1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: ESPN fifteen thirty, where Bengals Nation Lives. 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 2: Terry Francona is a very very very smart man, very 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 2: smart man, and he's gonna be in the Hall of Fame, 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 2: and he's one of the most universally beloved and respected 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 2: people in baseball. But I don't understand what he did 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 2: over the weekend, and we'll make that make sense coming 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 2: up in just about fifteen minutes. I'm Moeger. This is 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: ESPN fifteen thirty. Thanks for listening, Thrilled that you're with us. 9 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 2: Show preview is available right now on Twitter at moegar 10 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 2: thanks to share Facts credit Union. Become a member just 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: like me. Go to share facts dot org, Rick Browing, 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: Musketeer report dot com and NKU Radio Color Analyst is 13 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: going to join us in about forty minutes. We're done 14 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 2: early today to make room for UK basketball at five thirty, 15 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: the Wildcats taking on Sean Miller's Texas Longhorns. 16 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: More on that in a bit. 17 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 2: Good college basketball guest in the four o'clock hour, and 18 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 2: some Dan Pitcher stuff. I think the Bengals should go 19 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: overboard to keep Dan Pitcher. We'll get to that coming 20 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: up a little bit later on winners go first. Winners 21 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: go first. Miami wins last night. This was a hell 22 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 2: of a game. Tuned in with about thirteen minutes to go, 23 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 2: Miami was in the middle of completing a collapse where 24 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: they were up fourteen and a half. The last thirteen 25 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 2: minutes of that game were terrific. The atmosphere at that game, now, 26 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 2: the coach at Kent State was apparently gonna buy beers 27 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: for the students who were twenty one and over to 28 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 2: come to the game. I don't know what their typical 29 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 2: attendance is like, but the atmosphere for that game seemed awesome. 30 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: Seemed like a fair amount of Miami fans in the 31 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: stands last night. They survived. The RedHawks do a great atmosphere. 32 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: They survive a good Kent State team that had a 33 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: killer turnover with about eleven seconds to go, right when 34 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 2: they were in a position to hand Miami its first 35 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: loss of the season. This is what happens. This is 36 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: what happens when you're a really good team. If the 37 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 2: opponent lets you off the hook, you take it in overtime. 38 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 2: Did the RedHawks are twenty and Oh, it's refreshing and 39 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 2: I think it's refreshing from a few different perspectives. One is, look, man, 40 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 2: I'm a UC basketball fan, have grown up a UC 41 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 2: basketball fan, been a UC basketball fan my entire life, 42 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 2: and we are going to talk about Cincinnati versus Arizona tonight. 43 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: But I'm old enough to remember when Miami University's basketball 44 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: program was like a legitimate part of the landscape. For 45 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 2: those of us who grew up in the nineties watching 46 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 2: the ascension of UC, watching the ascension of Xavier, watching 47 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 2: Rick Patino thrive with the Kentucky Wildcats, the Miami RedHawks 48 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: were maybe not on those levels, but they were cranking 49 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 2: out rather consistently MAC championship teams and NCAA tournament teams. 50 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 2: There is no reason why that program can't be good, 51 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 2: and it's it's also fun and refreshing. From this perspective, 52 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 2: Chaos is the in college athletics. 53 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: Turnover is the rule in college. 54 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 2: Athletics, and this is something we've talked about on this show. 55 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 2: I think college basketball, I think college basketball, frankly is 56 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: hurt by this a little bit more than college football, 57 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: thenk college basketball is hurt by the fact that you 58 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 2: have a lot of folks who love the team that 59 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 2: they root for or love the school that they went to, 60 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: but they they don't love it as much as they 61 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 2: used to, and they don't love college basketball as much 62 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 2: as they used to. They don't love rooting for their 63 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 2: favorite team as much as they used to because they 64 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: don't feel like they have a connection to the players, 65 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 2: because the players don't have a connection to their school. 66 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 2: Travis Steele's team, there are ten players from last year's team, 67 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: which was this close to making the tournament, on this 68 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: year's team. There's been some continuity what any of those 69 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 2: guys are getting in terms of nil I have no idea, 70 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: but there is a little bit of a throwback feel 71 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 2: to it, and you can enjoy a throwback field. None 72 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: of us, at least I don't think any of us, 73 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 2: but none of us want college basketball to go back 74 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 2: to the way it was, even as recently as like 75 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: ten years ago. 76 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: I don't think anybody wants that. 77 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 2: But for those of us who who would would would 78 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,119 Speaker 2: love things to kind of swing at least a little back, 79 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: a little bit back towards the way things used to be. 80 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 2: The Miami RedHawks with their current roster, with how they've played, 81 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 2: or a fun story. We also love a redemption story. 82 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 2: And look, there's a lot of head coaches who have 83 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 2: maybe not necessarily had a ton of success at one level, 84 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,359 Speaker 2: and don't take this the wrong way, but they've they've 85 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 2: they've dropped down a level and they have success. And 86 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: don't get mad at me for saying that the MAC 87 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 2: is not the Big East. Call it what it is. 88 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 2: But there's something sort of redemptive about Travis Steele who 89 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 2: leaves Xavier. And it was kind of gnarly at the 90 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 2: end there, right they're playing in the EDI, nobody goes 91 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 2: to their first round an IT game. The school quickly 92 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 2: moves on. Travis Steele has sort of cast aside very 93 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 2: quickly because Xavier can hire Sean Miller. And what Xavier 94 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,679 Speaker 2: did made sense at the time and it makes sense now. 95 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: But it was reasonable to wonder, like, what's gonna happen 96 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 2: with Travis Steele? What to make of Travis Steele? What 97 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 2: is are we done hearing from that guy? Is he 98 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: going to go back to being an assistant coach? Is 99 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: he going to get another chance to be a head coach? 100 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: Is he going to be given another chance to be 101 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: a head coach at the high major level? Well, he 102 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: almost instantly ends up at Miami. It took a couple 103 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 2: of years for him to get his program going and now, 104 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 2: and I'm certainly not saying that this will happen or 105 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: even should happen, but you have folks wondering, like, all right, 106 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 2: where is Travis Steele going to get his next quote 107 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 2: big time opportunity. That is a conversation for two months 108 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 2: from now. In the interim, it's fun to watch an 109 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 2: area team chase an undefeated season. You could say whatever 110 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 2: you want about their schedule. All you can do is 111 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 2: play who you got to play. They have survived some challenges. 112 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 2: They probably should have lost the game on Saturday to 113 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: Buffalo didn't. Probably should have lost the game last night 114 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: to kent State didn't. If you are going to offer 115 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 2: a special season, sometimes you have to dodge bullets. Travis 116 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: Steel's team did last night. Fun evening This evening college 117 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: basketball tonight on ESPN fifteen thirty. Kentucky plays Texas. Pregame 118 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: at five thirty, so we're done early. The question is 119 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 2: can UK win a game without falling behind by seventeen 120 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: or eighteen points? Because you could look at those games 121 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 2: again from multiple perspectives. You love the fact that they 122 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: have found ways to win games that you could argue 123 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 2: maybe they should now against a pretty good Tennessee team, 124 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 2: but a really bad LSU team, they fall behind by 125 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 2: eighteen against one seventeen in the other. They win both. 126 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 2: That is, as we say, not sustainable. Can they win 127 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,559 Speaker 2: a game tonight against Sean Miller's Texas Longhorns without falling 128 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: behind seventeen or eighteen points? What do the Xavier Musketeers 129 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: have in store for an opponent that just over a 130 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: month ago handed Xavier it's most lopsided ever loss at 131 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 2: the Centas Center hung ninety eight on the Musketeers. Now, 132 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: Xavier's team looks better and has played better since that 133 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: loss to Creighton. What they're doing right now offensively in 134 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: the open court at times has been something to behold. 135 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: I'm not sure how good Creighton is. They're not in 136 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: the upper tier of teams in the Big East, but 137 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: they certainly look like it that night they played Xavier. 138 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 2: Here can Xavier author a forty two point turnaround against the. 139 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: Blue Jays this evening in Omaha and also tonight? 140 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: Can the Bearcats give themselves a chance in each of 141 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 2: these Big Twelve games? Pretty much in every game they've 142 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: played this year, they have given themselves a chance, and 143 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 2: sometimes they've lowered themselves to the level of competition, and 144 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: sometimes they have risen to the level of competition. That 145 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 2: was certainly the case in the game against Iowa State, 146 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 2: it was the case in the game against Houston. Now, 147 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 2: against Houston, they couldn't get the win. Against Iowa State, 148 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: they did, But can they give themselves a chance in 149 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 2: the final few minutes tonight? It's not so much about 150 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: do they get the win, as awesome as that would be, 151 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: it's do they even give themselves a chance in the 152 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 2: final four or five six minutes to even have a 153 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 2: chance to win the game. Arizona is the unanimous number 154 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: one overall team in the country. Cincinnati is a thirteen 155 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: and a half point underdog. This opened at fifteen and 156 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 2: a half. It climbed to sixteen and a half. Right 157 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 2: now it's thirteen and a half. The Wildcats this season 158 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 2: have destroyed Alabama, They have hammered Auburn. They have wins 159 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 2: over Florida, Yukon, and Ucla. They have won each of 160 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 2: their five Big Twelve games by an average of thirteen points. 161 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 2: This team tonight will be an absolute load and it's 162 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:02,079 Speaker 2: on the road for Cincinnati year is what I wish. 163 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: And I don't spend a ton of time talking about, 164 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: you know, the games that aren't gonna happen or circumstances 165 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: that aren't gonna materialize, because what's the point. But you 166 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 2: just look at a game like tonight. Early in the season, 167 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 2: it was abundantly clear Arizona had a chance to be 168 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: the class of the Big Twelve. Time will tell if 169 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: they proved to be that by the end of the season. 170 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 2: But they're obviously a national title threat, obviously a team 171 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 2: that has a very good chance to win the Big Twelve. 172 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 2: What of a handful of teams that you have to 173 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 2: include in the conversation as the best in the entire sport. 174 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 2: It just you look at a game like tonight. You 175 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 2: understand the uphill battle the Bearcats face. You understand the 176 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 2: uphill battle that pretty much anybody would face in a 177 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 2: game like tonight. And I just said this to Tony 178 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: about twenty minutes ago. You just wish to god, they 179 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 2: were like, I don't know, fourteen and four or fifteen 180 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 2: and three, you wish that this could be this sort 181 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 2: of game that you go, you know what you steal 182 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: this one, you get this one. It's a landmark, signature victory. 183 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 2: It's one that can just completely boost your resume. It's 184 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: one that you circle on the resume in black magic 185 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 2: marker and keep it there to the end of the season. Instead, 186 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 2: they're ten and eight and nobody's talking about this games 187 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 2: in terms of what it could catapult the Bearcats toward. 188 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:24,319 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean that if they could. 189 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 2: Pull off the upset tonight, and I laugh because it's 190 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 2: almost hard to imagine this happening. But if they could 191 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 2: pull off the upset tonight, it wouldn't be awesome because 192 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 2: it would be so we'll see. We'll talk about the 193 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: game in greater detail a little bit later on. Arizona 194 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 2: offensively and defensively is in the top six of the 195 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 2: Ken Palm adjusted efficiency rankings. I think the thing that 196 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: stands out more to me is not just how efficient 197 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 2: they are on the offensive end, but how good they 198 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: are grabbing rebounds on the offensive end. And to a 199 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 2: large degree, I think it's going to come down to that, 200 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 2: Cincinnati's defense has been good for much of the season. 