MON POD @SpenceChecketts on Alex Jensen intro, Runnin' Utes next step, BYU in Big Dance, Jazz + more

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you. Happy Monday to you. Hopefully you had a fantastic weekend and we have a jam packed Monday show for you on a historic day at the John M. Huntsman Center here on the campus in the University of Utah. We are preparing for tonight's introductory press conference where Alex Jensen will be officially introduced as a seventeenth head coach in the history of the

Place among the elites in the country.

So we'll talk about it on the program today. We got a lot to do on a Monday afternoon. A good guest list for you guys. Of course, it is the madness of March. We're flying blind a little bit today to start off the show. I've got no internet access, so bear with me. So it is the IDEs of March, the madness of marches upon us.

Bring them young. Diversity knows their seed, they know their destination.

They know their opponent, as does Utah State, and for the fourth time in four years, the Utah women are dancing. They're going to the NCAA Tournament where they will see Indiana in round one and should they advance past Indiana during round one, they will play the defending national champs Don Staley and South Carolina.

So, of course a lot of college.

Hoops as it is Saint Patrick's Day, it is March Madness, so we'll get to all the matchups. We'll break them all down, let you know kind of what you can watch for. We have our station NCUBA March Badness Bracket Challenge, as we do every year. Would encourage you to go to ESPN seven hundred sports dot com to register and then play along against us on the station. We have some fun surprise celebrity guests that will be filling out

We'll get porters take on that later on the program.

But college basketball on the show today, we'll do a little Utah Jazz and the NBA. The worst team in the NBA plays its basketball in saalwt Lake City. The Utah Jazz officially have the worst record in the NBA. The Washington Wizard's on a sparkling two game winning streak, and the Jazz are now fifteen and fifty three, high speed ahead to hopefully a little lottery luck, a little lady lottery luck, the likes of which we have never

Is this the year of Rory McElroy.

On the PGA Tour, Rory McElroy beats JJ Spond in the playoff this morning, actually after it was delayed, to win his second Players Championship. Rory is the fourth golf for all time to have both multiple players titles and multiple major championships. He's the eighth golfer all time to

The latest in pro football.

The Cincinnati Bengals locked in both of their wide receivers Jamar Hase, Jamar Chase, excuse me, t Higgins have both been extended. Now all eyes on Trey Hendrickson. Some local players making some moves last week, namely Cody Barton, namely Zach Wilson. Some other players like Bobby Wagner stay in pat So the latest in the landscape of the offseason in professional football on the program as well. We'll keep

I hate to be that guy. It's gonna be tough.

I'm not sure that I'm predicting a playoff opportunity for the Utah Hockey Club, but we'll see.

They're right there.

They're in the fight and they are gonna take on Edmonton in Alberta coming up tomorrow. So little hockey of course as well as the playoffs are right around the corner. Jam Pack sports weekend behind us Whereyal saw Lake was able to go down to Houston and get a win, which they rarely do, so may be answering some questions. Houston off to a pretty poor start, but RSL able to get that win over the weekend, So a lot to do on the program today, Great Tommy year, love this time of year.

High high speed ahead to the Masters.

We are high speed ahead to the stretch run of the NBA playoffs, but of course the madness of March.

We'll give you some tips to fill out your brackets.

Help you out this week on the Program Live today from the John M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah.

In a beautiful March day. It's about sixty.

Degrees, a little blue, windy, but a little sunshine on a Monday afternoon.

After a pretty chilly weekend.

We've got a pretty temperate week ahead. It's March in Utah. You don't like the weather, just go ahead and wait fifteen minutes. But a beautiful day to day to get you through the start of your week.

All right.

Our first guest on a Monday afternoon, Josh Furlong, covers the University of Utah for KSL get Josh's take on what hopefully is the beginning of a really fun run for Utah basketball and certainly a historic day as Alex Jensen gets set to be introduced as the seventeenth head coach in Utah men's basketball history. We'll move over to Roxy Bernstein, who called a grip of Big twelve championship

I hope you had a great weekend.

And Porter Larson, who understands without any debate, that the NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday afternoon.

Hello, Porter, how are you.

I'm doing well, Spencer, I'm doing very well.

Well. Don't do it. I know you're considering it. Don't do it. The tournament starts on Thursday, and you know it does.

Listen, this is your show. You make the rules. Two to six live, no exceptions, every weekday. But the postseason does start tomorrow. I don't know what you want to delineate.

That's fine, that's fine, that's fine. I don't I don't give a rip. Sure, but the nc Double A Tournament starts on Thursday, when the field of sixty four is set.

Okay, okay, you understand that, right.

I get what you're saying. But but the two teams that will play, the one will win in advance and the other one will lose and go home.

It right, feels tournaments? And what do they advance and what do they advance to the.

Next round, which they call actually the second round of the.

Turn they advance to the NC double A tournament starts on Thursday. You do this every year.

You do this every year, and you just you need to understand that you're on an island alone. This is this is your sports equivalent of pineapple on pizza, and pineapple does not belong on pizza unless you're a socialist.

We've been over this.

Well, I guess those are are two hills that I am I'm kind of willing to plant my flag on. But hey, to each their own teach night.

Fair enough, they're fair enough, Porter Larson, producing the program today, back at our Broadway Media studios. All right, our first guest, right out of the gates, Josh Furlong, covers the University of Utah for ksl. But before we get to Josh, courtesy of our good friends at Prize Picks.

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So, as I say, go get their free money, see if you like it, and go from there. All right, it is a historic day here at the John M. Huntsman Center, as Alex Jensen is said to be introduced as the seventeenth head coach in Utah men's basketball history.

So stay tuned for that.

It's gonna get rolling about six o'clock right after we say good night on this program. I'm not exactly sure who's going to speak. Our guy Ryles will mce the event the voice.

Of the Utes.

Then a couple of seats in front of the dais where I'm at right now. Send out a couple of pitchers on the Instagram page if you're interested. So my guess is those seats will be filled by Alex Jensen obviously, and Mark Carlin would be my guest, So we'll see if we can can grab any of the guests. They are here today as we are broadcasting up until about six o'clock tonight.

I've already seen a lot of former youths.

I imagine we're going to see a lot of those youths from the Heyday era in the nineties, you know, Josh Grant, Jimmy Sota. I'm sure we'll see the Johnson brothers. Hopefully Andre Miller. Will we get an Andre Miller siding? There continues to be rumor swirling that as Alex Jensen approaches the task of filling out his staff, Andre Miller certainly is an option to sit next to him, potentially as the lead assistant. Now, I don't know what Alex's staff is going to look like. I do push back

But I feel like this is a little bit of.

A shot of adrenaline in the arm of a basketball community that more or less has been dormant for about twenty years if we're honest. Okay, so today feels like that it will be a press conference that is won. And while I don't usually give a rip about any of that, see Nick Sirianni's opening presser as the Eagles head coach, and they just won the Super Bowl. I'm told that a lot of deposits have been put down for season tickets next year. I'm told there's a tremendous

This seems to be mostly.

Consistently received as a big win right away, and for a team that hasn't played in front of jam pack crowds consistently for a number of years and a community that for whatever reason has just been disinterested in Utah basketball, it feels like at daylight today is a good step in the right direction. And obviously the hope is as we move forward, Alex is either able to retain some of the talent on the roster or go throughout his business in the transfer portal.

He's going to have to re recruit some kids that were looking to come here.

Anyway, Can Alex capitalize on some of the in state talent that is really really good during the next couple of years to motivate them to play basketball for the University of Utah instead of the other myriad of options that they have at their disposal, namely a program right now in Provo and BYU that really has a ticket

Their basketball program.

The football program, ironically enough, is apparently not receiving the same support the basketball program is.

But you know, BYU with the number one recruit in the country.

Next year in Ajdabantsa, they're an NCAA tournament team as a six seed taking on VCU. They've got a couple of one lottery pick and maybe a first round pick in the Canon Catchings Kid reportedly you're making seven figures. Alex is going to need that same financial support from the Crimson Collective. And I would imagine that every single question Alex had was answered the right way, because he

Pac twelve coach.

This is now a community that latches onto the football program in a way that you just don't on the basketball program for now.

And that's fine.

I mean, ultimately, when it comes to the reality of collegiate athletics, if you had your brothers, you want your football program receiving the same amount of commitment, loyalty, and interest that Utah football receives, even coming off the down year.

But you don't have to be one or the other. I mean, just look at the NCAA Tournament.

Some of the teams that are high seeds and really good Alabama, Tennessee, Florida.

I could keep going.

There are several schools in a country that have robust football and basketball programs, and that should be the goal and obviously is the goal of Mark Harland and his staff here the ethletic department, making sure that basketball receives the same level of commitment, loyalty, interest and passion that the football program does. Now it's going to be on alex and his coaching staff and his players to provide the same type of consistent product and excitement competing for trophies.

The way the football program has and not just to one off.

You gotta do it consistently the way Kyle did for a number of different years, and I have confidence he'll continue to starting next year.

So we're live today. Excuse me, we're live today at the John M. Huntsman Center.

Still fighting a little bit of what I was fighting last week, but feeling much much better. And let me repeat, if last week was the first time you listened to the show, please give us another chance. I heard a couple of the interviews I did played back, and I sounded like I was dying.

