1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Away from five o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty. I'm Moweger, 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening. We'll hook Your weekend is off 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,120 Speaker 1: to a great start. Kentucky loses to Florida seventy one 4 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: to sixty three. Bounced from the SEC Tournament. Wildcats back 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: in action next week in the NCAA Tournament. Do you see? 6 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: Bearcats will not be playing in the NCAA Tournament and 7 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: Wes Miller is no longer Cincinnati's head coach. This broke 8 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: earlier this afternoon, confirmed by our guy Chad Brindle at 9 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: Bearcat Journal dot com, who is joining us to start 10 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: the show. Chad, first of all, I know it's a 11 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,319 Speaker 1: busy day for you, so I appreciate the time. By 12 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: the way, Bearcat journal dot com has hot Board one 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: point zero up right now coaching candidates for the vacancy 14 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: at UC and we'll tap into that here in just 15 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: a second. I want to start with something that you 16 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: and I have talked about occasionally over the last couple 17 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: of weeks, including yesterday, and that's you know the fact 18 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: that Wes Miller bringing him back for year number six 19 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: was always going to be a hard sell to a 20 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 1: lot of a lot of rank and file fans, but 21 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,119 Speaker 1: that he did have some allies. He had some allies, 22 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: maybe some deep pocketed allies on his side. Were they 23 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: won over today and is that why this was done? 24 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 2: We don't have that answer yet. What I think is 25 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 2: something that we talked about yesterday that ultimately it's John 26 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 2: Cunningham's job that's on the line here, Like that isn't 27 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 2: a cushy it's not cushy, but it's a well paid position. 28 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 2: And if you bring Wes back and it doesn't work, 29 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 2: and you do lose the fan base in the process, 30 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 2: then that's John Cunningham that's going to be on the carpet, 31 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: you know, having to answer questions about decisions that he made. 32 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: So I'm sure that you know, eighties are partly responsible 33 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: for making sure that the people that fund the program 34 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 2: are on board with the decisions that need to be made. 35 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: Guess he was able to sell the people, you know, 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: at the highest donation level that this is a decision 37 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 2: that ultimately, unfortunately needed to be made and that they 38 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 2: had to go forward. But if we find out they've 39 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: got a three million dollar roster for next year, then 40 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 2: maybe we have that Yeah. 41 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: And I want to go down that road here in 42 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: just a bit. How is this separation between UC and 43 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: wes Miller going to work financially? 44 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 2: It's a great question. The the the answers I've gotten 45 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: on it so far seem to indicate that Cincinnati is, 46 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 2: if need be, willing to wait until April first, when 47 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 2: the buyout drops, to officially let go wes Miller. That's 48 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,679 Speaker 2: not how I would do it, but you know, sometimes 49 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 2: you have to, uh, you have the other party has 50 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: to be willing to play ball, and if he's not 51 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 2: willing to negotiate down a lower buyout, or maybe they 52 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 2: are working on the lower buyout. That's what we don't 53 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: know is they could be working on on a you know, 54 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: a buyout number that's somewhere between the ten and the 55 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 2: four point six with the lawyers right now. Remember u 56 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 2: See didn't announce that wes Miller was fired. This has 57 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: gotten out in the media and has been confirmed, but 58 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: you see has not made this official. So they could 59 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: be in negotiations. From what I know, Wes would like 60 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 2: to find a job this cycle. That's going to be 61 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: really hard to do if you're you know, under contract 62 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: until April first, or be a little bit more difficult 63 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: to do if you're under contract until April first. So 64 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 2: maybe we reach a point over these next two and 65 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 2: a half weeks that it's been official for both and 66 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 2: they come to an agreement and both sides move on. 67 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 2: But it does sound like at least Cincinnati waiting this 68 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: out until April first is on the table of possibilities. 69 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: All right, if that ends up being the case, how 70 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: do you conduct a coaching search at the same time, Well. 71 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 2: Everybody knows you got a coaching over, right, Like the 72 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: hard part is if you're trying to like walk the 73 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: line and say, well, we have we don't we have decided, 74 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: like the athletic director can still talk to agents, can 75 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: still proceed as necessary. Now I don't know. And there's 76 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 2: really no rules for coaches, right, Like you can go 77 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 2: meet a coach, Like you know, there's coaches that are 78 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: agreeing to new jobs that are still coaching their old job. 79 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 2: So if John Cunningham wants to go have lunch with 80 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 2: somebody and interview them or talk to them or whatever, 81 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 2: that's there's really the wild lest. There's really no like 82 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 2: restrictions on how you can do that. So that would 83 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 2: that would still be a possibility per se. So does 84 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: it make it harder than it needs to be. Yeah, 85 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 2: it probably makes it harder than it needs to be, 86 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: but it's not completely out of the realm of possibility. 87 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: In early February, wes Miller seemed like he was a 88 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: dead man walking. And then the team surges towards bubble, 89 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: they get on the bubble, the bubble is burst on Wednesday. 90 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: The way they lost the game on Wednesday, I think 91 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: for a lot of folks was a poor reflection of 92 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: the coach. How much did the specifics of what was 93 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: effectively the season ending loss on Wednesday possibly drive this decision? 94 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: It's had to be a factor, noough, Like if they 95 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 2: win that game and you know, they they play close 96 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: with Arizona, and you know, let's say that they don't 97 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 2: make the NCAA Tournament at that point, but they're you know, 98 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: they pop up on the screen Sunday as the second 99 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: team out of the first team out, and you know, 100 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 2: you went eight and two down the stretch going into 101 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: that Arizona game and you felt just short. There's a 102 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 2: path there. I think that Wes Miller would still be 103 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 2: the head coach at Cincinnati and get that opportunity for 104 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: the sixth year, had an eight point lead with two 105 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 2: minutes left. You barely got a shot up. Not only 106 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: you know and at the end of regulation regulation, but 107 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: also the final couple minutes of overtime you couldn't get 108 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 2: a shot up. You you let the house burn down, 109 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 2: like while you were holding the fire hose. You had 110 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 2: three timeouts and you didn't use any of them. Is 111 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 2: that good? 112 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: I just came up. 113 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: I like that one shout the house burned down holding 114 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: the hose. I think that's pretty good. But your team 115 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 2: is melting down. You have three timeouts and you just 116 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,280 Speaker 2: the meltdown happens in front of your face and an 117 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 2: a point lead goes to tide and the blink of 118 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 2: an eye, the optics were just awful for Wes and 119 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: for his team. At that point, you're clinging right like 120 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: you're clinging to the opportunity to make the NCAA tournament 121 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 2: advancing that goal is right there and it just completely 122 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 2: falls through your hands. That that that had to be 123 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 2: a doctor in John Cunningham's decision. 