201 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 2: You're probably at times going to be helpless against a 202 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 2: really good offensive team in Arizona. But when you force missus, 203 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: who gets the rebound. If the answer is Arizona, the 204 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 2: Wildcats are going to win this game, and probably win 205 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 2: it by a lot. If the answer is Cincinnati, maybe 206 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 2: they could keep it close, as they have for pretty 207 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 2: much every big game they've been in all season long. 208 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 2: And then the question becomes, can they execute down the 209 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 2: stretch against one really good team? Earlier this season the 210 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: answer was no, against one, excuse me, really good team. 211 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 2: On Saturday, the answer was yes. Sixteen minutes after three o'clock, 212 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 2: our lines are open five point three seven four nine, 213 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: fifteen thirty eight sixty six, seven oh two three seven 214 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 2: seven six. So we played audio yesterday of a Tito 215 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 2: Francona doing something that all of us should do. But 216 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 2: when all of us do what Tito Francona did, there's 217 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 2: then something we then do next. The Reds haven't done that. 218 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 2: I'll explain next on ESPN fifteen. 219 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 3: Thirty, WCKY, Cincinnati and iHeartRadio Station Guaranteed Human ESPN fifteen thirty, 220 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 3: I Heard Radio. 221 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 2: Twenty one after three. This is ESPN fifteen thirty. Anything 222 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 2: you may have missed on this show, go get now 223 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 2: or later on the iHeartRadio app. Paul Danner Junior on 224 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 2: the Bengals yesterday was as usual terrific. We talked Dan Pitcher, 225 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 2: We talked about the NFL teams that have decided to 226 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 2: move on from their coaches, some possible cat casualties, Orlando Brown, 227 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 2: so much more. Listen to the conversation in its entirety 228 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 2: wherever you want, whenever you want on the iHeartRadio app, 229 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,439 Speaker 2: or you could go to ESPN fifteen thirty dot com 230 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 2: and find the podcast page podcasts or a service of 231 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,719 Speaker 2: long Neck Sports Grow loaded college basketball night tonight in 232 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 2: the area. 233 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: Watch your favorite team, or watch teams you hate. 234 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 2: If you like to hate, watch any of the three 235 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 2: long Next locations Wilder, Hebron and Richwood, four KTVs all 236 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 2: over the place, awesome menu, tons of cold beard excuse me, 237 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 2: and each location very very easy to get to. We 238 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 2: played this audio in the five o'clock hour yesterday, and 239 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 2: I've thought about I've thought about what Tito, what Terry 240 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 2: Francona had to say a lot since I heard his 241 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 2: conversation with Lance on Friday. By the way, if you 242 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 2: want to hear that in its entirety, you could also 243 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 2: find that on the iHeartRadio app. This is the part 244 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 2: of that conversation that I think got the most attention. 245 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 2: It's the part that we have focused on the most, 246 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 2: and I have more to say about it. So Tarren, 247 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 2: go ahead and play that from Friday night on seven 248 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 2: hundred WLW. 249 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 4: So, when we were going through good times last year, 250 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 4: our bullpen was rested and deep, and when we struggled, 251 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 4: we were relying on guys like Santion but gotten way 252 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 4: too much. Now we've got some depth. We added some 253 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 4: left handers. So and it's it's not just when you're winning, 254 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 4: but you know, when you're down by two in the 255 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 4: sixth guys give you a chance to come back and 256 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 4: win some of those games and also not bury the 257 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 4: guys at the end of the game. But you make 258 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 4: a good point because there's different styles. Now again, we're 259 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 4: not going to leave the league in runs, is my guess. 260 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 4: That's just being honest. But I would rather try to 261 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 4: play with a really good pitching staff and team that 262 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 4: catches the ball than when you score, it's meaningful. Trying 263 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 4: to win ten to nine is really hard. You got 264 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 4: to do it sometimes, but it's a hard way to 265 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 4: play there. 266 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 2: It goes down Terry Francona with Lance from Redsfest on 267 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 2: Friday night, and like, my first reaction, and I talked 268 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 2: about this yesterday, but my first reaction was, why does 269 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 2: it have to be either or? Like, it doesn't have 270 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 2: to be win ten to nine or win three to two. 271 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 2: If you want to rest your relievers more, if you 272 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: want to rest your high leverage guys more often, if 273 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 2: you don't want to tax your bullpen or your starting pitchers, 274 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 2: one way to do it is to score more runs. 275 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 2: Like yeah, man, trying to win every game ten to 276 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 2: nine is not sustainable at all. But if you're trying 277 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 2: to win the World Series, trying to win every game 278 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 2: two to one, three to two also doesn't seem sustainable. 279 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: What you're hoping for. 280 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: You're hoping for is a deep enough team, a good 281 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 2: enough team, a balanced enough team that you can win 282 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 2: your share of not necessarily blowouts, but you score enough 283 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 2: runs that not every game is filled with high leverage 284 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: outs and high leverage innings, Not every game comes down 285 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 2: to a pitch or two that you don't need to 286 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 2: burn a reliever when you know, deep down inside it 287 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 2: might be best for him to have the night off. 288 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 2: It doesn't have to be either or. It shouldn't be 289 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: either or. So you know, I use extreme examples like, yeah, 290 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 2: you're not gonna win ten to nine games consistently and 291 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 2: hope to win a title. Uh so let's let's win 292 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 2: these low scoring games we're scoring, Matt. How about win 293 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 2: eight to one more frequently. How about put your relief 294 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 2: pictures in non save situations more frequently. How about look 295 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 2: at the starting pitcher and go, we're gonna give you 296 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 2: some rope because the score dictates there's margin for error 297 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 2: because we've scored enough runs. It doesn't have to be 298 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 2: either or, And so like framing it the way he did, 299 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 2: and Terry Francona, I don't have to say this, but 300 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 2: I will anyway. Terry Francona is a Hall of Fame manager, 301 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 2: So yes, I mean, he's got bona fides that none 302 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 2: of us do. But I don't understand. I don't understand 303 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 2: kind of leaning into the well. You know, our offense 304 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 2: isn't gonna be all that good, but that's okay because 305 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 2: we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna win more games three 306 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 2: to two. Like, how about fix the entire team, not 307 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 2: overhaul it not make drastic changes everywhere, and part of 308 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 2: what he's doing is pointing out the work they've done 309 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:19,120 Speaker 2: in the bullpen. And I think every even skeptical observer 310 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 2: would be okay with the work the Reds have done 311 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 2: in their bullpen. They've signed legitimate, established relief pitchers. That's 312 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: really good, but it doesn't excuse the fact that they've 313 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 2: done nothing substantial to the offense. By the way, if 314 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 2: you were holding out hope that they would jump into 315 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 2: the Cody Bellinger fray, that's not gonna happen. He reups 316 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 2: with the Yanks five years, one hundred and sixty two 317 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 2: point five mil Luise Robert, I feel like we've spent 318 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 2: two years talking about the Reds in their pursuit of 319 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 2: Louise Robert. Well, that's going to end because the Red Sox, 320 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, the White Sox have traded him to the Mets. 321 00:17:57,720 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 2: So Luise Robert goes to New York across him. All 322 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 2: off your list a Juhanio Suarez is still out there. 323 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 2: But the other thing that Terry Frank ConA did, he 324 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 2: did something that we should all do, right. He acknowledged 325 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 2: a flaw. By the way, in this day and age. 326 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 2: Nobody does that. He acknowledged a flaw. He didn't come 327 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: out and say we're gonna have a hard time scoring runs. 328 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 2: He didn't come out and say our offense is maybe 329 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 2: gonna be below league average. He didn't come out and say, 330 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,360 Speaker 2: you know, our offense has a pretty low ceiling. He 331 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 2: framed it in a way that you know you don't 332 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 2: have to You don't have to strain yourself to figure 333 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 2: out what he's saying. We're not going to lead the 334 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 2: league in runs. He is acknowledging a flaw. The Reds 335 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 2: offense is their flaw. The lack of pop is their flaw. 336 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,479 Speaker 2: Doesn't mean that players from last year's team can't perform 337 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 2: better this year, and if they do well, then the 338 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: offense is maybe a little bit better. But he acknowledged 339 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 2: a flaw. But what good is acknowledging a flaw if 340 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 2: nobody's going to fix it? Like there's the issue, right 341 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 2: Tito points out the flaw. The front office doesn't seem 342 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: like it's doing anything to fix it. Maybe they do. 343 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 2: I keep being told there's time spring training this and 344 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 2: start for a few weeks. By the way, first Cactus 345 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 2: League game is one month from today. But if I 346 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 2: point out a flaw, if I point out a flaw 347 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 2: in my house, okay, that's cool. What are you going 348 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 2: to do to fix it? Somebody points out, you know 349 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 2: what my personality I just have, I have a really 350 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 2: bad temper. 351 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: That's cool that you acknowledge it. What are you going 352 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: to do. 353 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 2: To fix it? Hey, our offense isn't very good? Yes, Tito, 354 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 2: we agree. These statistics would say as much. Advance metrics 355 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 2: and projections say as much. Neat what's going to be 356 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 2: done to fix it? Nobody seems to have that answer. 357 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 2: And by the way, the off season has been underway 358 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 2: for more than three and a half months, so okay, fine, 359 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 2: and it's an acknowledgment or bullpen is better? By the way, 360 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 2: one of the goals this offseason was to make the 361 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 2: bullpen better. They have acknowledged last year's flaw that it 362 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 2: was good at the very top. You needed some depth, needed, 363 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 2: maybe more clearly defined roles. 364 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: Mission accomplished. Great work, Nick Krawl. 365 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 2: But if you get an A over here in one 366 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 2: class and an F over here in one class, well 367 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 2: then the average is a C. And that's what the 368 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 2: off season grade should be. You don't get a's for 369 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 2: ignoring something that you're bad at. So like I heard that, 370 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 2: and it's like man Tino is acknowledging. He is pointing 371 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 2: out their flat, and he's pointing it out before the 372 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 2: season begins. He's also pointing it out when there's more 373 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 2: than two months to go before the season starts, so 374 00:20:53,640 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 2: there is some time. But there's absolutely no use in saying, yes, 375 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 2: we're not going to be good at this. If you're 376 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 2: not active, proactive and trying to fix what you're not 377 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 2: good at. That rule applies to life. I think it 378 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 2: applies to a major league baseball team. What good is 379 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 2: pointing out the flaw if nobody's going to fix it. 380 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: It is not Terry Francona's job to fix the roster. 381 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 2: And by the way we say fix, it's probably the 382 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 2: wrong word. Don't need an overhaul, need like one legit bat. 383 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 2: They've also acknowledged we need a legit bat, because they 384 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 2: at least kind of went after one. His name was 385 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 2: Kyle Schwarmer. What good is acknowledging a flaw if no 386 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 2: one's going to fix it? Three point thirty sports headlines 387 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 2: are next phone calls coming out five point three seven, 388 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 2: four nine fifteen thirty. This is ESPN fifteen thirty. Oh, 389 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 2: you are gonna hear the Ultimate kill Joy. The Ultimate 390 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 2: kill Joy next on ESPN fifteen thirty. 391 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,640 Speaker 1: ESPN fIF fifteen thirty. Cincinnati's sports station. 392 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 2: Sports headlines are a service of Kelsey Chevrolet at home 393 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 2: of lifetime powertrain protection and guarantee credit approval from their 394 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 2: family the Yours for Life kelseyshev dot Com. The Tampa 395 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 2: Bay Buccaneers today announced that they have conducted a virtual 396 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 2: interview with Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher to become Tampa 397 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 2: Bay's new offensive coordinator. 398 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: Stay tuned, things. 399 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 2: Will get, as we say, hot and heavy, perhaps if 400 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 2: we find out that Dan is going to conduct an 401 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 2: in person interview virtual interview. I have very few goals professionally. 402 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 2: One of them is to never engage in a virtual 403 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 2: interview like want me to interview for your job? Fly 404 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:53,479 Speaker 2: me down there, especially in Tampa where it's much warmer 405 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 2: that it's been here. College basketball tonight, Cincinnati looks for 406 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 2: a win over the number one ranked team in the 407 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 2: country for the time since November of nineteen ninety eight, 408 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 2: as the Bearcats take on undefeated and top rated Arizona 409 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 2: Tip off tonight at nine on seven hundred WLW Xavier 410 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 2: looks for a third consecutive win as the Musketeers take 411 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:16,199 Speaker 2: on Creighton in Omaha. That game at seven o'clock. Tonight 412 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:21,399 Speaker 2: on fifty five KRC. Kentucky battles Texas this evening. That 413 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 2: game tips off at seven pm on ESPN fifteen thirty. 