:24.519 your peers have across the landscape of the league, will 1259 00:57:24.599 --> 00:57:26.119 just strikes me as the type of guy that And 1260 00:57:26.320 --> 00:57:28.639 this is all hypothetical because I mean this is two 1261 00:57:28.679 --> 00:57:31.880 years away, but I do think you know, I feel, 1262 00:57:32.000 --> 00:57:34.320 and I have felt for a while. You know, they 1263 00:57:34.400 --> 00:57:36.519 found marketing that's a real piece, and they've got the 1264 00:57:36.559 --> 00:57:38.679 head coach that's a real piece. I almost have question 1265 00:57:38.719 --> 00:57:41.800 marks about everything else. Maybe Walker's playing himself into the conversation. 1266 00:57:42.320 --> 00:57:44.760 I just have to wonder if Will's looking at his 1267 00:57:44.880 --> 00:57:47.880 win loss on his resume, his record, and he's saying, 1268 00:57:47.880 --> 00:57:50.960 this is not going to look good for me historically speaking, Yes, 1269 00:57:51.000 --> 00:57:53.280 money would be nice, But these guys are wired to win, 1270 00:57:53.440 --> 00:57:53.639 you know. 1271 00:57:54.840 --> 00:57:57.639 Yeah, I just, I mean, you're right. I just I 1272 00:57:57.639 --> 00:58:01.920 also think they're wired with a love of ego that 1273 00:58:01.960 --> 00:58:04.719 and I don't even mean that in a pejorative way, 1274 00:58:04.760 --> 00:58:07.079 but like they're wired in terms of ego of like, 1275 00:58:07.360 --> 00:58:09.960 oh yeah, we'll figure it out here, right Like they're 1276 00:58:10.000 --> 00:58:13.679 not They're not out of talent, Like there is talent. 1277 00:58:13.719 --> 00:58:17.079 There's more potential on that roster than anything really tangible. 1278 00:58:17.159 --> 00:58:22.880 But I would anticipate because of how good Danny and 1279 00:58:23.079 --> 00:58:25.719 Justin are at their jobs, and I would imagine the 1280 00:58:25.760 --> 00:58:30.519 communication process is pretty is pretty stable there between front 1281 00:58:30.559 --> 00:58:33.880 office and sidelines. I just I don't think he's gonna 1282 00:58:33.880 --> 00:58:36.320 have any questions about what the plan is and how 1283 00:58:36.360 --> 00:58:38.599 they try to execute it. Now, they may have the 1284 00:58:38.599 --> 00:58:40.440 bad luck of the lottery and all this stuff, right 1285 00:58:40.519 --> 00:58:42.320 like that, there's nothing you can really do about that. 1286 00:58:42.400 --> 00:58:44.760 But I just look. And I don't know the guy 1287 00:58:44.800 --> 00:58:47.960 at all, but I just don't. I don't think he's 1288 00:58:48.000 --> 00:58:50.840 someone who'd be like, ooh, I'm worried about you know 1289 00:58:51.039 --> 00:58:53.400 what my record is long term? Like I don't think 1290 00:58:53.400 --> 00:58:56.519 Brett Brown was thinking that way when he was in Philly, right. 1291 00:58:56.559 --> 00:58:58.519 I think it was an opportunity and he liked coaching 1292 00:58:58.559 --> 00:58:59.960 there and it didn't work out and they got rich 1293 00:59:00.119 --> 00:59:02.159 of him. But I don't think he sweated that because 1294 00:59:02.159 --> 00:59:04.760 I think I think guys like that are are looking 1295 00:59:04.800 --> 00:59:08.800 at those situations and saying, when we turn it around, 1296 00:59:08.880 --> 00:59:10.280 all that stuff's gonna be irrelevant. 1297 00:59:10.679 --> 00:59:14.679 Speaking of Philly, what what what do you do? 1298 00:59:15.000 --> 00:59:17.719 I mean like they got und you got they got 1299 00:59:17.840 --> 00:59:20.760 undressed by the the bulls hung one on them. 1300 00:59:21.519 --> 00:59:24.360 What are they lost? Eight straight? Like like what how 1301 00:59:24.360 --> 00:59:25.679 do they? How do they get out of this? 1302 00:59:25.960 --> 00:59:29.639 Okay? Surgery? So you give you give Joel embiid surgery 1303 00:59:29.719 --> 00:59:34.119 tomorrow and you say, hey, we'll see in September, Like, well, 1304 00:59:34.400 --> 00:59:36.559 you're gonna rehab, you're gonna get in great shape, You're 1305 00:59:36.559 --> 00:59:38.039 gonna get the rest you need, You're gonna get the 1306 00:59:38.039 --> 00:59:41.360 rehab you need for this knee surgery. And and you 1307 00:59:41.559 --> 00:59:44.679 just shoot for for next season and maybe even bring 1308 00:59:44.760 --> 00:59:47.159 them along slowly into the start of next season. Like 1309 00:59:47.440 --> 00:59:50.400 the awards, the sixty five game rule, all that stuff 1310 00:59:50.440 --> 00:59:54.079 is irrelevant. Getting into the playing tournament now is irrelevant. 1311 00:59:54.320 --> 00:59:57.559 Even if you get healthy by April, you're not gonna 1312 00:59:57.559 --> 01:00:00.559 do anything. That team's not good enough. And I never 1313 01:00:00.599 --> 01:00:03.320 bought them as contenders. I didn't think they beat this obviously, 1314 01:00:03.400 --> 01:00:08.000 But like this is all about, you have a very 1315 01:00:08.039 --> 01:00:11.199 small window moving forward with a lot of money owed 1316 01:00:11.239 --> 01:00:14.239 to dwell Embiid and a lot of money owed to 1317 01:00:14.360 --> 01:00:16.639 Paul George, and a lot of money owed to Tyrus Maxi. 1318 01:00:17.400 --> 01:00:20.360 And unless you are going to make a major shift 1319 01:00:20.400 --> 01:00:23.519 in altering that roster, which I don't think they're even 1320 01:00:23.559 --> 01:00:25.760 really all that capable of doing if they wanted to, 1321 01:00:27.679 --> 01:00:29.159 you have to. You know, it's kind of like the 1322 01:00:29.159 --> 01:00:32.199 Clippers conversation the last few years. You got to just 1323 01:00:32.239 --> 01:00:35.079 find a way to set yourself up to catching lightning 1324 01:00:35.079 --> 01:00:37.199 in a bottle with this group, or you start letting 1325 01:00:37.199 --> 01:00:39.840 guys walk. But that's not gonna happen anytime soon with 1326 01:00:39.840 --> 01:00:42.760 the way the contracts are structured. So get embead surgery 1327 01:00:42.840 --> 01:00:45.880 now and hope that that's what fixes the problem for 1328 01:00:45.920 --> 01:00:49.320 them and fixes the problem for his knee, because there 1329 01:00:49.440 --> 01:00:53.320 is no there's no like, mister Miaghi, We're gonna, you know, 1330 01:00:53.440 --> 01:00:55.800 rub this thing in the playoffs and it's gonna magically 1331 01:00:55.840 --> 01:00:58.960 heal and we're gonna march to a championship. There's no 1332 01:00:59.079 --> 01:01:03.960 Disney movie here. There's no incredible like film noir that 1333 01:01:04.039 --> 01:01:06.639 happens like this is going to be bad if you 1334 01:01:06.760 --> 01:01:08.440 don't go this pass, and even if you do go 1335 01:01:08.519 --> 01:01:10.760 this path, it might still be bad. You have terrible 1336 01:01:10.800 --> 01:01:14.320 luck with this, But there is there's no magical cure 1337 01:01:14.320 --> 01:01:16.559 that isn't surgery and rest for Joel embiid. 1338 01:01:16.719 --> 01:01:17.760 Did you watch Cobra Kai. 1339 01:01:19.039 --> 01:01:21.320 I watched like three seasons of it, and it just 1340 01:01:21.880 --> 01:01:23.719 even for me, it got too ridiculous. 1341 01:01:23.960 --> 01:01:25.800 Oh I thought it would be right down your alley. 1342 01:01:25.800 --> 01:01:27.320 It is horrifically awesome. 1343 01:01:28.320 --> 01:01:32.639 The first season is right up right up until the end. 1344 01:01:32.679 --> 01:01:35.880 Man that they somehow someway find a way to be 1345 01:01:35.920 --> 01:01:37.559 horrifically awesome until the very end. 1346 01:01:37.599 --> 01:01:38.880 I'm surprised you didn't finish it. 1347 01:01:39.400 --> 01:01:41.400 I mean, I got to the point I've had people like, oh, 1348 01:01:41.400 --> 01:01:43.760 you gotta finish it, and I am a completionist on 1349 01:01:43.800 --> 01:01:45.639 some level, So there's part of me that wants to. 1350 01:01:46.199 --> 01:01:49.440 But I mean, we had like karate gangs in the 1351 01:01:49.559 --> 01:01:54.159 valley in la that's where the story goes. Keep the 1352 01:01:54.159 --> 01:01:57.199 bloods and the crips. But karate Dojo's what are we talking? Like? 1353 01:01:57.199 --> 01:01:58.039 What am I watching? 1354 01:01:58.440 --> 01:02:02.280 You're missing out on Daniel Laruzo being kidnapped and put 1355 01:02:02.320 --> 01:02:05.639 into a cage with snakes and he escapes by picking 1356 01:02:05.679 --> 01:02:05.960 the lock. 1357 01:02:06.119 --> 01:02:08.199 Yeah, I heard, I heard Terry Silver comes back, which 1358 01:02:08.239 --> 01:02:10.679 I do like that because Karate Kid three is super underrated. 1359 01:02:11.039 --> 01:02:15.039 But like one, I've had this. I've had this take 1360 01:02:15.119 --> 01:02:17.920 for a long time. Nobody is with me on it, 1361 01:02:17.960 --> 01:02:21.559 but it is. It is a fact. The Jaden Smith 1362 01:02:21.880 --> 01:02:26.400 Karate Kid is better than the original. Oh stop it 1363 01:02:26.519 --> 01:02:30.320 and guess what. Jaden Smith, as terrible as he is, 1364 01:02:30.320 --> 01:02:33.519 is a better actor than Ralph Macchio. Go watch Cobra 1365 01:02:33.559 --> 01:02:35.480 Kay and tell me Ralph Macchio is any kind of 1366 01:02:35.519 --> 01:02:37.039 decent actor. He's terrible. 1367 01:02:37.159 --> 01:02:41.679 I'm not here to stand up for Macchio's actor shot doing. 1368 01:02:41.920 --> 01:02:42.880 No, that's what you're doing. 1369 01:02:43.000 --> 01:02:45.480 I'm not, but I will not stand for the slander 1370 01:02:45.519 --> 01:02:47.800 of the original Karate Kid, which was a gem of 1371 01:02:47.800 --> 01:02:48.760 a movie. 1372 01:02:49.159 --> 01:02:53.880 No offense to the amazing Pat mur either rip. Give 1373 01:02:53.920 --> 01:02:54.960 me Jackie Chan all day. 1374 01:02:55.840 --> 01:02:57.800 Okay, Jackie Chan. 1375 01:02:58.079 --> 01:03:01.519 Whoever played Daniel's mother in the first one, Give me 1376 01:03:01.559 --> 01:03:03.119 Taraji p Henson all day? 1377 01:03:03.239 --> 01:03:04.440 Okay, Okay, that's fine. 1378 01:03:04.480 --> 01:03:07.679 The tough part about Cobra Kai for me, like Larusso's 1379 01:03:07.760 --> 01:03:09.800 daughter would get her ass kicked against a five year 1380 01:03:09.840 --> 01:03:13.199 old like she is not you know, like you know, 1381 01:03:13.440 --> 01:03:16.519 like and they try. She's like the baddest female karate 1382 01:03:17.039 --> 01:03:19.199 fighter on the planet, Like you know, she couldn't fight 1383 01:03:19.239 --> 01:03:20.800 a way out of a wet paper bag. But it 1384 01:03:20.920 --> 01:03:24.480 is unbelievably entertaining, horrifically until the end. 1385 01:03:24.559 --> 01:03:26.960 You need to finish it, man. 1386 01:03:27.000 --> 01:03:28.719 I don't. I don't know if I have that in me. 1387 01:03:29.679 --> 01:03:31.440 How alseome I I mean, I'm just gonna I would 1388 01:03:31.719 --> 01:03:34.159 That's the problem, is I fire? I like turn Netflix on. 1389 01:03:34.719 --> 01:03:37.320 I mean, I either have a new terrible season of 1390 01:03:37.360 --> 01:03:39.639 Love Is Blind that I can't stop watching, or just 1391 01:03:39.679 --> 01:03:41.960 go to like Seinfelder, I think you should leave and 1392 01:03:42.039 --> 01:03:43.400 just would rather watch those again. 1393 01:03:43.519 --> 01:03:46.079 Okay, fair enough, fair enough, there's not enough time to 1394 01:03:46.079 --> 01:03:46.800 watch all the things. 1395 01:03:46.880 --> 01:03:48.559 I get it all right, Before I set you loose? 1396 01:03:48.599 --> 01:03:52.280 Are you buying any of this Golden State Warrior reborn again, 1397 01:03:52.400 --> 01:03:54.800 hype that they could be a problem come playoff time 1398 01:03:54.840 --> 01:03:56.719 after the Butler deal, and they've won three straight. 1399 01:03:57.800 --> 01:03:59.840 Yeah, I mean they won. They won three straight. I 1400 01:03:59.840 --> 01:04:03.280 think are five and one with Butler in the lineup. 1401 01:04:06.320 --> 01:04:09.320 I'm not I'm not not buying it. I'm actually writing 1402 01:04:09.360 --> 01:04:12.000 about this for for the newsletter tomorrow. It's a free 1403 01:04:12.000 --> 01:04:13.960 newsletter's called the Bounce Get at the Athletic dot com 1404 01:04:13.960 --> 01:04:15.920 slash abouts one of a few things we do for free. 1405 01:04:16.800 --> 01:04:19.239 I'm I'm I'm trying to figure out if I buy 1406 01:04:19.239 --> 01:04:23.280 it and everything like, Look, it's coming out of Draymond's mouth, 1407 01:04:23.360 --> 01:04:27.480 so a huge silo of salt comes with it. But 1408 01:04:27.599 --> 01:04:31.679 the way he's presenting it in this article that that 1409 01:04:31.760 --> 01:04:34.599 Marcus Thompson and Sam Amic wrote I think two days 1410 01:04:34.599 --> 01:04:36.719 ago on the on the Athletic. The way he's presenting it, 1411 01:04:37.159 --> 01:04:39.199 I kind of get it. I get the logic, and 1412 01:04:39.239 --> 01:04:41.320 I do think a big part of it is you 1413 01:04:41.360 --> 01:04:44.039 could see throughout this season they did not believe that 1414 01:04:44.039 --> 01:04:45.840 they were the better team in a lot of these games, 1415 01:04:46.159 --> 01:04:48.599 and with their offensive struggles, it was just rough with 1416 01:04:48.760 --> 01:04:52.159 Jimmy there, he does bring that that gravitas. He does 1417 01:04:52.239 --> 01:04:55.199 bring that confidence, and I get it. People are sick 1418 01:04:55.239 --> 01:04:58.159 of the heat, They're sick of Jimmy Butler. This man 1419 01:04:58.239 --> 01:05:01.519 does these things. If any scenario was gonna be like 1420 01:05:01.960 --> 01:05:04.400 Rashid Wallace going to the Pistons in two thousand and four, 1421 01:05:04.679 --> 01:05:06.719 it would be Jimmy Butler going to the Warriors. 1422 01:05:07.039 --> 01:05:09.280 Yeah, he's one of those dudes. There's no argument there, 1423 01:05:09.320 --> 01:05:11.639 And I just cannot believe. At least admit you were 1424 01:05:11.639 --> 01:05:17.079 emotional when Miggy Miguel Diaz was paralyzed and learned to 1425 01:05:17.119 --> 01:05:18.639 walk again and came back and won the fight. 1426 01:05:18.679 --> 01:05:20.239 At least admit you were emotional for that? 1427 01:05:21.159 --> 01:05:22.440 Is that science? 1428 01:05:23.159 --> 01:05:25.960 Oh no, no, no, no, dude. 1429 01:05:26.079 --> 01:05:29.320 It's one of the things about that series that's so amazing, 1430 01:05:29.400 --> 01:05:32.159 the audacity they have to do those things that are 1431 01:05:32.159 --> 01:05:36.800 so unrealistic. You know, he's basically dead, and then he'd 1432 01:05:36.840 --> 01:05:39.559 learned how to walk again. Suddenly he's winning karate fights again. 1433 01:05:39.559 --> 01:05:43.159 It's see, children are psychopath. 1434 01:05:42.559 --> 01:05:45.639 Yes they are, Yes they are. Now there's no doubt. 1435 01:05:45.840 --> 01:05:47.599 All right, Well, if you finish it, let me know. 1436 01:05:47.760 --> 01:05:52.039 It doesn't sound like you will, but nonetheless act Thanks. 1437 01:05:51.880 --> 01:05:53.880 For the time, brother, appreciate it. 1438 01:05:54.159 --> 01:05:56.599 Zach Harper from the Athletic appreciate his time. He's brought 1439 01:05:56.599 --> 01:05:58.400 to you today by our good friends at Ogden Clinic 1440 01:05:58.440 --> 01:06:01.639 Hadley Dermatology. They've got a grip of deals for you 1441 01:06:01.639 --> 01:06:04.079 guys right now. As a client on this show and 1442 01:06:04.119 --> 01:06:06.440 you as a listener, you should take advantage of all 1443 01:06:06.440 --> 01:06:09.400 their offering. I'll start with this. The sun is out 1444 01:06:09.719 --> 01:06:13.880 and we are moving towards warmer temperatures consistently, and for me, 1445 01:06:14.000 --> 01:06:16.599 that means I'll be golfing almost every weekend, and I'll 1446 01:06:16.599 --> 01:06:18.800 be taking golf trips, I'll be taking my dog on hikes, 1447 01:06:18.800 --> 01:06:21.320 and i will be in the sun a tremendous amount. 1448 01:06:21.480 --> 01:06:21.760 Okay. 1449 01:06:21.960 --> 01:06:25.280 Now, I've known doctor Michael and doctor Jason Adley forever 1450 01:06:25.440 --> 01:06:27.440 and they grabbed me once a year and they say, 1451 01:06:27.440 --> 01:06:29.159 look are you playing a bunch of golf. I'm like, yep, 1452 01:06:29.159 --> 01:06:30.639 how many rounds? 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And 1459 01:06:48.679 --> 01:06:51.960 Ogden Clinic Hadley Dermatology is offering you a free consultation 1460 01:06:52.159 --> 01:06:53.920 just to go get checked out, to make sure you're good. 1461 01:06:54.360 --> 01:06:56.400 You're saying you're gonna save a grip of money and 1462 01:06:56.440 --> 01:06:58.440 you're gonna have some peace of mind and if you 1463 01:06:58.440 --> 01:07:00.280 have a small issue, they'll just take care of it 1464 01:07:00.280 --> 01:07:03.639 as opposed to waiting, because early detection will save your 1465 01:07:03.639 --> 01:07:06.360 life or save you from having a big hole carved 1466 01:07:06.400 --> 01:07:09.239 out in your head or your face. So that's number one. 1467 01:07:09.280 --> 01:07:12.320 Take advantage of that offer. Okay, number two, twenty five 1468 01:07:12.360 --> 01:07:15.800 percent off laser treatments, pool seasons almost here. 