1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: No one covers the Bengals like ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati spot. 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 2: We got to get to sports headlines in a few minutes. 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 2: There's nothing of major consequence happening right now. We're less 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 2: than an hour away from UK basketball on ESPN fifteen thirty, 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 2: the Wildcats taking on Texas, a big game for both. 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 2: A year ago, at this time, we declared Hunter Sansom 7 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 2: to be our official bracketologist, the NKY Bracket Guy, And 8 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 2: through no work of ours is he's taken his little 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: bracketology hobby and now he's developing like a college basketball 10 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 2: and sports media empire. So you should follow him on 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 2: Twitter at bracket NKY and you should go to his website, 12 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 2: nkybracketology dot com. And we had to like negotiate to 13 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: get him on the show because he's very busy. 14 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: We probably had to pay him an appearance fee for 15 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: all I know, he's with us. Now, how's it. 16 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: Going, No, I'm great. How are you well? 17 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: It's awesome to have you, Thank you for joining this 18 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 2: we This is earlier than we had you last year, 19 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 2: but it's nonetheless nice to have you. 20 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 3: Absolutely so happy to be back in, happy to talk 21 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 3: some basketball. 22 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 2: The Miami RedHawks are twenty to zero. Now, if they 23 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 2: win every game, including all their games in the MAC Tournament, 24 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 2: they're going to be an NCAA tournament team. 25 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: Their schedule works against them. 26 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 2: Do they have any prayer of being an at large 27 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 2: if they don't win the MAC Tournament? 28 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 4: It's not out of the conversation, I don't think. But 29 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 4: they can't take any more than really one loss. I 30 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 4: think their best path is probably losing the MAC championship game. 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 4: But like you said, their schedule is just not going 32 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 4: to do them any fingers. 33 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 2: Uh So, undefeated in the regular season, lose game one 34 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: of the MAC Tournament and they don't make it. 35 00:01:58,160 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 3: I don't think so. 36 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 4: I mean, unfortunately, the metrics and the quad system and 37 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 4: all of that fun stuff that the committee likes to 38 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 4: use just don't do Miami any favors. They won't have 39 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 4: any Quadrant one games, which is that like gold standard 40 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 4: for tournament appearances, and you really need that one Quadrant 41 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 4: one win to get in at. 42 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: A minimum in the in the MAC the last three teams, 43 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 2: and obviously it's been a one bid league for a 44 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: quarter of a century, more than a quarter of a century. 45 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: But if you look at the last few years, the 46 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,839 Speaker 2: seed has been the thirteen or fourteen. Your latest projections 47 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 2: have them as an eleven. If they were to run 48 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: the table, and admittedly that's not likely because it's it's obviously. 49 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: Hard to win every game. 50 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 2: But if they were to run the table and and 51 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 2: and win the MAC Conference Tournament championship, which is redundant, 52 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 2: what's the seed ceiling? 53 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 4: I mean, I think the committee could do a couple 54 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 4: of different things. They could really honor that the team's 55 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 4: undefeated and won their conference championship. I mean, look at 56 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 4: what they've done the past two games with just some 57 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 4: crazy shots. It's taken a little bit of Look, yes, 58 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 4: but it's a lot of talent. I really think that 59 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 4: they could get up to like a seven maybe, but 60 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 4: in more like the scenario, they're probably gonna be a 61 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:10,519 Speaker 4: nine or ten at a max. 62 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 2: So but like, explain that to me, because a seven 63 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: would mean, like, you know, there are there are at 64 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: large teams that are gonna get in as a seven. 65 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 2: If you're an automatic qualifier and you get in as 66 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: a seven, I don't think you should go from a 67 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,519 Speaker 2: seven to like not even in the field if you 68 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 2: lose one game. 69 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 4: I completely agree However, the metrics and all of the 70 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 4: other stuff that I explain on Twitter a lot more 71 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 4: frequently and a lot more in depth are gonna be 72 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 4: very against Miami. So the committee is gonna use that 73 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 4: one thing where those two things to really bump them down. 74 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 4: And then if you add that quadrant four loss on 75 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 4: top of that, they're just really gonna hurt them. 76 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 3: And assuming they. 77 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,119 Speaker 4: Lose, it's likely going to be at least quadrant three, 78 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 4: if not quadrat four. 79 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: Kentucky has work to do. 80 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: Your latest projections had uk as a seven, and again, 81 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: this is doing this in the middle of January. 82 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: There's lots of ball to be played. 83 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,119 Speaker 2: How tenuous is the Wildcat's grip on an at large 84 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: spot right now? 85 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 4: A lot better this week than it was maybe before 86 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,119 Speaker 4: they played Missippy State ten days ago or so. Tonight's 87 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 4: Texas game is pretty big. They're both of those two 88 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 4: teams are bubble teams. It kind of it's going to 89 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 4: be a big sway for Texas. But I mean, Kentucky's 90 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 4: in a good spot right now. Metrics look good, They've 91 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,799 Speaker 4: got three quadrant one wins at this time. 92 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 2: Do you anticipate this year having a big bubble or 93 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 2: a small bubble. 