It's time for coffee and Company. Fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety Holy crap, I don't know who the hell we think when we are get off our show. Idiots. The kids are crying and turning off. The countries are screwing it up. Gold Play Inner Murals, Brother, gold Play Inn Murals. They're supposed to be mature adults, but they're really not. Who's the kid here? Who's the kid here? Are you kidding me? Now? Here's nick coffee? All right? I'm here Today. It wasn't
an issue with the headphone. Sometimes that can be an issue where I realized, oh oh, it's three o'clock and my my earbuds are still in my backpack. That wasn't the issue today. The issue was, for some reason, the main microphone here that's in front of this giant board. We have let's see one. Two. We have five microphones in this studio looks like connect thank you do. So we've got a lot to choose from, and
they're all kind of set up the same other than this one. It's it's the one that like kind of hangs from above and it was completely on the other side, like I don't know what happened. I don't know how that happened, but I'm looking around. It's somebody remove the microphone and sure enough it's here. But it was just slid all the way to the other side. So apologies for the delay, but better late than never. We're here.
It's Coffee and Company fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven ninety. My name is Nick Coffee, the company man mister John Alden alongside today as we take you up until six o'clock. And I've got roughly four more shows counting today and then I'm out here for vacation. And I don't know what it is, but I've got the itch right. I've had a lot of time off this summer. I'm very fortunate to have tomm off. I hope that the TVT squad the vill keeps winning and I can enjoy watching them play whenever
I'm not. You know, I'm not here next week. It'll be a bummer I'll have I'll be missing it if they can keep it rolling. But man, I don't know. I saw Vinetti post something on Facebook today him and his wife on the beach, and you know, kind of made me sad because I realize how old Vinetti is. I mean he looks great, by the way. It's not a shot about his appearance. I mean he looks phenomenal. I mean he's Tony Vannetti. But you know he's his kids
are old now, right. He's got one kid that's probably going to be finishing college here soon, John who's you know, is killing it up at Purdue. And then his daughter, Maggie, she's now in college. Like so, Vvenette's getting older and he's talking about buying condos down in Florida and rinting him out as like a hustle, you know, and mentioning retirement soon. So that made me kind of sad, but I was also jealous because you know, I'll be on the beach next week and I'm looking forward to
that. There's something about when you get close to to, you know, a vacation. You know, obviously I'm gonna I'm gonna give it my all the rest of the week here, but it's almost like, you know, kind of care free. I don't know why that's the case, but you know, typically this time of the year, man, it's it's a it's a pain in the ass to try to, you know, find things that are worth talking about that are on the sports side of thing, the sports
side of the world. I mean, obviously, well we'll mix it up. We could do ten hours straight talking about nonsense. I don't know if that'd be good for anybody, or if anybody would want to listen to it. But when it comes to like, you know, finding things of interest as we get later into the summer, anxiously waiting for football to get here, you know, it's a little difficult. But hey, I'm care free today because we've got a lot of things to get to. We're gonna have
some fun, and I am looking forward to these next three hours. I am a little worried, though, I don't know. I assume this this issue with the media strike company. They clearly cast some issues with airlines. Have you seen John, like what's going on with Delta Airlines? No, So I think this is I think this is spot on. This would be getting way more coverage, slash attention. You know, if we didn't have some other major things going on in this country that are clearly dominating the headlines.
You know, that's our current president deciding, you know, months before the election, that he's not going to be actually running for reelection not that long ago, somebody tried to assassinate the former president who's now attending to become
the president again. So like that, that obviously is is is dominating the headlines, and you know, any any real big story is probably not going to get the same level of attention, and that it would had we not if we didn't have what was going on with the you know, the presidential
race and that kind of stuff. But and we're not flying Delta, but man, just some of the pictures I've seen from airports and just it's it's wild, you know that Apparently it's it's only getting worse, Like I don't know, it's I guess other airlines have been able to recover from whatever that technical outage last week? Did it was it was last week? Wasn't it? Yes, it's a glass Friday or something. But this is, this is nearly six thousand Delta flights have been have been canceled, and the costs
are at one hundred and sixty three million in climbing. Uh, there's rows and rows of luggage. Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport is an absolute mess. And that's what that's what I'm seeing as far as you know pictures and videos. I mean it looks like a warzone. I mean it's it's awful. In fact, it says mothers with small children on the floor in the terminal. The line for customer service is a half a mile long. There's no rental
cars, few hotel options. People have been stuck there for days. They did have to arrest someone at the airport who decided, you know, instead of getting naked like that one guy in Nashville a few years ago that we reference every now and then, this person just decided to take a dump in the airport like in like, which is just a vile, disgusting act. You throw that person in prison for life. Uh, you know, if
it's up to me. But yeah, just flying always makes it, you know, convenient because you get there quicker, and you know, I don't
like driving eight to ten hours anywhere. But again, you're it's really out of your control if you think about it, like, no matter what you do, as far as you know, if you've got insurance, if you've got a meaning like you know, if you're like a premium member with certain airlines to where they'll they'll they have an agreement I guess to I guess look out for you if something bad happens, more than just their average regular,
you know, poor customers. But at the end of the day, like you have no clue if you're actually gonna get where you need to go, and you have no you have no control over it. So that that that's given me a little bit of anxiety when it comes to this trip we're about to go on. But you know what, out of my control. We'll see what happens, all right, So let's talk about what happened last night. Another win for the Villa and the TBT. Another phenomenal atmosphere at Freedom
Hal. Clearly not as big of a crowd as what they had on Saturday, but it felt louder because the game was you know, it was a thrilling finish. It was you know, and and the fans. I mean, this is not an exaggeration. It may sound corny, but it's the truth. The players even said it after the fact, that's probably not a game they win if they were not playing in front of a Louisville Cardinal basketball fan base that is, you know, desperate for something to cheer about.
