1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Sixth Cincinnati Rag He Bear God. This ESPN fifteen to 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: thirty player profile good bar presented by Rookie wished in 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: Recycling John Wright. Also brought you by Dunnado's Pizza and 4 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: Riverside Electric. 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 2: Back the boat. Now with a name you need to know, 6 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 2: Here's Moegger. If the Reds are going to have a 7 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 2: more potent offense than they did last season, a rookie 8 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: could be a major reason why. Sal Stewart joined the 9 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 2: Reds late last season, and he instantly showed some pop, 10 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: clubbing five homers in just fifty five at bats. Add 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 2: that to the twenty Stewart hid in the minor leagues 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 2: before his call up, and it's easy to see why 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 2: there's so much excitement around the twenty two year old. 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 2: His position is most likely to be first base, but 15 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 2: he'll probably also spend some time at third, and he 16 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 2: has some experience playing second base. Two and despite his 17 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 2: cup of coffee with the Reds last season, he's still 18 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: considered a rookie and worth mentioning as a possible Rookie 19 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 2: of the Year candidate. Me Rookie first baseman salth Stewart. 20 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: For more player profiles, keep it here. On ESPN fifteen thirty. Hey, guys, 21 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 2: that guy's good. The guy doing those profiles, he is, 22 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: He is amazing, amazing. What's up, Mueger. This is ESPN 23 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 2: fifteen thirty. Thank you for listening today, Hooker having like 24 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 2: an unbelievable Tuesday. The two days before opening Day are 25 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: like the tuesdays right before Christmas, so stoked. Show preview 26 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,759 Speaker 2: is available for today's show on Twitter at Moeger. Watch 27 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 2: it now thanks to share Facts credit Union. You know 28 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 2: how much I love shareffacts credit Union right become a 29 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: member today at shareffacts dot org. Let me get this 30 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: part out of the way. Paul Danner Junior is not 31 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 2: here today because he's he's on vacation. And I know, 32 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: like the quintessential vacation for most would involve spending an 33 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: hour talking about the Bengals and the fact that they 34 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 2: haven't signed a linebacker with me. And I know that's 35 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: what Paul wanted, do I know that's what Paul's family 36 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 2: wanted him to do. But I said, look, man, we'll 37 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 2: take a breather, enjoy your time off. We'll talk actually 38 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 2: in two weeks because I'm off next Tuesday. So no 39 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 2: Paul today, but don't despair, because we do have a 40 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 2: lot of ground to cover, and tomorrow we are jammed 41 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 2: with guests, including Jared Calhoun, the new head basketball coach 42 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: at the University of Cincinnati, the new men's basketball head 43 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: coach at the University of Cincinnati. The school made it 44 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: official today and when they did, they included quotes from 45 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: the likes of Joe Missoula, the Boston Celtics head coach, 46 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:43,959 Speaker 2: World Championship Boston Celtics head coach who coached under Jared 47 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: Calhoun at Fairmont State. There's a quote from Mick Cronin, 48 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 2: and yes there's a quote from Bob Huggins. All of 49 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: those things may not matter to you, but you and 50 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: I both know they matter to some. Jared Calhoun will 51 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 2: be introduced tomorrow at one o'clock. You know, you hear 52 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 2: all the time that nil is ruining things. It's ruining 53 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 2: college basketball, it's ruining college football, it's ruining the NCAA tournament. 54 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 2: I don't believe those things, but there's one thing that 55 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 2: it has ruined. I think it's ruined how we talk 56 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: about coaching hires. And this is no coach's faults. So 57 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 2: Jared Calhoun was hired by UC and there's a lot 58 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: to like. His track record is extensive and it's good. 59 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: In the two years at Utah State, he won he 60 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: won an NCAA Tournament game against Villanova on Friday. I 61 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: think there are more people here in Cincinnati who watched 62 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: Utah State play on Friday and on Sunday than had 63 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: maybe ever watched Utah State play in this town. And 64 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 2: I think most walked away from those two games thinking, 65 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: that looks like a well coached, well put together team. 66 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: It's a team that runs good offense. And you'll hear 67 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: and read about how Jared Calhoun's teams at Youngstown State 68 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 2: at Utah State have been very good when it comes 69 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: to offensive metrics, and that's very encouraging, and this year 70 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 2: very good when it comes to defensive metrics. There's the 71 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: job that he did at Youngstown State, which don't discount 72 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 2: that success. Youngstown State, when Jared Calhoun took that job 73 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 2: might have been considered the worst job in Division one 74 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 2: college basketball. Now that is perhaps a stretch, but I'm 75 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 2: gonna read for you the records of the five head 76 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 2: coaches who preceded Jared Calhoun at Youngstown State. Jim Clemens, 77 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 2: he went twelve and forty four. John Stroya he went 78 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 2: twenty nine and eighty one. Dan Peters, who obviously spent 79 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: some time as Bob Huggins's lead assistant at UC. At 80 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 2: Youngtown State, Dan Peters went seventy eight and eighty seven. 