124 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: On a macro level. Why did the west Miller era 125 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: not work? Why did it not work out? 126 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 2: Because he never managed to go from. And then here's 127 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: the thing. West isn't a bad coach. Fans get upset. 128 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: There's a lot of hyperbole. West Miller's not a bad 129 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: basketball coach. He's a top forty, top fifty type basketball coach. 130 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 2: Problem is, in this league, top forty, top fifty is 131 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: going to get you right where Wes ended up almost 132 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: every year, and that's in purgatory. You're not bad. You 133 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: didn't bottom out like Kansas State did this year where 134 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 2: they they're going to have to pay twenty million to 135 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: fire your own tang because at one point they were 136 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: what two and thirteen in the league, But you weren't 137 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 2: good enough to challenge up into that top six, top 138 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: five six group in the league. And so you're fighting 139 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 2: with five six other teams that are right in that 140 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: same grouping as you, that are not as good as 141 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 2: the top six, but not as bad as the bottom 142 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 2: three or four. They didn't win enough of those games 143 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 2: against those teams that were peers in the middle of 144 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 2: the pack in the Big twelve, and it happened over 145 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 2: and over. How much different is this conversation if they 146 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: don't lose to West Virginia twice this year, or if 147 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: they don't lose to a bad Arizona State team on 148 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 2: the road, or Oklahoma State last year, or what that 149 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 2: first year in the Big twelve, they were right there 150 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: on the bubble and they lose to an Oklahoma team 151 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 2: that was hurt, guys, missing, dreadful. You know, there were 152 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 2: too many of those things that continued to happen that 153 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: kept Cincinnati from being a ten to eleven win Big 154 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 2: twelve team and instead of seven to eight nine win 155 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 2: Dig twelve team, and ultimately that was his downfall. They 156 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 2: were never bad, but they were never good enough. And 157 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 2: five years is I think a fair representation of you 158 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 2: got five years to get your team in the NCAA tournament. 159 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 2: You're well funded, you've got support, mo we talked about 160 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 2: this yesterday. They weren't good this year. At times there 161 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 2: were still ten thousand people in the stands. You've got 162 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 2: great fans support, You've got a tradition rich program. Five 163 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 2: years is a lot of time to make one NCAA 164 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 2: tournament and they didn't do it. 165 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,839 Speaker 1: Bearkatjournal dot com right now has a hot board and 166 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: you do this whenever there's a UC coaching search, and 167 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: you separate coaching candidates possible coaching candidates into certain tiers. 168 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: Should Jared Calhoun have his own tier? 169 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 2: Probably? Yeah, I think we're at that point, especially with 170 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:07,079 Speaker 2: the news and look, coaches have agreed to extensions before 171 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 2: and then gone on and coached somewhere else. So we 172 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 2: have not ruled out Josh Shirts at this point. One 173 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 2: because that came out before the Cincinnati job came open, 174 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 2: So we don't know if he has interests in the 175 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 2: Cincinnati job or not. But if he is going to 176 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 2: stay at Saint Louis, I do think Jared Calhoun has 177 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 2: to be all systems go. I think he wants to 178 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: be here. I think he really had his eye on 179 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 2: two jobs, one with Cincinnati, one with Pitt. It's not opening, 180 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: Cincinnati's open, so he wants to be here. It seems 181 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 2: like the right fit. We don't know if John Cunningham 182 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 2: wants him to be here or not, but we know that, 183 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,119 Speaker 2: you know, there's a connection there. He's a UC alumni. 184 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 2: He's coached with Bob Huggins, so there is some you know, 185 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: connection to the history. If you see, it just makes 186 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 2: too much sense and really probably should have his own 187 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 2: designation on the hot board until further notice. 188 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 1: I guess should we assume that whoever the next head 189 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: coach is, he will walk into a situation where on 190 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: day one he has no players. 191 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 2: So the interesting thing is mo and yes, assume that that, 192 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 2: Like in a coaching change in college sports, when it 193 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 2: comes to what does it comes to what does the 194 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 2: roster look like? Just assume it's going to be completely gutted, 195 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: because that's how the transfer portal era works. This year, 196 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 2: they have made a change. The transfer portal won't open 197 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 2: until April seventh. It used to be that it opened 198 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 2: the Monday after like this coming Monday, and then I 199 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 2: think they moved it to the Monday after the first 200 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 2: and second round, but still it opened very early in 201 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 2: the process. Now it doesn't open until April seventh. If 202 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 2: you get a coach in here on April second, right, 203 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 2: they're going to have five days to meet with the 204 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 2: team and to you know, work on the situation. Now, 205 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 2: what we don't know. Corey Evans, who was brought in 206 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,559 Speaker 2: as the GM last year, has a multi year contract. 207 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 2: If he's staying, and I don't know that he is 208 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 2: or not, I don't have that answer yet, But if 209 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 2: Corey Evans is staying, he's going to be able to, 210 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 2: you know, build that connection that he's already got with 211 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 2: a lot of these guys, in terms of who's interested 212 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 2: in staying, who is willing to listen to what the 213 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,199 Speaker 2: new coach has to say, who is already out the door. 214 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 2: So you know, if he is sticking around, then there 215 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 2: is a path to the roster sticking together. But in 216 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 2: terms of like what would I anticipate as it stands, 217 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 2: I always anticipate, Yeah, pretty much everybody's gonna be gone. 218 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: Would Corey have any say in who the next head 219 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: coach is going to be? 220 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 2: Probably not. That's not people here GM and think of 221 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: it more as like a pro sports term, like I 222 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 2: think he would be if if he's if he's going 223 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 2: to stick around, I think he'd be consulted. I think 224 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 2: he would definitely be I don't think he would be 225 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 2: ignored in the process. But ultimately, it's John Cunningham's job 226 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 2: that's on the line, right, That's that's where you got 227 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 2: to go, whose job, whose neck is on the line 228 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 2: with the higher John Cunningham's neck is on the line 229 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 2: with the higher So he's gonna he's gonna lean on 230 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 2: his process and and his you know, decision making to 231 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 2: make the higher. 