414 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 2: The Wildcats looking for a fourth consecutive win and Dayton's 415 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: won five straight games. The Flyers on the road tonight 416 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 2: against lasle That game tips off at six thirty. College football, 417 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty six UC football schedule was released earlier today. 418 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: I will read the schedule for you quickly. 419 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 2: Bearcats open up the season or home against Boston College 420 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 2: Week one, home for Western Carolina. 421 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: Week two. 422 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 2: The Miami game is going to be at the Avenue 423 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,719 Speaker 2: originally known as Paul Brown Stadium. Saturday September the nineteenth, 424 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 2: the Big twelve opener. Bearcats will host k State Saturday 425 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 2: September the twenty six at Arizona Saturday, October third, My Birthday, 426 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 2: Saturday October the seventeenth, Cincinnati's out West Virginia home for 427 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 2: Texas Tech. On ten twenty four home for Utah and 428 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,640 Speaker 2: ten thirty one on the road consecutive weeks at Houston 429 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 2: on eleven seven, at Iowa State on eleven fourteen, home 430 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 2: for Colorado and Dion Sanders on Saturday, November the twenty first, 431 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 2: winding down the regular season on the road at BYU 432 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: on Saturday eleven twenty eight, the Big twelve Championship game, 433 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 2: it was announced yesterday is moving to Friday nights and 434 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,360 Speaker 2: that game will take place at Jerry World on Friday, 435 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:40,719 Speaker 2: December the fourth. Make your plans now five point three 436 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: seven four nine, fifteen thirty. Thanks to those who have 437 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 2: waited patiently so far. Rob in Northern Kentucky. You're on 438 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 2: ESPN fifteen thirty, Rob, good afternoon. How are you hey man? 439 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 5: Thanks for calling me back. Appreciate that. 440 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: No problem. 441 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 5: I want to make comment. I guess or I guess 442 00:24:59,280 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 5: maybe a. 443 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:03,120 Speaker 6: Question to you or maybe we looking what with TV 444 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 6: said as being maybe a little too or look at 445 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 6: it maybe a little too close, because I think he's 446 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 6: a knitting that. You know, we're just not, you know, 447 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,719 Speaker 6: gonna be a great offensive team. And I agree with 448 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 6: you as far as what they've done in the off season, 449 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 6: you know, typical Reds or Bengals, you know, they could 450 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 6: say not much to improve it, but also too if 451 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 6: you look at the you looked at some of the 452 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 6: statistics in the last decade, how many teams do you 453 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 6: think led the league and led the Major leagues in 454 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:36,719 Speaker 6: scoring runs? 455 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 1: Like? 456 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 2: How many how many teams led the league and score 457 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 2: well one per season? 458 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 1: Does? 459 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 6: Now I'm saying, how many teams won the World Series 460 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 6: and also led the league and led the Major Leagues 461 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 6: and runs? 462 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 2: Well, I could tell you the Dodgers two years ago 463 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 2: came in second and the Yankees came in third. Those 464 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,400 Speaker 2: two teams played in the World Series. 465 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 6: Well, in the last ten years, three teams have led 466 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 6: the league or led Major Leagues and scoring runs. So yeah, 467 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 6: schooling runs is definitely a factor of winning a World Series, 468 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 6: but it's not the whole factor. I think playing defense 469 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 6: and pitching are your two things that come before that, 470 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,199 Speaker 6: and in the offense probably be your third thing that 471 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 6: really can't put you over the top. 472 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 2: Well, let me ask you this, how many teams in 473 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 2: the last ten years finished fourteenth in runs per game 474 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 2: and won the World Series? 475 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:30,680 Speaker 6: I agree with you on that. That's what I'm saying 476 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 6: that that back in it's got to improve yeah. 477 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 1: And that's the thing. 478 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 2: I don't think anybody is realistically thinking that the Reds 479 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 2: could find somebody that's going to take this team from 480 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 2: middle of the pack to the best in the sport. 481 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 2: But I think you would agree after having watched them 482 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 2: last year, they do need more offense. And maybe it's 483 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 2: in the form of home runs, which I love home runs. 484 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 2: Maybe it's in the form of somebody who's getting on 485 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 2: base that would be a better fit at the top 486 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:06,120 Speaker 2: of the order. But they won eighty three games last 487 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 2: year despite having very good starting pitching. The team's offensive 488 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 2: potential all season was limited. I don't want to win 489 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 2: eighty three games this year. I want to win closer 490 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 2: to ninety and I think you have a better chance 491 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 2: of doing that if you boost for offense. 492 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: And they haven't done that this year. 493 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 6: Yeah, I agree with you, but once you get in 494 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 6: that tournament, then it's all the ball game. But yeah, 495 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,120 Speaker 6: you got to have some offense to get there too. 496 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 5: I mean, like you said, but I just want to 497 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 5: kind of point that out that I. 498 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:34,879 Speaker 6: Don't think offense was Ito t was kind of I 499 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 6: don't think he was saying that we're going to be 500 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,359 Speaker 6: a terrible offensive team. I think he was saying that 501 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 6: maybe there'll be more opportunities with Whey. He's kind of 502 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 6: manas a team this year. 503 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I appreciate the phone call. I don't 504 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 2: think anybody thinks they're going to be a terrible offensive team. 505 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,679 Speaker 2: They weren't a terrible offensive team last year. They were 506 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 2: okay or middle. 507 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,920 Speaker 1: Of the pack. But I don't. It's like I say this. 508 00:27:57,880 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 2: About the Bengals all the time. I hear, but all 509 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 2: they need is average defense. On one level, I understand 510 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 2: that I want a great defense in the fourth quarter. 511 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:08,880 Speaker 2: I want a defense in the fourth quarter that when 512 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,679 Speaker 2: it's time to like seal the game, is great, is 513 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 2: great at getting off the field when the game is 514 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 2: hanging in the balance. I think if you aim for 515 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 2: middle to pack, then your Flora lowers or fourteenth in 516 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 2: the league last season and run scored per game. I 517 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,880 Speaker 2: don't I don't see as I look at those rankings 518 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 2: right now, at the top of my head, I don't 519 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 2: say anybody else who made the postseason who's below them, 520 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 2: it'd be better offensively. Just there's there's no there's no 521 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 2: other way to gotta be better offensively. And I think 522 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 2: what Tito was doing was acknowledging that there are offensive 523 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 2: limitations while pointing out the fact that they are probably 524 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 2: better equipped to win low scoring, close games. That part 525 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 2: is awesome, But I don't want to just win the 526 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 2: three two games. I want to be equipped to win 527 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 2: games where, hey, you know what, the bullpen falters or 528 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 2: starting pitcher puts you behind the eight ball and gives 529 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 2: up a bunch of runs, or there's a critical error 530 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 2: later in the game and you know what, Now, now 531 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 2: you gotta overcome it with your bats. They may have 532 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 2: a championship starting staff, they may have a championship bullpen. 533 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 2: There's barely been an attempt to take a league average 534 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 2: offense and turn it into anything resembling a championship offense. 535 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 2: And I think the frustrating thing is they're not awful. 536 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:47,960 Speaker 2: Nobody said they needed offensive upgrades, but and that meant, 537 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,640 Speaker 2: you know, go and and trade away. You're in entire 538 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 2: middle of the batting order, or overhaul four to five positions. 539 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 2: Go at a legitimate bat like one, go at one 540 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 2: a legitimate bat. 541 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 1: It hasn't happened, And that's frustrating. It's frustrating. 542 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 2: If you've watched, if you watched last year's team at 543 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 2: times look totally stuck in the mud. On offense, it 544 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 2: feels like they're overly dependent on a lot of things 545 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 2: going right this year that didn't go right last year. 546 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 2: And by the way, if two of those things go better, 547 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 2: this offense will be better. If if Matt McClain performs 548 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 2: as as well as they expected him to last year, 549 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 2: that'll help. But if Eli Dela Cruz isn't hurt, chances 550 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 2: are that'll help significantly. 551 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: That doesn't. 552 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 2: That shouldn't preclude you from finding help from elsewhere, and 553 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 2: they haven't. I still may, but they haven't. So it 554 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 2: gets back to my original thing. Tito acknowledged a flaw. 555 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 2: It's one thing to acknowledge a flaw. It's something else 556 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 2: to do something about it. That has not happened a 557 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 2: quarter to four, five point three seven four nine fifteen 558 00:30:56,320 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 2: thirty Xavier was crushed by Creighton the first time the 559 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 2: Musketeers played the Blue Jays. The rematches tonight NK you 560 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 2: lost the tough one over the weekend to Robert Morris, 561 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 2: Rick Buring talks about both next, Hey, Alexa, What's going 562 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 2: on in baseball? 563 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: Lock from iHeartRadio ten Away from four o'clock. 564 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 2: This is ESPN fifteen to thirty milegra Thanks thanks for listening. 565 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 2: On Wednesdays, we are joined by our guy Rick Buring 566 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 2: Musketeer Report dot com, covering Xavier basketball. He is also 567 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 2: the color analyst for NKU radio broadcasts in addition to 568 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 2: his many other endeavors and on x at Rick Buring. 569 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: Hi, Hi Rick, How you doing? 570 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 7: Hi? 571 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 2: Moll? Xavier played Creighton the first time that game was here. 572 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 2: It did not go well. They lost by forty one points. 573 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 2: How do they avoid a similar faith this evening. 574 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 8: By doing the exact opposite of everything they did? 575 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 1: They in that game. 576 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 8: It was a complete disaster. 577 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna huge echo on this. I don't know, you 578 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 1: sound amazing, Okay, just a little. 579 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 8: Hard to you know, if they can't hear yourself at 580 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:16,520 Speaker 8: the same time, but you know they they played really 581 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 8: poorly in that game on both ends of the court. 582 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 8: They couldn't generate any looks on the offensive end because 583 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 8: Creighton plays a style of defense where they stick to shooters, 584 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:27,880 Speaker 8: they kind of guard you one on one and Vager 585 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 8: just didn't generate any paint touches that that game. They 586 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 8: weren't able to drive past those one on one matchups, 587 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 8: and so if you're not going to beat the one 588 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 8: on one matchups and they're attached to your shooters, not 589 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 8: a lot for your offense to do, especially when you 590 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:44,360 Speaker 8: don't have post up options like Xavier Lax. So the 591 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 8: offensive part of it is going to be really difficult 592 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 8: for them against the style of creating plays if they're 593 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 8: not able to get into the paint tonight. So I 594 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 8: think that's the biggest thing. And then on the defensive end, 595 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 8: they were really chasing the ball that entire game, the 596 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 8: way Creighton plays on the perimeter, with so many different 597 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 8: and screening actions. They'll use ball screen actions, they'll use 598 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:05,920 Speaker 8: off ball screening actions, they'll play in transition to get 599 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 8: open looks from three and then and then they cut 600 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 8: into the pain as well. It's not just like they're 601 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 8: settling for nothing but threes. So it's a different a 602 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 8: different style for Xavier to guard and a difficult. 603 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:17,800 Speaker 1: Style for them to guard. 604 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 8: But yeah, it's hard to be optimistic when the last 605 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 8: time you played in your own gym you lost by 606 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:24,160 Speaker 8: forty one point. 607 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 1: No question. 608 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 2: Can they can they run against the Blue Jays the 609 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 2: way they ran against their last two opponents. 