1.20: Cards & TikTok are Back - Hour 3

it a few times. I keep having to remind myself that this game is happening, And a big factor is because I really don't care. There's not a whole lot that I like, Ohio State will probably win and that won't. That's not going to be something that really bothers me. But it's also not going to be something that I'm happy about. So I don't even have like a villain here right Like I'm gonna pull for a Notre Dame, which kind of feels weird. So I'm sure that's a

factor too. But I also think because typically by now when you get this far into the NFL playoffs, college football's come and gone like the season's been over for really at times, you know, roughly three weeks. But now it's not because again they expanded the playoff, which I'm all in on and I think it's great and it's

been great. I just you know, it's new to us, so we haven't really talked a whole lot about that tonight, but you know, I've said it since they've been on this run in the playoffs, Marcus Freeman has made Notre Dame likable and just the way things have played out for Notre Dame in the last I don't know how ever many years. I mean, it kind of feels like they can justifiably claim they are kind of like Rudy. They're kind of the underdog, which is weird because you know,

they're filthy rich by themselves. They don't need all the money that every school relies on from their conference revenue share. They can do everything independently and still be one of the biggest brands in all of sports. And usually if you're somebody that's that privileged and you know, that successful, that elite, and you're arrogant about it, at least your fans have been for the most for the majority of

my life, Like, you're pretty easy to dislike. But again, they've been doubted for a long time now because when they have been in previous situations with successful seasons that give them opportunities in the four team playoff or in the BCS ere they played for national championships, and when they would lose, people would claim that they didn't belong and that they you know, their loss was that was proof that they were overrated, and really that was never

the case. Like, I don't think Notre Dame's ever been given a spot in any thing by a committee, rather it be you know, or I guess the formula with BCS or with the four team playoff, Like just because they got in and got killed, that mean they weren't

good enough to be there. The team that probably just missed it would have probably gotten blown out too, So, you know, I think Notre Dame has always been a team that it just seems like more often than not, if you don't have any feel for them as far as positivity, you're going to find them pretty easy to not like. But this group just because you know, I mean, they're talent, but like I do believe that Marcus Freeman,

he's he's done such a good job. And again it's here, here's where it sounds disingenuous, like Marcus Freeman's working with some of you know, the best talent that you'll get, because Notre Dame gets a lot of talent, but maybe not to the level of you know, in Ohio State. So they're they're understandably the underdog tonight, and I do kind of feel like if they won, it would be one of those natural moments that you have in sports

where people find themselves kind of happy the underdog. Right, David got Goliath, and you know that's just normal, that's natural. But usually it's not programs like Notre Dame that are in this spot. But the Ohio State stories kind of good too.

like that. So but hey, all it takes is one win, and then I'm like, you know what, Like maybe I don't need a full time shop, Like maybe I don't need, you know, to do anything other than just steal money from these books because I'm smart and they're not. Like it's a wild ride you go through as a gambler, but you know, I wouldn't have it any other way. I know you're with me, Austin. It's what we sign up for, right, this is what we do. Degenerate gamblers.

But why don't the networks? Is there something against like them just kind of being all out with the with the gambling because you still always hear though, oh well that that play is really gonna see some people. That's why don't they have like the ticker that says the over is in the threat or at the very end under Kansas City covered. I mean Draft Kings and Fandel are all over the GD place anyways.

it's just not what they do. Like, is it annoying to you because it's it's a big I don't want to act like it's like it's my life, but I spend a lot of time, like if I'm on my phone, I'm looking at what's that, what's not, what's available to

bet on every single second. But like for tonight, like this is a little different because it's national championship game, but if this was like a normal college basketball night, like I will probably have been on the app throughout the day here and there, not betting every five seconds, but just looking to see changes because I know I'm gonna get involved later that night. So to me, it's I don't even really notice quite how much it is

in my face. But if you're somebody that maybe is an anti gambling, you just aren't interested in it, Like you're probably annoyed at this point because it's you know, it's it's so embedded in how you experience sports. And again I'm fine with it, but you know, I don't know, maybe maybe others aren't.