81 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: John Robick, coach Cal's guy at UK twenty seven and 82 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 2: eighty six. Jerry Slocum one thirty nine and two twenty seven. 83 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 2: Jared Calhoun went one eighteen and one oh six and 84 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: guided the Penguins to the school's only regular season conference 85 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 2: championship in twenty twenty three. That got him hired by 86 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 2: Utah State. What he did at Utah State has gotten 87 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: him hired at the University of Cincinnati. But what makes 88 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: nil a problem here is not well, Jared Calhoun's not 89 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: good at raising nil cash. I have no idea, but 90 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 2: we used to look at a coaching higher and judget 91 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: based on track record. You know, maybe how many players 92 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: had he put in the NBA, how many All league 93 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: guys had he had, how many NCAA tournaments had he 94 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 2: coached in? What's the winning percentage? How's he done in 95 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: games where his team is uh not favored? How's he 96 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 2: done in games where his team is favored. How's he 97 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 2: been in conference tournaments? What's his record been in February? 98 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 2: Has he ever been an NCAA problem and a trouble? 99 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 2: Has he ever run a foul of NCAA rules? Has 100 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: he ever put a program on probation? Has there ever 101 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 2: been an academic scandals? Do his kids behave off the court? 102 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 2: Does he recruit bad guy? Now, it's about one thing. 103 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: Is there gonna be enough nil for him to have players? 104 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 2: This is the lens through which we look at every 105 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 2: single coaching higher. We did this a year ago with 106 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: Richard Patino, Right, Richard Patino's bona fides at New Mexico 107 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 2: and at Minnesota and his background and how much had 108 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: he won, and what were some of the positives and 109 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 2: negatives and what style do his teams play? It took 110 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: a back seat to the question that just overshadows every 111 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 2: single higher. What's the cash going to be? What's the 112 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: cash available going to be for the coach when he 113 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: walks in. How much more cash can he generate to 114 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 2: help buy players. I don't say that as a criticism 115 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 2: of any coach. I certainly don't say it as a 116 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: criticism of nil because nil has made the college game better, 117 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: and the NCAA tournament ratings this weekend would indicate as much. 118 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: But it has changed how we assess coaching hires. Not 119 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: every coaching hier is going to work out. There's always 120 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 2: really nice things said about coaches when they're hired, but 121 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 2: they don't all work out. It's just the way we 122 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 2: talk about these programs and how a coach is going 123 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: to do really comes down to one thing, and that, 124 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 2: to me, has kind of ruined how we talk about 125 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: coaches when they do get hired. I have been called 126 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: a homer for saying this, and it's okay. I've been 127 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: called much worse, and I can be called a homer 128 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: because I'm not one. I think Jared Calhoun walks into 129 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 2: a situation where, like most coaches today, he has no 130 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: idea who his players are going to be. Is it 131 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: going to being good guys with him from Utah State? 132 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 2: Can he convince any of Wes Miller's player players to 133 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 2: stay at U? See? What kind of work is he 134 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: going to do in the portal? All very good and 135 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 2: fair questions. But the basic infrastructure I believe is in place, 136 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: Maybe it doesn't matter as much as it used to. 137 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 2: But the fan support is still really good. You know, 138 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 2: when Mick Cronin got this job, the fan support wasn't great. 139 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 2: I remember that vibe. I remember those empty arenas. I 140 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 2: remember people who call themselves UC fans actively rooting against 141 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 2: the coach because they were bitter about these circumstances surrounding 142 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: the way Mick got the job. The fan support is there. 143 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: As frustrating as the Bearcats have been over the last 144 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 2: couple of years, fifth Third Arena has for the most part, 145 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 2: been really damn full. I think there's a little bit 146 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,359 Speaker 2: more stability. Look like, I'm not going to make excuses 147 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 2: for Wes Miller. God knows his time in Cincinnati is 148 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 2: water under the bridge, but like you know, the circumstances 149 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 2: surrounding him getting hired were less than ideal. Everybody was 150 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: still trying to figure out nil. Everybody was still trying 151 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 2: to figure out like college basketball post COVID, what's it 152 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: going to look like? Everybody was still grappling with how 153 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 2: the portal was gonna work. Also, Wes Miller got the 154 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 2: job in like mid April. Here there's timing that's really good, 155 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 2: and I l as a thing most coaches have figured 156 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 2: out how to navigate it, even if they don't like it. 157 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,479 Speaker 2: The portal window is different, a little bit more advantageous 158 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 2: to a guy taking over a new school. There's a 159 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 2: little bit more stability. They're not going to be moving 160 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 2: up a level like that didn't help Wes year three. 