610 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 8: I think they'll try to the problem with Creton a 611 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:36,960 Speaker 8: little bit is that Creighton wants to do the same 612 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 8: thing on their offensive end, right, Like, if you want 613 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 8: to get up and down with Creyton, you're probably going 614 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,400 Speaker 8: to give up some threes to Creighton too, So that's 615 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:47,320 Speaker 8: part of it on the defensive end. But yeah, I mean, offensively, 616 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:49,880 Speaker 8: there's no doubt that Xavier is at its best when 617 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 8: they can get out in transition and get the ball 618 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 8: moving and get some easy three point looks, especially, so 619 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 8: I'm sure that'll be part of the game plan. 620 00:33:59,040 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 1: We'll see how it does. 621 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 2: H Obviously, you know, with players being able to go 622 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 2: wherever they want, whenever they want, that obviously is a 623 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 2: big caveat to this. How many players on the current 624 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:13,200 Speaker 2: Xavier roster would you say would be of guys who 625 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 2: have eligibility left at the end of the season, which 626 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,480 Speaker 2: maybe that's an entirely different conversation, but of players who 627 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:20,840 Speaker 2: have eligibility left at the end of the season that 628 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 2: are on Xavier's current roster, how many of them would 629 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 2: you say could be building blocks and would be welcomed 630 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 2: with open arms on next year's team. 631 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,880 Speaker 8: Yeah, that's a really good question. I think that's probably 632 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 8: the biggest storyline for this year's leager team. 633 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 1: The rest of the way. 634 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 8: You know, when you look at the way Richard Patino 635 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:44,120 Speaker 8: and his staff handled the transfer portal last season, He's 636 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:46,120 Speaker 8: made no buns about it. He's mentioned multiple times that 637 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:48,440 Speaker 8: we understand it's a year to year deal and nothing 638 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:51,359 Speaker 8: is guaranteed in terms of players staying. But they took 639 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:54,799 Speaker 8: five sophomores, and they were purposeful in doing that because 640 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:57,919 Speaker 8: they were hoping a couple of those guys would maybe 641 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 8: stick around and would develop into something and you'd have 642 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:03,799 Speaker 8: some building blocks for the future. Now, as things stand 643 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 8: right now, I don't think there's a ton of excitement 644 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:09,880 Speaker 8: about the idea that like, Okay, yeah, you've found a 645 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:13,040 Speaker 8: clear stud going into next season, and this is your 646 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 8: guy that you're your centerpiece that you want to pay 647 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 8: a bunch of money for and build around. But I've 648 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:21,239 Speaker 8: also told fans, like one of the challenges Xavier faced 649 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:23,640 Speaker 8: in last year's transfer portal was they were trying to 650 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:27,360 Speaker 8: piece together an entire roster aside from Roddy Anderson, you know, 651 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:30,440 Speaker 8: trying to find eleven twelve guys all at once in 652 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 8: the transfer portal, Granted, you're always going to be looking 653 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 8: for several it seems like the new way that the 654 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 8: sport is handled, but trying to find an entire team 655 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:41,560 Speaker 8: at once is really difficult, and so there is value 656 00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 8: in it's nothing else of having your tenth, ninth, and 657 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 8: eighth guy in place. 658 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:47,760 Speaker 1: Maybe, So I think. 659 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:50,319 Speaker 8: There's no doubt that having some of those guys stick 660 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:52,399 Speaker 8: around is going to be part of the plan, and 661 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 8: it's valuable. In terms of the guys that I'd be 662 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,879 Speaker 8: excited about right now as a Xavior fan, I think 663 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 8: Jova Malichovich is chief among them. He's made more three 664 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:04,279 Speaker 8: pointers as a guy six to nine or taller than 665 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:06,759 Speaker 8: any one in Division one basketball, So I mean, I 666 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:08,960 Speaker 8: think he's the second highest, but he's he's right up 667 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,040 Speaker 8: there at the top of the entire nation in terms 668 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,839 Speaker 8: of three pointers made by big men. And for him 669 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:16,120 Speaker 8: in a sophomore year to make the jump he's made, 670 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:19,040 Speaker 8: I think next year, if you're not even relying on 671 00:36:19,120 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 8: him for as big of a scoring role on the 672 00:36:21,239 --> 00:36:23,279 Speaker 8: offensive end, if he's more of a role guy for 673 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:26,680 Speaker 8: you and just a perimeter threat, more of a specialist, 674 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:29,160 Speaker 8: he could maybe excel even more in that. 675 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:30,320 Speaker 5: Pull At the Big East level. 676 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,600 Speaker 8: So that's that's the guy that I think I'd be 677 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:35,399 Speaker 8: most excited about. Another guy that's starting to come on, though, 678 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:39,319 Speaker 8: is pop Enji at the center position, and he's been 679 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:41,440 Speaker 8: playing a little bit more and giving them more production 680 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 8: as a shot blocker and rebounder. 681 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 2: Rick Buring with US Musketeer Report dot Com. You'll hear 682 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:49,399 Speaker 2: him on Saturday NKU on the road against Wright State, 683 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 2: first of three consecutive road games. Rick'll be calling a 684 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 2: game from his favorite arena. The Norris have lost two 685 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:58,319 Speaker 2: out of three, a tough overtime loss at home to 686 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 2: Robert Morris. They went into that Green Bay game with 687 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:03,319 Speaker 2: a bit of a head of team they had won 688 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:06,719 Speaker 2: at Milwaukee. Since two losses out of three a tough 689 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:09,120 Speaker 2: one at home to Robert Morris, how much has the 690 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:10,160 Speaker 2: air come out of the balloon. 691 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:14,319 Speaker 1: I don't think much at all. 692 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:16,880 Speaker 8: It's been a little bit of a weird season in 693 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:20,880 Speaker 8: the sense that when the team plays well, they're handling 694 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:23,400 Speaker 8: teams in the conference. I mean, they blew out Milwaukee, 695 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:26,680 Speaker 8: granted Milwaukee's a little banged up. They blew out Youngstown State. 696 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:28,719 Speaker 8: I mean they've handled a lot of these teams and 697 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:32,000 Speaker 8: put on pretty impressive displays for at least a half 698 00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:34,919 Speaker 8: of those games. Now the problem is when they've gotten 699 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 8: in some of these closer games, they haven't played poorly ness, 700 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 8: They've made some good runs and like they came back 701 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 8: on the road at Green Bay and played a great 702 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 8: second half there, but they've struggled to come up with 703 00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:48,240 Speaker 8: some of the necessary plays down the stretch of games. 704 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 8: And part of it is I think one thing that's 705 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:52,000 Speaker 8: a little bit new for this NKU team is in 706 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:54,239 Speaker 8: years past, there's always been a clear go to guy. 707 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:56,319 Speaker 8: I mean for years it was Mark west Warwick under 708 00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 8: this staff. But last year, you know, you had Trey 709 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:01,600 Speaker 8: Robinson and Dan or kind of late down the stretches, 710 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:04,000 Speaker 8: you go to guys, but it was clear who the 711 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:06,680 Speaker 8: ball was going to in late game situations and what 712 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:08,280 Speaker 8: types of things you were going to be running. 713 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:09,959 Speaker 1: This year might be a little bit. 714 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:13,040 Speaker 8: Different in the sense that they have four guys averaging 715 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 8: over fourteen points per game. They're the only team in 716 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:18,120 Speaker 8: the entire country that has that, and so the late 717 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,919 Speaker 8: game situations, it's been kind of a different guy each 718 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,080 Speaker 8: game who has the hot hand, and so you find 719 00:38:23,080 --> 00:38:25,920 Speaker 8: yourself in a situation of Okay, what's the best matchup, 720 00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 8: who's playing the best tonight, and what are we running 721 00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:30,640 Speaker 8: for him? I think there's been more of a feeling 722 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 8: out process sometimes in those late game situations, and guys are, 723 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:36,399 Speaker 8: you know, maybe not used to being in that role 724 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:38,879 Speaker 8: necessarily or maybe don't have the confidence for it, so 725 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:40,920 Speaker 8: they're finding some of those things out as they go 726 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 8: along as well. 727 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 2: I asked you a similar question, I think last week 728 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:46,440 Speaker 2: or maybe two weeks ago, how many teams in Division 729 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:49,120 Speaker 2: one men's college basketball this season have had a guy 730 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:50,799 Speaker 2: come off the bench and give him thirty eight? 731 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:52,680 Speaker 6: Yeah? 732 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:56,360 Speaker 8: I can't imagine there's another one. And obviously Donovan O'Day 733 00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:59,680 Speaker 8: could easily be starting for this NKU team, and for 734 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 8: my money, he's been their MVP to this point. I 735 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:05,200 Speaker 8: think he is their best player right now, given in 736 00:39:05,239 --> 00:39:07,600 Speaker 8: the entire season's body of work. And like I said, 737 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:11,000 Speaker 8: on different nights, it's been different guys certainly, but overall 738 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 8: he's been the most consistent both offensively and defensively in 739 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,000 Speaker 8: my opinion. But I think he has the six ten 740 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:19,240 Speaker 8: of the year wrapped up already in the Horizon League, 741 00:39:19,239 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 8: and if they do a national Award, maybe there too. 742 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:24,640 Speaker 1: But he is so important. 743 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:27,640 Speaker 8: When he comes into the game from a spark standpoint, 744 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:30,560 Speaker 8: giving them that offense and that transition burst that they 745 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:32,880 Speaker 8: have that's really given some teams trouble. 746 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:35,000 Speaker 1: Did the did the echo go away? 747 00:39:36,239 --> 00:39:36,399 Speaker 6: No? 748 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:36,879 Speaker 1: Not really. 749 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:38,600 Speaker 8: What I've been doing is listening to what you say 750 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:40,880 Speaker 8: and then holding my phone away from my ear when 751 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:41,200 Speaker 8: I talk. 752 00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:43,799 Speaker 2: You know, we I don't know if you're familiar with 753 00:39:43,840 --> 00:39:46,680 Speaker 2: the work of Jeff Carr locked on Reds, we once 754 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:49,320 Speaker 2: had him do a segment while he was riding roller 755 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:50,480 Speaker 2: coasters at King's Island. 756 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:52,880 Speaker 1: So basically since then we've had that segment. 757 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:55,879 Speaker 2: We've had a no excuses policy for our guests or 758 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,680 Speaker 2: for our callers, so if there's any sort of audio issue, 759 00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:01,640 Speaker 2: whatever it is, you're to persevere and get through. 760 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:03,719 Speaker 1: And you've done that, so thank you very much. 761 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:04,879 Speaker 5: Yeah. 762 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:07,279 Speaker 8: For some reason, this was even more unsettling than the 763 00:40:07,360 --> 00:40:10,359 Speaker 8: Christmas party, Daniel Christmas party call in where you can't 764 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:12,400 Speaker 8: hear anything because there's music playing around that people are 765 00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:15,160 Speaker 8: yelling in the studio. The echo thing is just like 766 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:17,920 Speaker 8: a half second delay on your own voice is very weird, 767 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:18,160 Speaker 8: you know. 768 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:22,279 Speaker 2: Interesting, Well, we'll call if Verizon or Cincinnati Bell or 769 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:24,879 Speaker 2: MCI or whoever we have our service from and try 770 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:28,120 Speaker 2: to figure that out. Thank you as always. Thanks though, 771 00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:31,440 Speaker 2: that's our guy, Rick Brooring. Go to his website Musketeerreport 772 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:34,960 Speaker 2: dot com and you'll hear him on Saturday when NKU 773 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:38,960 Speaker 2: takes on Wright State at the Nutter Center, a game 774 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,480 Speaker 2: we'll tip off at seven per the best rivalry in 775 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:43,280 Speaker 2: the Horizon League. 776 00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:44,759 Speaker 1: Five after four. 777 00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:51,799 Speaker 2: Dan Pitcher has interviewed with the Buccaneers virtual interview. It 778 00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:55,919 Speaker 2: didn't via zoom or teams or I don't know, conference crime. 779 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 2: I haven't been on a job interview in twenty eight years. 780 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 2: That's not entirely true, you know, I've never told this story. 781 00:41:08,760 --> 00:41:11,400 Speaker 2: I actually in two thousand and three, I interviewed for 782 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:15,319 Speaker 2: a job in Birmingham, Alabama, producing a show, and the 783 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:17,560 Speaker 2: host of that show his name was Paul Finbaum. I 784 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:19,879 Speaker 2: did not get the job. I really didn't want the job. 785 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:22,799 Speaker 2: So I interviewed for a job twenty three years ago. 786 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:25,000 Speaker 2: But we did that in person. I went to Birmingham 787 00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:26,759 Speaker 2: and the dude who did the hiring took me to 788 00:41:26,800 --> 00:41:27,399 Speaker 2: a rib joint. 789 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:28,000 Speaker 1: It was awesome. 790 00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:30,960 Speaker 2: I don't know how things worked out for Dan Pitcher 791 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:32,640 Speaker 2: and the Buccaneers. I don't know if he's gonna get 792 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:35,040 Speaker 2: an in person interview. I don't know how that's gonna work. 793 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:40,439 Speaker 2: I just but Paul Dayner Junior was here yesterday. Paul 794 00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:45,000 Speaker 2: is am smart as hell and is connected and sourced, 795 00:41:45,360 --> 00:41:48,120 Speaker 2: does a great job. He's a big Dan Pitcher guy. 796 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,880 Speaker 2: I understand the Bengals are very high on Dan Pitcher 797 00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:55,759 Speaker 2: and we were talking yesterday and the entire conversation is 798 00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:59,120 Speaker 2: available on the iHeartRadio app, so you can go and 799 00:41:59,160 --> 00:42:03,000 Speaker 2: listen to it. But Dan is interviewing for a job 800 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:06,600 Speaker 2: that he has. The difference is in Tampa Bay, he 801 00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:09,640 Speaker 2: would be given the freedom to call plays. He would 802 00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:13,120 Speaker 2: be the play caller. In Cincinnati, Zach Taylor handles those 803 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:17,880 Speaker 2: duties primarily, and so the thought being, look, if you 804 00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:20,759 Speaker 2: have a chance for the same job, but with the 805 00:42:20,840 --> 00:42:24,000 Speaker 2: added responsibility, we're not going to get in your way. 806 00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:26,400 Speaker 2: And man, on a human level, I think that's awesome. 807 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:30,839 Speaker 2: I've worked with people, I've worked for people before who 808 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:33,400 Speaker 2: have gotten in your way, who have gotten in the 809 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:35,160 Speaker 2: way of like, hey, man, here's something that might be 810 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:36,719 Speaker 2: good for me in my future, and they get in 811 00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:40,560 Speaker 2: the way. There's nothing, there's nothing worse, and so I 812 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:42,600 Speaker 2: do think on a human level it is awesome. The 813 00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:44,600 Speaker 2: Bengals are looking at Dan picture going, look, man, you 814 00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:47,839 Speaker 2: want to be a head coach one day, and for you, 815 00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:50,680 Speaker 2: if you think what's best is a stopover in Tampa 816 00:42:50,719 --> 00:42:52,640 Speaker 2: calling plays, go for it. 817 00:42:54,680 --> 00:42:57,279 Speaker 1: I guess for me though, and maybe it's just me. 818 00:42:57,440 --> 00:43:03,640 Speaker 2: If you really value somebody, really value them, then you 819 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:09,719 Speaker 2: go overboard to keep them. If you value somebody who 820 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:12,560 Speaker 2: works for you, and you're like, you know what, Yeah, 821 00:43:12,600 --> 00:43:14,840 Speaker 2: we can replace this guy, and maybe we have a 822 00:43:14,880 --> 00:43:16,880 Speaker 2: good plan be in place, but you know what, this 823 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:19,040 Speaker 2: person is really vital to what we do. He's at 824 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:21,840 Speaker 2: the core of what we want to be about. You 825 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:23,799 Speaker 2: figure out a way to keep them. You figure out 826 00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:26,440 Speaker 2: a way to keep that person, You add responsibilities, you 827 00:43:26,480 --> 00:43:29,320 Speaker 2: throw money at them. Now maybe at the end of 828 00:43:29,360 --> 00:43:31,120 Speaker 2: the day. And Paul talked about this, and I think 829 00:43:31,120 --> 00:43:33,879 Speaker 2: it's a fair point. Dan wants to be a head coach. 