I wasn't dying. I just had a little throat thing.

So apologies for the rough week last week, but we are off and running on a Monday afternoon, Live today at the John M. Huntsman Center on the beautiful campus of the University of Utah.

The field is set for March Madness. Six Seed BYU takes on eleven Seed VCU on Thursday. The Cougars one of seven Big Twelve teams to make the Big Dance. First four play in games tip off tomorrow, and while the Utes won't be involved, they will be playing postseason basketball as they have accepted an invite to the inaugural

We are live today inside the historic John M. Huntsman Center for a historic day not to be redundant. Alex Jensen said to be introduced tonight about six o'clock Mountain time as the seventeenth head coach in Utah men's basketball history. Our next guest covers the youths for our friends over at Chaos. My guy Josh Furlong on a Monday afternoon. Josh, Happy Monday, buddy.

How are we doing. I'm well, I'm well. I appreciate the time.

So we were talking about this to start the show, and it seems to me and obviously I want to get your take here, no matter where you are in the eco system of Utah Athletics, if you are part of the department, if you played for Utah basketball, if you're a donor, if you're season ticket older, if you're a booster, if you're a student, if you're an alum, or if you cover the program like we do.

Uh.

I haven't heard any pushback on Mark Harlan's decision to bring in this you legend Alex Jensen, who will be introduced tonight, Does it feel the same way to you that this has just kind of been summarily and a consensus that this feels like the right move.

Yeah?

Absolutely, I mean I think this this feels like there's there's a lot of excitement being brought into the program. A lot of people are are feeling really you know, rejuvenated. But it's funny, as you were saying that, you know, you're mentioning, you know, some of these students the reality is these students weren't even born when Alex Jensen was playing, and.

That hurts my heart.

But like it's it's crazy that like just how how success can kind of carry forward, right you can see from these these days whereas it's like, okay, the glory days of Utah basketball, whatever that may be, and I.

Think anybody wants to kind of relive that.

And so, you know, if you're a student, you may not know who Alex Jensen is from a player, but you understand, you know why he would be important, and I think that gets you excited. And so even though as a student, you know you may not understand the full ramification of what this could mean, you know, there's there's a lot of opportunity to be able to say, Okay, look,

So of course, the next question, Josh is where are we at in the process of Alex filling out his staff? And you know, it's funny you bring up the current youth students not even being alive when Alex was playing here and maybe the majority of not even really knowing.

Who he is.

And I'm sure these same students don't remember the days where you had like two assistant coaches and maybe one trainer. Well, now they're like eight assistant coaches, strength and conditioning, nutrition.

And there are a lot of hires to make.

This is not like grab Andre and one other coach and let's go like this is going to be a staff that will take some time to fill out.

Excuse me.

And so I think the narrative that I've heard of least that it should all be utes, you know, all be former uts, are people that are with the program or whatever.

I'm I'm not fully on board with that. And I'll tell you why.

Alex has been a professional coach, a coach in the pro ranks for about twenty years or so, and prior to that he was at Saint Louis with Rick and I'm sure over the course of the past two decades, throughout his kind of sojourn and pro basketball, he has cultivated a tremendous amount of relationships that aren't just Andre Miller and Trace Cayton and Britton Johnson, what have you.

And you know Kevin Young down in Provo.

His assistant coaches, the majority of them are all ex pro coaches, G League coaches, strength and conditioning coach from the NBA, Nutrition is from the Phoenix Suns. I would like to see Alex mimic that approach. I don't give a rip what people say online. Everybody copies everybody when something works. But what's your take and also what are you hearing about the next steps and filling out this staff next?

Alex?

Yeah, I mean this is going to be a process, right, And I think it'd be disingenuous to say, you know, everybody that's on that staff should just be former years, right, Like I don't. I don't think that's that's what Alex wants. I don't think that the university needs. You know, as you mentioned, the majority of his coaching tenure has been in the NBA, and so there's going to be or maybe there's some international guys that he wants to bring

Out his roster.

Right, He's going to have at least five assistant coaches, He's got the strength and conditioning staff. You know, you've got a lot of these things that you can put people in. So you know there's going to be some people that he's going to hire on simply for recruiting. There's going to be guys that he hires on simply for the development of roster. There's talent, you know, all these different things that he can kind of fill it

The assistance.

To cry so to speak, and continue that momentum, and then you start filling it in with all these other guys maybe Utah fans have never heard of. They're in the NBA circles, they may be in the international circles, recruiting circles. There may be some even from the current

So while I reset this next question, Josh, we're gonna ask you to just kind of relocate wherever you are. You answer the question and it sounds like you go under water for about five seconds, then you come back up, which happens, So Josh for long as our guest, he covers the Uthes for KSL.

We're live today at the John M.

Huntsman Center here on the beautiful campus and the University of Utah in preparation for tonight's announcement that Alex Jensen is the seventeenth head coach in Utah men's basketball history. All right, Josh, before we get over to the women, who are back in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in four years, what should our Utah basketball fans know about the inaugural College Basketball Crown.

Yeah, this one's an interesting one because it's it's new, right, It's it's something that you know, a lot of people want to call it a third tier tournament. But at the same time, I think this is an opportunity for Utah just to continue to keep playing, allow themselves to kind of continue that season. Gabe mats and had talked about, you know, wanting to have that closure. But at the end of the day, this is a tournament that is set up.

To be able to bring, you know, a lot of the power conferences Power Conference teams together and be able to kind of pit them together to continue the thing. There's been talk about this potentially having nil ramifications in there where these players can make some money, and I think that's why you're seeing some of these teams wanting to.

Be a participant in this.

If you can get the players some money, get the university some money and keep playing while still going you know, to Vegas or whatever that may be. This becomes a great opportunity. So look, it's not going to be the NCAA tournament. It's not going to be some glamorous thing, but it could be a decent situation of mediocre teams that do well, so not a bad situation. But you know, I can understand people wanting the season just to end.

So I would imagine, let's stay in the space for a minute, and I have your piece that you wrote for ksl Up and Coach Eilert made some comments.

I'm one hundred percent all in. You know, I'm excited about it.

I know players have to make decisions, but I think it would be special to have another opportunity to battle with these guys. So Coach Eilert all in. He'll finish off his duties as the interim coach. Let me just ask you a follow up, Josh, whether or not you've heard anything since you joined us last You were the first person that brought up the potential of Alex Jensen keeping Coach eilerd around, and you made some good points about his history with the Big Twelve.

Any up to date info about whether or not that's still a possibility.

Yeah, I think they're still trying to figure that out. I know, you know, between him, David Evans, and low Leath, there's there's a lot of opportunities there and I wouldn't be surprised if if Josh R was on right, I could see him being able to kind of take another step forward and kind of do it he needs to do elsewhere. But I don't think he's out of the

Jake Quaaleen has entered the transfer portal officially. If anyone else has I've missed that announcement. Any idea if Jake's going to participate in this postseason tournament, Yeah, that was his intent.

You know, this is an opportunity more for him to just get the leverage that he needs to in the you know, in this offseason where he can still consider Utah but kind of see his value, see his market. But as part of this, he talks about wanting to be able to play in the postseason with this team. He wants to be able to be engaged, he wants to be there with them. You know, I still think there's a huge interest in wanting to stay at Utah.

One more thing here, and you and I have talked about this, but let's just revisit it, because here we are with Alex being introduced tonight, ezra Ezrasar Kana. You know, guys like me are a little Mike Shrav Jamps and the aforementioned Jake Quaaleen, the players on the roster, some of whom namely Kiana Does who had three double doubles in the final five games after Josh took over for

Yeah, I think there's a good, good possible ability for Keanu. I think he's liked his time here, He's liked a situation that he's in. Obviously, if you know Nil's right and Alex Jensen wants to keep him, I think that it's a good match made in heaven. It's obviously a player with a tremendous upside, and I think, you know, everything works to be able to keep him here.

In terms of Ezra, I mean that one's gonna be a.

Little bit tougher. He's obviously going to get a lot more offers. He's going to have people that want him. He's going to be attractive name not that any of these guys won't be, but I think he's going to be the most marketable off of this current team. And quite honestly, he's got family. He's got two kids that live in the East Coast, and so I wouldn't be surprised at all if he, you know, wants to get back there, wants to be able to be closer to home. But at the same time, you know, I do know

So moving over now to Gavin Peterson, who will join the show today. In the Utah women's basketball program, they stumbled down the stretch, losing three of their final five and they barely beat BYU here in Salt Lake.

But they did make it in We knew that they would, but it is a tough ask.

So the Lady Eats will be the number eight seed and they're gonna take on Indiana. But should they beat Indiana, there, their prize for showing up is a second round matchup against the host team and that's Don Staley and the defending champs South Carolina.

So tough one.

Obviously, Coach Peterson already reference they can only focus on Indiana, they can't look ahead. But what's your take on kind of how this went down and what do you make of the Lady huts chances of doing something fun.

Yeah, this is probably one of the worst draws that they could have gotten. You know, I think being able to get in that difficult eight to nine matchup is

And so you know, this is a tough task.

You know, I think this is this is one of those things where this Utah team can be good enough to be able to do it. They beat Notre Dame, who was ranked number one at one point this season. But at the same time, this team, you know, for as good as they have been in their three point shooting and their efficiency and everything that way, they often let the other team dictate the tone of the game.