And obviously these guys have given us something with the tbt. I mean that was that was a game where I felt like it's gonna come to an end and it would have been a bummer. I mean it's not as if I was, you know, thinking about the long walk back to my car as I'm crying, but you know, it would have been a bummer. There's no way around it. And they they held they found a way to win, and I wasn't gonna say they clawed it out. They held on.
But like, I don't even think you can use those kind of words when you talk about a basketball game that doesn't end when the clock strike zero. The elam ending has made it to where you can't just hold on. You can't just you know, survive in advance. I mean, I guess you can advance, but with the elam ending, you gotta go win. You got to go make shots to win the game. You can't just you know, turtle up and know that the clock's on your side because you're melting at
the worst opportunity. But there's not enough time left, right, they don't have enough time to get back in it because they were down twelve with two minutes left. I mean, it is completely changed how you look at the end of a game, and you know, there are instances where if a team's got a twenty five point lead and they get to the four minute stoppage, I mean that. I mean, that's probably not going to be a very exciting finish. In fact, it'll probably be a pretty quick finish.
But last night, I mean, John, you were watching, it sort of looked like louis was gonna lose, didn't it. Yeah, it was crazy. I tuned in right as the elam ending was getting underway, and it was one of those things. I think you already kind of set it up perfectly, the fan atmosphere that you got it in Freedom Hall, so you could feel that on television. Oh my gosh. Absolutely, And it was a crazy thing to see because the other games I've been watching are taking
place in Hinkle Field House. The atmosphere is not terrible there, but in comparison to what's going on here at Louisville, it is a totally different level of energy going on with these games. And that's, you know, hats off to the Louiell fans for that. Yeah, I mean, I look, I I felt mean, I have not been to a game, and honestly, I haven't been to a game and set in the stands ever with my kids and watched it like my son and I know it's not really like a U of L game, but my but it kind of is. And
my kids certainly doesn't know that. And you know, he's he's on the edge of his seat, like he now is old enough to understand. So like when I think about my first time watching, you know, even though it's not really U of L basketball, but the first time watching as he calls them the go cards play when we're in attendance and it's a close game, and like he's he's got his arms crossed, which I guess is going to be like his nervous sign when he's when he's antsy. You know,
some people bite their nails, some people pace. My four year old just crosses his arms, and you know, it looks nervous, but it's it's amazing and I don't want to overdo it. But I think everybody who's gone
to these events rather be last year, this year, maybe both. I mean, it's given this fan base a reminder of what it's like to just be, you know, on the edge of your seat, cheering like crazy and knowing that it doesn't guarantee that you're gonna, you know, you're gonna be able to to give them enough life to climb out of a hole and win a game. But man, last night was a reminder of that stuff
matters. And I could tell you this, man, these players, what they're saying on social media, you know, it's it's not I mean, I'm sure some of it is just because they do want to keep fans aware that they appreciate them, and they want to have another good crowd when they play tomorrow night. But I think they've really been reminded of what it's like to play in front of a juiced crowd and you know, you know, have them really lift you up whenever you need momentum in a major way.