232 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 1: With with any head coaching vacancy, the question always comes 233 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 1: up about money, and you talk about well funded. That's 234 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: the term you used before, and in discussing this program, 235 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: folks always guess at what a roster costs, and there's 236 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: always conjecture out there, but relatively speaking, compared to their 237 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: big twelve peers, a new coach comes in, does he 238 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: have at his disposal what will allow him to win, 239 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: win soon, and win at a bigger level beyond simply 240 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: eking into the NCAA tournament and playing in Dayton, which 241 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: was the bar that everybody said for wes Miller this 242 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: particular season. 243 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 2: I would like to think so. I mean they had 244 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 2: a ten million roughly a little bit more, a little 245 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 2: bit less whatever, roughly a ten million dollar roster this year. 246 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 2: That's enough to win like that? Is it the top 247 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 2: number in the conference? No, but it puts you in 248 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 2: the range. And they had two second team All Conference 249 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 2: and an honorable mention All Conference player. And those guys 250 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 2: have more money in their bank accounts than the two 251 00:14:53,800 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 2: of us and less things, you know, unless they have 252 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 2: put themselves in a terrible position based on firing wes Miller, 253 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 2: and they have to lower that number for a year, 254 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 2: they should be in good position. And I can't imagine 255 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 2: mo like, even if maybe it drops to eight million, 256 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 2: and yeah, you're you're maybe a player or too short, 257 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 2: but you still be able to put a pretty good 258 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 2: roster together. I can't at this point without all the information. 259 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 2: But at this point I have a hard time believing 260 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 2: they would let it get to a point where they 261 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 2: only have five or six million dollars for the roster 262 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 2: to try to compete in the best league in America. 263 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 2: It would make it a very difficult year one starting 264 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 2: point for your new coach. 265 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: Do I assume that when or if the Crown or 266 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: Nit come calling this weekend, that the school will say thanks, 267 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: but no thanks. 268 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 2: Well, the NIT doesn't matter at this point anymore. For Cincinnati. 269 00:15:55,040 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 2: They are contractually obligated to play in the Crown. It's 270 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 2: apparently seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars to buy out 271 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 2: of that. What I don't know is if there's anything 272 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 2: in there that says, if you know, you get you 273 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 2: get some relief if you make a coaching change. I 274 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 2: can't imagine they play in the Crown this year. I 275 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 2: just have a very hard time seeing them trying to 276 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 2: pull that off. As a coach is on the way out, 277 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 2: a new coach is either just getting involved or or 278 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 2: on the way in. It doesn't make a lot of 279 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 2: sense for Cincinnati to play in that tournament this year. 280 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 2: They are contractually obligated because it sounds like they're going 281 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 2: to take eight Big twelve teams if you include UCF 282 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 2: and TV and Cincinnati's ninth and the top two teams 283 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 2: that don't make the tournament are obligated to go to 284 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 2: the Crown. So so Cincinnati would have that obligation. I 285 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 2: don't know, and I'm hoping to get an answer on 286 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 2: that today or tomorrow, So follow me on social media 287 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: for that. But I don't know that they'll have to 288 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 2: pay the money. But there is a seven hundred and 289 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 2: fifty thousand dollars price tag for. 290 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: Not going Awesome stuff. As always, no you're busy, check 291 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 1: out Bearcat journal dot com get the latest on west 292 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: Miller's departure and the coaching search. Thank you as always, man, 293 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:24,400 Speaker 1: we'll talk soon. 294 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 2: Appreciate it. Thanks. 295 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 1: All's our guy, I Chad Brendel, Bearcat Journal dot com. 296 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 1: Terry Nelson's going to join us at five twenty four 297 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: from five o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen. 298 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 3: Thirty, Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty Traffic. 299 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:43,120 Speaker 4: From the UC Health Traffic Center. The new uc oh 300 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 4: Sure Wellness Suite is a home for transformative whole person 301 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 4: well being backed by Science. Register for classes now visit 302 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 4: UCHealth dot com. Southbound seventy five at Freeman Avenue, there's 303 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 4: an accident off onto the right shoulder. Butterworth Road blocked 304 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 4: off from a fallen tree between Sipsy Road and Ascot 305 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 4: Tribe and eastbound two seventy five. Debris in the roadway 306 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 4: after Hamilton Avenue on that ezelic with traffic. 307 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 1: This report is sponsored by the Our American Stories podcast. 308 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 1: This is Monta Montgomery, the senior producer of Our American 309 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: SOOM thirty. All right, six after five, ESPN fifteen thirty. Moegger, 310 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: thank you for listening. Hopefully you are having an awesome 311 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:27,719 Speaker 1: Friday afternoon. Terry Nelson's going to join us in fifteen minutes. 312 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: Awesome stuff from Chad Brendle just a few minutes ago. 313 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: Tarn is podcasting that as we speak, and we'll have 314 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: that for you on the iHeartRadio app. If you missed 315 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: any of it, or if you want to relive it 316 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,719 Speaker 1: Wes Miller out at the University of Cincinnati very quickly. 317 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: Just want to run through a couple of things really quick. 318 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 1: Kentucky lost today to Florida seventy one to sixty three, 319 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: so the Wildcats are bounced from the SEC tournament. Ohio 320 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: State put up a fight against Michigan. Buckeyes are playing well. Nonetheless, 321 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 1: they fall of the Wolverine. So Ohio States stay in 322 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: the Big Ten tournament is over dayton one. Today, the 323 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: Flyers beat Saint Bonaventure in Pittsburgh in the eight ten Tournament. 324 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: Flyers will take on Saint Louis tomorrow. Reds have two 325 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: games tonight, one against the Giants in Goodyear. Brady Singer 326 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: will pitch in that one. One against the Giants in Scottsdale. 