WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:07.960 It's time for Coffee and Company, fueled by Thornton's on 2 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:09.759 Sports Talk seven ninety. 3 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.080 Holy crap, I don't know who the hell we think 4 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:12.560 when we. 5 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:16.239 Are getting off our show. Idiot, the kids are crying 6 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:16.839 or turn off. 7 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:17.839 Their countries are. 8 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:22.320 Screwing it up. Goldplea inter murals, Brother, Goldpleay intermurals. They're 9 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:25.960 supposed to be mature adults, but they're really not. Who's 10 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:29.239 the kid here? Who's the kid here? Are you kidding me? 11 00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:30.199 Now? 12 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:31.519 Here's Nick Coffee? 13 00:00:36.520 --> 00:00:37.920 All right, let's get it started. 14 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:41.039 Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome in Coffee and Company, 15 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:41.920 fueled by Thornton's. 16 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:42.399 That's us. 17 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.600 Well, that's the name of the show. My name is 18 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:48.039 Nick Coffee, Alsto Montgomery's alongside. You get the name, I assume, 19 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:51.039 and you guys are our company. So sit back, relax, 20 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:52.880 make yourself at home, let's have some fun. 21 00:00:53.479 --> 00:00:56.439 I tell you what. This is January thirteenth. 22 00:00:56.840 --> 00:00:59.240 So it feels really weird to say this, but I 23 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:01.759 kind of feel like the new year's actually starting now. 24 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:05.560 I mean, we've had the holidays, which were great, nice 25 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:08.719 to get time off, but that leads to you know, 26 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:11.280 short weeks, not all you know, I'm out a routine. 27 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:15.120 And then once we came back from you know, from 28 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:17.799 the holidays, we ended up having a week last week 29 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:19.959 that it was a full work week for us, but 30 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:22.480 it was just different with the snow and having to 31 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.079 do the show remotely a couple of days, and kids 32 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.120 being out of school. So thirteen days into twenty twenty five, 33 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:30.599 I'm hopeful that this is in fact a normal And 34 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:31.959 usually I wouldn't want to. 35 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:32.760 Have a normal. 36 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:35.120 I mean, it's nice to be able to, you know, 37 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:37.480 to do something I love, but let's be real, like, 38 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:39.239 if you can get a short week, you can extend 39 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:41.439 the weekend. I mean, that's always what you prefer. But 40 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:45.280 I am very much, very much in need of routine 41 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:47.400 and structure, and I'm hopeful that we get that as 42 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:50.120 we get this thing started. And it feels like since 43 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:52.519 the last time I was here, which of course was 44 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:54.959 just Friday at six o'clock is when I walked out 45 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:58.120 of here, that seems like it was five weeks ago 46 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:01.200 for some reason. Yeah, well for me, and usually you 47 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:03.239 would want the weekend to be, you know, great, but 48 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:07.000 we left on Friday, so as soon as the show ended, 49 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:08.840 I finished what I finished up what I had to 50 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:11.719 do here, and I was going to be headed to Pittsburgh, 51 00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:15.719 Well Columbus for the night, and then Pittsburgh on Saturday 52 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:18.639 for the game. Well, I knew on the way in 53 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:20.960 to do the show Friday afternoon that that it was 54 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:23.159 it was snowing quite a bit and it didn't seem 55 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:25.840 like it was going to be stopping. So I didn't 56 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:28.599 really do any looking into the weather while we were 57 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:31.159 on the air because I feel like had I seen 58 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:33.520 that the roads were or had I heard the reports 59 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:35.360 that the roads were terrible, then I would have been 60 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:37.360 stressing and that would have impacted the show. So I 61 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:38.719 was like, look, you know, there's nothing I can do 62 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:40.479 about it. It's going to do what it's going to do. 63 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:43.199 So let's just, you know, wait till the show ends 64 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:46.000 and evaluate the situation. So I hopped in my car 65 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:49.360 left and the roads downtown were awful. I was worried 66 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:50.919 if I was going to be able to even get 67 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:53.960 up the exit to get to get to sixty five. 68 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:55.719 I mean, yeah, that's a tricky exit, right. 