And that's what happened last night. I mean, it was far from a good performance, really, I mean, I think they've been able to and again, maybe that's just what this team is going to do. Like, I don't know what the ceiling is for this group. You know, you've got guys like Russ and Peyton, who I know, Peyton just clearly is not healthy enough to give you a whole lot. He only played ten minutes last night. You know, Russ played a lot, but didn't play towards
the end. I'm not sure if that was just the decision from Rhees Gains or if that was Russ. You know, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he's dealing with some kind of an issue as far as injury or something. I don't know, maybe he's hampered in some way. I mean, I thought it make total sense to keep Chris Jones out there because he's been a great asset, and obviously David Johnson. I mean, he's got a lot of
tools. He's a very skilled offensive player, and he didn't shoot it well from three, but you know, he's he's the best player on this team right now. And it's because one he's skilled, he's talented, but also he's young, and these other guys aren't, you know, comparatively speaking in regards to like, you know, of the other guys, you're like Alonso Verge, that's a guy who you know, he's twenty twenty two, twenty
three years old, just like David. So it's you know, I don't know what again, no clue what the ceiling is for this group, but I don't think they played that well last night. You know, they only shot it twenty five percent from three forty percent. Overall sloppy at times, shot selection not great. And here I am, you know, just completely ripping them. But it's just the truth. Like I don't think it was a great game, but like because of what this event is, I'm not
sure people really care about how it looks. You just want to win, keep this thing going because the nostalgia is awesome, and I mean, it was just a great night. And I think at times, you know, when especially when it comes to the rival, you know, you set yourself up a little bit to you know, be made fun of. Maybe you kind of walk into a joke to where you're you know, your your your
program's gonna get clown But but I don't care. I mean, last night was one of the coolest atmospheres for a Louisville basketball related event in a long, long, long time, talking four or five years. I mean not because the crowd was full. I mean again, I'm not even sure what the attendance was, but those that were there were were losing their mind and you know, loud as can be. And I'm glad to hear you say that. It came across on the television because I assumed it did you never
really know. And you had Jeff Brown there getting into it. You had Donovan Mitchell show up and sit next to Pat Kelsey. There was a ton of former players there as well that were, you know, that were getting into it. You had the Louisville roster, the current team. They were on the far end, you know, kind of towards where the bleacher seats are, and I can't think of I mean, these guys were cheering as
if they were just diehard fans that grew up in Louisville. I mean, you had Noah Waterman, you know, cheering as if he's watching his favorite team play and he's a fifteen year old kid like it and he doesn't know these guys. I mean, wouldn't be a shocker if a lot of these guys on the team before they got here and got acclimated, they didn't know who most of these guys were. But you've got Kannie Russ, the only true freshman on this team, stepping up and leading like four different cards chants
to the entire crowd. This kid's seventeen, eighteen years old, and he wasn't even being recruited by Louisville until Pat Kelsey randomly decided to pick up the phone and say, hey, there's a kid that decommitted from Michigan out there, top thirty caliber player, Let's give him a call. Like it's just the energy and the overall vibes around Louisville hoops right now. It's amazing.
And again a lot of it is because we've missed it so much. The bar is low as far as for us to get something, you know, for us to have something to be excited about. But man, I'm hoping they can win on Guess tomorrow night, Wednesday night and keep this thing going. I mean, the team they're going to play, you can't overlook him
now because they've made it this far. But they're the eight seed team DRC, which you know, I never made the connection as to why they were called, and it's because they are led by former NFL defensive back to Dominique Rogers Commarti. I mean, he was a former All Pro. Don't know much about his basketball background or if he even has one, but you know, they've made it this far. They knocked off the one seed team Diesel on Saturday, and then last night they got pasted. I can't think of
the name of the team they played. But you know, either way, they they were the lower seeded team, meaning they were not expected to win, and they found the way to do it. Now, when I watched this team play, because I did watch a little bit of it last night, I mean, to me, they don't look I mean, to me, they look like a team that you would seed at the at the eight
line. They got some guys who, you know, I wouldn't call him out of shape, but they're just you know, they're bigger, if you know what I'm saying, hefty, you know, Dominique Rodgers, Comarty. I mean, he's he's a guy who you know clearly loves basketball. He's doing this, you know, I mean just I guess just for fun, and I guess in the hopes of making some money along the way. You know, they they've got a full staff of three assistant coaches a GM.
So you know, I don't want to take I'm not gonna take them lightly. I think Louisville, if they don't play well, they can they can. You know, they can loose to anybody, right, But I kind of feel like this is setting up to where you reflect on those first two games, realize you're kind of fortunate to be able to be in this position.