And if the other team is going to be aggressive.

And kind of take control, Utah sometimes backs down and doesn't kind of fight back.

For this team to be able to go a long ways, they have to fight back. They have to be the aggressors. They have to play like.

They've got nothing to lose, and really they don't. Because this is a difficult path. And so if you can get out of that first round, if you can find a way to beat Indiana, you know, you've got to go into that South Carolina game just willing to do whatever it takes to be able to win. You obviously played South Carolina last year. You know what kind of team they are. You've at least had some scouting on them, but this is a different team. Both teams are. You know,

It's kind of a circle back around to where we

Him back and make sure he was taken care of.

So just the fact that Josh he said yes and the first choice for Mark Carlin is the choice that ultimately became the reality of who the coaches has to indicate that the questions that we all continue to have about what the state of the collective is must be healthier than some people consider.

And look, I want to be clear, I don't fully know. I mean this continues to be such a.

Difficult space to traverse that there's a website that pops up that talks about nil. You check it out and it's not really vetted. There's a report here there from a paper and you're like, what exactly does that mean? And you know, it's easy to look forty five miles down south and see the reports that they're paying aged advance is seven million dollars for five months of basketball or jaeg or demon and Cannon catching seven figures reportedly.

But what does I guess?

The way I'll ask it because I've talked to you about whether or not you have inside information or knowledge about what the numbers are and what the data says.

But what does Alex taking the job, I guess, say.

To you about the current health of the finances because without that you're dead.

You've got to have it, and you know that as well as anyone.

Yeah, I mean, I think this is one of those things where Alex isn't coming into this job just hoping that things are going to be good, right. I think this was a situation where obviously he was their number one target, and that's not like this is just something that fell into everybody's lap and it was like, oh cool, we got Alex. You know, he was out of a job and we're just pulling him in. You know, this was a very difficult process for both sides to be

About six million dollars.

Right.

That's one of those things where if you talking get to that range. They had about two million in IL last year. If you can get about six.

Million, that shows at least the commitment.

You know, that number is always going to continue to go up, it's never going to go down.

But at least if you can make those.

Assurances to say, hey, here's what we're doing, this is what we're going to be able to help you with. To me, that kind of eases Alex's mind a little bit to say, Look, I don't have to go from the NBA. I can come now because I feel confident about what they're doing. So I'm curious to see if we'll hear any about that tonight, you know, from Mark

Expectations are the cause of all problems in sports and in life. Write that down, kid, So Josh, let's set reasonable expectations year one Alex Jensen. And it's impossible to know because we don't even know who's playing for him and won't know for a number of months. But you know, the Big Twelve this year was probably the third best

That's a difficult question, I think in basketball because I think the natural, you know, point for everybody is all they have to get to the NCAA tournament, And well, I don't think that that's not possible. I think they're the challenge there of being able to make that the only metric, right to me, you know, Utah finishes the season in about ten to twenty eleventh.

You know, they're kind of mid to lower mid situation.

If you can get maybe into that second round by if you can get into you know, the top six, top four of the Big twelve next year, I think that would definitely show progress. You know, and that still means you're probably in the NCAA tournament and you're you're this top team. But I think this team that is closer than many people expect, they just didn't have a lot of the players that could get them kind of

The in the tournament. Is he Rick Putino? Probably not.

But I think, you know, you've got to be able to build those expectations where if you can look back on it and you can say this is the team that is clearly progressing, they're not necessarily taking step back after they win big games, then I think it's it's you know, shows progress. You know, is that an exact figure.

Of, oh, they have to hit this many wins?

I don't know.

Obviously twenty wins would.

Be a great opportunity, but I don't know that there's any set metrics here. I think it's more of just kind of a general vibe of how this team is going, because the realistic expectation is, you know, they probably won't

Right, Josh.

Final thing, I am sitting in the John M. Huntsman Center, which is a beautiful building rich in history. I went out to the water fountain to get some water, and it looked like a cal urinated in my now gene bottle fifty five years old. Okay, So, like, let's be honest, we all love the Huntsman Center a number of different awesome memories. Every time I walk in here, I'm overwhelmed with memories on a number of different levels. But there

What do you think it means for the community.

Yeah, I mean it's it's tough to lose, you know, buildings of history, right. I mean, obviously you can point to the Larry Bird you know, magic game. You know, I think that one's a big one. There was NCAA Championships one there. In gymnastics, there's there's phenomenal games that have been played in there just in the recent you know history of basketball and such, and so I think it's tough to be able to lose a venue like that. But the reality is is it's a venue that is aging.

Go, Josh, you are the man. Appreciate the time, have a great week, and we'll get you on soon.

That was good, man, Appreciate it all right.

Josh Furlong covers the youths for KSL. You can get him on social media to follow all of his work. If you're a youth fan, he's a must follow at JFURKSSL. That's where you find and brought to you today our friends at IFA Country Stores. Spring is here and like any good coach, it's time to put together a game plan for a healthy yard. IFA's four plus long care program is locally blended and formulated for Utah soils. It's

One thing you'll never be.

Able to say about me is that I was not committed to a bit and maybe overly committed to bits. But if that's if that's going to be my oh bit, overly committed a bit than me and Larry David are in good company, all right, our next guest.

That's kind of the theme song at this point.

And you know why by now, Roxy Bernstein, my friend, Happy Monday, sir, how are you ben?

You gotta play that instead of the Crows?

I mean, oh, you know, okay, you.

Know what, not just saying now, it's fair, it's fair.

Maybe we just need to retire the rem brands because you do have a beef with Cortney Cox, which makes you one of the most fascinating broadcasters I've ever interviewed.

And simply just play the music of one of your best friends. I can allow that moving forward. If that's if that's your call, Roxy, I can adjust.

I can. I can get over it while I'm talking to you.

Has that I love it?

I love it all right, my friend. I am sitting here live in the John M. Huntsman Center. Last week we prepare for tonight's introductory press conference, where Alex Jensen will be introduced as the seventeenth head coach in the history of the Utah men's basketball program. So before I get to some the questions, Roxie, I just wonder what you personally make of this hire.

I like to hire a lot, and look, I didn't necessarily agree with the parting of the ways with Craig Smith, but I understand Mark Harlan's got tough decisions to make and that's why he's in that position. And I'm just offering my thirty thousand foot view of the situation because I do think Craig is a terrific coach. And look, obviously Mark knows more about the situation than I do. And feeling it wasn't working out with Craig and so they turned the page. And I do hear great things

So by all accounts, this is a home run higher for Utah.

I wonder Roxy from your vantage point, because I referenced this earlier when I was teasing you as a guest.

You've called a lot of games in this building.

You've called a lot of ute games over the years, both in the pack and now by the way that workload during the Big twelve tournament. Nice work, But we'll get there in a moment. You've called a lot of youte games over the years. What do you make of the dormant energy For the most part, the Utah basketball has had to make its way through And look, there have been moments in time. I always want to be fair when I bring this up. I mean, you can go back to jacko Letti with Boga. You can talk

Well, first off, you got poles to take into account. Spence, as you know, the level of competition has stepped up to go for the Mountain West. Now it will to the Pac twelve and now to the Big Twelve, which many people think has been the best basketball conference in college basketball the last ten years with the success that schools have had in the commitment that schools have made, and that's the big thing for me is the commitment.

Unfortunately.

Yeah, and I'm glad you brought that up, and I wanted to follow up with this because ultimately, unless you have access to the Utah leg Department financials and your DOCU sign I'm not going to ask you for specifics, but I will ask you just kind of generally speak what sort of questions you think Alex Jensen taking this job answers, because look, like you said about Jason Kidd, I have contacts in Dallas, and I've known Alex for years. He was Quinn Snyder's number one assistant during the Gobaron

Does that make sense.

That's a very valid way to look at it.

Yes, I agree, because Alex Jensen's not going to leave a situation to even though it's his alma mater and his love for the University of Utah, if there isn't a commitment and they have to be more committed, then I think they've been because if you're stepping into a league now where you look around and you know Kansas isn't cutting corners, and I'm not expecting the University of Utah to be Kansas year and year out one of

I guarantee A Baylor has put forth a lot.

Of revenue and to not just Okay VJ edgecomb this year and the talent that they have, but they have a sparkling new arena which is fabulous that in a practice facility. So the commitment is there from the other schools, and if you're going to be on par with that, you're going to have to be connected to your donor base, to your fan base and know that there is from the top down the urge to win within the department.

He was not going to take this job, really was not anticipating this becoming a potential. But it's interesting he considered Josh Eilert as an option for Alex as an assistant coach. So, as you know, Roxy, after Craig was dismissed, coach Eiler was elevated as the interim And look, it was the same thing when they fired coach lud and Mike Pajakian took over as the play caller, and Mike addressed the media and he's like, hey, it's Andy System.

There's really nothing I can do.

And we're like, yeah, I mean, so I wasn't expecting Josh Eiler to coach this team to a Big Twelve championship what have you? But Josh played in the Big Twelve, he coached at West Virginia and knows the Big Twelve. What do you make of the potential of Alex looking at Josh Eiland as one of his assistants because he moved his family here.

And I'm sorry to continue to bring this up.