327 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: Chase Burns will pitch in that one. This in the 328 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: aftermath of finding out that Caleb Ferguson is going to 329 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: miss some time with an oblique injury, So there you go. 330 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 1: Jonathan Allen made public today by the Bengals. I don't 331 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,439 Speaker 1: know that anything of any major substance came from that. 332 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: We're basically going to be all about Wes Miller, and 333 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: you see basketball today and I'm sure you understand, you know, 334 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: you just you think about an alternate universe. Go back 335 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: just about forty eight hours ago. Uc is playing UCF 336 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: and the Bearcats aren't playing well, but neither is UCF. 337 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: And right around this time two days ago, the Bearcats 338 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: a lead that they had with two minutes to go, 339 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: an eight point lead with two minutes to go, and 340 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 1: not only did they lose, they completely melt down. And 341 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: you could not help but watch those last two minutes 342 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: of regulation and think mainly about the role of coaching, 343 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: but just think about the alternate universe. They win that game, 344 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: which they should have with everything else happening around them, 345 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: all the teams losing, all the teams refusing to grab 346 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: bids heck for what it's worth, and the RedHawks are 347 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 1: going to be a tournament team and deserve to be 348 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: a tournament team, but Miami loses. It is plausible, and 349 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: we're never gonna know for sure, I guess, but it 350 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 1: is plausible that forget about what would have happened against Arizona. 351 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 1: Uc beats UCF. They're a tournament team. And if they're 352 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 1: a tournament team, Wes Miller is coaching the Bearcats in 353 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,640 Speaker 1: the tournament next week, and he's probably the coach next year. 354 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 1: Think about the ripple effect, think about the trajectory change 355 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: based on two absolutely horrific minutes for Wes Miller and 356 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 1: his program just about forty eight hours ago. I hope 357 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: Wes Miller kills it wherever he goes next. It felt 358 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: like often during this season, and it certainly felt like 359 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, like either it was time or by the 360 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: time we got to Wednesday, it just things had gotten 361 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: to a point of no return. Wes Miller did a 362 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:46,400 Speaker 1: lot of things I think really well. He just didn't 363 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: win enough basketball games. And when I say he did 364 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 1: a lot of things really well, he's not being fired 365 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: for a lot of the reasons why you see other 366 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 1: coaches get fired. There were no off court scandals, no 367 00:21:56,080 --> 00:22:01,439 Speaker 1: legal issues, no academic cheating improprieties. You know it. The 368 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: NCAA rule book is maybe not as thick as it 369 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,160 Speaker 1: used to be, but there's been no off court shame, 370 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 1: no no cheating, no NCAA issues. You know, you're not 371 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: hearing rumors of his off court behavior. He's recruited guys 372 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: who have you know, walked the straight line for the 373 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: most part, like fan support's been there. It just he 374 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 1: just didn't win enough basketball games, and unfortunately, that's the 375 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: most important part of the job. I once heard mc 376 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: cronin say, if you're gonna get fired, get fired for losing. 377 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: Don't get fired for cheating. Don't get fired for you know, 378 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,400 Speaker 1: doing something illicit, get fired for losing. Wes Miller gets 379 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: fired for losing. Wes Miller's a good guy and I 380 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: certainly hope for him. 381 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 2: Man. 382 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: Look, he's forty three years old. I certainly hope for him. 383 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 1: There's a a Travis Steel type next step for him 384 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: where he can be a head coach. Maybe take the 385 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: lessons learned by what did and didn't happen at U 386 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: see go kill it elsewhere. Travis Steele left Xavier and 387 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: did so with his head held high, handled himself in 388 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: a very classy manner. It was let go during Xavier's 389 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: n championship run. Took the job at Miami, didn't instantly 390 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: turn the RedHawks around. But now Travis Steele's a hot 391 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: commodity and it might be the national coach of the year. 392 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: I certainly hope for Wes Miller's sake, Like there's something 393 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 1: like that in store for him. And on a personal level, 394 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: Wes was always very accommodating to our show and working 395 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: on the broadcast, easy to work with. When I've had 396 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: the opportunity to fill in for Dan Horde over the 397 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: last five years while Wes has been the head coach, 398 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: and I've called I don't know, maybe fifteen games. Wes 399 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: has always been very easy to work with, approachable, certainly 400 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: went out of his way to make me feel like 401 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: I was a part of UC basketball and you know, 402 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: told me from the outset. I remember the first time 403 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: I met Wes Miller was actually at a Reds game 404 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: where he threw at the first pitch, and you know, 405 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: he made it known like if you have a question, 406 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 1: reach out, and I took advantage of that, and he 407 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: was he was really cool, and so I on a 408 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: personal level, I like Wes a lot. I hope he 409 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: goes and kills it in whatever is next. And look, 410 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: it got sideways this year and college basketball coaches postgame shows, 411 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:23,919 Speaker 1: I believe, are given more scrutiny than any coach or 412 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: manager in any sport. And there were times this year 413 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: where Wes Miller and what he did or what he 414 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: said in the postgame show kind of became a bigger 415 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 1: story than the game that he just coached. And usually 416 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: those postgame shows came after games where the Bearcats lost. 417 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: And I said this at the time that what was 418 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: puzzling about Wes and how he handled some of those 419 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: situations was I believe Wes has been treated very fairly here, 420 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 1: and I still believe that. In fact, I think when 421 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: I and I thought about this driving in, like you 422 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,679 Speaker 1: think of the five years, like he had a pretty 423 00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 1: long runway, and I think for for the better part 424 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: of three and a half years, there was always a willingness, 425 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: certainly by me and I think by most Bearcat fans 426 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: to kind of I don't want to say give him 427 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 1: a pass, but at least put into context some of 428 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: the realities of the job. Like year one, he gets 429 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: the job late, he gets the job after the weird 430 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,399 Speaker 1: COVID season of twenty twenty. Twenty twenty one, gets the 431 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 1: job late in the cycle, kind of has to assemble 432 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: a roster piece together a team. Meanwhile, nil is just 433 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:33,639 Speaker 1: becoming a thing. The transfer portal is becoming a larger 434 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: part of college basketball's reality, Like a tough runway. Year two, 435 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 1: like it felt like he steadied the program, and then 436 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 1: right when he did, they bounced to the Big twelve. 437 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 1: And by the way, they were largely competitive that first 438 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: year the Big Twelve. But I believe those first three 439 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: years they didn't make the tournament. Made the NIT that 440 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: first year of the Big twelve, if I'm not mistaken, 441 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: and I'm sorry, made the nit the second year West 442 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: was here. The year before they go to the Big twelve. 443 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: But anyway, regardless of whatever shortcomings there were, there was 444 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: always a willingness I think by most of us to 445 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 1: kind of put into context, all Right, it's a period 446 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:12,240 Speaker 1: of transition, or it's hard to get the job later, 447 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: it's hard to go from the AAC to the Big twelve. 