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That's eight oh one sixty five seven five 1480 01:07:44.159 --> 01:07:46.840 sixty sixty four eight oh one sixty five seven five 1481 01:07:46.920 --> 01:07:51.079 sixty sixty four or visit Hadleydermatology dot com schedule your 1482 01:07:51.079 --> 01:07:55.840 appointment today. Can highly recommend the yacht rock documentary on HBO. 1483 01:07:55.599 --> 01:07:58.960 Max yacht Rock Documentary. 1484 01:07:58.400 --> 01:08:00.559 You know, turn me on to it was come, it 1485 01:08:00.639 --> 01:08:05.199 was c K. Bill Simmons produced it. And uh, I'm 1486 01:08:05.239 --> 01:08:07.559 not a huge like yacht rock guy. What was that 1487 01:08:07.559 --> 01:08:08.920 funny that Bill Simmons producing? 1488 01:08:08.920 --> 01:08:09.440 Its? 1489 01:08:09.519 --> 01:08:12.079 Just it for some reason, Bill Simmons producing a yacht 1490 01:08:12.159 --> 01:08:14.480 rock commercial or or yacht rock documentary. 1491 01:08:14.639 --> 01:08:16.279 Just it's interesting. 1492 01:08:16.399 --> 01:08:19.520 Yeah, his company, Like say what you want about Bill Simmons, 1493 01:08:19.600 --> 01:08:22.319 he finds a way to create content people like. I know, 1494 01:08:22.359 --> 01:08:25.680 people don't love like his personal approach or podcast, but 1495 01:08:25.760 --> 01:08:28.359 in our industry, Bill Simmons is kind of like a pioneer. 1496 01:08:28.560 --> 01:08:30.039 He's he's content king. 1497 01:08:30.359 --> 01:08:34.880 Yeah, and look as far as his personal like podcast delivery, 1498 01:08:34.920 --> 01:08:37.920 I'm not a huge Bill guy, but you gotta respect like, well, 1499 01:08:37.960 --> 01:08:41.239 you're not a Celtics fan. True, it's fine. And Rosillo, 1500 01:08:41.560 --> 01:08:43.399 Ryan Rosillo used to be a friend of the show. 1501 01:08:43.439 --> 01:08:45.479 We rarely get him on anymore. I mean he still 1502 01:08:45.479 --> 01:08:47.319 does a good job on his portion of it, but 1503 01:08:47.359 --> 01:08:49.560 the Simmons stuff sometimes can be tough to digest. But 1504 01:08:50.199 --> 01:08:52.600 as far as his ability to kind of see around 1505 01:08:52.600 --> 01:08:56.000 corners with with projects, I mean, no hate on this end, man. 1506 01:08:56.079 --> 01:08:59.880 Yeah, there's there's a zero to argue with or complain 1507 01:09:00.039 --> 01:09:03.359 about there. Like the NBA, he'll just say, hey, look 1508 01:09:03.399 --> 01:09:05.520 at the look at the results, look at the pocketbook. 1509 01:09:05.640 --> 01:09:06.800 Yeah, that's the bottom line. 1510 01:09:07.560 --> 01:09:11.720 And you know, like it'd be one thing too uh 1511 01:09:11.760 --> 01:09:13.680 to be Bill Simmons and kind of get in your 1512 01:09:13.720 --> 01:09:15.640 feelings about people not being a fan. But then I 1513 01:09:15.640 --> 01:09:17.680 think he just goes to his mansion in Manhattan Beach 1514 01:09:17.720 --> 01:09:19.560 and records a podcast and he's doing just fine. 1515 01:09:19.600 --> 01:09:22.000 Yeah, he knows what he's doing there. There is. 1516 01:09:23.680 --> 01:09:28.239 Kind of a old guard way of sports media where 1517 01:09:28.720 --> 01:09:31.000 even if you are a fan, that's not part of 1518 01:09:31.039 --> 01:09:35.640 your coverage, right, And I think that Bill is okay 1519 01:09:35.720 --> 01:09:39.039 kind of blurring those lines and there's no like, there's 1520 01:09:39.079 --> 01:09:41.920 no guilt there and he doesn't pretend to not be that. 1521 01:09:42.840 --> 01:09:45.119 So yeah, yeah, you have to respect it. And he's 1522 01:09:45.399 --> 01:09:48.199 clearly clearly made a lane and more more than a lane. 1523 01:09:48.279 --> 01:09:48.479 Yeah. 1524 01:09:48.520 --> 01:09:51.439 He produced de Andre the Giant documentary, which was awesome. 1525 01:09:51.920 --> 01:09:55.720 He is one of the masterminds of ESPN's thirty for thirty. Yeah, 1526 01:09:55.760 --> 01:09:57.760 I mean, he was one of the guys that kind 1527 01:09:57.760 --> 01:10:00.560 of created that. He's one of Emmy's peeble I mean, 1528 01:10:00.720 --> 01:10:04.239 you know, but this, this yacht rock documentary was interesting 1529 01:10:04.239 --> 01:10:07.359 because I've never really understood the origin of it. I 1530 01:10:07.479 --> 01:10:10.600 never really understood like which bands are yacht rock which 1531 01:10:10.600 --> 01:10:13.960 are not? And uh, you know, it definitely definitely reminded 1532 01:10:14.039 --> 01:10:15.680 me growing up in the back of my dad's car 1533 01:10:15.800 --> 01:10:18.039 because apparently most of the music he liked was certainly 1534 01:10:18.079 --> 01:10:20.640 yacht rock. Anyway, nobody gives a rip about that. Did 1535 01:10:20.680 --> 01:10:22.520 you watch Cobra Kai you have Netflix? 1536 01:10:22.560 --> 01:10:24.359 Did you watch Obra Rock Tied a new one? 1537 01:10:24.960 --> 01:10:26.439 Well, it's it's a series. 1538 01:10:27.119 --> 01:10:28.920 Oh that's right. I haven't seen it then, though. 1539 01:10:28.840 --> 01:10:31.479 So are you old enough to remember Karate Kid any 1540 01:10:31.520 --> 01:10:32.079 of that stuff? 1541 01:10:32.439 --> 01:10:35.239 A little bit? I've I've definitely seen the original Karate Kid, 1542 01:10:35.279 --> 01:10:36.920 but I was I was a tyke. 1543 01:10:38.359 --> 01:10:40.840 All right, we haven't heard from you porter, excuse me. 1544 01:10:41.840 --> 01:10:43.560 We're gonna get to this BYU story in a moment. 1545 01:10:43.600 --> 01:10:45.520 We didn't get a chance to talk about it yesterday 1546 01:10:45.560 --> 01:10:48.479 because the Craig story, uh was kind of all over 1547 01:10:48.520 --> 01:10:51.800 the place, and I honestly am not sure where I 1548 01:10:51.880 --> 01:10:53.680 land on this. I kind of changed my mind, and 1549 01:10:53.680 --> 01:10:56.520 I think it's dependent on the situation. I thought Josh 1550 01:10:56.520 --> 01:10:59.720 Grant yesterday, you know some very clear eyed, salient points. 1551 01:11:00.720 --> 01:11:03.039 Clearly had some things you wanted to get off his chest, 1552 01:11:03.079 --> 01:11:05.640 which makes for great radio. I don't think I'm aligned 1553 01:11:05.640 --> 01:11:07.439 with him on every single thing, but I'm also not 1554 01:11:07.479 --> 01:11:10.920 privy to these conversations, and I do think at times 1555 01:11:11.119 --> 01:11:13.600 we operate with blinders on in this market because it's 1556 01:11:13.640 --> 01:11:17.159 a very unique place to be and it's important to 1557 01:11:17.359 --> 01:11:21.159 understand the landscape of what Salt Lake City and what 1558 01:11:21.279 --> 01:11:24.079 Utah is and how to kind of operate around some 1559 01:11:24.159 --> 01:11:25.319 of the oddities. 1560 01:11:24.840 --> 01:11:26.159 That don't exist in other places. 1561 01:11:26.199 --> 01:11:27.439 And if you don't know how to do that, it's 1562 01:11:27.439 --> 01:11:29.960 probably a difficult place to live. S talking to Shan 1563 01:11:30.000 --> 01:11:33.680 about this during crosstalk, But I think at times we 1564 01:11:33.720 --> 01:11:34.239 get blinded. 1565 01:11:34.279 --> 01:11:36.279 Certainly on the college side of things. The Jazz are different. 1566 01:11:36.279 --> 01:11:39.439 It's a pro basketball team, RSL Pro Soccer team. You 1567 01:11:39.479 --> 01:11:44.600 don't really need to operate around the complications of the 1568 01:11:44.640 --> 01:11:47.560 community as much because you're more insulated if you're. 1569 01:11:47.439 --> 01:11:48.960 In a pro situation. 1570 01:11:49.399 --> 01:11:50.840 But we always kind of do this thing where as 1571 01:11:50.880 --> 01:11:52.399 soon as a job comes open, it's got to be 1572 01:11:52.439 --> 01:11:54.319 a Utah guy, it's got to be a BYU guy. 1573 01:11:54.399 --> 01:11:58.159 BYU is different because it's more unique, I'll just say 1574 01:11:58.159 --> 01:12:01.840 that than the University of Utah's as the standards and 1575 01:12:01.880 --> 01:12:04.279 stipulations that you have to be able to uphold and 1576 01:12:04.319 --> 01:12:05.479 live up to if you want to work at that 1577 01:12:05.520 --> 01:12:08.720 institution more often than not, right, so I understand, like, 1578 01:12:08.760 --> 01:12:11.359 for instance, when the ad job comes open, their president. 1579 01:12:11.399 --> 01:12:14.439 BYU's president's you know, leads with he's got to love 1580 01:12:14.560 --> 01:12:17.800 Jesus leave what leads with religiosity As far as the 1581 01:12:17.880 --> 01:12:20.479 dynamics that you have to follow if you want to 1582 01:12:20.479 --> 01:12:22.680 be the athletic director of BYU. It's not the same 1583 01:12:22.680 --> 01:12:27.039 way at Utah. But instantly after the Craig news comes down, porter, 1584 01:12:27.159 --> 01:12:29.760 you know the names. It's Alex, it's Alex Jensen, it's 1585 01:12:29.800 --> 01:12:34.000 Andrea Miller, it's Johnny Bryant. Of all the names you've heard, Well, 1586 01:12:34.079 --> 01:12:35.640 two parts I want to get your take on this. 1587 01:12:35.680 --> 01:12:37.680 Do you think it has to be somebody with local 1588 01:12:37.720 --> 01:12:41.199 ties and alumni with the institution, And is there a 1589 01:12:41.279 --> 01:12:43.359 name or a couple of names that you've leaned into as. 1590 01:12:43.239 --> 01:12:44.560 Far as who you think should get the gig. 1591 01:12:44.720 --> 01:12:47.560 You know, I don't think it has to be someone 1592 01:12:47.640 --> 01:12:51.520 with that connection, right. And obviously you mentioned the fact 1593 01:12:51.560 --> 01:12:55.159 that this may be kind of a booster driven as 1594 01:12:55.199 --> 01:12:57.520 far as the timing and the way that this all 1595 01:12:57.560 --> 01:13:02.600 went down, maybe that leads to they're already being some 1596 01:13:02.640 --> 01:13:06.319 of those names you mentioned, Alex Jensen, Johnny Bryant, Andre Miller. 1597 01:13:06.960 --> 01:13:10.159 Maybe those are the guys that those boosters specifically want 1598 01:13:10.239 --> 01:13:12.880 to be on that list. But I do think you 1599 01:13:12.960 --> 01:13:15.960 have to expand your search beyond that. I just I 1600 01:13:15.960 --> 01:13:20.159 don't believe in limiting your net two players that played 1601 01:13:20.159 --> 01:13:24.560 for you, right, guys that played basketball for you. Is 1602 01:13:24.920 --> 01:13:28.800 that's just limiting your program two options that could be 1603 01:13:28.920 --> 01:13:33.680 really good fits and could work with those alumni. Now 1604 01:13:34.479 --> 01:13:39.079 I am more open in today's landscape of college sports 1605 01:13:39.119 --> 01:13:41.159 to the former player thing than I was two three 1606 01:13:41.239 --> 01:13:44.560 years ago. We've seen what Dion's done. It's not that situation, 1607 01:13:45.039 --> 01:13:49.560 but there is a more professional element in college sports now, 1608 01:13:49.640 --> 01:13:52.640 and I think that once some of the dust is settled, 1609 01:13:53.199 --> 01:13:56.279 that will only be more true. And for that reason, 1610 01:13:56.279 --> 01:13:58.920 I do think that there is maybe more of an 1611 01:13:58.960 --> 01:14:03.199 openness from me on a former player having a guy 1612 01:14:03.279 --> 01:14:07.560 in that position that you can really build a brand around, 1613 01:14:07.880 --> 01:14:15.159 a recruiting brand and like public facing image for your 1614 01:14:15.159 --> 01:14:18.479 program that has a face like that, right, That was 1615 01:14:18.600 --> 01:14:21.239 something that Craig Smith struggled with. I think he's a 1616 01:14:21.239 --> 01:14:24.239 really good basketball coach. X's and o's give me Craig 1617 01:14:24.279 --> 01:14:28.800 Smith in those ninety four feet and with that time 1618 01:14:28.800 --> 01:14:32.319 on the clock. He's phenomenal in that regard. So that's 1619 01:14:32.359 --> 01:14:36.159 where this story gets complicated. And man, you got to 1620 01:14:36.199 --> 01:14:41.079 find the right balance between wanting the guy that there's 1621 01:14:41.159 --> 01:14:44.000 nostalgia there because he did so much for your program, 1622 01:14:44.199 --> 01:14:47.279 and then wanting to make the right decision for the 1623 01:14:47.279 --> 01:14:50.239 future of your program. I think there can be middle ground, 1624 01:14:50.279 --> 01:14:52.960 and hey, maybe it is the same guy, but I 1625 01:14:52.960 --> 01:14:55.760 don't think you should limit your net to that. Now 1626 01:14:57.239 --> 01:15:00.399 You've already limited it, limited your net because you're currently 1627 01:15:00.760 --> 01:15:05.039 paying Larry Christoviac, Craig Smith, and now Josh Eilert to 1628 01:15:05.079 --> 01:15:08.119 be your head coaches. That's currently happening as of February 1629 01:15:08.159 --> 01:15:11.640 of twenty twenty five, and that puts Utah in an 1630 01:15:11.680 --> 01:15:15.800 interesting position. And you know, I don't have a calculator, 1631 01:15:15.840 --> 01:15:18.119 nor would I know what to do with it if 1632 01:15:19.119 --> 01:15:21.359 if I was asked those questions. But I got to 1633 01:15:21.399 --> 01:15:23.399 think that that's part of this equation as well. The 1634 01:15:23.439 --> 01:15:26.279 fact that Utah is now paying three different coaches to 1635 01:15:26.279 --> 01:15:28.760 be their head coach can't help them in a search 1636 01:15:28.800 --> 01:15:29.439 for the next guy. 1637 01:15:29.800 --> 01:15:33.920 And you know, it's it's interesting how the sport of 1638 01:15:34.039 --> 01:15:38.520 college basketball and the ecosystem of college basketball has changed 1639 01:15:39.079 --> 01:15:41.720 in a way where once upon a time, whenever we 1640 01:15:41.720 --> 01:15:44.159 would have these conversations about whether or not a pro 1641 01:15:44.279 --> 01:15:47.000 coach wouldever look to go back to college, you talked 1642 01:15:47.000 --> 01:15:49.560 about how, you know, do you want to change and 1643 01:15:49.640 --> 01:15:51.720 trade your lifestyle? Do you want to trade in the 1644 01:15:51.800 --> 01:15:55.199 NBA lifestyle where you're flying charters all the time and 1645 01:15:55.199 --> 01:15:57.119 standing in the nicest hotels in the country all the 1646 01:15:57.159 --> 01:16:00.960 time to fly into Kansas and I have to Topeka 1647 01:16:01.000 --> 01:16:03.119 in a rental card to scout a player, A go 1648 01:16:03.279 --> 01:16:06.119 to Mont Pillier, Idaho, and a rental card to scout 1649 01:16:06.159 --> 01:16:10.000 a player. The game has changed where so much of 1650 01:16:10.039 --> 01:16:12.479 this stuff is done remotely and the travel is a 1651 01:16:12.520 --> 01:16:14.479 lot better than it used to be. It's still a 1652 01:16:14.479 --> 01:16:16.960 little bit of a downgrade in lifestyle, but it's not 1653 01:16:17.119 --> 01:16:19.800 as much of a day in and day out grind 1654 01:16:19.840 --> 01:16:22.199 as it was prior to the change of the landscape 1655 01:16:22.239 --> 01:16:23.920 of the sport. And the change in the landscape of 1656 01:16:23.920 --> 01:16:27.279 the sport hasn't been something that everybody's excited about, because 1657 01:16:27.319 --> 01:16:31.840 when money permeates its way into anything as the main motivation, 1658 01:16:32.079 --> 01:16:35.760 it changes, certainly entertainment products and sport products. 1659 01:16:35.800 --> 01:16:37.479 I think that's one of the issues with the NBA 1660 01:16:37.600 --> 01:16:37.960 right now. 1661 01:16:38.000 --> 01:16:41.000 It does feel like it's leaned into operating like a 1662 01:16:41.039 --> 01:16:43.600 Fortune five hundred company that just wants to provide value 1663 01:16:43.640 --> 01:16:46.520 for shareholders as opposed to caring about the consumer. And 1664 01:16:46.560 --> 01:16:48.560 I know people are a little afraid about that with 1665 01:16:48.640 --> 01:16:50.520 college athletics, but it is what it is. 1666 01:16:50.439 --> 01:16:52.159 And it's changed. 1667 01:16:52.239 --> 01:16:54.439 It will continue to lean into this because there's so 1668 01:16:54.560 --> 01:16:56.800 much money to be made and that's just the deal 1669 01:16:56.840 --> 01:16:58.680 when you live in a capitalist society, love it or 1670 01:16:58.720 --> 01:17:01.760 hate it. We don't know how much of a downgrade 1671 01:17:01.760 --> 01:17:04.079 and lifestyle would be for an Alex Jensen to go 1672 01:17:04.159 --> 01:17:06.760 from one of the lead assistants in Dallas to be 1673 01:17:06.840 --> 01:17:09.039 the head coach at the University of Utah. But I'll 1674 01:17:09.079 --> 01:17:12.039 say this before we get to this BYU stuff. The 1675 01:17:12.119 --> 01:17:14.399 thought of having Andre Miller on your bench and walking 1676 01:17:14.439 --> 01:17:17.439 inother gyms, that's instant credibility. 1677 01:17:17.439 --> 01:17:21.760 That's really cool, Right, And if let's just for instance, 1678 01:17:21.760 --> 01:17:24.359 say that's the higher you make, you can then go 1679 01:17:24.399 --> 01:17:28.760 and let Andre be the face of your program and 1680 01:17:29.359 --> 01:17:34.279 delegate the menial stuff, the ted stuff that really does 1681 01:17:34.880 --> 01:17:37.840 require a lot from a head basketball coach. And you 1682 01:17:37.920 --> 01:17:41.680 have a GM of sorts. Right, we're seeing different positions 1683 01:17:42.159 --> 01:17:46.600 that are are you coming to the forefront of college sports? 