But Jeff Wall said something that I hadn't thought about, and it's true and I'm not sure if they've seen the results from this yet or the benefit, but he mentioned that that's just another way to where women's college basketball could potentially bring in more viewers. If people want something to bet on, they like betting on basketball. Maybe they don't even like, maybe they won't claim that they

enjoy the product. But if it gives them something to get some action on and it brings them to watch, then that's good for everybody involved.

with that than other sports. So you know, I don't bet on women's college basketball. I'd be a liar if I said that I did, But I had before, and you know, it's usually because there's a big game that I want to watch right, like women's college basketball this year.

I mean, it's clearly like I don't know if many people have noticed it, because you know, I get it if you haven't, and I'm not like taking a dig at it, but you really just kind of stop and think the attention women's college basketball is getting currently in this current season is a billion times less than what it was the last few years.

maintaining that is, that's that's unrealistic, you know. But and again, if I had to bet on women's college basketball, I shouldn't say if I had to, but like I wouldn't you know, maybe if I keep losing and all the other things I bet on, maybe I'll just go there and see if I can find success, because clearly it's not been great for me as of late.

it's just different. I mean, I think we all know that, Like USC women's basketball is not even in the top fifteen as far as draws in sports in that market.

now you can make a lot more money. In fact, sure you know that that that's that's really what you strive to do, is I mean weird.

soon as she got there playing for Geno. She was kind of bringing Yukon back to that insanely dominant era. And then she gets hurt and you know she was clearly, she's still clearly a star. She's she's elite, But like I bet a lot of people don't even realize she's still playing college basketball because there's just no attention on the on the on the women's side right now compared

to what it was last year. Again, I know it sounds like I'm I'm I'm dissing them, but more than anything, it just speaks to how crazy it was that it was such a talking point. Like I remember, it's just a rare thing. With Louisville and Kentucky. It's different because obviously, you know, those are your teams, Like you're gonna notice if they're having a good season. You're gonna notice when

they're playing in the and Sibelly Tournament. But like team games that didn't involve the local teams that I would care about, Like I would make it a point, Hey, I want to watch this tonight because the product's good

and you know, storylines were good. I mean it was, it was fun, and I'm sure I could enjoy watching women's college basketball now if I you know, if I went looking for it because I love basketball, but they the storylines and you know, the star fame that you had with that era, that two three year window, whatever it was like that that actually brought me in to watch it more so than I probably ever will. So

I mentioned how bad I am at gambling. Usually I use gambling to try to find joy because my team has sucked in recent years. Well now I'm not as bothered by the loss as because Louisville they're winning, and that spill on the void and we'll talk more about that. On the other side. This team's got a good test tomorrow against a good SMU team at least, you know, one of the better teams in your league. Probably says more about your league. But we'll get to that and

a lot more as we roll along. Here. It's coffee and Company fuelbou Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety.

why are you doing this now? Like when you would expect there to be a big update, because you know, a bunch of games just happen over the weekend, you have a little downtime. I feel like that's when you would crank out an update, But he typically seems to be really random about when he updates his But Leonardi, I'm sure he'll crank went out here soon. But we've got just within the last few hours. Jerry Palm at CBS.

You know, maybe he's I don't know, maybe he's uh, maybe he's correct in this, but only Tom will tell. But I feel like he's higher on the acc than I would have expected, and certainly higher than Leonardi and the other bracketologists that that you see out there, because he has and maybe this is maybe.

to h to Jerry Palm. And then you've got three bubble teams in the ACC, meaning three teams that really it's a it's a it's well, I guess you got four. It's really a coin flip if they get in right now.