However, you know, regroup and you know, play your best performance tomorrow and you probably could could potentially cruise and then you wait and well, I guess at that point you'll know what happens in uh in Lexington because Kentucky plays tonight their team La Familia in Lexington to clench their appearance. And I guess what's the elite eight? So if Kentucky wins tonight and Louisville wins tomorrow, they will play each other. I think the dates to be determined and
it'll be freedom all. One thing I'm not super cool with is uh because Kentucky plays tonight in Louisville doesn't play until tomorrow. With the with the victory tonight for lat familiar John, Kentucky can go ahead and start buying tickets, so like they're gonna go Yeah, it's kind of you know, like they're gonna have a big head start on buying tickets. Now what I don't know, and I could be wrong here, but like if Kentucky wins in Louisville
doesn't, why wouldn't they host it and rup we'll gonna be. So if that's the case, then would they So Louisville was able to be the next round host because they sold more tickets, so they have to be in the event too, I would assume, So, like I don't know. I mean cause again, like you've got a lot of personnel from u of L's Athletic department that is helping out, and you've got the Kentucky Exposition you know
the fair people that are that are there as well. Of course those are the people who you know work not for Free Them Hall, but you know, work on work for the exposition center. Who has you know, all these events at these different venues and whatnot. So I just don't think it would make a lot of sense to have the Lexington team if they win, not playing Lexington if Louisville loses. But again, what do I know?
So with that said, it could be a situation where you don't really have to worry about it because I would assume if you're a Kentucky fan wanting to go to this next round if they win tonight, your decision will be based upon where it is right because if you're in Louisville, makes way more sense
for you to buy a ticket to go to Freedom Hall. You know, I'm sure there are people that are from Lexington and Louisville that would travel to go because you know, it would be kind of cool because there's the rivalry component here. But Peyton Steviah did confirm that, like that that's how it works. Is tonight when tickets go on sale, they'll be able to buy them. But then again, how you buying tickets when you don't know where it is. If that's the case, I can't buy a ticket for rub
they don't have the same seating start, you know what I mean? Yeah, I mean this is just a shot in the dark. But I feel like if they're able to go ahead and buy tickets for Freedom Hall, I bet the game's just automatically going to be played in Freedom Hall, no matter if Louisville advances or not. Maybe I'm totally wrong on that. I mean, a quick text message to somebody can probably answer that question for me.
But yeah, like, I don't even think you would put tickets on sale if and here here's the thing, the Exposition Center, you know, Freedom Hall, they would want to host it regardless, I think because it's a chance for them to open their doors and potentially make some money. Yes, you know what I mean, So like I I and there's plenty of Kentucky
fans. Yeah, absolutely, so I guess it is. It's probably, I mean, that's that probably is the situation where it's going to be at Freedom Hall regardless of Louisville wins, and they're going to have they'll have. In fact, they'll there'll probably be a lot of fans that didn't go to RUPT that are in the Louisville area or closer to Louisville that would go to this because it's more convenient for them. So you know, that is a little bit of a a of a bummer to know that they're going to have
a little bit of a head star potentially. But either way, you know, there's not a bad seat in Freedom Hall. And I just don't see a scenario that if you get Louisville and Kentucky in that next round that it wouldn't be the record. Seventy two hundred is the record for the most people attended, most people in attendance for a TBT game, and Louisville's been close
to it now. I mean, I think now Louisville is they've got two of the top five all time as far as most attended TBT games that didn't count last night, it was one from last year and then the one that they the one on Saturday. So you know, fingers crossed that Louisville can get past Team DRC tomorrow. All right, we're loaded the rest of the
way here. We'll continue to you know, and I enjoy a lot, you know, I will admit I did neglect some of the text line yesterday that had put people you know, sharing their thoughts on the experience of the TBT, so we could continue to you know, discuss that and you know, hopefully they can keep this thing rolling. Right. So the ACC kickoff Day two underway, and I feel like it's been relatively quiet today because obviously
you're not hearing from the commissioner. It's just the teams and the handful of players that are there doing their media rounds. And I think this is really when it comes. This is when it gets to like the you know, the real boring side of it, especially if it's if it's a you know, if your team's not there right like well you're from Jeff brom Tomorrow, I think three Louisville players are going to be there Quincy Riley, Ashton Jalotti,
and Tyler Shuck. So you know, that'll give us something to chew on once they actually arrived for their day in Charlotte. But that's that's not until tomorrow now, is the Big Ten media day is going on as well? Yes, thought so, because I did see that Tony Pettiti. You know, he's not he's not afraid to say that they'll expand again at some point. I mean I think he kind of said that right that they're pretty, they're they're they're they're okay, and they're comfortable. I think that was
the word. He's comfortable with the current roster that they have in the Big Ten. But you know he did go on to say that it could change down the road and that it probably will. So that's not like a crazy statement for the Big Ten commissioner to make. That's going to get everybody reacting to it. But if, in fact, I mean, in that scenario, he's got to be when he says problem will, he's he's saying that the acc probably will get blown up, like because what else you gonna do?