69 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:58.439 My car's not My car's not super great and snow 70 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:02.520 and what usually gets me is that it's not like 71 00:03:02.599 --> 00:03:04.439 it's steep. But if you don't have any momentum and 72 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:07.240 you're like in traffic going slow. In fact, we're good 73 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:09.520 now because the roads are fine. But that's the biggest 74 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:11.439 that's those to me, that's the most obvious reason why 75 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:14.639 people end up getting stuck in weird situations is because 76 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:16.879 they just go slow. If you keep, if you maintain 77 00:03:16.919 --> 00:03:18.840 a certain level of speed, then you're gonna be you know, 78 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:21.319 you gotta be mindful of how fast you're going. But 79 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:23.360 when you barely are crawling and then you get to 80 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:25.319 a spot where you actually need to give it some gas, 81 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:28.039 but you know there's no traction because there's ice and snow, 82 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:31.199 that's when you're gonna get stuck. And anyways, I knew 83 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:32.560 we were not gonna be able to make the trip, 84 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:34.800 but I I just you know, I didn't want to. 85 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:36.199 I didn't want to accept defeat. 86 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:39.280 So I end up getting to southern Indiana where my 87 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.360 dad was because my dad had both my son and 88 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:43.319 my nephew who that was us. The four of us 89 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:44.919 were going and the plane was again I go pick 90 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:47.120 them up after the show. We had Columbus get there 91 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:49.280 about I don't know now, I'm thirty ten o'clock, get 92 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:51.199 some sleep, get up the next morning, and we'd be 93 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.960 in Pittsburgh and plenty of time for the game at noon. Well, 94 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:56.840 we we all got in the car and we made 95 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:00.759 it maybe a mile away from his home, and he said, 96 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:02.199 you know, I didn't want to be the one to 97 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:05.240 do it. Thankfully he was willing to do it and say, son, 98 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:06.639 I don't think we're gonna be able to make this 99 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:08.960 work because we would have been going up seventy one 100 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:12.759 and probably one of the most I shouldn't say the 101 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:14.919 most because I don't know the entire state, but I'll 102 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:16.720 seventy one didn't get a whole lot of love when 103 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:19.639 it comes to being treated. I mean, it's that stretch 104 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:24.160 between really Oldham County to Cincinnati. It's a really desolate 105 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:25.959 area and it's just kind of a kind of a 106 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:28.480 ghost town. So we expected the roads to be even 107 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:30.680 worse as we kept going, and we were driving like 108 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:33.560 we were driving with the snow store, meaning the more 109 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:35.600 north we were going, we were going with the snow. 110 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:40.240 So we decided to call off Friday and just say, look, 111 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:42.399 let's see if we can get up in the morning 112 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:45.759 at like three thirty and check and see what the 113 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:48.079 roads are like, see if there's you know, just do 114 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:50.560 the wayte thing and see if there's any traffic at 115 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.879 that point, any accidents, and try to just do a 116 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:57.399 straight shot from Louisville to Pittsburgh for a noon tip. 117 00:04:57.560 --> 00:04:58.759 And sure enough, that's what we did. 118 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:02.199 We got up the house at like four o'clock when 119 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:04.000 picked up my dad and we made the straight shot 120 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:07.199 up there, got there just in time. So Saturday was 121 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:08.839 fun being at the game, which we'll talk a lot 122 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.639 all about that. But the reason I mentioned it feels 123 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:12.720 like it's been so long since I've been here is 124 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:15.759 just because it's been like I feel like I everything 125 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:18.399 that took place since I left Friday, I feel like 126 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:20.519 for all of that, it would have needed to take 127 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:22.959 place in a five day window and not you know, 128 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:24.959 two and a half days essentially. 129 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:27.720 But it was a lot of fun. I mean, it's 130 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.079 one hell of a trek too. Yeah, it was. I 131 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:30.519 mean it was. 132 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.800 And I love Pittsburgh, by the way, and I knew 133 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:36.399 we'd have fun and enjoyed the trip spending time with family. 134 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:37.160 We do it every year. 135 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:40.040 But like I knew Louisville could lose it. I was 136 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:43.399 gonna tell myself, Hey, no matter what, let's just have fun, enjoyed. 