I just think we do such a poor job of acknowledging the human element of situations like this.

And I talked to Josh about it at the Big Twelve Tournament last Monday, that we were sitting there in preparation for the Utah game in the Big Twelve Tournament against UCF on Tuesday, about what he's been dealing with,

And usually you see.

One guy as a holdover, and it makes sense that Eilert would be the guy, but you never know. But Josh gave up a lot to come to Salt Lake City, and he and Craig Smith went back a long way, even though they never worked together before, but they had a relationship and that's partly what brought Josh Eilerd out to the University of Utah. And I think he's done a good job. And it can't be easy, right you

And then he had to keep that locker room together.

He could easily fracture and split, especially when you look at Greg's.

Son is on the team in Brady.

One of his other sons is the director of operations, and that makes it I think even more challenging. But credit to those kids, credit to the Smith family. They came to work, they showed up. I thought Tommy Lloyd is impassioned postgame press conference down in Ducson. The game after where Eiler took over was incredible to watch and the emotion it was genuine and the respect he had for Craig, and he said, I asked Tommy about it. Also, Tommy said, look, I'm friendly with Craig. I wouldn't call

Or a question about our basketball team that plays its basketball here in the Huntsman Center.

Then we got a team about forty miles that we got to talk about.

But you know, Roxy, I know you don't watch every Utah game, but you called some and you saw a lot, and you pay attention.

So I'm just gonna run down this list.

Ezrasar, who had some really bright moments, including a career night against Brigham Young in this building earlier this year. Keanu Dawes, who coach Eyler, played more than Craig did and had three double doubles in his final five games, including a monster game Round.

One of the Big Twelve tournament. And then there's Miir Little.

There's also Mike trav Jamps and then Jake Walleen, who did announce that he is officially in the transfer portal. If you're Alex Jensen, those players catching your eye, you want to see what you can do to get some of that talent back in the fold next.

Year, no question.

Ezra sar I thought showed a lot this year with his physicality, his toughness, his he's got that old band game spence where look, he's not going to dazzle with his athleticism and is soaring dunks even though he can dunk, but he does so much work below the rim and with his feet and his smarts. He is a fun player to watch and he's kind of a throwback guy. And you pair him with Keanu Dawes, who really emerged

But I've talked to some.

NBA people there's something there with Jake Quallen, and there is even though what he played sparingly last year started to come on this year a little bit. He has a bright future and that's another key piece. If you're Alex Jensen, you need some foundational pieces to build around. Those three guys would give you a really good start, and Sharott Jobs is such an interesting matchup because of his size. The only criticism I haves I wish Sharott

One more I actually have one more youth thing. Then we'll get over to the BYU side.

Because I am wondering Roxley, from your vantage point as a vent in this business, what you would say to the fan base about a reasonable expectation. Expectations are the main cause of misery in life and in sports. I'm just dropping life knowledge here on a show on a Monday Roxy. But you know, ultimately, as you outline the Big Twelve, it wasn't the best conference this year, that was the SEC. But if it wasn't three, it was two, and next year it could be one, and year after

I think you're just looking to see progress right that because your one is here to come in and put his foundation in place, and you want to see that grow in your one. I'm not expecting you taw to be a tournament team right away now, as we know in this day and age with the transfer portal and getting guys on campus that it can happen quickly and it makes it challenging. As you alluded to, you're in the Big twelve, but your one needs to be progressed the team gets better, that the foundation.

For the future is going to get laid and.

With what Alex Jensen wants.

To implement, how he's going to run the program. That's the thing.

Does he played an exciting style of basketball?

Is there a connection to the fan base?

Those are the key things that I think fans want to see that he has committed that there is that likability factor, but also you can identify with him, and there's that connection that outreach from the program to the fan slash donor base.

All right, let's move over now because we have you know, we have a couple of teams playing some fun postseason basketball, all due respect to the College Basketball Crown where Utah will be.

So BYU runs off nine of their final ten.

They ran into a Houston team and roxy, I'll just say this, man, like every time I've watched Houston play this year, I have just felt fundamentally horrible for the other team.

You know, Utah.

Utah went into their gym and at one point I think had three buckets and eight turnovers.

Brigham Young went down there and got undressed earlier.

So look, obviously Houston is another level and does BYU have that level with that strength, that athleticism. I have questions there, But they get in as a six seed taken on VCU. They were a six seed last year. They played the eight ten Champs last year in Duquane and lost. Ryan otum Our old buddy from Utah State, has a veteran squad with great guard play, and b YU is only a three point five point favor They

It seems trendy to pick VCU, and when people are looking for upsets in their bracket. The one the fact that nobody's really talking about is playing in Denver, playing in the altitude. That is a significant advantage I think for BYU, when VCU probably hasn't experienced it. Certainly Ryan otam has having spent time up the road, but his players haven't, and that is I think a bit on the second half and at some point. Look, you've seen it over the years, whether it's in Salt Lake City

And that's a big question.

And I give a big advantage to BYU because of where the game is being played. But this is a BYU team that has improved as the season has gone on. They've gotten better as they've understanded Kevin Young's system, and they're spacing offensively, and they're cutting and their movement.

You loud to the depth that they have.

They're too deep at every position, and they'll play eleven guys. I like this matchup for BYU for those reasons. You loud to the experienced guard play that DCU has, and they shoot the three well, but so does BYU and BYU I just I think this is a good matchup for them. I thought last year's was too, to be honest with you, it didn't work out that way, But for a few reasons, I like BYU in this one.

Seven Big twelve teams make the tournament. I think the Vegas preseason line was nine point five. Would you characterize this as a down year for the Big Twelve?

Top to bottom.

I mean, look, there's some elite teams I want to talk about, but seven teams get in.

Is that a down year for the Big twelve, for the.

Way it's gone recently? Yes, and also the infusion of the four new teams, especially a team like Arizona coming in, which has had so much success that I thought there'd be more. And frankly, West Virginia got the short end of his day. West Virginia should have been in, especially over North Carolina.

But that's a whole nother conversation and why that took place.

But so it should have been eight.

There's seven.

I do think that Houston has a real good chance to get.

To the Final four.

I would rule out Arizona. I think the East bracket is pretty wide open, and I just I like the way Arizona was playing down the stretch. And look, Tommy Lloyd's teams haven't lived up to the hype in terms of the postseason, and Sean Miller never got to a Final four as well when he was at Arizona. But I think the Wildcats have a chance to get through because of the draw and because of the way they're playing right now. And you could all of a sudden

Think that changes.

But at this point right now, you'd have to consider it a little bit of a down year because of the success that the league has had recently.

So your reference Arizona.

I will follow up though, just about Houston, and you know, Kelvin Samson had a good team last year. They lost the Jamal sched Kidd prior to the tournament, and you got to have health this time of year. And we'll see what happens with Cooper Flagg. I don't know why they play them on Friday. I think they sit them and let them play Sunday after they just beat up on the winner of the sixteen playing game.

But if Houston is able to remain.

Healthy, it's like I said, man, I've watched Houston games this year and I've honestly felt bad for the team they're playing against. You know, like they're that level of physical, that level of tough they can guard. I think they're getting Juwan Roberts back as they sat in the final couple of games in the Big Twelve Tournament. But what has to fall in place for Houston to go win the thing, which I think they.

Can well health because that was what derailed them last year. If Shed doesn't get hurt last year, to me, I think they have a real chance to win it.

Now.

It would have been tough because of how good Yukon was, but I do believe that changed the complete dynamic because he was the quote unquote ahead of his name, right. That's what Shed was for Calvin Sampson last year, and that's what Milos Uzan is this year coming in from Oklahoma. So to get Roberts back. The one thing that I look at this Houston team a little bit differently than last year.

As good as they are defensively.

I think they were better last year. This is a better offensive team, spence than it was last year. Look at their three point shooting numbers. Houston shoots the three at about forty percent and that cannot get old. Looked with guys like Emmanuel Sharp and with LJ. Cryer, they can really shoot the ball, and that changes I think the way you have to look at this Houston team and Kelvin Sampson's been closed, right, He's had great teams.

Right, they lost to.

San Diego State, and they lost to Alabama, and they lost to the number one team in the country. And four and three, people were kind of forgetting about them, and they were.

Fine with that.

And then all of a sudden, they rip off with nineteen of the next twenty games, and they only lost the rest of the way was an overtime game at home to Texas tack who finishes the two seed in the Big Twelve. This is a real tough team to play against in so many ways. And I think, to me, in my bracket, I've got them going to the National Championship Game. I don't have them winning it, even though

I'll ask you about two more teams in one question. Both are on the three line. And you know, the first game I watched this year of Iowa States was against Auburn when they nearly beat him. They lost that game, but that was the only game they lost in their first I think sixteen games. And during that sixteen game stretch, they had to win over Kansas, who was top ten at the time. Mark Cavy was top five at the time,

Well, the concerning thing for both teams spends his health. Because Keishawn Gilbert is hurt. He's not going to play this weekend for Iowa State. You look at Texas Tech, Darien Williams and Chance McMillan didn't finish the Big Twelve tournaments, so that has to be a concern for both tj Osselberger and Grant McCaslin going into the tournament. I do believe that McMillan and Darien Williams will be good to go. Is everything I hear from Texas Tech, and they're a threat.