830 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:38,840 Speaker 2: He was interviewed by the Browns for their head coaching vacancy. Uh, 831 00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:41,600 Speaker 2: And I think to a degree it's a little puzzling 832 00:43:41,719 --> 00:43:45,200 Speaker 2: that he hasn't gotten other opportunities because the coaching cycle 833 00:43:45,239 --> 00:43:48,480 Speaker 2: there have been so many jobs open, and frankly, many 834 00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:50,839 Speaker 2: of the candidates that you see discussed or you see 835 00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:55,920 Speaker 2: getting interviews feel like feel like retreads, feel like okay, 836 00:43:56,520 --> 00:43:59,040 Speaker 2: there's it feels like there's a lack of like, really 837 00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:01,960 Speaker 2: good candidates. And so I think it's a little surprising 838 00:44:02,040 --> 00:44:07,239 Speaker 2: that Dan's only gotten one head coaching interview. But I 839 00:44:07,320 --> 00:44:09,160 Speaker 2: just can't help but feel and I could be dead 840 00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:12,279 Speaker 2: wrong about this. I guess Dan's perspective is I don't 841 00:44:12,280 --> 00:44:15,040 Speaker 2: get credit for anything that happens in Cincinnati, and I 842 00:44:15,120 --> 00:44:18,600 Speaker 2: wouldn't even if I was calling plays, because if we're 843 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:21,680 Speaker 2: good on my side of the ball, the credit's going 844 00:44:21,760 --> 00:44:23,640 Speaker 2: to go to the quarterback, the credit's gonna go to 845 00:44:23,719 --> 00:44:25,560 Speaker 2: the weaponry, the credit's going to go to the person 846 00:44:25,640 --> 00:44:28,640 Speaker 2: that put the weaponry together on top of the head coach. 847 00:44:29,160 --> 00:44:31,279 Speaker 2: And so I'm gonna be viewed as somebody who's just 848 00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:35,880 Speaker 2: simply Joe Burrow adjacent and not somebody who is integral 849 00:44:35,960 --> 00:44:39,759 Speaker 2: to the success of that offense. And there may be 850 00:44:39,840 --> 00:44:44,360 Speaker 2: some validity to that. I can't help but believe because 851 00:44:44,360 --> 00:44:49,440 Speaker 2: I've seen it happen. I cannot help but believe that 852 00:44:49,719 --> 00:44:54,760 Speaker 2: if you are the Bengals offensive coordinator in twenty twenty 853 00:44:54,800 --> 00:45:01,279 Speaker 2: six and the offense explodes, which it may because of 854 00:45:01,360 --> 00:45:04,360 Speaker 2: continuity and star power. 855 00:45:06,040 --> 00:45:07,280 Speaker 1: I cannot help but. 856 00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:11,120 Speaker 2: Think that in a league that, on an annual basis 857 00:45:11,440 --> 00:45:15,759 Speaker 2: essentially turns over twenty five percent of its coaches, you're 858 00:45:15,760 --> 00:45:18,960 Speaker 2: not going to get opportunities. I just I can be 859 00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:22,239 Speaker 2: dead wrong, and I far be it for me to 860 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:25,240 Speaker 2: tell Dan that his perspective is incorrect because he's living 861 00:45:25,280 --> 00:45:29,239 Speaker 2: through it and I'm not. But I just cannot help 862 00:45:29,280 --> 00:45:31,600 Speaker 2: but believe. And you can tell me if you think 863 00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:33,680 Speaker 2: I'm wrong in five point three, seven, four, nine, fifteen 864 00:45:33,719 --> 00:45:38,200 Speaker 2: thirty that if you're the Bengals offensive coordinator, regardless of 865 00:45:38,239 --> 00:45:43,440 Speaker 2: whether you are calling plays, and this offense legit takes 866 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:47,600 Speaker 2: off next year and the Bengals win because of it, 867 00:45:48,760 --> 00:45:52,000 Speaker 2: that there's not going to be somebody in a hiring 868 00:45:52,080 --> 00:45:57,040 Speaker 2: capacity that wants to bring Dan Pitcher in for an interview. 869 00:45:58,880 --> 00:46:02,040 Speaker 2: Can be dead wrong about that in the interim, if 870 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:05,759 Speaker 2: you value the guy the Bengals clearly do, and you 871 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:08,719 Speaker 2: legitimately think like this dude is really important. This guy, 872 00:46:10,440 --> 00:46:14,040 Speaker 2: even if you have Brian Callahan in your back pocket 873 00:46:14,080 --> 00:46:18,520 Speaker 2: as a plan B, you don't let him get away. 874 00:46:19,560 --> 00:46:22,200 Speaker 2: And yes, you give him the ability to call plays here. 875 00:46:23,840 --> 00:46:26,080 Speaker 2: This has been something we've hit on a bunch over 876 00:46:26,120 --> 00:46:30,799 Speaker 2: the years. I spend less time than most debating and 877 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:34,880 Speaker 2: discussing play calling because I don't think most of us 878 00:46:34,880 --> 00:46:38,200 Speaker 2: are qualified to talk about what goes into calling a play. 879 00:46:38,840 --> 00:46:42,439 Speaker 2: There are times, you know, for instance, Monday night, when 880 00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:45,600 Speaker 2: Indiana is trying to salt the game away and Kurt 881 00:46:45,640 --> 00:46:50,680 Speaker 2: Signetti decided to have Fernando Mendoza handoff, and it's like, buddy, 882 00:46:50,880 --> 00:46:53,640 Speaker 2: you've got the best quarterback in the sport. That's your 883 00:46:53,680 --> 00:46:55,399 Speaker 2: meal ticket. He's going to be the number one pick 884 00:46:55,440 --> 00:46:58,160 Speaker 2: in the draft. Let him make a play, don't let 885 00:46:58,200 --> 00:47:01,640 Speaker 2: him hand off. Stuff that I think it's fun to discuss. 886 00:47:02,200 --> 00:47:05,120 Speaker 2: But on the granular level, do any of us know 887 00:47:05,160 --> 00:47:06,359 Speaker 2: what goes into calling of play? 888 00:47:06,440 --> 00:47:08,560 Speaker 1: So it's with Zach Taylor. 889 00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:11,799 Speaker 2: It's never been about he's a great play caller or 890 00:47:11,840 --> 00:47:15,040 Speaker 2: he's a bad play caller. There have been some play 891 00:47:15,080 --> 00:47:17,399 Speaker 2: calling themes I've agreed with. There have been some play 892 00:47:17,440 --> 00:47:19,840 Speaker 2: calling themes I haven't. There been times where I felt 893 00:47:19,840 --> 00:47:22,280 Speaker 2: like he's taking the ball out of his most important 894 00:47:22,320 --> 00:47:24,719 Speaker 2: players hands. There have been some times where I've felt 895 00:47:24,760 --> 00:47:30,920 Speaker 2: like the Bengals offenses is pretty pretty interestingly designed, we'll 896 00:47:30,920 --> 00:47:32,840 Speaker 2: put it that way. 897 00:47:34,239 --> 00:47:36,120 Speaker 1: But I have, and I think a lot of us have. 898 00:47:36,200 --> 00:47:38,160 Speaker 2: If you're a Bengals fan, I think you have over 899 00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:42,320 Speaker 2: the years, while you've been in love with the quarterback 900 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:45,680 Speaker 2: himself and you've been in love with the weaponry, you've 901 00:47:45,719 --> 00:47:49,120 Speaker 2: wondered why the offense doesn't function as smoothly as it should. 902 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:52,080 Speaker 2: Tony Pike and I the day after the Bengals played 903 00:47:52,120 --> 00:47:55,160 Speaker 2: the first game against the Cleveland Browns, spent like forty 904 00:47:55,200 --> 00:47:58,800 Speaker 2: five minutes talking about why the offense was so clunky, 905 00:47:59,520 --> 00:48:02,040 Speaker 2: why they were having a hard time getting the play called, 906 00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:05,399 Speaker 2: why they were having a hard time getting everybody lined up, 907 00:48:05,760 --> 00:48:08,839 Speaker 2: why they had procedural penalties, why it felt like not 908 00:48:09,000 --> 00:48:11,840 Speaker 2: everybody was on the same page. And the excuse for 909 00:48:11,920 --> 00:48:14,799 Speaker 2: that might have been, well, it's the first game and 910 00:48:14,840 --> 00:48:17,759 Speaker 2: it takes time. It's like, man, it's the same quarterback 911 00:48:17,800 --> 00:48:21,800 Speaker 2: and same dudes on offense operating in the same system. 912 00:48:22,400 --> 00:48:25,839 Speaker 2: This shouldn't be as clunky as it is. And over 913 00:48:25,880 --> 00:48:30,160 Speaker 2: the years, despite their potential, despite their explosiveness, despite all 914 00:48:30,160 --> 00:48:35,880 Speaker 2: the statistical accomplishments of Joe and Jamar and t and Chase, 915 00:48:36,719 --> 00:48:39,320 Speaker 2: despite having an offense that when you look at the personnel, 916 00:48:39,400 --> 00:48:43,920 Speaker 2: feels like it's very difficult to prepare for its overall function. 917 00:48:44,040 --> 00:48:48,680 Speaker 2: It's overall efficiency has, I believe, at times, left a 918 00:48:48,719 --> 00:48:52,759 Speaker 2: lot to be desired. When that is the case, how 919 00:48:52,800 --> 00:48:56,280 Speaker 2: do you not take a look at who's on the headset, 920 00:48:56,600 --> 00:49:00,279 Speaker 2: who's calling the play? I know, talking about that is 921 00:49:00,800 --> 00:49:05,520 Speaker 2: overly simplifying it. Getting a play in an NFL game 922 00:49:05,960 --> 00:49:11,440 Speaker 2: seems like it's extraordinarily complex. But as I've watched the Bengals, 923 00:49:11,560 --> 00:49:15,120 Speaker 2: even when their offense has been cooking, I can't tell 924 00:49:15,120 --> 00:49:17,799 Speaker 2: you how many times either I've thought or someone else 925 00:49:17,840 --> 00:49:21,359 Speaker 2: has brought up, boy, this offense doesn't quite function as 926 00:49:21,400 --> 00:49:25,800 Speaker 2: efficiently and as effectively as it should, and so until 927 00:49:25,840 --> 00:49:30,200 Speaker 2: it does on a more consistent basis, like one of 928 00:49:30,200 --> 00:49:34,239 Speaker 2: the examples for me is the Baltimore game here, you know, 929 00:49:34,320 --> 00:49:37,600 Speaker 2: the game where it was really really cold, not freeze 930 00:49:37,680 --> 00:49:40,960 Speaker 2: or bowl cold, of course, but really, really, really really cold, 931 00:49:41,040 --> 00:49:44,360 Speaker 2: and folks were mad about the snow not being knocked 932 00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:46,920 Speaker 2: off the seats. If you remember, in that game, in 933 00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:49,600 Speaker 2: the third quarter of the Bengals trailed by seventeen points. 934 00:49:49,640 --> 00:49:55,359 Speaker 2: The season is hanging in the balance. Uh, they have 935 00:49:55,440 --> 00:49:57,200 Speaker 2: to score. They have to win the game, and they 936 00:49:57,200 --> 00:49:59,640 Speaker 2: have to score to even give themselves a chance. And 937 00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:04,000 Speaker 2: they look like they were killing the clock. They look 938 00:50:04,120 --> 00:50:06,400 Speaker 2: like a team that had a seventeen point lead with 939 00:50:06,480 --> 00:50:08,120 Speaker 2: four minutes to go and is just trying to get 940 00:50:08,120 --> 00:50:11,680 Speaker 2: the game over with. They're huddling, they're throwing it short, 941 00:50:11,719 --> 00:50:15,200 Speaker 2: there's no urgency, there's no tempo. They're running the ball, 942 00:50:16,160 --> 00:50:19,879 Speaker 2: and I'm going like, all right, can somebody say, hey, 943 00:50:19,920 --> 00:50:21,040 Speaker 2: let's step on the gas here? 944 00:50:21,120 --> 00:50:21,640 Speaker 1: Nobody did. 945 00:50:23,120 --> 00:50:25,719 Speaker 2: And there's a few examples like that that if we 946 00:50:25,760 --> 00:50:31,920 Speaker 2: have encountered over the years, I just as we watch them. 947 00:50:32,120 --> 00:50:35,080 Speaker 2: I don't know how you don't. I don't know how 948 00:50:35,120 --> 00:50:38,799 Speaker 2: you don't say, look, let's let's try somebody else. Let's 949 00:50:38,840 --> 00:50:43,399 Speaker 2: try our offensive coordinator, and not entirely remove the head 950 00:50:43,400 --> 00:50:47,839 Speaker 2: coach from the process, but change the process. Maybe take 951 00:50:47,840 --> 00:50:51,560 Speaker 2: out one voice, maybe change the ultimate decision maker as 952 00:50:51,560 --> 00:50:53,840 Speaker 2: to which play is going to be called, just to 953 00:50:53,880 --> 00:50:57,080 Speaker 2: see if it works. The floor is pretty high. If 954 00:50:57,080 --> 00:51:00,120 Speaker 2: it doesn't work, chances are the offense isn't going to 955 00:51:00,120 --> 00:51:04,319 Speaker 2: totally implode. Maybe it'll take off. If it does, Dan 956 00:51:04,400 --> 00:51:07,520 Speaker 2: Pitcher will get credit and My guess is Dan Pitcher 957 00:51:07,560 --> 00:51:12,879 Speaker 2: will then enjoy professional opportunities that he feels so far 958 00:51:13,000 --> 00:51:17,200 Speaker 2: he lacks. So you know, I get it that Brian 959 00:51:17,239 --> 00:51:20,239 Speaker 2: Callahan will be a good plan B and they love continuity, 960 00:51:20,280 --> 00:51:24,560 Speaker 2: and that's Zach Taylor's BFF, and so fine, whatever. But 961 00:51:24,640 --> 00:51:28,400 Speaker 2: if you really value somebody who works for you, you 962 00:51:28,440 --> 00:51:31,200 Speaker 2: do what you can to keep them. Maybe it's financial, 963 00:51:31,280 --> 00:51:34,400 Speaker 2: maybe it's a title, maybe it's responsibility. But if in 964 00:51:34,520 --> 00:51:38,520 Speaker 2: changing the responsibility there's a potential benefit to the overall group, 965 00:51:39,360 --> 00:51:41,120 Speaker 2: well then it's. 966 00:51:41,000 --> 00:51:41,680 Speaker 1: A no brainer. 967 00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:47,680 Speaker 2: And nothing against Brian Callahan, nothing really against Zach Taylor. 968 00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:51,800 Speaker 2: This to me, if you believe they value Dan Pitcher 969 00:51:51,800 --> 00:51:54,600 Speaker 2: as much as they do, or as much as they 970 00:51:54,640 --> 00:51:59,480 Speaker 2: say they do, this is a no brainer. Sixteen minutes 971 00:51:59,520 --> 00:52:01,200 Speaker 2: after four o'clock. You can tell me why I'm wrong. 972 00:52:01,239 --> 00:52:03,960 Speaker 2: Five p one three seven four nine, fifteen thirty and 973 00:52:04,239 --> 00:52:06,800 Speaker 2: eight sixty six seven oh two three seven seven six 974 00:52:07,080 --> 00:52:10,439 Speaker 2: College hoops Tonight, we're gonna chat with our guy, Hunter 975 00:52:10,480 --> 00:52:14,840 Speaker 2: sansum Nky bracket guy. We're gonna focus on two teams 976 00:52:14,880 --> 00:52:18,319 Speaker 2: in particular. One of them Miami twenty and zero winning 977 00:52:18,440 --> 00:52:21,120 Speaker 2: last night. The other is Kentucky I think Kentucky is 978 00:52:21,120 --> 00:52:24,080 Speaker 2: interesting from an that large perspective. The Wildcats played tonight 979 00:52:24,719 --> 00:52:27,920 Speaker 2: pregame at five thirty. The NKY Bracket Guy joins us 980 00:52:27,960 --> 00:52:31,080 Speaker 2: at four thirty on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports. 981 00:52:30,840 --> 00:52:37,960 Speaker 3: Station WCKY, Cincinnati and iHeartRadio Station gainer in t Human 982 00:52:38,560 --> 00:52:40,359 Speaker 3: ESPN fifteen thirty, I. 983 00:52:40,640 --> 00:52:42,560 Speaker 1: Hardradio twenty two. 984 00:52:42,719 --> 00:52:47,319 Speaker 2: After four o'clock ESPN fifteen thirty, we have UK basketball tonight, 985 00:52:47,360 --> 00:52:53,040 Speaker 2: the Wildcats battling Texas toipa off at seven o'clock pregame 986 00:52:53,080 --> 00:52:58,200 Speaker 2: at five thirty. The Wildcats will be part of our 987 00:52:58,239 --> 00:53:01,359 Speaker 2: conversation with our guy, the NK My bracket guy coming up. 988 00:53:02,040 --> 00:53:05,480 Speaker 2: Excuse me in just about ten minutes at malegger on Twitter. 989 00:53:05,520 --> 00:53:08,160 Speaker 2: By the way, thanks to Delta Dental, Delta Dental is 990 00:53:09,040 --> 00:53:12,399 Speaker 2: building healthy, smart, vibrant communities for all good at Delta 991 00:53:12,480 --> 00:53:16,919 Speaker 2: dentaloh dot com. Mike, go ahead, you're on ESPN fifteen thirty. 992 00:53:16,960 --> 00:53:17,680 Speaker 2: Good afternoon, Mike. 993 00:53:17,719 --> 00:53:18,120 Speaker 1: How are you? 994 00:53:19,280 --> 00:53:24,040 Speaker 5: Thank you? Mom? Big game tonight, looking forward to it 995 00:53:24,080 --> 00:53:25,120 Speaker 5: should be a lot of fun. 996 00:53:25,800 --> 00:53:29,120 Speaker 1: Which one are you referring to the Cats? 997 00:53:29,920 --> 00:53:33,640 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm excited to see how their improvement over the 998 00:53:33,719 --> 00:53:37,120 Speaker 2: last three games and I'm I'm folding into that a 999 00:53:37,120 --> 00:53:40,560 Speaker 2: game that they lost. I'm curious as to how those 1000 00:53:40,600 --> 00:53:45,640 Speaker 2: improvements hold up against clearly the team that I think 1001 00:53:45,680 --> 00:53:47,880 Speaker 2: most of us believe is the best in college basketball. 1002 00:53:49,200 --> 00:53:51,680 Speaker 1: It's the ultimate problems, the ultimate measuring stick. 1003 00:53:52,880 --> 00:53:56,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, you can't hardly argue against Seth. But but I 1004 00:53:56,040 --> 00:53:58,720 Speaker 5: hope you know I'm pulling from Jade too obviously. Sure 1005 00:54:00,040 --> 00:54:03,200 Speaker 5: we were talking early. Well, I'll tell you what one 1006 00:54:03,280 --> 00:54:07,680 Speaker 5: more thing on college basketball. John Calipari just blows my mind. 1007 00:54:08,960 --> 00:54:14,000 Speaker 5: He's got a hell of a basketball Dave manhandled Vanderbilt 1008 00:54:14,080 --> 00:54:17,319 Speaker 5: last night, which is a good basketball team. They did 1009 00:54:17,320 --> 00:54:18,719 Speaker 5: their breaksaw. 1010 00:54:19,200 --> 00:54:21,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, the way they pulled away in the second half 1011 00:54:21,840 --> 00:54:22,680 Speaker 2: was something to behold. 1012 00:54:22,719 --> 00:54:24,000 Speaker 1: I watched that entire game. 1013 00:54:25,640 --> 00:54:27,480 Speaker 5: That's a dangerous team in the tournament. 1014 00:54:28,280 --> 00:54:31,719 Speaker 2: Uh yeah, yeah, very very and a good bounce back 1015 00:54:31,760 --> 00:54:34,920 Speaker 2: because I know a really good Georgia team got him 1016 00:54:34,920 --> 00:54:38,920 Speaker 2: by fifteen points or so in their previous game. They 1017 00:54:38,960 --> 00:54:45,160 Speaker 2: lost pretty handily to Auburn. But John Calipari has gotten Arkansas. 1018 00:54:45,160 --> 00:54:47,239 Speaker 2: I don't want to say back on track, but he's 1019 00:54:47,280 --> 00:54:49,120 Speaker 2: got a good team. He's got a good team. 1020 00:54:49,200 --> 00:54:52,719 Speaker 5: He's amazing. Yeah, but guy's amazing he's amazing. I don't 1021 00:54:52,760 --> 00:54:55,160 Speaker 5: know if it's long term good for anybody, but he 1022 00:54:55,560 --> 00:54:56,920 Speaker 5: gets it done. 1023 00:54:58,239 --> 00:55:00,520 Speaker 2: Before I get to the red there is I'll say this, 1024 00:55:00,640 --> 00:55:04,160 Speaker 2: there is a togetherness and a flow and a chemistry 1025 00:55:04,200 --> 00:55:08,440 Speaker 2: to that team in Fayetteville that was absent from most 1026 00:55:08,480 --> 00:55:12,440 Speaker 2: of John Calaperry's last four or five UK teams. 1027 00:55:13,280 --> 00:55:13,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. 1028 00:55:13,560 --> 00:55:15,719 Speaker 5: I noticed that too. It's twenty you say that, I 1029 00:55:15,719 --> 00:55:17,960 Speaker 5: didn't know if it was just me. I'm glad you 1030 00:55:18,080 --> 00:55:21,040 Speaker 5: said that. I know I'm not only partially nothing. 1031 00:55:21,080 --> 00:55:23,319 Speaker 2: And you know, if you if you watch them offensively 1032 00:55:23,480 --> 00:55:27,359 Speaker 2: like he's, he's I think he's embraced more modern offensive philosophies. 1033 00:55:27,360 --> 00:55:28,920 Speaker 1: They average nearly ninety points a. 1034 00:55:28,920 --> 00:55:33,520 Speaker 2: Game, like they I they look different they did last 1035 00:55:33,600 --> 00:55:37,279 Speaker 2: year as well. They look different than a lot of 1036 00:55:37,280 --> 00:55:41,360 Speaker 2: those UK teams that mark the end of John's tendre 1037 00:55:41,400 --> 00:55:43,640 Speaker 2: and Lexington go ahead, Yeah, I'm. 1038 00:55:43,440 --> 00:55:47,240 Speaker 5: A great I agree. I'm so happy you're picking the Rams. 1039 00:55:47,400 --> 00:55:51,160 Speaker 5: I'm so elated that my buddy Mo is picking my Rams. 1040 00:55:51,480 --> 00:55:54,160 Speaker 5: I'm so I haven't been a jacked up about a 1041 00:55:54,239 --> 00:55:55,839 Speaker 5: super Bowl since the Bengo. 1042 00:55:55,640 --> 00:55:57,760 Speaker 1: So well, I'm excited. 1043 00:55:57,880 --> 00:56:00,720 Speaker 2: Here's the thing I've I've sort of hedged this because 1044 00:56:00,760 --> 00:56:03,960 Speaker 2: I've I wagered on the Rams to win the Super Bowl, 1045 00:56:04,520 --> 00:56:08,719 Speaker 2: like two and a half months ago. All right, I 1046 00:56:08,760 --> 00:56:10,160 Speaker 2: don't think they're gonna win on Sunday. 