161 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 2: Everybody was excited for the move to the Big twelve, 162 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 2: but it did kind of feel like after two seasons, 163 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,839 Speaker 2: things have been steadied and now we're going to throw 164 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: at the program a better league, better competition, a tougher league. 165 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 2: Now the league is an asset, and they're not exactly 166 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:39,559 Speaker 2: starting from the bottom of the league, so there's a 167 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 2: little bit more stability. There's good timing here. There's a 168 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: coach who's got a winning track record. There's a coach 169 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 2: who seems to run the sort of offense that UC 170 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: fans have for the most part, myself included, been begging 171 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 2: to see someone run for decades. We'll see how much 172 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: does it matter that he has used he ties? How 173 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 2: much should it matter that he's worked for Bob Huggins, 174 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 2: How much should it matter that he's gotten the blessing 175 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 2: of Bob Huggins and Mick Cronin I don't know, but 176 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 2: it certainly doesn't hurt. Like there's no guarantee of success. 177 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 2: No coaches ever guaranteed to win. Many head coaches when 178 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: they're hired, you would think the instant vibes would suggest 179 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: long term success, and it doesn't work out. But John 180 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 2: Cunningham identified Jerrek Calhoon weeks ago. He gets his guy, 181 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 2: and there's a lot to like about the resume, there's 182 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 2: a lot to like about the job itself. There's a 183 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 2: lot to like about the circumstances surrounding him getting hired 184 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 2: and why they're different from those of some of his predecessors. 185 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 2: And so if you're a Bearcat fan and I am, 186 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 2: I think there should be some optimism and there should 187 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 2: be some excitement also for what it's worth. And this 188 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 2: is something we talked about a little bit last week. 189 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 2: Cincinnati had a coaching change in twenty nineteen, Mick Bounces 190 00:10:55,640 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 2: for UCLA, and there was this sense, and I'm painting 191 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 2: with a broad brush of deep appreciation for what Mick 192 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 2: had done and a deep amount of admiration for the 193 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 2: way he had gone about rebuilding the program, combined with 194 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 2: exhaustion and exasperation and frustration with not getting past the 195 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 2: first weekend of the tournament, and it was you know, 196 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 2: we say all the time on this show, there's room 197 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 2: for multiple truths, and in April of twenty nineteen, there 198 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 2: was room for multiple truths. On one hand, Mick had 199 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: done a really good job, had a lot of really 200 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 2: good teams, coached a lot of very good players, had 201 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 2: a lot of regular season success, But nine tournaments and 202 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 2: eight of them ending for the Bearcats before this Sweet 203 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: sixteen had gotten old. And obviously the it came to 204 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 2: a crescendo in twenty eighteen when they blew the twenty 205 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 2: two point lead against Nevada. But when the next coach 206 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 2: got hired, and that was obviously John Brannon, all anybody 207 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 2: asked was can you get to the sweet sixteen? And remember, 208 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 2: like some incentives were built in the kind of rewarded 209 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 2: the coach for getting to the sweet sixteen. It's all 210 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 2: anybody asked. So much so I remember saying on this show, 211 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 2: in writing for the Athletic, which I did at the time, 212 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: hey look, don't lose sight of how hard it is 213 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 2: to get to the tournament every single year. But the 214 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 2: bar from McK cronin's successor was Sweet sixteen. I even 215 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 2: feel like to a degree that was the bar for 216 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 2: Wes Miller. Right, maybe not year one, but it was like, 217 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 2: hey man, not too long ago, we had a guy 218 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 2: who was really good but couldn't get to the Sweet sixteen? 219 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 2: Can you do that? Jared Calhoun walks into a situation 220 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 2: where in the first season, maybe the second season, nobody's 221 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 2: going to be asking about the Sweet sixteen. We will eventually, 222 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 2: and eventually it'd be great to shift the conversation from 223 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 2: can you make the tournament too can you win the 224 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 2: Big twelve? Or from can you make the tournament to 225 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 2: can you advance in the tournament? Can you get to 226 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 2: a Final four? But for the short term the bar 227 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 2: pretty low. Can you be team number sixty eight? And 228 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 2: for the answer to be yes, a lot of really 229 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 2: good things are going to have to happen. But I 230 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 2: don't think it's unrealistic to suggest that being team number 231 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 2: sixty eight can happen. And as soon as it does, 232 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 2: then we start to talk about the bar being raised 233 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 2: even higher, and then get back to talking about when 234 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 2: the Bearcats will again play in the Sweet sixteen and 235 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: compete at the upper reaches of its conference. Seventeen minutes 236 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 2: after three o'clock five point three seven four nine fifteen 237 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 2: thirty is our number eight six six seven oh two 238 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 2: three seven seven six. It's Opening Day Eve Eve. Tomorrow 239 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 2: then is Opening Day Eve. And you know what we 240 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 2: do on Opening Day Eve. We broadcast from the Cincinnati 241 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 2: Lagger House, which you probably know used to be called 242 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 2: the Marline lagger House. They did a rebrand and a 243 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 2: name change a few weeks ago, but it's same awesome place. 