I mean, Pittsburgh has kind of played themselves in a position where if they don't make the tournament, I can't say that I'm going to be stunned, because you know, they started off pretty solid, did pretty well in the non conference, got off to a good start in conference play, and then uh Duke got him, and then Louisville got him, and then I don't think they've won a game since. I mean, yeah, they're on a four game losing streak with a home loss to to Clemson on Saturday and overtime.

the head to head win over them. But I know it's hard to imagine they're only being three teams from the ACC that get in, but I do think it's a real possibility because when I see where he has the other teams, like, I can't say that it's that it's surprising. You've got Carolina and Pittsburgh both as ten seeds. They're they're not in the last four in, but they're

close to it. And then in the last four in is wake Forest, who's currently in is one of the playing teams, and SMU is in the first four out. Indiana currently is the first team to not make it in, meaning they're they're they're number one in the first four outs.

So again it's just a reference point. But you know, if you think about it, when it comes to what value you really have in bracketology updates throughout the season, it's kind of just to check in and and more often than not, I don't want to say, like again, for what I look at and what I reference it for, I think it's it's it's certainly worth keeping up with because it's kind of easy to do. I'm not going to say that I would be as good as others, but like, I don't even look at who they have

Louisville playing because I know that's just true. That's just purely a guess, right, I mean, if you look at it for what it is, knowing that, look, there's a lot of basketball to he played, things are gonna change. But you see, you know, as of now, Louisville's looking like a six seed, so you know what they'd play an eleven seed. The teams that are in that eleven

seed range. You got UC Irvine, You've got you know, New Mexico, which I could totally see that New Mexico and Pat Kelcey, the Patino connection.

been smart to do so. Most people wouldn't turn it down, but I could, you know, And look, he's the guy who Louisville lost to in the last tournament game when

he was at Minnesota. So anyways, the team teams like Nebrasca, San Diego State, Iowa, like that's the caliber team you'll be facing in the first game, because again, like it's pretty you know, again, you never know, like maybe there's a team that's an eleven seed that the committee would actually give a nine seed, or maybe there's a team that's a that's a force or a six seed like Louisville here and maybe the committee would say, no, the AC seed is not good.

easy to determine. I guess where you really get into nerding out on bracketology as far as who's great at it, I guess it's also those predicting you know, like seeds thirteen through sixteen, which I can't tell you that I've ever even paid attention to those those seeds because it's usually, you know, the lower level conferences. And if you're Kentucky fan, you probably were starting to pay more attention to them

with Oakland and with Saint Pete. But I imagine now you're probably not worried about that because you know you

got Mark Pope and he's clearly a better coach. Which I want to get to the Kentucky side of things coming up here in a moment, because they'll probably bounce back, and I would imagine Kentucky's currently on a stretch of I think they're gonna have some real consistency here where they're gonna end up losing games along the way to good teams in the league play like they did on Saturday against Alabama, but then they'll also go win a game that you know against a team that you know

is capable of beating Kentucky, but hey, they bounced back, Like I think they're gonna end up getting some losses along the way because how good their league is, but they've also shown that despite losses, they usually are able to bounce back and then go show that, hey, yeah we can slip up and lose to other really good teams, but we're a really good team as well, And they've

really done that all year. But that Arkansas game, Arkansas is so bad right now, and Kentucky clearly has proven at this point they they should win that game and it shouldn't be close.

You're scared because like, big bad Cal may come in here and be big bad daddy to you. Like, I think you guys are kind of still in fear of a guy that you're happy is gone. You enjoyed some good times. And look, I'm sure it won't take long for Kentucky fans to start texting in or calling in saying, we ain't scared, bring him in, We're gonna beat him down. And I'm with you. You should have that mindset, but

there's some that don't. And like, I think you know, you just know Cal wants to beat you so bad. And what's wild to say is that he could not make the tournament. He could be a complete failure when it comes to the record at the end of the season. But if he has that winn against Kentucky. Against Kentucky, I kind of feel like he won't care. I mean, surely he wants to win. It's not good for him

when they lose. But like, if you really think about it in the way it's playing out right now, I think cal just went to Arkansas as a lifeline and you know, a school that was also willing to pay him way too much money, and he wanted to kind of go win and put it in your face. And clearly he's not doing that right now. But like, if he's able to come into Rup Arena on February first and beat you guys, it won't really mean anything because you know you're still gonna be safely in the tournament.