Now.

I think they have the tough bracket being in the West, but this has the makeup of a team that can get to the Final four because of how this team plays together. They have the player of the year in the Big Twelve and JT.

Toppin.

They have good guard play. Christian Anderson, the freshman has a chance to be an NBA player. This is a well coached, defined a team in terms of knowing their roles. And then you look at Iowa State. They're tough to match up up against because most of their parts are interchangeable. But if you take Keishawn Gilbert out, I have some reservations about how far they can go. And I have concerns can Iowa State get out of the first weekend without Gilbert because he does so much for that team,

I have concerns.

I have more concerns about Iowa.

State than I do about Texas Tech.

At this point, Roxley, one more question and I'll set you loose, And it's a bit of a non sequitur because I want to ask you real quick.

We are Hockey Town, USA, with a rich history of about.

Ten months here pro Hockey Detroit.

Indeed, I mean, look, they've got their argument. I get it, Okay, I understand it, but ultimately it's moved out west to the Rocky Mountains and Roxy here we are two points back now both the Canucks and the Blues, who have come out as of late and on even numbers as far as games played with both Vancouver actually Saint Louis has one more game, so we're still in the mix.

It's gonna be tough. I mean, I mean, you look at two points with sixteen seventeen games left.

And you think, yeah, you can overcome that, but you know, you got to win a regulation, you got to win home. You gotta do some things that the Utah Hockey Club has struggled as a young group. But what do you make where we find ourselves and is there's still a good chance that we could see playoff hockey in hockey.

Town in USA.

Here in sal there's a chance, sure, because right now you're the Last time we talked, they were about what six points out. They're just two points back. But there's a logjam of teams right that. You have the Canucks, you have the Blues who are starting to get I think playing some really good hockey. Saint Louis has won a couple in a row and seven of their last ten. Calgary is an interesting team to me in this race because the Flames have two games in hand on Utah

You have to win those in regulation.

Roxie, you are the man. Always appreciate the time. Thanks. What's your next assignment? What do you got coming up on tap?

I may have some nit this weekend.

I'm waiting to find out if not.

I am actually headed to Fargo next week for NCAA hockey en route to the Frozen Four as the NCAA Hockey Regionals. I'll be in Fargo, North Dakota.

There you go. Never a dull moment. One of the hardest working men of the business. Thank you, my friend.

Be well, Okay, you guys spent any time.

But Roxy Bernstein, our buddy from the Pac twelve network back in the day, had a yeoman's workload for the Big twelve Championship does college hockey. As you heard, he's a busy guy and I always appreciate his time. You can find him on social media, which is just just his name at roxy Bernstein is where you find him.

All right. We are live today at the John M.

Huntsman Center on the historic campus of the University of Utah, a building that's gonna get a bit of a facelift coming up a little bit. We are preparing for the introductory press conference of Alex Jensen. He's going to be introduced as the seventeenth heed coach in the history of Utah men's basketball. The panel, the dais, the table, everything's set up looking good. Bill's gonna see it. And two

And I that's my guest.

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I'm really happy for Aj. He's a great coach. I know that he has a lot of pride in the Utah program. It's going to be fun to watch him build it. You see, the college game has changed a lot. I don't pretend to be an expert on that at all, but all the narratives around college basketball and how the teams are built changed a ton But I think that Alex is a really you know, has a really creative mindset when it comes to how to run a team. He's incredibly smart. He's able to be flexible when things

I we're live today from the John M.

Huntsman Center preparing for tonight's introductory press conference for Alex Jensen, introduced as a seventeenth third coach in Utah men's basketball history. The press conference will get rolling at about six o'clock tonight.

Bill Riley will be the MC.

I'm not sure which other ute legends will be in attendance, but the buzz around town certainly is palpable. I think a lot of former utes will be here, certainly Alex, his wife Natalie, and their family here at the Huntsman Center.

So stay tuned for that coming your way at about six o'clock tonight.

And that was Will Hardy who spoke about Alex Jensen during a Jazz postgame press conference.

When I asked the question of the.

Higher Alex worked for Will for one year, and it's interesting to hear Will talk about Alex in those types of terms because Alex wanted to stay and Will was

The higher seeds.

South Carolina under Don Staley obviously won the national championship a year ago, so should Utah beat Indiana, they're going to run into a buzz sauce. So we'll see what the Utah women's basketball program can do. But a couple of other tournament thoughts here. So BYU wins nine of their last ten basketball games, they certainly learned what the

Baker, that was a team that looked terrified.

To play against the physicality, the pressure, the speed, the defensive prowess of the Houston Cougars under Kelvin Sampson.

And you know, Diegor demon for all of his talent, and there's a lot to like about Yegor. You can see why pro scouts really like him. He is six' nine and all all of.

It he's a great, passer he's a skilled ball handler and a really good, playmaker doesn't shoot it well from the, outside but he just cowers away from any sort of. Pressure AND byu is going to see that AGAINST. VCU vcu is a good defensive basketball. Team they're one of the top twenty five defensive basketball teams in the. Country they actually lead the country in effective field goal percentage. Defense they're second against, twos and they've got three players

Is But doallen is a season big twelve point.

Guard that, is he's gone through the riggers of this conference, before and he does not back away from. Pressure the same thing goes For Trevin, nell who's only a spot up. Shooter he could not play Against. Houston kevin pulled. Him he played nineteen minutes even though he, starts and you, Know richie could never fully get. Going they tried some more downhill drives in the second half as opposed to relying on the, three because the three point shot was not.

Houston everybody else was just.

Lost SO i know SOME byu fans are upset that they only received a six. Seed here's WHAT i would say to. That first of, all y'all are mad about everything all the. Time have you ever been accurately seated college football playoff rolls?

Around? Oh we should have been. Higher, Okay now you get a six. Seed everybody's.

Crying, Okay, like look at your non conference. Schedule you played no conference and that is going to come back to bite. You what are they gonna reward you for a win Against queens In? Provo and then the startup conference play was not. Good they finished on. Fire but here's What i'd. Say IF i were A byu, Fan i'd be much more excited about the location.

Than the.

Seed so you're a sixth seed in The East, region but your first couple of games will be In. Denver you can get To denver from anywhere In utah in like seven, hours so it's a location where you can travel to and you can go support your. Team, now if you advance on the reason it's The East region is eventually if you do get to The sweet. Sixteen and by the, WAY i think there's a good shot FOR byu to advance to The sweet. Sixteen they get a pretty weak three seed in my opinion In wisconsin

Here there are a ton of rumors That Ryan odam is taking That virginia.

Job he's the head coach OF. Vcu he was the head coach Of Utah. State he's a hell of a coach. Man he's a really really good. Coach but there are already rumors that he has accepted THE uva. Job right and so if that's out, THERE i would imagine you're gonna have a tremendous amount of distractions for the roster in the. Meantime now back to WHAT vcu does well and why this could be. PROBLEMATIC vcu has four in their starting. Lineup three of those seniors are fifth year.

Ago, okay so they have great guard play and they have great.

Experience their best player is a Former Utah state aggie Named Max Max Shugla, shoegla excuse, me his Name, shugla and he was THE a Ten player of The. Year he leads them in, points, assists, steals three point field goal, percentage and he is their lead. Guard, okay so they've got a bunch of. Upperclassmen they're well, coached they've got good guard, play and they have experience from players who have made runs in THE ncaa.

Tournament and they have length and they. Guard.

Okay LIKE i, said they have three players that are six ten in their. Rotation they've Got Jack, clark who's a grad.

Transfer six to.

Ten Christian furman is six to ten as, well and their freshmen set a freshman record for block shots at the. Program he's actually a brit he's From. London And Ryan odham plays all three of these players that are six. Ten so if there's a reason for, excitement if you're A byu, fan the main.

Reason is if you can get out and play with.

PACE vcu cannot keep up AND byu wants to get out and play with.

Pace it's what they've been all year. Long they like to get out and.

Run one of the THINGS i do like ABOUT byu is they can beat you in a myriad of different. Ways but if they can get out and push the pace a little, bit if by you can get out and push the pace a little, bit and they can force these bigs to get up and down and don't get sucked into a half court, game which is WHAT vcu.

Wants you to. DO i THINK byu.

WINS i don't think they have to necessarily make it, threes BUT i do think they're gonna have to rely upon their spacing and their outside shot, because AS i, referenced vs u's bread and butter is getting you in the half court and protecting the rim with their, length and they take away layups and. Dunks they actually dare you to shoot, threes and if YOU'RE, byu you say thank, you because that's what we do. Well the fear is if it's and this is why this tournament is impossible to.

Best teams in college.

Basketball it might derail the run of The Duke Blue, devils who are expecting to Get cooper flag, back but they're also without one of their bigs moving forward because he dislocated his shoulder in THE Acc. Tournament and the other is if you just have a night where you cannot hit the broadside of a, barn if you're an outside shooting, team that's predicated on the, three and your three ball isn't.

There what do you do?

Now FOR byu most games this, year if they're not hitting their, three they've been able to bring in The Fus trairi kid off the bench and feed him down, low because he really is a. Beast the problem, IS i Think fus is probably six. Six If i'm, HONEST i think they listed him as six.' eight i'll look that up. REAL quick i think they listed him as six, 's eight maybe even. Six' nine but i've seen the kid a couple, of Different times and i'll say. He's SIX six if i, HAD to guess I Would say

Does?