244 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: We're lucky enough to be able to broadcast from there tomorrow. 245 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 2: We'll be there from three to six. We've got happy 246 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 2: hour specials, appetizer specials, beer specials. All we need is 247 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 2: you Tomorrow at the Cincinnati Loggerhouse from three to six. 248 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 2: Should be a lot of fun. Opening Day Eve, Eve 249 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 2: eighteen after three o'clock on Twitter at Moeger Thanks to 250 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 2: Delta Dental. Delta Dental is building healthy, smart, vibrant communities 251 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 2: for all. Good to Delta Dental, Oh dot com. I 252 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 2: don't believe the Reds have the same team that they 253 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 2: had last year. I just think it's going to achieve 254 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 2: the same as last year's team did. That's next on 255 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 2: ESPN fifteen. 256 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 3: Thirty Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty traffic from the. 257 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 4: UC Health Traffic Center. The UC Health Women's Sports Medicine 258 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 4: Program provides specialized care for female athletes at all levels. 259 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 4: Schedule and appointment online at useehealth dot com. Northbound seventy 260 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 4: five right lane is blocked from a disabled vehicle at 261 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 4: Paddock Roade, about a ten minute to lay back from Mitchell. 262 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 4: There's also an accident northbound seventy one after State Route 263 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 4: seventy two. Southbound seventy five. The off ramp to Paddock 264 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 4: Road is closed off for construction through late May. I'm 265 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 4: at ezelic with traffic. 266 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: Sixth Cincinnati Rage, Be Bear God This DSP and fifteen 267 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: to thirty player profile good bar presented by Rookie Wishton 268 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: Recycling doohn Wright also brought you by Dunnado's Pizza and 269 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: Riverside Electric. 270 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 2: Back the Back, That's the Barga. Now with a name 271 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 2: you need to know, Here's Moegger. The biggest Reds off 272 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 2: season acquisition is a familiar face. A Uhaneo Suarez has 273 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 2: returned to Cincinnati, joining the Reds this winter after hitting 274 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 2: forty nine home runs last season with the Diamondbacks and Mariners. 275 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 2: Suarez has six seasons of at least thirty home runs, 276 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 2: including twenty nineteen when he hit forty nine for the Reds. 277 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 2: In addition to his big bat, suarez personality makes him 278 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 2: one of the most beloved teammates in the game. Get 279 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 2: re equated with rets Designated hitter a u Haanorez. For 280 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 2: more player profiles, keep it here on ESPN fifteen thirty. 281 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: That guy is just awesome. I'm talking about the guy 282 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 2: who like voiced the majority of that player profile. That 283 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 2: the guy at the tag at the end of it, 284 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 2: the guy who tagged it very good too, but man's great. 285 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 2: Twenty five after three o'clock speaking a great really quick, 286 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: our friends at Smoke Justice dropped off wings and uh 287 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 2: what I that? I got a box of a dozen 288 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 2: are and a dozen in there. Now what I did 289 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 2: in the commercial break to those wings, it's you know, 290 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 2: we do shoot video because we put social media clips up. 291 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 2: We're gonna have to make sure we scrub that from 292 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 2: the internet. Anyway. We're gonna be at Smoke Justice on Thursday, 293 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 2: and uh, we love doing this. First of all, Smoke 294 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 2: Justice has been so hospitable to us for so many years. Secondly, 295 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 2: I just I love it when we combined the two shows, 296 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 2: and so it's Tony, it's Austin, myself, the three of 297 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 2: us from noon to three on Thursday. We've got giveaways, prizes, 298 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 2: we've got all sorts of fun. So we hope to 299 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 2: see you there. The weather for Thursday looks very promising. 300 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 2: I guess we're expecting some rain but warm temperatures. Feels 301 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 2: like the game itself is going to be dry. So 302 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 2: celebrate the return of baseball and opening Day in Covington 303 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 2: with us starting at noon on Thursday. It's going to 304 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 2: be a blast and more of those wings more. I 305 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 2: wish I had more of those wings right now, but 306 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 2: we'll certainly get some on Thursday. I think this season, offensively, 307 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,360 Speaker 2: two guys are key, and every player is important. If 308 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 2: the Reds are going to exceed what seemingly everybody believes 309 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 2: they're going to do this year, Matt McClain and Sal 310 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 2: Stewart have to be either as good as advertised, if 311 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 2: that's your perspective, or maybe better than advertised. And look, 312 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 2: Matt McClain, we've talked about it a bunch. His spring 313 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:19,360 Speaker 2: stats are extraordinary. The way he's approached is at bats 314 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 2: has looked and felt a lot different than what we 315 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 2: saw last year, and I think a lot of his 316 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 2: last season. We're willing to give him necessarily a pass, 317 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 2: but we were willing to buy into the suggestion that 318 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 2: we should have set our expectations low for Matt McClain 319 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five because of all the injuries he 320 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 2: had the year prior. That's not going to cut it 321 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 2: this year. This team needs Matt McClain to be so 322 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 2: much better. And if what we saw during the Cactus 323 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 2: League ends up being a prelude to a statistically superior 324 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 2: two twenty six, well then the Reds had their two 325 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 2: hole hitter woes solved. And I've talked about this a bunch, 326 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 2: so pardon me if you heard me drone on about 327 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 2: this before, but Red's two hole hitters last year were 328 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 2: the second least productive in all of baseball. So yeah, 329 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 2: man talk about Ellie's issues, and he had them. That's undeniable. 