1684 01:17:47.079 --> 01:17:49.800 And that's probably gonna be part of the equation when 1685 01:17:49.840 --> 01:17:51.560 you make a higher. Right, if you hire a guy 1686 01:17:51.560 --> 01:17:54.079 like Andre Miller, he's gonna be the face of your program. 1687 01:17:54.119 --> 01:17:57.079 He's gonna be the guy that is working with those 1688 01:17:57.079 --> 01:17:59.079 players day in and day out. You're probably gonna have 1689 01:17:59.119 --> 01:18:01.560 someone else it is on the recruiting trail, three hundred 1690 01:18:01.560 --> 01:18:04.840 and sixty five days a year working that part of 1691 01:18:04.880 --> 01:18:07.680 the program. And yeah, that's that's just how we're going 1692 01:18:07.720 --> 01:18:10.119 to have to approach this. This new landscape is as 1693 01:18:10.159 --> 01:18:11.640 long as it looks like it does. 1694 01:18:12.000 --> 01:18:13.680 If Mark Harland called you and asked you to be 1695 01:18:13.720 --> 01:18:14.800 the head coach, would you try it? 1696 01:18:15.119 --> 01:18:15.279 Hell? 1697 01:18:15.359 --> 01:18:17.439 Yeah, you just go, you just go do it? 1698 01:18:17.439 --> 01:18:17.760 Why not? 1699 01:18:18.359 --> 01:18:21.239 No? I mean I like it, but you might be 1700 01:18:21.439 --> 01:18:22.479 mad with a little pushback. 1701 01:18:22.560 --> 01:18:25.760 Oh, I'm going to get fired within. Like, let's be clear, 1702 01:18:26.039 --> 01:18:30.800 if I was the head of anything that would be 1703 01:18:30.880 --> 01:18:34.399 a ship that is. And not to say I'm not 1704 01:18:34.399 --> 01:18:37.039 confident in myself. I'm just talking about, like as far 1705 01:18:37.119 --> 01:18:41.319 as constructing like a culture and organization, a whole team. 1706 01:18:41.800 --> 01:18:42.920 I'm not the guy to look too. 1707 01:18:42.840 --> 01:18:46.399 There, don't you? Don't you produce the show and book 1708 01:18:46.439 --> 01:18:47.159 guests on the show. 1709 01:18:47.239 --> 01:18:49.359 It's one radio show, though, Spencer. 1710 01:18:49.079 --> 01:18:51.760 Aren't you in charge partly of building the culture of 1711 01:18:51.760 --> 01:18:53.119 the Drive with Spence Jackets money? 1712 01:18:53.119 --> 01:18:54.119 No, that's you, my friend. 1713 01:18:54.319 --> 01:18:56.359 Oh No, I mean, I mean I'm but I'm not 1714 01:18:56.399 --> 01:18:57.760 doing all the lifting. You got to help me out 1715 01:18:57.760 --> 01:18:58.199 a little bit. 1716 01:18:58.279 --> 01:19:01.720 I fill out timesheet and make sure you know we 1717 01:19:01.800 --> 01:19:03.800 have a guest this hour, this hour, this hour. 1718 01:19:03.840 --> 01:19:06.960 You're the culture builder. That's a lot of pressure, right, 1719 01:19:07.439 --> 01:19:08.960 But that's why they pay you the big bucks. Oh, 1720 01:19:09.159 --> 01:19:11.560 they pay me some bucks. Okay, they pay me bucks 1721 01:19:11.560 --> 01:19:13.560 to pay some bills. Which is nice in this business. 1722 01:19:13.760 --> 01:19:15.119 I'm just glad that you would say. 1723 01:19:15.039 --> 01:19:18.600 Yes, Oh, no doubt about it. I Spence. 1724 01:19:18.640 --> 01:19:22.359 I used to landscape and do electric electrical for a living, so. 1725 01:19:22.359 --> 01:19:23.319 Yeah, yeah, I'll take that child. 1726 01:19:23.439 --> 01:19:24.880 As long as we're not making a living with our hands, 1727 01:19:24.880 --> 01:19:27.359 we're doing okay. But I don't know that that call 1728 01:19:27.439 --> 01:19:29.800 is coming. But I'm glad that you would take Mark, 1729 01:19:29.880 --> 01:19:31.520 take on the challenge. You do have my number. 1730 01:19:31.560 --> 01:19:33.680 Mark, hit us out, Mark, and I know you're listening. 1731 01:19:33.720 --> 01:19:33.880 Mark. 1732 01:19:33.920 --> 01:19:36.199 If you're sicking me criticizing you for four hours every day, 1733 01:19:36.239 --> 01:19:37.800 make me your basketball coach and I'll stop. 1734 01:19:37.840 --> 01:19:38.239 I promise. 1735 01:19:38.279 --> 01:19:39.800 There you go. All right, Josh Grant. 1736 01:19:39.840 --> 01:19:42.439 Josh, my man, Josh Grant, all right, before we catch 1737 01:19:42.479 --> 01:19:44.840 a break. Didn't get a chance to do much of 1738 01:19:44.880 --> 01:19:48.079 this yesterday, but Kevin Reynolds saw Lake Tribune the trip 1739 01:19:48.119 --> 01:19:52.159 did some good reporting about BYU football players. They're claiming 1740 01:19:52.199 --> 01:19:55.600 that their nil collective was cut. The pay was cut 1741 01:19:55.640 --> 01:19:58.079 before their season last year, which of course was awesome. 1742 01:19:58.079 --> 01:20:00.760 They were eleven and two and smoke to Colorado and 1743 01:20:00.800 --> 01:20:02.800 the Alamo Bowl, and they're a really good team. Caliney 1744 01:20:02.800 --> 01:20:07.840 did a hell of a job. So I view this story. 1745 01:20:07.880 --> 01:20:09.720 Now I would I would just send you to the 1746 01:20:09.720 --> 01:20:11.439 Trip okay, because I'm not going to sit here and 1747 01:20:12.359 --> 01:20:13.840 unpack the entire thing for you. 1748 01:20:13.880 --> 01:20:15.199 But sl trip dot com. 1749 01:20:15.640 --> 01:20:18.720 They quote Isaiah Bagna, who was a defensive end and 1750 01:20:18.760 --> 01:20:22.239 then Crew Wakely. Crew Wakely left that program with an 1751 01:20:22.359 --> 01:20:25.039 axe to grind man, there's no doubt, and they talk 1752 01:20:25.079 --> 01:20:27.439 about a meeting that was held at the beginning of 1753 01:20:27.439 --> 01:20:29.720 the season someone named Min Kim. 1754 01:20:30.159 --> 01:20:31.560 I do not know who this person is. 1755 01:20:32.279 --> 01:20:35.439 He is the leader of the Royal Blue Collective, or 1756 01:20:35.520 --> 01:20:39.039 one of them, and he is the CEO of a 1757 01:20:39.119 --> 01:20:41.680 company down south called Neutra cost. 1758 01:20:41.760 --> 01:20:43.159 I'm sure that's above board. 1759 01:20:43.560 --> 01:20:47.479 And I guess he held the meeting and said, quote, 1760 01:20:47.520 --> 01:20:50.479 according to Isaiah Bagney said quote, I'm not here to 1761 01:20:50.520 --> 01:20:52.920 pay your renter bills. I'm not here for any of that. 1762 01:20:53.520 --> 01:20:56.960 You guys are entitled greedy asking me for money, and 1763 01:20:57.000 --> 01:20:59.279 then announced there would be changes to the collective because 1764 01:20:59.319 --> 01:21:01.359 the team went five seven the year prior to and 1765 01:21:01.399 --> 01:21:03.800 missed a Bowl game for the first time since twenty seventeen. 1766 01:21:04.319 --> 01:21:07.760 According to both these players, the collective was cutting everybody's pay. 1767 01:21:08.199 --> 01:21:11.000 Starters would be slashed by more than fifty percent. Most 1768 01:21:11.039 --> 01:21:13.920 walk ons that would get nothing. Contracts would be signed 1769 01:21:13.920 --> 01:21:16.039 in the coming days if the players wanted any cash 1770 01:21:16.079 --> 01:21:18.199 at all. They were forced to agree to the new terms, 1771 01:21:18.960 --> 01:21:22.039 and according to Bagna, this Kim Fellas said, quote, I'm 1772 01:21:22.039 --> 01:21:24.119 here to win, and you guys didn't win last year. 1773 01:21:24.840 --> 01:21:28.680 And so apparently, according to Crew Weakly, this gentleman went 1774 01:21:28.720 --> 01:21:29.640 at Chase Roberts. 1775 01:21:29.680 --> 01:21:30.840 He was mad that Chase. 1776 01:21:30.640 --> 01:21:33.439 Entered his own individual NIL deal, which is weird to me. 1777 01:21:34.119 --> 01:21:36.520 With desret at first Credit Union, which is a competitor 1778 01:21:36.640 --> 01:21:39.479 of a donor for the Royal Blue Collective mountin America 1779 01:21:39.479 --> 01:21:42.920 Credit Union, and they go on to talk about the 1780 01:21:42.920 --> 01:21:45.520 contracts that were signed. Apparently there were what is called 1781 01:21:45.560 --> 01:21:47.520 a non compete, which my understanding. 1782 01:21:47.560 --> 01:21:49.199 By the way, the letter of the laws, those are. 1783 01:21:49.039 --> 01:21:52.600 Now illegal, But you weren't supposed to go outside of 1784 01:21:52.600 --> 01:21:54.920 the collective to get your own NIL deals. That feels 1785 01:21:54.920 --> 01:21:58.119 a little unfair to me, and that also feels ignoring 1786 01:21:58.199 --> 01:22:01.039 like the spirit and the letter of what NIL is 1787 01:22:01.039 --> 01:22:04.279 supposed to provide these young men and women their ability 1788 01:22:04.319 --> 01:22:06.239 to simply go out and profit off of who they are. 1789 01:22:06.279 --> 01:22:08.279 It's the same economic rights that you and I have 1790 01:22:08.359 --> 01:22:12.600 had our entire life. So ultimately where I landed after 1791 01:22:12.800 --> 01:22:16.600 reading this story and kind of marinating on the topic 1792 01:22:16.600 --> 01:22:19.239 a little bit. This is just a and this is 1793 01:22:19.279 --> 01:22:22.159 not just a BYU thing. There are stories of collectives 1794 01:22:22.159 --> 01:22:25.399 across the country just trying to understand the right way 1795 01:22:25.399 --> 01:22:28.880 to go about business. Now this feels like this, this 1796 01:22:29.000 --> 01:22:32.600 Kim character might might be, you know, feeling himself a 1797 01:22:32.640 --> 01:22:35.039 little bit as far as the way he kind of 1798 01:22:35.079 --> 01:22:37.560 handled the entire thing and some of the things he 1799 01:22:37.640 --> 01:22:40.159 said to these players. Kim did not respond to a 1800 01:22:40.199 --> 01:22:43.039 request for a comment of the story, but it goes 1801 01:22:43.079 --> 01:22:45.119 on to talk about and it gets into detail. 1802 01:22:45.279 --> 01:22:45.479 You know. 1803 01:22:46.319 --> 01:22:48.840 Prior to the five and seven season, the team was 1804 01:22:48.880 --> 01:22:52.840 broken into tiers. Top tiers players made five thousand dollars 1805 01:22:52.880 --> 01:22:55.199 a month, second tier players two thousand dollars a month. 1806 01:22:55.520 --> 01:22:57.640 The third tier was five hundred to one thousand dollars 1807 01:22:57.640 --> 01:23:01.039 a month, and very few players made over five grand a. 1808 01:23:00.960 --> 01:23:02.640 Month, but a few actually did. 1809 01:23:03.399 --> 01:23:05.840 According to Bagna quote, over eighty percent of the defensive 1810 01:23:05.840 --> 01:23:08.520 starters were cut. The starters were down to one thousand dollars, 1811 01:23:08.520 --> 01:23:11.920 some of them were even on eight hundred bucks. And ultimately, 1812 01:23:12.920 --> 01:23:15.439 the other takeaway I had here is a hell what 1813 01:23:15.479 --> 01:23:17.760 a hell of a job from coloone Satake and his 1814 01:23:17.800 --> 01:23:21.199 staff and Jay Hill and I got a rod to 1815 01:23:21.600 --> 01:23:23.279 have an eleven to two season and go to the 1816 01:23:23.279 --> 01:23:25.760 Alamo Bowl and smoke Colorado and finish in the top 1817 01:23:25.800 --> 01:23:29.319 fifteen with a roster of players that apparently were really 1818 01:23:29.399 --> 01:23:32.159 upset about the way this was handled. And you know, 1819 01:23:32.560 --> 01:23:34.720 there are two sides to every story, Okay, So that's 1820 01:23:34.760 --> 01:23:37.680 what it comes down to. And this is just another 1821 01:23:37.760 --> 01:23:40.720 example of the university just trying to figure it out, 1822 01:23:40.760 --> 01:23:42.680 trying to figure out a landscape without a lot of 1823 01:23:42.720 --> 01:23:46.159 guard rails and rules, and until the guardrails and rules 1824 01:23:46.159 --> 01:23:48.000 are signed and hopefully that's done this year with a 1825 01:23:48.039 --> 01:23:50.840 house versus the NCAA settlement, and we're moving into a 1826 01:23:50.880 --> 01:23:55.159 situation where things are actually outlined and you know what 1827 01:23:55.199 --> 01:23:57.479 you're supposed to do, as opposed to figuring it out yourself. 1828 01:23:57.960 --> 01:23:59.039 Stuff like this would go away. 1829 01:23:59.079 --> 01:24:00.640 So you kind of feel bad for the players, but 1830 01:24:00.680 --> 01:24:02.920 you understand on the other side the collector trying to 1831 01:24:02.920 --> 01:24:05.439 figure it out, and ultimately a coaching staff that was 1832 01:24:05.479 --> 01:24:08.000 able to rally these guys for a hell of a year. 1833 01:24:08.039 --> 01:24:10.039 Man one of the best of PYU football seasons. They've 1834 01:24:10.039 --> 01:24:12.399 ever had quite frankly, Well, all right, so you're just 1835 01:24:12.439 --> 01:24:14.600 gonna rub it in, So you're gonna use the one 1836 01:24:14.600 --> 01:24:16.479 example of a band I like when I was sixteen 1837 01:24:16.520 --> 01:24:17.119 that has an age. 1838 01:24:17.159 --> 01:24:18.840 Well, that's what you're doing here. 1839 01:24:19.439 --> 01:24:22.039 I know that was the theme that we were we 1840 01:24:22.039 --> 01:24:25.880 were talking about. I actually kind of liked Blues Traveling. 1841 01:24:26.720 --> 01:24:31.199 I know they they got some interesting sound, some corny 1842 01:24:31.199 --> 01:24:32.119 stuff in there as well. 1843 01:24:33.640 --> 01:24:34.439 What's the is it? 1844 01:24:34.520 --> 01:24:37.640 Kingpin to the movie Collen Brothers. Excellent movie. 1845 01:24:37.680 --> 01:24:39.680 That may be part of it. But yeah, actually I 1846 01:24:39.680 --> 01:24:40.319 actually kind of. 1847 01:24:40.279 --> 01:24:44.119 Like well Forward Tour nineteen ninety four, Dave Matthews Band, 1848 01:24:44.319 --> 01:24:47.560 Fish Alman Brothers, they were all there, and Blues Traveler 1849 01:24:47.600 --> 01:24:48.199 was the headlining. 1850 01:24:48.279 --> 01:24:50.239 Now that's how big they were in nineteen ninety. 1851 01:24:50.119 --> 01:24:51.520 I would have spent a lot of money to be 1852 01:24:51.560 --> 01:24:52.039 at that show. 1853 01:24:52.079 --> 01:24:53.880 It was a good show man, all right. Time for 1854 01:24:53.920 --> 01:24:57.000 the voice. You know what that means? Bill Riley Tuesday Afternoon, 1855 01:24:57.079 --> 01:24:58.239 Ryle's Happy Tuesday, sir? 1856 01:24:58.279 --> 01:25:00.399 How are you get you blue? 1857 01:25:00.399 --> 01:25:01.880 A couple of Blues Traveler stories? 1858 01:25:01.920 --> 01:25:02.359 Please do? 1859 01:25:03.439 --> 01:25:08.520 I paid three dollars in college at the Bottleneck and 1860 01:25:08.640 --> 01:25:14.239 Lawrence to see Blues Traveler, and then also in nineteen 1861 01:25:14.399 --> 01:25:20.720 ninety nineteen nineteen ninety five, Blues Traveler was the headline 1862 01:25:20.800 --> 01:25:24.359 band at the Lakewood Amphitheater at Atlanta, and Dave Matthews 1863 01:25:24.399 --> 01:25:28.239 opened for Blues Traveler in Atlanta. 1864 01:25:28.399 --> 01:25:30.880 Yeah. Yeah, that's how big they were. Man, that's how 1865 01:25:30.880 --> 01:25:32.159 big they were. They were massive. 1866 01:25:32.399 --> 01:25:36.680 Porter posed a question to me earlier last week, which is, 1867 01:25:36.840 --> 01:25:39.920 how has my music in the nineties aged to this day? 1868 01:25:40.279 --> 01:25:41.279 What are your thoughts on that? 1869 01:25:42.359 --> 01:25:45.000 Uh, it's funny you say this. When I was flying 1870 01:25:45.039 --> 01:25:46.560 to Orlando the other day, I had kind of a 1871 01:25:46.680 --> 01:25:50.960 nineties hits channel on. I was listening a little Big 1872 01:25:51.000 --> 01:25:54.359 Head Todd in The Monsters I had. I had the 1873 01:25:54.479 --> 01:25:58.479 gin Blossoms radio going, Hey, I will I will stand 1874 01:25:58.520 --> 01:26:00.800 on the gin Blossoms Mountain and die on top of 1875 01:26:00.840 --> 01:26:03.800 the JiTT They had some bangers in the nineties. I 1876 01:26:03.920 --> 01:26:07.399 like Big Head Todd the Monsters. I think the nineties 1877 01:26:07.439 --> 01:26:10.920 has aged. Okay, maybe not the greatest music decade, but 1878 01:26:11.520 --> 01:26:12.600 I'm still on board with it. 1879 01:26:12.600 --> 01:26:13.079 How about you? 1880 01:26:13.520 --> 01:26:15.399 I'm on board. I just love that you just use 1881 01:26:15.439 --> 01:26:19.079 the term bangers Ryle's. I appreciate that. I mean, at 1882 01:26:19.159 --> 01:26:21.119 least at least you didn't say that It slaps. That's 1883 01:26:21.159 --> 01:26:22.680 the other thing that kid The kids say. 1884 01:26:22.600 --> 01:26:25.319 Right, yeah, something like that. 1885 01:26:25.359 --> 01:26:29.319 But I think the nineties it's been okay, I think 1886 01:26:29.359 --> 01:26:32.680 it's aged. Okay, but you know, I'm old, as you've 1887 01:26:32.720 --> 01:26:34.600 said for you know, twenty years. I'm old. 1888 01:26:34.680 --> 01:26:35.800 I've apologized. 1889 01:26:35.880 --> 01:26:40.520 Okay, I've seen the errors of my ways because you're 1890 01:26:40.560 --> 01:26:42.239 not that much older than I am. All right, but 1891 01:26:42.279 --> 01:26:43.720 it was a fun bid back in the Bill and 1892 01:26:43.720 --> 01:26:45.800 Spence days. Now that I'm aging, I feel. 1893 01:26:45.560 --> 01:26:48.039 Bad, Bill, but we still love Shep like he's a 1894 01:26:48.079 --> 01:26:48.720 little brother. 