That mean Uh if you're trayory and you're going up against bigs that aren't necessarily all that, big and long because of his footwork and his, ability to finish he's been able to stead the tie for them over the course of this year when they're not hitting their threes because he gets.

Buckets DOWN, Low against vcu he's.

Got three bigs that are, in the lineup oftentimes together that are.

All, Six' ten okay so this feels LIKE a.

Game where byu is Gonna Have to have trevin nell, Knock Down four threes richie. Saunders knocked, down three You know dieg or demon not. Go One For seven Get Dawson baker and dollen, Hall off the bench, mowatt mag you, Know all these guys boscovich who can, Shoot It, from three trey stewart who's an excellent defensive player but has knocked down some.

THREES over the past, a little bit like.

Get, those guys, open looks you know make sure you're, knocking DOWN your threes because i don't think you can win a HALF court game against vcu with. Their size AND strength and if byu is able to get THE, win taking on vcu their matchup round two Most likely would be wisconsin. As A three seed and i actually we'll. GET to this LATER i actually think byu matches up really Well. With with with wisconsin wisconsin Has. To get by MONTANA by the time Byu, tips off on thursday

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For the Latest news On, the university of utah keep it locked right here on The home Of the utes and utah's.

NUMBER one sports talk Espn seven hundred and.

We're live Today AT.

The Historic john m huntsman Center on a beautiful monday afternoon here on The campus Of.

The university of utah we're getting set for.

The Introductory press conference alex jensen coming up in just, less than two hours will be formally introduced as a seventeenth Head coach of the, Utah men's basketball program so. Stay tuned for that we're Expecting a bunch of ute legends in the house for. The Press or tonight the utah men will NOT be, in the Ncaa tournament but the utah women will for, the fourth Straight time Taking on indiana on friday morning.

At eleven thirty AM that.

Is on, espn two you can of course hear the game on our station with The home of the utes and the Head Coach, Of The, utah women gavin peterson good enough to give us Some, Time, on a monday coach?

How are?

You good doing great. Thanks for having me and it's all about preparation at.

This Point, for sure luke combs. You're, a, country.

Guy huh yes sir When He, came to rice echos me and my family went two, nights in.

A row very nice and if, There was a third i've probably been there on the.

THIRD and night, two i love it.

Got, love it man hey Before, we get to indiana before we get to the, tournament as a whole what's? YOUR experience, been like i mean you took over in circumstances that none of. Us REALLY saw, coming, so i wonder coach what you expected when you took the gig and what you've learned.

In, the month, SINCE yeah you know, i.

WAS with YOU guys i think i had forty eight hours notice before we told our team after we played One More, game under lynn roberts and so it kind of, caught me off guard but, AT the same, time, i am humbled honored and just thankful for the opportunity to lead this historically tradition rich program and continuing to build on The legacy that coach, roberts and, myself started you. Know ten seasons, ago so, really fortunate REALLY humbled, and

Basketball what we had to.

Do for that opponent and so, THAT really, allowed us i, think as a team, as a coaching staff to really kind of get comfortable in the new normal and just kind of. Pushed ON from there but i really didn't have any, expectations or you know we're going to, have to win this. Win that many games it was, let's do our best continue to build, on what we HAVE and absolutely the ncaa tournament was the destination that we're hoping, for and.

You know to continue on this team a little bit of what You and.

Coach rob a, built LIKE you know when i was in school, here in the nineties the expectation was for the men to make the tournament and then to make. Runs in the tournament and what you guys have done on, the women's side now your expectation every year is.

To, be a.

Tournament, Team isn't it yes and it's crazy because we've been here, now our, tenth season but yeah it's amazing to. Have those expectations now and, it just you know goes to, show that through recruiting, through the hard work having a vision and then believing in it and. Then recruiting to it if you just, stay of the course, it takes some time but if, you stay the course.

YOU'LL definitely reach.

That i want.

TO stay in that i want to, elaborate because you know you referenced a decade now and it.

Was a slow build it.

Was a long game It was Brick By brick and alex jensen is going to be introduced tonight as the next Head coach of the, utah men's basketball program and he is going to be tasked. With a, SIMILAR build and look i don't. KNOW what to expect i don't know what. PLAYERS are coming back i have no idea

Seen, before on, campus.

Yeah you know it's a great time to be a women's basketball.

Player throughout the, country But you know when, lynn and you know myself and, Our Director of operations kendall rodriguez were the only we were the only three.

At the start of the season that. Are still on staff now It's.

Just me and, Kendall, but you know lynn, we had our meeting, we had our, vision and you know year one was we wanted. To win, the community year two we wanted to. Win the recruiting battles and then year three we're. Gonna start winning, games and you know, Believe IT or not like i, Thought that first year lind did a tremendous job with her leadership and we were able to win eighteen games we, thought we, might have

Pull the Community, IN so with alex i think.

He's already got that he's probably one step ahead of us because he, Has that name recognition, he is an alum he played here during those, great men's basketball days and so the community is always gonna be there and going. TO rally around him i think it's just about now creating a culture and then establishing what, your non negotiables are which we did as, a women's basketball program and then. Just sticking, to that and yes there are gonna be,

With what you know you got to have a.

Set Of non negotiables and lynn was always big on we're going to protect our, culture at all costs and we HAVE and that's something i continue to do in terms, of continuing this program and we're gonna, have a. Strong culture great foundation we're gonna have a good bunch of kids that not, only can play basketball, but they're, great people great students and the community is going to be.

Really proud about them.

You REFERENCE the process of i think you said re, recruiting the players right because you have a lot of, talent ON your, roster and i wonder and you don't have to get into specifics because what happens behind closed doors. Happen behind closed Doors but when coach rob got this opportunity which you, COULDN'T say, no to i mean you understand why she did, what she did obviously what was that process to ensure some of the top shelf talent on.

Your roster that they are in the right place if.

They, just trust, YOU yeah you know i think, in, college basketball men. Women it doesn't matter it really is. ABOUT their relationship Piece i think WITH lynn taking that WNBA Job, WITH the la sparks i truly believe for the first time maybe in those, recruits and their families they saw the.

Business side OF things so what i HAD to do was i had.

To rally our staff we had to get kind of everybody back on Board, in terms of okay, this is our vision this, is what we're doing this is what we're going. To continue to do and then we just had to make sure that at the, end of the day our recruits heard from. Us face to face in terms of the relationships. We already have established that's. Not going to change, lynn has moved on and again we. Were happy for her i'm excited to see her leave

Just locked them in.

You're, a HEAD coach now and i don't want to put you in any, sort of a box but if my, memory Serves Me correctly when coach rob, was the head coach you were kind of in, charge. Of the defense right that was, kind, OF your, deal right i mean that was, KIND of, YOUR role i guess i mean maybe that was just, what. We Were told right so i'm wondering how your approach has changed after, moving over one.

Seat, if at.

All yeah we we.

WORKED really well together i mean this was this was the start of Our twelfth season, Together lynn and myself so we.

Work really well together we still.

Have a great, Relationship she'll text, me i'll, call her text, her and you know she always, checks IN on me. Which i really appreciate but in terms of now, Sliding over a chair i'm now responsible, for calling our offense having an offensive game, plan and put together WHEREAS in the past i.

Was just mister suggestion like, it's easy.

To suggest, harder to you know make a decision with not necessarily having the, result based you know. Factor determining those decisions so that's. Been the hardest, PART and you know i have A Great, staff in ryan larson who We got away from wyoming six, Games Into, the Year Jordan, sullivan and morgan bailey and they do a great job of continuing. To prep our team so they take up or pick up a lot of the slack now on

Every team most every, team in college basketball Your season has eb, dennis flowed, and yeah you know more success than, twenty two and eight thirteen and five in conference.

Is a Fine year here's how. I'll pose the question when, you guys.

Are flying when you're, running through you know two of your winning streaks there were, more than five games what? Are you doing well and when it, goes the other way what are some things that maybe?

You lose sight of.

If, THAT makes sense yeah i think during those, stretches in, the season you know obviously the opponents to. Play A big factor but i do feel, when we are flowing we are. Moving the ball offensively we are not allowing our defensive, success or, you know non success affect our.

Maybe other teams scoring we were allowing that to.

Kind of affect our offensive, rhythm AND offensive flow and i think we kind of maybe start to, overthink a little bit play a little.

Passive on our heels and that's not when, we're kind of average.

If you ask me but, when, we are, firing running you know, end line in line, and pushing our pace taking shots that are, good shots for us and we're just, playing fearless and confident that's when.

We're at our best you ran through a good streak before the end of the year where you did, lose three or five, AND to your point i never want to take credit. Away From, An Opponent oklahoma state. WEST virginia good Teams I think the texas tech game is the one that people were a little bit confused about because. YOU'RE a superior team i think you, play them ten times.

I Think You know the west virginia game was that.

Was an interesting trip it's a, hard place to play and if you take a deep, dive into their numbers like they're.

Really unbeatable at home so that, Was like a Wow welcome.

To the big twelve moment for us towards the, end of, the Year You know the oklahoma, state game at home.