137 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:45.920 It should still be a great experience. And then you know, 138 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:49.560 they won, And I wish I could give you some 139 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:55.079 fresh new perspective and thoughts on this team. But kind 140 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:57.120 of like when the previous regime, it was it was 141 00:05:57.160 --> 00:05:59.839 a rerun. You thought we were doing the same show. Ever, 142 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:02.560 or maybe we were replaying the same thing every day 143 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:05.639 because it was the same reaction, and of course there 144 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:08.199 was really nothing else that could be said whenever it 145 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:11.439 was going terribly wrong. This time around, I mean, I 146 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:13.759 could keep gushing over this team, how much I love them, 147 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:17.360 how much I have enjoyed this ride so far, how 148 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:19.920 much I'm starting to think they're actually not just doing 149 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:22.519 pretty good for what they have to work with and 150 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:25.160 really bouncing back in a big way from a few 151 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:27.560 disastrous seasons. Like all those things are true, but I 152 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:30.680 now actually think this team might be pretty good. I mean, 153 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:32.879 I don't know that for certain, and I really don't care. 154 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:34.759 I just thought I'm gonna enjoy watching them the rest 155 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.000 of the way, and they have really mean, it felt 156 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:38.839 like over the weekend. And Austin, I think you can 157 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:40.680 attest to this because you you spend a lot of 158 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:44.199 time on social media as well. This win against Pittsburgh 159 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:49.199 that felt like not a huge statement for Louisville that 160 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:52.160 here we go, we're about to, you know, be a 161 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:55.040 top twenty team and nothing like that. It was more 162 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.399 I don't know why, because Pittsburgh is a good team. 163 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.639 It's a good you know, it was a game they 164 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:02.399 could have been lost. Pittsburgh on paper was by far 165 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:04.600 and away the best opportunity left on the schedule to 166 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:06.240 get a win that had values. So maybe it does 167 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:09.399 make sense, but usually, you know, Pittsburgh, it's just not 168 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:11.040 the kind of game that would get the attention that 169 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.319 Louisville got. And it's a good thing because I feel 170 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:17.439 like after Saturday, just an anybody who follows college basketball 171 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:20.040 that has a voice that or covers college basketball, I 172 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:22.360 should say that has a voice that's big on social media. 173 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:24.839 Maybe they work for ESPN, maybe they work for FS one, 174 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:26.879 whatever it may be. I feel like nearly all of 175 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:28.959 them made some kind of a comment about how Pat 176 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:31.399 Kelsey like is doing such a phenomenal job at Louisville, 177 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:33.480 and I think we've all known that, we felt it. 178 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:37.879 It's been great the last few weeks and clearly I 179 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:40.680 think he's got respect up to that point, meaning I 180 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:43.000 think people are aware, you know, Louisville's. 181 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:44.720 Man, who knows how good they're going to be. 182 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:46.759 But man, they're no longer being led by Kenny Payne 183 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:48.720 and they're going to be much better off without him 184 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:51.240 and Kelsey like whatn't as if they were getting disrespected, 185 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:53.240 but man, it really felt like Saturday was the moment 186 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.959 where everybody was like, Okay, this is kind of crazy 187 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:57.199 this Louisville team. Not only are they doing better than 188 00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:00.360 they did before and Pat Kelsey's making it work despite 189 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:02.240 the injuries, but I feel like there was a level 190 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:05.480 of respect for this team and what Pat Kelsey's doing 191 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:08.680 that was earned on Saturday that wasn't quite to that 192 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:10.639 level until they got that win against Pitt. 193 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:13.279 No, you're right, I know, Seth Greenberg was showing a 194 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:15.879 lot of love. I know, who's our guy, John Rostein. 