1047 00:56:11,680 --> 00:56:13,680 Speaker 5: I just thought I heard you say that. You thought 1048 00:56:13,680 --> 00:56:15,759 Speaker 5: the Rams. Oh you're talking about two and a half 1049 00:56:15,800 --> 00:56:16,279 Speaker 5: months ago. 1050 00:56:17,040 --> 00:56:19,879 Speaker 2: So I have a ticket for the Rams to win 1051 00:56:19,920 --> 00:56:23,120 Speaker 2: the Super Bowl, but I don't think they're gonna win 1052 00:56:23,160 --> 00:56:27,920 Speaker 2: on Sunday. I got Seattle's defense I think is going 1053 00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:30,600 Speaker 2: to be too much the Rams, and look, man, their 1054 00:56:30,680 --> 00:56:33,400 Speaker 2: secondary made plays when it had to against Chicago, and 1055 00:56:33,400 --> 00:56:36,520 Speaker 2: so you give them credit for it. I still think 1056 00:56:36,520 --> 00:56:39,560 Speaker 2: there's a special team's advantage. I think Seattle is one 1057 00:56:39,560 --> 00:56:41,920 Speaker 2: of the teams in the NFL that has a legitimate 1058 00:56:42,000 --> 00:56:43,200 Speaker 2: home field advantage. 1059 00:56:43,960 --> 00:56:45,000 Speaker 1: Their defense, when. 1060 00:56:44,880 --> 00:56:47,080 Speaker 2: It's at its best, feels like there's twelve or thirteen 1061 00:56:47,120 --> 00:56:51,640 Speaker 2: guys on the field. And you know, say what you 1062 00:56:51,680 --> 00:56:53,799 Speaker 2: want about Sam Darnold, they've been able to win with 1063 00:56:53,880 --> 00:56:57,680 Speaker 2: him merely being okay. They they don't require him to 1064 00:56:57,719 --> 00:57:01,480 Speaker 2: do a ton now losing Charbonas, I'll admit that, but 1065 00:57:02,239 --> 00:57:05,280 Speaker 2: I think the number is small enough. I think Seattle's 1066 00:57:05,280 --> 00:57:06,920 Speaker 2: gonna win the game out right, and I actually think 1067 00:57:06,920 --> 00:57:07,920 Speaker 2: they cover his favorites. 1068 00:57:09,560 --> 00:57:12,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, Kenneth Walker's come out of nowhere quite as start. 1069 00:57:12,880 --> 00:57:17,120 Speaker 5: Uh well, I'll just keep my fingers crossed. Uh well, 1070 00:57:17,120 --> 00:57:22,560 Speaker 5: I wish I had Indiana at one hundred and one. Okay, 1071 00:57:22,600 --> 00:57:28,400 Speaker 5: the Reds. I listened to Tony and uh Austin today, 1072 00:57:28,400 --> 00:57:31,920 Speaker 5: but they had meant Austin said, well, now Bellinger got 1073 00:57:32,000 --> 00:57:35,000 Speaker 5: his deal, maybe there'll be a trickle down for for 1074 00:57:35,000 --> 00:57:39,600 Speaker 5: for Hayes. Come on hot and Hayes can't carry Tody 1075 00:57:39,680 --> 00:57:41,120 Speaker 5: Bellinger's dock crap. 1076 00:57:41,960 --> 00:57:44,000 Speaker 1: Do you think he was saying that facetiously? 1077 00:57:45,800 --> 00:57:48,240 Speaker 5: Maybe? I don't know, it could have been, you know, 1078 00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:52,280 Speaker 5: but I'm tot he's my one of my favorite you 1079 00:57:52,320 --> 00:57:53,360 Speaker 5: know that guy. That guy. 1080 00:57:53,760 --> 00:57:56,040 Speaker 9: Look at the year m d P one year a 1081 00:57:56,080 --> 00:57:58,520 Speaker 9: couple of gold gloves in center field could have had 1082 00:57:58,520 --> 00:58:01,800 Speaker 9: a gold glove at first base. He was five games 1083 00:58:01,800 --> 00:58:06,240 Speaker 9: short of having enough games there at first With the Dodgers, 1084 00:58:06,240 --> 00:58:09,840 Speaker 9: the guys any battle backs from a terrible back injury. 1085 00:58:09,960 --> 00:58:12,560 Speaker 5: So I'm a big Cody guy, but I wish we 1086 00:58:12,680 --> 00:58:15,880 Speaker 5: had Cody Bellinger. Boy, I really wish we had Cody Belling. 1087 00:58:16,000 --> 00:58:19,120 Speaker 2: I wish I wish, I wish they had any difference 1088 00:58:19,200 --> 00:58:21,120 Speaker 2: making bat in the middle of the order. I wish 1089 00:58:21,160 --> 00:58:23,760 Speaker 2: they had a bat to help provide protection for Elie 1090 00:58:23,760 --> 00:58:24,360 Speaker 2: Dela Cruz. 1091 00:58:26,720 --> 00:58:29,680 Speaker 5: Wouldn't this be cool like they do in San Francisco 1092 00:58:29,800 --> 00:58:34,080 Speaker 5: for years hit Candlestick and now in the Bay with 1093 00:58:34,240 --> 00:58:36,360 Speaker 5: McCovey Cove where the people are out there in their 1094 00:58:36,400 --> 00:58:39,520 Speaker 5: kayaks and their boats and their canoes waiting for their 1095 00:58:39,600 --> 00:58:42,040 Speaker 5: long ball. Wouldn't it be cool if we could have 1096 00:58:42,080 --> 00:58:43,440 Speaker 5: a Kluzuski's Cove. 1097 00:58:45,240 --> 00:58:47,160 Speaker 1: Klazuski's Cove sounds amazing. 1098 00:58:47,600 --> 00:58:50,720 Speaker 2: That is geographically not possible because the ballpark is not 1099 00:58:50,840 --> 00:58:51,800 Speaker 2: close enough to the river. 1100 00:58:52,920 --> 00:58:56,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, but god, it sounds so good, doesn't it does? 1101 00:58:57,320 --> 00:58:59,200 Speaker 1: Klazuski's Cove sounds amazing. 1102 00:59:00,880 --> 00:59:04,360 Speaker 2: But I mean the ballpark there's a mirroring way, isn't 1103 00:59:04,400 --> 00:59:06,640 Speaker 2: But there's there's a there's a lot of there's more 1104 00:59:06,720 --> 00:59:11,080 Speaker 2: real estate beyond the outfield wall than I think people realize. 1105 00:59:11,360 --> 00:59:14,000 Speaker 5: Yeah, well, including me. I know. You gotta go, Pal, 1106 00:59:14,120 --> 00:59:14,919 Speaker 5: thanks for time. 1107 00:59:15,000 --> 00:59:17,800 Speaker 2: I appreciate it, Mike, Thanks, thank you very much. Yeah, 1108 00:59:17,920 --> 00:59:22,000 Speaker 2: like I've seen the Cardinals connected with Austin Hayes. Now, 1109 00:59:22,160 --> 00:59:24,880 Speaker 2: folks have suggested that maybe the Reds bring him back, 1110 00:59:24,960 --> 00:59:29,680 Speaker 2: and you know, like fine, but but you go from 1111 00:59:29,960 --> 00:59:34,400 Speaker 2: visions of Kyle Schwerber dancing in your head to perhaps 1112 00:59:34,480 --> 00:59:38,800 Speaker 2: settling for the return of Austin Hayes. 1113 00:59:40,640 --> 00:59:41,480 Speaker 1: Hard pass. 1114 00:59:43,000 --> 00:59:45,760 Speaker 2: Could the Miami Radhawks get in the NCAA Tournament as 1115 00:59:45,760 --> 00:59:49,000 Speaker 2: an at large? That and other questions will be answered 1116 00:59:49,040 --> 00:59:52,320 Speaker 2: by the resident bracketologist of this show. 1117 00:59:52,440 --> 00:59:57,360 Speaker 3: Next, no one covers the Bengals like ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati. 1118 00:59:57,800 --> 00:59:59,880 Speaker 2: We we got to get to sports headlines and the 1119 01:00:00,040 --> 01:00:04,439 Speaker 2: few minutes. There's nothing of major consequence happening. Right now, 1120 01:00:04,520 --> 01:00:07,520 Speaker 2: we're less than an hour away from UK basketball on 1121 01:00:07,800 --> 01:00:11,680 Speaker 2: ESPN fifteen thirty, the Wildcats taking on Texas, a big 1122 01:00:11,720 --> 01:00:15,600 Speaker 2: game for both. A year ago, at this time, we 1123 01:00:15,680 --> 01:00:20,560 Speaker 2: declared Hunter Sansom to be our official bracketologist, the NKY 1124 01:00:20,640 --> 01:00:26,560 Speaker 2: bracket Guy, and through no work of ours, he is. 1125 01:00:27,320 --> 01:00:31,480 Speaker 2: He's taken his little bracketology hobby and and now he's 1126 01:00:31,520 --> 01:00:36,120 Speaker 2: developing like a college basketball and sports media empire. So 1127 01:00:36,440 --> 01:00:39,800 Speaker 2: you should follow him on Twitter at bracket NKY and 1128 01:00:40,080 --> 01:00:44,160 Speaker 2: you should go to his website nkybracketology dot com. And 1129 01:00:44,440 --> 01:00:46,880 Speaker 2: we had to like negotiate to get him on the 1130 01:00:46,880 --> 01:00:48,960 Speaker 2: show because he's very busy. We probably had to pay 1131 01:00:49,040 --> 01:00:51,400 Speaker 2: him an appearance fee for all I know, he's with us. 1132 01:00:51,440 --> 01:00:55,760 Speaker 1: Now, how's it going, No, I'm great. How are you well? 1133 01:00:55,840 --> 01:00:58,800 Speaker 2: It's awesome to have you. Thank you for joining this. 1134 01:00:58,800 --> 01:01:01,000 Speaker 2: This is earlier than we had your last year, but 1135 01:01:01,040 --> 01:01:02,480 Speaker 2: it's nonetheless nice to have you. 1136 01:01:03,960 --> 01:01:06,440 Speaker 10: Absolutely so happy to be back and happy to talk 1137 01:01:06,440 --> 01:01:07,160 Speaker 10: to some basketball. 1138 01:01:07,240 --> 01:01:10,960 Speaker 2: The Miami RedHawks are twenty to zero now. If they 1139 01:01:11,080 --> 01:01:14,840 Speaker 2: win every game, including all their games in the MAC Tournament, 1140 01:01:15,240 --> 01:01:18,760 Speaker 2: they're going to be an NCAA tournament team. Their schedule 1141 01:01:18,800 --> 01:01:22,520 Speaker 2: works against them. Do they have any prayer of being 1142 01:01:22,520 --> 01:01:24,680 Speaker 2: an at large if they don't win the MAC Tournament? 1143 01:01:27,120 --> 01:01:30,320 Speaker 10: It's not out of the conversation. I don't think. 1144 01:01:30,840 --> 01:01:32,440 Speaker 1: But they can't take any. 1145 01:01:32,280 --> 01:01:35,280 Speaker 10: More than really one loss. I think their best path 1146 01:01:35,360 --> 01:01:39,040 Speaker 10: is probably losing the MAC championship game. But like you said, 1147 01:01:39,040 --> 01:01:41,640 Speaker 10: their schedule is just not going to do them any fingers. 1148 01:01:42,440 --> 01:01:47,200 Speaker 2: Uh So, undefeated in the regular season, lose game one 1149 01:01:47,280 --> 01:01:49,400 Speaker 2: of the MAC Tournament and they don't make it. 1150 01:01:51,080 --> 01:01:54,520 Speaker 10: I don't think so. I mean, unfortunately, the metrics and 1151 01:01:54,920 --> 01:01:57,200 Speaker 10: the quad system and all of that fun stuff that 1152 01:01:57,520 --> 01:02:01,040 Speaker 10: the committee likes to use just don't do Miami any favors. 1153 01:02:01,080 --> 01:02:03,640 Speaker 10: They won't have any Quadrant one games, which is that 1154 01:02:03,760 --> 01:02:07,200 Speaker 10: like gold standard for tournament appearances, and you really need 1155 01:02:07,240 --> 01:02:10,400 Speaker 10: that one quadrant one win to get in at a minimum. 1156 01:02:10,040 --> 01:02:13,240 Speaker 2: In the in the MAC the last three teams and 1157 01:02:13,720 --> 01:02:16,439 Speaker 2: obviously it's been a one bid league for a quarter 1158 01:02:16,480 --> 01:02:18,200 Speaker 2: of a century, more than a quarter of a century, 1159 01:02:18,200 --> 01:02:19,680 Speaker 2: but if you look at the last few years, the 1160 01:02:19,720 --> 01:02:22,120 Speaker 2: seed has been a thirteen or a fourteen. Your latest 1161 01:02:22,120 --> 01:02:25,480 Speaker 2: projections have them as an eleven. If they were to 1162 01:02:25,560 --> 01:02:28,360 Speaker 2: run the table, and admittedly that's not likely because it's 1163 01:02:28,480 --> 01:02:30,600 Speaker 2: it's obviously hard to win every game, But if they 1164 01:02:30,640 --> 01:02:34,080 Speaker 2: were to run the table and and and win the 1165 01:02:34,160 --> 01:02:40,240 Speaker 2: MAC Conference tournament championship, which is redundant, what's the seed ceiling? 1166 01:02:42,600 --> 01:02:44,480 Speaker 10: I mean, I think the committee could do a couple 1167 01:02:44,560 --> 01:02:47,120 Speaker 10: of different things. They could really honor that the team's 1168 01:02:47,160 --> 01:02:50,440 Speaker 10: undefeated and won their conference championship. I mean, look at 1169 01:02:50,440 --> 01:02:52,040 Speaker 10: what they've done the past two games with just some 1170 01:02:52,120 --> 01:02:52,920 Speaker 10: crazy shots. 1171 01:02:53,040 --> 01:02:53,520 Speaker 6: It's taken a. 1172 01:02:53,480 --> 01:02:55,520 Speaker 10: Little bit of Look, yes, but it's a lot of talent. 1173 01:02:56,320 --> 01:02:58,480 Speaker 10: I really think that they could get up to like 1174 01:02:58,480 --> 01:03:02,160 Speaker 10: a seven maybe, but more like scenario, they're probably gonna 1175 01:03:02,160 --> 01:03:03,440 Speaker 10: be a nine or ten at a max. 1176 01:03:04,440 --> 01:03:07,000 Speaker 2: So but like, explain that to me, because a seven 1177 01:03:07,040 --> 01:03:09,600 Speaker 2: would mean, like you know, there are there there are 1178 01:03:09,840 --> 01:03:12,120 Speaker 2: at large teams that are gonna get in as a seven. 1179 01:03:12,240 --> 01:03:15,280 Speaker 2: If you're an automatic qualifier and you get in as 1180 01:03:15,280 --> 01:03:17,560 Speaker 2: a seven, I don't think you should go from a 1181 01:03:17,600 --> 01:03:19,520 Speaker 2: seven to like not even in the field if you 1182 01:03:19,560 --> 01:03:20,280 Speaker 2: lose one game. 1183 01:03:22,000 --> 01:03:26,520 Speaker 10: I completely agree. However, the metrics and all of the 1184 01:03:26,560 --> 01:03:29,360 Speaker 10: other stuff that I explain on Twitter a lot more 1185 01:03:29,400 --> 01:03:31,680 Speaker 10: frequently and a lot more in depth are gonna be 1186 01:03:31,920 --> 01:03:34,640 Speaker 10: very against Miami. So the committee is gonna use that 1187 01:03:34,680 --> 01:03:37,840 Speaker 10: one thing where those two things to really bump them down. 1188 01:03:38,120 --> 01:03:40,040 Speaker 10: And then if you add that quadrant four loss on 1189 01:03:40,080 --> 01:03:42,480 Speaker 10: top of that, they're just really gonna hurt them. And 1190 01:03:42,920 --> 01:03:45,360 Speaker 10: assuming they lose, it's likely going to be at least 1191 01:03:45,440 --> 01:03:47,040 Speaker 10: Quadrant three, if not quadrat four. 1192 01:03:47,520 --> 01:03:48,920 Speaker 1: Kentucky has work to do. 1193 01:03:49,040 --> 01:03:52,360 Speaker 2: Your latest projections had uk as a seven, And again 1194 01:03:52,400 --> 01:03:54,440 Speaker 2: this is we're doing this in the middle of January. 1195 01:03:54,520 --> 01:03:55,840 Speaker 1: There's lots of ball to be played. 1196 01:03:56,760 --> 01:04:00,000 Speaker 2: How tenuous is the Wildcat's grip on an at large 1197 01:04:00,080 --> 01:04:00,840 Speaker 2: spot right now? 1198 01:04:02,320 --> 01:04:04,560 Speaker 10: A lot better this week than it was maybe before 1199 01:04:04,560 --> 01:04:08,000 Speaker 10: they played Minsissippi State ten days ago or so. Tonight's 1200 01:04:08,040 --> 01:04:10,600 Speaker 10: Texas games pretty big. They're both of those two teams 1201 01:04:10,600 --> 01:04:13,480 Speaker 10: are bubble teams. It kind of it's going to be 1202 01:04:13,480 --> 01:04:16,480 Speaker 10: a big sway for Texas. But I mean, Kentucky's in 1203 01:04:16,520 --> 01:04:19,040 Speaker 10: a good spot right now. Metrics look good, They've got 1204 01:04:19,040 --> 01:04:20,720 Speaker 10: three Quadrant one wins at this time. 1205 01:04:21,120 --> 01:04:23,840 Speaker 2: Do you anticipate this year having a big bubble or 1206 01:04:23,880 --> 01:04:24,720 Speaker 2: a small bubble? 1207 01:04:27,200 --> 01:04:29,760 Speaker 10: Right now, it's a big bubble, and I mean it's 1208 01:04:29,800 --> 01:04:32,600 Speaker 10: obviously January. All you can really do is talk about it, 1209 01:04:32,640 --> 01:04:34,120 Speaker 10: but it seems like it's going to stay a pretty 1210 01:04:34,160 --> 01:04:36,880 Speaker 10: large bubble. A lot of these Power conference teams don't 1211 01:04:36,880 --> 01:04:39,360 Speaker 10: look great, and there are a couple of mid major 1212 01:04:39,400 --> 01:04:40,919 Speaker 10: types of teams we're looking at all. 1213 01:04:40,880 --> 01:04:43,920 Speaker 2: Right, mid major teams are you talking about like teams 1214 01:04:44,040 --> 01:04:47,400 Speaker 2: that if they don't win their conference tournaments could still 1215 01:04:47,400 --> 01:04:48,400 Speaker 2: get in as at large? 1216 01:04:49,760 --> 01:04:50,040 Speaker 4: Yes? 1217 01:04:50,920 --> 01:04:52,720 Speaker 1: Why do they have better cases than Miami? 1218 01:04:54,120 --> 01:04:57,600 Speaker 10: Because they had better teams schedule them in the non 1219 01:04:57,640 --> 01:05:00,479 Speaker 10: conference slate. And I mean the rank of through play 1220 01:05:00,560 --> 01:05:04,440 Speaker 10: us motto that Miami, like social media went with is 1221 01:05:04,480 --> 01:05:07,880 Speaker 10: an amazing auto. And honestly, everything that I've heard and 1222 01:05:07,880 --> 01:05:11,040 Speaker 10: everything I've talked to, Miami really got hurt with their 1223 01:05:11,080 --> 01:05:14,000 Speaker 10: schedule this year. I know Houston and Michigan were tentatively 1224 01:05:14,000 --> 01:05:16,400 Speaker 10: on the schedule and then dropped them for the Players Era, 1225 01:05:16,680 --> 01:05:19,680 Speaker 10: and they weren't able to get anybody. But the teams 1226 01:05:19,680 --> 01:05:22,880 Speaker 10: that scheduled, like the George Mason's or the Saint Louises 1227 01:05:22,960 --> 01:05:25,760 Speaker 10: are just a little bit better than what Miami is, 1228 01:05:25,880 --> 01:05:27,600 Speaker 10: and those teams are in a little bit better of 1229 01:05:27,600 --> 01:05:28,080 Speaker 10: a conference. 1230 01:05:28,200 --> 01:05:31,600 Speaker 2: When you do like first four out, last four in 1231 01:05:32,040 --> 01:05:34,680 Speaker 2: last four buys that sort of thing with which every 1232 01:05:34,720 --> 01:05:39,160 Speaker 2: bracketologist does. How many teams would you have to list 1233 01:05:39,560 --> 01:05:41,600 Speaker 2: before you listed Cincinnati or Xavier. 1234 01:05:44,720 --> 01:05:47,320 Speaker 10: Cincinnati's in a much better spot after the last week 1235 01:05:47,360 --> 01:05:53,080 Speaker 10: that they've had, probably still twenty fifteen, twenty teams out, 1236 01:05:53,360 --> 01:05:55,160 Speaker 10: I mean that lost Eastern Michigan and some of their 1237 01:05:55,160 --> 01:05:58,720 Speaker 10: metrics are really going to hurt them. Xavier, on the 1238 01:05:58,720 --> 01:06:02,440 Speaker 10: other hand, you're probably going and thirty teams deep. I mean, 1239 01:06:02,480 --> 01:06:04,000 Speaker 10: they're they're very far out of the. 1240 01:06:03,960 --> 01:06:07,320 Speaker 2: Bullet I like the fact that you answered that question seriously, 1241 01:06:07,400 --> 01:06:09,560 Speaker 2: like you gave me like a legitimate, well thought out 1242 01:06:10,000 --> 01:06:12,800 Speaker 2: answer to a question that I sort of asked more 1243 01:06:12,920 --> 01:06:15,240 Speaker 2: or less just to I don't know, get a chuckle 1244 01:06:15,280 --> 01:06:15,600 Speaker 2: out of you. 1245 01:06:17,120 --> 01:06:19,320 Speaker 10: Fair enough I assumed it was coming, so I kind 1246 01:06:19,320 --> 01:06:21,360 Speaker 10: of like did some research last night looking at it 1247 01:06:21,360 --> 01:06:25,080 Speaker 10: after we confirm the time here. But I it's been 1248 01:06:25,080 --> 01:06:27,240 Speaker 10: a rough year to say the least. 1249 01:06:27,560 --> 01:06:31,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, but if the Bearcats, I'm sorry, when the Bearcats 1250 01:06:32,120 --> 01:06:36,280 Speaker 2: win tonight over the undefeated, unanimous number one team in 1251 01:06:36,280 --> 01:06:38,920 Speaker 2: the country, how will that change things? 1252 01:06:40,040 --> 01:06:42,240 Speaker 10: That would be a I mean, on the road against 1253 01:06:42,280 --> 01:06:44,080 Speaker 10: one of the best teams in the country, if not 1254 01:06:44,120 --> 01:06:47,480 Speaker 10: the best, would jump them ten or eleven positions. I mean, 1255 01:06:47,560 --> 01:06:51,160 Speaker 10: that would be just absolutely monumental, season defining type of win. 1256 01:06:51,200 --> 01:06:53,120 Speaker 10: We would have serious conversations at that point. 1257 01:06:53,240 --> 01:06:54,480 Speaker 1: Really. So. 1258 01:06:54,480 --> 01:06:57,320 Speaker 2: So if they if they go to Tucson and win 1259 01:06:57,400 --> 01:07:01,240 Speaker 2: tonight and and beat in consecutive games the second ranked 1260 01:07:01,240 --> 01:07:02,800 Speaker 2: team in the country at the time, the second ranked 1261 01:07:02,800 --> 01:07:04,880 Speaker 2: team in the country, and the number one ranked team 1262 01:07:04,880 --> 01:07:09,360 Speaker 2: in the country, then like I could legitimately talk about 1263 01:07:09,400 --> 01:07:11,680 Speaker 2: like their NCAA tournament hopes. 1264 01:07:13,000 --> 01:07:16,920 Speaker 10: Yes, I'm holding off on putting this out for Cincinnati, 1265 01:07:16,920 --> 01:07:18,960 Speaker 10: but I put out like a path for Miami to 1266 01:07:18,960 --> 01:07:21,240 Speaker 10: get in that large bid today on Twitter. I will 1267 01:07:21,240 --> 01:07:24,280 Speaker 10: be doing the state for Cincinnati after the Arizona game. 1268 01:07:24,680 --> 01:07:27,160 Speaker 10: But this game would just be massive if they could 1269 01:07:27,160 --> 01:07:30,800 Speaker 10: get it done. Obviously that's the biggest But let's see 1270 01:07:30,800 --> 01:07:31,200 Speaker 10: what happens. 1271 01:07:31,280 --> 01:07:34,240 Speaker 2: Where are the two area Big ten schools on your radar, 1272 01:07:34,320 --> 01:07:35,440 Speaker 2: Ohio State and Indiana. 1273 01:07:37,280 --> 01:07:38,400 Speaker 1: Ohio State in. 1274 01:07:38,280 --> 01:07:40,680 Speaker 10: A much better position after beating Minnesota than they would 1275 01:07:40,680 --> 01:07:43,520 Speaker 10: have been if they would have lost. The UCLA win 1276 01:07:43,680 --> 01:07:45,400 Speaker 10: was really big. I was in Columbus for that one. 1277 01:07:46,280 --> 01:07:49,600 Speaker 10: So they are currently in the tournaments right above, maybe 1278 01:07:49,640 --> 01:07:52,960 Speaker 10: a ten or eleven seed after last night. For Indiana, 1279 01:07:53,360 --> 01:07:56,680 Speaker 10: they are out maybe eight to ten spots out just 1280 01:07:56,800 --> 01:08:00,200 Speaker 10: off the page of those next four out teams. Quite 1281 01:08:00,200 --> 01:08:01,840 Speaker 10: a bit of work to do after last night, and 1282 01:08:01,920 --> 01:08:03,120 Speaker 10: just kind of how the season's gone. 1283 01:08:03,200 --> 01:08:08,040 Speaker 2: Will this exercise for you be easier, more difficult, more 1284 01:08:08,120 --> 01:08:11,520 Speaker 2: fun or less fun once we inevitably expand the tournament field? 1285 01:08:13,160 --> 01:08:15,680 Speaker 10: Less fun because we're gonna have teams. And I don't 1286 01:08:15,720 --> 01:08:18,520 Speaker 10: mean this as a jab at Cincinnati. We're saying Cincinnati 1287 01:08:18,640 --> 01:08:21,600 Speaker 10: Savior would be genuinely considered at this point, and I 1288 01:08:22,040 --> 01:08:23,920 Speaker 10: don't want that for the tournament. I don't want to 1289 01:08:24,479 --> 01:08:26,200 Speaker 10: water it down and make tea I want to make 1290 01:08:26,240 --> 01:08:28,320 Speaker 10: teams earn it. But at the same time, it would 1291 01:08:28,320 --> 01:08:29,880 Speaker 10: be nice to consider some of these local teams a 1292 01:08:29,880 --> 01:08:31,240 Speaker 10: little bit more seriously. 