1895 01:26:48.600 --> 01:26:49.680 Right, even though he's older. 1896 01:26:49.720 --> 01:26:53.399 All right, Let's move over now, obviously to the news 1897 01:26:53.399 --> 01:26:56.079 that broke prior to the show yesterday, about an hour 1898 01:26:56.119 --> 01:26:58.600 before we started the show. Excuse me, I get the 1899 01:26:58.640 --> 01:27:00.920 alert that Craig has been really of his duties. So 1900 01:27:02.119 --> 01:27:05.399 the timing is interesting, and you know, talking to some people, 1901 01:27:05.439 --> 01:27:08.439 I'm sure you have as well about why exactly this 1902 01:27:08.520 --> 01:27:10.720 went down when it went down, Bill, So what was 1903 01:27:10.760 --> 01:27:12.600 your reaction when you heard the news and why do 1904 01:27:12.640 --> 01:27:13.960 you think they decided to do it? 1905 01:27:14.000 --> 01:27:14.159 Now? 1906 01:27:15.039 --> 01:27:18.199 I was caught off guard, Spence. I was somewhere over 1907 01:27:18.359 --> 01:27:22.279 West Texas, flying from Orlando to Tucson, and I had 1908 01:27:22.279 --> 01:27:25.199 my WiFi on and I was doing some work and 1909 01:27:25.279 --> 01:27:28.640 I just scrolled the old Twitter machine to check headlines, 1910 01:27:29.319 --> 01:27:32.960 and I saw Jeff Goodman's story pop up, and then 1911 01:27:33.000 --> 01:27:36.840 my phone began to be explode, you know, thirty three 1912 01:27:36.840 --> 01:27:39.960 thousand feet. I was surprised by it. I mean, I 1913 01:27:40.199 --> 01:27:43.960 was just the timing of it caught me off guard. 1914 01:27:44.039 --> 01:27:46.640 I don't know that you're ever fully expecting that something 1915 01:27:46.720 --> 01:27:51.279 like that in season, But you know, I think you know, 1916 01:27:51.359 --> 01:27:53.119 to your other the other part of the question, I 1917 01:27:53.159 --> 01:27:56.239 think it was just probably the full body of four 1918 01:27:56.319 --> 01:28:00.159 years of work and maybe the overall trajectory of the 1919 01:28:00.159 --> 01:28:03.199 program would be my guess, and maybe a little maybe 1920 01:28:03.199 --> 01:28:06.199 not as much consistency as they would have maybe liked 1921 01:28:06.279 --> 01:28:09.680 to would be my guess on why the move was made. 1922 01:28:10.239 --> 01:28:14.600 So ultimately, there's always a personal side to these things. 1923 01:28:14.640 --> 01:28:18.439 There's always an element of how this affects people that 1924 01:28:18.520 --> 01:28:21.119 I think we tend to ignore in the media because 1925 01:28:21.159 --> 01:28:23.760 our job is to cover the story. But look, you know, 1926 01:28:23.800 --> 01:28:25.880 my father wasn't a coach, but he was an executive 1927 01:28:25.880 --> 01:28:29.159 and we uprooted multiple times throughout his career. 1928 01:28:29.560 --> 01:28:30.479 And that's just the deal. 1929 01:28:30.560 --> 01:28:33.119 You get into this industry and you take these jobs 1930 01:28:33.199 --> 01:28:35.000 oftentimes knowing that you're going to be fired. 1931 01:28:35.039 --> 01:28:36.840 You're hired to fire to get fired. 1932 01:28:36.880 --> 01:28:40.640 There are very very few coaches, executives, or even players 1933 01:28:40.640 --> 01:28:42.479 that have a super long run in one spot. 1934 01:28:42.520 --> 01:28:44.079 It's just a transient existence. 1935 01:28:44.479 --> 01:28:46.439 And I think Craig's a really good man, and I 1936 01:28:46.479 --> 01:28:48.640 do think, you know, when it comes to his ability 1937 01:28:48.680 --> 01:28:49.600 to drop game plans. 1938 01:28:49.640 --> 01:28:50.960 I think he did a good job this year. 1939 01:28:51.000 --> 01:28:54.359 My opinion is the talent on this roster, but you 1940 01:28:54.439 --> 01:28:56.840 know it wasn't necessarily up to par. They were picked 1941 01:28:56.840 --> 01:28:58.920 to finish last, and I actually thought he did a 1942 01:28:58.960 --> 01:29:01.960 good job coaching up roster that was a little bit 1943 01:29:02.479 --> 01:29:06.119 voyden talent at times juxtaposed to who they were playing against. 1944 01:29:06.479 --> 01:29:08.520 So you have a front row to all these games, 1945 01:29:08.560 --> 01:29:10.199 all these seats. What do you have to say about 1946 01:29:10.199 --> 01:29:11.800 the job he did just as a coach. 1947 01:29:12.479 --> 01:29:16.319 But to your point, first and foremost, Craig Smith, for 1948 01:29:16.399 --> 01:29:19.000 the three and a half almost four years I've worked 1949 01:29:19.039 --> 01:29:22.000 with him, has been awesome to me, the same way 1950 01:29:22.119 --> 01:29:26.159 Larry Christoviac was before that. So you'll hear no Craig 1951 01:29:26.239 --> 01:29:29.920 Smith slander from me at all. He is a great guy, 1952 01:29:31.079 --> 01:29:33.439 excellent human being, And to your point, too. I think 1953 01:29:33.439 --> 01:29:37.079 he's a good basketball coach as well. Yeah, did they 1954 01:29:37.239 --> 01:29:40.319 outperform with their preseason expected at least to this point 1955 01:29:40.399 --> 01:29:45.199 what their preseason expectations were. Yes, because when you're picked sixteenth, 1956 01:29:45.279 --> 01:29:48.920 there's nowhere to go but up. But kind of going 1957 01:29:48.960 --> 01:29:50.880 back to what where we were before that, I think 1958 01:29:50.920 --> 01:29:55.239 it's just kind of the overall big picture trajectory and 1959 01:29:55.720 --> 01:29:58.439 you know the fact that the program hasn't been an 1960 01:29:58.520 --> 01:30:03.640 NCAA tournament program in almost ten seasons, nine seasons this year, 1961 01:30:03.680 --> 01:30:06.279 unless they make some sort of miraculous run you know 1962 01:30:06.359 --> 01:30:09.000 in Kansas City, it's likely to be another year without 1963 01:30:09.039 --> 01:30:12.840 the NCAA. And I think, you know, Mark Harlan and 1964 01:30:13.119 --> 01:30:16.399 probably Taylor Randall above him, because you don't make moves 1965 01:30:16.479 --> 01:30:19.319 like this without, you know, alerting your boss, who's the 1966 01:30:19.319 --> 01:30:23.039 boss of everything. I think they're both big basketball guys, 1967 01:30:23.079 --> 01:30:26.760 and I think the men's basketball is important to them 1968 01:30:27.039 --> 01:30:29.520 and what's going on at the you and I think 1969 01:30:29.560 --> 01:30:33.640 that they probably looked at the big picture trajectory and 1970 01:30:34.000 --> 01:30:35.560 maybe said it just wasn't good enough. 1971 01:30:36.520 --> 01:30:39.399 So tell me about Josh Eilert, my man's about to 1972 01:30:39.399 --> 01:30:43.319 coach at michale I mean goodness, gracious, dude, like, and 1973 01:30:43.760 --> 01:30:46.439 you know it's going to be a grumpy Arizona group 1974 01:30:46.520 --> 01:30:49.319 based off of what happened with them against BYU. So 1975 01:30:49.479 --> 01:30:51.319 tell us about this interim head coach and what are 1976 01:30:51.319 --> 01:30:54.479 you expecting tomorrow night in a really, really tough place 1977 01:30:54.520 --> 01:30:54.880 to play. 1978 01:30:55.560 --> 01:30:59.000 Well, the good news for Utah is Josh Eilert's been 1979 01:30:59.039 --> 01:31:01.399 in this position before because he was the interim head 1980 01:31:01.399 --> 01:31:04.279 coach last year at West Virginia, so he had to 1981 01:31:04.279 --> 01:31:06.960 make the rounds in the Big twelve last year when 1982 01:31:07.000 --> 01:31:09.640 Bob Huggins was let go at West Virginia and he 1983 01:31:09.800 --> 01:31:11.960 rode the title of interim head coach much of the 1984 01:31:12.039 --> 01:31:17.000 year last year. He's well liked by the guys. The 1985 01:31:17.079 --> 01:31:20.399 team likes him a lot. He knows the league. He's 1986 01:31:20.439 --> 01:31:23.560 been part of most of the game plans this year 1987 01:31:23.600 --> 01:31:26.439 and the scouts this year. So I think you know, 1988 01:31:26.479 --> 01:31:30.319 it's it's never optimal to have to name somebody an 1989 01:31:30.319 --> 01:31:34.520 interim head coach inside a season after a move like 1990 01:31:34.600 --> 01:31:37.279 this has made. But if anybody's up for the task 1991 01:31:37.359 --> 01:31:40.239 and can do it, it's Josh because he was in 1992 01:31:40.279 --> 01:31:43.319 the same position at West Virginia year ago. But to 1993 01:31:43.359 --> 01:31:46.760 your point, too, Arizona is going to be an angry 1994 01:31:46.840 --> 01:31:50.880 bunch after what happened to them on Saturday against BYU 1995 01:31:51.000 --> 01:31:53.920 down here in Tucson. So you know, it's been a 1996 01:31:53.920 --> 01:31:56.239 tough week, certainly, but it's not going to get any 1997 01:31:56.279 --> 01:31:58.640 easier tomorrow night on the court at McHale, for sure. 1998 01:31:58.760 --> 01:32:00.399 Do you have a feel, all, Bill? 1999 01:32:00.439 --> 01:32:03.119 And we had Sean on earlier any referenced the players 2000 01:32:03.199 --> 01:32:06.199 were going to fly in, so maybe you haven't had 2001 01:32:06.239 --> 01:32:08.319 a chance to kick the tires. But you know, I 2002 01:32:08.359 --> 01:32:10.720 would imagine that a lot of these young men, and 2003 01:32:10.760 --> 01:32:13.800 I don't know this because there are people pontificating on 2004 01:32:13.840 --> 01:32:17.560 the possibility of did you make this decision right now 2005 01:32:17.720 --> 01:32:20.680 based off of some players that may be unhappy that 2006 01:32:20.720 --> 01:32:22.920 you want back next year. But my guest would be 2007 01:32:22.960 --> 01:32:25.720 most of these guys are bummed out that they just 2008 01:32:25.760 --> 01:32:26.640 lost their head coach. 2009 01:32:26.720 --> 01:32:28.199 I mean, it's different than in the pros. 2010 01:32:28.239 --> 01:32:29.920 You know that your coach is hired to be fired, 2011 01:32:29.960 --> 01:32:32.239 and you don't sign necessarily only play for a coach. 2012 01:32:32.600 --> 01:32:35.199 In college, you know, when you're recruited, your parents are 2013 01:32:35.199 --> 01:32:37.800 trusting this person to take care of you, and you sign, 2014 01:32:37.880 --> 01:32:40.279 oftentimes to play for the guy that recruited you, So 2015 01:32:40.720 --> 01:32:45.520 any context or idea of how these players have reacted 2016 01:32:45.520 --> 01:32:47.239 to what has to be tough news for at least 2017 01:32:47.239 --> 01:32:47.720 some of them. 2018 01:32:48.439 --> 01:32:50.359 No, I haven't seen them yet, kind of like Sean, 2019 01:32:50.399 --> 01:32:53.159 we're both down here in Tucson. They're scheduled to arrive 2020 01:32:53.199 --> 01:32:56.159 a little bit later on this afternoon, so I'll have 2021 01:32:56.199 --> 01:32:59.199 a better feel tonight and tomorrow when i'm shoot around 2022 01:32:59.199 --> 01:33:01.159 and around them a little. But to your point, I 2023 01:33:01.199 --> 01:33:03.479 think you're probably right. I think there's probably a little 2024 01:33:03.520 --> 01:33:07.159 bit of surprise and some shock and probably a little disappointment, 2025 01:33:07.239 --> 01:33:10.720 because you know, when you come to play at a school, 2026 01:33:11.239 --> 01:33:13.399 no matter what the school is, whether it's Duke or 2027 01:33:13.560 --> 01:33:17.479 Kansas or Yukon or Utah, you're you're you know you're 2028 01:33:17.520 --> 01:33:20.159 you're coming to go to the school. Sure, but you're 2029 01:33:20.159 --> 01:33:22.520 coming because you've committed to a coach and a staff. 2030 01:33:22.960 --> 01:33:25.039 So I'm sure those guys were a little caught off 2031 01:33:25.079 --> 01:33:28.960 and and a little bit a little bit disappointed. 2032 01:33:28.319 --> 01:33:29.079 By what happened. 2033 01:33:29.079 --> 01:33:31.800 But you know, now now you rally up and see 2034 01:33:31.800 --> 01:33:34.399 what you can do, and you know, if your competitors, 2035 01:33:34.439 --> 01:33:37.279 you want to go out there, no matter who's coaching you, and. 2036 01:33:39.000 --> 01:33:40.479 See what you can do against Arizona. 2037 01:33:40.600 --> 01:33:42.479 So, like I said, I don't have a feel for 2038 01:33:42.520 --> 01:33:44.760 where those guys are right now, but probably will later 2039 01:33:44.800 --> 01:33:45.560 today or tomorrow. 2040 01:33:45.600 --> 01:33:47.840 I know a lot of these decisions are made above 2041 01:33:47.840 --> 01:33:49.760 your pay grade, and if there's anything you just want 2042 01:33:49.760 --> 01:33:51.600 to straight punt on, please let me know. But do 2043 01:33:51.640 --> 01:33:55.520 you think Josh has a chance to coach his way 2044 01:33:55.640 --> 01:33:56.479 into this job? 2045 01:33:57.399 --> 01:33:58.359 I don't that that. 2046 01:33:58.479 --> 01:34:01.000 I don't know, uh, just because like you said, it's 2047 01:34:01.039 --> 01:34:02.760 above my pay grade, and I don't know what kind 2048 01:34:02.760 --> 01:34:07.159 of conversations they may have had with Josh, so I can't. 2049 01:34:07.600 --> 01:34:10.800 I just I don't feel comfortable in my position just 2050 01:34:10.840 --> 01:34:14.039 not knowing and again having been kind of out of 2051 01:34:14.039 --> 01:34:17.680 the pocket down here in Orlando, or Orlando, Orlando and Tucson. 2052 01:34:18.560 --> 01:34:20.800 Make a comment on the coaching, you know, kind of 2053 01:34:20.800 --> 01:34:22.680 the direction where they're going to go. You know, there's 2054 01:34:22.680 --> 01:34:24.800 been a lot of names thrown around out there, and 2055 01:34:25.279 --> 01:34:26.880 you know, if you read there, you know you can 2056 01:34:26.920 --> 01:34:28.840 probably make cases for a lot of that stuff. But 2057 01:34:28.880 --> 01:34:30.720 I just I don't have a feel for it, so 2058 01:34:30.720 --> 01:34:32.520 I don't feel real comfortable talking about it. 2059 01:34:32.560 --> 01:34:34.600 Did you attend the Magic Kingdom and did you wear 2060 01:34:34.640 --> 01:34:35.239 Mickey ears? 2061 01:34:36.800 --> 01:34:37.079 Well? 2062 01:34:37.239 --> 01:34:40.279 No, I did not, And I think you and I 2063 01:34:40.359 --> 01:34:43.880 have had this conversation about adults who go to Disney 2064 01:34:43.960 --> 01:34:46.159 parks by themselves. 2065 01:34:45.920 --> 01:34:47.720 It's very odd and off putting. 2066 01:34:49.319 --> 01:34:52.000 There's so many things I want to say right now, 2067 01:34:52.039 --> 01:34:53.920 but yes, you and I are on the same page. 2068 01:34:54.479 --> 01:34:56.960 And look, let's just stick here for a moment. 2069 01:34:57.199 --> 01:35:00.439 It's strictly budgetary, okay, Like the amount of mony that 2070 01:35:00.439 --> 01:35:03.079 you're spending to do this. You could go to Hawaii, 2071 01:35:03.199 --> 01:35:06.279 you could go to Europe. Like, why is it saving 2072 01:35:06.319 --> 01:35:09.640 the cash to ride? You know, it's a small world 2073 01:35:09.680 --> 01:35:11.720 for the seventy fifth time. It doesn't make sense to me. 2074 01:35:12.399 --> 01:35:12.840 It makes no. 2075 01:35:13.039 --> 01:35:15.000 I mean I took my kids when they were younger. 2076 01:35:15.039 --> 01:35:18.000 We had a good time, but that's what you kind 2077 01:35:18.000 --> 01:35:19.800 of take one for the team when you're a parent 2078 01:35:19.840 --> 01:35:22.359 and you get that experience and then you move on. 2079 01:35:22.520 --> 01:35:27.079 So I did not visit Epcot or the Magic Kingdom 2080 01:35:27.560 --> 01:35:32.439 when in Orlando, nor did I visit the old Magic 2081 01:35:32.479 --> 01:35:34.279 Home either. What's what I don't even know what it's 2082 01:35:34.279 --> 01:35:35.079 called these days. 2083 01:35:35.079 --> 01:35:37.520 It used to be, I guess it. 2084 01:35:37.520 --> 01:35:40.520 Was like it was one of those MLMs that was 2085 01:35:40.560 --> 01:35:41.520 big in the nineties. 2086 01:35:41.520 --> 01:35:43.399 They had the name of the arena. 2087 01:35:43.079 --> 01:35:45.520 But we were way at UCF's West sixty By the way, 2088 01:35:45.560 --> 01:35:49.880 sixty thousand studentssow at UCS. It's the second biggest campus 2089 01:35:49.880 --> 01:35:50.479 in the country. 2090 01:35:50.520 --> 01:35:53.079 Wow, I did not know that, all right. Moving from 2091 01:35:53.439 --> 01:35:55.680 one Josh to another, Josh, I don't know. Did you 2092 01:35:55.680 --> 01:35:57.199 have a chance to listen to Josh Grant on the 2093 01:35:57.199 --> 01:35:57.880 show yesterday? 2094 01:35:58.439 --> 01:36:00.680 I didn't. I was flying when he was on, but 2095 01:36:00.720 --> 01:36:02.920 I heard I heard he was. 2096 01:36:03.359 --> 01:36:03.720 He was. 2097 01:36:03.800 --> 01:36:08.800 He was quite passionate in his in his desire for 2098 01:36:09.079 --> 01:36:09.880 what he was looking for. 2099 01:36:09.880 --> 01:36:12.439 In the next day, coach, Yes, he was very salient, 2100 01:36:12.760 --> 01:36:15.399 he was very clear eyed, he was very direct and 2101 01:36:15.520 --> 01:36:18.359 even said that he was very excited that the news 2102 01:36:18.399 --> 01:36:21.439 came down when it did. And it leads to a 2103 01:36:21.439 --> 01:36:26.239 conversation Bill just philosophically, because ultimately, you know, when it 2104 01:36:26.279 --> 01:36:31.039 comes to historically speaking, the way that college coaches the 2105 01:36:31.479 --> 01:36:34.560 profession works. And one of the things I love about 2106 01:36:34.640 --> 01:36:38.279 March Madness is seeing a coach that coaches a smaller 2107 01:36:38.319 --> 01:36:41.359 school into the NCAA tournament, winning a game or two, 2108 01:36:42.079 --> 01:36:45.600 and his life changes immediately, and the life of his 2109 01:36:45.640 --> 01:36:49.520 family changes immediately because he gets this great opportunity to 2110 01:36:49.840 --> 01:36:52.840 triple quadruple his salary and take over a bigger program. 