That will be maybe be an opportunity them to maybe, like you know, go on a run. Like it won't really matter when it comes to like your resume and how you're viewed as a team this season. It'll be looked at as a fluky upset. But there's clearly a personal element here that, like, you know, you don't want to lose to anybody the rest of the season, obviously, but if there's one team you don't want to lose to it's got to be Arkansas, and I get it, like I would be, I'd be in the same position.

But all right, so Louisville in SMU tomorrow. I mean, maybe SMU is better than I'm than I'm you know, And I'm not like not giving him credit. I just to me, they're the kind of team that they're new, right, They're new in the ACC. They're they're currently in the first season of a new era. Andy Enfield from USC of course, Florida Gulf Coast is where he made a name for himself Dunk City, and he did well at USC for the most part, didn't really ever max out,

but he was fine there. And now he's at SMU and they're off to a pretty good start. It's like I just can't tell, Like I don't know if I think that they're you know, more so like are they truly a top thirty five caliber team like the net says, or are they one of these teams that's just been able to, you know, beat the teams they're supposed to beat and you know, lose to only good teams. I mean, and maybe some people are still saying that about Louill

because Louisville's best win. I mean, right now, it's West Virginia, and West Virginia is kind of tricky because they're currently right next to Louisville and just about every metric including the A people. But they also have like some real big wins, meaning West Virginia does like wins that louisll doesn't have.

in the last few weeks. And again maybe when I say that, there are some people triggered, because I know there's some people because some of you text in quit saying Louisville is so good they play in the lousy acc well, like that's the fact that you feel the need to say that probably mean you're in a little bit of denial that you might actually deep down think they're good too and you don't like it, which I don't even I'm not going to get int the weeds

on that because there's nothing you can do about it. And I happen to think and maybe this is just wishful thinking on my end, I don't really care louis was playing right now, like they're not playing you know, Bellerman's, they're playing teams that you know, like, for example, they beat West Virginia. That's a good win. West Virginia has gone out and beating some of the best teams in the country. They beat Clemson. I don't think Clemson's great,

but Clemson was good enough to beat Kentucky. So again, I don't I'm not going to use that in like hold it up, hold a sign up saying hey, you're all wrong about Louisville, look at this stab. But like, I feel good enough about how they're playing, and they've played a really, really tough schedule and that matters. So here's where these two teams kind of stack up. When

it comes to like resume and number. Louisvell's twenty nine in the net SMU is thirty fifth, currently Louisville ranked twenty fifth, they're not ranked SMU is not and then the Ken Palm Louisvill's twenty ninth kN palm SMU is fortieth. And then if you look at strength of schedule. You know, Louisville has played the fifth teenth toughest schedule in college basketball currently and that's you know, that's not even you know, that's not even. That's the whole schedule out of conference

strength of schedule. That used to be a stat that I really like valued. But the number, the raw number that you get from these formulas is so misleading because Louisville strength of schedule in the non conference is number twenty four. But like it's because for every team they played in the non conference that's you know, really really good and highly ranked. They also played teams that are in the two hundreds and Bellerman's in the three hundreds,

so that's going to weigh it down. So like you really do more of an eye test, right, like you go look at who they play, and you know who's.

are fifteen than one, they probably wouldn't be ranked. And also, you know, I would be more so I would still enjoy it and I'd be embracing this team, because man, it's been one hell of a ride, but I probably would have a little bit more of a doubt as to, like, you know, how much we can really take from from their wins. I mean again, they've they've been battle tested. Fourteen and five overall, they now have three quad one wins. All five of their losses are in the quad one range.

So you know, it's not to say they've got a perfect resume. But when I say, I'm not really in the I don't know exactly what's gonna happen.

is when it starts again. But I don't really look at this as a a r You've got really a little bit to gain and a lot to lose, because that's that's oftentimes what happens when you're when you're at the top, right like for Kentucky it's not there this year because the SEC is so loaded. But you oftentimes, like when you're supposed to win because you're really good.