That that, one hurt you know we're leading for the.

MAJORITY of the game i think we're probably leading close, to thirty five minutes and then they took the lead and we weren't able to get that lead back towards the. End of the game, and, Then You. Know yeah, texas tech you know we looked, ourselves in the, mirror our, coaching STAFF our, players and i think, to BE brutally honest is i think we were playing with a lot of pressure and we were, playing not to lose and you could see it on my, face as a coach

A must win game it's you want to win and.

You're playing to WIN so that's what, i got, to remind you know our Coaching staff myself and looted, and our, players just you know let's.

Go play to.

Win let's be fearless we know how to play basketball the right way because we've done it over a.

Long period of time we have.

A lot of experience our, senior leadership is phenomenal our upperclassmen.

Are very good, in what they do and so just relying on that and having fun with the moment.

And let it fly so your reward, for YOUR season, is like i REFERENCED the fourth straight ncaa. Birth in four Years now, for the untah Women. You're taking on indiana. You're the eighth seed. Indiana's the nine, Seed Their, head coach terry morien has been there, for a decade. Now since twenty fourteen so let's, start with and look we all, watch the live feed so we all saw. THAT you acted excited I don't know that i've ever seen one of those live shots where. Team's, like bummed out no you're.

Think it's always refreshing to play a team that you, haven't played before either that is. Part of the excitement and then when we get to, Go To You, know Columbia south carolina, like i've said before like that is the premier destination right.

Now in women's, basketball they are.

Basketball women's basketball fans they will be, there For our game and i'm hoping they remember us from a couple of years ago when we Played Them At the mohegan sun and even.

Though We, don't have alyssa peely we do have a lot of the.

Same PLAYERS in uniform so i hope that we get a little bit of their support. In that earlier, game and you know and it's going to be a great, ATMOSPHERE and our kids i want. Them to, EMBRACE it and again i, think this senior CLASS they're fourth straight ncaa tournament and they've also won every first round. Game that they've played so it's kind of cool that they're continuing to leave their legacy.

And leave their, mark and you know our charge.

Is to CONTINUE this and like i told said to the audience last night at, our selection show, parties like you know we want to host and so we're gonna work hard, in the off season, and so next year, fast forward a year hopefully we're doing this again and.

Maybe we get.

Hosts do you like the dynamic of a team hosting juxtaposed to the way? THE men, do it i mean do you have a preference or is it just like, This Is our format so i'm.

Just.

Gonna, EMBRACE it yeah well i think with the, growth of women's basketball it's worth them revisiting. It IN due time but i think right now it's a proven method where you're filling the stands and, that's what you, know all the players, all the coaching staffs they want to play in front, of a packed house and so it. Is what it is but also, at the same time now you have one, through sixteen they're hosting but you

A texas you CAN.

Throw In An lsu obviously south carolina your perennial national Champions or your pernial, Final four appearance makers like there are so many really really good Teams and In THE big twelve. Baylor tcu. This YEAR who KNOWS so i think i like the way, it is right, now and you know the continued, growth of women's basketball.

Then maybe you might be able to do something.

Along the men's side let me ask YOU about that because i have a brother and he and His, Wife, live in carmel indiana and, they have six Children and they, have fever season, tickets and you know they have their boys who Are Teenage boys.

Have kaitlin, Clark jerseys you know I'm The little girl.

Martha may. Loves basketball She's Seven. She loves kaitlan clark, but from my perspective growing up around pro sports and being in this, industry for twenty years it's, one thing to have like A Seminal moment when cheryl miller goes For a million or cheryl, Swoops Is. You know dinah tarassa you have all these moments where these players rise up and you win a gold medal.

Or what have you this. Feels like it's different it.

Feels like it's look valuations are different for women's soccer teams. And women's basketball teams they're going for tens. Of millions, of dollars the ratings the numbers. Say what, they, say YOU know. EVERYBODY and i don't i don't know what You Make of. The caitlin clark topic from a, media side of things sometimes it gets a little exhausting because you can tell there are people chiming in on women's basketball that have never watched.

The second of it but.

It's pretty undeniable that there is something happening with your sport and this genre that.

Isn't just a snapshot is that fair to say?

WHAT you're ye, this i believe, so and you know to take, IT a step Further I, think before Caitlyn Clark you Had sabrina yessa at oregon and, she WAS you know on espn it was the triple double watch and then her senior year that TOURNAMENT, Gets cut short covid SO it was already i think along those lines and that, trajectory of you, know on THE rise and Then I think with caitlyn clark coming in and then just doing what she did on the Basketball court and

Three to, four, years ALL.

Right coach before, I Set you loose cavin. Peterson Is Way us the Utah women Take on, indiana on friday. MORNING eleven thirty am ESPN two, for the tv side our station. FOR the radio side i Know, We're, FOCUSED on indiana, Yes i get it that's, all, We care about right We're just focused on indiana because If, you can't beat indiana YOU wouldn't have what i would perceive to.

Don STALEY has, Built, Like, I.

Said indiana indiana, INDIANA you're a coach i know, How you people think but how do you get, your, girls to say look We're only focused on indiana and not what the.

Next, round COULD bring.

YEAH and i think i think our kids are pretty locked in. To the next opponent it's kind of been, that way all season so it really shocked me if we. Started TO look ahead so i think our coaching staff will do a good job of making sure, we are narrow focused Laser. Focused in on, indiana but you, know to think ahead it would just be an amazing opportunity,

Moment during that game so.

There's something we want to continue to build This, Program here at, utah and you know what. Better way to go look at don stay in her program and take a look at like what they, got going on, there and, be like all right let's try To Deliver That, To, salt lake city Utah home of the.

Utah, youth for sure hey congrats, on a great year. Thanks for Stopping, Buying.

Good luck friday.

Thank you so much Good luck only against, Indiana coach All, right gavin not peterson The head. Coach in utah women brought To You, today by Advanced windows which is utah's number. One window, Replacement Company, our guy nate Orchard The Mayor, of sac. Lake city former great you can get up to twenty five hundred dollars off when you buy. Ten Windows Or more, local salt, Lake Company, Good People, nate orchard. Jake weber great families they're here to take care of.

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Utah breaking news the seventy six Ers Are shutting down paul george for the.

REST of the season nba basketball where a court of. The teams aren't serious we're Live TODAY.

At The john m huntsman's center in preparation, for the historic Day The, introduction of alex jensen the seventeenth Head coach of the. Utah men's basketball program our next guest is well qualified to. Talk about the hire he worked With Him at the jazz smithy also knows the Bio arrhythms Of. The University of utah Richard Smith, On A, monday, afternoonsmity happy monday sir?

How are you.

STANCE we're doing good i appreciate. You having me on it's fun to BE able to be i with you on a day when one of my good friends is getting introduced as the Head coach Of. The university of utah it's a, great day for him but even better day. Probably for the university so.

Let's.

Dig INTO it, smidia as i referenced you spent a number Of Years with the utah, jazz FORTY in total and i. Believe nine of those you Were A, coworker with alex jensen who was The Lead, assistant under Quinn snyder and then alex Spent One year with will hardy Before. Heading down to dallas what do? We need to know what Should We, know about alex jensen the coach and the person as somebody who. Worked closely with him what would you say to our community about the what they should know about.

Their, new head coach, Well first Of all i've known alex ever since he was a a Player after, you for rick mcjerris and of course then he went to played overseas for, a number of years and then when he came back, and got into coaching he actually was working With Coach Mcjerifs at saint louis, university and then uh and then ended UP Going to the g league AND BEING An Nba u g League coach of the year, while he was there before He, got to the, jazz and he's uh he's not only got, a great basketball

GOOD stuff there smidia i wonder how you would characterize because we've been talking about reasonable Expectations, right away for alex and this is a question as We Sit Here. On saint patrick's day it's difficult to fully answer because there are a number of months before the start of next year and we have no idea Who's. Gonna play for alex we don't know how many of these young men that are on the roster. Now will come back

As, alex's head coach.

Well you'll you'll see a team that's going to be steeped. In in the fundamentals That's what that's a he grew up on. Playing. For coach mcjerris uh and then, when he you know, in his coaching career when HE Was, in the g league he WAS Not Only the g League, coach of the year but he also they had the best DEFENSIVE Team. In the g league and so you combine that within His His work with Quinn snyder and

They.

Wanted him To uh that's what alex's biggest deal is going to have to be is to surround himself with a, group of, people coaches nil people the people on your staff that can help you to get the players that you need to. Be able to compete the, coaching will be there the basketball. Component will be present they're just going to have to be able to get the players they need to have the talent and the skill level to be able to play, and be, able to you

A lot of success, From, Your vantage point smindy i've been talking about this, today with our guests and you know a lot of People There, at the huntsman center whatever part of the ecosystem you kind of Exist in With, the university of utah if, you're a former player, if you're an alum if, you're a current student if, you are a booster if you're, a season ticket holder or if you, just go to games or if you cover games like we do, on the media side it feels

I should say and consistently applauded. As the right move does it feel?

THAT way, to you i mean this is a basketball community that's badly in need of some sort, of shot of life and it kind Of Feels like the alex jensen news has been a little bit of that shot that.

Maybe, this, COMMUNITY needs.