195 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:18.560 This is March guy. I don't know if you want 196 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:21.360 to take his opinion for granted or whatnot, but they're 197 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:23.160 getting a lot of love. Because I like to after 198 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:25.560 like a Louisville win like that, I like to type 199 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:27.439 that in on the search bar on X and see 200 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:29.759 what everybody's saying, and it seemed to be like a 201 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.240 lot of praise for Pat Kelsey. And I've honestly even 202 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:34.360 forgotten about some of the injuries and some of the 203 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.120 stuff they've been able to do with it just because 204 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:38.000 they have guys, because they've made you forget it. 205 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:41.039 They've made Yeah, they've made you realize with these wins, 206 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:44.039 with how hard they're playing, who they're beating, they've made 207 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:46.960 you forget that this wasn't supposed to happen. Not only 208 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:51.159 the results themselves, but they're looking like a really, really 209 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:55.080 good team as far as just being really physical. They're 210 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:57.600 gonna work their ass off on defense, They're gonna make 211 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:00.000 timely plays. They've got guys that can make some big shots. 212 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.279 You're right, I at times forget and it's there's no 213 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:05.480 need to to, you know, and it's it's if it 214 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.360 makes you feel even better about this team in this 215 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:10.960 situation than not yourself out. But I'm no longer thinking like, well, man, 216 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:13.600 just imagine if we had we had caseon pryor just 217 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:16.639 imagine if we had Cora Johnson. I just imagine if 218 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:19.279 we played some of those teams earlier this year that 219 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:21.799 you know, that we weren't in this position. Maybe if 220 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:23.240 we played them now it'd be different. Like I'm not 221 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:25.639 really thinking about that because I yeah, all that's true, 222 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.840 but I think as is today, they're they're pretty damn 223 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:30.000 good and they're only getting better. 224 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.720 Man m absolutely, and just some of the stuff that's 225 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:35.360 when you mentioned at the top of the show, like 226 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:37.279 how it's just gonna sound like a broken record. But 227 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:39.879 just even in the last two or three games, let's 228 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:42.159 just go to say, the last two games Clemson and 229 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.240 Pitt you have guys like James Scott stepping up and 230 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.080 kind of knowing his role a little bit. You got 231 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:50.600 Troy are finally making a big deal, and Ansel and 232 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:53.879 Mebey had a they're making most out of their minutes. 233 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:55.960 And that just wasn't a thing that we were seeing 234 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:58.440 once we saw that everybody was out, when we were 235 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:01.200 talking about Johnson, when we were talking about out. Prior 236 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:03.519 being out, it would just seem like we're left with 237 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.000 six seven guys. But now there's a little bit of 238 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:07.840 depth on the bench, and it's making them play a 239 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.799 little bit harder, and it's making them reach a little 240 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:11.879 bit better of a potential that we thought Louisville would 241 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:13.480 be of course the ceiling strength, but. 242 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.080 I don't think that. 243 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:15.840 Look, and this is what makes it even more fun 244 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:18.120 for me just to kind of sit back and really, 245 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.600 I mean if they somehow like fall apart and like 246 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:22.399 don't end up making the tournament, which I guess is 247 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:23.960 still possible, like that would be devastating. 248 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:24.720 That would really suck. 249 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:27.440 I'm not thinking about that, and I would encourage anybody 250 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:29.360 to do that because I don't expect it to happen. 251 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:32.159 But my point is this is not a year where 252 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:35.120 there's any real pressure or stress, So like that adds 253 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:37.279 to me a layer of like enjoyment of like, yeah, 254 00:10:37.320 --> 00:10:39.960 I mean, this wasn't supposed to happen. The unexpected success 255 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:43.039 is the best way I think to experience success. And 256 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:45.840 I think that's the case from a personal standpoint. I 257 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:47.919 think that's the case when you're talking about being a fan. 258 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:52.320 So I think the ceiling for this group is still 259 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:54.399 unknown because. 