1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:01,720 Speaker 1: Cincinnati Sports station. 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 2: And now I seem to remember last year during the 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 2: baseball season, this became a little bit of a thing 4 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 2: where the Reds would score a ton of runs one day, 5 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 2: then like one run the next day, then score a 6 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 2: ton of runs one day, and then like zero runs 7 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: the next day. And so every time they scored a 8 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 2: lot of runs, people would complain, proactively complain about a 9 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: game the next day that hadn't happened yet. We'll see 10 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 2: now they have no chance to score. The reason I 11 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 2: bring this up is the Reds have scored fifteen runs 12 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 2: and it's still just in the fifth inning. South Stuart, 13 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 2: give me the salth Stewart Dinger tear and give it 14 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 2: to me. 15 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: They're not going to swing and miss on as much. 16 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 3: Stuart elevates this ni in the air deep center field. 17 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 3: Back goes McCormick. He's out of room. That ball is 18 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 3: over the batter's eye in dead center. A three run 19 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 3: bomb from Sal Stewart. 20 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: It is. 21 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: That's a Tommy Thrawl with Chris Welsh on the car 22 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 2: Fox Sports thirteen sixty and the Reds Radio network. It 23 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:08,199 Speaker 2: is fifteen to six in favor of the Reds. Cincinnati 24 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 2: is batting to the home team today bottom of the 25 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 2: fifth inning. It's been a big offensive day. Sal Stewart 26 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: a couple of hits, a double of homer. He has 27 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 2: driven in four. Matt McClain has two home runs on 28 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,199 Speaker 2: the afternoon, his second and third of the Cactus League. 29 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: He is driven in six. Noelvee Marte also a couple 30 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 2: of hits. He went deep today. Keep Brian Hayes with 31 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 2: a big day today. So far he has a couple 32 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 2: of hits, he is driven in three, and it's fifteen 33 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 2: to six reds to get a shaky start from Brady Singer, 34 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 2: who gave up four runs in the first inning. We 35 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 2: will keep you up to date on what's happening in 36 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: Goodyear as the hour unfolds. Good news today for the Bengals. 37 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 2: Bengals have made their layup. 38 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 4: Now. 39 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 2: This is a term that we used right when the 40 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 2: offseason started. Got to make your layups, got to make 41 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 2: your layups. The Bengals today made a layup. Dalton Reisner 42 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: has been re signed. This was the easy one. The 43 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 2: Bengals have a lot of really hard things in front 44 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: of them. Roster construction is hard. Nailing it in free agency, 45 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:22,679 Speaker 2: even if you have a lot of money in cap 46 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: space at your disposal. Nailing it in free agency is hard. 47 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: Nailing it in the draft is hard. Signing a guard who, 48 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: at the end of the season helped give you, I 49 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 2: think the best offensive line that Joe Burrow has ever 50 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 2: played behind. Giving a guard who stated publicly at the 51 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 2: end of last year I want to be here, giving 52 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 2: him a one year contract before free agency actually starts 53 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 2: not hard. The Bengals have made the layup. They've passed 54 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 2: an early season test. You can't make your threes until 55 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 2: you make layups. You can't take and make high degree 56 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: of difficulty shots if you can't make the bunnies. This 57 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 2: was a layup. This was easy. If if you want 58 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: to start talking about doing the hard things, and the 59 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: Bengals have a lot of hard things in front of them, 60 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: that's cool. Can you do the easy stuff first? At 61 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: times in their recent history it has felt like the 62 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: answer is no. It's why you ended up paying more 63 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: money to Jamar Chase than you would have had to 64 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: pay him had you gotten the deal done well before 65 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 2: he actually did. Same with t Higgins. Heck, I would 66 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: argue with the way the Trey Hendrickson thing is unfolded 67 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 2: and the way it's going to likely unfold now. Trading 68 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: him a year ago that should have been easy. Signing 69 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 2: Dalton Reisner extraordinarily easy and a refreshing player. Talked about 70 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 2: this a little bit last hour, but refreshing from this perspective. 71 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: Last season was one of the worst, I believe in 72 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: the history of the franchise. Not because of their record, 73 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 2: although obviously the record wasn't very good. They've had seasons 74 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,119 Speaker 2: where they've had a worse record, but relative to expectation, 75 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: relative to how they achieved their record, Joe Burrow's injury, 76 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: Jake Browning not working out, the games where they scored 77 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 2: a bunch of points but couldn't stop anybody, and so 78 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 2: they lost just the overall tone and tenor of the season. 79 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: This was a miserable season. 