Who else is you gonna go get? You know, there's no means yeah, exactly, So we can get into that also when it comes to Lebron James. Mostly the conversations about Bron lately have been about nepotism, his
son and all that, and that's all fair. However, he's going to be the first ever United States flag bearer from the men's basketball side of thing at the Olympics, and if you really it's one of those it's one of those moments where you know, you look at Lebron's age and you look at what he's still able to do. I mean, he's been the best player for Team USA in these whatever you call him, the pre you know, pre Olympic games they've had, and he's still playing at an insanely high level.
And I just hope that one day people will shut the hell up about the Jordan and Lebron stuff and just let both of them be great. Because you don't like Bronze antics and drama and is flopping and all that, that's fine. And if you like Jordan better and you respect Jordan as a competitor and you think he's the best player of all time, that's great. But Lebron James is as far as just talent. Why I mean, he's unbelievable, and when he's retired, the game will go on. There's already kind
of a new wave of stars in the league that I'm excited about. But if you had a chance, regardless of what you think of Lebron James as far as again all those things I mentioned, if you've been able to watch his career from start to finish, you can say that you, in my opinion, watched something that will never be recreated by anybody, meaning that frame, that skill set, that athleticism, and the longevity. The way he is still able to play this game like he's twenty five years old is insane.
Also on the NFL side, Joe Burrow's new hair, we'll talk about it, and the NFL going from seventeen to eighteen games in the regular season. I mean, at this point, I feel like every few years they're just gonna add a game. These guys are gonna be playing thirty games a year before too long, and hey, that's probably not safe. I'm sure the Players Association would never let that happen, but I wouldn't be complaining. Make the NFL a year round thing. We have to work year round.
We put our bodies through it here in the radio world. Why can't they do it. It's the same thing, all right, It's coffee and company. Feel about Thornton's right here on Sports Talk seven ninety to isolate David Johnson, here go one on one. I like it, don't settle get to the rim, Johnson. I mean, I took your word for it, John, but I did go back and listen to some of the clips there of John Fanta and David Patchett just to confirm, and you're right it was.
It was loud, it was rowdy, and U Freedom Hall, I mean clearly, it's it's the arena where Louisville basketball became a premier program and even hosted some n SUAA tournaments. Never never a final four, but I know there were many inn C Double A Regionals I think that were that were played there years ago. So you know, I hadn't been in Freedom Hall for a basketball game, as I talked about yesterday, in a long long time. And I swear I love the UMP Center, but there's something about
Freedom Hall that's just different. I don't know. It's like I think it's louder. You don't have to be as loud for it to sound as loud as it is, if that makes sense. You know, it's got some history to it. It's it's got you know. I can't put into words why. It's probably just a nostalgia I suppose, and trust me, the MP Center when it's rock and it's phenomenal. I mean, it's an NBA arena, uh for a college basketball program, and there's no doubt it can
only help you when it comes to recruiting. But I wouldn't I wouldn't be opposed to play in a few games at Freedom Hall every year because that place is awesome. And if you think about it as old as Freedham Hall is, there are probably I don't know countless I was gonna throw a number out there, but I would be just completely pulling it out of my rear end.