260 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:57.000 They're on a tear right now. 261 00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:00.559 And yeah, they did get really hot from from three 262 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:02.399 to late in that game in rain Smith, I mean, 263 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:05.240 and you kidding me, this guy insane twenty five point 264 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:08.360 seven and eleven from three Chucky hit a big one late. 265 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:10.519 I mean, this team ended up making thirteen three pointers, 266 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:13.600 shot thirty seven percent. That's if that's who They're going 267 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:16.080 to be, a thirty seven percent three point shooting team 268 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:18.399 and they can make ten or more. I mean that 269 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:20.960 that's so I don't Maybe maybe I should retract what 270 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:23.519 I was gonna say, which was the ceiling is still 271 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:26.960 unknown because they're now beating good teams. They've beat everybody 272 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:28.960 in the ACC that is believed to be at least 273 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:31.360 decent outside of Duke, who's kind of on their own. 274 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:35.080 So imagine if they really did become a little more 275 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:36.840 imagine if they shot better at the free throw line. 276 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:39.440 I mean that's I mean, this team has a free 277 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:42.639 throw issue, and I don't like it. It's scary, you 278 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.279 know that it can beat you. And it's a little 279 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:49.120 bit of a balancing act here because it's almost like 280 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:51.960 you should feel relief, like, wow, we we we shouldn't 281 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:55.759 keep being in that danger zone where we've got fifty 282 00:11:55.799 --> 00:12:00.159 percent at the line or worse. But when I say 283 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:01.639 the ceiling is still unknown, I don't mean I think 284 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:03.759 these guys are going to get you know, substantially better. 285 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:06.759 Certain players, may I mean, can I Ruse. I mean, 286 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.559 he makes a. 287 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:10.559 Couple of plays a game that if you watch those 288 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:12.320 two plays, you can tell this guy has a lot 289 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.960 of ability, a lot of talent, and then you look 290 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:15.519 at the box score and it just doesn't stand out 291 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:18.360 because he's making the most with whatever minutes that he 292 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:20.320 does get. So again, back to the whole ceiling thing, 293 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:22.600 I don't know how good they could end up being, 294 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:24.919 because again, a lot of these guys are four to 295 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:27.960 fifty year seniors, so as far as individuals, they're kind of, 296 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:30.320 you know, not to say they can't get better to 297 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.080 an extent, but my point is this, when I say ceiling, 298 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:35.159 I'm more so saying, Okay, what if they actually did 299 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:38.559 shoot it really well from three against one of these teams, 300 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:41.200 What if they did have a really good night at 301 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:43.360 the free throw line. I mean, those are things that 302 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:46.200 I think can make this team even better than what 303 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.919 we're seeing right now. And I have no problem in saying, 304 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:51.399 and what I'm seeing right now has me super super 305 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:52.720 excited for the rest of this year. 306 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.720 So it's it's just nice to be alive, you know. 307 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.639 The road trip that I went on was something that 308 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.720 I've always that I've done for for a long time 309 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:02.039 with my dad, try to try to make it a 310 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:04.600 one road game a year for louis of basketball, and 311 00:13:04.679 --> 00:13:08.000 we stopped doing it because obviously, you know, things were bad. 312 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:09.879 So we went to Duke when Kenny Payne was in 313 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:10.399 his first year. 314 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:10.879 Last year. 315 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:14.080 Instead of doing the Louisville game, we ended up going 316 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:17.240 to a Creighton Butler game up in Indy, just because 317 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:19.360 I have a buddy on staff at Butler and I 318 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:20.759 wanted to see Hinkle and it was a good Big 319 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.679 East matchup. And then that night there was the NBA 320 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:26.799 All Star the All Star festivities, So instead of a 321 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.240 Louisville game, we replaced it with that, just because obviously 322 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.440 Louisville basketball last year wasn't worth going to see on 323 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:33.399 the road. It would have been the sad, sad trip. 324 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:37.240 So anyways, to have you know, Saturday, the whole, the 325 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:40.080 whole experience being there with my fan, with my dad 326 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:42.080 and then my son. It's the time I was talking 327 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:44.600 with Paul Rodgers earlier today and I told him the 328 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.879 because I was trying to chat with him after the game, 329 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:49.440 and you know, of course it's a mad scramble at 330 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:50.639 the end of a game when they're trying to make 331 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:52.559 sure they've got everything they need for the post game stuff. 