2111 01:36:53.119 --> 01:36:56.920 And there there's a group of options right now, coaches 2112 01:36:57.000 --> 01:37:00.439 that are coaching at quote unquote smaller school that have 2113 01:37:00.479 --> 01:37:03.199 done a great job that seems to indicate that they 2114 01:37:03.239 --> 01:37:06.840 are next in line to get an opportunity like coaching 2115 01:37:06.880 --> 01:37:09.079 in the Big twelve at the University of Utah. Now, 2116 01:37:09.239 --> 01:37:13.119 the names on that list are not necessarily names that 2117 01:37:13.159 --> 01:37:15.600 people around here are probably all that familiar with. You're 2118 01:37:15.600 --> 01:37:18.800 talking about UC San Diego, Eric Olson, You're talking about 2119 01:37:18.880 --> 01:37:22.600 Nico Medvet at Colorado State, Eric Henderson South Dakota State, 2120 01:37:22.720 --> 01:37:27.359 Leon Rice at Boise, UC Irvine, Russell Turner. And this 2121 01:37:27.399 --> 01:37:30.359 is a list that's put together by Jeff Borzello, who 2122 01:37:30.359 --> 01:37:33.199 covers college basketball for ESPN. 2123 01:37:33.319 --> 01:37:36.000 So that's one route for Mark to take. 2124 01:37:36.239 --> 01:37:39.000 Now you could argue that he just took that route 2125 01:37:39.000 --> 01:37:42.199 with Craig being at Utah State after South Dakota State 2126 01:37:42.279 --> 01:37:44.880 and then rising up the ranks. And then the other 2127 01:37:45.000 --> 01:37:47.560 route is the route people around here talking about, and 2128 01:37:47.600 --> 01:37:51.319 that essentially is Alex Jensen as the head coach. Potentially 2129 01:37:51.800 --> 01:37:54.159 Andre Miller is coaching the G League as an assistant, 2130 01:37:54.600 --> 01:37:57.239 or Johnny Bryant, who's an associate head coach for a 2131 01:37:57.279 --> 01:37:59.960 really good basketball team in the pros with the Cleveland Cavalier. 2132 01:38:00.720 --> 01:38:03.880 So just thirty thousand foot viewpoint, what's the voices take 2133 01:38:03.960 --> 01:38:05.920 on just kind of the direction you think this thing 2134 01:38:05.960 --> 01:38:06.239 will go? 2135 01:38:07.680 --> 01:38:10.039 Again, back to what I was saying before, I'm not sure. 2136 01:38:10.600 --> 01:38:12.720 But what you have to look at when you're making 2137 01:38:12.760 --> 01:38:16.279 this decision now is I don't think either path spence 2138 01:38:16.439 --> 01:38:19.119 is a bad path to take, because as you said, 2139 01:38:19.119 --> 01:38:22.520 there's good options on both of those paths. But what 2140 01:38:22.560 --> 01:38:25.119 you have to look at, especially in particular with Utah 2141 01:38:25.239 --> 01:38:27.640 right now, is who's going to be able to come 2142 01:38:27.680 --> 01:38:34.279 in and, you know, get kind of jumpstart the program 2143 01:38:34.520 --> 01:38:36.880 and get it back to where the expectation is. In 2144 01:38:36.960 --> 01:38:39.399 the expectation and I think Mark said this in his 2145 01:38:39.479 --> 01:38:43.000 release yesterday, was to compete in a regular basis in 2146 01:38:43.039 --> 01:38:45.960 the NCAA tournament, to compete at a high level in 2147 01:38:46.039 --> 01:38:49.119 the Big twelve, turn in the Big Twelve Conference. You know, 2148 01:38:49.199 --> 01:38:51.880 who's the guy that gives you the best chance to 2149 01:38:52.000 --> 01:38:55.600 do that? At the same time, you know Utah, you know, 2150 01:38:55.640 --> 01:38:58.319 the interest in Utah men's basketball has been down a 2151 01:38:58.319 --> 01:39:01.119 little bit, So who's somebody could come in and connect 2152 01:39:01.159 --> 01:39:03.159 with the fan base a little bit. And then the 2153 01:39:03.199 --> 01:39:07.000 third component is who's somebody that in today's day and age, 2154 01:39:07.159 --> 01:39:11.039 can work in the nil world and you know, whatever 2155 01:39:11.119 --> 01:39:14.560 that budget happens to be, work within those parameters and 2156 01:39:14.640 --> 01:39:19.319 make it work to your program's best, you know, best ability. 2157 01:39:20.119 --> 01:39:22.760 And again, there might be guys at that at that 2158 01:39:22.880 --> 01:39:26.760 Mountain West you know, big West West Coast conference level 2159 01:39:26.760 --> 01:39:28.640 that could do it. There might be guys that haven't 2160 01:39:28.640 --> 01:39:31.239 had that college experience. But you've got to find the guy. 2161 01:39:32.119 --> 01:39:34.720 And also, can you build a staff because in today's 2162 01:39:34.760 --> 01:39:36.960 day and age, you have to have the head coach. 2163 01:39:37.039 --> 01:39:37.479 We know this. 2164 01:39:37.920 --> 01:39:40.880 It's not like when Rick was here. You know, football 2165 01:39:40.880 --> 01:39:43.720 and all these sports. The head coaches are CEOs now. 2166 01:39:44.039 --> 01:39:45.680 So you've got to find a guy who you think 2167 01:39:45.720 --> 01:39:48.479 can also build a staff and surround himself with good 2168 01:39:48.560 --> 01:39:51.159 people because the job of a head coach is so 2169 01:39:51.279 --> 01:39:55.239 much more intricate and complicated now. You're more of a CEO. 2170 01:39:55.840 --> 01:39:59.000 You're still coaching, but you have lots of other duties now, 2171 01:39:59.319 --> 01:40:00.319 So who's the guy that. 2172 01:40:00.319 --> 01:40:01.119 Could best do that? 2173 01:40:01.279 --> 01:40:04.439 And that's what you know, Mark and his search committee's 2174 01:40:04.520 --> 01:40:05.439 challenge is going to be. 2175 01:40:05.560 --> 01:40:08.760 I do think and I talked about this with Sean earlier. 2176 01:40:08.880 --> 01:40:11.680 I am not a you gotta win the press conference guy, 2177 01:40:11.920 --> 01:40:14.359 Like watch Nick Sirianni's opening presser for the Eagles and 2178 01:40:14.399 --> 01:40:16.840 you're like, dude, can even can he string a sentence together? 2179 01:40:16.880 --> 01:40:17.920 They just want a Super Bowl. 2180 01:40:18.359 --> 01:40:20.520 All that matters is the long game at the end 2181 01:40:20.520 --> 01:40:22.600 of the day, and then somebody coming in here that 2182 01:40:22.760 --> 01:40:26.640 can recapture past glory in his own way in the 2183 01:40:26.640 --> 01:40:28.760 modern day and age of college basketball, because there's no 2184 01:40:28.840 --> 01:40:29.279 going back. 2185 01:40:29.319 --> 01:40:30.520 You've got to look to the future. 2186 01:40:30.560 --> 01:40:33.600 And even invoking the name of Rick mcjeris is unfair 2187 01:40:33.640 --> 01:40:35.600 because that was a tremendous run. 2188 01:40:36.279 --> 01:40:37.520 But it shouldn't just. 2189 01:40:37.520 --> 01:40:40.880 Scare people away from having that standard around here. This 2190 01:40:40.960 --> 01:40:44.560 is a proud basketball state, it's a proud basketball market. 2191 01:40:44.840 --> 01:40:47.840 And while my initial reaction was sadness for Craig and 2192 01:40:47.880 --> 01:40:51.479 his family, because I know what that's like, my secondary 2193 01:40:51.520 --> 01:40:54.039 reaction was, Okay, somebody up there finally said this is 2194 01:40:54.079 --> 01:40:56.399 not good enough, okay, and we need to change our 2195 01:40:56.439 --> 01:40:59.640 standards for what our basketball team is. There's no reason 2196 01:40:59.840 --> 01:41:02.920 that you can't be both a basketball and a football school. 2197 01:41:03.000 --> 01:41:05.920 Ask Auburn, ask Alabama. I mean, they're Florida. We could 2198 01:41:05.960 --> 01:41:09.079 keep going, and for too long this has been kind 2199 01:41:09.079 --> 01:41:11.560 of branded. No, you're a football school. Now you can 2200 01:41:11.600 --> 01:41:13.680 be both, Bill, don't you think. I mean, it's not 2201 01:41:13.720 --> 01:41:15.159 an unreasonable expectation. 2202 01:41:16.159 --> 01:41:20.479 You should that should be the goal. Can absolutely be 2203 01:41:20.680 --> 01:41:25.199 both of those things. And again, the standard is different today, 2204 01:41:25.239 --> 01:41:28.560 but it's not different. Meaning your standard should always be 2205 01:41:28.600 --> 01:41:30.479 to compete at the highest level. To be in the 2206 01:41:30.960 --> 01:41:34.600 school like Utah with the resources it has and the 2207 01:41:34.680 --> 01:41:37.920 support and the tradition that has, shouldn't be going nine 2208 01:41:37.920 --> 01:41:41.039 and ten years without being in an NCAA tournament. And 2209 01:41:41.119 --> 01:41:43.359 I think that's what Mark and the powers to be 2210 01:41:43.479 --> 01:41:43.800 at the. 2211 01:41:43.760 --> 01:41:44.479 You have said. 2212 01:41:44.920 --> 01:41:47.079 You know, they want to do everything they can do 2213 01:41:47.720 --> 01:41:50.840 to reset that standard, to get it back and make 2214 01:41:50.880 --> 01:41:54.479 sure basketball is a top priority. Yeah, football is the 2215 01:41:54.479 --> 01:41:55.960 big dog on every campus. 2216 01:41:56.279 --> 01:41:56.680 It is. 2217 01:41:56.760 --> 01:41:59.640 We know that from a financial standpoint. But you just 2218 01:41:59.720 --> 01:42:02.800 rep of three or four schools that are succeeding at 2219 01:42:02.800 --> 01:42:05.039 a very high level in both and yes, you can 2220 01:42:05.079 --> 01:42:08.920 absolutely do that. That's what the expectations should be. And 2221 01:42:08.920 --> 01:42:12.720 I don't you know when fans don't you should want 2222 01:42:12.760 --> 01:42:14.920 to have the standard that was in the Majeris era. 2223 01:42:15.119 --> 01:42:17.960 That's fine, Just don't think that the best style of 2224 01:42:18.000 --> 01:42:20.239 basketball and the way it was back then is coming 2225 01:42:20.279 --> 01:42:22.920 back because the game in collegiate athletics has changed over 2226 01:42:22.960 --> 01:42:26.359 the last twenty five years, but the standard really shouldn't. 2227 01:42:26.640 --> 01:42:29.479 Yeah, no, I agree with you, So back to the whole, Like, 2228 01:42:29.520 --> 01:42:31.199 I don't really think you have to win the press 2229 01:42:31.239 --> 01:42:34.159 conference all the time. I do think in this case, 2230 01:42:35.000 --> 01:42:39.079 this basketball community could use a little injection of life, 2231 01:42:39.119 --> 01:42:42.880 and I do think an Alex Jensen Andre Miller Ben. 2232 01:42:43.199 --> 01:42:46.039 I mean, imagine walking into a gym with Andrea as 2233 01:42:46.039 --> 01:42:49.359 your assistant coach, Like, that's instant credibility, that's instant respect. 2234 01:42:49.800 --> 01:42:51.880 And I would imagine if that's the direction, and we 2235 01:42:51.920 --> 01:42:54.399 won't know for a little while, phones would ring off 2236 01:42:54.399 --> 01:42:57.000 the hook up there at the basketball office for season 2237 01:42:57.039 --> 01:42:59.720 ticket deposits. So what are your thoughts on just kind 2238 01:42:59.720 --> 01:43:02.840 of that dynamic, interjecting some juice based off of names 2239 01:43:02.840 --> 01:43:05.079 that we're familiar with around here. If that's the direction, 2240 01:43:05.119 --> 01:43:07.199 what do you think the effect would be on the community. 2241 01:43:07.800 --> 01:43:11.720 Well, I think if that were the case, that people 2242 01:43:11.760 --> 01:43:15.479 would would just they would love it again. That would 2243 01:43:15.479 --> 01:43:18.520 be a connection back to the bygone days. But it's 2244 01:43:18.640 --> 01:43:21.439 people that they you know that they've they've known for 2245 01:43:21.479 --> 01:43:24.279 a long time. And again that's that's another component of 2246 01:43:24.279 --> 01:43:26.920 all this fans. It's not just you know, it's not 2247 01:43:27.000 --> 01:43:30.239 just it's re engaging your fans and making your fans 2248 01:43:30.279 --> 01:43:32.720 excited to come to the John M. Huntsman Center again, 2249 01:43:32.840 --> 01:43:36.039 excited to talk about Utah basketball again. 2250 01:43:36.479 --> 01:43:39.439 You know, the program has not been in the dumps. 2251 01:43:39.600 --> 01:43:40.119 It hasn't. 2252 01:43:40.159 --> 01:43:42.720 It's been solid, but it hasn't been to the standard 2253 01:43:42.760 --> 01:43:46.159 where where fans and and folks that run the department 2254 01:43:46.199 --> 01:43:49.039 want it to be. But if you had that kind 2255 01:43:49.119 --> 01:43:51.640 of connection to a bygone era, I think it just 2256 01:43:52.119 --> 01:43:54.279 it's kind of the cherry on top if you will 2257 01:43:54.279 --> 01:43:56.840 and really would re engage a lot of fans. 2258 01:43:56.960 --> 01:43:59.159 I've got one football question for you, but before we 2259 01:43:59.239 --> 01:44:03.239 get there, find basketball question. How much of this I 2260 01:44:03.279 --> 01:44:06.520 don't know, rising juggernaut, I guess I'll say that they're 2261 01:44:06.560 --> 01:44:08.920 building down in Provo. At least that seems to be 2262 01:44:09.000 --> 01:44:11.279 the case, with the number one player in the country 2263 01:44:11.319 --> 01:44:15.199 there next year, to seven figure players on Kevin's roster 2264 01:44:15.319 --> 01:44:19.079 this year, and then a massive economic investment on the 2265 01:44:19.079 --> 01:44:22.520 bench with not just a former pro as your head coach, 2266 01:44:22.600 --> 01:44:26.399 but pro assistant coaches strength and conditioning, nutrition is how 2267 01:44:26.479 --> 01:44:29.359 much of what they're building down at BYU do you 2268 01:44:29.359 --> 01:44:32.399 think motivated folks up here to say, Okay, we've got 2269 01:44:32.399 --> 01:44:35.800 to start making sure that we can at least compete 2270 01:44:35.800 --> 01:44:37.640 and keep up with what they're doing down south. 2271 01:44:38.439 --> 01:44:38.640 Yeah. 2272 01:44:38.800 --> 01:44:41.680 Again, not being in those meetings, I don't know that, 2273 01:44:41.760 --> 01:44:44.079 But what I do know is you never want to 2274 01:44:44.119 --> 01:44:47.319 fall behind your rival. You never want your perception to 2275 01:44:47.359 --> 01:44:51.319 be that you're behind your rival. So to whatever extent 2276 01:44:51.399 --> 01:44:55.359 that would be, I don't know, but you always if 2277 01:44:55.439 --> 01:44:58.399 your rival is doing something, you want to be able 2278 01:44:58.439 --> 01:45:00.920 to keep up or do better. So I think I 2279 01:45:00.960 --> 01:45:02.920 don't know if that was a factor in any of this, 2280 01:45:03.119 --> 01:45:06.119 but yeah, nobody wants to look forty miles down the 2281 01:45:06.199 --> 01:45:08.720 road or one hundred miles down the road wherever your 2282 01:45:08.760 --> 01:45:11.600 arrival happens to be and see that they're thriving and 2283 01:45:11.640 --> 01:45:13.640 you're you know, you're struggling. 2284 01:45:13.439 --> 01:45:16.840 All right, before I set you loose. Brankeithy Karene Reed 2285 01:45:16.920 --> 01:45:20.560 junior TOFUNA, currently at the NFL Scout Scouting Combine as 2286 01:45:20.600 --> 01:45:22.479 the guy that called all their games. Got to know him. 2287 01:45:22.520 --> 01:45:24.000 What kind of pros do you think these youths are 2288 01:45:24.039 --> 01:45:25.880 going to be well. 2289 01:45:25.960 --> 01:45:30.399 The chief thing is interesting just because the health, I mean, 2290 01:45:30.600 --> 01:45:34.239 how healthy is he don't I don't know what his 2291 01:45:34.439 --> 01:45:38.680 draft stock is going to be only because but again 2292 01:45:38.960 --> 01:45:42.399 the combine and then the individual workouts can certainly help. 2293 01:45:43.319 --> 01:45:45.560 I think Karenni Read and Junior Tafuna are going to 2294 01:45:45.600 --> 01:45:47.720 be pros. I mean, I think Karenni is going to 2295 01:45:47.760 --> 01:45:50.000 be one of those guys. If he's not a starting linebacker, 2296 01:45:50.199 --> 01:45:52.279 he's going to be a guy that's in a linebacker rotation, 2297 01:45:52.399 --> 01:45:55.079 play special teams. And I think Junior could be the 2298 01:45:55.119 --> 01:45:56.880 same thing along the defensive line. 2299 01:45:57.000 --> 01:45:58.000 I think both those. 2300 01:45:57.840 --> 01:46:00.640 Guys are our pro players, probably have a five to 2301 01:46:00.680 --> 01:46:03.880 seven to eight year career. And with Tiethy, it's just 2302 01:46:04.000 --> 01:46:07.640 hard to predict because of the injury situation. But we 2303 01:46:07.720 --> 01:46:11.960 know Brand's athleticism and his ability at the position, and 2304 01:46:12.000 --> 01:46:14.479 he's not a traditional tight end. He's not that inline 2305 01:46:14.520 --> 01:46:17.479 blocking guy. But he's a guy that's really good in 2306 01:46:17.560 --> 01:46:20.439 the open field. He's got really good hands, and I 2307 01:46:20.479 --> 01:46:23.279 think he'll be on somebody's roster if he stays healthy. 