80 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: And yet at the end of it, here you had 81 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 2: a guy who just got here in August who's letting 82 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 2: people know I want to be here. I love it here, 83 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 2: I want to play for this team, I want to 84 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: live in this city. I want to be a part 85 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: of the solution. That was refreshing. It's refreshing to see 86 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: the Bengals do something easy toward the end of the season. 87 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 2: Last year, the Bengals offensive line might not have been 88 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 2: league best, and I don't have a ranking of offensive 89 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: lines in front of me. What I can tell you, though, 90 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 2: is this, toward the end of the season, I think 91 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 2: most of us stopped worrying about the offensive line. They 92 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: might not have been flawless, but toward the end of 93 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,359 Speaker 2: the season, we were watching an offense function with a 94 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 2: group up front that was not a problem, felt like 95 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 2: the pass protection was there, felt like the run blocking 96 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: was there, felt like they achieved a level of consistency 97 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 2: and performance that has eluded this team for a long time. 98 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 2: Dalton Reisner was merely one part of that. Marius Mims 99 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,479 Speaker 2: is a huge part of that, and it's gonna have 100 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 2: to be even bigger. Dylan Fairchild was a big part 101 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 2: of that is gonna have to be even better his 102 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 2: second season. And like, you watched the offensive line last year, 103 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: and if you're like me, there were probably times where 104 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 2: you thought, you know what, it feels like Orlando Brown's 105 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 2: best football is behind him. 106 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: How much longer is this gonna work? 107 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 2: And it's a fair question for twenty twenty six, but 108 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: collectively speaking, last year, toward the end of the season, 109 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 2: we stopped talking about. 110 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: The Bengals offensive line. 111 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: And let's be honest, you never really talk about an 112 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 2: offensive line unless it stinks. We know what it looks 113 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 2: like when an offensive line here stinks. Last year's toward 114 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: the end of the season did not. And so one 115 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: of the primary objectives coming into the offseason was, let's 116 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 2: maintain some continuity. Let's not fix what's not broken. Let's 117 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 2: not add to our problems. Let's not add to the 118 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 2: to do list. Guard what they have up front is working. 119 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 2: There's chemistry, there's performance. Their offensive line is trending toward 120 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 2: being a good Don't screw with it, don't mess around 121 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: with it. Bring the dude back, Bring the dude back 122 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 2: who says he wants to be here. Bring the dude back. 123 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,679 Speaker 2: Who's not going to cost a lot of money. Something 124 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 2: in the neighborhood of one year for four and a 125 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 2: half million dollars, Are you kidding me? That is a layup. 126 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: The Bengals today made their layup. And now and now 127 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,559 Speaker 2: you could really talk about the heart stuff, right and boy, 128 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 2: there's some hard stuff. Finding a backup quarterback may be 129 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 2: kind of hard. Like this is a market where Malik 130 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 2: Willis might get a really hefty contract, Malik Willis. This 131 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: is a market where Joe Burrow may find a team, 132 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: according to some that pay him like seven and a 133 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 2: half eight and a half million dollars to maybe start games. 134 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 2: Finding a backup quarterback that you can rely on. I 135 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 2: feel like the Jake Browning thing is passed. Finding a 136 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 2: backup quarterback and then all the hard things they have 137 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 2: on defense. We make fixing the defense sound easy, and 138 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: the good news is they have money to spend. You 139 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: really can't go wrong addressing any area of that unit 140 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 2: like it's a bad group. But while they're not going 141 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 2: to leave the offense itself alone, my guess is a 142 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: lot of the draft conversations are going to focus on tackle, 143 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: offensive linemen, depth pieces, swing tackle, long term replacement for 144 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: Orlando Brown, finding long term depth pieces, finding short term 145 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: depth and long term starters. Like they're probably not done 146 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: addressing the offensive line. 147 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: That's cool and all right. 148 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: Maybe a third wide receiver is somebody they add in 149 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 2: the draft long term because they're not going to sign 150 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 2: andre Yoshabas. But by and large, you could leave the 151 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 2: offense alone right now and feel pretty damn good. Now 152 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 2: there have been other years. Obviously here where you could 153 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 2: look at the offense and go, well, you want the quarterback, obviously, 154 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 2: you want the weaponry, you like the running back, added 155 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 2: a tight end, But boy, the offensive line may be 156 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 2: a liability. The offensive line may sink this team. I 157 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 2: don't think any of us feel that way right now. 158 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 2: I will be accused, and that's fine. This is how 159 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: it works. I will be accused of making the Bengals 160 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,839 Speaker 2: offensive line seem better than it's been. 161 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: Like, I get it. 162 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 2: The group they had in twenty fifteen might be the 163 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 2: best offensive line the Bengals have had in my lifetime. 