332 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:54.360 So I didn't get a chance to really chit chat 333 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:56.559 with him much, but he ended up texting me and 334 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.639 we were going back and forth, and I told him, 335 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:01.039 is this has been per timing for me because my 336 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:03.399 son is just now old enough to where he understands 337 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:05.679 like who the team is. He can name every player 338 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:08.600 like he's you know, he's old enough now to where 339 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.120 he kind of gets it and he's really into it. 340 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:12.320 And to be able to experience that with him for 341 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:15.080 the first time is awesome alone. But for to be 342 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:17.960 this team, I mean not to be corny, but like 343 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.360 it's it's freaking awesome. Like I can't think of a 344 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:23.000 better team for him to kind of, you know, cut 345 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:25.120 his teeth if you will. When it comes to really 346 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.559 just being emotionally invested in this where he's super excited 347 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:30.600 if they win, and man, he's sad if they lose. 348 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:33.399 So it's just like louisvel of basketball. We all, like 349 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:39.679 nobody's necessarily surprised that this success that they've been having, 350 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:42.480 these results that has got us back to feeling the 351 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.559 way we used to feel. 352 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:47.399 But I'm really I it's it's natural. 353 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:49.440 I mean, it makes sense, but it wasn't something I 354 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:53.080 necessarily predicted in regards to what you went through the 355 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:55.159 last three years whenever we were lifeless, and it was 356 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:57.279 it was bad like that makes this stuff so much 357 00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:58.080 more enjoyable. 358 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:00.559 I still prefer we didn't go through that. I still 359 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.039 prefer we. 360 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:06.399 Didn't have that non existent stretch seemingly, but if it 361 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:09.080 ended up in things aligning the way they are now. 362 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:11.960 And you've got Pat Kelsey for a long long time 363 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:16.559 and he keeps really utilizing everything this this job has, 364 00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:18.919 and and and he keeps working his tail off showing 365 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.799 that he's worthy of this gig. And he's certainly done 366 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:23.600 that to this point. So it's it's just again, I 367 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:26.919 know it's sounding like a broken record, and uh, it's 368 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:29.360 certainly not something that's gonna add any entertainment to the show. 369 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.679 But this has been absolutely awesome watching this team, and 370 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.240 I think they're getting better and better each time that 371 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:37.919 I mean, I felt like Saturday was going to be 372 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:39.840 the game where they played well and they just you know, 373 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:42.720 they couldn't hold on because Pitt's that good. But no, 374 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:46.480 they they they want to They want a really tough game, 375 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:50.559 and I I still think pet has a chance to 376 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:51.159 be really good. 377 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.840 This is where I'm this is this is. 378 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.360 Like a first for me because I think louis has 379 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:57.759 beat some teams this year that I felt like, hey, 380 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.559 that's a good team you beat you play him, I 381 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.840 don't know times you'd be lucky to go five hundred 382 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:04.720 because they're that good. Pitt's the team that I feel like, 383 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:08.480 you know, like I think it's the best team Louisvill's 384 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:10.919 beat this point to this point, I know, the win 385 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.639 against win against West Virginia, you win against Carolina, you 386 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:18.240 win against Florida State's actually a quad one right now 387 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:21.240 because Florida State is in the top seventy five. So 388 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.120 I mean, I I have that much respect for Pitt, 389 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:26.120 and I did on Saturday as well whenever they were 390 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:28.320 I mean Louisville, Louisville was just out working them on 391 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:28.799 the glass. 392 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.759 They were more physical. 393 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:32.720 Louisville played really good defense, but Pitt made some really 394 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.799 tough shots as well. And they've got a couple of 395 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.919 really good players. I mean. 396 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.480 Jalen Lowe, I mean he's a special, special guy. 397 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.879 Ishmael Leggett, the fifth year senior who's been a high 398 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:45.919 scorer for him. I think you got a good shot 399 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.600 from Pitt. They brought Damien dunnback from injury. What does 400 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:51.440 he do for fifteen points? Makes three or four from three? 401 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:54.559