448 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: I don't think until the very end of last year 449 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 1: did anybody really start to talk about West Miller. And 450 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: last year, if I recall, it wasn't even so much 451 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 1: about the results. It was about how the Bearcats looked. 452 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: I mean, I remember very clearly they're a game against 453 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:35,120 Speaker 1: against Kansas State late last season where Kansas State's team 454 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 1: showed up begging to be beaten. Uced didn't comply, so 455 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: Kansas State said, fine, we'll beat you. And I remember 456 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: the next day going like, what was that? Not that 457 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 1: they lost the game, but what was that? That team 458 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,919 Speaker 1: looked ill prepared. That team didn't necessarily look like it 459 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:51,919 Speaker 1: was mentally ready to go. And I think that's the 460 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: first time where it was like, all right, is this 461 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 1: gonna work? But I even believe this that at the 462 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 1: end of last season, most looked at the team and said, Okay, 463 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: the pieces didn't fit. Good players a lot of good players, 464 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 1: but the pieces didn't fit. Sometimes it happens, but it 465 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 1: can't happen again. Now this year, toward the end of 466 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: the season, the pieces seem to fit pretty well, but 467 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 1: they didn't fit well enough. And so I believe you 468 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: had a coach here who had a long runway but 469 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: also this season a really low bar to clear, Like 470 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 1: nobody talked to this season about the Bearcats making the 471 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: Sweet sixteen. He's got to make this Sweek sixteen, or 472 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 1: he's out of a gig or boy, he's he's got 473 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,119 Speaker 1: to contend for a Big twelve title or win a 474 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:41,159 Speaker 1: Big Twelve title, or it's time to move on. It 475 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: was be a tournament team. Hell, be team sixty eight 476 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 1: and play in Dayton. That's quite frankly, not that high 477 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: of a bar to clear. Look at college basketball, Look 478 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 1: at the bubble. Look at all these teams that we've 479 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,919 Speaker 1: spent weeks yelling at each other about maybe making it, 480 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: maybe not making it. You had an Auburn team that 481 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: this week went to the SEC Tournament with a sixteen 482 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 1: and fifteen record, with a chance to play in the 483 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: NCAA Tournament. And so I think with with Wes, you 484 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: had a pretty long runway, and I think this year 485 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 1: you had a pretty low bar to clear and they 486 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: couldn't clear it. And then you had the way things 487 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: looked on Wednesday, and the way things looked on Wednesday, 488 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 1: this wasn't you see losing a game seventy eight to 489 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: seventy where the other team just beat him, or other 490 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: team had a guy that just offensively went nuts, Like 491 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: you had that game not your back pocket, but pretty 492 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 1: damn close. And not only did your team melt down, 493 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: but you couldn't help but debate the role of coaching 494 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 1: in the meltdown. And when you are on already thin ice, 495 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: and maybe at that point the ice was already broken, 496 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: but when you are on already thin ice, that simply 497 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 1: cannot happen and then you add to it fan displeasure 498 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 1: and anger. I've had since Wednesday night more people forward 499 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 1: me emails that they have written to people in power 500 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: at uc than I've ever gotten about the Bengals of 501 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: the Reds or uc or behavior or anybody else. And 502 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: it just got to a point where there's the basketball 503 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 1: part of it, and there's what they haven't been able 504 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: to accomplish, and there's the way the team played this year, 505 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: but there was also just the fact that Wes Miller 506 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 1: for a lot of people was an impossible sell. And 507 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: maybe that wasn't going to matter to some people who 508 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: have deep pockets, but it was going to have to 509 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: matter to John Cunningham and then people in the athletic 510 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 1: department and the people perhaps at the upper reaches of 511 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,960 Speaker 1: the food chain at the school. And so it felt 512 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: like on Wednesday things changed. Maybe things weren't fifty to fifty. 513 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 1: Maybe Wes's future had been decided well before tip off 514 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: against UCF, but when that game ended the way it did, frankly, 515 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: it just felt like it was totally and completely untenable 516 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: to bring him back. We'll get to what's next coming 517 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 1: up here in just a bit. On Twitter at Moeger 518 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: thanks to a Delta Dental. Delta Dental is building healthy, 519 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: smartin vibrant communities for all. Go to DELTADENTALOAH dot com. 520 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 1: This does feel like it'll be a massive upset if 521 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: Jared Calhoun is not the guy. I do think UC 522 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:22,680 Speaker 1: has some really good things going forward that I'll elaborate 523 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: on coming up in fifteen minutes, But first we'll talk 524 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: to Terry Nelson on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports. 525 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 3: Station Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty. 526 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 4: Traffic from the UC Health Traffic Center. The new uc 527 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 4: oh Sure Wellness Suite is a home for transformative whole 528 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:44,600 Speaker 4: person well being backed by Science Register For classes now 529 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 4: visit u see health dot com. Westbound Ronald Reagan Highway, 530 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 4: there is an accident approaching Galbreath. Also a crash westbound 531 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 4: Harrison before Queen City Avenue. Butterworth Road is blocked in 532 00:30:56,960 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 4: both directions due to a fallen tree that's between Simpsy 533 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 4: Road and Ascott Drive. I'm at e Zelic with traffic 534 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:05,479 Speaker 4: this five o'clock. 535 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: This is ESPN fifteen to thirty mo edguer u See 536 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: is moving on from Wes Miller. Terry Nelson Radio and 537 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 1: TV analysts for UC men's basketball kind enough to give 538 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 1: us a few minutes. Team Nol's, it's awesome to have you. 539 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 1: This season, we went into it going okay, they got 540 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: to make the tournament or else. For Wes Miller this year, 541 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: macro level. Why did it not work. 542 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 5: The pieces? He didn't put the right cards on the 543 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 5: table at the right times. And that's just been how 544 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 5: his I mean as a player, if I'm a fort 545 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 5: if I'm a player under West Miller, I love playing 546 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 5: for him because if I'm in that starting lineup, he 547 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 5: will play me way to the end, from beginning to 548 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:55,160 Speaker 5: the end, he will be he will be loyal to 549 00:31:55,240 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 5: me because I've earned it in practice. However, and there's 550 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 5: bad games, for non productive games from your starters. There's 551 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 5: a reason that you have a bench and those people 552 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:10,200 Speaker 5: on the bench get paid to you. Do you use 553 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 5: your bench to win games when you need it the most? 554 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 5: And that, unfortunately, that's