164 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 2: Eighty eight would say something about that. Two thousand and 165 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: five would say something about that. They're not there. They're 166 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 2: probably not any elite unit. But if they ever are 167 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: going to be, chances are that's going to happen on 168 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 2: the shoulders of players they've drafted and then bit players 169 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 2: like Dalton Reisner who signed relatively cheap contracts. That's exactly 170 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: what Dalton Reisner did. Bengals took something that has worked, 171 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 2: they've doubled down on it. They didn't overthink the room, 172 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 2: they didn't overthink themselves. They didn't take what was easy. 173 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 2: And make it more complicated than it needs to be. 174 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: How much credit you can give a team for doing 175 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 2: something that is this simple, we can debate, we can discuss, 176 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 2: but they at least didn't add to their list of 177 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 2: things they got to get done. 178 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: They at least didn't create a problem. 179 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 2: They've at least leaned into continuity in ways that go 180 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 2: beyond having the same coach, having the same coordinators, having 181 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 2: the same player personnel guy. This should have always been 182 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 2: and for me at least, it was item number one 183 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 2: on the lint because it was the easiest. Take care 184 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 2: of the hard stuff, but first knock off a few 185 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: easy things. Signing Dalton Reisner was one of them. This 186 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 2: is also the most I've ever talked about the Bengals 187 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 2: signing a guard to a one year contract, but it 188 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 2: is true, like I think the fear for a lot 189 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 2: of us was Dalton said what he said, and again, 190 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 2: it could not have been more refreshing for a season 191 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 2: that occurred against the backdrop of people wondering is Joe 192 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 2: Burrow going to try to weasel his way out of town? 193 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: Here? 194 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 2: You have a guy at the end of an awful 195 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 2: season saying I want to be here playing a position 196 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 2: that the Bengals have had a hard time with in 197 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: recent years. It would have felt very Bengals like to 198 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 2: to just unnecessarily create a problem, unnecessarily add to the 199 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 2: to do list and instead cross off offensive line to 200 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 2: a degree. We're going to go into the offen season, 201 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 2: which begins effectively this week. We're gonna go into the 202 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 2: offseason for the first time in a very long time 203 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 2: feeling comfortable about who they have on the offensive line 204 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 2: and feeling like that group has a pretty high ceiling. 205 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 2: Now that's one of the storylines, right Can the Bengals 206 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 2: go from having an offensive line that by the end 207 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 2: of the season was playing better to one that next 208 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 2: year is actually among the better units in the league. 209 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 2: That's not off the table. Good for the Bengals for 210 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 2: making a layup sixteen minutes after five o'clock. Five point three, 211 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 2: seven four nine fifteen thirty is our number eight six 212 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,559 Speaker 2: six seven oh two three seven seven six at Moeger 213 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 2: on Twitter. Thanks to Delta Dental. Delta Dental is building healthy, smart, 214 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 2: vibrant communities for all. Good to Delta Dental. Oh dot com. 215 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 2: Uh Miami won a game on Friday that you could 216 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 2: argue they shouldn't have. If you're going to finish the 217 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 2: season undefeated, that sort of thing is going to happen. 218 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 2: By the way, Reese Hines has just homered his first 219 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 2: to the Cactus League, sixteen to six good guys in 220 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 2: Furnt of Chicago in a game that means nothing. But 221 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 2: don't tell me that Reesehign's hitting a home run isn't cool, 222 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 2: because it is. 223 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 1: Anyway. 224 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 2: Miami wins and then got talked about over the weekend. 225 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:14,959 Speaker 2: Bruce Pearl talked about him and it made people man. 226 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 2: We will discuss. We'll play the audio next on ESPN fifteen. 227 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 5: Thirty Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty. 228 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:24,719 Speaker 1: Traffic from the. 229 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 4: UC Health Traffic Center at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute. 230 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 4: The Multiple Sclerosis Experts deliver personalized treatments, groundbreaking research, and 231 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 4: integrated support services. Learn more at UCHealth dot com. Only 232 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 4: one accident out there right now. It's on Isabella Avenue 233 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 4: at Cadillac Avenue. Possible entrapment reported with this crash. There's 234 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 4: some slow traffic on eastbound two seventy five between Lobanon 235 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 4: and Lovelin Madeira Road. I'm at Ezelic with traffic. 