330 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 2: And then to discuss the lack of pop. But when 331 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 2: you're not getting very good production from the two hole, 332 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 2: and that mainly fell on Matt McClain, it kind of 333 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 2: limits what your offense can do. I love the idea 334 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,160 Speaker 2: of salth Stewart batting fourth. The Reds have one more 335 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 2: exhibition game today and so we're not going to see 336 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 2: an opening day lineup necessarily until at least tomorrow, but 337 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 2: Tito has flirted openly with the idea of batting sal 338 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,360 Speaker 2: Stewart fourth. By the way, I listened to the Baseball 339 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 2: Tonight podcast this morning with Buster Olney, He and Jesse Rogers, 340 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 2: his co host for the day, talking about the possibility 341 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 2: of salth Stewart being the National League Rookie of the Year. 342 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 2: There is great value in that wager. She doesn't have 343 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 2: to have a Rookie of the Year season, though it 344 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 2: would help. But he's got to help solve the Reds 345 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 2: issues with lack of pop and yes, Euhanio Suarez was 346 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 2: brought here to do that. And I feel like you 347 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 2: can kind of jot down. Let's say, if he plays 348 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 2: a full season thirty to thirty five home runs, and 349 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 2: that's that's a pretty significant drop for a guy who 350 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 2: hit forty nine last year. But if you want to 351 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 2: kick the offense in a hyperdrive, give me sal Stewart 352 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 2: doing the sort of things over a full season that 353 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 2: we saw him doing a month once he got called 354 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 2: up last year. If those two things happen, If Matt 355 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 2: McClain has the sort of season that gets us back 356 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 2: to talking about him being the best player on the team, 357 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 2: which he was in twenty twenty three, and if Sal 358 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 2: Stewart can have the sort of season that makes you go, 359 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 2: you know what, don't vote for National League Rookie of 360 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 2: the Year without looking at his totals, then this offense 361 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 2: can really take off. Can each of those things happen? Yes, 362 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,159 Speaker 2: will both of them? If the answer is no, then 363 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,440 Speaker 2: there's still I think a cap on what this offense 364 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 2: can do. But the bigger issue for me has nothing 365 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 2: to do with the offense, and I'm probably the minority here. 366 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 2: I'm a little bit more concerned about the arms than most. 367 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 2: We'll get to that coming up at about fifteen minutes 368 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 2: on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station, Not just Talk, This. 369 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 3: Is Sports with Soul, sweat and swagger Tony Pike, Sincy 370 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 3: three sixty Tomorrow at twelve noon on ESPN fifteen thirty, 371 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 3: Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty Traffic. 372 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,639 Speaker 4: Bick Center. The UC Health Women's Sports Medicine Program provides 373 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 4: specialized care for female athletes at all levels. Schedule and 374 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 4: appointment online at useehealth dot com. Northbound seventy five of 375 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 4: the right lane blocked off from a disabled vehicle at 376 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 4: Haddock Road, causing about a fifteen minute delay back from Mitchell. 377 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 4: Also an accident northbound seventy one after State Route seventy two. 378 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 4: Southbound seventy five ten minute delay from Hoppele to Fort 379 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 4: Washington Way on that eazelic with traffic. 380 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 2: This report is sponsor Buss Kelsey Chevrolet, Home of Lifetime 381 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 2: power Train Protection and I Guarantee Credit Approval FRO. I'm 382 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 2: their family to yours for life kelseyshev dot com. The 383 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 2: University of Cincinnati made it official that Jared Calhoun is 384 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 2: taking over as the new head coach of the men's 385 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 2: basketball program. He will be formally introduced at one o'clock tomorrow. 386 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 2: That's just me is struggling to swallow. That's all you're 387 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 2: hearing right now. That's at till one o'clock tomorrow. Coach Calhoun. 388 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 2: That's right, I'm calling him, Coach Calhoun. He will be 389 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 2: on our show tomorrow. We don't necessarily know what time 390 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 2: we're going to air that interview, but he will join 391 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 2: our show tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Reds are going to play 392 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 2: their final exhibition game of the season tonight, actually starts 393 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 2: later this afternoon in Milwaukee against the Brewers. First pitch 394 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 2: at five ten before the opener on Thursday. That's pretty 395 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 2: much all I got for local sports headlines. I want 396 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 2: to hear some national dudes talking about Jared Calhoun. Here 397 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 2: they are on the field of sixty eight courtesy of YouTube. 