1293 01:08:31,479 --> 01:08:35,120 Speaker 2: There's no living, breathing college basketball fan, with the exception 1294 01:08:35,240 --> 01:08:38,040 Speaker 2: of Seth Davis, who I follow, who wants an expanded 1295 01:08:38,040 --> 01:08:41,160 Speaker 2: tournament field. Nobody else wants it. Even as a dog 1296 01:08:41,160 --> 01:08:42,200 Speaker 2: hard Bearcat fan. 1297 01:08:42,840 --> 01:08:46,679 Speaker 1: I don't know. This is not this is not anything 1298 01:08:46,720 --> 01:08:49,760 Speaker 1: that we need. All right, Well, awesome to have you. 1299 01:08:49,880 --> 01:08:52,960 Speaker 2: Now, you know, as the tournament draws closer, we get 1300 01:08:52,960 --> 01:08:55,519 Speaker 2: you on the show more and more frequently, sometimes on 1301 01:08:55,560 --> 01:08:57,559 Speaker 2: a daily basis, to react to things that may have 1302 01:08:57,560 --> 01:09:00,879 Speaker 2: happened the night before. But we appreciate the time as always, 1303 01:09:01,040 --> 01:09:03,000 Speaker 2: and it's always good to have you. 1304 01:09:04,080 --> 01:09:05,200 Speaker 10: Absolutely happy to be here. 1305 01:09:05,240 --> 01:09:07,519 Speaker 2: Thank you, bim, You're very welcome. So that's our guy, 1306 01:09:07,600 --> 01:09:13,360 Speaker 2: Hunter SANSLM. He is the NKY Bracket Guy. His Twitter feed, 1307 01:09:13,720 --> 01:09:17,679 Speaker 2: if you love college basketball, is awesome, so you should 1308 01:09:17,720 --> 01:09:20,479 Speaker 2: follow him at bracket Guy NK. He said he give 1309 01:09:20,520 --> 01:09:22,559 Speaker 2: me a dollar for every new follower he got today. 1310 01:09:22,880 --> 01:09:28,679 Speaker 2: So at bracket NKY on Twitter, or if you prefer 1311 01:09:28,760 --> 01:09:31,000 Speaker 2: to call it by its proper name, X. 1312 01:09:32,600 --> 01:09:33,240 Speaker 1: Quote to five. 1313 01:09:33,320 --> 01:09:37,120 Speaker 2: Nobody wants an expanded tournament like I'll hear that argument. Well, 1314 01:09:37,200 --> 01:09:40,439 Speaker 2: you know, mo, your Bearcats, you know, or Xavier would 1315 01:09:40,439 --> 01:09:42,280 Speaker 2: have a chance more of a chance this year. 1316 01:09:42,439 --> 01:09:43,840 Speaker 1: Like, yeah, that's neat. 1317 01:09:44,840 --> 01:09:48,599 Speaker 2: It's there are very few things in sports that are 1318 01:09:48,640 --> 01:09:54,360 Speaker 2: pretty damn near perfect. Maybe the NCAA Tournament isn't perfect, 1319 01:09:54,840 --> 01:09:59,040 Speaker 2: pretty damn close, by the way, I think the twelve 1320 01:09:59,080 --> 01:10:02,559 Speaker 2: team college football playoff field also pretty close to perfect. 1321 01:10:02,680 --> 01:10:06,719 Speaker 1: Now there should be tweaks, don't. 1322 01:10:06,920 --> 01:10:09,000 Speaker 2: I don't know that we need this year's version of 1323 01:10:09,080 --> 01:10:10,800 Speaker 2: James Madison in the tournament. I don't know that we 1324 01:10:10,840 --> 01:10:13,000 Speaker 2: need this year's version of Tulane in the tournament. I 1325 01:10:13,040 --> 01:10:16,479 Speaker 2: think as good as those teams were, I think you 1326 01:10:16,479 --> 01:10:22,000 Speaker 2: should make group of five. Schools have exceptional seasons. Call 1327 01:10:22,080 --> 01:10:24,439 Speaker 2: me a homer. Twenty twenty one, you see, in the 1328 01:10:24,479 --> 01:10:27,920 Speaker 2: old way of doing things was an exceptional season. I 1329 01:10:27,920 --> 01:10:30,400 Speaker 2: think twelve is it's we're gonna go to sixteen, that 1330 01:10:30,479 --> 01:10:32,400 Speaker 2: we're gonna go to twenty four, which is stupid. Then 1331 01:10:32,400 --> 01:10:35,599 Speaker 2: invariably we're probably gonna get a thirty two. I think 1332 01:10:35,720 --> 01:10:39,720 Speaker 2: twelve there's still a level of exclusivity. You could have 1333 01:10:39,800 --> 01:10:44,360 Speaker 2: some really fun debates about teams number numbered eleven and twelve, 1334 01:10:46,640 --> 01:10:52,240 Speaker 2: but it's not that forgiving. I had perfect I liked 1335 01:10:52,280 --> 01:10:55,120 Speaker 2: it at four wasn't a huge proponent of expanding it, 1336 01:10:55,760 --> 01:10:57,680 Speaker 2: and then it kind of felt like everybody needed to 1337 01:10:57,680 --> 01:11:00,439 Speaker 2: feel like their team had access to the championship. I 1338 01:11:00,479 --> 01:11:08,040 Speaker 2: think every every fan of a group of four college 1339 01:11:08,040 --> 01:11:11,080 Speaker 2: football program feels like their team has access to the 1340 01:11:11,160 --> 01:11:15,320 Speaker 2: championship event, and I think that should be enough. I 1341 01:11:15,520 --> 01:11:19,120 Speaker 2: probably in the minority. I don't know that we want 1342 01:11:19,120 --> 01:11:24,320 Speaker 2: to see one versus sixteen in football, especially played on 1343 01:11:24,640 --> 01:11:27,360 Speaker 2: the one seeds home field. I'm not sure we really 1344 01:11:27,400 --> 01:11:31,880 Speaker 2: want that. Twelve is pretty damn close to perfect. It 1345 01:11:31,960 --> 01:11:34,840 Speaker 2: is a thirteen away from five o'clock. You know it's 1346 01:11:34,880 --> 01:11:38,080 Speaker 2: not perfect the Reds offense. You know who says as much, 1347 01:11:38,240 --> 01:11:40,840 Speaker 2: Terry Francona. More on that coming up in five oh 1348 01:11:41,000 --> 01:11:43,760 Speaker 2: five on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. 1349 01:11:44,439 --> 01:11:46,680 Speaker 3: Hey Alexa, who's on the DL. 1350 01:11:47,080 --> 01:11:50,360 Speaker 6: Getting ESPN fifteen to thirty radio. 1351 01:11:50,240 --> 01:11:53,599 Speaker 2: Said six to ten inch the snow Saturday, that's what 1352 01:11:54,320 --> 01:11:54,679 Speaker 2: we got. 1353 01:11:54,800 --> 01:12:00,800 Speaker 1: Six to ten be fun for him, not for me. 1354 01:12:01,040 --> 01:12:03,120 Speaker 1: For correct me if I'm wrong. 1355 01:12:03,200 --> 01:12:06,360 Speaker 2: Earlier this winter, weren't we told one of these weekends 1356 01:12:06,439 --> 01:12:08,439 Speaker 2: we were gonna get like as much snow as Steve 1357 01:12:08,560 --> 01:12:09,559 Speaker 2: just said, and it never came? 1358 01:12:09,640 --> 01:12:11,280 Speaker 1: Did that? Happen? Did happen? 1359 01:12:11,320 --> 01:12:14,519 Speaker 2: Am I imagining that we there was like a it 1360 01:12:14,560 --> 01:12:16,280 Speaker 2: was a weekend, wasn't it where we were supposed to 1361 01:12:16,320 --> 01:12:18,880 Speaker 2: get like just this unearthly amount of snow and we 1362 01:12:18,960 --> 01:12:20,920 Speaker 2: got like a decent amount, but not as much as 1363 01:12:20,960 --> 01:12:21,400 Speaker 2: they said. 1364 01:12:21,640 --> 01:12:22,080 Speaker 1: Correct. 1365 01:12:22,200 --> 01:12:25,960 Speaker 2: Okay, well, uh, we'll see, we'll see six to ten. 1366 01:12:26,040 --> 01:12:30,040 Speaker 1: He's saying. By the way, toilet people, yeah, don't don't buy. 1367 01:12:31,320 --> 01:12:33,360 Speaker 1: Don't buy. I mean, look, do this. 1368 01:12:33,720 --> 01:12:35,880 Speaker 2: Go and buy a normal amount of toilet paper that 1369 01:12:35,920 --> 01:12:38,559 Speaker 2: you ordinarily would, but but do it like today. Don't 1370 01:12:38,640 --> 01:12:40,880 Speaker 2: rush out on Saturday morning and hoard all the toilet 1371 01:12:40,880 --> 01:12:44,800 Speaker 2: paper or hoard you know, pretty much anything less. 1372 01:12:44,800 --> 01:12:45,840 Speaker 1: It's boobs. 1373 01:12:46,320 --> 01:12:46,559 Speaker 6: Uh. 1374 01:12:46,600 --> 01:12:49,559 Speaker 2: While we were doing the college basketball, uh, last night 1375 01:12:49,720 --> 01:12:53,120 Speaker 2: a big, big win for Mick Cronin's UCLA team. It 1376 01:12:53,120 --> 01:12:55,280 Speaker 2: has been an up and down season for the Bruins. 1377 01:12:57,280 --> 01:12:59,840 Speaker 2: Hunter mentioned before that he was in Columbus to watch 1378 01:13:00,080 --> 01:13:02,679 Speaker 2: Ohio State beat UCLA. And I'm not sure that game 1379 01:13:02,720 --> 01:13:04,400 Speaker 2: was as close as the final score. The buck Geys 1380 01:13:04,439 --> 01:13:08,040 Speaker 2: won that game by twelve points. Big win for OSU. 1381 01:13:08,240 --> 01:13:11,559 Speaker 2: The Bruins with that victory last night, improved to thirteen 1382 01:13:11,600 --> 01:13:17,360 Speaker 2: and six. I don't know that they're capable of catching 1383 01:13:17,439 --> 01:13:19,639 Speaker 2: the teams at the absolute top of the Big Ten. 1384 01:13:19,680 --> 01:13:23,000 Speaker 2: Nebraska is still undefeated, not just in the league but 1385 01:13:23,520 --> 01:13:26,519 Speaker 2: all season long. Michigan is one of the best three 1386 01:13:26,600 --> 01:13:29,240 Speaker 2: or four teams in the country. Michigan State very quietly 1387 01:13:29,320 --> 01:13:31,519 Speaker 2: is having an excellent season. But it was a win 1388 01:13:31,600 --> 01:13:35,400 Speaker 2: over Purdue, handing the Boilermakers their first loss of the season. 1389 01:13:36,000 --> 01:13:40,600 Speaker 2: Donovan Dent finally played like you know, the guy that 1390 01:13:40,640 --> 01:13:44,320 Speaker 2: everybody talked about being perhaps the best transfer in college basketball. 1391 01:13:44,520 --> 01:13:47,840 Speaker 2: The game was at Pauley Pavilion, so a lot of excitement, 1392 01:13:48,040 --> 01:13:51,120 Speaker 2: a lot of excitement if you're a UCLA fan following 1393 01:13:51,479 --> 01:13:54,880 Speaker 2: that big victory over Purdue, lot of excitement. And you 1394 01:13:54,880 --> 01:13:57,240 Speaker 2: could hear it him Mick Cronin's voice after the game. 1395 01:13:58,240 --> 01:13:59,840 Speaker 7: And I want to thank to Big Ten for giving 1396 01:13:59,920 --> 01:14:02,639 Speaker 7: up us five of our first seven on the road, 1397 01:14:04,360 --> 01:14:09,840 Speaker 7: bringing Purdue here on Thursday night, where we don't get 1398 01:14:09,840 --> 01:14:13,120 Speaker 7: back to in La till Saturday night, and giving us 1399 01:14:13,120 --> 01:14:14,680 Speaker 7: the team pick to win the league on a two 1400 01:14:14,720 --> 01:14:18,160 Speaker 7: days rest after five of ours a first seven on 1401 01:14:18,200 --> 01:14:19,920 Speaker 7: the road. I really I want to thank the Big Ten. 1402 01:14:19,960 --> 01:14:37,679 Speaker 11: Forday yay, never change never, never ever, ever ever change 1403 01:14:38,040 --> 01:14:39,280 Speaker 11: McK cronin is a great coach. 1404 01:14:40,080 --> 01:14:43,960 Speaker 2: But if if there is somebody who has the capability 1405 01:14:44,040 --> 01:14:48,920 Speaker 2: of being a wet blanket, call it what it is 1406 01:14:49,240 --> 01:14:54,160 Speaker 2: like big win catapult the Bruins to maybe making the tournament, 1407 01:14:54,200 --> 01:14:54,880 Speaker 2: make a run of. 1408 01:14:54,800 --> 01:14:55,360 Speaker 1: The Big Ten. 1409 01:14:55,520 --> 01:14:58,920 Speaker 2: No, look, it's not that his gripe isn't legit. Of 1410 01:14:58,920 --> 01:15:01,080 Speaker 2: course it is. Purdue was in LA because they played 1411 01:15:01,160 --> 01:15:04,760 Speaker 2: USC over the weekend. But dude, when you join the 1412 01:15:04,760 --> 01:15:09,759 Speaker 2: Big Ten, every team has scheduling irregularities in every sport. 1413 01:15:10,520 --> 01:15:13,759 Speaker 2: When you join the Big Ten as a West Coast school, 1414 01:15:14,120 --> 01:15:17,439 Speaker 2: you're subject to irregularities that are going to tilt things 1415 01:15:17,479 --> 01:15:20,200 Speaker 2: against you. The issue isn't with the Big Ten. The 1416 01:15:20,280 --> 01:15:22,720 Speaker 2: issue is with the administration that decided to join a 1417 01:15:22,800 --> 01:15:25,560 Speaker 2: league that is mostly based in the central part of 1418 01:15:25,560 --> 01:15:29,360 Speaker 2: the United States, that has a school in California, a 1419 01:15:29,439 --> 01:15:32,439 Speaker 2: couple in California, has a school in Oregon, has a 1420 01:15:32,439 --> 01:15:36,639 Speaker 2: school in Washington, and also has schools in New Jersey 1421 01:15:37,160 --> 01:15:39,439 Speaker 2: and College Park, Maryland. 1422 01:15:40,680 --> 01:15:41,519 Speaker 1: It's dumb. 1423 01:15:41,560 --> 01:15:43,280 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm a proponent of a lot of things 1424 01:15:43,320 --> 01:15:47,040 Speaker 2: happening in college sports right now. It remains dumb. But 1425 01:15:47,120 --> 01:15:50,000 Speaker 2: as long as your school decides to lean into the dumb, 1426 01:15:50,560 --> 01:15:53,880 Speaker 2: then you're going to be subject to scheduling irregularities that 1427 01:15:53,880 --> 01:15:57,120 Speaker 2: at times work against you. It's not the Big Ten's fault, 1428 01:15:57,439 --> 01:16:00,360 Speaker 2: your school's fault for taking that Big ten coin. Anyway, 1429 01:16:00,800 --> 01:16:05,840 Speaker 2: congratulations a big Quilton and his team for a win 1430 01:16:05,920 --> 01:16:10,719 Speaker 2: over Purdue last night. Five point three seven fifteen thirty 1431 01:16:10,840 --> 01:16:15,000 Speaker 2: is our phone number. Terry Francona acknowledged a flaw. It's 1432 01:16:15,040 --> 01:16:18,040 Speaker 2: one thing to acknowledge a flaw. It's something else to 1433 01:16:18,160 --> 01:16:20,960 Speaker 2: do something about it. Will that happen? We'll get to 1434 01:16:21,000 --> 01:16:23,759 Speaker 2: that next coming up on five o'clock ESPN fifteen thirty. 1435 01:16:24,080 --> 01:16:24,720 Speaker 1: Just answered this. 1436 01:16:24,840 --> 01:16:29,679 Speaker 12: Nationwide keyword on our website. Money that's money entering. Now, 1437 01:16:31,040 --> 01:16:33,479 Speaker 12: you got a dude on social media. I know who 1438 01:16:33,520 --> 01:16:35,240 Speaker 12: he is because he didn't say who he is. 1439 01:16:36,160 --> 01:16:40,920 Speaker 2: So I've been talking about Tito Francona's comments on Friday about, 1440 01:16:41,080 --> 01:16:42,560 Speaker 2: you know, we're not going to lead the league in 1441 01:16:42,640 --> 01:16:43,600 Speaker 2: runs scored. 1442 01:16:43,320 --> 01:16:47,400 Speaker 1: Which is an acknowledgement. It's it's stating the obvious. 1443 01:16:48,760 --> 01:16:52,160 Speaker 2: It's an acknowledgement that offensively they're gonna have issues this year. 1444 01:16:52,200 --> 01:16:55,479 Speaker 2: And old boy sent me a picture of the game, 1445 01:16:55,560 --> 01:16:57,679 Speaker 2: the box score from the game the Reds one, twenty 1446 01:16:57,720 --> 01:17:00,760 Speaker 2: four to two over the Orioles. But yeah, that was cool. 1447 01:17:00,800 --> 01:17:02,880 Speaker 2: That was neat The Reds had a league average offense 1448 01:17:03,000 --> 01:17:05,800 Speaker 2: last year. By the way, when last season ended, also 1449 01:17:05,800 --> 01:17:07,800 Speaker 2: on Moeger, this is ESPN fifteen thirty. 1450 01:17:07,800 --> 01:17:08,439 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. 1451 01:17:08,479 --> 01:17:11,120 Speaker 2: We're done. The bottom of the hour for UK basketball. 1452 01:17:11,160 --> 01:17:16,599 Speaker 2: The Wildcats taking on Texas Tonight's when last season ended. 1453 01:17:17,439 --> 01:17:21,400 Speaker 2: When last season ended with the Reds having made the postseason. 1454 01:17:22,280 --> 01:17:29,040 Speaker 2: I do not recall anybody anybody claiming that, you know what, 1455 01:17:29,120 --> 01:17:32,519 Speaker 2: this offseason when it comes to the offense, they need 1456 01:17:32,560 --> 01:17:38,320 Speaker 2: to stand pat I don't remember anybody saying that. I 1457 01:17:38,400 --> 01:17:40,800 Speaker 2: do not recall anybody going, you know what, just all 1458 01:17:40,800 --> 01:17:44,679 Speaker 2: this team needs. Bring everybody back, let everybody, some guys 1459 01:17:44,680 --> 01:17:47,400 Speaker 2: get healthier, Let some dudes get through the offseason and 1460 01:17:47,720 --> 01:17:50,360 Speaker 2: find ways to improve this year. And that's going to 1461 01:17:50,439 --> 01:17:55,400 Speaker 2: be enough. I do remember hearing people say they need 1462 01:17:55,640 --> 01:17:58,559 Speaker 2: they need some arms in the bullpen. They've accomplished one 1463 01:17:58,560 --> 01:18:01,680 Speaker 2: of those two things I've been told. You know, I'm 1464 01:18:01,680 --> 01:18:07,160 Speaker 2: being too harsh and overreacting, like the Reds made this 1465 01:18:07,240 --> 01:18:10,200 Speaker 2: season be dramatically better than last year. 1466 01:18:10,240 --> 01:18:11,400 Speaker 1: And by the way, that's the goal. 1467 01:18:12,600 --> 01:18:15,479 Speaker 2: Miss me with this hey, just get into the dance thing, 1468 01:18:16,400 --> 01:18:19,080 Speaker 2: Like just getting into the dance last year meant they 1469 01:18:19,120 --> 01:18:20,960 Speaker 2: had to go on the road and play the Dodgers 1470 01:18:21,439 --> 01:18:23,840 Speaker 2: and they couldn't set up their pitching rotation the way 1471 01:18:23,880 --> 01:18:29,080 Speaker 2: they would have liked for Game two, like I would 1472 01:18:29,240 --> 01:18:31,160 Speaker 2: in an ideal world, And I would imagine if you're 1473 01:18:31,200 --> 01:18:31,759 Speaker 2: a Reds. 1474 01:18:31,520 --> 01:18:32,599 Speaker 1: Fan, you feel the same way. 1475 01:18:32,800 --> 01:18:36,559 Speaker 2: Love to avoid Round one or would like to kind 1476 01:18:36,560 --> 01:18:38,400 Speaker 2: of be able to set up the team and the 1477 01:18:39,000 --> 01:18:43,040 Speaker 2: roster and more specifically the pitching rotation for the postseason 1478 01:18:43,560 --> 01:18:46,800 Speaker 2: by not having to really win Game one sixty two, 1479 01:18:48,760 --> 01:18:50,479 Speaker 2: like to play at home in Round one if I 1480 01:18:50,560 --> 01:18:52,800 Speaker 2: have to, like the Dodgers did last year. Is a 1481 01:18:52,800 --> 01:18:57,120 Speaker 2: three seed, so this you know, well, hey, they just 1482 01:18:57,160 --> 01:19:02,000 Speaker 2: sneak back in like they had to, and they deserve 1483 01:19:02,200 --> 01:19:07,400 Speaker 2: credit for it. But do you remember last September they 1484 01:19:07,400 --> 01:19:11,080 Speaker 2: were six games out in early September of the last wildcard. 1485 01:19:11,520 --> 01:19:13,760 Speaker 1: They barely got in. 1486 01:19:13,840 --> 01:19:16,320 Speaker 2: They needed help on the last day of the season 1487 01:19:16,320 --> 01:19:20,720 Speaker 2: to get in. So they made the postseason. It's never 1488 01:19:20,760 --> 01:19:24,080 Speaker 2: been easier. They got in with eighty three victories, not 1489 01:19:24,160 --> 01:19:27,240 Speaker 2: a great record. Didn't go in with like this full 1490 01:19:27,320 --> 01:19:30,320 Speaker 2: on head of steam, didn't go in with the ability 1491 01:19:30,360 --> 01:19:33,400 Speaker 2: to rest guys like they needed some stuff to go 1492 01:19:33,479 --> 01:19:35,960 Speaker 2: their way. They needed a New York Mets collapse, they 1493 01:19:35,960 --> 01:19:38,920 Speaker 2: needed the Padres to really not post. They needed a 1494 01:19:38,920 --> 01:19:41,280 Speaker 2: lot of stuff, And I think we all acknowledged that 1495 01:19:41,320 --> 01:19:44,640 Speaker 2: when last season ended. So I think the idea is 1496 01:19:44,680 --> 01:19:46,880 Speaker 2: to take eighty three wins in a playoff berth and 1497 01:19:47,040 --> 01:19:48,759 Speaker 2: build upon it do even better. 1498 01:19:49,479 --> 01:19:50,599 Speaker 1: Maybe what they have. 1499 01:19:50,520 --> 01:19:54,080 Speaker 2: Not done this offseason will compel them to be better 1500 01:19:54,120 --> 01:19:57,519 Speaker 2: this year. Maybe there are enough guys currently on the 1501 01:19:57,600 --> 01:20:01,479 Speaker 2: roster who offensive you are capable of having this sort 1502 01:20:01,520 --> 01:20:03,920 Speaker 2: of years. You're gonna need for this team to be 1503 01:20:04,120 --> 01:20:08,519 Speaker 2: even better than last year. But that should not preclude 1504 01:20:08,600 --> 01:20:11,400 Speaker 2: you from looking for help from outside. Like I can 1505 01:20:11,520 --> 01:20:12,280 Speaker 2: hear it now. 1506 01:20:13,360 --> 01:20:18,479 Speaker 1: I can hear it now all May, June and July 1507 01:20:19,439 --> 01:20:20,639 Speaker 1: hearing about how. 1508 01:20:22,040 --> 01:20:23,840 Speaker 2: The Reds just need to go get a bat at 1509 01:20:23,840 --> 01:20:27,280 Speaker 2: the trade deadline or it's just we did it. 1510 01:20:27,479 --> 01:20:28,840 Speaker 1: We did it on opening day last year. 1511 01:20:28,880 --> 01:20:30,920 Speaker 2: I remember like I kind of snapped at Tony and 1512 01:20:30,960 --> 01:20:33,080 Speaker 2: Austin an opening Day because the question was, well, like, well, 1513 01:20:33,120 --> 01:20:34,639 Speaker 2: who are they going to go get at the deadline? 1514 01:20:34,640 --> 01:20:37,360 Speaker 2: It's like, really, we're doing that more than four months 1515 01:20:37,360 --> 01:20:40,560 Speaker 2: before the deadline and acknowledgment that the offense was incomplete, 1516 01:20:41,640 --> 01:20:45,280 Speaker 2: an acknowledgement that they had holes in the offense, and 1517 01:20:45,800 --> 01:20:47,760 Speaker 2: by the way, you could see those holes coming. We 1518 01:20:47,800 --> 01:20:50,720 Speaker 2: talked about it during spring training last year, like this 1519 01:20:50,960 --> 01:20:53,840 Speaker 2: search for a bat has been going on for a while, 1520 01:20:55,439 --> 01:20:58,680 Speaker 2: and so maybe to that end, it shouldn't be surprising 1521 01:20:59,160 --> 01:21:02,800 Speaker 2: that they haven't exact actually been proactive. I mean, go 1522 01:21:02,920 --> 01:21:05,760 Speaker 2: back to last offseason and look, they acquired players who 1523 01:21:05,800 --> 01:21:09,880 Speaker 2: helped Austin Hayes had his moments. Jose Travino did some 1524 01:21:09,920 --> 01:21:13,000 Speaker 2: really good things. Now offensively, he was a non starter 1525 01:21:13,479 --> 01:21:15,280 Speaker 2: so to speak, in the second half of the season, 1526 01:21:15,320 --> 01:21:17,760 Speaker 2: but that was a good pickup. And the fact that 1527 01:21:17,800 --> 01:21:21,200 Speaker 2: they prioritized pickups from teams that had been in the 1528 01:21:21,240 --> 01:21:23,760 Speaker 2: postseason I think mattered last year. We talked about that 1529 01:21:23,880 --> 01:21:27,000 Speaker 2: last week with dudes like TJ. Friedel and Amelio Pagan 1530 01:21:27,120 --> 01:21:32,760 Speaker 2: and Andrew Abbott. But during spring training last year, how 1531 01:21:32,800 --> 01:21:35,479 Speaker 2: many times did we talk about how boy, offensively, it 1532 01:21:35,520 --> 01:21:40,519 Speaker 2: feels like they didn't quite do enough, as I recall 1533 01:21:41,360 --> 01:21:45,280 Speaker 2: all throughout February and March. So then when the season started, 1534 01:21:45,400 --> 01:21:48,280 Speaker 2: especially when guys had to miss time at the beginning 1535 01:21:48,280 --> 01:21:54,800 Speaker 2: of the season, like Austin Hayes and like Spencer Steer, well, 1536 01:21:56,400 --> 01:21:59,800 Speaker 2: it was doubly frustrating, wasn't it watching the Reds offensively 1537 01:22:00,120 --> 01:22:03,760 Speaker 2: spin their tires. And it will be pointed out by 1538 01:22:03,880 --> 01:22:06,240 Speaker 2: many they weren't a league worst offense. They were a 1539 01:22:06,320 --> 01:22:10,280 Speaker 2: league average offense last year, but they spun their tires 1540 01:22:10,320 --> 01:22:13,240 Speaker 2: and you're like, well, you know, in March, in February, 1541 01:22:13,360 --> 01:22:15,320 Speaker 2: we kind of knew that they hadn't done enough, And 1542 01:22:15,800 --> 01:22:17,799 Speaker 2: as it turns out, now that the games have started, 1543 01:22:17,880 --> 01:22:18,720 Speaker 2: they haven't done enough. 