sort of been them is that 555 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 5: making the right adjustment at the right times has seemed 556 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 5: to be the reason that he is no longer here. 557 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 1: Was the way they lost on Wednesday? For you, the 558 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:31,600 Speaker 1: straw that broke the Camel's back. 559 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 5: It was it was because the answers to the tests 560 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 5: were sitting right in front of you. You know, keys 561 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:42,960 Speaker 5: Chantillery is having one of his better games. He's come 562 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 5: along strong over the part of the reasons you won 563 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 5: seven out of ten is because Keyschan Tillery was emerging 564 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 5: off the bench. The stoppa was your focus facing the 565 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 5: basket and shooting jump shots. But it was you know, 566 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 5: you only have one point guard. You have two combo 567 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 5: guards and just Danaean Jizzle and one point got on 568 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,560 Speaker 5: the roster, and that was Keshan Tillery. And he's the 569 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 5: only guy that consistently breaks this man down and gets 570 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:10,640 Speaker 5: to the basket and makes them happen. And he's a 571 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 5: human press breaker. And for him not to be in 572 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 5: the game when you couldn't get the ball across at court, 573 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 5: either you take jizzl out because he was having a 574 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 5: hard time getting the ball across, or you take Celestie 575 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 5: out because you don't need points now you need to 576 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:25,920 Speaker 5: spread the floor or get to the free throw line, 577 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 5: get the ball pass alf court. You could have win 578 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 5: three guards and let you know, pass the ball from 579 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 5: Tillery breaking it, or you could have had Baba Miller, 580 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 5: bring the ball up and throw over the top of 581 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 5: the double team to the second wave of guards. Here's 582 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 5: a pluthroop that could have happened, and neither one happened. 583 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 1: What are the things that are at the top of 584 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:51,080 Speaker 1: your priority list when you think about who the next 585 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 1: head coach should be. 586 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:58,160 Speaker 5: Does he have in game strategy and does he exude 587 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 5: toughness to the team. I mean, over the last thirty 588 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 5: five years since Huggins took over, there's been an emphasis 589 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:16,160 Speaker 5: suvice and to see that sort of erode away, to 590 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 5: see on a daily base, guys not be held accountable 591 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 5: for the actions that take place on the floor because 592 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:30,359 Speaker 5: the pretty great guys the town's there. I mean, there's 593 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 5: nothing wrong with the roster, it's how you fashion it. 594 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 5: If every if you're in a cooking contest and everybody 595 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,920 Speaker 5: has the same ingredients and your kid turns out differently 596 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 5: than the person right next to you, it's not in 597 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:47,960 Speaker 5: the ingredients and how you prepared it. And if you 598 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 5: look at the guys that it has on this roster, 599 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:52,879 Speaker 5: they were more than capable of winning. It was only 600 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 5: every one or two games that they were not in it. 601 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 5: Every game they had a lead every game they were competing. 602 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:01,640 Speaker 5: Every game they got right there, they could not find 603 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:04,919 Speaker 5: a way to close. And unfortunately, because I like Wes 604 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:06,360 Speaker 5: and a lot of people like West and you'll hear 605 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:08,359 Speaker 5: a lot of people say this, and I like him, 606 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 5: but he's my favorite butt Well, I like the way 607 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:13,799 Speaker 5: he did this. There's always an exception at the end 608 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 5: of that, because when it comes down to it, fired 609 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:20,719 Speaker 5: purifies and it reveals what the essence of you already are, 610 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 5: which you really are. And when stuff got close, he 611 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:26,880 Speaker 5: let his emotions get the best of him instead of 612 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:29,799 Speaker 5: thinking clearly and doing the right thing to win the game. 613 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 5: For the supporters and the fan base, the name. 614 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 1: That is going to be brought up most often, at 615 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 1: least here in the early goings of this is is 616 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:41,839 Speaker 1: Jared Calhoun, who has been here right work for Bob 617 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 1: Huggins towards the end of coach huggins ten year at UC. 618 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 1: Is he somebody you know it all? Are you beyond 619 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 1: just knowing that he's coaching at US tah State? Did 620 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:53,480 Speaker 1: you become familiar with him at all while he was here? 621 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: What do you know about him? 622 00:35:55,560 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 5: But he was with the James White team. Why posts 623 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 5: a picture on this in Twitter about that, and he 624 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:06,600 Speaker 5: was like, man to take a look at the roster 625 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 5: and see if he was on the roster, Like he 626 00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 5: even forgot about it. But no, he was one of 627 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:14,839 Speaker 5: those guys that kept it over with Hugs and Eric 628 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:18,840 Speaker 5: Martin at West Virginia's he's worked. When you're a grand assistant, 629 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 5: you do a lot of stuff that you don't get 630 00:36:20,640 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 5: paid for. You're a lot of hours, a lot of 631 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:27,800 Speaker 5: film sessions, a lot of scouting reports. You're playing basketball, 632 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 5: you do it, a lot of stuff rest work that's 633 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 5: just not on your job description. You're doing whatever it takes, 634 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:36,920 Speaker 5: so you outwork a lot of people because of the 635 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 5: position that you're in. And to see him have success 636 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:43,040 Speaker 5: everywhere he's been and to see that they were they 637 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:44,759 Speaker 5: won't yesterday. I don't know if they what time they 638 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:50,200 Speaker 5: played today, but well coached structure, toughness to it, and 639 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:53,960 Speaker 5: they have some strategy at the end of games. I 640 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:55,959 Speaker 5: believe that he would be because he was the guy. 641 00:36:56,840 --> 00:36:59,840 Speaker 5: Now obviously can they can consider other people as well, 642 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:02,040 Speaker 5: but if he was a guy, I'd be comfortable with that. 643 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 1: You are as close to this program as anybody coaches players, 644 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 1: people who are connected to it folks who fund the program. Uh, 645 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:16,120 Speaker 1: you've been here for a very long time. Is what's 646 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:19,839 Speaker 1: needed for any head coach in place to be successful 647 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:22,280 Speaker 1: very early during their tenure. 648 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:26,239 Speaker 5: Well yes, Well, first of all, let's just say if 649 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 5: it was ky Hole, I wouldn't want to snatch it Personally, 650 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:32,000 Speaker 5: I wouldn't want to snatch him away from his team. 651 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:35,399 Speaker 5: I would want him to finish the tournament and then 652 00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 5: come over for a couple of reasons. One, I think 653 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:41,800 Speaker 5: it's unfair for the guys that he coach started alone 654 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:43,360 Speaker 5: to pull him away before he gets a chance. I 655 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 5: almost like what we did with football back in the day. 656 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:51,040 Speaker 5: I would like for him to finish because I want 657 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:55,719 Speaker 5: him hardened to NCAA mindset. I want him going and 658 00:37:55,760 --> 00:38:00,719 Speaker 5: playing in tough games and using strategy and in game 659 00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 5: situations and learning how to win tournament games. I want 660 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:08,080 Speaker 5: his brain stretches to new dimensions with the NCAA mindset. 