But think about how many college basketball programs, some of them in Power five leagues, would die to have the arena that Louisville left what fourteen years ago. I mean, again, it's not and I don't say it's nice, you know, as far as like you know, amenities and all that, it's old, but man, it's an awesome venue and I can't wait to be back, to be back out there tomorrow as they take on Team DRC. All right, it's coffee and company. Feel bouth. Thornton's here
on Sports Talk seven ninety. You know, right before I made my way here to the studio downtown, I stopped in to see my friends at the Louisville Men's Clinic. Had to get my lab work done. Always a pleasure to stop in to see doctor Wood and his team. And let me tell you, if you've never been, you should. I mean, I guess you can just show up if you'd like, maybe give him a call ahead of time, schedule a consultation and that kind of thing. But they've helped
me in a major way, and they can help you too. When it comes to a rectilis function. They've got a variety of different treatment options. Low testosterone, they can help you with that. That's where they've helped me. Weight loss therapy, hair restoration. I mean, they can do a
lot for you and they take pride in it. So you got to keep in mind there's probably a lot of folks who you know, just giving them a call in regards to something like you know, a rectalitis function or Peroni's disease, or even like you know, STD testing, Like they offer that too, Like those are things they offer one of you know, those are
three of the mini services they offer. And they're aware that when you pick up the phone to like, you know, talk about those kind of things, that it's probably not going to be a comfortable conversation for a lot of men. So they're prepared. They're going to make you as comfortable as possible. They're going to let you know that, hey, we're here to help. And you know you're not alone. You're not you know you're not. You're not the only person that deals with this kind of stuff. So can't
recommend them enough. Again, it's the Louis of Men's Clinic. And I did see this this plaque that's hanging on the wall there. I took a picture of it. You see it, John, It says Louis Men's Clinic. They have successfully treated over thirty thousand men since twenty fourteen, and they say thank you for allowing us to be your key to a better life. So shout out to the louisvill Men's Clinic. I bet may be the best
average I've ever done for him. It may be, and it maybe because I just left the office and I just I've still got that energy that you get from the Louisville Men's Clinic, and that's the good energy to have. I can tell you that. All right, let's go to the text line five two sixty five three zero seven ninety. It's the Llenn Federal Credit Union text line. Members get more at Ellenn Federal Credit Union. You can learn
more and open your account today at lnfcu dot com. All Right, this text says one of the things I've always heard you say about Mantres Harold Nick is his motor never stops. It looks like it hasn't started since he arrived back in Louisville. What's the deal. I mean, that sounds a little harsh to me, but again because these guys are like they've already given everything
they can to Louisville basketball, the program and the fan base. So like, that's why it's weird for me to like, Because I'll be honest with you, Trees doesn't look the same. I don't know if it's because he's rusty. I don't know, if it's because he's been away from the NBA.
I don't know, but you know, he's still been effective, but he just he's kind of been lacking that motor, as you said, and it is worth mentioning that he he did apologize to fans last night for his performance, which I thought was, you know, unnecessary, But hey, I mean, I think he's aware that he's probably not played to the level that maybe he thought he would in this event, and certainly maybe some fans because I don't know if it would have been fair or realistic to expect him
to dominate, because you know, as much as Montreal has accomplished in his career and as talented as he is, I mean, you've got dudes out here playing their ass off because you know, they don't care Montreal Montres Harrell is. They want to win. They want and these guys, you know, even if they have a different and background, they didn't play the same level of college basketball. You know, you got to line up and play,
man. I can tell you firsthand. There's there's a lot of guys that you know that I know of, some that I played against growing up, that never did anything as far as like a phenomenal college career for a variety of reasons. Maybe it's great, Maybe they just didn't have their head on straight. Maybe they just never got the opportunity. But like you know, when it comes down to getting on the floor between the lines and competing, you know, you can't just coast in most situations, no matter how
talented you are. So you know, I don't want to act as if you know Tres isn't dominating and it's only because of Tres I think, you know, I have a lot of respect for guys in this event because it you know, it's for money, So it's not the can't I can't give you the corny Well, it's for the love of the game, but there's a collective buy in from every team because of what's at stake here again,
could be maybe life changing money for certain people. Right, you get exposure, and this is something that I wouldn't have thought of, makes total sense. But when you're there at the TBT and you see the folks that are there, I mean they're scouts that are here, agents that are here because they they're scouting talent to sign to represent when they play across the country or you know, across the pond in a different country or whatever it may be.
So like there is something to gain here even if you don't win. But yeah, with Tres he just yeah, the motor hadn't really been running, and I don't know if it's rust or what it is. You know, he did not play basketball last year because he is coming off of of I think it was an ACL injury. I mean, it doesn't look like
he's in poor shape. But yeah, the tres that's just this, you know, tenacious, just you know, I'm trying to think of the right word to use, but I mean, he just never stops, right, He's relentless, he'll you know, he's physical, and it's not that he's not doing those things. It just hasn't really been what I think a lot of people expected, and maybe that isn't fair on our part, but I'm with you. You know, at times it looks like he's kind of asleep
out there. You know. I don't want to say he's not trying, because I mean that's something only he would be able to tell us as far as how much he's trying. So so I don't think that it is that.
But yeah, he just as much as at least see what his numbers were last night, because he actually had a pretty good game statistically against the Bellerman squad and then last night not as much he only had eight points three of ten from the field, did have eight rebounds in thirty six minutes, so not his best performance, which is why he decided to tweet this out.
Said man I love or said man, I apologize Cardination, but a survive in advance, but I will never give you guys another stinky performance like that. Thanks for sticking with me, Cardination. Yeah, good stuff, all right? This question, says Nick, did Donovan Mitchell happen to be in Louisville or did he randomly just decide to come in for this game? I mean, I think he randomly decided to come in to support these guys.