94 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 4: Right now, it's a big bubble. And I mean it's 95 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 4: obviously January. All you can really do is talk about it. 96 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 4: But it seems like it's going to stay a pretty 97 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 4: large bubble. A lot of these Power Conference teams don't 98 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 4: look great, and there are a couple of mid major 99 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 4: types of teams we're looking at all. 100 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 2: Right, mid major teams are you talking about, like teams 101 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: that if they don't win their conference tournaments could still 102 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: get in as at large? 103 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 3: Yes? 104 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: Why do they have better cases than Miami Because they. 105 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 4: Had better teams schedule them in the non conference sleep 106 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 4: And I mean the rank us or play us motto 107 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 4: that Miami, like social media went with is an amazing auto. 108 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 4: And honestly, everything that I've heard and everything I've talked to, 109 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 4: Miami really got hurt with their schedule this year. I 110 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 4: know Houston and Michigan were tentatively on the schedule and 111 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 4: then dropped them for the Players Era, and they weren't. 112 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 3: Able to get anybody. 113 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 4: But the teams that scheduled, like the George Mason's or 114 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 4: the Saint Louises are just a little bit better than 115 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 4: what Miami is, and those teams are in a little 116 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 4: bit better of a conference. 117 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: When you do like first four out last four in 118 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 2: last four byes, that sort of thing which every bracketologist does. 119 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 2: How many teams would you have to list before you 120 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 2: listed Cincinnati or Xavier. 121 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 4: Cincinnati's in a much better spot after the last week 122 00:05:54,440 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 4: that they've had, probably still twenty fifteen, twenty teams out, 123 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 4: I mean that lost Eastern Michigan and some of their 124 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 4: metrics are really going to hurt them. Xavier, on the 125 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 4: other hand, you're probably going thirty teams deep. I mean, 126 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 4: they're they're very far out. 127 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 2: Of the b I like the fact that you answered 128 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 2: that question seriously, like you gave me like a legitimate, 129 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 2: well thought out answer to a question that I sort 130 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: of asked more or less just to I don't know, 131 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 2: get a chuckle out of you. 132 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 3: Fair enough. 133 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 4: I assumed it was coming, so I kind of like 134 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 4: did some research last night looking at it after we 135 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 4: confirm the time here. 136 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 3: But it's been a rough year to say the least. 137 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, but if the Bearcats, I'm sorry, when the Bearcats 138 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: win tonight over the undefeated, unanimous number one team in 139 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 2: the country, how will that change things? 140 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 4: That would be a I mean, on the road against 141 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 4: one of the best teams in the country, if not 142 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 4: the best, would jump them ten or eleven positions. I mean, 143 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 4: that would be just absolutely monumental, season defining type of win. 144 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 3: We would have serious conversations at that really. 145 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 2: So if they if they go to Tucson and win 146 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 2: tonight and beat in consecutive games the second ranked team 147 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 2: in the country at the time, the second ranked team 148 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 2: in the country, and the number one ranked team in 149 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: the country, then like I could legitimately talk about like 150 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: their NCAA tournament hopes. 151 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 4: Yes, I'm holding off on putting this out for Cincinnati, 152 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 4: but I put out like a path for Miami to 153 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 4: get in that. 154 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 3: Large bid today on Twitter. 155 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 4: I will be doing the state for Cincinnati after the 156 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 4: Arizona game. But this game would just be massive if 157 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 4: they could get it done. Obviously that's the big if. 158 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 4: But let's see what happens. 159 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: Where are the two area Big ten schools on your radar, 160 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: Ohio State and Indiana. 161 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 3: Ohio State in. 162 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 4: A much better position after beating Minnesota than they would 163 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 4: have been if they would have lost. The UCLA win 164 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 4: was really big. I was in Columbus for that one. 165 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 4: So they are currently in the tournaments right above, maybe 166 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 4: a ten or eleven seed. 167 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 3: After last night. 168 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 4: For Indiana they are out, maybe eight to ten spots 169 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 4: out just off. 170 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 3: The page of those next four out teams. 171 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 4: Quite a bit of work to do after last night, 172 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 4: and just kind of how the season's gone. 173 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 2: Will this exercise for you be easier, more difficult, more 174 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,559 Speaker 2: fun or less fun once we inevitably expand the tournament field? 175 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 4: Less fun because we're gonna have teams. And I don't 176 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 4: mean this as a jab at Cincinnati. Were Cincinnati Savior 177 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 4: would be genuinely considered at this point, and I don't 178 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 4: want that for the tournament. I don't want to water 179 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 4: it down and make team. I want to make teams 180 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 4: earn it. But at the same time, it would be 181 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 4: nice to consider some of these local teams a little 182 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 4: bit more. 183 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 2: Seriously, there's no like living, breathing college basketball fan. With 184 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: the exception of Seth Davis, who I follow, who wants 185 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: an expanded tournament field, nobody else wants it. Even as 186 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 2: a doggard Bearcat fan, I don't know. This is not 187 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 2: this is not anything. 188 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: That we need. 189 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 2: All right, well, awesome to have you, now, you know, 190 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: as the tournament draws closer, we get you on the 191 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: show more and more frequently, sometimes on a daily basis, 192 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 2: to react to things that may have happened the night before. 193 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,559 Speaker 2: But we appreciate the time as always and it's always 194 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 2: good to have you. 195 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 3: Absolutely happy to be here. Thank you, Mam.