236 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 2: This report hey free after four o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen. 237 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 2: Reds don't have a game tomorrow. No, so we're not 238 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 2: worrying about them not scoring any runs tomorrow because they 239 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 2: scored too many runs today. Because there's no there's got 240 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 2: to be like a game on the backfields or something 241 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 2: involving guys who are probably not going to be on 242 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 2: the club. 243 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 1: We'll see. 244 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 2: The college basketball from over the weekend. Miami won a 245 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 2: game that I think you could argue they maybe shouldn't have. 246 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 2: And if you're going to finish the season undefeated, I 247 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 2: have focused a lot on their record against the spread 248 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 2: as something reflective of their relative dominance, and they have 249 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 2: been awesome this year against the spread coming into this weekend, 250 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 2: the best in the country. They obviously did not cover 251 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 2: against Western Michigan needed the Trey Perry shot to beat 252 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: the Broncos in Kalamazoo, avoiding what would have been a 253 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 2: Q four loss. Had they lost that game, then this 254 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: entire conversation becomes about them winning the MAC Tournament. 255 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: But they did win the game. 256 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 2: And if you're going to finish the season undefeated, they've 257 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 2: had some close ones right both Buffalo games, the Ken 258 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 2: State game, another one on Friday against Western Michigan. You're 259 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 2: gonna have to win games like that. This kind of 260 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 2: went viral on Saturday, TNT college basketball analyst and former Auburn, 261 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: Tennessee and Milwaukee head coach Bruce Pearl talking about the 262 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 2: Miami RedHawks NCAA Tournament resume as an at large team. 263 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 6: Miami, Howe, here's the deal. Are we gonna select the 264 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 6: sixty eight most deserving teams or are we gonna sixty 265 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 6: select the sixty eight best teams. If we're selecting the 266 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 6: sixty eight best teams, then Minabo Howe's gonna have to 267 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 6: win their tournament to qualify as a champion, because as 268 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 6: in at large, they are not one of the best 269 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 6: teams in the country, and that's going to be a 270 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 6: difficult choice for the committee to make. 271 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 2: Bruce Pearl, Now, it's been my perspective, my position for 272 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 2: what it's worth. If if Miami wins the next two, 273 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 2: they have Toledo at home tomorrow, then they go to 274 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 2: oe you on Friday. If they win those two games, 275 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 2: I think then it may depend on if they lose 276 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 2: in the MAC Tournament, which who says they will. But 277 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 2: if they do, when do they lose who do they 278 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 2: lose against? Do they lose to Acron in the final? 279 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 2: Do they lose earlier in the MAC Tournament to a 280 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 2: team that they're quote supposed to beat. I could be 281 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 2: dead wrong about this. I've been wrong about millions of 282 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 2: things in my life. This will not be the last 283 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 2: if I improven wrong. But if they finish the season undefeated, 284 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: I have a hard time believing that the committee is 285 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 2: going to leave them on the outside looking in. 286 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: Again. 287 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 2: Could be dead wrong about that, but you may feel 288 00:15:54,080 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 2: that way. That doesn't make what Bruce Pearl said incorrect. 289 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 2: Like metrics are telling us exactly that. And I'm not 290 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 2: doing this to pick on Miami. Trust me, man, it'd 291 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 2: be awesome as hell if they finished the season undefeated. 292 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 2: We've talked about them. We've talked about Miami basketball in 293 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 2: this show this year more than we have at any 294 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 2: point since I've been doing it. The Travis Steel redemption 295 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 2: story is cool. The way they're doing it with a 296 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 2: throwback kind of roster is awesome. The resurgence of that 297 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 2: program and the surge of interest has been terrific. Man, 298 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 2: Like I, if they're undefeated and losing the MAC Tournament, 299 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 2: and don't make it in. That would stink, It would 300 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 2: invalidate an entire season to a degree, and it would 301 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 2: be a shame for Travis, would be a shame for 302 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 2: those players. It would be really really hard to say, 303 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: you won all your games, you took care of the 304 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 2: things that you can control as a team, and we're 305 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 2: not putting you in the big dance. Hope that doesn't happen, 306 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 2: and I don't think it will. And again, they're going 307 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 2: to be pretty substantial favorites against Taledah. My guess is 308 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 2: they're going to be at least slight favorites on the 309 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 2: road against Ou, a team that they have already beaten once. 310 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 2: But what you heard Bruce Pearl say is not necessarily incorrect. 