Yeah well i again he's a guy that everybody. In the community knows they. Know of his background he's not a, guy who's, coming in you know from the outside who's trying to ingratiate himself with the fan base or or get people to. Know who He. Is everybody knows alex, he's a. Homegrown guy you know but, at the same time sometimes, those things, also come you know with their

The job that.

They're doing Down there he and alex and his staff at the you is going to have to look at it with that kind of mindset to be able to figure out how they can go about creating that kind of excitement in their program to want to have players around the country who Want to look at utah and want to come and be part of the history And the fabric that utah basketball has been for so. Long in this community let.

Me Ask You maybe and richard smith is with us Forty years with. The jazz front office nine of those Years Spent. Working with alex jensen a lot Of conversation about what alex's staff is. Going To look like and i'm old Enough To remember when jerry sloan had Two Assistant Coaches And don magic finger sparks WAS the trainer and tc and away we.

Go and we're good.

That's, all we need well now there is a traveling party where the coaches take up an entire. Wing of the plane it's a. Different Day and age, and I'VE said before and i have. NO problem saying THIS i know that yout fans might get in their feelings about whether or not They should copy.

What, BYU has done well.

I Think they should and kevin's staff IS comprised OF Former nba and g league, Coaches on the bench IT'S comprised of former.

Nba people in their.

Strength and conditioning office it's comprised of A nutritionist that Followed Kevin. From the phoenix suns and there are a Lot Of, conversations about andre MILLER Who's coaching the. G league right now there's some other, their names out There, but generally speakings mandy what sort of staff would You like to see alex around himself with to give him the best chance to.

Make, this thing right.

Well he's gonna he's gonna be able to get the kind of people he wants to be able to work with him and have the same mindset in the same. Vision that he has the really thing that the thing, it Boils down to uh spence is as, simplistic as it sounds and much TO my cagrin because i, don't like saying this but you have to in this day and, age in college basketball you have to have the financial BACKING in your ni l and your your your approach to be able to to get players. From a financial

IN the near future i know you actually just Kind of answered what i'm about, to ASK you again but i do want to ELABORATE on it Because i feel like Alex taking the job smithy is an indicator that things, are good financially economically and the, state of you, know the Athletic Department and what mark carlin And whoever else promised alex that they would.

Allocate towards his success do you read?

It The same way because i've been told by more than A few People that dallas liked Alex and they, wanted Alex to Stay and alex and Natalie. Enjoyed, LIVING in dallas like i don't think this was a desperation job grab from a guy who had a that he. Liked an awful lot so the fact that he simply, just took the job doesn't that indicate to you that the promises that were, made are you know in place as far as the economic viability of, where, THIS program is.

Well, I would think so i would think he wouldn't go into a job where he thought that it's going to be really an uphill climb for him and that he's going to, have a, hard time you know getting to any kind of. A level of success so so that would that would seem, to be you know part and parcel with with the decision to take The offer That the university. OF utae gave him i, do think,

Game on the, Byu SIDE of, things and i agree you can GET salty that maybe byu was ahead of the, curve on this.

Stuff, but it doesn't look it. DOESN'T matter.

What level i mean for years, And years and years i've heard front offices openly talk about copycat formulas to try to figure out what one team, is doing really well how can we.

Get some of THAT so complain.

About byu figuring it, Out all you want but they seem to be ahead of the curve with a, couple of different things and, as you, articulated earlier very well it's been a good run for them and doesn't look like.

It's.

ENDING anytime soon NOW i know some byu fans were upset with the sixth seed, because if you know if it's a day THAT ends with why byu fans, are upset about SOMETHING whether it's the cfp rankings. OR their sixth seed i think you embrace the seed personally because of the location as opposed to being A five seed. Out east Or, something they're in denver BUT they, get a vcu Team Smitty, coach by ryan odam. That has

The, round of thirty two.

Well this THIS is. A tough match i think i think this is one of the tougher matchups in the WHOLE first. Round of the ncaa tournament, and then and you fans Fans in the state OF utah general, don't follow bcu very much, and that's to be expected but let me tell you they. Are a very good team anybody who Was Paying attention to when Ryan Odam was up in utah state and the teams that they had there the couple. Of years he was, there they're very.

BE clear I'm, not saying vcu is.

Houston Not even Kind of when, I've watched houston this year i've found myself feeling sympathy.

FOR who, they're playing against i mean that's their brand.

Of PHYSICALITY and defensive intensity but vcu plays, with a similar defensive intensity and they don't extend the pressure full Court oftentimes the way.

That Houston, tends to do but sabidi.

One of the many things one of the hats You Wore over at the utah jazz is you, Did A lot of scouting and i can see Why. Pro scouts like yegor demon it's obvious because of. His measurables and his vision his ball HANDLING ability is. Passing like i get it, but more often Than Not it was The iowa state game And ames and, then the houston Game Recently two Examples of Kevin Yong, pulling demon for dallan hall.

Who's simply a tougher player he's.

Just not afraid of pressure he doesn't cowtail To physicality the.

Way that demon seems to and he's a kid and this is his. First year of college.

Hoops i'm not necessarily, knocking on him for it but if, He can't handle VCU's pressure kevin's probably gonna Have. To go with down hall and maybe WE see something similar against Vcu, that We Saw against houston because kapa cata was the only athlete that looked like he Belonged.

On the floor AGAINST.

Houston so WHAT does byu do if vcu brings some of that physicality and pressure and their guard. Line isn't ready for, it, because to your point like if they, knock down fourteen. Fifteen threes they're gonna win but this tournament.

Is impossible to predict for.

A couple of, different, reasons, first of all, sprain ankle whatever injury happens and then. Suddenly a team, is out second of all one team, goes hot from the outside.

The other team goes cold.

Then YOU get an upset if byu is not knocking down threes and their guard play, isn't necessarily responding against?

PRESSURE what do they do i think it could be a little bit.

Of A problem.

For them.

You're jackson right then they're gonna have to figure out a way to be able to really man up and really uh react in a positive way to the pressure that. That They're, going to Feel now again maybe the houston game Helps them because they played houston twice this year and got and and got run out both. Times, You know against them uh so they've got all that film

Smiddy thank you. My friend for the time where do? We find you these days are you back? In town after your? Travels, Where are YOU at.

No i'm actually i spent the last TWO weeks working at the atp Thousand Tennis. Tournament down in palm springs we had, a good Time down there. And now i'm In Traveling i'm actually in las Vegas today on My Way. Wednesday up to saint george we're going to have a little three days of some golf with a bunch, of my buddies down there and then We'll. Be back in sull it we'll be back in, The, studio and next week spancy you'll have to spend a whole. Hour, LISTENING to my dribble well.

I cannot wait for, It i've said it. Before i'll say it again It Is. Good to be richard. Smith so enjoy your travels, thank you for the time and. We'll, see you, Next, week okay.

All right Spence Appreciate.

You ma'm hi Richard Smith forty years with utah jazz including nine Working. Side by side with ali it's gonna do It for. Us on a monday drive coming, Up on the other Side HISTORIC. Night At, the, john m huntsman center well where we, Have Been broadcasting, all day alex jensen said to be introduced as The seventeenth head coach. IN utah Men's basketball history i see natalie and the. Girls in front of me. No Sign of algis. Yet dave fox is, here he's acting very important even though we all.

Know that he, is not, That was Me.

All Right porter young man alex jensen introduced tonight jazz. Basketball GOING on as well but i feel like there's something missing from the show that you have.

NOT said, TO me.

Today i uh i do want to, wish you A happy birthday something that alonso had to tell me.

Half, way through the, SHOW.

Yeah four hours later i can't get a birthday TEXT from my producer when i?

Wake up on my birthday is?

That?

Too much to ask you gotta you gotta not be the old guy.

WHO'S too cool for. BIRTHDAYS i had no. Clue I had No clue.

Saint patrick's day it's, not THAT hard to remember and. I REMEMBER yours every. YEAR but I you know i guess i'm just a man of the people in.

A way that?

You're not what day? Is what day's my birthday, july.

Might.

As? Well be isn't it wait? What Day?

Is your birthday, in october that's, all right you Remember. Though it, is, in october but yeah yeah. ANOTHER trip around the sun i am closer to fifty than i'm the forty for the. First Time in my life so i've. Got to deal with that but gonna go get some dinner. With my boy to night my son flew in and we're. Gonna have a, good, time and so yeah yeah. It's been a good. Day been a good day but let's get out of here because it's time now, for the

On A, tuesday edition of, The drive you mentioned it. We're Back here in studio tony jones joins the PROGRAM talking, some jazz And Nba latest as DOES Zach harper. For the nba daily assist we'll Check In with our, guy tony parks, some hoops, some college hoops some BASEBALL all the above with tp and then fresh off Your, Trip Up on the hill chris hill Will join us On A Tuesday edition Of the drive.

Live and studio very nice that will be An, excellent show on a tuesday and with.

That will say tonight Special Thank, You Today, To Josh, furlong Roxy Bernstein gavin peterson and richard smith for any of the sound that you may Have. Missed FROM the show, Today website espn seven hundred sports dot com download our mobile app. Take US on the go the espn seven hundred app is Available For, free In the App. Store the google play. Store check out Our Podcast it Is. Called The drive with spence check it's available. Wherever, you get,