2308 01:46:24.039 --> 01:46:26.720 All right, Ryles, Well, thanks for the time man, Safe Travels. 2309 01:46:26.760 --> 01:46:28.159 Safe Travels have a great call. 2310 01:46:28.279 --> 01:46:32.199 Tomorrow night. Tomorrow night. Thanks buddy, Thanks man, all right, 2311 01:46:32.239 --> 01:46:33.159 special thanks. 2312 01:46:32.880 --> 01:46:35.760 To Bill Bill Riiley, Voice of the Utes Top five 2313 01:46:36.600 --> 01:46:41.359 live in Tucson, Utahs at Michale tomorrow without their head 2314 01:46:41.359 --> 01:46:42.279 coach Greg Smith. 2315 01:46:42.319 --> 01:46:44.479 Of course, let go so appreciate Bill. 2316 01:46:44.520 --> 01:46:48.079 Stopping by Sean Mooney, Zach Harper, but time now one 2317 01:46:48.079 --> 01:46:51.079 of my favorites. Roxy Bernstein, my buddy from the PAC 2318 01:46:51.119 --> 01:46:53.680 twelve network on the show on a Tuesday, ranking a 2319 01:46:53.760 --> 01:46:56.239 top five Counting Crows song question Mark. 2320 01:46:56.760 --> 01:47:02.439 Oh, absolutely top five. I would say, you know, it's 2321 01:47:02.760 --> 01:47:06.239 since live that might be my favorite song they play live. 2322 01:47:06.399 --> 01:47:08.840 Well, it's actually what I was gonna say live. It's 2323 01:47:08.880 --> 01:47:10.479 hard to beat that song live for sure. 2324 01:47:10.760 --> 01:47:15.039 Yes, that that song live, just the way they have 2325 01:47:15.119 --> 01:47:18.680 tuned it over the years. 2326 01:47:17.119 --> 01:47:17.199 It. 2327 01:47:18.720 --> 01:47:22.520 Really resonates and it waits a ball. Look, everybody loves 2328 01:47:22.560 --> 01:47:25.199 mister Jones. Like it's funny. I've had these discussions with 2329 01:47:25.239 --> 01:47:28.760 Adam over the years, like when you get to his level, right, 2330 01:47:28.800 --> 01:47:32.960 when you have number one type hits and songs, everybody 2331 01:47:33.000 --> 01:47:36.399 knows when he plays the show, there's probably five songs 2332 01:47:36.399 --> 01:47:40.439 you have to play, right, Like for them it's mister Jones. 2333 01:47:40.600 --> 01:47:44.880 I think it's rain King maybe hanging around long December. 2334 01:47:46.359 --> 01:47:48.840 It's funny Adam doesn't necessarily see it the way I do. 2335 01:47:50.399 --> 01:47:52.039 But are you agree with me? Like when you go to. 2336 01:47:52.000 --> 01:47:55.640 See a band like that, there's like there's staples that 2337 01:47:55.720 --> 01:47:58.520 have to be in the catalog for that night. Wouldn't 2338 01:47:58.520 --> 01:47:59.520 you say absolutely? 2339 01:47:59.560 --> 01:48:01.880 I just love that you call him Adam, like we're 2340 01:48:01.920 --> 01:48:04.479 just having a conversation about your friend named Adam. For 2341 01:48:04.520 --> 01:48:07.039 our listeners, it's Adam Durretz. He's the lead singer of 2342 01:48:07.119 --> 01:48:09.520 Counting Crows. He's one of Rocksy's best friends. 2343 01:48:11.880 --> 01:48:13.840 And you know when he's putting the set list together 2344 01:48:13.960 --> 01:48:16.319 like before a show, because they they change it every night. 2345 01:48:16.479 --> 01:48:20.720 It's not the same show. Like there are certain songs 2346 01:48:20.760 --> 01:48:23.840 they'll play on each tour that they're ready to play, 2347 01:48:23.920 --> 01:48:26.359 and there's some songs that aren't in the bag if 2348 01:48:26.359 --> 01:48:29.880 you will, like you know, like a golf bag analogy there. 2349 01:48:30.359 --> 01:48:32.920 But out of the songs that they have for that 2350 01:48:32.960 --> 01:48:36.319 particular tour that they've either been working on at sound check, 2351 01:48:38.560 --> 01:48:42.079 I've learned my place spence over the years because sometimes 2352 01:48:42.079 --> 01:48:44.319 if I ask for a song, he's not going to 2353 01:48:44.359 --> 01:48:46.680 play it just because he can piss me off. So 2354 01:48:47.720 --> 01:48:50.880 and so we've learned over the years that we just 2355 01:48:51.079 --> 01:48:55.079 kind of okay, all right, and not chime in, you know, 2356 01:48:55.199 --> 01:48:57.600 not even show any emotion if he says he's going 2357 01:48:57.680 --> 01:48:59.159 to play a song that we really want to hear 2358 01:48:59.199 --> 01:49:03.279 in that particular night. At some point though, there's a 2359 01:49:03.279 --> 01:49:06.119 few our buddies. We've told him we want to design 2360 01:49:06.199 --> 01:49:09.359 one set list before you retire. We have to have one, 2361 01:49:10.239 --> 01:49:14.560 and he says, we'll see so, which probably means no. 2362 01:49:15.319 --> 01:49:17.880 That's cool though, I mean, because you know, obviously a 2363 01:49:17.960 --> 01:49:21.039 child of the nineties, man, I love the Crows. It 2364 01:49:21.119 --> 01:49:23.439 was a long December for Craig Smith, and he won't 2365 01:49:23.439 --> 01:49:26.439 be hanging around anymore. 2366 01:49:26.600 --> 01:49:29.159 Nice there you go, good good segue, good. 2367 01:49:29.039 --> 01:49:31.560 Tie, and you know, ultimately I'm gutted for a good 2368 01:49:31.600 --> 01:49:33.920 man for you first and foremost. And I know you 2369 01:49:34.000 --> 01:49:35.840 got to know him, but your reaction when you heard 2370 01:49:35.880 --> 01:49:38.239 the Craig Smith had been relieved of his duties around. 2371 01:49:37.960 --> 01:49:42.720 Here, disappointed for him, because, like you, I have an 2372 01:49:42.760 --> 01:49:45.079 affinity for Craig. I think he's first off, he's just 2373 01:49:45.119 --> 01:49:48.039 a terrific dude. He's a fun guy to talk to, to 2374 01:49:47.920 --> 01:49:50.239 be around. I mean, I'll just get like a random 2375 01:49:50.319 --> 01:49:53.199 text from Craig, like I'm doing some game and he'll 2376 01:49:53.239 --> 01:49:56.920 just text me like because he's watching, and like I've 2377 01:49:56.960 --> 01:49:59.039 hit him up on certain places where I go, like, 2378 01:49:59.319 --> 01:50:01.640 for example, his connection to the Dakotas right now, I 2379 01:50:01.720 --> 01:50:05.199 was going out there for NCAA hockey tournament and I 2380 01:50:05.279 --> 01:50:07.119 hit him up and he was like searching for a 2381 01:50:07.159 --> 01:50:09.920 couple of places to send me to. So I had 2382 01:50:09.960 --> 01:50:12.840 a pretty good connection with him that goes back to 2383 01:50:12.640 --> 01:50:17.079 his days at Utah State, and it really is. I'm 2384 01:50:17.119 --> 01:50:19.680 sad for him. I'm disappointed for him because I do 2385 01:50:19.720 --> 01:50:21.680 think he's a heck of a coach. I really do 2386 01:50:21.760 --> 01:50:24.479 think Craig is a good coach. I understand the move 2387 01:50:24.560 --> 01:50:27.000 from Utah's perspective. I'm not saying I agree with it, 2388 01:50:27.239 --> 01:50:31.840 which Mark Harland felt he needed to do, but just 2389 01:50:31.880 --> 01:50:33.439 the first thing that comes to mind sense is by 2390 01:50:33.439 --> 01:50:34.439 disappointment for Craig. 2391 01:50:35.399 --> 01:50:36.479 Yeah, no, one hundred percent. 2392 01:50:36.680 --> 01:50:39.239 And there's a personal element to these stories that I 2393 01:50:39.279 --> 01:50:41.119 don't think we do a good enough job of covering 2394 01:50:41.159 --> 01:50:43.279 in the media because we're so like, all right, what's 2395 01:50:43.359 --> 01:50:45.319 next and what went wrong? Like he's a good man 2396 01:50:45.359 --> 01:50:48.920 with a good family and a five million dollar parachute helps, 2397 01:50:48.920 --> 01:50:50.880 but it's hard when you lose a gig that that 2398 01:50:50.920 --> 01:50:53.079 you care about, and I know how much you cared 2399 01:50:53.079 --> 01:50:55.720 about it. So when it comes to what could be 2400 01:50:55.800 --> 01:50:58.600 next for this program, Roxy's it's interesting you're familiar with 2401 01:50:58.640 --> 01:51:01.880 our market and I kind of go back and forth 2402 01:51:01.920 --> 01:51:03.920 with the dynamic here because there are a lot of 2403 01:51:03.960 --> 01:51:07.479 people that simply just jump to we need a former ute, 2404 01:51:07.479 --> 01:51:10.000 We need somebody who's familiar with the program. We need 2405 01:51:10.000 --> 01:51:14.960 somebody who's familiar with the challenges and the oddities. Honestly speaking, 2406 01:51:15.000 --> 01:51:17.479 that this market poses that don't really exist in many 2407 01:51:17.479 --> 01:51:19.760 other places. As much as I love it here, I 2408 01:51:19.840 --> 01:51:21.640 know that there are things that you have to traverse 2409 01:51:21.680 --> 01:51:23.840 that can be a little bit complex. Do you think 2410 01:51:23.840 --> 01:51:26.359 it has to be a Utah guy or do you 2411 01:51:26.359 --> 01:51:28.720 think Mark Harlan goes the way of trying to find 2412 01:51:28.760 --> 01:51:31.800 one of these young candidates at a smaller school that's 2413 01:51:31.800 --> 01:51:33.560 done a really good job, or maybe somebody has been 2414 01:51:33.600 --> 01:51:36.039 out of the game. Like, what's your take on what 2415 01:51:36.079 --> 01:51:37.079 could be next around here? 2416 01:51:37.800 --> 01:51:41.159 At certain places, I do believe you need that connection. 2417 01:51:41.439 --> 01:51:44.239 I don't think Utah is one of those places that 2418 01:51:44.359 --> 01:51:47.279 I think Utah has had enough success in tradition and 2419 01:51:47.359 --> 01:51:52.119 up history that they can bring in somebody from the 2420 01:51:52.239 --> 01:51:55.199 outside if you will. And look a lot of times, 2421 01:51:55.279 --> 01:51:57.600 if you hire a coach that doesn't have that connection 2422 01:51:57.720 --> 01:52:02.880 to a specific program, you hire an assistant on your 2423 01:52:02.880 --> 01:52:07.800 staff that fits and understands the landscape, like for example, 2424 01:52:07.840 --> 01:52:12.279 Mila Moderate cal Right, there are so many hoops and 2425 01:52:12.479 --> 01:52:15.479 so much political red tape you have to deal with 2426 01:52:15.920 --> 01:52:17.880 at a place like cal that you have to have 2427 01:52:17.920 --> 01:52:20.560 an understanding of what you're up against. And I think 2428 01:52:20.560 --> 01:52:22.520 the same can be said for a place like Stanford. 2429 01:52:23.079 --> 01:52:25.479 Utah is not in that same boat. To me, I 2430 01:52:25.560 --> 01:52:27.199 think Utah is a place where you can bring in 2431 01:52:27.279 --> 01:52:32.920 somebody that doesn't necessarily have that connection because of the 2432 01:52:33.000 --> 01:52:36.159 tradition and the success that this program has had in 2433 01:52:36.199 --> 01:52:38.520 the past. And you look up in the rafters and 2434 01:52:38.560 --> 01:52:40.920 you see the likes of you know, a Keith Van 2435 01:52:41.000 --> 01:52:44.439 Horn's name up there, Andrew Bogan, Andre Miller, all these 2436 01:52:44.479 --> 01:52:47.239 great players that have come through, and like, for example, 2437 01:52:47.279 --> 01:52:48.960 you know, Rick Majeris came through and had a lot 2438 01:52:48.960 --> 01:52:51.840 of success. I don't believe that for me, that wouldn't 2439 01:52:51.880 --> 01:52:54.720 be a prerequisite as far as who the next coach 2440 01:52:54.800 --> 01:52:57.239 of the University of Utah men's hoops team should. 2441 01:52:57.000 --> 01:53:00.479 Be I do think and I have said, and I 2442 01:53:00.520 --> 01:53:04.399 haven't necessarily always been on this train, only because I 2443 01:53:04.439 --> 01:53:07.720 am well aware of when guys have an opportunity to 2444 01:53:07.760 --> 01:53:10.359 live that NBA lifestyle, they don't necessarily want to go 2445 01:53:10.399 --> 01:53:13.319 back to the college days. It's not all tried and true. 2446 01:53:13.479 --> 01:53:17.840 Calipari Patino BYU hired Kevin Young. But you know there's 2447 01:53:17.840 --> 01:53:20.159 some former utes in pro basketball right now that are 2448 01:53:20.279 --> 01:53:22.600 very respected and highly thought of. And I want to 2449 01:53:22.600 --> 01:53:25.359 ask you about Alex Jensen, who's a lead assistant for Jason 2450 01:53:25.439 --> 01:53:28.920 Kidd in Dallas, and Alex was Quinn Snyder's lead assistant 2451 01:53:29.000 --> 01:53:32.079 here in Salt Lake. He worked for Will Hardy for 2452 01:53:32.119 --> 01:53:34.279 one year and essentially that was just like he's under 2453 01:53:34.359 --> 01:53:36.680 contract and they liked him, so you can hang around Will. 2454 01:53:36.720 --> 01:53:38.560 I don't think everyone's going to have him on his staff. 2455 01:53:39.239 --> 01:53:43.760 But five years ago, when Mark decided to fire Larry Kroskoviak, 2456 01:53:43.800 --> 01:53:46.520 the name Alex Jensen surfaced, and I said on air, 2457 01:53:46.560 --> 01:53:49.359 I don't think he takes it because I thought at 2458 01:53:49.399 --> 01:53:52.439 the time he was going to parlay his tenure with 2459 01:53:52.479 --> 01:53:54.800 the Jazz into a head coaching opportunity in the pros 2460 01:53:54.880 --> 01:53:57.640 that has never come, and so five years later, I 2461 01:53:57.640 --> 01:53:59.920 think Alex might be more inclined to answer the phone 2462 01:54:00.039 --> 01:54:02.039 that he was, you know, not too long ago. What 2463 01:54:02.039 --> 01:54:04.399 are your thoughts on Alex Jensen as a potential candidate 2464 01:54:04.439 --> 01:54:05.159 to replace. 2465 01:54:04.920 --> 01:54:08.600 Drag Well, I'm familiar with him to an extent, But 2466 01:54:08.640 --> 01:54:10.760 one thing I do know is Jason Kidd thinks the 2467 01:54:10.760 --> 01:54:13.399 world of him, because, as you know, I went to 2468 01:54:13.399 --> 01:54:16.920 college with Jason. I'm still friendly with him, and I've 2469 01:54:16.960 --> 01:54:19.560 asked him about, you know, guys on his staff for example, 2470 01:54:20.159 --> 01:54:24.119 and he raves about him, says he's a phenomenal coach, 2471 01:54:24.159 --> 01:54:26.560 just a great person to have on the staff and 2472 01:54:26.640 --> 01:54:30.399 be around on a daily basis. And that's a ringing 2473 01:54:30.479 --> 01:54:33.920 endorsement from somebody like Jason kitt And as you look 2474 01:54:33.960 --> 01:54:37.159 at the landscape now, it's ever changing landscape spence of 2475 01:54:37.239 --> 01:54:41.119 college athletics. We're just seeing more and more pro people 2476 01:54:41.920 --> 01:54:45.600 have a connection and maybe looking to get into the 2477 01:54:45.600 --> 01:54:49.079 college game. And whether it's for example, on the football side, 2478 01:54:49.079 --> 01:54:51.840 with guys like Andrew Luck and Ron Rivera that are 2479 01:54:52.000 --> 01:54:53.920 going back and they're not coaching, but they're going to be 2480 01:54:53.960 --> 01:54:59.239 around the game. But with this NIL and roster management 2481 01:54:59.239 --> 01:55:03.279 we're seeing these days and free agency that is taking 2482 01:55:03.279 --> 01:55:08.039 the college basketball land landscape by storm, it could possibly 2483 01:55:08.119 --> 01:55:11.119 help having somebody with that pro experience. And look, Kevin 2484 01:55:11.159 --> 01:55:14.439 Young down at BYU not only is having success this year, 2485 01:55:14.600 --> 01:55:16.880 but let's face it, there's a lot of money right 2486 01:55:17.039 --> 01:55:20.840 with BYU basketball and to be able to acquire the 2487 01:55:20.920 --> 01:55:23.279 talent that they have and the great freshman for example, 2488 01:55:23.319 --> 01:55:26.600 demon and catchings they have this year, it took a 2489 01:55:26.600 --> 01:55:29.720 lot of money to get those guys. And next year 2490 01:55:29.760 --> 01:55:33.239 with de Bantha comes in, it's a huge amount of 2491 01:55:33.239 --> 01:55:36.479 money that he's getting paid to go to BYU. That's 2492 01:55:36.560 --> 01:55:39.319 the landscape you're operating in now, and you have to 2493 01:55:39.319 --> 01:55:42.439 find those resources. You have to find the revenue. And 2494 01:55:42.680 --> 01:55:45.079 I know fran Frascilla put out a tweet, you know, 2495 01:55:45.119 --> 01:55:48.720 my colleague at ESPN about the commitment that Utah financially 2496 01:55:48.760 --> 01:55:50.920 needs to make. And I'm not exactly sure where their 2497 01:55:51.000 --> 01:55:55.159 NIL is, but my guess, just just knowing where some 2498 01:55:55.239 --> 01:55:57.640 of the league is that they're probably in the bottom 2499 01:55:57.720 --> 01:56:02.319 third as far as money they're having their NIL collective 2500 01:56:02.359 --> 01:56:06.159 for basketball. Does that change? I think that when you 2501 01:56:06.199 --> 01:56:10.239 look at the scenario you have to explore the entire 2502 01:56:12.760 --> 01:56:15.720 landscape of where Utah basketball is at right now, do 2503 01:56:15.840 --> 01:56:18.680 you make this move with Craig Smith that shows me 2504 01:56:18.760 --> 01:56:21.359 that you're committed to winning. Well, there's more ways to 2505 01:56:21.479 --> 01:56:23.720 show than just making a move like this that you 2506 01:56:23.800 --> 01:56:27.279 committed to having success with your basketball program. 