311 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 2: Right now in Ken Palm, the RedHawks are ranked eighty 312 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 2: seventh right now on bart Torvik, which is these are 313 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 2: metrics that the committee is told to use. They're ranked 314 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 2: seventy eighth. Like metrics, math data, which factors in the schedule, 315 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 2: is telling you that Miami is not one of the 316 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 2: best sixty eight. Now, Bruce Pearl may be coming at 317 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 2: it from a less objective perspective than these metrics based websites, 318 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 2: because he was the coach at Auburn. He quit the 319 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 2: day before practice started. Now his son's at Auburn, so 320 00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 2: he is possibly coming at this from biased perspective. I 321 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 2: don't know that he is. I don't know that he 322 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: is or isn't, but it's fair to wonder is he 323 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 2: giving a completely objective take. Is his analysis of Miami 324 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 2: completely independent of any bias? Maybe the answer is yes. 325 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 2: But when you just got done coaching Auburn and your 326 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 2: son is coaching Auburn, and Auburn is looked at as 327 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 2: a bubble team, there's gonna be very legitimate questions about 328 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,959 Speaker 2: whether or not your analysis is skewed because of your 329 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 2: rooting interest in your former program and your son. But 330 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 2: if you look at what is objective and metrics, the 331 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 2: beauty of analytics and the beauty of stats is they're objective, 332 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 2: they have no rooting interest. They're telling you Miami is 333 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 2: not one of the best sixty eight teams. They're telling 334 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 2: you Miami is likely not one of the best thirty 335 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,880 Speaker 2: seven at large teams. And again, all of this is mood. 336 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 2: If they just win the mac Tournament, which they have 337 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 2: a very good chance to, why would we discount that 338 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 2: when they've won every game so far. All of that said, 339 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 2: though we are not talking about a three loss team, 340 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 2: we're not talking about a four loss team. We're discussing 341 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 2: the resume of a zero loss team, and that and 342 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 2: this is my guess, but this is also what should happen. 343 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 2: That should trump what the data says. It should trump 344 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 2: what the schedule says. Zero losses in the regular season. 345 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 2: It's been my opinion for years that we don't put 346 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 2: as much weight into the regular season as we should 347 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 2: because it's it's hard, man, It's winning a regular season 348 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 2: conference title in college basketball, regardless of what league you're in, 349 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 2: is difficult to go through the entire schedule, to play 350 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 2: true road games, to survive the dog days, to take 351 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 2: another team's best shot on a consistent basis on their floor. 352 00:19:58,200 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: Like that's not easy to do. 353 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 2: It doesn't get as much, it doesn't get celebrated as 354 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 2: much as it should in this sport. You get through 355 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 2: the four month gauntlet. Say what you want about the 356 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 2: word gauntlet being used there. You get through the entire 357 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 2: four months late, and you don't lose a game like that, 358 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 2: that should trump. If I'm sitting on the committee, that 359 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 2: trump's whatever, whatever, I don't know, whatever criticism of the 360 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,439 Speaker 2: schedule or factoring of of the schedule that one may 361 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 2: want to do by though the schedule is not being agnoryed. 362 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:33,919 Speaker 2: The schedule is why we're having this conversation to begin with. Like, 363 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 2: nobody is ignoring the schedule, but we're not talking about 364 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 2: a one lost team or and again we're doing imaginary scenarios. 365 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 2: We're doing hypotheticals. What if they win the next two 366 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 2: and then lose in Cleveland. But the Bruce Pearl thing, 367 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 2: as much as you may not want to hear it, 368 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 2: as much as you know you may question whether he's 369 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 2: being completely unbiased, he's not wrong, and that's okay to 370 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 2: admit that multiple things can be true. Right, The metrics 371 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,400 Speaker 2: are telling you they're not one of the best sixty eight, 372 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 2: But all right, the card that the RedHawks may be 373 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 2: able to play is yeah, but zero losses, say which 374 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 2: one about our schedule? Zero losses? Twenty nine away from 375 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 2: six o'clock. By the way, no Mark pub show tonight, 376 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 2: so you'll hear that on Wednesday. Sports headlines are next 377 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 2: on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station. 378 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 5: Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty traffic. 379 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 4: From the UC Health Traffic Center at the UC Gardner 380 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 4: Neuroscience Institute. The Multiple Sclerosis Experts deliver personalized treatments, groundbreaking research, 381 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 4: and integrated support services. Learn more at UCHealth dot com. 382 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,479 Speaker 4: On Reading Road, it's an exodent between Golson Avenue and 383 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 4: Fred Shuttlesworth Circle. Another crash eastbound State Route thirty two 384 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 4: between Owensville and Bauer Road. Northbound seventy one seventy five 385 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 4: five minutes of late from Buttermilk Pike to twelfth I'm 386 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,880 Speaker 4: at e zelic with traffic this report. 387 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 2: Kelsey Chevallet home of lifetime power train protection and guaranteed 388 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 2: credit approval from their family to yours for life kelseyshev 389 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 2: dot com. Bengals today assigned Dalton Reisner announced that they 390 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 2: have signed Dalton Reisner, who his wife is becoming quite 391 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 2: the social media star. One year deal four and a 392 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 2: half million dollars for Dalton, who started eleven games for 393 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 2: the Bengals last season and helped make up probably the 394 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: best offensive line that Joe Burrow has played behind since 395 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 2: entering the NFL. One other NFL note of significance, Mount 396 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 2: Healthy's David Montgomery has been traded by the Lions to 397 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,360 Speaker 2: the Houston Texans in Goodyear. Today, the Reds are piling 398 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 2: on the Chicago Cubs. Garrett Hampson the latest Cincinnati player 399 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 2: to go yard. That is his first home run of 400 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 2: the spring. It is seventeen to six in favor of 401 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 2: Cincinnati as the Cubs gets that to come to the 402 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 2: plate in the top of the eighth inning. 