1544 01:22:20,160 --> 01:22:21,200 Speaker 1: So then what did we do? 1545 01:22:22,479 --> 01:22:25,320 Speaker 2: We spent all spring and summer talking about the need 1546 01:22:25,479 --> 01:22:29,160 Speaker 2: for a bat at the deadline, need offensive help. 1547 01:22:29,280 --> 01:22:29,400 Speaker 6: Now. 1548 01:22:29,439 --> 01:22:32,719 Speaker 2: They did get Miguel Andrew Harr, who apparently they're still 1549 01:22:32,880 --> 01:22:36,560 Speaker 2: interested in bringing back. But the big acquisition was a 1550 01:22:36,600 --> 01:22:40,519 Speaker 2: guy to play third base who can't hit. And think 1551 01:22:40,560 --> 01:22:45,800 Speaker 2: about that for a second offensively deficient team, big acquisition, 1552 01:22:46,160 --> 01:22:50,120 Speaker 2: guy to play third base who cannot hit. Yes, keep 1553 01:22:50,200 --> 01:22:53,360 Speaker 2: Ryan Hayes has right now no peer with the glove. 1554 01:22:54,080 --> 01:22:56,519 Speaker 2: He might be the best defensive player in the entire sport, 1555 01:22:56,640 --> 01:23:03,040 Speaker 2: regardless of position, but theoretically a major offense worse by 1556 01:23:03,200 --> 01:23:06,400 Speaker 2: adding a guy and like earmarking him for a corner 1557 01:23:06,520 --> 01:23:11,280 Speaker 2: infield position knowing he can't hit. So I guess maybe 1558 01:23:11,320 --> 01:23:13,600 Speaker 2: to that end, it shouldn't be that surprising. We've been 1559 01:23:13,640 --> 01:23:15,800 Speaker 2: talking about the search for an outside bat for a 1560 01:23:15,880 --> 01:23:21,439 Speaker 2: while and one hasn't materialized, and so it should be 1561 01:23:21,800 --> 01:23:25,719 Speaker 2: pretty unsurprising that they haven't prioritized getting one this offseason, 1562 01:23:27,360 --> 01:23:30,439 Speaker 2: but all the while that they haven't really gone and 1563 01:23:30,600 --> 01:23:35,200 Speaker 2: gotten a back that matters. There's been a limit to 1564 01:23:35,240 --> 01:23:40,160 Speaker 2: what they can do offensively, and the numbers will tell 1565 01:23:40,200 --> 01:23:44,560 Speaker 2: you that. Your memories of last season and how it 1566 01:23:44,720 --> 01:23:49,080 Speaker 2: unfolded will tell you that Terry Francona told us that 1567 01:23:49,160 --> 01:23:52,200 Speaker 2: on Friday night, we're not going to lead the league 1568 01:23:52,240 --> 01:23:56,880 Speaker 2: in runs. Here's the manager of the team acknowledging a 1569 01:23:57,280 --> 01:24:04,439 Speaker 2: major flaw. That's okay, Like that is completely and totally okay. 1570 01:24:05,760 --> 01:24:11,200 Speaker 2: What's not okay is not addressing a major flaw. Like, 1571 01:24:12,400 --> 01:24:15,360 Speaker 2: come up with whatever comparison you want. If you knew 1572 01:24:15,439 --> 01:24:19,040 Speaker 2: somebody who acknowledged like their biggest personal flaw and then 1573 01:24:19,120 --> 01:24:22,160 Speaker 2: did nothing about it, then okay, cool, it's it's nice. 1574 01:24:22,240 --> 01:24:24,439 Speaker 2: It's nice of you to mention that you know you 1575 01:24:24,720 --> 01:24:27,720 Speaker 2: have a temper problem or you're a procrastinator. Like it's 1576 01:24:28,000 --> 01:24:31,320 Speaker 2: all of us can identify our flaws, who does something 1577 01:24:31,360 --> 01:24:37,439 Speaker 2: about them? So there he was on Friday telling everybody, 1578 01:24:37,720 --> 01:24:40,160 Speaker 2: here's our issue. We're we're not going to lead the 1579 01:24:40,240 --> 01:24:45,200 Speaker 2: league in runs. Is an acknowledgment that offensively, the makeup 1580 01:24:45,280 --> 01:24:49,320 Speaker 2: of this team does not suggest that they're going to 1581 01:24:49,320 --> 01:24:55,200 Speaker 2: be a very proficient run scoring team. Okay, what's being 1582 01:24:55,280 --> 01:24:58,479 Speaker 2: done to address it? And you and I both know 1583 01:24:58,920 --> 01:25:01,200 Speaker 2: what the team is currently constructed. You and I both 1584 01:25:01,320 --> 01:25:04,320 Speaker 2: know what we're gonna be talking about all spring and 1585 01:25:04,360 --> 01:25:06,680 Speaker 2: summer long. In addition to how baseball is gonna have 1586 01:25:06,760 --> 01:25:09,080 Speaker 2: a lockout, we probably won't have a twenty twenty seven season, 1587 01:25:11,200 --> 01:25:15,760 Speaker 2: which I just I am dreading that to no end. 1588 01:25:17,120 --> 01:25:20,759 Speaker 2: But on top of all that, we're gonna be wondering 1589 01:25:21,200 --> 01:25:21,639 Speaker 2: who can. 1590 01:25:21,560 --> 01:25:24,840 Speaker 1: The Reds get? What will they give up? Maybe will 1591 01:25:24,880 --> 01:25:26,120 Speaker 1: they be buyers or sellers. 1592 01:25:28,520 --> 01:25:32,719 Speaker 2: Also, it's worth mentioning like the Kyle Schwerber thing would 1593 01:25:32,720 --> 01:25:35,599 Speaker 2: almost be easier if they didn't try to go get 1594 01:25:35,680 --> 01:25:41,479 Speaker 2: Kyle Schwarber. We could argue over how aggressive their pursuit was, 1595 01:25:42,320 --> 01:25:47,679 Speaker 2: but there was a pursuits didn't end the way most 1596 01:25:47,720 --> 01:25:51,160 Speaker 2: of us wanted might not have been as aggressive as 1597 01:25:51,280 --> 01:25:54,599 Speaker 2: most of us wanted, but they did pursue Kyle Schwarber, 1598 01:25:56,320 --> 01:25:58,760 Speaker 2: And when they did that, you couldn't help but think, like, 1599 01:25:59,080 --> 01:26:03,679 Speaker 2: all right, yes he's from Middletown. Yes we can argue 1600 01:26:03,720 --> 01:26:06,479 Speaker 2: over how much tickets he'll sell. Yes we could talk 1601 01:26:06,520 --> 01:26:09,320 Speaker 2: about what his tangible impact in the batting order would be. 1602 01:26:09,960 --> 01:26:12,040 Speaker 2: We can discuss how they would use them, how the 1603 01:26:12,120 --> 01:26:16,599 Speaker 2: other dominoes would fall. But when you swing and miss 1604 01:26:16,680 --> 01:26:19,920 Speaker 2: on a guy like that, or when the team you 1605 01:26:20,360 --> 01:26:22,880 Speaker 2: care about swings and miss on a guy like that, 1606 01:26:23,960 --> 01:26:32,000 Speaker 2: it is natural to then wonder, Okay, what's next, what's 1607 01:26:32,080 --> 01:26:38,960 Speaker 2: behind door number two? What's plan B? Like you know, 1608 01:26:39,120 --> 01:26:43,000 Speaker 2: if the Bengals decided we're gonna go after the best 1609 01:26:43,080 --> 01:26:46,040 Speaker 2: pass rusher available and didn't get him, you would then wonder, like, 1610 01:26:47,040 --> 01:26:49,719 Speaker 2: who's the next pass rusher they're gonna go after. Maybe 1611 01:26:49,760 --> 01:26:52,200 Speaker 2: he's not as good, but can he still be of value? 1612 01:26:52,240 --> 01:26:53,080 Speaker 2: Can he still help? 1613 01:26:53,600 --> 01:26:53,720 Speaker 1: You know? 1614 01:26:54,080 --> 01:26:57,200 Speaker 2: Might he end up being a better signing because you know, 1615 01:26:57,320 --> 01:27:02,200 Speaker 2: relative to what he costs, he represents better value. With 1616 01:27:02,320 --> 01:27:05,200 Speaker 2: the Reds, it was we're going to acknowledge our lack 1617 01:27:05,280 --> 01:27:08,000 Speaker 2: of pop by going after the dude, who's the best 1618 01:27:08,000 --> 01:27:10,400 Speaker 2: available player at hitting the ball out of the ballpark? 1619 01:27:11,840 --> 01:27:14,080 Speaker 2: And if we don't get them, you know, the rest 1620 01:27:14,120 --> 01:27:17,000 Speaker 2: of us are wondering, like cool, then then what? 1621 01:27:18,680 --> 01:27:18,800 Speaker 1: Well? 1622 01:27:18,840 --> 01:27:25,040 Speaker 2: Then what has been nobody like? It's it's frustrating beyond belief. 1623 01:27:26,120 --> 01:27:27,840 Speaker 2: And I know, like there's a lot of this. This 1624 01:27:27,960 --> 01:27:30,000 Speaker 2: team has taken a lot of heat and a lot 1625 01:27:30,040 --> 01:27:32,240 Speaker 2: of criticism for a very long time for how they've 1626 01:27:32,280 --> 01:27:37,280 Speaker 2: done things. And unfortunately, how we talk about you is 1627 01:27:37,320 --> 01:27:41,200 Speaker 2: based on the results you achieve or don't achieve. So 1628 01:27:41,880 --> 01:27:45,920 Speaker 2: you've got a fan base that is endured, depending on 1629 01:27:46,000 --> 01:27:49,280 Speaker 2: your age, decades worth of not making the postseason, who 1630 01:27:49,360 --> 01:27:52,040 Speaker 2: got a little sprinkle, little taste of it last year? 1631 01:27:53,720 --> 01:27:56,560 Speaker 2: Who is starting to look at this team through the 1632 01:27:56,680 --> 01:27:59,439 Speaker 2: lens of do you get to the playoffs every single 1633 01:27:59,560 --> 01:28:04,600 Speaker 2: year and you finally break through in advance? And a 1634 01:28:04,680 --> 01:28:07,879 Speaker 2: fan base that watched a flawed team last season overcome 1635 01:28:07,960 --> 01:28:11,920 Speaker 2: those flaws and make the playoffs? That has still the 1636 01:28:12,000 --> 01:28:15,600 Speaker 2: same flaw, so much so that the manager publicly acknowledged it. 1637 01:28:16,439 --> 01:28:21,360 Speaker 2: Front office has done nothing to address it. They tried, 1638 01:28:22,800 --> 01:28:25,800 Speaker 2: like it's it's still like to me, the fact that 1639 01:28:26,320 --> 01:28:29,679 Speaker 2: you would go after Kyle Schwerber and not even flirt 1640 01:28:29,800 --> 01:28:33,360 Speaker 2: with dudes like Cody Bellinger and Pete Alonzo. 1641 01:28:33,720 --> 01:28:36,920 Speaker 1: Is beyond mystifying. If this works. 1642 01:28:38,400 --> 01:28:41,640 Speaker 2: And if the offense is a major reason why the 1643 01:28:41,760 --> 01:28:47,640 Speaker 2: Reds finished dramatically higher in the standings this year and 1644 01:28:47,800 --> 01:28:50,439 Speaker 2: made the postseason and made it with ease and advanced 1645 01:28:50,479 --> 01:28:53,760 Speaker 2: in the postseason. Nick Krawl and this front office and 1646 01:28:53,840 --> 01:28:57,240 Speaker 2: this ownership group will deserve and get all the credit 1647 01:28:57,360 --> 01:29:02,200 Speaker 2: in the world. But until then, you are your track record, 1648 01:29:02,640 --> 01:29:06,280 Speaker 2: and the track record here is one of not winning much, 1649 01:29:06,680 --> 01:29:10,360 Speaker 2: not advancing in the postseason, and of a franchise building 1650 01:29:10,400 --> 01:29:11,840 Speaker 2: a brand that it won't go to the end of 1651 01:29:11,920 --> 01:29:13,519 Speaker 2: the earth to be the best in the world at 1652 01:29:13,520 --> 01:29:17,880 Speaker 2: what they do. When you leave a major flaw unaddressed, 1653 01:29:18,160 --> 01:29:22,840 Speaker 2: and they have using outside moves, they have left a 1654 01:29:23,040 --> 01:29:24,720 Speaker 2: major flaw unaddressed. 1655 01:29:25,160 --> 01:29:29,519 Speaker 1: The only thing you do is feed the belief that you're. 1656 01:29:29,439 --> 01:29:33,439 Speaker 2: Not interested or unwilling to go to the end of 1657 01:29:33,520 --> 01:29:35,559 Speaker 2: the earth to be the very best in the world 1658 01:29:35,560 --> 01:29:40,000 Speaker 2: at what you do. That's their brand as an organization. 1659 01:29:41,880 --> 01:29:46,280 Speaker 2: Hate it, love it, think it's woefully unfair, think it's 1660 01:29:46,400 --> 01:29:49,120 Speaker 2: dead on. For a lot of folks. That's the brand, 1661 01:29:51,960 --> 01:29:53,479 Speaker 2: and you got people to think, you know what, this 1662 01:29:53,640 --> 01:29:55,000 Speaker 2: is going to be a little bit different or a 1663 01:29:55,080 --> 01:29:58,599 Speaker 2: lot different because of the Schwarber thing. When it falls 1664 01:29:58,640 --> 01:30:03,880 Speaker 2: through and then is bupkis like what do you expect 1665 01:30:03,920 --> 01:30:06,080 Speaker 2: people to say and believe? And then when the manager 1666 01:30:06,160 --> 01:30:08,439 Speaker 2: comes out and says, yes, we're probably not gonna be 1667 01:30:08,479 --> 01:30:10,880 Speaker 2: good at this one pretty important area of the sport, 1668 01:30:12,280 --> 01:30:16,120 Speaker 2: just got to deal with it. And I don't want 1669 01:30:16,160 --> 01:30:18,840 Speaker 2: to completely diminish the good work they have done this 1670 01:30:18,960 --> 01:30:21,640 Speaker 2: offseason because there were two things they had to do 1671 01:30:21,920 --> 01:30:25,560 Speaker 2: and in one of those areas, I think they've crushed it. 1672 01:30:25,960 --> 01:30:28,439 Speaker 2: Like I think the Reds are gonna have a think 1673 01:30:28,720 --> 01:30:31,519 Speaker 2: Terry Francona will manage games this year with a lot 1674 01:30:31,640 --> 01:30:35,280 Speaker 2: of really good options in the bullpen. And they're not 1675 01:30:35,400 --> 01:30:38,840 Speaker 2: cutting corners. There's no re tread starter, there's no dude 1676 01:30:38,880 --> 01:30:41,840 Speaker 2: who used to be good a long time ago. Like 1677 01:30:42,280 --> 01:30:45,720 Speaker 2: it does look and feel like a legitimate strength of 1678 01:30:45,760 --> 01:30:47,799 Speaker 2: the team. That is awesome. 1679 01:30:50,400 --> 01:30:52,639 Speaker 1: It doesn't excuse what they haven't done with the offense. 1680 01:30:53,920 --> 01:30:58,599 Speaker 2: And you know, again, if this team scores a bunch 1681 01:30:58,720 --> 01:31:00,760 Speaker 2: more runs this season, I'll be the first to say, 1682 01:31:00,840 --> 01:31:02,280 Speaker 2: you know what, a lot of us got it wrong, 1683 01:31:03,080 --> 01:31:05,680 Speaker 2: But they haven't earned that benefit of the doubt yet. 1684 01:31:06,560 --> 01:31:07,439 Speaker 1: Nick Krawl has not. 1685 01:31:07,960 --> 01:31:10,679 Speaker 2: This ownership group has not earned that benefit of the doubt, 1686 01:31:12,040 --> 01:31:14,320 Speaker 2: especially when for a while now we have been saying 1687 01:31:14,400 --> 01:31:16,280 Speaker 2: you need to do more to fix the offense. They 1688 01:31:16,360 --> 01:31:18,880 Speaker 2: continue to not do more to fix the offense, and 1689 01:31:19,000 --> 01:31:23,040 Speaker 2: the offense continues to be League average at past nineteen 1690 01:31:23,080 --> 01:31:24,800 Speaker 2: and a half. For five o'clock five point three, seven 1691 01:31:24,840 --> 01:31:28,000 Speaker 2: four nine, fifteen thirty is our phone number eight sixty 1692 01:31:28,040 --> 01:31:30,120 Speaker 2: six seven h two three seven seven six. You can 1693 01:31:30,160 --> 01:31:33,200 Speaker 2: send a tweet at Moeger thanks to Delta Dental. Delta 1694 01:31:33,280 --> 01:31:36,439 Speaker 2: Dental is building healthy, smart and vibrant communities for all 1695 01:31:36,520 --> 01:31:39,960 Speaker 2: good at Delta Dental, oh dot com. College Basketball Tonight 1696 01:31:40,000 --> 01:31:43,040 Speaker 2: on ESPN fifteen thirty, UK and Texas pregame show is 1697 01:31:43,800 --> 01:31:47,720 Speaker 2: just about ten minutes away on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports. 1698 01:31:47,479 --> 01:31:55,719 Speaker 3: Station WCKY Cincinnati and iHeartRadio station g Garanteed Human ESPN 1699 01:31:55,920 --> 01:31:56,719 Speaker 3: fifteen thirty. 1700 01:31:56,920 --> 01:31:58,720 Speaker 1: I heard radio. 1701 01:32:00,360 --> 01:32:06,320 Speaker 2: Loaded night of college Hukes, UK and Texas in five 1702 01:32:06,400 --> 01:32:11,880 Speaker 2: minutes along Shawan Miller, old friend Sean Miller, Sean Miller. 1703 01:32:12,880 --> 01:32:16,000 Speaker 2: We played some Mick cron and audio before from a 1704 01:32:16,080 --> 01:32:19,639 Speaker 2: mixed postgame conference after postgame press conference after the Bruins 1705 01:32:20,240 --> 01:32:25,360 Speaker 2: beat Purdue last night, Sean Miller has sounded and looked 1706 01:32:25,560 --> 01:32:30,360 Speaker 2: as exasperated as I've ever seen him in talking about 1707 01:32:30,760 --> 01:32:34,719 Speaker 2: his players. His team goes up against Mark Pope's Kentucky squad. 1708 01:32:34,960 --> 01:32:36,760 Speaker 2: Doesn't feel like it, but they're looking for their fourth 1709 01:32:36,800 --> 01:32:42,080 Speaker 2: consecutive win. Fell behind by eighteen in the road game 1710 01:32:42,160 --> 01:32:46,400 Speaker 2: against LSU and then fell behind by seventeen points on 1711 01:32:46,479 --> 01:32:47,839 Speaker 2: the road against Tennessee. 1712 01:32:48,200 --> 01:32:51,360 Speaker 1: They win both. I'm not sure that should be the 1713 01:32:51,600 --> 01:32:52,759 Speaker 1: blueprint moving forward. 1714 01:32:52,840 --> 01:32:54,719 Speaker 2: We'll see if the Wildcats can win a game tonight, 1715 01:32:54,920 --> 01:32:58,160 Speaker 2: not falling behind by seventeen or eighteen points. 1716 01:32:58,400 --> 01:32:59,599 Speaker 1: Xavier and Creighton tonight. 1717 01:33:00,320 --> 01:33:04,800 Speaker 2: Xavier's team offensively the last couple of games has been 1718 01:33:04,960 --> 01:33:07,120 Speaker 2: a lot of fun to watch. They've leaned into running. 1719 01:33:07,160 --> 01:33:09,559 Speaker 2: We talked about this with Rick browing in the first 1720 01:33:09,600 --> 01:33:11,799 Speaker 2: hour of the show. Unfortunately, that's kind of the tempo 1721 01:33:11,920 --> 01:33:15,120 Speaker 2: that Creighton wants to play. Blue Jays beat the Musketeers 1722 01:33:15,160 --> 01:33:17,080 Speaker 2: by forty one points a little bit more than a 1723 01:33:17,160 --> 01:33:20,880 Speaker 2: month ago. Muskies are a seven and a half point dog. 1724 01:33:21,000 --> 01:33:27,160 Speaker 2: Tonight in Omaha. Cincinnati battles Arizona. Now Every metric will 1725 01:33:27,240 --> 01:33:29,960 Speaker 2: tell you this, Your eyes will tell you this, the 1726 01:33:30,080 --> 01:33:32,960 Speaker 2: AP Top twenty five, and coaches polls will tell you this. 1727 01:33:34,000 --> 01:33:36,479 Speaker 2: Most believe that Arizona is the best team in the country. 1728 01:33:36,520 --> 01:33:39,880 Speaker 2: And they are, and they're extraordinarily efficient on offense. They're 1729 01:33:40,720 --> 01:33:43,519 Speaker 2: really well coached on defense. I think the thing that 1730 01:33:43,640 --> 01:33:47,240 Speaker 2: stands out to me, and there's gonna be there's gonna 1731 01:33:47,240 --> 01:33:48,439 Speaker 2: have to be a lot of things that go in 1732 01:33:48,520 --> 01:33:52,640 Speaker 2: Cincinnati's favor. Arizona doesn't take a lot of threes, but 1733 01:33:52,800 --> 01:33:55,439 Speaker 2: they make a decent percentage of the ones they take. 1734 01:33:55,720 --> 01:33:58,519 Speaker 2: Coming into last night, forty fifth in the country in 1735 01:33:58,640 --> 01:34:03,840 Speaker 2: three point shooting percentage, but among the lower ranked teams 1736 01:34:03,880 --> 01:34:06,600 Speaker 2: in college basketball in terms of percentage of points that 1737 01:34:06,760 --> 01:34:10,120 Speaker 2: come off threes. They don't take a ton, but the 1738 01:34:10,200 --> 01:34:13,000 Speaker 2: ones they take they're pretty good at making sixth in 1739 01:34:13,040 --> 01:34:16,519 Speaker 2: the Big Twelve. Cincinnati is dead last in the Big Twelve, 1740 01:34:16,560 --> 01:34:20,120 Speaker 2: and three point shooting the great equalizer in college basketball. 1741 01:34:20,120 --> 01:34:22,120 Speaker 2: If you want to pull off an upset, you got 1742 01:34:22,240 --> 01:34:25,920 Speaker 2: to be really good from three. Can Cincinnati find its 1743 01:34:26,000 --> 01:34:28,880 Speaker 2: stroke from behind the arc tonight? But more than anything, 1744 01:34:29,040 --> 01:34:31,519 Speaker 2: as good and as efficient as Arizona is on the 1745 01:34:31,600 --> 01:34:36,519 Speaker 2: offensive end, they're fourth in the country in offensive rebounding percentage. Now, 1746 01:34:36,560 --> 01:34:40,840 Speaker 2: the Bearcats have defended all season really really well, Like 1747 01:34:41,040 --> 01:34:43,240 Speaker 2: the metrics will tell you that, and for the most part, 1748 01:34:43,320 --> 01:34:46,799 Speaker 2: your eyeballs will tell you that. But do they defend 1749 01:34:46,880 --> 01:34:49,920 Speaker 2: well and then give up an offensive board. Houston in 1750 01:34:49,960 --> 01:34:53,400 Speaker 2: the second half kick the crap out of Cincinnati on 1751 01:34:53,560 --> 01:34:59,000 Speaker 2: the offensive glass. If that's the case tonight, it's hard 1752 01:34:59,080 --> 01:35:02,000 Speaker 2: to imagine. If this is not so much about Cincinnati 1753 01:35:02,080 --> 01:35:04,639 Speaker 2: winning the game, can they put themselves in a position 1754 01:35:04,720 --> 01:35:07,000 Speaker 2: to have a chance to win the game? The issue 1755 01:35:07,040 --> 01:35:09,439 Speaker 2: for UC all year long has been being in close 1756 01:35:09,520 --> 01:35:11,360 Speaker 2: games with four or five minutes to go and not 1757 01:35:11,840 --> 01:35:13,800 Speaker 2: finding a way to execute, not finding a way to 1758 01:35:13,840 --> 01:35:17,720 Speaker 2: close with the exception of the last two. So does 1759 01:35:17,800 --> 01:35:20,439 Speaker 2: this team play with a little bit more confidence based 1760 01:35:20,479 --> 01:35:23,280 Speaker 2: on the results of the last two games? Can they 1761 01:35:23,400 --> 01:35:27,640 Speaker 2: handle everything that Arizona throws at them? Can they keep 1762 01:35:27,680 --> 01:35:29,479 Speaker 2: them off the glass? Because they're not going to be 1763 01:35:29,520 --> 01:35:32,120 Speaker 2: able to keep them from scoring. But you make it 1764 01:35:32,200 --> 01:35:35,040 Speaker 2: worse when you let a team like Arizona gets second 1765 01:35:35,120 --> 01:35:37,920 Speaker 2: chance points, then you basically have no chance. I can't 1766 01:35:37,960 --> 01:35:40,519 Speaker 2: wait for it tonight. Like I said this to Tony, 1767 01:35:40,600 --> 01:35:44,400 Speaker 2: I think off air, maybe on This went from a 1768 01:35:44,439 --> 01:35:46,320 Speaker 2: game that I think if you're a Bearcat fan you 1769 01:35:46,400 --> 01:35:48,920 Speaker 2: were dreading to one that tonight. It's like, all right, 1770 01:35:49,000 --> 01:35:52,840 Speaker 2: they aren't playing better, Let's see how they do. Regardless 1771 01:35:52,840 --> 01:35:54,240 Speaker 2: of how they do, I can't wait to talk about 1772 01:35:54,240 --> 01:35:54,639 Speaker 2: it tomorrow. 1773 01:35:55,360 --> 01:35:55,760 Speaker 1: We're done. 1774 01:35:55,880 --> 01:35:57,519 Speaker 2: Chad Rendel's on the show to talk about it at 1775 01:35:57,760 --> 01:36:01,280 Speaker 2: three forty five. We look forward to anything you, me 1776 01:36:01,320 --> 01:36:03,880 Speaker 2: and mis go find on the iHeartRadio app podcast of 1777 01:36:03,920 --> 01:36:06,160 Speaker 2: this show, or a service of Long Neck Sports Grill 1778 01:36:06,360 --> 01:36:08,639 Speaker 2: if you are looking for a place to watch any 1779 01:36:08,680 --> 01:36:12,320 Speaker 2: of those games tonight, Long Neck Sports Grill, Wilder Hubrin, 1780 01:36:12,479 --> 01:36:16,840 Speaker 2: Richwood Wings Beer, so much more. 1781 01:36:18,320 --> 01:36:19,519 Speaker 1: We're done. The show is over. 1782 01:36:19,680 --> 01:36:23,680 Speaker 2: Kentucky basketball is coming up next, the Wildcats taking on 1783 01:36:24,439 --> 01:36:28,880 Speaker 2: Texas tip off at seven pm. Don't forget Tony Pike. 1784 01:36:28,920 --> 01:36:31,639 Speaker 2: Sincy three to sixty is tomorrow at noon. We return 1785 01:36:31,760 --> 01:36:34,680 Speaker 2: tomorrow at three oh five. Have a great night. Thanks 1786 01:36:34,720 --> 01:36:37,559 Speaker 2: to Tarren Bland for producing. This is ESPN fifteen thirty 1787 01:36:37,760 --> 01:36:38,960 Speaker 2: Cincinnati sports station.