You can even be playing other teams that you know are supposed to go to the tournament, but like, you have not a whole lot to gain, but more to lose, because you know if you slip up to a team, it's not the end of the world, but you know it's going to damage your resume. A laws aid SMU, I don't really know what it would do to Louis's resume, but I don't care because if they slip up and lose, I'm sure others won't react and feel.

from top to bottom. Yeah, we've talked a lot about bracketology today in the tournament, so it's clearly on my mind because that's just kind of what you do during the college basketball season when you've got a team that's having some success. But I mean, I'm just this it's kind of like I'm just you know, enjoying the ride more than feeling like, hey man, I hope we hope we don't. Like, I'm sure there's some bands, and it's

all about how you're wired. Everybody's different as human beings, Like I'm sure there's some that anytime Louisville continues to improve their situation. Maybe you start to think about, who knows, maybe they could get up to like a five seed. Like I'm sure there's some people that when they get there, their mind goes to, well, hope they don't do that and then blow it and lose to a twelve seed.

And you know, I'm kind of like that in you know, in a previous life, because I guess I was just a spoiled fan that like felt like I felt an entitlements as a fan, like my team, you know better, you better make at least the Sweet sixteen, because you know we're Louisville. Well, obviously been a long time. In fact, this season makes it a decade. It has been ten years this year since Louisville made it out of the

first week into the INSTABA Tournament. Think about that. Ten years ago they went to the Elite eight, lost to Michigan State. We actually talked about that last week. That's ten years ago, which one that's crazy to think about that it's been that long. But since then, Louisville's only been in the tournament a couple of times and they

lost in the first appearance. In their last appearance, which was Max's first year, and they didn't go back, of course, and then they lost in the second round in twenty seventeen when they were a two seed that was Donovan and Dgadel and those guys.

Maybe that's a stretch, but like even Dinny had years where you kind of knew we aren't terrible, we're not going to the tournament, but you also knew the next

year he probably mess around go to sweet sixteen. Like you know, even you know the type of run we've had here including you know, not just not just the draft of success, but like all the drama, all the off the court stuff, like it's been a circus, Like louisvill basketball for ten years, I've been able to still find some joy within there because you know, you had some good players and there were some good moments and some good teams, but more often than not, it's been,

you know, not fun stuff. So I'm just worried people maybe like maybe people may think, like, all right, come on, Nick, like it's just the tournament.

I mean, this team is loaded to where he doesn't have to do a whole lot, right. You know, not to say coaching isn't valuable, but you know, this team is so stacked that they're playing to their potential and it's you know, it's impressive, but really not that surprising. There's some that said just when it comes to the over depth they have, meaning how good they are.

the way, even if it's the National Championship. I mean, this is going to sound dramatic, but like them losing to Michigan in that circumstance, the way Michigan had a really down year in Ohio State was loaded and that's like the one thing you couldn't do was lose that game,

and you did. I mean, the fan base was so low on Ohio State that like, no, they didn't even that didn't even let them realize that they still actually had a chance to go win the whole thing, because they're that good, and you know, it's a twelve team playoff,

but here they are. I think getting that out of the way going through that, not to give you the cliche corny line about like you know, it only made them better, but it did kind of I think make them looser because they went through i mean some real toxicity within their fan base and their program top to bottom and kind of just you know, there's nothing that could happen the rest of the way that it's gonna

be worse than that. So I think it kind of loosening them up, and they're playing some really, really good football. But you know what, so is Notre Dame. So I'm hoping we get a competitive game, but I wouldn't be shocked if it's competitive for about sixty five percent of the way and then you see Ohio State pull away late, maybe win this thing by like I don't know, seventeen or something. I could see that happening. I kind of want to take Notre Dame plus eight and a half.

But that's me not using my brain. It's me just kind of wanting to wager on something that I hope will happen. You's falling into the sports books, hanyeah. But I also don't know that, like I truly trust Ohio I do. I trust Ohio State probably more than any team in the last few rounds of this tournament, because that's how good they've looked. So I don't know I'll end up doing something. Maybe I do the maybe I do the under forty five and a half seems kind of low.