403 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: Noel Vee Marte is homer. Today. 404 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 2: Matt McClain has hit a couple of home runs. Sal 405 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 2: Stewart a home run his second of the spring, re 406 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 2: signs his first of the spring on the mound. Brady 407 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 2: Singer pitched. It didn't go well. Gave up four runs 408 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 2: in the first was charged with five overall. Cincinnati up 409 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 2: seventeen to six over the Cubs. Chicago batting top of 410 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 2: the eighth inning. 411 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 1: In good Year. 412 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 2: College basketball, Miami is up to nineteenth latest AP Top 413 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 2: twenty five men's poll. RedHawks take on Toledo tomorrow, trying 414 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 2: to maintain an unbeaten record. Just on the outside looking 415 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 2: in Louisville twenty seventh, Kentucky twenty eighth, Ohio State, coming 416 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 2: off the home victory over Purdue yesterday. One vote. The 417 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 2: Richard Patino Radio show is tonight at seven o'clock on 418 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 2: fifty five KRC and Hockey Tonight, the Blue Jackets skate 419 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,199 Speaker 2: at Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Rangers. 420 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 2: Had a couple of other cup It's basketball items really 421 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 2: quick and one let me do this Reds item, I 422 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 2: am like going out of order. The Reds assigned a 423 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 2: minor league camp Connor Burns, Michael Chavis, Camp Collier, Carson Spires, 424 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 2: and Michael Tolia. Roster is now down to fifty one 425 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 2: NK used. Donovan O Day named to the All League 426 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 2: Second Team, Horizon League Postseason Awards Coming Out, Tay Doser 427 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: All Defensive Team Honors, u Sees Mustapha Chom for the 428 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 2: second time this season, was named to the Big Twelves 429 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 2: Starting five. 430 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 1: And I had one other thing. I totally lost it 431 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: second time today. That has happened. 432 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 2: Oh. Roddy Anderson of Xavier named to the Big East 433 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,360 Speaker 2: Honor Roll averaged twenty four and x used two games 434 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 2: last week. Musketeers play their final home game tomorrow against 435 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 2: Seaton Hall. 436 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: That I believe is everything. 437 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,160 Speaker 2: Three weeks ago, a little bit more than three weeks ago, 438 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 2: it felt like you see basketball had hit a rock 439 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:07,959 Speaker 2: bottom of sorts. Wes Miller's bearing his soul after a 440 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 2: game where they scored fifty four points, and it was 441 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:17,479 Speaker 2: reasonable at that point to wonder, in the short term, 442 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 2: how bad might this get? You know, the postgame press 443 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 2: conference for a few weeks had kind of become a 444 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:28,880 Speaker 2: bigger story than the actual games themselves. It was fair 445 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:34,360 Speaker 2: at that point to wonder how much worse may this get? Instead, 446 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 2: they've won five out of six. Now the Bearcats have 447 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 2: entered the conversation for the tournament. They're not likely to 448 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 2: make the tournament. But if you're going to do the 449 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 2: list of you know, bubble watch locks should be in 450 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 2: work to do long shot, the Bearcats are probably somewhere 451 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 2: between work to do. In law shot, you can't have 452 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 2: the conversation about like bubble teams without mentioning that Cincinnati 453 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 2: has played themselves, at least under the fringes of the conversation. 454 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 2: This means their chances are not likely. A. They've got 455 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:18,120 Speaker 2: to keep winning games. They already have thirteen losses. They 456 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 2: cannot afford to have fifteen on Selection Sunday. B. They 457 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,200 Speaker 2: need a lot of the teams between where they are 458 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 2: and where the end of the bracket is. They need 459 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 2: a lot of those teams to lose. They need they 460 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 2: need more losses for a lot of different teams, and 461 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 2: they need some of those losses to be bad losses. 462 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 2: And for the most part, in conference play, you're not 463 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 2: going to find a whole lot of like Q four losses. 