Donovan Mitchell is one of the bigger stars in the NBA. I mean, he's got one of the biggest contracts in the NBA now after he just resigned with Cleveland. He's been a multi time All Star, He's broke records. I mean, I don't think I need to tell you guys how accomplished he is. And he's not done accomplishing big things. He's still relatively young, but he you know, he loves Louisville. He loves the fan base, he loves the people that still work at U of L. You know
I saw when he arrived. One of the first people that I saw him walk up to and greet and and you know, I guess catch up with was Kenny Klein, who a lot of us know who Kenny is former U of L s I D who you know, did this for a long long time. But you know, Donovan Mitchell as big as a star as he is and maybe will continue to be, maybe even he'll be a bigger star at some point. Like he has a lot of appreciation for everybody that was here at u of L. And you know he's going to support Pat Kelsey.
I don't think that those two had met until last night, but it wouldn't shock me if throughout the season, if Louisville gets a big win, he'll be on social media promoting Louisville basketball and promoting Pat Kelsey. And you know, that's what makes this event so much fun for like everybody involved, because obviously the guys that are playing in this event that none of them have had the career that Donovan had, but he is somebody that can relate to
what these guys are feeling. Right He's not out there playing because you know it would never happen, but I would imagine to answer your question one of the reasons. And by the way, it's not that hard for Donovan Mitchell to get from Cleveland to Louisville when he probably has a private jet he could use if maybe he has his own, I don't know. And you know why he's watching basketball and he's catching up with guys that he knows. I mean, he didn't play with a lot of these guys that are on this
team, but he certainly knows them. Him and Peyton Siva became close. Peyton, I know, was around in the summers when Donovan played and was you know, was somebody that he talked to a lot in regards to how you deal with Rick Patino being your coach because he's so demanding in that kind of stuff. So, you know, Donovan loves the fan appreciation that he gets here, and it's different. This is where it all started, right, He's been a star in Utah and he's a star in Cleveland now.
But like Louis, Louisvill's kind of where it all started. And these guys again, like I know, they they want to play to potentially win some money. Right, It's not as if like you got to force him to do it. But I think one of the biggest tape other than potentially winning money that you know, could go in their pockets and help them and their
families. I bet the best part of this for these guys is playing in front of these fans again, so you know, to see the guys that are here playing, to see the guys like Donovan, who's an NBA superstar coming back to be a part of it as well, and to see the other countless players that show up, like last night. You know, you have Trey Lewis who was in town. Former Louisville player Malik Williams was there. I mean, there was a few others. I mean Darryl Griffith was
there. He played. By the way, griff looks like he's in better shape than anybody who's playing in the tvt Like I'm convinced Daryl Griffith could get out there and give somebody fifteen and eight tomorrow if they need him. Like Darryl Griffith, there's something like he's got to have access to something that no other human has because that man has not aged in thirty five years. He looked older when he had his beard. Whenever he played back in the day.
I mean Daryl Griffith. I mean, it's unbelievable how he looks thirty years old. So shout out to griff So, yeah, I mean I would say, to answer your question, I think he was. He did see that they were going to play. He knew he could get there and thought, you know, why not? Why not? All right, let's get to a quick time out. We'll come back on the other side. Got some questions coming in about the ACC preseason media poll as far as where
Louisville will finish. I don't have any strong thoughts, but I do I've noticed that they are kind of not I don't want to give you the fake oh they're being disrespected, because I don't. I don't really believe that, nor do I care if they are. But there's some other teams that are starting to now as we get closer and closer to the season, that are starting to kind of edge ahead of Louisville as far as being like this darling, this sleeper. So we can talk about that then a lot more.
And Joe Burrow's hair too. It's Coffee and company. Feel about Thornton's right here on Sports Talk seven ninety so during that last segment. UFL officially released their non conference schedule for the upcoming season, and I think we've know of most of these opponents, we just didn't know the exact dates, and now
we do. In fact, the only opponent I think, and maybe this is out there and I just didn't see it, but the only opponent on Louisville schedule that I'm seeing that I had not heard they were going to play
or hadn't been reported they were on the schedule was UTEP. So they're going to start the season on November fourth against Morehead State, and then Pat Kelsey's second game as the Louisville head coach is going to be against the Tennessee team that I really don't know what the expectations are for Tennessee this upcoming season, but I mean they're coming off of an Elite eight a lot to replace, but that's kind of everybody now, right like you, A lot of teams
are replacing key players this day and age, and in a previous world, I mean that would mean, Okay, they're going to be maybe not rebuilding, but it's going to take a few years for them to develop another, know, another star player, to kind of get them to the point where they could potentially make another run of the Elite Eight. Now you reload in the portal, and I don't know where I really don't know where Tennessee ended up in a lot of the different rankings, But just looking at ESPN's rankings
right here. This is updated as of July first, from Jeff Borzello at ESPN. I mean, he's got Tennessee preseason number thirteen. So you know there's gonna be some challenges right out of the gate for Pat Kelsey. So some other notable Well, I guess I'll just get to the schedule here.