398 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 5: I do think that this is a really good fit 399 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 5: for Cincinnati because you've got a Cincinnati guy. You got 400 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 5: a guy that came up under Bob Huggins that understands 401 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 5: what Cincinnati basketball is supposed to be, and that can 402 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 5: really really coach. They do things a little differently too, 403 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 5: Like I always think that you need to if you're 404 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 5: not one of the top five or six teams in 405 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 5: a conference, you probably need to find a way to 406 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 5: be doing things a little bit different, to kind of 407 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 5: throw a curveball, because you're not gonna, you know, frankly, 408 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 5: be getting the Darren Peterson's or begetting the Kingston Fund. 409 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 5: When you're at Cincinnati and they run that kind of 410 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 5: that one two two zone, they like to press a 411 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 5: little bit. They force a turnover, so he does some 412 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 5: different things, and I think that he has a chance 413 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 5: to be able to make Cincinnati be really good again. 414 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:16,199 Speaker 5: And I think that there's too much history at that 415 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 5: school for it to continually be stuck in the nit, 416 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 5: stuck in that like eighteen and fifteen era. 417 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:28,120 Speaker 2: Trob Dawstar from the Field of sixty eight on YouTube. 418 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 2: Watch more of that if you want. They talk about 419 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 2: Jared Calhoun and some of the other recent hires in 420 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 2: college basketball. Dan Hord. I'm not going to read the 421 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 2: whole thing, but Dan Hord has a lengthy post about 422 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:42,919 Speaker 2: Jared Calhoun and getting to know him when he was 423 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:47,120 Speaker 2: working as a student assistant at UC when Bob Huggins 424 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 2: was still here, And like, you know, Tony asked me 425 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 2: before the before our show started on Sincy three sixty 426 00:24:55,840 --> 00:25:00,479 Speaker 2: about the importance of Jared Calhoun being a guy with 427 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 2: you know, very distinct, very clear cut ties to the 428 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 2: UC program. And they don't hurt, you know, they don't. 429 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: They don't. Having that in your history, having that in 430 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 2: your background cannot hurt. Maybe he shouldn't be the main 431 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 2: reason why you're hired. But like twenty one years after 432 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 2: he last coached a game. In fact, it was twenty 433 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 2: one years ago last Saint Patrick's Day, twenty one years ago. 434 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 2: It's hard to believe Bob Huggins remains an extraordinarily popular 435 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 2: figure among a lot of UC fans. I believe he 436 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 2: remains an extraordinarily popular finger a figure among a lot 437 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 2: of UC fans who have sway with the program. And 438 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 2: you know, folks still sit around and sometimes they do this, 439 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 2: to my annoyance, sit around and romanticize about, you know, 440 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 2: the nineties, And I mean like there's a lot of 441 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 2: us who became fans during that time. And yet while 442 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 2: the school has brought him back, and he's been back 443 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 2: for a couple of different events and all of that 444 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 2: has been really really cool, it has still felt like 445 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:09,199 Speaker 2: one of its most famous figures has been kept at 446 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 2: arm's length. And part of that is for most of 447 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 2: that time he's been coaching at different programs. He's obviously 448 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 2: not now. I don't think Bob is ever going to 449 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 2: be a coach again, for what that's worth, But if 450 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 2: if there could be some degree of maybe closure is 451 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 2: not the right word, but something that allows for a 452 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 2: permanent and sustainable and meaningful connection to be made from 453 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 2: between the school and a significant significant figure like Bob Huggins. 454 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:47,359 Speaker 2: If if somebody like Jared Calhoun being, for lack of 455 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 2: a better way of putting it, an intermediary, that that 456 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 2: can't be anything but a good thing. At the end 457 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 2: of the day, the dude's going to be judged by 458 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 2: how much he wins. And at the end of the day, 459 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 2: the main reason to hire him was track record of success, 460 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 2: somebody who just fits the profile of up and coming coach, 461 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 2: like all that stuff mattered more. But if as an 462 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 2: ancillary benefit it's easier to bridge whatever gap is there 463 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 2: between the school and one of its most significant figures 464 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 2: in the school's history, well then that's that's a really 465 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 2: nice side benefit to hiring a guy like Jared Calhoun. Again, 466 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 2: all the matters for the most part is does he win. 467 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 2: But it is felt like while the relationship between the 468 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 2: school and the coach talking about Bob Huggins has been repaired, 469 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 2: it feels like there's still a little bit of a 470 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 2: of a gap there. I mentioned all the time, Bob 471 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:48,119 Speaker 2: Huggins is not in UC's Hall of Fame, which, as 472 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 2: much as I love UC's Hall of Fame as an institution, 473 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 2: I don't understand that, and and maybe maybe that's reflective 474 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,360 Speaker 2: of the fact that there's just that not the connection 475 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 2: that should be there between the school and the coach, 476 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 2: and if hiring somebody who has direct ties to the 477 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 2: coach can help bridge that a little bit, then that's 478 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 2: a pretty good thing. Seventeen away from four o'clock. Phone 479 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,400 Speaker 2: calls coming up in the next hour five one, three, seven, 480 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 2: four nine, fifteen thirty and eight sixty six, seven oh two, three, seven, 481 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:23,640 Speaker 2: seven six. I'm not where I was seven weeks ago. 482 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 2: I'll make that make sense next. 483 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 3: Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty traffic. 