464 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:47,479 Speaker 2: So you know, you could use more losses from Seaton Hall. 465 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 2: If you're a UC fan, you're a big Xavier fan tomorrow, 466 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 2: and you could use VCU and TCU and Indiana and 467 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 2: Auburn and cal and New Mexico and Ohio State. You 468 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 2: need a lot of teams to help out. But you 469 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 2: can have the conversation without mentioning that Cincinnati, if they're 470 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 2: team eighty, they're better than they were three weeks ago. 471 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 2: If they're team seventy six, they're better than they were 472 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 2: three weeks ago. And so a there's something admirable or 473 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,160 Speaker 2: something you have to give Wes Miller and his team 474 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 2: credit for the fact that they pulled themselves off the 475 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 2: heap and have at least played competitively enough. And that's 476 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 2: putting it gently to join the conversation that at no 477 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 2: point prior to the last week or so have they 478 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:40,439 Speaker 2: been a part of. It's also, and I put this 479 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,919 Speaker 2: on social media on Saturday, they're probably not going to 480 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 2: make the tournament now. Obviously as a fan, I want 481 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 2: to be wrong about that, but for them to make 482 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:53,400 Speaker 2: the tournament, they're going to have to defy the odds. 483 00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 2: But they're playing like a tournament team right now. Offensively, 484 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 2: they have spent most of the last three weeks playing really, 485 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 2: really well, running the offense through the bigs, getting a 486 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,680 Speaker 2: front a great front court combination with the play they've 487 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 2: been getting from Mustapha Cham and Boba Miller. They've made 488 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 2: outside shots, and they've made some outside shots that you 489 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 2: might ordinarily not want guys to take, and teams just 490 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 2: naturally look better when the ball is going through the hoop. 491 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 2: But still, they're playing like a tournament team right now, 492 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 2: and the shame of it is there's a very good 493 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:36,440 Speaker 2: chance they're not one. So but look at the very 494 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 2: least three weeks ago, if I'd have said after they 495 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 2: scored fifty four against West Virginia that UC fans would 496 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 2: be checking out bubble Watch and bracketology, you would have 497 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 2: said there's no way. 498 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: And yet here they are. 499 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 2: And that's a credit to how they have come together 500 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 2: over the last few weeks. It is sixteen away from 501 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 2: six o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. 502 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 5: Cincinnati's esp PM fifteen thirty. 503 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: Traffic from the UC. 504 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 4: Health Traffic Center at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute. The 505 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 4: Multiple Sclerosis Experts deliver personalized treatments, groundbreaking research, and integrated 506 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 4: support services. Learn more at UCHealth dot com. In Ohio, 507 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 4: on eastbound two seventy five, there's a disabled vehicle on 508 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 4: the off ramp to northbound seventy five State Route thirty 509 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,719 Speaker 4: two heading eastbound. Also an accident that between Owensville and 510 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 4: Bauer Road. I'm at ezelic with traffic this report. 511 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 1: He is sponsored by. 512 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 2: Just Kjantone pitched and pitched well today an inning of hitless, 513 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 2: scoreless work. Struck out a batter tj Antone having gone 514 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 2: through four Tommy John surgeries. Cubs have a plated three 515 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 2: in the ed. I'm charting this game and talking about 516 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:58,520 Speaker 2: this game like it actually matters. Chicago has scored three 517 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 2: runs in the top of the eighth inning against Junior Marte. 518 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:08,160 Speaker 2: It is a seventeen to nine in favor of Cincinnati. 519 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 2: Chicago continues to hit in the top of the eighth inning. 520 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 2: Reds have exploded offensively today. Matt mclan is homered, Sal 521 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 2: Stewart is homered, Matt McLean is homer twice. 522 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 1: Re Signs is homered where Signs is interesting. 523 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:32,200 Speaker 2: Garrett Hampson has homered today and a good offensive day. 524 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 2: Seventeen runs on fourteen hits, which was fun to talk 525 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 2: about in fun to watch. 526 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: There you Go, There you Go. 527 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 2: The Matt McClain thing man like Matt McClain last year 528 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:51,200 Speaker 2: was not just penciled in, was written in black magic 529 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 2: marker to be the two hole hitter and the starting 530 00:30:55,840 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 2: second basement on opening Day. And I know they had 531 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 2: a lot of things that they were hoping would go 532 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 2: really well last. 533 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: Year that did not. 534 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 2: Christian and Karnassi on strand, Ellie Dela Cruz having not 535 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 2: the top to bottomy had an awful season because there 536 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 2: was that stretch right before the All Star break where 537 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 2: he was really good. But the entire team was built 538 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 2: around Ellie Dela Cruz being a superstar. In last year 539 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 2: he did not have a superstar type season. But I 540 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 2: just I'm fascinated as to how this offense the high 541 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 2: end of this offense, if the dingers come, if there's 542 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 2: more guys getting on base with regularity, and if they 543 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 2: run a little bit more, which will happen if Ellie 544 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 2: de la Cruz is healthy and on base frequently, and 545 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:40,640 Speaker 2: by the way, getting rave reviews for his work in 546 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 2: shortstop too. Hopefully, Hopefully, this is the last year. This 547 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 2: has nothing to do with the offense. This is the 548 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:51,520 Speaker 2: last year where we stop where we debate where he 549 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 2: should be playing. Because you will still find people, and 550 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:57,440 Speaker 2: they may be right, who believe that Ellie is best 551 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 2: suited to play shortstop. There are people in the organization 552 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 2: who will tell you that they believe that Ellie is 553 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 2: is best suited to play center field. Hopefully he is 554 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:11,520 Speaker 2: so good at shortstop, and that's going to start by 555 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 2: him consistently making the routine play that we're not talking 556 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 2: any more about where else he could play, or him 557 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 2: playing center field, or wondering what that would look like like. 558 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:23,840 Speaker 2: That's ideally this year, this is a season where when 559 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 2: the ball is hit the shortstop, none of us hold 560 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:29,280 Speaker 2: our breath anymore. That was not the case last year. 561 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 2: So there's a lot of things that have to happen. 