2507 01:56:27.479 --> 01:56:30.840 Roxy Bernstein calls Adam Durretz Adam and Jason Kidd Jason 2508 01:56:31.039 --> 01:56:32.079 just so you know, do you do? 2509 01:56:32.159 --> 01:56:32.680 You? 2510 01:56:32.880 --> 01:56:33.079 Do you? 2511 01:56:33.159 --> 01:56:35.319 Jason and Adam have like a text threat, Roxy. 2512 01:56:36.239 --> 01:56:38.720 They're on separate text threads that I have And by 2513 01:56:38.760 --> 01:56:40.680 the way, I actually call them j Kid usually. 2514 01:56:40.720 --> 01:56:41.520 Now, now there we go. 2515 01:56:42.000 --> 01:56:44.319 Give me the what's what's the mount rushmore of your 2516 01:56:44.319 --> 01:56:45.279 most famous friends? 2517 01:56:46.279 --> 01:56:46.600 Oh? 2518 01:56:46.800 --> 01:56:49.760 I mean those are the top of the chain right there. 2519 01:56:50.119 --> 01:56:54.520 I mean, certainly, Adam, are you familiar with the actor 2520 01:56:54.640 --> 01:56:55.239 Eric Dane? 2521 01:56:55.479 --> 01:56:56.479 I know who Eric Dane is. 2522 01:56:56.560 --> 01:56:58.079 Yes, Eric and I. 2523 01:56:58.000 --> 01:57:00.000 Grew up together and we're still very close. In fact, 2524 01:57:00.039 --> 01:57:03.600 we are fantasy football partners on our league that all 2525 01:57:03.600 --> 01:57:04.439 our buddies. 2526 01:57:04.079 --> 01:57:04.560 Grew up with. 2527 01:57:04.640 --> 01:57:06.239 Wow. Very impressive. 2528 01:57:06.279 --> 01:57:07.640 Yeah, that's another one. 2529 01:57:07.640 --> 01:57:11.079 Very impressive. What do you tell me what you're expecting? 2530 01:57:11.279 --> 01:57:14.239 So, Josh Eiler, it's the interim head coach and they're 2531 01:57:14.239 --> 01:57:17.880 at McHale tomorrow and they're going to play an Arizona 2532 01:57:17.920 --> 01:57:21.680 team that's probably a little bit grumpy. So Utah's first 2533 01:57:21.720 --> 01:57:24.920 game without Craig is a McHale against Arizona. How do 2534 01:57:24.960 --> 01:57:27.399 you think these young men respond? They've got to be gutted. 2535 01:57:27.439 --> 01:57:29.920 You know, you sign on the dobted line to play 2536 01:57:29.960 --> 01:57:32.000 for a coach. Your parents trust the coach to take 2537 01:57:32.039 --> 01:57:34.680 care of the son. We know the deal. So how 2538 01:57:34.720 --> 01:57:35.960 do you think they're going to respond? What are you 2539 01:57:35.960 --> 01:57:37.199 expecting the McHale tomorrow night? 2540 01:57:38.000 --> 01:57:39.960 First off, Arizona's going to be a little grumpy. 2541 01:57:40.039 --> 01:57:42.199 Yes, that might. 2542 01:57:42.079 --> 01:57:44.800 Be the understatement of the year because the way they 2543 01:57:44.840 --> 01:57:47.399 lost that game to be Ui the other night. They're 2544 01:57:47.399 --> 01:57:51.199 going to be extremely ticked off hitting into this matchup. 2545 01:57:51.439 --> 01:57:53.119 But I'm not sure. 2546 01:57:53.199 --> 01:57:56.239 You never know what you're going to get, right. It's 2547 01:57:56.359 --> 01:58:00.720 easier to assess where a professional team is that after 2548 01:58:00.760 --> 01:58:02.800 a move like this, whether it's a major league team 2549 01:58:02.800 --> 01:58:05.800 that fires a manager mid season or an NBA team 2550 01:58:05.840 --> 01:58:08.560 that makes the move like this, and they usually come 2551 01:58:08.600 --> 01:58:12.079 out and respond because they take it personally and the 2552 01:58:12.159 --> 01:58:15.520 connection that they have to Craig Smith. You wonder how 2553 01:58:15.720 --> 01:58:18.840 it's resonating in the locker room right that do they 2554 01:58:18.880 --> 01:58:22.239 feel they let Craig Smith down. It's certainly an emotional 2555 01:58:22.319 --> 01:58:24.720 charge group right now. And you can't blame These are 2556 01:58:24.720 --> 01:58:27.680 eighteen to twenty two, twenty three year old kids, and 2557 01:58:27.800 --> 01:58:30.920 they're going to feel some empathy for Craig. They're going 2558 01:58:31.000 --> 01:58:34.439 to be upset, and probably some of them are looking 2559 01:58:34.439 --> 01:58:37.239 in the mirror wondering what could I have done better 2560 01:58:38.359 --> 01:58:41.840 that could have kept Craig here? And so I would 2561 01:58:41.840 --> 01:58:44.640 expect a team that's going to be emotionally charged. They're 2562 01:58:44.680 --> 01:58:47.279 going to come out and ready to go tomorrow night. 2563 01:58:47.760 --> 01:58:50.119 I fully expect that it's a good group of kids, 2564 01:58:50.600 --> 01:58:53.800 and I think they'll try to play honestly for Craig 2565 01:58:53.840 --> 01:58:59.079 tomorrow night, that they know they let him down, and 2566 01:58:59.159 --> 01:59:01.119 in this way they can turn the page and help 2567 01:59:02.079 --> 01:59:05.399 honor their coach by going out there with a high 2568 01:59:05.479 --> 01:59:07.760 level performance against a terrific team in Arizona. 2569 01:59:07.880 --> 01:59:08.079 Yeah. 2570 01:59:08.119 --> 01:59:08.520 Well said. 2571 01:59:08.600 --> 01:59:11.119 And in order to be fair to Craig Roxy, I've 2572 01:59:11.119 --> 01:59:13.680 asked all my guests this week this question, I'm going 2573 01:59:13.680 --> 01:59:15.680 to ask you the same question. And I don't want 2574 01:59:15.680 --> 01:59:17.680 this to come across as callus and I'm not trying 2575 01:59:17.680 --> 01:59:20.840 to knock on the group, but you referenced where's the nil, 2576 01:59:20.920 --> 01:59:23.880 where's the collective? What's the deal with that? We don't 2577 01:59:23.920 --> 01:59:27.800 fully know? Catchings and demon reportedly or seven figure kids 2578 01:59:28.439 --> 01:59:31.279 down at Brigham Young and aj Debants is getting more 2579 01:59:31.319 --> 01:59:34.079 than five million dollars to play five months of basketball. 2580 01:59:34.119 --> 01:59:36.199 So we know they've got a ticking down there. But 2581 01:59:36.279 --> 01:59:40.039 whether it's nil, and sadly this also does fall partly 2582 01:59:40.119 --> 01:59:42.760 on Craig. This team was picked to finish sixteenth in 2583 01:59:42.800 --> 01:59:45.079 the conference for a reason. There's just not a ton 2584 01:59:45.159 --> 01:59:48.199 of top shelf talent on that roster. And I actually 2585 01:59:48.239 --> 01:59:50.319 think there's an argument to be made that Craig did 2586 01:59:50.359 --> 01:59:53.600 a good job coaching a group that didn't necessarily have 2587 01:59:53.680 --> 01:59:55.640 the raw talent that some of the other teams had 2588 01:59:55.680 --> 01:59:59.920 to a situation where they did overshoot expectations based on 2589 02:00:00.159 --> 02:00:02.439 the preseason poll. But as a guy that calls a 2590 02:00:02.479 --> 02:00:05.199 lot of these games, how would you articulate what you 2591 02:00:05.279 --> 02:00:08.079 believe the talent level is on this roster this year? 2592 02:00:09.319 --> 02:00:12.159 The talent level is, just like you said, near the 2593 02:00:12.159 --> 02:00:15.319 bottom of the Big twelve, and there is a reason 2594 02:00:15.359 --> 02:00:18.479 why they were picked in that position. For example, they 2595 02:00:18.520 --> 02:00:21.199 don't have a dynamic point guard that can set people up. 2596 02:00:21.680 --> 02:00:24.680 It was an offense that was able to score points 2597 02:00:24.680 --> 02:00:28.159 because of ball movement and connectivity. Yes, Gate Madson was 2598 02:00:28.199 --> 02:00:30.840 the guy they were looking to to hit the big shot, 2599 02:00:31.479 --> 02:00:35.640 but it wasn't. They didn't have that dynamic playmaker that 2600 02:00:35.680 --> 02:00:38.319 they've had in the past. So that I think Craig 2601 02:00:38.359 --> 02:00:41.159 came up with a good system that gave them chances 2602 02:00:41.159 --> 02:00:44.560 for success. But at the same time, I get it 2603 02:00:44.560 --> 02:00:46.840 when you're assessing your program, when you're Mark Harlan, you're 2604 02:00:46.840 --> 02:00:50.479 the administration the University of Utah, you take a whole 2605 02:00:50.520 --> 02:00:53.520 broad scope of it and you want the talent level better. 2606 02:00:53.560 --> 02:00:56.560 There's good players in the program. I think Ezrasar is 2607 02:00:56.560 --> 02:01:00.119 a really nice player, loss and lovering. I think and 2608 02:01:00.199 --> 02:01:03.119 be a really good player and it can really control 2609 02:01:03.159 --> 02:01:06.479 a game of times from inside. But it just didn't 2610 02:01:06.479 --> 02:01:09.319 seem there was the broad talent with his program. It's 2611 02:01:09.359 --> 02:01:12.840 funny is I've also talked to some NBA people about 2612 02:01:12.920 --> 02:01:16.479 Jake Wallen and there is a lot of feeling amongst 2613 02:01:16.520 --> 02:01:18.960 the NBA people that he's got a chance, maybe in 2614 02:01:19.000 --> 02:01:21.520 a year or two, to be on the radar as 2615 02:01:21.520 --> 02:01:24.520 far as the NBA team, So, but it's different kind 2616 02:01:24.520 --> 02:01:27.880 of talent that they have with this group. But it 2617 02:01:28.119 --> 02:01:30.640 just from when you look across the board of the 2618 02:01:30.640 --> 02:01:33.920 Big twelve, I just don't see the high level talent 2619 02:01:34.359 --> 02:01:39.399 that Baylor has, that Houston has, that Texas Tech has that. 2620 02:01:39.840 --> 02:01:42.760 And I think this is a down Kansas team, but 2621 02:01:42.880 --> 02:01:44.720 they still have a lot of high level talent, and 2622 02:01:44.760 --> 02:01:48.520 same with teams like Kansas State for example. So I 2623 02:01:48.560 --> 02:01:52.479 think unfortunately when you examine the program as a whole, 2624 02:01:52.560 --> 02:01:54.840 I think that that's what the administration came back to. 2625 02:01:55.560 --> 02:02:00.159 So you've got BYUASU. Let's move over to BYU be 2626 02:02:00.159 --> 02:02:02.960 down at Ashue tomorrow and back to back wins over 2627 02:02:03.039 --> 02:02:05.239 ranked teams. First time that's happened. I think it's thirty 2628 02:02:05.279 --> 02:02:07.800 seven years. They've won four straight. If you kind of 2629 02:02:07.800 --> 02:02:10.800 expand back, they've won eight of their last ten. And 2630 02:02:10.920 --> 02:02:13.960 when they make shots, they are a problem. And they 2631 02:02:14.000 --> 02:02:17.119 are the type of team that is built. Should they 2632 02:02:17.159 --> 02:02:19.800 find fire at the right time, which they're finding right now, 2633 02:02:20.239 --> 02:02:21.600 they're the type of team they can go to the 2634 02:02:21.680 --> 02:02:24.119 NCAA tournament and do something. I'm not saying this is 2635 02:02:24.119 --> 02:02:26.560 a Final four team, but with the ability to make shots, 2636 02:02:26.600 --> 02:02:29.279 when they are knocking down shots, when they're limiting turnovers, 2637 02:02:29.600 --> 02:02:31.560 and when they're just hanging on the glass. They don't 2638 02:02:31.560 --> 02:02:34.880 necessarily have to rebound teams because offensively they're so dynamic. 2639 02:02:35.359 --> 02:02:36.359 It feels like, you. 2640 02:02:36.279 --> 02:02:38.880 Know, Demon's their best pro prospect, but Richie's probably their 2641 02:02:38.880 --> 02:02:42.279 best college player. And I've been tremendously impressed to see 2642 02:02:42.319 --> 02:02:44.399 them settle in the way they have because it didn't 2643 02:02:44.399 --> 02:02:47.479 look great early on, and Kevin's never done this before, 2644 02:02:47.560 --> 02:02:49.840 so you have talent on paper. If it doesn't work early, 2645 02:02:49.880 --> 02:02:52.319 people are gonna wonder if you can coach well. The 2646 02:02:52.399 --> 02:02:54.720 late returns as well, I should say the returns as 2647 02:02:54.720 --> 02:02:56.760 of late are that you know, this is a team 2648 02:02:57.199 --> 02:02:59.680 that looks to be dialed in, ready to roll down 2649 02:02:59.720 --> 02:03:01.399 the red to the stretch of the season. What's your 2650 02:03:01.439 --> 02:03:03.880 take on where we find ourselves right now with Brigham. 2651 02:03:03.560 --> 02:03:06.399 Young, they seem to be peaking at the right time, 2652 02:03:07.199 --> 02:03:10.800 and that's what you want come latter part of February 2653 02:03:10.800 --> 02:03:12.479 and into March, is you're playing. 2654 02:03:12.199 --> 02:03:14.319 Your best basketball, and they are, and. 2655 02:03:14.279 --> 02:03:16.279 This team I think has gotten better and better in 2656 02:03:16.279 --> 02:03:18.960 the crazy team spens, you don't see teams that have 2657 02:03:19.039 --> 02:03:21.600 eleven man rotations at this time of the year, but 2658 02:03:21.680 --> 02:03:25.359 BYU does and they all do something to help the team, 2659 02:03:25.439 --> 02:03:27.840 and I think that's helped the chemistry with that group 2660 02:03:28.119 --> 02:03:30.319 and getting used to a new coach in Kevin Young, 2661 02:03:30.399 --> 02:03:32.960 tweaking the system a little bit where they shoot a 2662 02:03:32.960 --> 02:03:36.720 lot of threes. You mentioned Richie Saunders, but he's not alone, 2663 02:03:37.119 --> 02:03:39.800 and he's made some moves along the way, like inserting 2664 02:03:39.840 --> 02:03:43.279 Trevinell into the starting lineup. I think was a nice 2665 02:03:43.319 --> 02:03:46.199 move for them to help space the floor and getting 2666 02:03:46.239 --> 02:03:49.680 fu Seni Tria to accept the role in Dollen Hall 2667 02:03:50.039 --> 02:03:52.399 coming off the bench because those guys have been starters 2668 02:03:53.119 --> 02:03:55.359 and it's a credit to them. It's a credit to 2669 02:03:55.399 --> 02:03:57.319 that locker room that they're able to embrace what Kevin 2670 02:03:57.359 --> 02:04:00.000 Young is doing and they're catching teams to the right time. 2671 02:04:00.119 --> 02:04:02.800 Time they caught Kansas the right time. Kansas was really 2672 02:04:03.560 --> 02:04:05.920 after losing the game to Utah and they seemed a 2673 02:04:05.960 --> 02:04:08.479 little bit dysfunctional at the time, to be honest with you. 2674 02:04:08.600 --> 02:04:11.399 They got to get right game against Oklahoma State on Saturday. 2675 02:04:11.479 --> 02:04:13.359 Then they bounced back and won a tough one at 2676 02:04:13.399 --> 02:04:16.720 Colorado last night. But they're catching teams at the right time, 2677 02:04:16.760 --> 02:04:19.680 and I think They're catching Arizona State tomorrow night. Potentially 2678 02:04:19.680 --> 02:04:22.079 at the right time, considering some of the injuries that 2679 02:04:22.199 --> 02:04:24.840 ASU has. Jayden Quainton's got hurt in his last game. 2680 02:04:24.840 --> 02:04:28.159 They're outstanding freshman. We're not sure if his status tomorrow night. 2681 02:04:28.279 --> 02:04:30.279 And they just kicked BJ Freeman off the team, who 2682 02:04:30.279 --> 02:04:32.439 was their leading scorer. Yet they went out and won 2683 02:04:32.479 --> 02:04:36.039 without them. So that's it's going to be interesting to 2684 02:04:36.079 --> 02:04:40.600 see this matchup tomorrow night. And Arizona State has not 2685 02:04:40.640 --> 02:04:42.439 played well at home. They've been a better road team 2686 02:04:42.439 --> 02:04:43.239 for whatever reason. 2687 02:04:43.880 --> 02:04:45.319 Who do you think the second best team of the 2688 02:04:45.319 --> 02:04:45.800 conference is? 2689 02:04:47.760 --> 02:04:49.000 Who is the second best? 2690 02:04:49.039 --> 02:04:51.920 I'm still gonna lean toward Arizona I know, even they 2691 02:04:52.039 --> 02:04:55.680 they lost last night. Houston, to me has separated themselves 2692 02:04:55.680 --> 02:04:57.800 and I do really like Iowa State, let me tell 2693 02:04:57.840 --> 02:05:01.439 you right there. But there's something about this Arizona team. 2694 02:05:01.760 --> 02:05:03.960 I'm anxious to see how they were covered tomorrow night 2695 02:05:03.960 --> 02:05:07.760 against Utah after the way they had a real, real 2696 02:05:07.840 --> 02:05:10.560 tough loss against EYU the other night. 2697 02:05:10.720 --> 02:05:12.600 Can I ask you a couple of hockey questions before 2698 02:05:12.600 --> 02:05:15.319 I set you loose? Yeah, all right, let's move over. 2699 02:05:15.399 --> 02:05:17.399 Yeah, let's move over to the four Nations face off. 2700 02:05:17.439 --> 02:05:20.000 You know, one of one of our weekly hockey guests 2701 02:05:20.079 --> 02:05:22.760 is Neil Smith, who was the you know, the general 2702 02:05:22.800 --> 02:05:24.920 manager of the Rangers and a high level scout for 2703 02:05:24.960 --> 02:05:28.000 the Red Wings and built some of the best rosters 2704 02:05:28.039 --> 02:05:29.800 that we saw in the nineties. And we had Bill 2705 02:05:29.880 --> 02:05:32.479 Armstrong on yesterday, and you know, it was funny with Neil. 2706 02:05:32.680 --> 02:05:34.720 He said prior to the start of the tournament, I 2707 02:05:34.760 --> 02:05:36.479 asked him we had him on the week that week, 2708 02:05:36.520 --> 02:05:37.760 and I said, Okay, we got a little bit of 2709 02:05:37.800 --> 02:05:40.039 a break with a hockey club and we've got four 2710 02:05:40.119 --> 02:05:41.720 Nations coming up? What do you think? And He's like, 2711 02:05:41.760 --> 02:05:43.800 I'm out on it. I'm not like excited for it 2712 02:05:43.840 --> 02:05:46.000 at all. And then of course we had him on 2713 02:05:46.079 --> 02:05:49.439 last week and to his credit, he ate the appropriate crow. 2714 02:05:49.840 --> 02:05:51.640 You know, Roxy, It's kind of a lesson, man like, 2715 02:05:51.960 --> 02:05:54.279 sometimes the best things in life just completely catch you 2716 02:05:54.319 --> 02:05:57.920 off guard. And I was so wildly entertained, and as 2717 02:05:57.960 --> 02:06:01.359 a NBA guy who was disgusted with a product that 2718 02:06:01.479 --> 02:06:03.880 employees basketball players that don't seem to like to play 2719 02:06:03.880 --> 02:06:07.760 basketball as of late, I loved watching the Four Nations. 