484 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 4: From the UCE Health Traffic Center. The UC Health Women's 485 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 4: Sports Medicine Program provides specialized care for female athletes at 486 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 4: all levels. Schedule and appointment online at useehealth dot com. 487 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 4: A disabled vehicle has been cleared out in northbound seventy 488 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 4: five at Paddock. There's still about a ten minute delayed 489 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 4: though back from Mitchell Hopple Street. It's another accident that's 490 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,959 Speaker 4: over near I seventy five. Traffic slow in that area 491 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 4: and southbound seventy five slow. Traffic from Hopple to Fort 492 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 4: Washington Way. I'm at eazelic with traffic, this. 493 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 2: Reports, Giants and Yankees. It's the first game that counts. 494 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 2: I won't make any editorial comments about why that first 495 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 2: game should always be played here. That's you talk about 496 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 2: an old topic. There's one. ESPN's projections have the Reds 497 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 2: winning seventy eight games, Fangraft seventy seven, Baseball Prospectus seventy 498 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 2: seven point eight, so seventy eight. The Athletic dot Com 499 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 2: seventy seven, CBS Sports dot Com canvassed all five of 500 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 2: their regular baseball reporters slash experts. Not one of them 501 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 2: has the Reds winning the National League Central Not one 502 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 2: of them has the Reds finishing higher than third place. 503 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 2: Not one of them has the Reds making the postseason. 504 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 2: Sean Zarrillo, who is That's maybe not a name that 505 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 2: you know, but he is. I subscribe to the Action Network, 506 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 2: which is a sports betting website, and he's like their 507 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 2: baseball guy. He's been on this show before. He is 508 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 2: betting heavy on the Reds to not make the playoffs 509 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 2: this year. So I'm sure you will find people on 510 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 2: various outlets who have the Reds in the postseason. I 511 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 2: just there's six of them that I looked at over 512 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 2: lunch this afternoon. The consensus is this is not a 513 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 2: ninety win team. The consensus is this is not an 514 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 2: eighty five win team. The consensus seems to be that 515 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 2: this is not going to be a team that wins 516 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 2: more games than it loses. So the Rads this year 517 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 2: are going to have to defy the consensus. Now, think 518 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,240 Speaker 2: about that in a year that is going to be 519 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 2: judged here in Cincinnati solely by do they make the 520 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 2: postseason and advance? And I feel like that's the expectation here, 521 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 2: right And if it's not, then what have they been 522 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 2: doing for a half decade? That's the expectation here. Outside, 523 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 2: it feels like the expectations are a little bit lower. 524 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 2: And now I do think and this is not exclusive 525 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 2: to Cincinnati, I think in every baseball city there's a 526 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 2: little bit more of a tendency to sort of overrate 527 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 2: how good your team is. God knows, We've been guilty 528 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 2: of that here over the years. I've been guilty of 529 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 2: that here. I think it's an eighty three win team. 530 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 2: Doesn't necessarily mean the Reds are going to have the 531 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 2: same team as last year, but I feel like they're 532 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 2: going to achieve that. Look a look at the team 533 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 2: on paper, I see eighty three win team. This has 534 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 2: no major significance. But for what it's worth, this time 535 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 2: last year I said eighty three wins. Folks got mad 536 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 2: at me. Some said I was too optimistic. They won 537 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,120 Speaker 2: eighty three games. Eighty three was enough to get them 538 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 2: to the postseason last year. I do not believe it 539 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 2: will be enough to get them to the postseason this year. 540 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 2: So they're going to have to outperform my stupid projection 541 00:31:56,480 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 2: to get to the playoffs in all likelihood. One of 542 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 2: the reason why, and I can only speak for myself, 543 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 2: I'm not quite as bullish on their chances is what's 544 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 2: happened to the starting staff over the last couple of weeks. 545 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 2: So forget the exasperation with the relationship that appears to 546 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 2: be at least somewhat fractured between Hunter Green and the Reds. 547 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 2: Whether you think Hunter is soft, doesn't like baseball, whether 548 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 2: you think he's misunderstood, whether you blame him for the 549 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 2: reason that he's on the injured list, whether you blame 550 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 2: the Reds wherever you want to aim your eyre at 551 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 2: the fact that he is going to miss roughly half 552 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 2: the season best case. He's still going to miss roughly 553 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 2: half the season best case. And that's a blow man, 554 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:51,360 Speaker 2: Like I think sometimes here and I've done it. We 555 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 2: talked so much about other arms they have and RT 556 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 2: Louder and Chase Burns and the depth of starting pitching 557 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:01,040 Speaker 2: that like, Hunter Green's the guy Hunter Green would be pitching. 