661 00:38:08,680 --> 00:38:11,360 Speaker 5: Whether he wins the tournament, goes in the final fours, three, sixteen, 662 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:13,920 Speaker 5: or whatever, I want him playing. I don't want to 663 00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:17,080 Speaker 5: snatch him when this team goes to the tournament and 664 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:20,080 Speaker 5: not give him the experience of coaching in the tournament. 665 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,240 Speaker 5: When we're hiring him to take us to the tournament 666 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 5: and be successful in the tournament, well, he could probably 667 00:38:26,239 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 5: take us there. But if he doesn't have the ability 668 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:31,560 Speaker 5: to coach in the tournament because we pulled them away, 669 00:38:31,719 --> 00:38:33,680 Speaker 5: he's not growing to the point where we want him 670 00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:36,960 Speaker 5: to come in from day one with that mentality, with 671 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:39,799 Speaker 5: the roster to the honestable because the money is there. 672 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:43,560 Speaker 5: I want him to be able to say, look, all 673 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:47,439 Speaker 5: we need is this player. This player, make a little 674 00:38:47,480 --> 00:38:50,480 Speaker 5: tweaks and changes here, and we can make a deep run. 675 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,279 Speaker 5: Because he likes the roster, he likes the environment, he 676 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:56,680 Speaker 5: likes everything that takes to be successful at Cincinnati. He 677 00:38:56,760 --> 00:38:59,960 Speaker 5: understands the foundation has been better since he's been gone. 678 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:04,000 Speaker 5: And if he returns, whoever returns, I would like them 679 00:39:04,040 --> 00:39:07,840 Speaker 5: to have a mentality that, look, NCAA is floor. Is 680 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:10,759 Speaker 5: just the floor. We're not worried about just trying to 681 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:12,360 Speaker 5: get in the NCAA. Guess we haven't been there in 682 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:16,200 Speaker 5: a while, but that's the floor. We have enough resources 683 00:39:16,239 --> 00:39:18,919 Speaker 5: to get the talent that we need to make deep 684 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:21,480 Speaker 5: runs every year. Whether we've made the deep runs every 685 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:25,440 Speaker 5: year is not the question. We have the talent and 686 00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:27,560 Speaker 5: we should be in the conversation every year. 687 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:31,359 Speaker 1: Oh, I appreciate the time on short notice. Man. By 688 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:34,600 Speaker 1: the way, Jered Calhoun's team plays on Nevada tonight. I'm 689 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:37,360 Speaker 1: rooting for them just because they're playing Nevada in the 690 00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:40,480 Speaker 1: Mountain West Tournament. That game tips off at nine thirty 691 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:42,520 Speaker 1: this evening. I know you have a lot going on, man, 692 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:44,560 Speaker 1: I appreciate you jumping on. We'll see you soon. 693 00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:46,120 Speaker 5: Appreciate you. 694 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:46,239 Speaker 4: Mo. 695 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:51,040 Speaker 1: That's our guy, Terry Nelson, radio analysts for UC basketball. 696 00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:54,000 Speaker 1: By the way, the Chad Brendel Conversation is available right 697 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:58,840 Speaker 1: now on the iHeartRadio app. More thoughts ahead, sports headlines 698 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:02,000 Speaker 1: to ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports. 699 00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:05,600 Speaker 3: Station Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty. 700 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:10,480 Speaker 4: Traffic from the UC Health Traffic Center. The new UC 701 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:13,799 Speaker 4: oh Shure Wellness Suite is a home for transformative whole 702 00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:17,759 Speaker 4: person well being backed by Science. Register For classes now, 703 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:23,080 Speaker 4: visit ucehealth dot com. Southbound four seventy one at Alexandria Pike, 704 00:40:23,160 --> 00:40:25,919 Speaker 4: there's an accident off onto the right shoulder, a two 705 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:29,640 Speaker 4: to three minute delay back from Grand Avenue westbound Ronald 706 00:40:29,640 --> 00:40:33,800 Speaker 4: Reagan Highway. Also an accident approaching Galbreth and Western Avenue. 707 00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:38,080 Speaker 4: One more crash at Liberty Street on at Eazelic with traffic. 708 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:40,160 Speaker 1: This week we carried UK games at noon. Every day. 709 00:40:42,560 --> 00:40:45,759 Speaker 1: Sports headlines are a service a Kelsey Chevrolett home of lifetime, 710 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:49,400 Speaker 1: Howard Rane protection and guaranteed credit approval from their family 711 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:53,040 Speaker 1: to yours for life kelseyshev dot com. Wes Miller out 712 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:56,040 Speaker 1: as the men's basketball head coach at the University of 713 00:40:56,080 --> 00:41:00,319 Speaker 1: Cincinnati after five seasons. The news not officially announced yet 714 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:04,439 Speaker 1: by the university. As you heard Chad talk about last hour, 715 00:41:04,960 --> 00:41:09,120 Speaker 1: lawyers are lawyering as it relates to the buyout. Meanwhile, 716 00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:13,200 Speaker 1: a whole bunch of college basketball games. I love this day. 717 00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:16,760 Speaker 1: I love this day when you have conference tournament quarterfinals 718 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:21,000 Speaker 1: and semifinals across the country. Kentucky fans did not love 719 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:23,799 Speaker 1: this day. Florida did not play well, and yet you 720 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:26,160 Speaker 1: never felt like Kentucky was gonna win the game even 721 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:29,640 Speaker 1: when they got close. Ish Gators beat the Wildcats seventy 722 00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:31,720 Speaker 1: one to sixty three for the first time this season. 723 00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:35,000 Speaker 1: I think Kentucky played one hundred and twenty minutes against 724 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:38,000 Speaker 1: the Gators and never let in any of them. If 725 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:41,800 Speaker 1: I'm not mistaken, which I often am Ohio State, Felda, Michigan. 726 00:41:41,840 --> 00:41:43,759 Speaker 1: In the Big Ten Tournament seventy one to sixty seven. 727 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:47,720 Speaker 1: Dayton beat Saint Bonaventure in Pittsburgh in the A ten Tournament. 728 00:41:47,760 --> 00:41:50,320 Speaker 1: Flyers will take on Saint Louis tomorrow. Reds play the 729 00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:54,799 Speaker 1: Giants twice tonight. Brady Singer on the mound for Cincinnati 730 00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:58,560 Speaker 1: in Goodyear at nine oh five on seven hundred WLW. 731 00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:01,360 Speaker 1: Another team of Reds players led by Chase Burns on 732 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:04,000 Speaker 1: the Mound takes on the Giants in Scottsdale at seven 733 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:07,040 Speaker 1: oh five. As a spring training veteran, if you had 734 00:42:07,040 --> 00:42:08,920 Speaker 1: your choice between the two, you would want to go 735 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:12,480 Speaker 1: to Scottsdale. That's all I got for you. What else 736 00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:16,760 Speaker 1: do we have? Bengals made it official. Defensive tackle Jonathan 737 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:19,279 Speaker 1: Allen signs a two year contract. By the way, a 738 00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:21,600 Speaker 1: couple of Reds games got moved to nighttime next week 739 00:42:21,640 --> 00:42:24,760 Speaker 1: because it is an extreme heat in Phoenix. The Cubs 740 00:42:24,760 --> 00:42:27,560 Speaker 1: game on the twentieth, which is next Friday, is now 741 00:42:27,640 --> 00:42:29,320 Speaker 1: going to be a night game, and the White Sox 742 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:31,920 Speaker 1: game on the twenty first is now going to be 743 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:33,520 Speaker 1: a night game. It's going to be really hot in 744 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:35,920 Speaker 1: Arizona Cyclones ain't going to be hot at the hockey 745 00:42:36,040 --> 00:42:39,200 Speaker 1: rink downtown Clones play. Iow tonight. I think they're giving 746 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:43,320 Speaker 1: away bags. I think strap bags or something. I drove 747 00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:45,960 Speaker 1: past the billboard getting on the I seventy five today, 748 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:50,720 Speaker 1: Go Clones. We got about five minutes here. We talked 749 00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:55,320 Speaker 1: two segments ago before Terry Nelson about the past five years, 750 00:42:55,360 --> 00:42:58,719 Speaker 1: and now now it's about what's next and what's next 751 00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:03,480 Speaker 1: for John Cunningham, like it's enormous. Let's be honest. You 752 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:06,719 Speaker 1: can be an athletics director and have a lot of 753 00:43:06,719 --> 00:43:10,120 Speaker 1: different things under your umbrella. You've got to raise money, 754 00:43:10,120 --> 00:43:12,520 Speaker 1: You've got to negotiate media deals. You've got to oversee 755 00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:15,600 Speaker 1: an advertising department. You have to hire and fire coaches 756 00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:19,480 Speaker 1: in let's call them lower profile sports. Yeah, you have 757 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:22,799 Speaker 1: to maintain facilities. There's probably facets of that job that 758 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,160 Speaker 1: I can't even imagine. But at the end of the day, 759 00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:30,360 Speaker 1: you're judged by the success of the coaches you hire 760 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:35,680 Speaker 1: in the school's two most high profile sports. Obviously, not 761 00:43:35,800 --> 00:43:41,800 