562 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 2: But again, the Matt McClain thing. If the Dingers come 563 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 2: and the two hole production is there and they run more, 564 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 2: then it is fun to think about what the high 565 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 2: end for this offense could look like. 566 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:43,719 Speaker 1: And it's worth repeating. 567 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 2: We talk so much about their offensive issues and the 568 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 2: need for a bad and all the things they didn't 569 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 2: do nearly as well last year. We are not talking 570 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 2: about a league worst offense from twenty twenty five. For 571 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 2: all of their issues, and they had a bunch of them, 572 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 2: and they were wildly inconsistent. It's not like they were 573 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 2: dead last in run scored per game. It's not like 574 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 2: they were dead last in home runs per game. They're 575 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 2: starting from somewhere in the middle. 576 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:08,680 Speaker 1: Of the pack. 577 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 2: That's not a terrible place to start. But the Mat 578 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 2: McClain spring so far, and we're still more than three 579 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 2: weeks away from opening day, so things can change. But 580 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 2: the Mat McClain spring so far has been encouraging, even 581 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:28,000 Speaker 2: if his production so far doesn't guarantee anything. One thing 582 00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 2: I will guarantee you, though, is Bengals are going to 583 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:32,480 Speaker 2: get a lot of credit for doing the obvious. And 584 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:36,040 Speaker 2: that's fine, man, because sometimes they don't The off season 585 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 2: begins in earnest, really next week. But they have a 586 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 2: long to do list, man, and they have a lot 587 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 2: of things they need to address in free agency. This 588 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 2: is a vital draft for this franchise. It's a vital 589 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 2: off season for this franchise. Many of us did wonder 590 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 2: when Dalton Reisner made it known toward the end of 591 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:58,200 Speaker 2: the season that he wanted to stay here. How many 592 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:01,080 Speaker 2: of us wondered, how are they gonna screw this up? 593 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 2: Will they miss a layup? Will they overly complicate things? 594 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:09,080 Speaker 2: Will they they have another idea for who's gonna play 595 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:12,720 Speaker 2: Dalton Reisner's position when you have a guy who played 596 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 2: the position at a pretty good level last year, and 597 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 2: instead they did the easy, they did the obvious. And 598 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,239 Speaker 2: if you think about how we've talked about this team 599 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:25,359 Speaker 2: for such a long time now, it has been impossible 600 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,840 Speaker 2: to spend much time in the offseason without spending time 601 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:32,320 Speaker 2: on the offensive line, focusing on it in the draft, 602 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 2: focusing on it in free agency, wondering if. 603 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:37,880 Speaker 1: It was going to be even league average. 604 00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 2: Who knows how good this group is gonna be, But 605 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 2: the way they performed at the end of the season 606 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 2: would suggest that with more seasoning for guys like Fairchild 607 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:50,480 Speaker 2: and Mems with more continuity, bringing back Dalton Reisner that 608 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 2: it has a chance to be and we have wondered 609 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 2: about this being the case for a while. This unit 610 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:58,719 Speaker 2: this year has a chance to be the best offensive 611 00:34:58,719 --> 00:35:04,000 Speaker 2: line that Joe Burrow has ever had block for him. 612 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:05,799 Speaker 1: Music means the show's over. 613 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:07,799 Speaker 2: Got to go tomorrow in the show Paul Danner Junior 614 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:09,719 Speaker 2: at three o'clock hour, we are looking forward to. 615 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: That an ink. Why bracket guy? 616 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 2: When is the Nky bracket Guy joining us five o 617 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 2: five with our guys, Superstar Hunter Sansum on the RedHawks, 618 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:25,440 Speaker 2: the Bearcats, the Wildcats, the buck Eyes, the Hoosiers. 619 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: I don't don't get mad at me. 620 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:31,560 Speaker 2: I don't know that we have to bring up the Musketeers, 621 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 2: not that I wouldn't be happy to, but they're they're 622 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:37,799 Speaker 2: not a tournament team, and maybe the Bearcats aren't either, 623 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 2: but they're on the bubble. I don't know Hunter's going 624 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:44,040 Speaker 2: to join us at five oh five. Stoke for that, 625 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:45,960 Speaker 2: have a great night, Thank you for listening. Thanks to 626 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 2: Taran for producing. We'll talk to you tomorrow. This is 627 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:51,799 Speaker 2: ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports station 628 00:36:00,239 --> 00:36:01,600 Speaker 1: Running for office means having some