558 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 2: I'm imagining on opening day if he was healthy like 559 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 2: he is, he is still the guy who, at the 560 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 2: major league level for the Cincinnati Reds has accomplished the most. 561 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:12,680 Speaker 2: He's still the guy with the most upside. He's still 562 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 2: the guy that game in and game out gives you 563 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 2: the best chance to win. Not having him for at 564 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 2: least half a season is a blow, and it's a 565 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 2: blow to your team's depth. It's a blow to the 566 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:27,920 Speaker 2: top your rotation. So when we are wondering about the 567 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 2: Reds having a top five starting staff in the sport, 568 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 2: I don't know how you do that when you don't 569 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,560 Speaker 2: have your staff ace. And then you add to it 570 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 2: the Nickeolodolo blister thing, and like love Nick, Like who 571 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 2: doesn't like Nicklodolo, but he keeps having blisters. He may 572 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:46,959 Speaker 2: have to start the season on the injured list, and 573 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:50,240 Speaker 2: maybe he comes off quickly enough and he misses two starts. 574 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 2: But again it's like it's another health issue with Nicklodolo, who, 575 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 2: like Hunter Green, his career has been marked by health issues. 576 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 2: The back end of the rotation, there is a ton 577 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:09,880 Speaker 2: of upside with each of the trio of Chase Burns 578 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:14,720 Speaker 2: and Rat Louder and Brandon Williamson. There's a lot to like. 579 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:18,200 Speaker 2: Like Chase Burns, we all remember his big league debut 580 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 2: against the Yankees last year. How could you not imagine 581 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 2: some of the things that this dude could accomplish? But 582 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 2: I think you could go broke by putting a little 583 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 2: bit too much stock into the success of inexperienced pitchers, 584 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:40,240 Speaker 2: and there's still an experience gap. Chase Burns has pitched 585 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:43,960 Speaker 2: in less than fifty big league ginnings. Brandon Williamson hasn't 586 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 2: pitched in a Big League game aside for a handful 587 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:49,520 Speaker 2: of innings since twenty twenty three. Rat Louder hasn't pitched 588 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 2: in a big league game since twenty twenty four. Are 589 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 2: each of those guys capable of very good starts? Of 590 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:00,399 Speaker 2: course they are? Are each of those guys capable of 591 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 2: authoring really good big league careers. I would bet on 592 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:07,320 Speaker 2: those things happening. But if this team is going to 593 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:10,640 Speaker 2: defy the consensus, if this team is going to outpace 594 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:16,000 Speaker 2: last year's team, they're going to need those guys to 595 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 2: grow up in a hurry. And I'm just not sure 596 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:24,239 Speaker 2: that that's something you can completely bank on happening. Would 597 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 2: love to be wrong. I watched a team in twenty 598 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:30,240 Speaker 2: twenty two lose one hundred games despite having a really 599 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:34,840 Speaker 2: promising trio of pitchers that year Nicolodolo and Graham Ashcraft 600 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 2: and Hunter Green, and each guy showed glimpses of what 601 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:42,320 Speaker 2: they could do, but each guy went through their growing pains. 602 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:44,399 Speaker 2: And there were a million reasons why that team lost 603 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:47,680 Speaker 2: one hundred games that season, But one of the reasons, 604 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 2: maybe not the biggest reason, but one of the reasons 605 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:52,120 Speaker 2: was their starting pitching is not very deep, which this 606 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:54,520 Speaker 2: year's team should be deeper. But it's also there's an 607 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:58,960 Speaker 2: experience gap. You add to it if you want Andrew 608 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 2: Abbott pitching evenly here in the spring. It's just I 609 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 2: think it's hard to feel better about the starting staff 610 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:10,200 Speaker 2: than you did going into spring training, and I think 611 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:15,320 Speaker 2: it's reasonable to feel a little bit more unease about 612 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:20,360 Speaker 2: the collection of starting pitchers as a whole than we 613 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 2: did seven weeks ago. Now, I don't believe anybody views 614 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 2: this team as a ninety lost squad or anything like that. 615 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 2: I mean that that would be I think a big surprise. 616 00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:36,480 Speaker 2: But if the idea of this season is to be 617 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:39,759 Speaker 2: better than last year, contend for a division title, and 618 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:41,799 Speaker 2: the consensus is the Cubs are gonna win it, and 619 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 2: I agree with that consensus, though I think there's insane 620 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 2: value on Cincinnati, then the starting pitching debth is gonna 621 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 2: have to be a major factor. It's gonna have to 622 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 2: be an asset. Some guys are gonna have to grow 623 00:36:56,360 --> 00:36:59,720 Speaker 2: up quickly, and they're gonna have to stop getting hurt. 624 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:02,400 Speaker 2: And they're not off to a very good start in 625 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:05,040 Speaker 2: that regard. More on that coming up in the four 626 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:07,200 Speaker 2: o'clock hour. I want you to put yourself in the 627 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 2: shoes of two different Bengals coaches. Next. Wait, this is 628 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:14,600 Speaker 2: a soda