Speaker 1: every school has football. Scott Saderfield. If we're being gentle, 762 00:43:41,840 --> 00:43:44,560 Speaker 1: we'll say the jury is still out. Call it what 763 00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:48,720 Speaker 1: it is. And I personally like Scott Saderfield a lot. 764 00:43:48,960 --> 00:43:52,040 Speaker 1: His record in November right now leads the discussion. He 765 00:43:52,160 --> 00:43:55,799 Speaker 1: is certainly not an extraordinarily popular figure. He's been there 766 00:43:55,800 --> 00:43:58,560 Speaker 1: for three years. In each of the last two seasons, 767 00:43:58,719 --> 00:44:01,279 Speaker 1: what felt like we're going to be good seasons, really 768 00:44:01,320 --> 00:44:07,200 Speaker 1: good seasons kind of bottomed out toward the end. John 769 00:44:07,239 --> 00:44:10,799 Speaker 1: Cunningham hired Scott Saderfield. He also hired Wes Miller. Now, 770 00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:12,680 Speaker 1: I thought when they hired Wes Miller that was a 771 00:44:12,680 --> 00:44:15,359 Speaker 1: good hire. I'm not gonna walk back that and say, boy, 772 00:44:15,360 --> 00:44:17,840 Speaker 1: it was a terrible hire. Like for the time, I 773 00:44:17,880 --> 00:44:20,600 Speaker 1: don't know, it felt like it made sense. It just 774 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:26,839 Speaker 1: didn't work out. But athletic directors only get so many 775 00:44:26,880 --> 00:44:30,759 Speaker 1: cracks at it, and so I would find it hard 776 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:35,520 Speaker 1: to believe that if they have to move on from 777 00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:37,960 Speaker 1: the next head coach, not the coach is successful and 778 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,319 Speaker 1: moves on from them, but they have to move on 779 00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:43,439 Speaker 1: from the next head coach, and between that coach being 780 00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:46,800 Speaker 1: hired and being let go there are no NCAA tournaments 781 00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:51,320 Speaker 1: or not a lot of success or almost unending fan unrest, 782 00:44:51,560 --> 00:44:55,560 Speaker 1: then this athletic director is not likely to be hiring 783 00:44:55,600 --> 00:44:59,239 Speaker 1: a third men's basketball head coach, or heck, maybe a 784 00:44:59,239 --> 00:45:04,720 Speaker 1: second football. So this decision feels like it's really important 785 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:09,319 Speaker 1: for John Cunningham. I think that goes without saying. Many 786 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:12,200 Speaker 1: have talked about like if you see moves on from 787 00:45:12,200 --> 00:45:15,480 Speaker 1: West Miller, you have a chance to be maybe the 788 00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:20,080 Speaker 1: best job in the cycle and best job or good job, etc. 789 00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:24,759 Speaker 1: Those things are subjective and we'll see which jobs come open. 790 00:45:24,760 --> 00:45:26,640 Speaker 1: The season's not over for a lot of teams. There 791 00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:29,520 Speaker 1: could be a surprise retirement. There could be a basketball 792 00:45:29,560 --> 00:45:32,000 Speaker 1: coach that jumps to the NBA. There could be a 793 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:35,080 Speaker 1: school that out of nowhere fires a coach. There could 794 00:45:35,120 --> 00:45:38,960 Speaker 1: be schools that use the NCAA tournament as the barometer 795 00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:41,920 Speaker 1: for which they measure success, and then you know, if 796 00:45:41,920 --> 00:45:44,440 Speaker 1: you don't win in it, you're gone. We will see, 797 00:45:45,520 --> 00:45:47,239 Speaker 1: but right now it feels like it's one of the 798 00:45:47,239 --> 00:45:51,400 Speaker 1: premier jobs that are open. Maybe you can make an 799 00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:54,120 Speaker 1: argument Syracuse. Syracuse is in an easier league to win, 800 00:45:54,600 --> 00:45:58,319 Speaker 1: but it's a good job and it's I'll be called 801 00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:01,080 Speaker 1: a homer for saying this, Like you don't have to 802 00:46:01,080 --> 00:46:03,840 Speaker 1: get fans to come to games. They come to games. 803 00:46:05,239 --> 00:46:08,680 Speaker 1: You see games have been tremendously attended. The Bearcats haven't 804 00:46:08,680 --> 00:46:14,960 Speaker 1: made a tournament since twenty nineteen. I do believe like 805 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:18,919 Speaker 1: one of the reasons why a lot of folks turned 806 00:46:18,960 --> 00:46:22,279 Speaker 1: against Wes and he put himself in the microscope this 807 00:46:22,360 --> 00:46:26,759 Speaker 1: year was this was not an inexpensive roster. It's you know, 808 00:46:26,880 --> 00:46:29,400 Speaker 1: a second team All League guy and honor Will mentioned 809 00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:32,600 Speaker 1: All League guy like this, it's not an inexpensive roster. 810 00:46:33,880 --> 00:46:39,319 Speaker 1: They pulled players from other like high major programs. Maybe 811 00:46:39,320 --> 00:46:41,680 Speaker 1: it wasn't the most expensive roster, wasn't a cheap roster, 812 00:46:41,760 --> 00:46:46,000 Speaker 1: So it feels like there's some financial infrastructure there. Also, 813 00:46:46,120 --> 00:46:51,239 Speaker 1: there is a level of steadiness that I don't think 814 00:46:51,239 --> 00:46:54,799 Speaker 1: Wes Miller early on ever got to enjoy. That's not 815 00:46:54,880 --> 00:46:58,080 Speaker 1: an excuse for Wes. It's just like it's hard to 816 00:46:58,080 --> 00:47:01,120 Speaker 1: say that anything is stable or per in college sports 817 00:47:01,200 --> 00:47:04,840 Speaker 1: right now, but there's some stability that you see right now. 818 00:47:04,920 --> 00:47:08,560 Speaker 1: They're not jumping to another league anytime soon. Now we'll 819 00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:11,640 Speaker 1: see what happens, you know, with the next wave of realignment, 820 00:47:11,719 --> 00:47:15,160 Speaker 1: super conferences, all that, But they're not making the jump 821 00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:17,160 Speaker 1: to the SEC or making the jump to the big. 822 00:47:17,640 --> 00:47:19,440 Speaker 1: They're a Big twelve program and by the way they 823 00:47:19,480 --> 00:47:23,480 Speaker 1: went five hundred in the Big Twelve this year, God willing, 824 00:47:23,520 --> 00:47:30,600 Speaker 1: there's no pandemic nil, which there's obviously ongoing conversations about 825 00:47:30,719 --> 00:47:33,279 Speaker 1: nil and what it should look like, or player compensation 826 00:47:33,640 --> 00:47:36,160 Speaker 1: and what it should look like. But you know, the 827 00:47:36,280 --> 00:47:39,080 Speaker 1: new world of college sports isn't quite as new as 828 00:47:39,080 --> 00:47:42,400 Speaker 1: it was a couple of years ago. So you know, 829 00:47:42,920 --> 00:47:48,080 Speaker 1: like I feel like there's relatively steady footy is steady 830 00:47:48,120 --> 00:47:50,640 Speaker 1: footing for whoever the next head coach is. It ain't 831 00:47:50,680 --> 00:47:52,399 Speaker 1: gonna be easy to win in year one, no matter 832 00:47:52,400 --> 00:47:54,680 Speaker 1: who it is, because it's hard to walk into a 833 00:47:54,680 --> 00:47:57,239 Speaker 1: situation where you don't have any players if that ends 834 00:47:57,320 --> 00:47:59,399 Speaker 1: up being the case and you have to cobble together 835 00:47:59,440 --> 00:48:02,520 Speaker 1: a new ross. Richard Patino will tell you that it's 836 00:48:02,560 --> 00:48:05,280 Speaker 1: also not impossible to win year one. It's not apples 837 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:08,000 Speaker 1: to apples. The leagues aren't as good this year, but 838 00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:11,239 Speaker 1: just Jay Lucas Miami won this year and didn't win 839 00:48:11,360 --> 00:48:13,920 Speaker 1: last night. But Kevin Willard at Villanova won this year. 840 00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:17,240 Speaker 1: No two jobs are the same, but I do feel 841 00:48:17,239 --> 00:48:20,520 Speaker 1: like there's a level of steadiness that you see that 842 00:48:21,840 --> 00:48:24,360 Speaker 1: provides a nice runway for a new head coach. To 843 00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:27,720 Speaker 1: have some success. And again the first bar to clear 844 00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:32,239 Speaker 1: is not a very high one. B Team number sixty eight. 845 00:48:33,520 --> 00:48:36,520 Speaker 1: And by the way, maybe here soon B Team seventy 846 00:48:36,560 --> 00:48:39,960 Speaker 1: two or seventy six or eighty or ninety six or 847 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:42,600 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty six, whatever, they ultimately end up 848 00:48:42,640 --> 00:48:46,279 Speaker 1: expanding the number of teams in the tournament. Two, we're 849 00:48:46,320 --> 00:48:49,360 Speaker 1: not for a while going to be talking about making 850 00:48:49,440 --> 00:48:52,160 Speaker 1: deep runs into the tournament, into the sweet sixteen, or 851 00:48:52,360 --> 00:48:55,319 Speaker 1: competing for Big twelve championship B Team sixty eight. And 852 00:48:55,360 --> 00:48:58,359 Speaker 1: I do feel like, and you can tell me if 853 00:48:58,400 --> 00:49:00,480 Speaker 1: I'm wrong, we'll come back next week. I do feel 854 00:49:00,520 --> 00:49:04,360 Speaker 1: like there's a runway in place and enough steady footing 855 00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:06,879 Speaker 1: in place for that to happen with whoever the new 856 00:49:06,880 --> 00:49:10,560 Speaker 1: head coach is. And right now at the odds on 857 00:49:10,600 --> 00:49:13,040 Speaker 1: favorite feels like it's Jared Calhoun. We are done. I 858 00:49:13,040 --> 00:49:15,719 Speaker 1: wish we had more time. We'll put we already put 859 00:49:15,840 --> 00:49:20,399 Speaker 1: Chad Brindle on the iHeartRadio app, and my computer is 860 00:49:20,480 --> 00:49:23,239 Speaker 1: not cooperating, but I would be willing to guarantee you 861 00:49:23,280 --> 00:49:26,480 Speaker 1: that Taran has put to Yes. Terry Nelson's also on 862 00:49:26,520 --> 00:49:29,319 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, so you can listen to both those 863 00:49:29,320 --> 00:49:31,839 Speaker 1: conversations as well as anything else we did this week. 864 00:49:31,840 --> 00:49:34,480 Speaker 1: Did lots of Bengal stuff this week. We're back Monday 865 00:49:34,520 --> 00:49:37,279 Speaker 1: at three oh five. So is Tony Pike, Sincy three 866 00:49:37,400 --> 00:49:40,640 Speaker 1: sixty at noon. We look forward to both have a 867 00:49:40,680 --> 00:49:43,440 Speaker 1: great weekend. Thank you for listening. Thanks to Tarren Bland 868 00:49:43,440 --> 00:49:47,680 Speaker 1: for producing. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports. 869 00:49:47,400 --> 00:49:54,920 Speaker 3: Station, Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty Traffic. 870 00:49:54,960 --> 00:49:58,319 Speaker 4: From the UC Health Traffic Center. The new uc oh 871 00:49:58,320 --> 00:50:01,520 Speaker 4: Sure Wellness Suite is a home for transformative whole person 872 00:50:01,600 --> 00:50:05,439 Speaker 4: well being backed by Science. Register for classes now visit 873 00:50:05,600 --> 00:50:10,120 Speaker 4: UCHealth dot com. Eastbound two seventy five after Ronald Reagan 874 00:50:10,200 --> 00:50:13,200 Speaker 4: Highway left lane is blocked off from a disabled vehicle. 875 00:50:13,520 --> 00:50:17,480 Speaker 4: West found Ronald Reagan Highway an accident approaching Galbreath and 876 00:50:17,560 --> 00:50:21,080 Speaker 4: westbound two seventy five. Accident on the right shoulder at 877 00:50:21,120 --> 00:50:24,640 Speaker 4: seventy one seventy five. I'm at ezelic with traffic