2720 02:06:07.800 --> 02:06:09.680 So give me your take on that tournament, and what 2721 02:06:09.720 --> 02:06:11.840 do you think it does for pro hockey domestically. 2722 02:06:13.159 --> 02:06:15.640 Aside from the three fights and nine seconds in the 2723 02:06:15.680 --> 02:06:19.439 first US Canada game, it was still tremendous theater, yep 2724 02:06:19.520 --> 02:06:23.319 and unbelievable hockey, and just the reacts to the players 2725 02:06:23.319 --> 02:06:26.920 that were playing and the speed of these games. That 2726 02:06:27.079 --> 02:06:29.279 was the thing that really jumped out to me is 2727 02:06:29.319 --> 02:06:32.560 the quickness, and it's showing you that the game is 2728 02:06:32.560 --> 02:06:36.319 about speed. Now, yes, okay, the Kachuck brothers floud and 2729 02:06:36.359 --> 02:06:39.840 so did JT. Miller, but they also have a lot 2730 02:06:39.840 --> 02:06:43.279 of speed and talent, and it was evident and I 2731 02:06:43.319 --> 02:06:45.600 think it's only a precursor to how good the Olympics 2732 02:06:45.600 --> 02:06:45.920 could be. 2733 02:06:46.479 --> 02:06:46.680 Now. 2734 02:06:46.720 --> 02:06:49.640 I don't think that we'll see a situation like we 2735 02:06:49.720 --> 02:06:52.600 had with these fights, especially in the Olympics, but it 2736 02:06:52.640 --> 02:06:56.880 does make for great hockey to watch, and I think 2737 02:06:56.920 --> 02:07:00.680 we were treated to the best in the world, the best, 2738 02:07:00.760 --> 02:07:04.640 and it was evident that it meant something. That it 2739 02:07:04.720 --> 02:07:07.399 wasn't just lip service. Oh we're gonna go there and compete, 2740 02:07:07.399 --> 02:07:10.760 We're gonna play hard. It was clear that it meant 2741 02:07:10.760 --> 02:07:15.560 the world and national pride was on display and they 2742 02:07:15.600 --> 02:07:20.000 wanted to win desperately for their countries and the only 2743 02:07:20.000 --> 02:07:21.840 thing that would have made it a little bit more intriguing. 2744 02:07:22.119 --> 02:07:24.600 Can you imagine if Matthew could Chuck had flought Sam Bennett. 2745 02:07:24.600 --> 02:07:27.159 He made the Florida like right off the opening face off. 2746 02:07:27.399 --> 02:07:29.920 If that wouldn't signify how much it meant, I don't 2747 02:07:29.960 --> 02:07:30.720 know what else would. 2748 02:07:31.279 --> 02:07:33.760 And I loved the back and forth where the Canadian, 2749 02:07:33.800 --> 02:07:35.319 you know, the Hagen kid was like, we do it 2750 02:07:35.359 --> 02:07:37.239 for the flag, they do it for the cameras. It's like, 2751 02:07:37.600 --> 02:07:41.279 you know, like the whole thing was awesome. Let me 2752 02:07:41.319 --> 02:07:43.439 ask you about our local hockey club and I'll set 2753 02:07:43.439 --> 02:07:46.399 you loose. You know, they're about where I think most 2754 02:07:46.439 --> 02:07:49.319 people thought they would be, but with the chance to 2755 02:07:49.439 --> 02:07:53.039 maybe catch either Vancouver or the Abs for a wildcard spot. 2756 02:07:53.079 --> 02:07:54.960 They got Vancouver the other night they beat him, so 2757 02:07:55.000 --> 02:07:57.479 a nice little four point swing. Chicago's in town tonight, 2758 02:07:58.039 --> 02:08:00.520 twenty three, twenty four games left on the show bill. 2759 02:08:00.600 --> 02:08:03.920 Armstrong yesterday said it's twenty four game sevens like points 2760 02:08:03.960 --> 02:08:05.760 are at a premium. I think we got a shot 2761 02:08:05.800 --> 02:08:07.760 to maybe see a little playoff hockey in Salt Lake 2762 02:08:07.800 --> 02:08:08.159 this year. 2763 02:08:08.800 --> 02:08:11.680 There's a chance. Yeah, I wouldn't rule them out. And 2764 02:08:11.720 --> 02:08:14.520 they've recovered from some of the injuries that they have 2765 02:08:14.600 --> 02:08:17.159 dealt with, certainly on the back end this year, with 2766 02:08:17.319 --> 02:08:20.760 missing Sean Dursey example, until recently for the entire season 2767 02:08:20.800 --> 02:08:23.720 and Marino being out for an extended period of time. 2768 02:08:24.680 --> 02:08:27.159 They got to get hot and the margin Frere and 2769 02:08:27.520 --> 02:08:30.000 Bill Armstrong is exactly right. They have to treat every 2770 02:08:30.079 --> 02:08:32.279 night like it's a game seven. And after they dropped 2771 02:08:32.279 --> 02:08:34.439 the game to La on Saturday, bouncing back with a 2772 02:08:34.439 --> 02:08:36.680 good win against Vancouver. And the other thing that was 2773 02:08:36.760 --> 02:08:39.600 key about the win against Vancouver spence it wasn't an 2774 02:08:39.640 --> 02:08:42.840 overtime or shootout win. It was in regulation. So a 2775 02:08:42.840 --> 02:08:46.520 team you're chasing Vancouver, they didn't get a point. And 2776 02:08:46.600 --> 02:08:50.439 in these matchups when you're playing Calgary, these teams you're chasing, 2777 02:08:50.479 --> 02:08:53.159 you're battling with, they can't be three point games. You 2778 02:08:53.279 --> 02:08:56.359 got to win it in regulation to make sure that 2779 02:08:56.560 --> 02:08:59.399 the other team is not keeping pace with you, because 2780 02:08:59.399 --> 02:09:01.840 if you're trying to catch them your points behind, well, 2781 02:09:02.520 --> 02:09:04.439 yes you gain a point on them, but you're not 2782 02:09:04.479 --> 02:09:07.039 really doing the job. And that's the way they have 2783 02:09:07.119 --> 02:09:08.800 to step into it, and they have to take advantage 2784 02:09:08.800 --> 02:09:10.920 of the schedule. The Blackhawks are a team that they 2785 02:09:10.920 --> 02:09:14.520 need to handle that they need to put any doubt 2786 02:09:14.600 --> 02:09:17.680 away early in this game, and that's the way they 2787 02:09:17.680 --> 02:09:19.399 need to approach it and they have to be in 2788 02:09:19.439 --> 02:09:23.079 that mentality and somehow if they can sneak in. These 2789 02:09:23.119 --> 02:09:25.760 are the teams that are dangerous come to Sanley Cup playoffs. 2790 02:09:25.760 --> 02:09:29.399 We've seen eight seeds before in the NHL come from 2791 02:09:29.399 --> 02:09:32.880 way back and win because they're in playoff mode already, 2792 02:09:33.239 --> 02:09:35.279 and that could be an advantage for them should they 2793 02:09:35.479 --> 02:09:37.239 be able to get to the Stanley Cup playoffs. 2794 02:09:37.720 --> 02:09:40.039 Roxy, you are the man, my friend. I appreciate the time. 2795 02:09:40.079 --> 02:09:42.000 Safe Travels. Have a great call tomorrow night. 2796 02:09:42.000 --> 02:09:43.840 Okay, thanks bets any time. 2797 02:09:43.880 --> 02:09:46.119 But Roxy Bernstein one of the best, one of the 2798 02:09:46.239 --> 02:09:49.159 nicest guys in this business, a business devoid of kindness. 2799 02:09:49.239 --> 02:09:51.439 Roxy is one of those guys at Roxy Bernstein is 2800 02:09:51.479 --> 02:09:53.880 where you find them on social media. I'll be on 2801 02:09:53.880 --> 02:09:56.560 the call tomorrow night for byuasut. 2802 02:09:56.800 --> 02:09:57.479 Do you have any. 2803 02:09:59.319 --> 02:10:03.880 Like for real famous friends? Roxy Bernstein rolls on the show. 2804 02:10:03.880 --> 02:10:08.039 He calls Adam Durretz, Adam Jason Kidd, j Kidd, do 2805 02:10:08.119 --> 02:10:10.119 you have any like uber famous friends? 2806 02:10:10.479 --> 02:10:11.680 Any anything stand out? 2807 02:10:11.800 --> 02:10:14.159 I will not like mention the sports guys that I've 2808 02:10:14.159 --> 02:10:18.720 gotten close with, right, Like Britain is genuinely one of 2809 02:10:18.720 --> 02:10:22.880 my closer friends away from football. I would have to 2810 02:10:23.399 --> 02:10:25.960 like the only real close connections I have in that 2811 02:10:26.039 --> 02:10:30.079 regard are I've talked to you about some of the 2812 02:10:30.079 --> 02:10:32.800 country music folk, right. Culter Wall is a connection that 2813 02:10:32.840 --> 02:10:34.840 I made a long time ago. I've known him since 2814 02:10:34.840 --> 02:10:37.239 he was and I was like nineteen twenty years old. 2815 02:10:37.319 --> 02:10:39.159 You need to let me know next time he's in town, 2816 02:10:39.239 --> 02:10:41.079 because you've won me over. I want to go see 2817 02:10:41.159 --> 02:10:41.680 him perform. 2818 02:10:41.880 --> 02:10:45.640 That is his manager is the guy that is my 2819 02:10:45.720 --> 02:10:49.479 actual connection, right, it's through him, but I've known him 2820 02:10:49.520 --> 02:10:52.279 for a long time, as well as some of that 2821 02:10:52.359 --> 02:10:56.800 kind of circle of underground country, non radio country, if 2822 02:10:56.800 --> 02:10:59.359 you will. That's probably it. Right, We've talked about the 2823 02:10:59.520 --> 02:11:04.159 country stuff. I've had run ins with many A listers 2824 02:11:04.319 --> 02:11:08.319 and whatnot, but none of them are my friends, especially vjsing. 2825 02:11:08.520 --> 02:11:12.319 I need what's the deal with that dude? Like he 2826 02:11:12.359 --> 02:11:14.680 has such a bad he's really a jerk, right, he 2827 02:11:14.720 --> 02:11:16.079 has such a bad reputation. 2828 02:11:16.680 --> 02:11:20.359 And I've dealt with golfers and very wealthy people who 2829 02:11:20.439 --> 02:11:23.520 expect a certain level of service, right and try to 2830 02:11:23.520 --> 02:11:27.399 provide that, but it didn't seem to matter what you did. 2831 02:11:28.000 --> 02:11:29.960 You could have, like, I could have shined that guy's 2832 02:11:30.000 --> 02:11:31.680 shoes with my tongue, and I feel like he would 2833 02:11:31.680 --> 02:11:33.479 have been like, now you miss a spot. 2834 02:11:33.720 --> 02:11:35.880 But you know, I'm glad you didn't do that. Each 2835 02:11:35.920 --> 02:11:37.600 of all, I'm glad you didn't do that. I imagine 2836 02:11:37.640 --> 02:11:41.119 you ran into some entitled folk up there. Yeah. 2837 02:11:41.159 --> 02:11:43.079 My goal is to have a friend as famous as 2838 02:11:43.119 --> 02:11:46.479 Adam Dirretz that I can just call Adam, just referring 2839 02:11:46.520 --> 02:11:47.079 him as Adam. 2840 02:11:47.119 --> 02:11:49.239 Adam and j Kidd hanging out on a weekend. 2841 02:11:49.359 --> 02:11:51.720 Final segment of the program. Today is brought to you 2842 02:11:51.760 --> 02:11:53.960 by Burt Brothers. With over thirty years of experience and 2843 02:11:54.039 --> 02:11:58.199 nearly thirty locations. Burt Brothers, as certified technicians, bring expertise 2844 02:11:58.279 --> 02:12:02.359 and professionalism to every interaction industry, leading warranties and low 2845 02:12:02.359 --> 02:12:04.920 price tire guarantees. 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Stop by 2853 02:12:25.399 --> 02:12:28.319 Burt Brothers or Tirebusters locations or schedule appointment today to 2854 02:12:28.399 --> 02:12:30.560 experience the trusted service that has made them a Utah 2855 02:12:30.600 --> 02:12:31.880 favorite for over three decades. 2856 02:12:31.920 --> 02:12:34.000 Burt Brothers doing it better since day one. 2857 02:12:34.800 --> 02:12:38.279 More information online at Burt Brothers dot com. 2858 02:12:38.399 --> 02:12:44.199 Luka doncic over under forty five point five points. 2859 02:12:45.119 --> 02:12:47.800 If you would have set forty, I'd go over, But 2860 02:12:47.880 --> 02:12:49.520 I'm going to go under with the forty five. 2861 02:12:49.960 --> 02:12:52.439 I think he'll wait to just try to score like 2862 02:12:52.880 --> 02:12:55.560 one hundred and fifty until they're actually in Dallas, right, 2863 02:12:55.880 --> 02:12:58.920 because that the scene when Luca is back in Dallas 2864 02:12:59.039 --> 02:13:01.319 is going to be really fascinating because he's gonna have 2865 02:13:01.359 --> 02:13:04.920 a lot of fans in that arena that have his 2866 02:13:05.119 --> 02:13:08.880 back right over the MAVs. So I'm picturing him like 2867 02:13:08.960 --> 02:13:11.039 hitting a bunch of step back threes in Dallas. And 2868 02:13:11.079 --> 02:13:13.760 like Niko is probably not even at the game tonight, 2869 02:13:13.760 --> 02:13:15.439 I'm not sure that he goes full throttle. 2870 02:13:15.520 --> 02:13:19.000 Luca, You're you're gonna get like Jimmer and Utah vibes 2871 02:13:19.439 --> 02:13:21.680 where for some reason the team and the have wrong 2872 02:13:21.720 --> 02:13:24.720 colors is cheering for the white guy shooting from forty 2873 02:13:24.720 --> 02:13:28.680 feet beyond the three point line. Yep, yeah, it's gonna 2874 02:13:28.720 --> 02:13:32.319 be weird. It's going to be weird. The the one 2875 02:13:32.319 --> 02:13:35.319 that comes to mind is like Russell Westbrook, because that 2876 02:13:35.600 --> 02:13:38.680 was it seemed personal between him and Kevin Durant. This 2877 02:13:38.720 --> 02:13:43.680 seems personal between Dallas and Luka Doncic and maybe personal 2878 02:13:44.119 --> 02:13:46.840 even though we don't really know why right behind the scenes, 2879 02:13:46.880 --> 02:13:51.840 stuff that we're not necessarily privy to. But yeah, man, 2880 02:13:51.880 --> 02:13:55.000 this is This is one of the more anticipated player 2881 02:13:55.159 --> 02:13:58.039 versus former teams that I can really remember. 2882 02:13:58.239 --> 02:13:59.800 So some good NBA hoops on tonight. 2883 02:13:59.800 --> 02:14:02.600 It's out of a quiet night locally, tomorrow we're smacked, 2884 02:14:02.720 --> 02:14:05.800 jam packed locally with a bunch of action. Hockey Club 2885 02:14:05.880 --> 02:14:09.279 is taking on Chicago tonight, so a big game for them. 2886 02:14:09.319 --> 02:14:11.039 Every game down the stretch is big for the Utah 2887 02:14:11.079 --> 02:14:13.880 Hockey Club. Jazz will be an action against the Kings. 2888 02:14:13.880 --> 02:14:16.960 The Utes are at McHale to take on Arizona RS 2889 02:14:17.000 --> 02:14:19.760 valid action against Aridiano tomorrow, so little soccer as well. 2890 02:14:19.800 --> 02:14:21.359 All right, Port, let's get out of here. What comes 2891 02:14:21.359 --> 02:14:23.479 our way On a Wednesday edition of the show. 2892 02:14:23.600 --> 02:14:26.600 On a Wednesday edition of The Drive, we'll cover all 2893 02:14:26.640 --> 02:14:29.319 of our bases. Halfway through the work week, halfway closer 2894 02:14:29.319 --> 02:14:31.760 to the weekend. Chris com Ronnie stops by for an 2895 02:14:31.880 --> 02:14:35.439 entire hour, as does Richard Smith. We're gonna we're gonna 2896 02:14:35.439 --> 02:14:38.279 have some in studio stuff with those guys tomorrow. Josh 2897 02:14:38.439 --> 02:14:41.640 Furlong joins us for the latest in the University of 2898 02:14:41.760 --> 02:14:45.000 Utah men's basketball coaching search and of course on a 2899 02:14:45.119 --> 02:14:48.199 game day as they visit the McHale Center, and uh 2900 02:14:48.439 --> 02:14:50.840 Neil Smith for behind the Glass. We'll go from there. 2901 02:14:51.399 --> 02:14:54.199 But yeah, busy, busy show on a Wednesday, including a 2902 02:14:54.279 --> 02:14:55.479 couple of in studio guests. 2903 02:14:55.479 --> 02:14:55.880 There you go. 2904 02:14:56.000 --> 02:14:59.000 Special thank you today to Sean Mooney, Zach Harper, Bill Riley, 2905 02:14:59.000 --> 02:15:01.520 and Roxy Burns for the sound you made miss from 2906 02:15:01.720 --> 02:15:05.399 the show today. Website's an option. It's ESPN seven hundred 2907 02:15:05.439 --> 02:15:08.079 sports dot com. Make sure to download our mobile app 2908 02:15:08.079 --> 02:15:10.359 and take us on the go. That ESPN seven hundred 2909 02:15:10.359 --> 02:15:12.199 app is available in the App Store of the Google 2910 02:15:12.199 --> 02:15:14.720 Play Store. And then finally for what we do in 2911 02:15:14.760 --> 02:15:17.239 our space every afternoon for four hours. If you guys 2912 02:15:17.319 --> 02:15:19.399 enjoy it, thank you. But you can help us by 2913 02:15:19.399 --> 02:15:23.520 going to our podcast page on your preferred podcast platform, 2914 02:15:23.680 --> 02:15:26.680 subscribe to our show, give us a rating and a review. 2915 02:15:26.680 --> 02:15:28.359 If you say nice things in the comments and leave 2916 02:15:28.399 --> 02:15:30.520 all the stars you can, it actually helps for porter, 2917 02:15:30.600 --> 02:15:33.319 I'm spent saying tonight, join your Tuesday evening, Tuesday evening, 2918 02:15:33.399 --> 02:15:35.319 excuse me toatch you out on a Wednesday drive as 2919 02:15:35.359 --> 02:15:37.720 well as you can find out right here on ESPN 2920 02:15:37.760 --> 02:15:39.840 seven hundred ninety two NFM proud to be part of 2921 02:15:39.920 --> 02:15:41.680 Utahs ESPN Radio Network