Bellerman, there'll be your third opponent. You play them on November nineteenth, that'll be at the Young Center, and then you'll play Winthrop November twenty second, So you've got four games before you head off to the Bahamas for the Battle of for Atlantis. Morehead Tennessee, Bellerman and then Winthrop. So went throwop. I think a lot of folks know the connection there. That's where
Pat Kelsey got his first start as a head coach. And they're currently led by Mark Prosser, who I believe is the son of Skip Prosser, who, of course Pat Kelsey. He comes from the from the Skip Prosser coaching tree. He and a handful of other coach which is so uh not a surprise when you see somebody kind of climb the ladder in college basketball and going back to where it started and give it because that that's that's a that's a
bye game for for Winthrop. You know, they're hopefully you don't lose by games that can happen. Louisville actually has lost a handful of them in in recent years. But they were they were middle of a pack, Big South team last year. So those are your first four games before you take off to the Bahamas and look the battle for Atlantis. We don't know schedule on that yet, do we. No, we don't. We don't know matchups or anything. We just know the teams. We'll get it. We'll get
it soon though, Like I wouldn't be shy. I mean, in fact, maybe we go back and look at a quick Google search and see when they unveiled the breakdown the bracket of that from you know, from from previous years, because I would imagine they do it relatively soon. But you know it's loaded. You've got Louisville of course, and then Indiana, Oklahoma,
Providence, Gonzaga, Arizona, West Virginia, and Davidson. So I would say, I mean, we looked at it whenever we talked about Kelsey's first schedule a couple months ago, whenever that was I mean, I don't care who you break down, you're you're likely gonna end. I mean, I guess if you played Davidson, West Virginia and maybe maybe Oklahoma or Providence, it could but that I found that highly unlikely that those would be the three
teams that you'd play. But that would leave it to where maybe you don't you don't you know, play a highly highly ranked team. I mean Arizona, Gonzaga, Indiana, I think are certainly going to be teams that you that you see get a lot of love early on in the preseason rankings. And I know mentioning preseason rankings may not do much for some because they don't
really matter. However, this event takes place so early in the season that at that time be highly shocked that something happens to where Gonzaga is no longer a preseason top five team. I mean, at that point they would be a currently ranked top five team, but that's where they are in this uh in this ESPN ranking that I'm looking at here Arizona number nine, Tennessee,
as I mentioned, number thirteen, Indiana number eighteen. So this event has a lot of talent in it, and you know, ready or not, here we go and when you get back from the Bahamas, you got a quick turnaround. You go play ole Miss in the sec ACC Challenge. And while I've got this top twenty five lists pulled up, ole Miss is right number twentieth. So then after that you will have a UTEP on December eleventh, and then Kentucky at RUP on December fourteenth, and then EKU will wrap
up your non conference schedule on December twenty eighth. So nice to see aw Hamilton bring his team in. I know ek you used to be an opponent Louislle would play kind of here and there, and I don't think they've played since Coach Hamilton's been there. Who I got, you know a little bit over the years. He's a Kentucky native and it's done a really good job at EKU and anytime he's got a team that I feel like has a chance
to you know, be pretty good and maybe make the tournament. You know, they they lose their best players to the portal, which kind of happens to those kind of teams. So we'll talk more about this. I've got some other obvious takeaway, some potential worries that I have about how this schedule is put together. But we'll do that and a lot more. Again, we are loaded the rest of the way. Two more hours left. We'll talk more about what Tony Petiti, that's fun to say, the Big Ten
commissioner had to say about expansion. And we had a good question that came in that I didn't get a chance to answer because of the breaking news in regards to the non conference schedule for Louisville hoops. But as far as where should we expect Louisville to come in in the preseason ACC media poll, not that many people. I mean, it doesn't matter, right, you won't.
I mean, Louisville, I think last year was picked to finish what seventh or eighth or something like that, ended up being in the conference championship game. So it doesn't matter. But at least it'll give you a sense as to, you know, how people are viewing you, and it'll give you a chance to you know, maybe have some bulletin board material if you need it, So stick with us. We've got two hours left. It's coffee and company Field. Beth Thornton's right here on Sports Talk seven ninety y